Friday, April 3, 2009

Help!!!

This would be what I need help with... this white van. This is one of the views I have from my front porch.... Same view since last Septemeber. Nice, huh? My neighbor got a new car and she has left THIS in the same spot since! It looks so terrible.... Her mowers are mowing/weed eating around it. I mean come on lady! I think this falls under the category of redneck, doesn't it? I am getting ready to turn into a crazy neighbor! Isn't their someone I can call about this? Jim has even joked about trying to buy it from her- no thank you!

my ipod is a hot item these days around our house. Here, merrill is finally getting a turn!

listening to ABBA


So we have had some spring like weather lately. The girls enjoy playing in the back of the car. And I know, that could technically make us fit in with the lady with van, but trust me.... we do not!



emery posing in the back of the car




merrill abandoned by her driver





gymnastics is over.... at least for now! Mia & Emery posing after class. Don't they look like high schoolers in this picture?
So, obviously not much exciting to blog about still! Hopefully I will have some new material soon, or I fear that blogger will shut this blog down!!!






Sunday, March 22, 2009

just a few pictures

So I took a few weeks off from blogging. I don't like going that long without updating! I have been busying myself with lots of other things... sewing, taxes, and switching the spring/winter clothes out to name a few. I have been so bad about grabbing the camera these last few months too! We have been doing a lot of playing the last few weeks. For the most part we have stayed sickenss free (knock on wood) except merrill has some sort of cold/fever thing right now. I am sure that I have the Y to thank for that!

We are getting geared up for warmer weather. I am so ready for parks, zoo, picnics, sidewalk chalk, and pool time! And, in a funny way... I am ready for Emery to be out of school too. We are coming off spring break and we had so much fun last week. Just playing around the house!
Merrill loves the stroller. I mean loves it. She is trying to learn how to strap herself in. Not a bad idea, huh? She pats emery's side of the stroller and really wants emery to just sit in there with her. Sweet emery just says, "no thank you merrill."

we had a trip to the zoo last week... along with every other nashville mom! way too many people....

the grass is always greener in someone else's stroller


nosey merrill peeking under an anonoymous friend's hooter hider



ahhhh yes.... accessories. Accessories are very big in this house. At any given point, you can find hats, glasses, jewelry, shoes, and even some jackets laying around. Both girls enjoy trying on and taking things off. unfortunately, I have been bad about not making them clean it up!!




another accessory





the girls and I took a trip to atlanta to visit nana & poppy a couple of weeks ago. We headed to a really cute circus and this is the only picture I got! I really need to read my manual on how to take a focused shot without the flash!
We also went to a fair while we were in atlanta. Let's just say that within a few minutes I knew I was out of place. A child shoult NEVER wear a monogrammed outfit to a fair! That is all I will say about that!






Tuesday, March 3, 2009

lazy

I bet I'm gonna look lazy with this post, but I don't have that much energy left tonight..... My brother recently started a blog. I feel sure that he wouldn't care what or who reads, but I probably should check before I attach the link. It's always a good laugh!

He's a writer. He's the most creative kid in our family. I often call him artsy-fartsty- to his face! The guy needs to write a book! I can remember watching him write a line or two to use in a poem or short story on a napkin in a restaurant once! So, below is a childhood memory that he wrote about, but both of us remember!!!


And I can't post without a picture of my girls! BOTH of them sat on the stage last week during storytime at the library. Ha, such a proud moment for me!








Growing up with two sisters and no brothers was difficult for a boy with a vivid imagination and a penchant for pranks. Don’t get me wrong, I love my sisters. They’re two of my best friends. However, when I hit them, they would just cry.
Bor-ing.
All I wanted was for them to hit me back. A scuffle, a few kicks to the shin, a little give and take—is that too much to ask for? Something more inventive than a tittie-twister. How about a charlie horse? A sucker punch in the stomach?
Oh, okay, you running to tell on me to Mom and Dad again. Well, that’s original.
One year for Christmas, my parents bought me a remote control truck, a monster truck with knobby tires and admirable ground clearance and a bar of plastic lights above the windshield.
My truck bogged down in grass like any other vehicle in its class, but buddy, on concrete or asphalt, it could move. Great acceleration, nice handling. My truck could even land jumps from a modest height, which is better than the garbage you had.
My truck battery was recharging in my room. I went upstairs to get it, and as I was carrying it back downstairs, I saw my older sister sitting crosslegged on the floor, watching television. Her back was to me, and here I was with a monster truck and a battery full of juice.
I had an epiphany. I’d play a joke on my sister.
I sneaked up behind her and buried the rear wheels in her long, brown hair. I then pulled the trigger on my remote control. The tires made a whizzing sound as they accelerated, and I thought, “Uh-oh,” as her hair turned into a bird’s nest around each black tire.
When she started screaming, I panicked. I flipped a switch, putting the truck in reverse. Unfortunately, the truck cinched itself even tighter against her scalp.
Her volume went up another 50 decibels.
Fight-or-flight, fight-or-flight. I ran for it.
My truck had to be cut out of her hair.

Wednesday, February 25, 2009

babies, babies, babies

So, I love babies! I LOVE them. One time I told our pediatrician that I had never seen an ugly baby. I'm not sure why I was telling him that, but he said, "Yes, you have!" I am still laughing about it. But, anyway.... I love how babies smell, I love all their noises (except for at night), I love being at the hospital when they are born, and I will stop there. Some of my favorite people have had babies the last couple of months and I don't think I have put any pictures on here. I thought I was putting the pictures in order of birth- I did, but of course I forgot blogger does them the other way.



