PARTY TIME

We celebrated Coco's 11th  birthday today.

She picked pink and gray for her colors.

I am loving the pom poms made from tissue paper. There are super easy to make.

I have seen these banners all over blogland so I wanted to try my hand at making her one.

I love how it turned out. It is hard to see but the 1st layer of paper is really cute with black chandeliers.

 

 I ordered her cake from Walmart. It was supposed to be pink and grey. As you can see it was NOT.

Coco was happy with it, she thought it looked tie dyed. As long as she was happy but it drove me crazy. If we had more than 2 hours before her guest arrived I would have done something else.

I picked up Eureka pizza on the way home to so that we could make a 6:35pm movie time. Coco, A and C having pizza before we left.

I took them to see Monte Carlo. I expected the theatre to be crowded since the movie just came out today but it was only 1/2 full. Must have been due to the holiday weekend. It was a cute movie.

Once we got home they played on the trampoline with the sprinkler. Daddy helped them shoot some fireworks off. She has had a great birthday.

Looking forward to the 3 day weekend.

Everyone be safe and have a great holiday.

Pam

SOMEBODY'S HAVING A BIRTHDAY

Coco will have a birthday next week.

I asked her tonight to make us a wish list.

This is what she brought me.

1. Cell phone

2. DSI 3D

3. Good (new) camera

4. Bulletin Board

5. New purse

6. Paris Perfume

7. Lots of stickers

8. Notebook w/ pens

9. Reba seasons 1 & 2

10. Lemonheads

11. 2 sim cards

12. Allowed to wear makeup to school :)

She will be turning 11. I can see in her list the changes from a little girl to becoming a young lady. Each year will be harder on her Mama

Daddy and Mama have already said NO to number 12!!!!

We will be preparing and planning for a small affair to celebrate her 11 years next week.



WEEKEND RECAP

I had a jammed packed weekend planned. From Friday night all the way thru Sunday night. God had a different plan. I started feeling a tickle in my throat early last week and it progressively got worse. By Friday night I was worried about how I was going to make it to all of my events. Well I didn't make it to all of them!

Friday night was my nephew Ethan's birthday party. It was an hour away after work. His Momma asked me to take pictures so I couldn't miss it.

The little stinker turns 5 tomorrow. He had a great party with lots of little friends.

Playing in the balloons!

Early Saturday morning my Girl Scout troop set up a water booth for a local 5k race. They had a great time and luckily we only had to be out there for almost 1 hour.

These are a couple of the teachers that my girls have or have had in the past. They were stoked to get to give them water!

By the time we were thru I knew the only place I was going was to see a doctor. We had plans to go to a friends house to celebrate Scott's 40th Birthday and watch the Hogs beat Ole Miss. I knew if I went we would have to leave early for me to make it to a walk in clinic somewhere. So I sent Scott and Coco on to the party while I stayed home and went to the Care Express inside Walmart. I have a severe upper respiratory infection. By Sunday I felt like I had a hippo sitting on my chest. So I stayed in bed all day Sunday. Missed dinner with the in-laws for Scott's birthday dinner.
I missed work on Monday because I still felt horrible. Felt a little better today, still not 100%. Sick of being sick.

Scott and I also had our 11th wedding anniversary on Saturday. Since we didn't get to spend it together we are going to go out on a date this next weekend. Looking forward to that. It has been too long since we had some one on one time alone.

Thats whats happening in my world!

Blessings,

Pam

BIRTHDAY BOY

My nephew had a birthday on Saturday. He turned the big 25! His bike number was representing well last night. He races motorcross. He asked us all to come to the race track for his birthday so we drove to Dora, Oklahoma to support him and be with him on his birthday.

His bike he won in a race this year. The number worked well for his 25th birthday

Getting geared up for his 1st race.

Don't you just love his polka dots! I asked him why he didn't get hot pink polka dots, he didn't really have an answer! It sure made it easier to pick him out from the other racers. The other guy is his friend Randy. I got mad at him in the first race because Dallas was in 1st place until Randy plowed into him and he was cut back to 4th place. His rear wheel ended up with a broken spoke. I got over it by the 2nd race, Dallas was able to cut Randy off on a turn and Dallas ended up winning 1st place for the night. YEA GO DALLAS

This is what the call a table top jump. a flat longer grade. I didn't have my Canon so these were shot with my little point and shoot.

This was on the first race when Randy was in the lead.

