~ 2008 American National Championships ~

This weekend we went to Orlando for the 2008 American National Championships! The girls did FANTASTIC and brought home 3rd place! Kennedy was so excited to get another trophy and finish off their year!!





Kennedy is on the left (she's got the spotter right behind her).



One "cool" cheerleader



Kennedy and her friend Lexi



This was our "water front view" at the hotel ~ HA!



Fun on Saturday night ~ we took the girls bowling!



I got a STRIKE!! WOO HOO!! GOOOOOOOO ME!



One VERY happy cheerleader and YES, that trophy is taller than her!!


It was such a long weekend packed into a short amount of time. Every time something would happen, my friends would say "Is this going to end up on your blog?" ~ uhhh YES! We arrived at the hotel around 9:30 and the whole reason I picked the hotel was because it was only 4 miles from the convention center AND it had free continental breakfast. Well, that breakfast was served from 7-10 and we had to be at the convention ctr at 6:30 both days. Some other things that happened:

• On Sat at the convention ctr, I went to the bathroom. I walked in and actually said out loud "Oh, it's kind of dark in here!" and at that time I rounded the corner (I was PHYSICALLY inside the bathroom area) and there were rows of urinals. Before I realized I WAS IN THE MEN'S BATHROOM, I actually thought to myself 'Why are there urinals in here?' and then I realized I was in the wrong bathroom. I quickly hightailed it out of there and a guy was walking in. He stopped, stepped back 2 feet and I quickly said 'YOU are in the right place, I am NOT!'
• We were 'forced' to eat at Denny's Friday night for dinner. Forced as in we were starving, it was almost 10pm and we had to get up at 5:30 the next morning. It was open and we were hungry. Have ya'll ever eaten at Denny's on a Friday night in a large, touristy area? Quite the sites, let me tell you. The girls (Kennedy and Madelynn) were acting like crazy people and nearly forced me to drink.
• I believe there are only 4 roads in Orlando ~ International Blvd, Kirkman Rd, Vineland and Sand Lake Rd ... every turn we took, we ended up on ONE of these roads.
• There was KILLER DRAGONFLY (according to Kennedy) at the pool (I use the term 'pool' VERY loosely) and Kennedy about flipped out -- I was so embarrassed. Good thing we were the only ones there!

We're back and exhausted but it was fun. We are going to take a year off from cheerleading and just work on tumbling with Kennedy. I need to give my checkbook time to recover!

~ Favorite Foto Friday ~

Ok, a friend of mine has turned me on to Favorite Foto Friday. Her name is Heather and she has an awesome blog ~ Faithful Froggers! She is listed under my favorites, so make sure you check her out and go see her cute little ones. She has a baby girl that will make you want to reach through computer moniter and pinch her little thighs - SO CUTE! Anyway, here is the photo I have picked for TODAY. The theme is "The Eyes Have It":

I love this picture! It captures Cameron's silliness and Kennedy's love for her brother. Her eyes are SO almond shaped (like mine) that when she was a baby and went to this one Japanese restaurant, this lady kept telling Kennedy she looked like a jack-o-lantern when she smiled! Literally though, her eyes would just disappear!

Happy Friday!

DIS-GUST-ING ....

My son, my boy, my baby .... he is 3, have I told ya'll that and he is NUTS! He definitely keeps me on my toes. I picked them up tonight (as soon as I got to Kennedy's class, she said "Mommy ~ I fell off the monkey bars and I forgot about my hurt arm" .... she was practically WHISPERING because *SHE* wanted to tell me first. Our daycare director told her that she was going to tell me ... and since we JUST had her cast removed for doing the VERY EXACT SAME THING, I guess, well, I don't know what to think anymore! Good thing my girls weekend is coming up soon - that's all I have to say about that.



ANYWAY ~ the kids got home and Cameron and Kennedy made themselves sandwhiches (with Chad's $8 million organic wheat bread) and 2/3 of his turkey. I walked in and said "OH, you guys are eating sandwiches' in which Cameron turns and said "Sissy made 'em" and Kennedy QUICKLY responds with a "NO, Cameron made them ...... with NO MAYONNAISE" and so, silly me made the comment 'EWWWWWWWWWWWWW, you gotta have mayonnaise on your sandwich' and I turned and went on my merry little folding laundry way. Well ........ SEE BELOW:

He's got mayonnaise alright -- UGH!! I do not know how people can eat spoons of mayonnaise ~ that is the most disgusting thing to me. But I digress ..... bets on how long it will take me to be admitted to the funny farm??

PS ~ My lip is HEALED ~ THANK YOU JES-US! It is still a little sore, but NOTHING compared to the other day! WOW! That stuff does work! I just don't recommend it on a sore that is that close to your lip.

