THANKFUL THURSDAY

MONDAY AFTER WORK..WE WERE HEADING TO SCOTT'S PARENTS FOR DINNER.....I ALWAYS LIKE IT WHEN SCOTT GOES A CERTAIN WAY ON THE WAY HOME...SO THAT WE CAN SWING BY OUR MAIL BOX AND GRAB OUR MAIL ON THE WAY TO THEIR HOUSE...THIS PAST MONDAY I WAS SOOOOO, SURPRISED WHEN SCOTT HANDED ME THE MAIL AND A LIL' PACKAGE WAS ADDRESSED TO ME SITTING RIGHT ON TOP..I LOOKED TO SEE WHO IT WAS FROM AND IMMEDIATELY SMILED..IT WAS FROM MY DEAR FRIEND JAMIE , WHO IN JULY, HAD A BABY GIRL THAT WAS BORN AT 28 WEEKS...TL.. (THE BABY) WAS DIAGNOSED AT THE 16 WEEK ULTRASOUND APPOINTMENT AS HAVING "OLIGOHYDRAMNIOS"... AND WAS NOT EXPECTED TO SURVIVE...WELL, GOD SAW DIFFERENTLY FOR HER, DESPITE THE NEWS HER PARENTS WERE GIVEN BY THE DOCTORS, SHE DID SURVIVE... AND TODAY SHE IS A HEALTHY HAPPY BABY GIRL...THE MIRACLE BABY AS I LIKE TO CALL HER...THE LIL' SISTER OF TWO BIG BROTHERS WHO COULDN'T WAIT TO GET HER HOME....WITHOUT GOING TOO MUCH INTO HER PERSONAL STORY..I CAN SAY THAT I HAVE ONLY HAD THREE EXPERIENCES WHERE I HAVE ACTUALLY "FELT" GOD SPEAKING TO ME..LIKE YOU HEAR LOTS OF PEOPLE SAY.."I HEARD GOD SPEAK TO ME" .AND FOR ME IT WASN'T WHERE YOU ACTUALLY HEAR HIS VOICE..IT'S A FEELING IN MY BODY..HARD TO EXPLAIN, BUT I CAN COMPARE IT TO AN INNER FULL BODY CHILL WITH JUST THE WEIRDEST FEELING IN MY STOMACH...THE FIRST TIME WAS WHEN ANOTHER LIL' BOY WAS HAVING SURGERY AND HE FLAT LINED AND WAS EXPECTED TO DIE..I PRAYED AND PRAYED FOR GOD TO SPARE HIS LIFE...AND I PRAYED FOR A SIGN THAT I WOULD FEEL OKAY ABOUT IT AND KNOW THE LIL' BOY WOULD SURVIVE...AND IMMEDIATELY I HAD THAT FEELING THAT I MENTIONED ABOVE...THE OTHER TWO TIMES HAD TO DO WITH TL...I FELT IT FIRST WHEN SHE WAS STILL IN HER MAMA'S BELLY WHEN I PRAYED FOR HER ONE DAY...BUT, ON THE DAY THAT TL WAS BEING BORN...I SAT AT MY DESK AND PRAYED AND PRAYED...GOT UP AND WENT INTO THE BATHROOM AND PRAYED AND PRAYED..AND ASKED FOR THAT VERY SAME SIGN SO THAT I COULD RELAX AND KNOW THAT SHE WAS GOING TO BE BORN TO A MOMMY AND DADDY THAT SOOOO DESPERATELY WANTED HER..AND SURE ENOUGH...I HAD THE SAME FEELING...I CAN'T EXPLAIN HOW RELIEVED I WAS, BUT AT THE SAME TIME I STILL HAD FEAR OF THE UNKNOWN...WHICH I SHOULD HAVE NEVER DOUBTED WHAT GOD WAS SHOWING ME..BUT I GUESS WE ALL STUMBLE WITH THAT..IT'S SO HARD NOT TO HAVE FEAR WHEN YOU WANT SOMETHING SO BAD..ESPECIALLY, A LIFE!! ANYWAY, BACK TO MY PACKAGE...WHEN I OPENED IT..I WAS GIDDY...LIKE CHRISTMAS..AND OUT POPPED A FOLDED NOTE AND A SMALL HOT PINK BAG..I IMMEDIATELY RIPPED INTO THE LETTER TO READ IT AND THE TEARS BEGAN TO FILL MY EYES..IT WAS SUCH A SWEET LIL' LETTER THANKING ME FOR MY PRAYERS AND EXPLAINING HOW JAMIE WANTED SOMETHING TO SHOW  HER APPRECIATION...SHE CHOSE THIS BOBBY PIN BECAUSE THE VERY FIRST TIME SHE GOT TO HOLD TL, HER BANGS WERE IN HER FACE AND SHE DIDN'T HAVE ANYTHING TO PULL THEM BACK WITH..SO FROM THERE ON OUT, SHE WOULD ALWAYS KEEP A BOBBY PIN WITH HER...

