The House That Papaw Built ...

Good Evening ...

Here's the finished product! Minus, some porch work yet to do. And I think we're going to plant some bushes, flowers, etc. around the house.

She's SO excited with her "House That Papaw Built"!

Yesterday ... I had worked on the computer a good part of the day and about 3:30 decided to take a break ... so we're sitting on the couch, all is quiet ... and out of the blue ... LeAnna says, "Mom, do dogs have boogers?" ... okay, so first I laughed, then ... I actually paused, and started thinking about this ... do they? Okay ... so I said, "Well, I'm not sure - why don't you check out Princess!" ... so she does! She gets Princess by the face, tilts her head back, looks up in her nose and says, "Nope, they don't get boogers!" ... Okay ... so I guess that settles it! (in her mind anyway) ... ha!

Today was a good day for LeAnna at school (thank goodness) ... Tutti Fruity day! She chose watermelon as her fruit ... they got to cut it up into shapes, pieces, etc. and then eat it! Fun ... fun ... she was all about using the knife - they used some kind of knife from Pampered Chef that won't cut skin, but can cut through anything else! Sounds like a good investment! And with Pampered Chef - it is a small investment! =)

Happy Thursday Evening ... as I leave you with this thought ... tammy

"More food is thrown out each day in the United States than is needed to feed its hungry . . . by McDonalds."

To Paint, Or Not To Paint ... with pictures

Good Morning ... was finally able to post pictures this morning! As you can see - this is not the finished product ... the finished product is pink, white and purple ... I'll post them hopefully tomorrow.

To Paint, Or Not To Paint ...

Good Evening ...

To most of you reading this it's "Morning" ... but to me, it's still Tuesday night! =)

Long day ... Long yesterday ... Long weekend ...

We had church Sunday morning ... then I had a client Sunday afternoon ... in between church and the client, I had another hemorrhage in my left eye ... which is not very fun for me! So ... my fear was that it would move over into my central vision - which it has ... and I'm having some trouble seeing right now ... hopefully it will start clearing soon. I've been having these in my eyes for about 3 years now ... have had some surgery - which has helped ... but ... oh well ... NOT FUN at ALL!

So ... Monday was Uncle Bud's funeral - that was most of the day, so by the time we got home we were exhausted! Went to bed early!

Then ... Papaw decided it was time to paint LeAnna's playhouse that he had built for her last year ... and he hired two helpers ... LeAnna and Dawson! With careful instruction on "what to do", paint brushes in hand and a smile on their face ... off they went ...

All was well for about 10 minutes ... and it got really quiet ... and then LeAnna hollers out ... "this is hard work!" ... So calming myself from laughing - I asked if they were ready for a break ... GLADY they accepted and I went in and fixed them drinks! It wasn't 15 minutes later and in they come, kicking their shoes off as they entered the back door ... I asked what was the matter ... they replied ... we're hot, tired and want to play inside! SO ... needless to say - Papaw's help, jumped ship! I didn't hear him complain too much though! =)

In about 30 minutes they were ready for lunch ... so in the van we loaded up and headed to Wendy's ...

They enjoyed themselves today! And if anything ... in MANY years from now - they can look back on this day (from the picture album I'm making) and THINK that they worked VERY hard and accomplished a WHOLE LOT! ha! Because ... it is true - the saying "MOMENTS - We don't remember days, we remember Moments"! And in this case - it truly was just a "moment"! ha!

ONCE AGAIN .... I have pictures to post - but Blogger is not being very cooperative at the moment ... I will post them in the morning.

So happy "late" Tuesday evening - as I leave you with this thought ...

"Nobody can do for little children what grandparents do. Grandparents sort of sprinkle stardust over the lives of little children." ~Alex HaleyThe Maroon

About To Crescendo ...

Good Evening ...

