My Dad is Now An Old Fart

My dear sweet daddy just turned 50. The BIG 50! My parents are really young so I really enjoyed being able to razz him for once about getting so old. My dad is always trying to pay for things for me and telling me that I can pay him back in the "Old Fart Fund" for when he gets old and needs taken care of. So watch out daddy, you are an old fart. Now I get to take care of you!

My parents live in Arizona so I don't get to see them as much as I want to (which would be everyday!) My mom and I schemed up a plan for me to surprise my dad for his birthday. So my mom, Aunt Jacque, Grandma, Grandpa, Brian, and my sister Jeanenne had set it up to meet up at their fav mexican restaurant for his birthday. He just didn't know that my sister was going to be picking me up at the airport on her way there! Everyone was already there when my sister, her fiance and I walked in. My dad's face was priceless, very shocked and emotional. I love surprises!! Then he got another surprise the next day. My other sweet sister Rachelle and my sweet little niece flew in and surprised him too! Well I got to stay a few days and my mom had a big Fiesta 50th birthday party a couple days later planned with everyone. We stayed up late playing poker and rummy. Nothing beats hanging out playing cards and visiting with my family. My mom also had a brunch planned with her family before I left and it was great getting to see them too. Somehow I didn't get any pictures with any of them. I have to give a BIG THANK YOU to my wonderful husband that is way too good to me and is so good about letting me take these little trips to see my family!!

Funny story. I told my sister to not worry about coming into the airport to get me and that I would just meet her outside. It took awhile to get my bags so she just had to keep circling the airport. Finally I called her and told her I was outside and to come get me. Well wouldn't you know my sister just about straight passed right by me. She didn't recognize me!!!! So here I am on the curb with all my luggage jumping up and down trying to get her attention. So she rolls down her window and very loudly yells Oh my gosh, do I know you. We most defiantly had every ones attention as she runs out of the car and we are cracking up, giggling, bouncing around, and hugging each other. My sis has one of the most bubbly fun personalities and I sure miss being around her!

My daddy, me and my mama

My grandpa and grandma

My Aunt Jacque and Dad

Brian and Jeanenne

Here is my mom and my niece Bailey. My mom found this shirt that said "Old people like me" perfect for my dads party

Me and my dad decked out in our all black. Everyone wore all black to his party!

Me and my sissys busy in the kitchen making enchilada, shredded beef burritos, chicken and rice tacos, salsa, pico, guacamole....am I making you hungry yet!

Aren't they a great looking couple!


My sweet Bailey playing. The poor thing was not feeling too good this trip and was being a mommy cling on making it very hard for me to get very many pictures of her. I wish she lived closer so my girls could play with her more often.

Feeling a little disconnected with the real world

I haven't felt 100% this last week and have pretty much done nothing but stay in bed. This is VERY rare for me. I can't stand feeling helpless and not being able to do anything. Usually the only thing that can stop me from my busy schedule is being stuck in a hospital bed. And that is pretty much how I have felt this last week. I have been on lots of medication, yes, you that know me know that I HATE taking ANY kind of medicine. Luckily I have a great husband that has been taking care of me and the kids and the outside of the house. Just not so much the inside of the house. It is a disaster. Actually beyond disaster. So today I have attempted to do a little cleaning. But I have been groggy and unhuman feeling for too many days now so I have decided to give up on cleaning and try to catch up with the real world and check out the news, facebook, myspace, and my friends blogs. Anything to make me feel normal.

I am going to try to do this fun 8 Things post that I got from my blogging buddy Suzette.

8 Things I Look Forward To
1. Summer weather
2. Vacation- Vegas and somewhere to be determined (any good ideas for vacation spots near Vegas good for a family?!?)
3. Start of the new season of So You Think You Can Dance!!
4. One day living close to my mom again (and my dad)
5. Watching my baby girls grow up (but not too quickly!)
6. Spending forever with my wonderful husband
7. Having Girls Night with my sissy's in Vegas!
8. Seeing what all God has in store for me

8 Things I Did Yesterday
1. Got out of bed, it was quite a task
2. Got one kiddo ready and off to school and feed and bathed the other one
3. Attempted to work on my bible study lesson but didn't get anywhere
4. Looked at my dishes thinking I should do them because they were starting to stink and were starting to take over the kitchen but decided I didn't have the energy to do them (Another rare thing, I can't stand dishes left in the sink! I love a clean house!!)
5. Had my hubby pick me up and take me to the office with him to eat lunch and to get out of the house after being stuck in it for days (Half way there I regretted it)
6. Went to my in laws to visit and to eat some yummy food
7. Watched American Idol with my MIL....Adam rocked!!
8. Watched American Idol again half asleep in the recliner with Daniel...have to say they all did pretty good.

