An end is coming

I am going to be shutting down this blog in about a week. I can't really keep up with two blogs...it's getting to be a pain. I like my other one better so this one is going to be deleted. If you have me on a feeder or whatever those things are called then please delete this one and refer to my other blog.

www.instructionsnotincluded2.blogspot.com

I'll be deleting in about a week. Thanks for being a reader of this one.

As I promised

I promised ya'll an exciting post so....

Click:


here

Just like my usual...

10 on Tuesday.

1. Last night we were watching the 10 o'clock news and I was surprised to hear they had Lawrence County schools on lockdown yesterday. The reason? They had threats going out over this whole consolidation mess. For those of you that don't know they are wanting to consolidate Hazelwood, R.A. Hubbard, and I believe Hatton. To me this makes sense...they are all three small schools and obviously more money can be given to one school instead of stretching it out over three. But of course you got people who don't want change...and so now they are threatening people over it. Ridiculous!
2. So I am in the middle of spring cleaning. I am purging lots of items and giving them to goodwill.
3. We are putting down hardwood in our house in May. Originally we were only doing it in our living room and hallway. The foyer already has it. Now we have decided to do all three bedrooms as well.
4. So my brother and Susan are braving the Disney World experience with Macy this June. She'll still be 3, just a few weeks short of 4 when they take her. 8 whole days. She is a huge Mickey Mouse fanatic and I just know she is going to pee her pants with excitement.
5. Taco salads for dinner tonight :) This makes my tummy happy.
6. I am so happy. I made Wes some chocolate oatmeal drop no bake cookies last night as a thank you for cleaning the master bathroom for me. They set. I know you are thinking big deal isn't that what they are supposed to do? Yes that's what they are supposed to do but those are some finiky cookies and sometimes they set and sometimes they don't. Of course when they don't set you can always enjoy them with a spoon :) But they set last night whoo hoo!
7. Wes has a nickname at work. They call him Sippy. If you work for TVA you have a nickname. It's just a fact of life. Well there is this one guy he works with who I met at Walmart one day when I was with Wes. He is a fun guy who likes to flirt lol. But he calls me Mrs Sippy...say it together and it sounds like Mississippi :) But he's always asking Wes how the lovely Mrs Sippy is lol.
8. We are getting a freezer to put in our garage. This makes me happy because our freezer on our fridge just isn't big enough. Now I'll have extra space whoo hoo!
9. I'm getting to go to the beach twice this summer. Once to PC with my parents. I'm leaving Wes at home :) No seriously he has to work and so he can't go then and heck I am not passing up a free trip to the beach. Then me and him are going to Destin in July for a belated 3rd anniversary trip.
10. Our actual anniversary will be spent in Pigeon Forge for my family reunion. Looking forward to that as well. We are going to the Dixie Stampede one night. I have been to that one and the one in Myrtle Beach. Wes has never been so I know he'll enjoy it :)

Well it was hard pulling out that 10 on Tuesday this week. OH I just remembered...tomorrow is Lauren and Kevin's 3rd anniversary...so Happy Anniversary guys! And I promise next week I'll have some more exciting posts. Hopefully. Until then Happy Tuesday all!

Some companies are just impatient!!

For crying out loud! Yes this is a vent. My AT&T bill was due yesterday. I always pay it online. Well I forgot it yesterday and remembered this morning. So I was like Eh one day no biggie. Well at 8 freakin o'clock this morning an AT&T rep calls my house...Mrs. McClanahan (which she butchered beyond words) do you realize you have an outstanding balance of so and so. I was like um yeah it was due yesterday and it slipped up on me...I was making plans to log into my computer in just a second after I finished my breakfast to pay it. Really one day? (I didn't say this part though) Okay so as soon as I finished my breakfast I log in and pay it.
Well lo and behold at 11 o'clock my phone rings again....this time it is a man...he doesn't even try to say my last name...he just says may I speak with Wesley. I'm like he's at work, may I take a message? This is AT&T and we are just calling to let you know that you have an outstanding balance. By this point I am like for crying out loud!! I tell this man...yes it is 1 day late...1 not 10...and I have already been contacted at 8 am this morning during my breakfast...I paid the bill at precisely 8:22am....it'll be coming to you shortly...so why don't you make a notation of that in your little computer there. Thank you very much.
I'm just shaking my head right now. Yes I realize it was late...but come on one day? And not even a full 24 hours? Sometimes people forget things...it happens. AT&T doesn't seem to understand that.
Okay vent over!

