Fun in the Sun

The kids had fun outside today. J.T. wouldn't sit still long enough to get his picture. Lily June loves the pool, which is understandable because she L.O.V.E.S. a bath. She couldn't quite understand why I was putting a diaper and clothes on her to get in the "bap". I think she has got the concept of "pool" and "bathing suit" now. She picks things up quickly...it is refreshing! :)

Christmas 2008

Ok, so I know I am a slacker. These pics were on the camera I thought I lost and I have just now uploaded them. These progression shots of Lily June are hilarious. She was not happy to be there, and she definitely was not happy about what she was wearing...and FYI, Darrell took these pics!

Preschool Graduation

J.T. "graduated" from preschool on May 29th. All of the classes performed. When I figure out how to get the video from the video camera to the computer, there will be a video! J.T. really gets into his music! He looked so handsome in his cap and gown. I am very proud of him and all he accomplished this year! He is awesome!

Creative Me! Gymnastics

J.T. has taken gymnastics at school for the last 3 years. We have never been able to attend the "show" at the end of the year, until this year. Coincidentally, I work for Creative Me! now. Here are some pics from his show. It was at 1:00 and then he had a soccer game at 4:00. It was a busy day!

Muffins for Mom

These are pics from the Mother's Day celebration at J.T.'s school. Better late than never....

Big Foot

We went to a Firestone Grand Opening today to see a monster truck. It was pretty cool. J.T. thought it was awesome! It is in Smyrna and I think will still be there tomorrow if anyone is interested!

Sarah

We found out last night that Darrell's step-sister Sarah was found dead at her apartment in Austin, TX. She was 23. Some of you know that she has struggled with different problems. It appears as though she drank herself to death. Please keep us and Darrell's mom, step-dad and Sarah's older sister Kristin in your thoughts and prayers. Within the last 3 years, Darrell's step-dad has lost his mom, dad, and now one of his daughters.

The picture above was from the Christmas card that Sarah sent us. We got to see her at Christmas also. She called me just a few weeks ago to wish me a Happy Mother's Day. Lily June and JT talked to her also. I had known her since she was 6 years old. This picture is the best I have ever seen her look. I am very sad for our loss and also very sad that Sarah will never know how much she was loved.

Mother Scratcher

Ok, I couldn't resist stealing that from Clemsongirl! But I am upset. Really. Upset. I like that freakin' Miley Cyrus song "The Climb". I like it alot alot. But that girl makes my skin crawl. I am sure I am going to break down and buy it because it will be a really good running song, but it KILLS me to support that. I have yet to buy any Britney songs on principle alone...and she has some great running songs. I guess I could just suck it up and buy them anyway. Then when I am running, I will love the song and hate the singer and run even harder?! We will see...

Jon Minus Kate Plus 8

For those of you who having just been on the edge of your seat waiting for me to post something, sorry. I am lazy and I much prefer reading other blogs that writing on mine. Although I jest and I am sure nobody noticed my absence...it is time for me to weigh in on Kon. Seriously, whatever he has been doing...who can blame him??? I don't necessarily think he made bad choices because I believe they have some sort of an agreement for him (and her) to do whatever pleases them. I think he really didn't expect to be in the middle of paparrazi, which is naive, but still understandable given he thinks he is "just Jon".

Personally, I believe that there is no way in hell he would have been going out without Kate's permission. Why would he want to get "caught" in the middle of that wrath? She would have taken his balls out of her purse, put them in a vice and dumped them in a dixie cup before she handed them to him.

They need to stop the show and part ways in private. However, I think they are too deep into the cashcow and won't let it go. I really do feel bad for the kids. I have never watched the show for the kids anyway. I am always interested in seeing how Jon and Kate react to things. I will be interested in seeing how this ends up!

Please Be Specific

This is what happens when you say "Go get dressed for church."

Drop It Like It's Hot

Early on Sunday morning we were getting ready to go get some breakfast before heading to church. Darrell is walking through the living room and J.T. asks "where are you going Daddy?" Darrell replies "I have to poop, son." J.T. then simply asks "Are you going to drop one deuce or two?" That kid never ceases to amaze me!

i-Moron

So I wanted to get some more upbeat music on my ipod for the race today. I got everything set up last night. While I have been running on Saturdays, I had noticed that my playlist was not set up to repeat. I remembered that last night, so I went in to change the settings. I went to "repeat" and out to the side it said "one". Well, I thought that meant repeat the list once. In case you are wondering, it means repeat ONE song. I thought a nice easy song to start out to would be "Simply the Best" by Tina Turner. When I was about half-way through the first mile, I started thinking, Wow...this is a long song! So I kept waiting for it to go off and it did...and started again! So, instead of stopping to fix it I just listened to the one song for the entire 3.1 miles! Even though it was very encouraging, I wonder how fast I would have been if my "one" song had been "Move Bitch"???!!!! I am glad it happened today instead of 1/2 marathon day!