It was a lot of fun watching them. There were 4 wheeler races, pee wee, and then different classes for the older groups. I loved watching the little ones on these teeny tiny bikes. They were giving it all they had. Unfortunetly we got ATE up by mosquitos, they were horrible. We all put on bug spray but I think that just made them mad! We had a long ride home and didn't get home until 12:30am after the 2 hour drive up 540 watching for the deer to pop out.

We had a great time!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DALLAS

I remember 25 years ago very clearly. It was the first time I had seen a real newborn baby right after birth. I remember telling my Momma that we should see if the doctor would put him back. In my defense I was only 17 years old and he had been in the birth canal for 4 days while my sister labored. I used to be the "COOL" Aunt but that changed as I had my own child and his wants became more outlandish than just getting highlights in his hair. We spent many a New Years Eve's together when I was single.  I taught him how to tie his shoes and blow bubbles with his gum. He will always be my boy and I will always be his "Pam". He would argue with people at 2 years old that I was "HIS PAM"!

Great memories!

GIFTS

I wanted to share with you a couple of the gifts I received for my birthday. I have been receiving gifts all week it seems. Last night Scott brought home a gift that his sister had left for me at his Mom's. She gave me 3 Penny Culliford books. These are called Faith, Love and Chocolate. I have never heard of this author but I think these are going to be a fun read. She also gave me my favorite body sugar scrub in Cilantro Pineapple flavor. UMMMM Love it.

My sister brought me this stamp set on Sunday. It is called All in the Family from Stampn' Up. I had mentioned a craft I had seen using this set and she went to looking for it. So glad she did and I was so surprised. Can't wait to use it on my project.

I also have a prayer request. My nephew's dirtbike racing partner Hunter had a really bad wreck last night. He broke the front and back of C4 in his neck. He is in ICU awaiting surgery hopefully tomorrow. The neurosurgeon is waiting until some of the swelling goes down around the spinal cord. He is 20 years old and has been riding since he could walk. It was just a freak accident while he was practicing. So please remember him in your prayers.

Thanks

Pam

A GREAT DAY

42 years ago today my Momma got the joy of her life. ME

She didn't tell me that I am just assuming, ya know I am sure that is how she felt. She told me today that I would always be her baby. That sounds funny coming from a 42 year old but I guess that is how Mommas always feel.

I have had a wonderful birthday!

Scott and Coco met me for lunch at Olive Garden.

When I got home I opened the door to SURPRISE and beautiful voices singing Happy Birthday to me. Scott, Coco and our neighbors Diane and Joann. Scott had ordered the cake above and had it ready with ice cream so we had dessert before dinner tonight.

Our wonderful neighbors Joann and Diane ! So nice of them to come celebrate and surprise me.

My gift from Scott and Coco. I can't believe he remembered. I just made a comment one day in Walmart that I wanted a firepit. He is so wonderful.

This is my chocolate silk pie that my inlaws got me when we had my birthday dinner with them on Sunday. Were just making it a week of celebrations. I sure don't mind getting older when I am treated so well.

I am very blessed that is for sure!

UPDATE: I JUST REALIZED THIS WAS MY 400TH POST! SINCE I WAS TREATED SO WELL I AM GOING TO TREAT Y'ALL TO A GIFT TOO. I WILL BE LOOKING FOR SOMETHING GREAT TO GIVEAWAY SOON.

OUR WEEKEND IN REVIEW

I spent most of the weekend in Little Rock at the Girl Scout Service Unit Conference. I have been a troop leader for 5 years and was asked to join our local service unit this year. I will be helping as the Event Coordinator. More on that later.

Friday morning before I left Coco and I got a special gift ready for the mail. When our friend Darleen past away Coco wanted to do something for her daughter Stephanie so she used her birthday money to make her a Build a Bear. When we got there she needed one too. This is her with both bears before one got mailed.

Now to my trip to Little Rock. One of the ladies that went was able to get us a executive apartment for the weekend. Which was awesome! Thanks Tammy.

When I unpacked I found this little guy in my bag. Coco didn't want me to feel alone.

These are the ladies I went with. Me always behind the camera which is not a bad thing. We had a ton of fun getting to know each other more than just through our monthly Leader meetings. They all have a great sense of humor so there was lots of laughter going on.

We each had different workshops that we went to. My first one was on Best Practices and Networking. The leader did a fun thing with yarn. She handed a ball of yarn to one girl and we through it around the room while holding onto our section which in the end showed us networking looks. Kinda of like the AT&T commercial. I will have to use this with my troop.