I'm doing my 10 a day early

1. Wes is at driving school tonight so I am bored and decided I'd do my 10 a day early.
2. I have been wanting popcorn lately. I don't have any in the house and so on my grocery run tomorrow I'll be buying some.
3. My kitties celebrated there 1st birthday Saturday. Savanna's 2nd b'day is April 1.
4. Wes passed his training center top out oral and is now officially in the plant...whoo hoo.
5. I have been sewing lately. I'll be posting pics of various projects soon.
6. Want to hear a funny Macy story? Yesterday we had dinner at my parents. Macy was in the living room playing while we were in the dining room. Macy hollers out "Mommy I have to poopoo." Susan then says "Okay come in here and let me see it." We are of course looking at her like WTH? Have you lost your marbles? She is like "Why are ya'll looking at me like that? She said she had a booboo?" We were all dying laughing at this point and Chris says "No, she said she needed to go poopoo." Susan's ears are stopped up, she is getting over an ear infection so she didn't hear her right. That is the hardest I have laughed in a while.
7. Boo to Auburn not getting into the NCAA basketball tournament.
8. My most favorite show ever comes on tonight. Big Bang Theory!! Love it!
9. I'm so excited...we officially have dates down to get this house painted. I have been waiting for this day whoo hoo!
10. I'm excited about this week of weather. Spring is in the air..and I believe the first official day of spring is later this week.
Bonus: Don't forget to wear green tomorrow. Happy Saint Paddy's Day!

Another 10 on Tuesday

1. It seems like all I do on this blog anymore is a 10 on Tuesday.
2. Maybe something interesting will happen soon so I'll have other things to blog about.
3. I need to drink more water but I am having trouble doing that.
4. My BIL's girlfriend gets on my nerves. Every time I talk to her I feel like I am being transported back to the bitchy girls of high school who loved drama. Didn't I graduate almost 11 years ago? She really has a lot to learn about life.
5. I really need to go to the library. I need new reading material in the worst way.
6. Wes passed his last written test of his program...whoot whoot. Now he has his top out oral exam on March 13th and then he has completed the first 18 months of his program and only has 18 months left until he is a journeyman and an official Instrumentation Mechanic and not just an Instrumentation Mechanic Trainee.
7. It is true that sometimes washing machines will last 20+ years. My mom had to buy herself a new washing machine this past weekend. Her old one she purchased in 1985...yeah that sucker is almost as old as me. I say it was made right :)
8. Don't you love the craziness of Alabama weather? It's going to be 70 degrees Friday. Yes this is less than a week after we had snow. Alabama weather is definitely an anomility(sp?).
9. Klancy I'll email you the details of my kitchen table. Didn't want you to think I didn't get your message. I just haven't spent much time on here lately but I will get the info to you :)
10. I think we are going to go see The Watchmen on Friday night. I don't know what it is about these action adventure movies but ever since last summers Iron Man, Incredible Hulk, and The Dark Knight, I am loving these kind of movies. That's a total shock to me :)

Hmm I made it...Happy Tuesday all.

10 on Tuesday!

