Guess who figured out how to use the camera on my NEW computer?

 

There were 79 pictures almost exactly like this .....

In my defense, I have been cleaning, folding laundry, etc etc etc .......

I got a MAC ....

My computer was dying ... dying .... gone ..... so we got a MAC ... and I had no idea ... just how much I would love it.

and guess what??



it has a built in camera ~ we've been having TOO much FUN!!

Have a great weekend!

New Stuff ....

I got some really cool vinyl lettering sayings off etsy.com ~ love that place! When I find the website I got them from, I will post on here, but I wanted ya'll to see one of the ones I have been wanting .....

Then, since I have been redoing Kennedy's room, I got a 'tip' from my super shabby chic friend, Torrie, and I found these SUPER cute lamps at Homegoods. They were inexpensive and I couldn't have made them for as cheap as I got them. They will look adorable in Kennedy's room! I hope to have all of that unveiled in the next week or so. It is really coming along nicely.

You NEVER know .....

So the strangest thing happened yesterday ~ not strange in a bad way ~ but strange in a "ARE YOU KIDDING ME!??!!". I had a comment from a new blogger that had never been to my blog before. She found me via Kim and so I emailed her back to tell her a little bit more about our "OCALA" experience. WELL, now she lives in a town not too far from us and so I told her that yes, we have some VERY good friends that live in that area also, so maybe we could meet for lunch one day. THEN she says "It's not CB, is it?" ~ and I'm all "ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!! YES, IT IS!" and then she emails back that she only knows one other person in their town that used to live in Ocala and YEP, Chad knows her VERY well too!! CRAZY!! Actually, the guy this girl used to date (the 2nd friend, not the new blog friend) set Chad and I up!! SMALL WORLD, HUH!!?!?

THEN, last week, before I left on vacation, I got to chatting with Rhoda about a project she had worked on and I wanted some tips. She was so sweet and kind AND helpful! We got to talking about Atlanta and discovered we both are from the same EXACT city up there ~ now Atlanta is HUGE, ya'll ~ so again, just DIVINELY strange, yet oh so WONDERFUL!! We've certainly connected and I absolutely LOVE her style. She's got some GREAT tutorials on her site too about painting furniture, etc - be sure to check her out!

I can't wait to get to know you, Rhoda and Vikki!!

Hello Blogworld ~ it's me, Natalie ....

SOOO much to update since we got back from Atlanta - great trip, family's good, and we're glad to be home. I have 198 emails (work and personal) to catch up on ~ YIKES!! But for now, I thought I would leave you with these pictures:



These kept me from going outside this morning ~ PETRIFIED. OF. BIRDS. I don't know WHERE they came from, but there were about 50 of them ~ pecking away at our grass. They have moved 2 houses up now. Never have seen anything like this in my life.


Here's my little guy this morning - yes, we live in Tampa. Yes, it's going to be 95 degrees outside. Yes, this is what he wears almost every day because he is a 'cah-boyyyyy' ~ he is giving me his spiderman hand. He is holding a real turkey call in his other hand. I let him take it to school. Because I'm cool like that.

Dang we make pretty babies .....

Gone to church camp ....

They arrived in style! Yes, we drove all the way through Tampa with this on the car and they LOVED it!





Kennedy and Abereese (these girls had been at cheer camp all day too!)




Family photo ~ yes, Cameron was being difficult ~ what's new?? He's 3.








YES WE DO!!




Kennedy and Abereese (my bf's daughter) were able to secure last minute spots in our church's camp. Kennedy BEGGED to go. I told her "There is NO TV ~ you can not sleep with the lights on, there is NO TV!" - I asked her 3 times and she shook her head and said she wanted to go! SO, we took them on Monday and are picking them up tonight. I haven't spoken to Kennedy since Monday, but haven't heard from her either, so she must be doing ok! On Saturday night, after church and BEFORE CAMP, we were laying in bed together (Daddy out of town, so that is what we do) and she said "Mommy, am I a Christian?" - YA'LL!!! SO I was so glad she was able to get into this camp ~ I can't wait to her about all the FUN things she was able to do!!


Tomorrow, we leave for:








Where they have this:




and these little people:



But we'll miss this big GUY AKA Daddy:

Sorry, he's from Ocala ~ don't hold it against him! {SMILE}

White Trash Water Park

Wheeler, this is for YOU!

Please let the boys know Aunt Natalie is sending a new attraction for their water park!


Hugs and Kisses!

For those readers that don't know Kim, you must click on my link above and read her post ~ it's HIGH-LARIOUS!

A stray ....

