Dear Mr. Obama...

This is a great video! Very powerful. I'm all into the election this year, and I hope you are too because a lot is at stake for our country. As stated in a previous blog, I've become a talk radio junkie, and I've been a news junkie for a while. By the way, if you want a great magazine to read, check out World Magazine. It's a Christian magazine that reports news, much like Time, but from a Christian worldview. It's great...first rate, good reporting, and smart writers. That was my birthday present. Also, did you know that many states are going to be voting for senators? If a certain number of democratic senators win, the democrats will have the perfect storm...a democratic controlled Senate, Congress, and Barack Obama (IF he wins.) So it's very important that you get out there and vote...of course Republican! ;)

So Proud

I am so proud of Arnold! He has gotten approval for his prospectus which means he can now officially start writing on his dissertation! Praise the Lord! This is awesome news, and he's worked really hard to get this far. Congratulations Arnold!

Randomness

My immune system must have shot down to -50 a few months ago, because I cannot get well! It’s just been this huge ridiculous sore throat, snotty nose, cough, and lethargy that I cannot shake. Does anyone have any suggestions? Is this stuff going around? No one else I know seems to be sick all the time like me!

Yesterday I asked a twelve year old girl who her mommy and daddy were. I’m sure she thought I was crazy. No twelve year old I know still calls her mother “mommy”. By the way, she was selling me some chocolate covered almonds and they were so good. But $2 a box is kind of pricey. Man has that school candy gone up.

One more thing I want to say. Today the staff at my work dressed up for Halloween. It was a lot of fun, and I think the students really enjoyed it. One staff member was a cat, one a pirate, and one a barista from Starbucks. We gave out candy to all the students. Oh, I was a hippie, but I needed some bell bottoms. Are you dressing up for Halloween?

Our Weekend in SC

This past weekend we traveled to South Carolina for two reasons. First, it was close to Peyton's birthday so we wanted to have a little party for her with my family. Second, and I say this with a heavy heart, it was my ten year high school reunion. I know, I'm getting old. We had a great time, despite the fact that I started feeling sick the minute I stepped into the house. It was a crazy busy weekend, so I'm sorry if we didn't get to see you or visit with you, but there was honestly no time! I'm going to post some pictures of the birthday party and of the reunion. The birthday party was a lot of fun, except Peyton was very sleepy. She wasn't into eating her cake or playing with her toys, but was more interested in clinging to me. She got a lot of great books, clothes, and toys. And she had a Winnie the Pooh cake just like I had at my one year old party.
The reunion was, well it was just okay. All I gotta say is, "where in the heck was everyone?!" To have graduated with a large class of like 350 or 400 people, there should have been a lot of people there. 25 people or so is just silly. I was very surprised. However, I did get to spend some quality time with my best friend from Gaffney, Kelly. We laughed and acted crazy a few times and it made me realize how much I missed her. It felt like old times again. We haven't really gotten to hang out in a long time, so that was great.
And now for the pictures....


me and Arnold before the big reunion


me and Kelly acting stupid with gum, she would probably kill me if she knew I put this picture up


a better picture of us. Everyone used to ask us if we were sisters...everyone


my mom giving Peyton a bath, but the real reason I put this picture on here is because Peyton is making the funniest face


my mom, sisters, and Peyton


Peyton at the party


Winnie the Pooh cake


Yummy cake

6 Random Things

The rules of the tag are as follows:1.Post the rules on your blog.2.Write six random things about yourself.3.Tag six people at the end of your post.4. If you are tagged, JUST DO IT, and pass the tag along.

1. I have a screw in my knee. I had to have surgery on a torn ACL and meniscus in college...an old football injury...haha.

2. Like Tara, I also hate metal scraping metal. EECH!

3. My favorite movie in the world--Pride and Prejudice, the A&E version...aka the long one.

4. I was born two minutes before midnight on the 24th of September, so if the clocks were wrong, was I really born on the 25th?

5. I used to be a morning person(my mom can attest to this fact)...now, not so much.

6. I am a sweetaholic. I LOVE sweets...especially cakes, pies, and pastries. And I love homemade sweets, not all this store bought junk.

