Long overdue pictures

After church today, we headed over to Shakesphere to take some pictures. Kate kept calling it "Milkshake Park". To Scott's credit, we got some great pictures today! I can't wait for you to see these - a few may make the final round for our Christmas card! (Oh, yes, I have already been thinking about it!...)

More pictures

More pictures

Aww.... you shouldn't have! :)

(courtesy of the AU Alumni Association)

You guys crack me up! This was in an e-mail I received from AU today. They are campaigning for more alumni support, offering a glossy poster of your name on the field at a discounted rate if you join the alumni club today. I thought it was pretty cool, but where would I put a poster??? Maybe if I had a cool office... Anyway, it is a conversation starter!

WAR EAGLE!

Look what I did today!

This poor little dog had this bladder stone - for who knows how long? She weighed 10 pounds and this stone was 1 1 /2 inches long. Needless to say, it was the highlight of the day!

Cleaning tricks

Does anyone else get a little overwhelmed at cleaning up all the stuff that finds it's way around the house? You know what I mean - the refrigerator magnets that I find under our bed, the erring shoe under the couch, the gladware containers under the kid's beds?

I figured out something that helps me. I get a large container like the one above and pick up all the clutter. Then I carry it around the house to put the things back into their place. In a few minutes, one room looks clutter free! Maybe this will help you with day to day clutter.

Brooks wanted me to take his picture, too!

When it rains, it pours...

Fickle Fay, today I deem as TAKE BACK TUESDAY.

Our weekend of fun started Saturday afternoon when we lost power at our home. Scott endured several hours with the kids and no electricity before coming to meet me at the consignment sale when I finished working. Let me tell you, I was exhausted. We went to supper and then came home...

We still have no power.

What to do? We all went to bed. It was warm and humid, but we made the most of it. And, when we awoke on Sunday morning?

We still have no power.

OK - trying to be optimistic... I started cleaning the house (that is the parts I could see). Then I packed up our frozen foods to take to our neighbor's house (they have a generator). I iced down the remaining refrigerator items. After that, it was getting too warm for comfort in the house, we decided to go outside and pick up tree limbs a'plenty in our yard. After about 30 minutes I came over to Brooks, who had tons of mosquito bites on him - and that was it. We packed up and went to Mom and Dad's house.

We still have no power.

About 5pm, Scott and I decided that we needed to take our dogs to the clinic so they wouldn't be so hot. That way, we could also not worry about driving back and forth. So, we went home, packed more clothes, packed dogs and headed to the clinic, then to Walmart, then to Mom and Dad's.

Then.... we got the call about 8:30pm that our power had been restored! By that time, I thought we should just stay put for the night.

OK - now.... when we got home Monday night.....

Our roof is leaking around the chimney. One of my fish has died during the "traumatic weekend". It took a while to figure out why our cordless phones weren't working. Scott and I were on the roof last night putting a tarp over the chimney. If only Jimmy had been home...!!! I hate getting up on the roof. But we did it.

So, today I reclaim my home from chaos! This house will be back to itself by this evening! And, I will have made it to Walmart... that is if it will just stop raining...

Finally it's Friday!

This week at work was much smoother than last. I had a major surgery today - a Min Pin was attacked by a Pitt Bull last night. He had an inguinal hernia about the size of a lemon (he weighs only 13.5 pounds) with 1/3 of his intestines protruding from the hole under the skin of his right side. It took me almost 1 1 /2 hours in surgery to get it closed. I give him a 50/50 chance of making it - if he is alive tomorrow afternoon I'll be much more optimistic.

I just finished (literally, about 5 minutes ago) my most recent book: Chosen by a Horse. Scott picked it up for me and it was a good read, slow at first but I could hardly put it down at the end. I just cried and cried at the end. I needed a good cry. I have been feeling like I've needed one all week - and it felt good.

I am working all day at the consignment sale. This is my last shift. I have made over $170.00 so I am pleased. It will go back into the pot to pay for the clothing I already purchased!

Man catches 21 pound fish with pink Barbie fishing rod

Please read this hilarious article!

The new Chickalay

So, we had to get some errands run yesterday. Kate usually brings along Bear and Puppy. Now, she is in the habit of buckling them up in their seat belts. This doesn't happen often in Bullet, but in Dr. B's truck there is plenty of room!

While riding around, I asked the kids what they thought we should name Dr. B's truck. Kate thought that Chickalay was a great idea. Chickalay is a great idea anyways... so Dr. B's Chickalay it is!

We are enjoying all the extra room, but I still miss my Bullet. I am just sappy when it comes to my vehicles!