Another workshop I took was Girl Scout traditions. We did alot of singing and talking about bringing back the singing, service, flag ceremonies, etc. The leader of that class was hilarious, she did all these songs with actions and she was from South arkansas so her accent was really cute. I can't wait to teach my girls some of the songs I learned. The photo below is a Kaper Chart that I thought was cool. In our troops this is how we assign jobs for the girls. I have used several over the years and this is the best one for a small meeting place. And in GS you need small since I have to store all this stuff at my home when not in use.

We left Little Rock at 5pm on Saturday and drove home. The time flew by as we were all talking about the things we learned and ideas we gathered. This made my weekend at home to short but it was well worth it. I am eager to begin our troop year next month but have many things to get planned and ready before then.

Scott and Coco went to Oklahoma with his parents to look at a table for my mother in law. They visited the Frank Phillips Museum (the founder of Phillips 66 gas) in Bartlesville while they were there. Wished I could have gone with them as it sounds like a really cool place.

Today we slept in and didn't make it to church :( but I did get some cleaning caught up and then we had my birthday dinner at my in-laws tonight. She cooks whatever you want for birthdays so I asked for a taco dinner. It was delish as always. She gave me a beautiful Brighton ring with a cross on it. Love it.

Coco went to VBS at a new church tonight. She had a great time and can't wait to go back tomorrow. Please join me in praying that the LORD will speak to her heart this week. She has talked about accepting Christ before but I don't think she has really understood the importance of doing this so if you will just pray that she will be guided this week. Thanks in advance for lifting her up in prayer.

Tomorrow is back to the office. By the way I am loving my new job. I can't believe that tomorrow I will begin my 6th week there. It must be good because time is flying by.

This has ended up being a very long post. Thanks for hanging in there with me.

Have a extraordinary week!

SOMEONE HAD A BIRTHDAY THIS WEEK

My baby is now a decade old. She turned 10 on Wednesday.

She asked for a IPOD Touch.

She got it!!!!

I don't think she has ever been this excited about a gift. She gave us both lots of hugs and kisses!

She is not a fan of birthday cake. I know, maybe she was switched at birth...

So anyway, I ordered cookies for her. It was also softball tournament week, we played Monday and Tuesday and I was sure we would win and play again on Wednesday so I ordered 36 cookies. WE LOST!  We made due and shared with family and our neighbors. These came from Harps. They tasted good but I was a little disappointed in the decoration. I wanted the monogram to be in script. Live and learn.

When it is your birthday Nana always cooks whatever you want. Coco wanted chocolate pie. Nana baked the crust into letters. She is not answering her phone in case Ricks calls her for a job.......

Coco also asked for Chili. End of June and this is what she asks for. Silly kid. She had the same thing last year. I always want salmon on the grill.

It has been a wonderful FULLLLLLLL week! I am so ready for the 3 day weekend and my house looks like it to.

Blessings,

Pam

FUN DAY

A perfect day. We visited a new church this morning. It was a nice service but not the place God is leading us. We'll try again next week.

After church we headed to Mom's to celebrate Jake's and Coco's birthdays.

The birthday boy and girl. Jake was 14 on the 3rd and Coco will be 10 on the 30th!

This little monkey is my nephew Ethan. A real stinker. He ran to the truck when we got there and told me he missed me, I said I missed him more, he said no I missed you more. So cute. He is so loving and ornery!

The monkey comes by it naturally, this is his Daddy. He races these. This bike he just won recently.

Michael my bro in law. He is responsible for teaching these boys to ride. Jake is going to start racing next weekend and little Ethan already has a bike with training wheels. They believe in starting them young.

Spent some time with Mamie at the nursing home. Coco crawled up in bed with her, Mamie loved it and asked her to spend the night with her. She gave Coco a floral bowl that she has in her room at home. Today she told us the story of it. Her mother gave it to her when she married in 1936 and her mother had gotten it from her sister before she was even married. When she and Grandpa Jay got married they didn't tell anyone so that they wouldn't chivalry them but when they looked out the window there was a long line of cars waiting for them. She said they brought bells and made lots of noise. She and Grandpa had sweets for them. I am guessing this was the tradition back in 1936.

She told us about her church. She joined Zions Rest Primitive Baptist church when she was 20 years old and has went there ever since. She will be 96 in December. Grandpa went to the Methodist church and since her church is only once a month she would go to the Methodist church with Grandpa. I have a book of Grandma's memories that I am filling with her stories and life. I plan to spend some time getting it finished soon.