SOMETHING SO SMALL...THAT NOW HAS SO MUCH MEANING TO ME..I USE TO CARRY A SMALL CROSS IN MY POCKETBOOK TO HELP WITH DAYS WHEN I HAVE ANXIETY...AND ALSO...JUST BECAUSE I LOVE SOME JESUS..AND I LOVE SOME CROSSES!! BUT RECENTLY I ATTENDED A WAKE FOR A THREE YEAR OLD LIL' GIRL THAT DIED OF CANCER... I DIDN'T PERSONALLY KNOW HER MOM... BUT I KNEW OF HER... AND WE BOTH WERE IN THE HOSPITAL HAVING OUR BABIES AT THE SAME TIME..SHE HAD HER LIL' GIRL THE DAY BEFORE I HAD MY TWINS...AND EVEN THOUGH I DIDN'T "KNOW" HER THAT WELL, US BEING IN THE HOSPITAL AT THE SAME TIME REALLY MADE HER CHILD'S DEATH HIT ME PRETTY HARD..BECAUSE IT COULD HAVE BEEN ANY OF US GOING THRU WHAT SHE WAS GOING THRU...AND THE DEATH OF A CHILD IS SOMETHING I WISH NO PARENT WOULD EVER HAVE TO GO THRU....I CLEARLY REMEMBER HER BEING IN THE POSTPARTUM ROOM RIGHT BESIDE MINE..I REMEMBER PEOPLE THAT GO TO MY CHURCH  BEING UP THERE VISITING HER BECAUSE THEY WERE RELATED... AND THEM STICKING THEIR HEAD IN MY ROOM TO SAY "HEY"...SO WHEN I WENT TO THE WAKE THAT DAY, SCOTT SAT IN THE CAR WITH MY KIDS...I KNOW IN SOME CASES PEOPLE CANNOT HELP IT... BUT I'VE NEVER WANTED TO TAKE A CHILD INTO A FUNERAL HOME WHERE SOMEONE HAS LOST THEIR CHILD...AND AS BAD AS I DIDN'T WANT TO GO IN THERE BY MYSELF, I DEFINITELY KNEW HE NEEDED TO SIT WITH THE KIDS...I WAS DOING OKAY UNTIL IT WAS ALMOST MY TIME TO WALK AROUND THE CORNER WHERE SHE WOULD BE...THE CLOSER I WAS GETTING TO HER THE MORE NERVOUS I WAS GETTING..NOT KNOWING THE "RIGHT" WORDS TO SAY..BUT I DID KNOW THAT I FELT LED TO GIVE HER MY CROSS...IT HAD HELPED ME SO MUCH RECENTLY AND I JUST WANTED HER TO HAVE IT...I DON'T REGRET GIVING IT TO HER AT ALL..EVEN THOUGH I HAD NEEDED IT TOO MYSELF..I KNEW EVENTUALLY I WOULD FIND ME SOMETHING ELSE TO REPLACE IT..BUT I DIDN'T HAVE TO LOOK FAR.....

BECAUSE IT ARRIVED IN THE MAIL ON MONDAY...THANKS MY FRIEND!!

"WEEK"END IN REVIEW AND A TUESDAY TREAT!!

IT WAS ANOTHER BUSY...BUT FUN-FILLED WEEKEND FOR THE JOHNSON SIX-PACK...FRIDAY NIGHT WE RODE OVER TO MY MOM AND DAD'S...THEY LIVE DOWN A LONG DIRT PATH WHICH IS ALSO WHERE MY GRANDMA DOT AND GRANDPA LUBY LIVE...WE LIKE TO REFER TO IT AS "THE FARM"... AND  ON THE FARM IS WHERE WE HAVE OUR PIG PICKINGS THAT MY GRANDPA LUBY LIKES TO HAVE ABOUT THREE OR FOUR TIMES A YEAR...SO FRIDAY NIGHT WE HEADED OVER SO THAT SCOTT COULD WATCH THEM "PUT ON" THE PIG FOR SATURDAY'S PIG PICKIN'..AND ME AND THE KIDDOS HUNG OUT WITH MY MOM WHILE THE BOYS DID THAT...SHE FIXED THEM CRESCENT ROLLS WITH HOT DOGS AND CHEESE INSIDE OF THEM FOR DINNER... AND YOU WOULD HAVE THOUGHT IT WAS THE BEST MEAL THEY EVER HAD...THEY WERE WOUND SLAM UP TO SAY THE LEAST...JUMPING OFF THE WALLS FROM THE HOT DOGS AND CHOCOLATE MILK, I GUESS :)

I WAS ON A MISSION FIRST THING SATURDAY MORNING BEFORE EVERYONE ARRIVED TO ATTEMPT A GROUP SHOT OF ME AND THE KIDS WITH MY PARENTS..I THINK THIS WAS THE FIFTH TAKE...BUT AT LEAST WE GOT ONE :)