Advice

Have you ever hit yourself in the head with your blowdryer ~ while you are blowdrying your hair?? Like you are running late and you are frantically blow drying your hair and WHAM! you almost knock yourself out? I bet that would hurt if that ever happened - I've *never* done it - but I'm just sayin' .....

WHAT was I thinking? A product review ....

***** PLEASE NOTE: THIS POST IS NOT FOR THE FAINT OF HEART *****

Last Thursday night, Cameron accidently head butted me. My tooth went through my top lip and it hurt like crazy. I actually cried a little -- not like a raging maniac, but like an 'OH crap, that really freaking hurt'. By Friday ~ yes, GOOD FRIDAY ~ I had an ulcer the size of California right on the inside of my lip (where your incisor is). It was a little swollen but not bothering me too much. By mid-day, it was REALLY bothering me. I went to church that night, sang and fellowshipped with my friends and tried to ignore the THROBBING pain I was experiencing. I sang ALL weekend long, ignoring the fact that every time I opened my mouth, my tooth was rubbing against this 'mouth irritation' and making it worse. By Easter afternoon, it was as big as California AND Washington put together. We had a nice afternoon at our friends house, although I was avoiding most things salty. I FINALLY bought some Zilactin-D (after making 4 stops to find it). This, my friends, is a miracle ointment that causes 'minor irritation' to heal in 3-5 days and has IMMEDIATE pain relief - WHATEVER - the active ingredient in it is 20% benzocaine!! I nearly went through my sunroof after I applied it (yes, I'm one of those freaks that rips the cap off with their teeth and can't wait because I was in so much pain). Anyway, yes, there is a point to this story ..... my friend Shawn told me about this stuff 'Canker Cover' that she bought for her daughter. There was a little 'discomfort' when it was applied, but it creates a gel-like patch on the sore for 8-12 hrs and in most cases, can completely heal the sore in 1 treatment. I thought to myself , SURE, I'll try it - the Zilactin has to be reapplyed every 2 hrs and feels like I'm pouring pure alchohol on to the spot, so I can deal with a little 'gel like' patch action.

So I saw her today and she gave me the rest of the box. Being the patient person that I am, I waited until she drove away to rip open the box and put this little gem on my sore - RIGHT THERE IN THE PARKING LOT. Now, I am a VAIN person, and I feel like everyone is just STARING at my sore. It did hurt -- like HELL! I'm telling you, my toes curled. Here is the description of what it does from their website:


- Immediate Pain Relief
- Protects the sore - stops pain from food, drink and irritants
- Sticks to any canker sore and becomes a clear gel patch
- Stays on comfortably for 8 to 12 hours, then dissolves
- Won't come off while eating
- Freshens breath
- A single patch fully treats most canker sores
- Contents treat 4-6 canker sores

Canker Cover is a tablet-like patch made from edible ingredients. It sticks to any canker sore within seconds, and then forms a clear, gel patch that lasts 8 - 12 hours. The patch protects the sore from irritants - food, drink, braces, etc., and releases healing nutrients. A single patch will treat most canker sores.

This is what it looks like when it's first applied:

Ok, yes, I know. It's funny looking, but look how white my teeth look!? That white thing you see protruding from my mouth that looks like "Bubba Teeth" is the "Canker Cover". That joker attached immediately and WOULD not come off.

Here it is at 7:20 pm tonight ~ now, what in the WORLD am I going to do if this looks like this tomorrow??

(eeeewww, I need a brow lift!)

It keeps growing and growing and growing! It looks like a SLUG coming out of my mouth! I tried to eat dinner, but I was getting so grossed out. That is when I decided to go online and read about this canker cover (also after I tried to pour water on it and 'gently peel back to remove' -- yeah right -- the makers of this stuff must be in to pain because it felt like I was pulling off LAYERS of skin -- I decided to leave it b/c *hopefully* it will dissolve within the next 5 hrs) ~ anyway, it said that the gel like substance absorbs the fluid from the sore, effectively healing it within 1 day. SO WHERE DOES THE FLUID GO!?!?? BACK IN MY MOUTH!?? UGH! I think I threw up in my mouth -- NASTY!

So anyway, if this does happen to heal it within 1 day, then the pain and the abnormity of my appearance has been worth it. By the time it got this big, I was already home from work. I'll let ya'll know - but until then, know Chad is getting NO kisses, the kids are freaking because their mom looks like a FREAK (although Cameron keeps saying 'Ohh mommy, you gotta BIG ONE!') and I'm just resorting to taking Advil PM and going to bed!!

Until tomorrow .....

PS - It's ok to laugh at me .... I have been allll day!