By the way, we had a great weekend in SC. I will write on that topic and post some pictures later this week. And now I tag Stephanie, Beth, and Misty.

Pictures from Peyton's Birthday

October 11, 2008-Peyton's First Birthday She's out in the yard contemplating how she can get her new, cute little outfit dirty.


The Little Princess She wore that crown about .1 nanoseconds before she ripped it off her head.


That Icing was So Good!


Can't wait to get to those presents!


She was fascinated by the flame from the candle.

Birthday Party #1

This weekend we went to Monroe La. so that Peyton could celebrate birthday party #1 with Arnold’s side of the family. Now I say birthday party #1 because birthday party #2 is coming this weekend in SC, with my side of the family. But we had a great time at #1…all the family, friends, and a great cookout. Arnold grilled burgers and hotdogs and of course we had birthday cake and icecream. And it was absolutely perfect weather too. The sun was peaking out and the temperature was pleasant. Peyton got some cool toys that she has enjoyed playing with. Now last night one of my friends brought her a little vacuum cleaner/lawn mower looking thing that you push around the room and it pops. That thing is so loud! But of course it’s Peyton’s favorite toy! And speaking of last night, we kept my friend’s little five month old boy, Gabriel, so that her and her husband could go on a date. Peyton and Gabriel were so funny together. Peyton would cry perhaps because she didn’t know what he was doing in her house (or perhaps because she was a little jealous that I was holding him?) well then Gabriel would start crying because she was. Then Peyton would start crying louder because he was crying. Then he would start up again. This went on for quite a while. I’m not sure those two ever got used to each other. Now the crazy thing is that Peyton is around crying babies ALL day long, but I think she wasn’t used to having a crying baby in her house. Babies are so funny.

Pictures will come later.

Happy Birthday Peyton!

one minute old on October 11



almost one year later...October 2008

Tomorrow, October 11, my little baby girl is going to be one year old! I cannot believe how fast the time has gone by. She was such a handful even those first few moments of her life, when the nurses were wheeling her back from the nursery saying, “We can’t handle her, you’re going to have to take her.” And even when we brought her home I think at one point I decided I was ready to give her back because the colic and inconsolable crying were just too much. But the Lord brought us through that difficult time. Then that ended and she started to come alive--smiling, cooing, rolling over, and then crawling. Now she’s walking around, getting into trouble, laughing, and plopping down in your lap with a book to read. She is so adorable and we love her more than anything else in the world. Happy Birthday Peyton! Love, Mommie

Playground Fun

Here are a few pics of Peyton having some old fashion playground fun...



There were some older children playing but she couldn't figure out how to get to them.




Swings are ok, but not her favorite.


...but she loves the slides



It has been perfect weather to be outside playing!

For Sale

**FOR SALE!!!
An almost brand new Mobi wrap. I only used this Mobi wrap two times. Comes with instruction booklet and bag. Color-Sand. I will sell it for $25. Please let me know if you’re interested. Great for all you new moms or expecting moms!

Below is a picture of the Mobi wrap in the color sand.

Vice-Presidential Debate and Pictures

Well, did you watch the vice-presidential debate last night? Me and Peyton did. Arnold had to work late. It was a great night last night even though I didn’t feel very good. I took some Advil because my throat was hurting so bad and ate a good Southern supper, meatloaf and sweet potatoes, and then I started feeling better. Peyton did really good too. She ate the sweet potatoes I fed her, and then I gave her some meatloaf on her tray to play with. I knew she wouldn’t eat it if I tried to put it in her mouth with the spoon. Then she drank straight from her sippy cup! She’s been refusing to do this, so I was very happy that she decided to try it last night. I was so excited to watch this much anticipated debate and was praying all day that God would give Palin the words to say. I know you may think I’m crazy, but I’m really scared that Obama is going to win this thing. Normally, I may not be this bold, but this is something I care about, so I’m telling you that you should be praying for our country too! We are SO fortunate to live here, and God has blessed us with so much freedom that we take for granted. I’m scared what will happen if Obama gets elected. Did anyone else watch the vice-presidential debate? How do you think Palin did?

This is Peyton and her little friend Gabriel. Gabriel is only five months old, so he likes watching Peyton toddle around.

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