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Saturday, May 28, 2011

Questions & Answers




Lots of questions have been floating around the blogging world lately...so I thought I would take a stab at answering a few myself.

What are your mornings like? 
My typical day begins with a hot cup of coffee {or two} around 5:45 am and sitting down at my laptop to read & answer my emails. {Rob, up and out the house already for a little guy bonding at the "H.O.P" (House of Pain) to work out.}  While trying to enjoy my morning  routine,  there is always a constant interruption...."Wake up Max!" "Max!" "Get UP!" "Come eat your breakfast!"  Just sitting back down at the laptop from making Max's breakfast...."crap!" Now the dog needs to go out. "Max get your hair done and brush your teeth, your bus is coming!"

Now that Max is on the bus, time to wake up Lucy for school. 
"Chee-poo, Time to get up!" {Chee-poo, Lucy's little nickname} Same routine as above: Except after sitting back down from making Lucy's breakfast...."crap!"  The dog is now whining to come back inside. 
Kids off to school and Rob off to work.
I do a little laundry, clean up kitchen, most mornings {weather permitting} I go walking. Get dressed and head on out the door, off to work myself. 

What is your typical work day?
For those of you who don't know me....
Welcome to my office!
I know...your wondering, what the heck is all that unorganized hoopla?
Well, first you have my tool box {the yellow thing on the left} it contains:  Bags of fabric fibers, razor blades, tape, glues, markers, colored pencils, sandpaper, many colors of paint (dye), and your basic screwdriver & pliers.     
Next you have a pink basket, to the right of toolbox, full of  rags, cleaners and lots of small bottles of custom mixed paint (dye). 
The white box is full of larger bottles of black, white & primary colors of paint (dye).
Behind that white box is an air compressor and a small touch up paint gun attached to an air hose.
To the far left that is just two folding chairs, used for sporting events or whenever I may just need to have a seat. 
To the far right, the bright green handle, that is my awesome clear bubble umbrella. {$15- from Target} Love that thing...allows me to sit in the rain and still watch cheer, football & baseball practice, while staying dry. Yes! We still practice in the rain here in Prairieville, just not if it is thundering & lightning. These people are serious about their pee-wee sports!
I have been working for Custom Colors Paint & Body Shop for 16 years now. I don't technical work at the body shop on a daily bases. I'm mobile.... explaining all the hoopla in my trunk office. I travel  to several different car dealerships around the Baton Rouge area, walking the used PRE-owned car lots looking inside each car for issues that may prevent the sale of the car. I "repair" not "replace" but REPAIR, car interior....cuts, cigarette burn holes, cracks, warn areas in leather and cloth seats, door panels, dashboards and carpet. 
The weather has got to be the hardest part of my job.
When it is HOT it's HOT and when it's COLD it's COLD and when it RAINS....well, I can't work and I don't make any MONEY.
I must say...I'm not a fan of  the Summer!
Well there ya have it, my glorious & exciting work day.
I know, your just green with envy? lol!

Which leads me to the next question & answer.

What else would you have considered being?

Lots of different occupations come to mind:
A Teacher 
{I would love to spend my summers poolside with my children}
An Architect 
{Ugh! Do you really need to know that much math to design & build something?}
Interior Decorator 
{I love to shop! Oh! The possibilities with someone else's money!} 
Fashion Designer 
{hahaha! Coming from the girl who lives in t-shirts, shorts or jeans all the time}
Famous Artist 
{Do you need to be dead to be a famous artist?}
Do I think the job I'm doing, is the job I was born to do? No! But it has worked for me and my family this far. I do my best at it because I want to be the best!
  Although the money always comes hard, this job has allowed me to have more TIME with my children and allowed me to be the teacher everyday.
This job has allowed me to have the freedom to build, design, decorate and create my own space.
BEFORE:
AFTER:
I've had the privilege to be a fashion designer and design outfits for the most beautiful girl in the world. 

I'm not a "famous" artist and never have even taken an art class before. But I would like to think I'm an artist.  
Art is in the eye of the beholder.
A portrait of our first white boxer, Presley! 
I just want to teach my children to work hard, be nice to others and do their best at whatever they do in life. 
God has truly blessed me with so many colorful hats to wear... my Mom hat, is by far my favorite!