~ A hint at spring ~

This was outside our front door ~ a sweet little birds nest. Everytime I walk outside, there are birds RIGHT by the front door, making all kinds of racket ~ I guess this is why:





Wishing you all a very Happy Easter! We will be busy - I am singing at church all weekend with our Praise Team - and I can't wait to celebrate the life of our Savior, Jesus Christ! He is RISEN!

TOILET~GATE: 2008

**** Edited to add: Toilet-gate 2008 is officially OVER ~ until next time ****

Girls ~ the toilet paper roll is still sitting peacefully on the sink, the old roll of toilet paper is still on the holder, and the Cabela's magazine is STILL on the floor. Hubby knows about this post but I am standing steadfast and although I am trying to practice submissiveness that God says that I should, I strongly believe, in this day and age, THAT JOKER CAN CHANGE THE TOILET PAPER ROLL!! Heck, if he's in there already, do it while you're sitting there!!

Only 6 more posts and I've hit 100 posts!! I think that means something SPECIAL! STAY TUNED!

Why? Why? WHY??

This is my guest bathroom ~ I love my guest bathroom. It was one of the first rooms I painted when we moved in. I desparately wanted the chocolate brown and teal color scheme. It matches my guest bedroom in which I went for the chocolate brown and teal feel in there too - like you were at the beach! Take a good look at this picture:



Now, look at the picture again after I have pointed out a few things ~ this is after my dear husband LEFT the bathroom (you'll have to click on it to see it larger):



Please note the EMPTY roll of toilet paper on the holder and the NEW roll of toilet paper sitting on the sink. WHY on earth can he NOT change out the roll?? I am posting this because I KNOW he reads this blog and I am O-FFICIALLY calling him out! Notice the Cabela's magazine on the floor too - SINCE we have been married, I have asked him to PLEASE pick up whatever magazine/newspaper/WHATEVER he reads ~ trust me ya'll ~ I know you know what I'm talking about ~ but NOPE, he NEVER does. This then causes me to go crazy and throw the catalogs away and then he gets upset that I threw away his catalog ~ BUT do please notice the magazine holder RIGHT NEXT TO THE TOILET!! It's not like he has to go that far!! I shall not mention the two barbies on the floor - I don't know WHAT you were doing with them (OK - it's late and I'm laughing out loud at myself for that one!) For all that his HOLY ~ HONEY ~ PLEASE CHANGE THE TOILET PAPER HOLDER!! I REFUSE to change it now ~ so let's see how long it stays that way ...... and I love you!

I've got to go mop - I swear I can still feel salt on my feet in the kitchen - courtesy 'o Cameron. Chad said it's psychological, I say "NO" we need to get a farmer to bring his cow over to lick it up - isn't that what cows like to do, lick salt?

Why I can't take a nap unless my 3 yr old takes a nap ....

This is why:



Mommy: OHHHH Cameron, what are you doing?

Cameron: I makin' you uh cake.

Mommy: What is that you are using to make me a cake?

Cameron: SALT!

And with that, as I snapped his picture ~ he started singing Happy Birthday ~ but the only person who HAD a birthday recently was my Dad (Happy Birhtday POPS!) and I even thought to myself, you better put that salt away! GOOD TIMES!

Not bad for a white girl!

I'm officially on track with Kennedy's room. I painted the bottom color Saturday morning before I left for probably one of the best baby showers I have ever been to! Those girls know how to do it UP! My goal was to come home and finish just the bottom part ~ but then I was kidnapped by Renee and Shannon and we went to Della's After Dark (local folks - if you have never been there - you DO NOT KNOW WHAT YOU ARE MISSING!! YOU MUST GO!! I WILL BE TAKING MY SISTER AND HER HUSBAND THERE) ~ anyway, I had the best tenderloin of beef EVAH! It was so good, it almost made me forget about this:





Yep - paint in my hair. I was putting the lid back on the primer before leaving, you know, so when the kids got home (I confirmed they were close by before I departed) it would not be an open invitation for Cameron to 'paint you' (that's what he says). SO when I put the lid back on, banged it with the hammer - SPLAT - all over me and my jeans. THANK GOODNESS it's water based because it came RIGHT out.

