It was a birthday surprise for Mom

    A few weeks ago I decided since my little momma's birthday fell on a Sairdee that maybe I oughta do her a little sumpinsumpin for her special day... So I started emailing and texting (cuz if ya know me, that's my fave way of communicating) and I checked with my aunts and cousin and sisters-in-law and niecey-poo to see if they could land at my pad that day for a surprise breakfast, brunch or lunch. The calendars were clear for breakfast so it was on like Donkey Kong!

    I emailed Daddy to get him in the loop and I waited til the last minute to call Mom. I said whatcha doin, she said we're going out for my birthday in a little while, I said but TOMORROW's your birthday, etc. etc. and then segued into why don't you let me take you to Cracker Barrel for breakfast for your birthday in the morning... she said she'd have to check with Dad to see if he had any plans. I really thought I was super smooth and she had not a clue bout my little scheme. A little while later she called me back and said she was cool with it. She said how bout I get to your house at 8:30? I stammered cuz see, I had told seven people 9 AM...so I was like uh welllll okaaaaay and she said or I can come at 8 and I said momma, ya know I ain't tryin to get up that early on a Saturday. So 8:30 it was. Immediately hung up from her and started calling the aunts and texting the sisters-in-law and niece. Whew. It's hard planning surprises and being the best daughter in the world.

    Of course when she rolled up in the driveway she saw strange cars and figured it out I reckon. As she walked up the sidewalk I opened the front door and said I TRICKED YA!!! She laughed and said I knew something was up because you called me last night before it was time for you to be off work. Oops, called from the HOUSE phone and not the cell. Mental note: don't do that next time! Oh well, she actually thought we were all meeting up at the Barrel so she had that part wrong.

    We gave her a few gifties and cards. She smiled a lot. Cuz we said nice, sweet, special things to her. My card went something like this: Mom, I think we both know I caused you a lot of grief growing up... but I think we can both look back on that and laugh now. Mom, are you laughing? Mom...Mom???? 
          I know - clever card cuz I'm a clever girl...

Here's what we grubbed on

Country ham & homemade biscuits (courtesy of my WONDERFUL mother-in-law)

Egg/sausage/hashbrown cheesy casserole

Sausage rotel cream cheese crescent roll thingy

Pigs in a blanket

Fruit (to help with the guilt factor from all pig & carb loading)

Apple dumplins

And I actually brewed coffee (courtesy of Jen, a sis-in-law on Anthony's side of the fam who loaned me the coffee pot...and the coffee... oh and the creamers too)

  This is our lovely group pic. Calendar worthy? Yes...

Leslie - take note cuz this one has GOT 2 B IN MOM'S CALENDAR, K?!

Other noteworthy mentionings -

• I'm so OCD about things being hot and fresh that the night before I actually wrote a schedule for when each item should be put in the oven. And I stuck to it!
• Earlier in the week I had written out a to do list of all the house cleaning items I wanted to get done. A couple didn't get done, but I hope my sweet fam didn't notice.
• My dear husband pointed out how this day couldn't have been made possible without contributions from others. Not only did Janice cook the ham & bickets, I also borrowed her square table and folding chairs so we could all grub in the kitchen together. I don't mind people eating throughout the house, but we were tryin to fellowship! And I own coffee cups, but none of the rest of it. Ha! So Jen came through like a trooper. I love family that has stuff I need and can borrow. Oh and my friend from work loaned me those cutesy serving pieces.
• I burned my arm on the oven gettin the pigs out. Didn't squat enough. What's funny is the mark is almost identical to one on my other forearm (almost exact same spot) from that time I was ironing the curtains and bumped my arm with the iron. I'm so dumb sometimes!
• I NEVER say the blessing, but today I wanted to. I wanted the chance to tell God how special my mom is to us all and thank Him for her. And I meant all of it and more. She's awesome. And I love her a whole lot. And I'm glad we got to celebrate her birthday today.

Historic GLENDALE

As promised.... let's call this a mini tour of our girls day out last Saturday (our meaning the gals at church)... and might I say the weather was PERRRRFECT!