THE "HOG"...OR KNOWN TO LONDON AS "CHICKEN"..AND LONDON LOVES HER SOME CHICKEN

I LOVE LOVE LOVE THIS PICTURE..SINCE I'VE JUST STARTED BLOGGING, I HAVEN'T HAD A CHANCE TO REALLY TALK ABOUT MY GRANDMA (MY MOM'S MOM)..BUT SHE PASSED AWAY ON JANUARY 29, 2009...SHE LIVED LONG ENOUGH TO SEE MY TWINS AFTER THEY WERE BORN..AND SHE MADE IT THRU MADDOX'S 5th BIRTHDAY BUT THEN SHE PASSED AWAY THE DAY AFTER THAT..HER DEATH WAS REALLY HARD FOR ME..AND STILL IS....I'M SURE I'LL DO A POST ON THAT SOMETIME..BUT NOT TODAY..THE MAIN THING I SO WISH IS THAT MY KIDS COULD KNOW HER NOW...THE TWINS WILL NEVER REMEMBER SEEING HER WHILE SHE WAS LIVING AND I KNOW SHE WOULD LOVE THEM ALL SO MUCH...ALL THE THINGS I LOVE TO DO WITH THEM NOW ARE THINGS SHE USE TO LOVE TO DO WITH ME..LIKE EAT STRAWBERRIES..AND GO TO THE BEACH..AND NO ONE LOVED SHOPPING MORE THAN HER....AND I KNOW DEATH IS PART OF THE REALITY OF LIFE..BUT SOMETIMES LIFE REALLY STINKS..MAINLY THE PARTS THAT ARE SAD WHEN YOU LOSE THE ONES YOU LOVE..BUT I AM VERY THANKFUL THAT MY GRANDMA DOT (MY DAD'S MOM) IS STILL LIVING AND THAT I WAS ABLE TO CAPTURE A PICTURE OF HER WITH HER GREAT GRAND KIDS THIS WEEKEND...BLESS HER HEART..SHE GETS REALLY CONFUSED THESE DAYS...AND WILL ASK ME THEIR NAMES OVER AND OVER OR SAY.."STEPH...IS THIS REALLY YOUR CHILD?"...NORMALLY WHEN SHE IS POINTING TO MADDOX..OR SHE WILL SAY.. "ARE ALL THESE BABIES YOURS?"...THAT ONE MAKES ME LAUGH OUT LOUD....I LOVE THIS WOMAN!!..SHE LOVES TO TELL ME HOW BEAUTIFUL I AM AND HOW BEAUTIFUL MY BABIES ARE..SHE WILL TELL ME THAT 100 TIMES IF NOT MORE WHEN I SEE HER...I JUST TELL HER..."GRANDMA..KEEP GOING..YOU ARE SOOOO GOOD FOR MY EGO"...SHE WILL LOOK AT SCOTT AND SAY "YOU LOVE HER, DON'T YOU SON?"...AND OF COURSE HE ALWAYS SAYS "YES MAM"..AND THEN SHE'LL LOOK AT ME AND SAY.. "DO YOU THINK HE'S CUTE..HE'S BEAUTIFUL AIN'T HE STEPHANIE?"..AND I'LL SAY "YES MAM"..AND SHE LOVES TO SAY.."YOU KNOW NO ONE LOVES YOU LIKE YOUR DADDY DOES"...AND I'LL ALWAYS SAY "I KNOW GRANDMA"...I'M SOOOO THANKFUL FOR THIS PICTURE..TO HAVE TO CHERISH FOREVER!!

MY SWEET LIL' GRANDMA DOT!!!

MY COUSIN PHEBE WHO LOVES THE TWILIGHT SERIES ALMOST MORE THAN ME :)

"TRIPLE-TROUBLE"...BROOKS, WHO SURE CAN HELP FRY UP A MEAN HUSH PUPPY...MY GRANDPA LUBY (THE "HOG" COOKER).. AND MY GREAT UNCLE RODNEY

THE KIDS LOVED FISHING IN MY GRANDPARENTS POND..I REMEMBER FISHING THERE AS A CHILD..THE WATER USE TO BE A LOT HIGHER..I THINK AS THE WATER HAS DRIED UP, THE FISH HAVE GOTTEN SMARTER AND THEY AREN'T SO EAGER TO TAKE THE BAIT...

SHE MAY BE A GIRLY GIRL..BUT THAT LONDON SURE WAS SERIOUS ABOUT FISHING!!

DO WE HAVE A LEFT-HANDER IN THE FAMILY?

NOW....THAT'S MY KIND OF FISHING, SCOTTJ!!!...WHERE HE'S SITTING IS WHERE THE WATER USE TO BE..IT'S CRAZY HOW MUCH WATER THAT POND HAS LOST..

MIMI'S LIL' HELPER

URBAN...THINKING HE CAUGHT THE "BIG ONE"...AND IT WAS ONLY ALGAE

I LOVE IT WHEN YOU CAN FEEL THE LOVE IN PICTURES..GRANDMA DOT AND MY COUSIN LISA WERE SURE HAVING A GREAT TIME CHATTING ABOUT SOMETHING..GOOD TIMES!!!

LISA WAS CONNED INTO HELPING GRANDPA LUBY CHOP UP WHAT WAS LEFT OF THE PIG SO HE COULD HAND IT OUT TO HIS FRIENDS AND FAMILY....

SMILE....EVEN A FAKE SMILE...IF YOU LOVE SCOOPING UP THE PIG WITH YOUR HANDS

WHAT A GREAT PLACE TO RIDE THE KIDS AROUND ON THE 4-WHEELERS

SAYLOR AS WELL AS THE REST OF US  DIDN'T WANT THE DAY TO END...WHO REALLY EVER WANTS WEEKENDS TO END?..THEY ARE MY FAVORITE FOR SURE!!

THIS MORNING WE HAD A TUESDAY TREAT

CAN YOU SAY.....RED VELVET PANCAKES??...OMG..THEY WERE SOOOO GOOD...THEY WERE SUGGESTED ON A BLOG THAT I READ... SO I TEXTED AMANDA LAST FRIDAY WHILE SHE WAS ON HER WILLIAMSBURG, VA "SHOPPING EXTRAVAGANZA".. AND TOLD HER TO ADD IT TO HER SUPER TARGET SHOPPING LIST...THEY WERE A MUST HAVE...SO SHE NEEDED TO PICK ME UP AT LEAST TWO BOXES!!!