What inspires you?
Need I say more!

Whats one thing you splurge on for yourself?
Hummm.....for myself? Can't think of even one thing? 

What is playing on your ipod?
Truth be told...I don't have an ipod but I do download songs now and then on Max or Lucy's ipod. Last couple of songs I downloaded for myself were Price Tag ~by Jessie J. & B.O.B and Rolling in the Deep ~by ADELE.
I like just about any music, just as long as I can understand the words. 
I've always been a "Top 40" Fan!

What do you want when you retire?
Wow! Retire? 
I don't know if that will ever happen...
I think I will always work doing something but whatever that something may be.... I sure would like to do it here, here or here.
Ahhh! No grass to cut!

Imagine waking up to that most mornings.
Makes you want to sing..."Give God the Glory"
Again! Ahhhh! No Grass to Cut!

Do you regret anything?
Maybe a few silly things that really don't even amount to a 
hill O'beans. 

Why do I blog?
Well first of all I happen to be the worst scrap booker on the planet. All the cute little stickers, hole punches, stamps and pretty papers, make me crazy. To many ideas start to clog my brain creating what I call, "scrap bookers block." My solution to the madness of bags, shelves and drawers packed full of pictures...



 BLOG!
This way the "Mama-razzi" can organize the millions of photos & share with others my journal/scrapbook.
The second reason for my starting a blog, is life goes by so fast and can get a bit crazy sometimes. I want to have something to reflect on. I mean darn, I can't remember what I just walked in the kitchen to get, let alone what took place last Monday. 
Lastly, not knowing this would happen but by journaling/blogging has helped me keep my priorities in check. Reminding myself of the great big bundle of little blessing in my life.
I just want to remind all of you, who may read my blog, that this is just a little peek into our life. We as a family don't just sit around crafting & posing for pictures everyday. We do try our best to glorify our Lord Jesus Christ, enjoy what our God has created and not easily, may I add, except the cards we are dealt.  Yes, as  imperfect beings we will fail, get frustrated or angry, judge others and become jealous or green with envy time and time again. 

"If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men" (1 Corinthians 15:19).































   









Monday, May 23, 2011

Bieber "Max" Fever, Schools Out & Lucy's 8

Baby!



Another school year gone!

Max ended his 7th grade year leaving his classmates with some "Bieber Fever" better yet.... 
"Max Fever!"
 Literally!
{Click link below and to check out video!}
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pE9g_-eEDF0

Baby Baby!

Max as {Justin Bieber} and Myles as {Ludacris}

PVM School 2011 Talent Show.

OMGosh!


What brave boys! I would of never had the guts....Loved it!


Lucy ended her 2nd grade school year with a 4.0 and a birthday!

So proud of my girl....She is so amazing! Smart, 
funny, sweet and beautiful!

Happy Birthday Lucy Rae!


When Max came home Friday 
from school, he literally had fever & not "Biebir Fever"....102 fever, head ache, throat on fire and was exhausted. 
~Two Ibuprofen and off to bed. Waking up Saturday morning around 6:30am with now a fever of 103. He could hardly move, aching all over.
~Two more Ibuprofen and back to bed... 
Super bummed he was missing his baseball game and later a trip to Blue Bayou Water Park for Lucy's birthday! 

Yes! My baby girl is 8!
A sick brother at home but the birthday must go on.
Dad stayed home to tend to Max in hopes to get him in to see a doctor. {Strep Throat?} While Aunt Jennjee, Uncle Mark & I took Emma and Lucy to the water park for a little birthday fun. 

Came home from the water park to find out Max, has MONONUCLEOSIS  Mono! Yuck!
Not a fun way to kick off the summer.
No sports, No more baseball, No summer football camps, No getting over heated, No weightlifting and No summer sleep overs for 6 to 8 weeks! :(

~ Sick brother or not...Lucy's Birthday continues!



Max came out of hiding to give his sister birthday wishes and his gift.
Lucy is saying, "Not to close, leave the present and back away."
Thanks for the AWESOME Headphones Max!
Friends, Chicken Fettuccine & Ice Cream Cake from Baskin Robbins!
Chocolate cake with Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream....Yummy!
Skates!

