Valentine's Day '09

We had a very nice Valentine's Day this year. At midnight, after Livvy & everyone was asleep, Joey & I couldn't wait to exchange our gifts. We promised not to get eachother anything big since we were going out to dinner & to see the Features at World Grotto later that night. So we exchanged our cards & shared our chocolate (for Joey), & chocolate-covered strawberries (for me). We got Livvy a little stuffed cat holding a heart & Joey got her 1 dozen roses. They were yellow roses. Which just so happens to be my favorite. He said he thought she might grow up to like them too, & she already does! She loves to look at them & touch them softly. I'm so terrible, I never got a picture of them. We, all three, spent the day being lazy at home, making my parent's at least go out to lunch, running a few errands, & napping before our date night that night. We overslept a little & didn't have much time to go anywhere to eat & we both completely forgot to get reservations. So, we ended up eating a McAlister's Deli & then heading to the concert. It was awsome! Llama Train opened for the Features & they were both really good. We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves!
Here are some pictures. I apologize, I couldn't get a picture with Joey's eyes open. Apparently this was the day that no matter what we did he had to blink right when I took the picture. I finally got one, but now Livvy's not looking. Oh well!

Livvy & her "Da-di"

Joey & I on the town!

25 Most Random Things About Me

Yeah, I know...it's been forever it seems! Don't worry, posts with pictures are coming soon. But for now, here you go...

It happened, again. I got tagged on here & on facebook. So here it is! Feel free to read it you feel so inclined & fill one out for yourself!

1. I might not seem very organized lately, but I really am an organized person. Hence the fact that I panic if I am without my planner or I can’t find something because things are disheveled.

2. I’m just a little OCD. Especially about germs & dirt. To the point that when I was really young, I would wash my hands & disinfect everything so much my hands would bleed. I know, weird.

3. I did Hebrew dance for several years & was on a swim team in grade school. I also figure skated for 11yrs.

4. I play piano & am a piano teacher (when I can find the time again!). I would absolutely love to own a harp so I could teach myself how to play.

5. I love music! It just makes me happy. You can usually catch me, more often than not, humming & head bobbing to some song in my head.

6. I got married to an amazing man just shy of my 19th birthday, & had Livvy just before I turned 20.

7. I love documenting things with writing & pictures. Family, church, etc. I love keeping a history.

8. I love the Lord with all my heart and I have a strong testimony of the gospel & His plan for me.

9. There are days I’m a total girly-girl (love mani-pedis), & others I just don’t care. I suppose I'm hard to define in that respect.

10. I dream of being a stay-at-home mom/housewife one day. Hopefully sooner rather than later.

11. I love old movies & music. I was quizzed as a child about the names & background info on the performers. Let’s just say, I can hold my own on the trivia stuff.

12. I am an only child. Although, I consider my best friend & her whole family my siblings.

13. I love & appreciate my family & friends more than they will ever know. I don’t do enough to thank them.

14. As a child my career aspirations where to be a bagger at Kroger’s, a pretzel maker at Auntie Anne’s, & a singer/dancer in a show (Dollywood, Broadway, etc.). I know, dare to dream big.

15. Eventhough I don’t to it very often, I love to read. But it has to be a book that I’m almost immediately drawn into.

16. Try as I might, I’m just not artistic. My crafts always look like a Kindergartener made them.

17. I am a huge klutz. This would explain the random statches, cuts, & bruises I always have.

18. I have never broken any bones. But I have “stoved-up” a finger so bad that it caused permanent swelling, dislocated my hip, chipped the hip-bone, eliminated the cartilage in my knees, & have arthritis is my hip, knees, & ankles. Graceful come to mind?

19. I'm a blogger. Just a little addicted to that, I'll admit.

20. I love Italian food.

21. I am addicted to texting. Sad, but true.

22. People say I was “born old”. Growing up I spent almost all my time with my mom, Mamaw, & great-aunts. I spoke & acted like I was much older & more mature than I was.

23. I love to travel. I love to see new places & things & love learning about the history.

24. I’m a talker. I won’t deny it. Even a motor-mouth. But I really am nervous the whole time I'm talking. That’s when the nervous ticks & stuttering come out. And there are times I’ll act shy if I don’t really know you. I don’t like speaking to crowds, but if it is important I’ll suck it up & go.

25. I love watching sports. Funny thing is, I enjoy it more than my hubby sometimes.

Livvy's first toothbrush

On February 2nd, Livvy got her first toothbrush. And as you can see, she loves it! She gets so excited when it's time to brush teeth. Maybe it's just because I'm the mom, but I think it's too cute!
This is when she first saw the toothbrush. She's overjoyed!
"Don't forget the back gums, Momma!"
"Here, I can do it all by myself!"
"Cheese!" All squeaky clean!