This morning I was supposed to have a client - but due to unparticipating weather - had to reschedule for tomorrow... so ... Nate and I went to the Loveless Cafe for breakfast! ... My first time ... can you believe it? ... Lived in Nashville all my life and have never been! - It was very good ... the biscuits are a "secret recipe" ... they were very good - not the best I've ever eaten ... but very good ... especially with the home-made strawberry preserves on it! ... Uuummmm Good! ... Lot's of history at this little cafe ... very interesting ... made for a nice morning! ..........................................................
























Okay ... so what about these signs around town? I Actually took pictures of them today! Found a new one today! "Shiny, shiny. Pretty, pretty. What in the world?!?!?! None of the signs have relation to one another in my mind ... it's driving me bananas! I guess whoever is doing this for whatever product ... well ... it's working for people like me! My curiosity is about to crescendo! ha!

Oh My! ...

Well .... Happy Saturday Evening ... leaving you this to ponder ...

"Our job is not to make up anybody's mind, but to open minds and to make the agony of the decision-making so intense you can escape only by thinking."

... tammy

Rest ...

Good Morning ...

Alexander (Bud) Batson

1944 - 2006

Well ... Nate's Uncle Bud passed away yesterday ... bless his heart ... so sad ... heart attack and stroke ... his remains will be in Ashland City ... the funeral will be at our church on Monday morning.

I took this picture of him the Sunday before Father's Day last week. He was such a sweet man. He will be greatly missed.

LeAnna bug is still sick - but MUCH better ... just running a temp now ... hopefully we'll be good to go once we get that under control. She's actually off the couch and trying to play again ... so that's a good sign.

As for me ... I'm tired ... but feeling okay ... the love seat is not too "lovey" right now! ha! Thank God I'm short! ha! I'm in hopes that tonight we'll ALL be back in our own beds!

Happy Friday as I leave you with this thought ... tammy

"God himself took a day to rest in, and a good man's grave is his Sabbath." ~John Donne

A Crummy First Day Of Summer ...

Good Afternoon ...

So ... my first day of Summer yesterday started out with a client and while with the client I get a phone call from school saying LeAnna had just thrown up on the playground! She had said she was not feeling well yesterday morning - but that was it, no symptoms of being "really sick" ... so I went ahead and took her to school. Bless her heart! She was SO SICK! Not fun! She is MUCH better today though ... still running a temp, but not throwing up anymore! Thank Goodness ... last night was horrible ... she would cry and ask "when will I feel better?" .... so pityful!

I'm finally able to sit at the computer to work ... I've been on "couch duty" with LeAnna bug...

Nathan's uncle, Bud Batson had a heart attack yesterday and they are not expecting him to live through the day today ... so sad ... please say a prayer for this family

Okay ... got to get to work ... but here's my "thought/idea" for the day ...

"Look at old photos. Remember the good times. Forgive the mistakes. Thank God for the people He has brought into your life."

... tammy

S U M M E R ...

Good Morning ...

S U M M E R ... It's Here! Well - Wednesday it will be official ...

I took this pic of LeAnna yesterday morning ... she was laying on the couch "waiting" for something to happen on this "almost summer" day ... and I saw her daydreaming and grabbed the camera! Fall is my favorite time of year, but Summer is my next favorite ...

I have MANY memories of each Season growing up ... but I recall SO MANY in the Summer!

When I think of "S U M M E R" ... I think of:

* grape kool-aid

* bicycles

* skinned knees

* my grandaddy

* water fights

* kim mitchell ... (best Summer friend)

* spam ... (ick)

* hide-and-go-seek

* my dog Wendy

* jumping on the trampoline

* laying on the trampoline with my pillow, making objects out of the clouds

* laying on the trampoline with my pillow, star gazing at night

* youth group activities

* sitting up with friends until wee-hours of the morning, sitting outside talking

* vacation bible school

* pushing salted peanuts in my pepsi can, drinking it ... and NOW recalling that unique taste

* late nights with friends sitting on the steps of the Parthenon at Centennial Park

* spagetti-o's and grilled chesse sandwiches

* youth camp

* florida vacation to visit my family

* my sand box

* my swing set

* ted, my next door neighbor (he taught me all about football and baseball)

* my riding lawnmower (courtesy of my grandaddy)

* iced tea

* grapefruit with LOTS of sugar

* sandals

* flip flops

* the color green

* picnics at the park

* feeding the ducks at the park

I quizzed LeAnna on what she thought about Summer .... this is what she told me .....