For all the would be professional mother photographers

Scott told me this morning that he wished I would change the picture of the kids on the blog. He said that Brooks looked like he wanted to cry (yep, he was crying) and I should put a better picture of them on the blog. I said I didn't have a better picture because it is really hard to get a good pic of BOTH of them smiling when I am TAKING THE PICTURES BY MYSELF. He said that I just "needed to ask him to help - he'd be glad too help me........"

Argh.....

I've never heard that before.....

Boring... finally...

(For those from UCofC - has anyone else seen Sonny and Shannon's blog? The pic of Sonny is worth checking out...)

After 2 marathon days at work, and working at the consignment sale on Sat, I was EXHAUSTED. Kate didn't feel good on Sat AM, and had a very low grade fever. By that night, it was almost 101 degrees. So, she and I stayed home on Sunday. I think I slept a combined 5 hours between 2 naps - and still went to bed at 9:30pm that night and slept all night! I think I was overdue for some sleep!

Kate is much better now. We even managed to get out of a visit to the doctor - at least for now.

2 funnies for you:

1. Bullet is at the body shop. Dr. B is letting me drive her Pacifica while Bullet is in the shop. This morning (Brooks was already in bed when I got home last night) Brooks noticed that Bullet wasn't in the carport. He kept saying, "Bullet?" I told him that Bullet was getting fixed at the shop, and we were using Dr. B's truck. He looked outside and said, "Pretty"
2. Back to my food funnies: Brooks asked for some yogurt covered raisins. When I said OK, he ran to the cabinet where the Tupperware stays - and you guessed it... there were no bowls! So what did he grab?........... A bread loaf pan! Talk about a big bowl!

Stuffed animal practice

When I walked into the door at the clinic on Thursday, here is what I was greeted with:

"Dr. Busby - this dog here is in renal failure. He is on maintenance fluids. This dog here on is in a coma... has been since it came in seizing yesterday and got the seizures stopped. We found this dog dead this morning (Dr. B had removed a cancerous spleen on Tues) and I don't know if the owners have been called. Just so you know, they are going to flip out. I have a dog sedated on the table for xrays - HBC (hit by car). The owner needs to be called as soon as we find out something. There is another emergency on the way. The owner found the dog this morning just laying in the yard."

Appointments started in 15 minutes.

Well that sums up the day on Thursday and Friday. You know, the days that you feel like you are swimming, just trying to keep your head above water to keep from drowning? I went to bed both nights at 9pm.

On a lighter note, I performed my first operation on a stuffed animal. Kate's "Bear" had a mouth that had been picked at so much that it was in need of some surgical intervention. Mama worked hard on his mouth and it looks better than it did to begin with! I just have to say, that in all my years (so far) of practice - it was great to see my daughter's face when her stuffed animal was fixed.

I think I need to go into stuffed animal practice.

Food funnies

So, last night I cooked spaghetti for supper. When we were putting things away, of course, there were no disposable containers to put the food in. How could that be? I mean, there must be TWENTY lids in the cabinet just waiting for a match! But, now bowls could be found. So, in the ziplock bags supper went.



So, you are thinking, that doesn't look like spaghetti noodles... No, it isn't. I am the queen of improvising because I NEVER seem to have what I need to make a meal according to recipe. So, last night, I realized that we didn't have any spaghetti noodles, so here comes the macaroni. Kate was excited, however, because there was "macaroni and cheese with the spaghetti!"

While I was at the dentist the kids stayed at Mom and Dad's. I came to get them and left their house around 12:15pm. They both fell asleep in Bullet on the way home and I put them straight to bed - and they both went fast asleep. And, so did I.

While I was asleep I heard a noise in the kitchen. Well, I thought Kate was awake, but I didn't think much about it (truth be known my mouth hurt and I wasn't worried about it). Well, the noise continued, and I found her in the kitchen STRAPPED into Brooks' high chair. She was stuck - because she can't get the straps undone. I let her down and asked her to get back into bed and be quiet so I could rest a little longer.

Ok - fast forward to dinner. I'm talking to Mom on the phone, and she asks if the kids ate a good lunch - she bet they were probably hungry when they got home. What do you mean, Mom? I thought she had fed them! Well, she hadn't. Poor kids!!! Well, at this point, they are H-A-P-P-I-L-Y eating dinner and all's well that end's well,
right? :)

Oh my achin' mouth

Well, my loyal readers will remember that I took my dreaded trip to the dentist 2 weeks ago. What I didn't tell you was I had 2 cavities. Not on the same side, mind you. I haven't had a cavity in 6 years, so I guess I was due.

Do you know how much I hate going to the dentist?

Anyway, it took 2 HOURS to fill these cavities, because they had to numb my left side TWICE and my right side THREE times. And, when she got into the left tooth, she noticed a cavity in the tooth behind it. So she fixed that too.

