Finally Friday

This week was a short one, and it still felt like forever until Friday. We, or I, am still in the process of putting my kitchen table together. I've gotten the 4 chairs together, but now I just have to add legs to my table. I hope to have it done this weekend so that I can share some pictures. The mattresses are in place. Now, I just need a comforter set, sheets, and a bed for it. I did things a little backwards. ha ha! We are loving the mattress though and have had 3 good nights sleep together in our king bed. I went to bed at 9:15 last night just to lay in it to watch TV. Surprisingly enough, I even got Kyle to agree to come with me. We fell asleep watching basketball. I love my new big mattress.

While searching for a new comforter set for my bed, I found this really cool website. I guess it actually is a blog site. I have never seen it before, but it is really cool if you are looking for something specific like I am. I am looking for aqua and brown. Check out this site. Then, you can also click on sites and see all blogs that participate. Pretty cool!! I am still trying to decide on the comforter I love from the previous store. The website that has it (www.bedbathstore.com) had some negative comments on BBB. I have learned my lesson with companies I am not familiar with. I ordered flowers to be sent out of state once, and they never sent them, but oh they charged me. I had to do a BBB report. I always check that out now. So, I am nervous to buy from this site, but I really want that comforter set!

I joined a gym yesterday. I was a member of one about a year ago, but school work kept me from ever going, so I cancelled my membership. Me and my friend that I used to go with joined together to take the classes that they do. We did Zumba last night. Boy was I tired. It is so fun though because its a mixture of hip-hop and salsa. A lot of booty shaking! It is so much fun. I'm hoping to lose these taters (aka love handles) that I have going on. Speaking of those, talk about depressing. I ordered some clothes from Victoria's Secret while they are having the semi-annual sale. They were just tank tops and a bathing suit. I fell for ordering small for some dumb reason. I think the S (4-6) threw me off. I wear a 6. Duh, I forget I am not a 6 model size. Those dang shirts were like second skin on me. I had to send them all back. I hate when that happens. This time, I ordered a L (12-14). hahaha Maybe that will fit a real size 6 person. ??

Tomorrow is my company picnic at PM. I will probably go eat and play volleyball, then find something else to do. It is supposed to be a really pretty weekend, so maybe we can get some fishing in while there is not a chance of rain...first time in like 4 weekends. Hopefully, it will be a good weekend! TGIF!

Hope everyone has a great weekend!

Sleeping together & Another fishing story

My husband finally slept with me! Ok, get your mind out of the gutter! My husband finally slept in the bed with me at home! I am sure you are thinking um yeah that is what he is supposed to do. Well, that was not the norm at my house. He has almost always slept on the couch. I am used to it though, so it didn't bother me all too much. Sometimes it really bothered me and sometimes it didn't. I have always wanted him to sleep with me, but with the bed we had, it was not comfortable at all. He is 100 lbs more than me probably, and we've had a full bed since we met. When he did come to bed, we were right on top of one another and I was fighting a downward slope all night long. I would roll into him and be sore the next day from where my back unconsciously was fighting the hill. Not to mention that boy can snore!! Mom, dad, Angie, Josh, and pretty much anyone that has ever slept in the same room with us can tell you. I think I have learned to tone it out, so it doesn't wake me up. But goodness forbid that I don't fall asleep before he does. It will take me forever to get to sleep once I hear the snoring. Bless his heart, he can't help it though. Anyway, enough about that...the reason he is now sleeping with me is because I finally bought a new MATTRESS!! We bought a KING SIZE bed! It is so big compared to what we have now. I just smiled ear to ear all night, while I was rearranging. I didn't really get a good night sleep still though. I think I just need to get adjusted to the new mattress. Every time I woke up, I would say to myself...I'm sleeping on my new mattress!! So, I would kind of wake up. I woke Kyle up this morning and asked how he liked the new bed, and he said, "Its ok, I can roll around a lot." I guess he just isn't as excited as I am. Even though my full bed is small, it sure did make me realize how small my guest bedrooms are. It makes those rooms look even smaller!! I've got to do some rearranging this weekend to make everything fit better. Dang my spoiled dogs and their bedroom that I can't put anything in because they will eat it.