"Once there was a snowman"

It finally happened. It snowed! Not just the little stuff we get every year that melts in miliseconds. But 2in of the wet stuff! It came yesterday. They told us we could leave early from work if we thought the roads would be bad, so I left an hour & a half early. I called Joey & suggested he do the same. So, as soon as he got home I convinced him we needed to go out & build a snowman to show Livvy. So we did & this is what we made. Handsome little dude, isn't he? He would be much larger, but the sun came out causing the snow to start melting & turn to ice. Plus, neither of us were wearing gloves or anything, so are hands where freezing & starting to hurt. By the time we were done, it was getting dark. We wanted to hurry & take a picture so we didn't take time to put on Livvy's snow gear. We just bundled her up in a thick blanket & ran out to take a picture. She didn't like being bundled up, so Joey kept having to fight to keep the blanket on her. So this is the best picture we have of her with the snowman. She might not have a clue what it was all about, but hey, we had fun! And we have something lovely to show for it, nice pictures & not-so-nice colds.

Livvy & Daddy with our cold, little friend.

Daddy got a nice picture of a winter sunset-sky.

One awsome week

So, this week has been pretty great. First we had Mamaw's Birthday celebration, then Hairspray, then a Hockey game, then we attended Jammin' In Your Jammies, & to top it all off Joey & I went out to dinner. I know, it's simple. But I thouroughly enjoyed it! But the "star" of my post today in none other than my favorite band, Emerson Drive. They were in town to sing at the start of the hockey game & play a small concert. I knew I wouldn't be able to go to the concert since it was a weeknight & it wasn't starting until late. So, Joey got some free tickets from the radio station for he, my dad, & I to go see them at the hockey game. I was thrilled! My pictures didn't turn out very well, & I didn't get to go talk to them after since they were whisked away to get ready for the show. But Joey did get this video for me. It's a little echo-y, but they still sounded great! I was happy! Enjoy! :o)

Hairspray!

That's right! My birthday present finally got here! Ok, let me explain. For my birthday Joey got me tickets to go see the Broadway production of Hairspray when it was planning to come to town in January. Well, they came. We went. We sang along. We loved! Ok, maybe I loved it more than Joey, but he still enjoyed it! It was amazing! If you have yet to see a production of it or the movie, you are missing out. It is definitely one of my favorites. I am a sucker for musicals though. Especially the corny ones. And this one is definitely that!

One thing I thought was funny was that while I was watching the cast perform on state, dancing & singing it reminded me. When I was younger, my family took me to Dollywood alot. We would watch the shows, & I would tell my family that my dream was to one day be one of those people on stage. Keep in mind that this is after my dreams of growing-up to be a bagger at Krogers (What? I was three & I loved the grocery store.) & becoming a professional pretzel maker at Auntie Ann's (I still fantasize about that one. Gosh, I love pretzels!). So, here I am almost 20 years later. I'm not a dancer anymore, or a singer. Things happen, things change, some dreams fade. But that one never did. I would still love be on stage in a show like that. Just for fun. But I'm afraid my Arthritis-inflicted joints would not thank me for that. Who knows though, maybe one day I'll be that woman who, when all her kids are grown, will take up dancing. But it will have to be before Joey retires & we sit in our rockers on our front porch all day. Haha....yeah, like we'll ever not be busy & have the time to do that! But who knows. A girl can dream! So now my question is, what have been some of your dreams? Feel free to share! And go ahead, laugh at my childhood dreams that for some reason revolve around food.

Happy Birthday, Mamaw!

On Jan 27th Mamaw (my maternal grandmother) turned 72. Who would believe it? She so doesn't look it! The Saturday before her birthday, Mom & Dad took her to dinner at Bravo then they took in a show. Not just any show, but one Mamaw had been dying to see forever; Hal Holbrook in Mark Twain, Tonight! We magaged to get 4th row tickets too! Mamaw said the food was amazing, but the show was even better!



Then on Mamaw's birthday we all went out to dinner at Red Lobster, where they sang to her...by Dad's request. After, we came home & opened presents. Livvy loved helping, as you can see! We didn't eat cake that night because we were too stuffed. And I didn't get pictures of her pretty cake before we did eat it either. Sorry!
Mamaw really seemed to enjoy her birthday festivities!
We are so blessed & thankful to have such a wonderful woman in our lives. She is an amazing wife, mother, sister, aunt, friend, grandmother, great-grandmother, etc. She teaches us everyday, makes us smile, is a wonderful example to us all, & one of the greatest people you could ever meet. She is everything to my family, including one of my best friends. Happy Birthday, Mamaw Jean! We love you!

Livvy liked helping Mamaw open her presents!
Reading birthday cards with Mamaw
Livvy loves her Mamaw