Time to go back to work tomorrow. Looking forward to another good week.

CELEBRATING AND REMINISING

What is the deal with blogger and photos. It loaded these in the wrong order! URRRGGG

Sunday afternoon we had dinner with my in-laws to celebrate Papa's 67th birthday. I can put his age cause he won't read this, ha ha ha! They invited us to Monte Ne Chicken for lunch. This is a local family restaurant that serves bean soup, fried chicken, mashed potatoes, gravy, corn, green beans, coleslaw, bread, apple butter served family style. There are no menus this is what you get. It is always packed and reservations are needed.

When I was 25 I bought my first house as a single girl. This house is very close to Monte Ne Chicken and the lake. I always want to drive by when we are out that way. After lunch Scott and I drove up to the house.

This was my first home I purchased all by myself. It was 1100 sq feet and brand new back in 1993. I paid $55,000 for it and sold it a little over a year later. Long story on that!

I loved the street name Saratoga Drive. Street names speak to me

Sorry for the horrible photo but this is our lunch. I do not like food on a bone, but I have had fried chicken 3 times in this week alone! We had the same menu at bible study last Wednesday, we stopped into KFC on Saturday for a quick supper. It will probably be another year before eating like this again.

Papa and Nana reading his birthday card. He is the worst to get us funny birthday cards, his was about false teeth and smiling! We got him a big clock with a temp gauge for him to put up outside.

The rest of the afternoon was spent at Lowes getting flowers, measurements for blinds, vanities and grocery shopping at Walmart. Coco complained most of the time we were in Lowes and I thought it was just because she was bored. By 8pm last night she had a fever of 101. She didn't tell us she felt bad she just wanted to leave the store. She is home with me today. No more fever just very lathergic.

I have several projects planned for this week and I hope to get started and show you what I am up to.

Blessings,

Pam

WEEKEND RECAP

I have tried for 2 days to upload photos and blogger is not cooperating. Driving me crazy. That is why I am just now posting about Halloween and our weekend. I have some really cute photos of the family too! :(

Coco was supposed to be Alex from Wizards of Waverly Place. Come Saturday morning it just wasn't comfortable and she wanted to wear our costume from last year. After arguing with me she went in her cheer uniform! I will not be buying a costume next year. She can wear something homemade or not be anything. She said on Saturday this would probably be her last year.

We spent most of Saturday at Mother's, to celebrate Scott and Ethan's birthdays and to help mom get ready for Trunk or Treat at her church. My sister and I made a poster that said "FALLING FOR JESUS" and decorated her trunk with lots of fall stuff. I looked so cute. I also thought about doing a TEAM JESUS theme, like a tailgate party. Wouldn't that be so fun. The event was a huge hit for a small community. She attends church with the sweetest people. I really enjoyed being there with her as a family. I wish we all could attend the same church. I suppose we could but it would be quite a drive for us and my sister each week.

Sunday we celebrated Scott's birthday with his parents. Sandy (mil) always has a beautiful table and the food looks like it is ready to be photographed for a food magazine. She is very talented and she didn't burn anything. This is a long running joke because she usually gets to talking and forgets the bread. I have bought her timers but I have never seen them again. LOL

Your probably thinking we go on and on and on for birthdays. We usually have dinner with each side of the family and we've been known to all get together for some. Next year will loads of fun for Scott because he will be turning the big 40! I need to get a book to start making lists of ideas. I want to make it really special and memorable for him.

I am counting down the days to some time off this month. I will have over 60 hours of time i need to use up before the end of the year plus we get Veteran's day and Thanksgiving this month. I am already using this to get Coco up in the mornings. Telling her she only has 3 weeks and she gets a whole week off. We are counting down at our house!

Blessings,
Pam

CALGON TAKE ME AWAY

What a day. I think I met myself coming and going today.

Coco had a birthday party from 11:30 to 1:30 at FastLanes in Lowell. We had so much fun. They bowled, had pizza and cupcakes, and then got a card to play the games. Coolest party ever. The little girl that was our host for the party was so fun, she was bubbly and so darn funny.

After the party we had a couple of hours before our next event so we went to Gordmans and TJ Maxx. I was sad, it was the second time I have left TJ's empy handed. I had a kitchen design book in my cart but I didn't want to stand in line to pay for just the one thing so we left.

Sorry for the small photo but it was the first I found. At 4pm we had a Girl Scout Kickoff at the Great Day Skate Place. I had 6 girls sign up this year and more have expressed a desire so we'll see how many we end up with. Coco got to skate for about 45 minutes before we had to leave for our next appointment.