LeAnna's "thoughts" of S U M M E R ...

* catching butterflies

* the moon (at night time)

* roses

* cinderella's castle

* mommy

* swimming with daddy

* playing outside

* riding the cantoon boat (pontoon)

* riding the skidoo (seadoo)

* going to Nana's house

* going to Granny's house

* going to Judy's house

* my house

* playing in the bathtub

How cute is that?!

So ... Happy Tuesday as I leave you with this thought ...

"In summer, the song sings itself." ~William Carlos Williams

Father's Day Weekend ...

This was LeAnna and Daddy at church yesterday



















This is me introducing the participants for the Most Outrageous Tie Contest ... in this picture I was describing Nate's lovely lime, feather boa neck tie with a rather large red flower and his I Love Outback Steakhouse pin that he suckered out of a waitress a while back. I guess my eyes are shut because I'm thinking - "Wow, I can't believe that Nathan Batson actually wore this out of the house today!"













Here are the kids posing for a pic at Rock Island this weekend! What's amazing is that they are actually sitting still and looking at the camera all at once! - Too much fun stuff to do there! Brandon, LeAnna, Kaitlyn, Zachary and Olivia (who was being a rebel at the moment).




















This was Nate's Kenneth Cole watch he got for Father's Day!



















LeAnna and Zachary having a moment ....

Good Morning ...

Yesterday - Father's Day ... we had the "Most Outrageous Tie Contest" at church ... too much fun! It was GREAT seeing how creative the "men's wives/mothers" got! ha! Not sure if one man made his own tie ... but that's okay ... only proves one thing ... Men couldn't exist without women! ha! Can I get an AMEN?!

Anyhoo ... Nate didn't win ... but everyone seemed to enjoy participating.

We went to Rock Island again this weekend (Friday and Saturday) and we gave Nate his Father's Day gifts there ... a Kenneth Cole watch and a gift card to K&G Outlet ... he seemed really happy with his prizes. LeAnna made some stuff at school for him on Thursday and was so excited to be able to give it to him ... THEN decorated his card herself, sealed it up and gave it to him ... getting TOO big - TOO fast!

We had Father's Day dinner at Caney Fork Fish Camp ... and then had to pick up the Princess from the Puppy Apartment she stayed in while we were gone. They said she did great ... I would too if I had a sling bed in my own little "space" and cable tv to watch all weekend! Too funny ...

So ... yes, Father's Day yesterday ... and I think of my husband on this day for being a wonderful father to our daughter ... I also think of my father-in-law for being a "father figure" in my life and a great Dad and example to Nate ... but I also take time to reflect on my dad .... he died in January of 1999. I miss him ... and from time to time - wonder what he would do if he could see LeAnna ... he wanted me to have a child SO BAD ... that there were times he would hurt my feelings by things he would say about it ... he was sick and at times didn't realize what he was saying ... and I of course never let on that he hurt my feelings ... SO ... NOW ... TODAY - I wish he could see her! I'm sure they would be best buddies! LeAnna knows ALL about him ... she looks at pictures of him ... watches videos of him ... and talks about him alot ... there have been times she would cry and we would ask what was wrong and she would say, I want to go to Heaven, so I can see my Grandaddy with a stick ... (too funny - she calls him this because of the crutches and canes he walked with).

Oh well ... life goes on ... sometimes we don't understand "LIFE" ... but ... a lot of it is not for us to understand "now" ... but maybe one day we will.

