Happy Birthday Uncle Derrick

Just wanted to take the time to say Happy Birthday!

I'm so wild about.....

Harry! LOL! The song just popped into my mind... And thought I would share the thought with you!

I worked late last night and am doing the same tomorrow, so Carol has said she would take the girls so I can do so.

Ryan is working as I type this and the girls are being good little girls. (Which can be rare these days. They just want to fight with each other).

Kenzie went to safety town yesterday and I suppose it was fun, although I can't get her to tell me about it.

Maddie has declared that my mom is "My Nana No Your Nana!" I was talking to her on the phone and told Maddie that I was talking to Nana and she told me like it was! Too cute.

I have to re make the sign for the concession stand. Ryan thought he would roll it up for storage before the glue got dried and you can imagine what happened.... Good thing I bought several pieces of posterboard!

Grandma is back at Amanda's and I will be seeing her in about a week! Can't wait for that!

Mom and Pop are racking their brains with Pappy. He has been ill for quite some time and as a medical professional, mom and I both are trying to find out why he is holding on. He has been on hospice for a while and most days he is completly unresponsive, but some days he is lucid and asking where Nana Red is. As you all know, Nana Red (Pappy's wife) passed away last July, and we weren't expecting Pappy to be much further behind her, but he is continuing to hold on to the last thread of the life rope Jesus has given him. Why we don't know, but please do pray for the family in this time.

That is enough for now. More to come!

Fun with Fondant

Today, after delaying it as long as I could stand it, I started working on some of the parts for the cake. I was able to do the orange basketballs. It will be lots of fun I do think! I will do the Megaphones tomorrow and then let both of those items to harden and then do the popcorn containers, microphones, and popcorn with the pom poms next week. I will not be posting pics until the cake is done, so you will have to be on the edge of your seat waiting for that to be finished. The girls have been good and we are getting ready for bath time, so I better go!

"If you work second shift...."

That was the beginning of a very long night for me at work yesterday! It went like this,

"Hey Dawn!" Renee said
"What's up Renee?"
"I need a favor"
"What ya need?"
"If you work tonight second shift, I will give you tomorrow off"
"Sure I'll do it"

Why do I let myself get into these things? But the good thing is that anything over eight hours a day is paid overtime, so I got paid a lot more to work last night second shift than I would have to worked today.

I don't really have an update other than the insane day I had at work last night.. Kenzie is at school, Ryan is running to spring hill for a few minutes, and I am here with Maddie. Thought I would sneak in a few minutes on the blog.

80's song

You Are "Like a Virgin"

If you were transported back to the 80s, your life would be all about absorbing everything. You are practically a virgin (or born again virgin) when it comes to the 80s, and all things 80s are very interesting to you. You would sign your heart out to every Madonna hit and memorize every line in the Breakfast Club. You'd have the biggest record collection, roller skate like a champ, and would be a dead ringer for Molly Ringwald or Kirk Cameron!

What's Your 80s Karaoke Song?

sign is made

I decided with the help of Yaya that over the food table we would make a sign to hang up that says Concession Stand. I have made the basic sign. Waiting for the letters to dry since they were glued on then I will add a glitter outline for them and the sign will be completed! I am going to work on finishing up that today and tomorrow night, then i will work on some of the parts of the cake. Ryan and the girls went to roy and carols today since she forgot her backpack there when she came home last night and she needs that for school tomorrow. I got asked at work if I would make one of the girl's wedding cakes... We shall see about that one! and that is the update! Pics to come... have to charge the camera!

a quiet morning was nice

This morning is the first quiet morning we have had here in the house for a long time... I usually am gone to work early, so the quiet goes out the door quick, but Maddie and I slept until about 7:30 and then got up because we couldn't lay there any longer... Ryan is still sleeping but will be getting up soon to get showered so he can go get Kenzie from Trinity. I work this afternoon, but before I go I want to try and get the basketballs started for the cake. Will post pics as I put the cake together. Hope everyone is doing well.

Another busy day

My day started with me getting up at my normal of 5:45 a.m. Showering and going in to work. Then Ryan brought me lunch because he noticed that I had forgotten my cell phone at home. What a sweetie. By the time Ry was to be at work, I had learned that Kenzie was spending the night at Carol and Roy's house, so I called Gretchen and asked if she would keep an eye on Kenzie at the church until I could get her clothes together and get back there to get her in case I wasn't on time because I was late getting out. After dropping her off in Trinity, I didn't get home until almost 8 because by the time I fought traffic and made a few stops, it was almost time for me to pick Ry up for his dinner break. He brought us home and here I sit. Worn out and happy that I don't have to get up early tomorrow morning. Maddie and I are going to curl up with a good movie and go to sleep soon! Have a great day!

found for kenzie's party

the inflatable basketballs and the popcorn containers! I am going to start working on the cake that I am doing for her party soon. Meaning, I am going to begin making the fondant accents so that they can dry before I need them for the cake. It will be really fun to get back into the element of being creative with this cake. so, where did I go for the basketballs and popcorn containers? to the store called i party. carol had told me about it and i wasn't sure how long it would take if i were to order from oriental trading, so i went to the store and got what i needed. it is even better than party city in my humble opinion.

