RIP SWEETIE

November 25th - Today is a sad day for part of my family. My Mom is putting our dog down today. Sweetie joined our family in 1995 at a very difficult time. It was my senior year in high school, we had a house fire and had to move into an apartment. Sweetie and I have a very special relationship because I took care of her when she first joined our family. My Mom brought her home and went out of town, so it was just me and sweetie. We immediately formed a bond, even though she enjoyed chewing up my shoes and underwear. She has been a huge part of our family since then and has been a great source of strength for my Mom. Sweetie will be greatly missed by all.



Sweetie 1995-2009

THANKFUL

November 24th – My dear friend Donita has a blog where she lists each day what she is thankful for and asks others to list what they are thankful for. This is the season for being thankful so I wanted to list some things I am thankful for and then share a poem my friend Mary Beth sent me that will bring tears to your eyes!

I am thankful for:
My family who is always willing to listen or lend a hand
My friends who help me laugh
My very understanding husband who helps me be a better person
My happy and joyful daughter who makes me feel like a kid again, even though I don’t have the energy to run around the house as much as she does
My freedom to live in a country where I can worship the God I want to and where I can speak my mind without fear
My job which provides me health insurance (which I am very thankful for since Avery will have her second surgery on 12/4)
All the gifts God has given me and continues to bless me with
My ability to help others when they are in need

The Baby Poem:
A baby asked God, "They tell me you are sending me to earth tomorrow, but how am I going to live there being so small and helpless?" God said, "Your angel will be waiting for you and will take care of you." The child further inquired, "But tell me, here in heaven I don't have to do anything but sing and smile to be happy.." God said, "Your angel will sing for you and will also smile for you. And you will feel your angel's love and be very happy." Again the small child asked, "And how am I going to be able to understand when people talk to me if I don't know the language?" God said, "Your angel will tell you the most beautiful and sweet words you will ever hear, and with much patience and care, your angel will teach you how to speak." "And what am I going to do when I want to talk to you?" God said, "Your angel will place your hands together and will teach you how to pray." "Who will protect me?" God said, "Your angel will defend you even if it means risking its life..." "But I will always be sad because I will not see you anymore." God said, "Your angel will always talk to you about Me and will teach you the way to come back to Me, even though I will always be next to you." At that moment there was much peace in Heaven, but voices from Earth could be heard and the child hurriedly asked, "God, if I am to leave now, please tell me my angel's name." God said, You will simply call her, " Mom ."

GIRL'S WEEKEND

November 14-15th

Lunch on Beale St: $10.00
Hotel Room: $0.00
Buffet Dinner: $0.00
Drinks at the casino: $0.00
Breakfast at Paula Deans: $15.00
A weekend away with the girls: Priceless

This weekend I went on a girl’s weekend with three fabulous women – Donita, Danielle and Jennifer, to Tunica, MS so we could eat at Paula Deen’s buffet. We stopped and had lunch on Beale St (Memphis, TN) and headed to Tunica. The weekend was full of surprises – our room and dinner were free and no one came home broke!! We had a great time and many laughs. It was fun to hang out with old friends and make new ones. I hope we can do it again next year!!

Danielle, Jennifer and I on Beale St. We were starving!!

The girls (Jennifer, Danielle, me and Donita) ready for a wild night in the casino....

and a relaxing breakfast with Paula Deen.

PS - I'd really like to thank the husbands, especially mine, for watching the kids so we could leave town and not have to worry about our little ones. Y'all are the best!

BATH & MANNERS

November 11th - Just in the last couple of days Avery has discovered how to climb into the bathtub all by herself. She constantly wants to play with her toys in the tub but has not yet figured how to get her self out. We are going to be in trouble if she figures out how to turn the water on!

Last night Avery and I were sitting at the dinner table. I was talking to her and playing with her and she was working on her dinner. All of a sudden she....

puts both feet on the table and laughs. Ok, so she was not born with table manners. I am going to have to really teach her that putting her feet on the table would not be appropriate when guests are over. This was one of those situations when you really try not to laugh because then they keep doing it over and over again. I lost - I just couldn't help but laugh.

Also, I think Avery said I love you to me last night. She is at the stage where she tries to say just about everything we say and I told her I loved her and she tried to repeat it. It just made my heart melt and put the biggest smile on my face. While we were eating dinner I tried to get her to say it again. You can sort of hear her in this video.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN

October 31st – Happy Halloween. Boy what a year makes. Last Halloween Avery could not even sit up and this year she was running all over the place. My Grandma and Vandaddy came to see Avery for Halloween, which we all enjoyed. Grandma and I made Halloween cookies while Avery took a nap and then we headed out to trick or treat. Avery was more used to her costume so she didn’t throw a fit. We decided not to put her wings on while she went door to door since it was cold. Grandma Diamond send Avery a Halloween goodie bag, which included a glow in the dark wand which turned out to make her costume. We left the house around 5:30, visited about 5 houses and returned home around 5:50. The first house give her a grape sucker and that was all she wanted. She sucked on that sucker and ran around in the street. She didn’t really care anymore about trick or treating after that. When we did go to a house she ran down the driveway and stopped at the door with a confused look on her face. We took some video so I’ll try to post that later in the week.

Avery last Halloween, she has really grown up.

Avery running around with her trick or treat bucket on her head. She's so silly.

Avery dressed up and ready for pictures. Doesn't the wand make her look just like an angel?

Avery ready to go outside and get some candy.

Avery and Great Grandma ready to hit the streets in search of candy.

Avery sitting in the middle of the street eating her sucker. I can't help but laugh just remembering the scene. I'm sure next year will have Halloween perfected.

HALLOWEEN PARTY

October 30th – Avery had a Halloween party at fun place on Friday. David and I attended the party and even made scary spider cookies for the kids to eat. It was so nice to see Avery in her everyday element. We tried to get all the kids together for a photo but Avery would not sit with the other kids unless I was beside her and most of the other kids wanted to run around. All the kids changed out of their costume to eat and that was a great idea by the teacher because they all made a royal mess. There were cupcakes everywhere. Avery ate all her fruit first and then decided to eat her dessert. I’m not sure where she learned that from because I’d much rather eat my dessert first!

These are the cookies David and I made for Avery's Halloween Party.

Avery all dressed up and ready to go to fun place. If you can't tell she was an angel. She did not like it when I tried to put the wings on. She ran away from me and started crying. The things we make our kids do for a photo op.

A picture of Avery and her classmates dressed up. One of the Mom's even decided to dress up as a clown.

The Diamond family. One of us doesn't look too happy, can you guess who that person is?

Avery and some of her classmates eating.

Of course she had to get cupcake all over her face and then she wanted to give me a big hug. Gotta love kids.