These rolls freaked me out

What does it look like to you??
Christmas night we had some friends over for dinner and I tried making a standing rib roast. Which turned out great. As a I tooked the rolls out of the over I flipped the rolls onto my hand and began to pull them apart. As I got to the last one I notice something flest colored in the roll..... just as I began to tell John I think we have a problem here. (I thought it was a finger)... I realized it was tiny sausage in the roll. I thought I had bought just white and wheat rolls, not "finger" sandwiches....*he* *he* anyway it was hysterical. I told my friend, Donna what I had thought and she laughed too!

Prayers are answered!!

School update... Ok I know I asked you all to pray for me, but it worked I got an .............A yes that right an A in Math!! Yipeeeeeeee I checked it three times to make sure it did not change!! My Christmas prayers were answered!!!!!!! Thanks all of you!

Christmas Pj's

Can't you feel the love??
Keepin it real

My two babies.....

Always the actress!

The other day I bought some feetie jammies for Parker. When he gets cold at night he will come to our bed to get warm, so I enjoying my space in my bed thought if I can keep him toasty all night, no more visitors. Well Parker is a big boy and when I was shopping for his new jammies I got two different sizes because the large looked way to long for him. Well I put on the meduims and they fit. I put the large ones back in the bag to go back to the store. Well Devin thought she would try them on. Devin is very petite and we have running joke about her wearing Parker's clothes. Guess what ?? They fit...... they looked adorable and we had them wear them on Christmas Eve. We called up Tara and told them about it and now Allison wants a pair too! Next year I'm going to get them all matching jammies!!!LOL!

Christmas Cookies

My girls always liked to help cook. Well I thought it would be fun for Paker to start helping too! Especially since they girls no longer think of it as fun. Ok, yeah I training a new little "helper" for my own evil purposes, but he thinks it is fun!!!! This year on Christmas Eve, we made cookies for Santa. We had a great time putting flour all over the table and cutting out those cookies was a blast. Parker really like to decorate them. Santa enjoyed them too!

PARKER'S 7TH BIRTHDAY

Well it is happening again.... my babies are growing up. *sigh* I wish they could stay those adorable sweet babies forever...*sniff* my last one....turned 7 this month. My oldest baby turned 23 * sniff* on the 23rd of this month, where has the time gone?? It seems like yesterday I brought Tara home in a stocking. Now next month I will be celebrating my newest grandbaby. Well to both my birthday babies, I love you!!

You'll always be my little babies...

Up and Down and Up and Down Again!

Life is so full of ups and downs, but tonight I was getting sea sick because of it. Tonight was the last night of my classes. I have struggled to say the least this semester. I even continplated dropping some classes, but I muddled through. Anyway, tonight I go to take my math final, which is always a nightmare for me, but I am armed with notes from my awesome tutor, Matthew Creech so I feel like I have a fighting chance..... hah! my teacher sprang a horrible test on us. Nothing like the pratice test. Nobody finished! I mean even the smart ones where still working at 10:00 and he is trying to give us hints to help us along. Even to the point of saying well if you got 20 done, you can quit. Yeah, sure I left at 10:10 and nobody was done. Class ended at 9:45. The teacher said see you next semester, Tina. Thanks!! Oh well math has always been a sore spot for me. Then I come home to take my sociology final. I rocked it. 100 out of a 100!! Then I look at my class grade and she has missed a grade! Yikes final grades are due tomorrow. I had to email and hopefully it will be taken care of. These are my grades as of tonight...... Public speaking A ( you all know I can talk) Sociology B (If she get the grade posted correctly) World Lit II C (I thank Jesus for that!) and Math.......well probably an F, but who knows.... say a prayer people!

Sorry

Well it has been over a month since I posted on our blog and a lot has happened.
1. Halloween - Fun!!!
2. Reese's birthday
3. Allison brought home rifle team & girlfriends
4. Thanksgiving
5. John's father passed away
6. Devin's play godspell got first place locally!!
7. Missed my babies at thanksgiving
I think that is everything. oops one more my laptop crashed..... yeah I put 2007 Word on it and it dies!! I'm back and running thanks to a techie friend.
I'm going to try to make it my goal to post once a week. I feel that is reasonable and something I can actually obtain. I read everyones elses everyday....I'm quite the blog stalker!!!LOL! I have to finish up this semester and I haven't done as well as I wanted so it is time to buckle down and finish with a bang.