On a side note, does anyone know anyone who works with a hotel chain that could possibly help me get a room on West End the night before the race??? I am not liking the idea of getting up at 4 to get a shuttle at 6 to wait for my start time sometime after 8!

Just So You Know

Dear Publix Bagger Lady,
Please do not instruct my children to sit down while they are in the rocket ship cart. Yes, I understand that they could fall. No, I don't want them to get hurt. I can only tell them so many times, and then I am done. If they fall on their heads, I will blame them for not listening. Yes, I would also be to blame. I could understand your concern if we were moving throughout the store, but we weren't. We were just checking out and you were hindering that process by distracting me from my role in the check-out process.
And I really do appreciate your carry-out service, mainly because I don't like to deal with the cart once I am done with it. But please, do not drive my cart to my car as my daughter DOES.NOT.LIKE.IT. Not.one.bit. That would be why she was stuck like a pretzel down in the foot area of the rocket ship cart, wedged between the cart and her brother's feet. Next time, please just let me lead the way and you can follow.
I would say sorry for the abandoned suckers and cookie remnants in the cart, but I'm not.
If you would like, I would be happy to conduct any of the above training with you and all of your peers.
Thanks for pissing me off today, I almost went a whole day without that happening.

Truly,
Julie

In A Rut

I am in a rut. I feel like everyday is the same and all the days are just running into one another. It feels like I am in the movie "Groundhog Day". I'll never forget going to see this movie with my friend Bridgett at the theater and she kept falling asleep. Everytime she would wake up, the same thing would be on the screen! I am having a hard time finding my joy. I love my husband and kids, but this responsibility bullshit is really taking a toll on me. My house is a complete and total wreck and I cannot find the motivation to get it in order. Everyday I can manage to do laundry and dishes, but we have piles of shit everywhere and I just can't make myself do anything about it because when I do, it seems to just turn into more piles. I am stressed about finances, but choosing to bury my head in the sand. I am sick and tired of being the only one in this house who knows anything about anything. I love Darrell with all my heart, but I feel like we are in a relationship rut too, and I don't know what to do about it. He thinks if he tells me how much he loves me and how committed he is to me, then that is good for our relationship. Well, it is, but that is what I already know...show me something different.

Does anyone have any advice for me? I'm tired of my life, and I don't like the way that sounds. Right now I just feel like running away, temporarily. I just need a break.

Another part of my problem is my mother's mother. I would call her my grandmother, but that is somewhat a term of endearment and I have decided I hate that bitch. Don't judge me. It's a fact. She is ruining my parents' lives and for some odd reason my mother is letting her. She can't take care of herself (partly just because she won't) and she completely manipulates my mother. She's too poor to afford a nursing home, but brings in just enough not to qualify for medicaid. Had I been smart enough to realize a couple of years ago that she would have qualified for medicaid, I would have suggested it then. I didn't understand the whole medicare/medicaid setup. I try giving my mother advice, but she doesn't listen. I have told her how I feel about her mother. I don't understand why she just can't die already. This same shit has been going on for over 5 years now. Her mother is C.R.A.Z.Y. I worry daily about my mom and the effect all of this is having on her. I also selfishly worry about me and the fact that I want my mom and I can't have her. I wish I could just have some peace about all of this so that I can get past it. I have tried, but it just doesn't seem to to be working. There is only one solution, and I am not in charge of that.

Pay It Forward

I saw this on my friend Melanie's blog and thought it was such a cute idea. I look forward to sending out something to those who read mine...so go comment after reading!

The Rules
1. Be one of the first THREE bloggers to leave a comment on this post, which then entitles you to a handmade item from me - something crafty or yummy, who knows?!

2. Winners must post this challenge on their blog, meaning that they will Pay It Forward, creating a handmade gift -anything!- for the first THREE bloggers who leave a comment on their post about this giveaway!

3. The gift that you send to your friends can be from any price range and you have 365 days to make/ship your item. This means you should be willing to maintain your blog at least until you receive your gift and have shipped your gifts. And, remember: It’s the Spirit and the Thought That Count!

4. When you receive your gift, please feel free to blog about it, sharing appropriate pictures and comments!

If you are not one of the Top Three Commenters on this post, you can still play along.Go ahead and start your own Pay It Forward chain, and encourage your blogging friends to do the same! SO, REMEMBER...Pay it forward! P.S. If you are one of the first three and don't have a blog to post you can take the next three friends that call you just to chat and Pay It Forward to them! Then challenge them to do the same. Let's help make this a wonderful world to live in and show our friends how much we care for them

P.U.