Good ole softball practice. Coco did really good, given that she hasn't put a glove on in over a month. She was catching fly balls left and right. She better, since she is planning on being a professional ball player and if that doesn't work out she is going to be a wildlife photographer.

I sat in my car for the 2 hours of practice burning up and I forgot to bring a book so I cleaned out the car and read up on Leading Girl Scouts.

We didn't get home until after 7pm and I am beat. I have done 2 loads of laundry since I got home and tomorrow will not be a day of rest. I will be getting all the laundry done since school starts this week. Yeah for a schedule. We do so much better when we are on a regular schedule. Even if it is busy we still have bedtimes and routines.

I am going to go see if my hubby wants to rent a movie.

Blessings

Pam

FRIENDS FOREVER

Coco got to have a sleepover with a couple of her BFF's this past weekend. They had fun playing in the pool, games, dress up, twister and you name it they probably got into it.


Madison, Gwendolyn and Coco decided to model for us from Coco's closet. They were strutting their stuff! Coco has a toy cell phone, I guess you can't be COOL without a cell phone.

They were outside playing around and decided to eat from Coco's carrot garden. I know I heard " I think I just ate dirt" , yes honey you probably did!

Since it was 4th of July weekend, her party decor was red, white and blue. This is my attempt at creating a star!

Opening gifts, all girly girl stuff! I especially liked the green nail polish!

I fell asleep after 1am and they were building forts in the living room. Saturday morning they told me they had stayed up until 5:41am. They were on Webkinz at 2am and played Twister sometime during the night. I think we all a good nap that afternoon.

I need help! Scott and I will be married 10 years in October, we want to take a trip (a mini big trip). Vegas is so cheap right now and I know we would have fun but we are not gamblers or the party type so that worries me. But for around $350 each we can fly from XNA and stay in one of the nicer hotels for 3 nights and 3 days I want to stay in the Paris hotel, last time I was there in 1998 they were just starting it. My sister and I were given a trip in 1998 and we had a blast, we didn't gamble much but we toured so many of the hotels and went to a show. It can be fun without being vulgar, so I don't know what to do. We want to go somewhere for 3-4 days and I don't want to go to Branson. Where can we go that is close from NW Arkansas, lots of stuff to do, relatively inexpensive and fun???

Maybe I can make a contest out of this and a giveaway ! Leave me your ideas and fun places you've been.

Blessings,
Pam

NINE

It is 9:13pm and 9 years ago tonight God blessed us with the sweetest little girl in the world. Today is Coco's birthday and we have celebrated all day.

I woke her up this morning singing Happy Birthday and let her open a gift. Scott stayed home with her today. She invited a friend over to swim and then they all met me for lunch at Red Robin where the employees sang Happy Birthday to her. For dinner we went to Nana's for Chili, brownies, pink lemonade and a dolphin cake. Nana always makes whatever we want and the past 2 years Coco has asked for chili and yes we tell her it is too hot for chili but that is what she wants.

I went back and found some photos to remember the years.


She was about 6 months here.


Nine months here sleeping on Dad's chest. I love this photo.

Silver Dollar City at six years old making a fashion statement. At six I wasn't too worried but at 9 she won't be wearing that in public.

Cheering at age 7

My gorgeous girl at almost 9.

Coco was born a month early and weighed just 4lbs and 4 oz, 17 3/4 inches long. She was healthy as a horse. They worried about her losing weight right after she was born but she was a champ and gained steadily. I didn't really know unconditional love until that moment in the hospital when I finally got off the morphine from the c-section and got to be with her and hold her. I remember crying so much just from all the love I felt for this tiny life.

We took her home, scared to death because I didn't know how to take care of a baby but it all worked out. I think God gives just what you can handle. She didn't sleep through the night for 4 months and I know I could not do that again for 4 months straight. I was very picky and did exactly what the books or doctors told us. I didn't take her out for the first 30 days because she was so little and the doctor warned us that she was border line premie so we should be very careful.

The first time I took her to my Mom's she screamed the entire way which made me a nervous wreck. She developed colic between 3pm and 7pm every day for months 2 thru 4. Looking back now we had a hard time but it was so worth it. I think about rocking her to sleep for the first 2 years. I miss that time with her.

She is growing up and like Scott said she is at the half way point of leaving for college. I will have to retire and go with her. She is sweet, considerate, caring, responsible, loving and the best daughter I could have asked for.

Happy Birthday Coco!