********* EDITED TO ADD************

who now goes by the name "TIPSY" and is no longer a stray!



My friend's brother-in-law had some kittens that were left in his yard. Fear of them dying, I agreed to take one ~ Chad was out of town, so I didn't ask him. I should have, being a good wife, but I didn't. The kids immediately fell in love, but all I could think about was cat scratch fever. Deep down, I have always wanted a gray cat with white feet. HELLO TIPSY!! His name is Tipsy because the tips of his feet are white and it STUCK ~ except Cameron calls him "HIPSY". He is a sweet little guy and is currently staying under Kennedy's bed. He will hiss and act all kinds of BAD A$$ when I try to pick him up, but as soon as someone is holding him, that joker will sit still and fall asleep. Seriously. I hope he turns out to be a good pet.

GOOD LORD PEOPLE ~ I guess I take it for granted only friends and family read this blog ~ YES, this cat will be spayed or neutered and declawed ~ it is still a baby and probably MAX 6 weeks old. This is not our first rodeo with pets. Chad and I are big supporters of the SPCA and both our current cats were adopted from there and they won't even let them leave the facility before they are fixed (questionable on the declawing, as this is now considering inhumane ~ but I happen to believe in it).

I have been INUNDATED with emails about taking the cat, it being a stray, etc etc etc ~ Bob Barker called, he wants his job back!!

But thank you, yes, it will be fixed as soon as it is old enough.

More proof God puts people in my life for a reason ...

So my BFF Amber was here last week while her hubby was doing some work in Lakeland ~ her kids were here as well and I asked Madison if she wanted some lunch and she said "Yes, I'd like a peanut butter and fluff sandwich" in which I replied "COMO SAY WHAT?!?!" and Amber laughed and said "Have you never had that before?" ~ obviously NOT!!

SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO, I went to the sto' and got some marshmellow cream, even though I know they make stuff called "Fluff", this would have to do ~ I'm pretty sure it's the same thing. Anyway, I only had wheat bread ..... I mean, seriously, if you're going to do it, go all out and do it on WHITE bread ~ so I did it and when I bit into it, the heaven's parted a little and I swear I heard angels singing ... or could have been my ipod on continuous play of "Bleeding Love", but I digress .... I even used the peanut butter and honey -- OH. MY. LORD!!!

Try it - you'll be glad you did!

I bet he HATES his job ....

Chad is in Nashville for CMA Music Fest (formally Fan Fair) ...... this is who he gets to hang with:

That's Jessica Simpson for those of you that have been living under a rock for the past 5 yrs. Chad said she is JUST as pretty in person and NOT as dumb as the media portrays her ....

Twenty things I will NEVER do ....

I totally swiped this from Katie, she is a blog I found one night while lurking around blogs. I thought it would be neat to do. SO here's my list.

I will never ...


1. ....have a perfectly, spotless, clean house.

2. ....give up on a trying to HAVE a perfectly, spotless, clean house. I am making a CONSCIENCE effort
to get organized over the next few months and KEEP my house clean. Having a full time job and being a full time mama keeps me busy.

3. ....stop loving my girlfriends ~ they are everything to me and I will go to the ends of the earth for them (ya'll know who you are).

4. ....drive a mini-van - EVER. NEVER. EVER. Sorry Old Lady in the Shoe - you have 7000 kids so you need one.

5. ....be one of those people that appears to have it completely together - I like my quirkiness.

6. ....not go on my ANNUAL RITZ GIRLS WEEKEND!

7. ....deny my daughter of cheerleading. It's expensive but she loves it.

8. ....drink Diet Coke (willingly). Fountain Cokes - I LOVE YOU!

9. ....leave my son alone in a room with a tub of spackling.

10. ...leave Lysol Bleach spray in a room where said son can reach and spray in random places (couch, bed etc).

11. ...say I will NEVER be a stay at home Mom (anymore).

12. ...not talk to my mom or sister in a 24 hr period.

13. ...turn down Chick-fil-A

14. ...NOT laugh at someone when they fall or stumble, esp during a step class. I will ask if they are ok though - promise. Character flaw - sorry!

15. ...turn down a good sale. Retail therapy ROCKS!

16. ...be 'shy' when singing with my praise team. God gave me the voice, I must use it to HIS glory!

17. ...freak out if Chad were to say "We're Moving" ~ although I feel confident we are here to stay in Tampa for a long long time, I know God has lead us here for a reason and it was the most wonderful thing that has happened to us!

18. ...turn down karaoke - EVER!

19. ...stop stealing kisses from my husband or my kids.

20. ...stop loving God!

What 20 things will you neer do!?!