Now, I have one room to cram everything into. I also got a new kitchen table that I have been dying to get for a while now. My table still worked and was ok, but I hate Oak furniture for some reason. It doesn't match my cabinets at all. The chairs to go with it were given to me and were from probably the 80's. They break every time someone sits in them. I am so over the table. Now, I have a new one that I get to put together tonight. I am so excited. I love to put stuff together and can't wait to have a new table. Now, what should I do with the old one? Set it on the side of the road and watch people sneak up and act like they are stealing it? haha I have a lot of stuff I need to take to the thrift store, goodwill, or something. I have too much JUNK! I am such a pack rat like my daddy.

Here is the table we bought. I will give you some before and after pictures later. Of course, that isn't my house in the picture. The walls aren't orange enough.



Here is the bedding I want to order for the new bed as soon as Kyle blesses it. You know, it has to be manly enough too. Anything is better than the sheets I have stretched across the bed right now to sleep on. Oh, and I also need a BED too!! I'm on the prowl for one of those. I had one in mind, but I think I am going to keep looking. Remember I blogged about it a while back? I think I did this a little backwards, but at least I am sleeping on a roomy mattress even if it is on the floor. I got such cute bathroom stuff for Christmas that was aqua and brown, but I haven't put it out yet since my colors in the room didn't match. I didn't buy a new comforter hoping I would get a bigger mattress. So, here we are. Now, I can feel like Christmas all over again when I get to decorate my bathroom with the new stuff. I can't wait!

What is another weekend without another crazy fishing story. I am beginning to think it wasn't meant for us to have a boat and/or fish. It is something about when H&D and us get in a boat to fish that it just doesn't work out. We went Sunday to where Derek's parents were camping. We went out on their pontoon to fish for a little while. We caught a couple. After only being out there for a little while, we had to go back to get his son. His parents and son jumped on their pontoon, and the four of us got in our boat. We passed his parents who were waving away while they fished. We just flew on by to get to a good fishing spot...oh and did I mention I was driving? I pointed out the beautiful rainbow that was over by this mountain next to the water. We stopped for a minute about to get out the poles when Derek says, um the rain is coming. We looked behind us and could see it coming across the water right for us. I jumped out of the driver seat so Kyle could drive to get us on the bank under some trees. It rained so hard we couldn't see. Rain hurts and is so cold when you are out in the open. We got to the bank and ran under some canopy trees that kept us as dry as they could. Heather and I never thought a stained fish towel ever looked so good as we both snuggled up to one to keep warm and dry. They just came out of the washer, but they looked pretty dirty. Whatever would wipe our faces off and keep our arms warm, it didn't matter. Derek built a small fire against the tree to dry off. If you remember the whole flipping the canoe, cold water thing, he does not like to be cold or wet. We waited for a while to let it pass. On the way back to the boat, leave it to me to find a dead animal skeleton and pick up the skull to see what it was. Heather squealed and said I was crazy. ahahah I can't help it. I was curious to see what it was. Kyle said it was a saber tooth tiger because it had these crazy teeth that curled way under. I assumed it was a beaver or something? I'm not really sure. We headed back to the campgrounds and it started to rain a little more again. There was still two beautiful rainbows, but dang it was cold and wet. We should have known it was going to rain when we saw those things! We aren't so smart I guess. We also were pretty sure we saw a bald eagle. It had a nest up on a huge pole in the water and flew off when we went by. It was really pretty whatever it was. We didn't get to fish again that day. What is the deal? This weekend it is on!! It is supposed to be so pretty with no rain...finally! Maybe we can do it this Sunday. I have my company picnic on Saturday, so I will still be in the sun and water.

I will work on some before and after pictures of my room and the kitchen. I can't wait to see the transformation. I really do mean to blog more, but I am starting to understand when people always said they never knew how they did school because they never find free time when they are done with it. I can't find the free time! I am so excited to have free time that I try not to have it. Also, yesterday was my sister's 29th birthday. I got her a few nail goodies from Ulta with a gift card. She is so depressed about approaching 30. I hope she had a good birthday.

Slacking

I think I am definitely enjoying these free nights with no school. So much that I am getting out and doing stuff, or just relaxing when I get home. I have majorly slacked on updating. I feel like I have so much to update on that it won't even be interesting by now. I am still going to do it though.