Love you all!!

Whose shirt is this anyway??

Aren't those Tara's short too! Poor Devin has no clothes of her own!!
Around our house sometimes you get somebody else clothes with your laundry. This was especially the case when all the girls were at home. Now we don't usually have this problem, but when I picked up Devin from school yesterday I notices she was wearing Parker's shirt. I couldn't believe it. Devin is 15 and Parker is 6. Also you would think she would of noticed before this. She said that she had brought the shirt to change into for working on drama props and thought it was just a brown tshirt. Then she realized it was her little brothers!! I told her it was kinda sad, that she could fit it. I know Parker is a big boy, but this shirt is a size 7!! Now I know where to shop for her...... in the little kids section...ha! ha! I know it is great to be smaller, but that is a too small when you are sharing clothes with your six year old brother!! LOL!

Are we there yet??

killin time while the kids are in the maze
We are so happy we finally found something!

Parker brought his "pumky" with him to show to the other pumkins

As most of you know, our Parker can fixate on something like nobody else. When we went up to Dahlongega we told him we would be going to the local pumkin patch. We thought this would be a great ideal for a wonderful fall day. Allison looked up the pumkin patch on the internet and said that it wasn't far from the campus. We set out later than we had planned because of the unplanned, but required dinner at Ryans. When we finally got to what we thought was the pumkin patch it wasn't! It was a corn maze! It was fun for the kids. Appearently the pumkin patch was another 2 miles down the road, but it was already closed. It was starting to get dark and very cold. You got realize that Dahlongega is in the mountains so it gets colder than in we are use to here. Devin said the corn maze started to reminder of children on corn so they short cutted through the path. Also Parker was getting freaked out to. I thought I would have to hear about the pumkin patch all the way home, but he was so tired he fell asleep within 15 minutes of driving home. I told John we have to take him or go buy some pumkins and throw them in the backyard and say "Look its the pumkin patch"! Do you think he would buy it??

Gold Rush Festival

Devin and Corinne wait for the parade to begin
Devin and I had "holy" potatoes for lunch. Yum!

The short one is Allison, isn't she awesome!!!

Look at her ghetto booty in those pants, yikes!

My wonderful kids!

Last weekend we went up to Allison school for the town's Gold Rush Festival. The whole town shuts down for this event. It was a beautiful fall day perfect for strolling around and looking at the craft boothes and eating some yummy food!! We had to get up at 5:30 am because Allison told us the parade was at 10 or 11. Well that wasn't the case. It started at 2pm. It turned out alright because we had plenty to look at. I waited on the curb for about two hours to secure our place on the parade walk. We were so proud. Allison is the first female to EVER be on the rifle squad. She is amazing!!! It takes a lot of hard work, dedication, and injuries to the hands to do this. We had dinner at Ryans (barf) with her squad. They all were very nice.

Family Home Evening

He was excited at first
Laura helps Parker got on his skates
Glad to be done and in one piece!!
skating wasn't a hit, but the train was!
Last week in an attempt to do our Family Home evening we went rollar skating. We usually can't do family home evening on mondays because I have class, but my teacher only wanted us to email an outline to her so we got to do something fun. Did I say fun? More like painful!! Our friends Laura and A.D. love to rollar skate and it was Laura birthday last week so I deceided we would go. Now mind you I sucked at rollar skating as a child, did I think I had gotten better over the 20 + years?? Luckily the rink was empty. Parker immediately disliked the rink because the music was loud over the speakers. We got all fitted for skates and Parker got half way around the rink and that was it. He was done. A.D. is like an olympic skater doing turns and stuff and Laura does well too. Devin bailed out quickly to go text and discovered that going the bathroom on skates is not easy...LOL! I loved the wall, it is my friend. By the way when did they take away the handrail?? I eventually got it again, but my legs were killing me. I only fell once and my knee still hurts. We gave up and went out for pizza, now thats a sport I can master...eating!!