Glendale, Kentucky has a lot of great little shops with lotsa stuff and
this little eatin' place called the Whistle Stop
(known for its fried green tomatoes) right by the tracks.
You can even take yourself a horse drawn carriage ride if you're so inclined.

I have a thing for hats... but I didn't buy one. When I showed Sasha the
sailor style hat pic, she said she had tried it on, too.
Good taste obviously runs in the fam. 

Three ladies had to skate on back home 'fore we got this pic.
Just pretend they're here, k?

Melanna and I are so cool we didn't take off our shades...celebs we are...

It was a tough decision, but I went with the pulled pork and mac n cheese. It was quite tasty. The cornbread was like the size of a humongo pancake.

My table got tickled and plum giddy when Heather said her roll looked like a booty... I think there was snorting and guffawing...
ya know how it is when somethin just hits ya funny

Let's call this my blackmail pic. Mom kept saying to delete this one, even told
Shan when she snapped a pic of us but noooo, no
little momma, this one's here to stay...

 Ain't it the truth?!

 Old barn wood nailed togethuh with a slappa paint on it and an old shirt - creative!

 Looks edible, but it ain't! This here's made o' wood yall !

 Snowmen are snow so special :-P

IF I were crafty, I'd make me some of these. Maybe give em to my friends, coworkers. Super cute. But I ain't that crafty.

Wish I coulda thought of a place in my abode to place this pic. It was soo lovely.

My only purchase of the day was a vintage necklace and earring set.
It was so cute I donned the necklace within 5 minutos of purchase.
Yep, right there on the street I put her on.
I already had on two necklaces, but they say the more the merrier, right?

This pic will likely end up in Mom's photo calendar.

Too bad Michelle couldn't come.

Maybe we can Photoshop her in.

It was a super fun day and we made memories. I hope we make it

an annual thing. There's just somethin special about a girls only trip

and all the girls being Christians.

Friends.

People ya love.

Just special.

EXTREE special.

A little visitor

An adorable little boy called me Friday night.
It went somethin like this -
Are you ready for me?
Yes!
See you in a few minutes. Adios!

While I cooked dinner, the boys hung out on the porch for a spell. We had one of those new Velveeta cheeseburger mac meals (a glorified Hamburger Helper...Riley had two bowls!)

Riley brought lotsa toys and we played with em all.
    Then we attempted "Superman"

I think you can tell we both had fun...giggles all around

Mom informed us of his 8:30 bedtime. riiiight... I told her when the Carver brothers are over, we let them stay up really late. She said he should be in bed by 10:00 because they had a "big day" planned for the next day. So around 9 we started turning lights off and gettin cozy on the couch watching Spongebob. Riley yawned really big one time and I asked him if he was tired, to which he of course replied no (and buried his head in my shoulder to cuddle). I forgave him for that lie. ;-) We went to bed at 10:00 on the nose. He was asleep within 10 mins. Promise!

ANNNND the next morning at 6:36 am somebody popped up and smiled big as the cheshire cat. He started to wiggle out of the bed and I said Anthony's at work. He frowned a smidge and curled up next to me for a few seconds. Then he looked at me in his sweet 3 year old politeness and said Can I go play? I said yeah! And into the living room we went. Shortly thereafter, I served him the breakfast of all breakfasts - sugary cereal in a baseball cap shaped bowl. Wow, I'm a great role model. Don't you want to send your kids to me?

When Mom arrived for the dreaded pick up, Riley cried a bit. Riley's in pre-school now and she had told him Friday if he was good, he could come to our house. He asked her if he was good next week if he could come again. I like it that we're considered a reward, a prize even. I guess that means we're fun and cool, right? lol Anyway, he just keeps learning more and more at school and with his (teacher) mom. When Lisa picked him up, they read a book together and Riley was able to read several of the small words (e.g. fish, the, more, of).

Before ya turn around twice, this little guy will be half grown. I'm tellin ya time just goes by too fast. One of my nephews is turning 20 next week. TWENTY! That's two decades people. Ugh! I guess my point is, if ya have little ones, cherish these sweet little times cuz they're precious.