Midweek Ramblings

I am already exhausted and it's just 9:35 a.m. I had to make myself get up early to get some stuff done for work that would have caused some errors if I didn't get done. I didn't do too bad. My alarm was set for 6:35 and I ended up getting up at 6:42. Sure, I poured me some coffee and then sat in the floor and watched the news a little before I got started, but I was still able to get some work done before getting Maddy up. It doesn't help that I've been fighting sinus' this week and my throat has been hurting and I feel run down because of it.

My bed time since I've moved into my own place seems to have changed to 12-12:30 a.m. If I didn't need sleep I would stay up until 1 a.m. at least and get my house clean. I'm not a stay at home mom (although I really wish I could be and still have income coming in) but if you were to see my house you would certainly think I was. I'm still trying to develop a routine that works for me.

I tried my first pinterest recipe this week and I must say I was impressed. It's called pizza casserole. I didn't think it would be as good as it said it was, but it really was. It's probably my second favorite meal I've cooked since I've been here. Maddy seemed to like it as well.

I did a before and after shot. I needed a bigger pan really because the juices spilled out a little, but oh well.

I'm not going to write about how to make it since it's not my recipe in the first place. If you have pinterest I definitely suggest looking this up :)

My grandmother surprised me yesterday with some homemade cookies. They were chocolate chip with cranberries in it, or craisins. It didn't really sound good to me and I was really not sure I wanted to try it, but I'm so glad I did. They are so yummy!!! I ate way too many yesterday, but did save some for Maddy. Even Maddy liked them so it was a win win.

I don't know what's wrong with me, but for the first time ever I forgot Maddy had water day yesterday. I woke up late and I think that had a lot to do with it. I was happy we got to school on time. We walk through the door and her teacher asked if she was ready for water day. My face fell and I about just cried right then and there. I offered to go get her a suit and shoes but they had an extra one she was able to wear. I felt so horrible! I know I would forget my head if it wasn't attached.

School started back on Monday here in town and that means my nieces had their first day of second and fifth grade. My oldest niece had a rough start to her first day because they got there a little late and there was no where for her to sit and her teacher wouldn't acknowledge they were standing in the door way. I am not ready for my baby to be in school, but in just two short years we will be among the back to school people.

I got a neat grocery tote online for a $1 +$3.99 shipping. It normally costs $8.99, which I don't think is worth it at all. I haven't used it yet because I just got it, but you get to personalize it and I love the way it turned out.

It's from York photo so go check them out and maybe there will be other promotions.

Manny has decided he loves my side of the bed. I either have to sleep in the middle, or on the other side. It's quite cute.

That's all my ramblings for now. Happy hump day!!!

Our Weekend

Another weekend has come and gone...they just go way too fast! On Friday we did our normal routine of playing, eating, and getting Maddy to bed while I finished working. We did cuddle up a few minutes before Maddy went to bed and caught the last part of Mickey Mouse.

I got an interesting text from my mom Friday night.

It was supposed to say I just got the "shock" of my life!!!! Gotta love technology lol. I love Friday nights because I know I don't have to worry about work the next day and I generally get to sleep in. I find myself not knowing what to do with my time after work and end up just laying on the couch and watching tv. I woke up at 9:29 a.m. Saturday morning and just said, "Thank you, thank you, thank you!" I needed the sleep! I had plans of going to Georgia for their tax free weekend to exchange a few shirts I bought for Maddy up in Gatlinburg. My niece's spent the night with my mom Friday night so we headed over to my mom's so we could all go in the same car. Maddy loves my nieces and they all had a fun time running around the house. I meant to bring my camera, but completely forgot! I find towards the end of July I just stop taking pictures and then pick it back up in September for Maddy's birthday. We finally hit the road...it's about an hour drive down there. On the way my niece decided she was hungry so we stopped by Chick-Fil-A for some yummy food. Maddy did very well while we ordered and ate. After we ate we went to the OshKosh outlet and that's where the craziness began. I forgot Maddy's stroller and when you take her in a store like OshKosh she just goes crazy and runs around and pulls the clothes and hides under the clothes rack...yeah...it's loads of fun. My mom let me grab Maddy's shirts first and then I took Maddy back while my mom let my niece's pick out some clothes for school. While they were getting their clothes I found myself picking up more clothes for Maddy...before I knew it I racked up a nice bill. I love OshKosh, but goodness they have too many cute clothes that are kinda pricey...even in the outlets and it makes it hard. I had plans of going to Old Navy for me some clothes because I don't really have anything anymore. I decided after OshKosh I probably wouldn't get me anything because I spent too much, but I was going to look anyways. Old Navy had a line a mile long so we went in and turned right around and went right back out lol. I'm very happy to have gotten Maddy the clothes I did...I'm a clothes-a-holic for Maddy. On the way home this is what my mom's backseat looked like

You know technology has taken over when your car looks like this lol. The girls have a DSi and Maddy has my phone watching a movie. Maddy LOVES their dsi and played on it a good bit on the way up.