For Mother's Day, we picked Kyle's mom up and took her to my parent's house for lunch. We just did simple burgers and chips. Rachel and I patted out the burgers and dad grilled the burgers. Kyle got some brats to go on there too. Dad cracked me up at one point one of the brats busted and got the flames going on the fire. Dad laughed so hard and said it looked like it was peeing like a little boy. Those suckers are greasy!! Kyle's mom gave me a beautiful necklace for my graduation that day. It is really pretty. I gave mom a collage of my graduation pictures with a saying on the picture that Candace did for me. We got Kyle's mom a pair of sunglasses (to look cute in her convertible) and a necklace.

Wednesday, my team at work took me to Terranovas Italian restaurant for lunch for my graduation. The gifts and things just keep coming. I am loving it!! The collected enough money to give me a $100 Visa gift card and to even pay for my lunch. I was so surprised. Also my whole team and even a couple of more people made it a point to make it to lunch. I think that is the first time that has happened. I felt so special.

Thursday, I went to lunch with my friend Ruthie. We need to get together more often. We used to talk by email all day long until she got a new job that she doesn't look to use for personal email. So, we just talk every so often by text messages to keep in touch. She wanted to meet me for lunch to give me my graduation gift. We went to the good ol' Rosie's for lunch. I laughed so hard at my gift. She got me knee high baby pink socks!!! You are probably thinking why would she get me those. We were in a wedding together, which is how we met. She and I wore knee high socks with black shorts and heels for the bachelorette party. I gave us this silly name SSF, which stands for Sock Sisters Forever. So, that is where the socks come in. Each sock had some Bath and Body hand sanitizer in the foot. Then, the card had a gift card to Bridgestreet in it. She did too much!! I can't wait to go shopping and use all of my cards. Later that day at work, a co-worker brought me a reed diffuser for my gift. It is Strawberry Kiwi and smells yummy when I walk into my kitchen now. I was excited this day because it was my last day until Monday. We were heading out to the Guntersville lake for Heather and Derek's birthdays, which are one day apart like mine and Kyle's.

Thursday night, I met Kyle at his work to drop my car off. He already had the boat hooked up to the truck. It is about an hour away, so we got there around 8 probably. The boys fished all night long that night and got back at around 8 am for sleep. They figured they better come back when they started falling asleep while reeling the line in.

Friday, it was such a pretty day. I think it was in the 80's. We loaded up around 12 and got out on the water in H&D's pontoon. I think there were 6 of us. All the girls were in our bathing suits fishing off the side to get a tan. It worked, because I got burnt!! I have me a nice tan line though! I also caught the biggest fish of the whole trip. It was a catfish. We didn't weigh it, and it really wasn't all that big, but it was bigger than anyone elses!! I think maybe 3 or 4 lbs, but I am never good at guessing weight. I had to use both hands to hold him. We came in when it was getting dark. Friday was Heather's birthday. She got a new bedroom set for hers and several other things from her family. I got her a red/crimson towel wrap with her name on it in white for Alabama, and a houndstooth belt that she had been wanting. I think she's an Alabama fan? j/k She is very much so. The boys stayed out till probably 5 am this night. We set a trout line from our dock to the next person's dock. We caught a pretty big soft shelled turtle (say that 3 times fast). Of course, that wasn't what we were fishing for, so we let him go. He was so cool. I had never seen one before and of course had to touch and pick him up. I had the honor of letting him go. We grilled some Oakdale steaks and baked potatoes for dinner with some cookie cake.




Saturday was Derek's birthday. Kyle had to go to work and come back later. We tried the boat thing again, but we got started too late. The weather was ok until about an hour or two after we got on the boat. This huge dark storm cloud started creeping up on us. Kyle had already called and said to get off the water because it looked bad coming our way. The dark sky caught up with us before we got back, but we got out before the rain started. Kristen and Josh were able to come out for a little while to relax on the back porch over looking the water. It was a good time. All through the weekend, we did what is like jugging except Derek used those noodles like you float on in the pool. They were short noodles with a string attached to them with a hook and bait on the end. We caught several catfish that way all weekend. Saturday, they caught an 8lb 4oz catfish on it. He was a monster. Yes, he was bigger than my fish, but no one reeled him in...so that doesn't count!! :) We fried fish that night with some fries, garlic bread, and more cookie cake.