1. Happy 35th birthday to my big brother Chris.
2. Me and Wes really learned a tax lesson this year. My dear (bless his heart) hubby was for some unknown reason (thanks to TVA telling him to do this) filing married and three. I wasn't aware of this. So we aren't getting near the amount we got back last year, back this year. I'm not complaining because we are getting money back, and at least we aren't having to pay, so I am thankful for that. But he did change his info to married and two.
3. I got frustrated at my Cascade bottle this morning. I somehow bought a dud. It has freaking crystallized in the bottle! I got one squirt out of it. That was 7 dollars down the drain. Frustrating!
4. My goal to read 50 books this year isn't panning out so well. I have been a slacker in the book department lately. A much needed library trip is in order.
5. Today is Fat Tuesday...did ya'll know that?
6. I'm really needing our current kitchen table to sell. I have it listed on craigslist and valleyfreemarket.com. We have a new table that can not be put up until this one sells.
7. If you are wanting to check out a really good kids consignment sale in Huntsville check out Klassy Kids Exchange on March 6-15. It's where Comp USA used to be in the Target shopping center on 72.
8. Wes is almost done with his training center time at work! Can I shout a big Hallelujah on that one! He has 1 minor test left which he should be taking right about now, and then 2 major tests left, one which is this Friday and the other which is Friday March 13th. Then he is in the plant for the last 18 months of his program before gaining his journeyman status. He will be on rotational shifts during the last 18 months..with his first three months being days. I'll just be glad for him to get out of the training center.

Eight will have to do because I can't think of anything else at the moment. Happy Tuesday all!

I hope we all have this many years of marital bliss!

About a month ago we celebrated Wes' Aunt Margaret's and Uncle Ray's 50th wedding anniversary. This is my mother in laws oldest sister. They are a family of 10 kids but not all are still living. Aunt Margaret and Uncle Ray never had any children of their own, so her brothers and sisters threw them an anniversary party. I met TONS of Wes' distant relatives and people who could tell me embarrassing stories about him when he was little lol.

These are Kay and her brothers and sisters.

Wes and his mom

The happy couple
I really hope we are all one day celebrating our 50th's to the ones we love!

Happy Valentines Day

Hope ya'll all have a lovely day of love with your hunnies. We are having a low key day. Going to lunch (as to hopefully avoid the crowds) and then to a movie. I'm also going to make Wes some yummy cupcakes :) I've been looking forward to them all week!
So Happy Valentine's day everyone!

It's Wednesday but...

I'm still going to do a late edition of 10 on Tuesday.

1. I could eat Zaxby's House Zalad's grilled with lite ranch every day!
2. I have a prayer request. My BIL's roomate tried to take his own life Monday night. He took 28 Xanex's. Thankfully he was unsuccessful, but now his mom is refusing to let him get psych treatment when he so desperately needs it. She only went down there Monday night, but left early Tuesday morning saying that she had a business to run. That stupid business is more important than her own son, who is desperately crying out for help. He is still in the hospital, or at least was last time we talked to Zach, which was late last night. I just feel so bad for him.
3. I had a double humiliation at the dollar tree today. I had to buy a new baby card for one of our friends and I went ahead and picked up a couple of pregnancy tests. I get up to the register and a man was the cashier. So I proceed to put my three items down and am going about my business. The man gives me the bag and I leave. I am halfway out to my car when the little old lady who was behind me in line stops me and asks me "Honey do you need me to go over to Wal-Mart with you and buy a real pregnancy test? I know it's scary to be in this position at your age, but don't worry plenty of young people have babies!" Um, what?? She then proceeds to say that she wouldn't trust a dollar tree pregnancy test. So I have to kindly tell the sweet little old lady that 1) I am not that young...I showed her my license, and 2) Thanks for the Wal-mart advice and yeah I know Dollar Tree tests probably aren't really that reliable, but what the heck it was a dollar.
Oh and FYI no I am not pregnant...yet...I was just buying those tests to take if I happen to have the urge to POAS way earlier than I should and I won't feel like I am throwing money down the drain.
4. I am kinda thinking we might make a trip to Auburn on Saturday. So of course I'll have to take Zach some brownies...aren't I a good sister in law?
5. Valentines day is in 10 days and I haven't a clue as to what to do for Wes.
6. Wes' dad has sold my little Alero...yay!! Now we are getting Wes a new (to him) car.
7. There are two movies coming out that I want to see....chick flicks all the way. Confessions of a Shopaholic and He's Just Not That Into You. Anyone want to go??
8. I'm hoping the tax fairy is good to us this year.

I know I got more but for some reason I'm blanking! So 8 will have to do! Happy hump day!