After the outlets we headed back to my mom's house and we all played outside. We raced each other in the yard for a while. Maddy did a good job of keeping up with us and we made sure to let her win some too. She was loving it! After we played outside it was time to take the girls home so me and Maddy rode with them and Maddy cried when we left and there was no more Abby and Sara. We had to go to Publix to get a few things that were on sale and then we went to Baskin Robbins for some ice cream. Maddy loves picking out her ice cream and she chose Strawberry Lemonade. After ice cream we had one more stop to make and that was Wal-Mart. By the time we got to my mom's house it was midnight or close to it. Maddy had no nap at all that day. On Sunday we went to church and Maddy tried out her new room. I don't think she likes it as much as her other room. She told me the lady took her baby. I don't know if they aren't allowed to hold their comfort item in this class or not because they have cubbies. I guess I need to ask. When I went to pick her up she looked confused/unsure. I hope she continues to like church. We then went to Red Lobster to celebrate my uncle's birthday. Maddy was all over the place! We had a total of 16 people, 3 of which were toddlers. It was a fun time though. After lunch we came home and Maddy played and I cleaned cleaned cleaned. I made good progress on our house, but still have a long way to go. 

That was our weekend in a nutshell. I hope you all had a great weekend and are having a good week so far :)

Wednesday Wandoms

I am so ready for this week to be over!!! I'm ready for this month to be over, for this year to be over! This week hasn't been all bad. I know as soon as I write this the total opposite will occur, but that's ok. Maddy has gotten over her little mood swings as of this week. I think she needed some time away from here as much as I did. In all reality, it's just part of the toddler years I know, but I do think the new scenery did her a world of good. In the mornings when I tell her it's time to go she actually says ok, like it's no big deal. On Monday I whirled around and started to think she might be a little sick because she always fights me when it's time to go...I really don't blame her. When it's bath time she just goes with the flow and does whatever she needs to do...same with dinner time and bed time. I know her mood will go down hill again at some point, but I have really been enjoying the mood swing free week.

I have actually started Christmas shopping for Maddy...I believe I may have mentioned this in another post. It finally came in today and now I have the hard part of keeping it a secret until Christmas. She's actually seen a picture of it on my phone because I forgot it was on there and I let her look at the pictures on my phone quite often...oops. I was really hoping to keep it a surprise for everybody until Christmas, but I must share it with you guys now lol. She is getting a leap pad 2. It's basically like an ipad for kids. Maddy knows how to work my phone...including how to unlock it without my even showing her how. When I saw this leap pad it just screamed Maddy. It has a rear and front facing camera and she can even take video if she wants. I went ahead and set it up for her now because I was curious how it all worked. The age range for it is 3-9 and I think 3 is kind of pushing it, but I may be completely wrong. Most of the apps I saw started with age 4...there were a few that started at 3. Right now it'll just be something fun...especially when we are in restaurants or in the car or anywhere we have to wait. I think next year she will really benefit a lot more from the learning aspect of it. The photo/camera and the music app is what really made me decide to get it for her now. I am curious as to how long the batteries will last and I also think there should be some sort of screen protector for it... especially with the age range they have it for. I read there is an AC adapter you can buy for it. I think I will plan on buying one once she is a little older. All in all I'm pleased with it so far. I think she will have a little trouble at first getting back to the main menu/home screen and using the stylus and putting it away because it's skinny and I even have trouble putting it in it's slot because you have to have it just so. I hope she really enjoys it and it's not something that just gets tossed aside lol.

Up until yesterday, Maddy's birthday theme was going to be Caillou. We were talking about her birthday yesterday morning and I told her it was going to be Caillou. She looked at me and said, "No, I don't want Caillou...I want Barney." That really surprised me because she chooses Caillou over Barney, but here lately she has been into Mickey Mouse. On the way to school I had the Birthday Express catalog in my lap and she asked to look at it. She changed her mind from Barney to a ladybug theme. The ladybug theme is super cute and I love the colors! I was hoping to not have to order from the Birthday Express because it gets real expensive. I gave her a choice between Caillou, Barney, Elmo, Ladybug, Clifford, and Mickey Mouse. She decided on Mickey Mouse. She has no option of changing her mind now because after school we went to pick up Mickey Mouse birthday decorations. We pretty much have everything except the balloons and it came out quite a bit cheaper than if we ordered from Birthday Express. 

That is an idea of what we got. We also got party favors for the kids and Mickey Mouse ears for Maddy to wear. My mom is going to make a Mickey and Minnie Mouse cake...well..they will be individual cakes. She's actually made the mickey mouse cake once this year for my nephew's 1st birthday. Maddy had lots of fun picking out the decorations and did such a good job of listening. I am so proud of Maddy and just love her to pieces!

That's really all the exciting news I have to share for now. I feel like in some ways the days are passing way too fast because I can't get my house cleaned. I wouldn't have thought taking a weekend trip would have made much difference, but it's been a nightmare trying to clean while I'm working overtime. I did clean some tonight, but I was getting tired so I decided to lay in bed. I'm hoping to get things back in order this weekend. Oh!! This week Maddy has been in her new classroom at school some. She has loved going in there. She's only been on Monday and Tuesday...she said she didn't go today. I hope she continues loving it in there once she is full time in there. This Sunday she will be starting her new sunday school room. She has moved up to the 3 year old room. She was supposed to start last week, but we were out of town. I'm hoping she handles the change ok. Every aspect of her life has involved change and it's been real hard on her. 