IF YOU LOVE RED VELVET CAKE...AND PANCAKES..THEN YOU MUST GO TO YOUR LOCAL TARGET AND SWOOP YOU UP A BOX BEFORE THE WORD GETS OUT AND THEY ARE ALL GONE :) I'M SERIOUS!! I'M PLANNING ON MAKING THESE CHRISTMAS MORNING SINCE THEY ARE RED AND WE COOK BREAKFAST WITH BOTH SETS OF GRANDPARENTS AND UNCLE-E ON CHRISTMAS MORNING...THE BOX OF MIX IS ONLY $2.99...I THOUGHT THAT WAS A PRETTY GOOD DEAL...I MUST SAY THAT AS YUMMY AS THE ICING WAS..IT WAS A LIL' DISAPPOINTING COLOR WISE..ACCORDING TO THE BOX..IT LOOKS WHITE..IT CAME OUT MORE OF A YELLOW COLOR AND WE HAD SOME LUMPS BECAUSE WE DIDN'T HAVE A MIXER AT WORK...WE GOTTA FIX THAT PRONTO!! THE LIL' BLACK STUFF FREAKED ME OUT BECAUSE I THOUGHT SOMETHING WAS IN OUR MIX...BUT THEN AMANDA REMINDED ME THAT IT WAS THE VANILLA BEAN..BLESS MY SOUL..I SOOOO AM NOT THE COOK!!

EVEN SCOTTJ'S MAN-POWER COULDN'T GET OUR LUMPS OUT...BUT IT WAS STILL SUPER SUPER GOOD..I THINK THAT FRUIT DIP YOU CAN MAKE...THE ONE WITH THE MARSHMELLOW CREAM, CREAM CHEESE AND COOLWHIP WOULD BE AWESOME ON THEM..AND ALSO IF THEY SOLD THE ICING THAT COMES WITH TOASTER STRUDDLES..THAT WOULD BE REALLY GOOD ON THEM TOO..BUT A MIXER NEXT TIME...NOW THAT'S THE TICKET!!

FRIDAY....I'M IN LOVE WITH YOU!!!

I LOVE FRIDAYS!!!! I HONESTLY TRY NOT TO WISH THE WEEK AWAY..BUT, FRIDAYS FOR ME, MEAN THAT I AM FIXING TO HAVE TWO FULL  DAYS OF FAMILY TIME..WHICH IS WHY WEEKENDS ARE ALWAYS MY MOST FAVORITE PART OF THE WEEK!!! OUR WEEKS ARE JAMMED PACK TO THE MAXXX AND I CAN ONLY IMAGINE IT WILL GET A LOT MORE PACKED AS THE KIDS GET OLDER..MONDAYS ARE SAYLOR'S DAY TO TAKE VOICE LESSONS, AND THEN WE NORMALLY EAT WITH SCOTT'S PARENTS ON MONDAY NIGHTS....LONDON TAKES DANCE ON TUESDAYS..ON WEDNESDAYS, MADDOX GOES TO ROYAL RANGERS AND NOW THAT SAYLOR'S VOICE LESSONS HAVE BEEN MOVED TO MONDAYS, SHE IS GOING TO START GOING TO HER "GIRLY" CLASS AT CHURCH TOO..THEN THURSDAY SAYLOR TAKES BALLET AND JAZZ BACK TO BACK...SO OMG!! BY FRIDAY..NOT ONLY AM I WORN SLAM OUT..BUT I AM HYPED SLAM UP OVER BEING ABLE TO HAVE SOME "US" TIME AS A FAMILY...WHAT'S EVEN CRAZIER IS... THIS IS ALL THINGS MY CHILDREN WANT TO DO..I CAN'T IMAGINE IF I WERE ONE OF THOSE "CRAZY" (FOR LACK OF A BETTER WORD) MOMS THAT FORCED THEM TO DO THINGS..LONDON HAS BEEN DREAMING OF TAKING DANCE SINCE SHE WAS TWO...YOU HAVE TO BE THREE TO TAKE DANCE AT OUR LIL' DANCE PLACE AND LONDON USE TO CRY WHEN WE WOULD DROP OFF SAYLOR BECAUSE SHE WANTED TO DANCE SO BAD WITH HER SISTER..AND THAT GIRL DID NOT FORGET THAT THIS WAS THE YEAR SHE COULD FINALLY TAKE DANCE..