This, my friends, is what I am most proud of:



Oh yes, Chad's dad, Harold, was going to come over tomorrow to do this for me - put up all my chair railing. He is my honey-do husband. He can do 'anything' - seriously. It was either that or wait until my Dad got here next weekend. Chad is one of those guys whose *talents lie elsewhere* and so he is much happier writing a check as opposed to actually doing it himself. He won't even try - he just won't do it. THANK GOODNESS Harold is here 6 mths out of the year ~ I am always asking him to please help me with this, please help me with that and he always happily obliges, although I do make sure I have plenty of chocolate on hand while he is here!! I decided to do it myself. I didn't want to wait - I'm on a timeline. I want her room DONE. My Dad gave me a miter saw last year and I knew that is what I needed - so we went to Lowe's today and got the chair railing. I was going to wait, I really was, but the anticipation to have it done was killing me - did I forget to tell ya'll that I'm IMPATIENT!? SO, I changed out of my work clothes after I made the first cut and realized that MAYBE I could do it. I think this looks pretty good for a chick that has NEVER EVER done anything like this in her LIFE! That's a pretty close FIT, if I do say so myself!! I was screaming and yelling for joy. I had my ipod cranking with my rehearsal music for church and I went to town. Nothing's better than singing praise and worship while doing something you surely thought God never intended you to do! HA! I was done the ENTIRE room in about an hr. I got stuck on one little section that did NOT have a 90 degree angle, so that took a few extra cuts. I put a little wood filler on my corners and VOILA! It looks pretty darn good (this pic is PRE-WOOD FILLER and there is caulk on the wall). SO, now all I have to do is touch up the paint in her room, add the iridescent paint to the trim and I'm moving her in. I bought a stencil, however it is on backorder. I won't have it until next week. It's super cute and was the brainchild of kari and kijsa. They suggested I do that to add some flavor - I can not wait. It's going to go perfect in her shabby chic room!!

Off to bed - this cat is TIRED!!

Flip Flop Swap Bedroom Project

Yes, I know the title is redundant - but I like saying it. The project is under way and right now it's ONE BIG HOT MESS!! My goal by the end of tonight was to have Kennedy's room painted. I hope to have the chair railing up tomorrow and then start moving her in her room by Tuesday. Kennedy keeps walking in and telling me how beautiful it looks ~ even though it's got the BRIGHT PINK <-- not the actual color -- on the bottom and white primer on the top part. It took 4 coats of paint on the bottom to cover the denim blue that was on the wall, so I figured I might as well do this one RIGHT and put primer on the wall. I'm really excited how it's going to turn out and several friends (and one sister) have offered some fantastic ideas for the room - all of which I am doing! I took a little break and ended up taking a 3 hr nap! Today was my day to sing at church, so I was up at 5:25 AM (after a *panick* wake up at 2:30 AM in which I forgot to set my clock forward - so I did it then) and I think I was just dog tired.

Going to eat dinner ~ then I'm back at it!

I. HIT. THE. MOTHERLOAD.

I am jumping in feet first to get Kennedy's room done. After wise instruction from my council (Shawn) ~ I finished a project before I started this one. THAT project being my master bedroom. It looks fabulous. SO, now I can start on the 'flip flop swap' of the kids rooms. I had to kill some time waiting to pick up lunch for some clients, so I popped in to HomeGoods. They must have had a shipment, because I hit the MOTHERLOAD!!





The "stuff" ~ spent $100 collectively .. this entire makeover will cost less than $200. The style of her room is shabby chic (DUH!) and I have a ledge in there which I am going to put several different things. That wire shelf is TO DIE FOR and was only $9.99


Is this precious or WHAT??! $1.99



The little lunch box thing was $6.99 and the pot was $5.99 ~ I'm going to put a LIVE plant in it and hope that I don't kill it. The fabric you see is her current curtains, shams and throw pillows. NOT changing those out.




The BEDDING!! I have a comforter on their now but it's trashed, so I wanted a matelasse ~ in apple green. Found one on ebay that I was jumping at the chance to purchase for $165 (plus shipping) ~ this one was $65 TOTAL!

I'm really excited. I think it's going to turn out cute. We are painting the top part of her room the pink color and the bottom part is the green. We are going to put a med chair railing to break up the two which I am going to paint white and then put an iridescent paint over top of that. ADORABLE!

We're back!

I'm so tired. We had so much fun. I *think* I may have successfully ruined any chance for Chad to run for ANY sort of political office though for fear pictures might surface ~ kidding ~ but that is only because my Mom reads this blog. SPEAKING of my Mom, she came down with Dad to watch the kids for us while we were gone. THANK YOU so much - my house was gorgeous when we got home and I hope to keep it that way. Kennedy asked me why I didn't know to cook like Nina (that's what they call her) because it was 'so good and so special' ~ so I'm seriously considering cooking classes or just diving in and going for the kill. Cameron and Kennedy thoroughly enjoyed their visit. NOW we're getting ready for The Carrolls to come in about a month.

Did I mention that I have decided to switch out the kids bedrooms? We're going to move Kennedy to Cameron's and vice versa. Kennedy is still quite confused as to how her furniture is going to fit in the same room as Cameron's ~ she is so blonde sometimes.