Thanksgiving

I'm getting ready for the marathon day ahead. I will shower soon and then watch the parade as I make some goodies for Mom's house. We well enjoy lunch there and then come home quick enough to relax for a few minutes and then off to Justin's mom's for dinner. The contrast of the two places is so different it is almost hilarious!

Yesterday, Bryce got his first deer. He was so proud. He called the house and I dropped what I was doing and grabbed my camera and got a few pictures.

Friends

When I reflect over the years of friends, I must say I am truly blessed.

Childhood friends that no matter how many years apart we can pick back up and carry on like old times.
High school friends who are just an email away and know the right, witty thing to say to lift your spirits. We may not talk on the daily or even monthly but when we do you can tell there is no strain just a friendship that has endured years of change and maturing!
College friends that are like family, that know what each sigh really means and have that dead on instinct when they are needed.
New friends that accept you for what you have become and make a new little spot in their lives to share some good and bad times with. I am so lucky to have met some true honest people and I'm thankful to have them no matter when they entered my life!

Halloween 2009

You know that girl.
Originally uploaded by tonyaodell

I can't believe that it is already November. I have had another turn your life upside down past few months and I feel that I'm stuck in some weird time warp!

Here I am with two of the joys of my life. G and B came by to show me their costumes. It was pretty neat because I went shopping with them to get their costumes this year. Something little that I may never get to do if I don't now. I think B's mobster is awesome. We tried to talk G into being Elvis but maybe next year. Ninja's are still pretty cool!

31

31
Originally uploaded by tonyaodell

Last year the last thing I wanted was to turn 30. I remember crying on my way to work. It seems so silly now!

This year I can say I welcomed 31 with open arms. 30 by no means was a good year for me. My grandmother's death the day after my birthday was a precursor of the loss I would face. I can honestly say that I feel my heart has been ripped out my chest and squashed a few times this year. From the physical things I have been through to actions of others around me. I know we are given challenges for a reason. But to feel like a failure over and over has been a hard pill to swallow.

I don't expect anyone to ever understand how I have felt.

6 years

Justin and I spent our anniversary in Pigeon Forge. Thanks to grad school bills and J's work schedule we were not able to plan a beach trip.

We had a great time, we relaxed and took it easy and didn't stress over what to do every second. A quick recap of the weekend: Knoxville Zoo, West Town Mall (had my favorite dinner of Bourbon Chicken) and we watched Funny People. We shopped some and went to a Smokies game. We ended up getting in the game for free thanks to some nice people who didn't use their vouchers. We enjoyed a nice anniversary lunch at Moe's and a tasty dinner at Olive Garden.

I can't believe it has been six years! I have a feeling that the next 6 will hold a lot of new adventures!

Mission.....cupcakes

This summer I have taken the initiative to try each of the cupcakes from our local cupcakery. I know this sounds like the most fattening mission ever but I have yet to have one whole cupcake in its entirety. I have always had someone to share with. So here is my list thus far.

Carrot Cake- this one I tried today it was by far my favorite. It was the perfect example of a well made carrot cake in a cupcake wrapper. Not to mention the icing was fabulous!

Chocolate mint- The icing on this was tasty and reminded me of the mints you usually run into at wedding showers. It was a basic chocolate cupcake with the yummy icing. It was topped off with an Andees mint

Wedding cake- I have had this one twice because it was requested by the boys. Just a basic almond flavored white cake with that delicious icing. Can't go wrong.

Chocolate Ganache- a perfect cupcake for a chocolate lover. It is very rich and chocolaty!

Chocolate Peanut Butter- This one made me think of Erika (I think it will be one of her favorites.) A chocolate cupcake with a delicious peanut butter icing topped with a Reece cup. This was Bryce's favorite.

The Elvis- banana cake topped with the above mentioned peanut butter icing. It was like eating banana bread with icing. I thought it was yummy but I'm glad I only had a third of it.

Lemon Crumb- A perfect flavor for summer! Lemon cupcake with a crust on the bottom and instead of icing has lemon filling in it.

Red Velvet- The best part of this for me was the chocolate covered cherry on top. I think I'm just a sucker for my mom's red velvet and this one just wasn't what I expected.

S'mores- This one was pretty yummy. Garett picked it as his favorite so far. A chocolate cupcake with a gram cracker crusted with a yummy marshmallow topping. I think maybe my favorite chocolate cupcake so far.

UPDATE: For Gina's wedding shower we had cupcakes. I was able to try two different flavors:

Key lime coconut- Didn't have much of a lime taste but it was good with the toasted coconut on top.

White chocolate raspberry- Very tasty white cake with a jam jelly sauce in the middle and drizzled on the top.

That is the list so far. I think I have really put away a lot of cupcakes this summer but at least it has only been a part of each one.

(Justin went with me to pick up the cupcakes so he was able to buy his first babycake he picked the lemon and LOVED it!)

I have included the website link if you want to drool over all the flavors (but there is only a few I haven't tried!)
http://babycakescupcakery.vpweb.com/default.html

Sand, sun, and friends!

I have returned from a nice visit to Hilton Head Island. It is possibly my favorite place in South Carolina. It is home to the beach and so many good places and most importantly Erika Lynn.


Ashley and I arrived late Thursday night. Frieday morning we stopped by Signe's for breakfast and my favorite cookie before heading to the beach. That night Erika's boyfriend arrived as well as the neighborhood alligator.


Saturday we spent more time on the beach and then headed over to the Smith homestead for some 4th of July burgers, ice cream and fireworks!