10 on Tuesday

Not much going on but I haven't really blogged much lately so I'll give it a try.

1. I'm making nachos and brownies for dinner tonight. Definitely not healthy but man does it sound good.
2. I have been really tired lately. I have low iron (border line anemic) and it is really rearing its ugly face lately.
3. I'm reading the book Ella Enchanted. It's been a quick read. I'm really excited for the next book I am going to read...The Book Thief.
4. That reminds me that I need to do my book review on the Twilight Saga.
5. I'm ready for spring.
6. The movie Fireproof came out on DVD today. If you haven't seen it you should rent it.
7. I've been feeling super crafty lately. I am trying to get my office cleaned up and organized so Wes can measure out the space and start on my craft desk. I have lots of ideas and can't wait to get started.
8. Can ya'll see me as a children's librarian? I am considering getting a second masters in library science...I'll be finished with my masters in elementary ed in August or I'd just change it over...but I don't want to waste the work and effort. I can do correspondence courses through the University of Alabama (online and at their Gasden center) and be done in less than 2 years. Heck I think my career is just to be a professional student lol.

Okay 8 is all I can muster today. Happy Tuesday!

A normal Saturday

I sit here typing this while watching The Princess Diaries on ABC Family in my warm toasty house. My company is my kitties. Wes has gone out to a concert with his friend Brian. I just got back from the library where I got two books...Ella Enchanted and The Book Thief. Looking forward to reading both but first I gotta finish Breaking Dawn. Only 149 pages to go...that's not bad for a 746 page book that I have not been impressed with. But that is for another post.
This week has been crazy. Last Sunday Wes' only remaining grandparent, his grandfather, fell and broke his hip. At the age of 81. So his kids have been going back and forth arguing whether surgery would be beneficial or too risky. Well they didn't get a chance to find out. God had other plans. His grandfather passed away late Thursday night. So last night we were at the funeral home. I met lots and lots of Wes' relatives.
On top of that the Alero has been giving us problems. This is the car Wes drives to work. The head gasket is cracked. It's a pretty pricey fix, and leave it to General Motors to make the Alero a very difficult car to work on. This has been an ongoing problem and Wes has been constantly putting anti-freeze in it. So we have come to the conclusion that after the spring outage is over we will be finding Wes a new car. Not a brand new car...but a new to him car. Something with low mileage and reliable. We found a car lot in Marietta Georgia that sells newer cars for good prices. They do the whole car fax thing that way you know what you are getting. He has found several 06/07 Honda civics in our price range. So I guess my good ol Alero is going to be finding a new home. She has been a good car, done her duty, all that jazz.
So I sit here thankful for a normal Saturday. I'm excited about the upcoming week. I am organizing my guest room and office/craft room. Then I can set up my sewing machine. Wes has promised me once the spring outage is over he is building me this fabulous craft desk I have been drooling over. So I am super excited about that. I love having a crafty husband! So I hope that everyone is having a great weekend. I'm glad it's a three day one for Wes. Happy Saturday :)

10 on Thursday

1. A year and half after moving into our house I now have curtains in my living room. It's amazing the difference curtains can make.
2. Don't want to go into details on here but I need ya'll's good thoughts and prayers about this whole baby situation.
3. My two spare bedrooms are in line for mission organization. I'm just not 100% sure where to start.
4. My house smells heavenly right now. Cranberry Mandarin scented candles are awesome!
5. I'm going to do it! I'm going to start an etsy business with my felt boards and cutouts. There are a couple of other sellers of this stuff on there but it's not completely overrun with them.
6. I'm going to rave two products. 1st the Dustbuster Retriever. Awesome on picking up pet hair from couches and stuff. 2nd the Spot Bot. Great for cleaning couches and upholstered chairs and even small spots on your floors!
7. Anyone ever sell anything on craigslist? I'm fixing to lose my craigslist virginity. I am selling our current kitchen table since we are replacing it with a new kitchen table.
8. Me and Wes are taking our vacation in December next year. The week of his birthday. I'm trying to decide where. Any suggestions?
9. I chipped a tooth last night on an apple? Like not the outside part but after I had already gotten all the skin off it...how the heck I did this I am not sure. So now I have a dentist trip ahead of me. Ugh next week is a week of doctors appointments :(
10. Hope ya'll all have a great weekend. We are going to one of Wes' aunts and uncles 50th wedding anniversary party and then on Sunday my parents are coming over for lunch after church. So a semi relaxing weekend is ahead. Happy Friday!