Just thankful for the moments that I have to look back on and reflect ... I guess that's why it is so important to me to take lots of pictures, journal alot and try at every opportunity to make a special memory ... it is SO hard to convey how much I really do love LeAnna and I want her to know one day SO BAD how much I do! Maybe I feel differently because of what I have gone through to get her here ... not even knowing if I could have children ... then finding out I could, it taking about 7 years to have her after enduring a lot of miscarriages ... then her getting here early and then open heart surgery ... she is DEFINITELY our Miracle! So ... yes, I can say I have witnessed a real, live, true miracle in my lifetime!

Okay ... whew ... back to the moment ... =)

So ... had lots of pictures to post today and Blogger is having issues again!!! Ugh! I will try and post them later this afternoon ... so sorry ...

Happy Monday as I leave you with this to ponder ... tammy

"There's something like a line of gold thread running through a man's words when he talks to his daughter, and gradually over the years it gets to be long enough for you to pick up in your hands and weave into a cloth that feels like love itself." ~John Gregory Brown

I'm A Hot Toe Picker?

Good Morning ...

Okay ... somebody PLEASE tell me what this means??????

This is the billboard on Briley Pkwy between Ashland City Highway and County Hospital Road ... going towards White Bridge Road.

I saw this sign and about died! Okay ... "someone" is trying to get our attention with either a new product or "something" ... just don't know what yet ... BUT ... whatever it is ... it's working ... because I'm SO CURIOUS!!!!!!!

Okay ... so if anyone knows ... PLEASE comment or email and let me know!

So ... Princess had to go to the vet this morning and get a vaccine to be able to stay at the "puppy apartment" over the weekend. She weighed in at 9lbs and 10 ozs!!!!! MORE GAIN since 2 weeks ago!!!!! I'm telling you - we're going to have a Clifford on our hands! ha! Didn't Clifford get bigger than it's owners house?! At this pace ... we're working on it!

So ... Rock Island again for a couple of days ... yea! It's fun to get away even if it is only for a couple of days ...

So ... Happy Thursday as I leave you with this thought ... tammy

"A father carries pictures where his money used to be." ~Author Unknown

Oddles Of Noodles ...

Good Morning ...

This is LeAnna on her way to "summer camp" ... that's what we call school this summer! It's "more fun" that way and she is enjoying it!

This week is "Oddles of Noodles" ... no tellin' what Daddy will get for Father's Day! ha!

The scratches on her face was from a rendezvous with Princess ... Princess gets a little too excited to see us sometimes! Just glad the scratch wasn't closer to her eye.

This is Father's Day weekend coming up ... we're going back to Rock Island this weekend ... excited about that!

I am so thankful for Nathan ... he is such a good Daddy to our baby girl ... and she sure loves him! Daddy's little Princess! I am so thankful, not just for "the help" with the parenting duties from him ... but really for the "balance" it provides in LeAnna's life. It is so important to have an even balance of male/female in a childs life ... I believe it really does effect them when they are older ... plus, it teaches them "that this is the way it's supposed to be"!

Okay ... off that box ... on to another one ... which is about a billboard I seen on the way home last night ... oh my goodness ... can't even remember what it says ... but so curious, I'm going back - taking a picture of it - and I'll post it tomorrow ... it was just a "saying" ... it's got to be an advertisement for "something new coming" ... just not sure what ... it didn't really make sense ... something about red toes ... anyhoo ... I'll take a pic and post it tomorrow ... =)

Happy Wednesday, as I leave you with this to ponder today ... tammy

"In the theme song from "The Flintstones" the line after "Let's ride with the family down the street" is "Through the courtesy of Fred's two feet."

The Tooth Fairy ...

Good Morning ...

It's been a few days since I posted ... Busy - busy ... that's us!!!!

LeAnna has decided that she wants a loose tooth! She found out that the Tooth Fairy comes and brings money when you lose a tooth! She called and asked her Nana this morning where the Tooth Fairy lives. ha! Mom said, I think she lives pretty close to you! I think we have a while before we start losing teeth though! She doesn't understand this - her friend Kaitlyn is two years older and has started losing teeth - that's why all the questions all of a sudden!