Brady Parkes
Born 2/24/09

Cooper McKinney Tuggle
born 2/12/09



Camille Mae Crawford
born 12/9/08



Madison Leigh & Macey Katherine
born 11/5/08


(And yes, I am wearing the same outfit in these last 2 pictures. I should turn myself into PEOPLE for the "I really love my...." section of their website. I think its so silly that a celebrity can't wear the same thing twice without worrying that they have already had their picture taken in that! If you don't know what I'm talking about go to www.people.com)
And yes, yes.... I realize I am kinda cross eyed in the last picture. Focus on the babies, focus on the babies.

Wednesday, February 18, 2009

february happenings

We have had a busy couple of weeks! Last week we had fun celebrating Valentine's Day. One day the girls and I had some friends over and we decorated valentines cookies and ate junk food. Of course, I didn't take any pictures!

Jim and I decided a long time ago that we wouldn't do valentines on valentines day, so we went with some friends to maggiano's last Tuesday. It was so yummy! We also went to our church's showing of Fireproof on Friday night. If you haven't seen this movie, go see it!

We are looking forward to spring... it's mid 60's today in Nashville! Love it.... love this smile.....

decorating her cookie at her school party

okay, so this is an early morning shot of emery. We gave her HSM for valentine's day. I wasn't sure if it was too "old" for her or not. What kind of parent am I for not watching it first? But, it is better than requesting Mama Mia all the time. That has quite a bit of "too old-ness" in it!
please note: we are loving gymnastics. We found some handy-me-down leotards and other fancy stuff (as we call it) that has made emery feel a little more comfortable in class! The less clothing, the more comfortable this child feels! She is even sleeping in this some.


Girls and I headed to Knoxville with my parents on Valentine's Day. How romantic, right? Jim had to work that morning, so we opted to go visit my brother. We had lunch, shopped a little, and walked around. Good times, but a long day!



a kid in a candy shop.... We love going to the Mast General Store in downtown Knoxville. Such a neat store!



I heard merrill whine somewhere in the house... this is where I found her. I think it is time to start closing some doors around here. I hope I never give off the impression, I'm not watching my kids, because I do! Merrill is just faster than I am now!






Speaking of closing some doors. I also need to keep the door closed to my bathroom cabinet. I have been finding "these" throughout the house. Merrill keeps me on my toes.
I also got to see baby Cooper yesterday. One of my most favorite people ever, Heather, had her second little boy this week. I'll have to upload the picture from my phone. He is just so sweet and perfect!
And, we'll be getting another baby cousin on Tuesday.... Brady Church will be making his entrance into the world! Yeah for babies!





Monday, February 9, 2009

Chart Day

We had a "chart" day, today! First off, Emery and I came up with a compromise several weeks ago. She seems to be very prize motivated. So, after a really bad nail biting episode, (I mean the finger was bleeding) I offered her this: no nail biting for 12 days and then she would be able to do all the following:

1. manicure
2. lunch at moes
3. ice cream from maggies moos, baskin robbins, etc.
AND
4. pick out a new "thing" from the toy store

Well, she did it!! I really wasn't sure it would work.But, she loved the whole process. I did what I called a white check each morning. I checked to see white on her fingernails. She was almost giddy after she passed every morning!

So, today we picked out a new toy. I think the toy store overwhelmed her. She's a lot like her daddy- don't give them many too many choices. Emery would have been perfectly content for me to choose 2 things and then her choose from that! And to confuse the matter, my mom (kiki) offered to buy her a treat too. At one point, she was saying, "I only want one toy!" How do you convince a 3 year old that she should choose 2 because that's what she's being offered!!! I ended up with a $12 purchase.... Not too bad!!! I haven't stopped to calculate how much this little compromise will cost Jim and I, but honestly, I don't really care. And besides, I'm gonna space everything out to ensure Emery stays "clean!" I haven't had to say, "Quit biting your nails" in almost 3 weeks! So nice! here's the chart


We started our morning with a trip to the doctor for a weight check for Merrill. Merrill isn't even on the charts for weight. Goods news is that Merrill did gain a couple of ounces. Still not breaking the 16 pound mark though. No one is overly worried because she's doing everything (and more, in my opinion) that an almost 14 month old should. Still on a high calorie diet though. The doctor's words... "calories are her friend." I wish someone would say that to me!
And, here are a few pictures from the last couple of days! We are loving the weather, but we aren't getting to attached.























Thursday, February 5, 2009

you're not a sister, but a bear & jimnastics

Both Emery and Merrill have been late teethers. I think emery had 2 teeth at a year, and merrill has 4 1/2 right now. So, all that to say.... mine teeth for about a year. 12 months to 24 months. Which means the are very clingy, whiny, etc for that whole time. Most days I'm fine with it. But... yesterday was one of those days I need everything to go smoothly. And, I won't bore anyone with why it didn't. So, add whiny merrill to that.... I was a bit short tempered. On the way to church last night merrill was doing her thing and I said, "merrill you are a bear today!" A few minutes later, Emery said, "Merrill, you are not a sister, you are a bear!" Of course I found it funny, but will probably watch more closely what I say. It didn't sound too sweet coming out of a little one's mouth! our sweet, whiny, funny teether



We signed up for gymnastics at the Y. Emery kept calling it gymming nestics. I believe a combo of gymnastics and swimming lessons. So, I told her to just say daddy's name and then nastics. That's all it took... She can now say gymnastics.

I think Emery will enjoy it, but her first time she was a bit bashful. Not sure if it was the fact that her 'outfit' didn't match what the other little girls had on or the fact that her instructor had double earrings and spiky hair. It really doesn't take much for her to get a little thrown!



after she took her turn, I noticed that she just kept standing in the back. Fortunately, the guy picked up on what she was doing.