A 2009 Challenge for myself

Everyone makes new year resolutions. Well I didn't make any resolutions perse this year. I just made a few challenges to myself.

One of them is that I am reading 50 books in 2009. If I can read more, fabulous, but I have a goal for at least 50. I am tracking them on www.goodreads.com If any of you have an account over there add me as a friend.

http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/1809344

I am currently on my first book of the year. It's the fourth book in the Twilight series, Breaking Dawn, and yeah I am not loving it. But another goal I have for this year is to finish what I have started so I will finish it. But I do have to say that after the first book, Twilight, I haven't loved this series. I feel like I am weird because almost everyone I know who has read this series loves it...but me not so much. Oh well to each her own I guess :)

So now there will be some book reviews thrown in with this blog. Hey who knows you might find a book that you want to read out of it :)

Felt Storyboards and Cutouts

Okay a few posts back I posted this picture.


Okay well some of that turned into this.




This is a felt story board and cutouts. When I was in college I purchased a felt story set (The Three Little Pigs) at the campus bookstore. I think I paid $15 for it, and it didn't come with the kinda board that I made Macy. It came with a very flimsy cardboard board. I used it some when I was teaching Kindergarten.

Well back in November I was racking my brain on what to get Macy. I was surfing around online and I came across this link.

http://blissfullydomestic.com/blissful-kids/diy-felt-board/

It reminded me about my now put up set. So I got to thinking I could do this. So I wrote down what I would need and thought about my time limit I was working with to get this done by Christmas. So I chose two children's story books The Very Hungry Caterpillar and It Looked Like Spilt Milk and I managed to recreate those two stories in felt.

I forgot to get pictures of the It Looked Like Spilt Milk cutouts but the above pictures show The Very Hungry Caterpillar cutouts. I am in the process of making her more. I am doing different scenes from the four seasons, some typical holiday ones, ones of her family, and a couple more story books right now. These take lots of time, and until this week I haven't had a lot of that.

So I am thinking of starting an etsy business doing these and a few other things. It'll take a little bit to get it started but I am pretty excited about it.

So what do ya'll think?

Christmas 2008

We went to Nashville the Saturday before Christmas. We ate at Rainforest Cafe and went to the Opryland hotel to look at all the lights.



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I only got some pictures of Christmas at my parents house. I accidentally left my camera at home for Christmas at his parents house.


Macy had a horrible cold on Christmas day :(

I was laughing at my mom the whole time she was opening this gift. It was the last gift she had and she was kinda shocked by the size of the box because she was hoping she'd gotten a new camera for Christmas, and the size of this box confused her. Not to mention it was from ABC distributing. It did contain her new camera, I had just thought it would be funny to put it in the box that my stocking hanger came in lol.

My parents Christmas tree.





And finally two last pictures from the holiday season at the McClanahan's.

One of my most favorite gifts from Wes. I collect nutcrackers and put them out at Christmas. He found this one for me and I was super excited about it :)

Don't these look yummy :) I am so proud of myself for not screwing these up. I even got Wes to help me ice them :) I didn't know that I was out of red food color and red icing until it was too late so that is why I couldn't get more creative with the candy cans and gingerbread man. But none the less they were good!

Please keep my family in your prayers

One of my uncles on my mom's side passed away this morning. I don't know any details yet as it is 8:45 am and my mom only called a few minutes ago, but it has been a crazy week here. He was really sick though so I am glad he isn't suffering anymore.

I'll be back next week with my New Years post and some pics from Christmas. My transfer cord for my camera decided to go on the fritz the day after Christmas so Wes ordered me some contraption that reads my memory card onto the computer and it isn't here yet so hopefully by the beginning of the week.