John and Tina's Messy Life

Create your own family sticker graphic at pYzam.com

Walking for a Cause

Next weekend is the local walk/run for Autism. This is bring awarness and raise monies for our local programs. Most children are not diagnosed until the age of 5 (parker) and so much can be done with an earlier diagnoises. This is very near to our hearts and very important. We are very lucky that our son is considered highly functional, but he struggles everyday in school. If you are interested in joining us or just making a donation, please email me. Thank you.

TinaFloyd2001@yahoo.com or you can register at http://www.mcasg.net/.

Thanks for all your support!

Movin on up!

He is first one to get a new van!!
Only 10 miles on it!! Watch out Georgia, John is comin to sell to you!!
Yesterday was my day off and John had asked me to go to Atlanta. He needed to get his new van for work. He has been waiting on this van for over six months!! Now he won't have to use his own vehicle and best thing yet, he now has a fuel card...score!! Gas allowances are the pits. Gas keeps going up, but you still get the same money, they tax you on it, and it never goes far enough with John's gas lovin truck. Anyway I digress, we went to Atlanta, mind you just to pick the van and head directly back home. Well his boss calls him and finds out we are in the parking lot. Next thing you know we are going in the main office and John is meeting with the President of the company... yikes! I meet his boss for the first time lookin like trailer trash. Nice huh!! Anyway the give him a sales position. He is super nervouse, but we are excited also. We are very rutty people and hate change so anything makes us anxiouse. I'm sure he will do great and he still gets to keep the van!! Yeah big daddy!!! I am super proud of him!!!

Random thoughts

I love to look at my daughters blog in the hopes of seeing my little grandbaby or if I am real lucky a picture of my beautiful pregnant Tara. I get very sad to think that I have not been able to share any of her pregnancies with her.... Hopefully someday she will live closer!! Allison passed her PT test so everything should be a ok with her scholarship!!! Thank goodness!! She hasn't been able to buy some books because they are mucho expensive ( 1= $200) and with all her other expeses (tickets) we haven't been able to do it. Devin tried out for One Act at her school. This year they are doing Godspell. She didn't make the cast, but the trooper she is she is working behind the scenes. Yesterday she asked me for an old toilet and garbage. I told don't worry I can get you all the trash you want!! I told her that she will have to clean toilet ..... not really, but I like to see her face react. Parker is struggling at school and I am really at a loss. I ask the teachers for suggestions, but they don't have any so if anybody has an ideal I am open to suggestions. Wow, this post is a real downer :( Maybe I'm a little blue, John has been working out of town all week and I failed my math test. I can't stand to get a bad grade on anything. I still have the need to get good grades and be one of the teachers favorites. I'm so pathetic....

Our 2nd home

Well it only took two months before it was complete, but here it is our secound home or otherwise known as Parker's playset. John talked me into this by saying our grandkids would be able to come over and use it so I relented and we bought this HUGE playset. After all Parker is not a small boy. Well after it sat on the back porch for a month my friend, Laura offered her husband up to come and help John with this project. Well John works so much he was hardly ever able to get time to do it so we finally decieded that would just pay him to do it. Well A.D. took it this project, but he even struggled a bit with it. Thursday he was able to put the finishing touches on it and we are so happy with it. Parker tells me that him and his dad are going to sleep in it.... I agreed that was a great ideal !! A man's sleepover...LOL! I give them about an hour tops before they come back in.