Dear Rutherford County Wildlife Management,
We have a problem. A very serious problem. It seems that the Smyrna/Murfreesboro area has become quite the refuge for skunks. Just this morning I passed 3 on the side of the road which had met their demise. However, their immense odor makes me want to meet my demise. There is one on my beaten path that has been there all week and I cannot even begin to tell you how bad that stinker smells. It has been cold. I don't like to be cold. Therefore when I am in my vehicle I keep it toasty warm. Toasty warm + Skunky smell = Freaking disgusting. Have I mentioned that it has been cold and I don't like to be cold? Well, Skunky smell + Window down (brrrr) = Still freaking disgusting + Pisses me off. I am sure you are all very busy managing wildlife and such during the day, but please get your asses out at night and take care of these nocturnal nightmares. Or at least get your asses out during the day and pick up the frigging skunk carcasses. I will be sure to let you know if I have any other serious and time sensitive requests.

kthxbai!
Julie

Gotta Love Gladys

Praying for Harper

I found this story on Sasha's blog and I have been following it for the last few weeks. It is an amazing story and I hope you all will take the time to check it out. It was so strange to read all of this and think that it could have happened to me, or you, or to anyone. Because that is just one of those things that you don't (and don't want to) think about.

My New Favorites

There are 2 things that I am loving right now. One, is the Principal's Office on TruTv. If you have not seen this, you have to check it out. I for the life of me do not know how I survived my stint as a high school Spanish teacher. I just do not have the patience for that kind of nonsense. And it seems to be really easy to get suspended these days. I especially love the fact that one of the students told his teacher to "Shut the F&*^ up!" And another girl who was busted with cigarettes wanted her principal to give her $5 for the pack! Say what?!?
My second favorite thing is a song on my running playlist..."Move Bitch" by Ludacris. I L.O.V.E. this song and it makes me run harder and laugh out loud while I am doing it. I need some more angry rap to run to...any suggestions???

Just Chillin'

The Serpent

At church yesterday, JT went up for a "moment with the children." The minister asked the kids what creature talked to Adam and Eve in the garden of eden. Guess who piped up...yep, JT, telling the minister "creatures can't talk." The minister went on to say that this one could and it was a snake. Guess who piped up again! JT let everyone know that "Me and my mom saw an anaconda." Thankfully he got cut off before he could go into detail (false) about being in the jungle. The last time we went to the zoo we saw an anaconda. I told him that if we were to see one in the jungle that it could eat us. From then on he has wanted me to tell him the story "about the time I was in the jungle and saw the anaconda." I love that kid. He really is not self aware at all. Nevermind that there were 200 people there listening to him! I hope he is always that comfortable, but with more boundaries...he busted into the neighbor's house yesterday too!

LJ and the Leg Warmers

Creative Sleeping

JT goes through sleeping bag phases. This is the first time he has done this though!

3.1 < 26.2: Much Less

I am sure most of you reading this blog are aware of this equation. A 5k does not equal a marathon, nor have I claimed that it does. I do have two 5k's under my belt and I have been running regularly. The furthest distance that I have ran at this point is 5.2 miles. I am pointing this out because everytime I talk to my inlaws, my parents or my brother (?) they ask me if I am still running "the marathons". I am not trying to be critical...it just makes me giggle. I am just going to start telling them that I run 2 a week. I suppose that I will never get them to understand that I am running a 1/2 marathon, and the complicated math involved in that. So from this pint on, yes indeed, I am still running the marathons!

The Unsurprise

LJ and I picked up some yummy Great American Cookie Company cookies before picking up JT this afternoon. As we were walking to the car with JT, I told him I had a surprise for him in the car. He was excited and wanted to know what it was. I told him to get in and buckle up and I would give it to him. I gave him the cookie and he didn't say much. Then he started mumbling something about he thought his surprise was going to be a toy. I told him if he didn't want his cookie that I would be glad to take it back. He said "No. But next time make my surprise a toy."

Unreasonable

This is what I should have named LJ! For goodness sakes, she and I almost came to blows in Wal-Mart yesterday. She was fighting like mad NOT to get into the cart and I was fighting like mad to get her strapped in there. She was screaming bloody murder and crying...she was PISSED! After I finally got her strapped in, we began our trek and she was prying my fingers off of the cart! I literally had to hold the cart by the sides to push it. I can see my future, and it doesn't look pretty.