MORE NEWS: things have calmed down majorly in our house. we are working through some struggles, and hopefully things will continue being calm...

now for a count for kenzie's party... just for my own good... there are going to be:
kenzie, maddie, me, ryan, derrick, amanda, grandma, riley, shelby, yaya, pappy, dave, and gayle (we believe), angeleena (and her 2 daughters), danielle (and her 2 boys), amanda (the neighbor's daughter), gretchen, tim, zoey, and maybey raven, dave and crystal with micheal, and those are the ones that have for sure said they would be there... so much fun! hope that brooklyn, channel, and aaron can make it too!

now for an update on the food:

CONCESSION STAND it is! We are doing hot dogs with the following toppings:
relish, onion, ketchup, mustard, slaw, chili, and a small can of kraut for anyone who may like their dog with any of those! Nacho's will be there as well as popcorn, juice boxes, soda and bottled water... then cake and the ice cream will be stored at carol's house and then when it is almost time for cake and ice cream, ryan or i will leave for a few minutes to go get it so it doesn't melt!

Kenzie is wanting to dress like a cheerleader, so i am on the hunt for used cheerleading uniforms, but not having much luck as new ones are out of this world expensive, so Karen, if you have any tips since you are a cheer coach, please let me know.... and that is that!

Colors say:

Your Colors Say You Are Caring

When you are at peace, you are: Deeply stable When you are moved to act, you are: Giving and warm When you are inspired, you are: Spontaneous and adventurous When your life is perfectly balanced, you are: Totally in the moment Your life's purpose is: To live a passionate life

The Ultimate Color Test

busy day

is what i had... yes, i was off today, but not really... i worked 3p to 8p in activities just because the hours are available... state survey was in the building and it would seem that it went well... i haven't heard anything about it yet, but as they say no news is good news right.... the girls have been crazy tonight so i am off to try and get them to sleep... more later!

why must things

be going so happy and then all of a sudden the crud hits the fan? as you can tell i am not having a good day, therefore no happy blogs from me.

Planning a Party

So, we have been really busy planning Kenzie's 6th birthday party. So much is involved in planning a birthday party as many of you know, but here goes:

We have selected High School Musical for the theme, so with that comes invites, and major planning. I still have some red fabric that Amanda gave me over a year ago, so I am going to use that some how in the decor. I have streamers to hang, then I was able to get some red, black, and white pom pom's to use or to let the girls play with at the party. I am looking for some deals on basketballs now and then planning the food. Since the movie was centered around a basketball team, we are trying to center the party around a basketball game. I just spoke with Amanda and we have pretty much decided on concession stand for the food area! We are going to do hot dogs, chips, soda, juice, popcorn and the like for the food area! So much fun. If you have more ideas, please comment me and let me know what you think!
Love,
DAwn

What a week...

I have had lots going on this week. Mainly consisting of work. Not fun. But then I woke up with a cough and not feeling well, but the NyQuil is helping with that. And I actually get to sleep! Yay! Kenzie has been doing well with school. I got a mid term report on her and will post the results later. Maddie continues to blossom. She is getting so big. I can't believe that she is almost 3 already. We are trying to decide the food for Kenzie's birthday party. That is basically the last of what we need to do for it. I am however looking for a pair of pom poms and a basketball for one of the centerpieces I am working on creating. Should be interesting if I can find what I am looking for. Maybe I should post on freecycle to see if anyone has any of the things I need for my centerpieces. Good idea! I am now working part time in the evenings to help Roy with some research, so that helps some too! And that is about all that I have to report.

Nails

Today, Ryan went to get the girls from Roy and Carol and made it home before my friend Angeleena got here to get me to go do our nails. Kenzie asked if she too could go, so we took her along. Not thinking anything would come of her watching us, she had other plans. We all three got our pedicures! She sat on the edge of the big chair and let the nail tech massage her and cut her nails, then came the painting, and then all of a sudden, she said, "Can I have a flower on them?" so she got this cool flower on all of her toes! Then while our techs were finishing our feet, Kenzie went on to the first nail station in the front of the nail salon and sat while they did her manicure! She got the same flower design on her fingernails. I got that design on my nails as well, I did a french with red tips on my toes. Angeleena did the same as me only in a different color. Kenzie's color was matched to her pink outfit she was wearing! We had a great girls day out!

things about us

♥ What are your middle names? Rose, Matthew

♥ How long have you been together? Since 2000

♥ How long did you know each other before you started dating? about a year

♥ Who asked who out? just happened.