Sunday, it was time for us to check out. Luckily, no one had the house after us, so we stayed longer than we were supposed to. We cooked out some kabobs and more fries before leaving. I was about ready to be home. I still had to unload everything. I needed another day off to re coop. Trying to put the boat in the garage is always a story in itself. Lets just say, we almost took out the pole on mom and dad's porch, it pulled Kyle down the hill just about, almost crushed every bone in my foot, and I think that's it. It is always a dangerous situation. ha ha!

I was so excited to tell about the weekend that I almost forgot that on either Wednesday or Thursday, I GOT A PROMOTION!! I can't believe it happened so fast. It just so happened a job opened in my group the same week I was graduating. It required 4 years of experience and a bachelor's. I just hit 4 years in January and just graduated. What timing! I am so lucky and thankful to have a good job. Woo hoo!!

Last night, we went to look at a new table and mattress that I have been dying to get. They are going on sale for Memorial Day. We didn't buy them last night, but I think we are getting them tomorrow. I am so excited. I have waited forever to get them. I can't wait to get the bed so that my husband will stop sleeping on the couch, I can finally get a new bedspread to match my bathroom, and excited to redecorate. Yah!!!

Tonight, I went to watch Tripp play t-ball. He was so cute. His first bat was right when I got there and he was so nervous that it took him a minute to hit the ball. Then, when he got on the field, he hid behind his cousin because he didn't want me to see him. He was hiding behind his glove laughing. I had to go have a pep talk with him in the dug out. I asked why he was being that way and he said because he was so shy to play in front of me. I told him not to be shy that I was there to watch him play and he could do good so I could see. He got better after that. I thought it was so cute that he was nervous in front of me and Heather. Those kids are so cute playing. Now, I am watching American Idol and I am so nervous!! I have mixed feelings for both. Either one will get a deal out of it I am sure.

I am officially smart!

Yah!!! I am finally graduated...and educated. Woo hoo! I have gotten so many gifts for graduation that I don't even know what to think. I was not expecting all of these gifts, but I absolutely love them all. I got such a big range of different things.

Thursday, Kyle sent some beautiful flowers to work for me. They smelled so good. I got another card from another coworker with money. My nieces and nephew sent me a cute stuffed frog that sings "Shout" and moves his arms. I took off Friday to get ready for graduation. I cleaned up the house and stuff during the day to try not to get nervous. Sarah and Aubrey came over during the day to bring me a gift in case they weren't able to make it that night. She ended up finding out they wouldn't make it back in time. She came back by with Tripp to take pictures with me in my outfit before we left.

It was finally time to start getting ready. Mom came to pick me up so that we wouldn't have a bunch of cars in town. Her and dad gave me white and black diamond necklace with matching earrings. They are gorgeous! We picked up Kyle's mom on the way. Dad came later with my sister and her boyfriend. I got there and ran into the girls I was friends with in class. We hung out and waited for it to be time to walk out. I was so upset that I forgot to bring my Delta Mu Delta cords to wear. I still go the sash, but I didn't have the cords. I looked when I got home and didn't see them in my package. I don't think I ever got them. Oh well. I was able to buy a Cum Laude medal to wear as well. I was so happy. It was time to line up and walk out. I got so nervous. I was fine for a while on the floor until our row stood up. My heart was beating so fast. I was so afraid I would trip and fall on the stage. ha ha! Luckily, no one did. I took pictures with all of my friends and family outside. We had to rush out of there to get to the restaurant before it closed. We were on a short time span because we had a limo picking us up in about an hour or so. We all choked down our food and went to H&D to get in the limo. Off we headed to go out. The place we went was dead. There was only like 10-15 other people in the whole place. So, we had the whole dance floor to ourselves. We tore it up all night long. It was so much fun. I am so glad that all of my friends came to spend the night with me.

I am so lucky to have all the friends and family that care about me so much. They really made my graduation night so special. Get ready for a bunch of pictures that I took of each gift.