FROG Graduation

Can you tell them apart??
Hot and sweaty!!Still love those dimples :))
Nice closet!! Lots of choices of outfits.....
We weren't suppose to sit on the bed, don't tell ok? and believe me that wool blanket felt wonderful next to your skin..LOL!!
I made her take this as you can tell.
Well we just got home from Allison's FROG graduation. First of all I'm not really sure what FROG stands for, but basically it is basic training for the cadets. We drove up most of the way, saturday night so we could get there on time sunday. Yeah, I know everyone was moving in on sunday, but that is the way they do it. They had several companys on the field. Of course, my Allison forgot to tell me what company she was in. They all kind of look the same at this point. They gave out of few awards and then they were released until 4:30 pm. One thing I found disturbing in the instructions upon leaving they tell you if you going to have sex to wear a condom and what kind to wear and not to drink any beer because you only have six hours of free time. Ok, I know this is not a church school, but they poor kids looked liked they needed several showers, hot meals, and a nap not trolling for some booty!! Anyway, we found our Allison with a sprained ankle, but she still ran around the whole school today!! We promptly began washing her clothes and made a trip to the local walmart for supplies she didn't realize she would need. We went to eat at this local resturant called the Smith house. They serve food family style and it was SUPER!!!! They also had gold cave in the middle of the resturant. They just discovered or should I say rediscovered it two years ago when remodeling. It was super cool. Parker got a gold diggers hat. We got Allison mostly settled, I'm sure she will need to get a few things still, but she knows where the Wally mart is. We left her about 2:00 so she could get a nap and rest her feet(real bad blisters). It was hard to leave, but I knew she was so tired and needed to put her feet up. Well now I can at least call her.

An update

The hamster has been found..... sunday night John's dad, Terry banged on our bedroom door saying there was a rodent in his room. John being tired and basically a zombie did not piece it together, but monday afternoon Allison found him behind the toilet. Was he trying to escape or commit suicide we are not sure, but for now he is back in his plastic jail, I mean home. Visitors are welcome.

First Day of First Grade!!

We walked to class together on the first day
Down the first grade hallway
Parker is very excited at his new desk.
Just in case someone else tries sitting in our spot!!
Well we go back to school early here in the south. August 11th to be exact. We came back from the beach and had to immediately switch into back to school mode. Allison had alot of items still to get for college. We got everything and she went on her way Tuesday morning. Parker started first grade and was very excited!! He has two teachers plus a parapro. His teachers are both retired, but spilt the day in half and still work. He has been very doing well. I hope it continues. He already does not want me to walk him to class. Also he doesn't give me kisses... sigh;( I miss snuggly time, but he doesn't have time for it anymore. We really miss Allison in the morning when it is time for Devin to go to seminary!! Yikes!! She still hasn't even gotten her permit yet!! Don't blame me she hasn't even asked to take the test yet. Allison is unable to call, but tonight she snuck me a minute phone call. She said that she didn't pass the PT test by two sit-ups!!! Yikes, if she doesn't pass she doesn't get her scholarship, but she says she can do it again in two weeks. Get the stomach muscles going girl!!

HAVE YOU SEEN....... OUR HAMSTER????

OK, IT IS OFFICAL.. I'M FREAKING OUT. IT SEEMS OUR HAMSTER, PANDA IS MIA. PANDA HAS BEEN KNOW TO BE A MASTER OF ESCAPE AND DISGUISE, BUT THIS IS FOR REAL. WHILE WE WERE GONE HE APPEARENTLY HAS GONE AWAL. NOBODY TOLD ME UNTIL ABOUT AN HOUR AGO WHEN I NOTICED THAT THE CAGE WAS VERY STILL. THEN UPON FURTHER

INSPECTION I NOTICED THAT THE HAMSTER IS MISSING. THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME FOR ESCAPE, BUT SINCE WE WERE OUT OF TOWN I DON'T KNOW ABOUT HOW LONG HE HAS BEEN MISSING. I'm afraid it will be like that episode of fairly odd parents when Timmy's old hamster comes back to kill his mom. For those of you have seen it you know what I'm talking about. I will keep you updated on his disappearence meanwhile I will have to sleep with one eye open......

No such thing as a "free ride"

Hopefully she is using the calculator on that phone to budget her money!!!

When Allison was granted an ROTC scholarship I thought great no loans, no school money needed! I was just a babe in the woods. I laugh at myself now. What was I thinking??? They sent a booklet with list of things she will need for school. Remember now this military school so when I say list I mean detailed specific list of items she must have before reporting in. Not to mention shampoo, qtips, razors.....etc, etc..... we went on another trip to wally mart today in the hopes of securing any last remaining items. Well we still have one or two items I believe, but essentially everything has been purchased. It was another $300 I spent today. Yikes, what happen to the "free"???? Oh yeah, the classess, books, and food for next couple of years. Still Allison had no clue and to tell you the truth either did I. Well maybe by the time Devin goes to college I will finally have it together. I think I will have Devin go to CSU so we don't have to do of this. No, I just thought about Devin in college and staying at home, maybe it worth the expense!