Roller Girl!
Time to chill and watch The Justin Bieber movie, 
Never Say Never.
Best : Day : Ever!!

Happy Birthday Lucy & hope you get to feeling better Max!
Mama Loves You Both!




















Saturday, May 14, 2011

On the Rise

M I crooked letter crooked letter I crooked letter crooked letter I P P I 
On the Rise!
Louisiana has moved into high gear to meet the threat posed by the rising water levels of the Mississippi River.
This is a picture of current flooding in Tennessee  along the Mississippi River.

Here in Louisiana, we were told that the Morganza Spillway will be opening today and the  Bonne Carre Spillway on Monday.
What does this mean?
It means, 60 Thousand homes & 2,500 farms {estimated} will be destroyed when the spillways open BUT it will save 100's of thousands of homes & businesses in the larger cities, like Baton Rouge and New Orleans. The spillways were built, just for this kind of emergence and have not been opened since 1972 {the year I was born} and I pray it works.
4 parishes have now declared a state of emergency to prepare for flooding, including:
  • Avoyelles
  • Catahoula
  • Concordia
  • E. Carroll
  • LaSalle
  • Madison
  • Pointe Coupee
  • St. Mary
  • Tensas
  • Terrebonne
  • St. Martin
  • W. Baton Rouge
  • St. James
  • W. Feliciana 


Many have called or emailed in concern for my Mom who lives in W. Feliciana parish. 
"Thank You!" 
 She is not in the flood zone. The lake she lives on is "man made" and isn't connected to the Mississippi River.  As my Grandfather would say, "If this house flooded, we had all better build an ark." She will not be affected but has many friends that will and have already. 
Please keep these people in your prays and if you would like to help Louisiana by donating money or volunteering?  
Please go to: www.cauw.org

This is a picture of the Exxon Plant on  Scenic Hwy.
The second largest refinery in the United States. Occupying 2,100 acres, we process over 500,000 barrels of crude oil daily. More than 1,300 employees and almost 1,000 contractors work here.
What would this do to our already sky high gas prices if flood waters were to cause the plant to shut down? I can't imagine, only pray... 

Text
UWGIVE
to
50555
to make a $10 donation
to disaster relief
Home in Point Coupee on Miss. River

~Patti



Tuesday, May 10, 2011

Mothers Day

I hope everyone had a wonderful Mother's Day! 
  
This is a little bit of what my 
Mother's Day/weekend looked like......

My Girl is too sweet!
My Boys are sweet too!
A new garden hose and dirt!
Awesome! 
I really needed a new hose.....
Deuce, {aka Doofus} my four legged son ate my other one.

Who got to sleep-in on Mother's Day? 
Not Me!
.
Birds! They have in fact built a nest  in my attic, right above bedroom window. They had me up at 4:30am.
The wire you see hanging...that would be my Internet cable. The cable guy came to hide the cable by running it along the soffit, instead along the side of the house.

The cable guys 3rd time to replace the cable and keep it out of Deuce's  "Doofus's" reach. 
Birds must of found the small opening where the cable ran into the attic. Pulled the soffit back and made themselves a happy little home.


What can I say, he loves his family and has a bit of separation anxiety.

Guess I could use some new patio furniture for Mother's Day too. 
Maybe iron furniture?

I Love how he poises for the picture with confidants.  Ears not even back, so proud of what he has done. 
He is indeed "goofy," just a big dumb animal folks!

I'm so thankful that my Mom, Sister and her family came up to 
"The Wood," 
and "The Moms" were all able to shared such a special day together.
My Mom {Granny}  &  Max  


A little Slip & Slide fun!
Ninda's homemade slide ROCKS!


The girls just hanging out and "gabbing" with Ms. Stormy.

Stormy Loves his Max

Max is ready for some trail riding.

wait! Need to STOP....


Had to Stop and pick yummy Blackberries!





Kentwood Blackberries!
If I knew how to make jam, I would!

Ummm, no I wouldn't! 
Not a big fan of cooking.

What a beautiful Mother's Day in "The Wood"

What a blessed day weekend!