I hope your week has gone better than mine! 

Great Smokey Mountains

This weekend was my mom and step dad's 11th anniversary. They decided they wanted to go to Pigeon Forge, TN to celebrate. They headed up Thursday after playing a round of golf here in town. They invited me and Maddy up for the weekend. I was trying to keep it a surprise for Maddy, but come Wednesday I just couldn't contain my excitement any more. I told her we were going on a small vacation. Her eyes lit up and she excitedly asked, "To the beach?!?!?!" I told her we were going to the mountains. I took a video of her with my phone to send to my mom and step dad...

I actually got myself up Friday morning at 5:17 a.m. so I wouldn't have to work until 10 p.m. and drive 2 hours. We didn't get on the road until 10 p.m. because I still had to pack me and get the car packed and then get Manny taken care of. When we got to the cabin Maddy was so excited to look around. I took some pictures of the cabin on our last day, so the beds weren't made. It had four bedrooms and 3.5 bathrooms. It was so pretty!!!

Maddy loved to play the balls. More than anything though she enjoyed going up and down the stairs. Forget the stair master...just go with Maddy somewhere there are stairs and you will be toned up in no time! We didn't get into bed until 1:50 a.m. We got a rude awakening at 7 a.m. from the alarm. That thing drove me crazy! We finally got up at 7:30 a.m. and were so tired but yet so excited to go ride rides. That alarm did not have a power button so I just unplugged it lol. We headed to the Log Cabin Pancake House. Maddy had a banana and I had biscuits n gravy.

 Maddy was already starting to get quite moody by this point. After breakfast we hit OshKosh for tax free weekend and got Maddy some clothes.

After shopping we headed back to the cabin to get ready for Splash Country...only Maddy fell asleep on the way there and we ended up sitting in the truck outside the cabin for an hour or so. Maddy woke up crying and saying no and she was very frustrated. We waited for her to let us know when she was ready and out of no where she said, "I'm ready to go Pops." We asked her if she wanted to ride rides or go play in the water and of coarse she wanted to ride rides. We decided to skip Splash Country and go to Dollywood. Weather wise that was a great move. When we got to Dollywood we headed straight for the kiddie rides. Our first ride was the carousel.

Then we hit the rest of the kiddie rides.

We tried to catch the train several times but two times it was full and then when we finally were able to sit and wait for it they closed it down because there was lightning in the area. Before long the bottom dropped out. We made it to what was supposed to be a singing show (we thought it was the bird show) and five minutes before it was supposed to start they said they were not going to have the show due to the storm. We decided to just leave the park and go eat dinner. We ate at this amazing restaurant called the Bull Fish grill. I got the slow roasted prime rib and oh my gosh...it was just amazing. Maddy was not in any mood to eat. She just kept crawling under the table and trying to touch the people behind us and banging on the window and jumping on the seat...it was just such fun lol. On the way to the cabin Maddy was starting to fuss and I did something to her my grandmother used to do to me. I asked her what was on her shoulder and pretended like something was there, then I grabbed it and said got it! She just looked at me and I said I got grumpy now I need to get gripey. I started on her other shoulder and all of a sudden she started saying, "GET IT, GET IT,GET IT!!!" She thought there was a bug on her and she hates bugs! She's in a very literal stage right now and I wasn't thinking about that when I did that...oops. After dinner we just chilled at the cabin. Maddy played with her baby and her "mountain" and of coarse with the balls.

We got to bed by 9 p.m. and got to sleep in until 8:30 a.m. We had to be checked out by 10.

 I had no idea what the plan was for the day, so I was quite surprised when we turned around and went right back to Dollywood. We ate at a place called Aunt Granny's in the park and the food there was also really good. It's a buffet line and has true southern cooking there.

We went to ride the elephants and the teacups then the carousel again.

 We decided to go catch the bird show and the stunt dog show. I didn't get any pics of the bird show..my mom did and I will post when I get them and the dog show didn't allow flash photography but it was a really neat show. I highly recommend it. Maddy was so interested because they start out with like a black light type show and all you see are the lights and the frisbee's they use have lights in them so it was really neat. All the dogs were adopted from the human society and they trained them using clickers and toys. Just goes to show it's never too late to train a dog.

 After the stunt dog show we were able to catch the train. We decided it was time to go after the train because Maddy was real tired and it was fixing to rain. Me and my stepdad and Maddy rode the tram back to the car and right before we got to our car it was just sheets of rain pouring down. It was so cold and miserable. I carried Maddy and ran to the car and even though the car was just a few feet away we were drenched. Maddy laughed as we ran but once she got in the car she was quite upset she got soaked. We didn't even make it 1 minute before she was passed out asleep. We got some food at Sonic and headed to Cades Cove. We saw horses and deer and turkey. After that it was time to go home.