LIFE JUST FLIES BY WAY TO FAST FOR ME..AND I HAVE TO RELAX BECAUSE I GET ALL STRESSED ABOUT WANTING TO CAPTURE EVERY LIL' MOMENT SO I DON'T FORGET IT..LIKE LIL' THINGS THEY SAY..HOW THE PRONOUNCE THEIR WORDS..THEIR LAUGHS..THE SILLY FACES THEY MAKE..EACH LIL' THING THAT MAKES THEM SPECIAL IN THEIR OWN WAY...THE THINGS THAT I WANT TO REMEMBER MOST ABOUT THEM FOREVER!!...SOMETIMES IT'S WAY TOO HARD TO DRAG AROUND MY CAMERA...AND I LOVE MY iPHONE BUT IT HAS SUCH A LARGE CASE ON IT (THANK-U SCOTTJ FOR REQUESTING THE OTTERBOX..AS BULKY AS IT MIGHT BE... TO KEEP IT SAFE AND SOUND... BECAUSE LORD KNOWS I'VE DROPPED IT 100 PLUS TIMES SINCE I GOT IT LAST YEAR)...THAT FOR SOME REASON IT DOESN'T TAKE REALLY CLEAR PICTURES..BUT I HAVE FOUND THAT THE HIPSTAMATIC APP IS AWESOME!! IT PRODUCES THE PICS LIKE ABOVE OF LONDON AND ALL THE ONES FROM YESTERDSAYS POST OF URBAN..AND I MUST SAY THAT IT DOES GO IN YOUR FAVOR IF YOUR HAVING A NOT SO..."GOOD LOOKIN' DAY"..AND I LOVE THAT IT REMINDS ME OF THE OLD POLAROIDS...(RANDOM..I KNOW..BUT, I AM THE QUEEN OF RANDOM)...ANYWAY..BACK TO MY PRINCESS LO..

YESTERDAY WHEN WE WERE PICKING SAYLOR UP TO HAVE HER AT DANCE BY 5:30, IT WAS PROBABLY CLOSE TO 5:25 AND MISS LONDON HAD NOT FINISHED COLORING AT NANA'S... SO SHE WAS NOT WANTING TO HURRY AND GET IN THE CAR SO WE WOULDN'T BE LATE.....SHE FINALLY POPPED UP WHEN I TOLD HER "DON'T MAKE ME TELL YOUR DADDY YOU AREN'T LISTENING" (I DON'T NORMALLY USE THE DADDY-CARD..MOST OF THE TIME I HANDLE IT MYSELF..AND HAVE TO BE THE BAD GUY..BUT SHE WASN'T BUDGING FROM THE COLORING TABLE) THEN SHE RAN TO ME AND SAID.."MOMMY I MADE YOU THIS PICT-CHA"...I SAID "OH..IT'S BEAUTIFUL..WHAT IS IT"..SHE SAID.. "IT'S PB'S"..I SAID.. "WHAT IS PB'S"...AND SHE SAID.. "YOU KNOW P'S AND B'S"...DUHHHHHHH MOM!!!! BLESS ME..I SHOULD HAVE CLEARLY SEEN IT WAS "P'S" AND "B"S"..I  MEAN, HELLO!!..IT'S SUPER OBVIOUS THAT IS WHAT ALL THAT WAS NEXT TO HER HAND PRINT...ONE DAY I WILL TELL HER THAT WHEN I WAS LITTLE, THAT IS HOW I USE TO DRAW SEAGULLS..THEN ON THE WAY TO DANCE SHE TOLD ME THAT SHE WANTED "THE STAW-BERRY DIRTCAKE FOR KISSMAS"..DID YOU GET THAT..LONDON WANTS THE "STRAWBERRY SHORT CAKE FOR CHRISTMAS"..NOT THE SMALL ONE..BUT THE REAL BIG ONE SHE SAID...HOW CAN I TELL THIS FACE..NO?

LONDON CARYS...I WISH I COULD STICK YOU IN A BOTTLE (NOT LITERALLY) AND SAVE ALL THE CUTENESS YOU ARE AT THE AGE OF THREE...THE WAY YOU STRUGGLE WITH YOUR "T'S" AND OTHER LETTERS IS SO CUTE TO ME...AND THOSE ALMOND EYES...OH MY GOODNESS..I KNOW THAT GOD KNEW I NEEDED YOU TO BRING ME SOOOO MUCH JOY TO MY LIFE THAT I MUST HAVE BEEN MISSING...BECAUSE I CAN'T IMAGINE MY LIFE WITHOUT YOU IN IT...I LOVE YOU!!!

THANFUL THURSDAYS

CAN YOU JUST SAY....ROTTEN!!!! I LOVE THIS KID!!..AND TODAY I'M THANKFUL FOR ALL THE CRAZINESS HE ADDS TO OUR ALREADY CRAZY FAMILY OF SIX...URBAN IS TRULY THE LIFE OF THE PARTY...ALL THE TIME!!!! YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT KIND OF MOOD HE IS GOING TO BE IN....OR WHAT IS GOING TO COME OUT OF HIS MOUTH..THE THINGS HE COMES UP WITH ARE HILARIOUS ON THEIR ON..AND THEN HIS FACIAL EXPRESSIONS......EVERYTHING ABOUT URBAN IS SOOOO RANDOM...WHICH IS WHAT I  LOVE!!....WHEN WE WENT TO PICK HIM UP TUESDAY FROM NANA AND PAPA'S HOUSE, SHE WARNED THAT SHE THOUGHT HE WAS TIRED...WELL, APPARENTLY HE WAS BECAUSE HE LET ME AND SAYLOR PUT THESE PIG TAILS IN HIS HAIR...WHICH NORMALLY IS A BIG "NO-NO" WITH URBAN..TO DO ANYTHING LIKE THIS I WOULD NORMALLY HAVE TO CON HIM WITH..."CASEY STONER HAS HAIR LIKE THIS"...WHICH IS HIS FAVORITE MOTO-GP RACER!! IF CASEY STONER DOES IT OR HAS IT THEN URBAN IS OKAY WITH IT..

