When Otters Attack Or Protect, I Can't Decide!

Mike and I have this thing about trying to catch our children in strange situations while they sleep. We love to get a good laugh at their expense....is that wrong? We peeked in on Michael before going to bed the other night and found that 'Otterie' (his name) had assumed the guard position to protect Michael from the night. Either to protect or poised for attack if Michael moved the wrong way, we could not decide. We got a huge laugh out of it and thankfully Michael did not wake up with the parade of lights and laughs that transpired while getting the picture. Have a great Monday.

Friday Fill Ins

Another week has come and gone and I am still around to talk about it. That is always a good sign but then that is probably a matter of opinion. This week flew by and I cannot believe it is time for Friday Fill Ins again. WOW.....I must say is has been a strange week due to work related things... people getting stuck in chairs overnight, having to break in doors....you know....the typical home health stuff! Friday, I long for your embrace with open arms..............

1. One week ago I was standing in my kitchen doing this exact same thing and getting ready so see the exact same patient.

2. I always wanted to grow up when I was young.

3. Mama told me to buckle down when I was little because I wasn't focusing at whatever task was at hand. I HATED when she told me that.

4. It is kismet, you and me.

5. Take your time you may actually do it right and complete the job next time.

6. Time will pass!

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to grilling filet and shrimp on the grill, tomorrow my plans include soccer games and Sunday, I want to finish my book.

Fruit Stack

I just wanted to share a funny picture Mike took yesterday. Thankfully, our children love fruit. So for a snack Michael ate a mix of bananas, strawberries and blueberries. Although the comedic part of this will be lost because I am having to bring up the "had to be there" clause BUT I am hoping this picture will cajole even a small grin. Michael stuck his fork in the bowl and this is what he had impaled.............................Smiley!!

A Got Another Award and Various Other Ramblings

WOOOO HOOOO, my cyber friend Crystal (that is actually her real name and she is a friend of one of my oldest friend and lives in Phoenix, not a nameless stalker!) gave me an award for my blog. Although the 'Blog Awards' are just for fun, it is still pretty cool to get the notoriety. So here is is:
I am sorry I have not blogged in a few days. I know it is hard to believe but my life is not so exciting that I have the material to blog often. No Way! I know, I know try to get your composure back.

• Saturday was birthday party day. Thankfully, one was for kids and one was for adults. The bowling party for the kids was fun for the kids! Me, on the other hand was highly over stimulated. I was wondering toward the end if it would be inappropriate of me to get a beer from the bar. Don't worry I restrained. The evening party was a double. One spouse was turning 38 and the other 40. Since Mike and I could not find a babysitter to acquiesce our request, he was gracious enough to let me go with one of my girlfriends. Well, my friend Michelle and I thought.....two girls could not possibly get together without doing some sort of shopping. That would cause some horrible misalignment in the cosmos....planets would juxtapose.....UTTER CHAOS! Ok, I am finished. We hit up TJ Maxx. One outfit and a fabulously red coat for me and two wonderful coats for her later......we were off to the party. Since my fabulous red coat was light and more of a nippy evening type of garb, I decided it was totally appropriate to wear it into the party. Quite stunning if I do so myself with a black shirt, jeans and 2.5" black heels. Hey, what can I say. If you cannot give compliments to yourself than you will not be able to accept them from people.....or something like that. The party was great and Brad and Michelle's place is awesome. It is so SoHo Loftish in a VERY trendy way and much bigger. I guess that's what comes with being married to an artist. They just think more creatively than normal folk. Please visit his website and look at some of his work. It is truly amazing. Especially since he does it with a chainsaw. www.bradsells.com.

Well I had a lot more to write but alas I am out of time. Don't cry!!! Off to work I go.