We finished up our time with a lot of good things, but most importantly a great time with two of the best friends anyone could ask for. So thanks ladies for all that blessings you have put into my life!

Baseball and Wave pool

B made the All-Star team and at practice last week the coach asked G to take the place of a player that hadn't showed up for practice. Since I keep them most of the week I opted for a photo shoot. Unfortunately, their team lost in their first tournament but my guys hit great and I was a beaming aunt!

Yesterday we make the journey to Saltville to hang out with Jess at the wave pool. The boys had a great time and rode the waves all day long except for a much anticipated lunch from Chick-fil-a!

Beach Bound

This time next week I will be soaking up the South Carolina sunshine with E and Ash. I am so excited! I honestly thought I wouldn't be able to go anywhere because of school. I'm looking forward to sun and fun with friends!

Monday, Monday

So I officially love Monday! Summer will be the only time I ever say that! Tomorrow I start my adventures in babysitting with my nephews. I plan a lot of pool time. Speaking of pool time, today it was finally pretty. No need to continue working on building an ark!

Summer break week one.

So this week (minus Monday) was my first week out of school. I have spent a few days cleaning the house. I always start this in full force, cleaning everything and then I slowly dwindle down to hit and miss because who is going to notice anyway.
I have a cleaning method of clean for a bit, stop, watch TV play on the interwebs and then clean some more. Rinse and repeat.

I have learned a few things during my first week off and here they are in no particular order:

• It rains a lot when I don't have to work.
  
• Kathie Lee drinks all the time on air. It cracks me up.
• Bonnie Hunt is probably the coolest talk show lady there is.
• The Jonas Brothers on the Today Show is hard to walk away from.
• My dog is the laziest dog ever.
• Having dirty hair for a few days is ok (as long as you do not go into public!)
• Billy Bob Thorton is in a band. WOAH!
  

I have also spent the week procrastinating (yes, me) and I must now cram for a mid-term I have tomorrow. Summer School Stinks!

I just dream of sunshine and time at the pool. Hopefully that will be on the agenda next week.

As life spins you 'round.

Time has left me for the most part. I get up, go to work, go to class (or 2nd job) and then come home to sleep. This is my life at this point. I'm getting exhausted! I hope that summer will help level me out a little and give me a rest. But who knows. I have decided to keep my nephews again this summer and I'm actually excited to have some more "Adventures in Babysitting" moments with them! The boys have their to-do list sketched out.

If it doesn't kill you...

I'm so not a person to take days off.  This past school year I have taken a lot of days off (mostly for a funeral and my outpatient surgery).

Tomorrow I am taking a day off to write a proposal for Grad school.  This semester has been so tough.  With added personal issues I have just wanted to crawl in a hole and call it quits.  I'm not looking forward to this 30 page paper I'm going to have to tackle and stop procrastinating about. Hopefully I will not turn out a terrible product!!!

April showers

The past month has been a very crazy time.  From getting the happiest news of my life to spending a week waiting for what ended up being the saddest news of my life.

It has been a roller coaster of emotions since March 20th and a "ride" that ended up with me encountering my first hospital visit for out patient surgery. 

The major lesson I learned would be that of faith.  Putting my faith in God's hands and giving him full control has been the only thing that has kept me somewhat sane during this time. The best thing from this ordeal would be discovering what wonderful people I have in my life.  Through it all Justin was my rock, my strength, my hope.  I'm so lucky to have such a wonderful man in my life. He was so strong throughout it all and let me cry, scream, and just be sad without saying anything just showing me love and support.   I had many messages, phone calls and well wishes from those that I love.  I even had the offer from a friend's mom  that she would drop everything and come up and take care of me while mom and dad were out of town.  That showed me how much I matter.  That same friend was in daily contact with me through it all and I hope she knows how blessed I am to have her in my life.  

Tomorrow is my post-op appointment.  I don't foresee that it will be a big deal.  Just an in and out kinda of visit.  

Hearts

Happy Valentine's Day!

I spent the day in class...

Justin cooked a yummy dinner so that made the day of class not so bad.

Happiness

It amazes me how much life can consume us at times.  This weekend was a great example.  After two days of class I was really stressed.  After a small breakdown (or during) I always feel the need to talk to someone that understands me!  When in dire need of a friendly voice I always try to call Ashley or Erika.  

Last night I got in touch with Erika.  Not expecting to hear anything but they same. "Not too much how about you?" I was pleasantly surprised to hear a big smile coming across the phone!  That totally turned my mood from poor pitiful me to happiness for my dear friend!!!  So thanks E for making my long day have a happy ending!!!

Baby it's cold outside

I really hate the cold.  a windchill that does not register in the positive should be banned!  Anyway, yet another snow-day.  We may never finish up this year. 

 I hope it is warm in your world today.

(I don't know why my pictures are missing!)

Snow Day

Yesterday was a cold, icy day.  We couldn't make it up the driveway in Justin's car on Saturday night so we did not dare to attempt going anywhere until there was a bit of a thaw. 

This morning we had about 4 inches of snow.  Of course school was out so I called my sister-in-law to see if she wanted me to keep the boys. We spent a lot of time out in the snow, they probably went down the hill a hundred times!  During out afternoon session the neighbors came over and they spent forever wearing down the snow to the grass (maybe even mud!)

 

We wrapped up the evening at Todd and Tracy's where we used inter-tubes to fly down their hill and enjoyed a nice snowy fire and a yummy dinner!

Let's see how this goes

I'm not much of a writer.

But maybe I can find a way to share the little things that are cool to me or I will maintain a pretty boring blog!