Sweet people

I have some of the sweetest co-workers. I totally forgot to say on Monday that I got my first graduation gift. It is one of those Willow Tree angels from Hallmark. I already have one that sits on my nightstand. The lady that gave it to me said she described me to the lady at Hallmark, and they thought this one fit me best. She said it had blond hair and was named Celebrate. It is awesome. She also gave me a card and a check. I couldn't believe it. The little angel was plenty enough. It was so sweet of her to do.


Today, I got surprised with a graduation cake from Publix. It was so yummy. They snuck it in right past me and gathered my team up to eat it. Thanks to Becky for the yummy cake and super cute picture frame for graduation. I can't wait to put some real friends in it. I also went to lunch with a few people in which one works from home. A couple of people cancelled on us, but apparently it was planned that they were doing it somewhat for me. He was sweet and bought my lunch at yummy Rosie's. What sweet people! I have another lunch set for next Wednesday. I am so thankful to have people that are so caring and sweet when important things happen in life.



We celebrated Cinco de Mayo last night at Casa Blanca. We had a really good time. The JAB was there performing. It was so crowded. OMG, Derek cracked us up in this picture. Kyle took the first picture, and we were all off centered. When we had him take it over, Derek popped in the back without us knowing with the People eye. ha ha

My Floy

I was so pumped about Kristen's birthday, that I didn't even say that the same day was my grandma, Floy's birthday. I am so lucky to carry her name as my middle name. It really is an honor. I can only hope that I will be half the woman she is. She used to work in the lunch room at my school when I was little. I used to love going to her house where she would cook those round Mexican pizzas from the cafeteria. I love those things!! I still do! Me and my sister bought a pack of like 90 from a food supplier a few years ago. She has 9 children, tons of grandchildren, a few great grandchildren, and if I am thinking right then a couple of great, great grandchildren as well. Our family is huge on dad's side! I think she just loves to sit back and watch all of her family at holidays.

I went to visit her on her birthday, April 30th. I got to thinking that it was probably the first time I have ever done that. I am awful at only going to see family on holidays when everyone else is around. I really enjoyed spending time with my Floy aka Smithy. My aunt Sister was there when I got there. They were working on quilting a blanket for my other aunt's granddaughter who is going off to UA. When Sister left, Smithy took me down in the basement to show me another her "real Alabama" quilt, as she called it. It was I think patchwork. It had elephants, goal posts, footballs, and a bear Bryant hat. Each of the patterns were sewn on, and she said it took her a lot of hard work to do it. It was beautiful. We stretched it out on the table to get the wrinkles out, because it was hidden away in a trunk.

Then, she was showing me some of the gifts she had gotten for her birthday. One of them was a planter bed that has tricycle wheels and handle bars. It was so cute. You know me, I love to put stuff together, so I offered. She was excited that I wanted to put it together, because she would have had to wait for my uncle to come over to do it. We got out the screw drivers, and I went to work on it. I finally got it put together, and we carried it upstairs. She wanted it on the front porch to use as a magazine holder instead. She was afraid the plants with water would ruin the wood bed. We ended up finding a plant that was wrapped in plastic that we put in it instead.

While we were downstairs, she was showing me a punch bowl set that my dad sent her when he was in Guam in the Navy. It was all wooden and was the centerpiece of her big table downstairs. She asked me if I had anything wood, and I said no. She brought me this beautiful fruit basket with fruit that was all wooden. She said dad sent it to her with the other stuff. All of this even made it through the bad tornadoes in the 70's that hit their home. The bowl and fruit is a little beat up, but I absolutely love it. Not only is it special to me that she gave it to me, but that my dad gave it to her around 40 years ago. I made a special place for it in my kitchen, and it goes perfect with my Mexican theme. Happy Cindo de Mayo, by the way!

It was so good to visit with her and just listen to her talk about her family. She showed me a picture of my granddaddy when he was little in his little apron. She said that was all kids used to where when they were little. Her little boys wore blue gingham checks and the girls wore pink. She was telling me about my cousin's little girl that was born premature. She is now in the hospital at Vanderbilt with kidney problems. I hope she gets better. I definitely need to go by there more often and spend time with her while she is here. I am sure there is so much I can learn from her and just enjoy the memories with her. I can't wait to have children for her to love on. She loves babies so much. She just hugs and loves on them. My babies will love her and boy will she love them.