Friday Fill Ins

Who's laughing now? I have been building this huge boat in my backyard for weeks and everyone thought I was crazy. Seeing as the entrance to my neighborhood was blocked by water on Wednesday, honing my boat building skills doesn't seem so crazy after all! Obviously I am teasing about the boat but not about the entrance being blocked. If you don't live around here and read my blog maybe I should mention that Cookeville has received 6" of rain (according to the "weather guy" whose weather station is to the upper right hand corner of the screen you are currently reading). This 'weather event' actually shut schools down an hour early on Wednesday. Michael was so disappointed that he was not able to work out his cerebellar muscles for one more hour (ha ha). Currently, the roads are basically dry but I am sure that won't last long.
Well, I only have a half day today.....yippppeee. I guess I better not get used to it, next week looks pretty busy and this girl will actually have to work a full 5 days! BOOOOOOOO!
Here we go>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

1. My car, my car. Let me count the ways.

2. A friend's birthday party is coming up next.

3. Lately, things seem a little chaotic and busy but I think I am handling it OK.

4. A bubble bath is one of my favorite 'hiding' places.

5. What happened, happened and that is that!

6. Having a clean house is not impossible!

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to absolutely nothing, tomorrow my plans include a bowling party for a friend of Michaels and that evening going to a grown up birthday party for Michelle and Brad Sells (Brad is a wood artist and has a piece in the Smithsonian even! Look up his work at www.bradsells.com) and Sunday, I want to start writing my to do list for what I want done in the house before my company Christmas Party! YES, I am a fanatic and I offer no apologies.

A Glimpse Into The Secret Life Of Marshall

Short story, Yes I am am capable!
Mike took the boat out Saturday to a launch ramp he had not used in a while. He forgot it was a pay ramp and had no cash so he put a note in the envelope that he would be back on Monday. In an ode to the honor system, Mike was true to his word and drove back out to the ramp with Marshall in tow in order to pay the ramp fee from Saturday. After he performed his duty, he asked Marshall if he wanted to throw rocks in the lake for a while......duh.....what kind of question was that? The following pictures are a chronicle of Marshall's descension into the water. Would one expect anything less. The next picture is of a little gift he left for us in the dishwasher. He even shut the little door and everything to make it a true surprise! Last picture is a true demonstration of the comedy of the Little Guy.

Weekend Update

• Alas, my last Cougar Run for a couple of years has come and gone! It is bittersweet to watch Michael grow up but...that is what kids do. I stood on the pavement in the middle of the makeshift running track from 8:30 until 1:00 taking pics of all the kids. It is amazing the energy and excitement of these little guys.This is a really big deal at Capshaw and the kids are always ready to give it their all. One hundred and Seventy Five pictures later, I was able to come home and rest. That was short lived, though. I started to feel guilty for not doing any real physical activity all day so I journeyed upstairs and did yoga for 90 minutes. After freshening up.....it was time for Fall Fest.

• We made it to Fall Fest around 6ish. The sun was settling down and the crowd was picking up. We purchased our way overpriced tickets/bracelets for the boys and off we went to jumpy thing and rock climbing wall bliss! After an hour or so the kids were getting hungry and we decided to get barbecue. That is another element at Fall Fest, the cook off. People from all over are selling their pork sandwiches, ribs and the like. We get to reap the benefit. YUMMY! So here we all are sitting under the 'eating tent' when I get a hint of a familiar smell. No, it wasn't Marshall pooing! It was the smell of rain on hot pavement....you know that unmistakable scent. The skies opened up and the rain fell. That was the end of our Fall Fest fun. Mike ran to get the truck and got it as close to where we were and we sprinted in the rain. Refreshing!
• Saturday was less eventful. The kids and I went to IHOP with my mom to chow on some breakfast. From there we all participated in the Memory Walk to benefit Alzheimer's research. It was a nice day for a walk around TTU campus but I was glad to be back home. I felt as if I had ran all over town for the past two days.
• Oh, and let us not forget about today. Both the kids were singing at the early service so everyone had to be at church by 8 a.m. Michael was also the liturgist for the service. They are the opener, if you will, and call everyone to worship. It is a very big deal and there is a lot to read. He did not even flinch! He carried it off like he had been public speaking for years. I was so proud of him. I asked him afterward if he was nervous and he said not one bit. I then asked if his calm nerves were due to the lectern blocking most of his view from the congregation (except the balcony). He said yes! I guess that is better than visualizing everyone in their underwear! One last thing, we all got to see Marshall pick his nose at the end of his song. Once again....I could not be a more proud parent! Pick a winner, son.
  