It's Summer! It's HOT!!!! Woo-Hoo!!!!

Okay ... sorry - not much to say ... other than I've got to get back to work!

Happy Tuesday as I leave you with this thought ... tammy

"Let's not forget that the little emotions are the great captains of our lives and we obey them without realizing it." ~Vincent Van Gogh, 1889

Thanks To Blogger ...

Good Afternoon ...

Okay ... so ... haven't posted since Tuesday ... not that I didn't want to ... "Blogger" has had some major issues and I haven't been able to log on to even post a blog ... so ... that's the reason for just now posting ... I even started looking into other bloggers and thinking about switching ... I will let you know if that happens ...

I went ahead and posted some pictures that were supposed to be with Tuesday's post - but it wouldn't allow me to post pictures ... so here they are ...





















Too cute! LeAnna and Kaitlyn had too much fun that day! And Princess was a "Princess" of course! She was starting to get on their nerves a little - so they were more than happy for her to go to the beauty shop - so they could be "The Princesses" on the premises!

So - having a lot to do today - I need to finish some irons that I've placed in the fire ...

Happy Friday as I leave you with this thought ... tammy

"Good instincts usually tell you what to do long before your head has figured it out." ~Michael Burke

A Princess Day ...

Good Morning ...

Yesterday morning I had to work ... but yesterday afternoon we got to play! We went swimming where my mom works ... It was a beautiful day ... and a very nice one to be in the sun! I was in the pool about 10 minutes when I realized that my pump was still hooked up to me! Oh My Goodness!!!! I was a nervous wreck getting out of the pool and getting it dried out, dried off, and anything else I could do to it! ha! It seems to be okay ... so, thank goodness! It's such a hassle to have to call and get another one sent ... although they ship them out within 24 hours, it seems like an eternity when you have to take shots about every 2 hours ... not fun ... especially when you are used to the freedom with the insulin pump. ... So, LeAnna is doing better in the pool ... she's learning to kick and we're working on getting the hands to do what they're supposed to do ... as for now - she enjoys kicking while holding on to my hands as we go around the pool ... "I'm swimming Mommy" she would say! Amazing to watch them grow and learn new things everyday! Just to stop and think about the responsibility we've been entrusted with to teach and train (whether we know it or not) we train everyday not only by our words and instructions, but by our example! I take my job very seriously as a mother and if you want to do it right - I have learned you have to "walk the straight and narrow" ... which is fine with me ... not only do I feel like I'm keeping her on the right track - it keeps me on the right track too! It's SO easy to tell your child one thing and then YOU do another ... you have to continually keep a check on yourself ... I watch myself even closer now days ... ever since the day I got on to LeAnna for something she was doing/saying ... something (can't remember) - she said, "but Mommy, you did it!" .... Woo-Hoo ... makes you stop and REALLY think!

Okay ... so ... LeAnna had a sleepover last night and they are having so much fun! Her friend Kaitlyn is here - and they were up bright and early - raring and ready to go! They ate breakfast, dressed up like princesses, played with Princess, watched "Gigi, God's Little Princess", then we took Princess to the beauty shop to get a "new doo" .... =) .... It's been a Princess Morning! So ... while we were out - they said, "we're hungry" ... ha! It was only 10:20! They were ready for lunch already!!!! So we went to Krystal for LeAnna and McDonalds for Kaitlyn ... I did not mind at all .... I'm having fun watching them have fun! And that's what it's all about ... I have been so busy lately with EVERYTHING ... that it's nice to sit back and just "watch life" for a moment ... it goes by WAY too quickly and I want to be able to look back one day and enjoy reminiscing about these fun moments! I see no enjoyment in looking back at how late I stayed up working many nights!!!!

So ... still haven't got the pics downloaded from Rock Island ... ha! Took a BUNCH of pics! Snap Happy - that's me!!!!

Anyhoo ... we had a great time and can't wait to go back!