♥ How old are each of you?Dawn 27, Ryan 34

♥ Whose siblings do/ did you see the most? his

♥ Do you have any children together? 2 girls. Mackenzie and Madison

♥ What about pets? none

♥ Which situation is the hardest on you as a couple? parenting decisions

♥ Did you go to the same school? nope

♥ Are you from the same home town? nope

♥ Who is the smartest? i would concur that we are both smart in our own ways, so neither... he is sport smart and i am technilogically smart...

♥ Who is the most sensitive? i am

♥ Where do you eat out most as a couple? applebees when we go out

♥ Where is the furthest you two have traveled together as a couple? ohio

♥ Who has the worst temper? that is a hard one...

♥ Who does the cooking? dawn

♥ Who is more social? i would have to guess ryan

♥Who is the neat Freak? umm i like to be organized, but i am not a neat freak and neither is ryan

♥ Who is the more stubborn? i am

♥ Who hogs the bed? Madison does!

♥ Who wakes up earlier? Dawn

♥ Where was your first date? Clearwater Beach Pier 60

♥ Who has the bigger family? dawn

♥ Do you get flowers often? you mean there is a such thing as flowers.

♥ How do you spend the holidays? depends on the year.

♥ Who is more jealous? neither

♥ How long did it take to get serious?don't remember

♥ Who eats more? plead the fifth

♥ Who does/ did the laundry? Both

♥ Who’s better with the computer? dawn-- i get calls... "Honey, the computer is doing this..... what do i do"

♥ Who drives when you are together? ryan usually, but i did drive from indiana to florida!

First Born Survey

1. WAS YOUR FIRST PREGNANCY PLANNED? no

2. WERE YOU MARRIED AT THE TIME? Yes

3. WHAT WERE YOUR REACTIONS? surprised

4. WAS ABORTION AN OPTION FOR YOU? no

5. HOW OLD WERE YOU? 21

6. HOW DID YOU FIND OUT YOU WERE PREGNANT? gave birth

7. WHO DID YOU TELL FIRST? ryan and carol were there

8. DID YOU WANT TO FIND OUT THE SEX? wasn't an option

9. DUE DATE? unknown

10. DID YOU HAVE MORNING SICKNESS? nope

11. WHAT DID YOU CRAVE? none

12. WHO/WHAT IRRITATED YOU THE MOST? ??? don't know

13. WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST CHILD'S SEX? girly girl

14. DID YOU WISH YOU HAD THE OPPOSITE SEX OF WHAT YOU WERE GETTING? never

15. HOW MANY POUNDS DID YOU GAIN THROUGHOUT THE PREGNANCY? didn't gain any. didn't show either.

16. DID YOU HAVE A BABY SHOWER? yes

17. WAS IT A SURPRISE OR DID YOU KNOW? I knew.

18. DID YOU HAVE ANY COMPLICATIONS DURING YOUR PREGNANCY? interesting... question....

19. WHERE DID YOU GIVE BIRTH? Helen Ellis Mem. Hospital, Tarpon Springs, Fl

20. HOW MANY HOURS WERE YOU IN LABOR? don't know.

21. WHO DROVE YOU TO THE HOSPITAL? carol

22. WHO WATCHED YOU GIVE BIRTH? carol all but caught mackenzie before the doc came in the room

23. WAS IT NATURAL OR C-SECTION? more like firecracker style... kenzie flew out...

24. DID YOU TAKE MEDICINE TO EASE THE PAIN? 2 tylenol....

27. HOW MUCH DID YOUR CHILD WEIGH? 6 lbs 15 oz.

28. WHEN WAS YOUR CHILD ACTUALLY BORN ? Feb. 1, 2003

30. WHAT DID YOU NAME HIM/HER? Mackenzie Lynn

31. HOW OLD IS YOUR FIRST BORN TODAY? Just turned 6

a long stretch at work

So, I haven't updated lately because of the long stretch I am in the middle of right now at work. I worked of course last weekend. I even worked a double on Sunday (Kenzie's 6th birthday) and Super Bowl! So that Ryan could watch the game. What a nice wife I am! I am working tonight 3pm to 11pm in addition to Saturday another 16 hour shift in addition to my normal schedule, so that gives me 8 days in a row, but more like 10 shifts! Awesome!

Kenzie went home with Zoey for a while yesterday and loved it! Gretchen is planning on having a sleep over with the two of them soon! Will let you know how that works.

Maddie is about the same. She just continues growing and comming up with new words.

And that is the jest of us right now.