Here is a picture prior to church. How sweet are my boys?

Friday Fill Ins

Well today is the big day....Cougar Run at Michael's school. I need to arm myself with canisters of caffeine to last throughout the entire day of taking pictures. I am already tired and I have not even started! Even in hard times, I hope we raise lots and lots of money.



1. I feel excited about the going ons (sic) happening today!

2. Being a total and complete goober is always fun.

3. Right now, I can hear these things: Mike putting up dishes and Michael eating!

4. I try to remember my blessings and I'm glad I am reminded at times.

5. The last time I went on an extreme shopping spree was months ago.

6. My life was extremely uneventful this Labor day weekend.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to the annual Fall Fest on the Cookeville square, tomorrow my plans include participating in a Memory walk at TTU (if I remember) and Sunday, I want to watch my boys sing before church and Michael speaking in front of the entire congregation!

Happy Labor Day

Good morning all! Well, I guess that should be 'good day' to cover any time period of someone reading this. Wasn't Memorial Day last week? Seriously, I just blinked three times and here we are at the unofficial but official end of summer. This day is bittersweet for me. On one hand I am sad because I LOVE SUMMER...swimming, boating, gardening, soaking up the sun (even though I wear 50 spf and have a spray tan). I also LOVE FALL...the annual Cookeville Fall Fest which has all kinds of fun things for the kids, crafts, awesome food (this may be an argument for some) and great bands, smell of campfires, leaves changing colors, the morning air is crisp and you feel like you can inhale it to the bottome lobes of your lungs, and blue jeans. Yes, I know that last one is a little strange but I love cuddling up with my man outside by a fire with blue jeans! I know, too much information. Alas, it has all come to an end! The pools officially close after today, well most of them and it is time to get into soccer and football.
I have a few people to see today for home health.....I love my job but this is the time where I shrug my shoulders and say "People don't take a holiday from being sick although they would if given the chance." After that, I don't know if we are taking the boat out or going swimming. I guess it all depends on the weather.
I hope everyone has a fabulous Labor Day, don't work too hard, and be mindful of how much adult beverage you may be imbibing throughout the day. I don't want any accidents today with my friends.

Friday Fill Ins

1. I feel overwhelmed by life.....only if I let it get the best of me.

2. Anything in the vicinity of sand, the ocean and palm trees is always fun.

3. Right now, I can hear these things: Mike putting silverware in the tray, coffee brewing, and little birdies chirping outside (windows have been open for 5 days thanks to the beautiful weather)

4. Some things happen for a reason and I'm glad we usually end up learning what that reason is.

5. The last time I made someone laugh was yesterday.

6. I am so looking forward to this Labor day weekend and spending time with my men.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to having some grilled salmon and enjoying the rest of my 3/4 day of from work, tomorrow my plans include spending time with my mom and Sunday, I want to take the boat out and spend the last precious moments of the summer basking in the sun!

Thank You Lord For The Health Of My Children

Marshall's 3 year check up was today. The boy's doc goes to our church so visits to the pediatrician are never traumatic (especially when their physician used to be their Sunday School teacher!) The first thing Jim said when he sat down with his little laptop was something like..."Hello Marshall, let's see when the last time we saw you......wow, it was at your two year check up!" What an eye opener for Mike and I. Neither of us had any idea Marshall had not been sick for an entire year.....at least not sick enough to go to the doctor. Reflecting back, Michael has not been sick since at least March! I hate that I take so many things for granted and complain about stupid, piddly things. I have the one thing no amount of money could ever buy....the health of my family and yours truly. What an awesome blessing and gift.
Anywho, to make a long story unbearable......Marshall is officially a haus. This is new territory for Mike and I since Michael was always 50 percentile this and 50 percentile that. Marshall weighed in at 40 pounds and some change and is 40.5 inches tall. Doc said 97 percentile plus for both....I didn't know you could be that! What are the requirements for 100 percentile? Who knows. I guess that would be borderline freak percentile!