I have several pictures to post ... and I'm a little disappointed because they won't post this morning ... so sorry ... I'll try again later ...

Happy Tuesday as I leave you with this thought ... tammy

"It's not only children who grow. Parents do too. As much as we watch to see what our children do with their lives, they are watching us to see what we do with ours. I can't tell my child to reach for the sun. All I can do is reach for it, myself."

May 5th on June 4th ...

Good Afternoon -

We had a great time in Rock Island this weekend ... I'll post some pictures when I get them downloaded to the computer. It was nice to get away for "a bit"! I'll post about it tomorrow ...

Today we went to (you'll never guess) - May 5th! Cinco De Mayo! We really do enjoy eating there ... it's good, its quick - in and out ... and as tired as we all are, we were all about that today!
Here you can tell that LeAnna was "enjoying herself" today!

We are honoring our graduates at church this evening ... so I better get rolling ...

Happy Sunday as I leave you with this to ponder ... tammy

"Graduation is only a concept. In real life every day you graduate. Graduation is a process that goes on until the last day of your life. If you can grasp that, you'll make a difference." ~Arie Pencovici

All Wrapped Up ...

These were the pictures that I tried to post for yesterday and I never could get them to post ... oh well ... too cute not to share ... she LOVES her new shoes and was telling everybody about them yesterday ... !


I think I have the sweetest baby girl ever ... she told me that she wished I was a little girl again (her age) so we could play together! Aahhhh .... so sweet .... THEN, she said ... Mommy, do you know what I want for my birthday? (six months from now - ha!) ... I said, "No, what would you like?" ... she said ... "I want Daddy to wrap you up and give you to me for my birthday"! Oh My ... is that not the sweetest?! She knows how to make me melt!

Okay ... so ... we're supposed to go to Rock Island today ... and I just looked outside and it's thundering and starting to rain! Oh Well - Par for the course huh?!

Well ... Happy Friday as I leave you with this thought ...

"When you're green you're growing, and when you're ripe you start to rot." ~Ray Kroc

My Happy - Pink High-Heels!

Good Afternoon ...

June 1st! Wow! Almost 1/2 way through the year ... doesn't seem possible!

I've been at the church this afternoon decorating a small part of the foyer for our new Sunday School Quarter for this Summer ... the new quarter begins this Sunday - which is "Kick-Off Sunday"! I wrote a little song about "the quarter" and I'm asking the teachers to wear neon orange life jackets and sing this song to the tune of Gilligans Island ... Oh My Goodness - they are probably going to shoot me ... but I'm sure it will cause the excitement I'm trying to achieve ... =) ... we are boarding "The Friendship" and setting sail for a 3 month tour ... a 3 month tour ... =)

I even took my camera so I could post a picture of "my doings" today and forgot to take the silly picture! Thank GOD that my head is attached, or I would forget it too!

So today ... had to make a Walmart run ... and LeAnna found some "high-heel" shoes (in her size - mind you) and she looked up at me and said she just had to have them ... it is hilarious to watch her walk - she's getting better - ha! I just hope she don't break her neck! ... she is ALL girl ... all about shoes, purses and lip gloss! (I've tried several times to post some pictures in her heels, but it's not working - I'll try again later).

Lots to do before this day is over ... we are planning on going to Rock Island for the weekend - but to do that, I've got LOTS to accomplish ...

Happy Thursday as I leave you with this thought ...

"Maybe we should develop a Crayola bomb as our next secret weapon. A happiness weapon. A beauty bomb. And every time a crisis developed, we would launch one. It would explode high in the air - explode softly - and send thousands, millions, of little parachutes into the air. Floating down to earth - boxes of Crayolas. And we wouldn't go cheap, either - not little boxes of eight. Boxes of sixty-four, with the sharpener built right in. With silver and gold and copper, magenta and peach and lime, amber and umber and all the rest. And people would smile and get a little funny look on their faces and cover the world with imagination." ~Robert Fulghum