HE WOULD HAVE MADE A CUTE LIL' GIRL...BUT I WOULDN'T TRADE HIM FOR THE WORLD!!! THESE WERE TAKEN THE NIGHT BEFORE HIS MUCH NEEDED HAIR CUT...SCOTT WANTED TO CHOP HIS HAIR OFF JUST LIKE MADDOX'S..BUT MADDOX AND URBAN HAVE TWO TOTALLY DIFFERENT HAIR TEXTURES..MADDOX HAS MY DAD'S THICK STRAIGHT HAIR..AND URBAN HAS HAIR LIKE SCOTT'S DAD...AND BESIDES..MAMA WAS NOT AGREEING TO CHOPPING OFF THOSE CURLS RIGHT NOW!!

SOMEONE (SAYLOR) IS A LIL' SNAGGLED-TOOTHED THESE DAYS :)

AND HERE IS OUR NEW DO"....HE WANTED ME TO TAKE HIS PICTURE SO HE COULD SEE HIMSELF..I AGREE..IT WAS MUCH NEEDED, BUT I'M ALREADY READY FOR IT TO GROW OUT  A LIL' BIT...AND WHAT MOM HASN'T JACKED UP THEIR KIDS BANGS..IT TOOK US ABOUT TWO WEEKS TO GET HIS APPOINTMENT WITH MY HAIRDRESSER AND IT WAS DRIVING ME BONKERS HANGING IN HIS EYES..SO RIGHT BEFORE OUR FAMILY REUNION, I NIPPED THEM MYSELF..I MIGHT HAVE GOTTEN A LIL' CARRIED AWAY..SO THANKFULLY ALICIA FIXED IT THE BEST SHE COULD..WELL, I DON'T KNOW ABOUT YA'LL..BUT IT'S GETTING COLD HERE :( I'M NOT HAPPY ABOUT THAT AT ALL...BUT IT DOES MEAN CHRISTMAS IS COMING..SO YEAH YEAH AND YEAH SOME MORE!!! WE TOOK THE KIDS TO TARGET LAST WEEKEND AND THEY HAD NO PROBLEM MAKING THEIR CHRISTMAS LIST..BETTER GET TO SHOPPING!!!

"WEEK"END IN REVIEW

THIS PAST WEEKEND WE WENT TO SCOTT'S 20 YEAR CLASS REUNION...YES, THAT'S 20 YEARS!!!  (IF THAT DOESN'T MAKE YOU FEEL OLD...20 YEARS..THEN I REALLY DON'T KNOW WHAT WILL...AND MINE WILL BE COMING UP IN THREE MORE YEARS)...AT FIRST WE WEREN'T GOING..BUT OUR FRIEND MARCIE, WHO ALSO GOES WITH US TO THE COWBOYS GAMES..AND ALSO GRADUATED WITH SCOTT..TOLD SCOTT THAT IF WE DIDN'T GO...SHE WOULD'T GIVE US OUR UPCOMING COWBOY GAME TICKETS..SHE WAS KIDDING, OF COURSE...BUT WE ENDED UP GOING...AND IT WAS REALLY FUN..AND I MUST SAY..MY MAN WAS LOOKIN' HOT!!!

AN OLD CLASSMATES'S SISTER TOLD HIM HE REMINDED HER OF TIM MCGRAW...I'LL TAKE THAT :) HE DOES HAVE THE CUTEST DIMPLES EVER..AND THOSE DANG BROWN EYES THAT MELT MY HEART!!!

IT WAS ALSO NEAT TO SEE STEPHANIE (YES..ANOTHER STEPHANIE) WHO I HAVEN'T SEEN PROBABLY SINCE 1992 OR SO...SHE ACTUALLY REMINDED ME THAT SHE DIDN'T TRULY GRADUATE WITH OUR 1994 CLASS BUT I DIDN'T EVEN REALIZE THAT UNTIL SITTING DOWN AND TALKING TO HER THAT NIGHT..IT WAS REALLY FUN CATCHING UP WITH HER AND ALSO SEEING ANOTHER CLASSMATE OF MINE, AMY..I SOOOO WISH I HAD GOTTEN A PICTURE OF US THREE BEFORE AMY LEFT..BUT I MISSED OUT BECAUSE THE KARAOKE WAS FIXING TO BEGIN....EVEN THOUGH STEPHANIE AND I DIDN'T REALLY HANG IN THE SAME GROUP IN SCHOOL, I ALWAYS LIKED HER AS A PERSON AND IT WAS SUCH FUN CATCHING UP WITH HER AND TALKING ABOUT OUR BABIES...PHOTOGRAPHY...SHOPPING FOR OUR OUTFITS...AND OUR HUSBANDS...SINCE THEY BOTH GRADUATED IN 91'....AND HOW BOUT HER OUTFIT??..I LOVED IT..I AM SUCH AN ACCESSORY GIRL!! NOT THAT YOU COULD TELL BY MY OUTFIT :)

         AND HERE IS THE CLASS OF 1991.....20 YEARS LATER, OF COURSE!!

"WEEK"END IN REVIEW AND THANKFUL THURSDAY

OH MY GOSH..FINALLY...I HAVE SOOOOOO MUCH TO CATCH UP ON..THE MAIN PROBLEM HAS BEEN THAT MY HOME COMPUTER IS SOOOOO SLOW AT  DOWNLOADING MY PICTURES..SO IT'S ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE FOR ME TO BLOG FROM HOME...IT NORMALLY TAKES 25 MINUTES TO UPLOAD ONE PHOTO..SOMETHING IS MAJORLY WRONG WITH THAT..BUT I HAPPEN TO BE AT THE HOSPITAL RIGHT NOW (MORE ON THAT LATER IN THE POST) AND THEY ARE UPLOADING QUICKER THAN EVER...SOOOO HERE IS TWO POST IN ONE...HAPPY READING!!