The last family vacation with Allison

Daddy and son in the pool!!
it's so cute I put it on twice!!
The ocean was great!! HH has hardly any jellyfish!! The dolphins were awesome!!
Parker will miss his big sis, Allison. She told this hat was cool so he had to have it!!
Swimming lessons were the best $30 we ever spent!! Parker loves to swim and he doesn't cry when water gets in his face now!!
We went to Hilton Head this week. This is Allison favorite vacation spot. I didn't think she would be able to come due to school starting, but she got the dates wrong and she doesn't start FROG week until this week. We went on tuesday and immediately hit the pool upon getting there!! Our room was great and we got settled quickly. The Holton's joined us and got some much needed r & r before school starts and Tee has to start driving the bus again. Monday starts school here for Devin and Parker. We went to the beach on wednesday and it was sooooo hot!! They said it was 113 degrees!!! I got a nice beach chair with an umbrella. We had a great time floating in the ocean. We saw so many dolphins with a mile of where we were... it was awesome. We also saw alot of the local "wildlife" too, but that just made us laugh!!! Thursday was another pool day and John is the best day. During this trip he must of logged in over 100 pool hours!! Parker kept him all the time!!! In fact Parker is so tired from our vacation he wanted to lay in bed today and "be lazy" and watch cartoons all day...



We love the beach, but it is nice to get home. We have alot of packing to do for Allison!

Back to School

It is a tradition in our family for the girls to get a certain amount of money to given to them for school clothes. Now this does not include shoes, supplies, jackets, and dues etc. This is very happy time for the girls because they get to deceide exactly what they will get and have complete control of thier money. Well as the years have gone by and the money has gone up, but Devin sensing this was her year to collect the whole loot was very excited. She asked John over dinner a couple of weeks ago if she would be getting the whole $300 for herself or did she have to share with Parker. Well John said nope, she would get the whole purse. She was very excited about this. We have felt that this encourages are girls to budget thier monies and plan. I learned by Tara that when your paying the bill they don't look for bargins and it became to much of a drama. In years past the girls have gone together and had a great time. Devin has been shopping, but much to my amazment she still has money left. She found some great deals (the crate going out of business), but still spent way to much on make-up in my opinion. Oh well she will have to learn that lesson the hard way...

Blessings

Recently, I had to attend the funeral of someone who I loved very much. During this very emotional day I reflected on many aspects of my life with this young man and despite some very troubling faults I realized how blessed I have been to have even a small part of him in my life. Also that I might get a little down about certain aspects of my life now, that I have been truly blessed in my life. This weekend by little Reese called me grandma for the first time!! Nothing more beautiful has been uttered to me in a long time. These are the blessings that I reflect upon times of sadness. Although I had gone to Utah for a funeral I left there feeling very loved and excited about my new name and that my grandbaby knows me and calls for me...... she knows that I love her and will do everything I can to help grow into a beautiful young lady. I wasn't able to get Matt on that right path, but I still know without a doubt in my mind that he knew always that I loved him. What more can we ask than for that??

New family members

Shane sleeps threw Family Home Evening

Happy is trying read the Ensign for Family Home Evenng





Happy... this is Parkers new best friend..



They're cute when they are sleeping



Allison's dog, Shane is older about 12 weeks



I know that most of you will not believe this, but we have finally given in and let the kids get a dog....., but the kicker is they came home with TWO dogs!! Paker picked out a little girl dog and named her happy. Then Allison friend/ex-boyfriend/wants to be boyfriend again bought her a little boy puppy. His name is Shane. They both are adorable. They girls are very engertic about taking care of them, but as we all know the newess will wear off and they will become John and Tina's dogs.... Oh well, I felt the dog will be great with Parker. He will always have his best friend here.