Targetpalooza '09: Round 2

Well, this was pretty much a bust. Come on people....quit buying right now, the prices WILL go lower! Once again I went to 3 different Target stores today. I was not impressed at all with the selection, or the prices, which have not gone lower yet. I think they will markdown again tomorrow. I did happen to get a Garmin Forerunner 50 for $50, which was half-price. That was the best thing to be had at all 3 stores. I could literally kick myself for not buying another Dirt Devil Kone when they were on clearance for $10. We already have one, and I knew that is exactly what Darrell would say, but it would be really handy in the bathroom for sucking up loose hair!

I hope I can find some more good deals...I need to have some fun!

Targetpalooza '09: Round 1

Thanks to a text from The Real Housewife of Rutherford County yesterday, I was inspired to begin the Targetpalooza this morning. I absolutely L.O.V.E. this time of year at Target. A little red Target clearance sticker is my drug of choice, and let me tell you, I am gettin' high! I love and hate the fact that each store has different clearance items, or they are on a different markdown schedule. I went to 3 Target stores this morning, none of which was the closest to my house. The little red worker bees were working hard and slashing prices. All three of the stores were still in the process of marking things down, so I will be checking back to see how low I can go! I did get LJ the Fisher Price Bounce and Spin Pony for $16.24. I also got 2 Henkel's knives for $10.00. I am holding out for the Rose Petal Cottage, which is stil $42. And although we don't need it, I want so badly to buy the Fur Real Pony, S'mores. It is on clearance right now for $99.99. I am not going to buy it, but I will be interested in seeing how low it goes.

While we are on the subject, I got some great gift closet clearance toys at Wal-Mart a couple of weeks ago. I think $2.00 for a $20.00 item is a fair price!

Stay tuned for Round 2, because oh yeah, there WILL be one!!

Keen Observation

I normally go to the Y every morning after I bring JT to school, so I am always in workout clothes. I have been a little under the weather the last two days and I haven't felt like going. This morning, as I was getting ready, I just threw on whatever was laying around. As I was putting on my sports bra, JT said "Are you going to da YMCA?" I said "No, I am not feeling very well." And he replied "Why are you wearing da YMCA boobie fingie?"

Great News!

I left my coupon organizer in a Target shopping cart one day last week. Darrell went by there on his way home from work that very day, but they did not have them. I went there today and asked if they had them, and they did!!!!! YAY!!!!!! I was distraught...I love a coupon!

Poop Detective

I am a regular bloodhound sniffing out the freaking poop trail! This morning, as I was getting ready, I heard JT in his bathroom. I heard the toilet flush and then he came trotting into our room. He was carrying his pajama bottoms...which is not AT ALL uncommon. I asked if he had pooped, which he had. I went back for a thorough cleansing, which he of course did not appreciate (he had done a pretty good job, but still!). He brushed his teeth and I finished getting ready. Then I brought him his clothes to put on while he was in our bathroom. He was all crouched down in front of the little heater looking at a book. I noticed poop on his heel. I thought that was a strange place for poop, but I cleaned it off and we finished getting ready and I brought him to school. Upon returning home, I noticed something on the carpet at the door of my bedroom. I inspected it, just a speck, and just getting down closer to it, the smell was strong...so, I cleaned that up and then worked my way backwards to his bathroom to inspect the toilet, etc. He evidently stands up to wipe his bum and some "crumbs" fell on the floor which he then tracked through the house. Niiiiiiiiiiccccccccceeeeeee! So there you have it...mystery solved and disposed of. Seriously, why wouldn't he have poop on his heel?

Proud

I am a very proud mama and wife! Yesterday, Darrell, J.T. and Lily June were all baptised. We are all official members of Smyrna First Presbyterian Church. There are so many nice people that go there and we really like being involved...I am glad that we feel comfortable enough doing so!

So Far

2009 has been the worst year of my life and the longest for that matter....I cannot wait until Monday so that EVERYONE is back on a regular schedule. Well, kind of. JT has his 5 year check-up on Monday, with shots. I hope I have the strength for that. I am making Darrell meet me there so he can help me hold him down.

I have only one resolution and one goal for this year. My resolution is to not travel for Christmas (at least not to SC) and my goal is to run the Music City Half Marathon.

Darrell has been home since Thursday, and that always puts a kink in my days. He got a phone call at almost 1:00 this morning and I had to kick him to wake him up so he could answer it. Then he proceeded to talk forever while in the bed only saying "Yeah" and "exactly". I had a hard time going back to sleep. We managed to get JT occupied with a movie later this morning and Lily June was down for a nap, so Darrell and I went down for a nap too. Until his freaking phone rang at 11:00. I had to wake him up and tell him to get it AGAIN. I think all that phone business just pissed me off for the whole day (not to mention that JT's hard-ass head made full contact with my left temple....OWWWWW!). Now, Darrell has gone into work. At least I will have some alone time shortly!

Wish me luck on Monday...JT knows what is coming!
I guess on the upside, the year can only get better, right?!