*THIS WAS WHAT I WANTED TO POST ON MONDAY ("WEEK"END IN REVIEW)*

IF THIS IS ANY INDICATOR HOW THE REST OF THE WEEKENDS FROM HERE TIL DECEMBER ARE GOING TO BE...THEN I AM GOING TO BE ONE EXHAUSTED MAMA!!! THIS ONE WAS CERTAINLY MAXXED SLAM OUT...BUT WAS SUCH AN AWESOME WEEKEND...

FRIDAY NIGHT WAS MADDOX AND SAYLOR'S SCHOOL FALL FESTIVAL..IT IS SOOOOO MUCH FUN....MOST OF THE CLASSROOMS ARE FILLED WITH GAMES AND THERE ARE ALSO SOME OUTSIDE GAMES TOO WHERE THE KIDS GET LOTS OF CANDY..THEN THERE IS A DUNKING BOOTH...A CAKE WALK....A DOG POUND AND THE FAMOUS AUCTION THAT TAKES PLACE IN THE GYM..MY MOST FAVORITE PART OF THE NIGHT!!!..THERE ARE ALWAYS THE NEATEST THINGS TO BID ON...AND OF COURSE YOUR COMPETITIVE SIDE COMES OUT A LIL'...ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU REALLY WANT THE ITEM..

CAN YOU SAY WRAPPED??? THIS GIRL SURE KNOWS HOW TO WORK IT!!! AND BEFORE YOU KNEW IT..SHE HAD MIMI BIDDING ON THE HOLIDAY BARBIE...SAD TO SAY WE DIDN'T WIN IT..BUT WHEN YOU CAN GET FEATHERS IN YOUR HAIR..IT KIND OF MAKES THE LOSS OKAY :)

                                  THANKS NANA FOR OUR FEATHERS!!!

AND THIS IS KATIE....MADDOX'S BFF GIRLFRIEND THAT WAS BORN ON THE SAME DAY AS HIM....HER MAMA AND I WERE IN THE HOSPITAL TOGETHER AND THEY HAVE BECOME BEST BUDS EVER SINCE...SHE IS THE ONE THAT SAID "YOUR HOT"...SCOTT TELLS MADDOX ALL THE TIME HOW SHE'S A KEEPER :)

PLAYING ANGRY BIRDS WITH KATIE AND BLAIR..MADDOX IS TRYING TO WIN BLAIR SOME "GOLDEN EGGS"....

THIS YEAR AT THE FALL FESTIVAL, SCOTT WAS ASKED TO BE IN THE DUNKING BOOTH TO HELP RAISE MONEY..HE WAS SOOOOO EXCITED (CAN'T YOU TELL)..THE WHOLE WEEK HE WOULD TELL ME ALL THE JUNK HE WAS GOING TO TALK TO THE LIL' KIDS WHEN THEY WOULD COME UP TO DUNK HIM..HE KEPT TELLING EVERYONE HOW COLD THE WATER WAS AND ACTING LIKE HE WAS FREEZING..IN REALITY THE WATER WAS SUPER HOT HE SAID..BUT HE LET THAT BE HIS LIL' SECRET...URBAN WAS THE MOST EXCITED ABOUT SCOTT BEING IN THE DUNKING BOOTH..HE THOUGHT IT WAS THE COOLEST THING TO BE ABLE TO DUNK HIS DADDY!!! AND HE GOT HIM ON THE FIRST TRY!!

URBAN MIGHT HAVE HAD A LIL' ADVANTAGE :)

SCOTT IS ALWAYS SUCH A GOOD SPORT!!!

URBAN THOUGHT HE HAD DONE SOMETHING AWESOME BY DUNKING SCOTT...AND HEADED STRAIGHT TO PAPA..SO HE COULD GET SOME MORE MONEY TO DO IT AGAIN AND AGAIN :)

EVEN MADDOX...SAYLOR...AND LONDON.... ALL GOT TO DUNK DADDY!!

THE HIGHLIGHT OF THE NIGHT WAS PAPA BIDDING ON AND WINNING MADDOX'S CLASS FISHING BASKET..AND TO URBAN IT FELT JUST LIKE CHRISTMAS!!

FALL FESTIVAL IS SOOOOO MUCH FUN...CAN'T WAIT FOR NEXT YEAR'S BIG EVENT!!!

ON SATURDAY...WE DROVE TO KINSTON, NC FOR THE HUGHES FAMILY REUNION (MY MOM'S SIDE OF THE FAMILY)...ME AND THE KIDS RODE WITH MY PARENTS SO SCOTT COULD ENJOY THE AWESOME WEATHER WHILE RIDING HIS MOTORCYCLE..I WAS EXCITED THAT DAD WAS DRIVING SO THAT I COULD FINALLY GET SOME PICTURES OF HIM ON HIS PRIZED REPSOL!

THE KIDS LOVED SEEING THEIR COUSINS AND ALL OF OUR OTHER FAMILY MEMBERS TOO..SAYLOR TALKED BO INTO PICKING UP ACORNS WITH HER...BO IS THE HUSBAND OF MY MOM'S GRANDMOTHER'S NIECE (WOW...PROCESS THAT ONE)

AND UNCLE PHILLIP WAS STEALING ALL OF URBAN'S LOVE!!