It's now 4pm. I can feel my mouth - which is surprising (I thought it would take much longer for the numbness to wear off). But, my teeth are sensitive. Yikes! are they sensitive. Makes me scared to eat. I think I'll cook a baked potato and see how that goes.

Congratulations to Scott and Dad!

Today, Scott and Dad were among 16 men inducted as deacons at church this morning. I am so very proud of them both! Of course, Dad served many years as a deacon at our church at home, but it was special to see him and Scott both selected to serve.

Our church is growing such that we started 2 Sunday AM services several months ago. The second service was so early that the attendance wasn't enough to alleviate the seating problems of the regular service. Today, we started a compromise - where church service began at 8:30am, followed by Sunday School at 9:45am. Remember that we live 30 non-speeding minutes from church and used to leave at 8:20am - now we will leave at 7:50am. This is a feat for our family! We made it this morning. Mom says that it will be nothing after a few weeks, and she is right. But it is something until we get used to it!

The hardest thing for the kids is having services first, bible class second. They weren't sure what to think! Come to think of it, neither did we!

Consignment sales are coming

I am very excited about the upcoming consignment sales. I am working this one like I did in the spring, because I got the chance to get some incredible deals EARLY! My computer has been very difficult in letting me get my items for sale registered, but I finally completed that task today. Now I am busy pinning tags, applying masking tape and hanging on hangers (I have already gotten the clothing ironed).

Yeah, so Wednesday night Brooks fell face first in the ladies restroom at church and chipped both of his front upper teeth. He was crying and I was crying. I just couldn't believe it happened - especially on "my watch". Well, I got him calmed down, took him to class, taught the 2's class, then loaded the kids to take them home. I called Scott on the way home and told him about what happened, and there I went again - crying all the way home.

You know, all I could think about was:

• At least it's his baby teeth
• What are his kindergarten graduation pictures going to look like?
• They really aren't chipped that badly, but with little teeth, a little chip goes a long way
• I can't believe that it happened

I have gotten 1 estimate for Bullet - right at $1,750.00. Yikes. I can't believe how much it costs to repair cars. It seems extravagant to me. But, oh well.

Laugh for Wednesday!

I'm quite sure that everyone has seen this picture, but I thought it was worth another look. It cracks me up every time!

Also, my cousin in FL has a 7mo baby - check out this video on her blog!

Have you met banket?

I thought it was worth introducing you to banket. This is Brooks' best friend. There is nowhere we go without banket. And, somehow when banket is around, his right thumb finds his way to his mouth! I mean, every single time!

This blanket was made by Holly's mother. Holly was our adopted student at Faulkner for 3 years. We miss her a lot, but she is finishing up grad school at Southern Mississippi and then on to an internship in KY.

Holly, please tell your Mom how much Brooks loves his banket. I just hope that it will last many more years to come!



Ironic, isn't it, that he DOESN'T have his thumb in his mouth in either of these pictures!

Kateisms, Shopping

It has been a fun day today. Kate and I went to the barn this morning and rode Reed. Granted, we didn't stay all that long because it was so stinkin' hot! But, we had a great time! We got apple juice slushies from Sonic on the way home, which was a hit with her.

This weekend is tax free shopping for school in our area. We ventured out - but not to the mall - that place looked crazy from the road. While shopping at Kohls I witnessed numerous fights between parents and children - IN THE SHOE DEPARTMENT. I'm so not kidding - I have never heard so much arguing during one outing of shopping. Most of it was because the child wanted the $30.00 shoes, and didn't like the $15.00 shoes, which the parent did. I'm so glad that our kids are still too young to care.

Kate has been singing like a bird lately, thanks to Mrs. Missy. Here are some of our favorites - with the correct words in parenthesis:

"Roll the Gospel Cherry (Chariot) along... If a brothers in the way, we will stop and pick him up... If the devil's in the way we will run over him (roll right over him)..." (Scott asked her about stopping for the sisters, and she said - "No sir, Daddy, just the brothers...")

"God is so good, God is so good to me. He answers praise (prayers)...."

Happy Birthday Suellen!

Here's a Happy Birthday to my blogger friend, Suellen! She is pregnant with a baby girl and is a really smart librarian in Georgia! I hope your day is as special as mine was yesterday!

Happy Birthday to Me!

It occured to me that I rarely place pictures of myself or Scott on our blog... So in honor of my birthday I decided to post a few of my recent favorites. Tonight Scott and I are going to an auction - one of my very FAVORITE things to do. Who knows what treasures await us tonight? :) *Why I didn't place a pic of me and Brooks, I don't know...



My and my first love, Reed.

Easter 2008

Gatlinburg, 2007

Scott and Me