8 Things I Wish I Could Do
1. Take care of every child that needs to be loved and cared for
2. Paint real things (like people, animals, etc)
3. Play any instrument I pick up effortlessly
4. Travel to Africa
5. Travel anywhere and everywhere
6. Make a difference in someones life
7. Figure out what I want to be when I grow up! Ha Ha!
8. Get rid of my allergies to animals

8 Shows I Watch
1. Prison Break
2. Criminal Minds
3. CSI Las Vegas
4. American Idol
5. How I Met Your Mother
6. Gary Unmarried
7. The news
8. Hmmm, can't think of another one right now, I am more of a movie person

8 People I Tag
I don't know how to tag so whoever reads this, I tag you!

Ice Sculptures

That is what we felt like on our last camping trip with our friends. But I do have to say that it wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be. We had been planning a camping/off roading/four wheeling trip with our friends for weeks. And when the time came we found that the weather wasn't going to be anything like what we had in mind. We were planning on going to a place in Oklahoma but when we found out that it had a chance of getting a foot of snow so we decided we needed a change of plans. (This was the afternoon before we were supposed to be leaving) So I decided going south would be a better idea. We ended up going to a place called Byrd's Adventure Center. Daniel and I had been there before and really liked it. When we got there it was sunny and mid 60's and a little windy. Unfortunately it didn't stay like!! The first night it dropped into the 30's and the second night it dropped in the 20's!!!! It rained and rained and rained all the first night and second day. And it was freezing and windy. We had a severe winter weather warning and a tornado watch and a wind advisory BUT we had such a great time!! Seriously! We off roaded out little hearts out and ate some of the most amazing food ever! Our last day ended up being a really nice sunny day so we were able to play around on the four wheelers. We have such great and fun friends! I am looking forward to the warm weather so we can get out more.

Our Campsite

Cody, Rich, and Daniel

Me and my handsome hubby

My pyro husband that thinks the only way to start a fire is by using a can of lighter fluid!!

We went on our exciting night run. Something about off roading in the dark brings it to a whole new level of excitement. This is a picture of us when we got stuck on a boulder on a climb. It is hard to tell because it is dark but there is a huge drop off next to it and because of all the mud it was very hard to get out of.

Daniel and I on one of the four wheelers

Josh and Jafur joined us for a little fun one of the days. We couldn't get them to camp out. That is Josh's Tacoma and Tommy in his Range Rover.

April, Me, and Olivia with Josh in the background. Ha ha, he is a goof!

This is our Land Cruiser going up one of the Red trails. Red is the hardest! Gotta love the caution tape hanging on the tree.

$ Reminder $

I wanted to remind everyone about the NWA Dining Deals at http://khog.halfoffdeals.com/

You can get gift certificates at HALF the price for some of the areas restuarants. So remember to check on Tuesdays to see who the business of the week is. Here are some of the restraunts with available gift certificates...

Some of the places you have missed out on include, Pesto Cafe, Fastlanes, Baker Bros American Deli, Lenny's Sub Shop, JJ's Grill, Crabby's, Basil's Cafe, and Ella's Restuarant. Some great places!!! You can't beat getting 50% off. Buy them for yourself or buy them as a gift.

Promised Land Zoo

I have been spending my morning downloading pictures off of my cameras. Yes that is cameras with a "s". I can't quit buying new ones! I find one with a cool feature and it sucks me right in to buying it. At least I put them all into good use. I have a problem with taking too many pictures and I can't keep up with getting them off of my camera and doing something with them.


About a month ago I woke up one Saturday morning and looked at Daniel and said I want to go to Eureka Springs. Cancel the birthday parties and wedding showers and everthing else we are supposed to do. I wanted to spend a day with just my family. So that is what we did. We hit the road and did whatever we wanted. It felt good not to have any worries and to spend it with the most important people in my life. We had lunch in Eureka and then we went exploring and driving down some neat roads.



We saw a sign for a drive thru zoo and decided to check it out. It was the Promised Land Zoo. My oldest wanted to know if it was the real Promise Land. I wish it was that close to us! Anyway the Zoo was nice. We had a great time trying to figure out what the names of all the animals were. They also have bible verses posted along the drive for you to read which we thought was neat. The best part was the petting zoo area. It was great listening to my girls giggle as the got to feed the animals.

And since we are speaking of the Promised Land. Lets think of the real Promised Land that God promised to the Israelites. I want to thank God for always keeping His promises. Wow, isn't God so faithful!! I have been studying the story of Moses in my bible study and it has truly been amazing for me. Thank you God for always showing so much grace.

$ NWA Dining Deals $

I wanted to share something that I discovered last night. Actually I have to give credit to my hubby because he told me to look it up. Anyway, we found a link on 4029tv.com called NWA Dining Deals. On it they have gift certificates to some local restaurants for half price. Example: You get a $30.00 gift certificate for $15.00. AWESOME!! Each week they feature a business. It is updated every Tuesday at 9am and that is when the online store will open for the new business featured. There are a limited number of certificates available so you have to remember to check early if you want to make sure to get an opportunity to purchase. They have a list of some yummy restaurants and they also have had a couple entertainment places as well (Fastlanes and Lokomotion.) You purchase online and then it is shipped to you in about 7-10 days. This is a great way to save money and still get to go out!

Here is the link http://khog.halfoffdeals.com/