THIS IS MY GREAT AUNT SHELBY..MY GREAT UNCLE MILLARD..AND MY GREAT AUNT DAISYE...THEY ARE THE ONLY THREE SURVIVING SIBLINGS OF MY GRANDMOTHER WHO PASSED AWAY IN JANUARY OF 09'....THERE WERE ORIGINALLY ELEVEN CHILDREN..I GUESS THAT IS WHY FAMILY REUNIONS ARE SO IMPORTANT TO ME THESE DAYS..I LOVE FAMILY!!

I THINK THIS HAS NOW BECOME MY MOST FAVORITE PICTURE OF ME AND MADDOX...I KNOW HE'S MINE BUT HE IS THE SWEETEST LIL' MAN I KNOW!!

LONDON HAD THE BEST TIME WITH THIS FORT HER AND MIMI BUILT..OF PINE CONES..STICKS..AND ONE BIRD FEATHER...SHE HAD THE FEATHER AND WAS TALKING TO THE PINE CONES WITH IT..SHE WOULD SAY "HEY MR. PINE CONE..HAVE YOU PLAYED WITH MR. FEATHER TODAY?"... 

AND MADDOX THE CLONE TROOPER JOHNSON FOUND A HOSTAGE...A WILLING HOSTAGE AT THAT!!

A REUNION IS NOT A REUNION WITHOUT A FAMILY PICTURE...THIS IS MY CROWD WITH MY MOM AND DAD AND MY AUNT AND UNCLE...WHAT A GREAT DAY WITH FAMILY!!!

SUNDAY WAS THE MUCH ANTICIPATED....LEGO-FEST IN RALEIGH, NC...SCOTT...ME...AND MADDOX WENT WITH MADDOX'S BEST FRIEND, CALEB..AND HIS PARENTS...TOM AND DARLENE...OUR ALLOTTED TIME WAS FROM 9-1:30..THIS WAS OUR FIRST TIME AT LEGO-FEST..AND I WAS SOOOOO IMPRESSED..I THINK US ADULTS LOVED IT AS MUCH AS THE KIDS...HERE ARE SOME PICS FROM THE DAY!!

I DON'T DO CROWDS VERY WELL (LOOK AT MY FINGERS DIGGIN' INTO MADDOX..POOR CHILD)...WE WERE WEDGED IN THE MIDDLE OF SIX LINES SURROUNDED BY WILD KIDS...WHILE WE WAITED FOR ABOUT 15 MINUTES TO GET INSIDE THE EXPO..

IT'S HARD TO PIN POINT THE COOLEST THING OF THE DAY..BECAUSE HONESTLY THERE WERE SO MANY COOL THINGS FOR THE KIDS TO DO..BUT THE FIRST THING WE DID WAS THE KIDS GOT TO EACH BUILD ON A SQUARE..MADDOX BUILT OLIVE GARDEN AND CALEB BUILT A MILITARY COMMAND POST ATTACHED TO THE OLIVE GARDEN..WHEN YOU WERE THRU WITH YOUR LEGO CREATION, YOU TOOK IT TO A GROUP OF WOMEN THAT TOOK YOUR CREATION AND STUCK IT ON THE MAP OF THE UNITED STATES TO HELP FILL IN THE MAP...WE ARE IN TEXAS (SCOTT WAS HAPPY ABOUT THAT)..AND THE NEAT THING IS SOME TIME THIS WEEK IT SHOULD BE ONLINE AND WE CAN ACTUALLY ZOOM IN AND SEE OUR PIECE OF THE STATE THAT WE HELPED BUILD...

LIGHTNING McQUEEN TOOK 2500 HOURS TO COMPLETE..HE IS SOLID LEGOS FROM ON TOP TO UNDERNEATH...THIS WOULD HAVE TO BE THE COOLEST JOB EVER!!...TO BUILD LEGOS ALL DAY!!

WE WILL DEFINITELY GO TO LEGO-FEST AGAIN IF IT COMES OUR WAY!!!

NOW...FOR...THANKFUL THURSDAY

"HEY DADDY"...MY DAD IS HAVING A HEART CATHERIZATION TODAY...HE LOOKS HEALTHY AS A HORSE, DOESN'T HE? THE DOCTOR THINKS HE HAS ONE MINOR BLOCKAGE..AND POSSIBLY NONE (FINGERS CROSSED FOR NONE)..WE HAVE BEEN AT THE HOSPITAL SINCE 1:45 PM TODAY AND IT'S NOW 7:12 PM AND HE'S STILL WAITING PATIENTLY TO BE TAKEN BACK FOR HIS PROCEDURE..I'M THANKFUL FOR FAMILY SICK LEAVE..SO THAT I COULD BE HERE WITH HIM TODAY..YOU SHOULD SEE US ALL IN THE HOSPITAL ROOM..OH THANK-YOU TECHNOLOGY...I'M ON THE LAP TOP..DAD AND MOM ARE BOTH ON THEIR CELLS AND SCOTTJ IS ON MOM'S I-PAD...AND FOR THE RECORD..I BEAT DAD IN THUMB WAR!!! ANYTHING TO HELP PASS THE TIME...PRAYING FOR A GREAT REPORT...I LOVE YOU DAD!!!