Mother's Day Weekend

That is right, I said weekend. I believe in taking full advantage of holidays that celebrate me and milking it for all it is worth! (In fact last Monday we had Mommy's choice FHE since it was the one before Mother's day weekend. We watched family video's from when Jake was a little guy.) And of course I was not disappointed! On Friday Aaron and Jake decided not to go to the camp out because it seemed no one else was either. Instead we went to the drive-in movies with the Gariety's and for $12 got to watch How to Train Your Dragon and Iron Man 2. You can barely go to see one movie by yourself for that price. It was so fun! It was the first time Aaron and Jake had been to the drive-in. I loved How to Train Your Dragon! It was so cute, I would seriously love a dragon as a pet...if they were real and as cute as they are in the movie! Iron Man 2 was pretty good also. There were some long parts in it and I have never seen the first one, but I liked it. And of course I took pictures!
Here we all are, with our awesome set up!

Elizabeth, Cole, and Morgan.

Jake made his own row at first. He ended up moving back to sit by me.

Our little family!

Jake with the credits rolling from How to Train Your Dragon behind him. I didn't want to disturb people by taking pictures during the movie...although I was tempted.

Jake playing with the Gariety's flash light.

Jake and Morgan running around while we waited for Iron Man 2 to come on.

Saturday I had to work (on U-Scan) from 9-3:30 and it was HARD getting out of bed. We got home from the drive-in at a little past 2...I don't see that hour very often unless I am waking up to go pee!.. But I was actually less tired than I thought I would be and U-Scan could have been worse than it was, so I survived. :) Jake and Aaron came to Bi-Lo to decorate a cookie cake for me in the bakery so I got to see them for a couple of minutes too. Saturday I went to bed early. On Sunday I was awoken to breakfast in bed. It was delicious! Thanks guys for the yummy pancakes, eggs, and bacon. They also got me a corsage to wear to church (which I am wearing right now! I have to get all the use out of it I can. Besides it makes me feel special.). I got to go to all of church (since I didn't have to work-YIPPEE! I really do like it I swear! The people are so nice and I basically get to talk to people all day-I just didn't want to work on Mother's Day!) and help out in nursery. I was all ready to go to Relief Society for the first time in...a really long time-I have been helping out in Primary and Nursery (which I love to do by the way!). I even told Aaron I really wanted to go to R.S. so if they asked me to help I would just tell them not this week. But I couldn't stop myself when they asked me. What can I say Primary/Nursery really is the best place to be. Sweet kiddos that love you no matter what and free hugs! I love the nursery in Monroe-they are such sweet little ones and I get to hang out with my great friend (and nursery leader) Elizabeth! But any way...Back to Mother's Day celebration. I took a nap...It was sooo nice. And Aaron made me shrimp and grits for dinner. It was a nice relaxing day...

Aaron forgot (or so he says) to take the camera to Bi-Lo and take a picture of Jake making my cookie, so I made sure I reminded him to take them when they were making me breakfast! Jake made the pancakes all by himself.


Aaron picked roses from the yard to put on the tray.

Jake showing off all their hard work.

I really can't believe I am posting this picture...

Here we are after church. Jake took a picture of me, my corsage, and Aaron. :)

Jake and I matched!

Before the movie the guys played Frisbee and then the kiddos colored. Jake colored me this beautiful picture.

This is the card he made me at school. (the word in blue is supposed to say corsage)

...and this is the inside.

My corsage...

My two cute guys with the cookie they made.

A close up on the cookie...

Me and my cookie cake

Aaron cooking...

...these yummy shrimp and grits!

Horray It's Mothers Day! A post by Jake

Dear Mommy,

Roses are red, violets are blue. I love you Mommy and you love me too.

You always smell like flowers. You always smell like dew (the raindrops). Mommy, I love you. I love you, I do.

Your food is really delicious...except the broccoli and cauliflower. I love it when you laugh and smile. I miss you when I am at school. I miss you at work. Mommy, I love you.

From your loving son.
Love-Jake (I love you Mommy. I do)

Yipppppeeee!!!!!

I don't have to work on Mother's Day after all. :)

Happy Mother's Day and Thank you, to the Two Mothers in my life...

Dear Mom,

Thank you. I really can't write anything that could even begin to explain what you mean to me. Thank you for being my best friend. Thank you for letting me grow up in a home with a strong women who knew she could go out and do anything with all her talents, but she choose to stay close to home and focus on her family. Thank you for the example of the Savior you are to those around you. I love being back in the Monroe Ward and being around the people you have served with over the past several years. I hear on a weekly basis: "I just love your mother" or "I want to be just like Sister Graves when I grow up". And to these people I reply: me too. Thank you for being an awesome example of love, hard work, understanding, and focus. I am so proud of you for being on a mission. I miss you like crazy, but I wouldn't have it any other way! Thank you for being the rock of our family. Thank you for being a shining light to everyone you come in contact with. I am so proud to be your daughter. Thank you for always being there to support me, to understand, and listen. Thank you for being the greatest Mom in the world. I love you! Happy Mothers Day!


Dear Roz,

Thank you. Thank you for raising your son to be a loving, funny, and hardworking husband and father. Thank you for instilling in him an importance of The Lord in his life. Thank you for teaching him to love life and to roll with the punches. Thank you for opening your arms to your daughter-in-laws and letting us all know we are part of the family. Thank your for the support you have shown us. Thank you for knowing how it feels to lose a friend, even if that friend is "just a dog". Thank you for always being an example of standing up for what you believe in, serving others always and being there for your family no matter what. I don't think I have been in a Ward where someone didn't know you for your service at church, and that is amazing to me. What an awesome example! Thank you for loving me like your own daughter...at least that is how it feels. :) You are wonderful. I love you!Happy Mother's Day!

Wednesday: An alligator at the door and wild animals at Cub Scouts

AHHHHH! Doesn't it look like there is an alligator on my front yard? This is actually a more accurate picture of what was on the (outside of) door:

I have just learned that that little lizard may as well have been an alligator because it scared me enough to be one...I hate snakes and I am not a fan of lizards either. I always thought I didn't like snakes because they don't have legs and slither, but apparently that's not it. Lizards have legs and I really don't like them either. Really it caught me off guard and made me jump, but then when I went out the back door and around to the front to take pictures to show Jake, I realized I am not as scared of lizards (as I am to snakes) but I am a little scared. (Sorry for the run on sentence). This is what I saw as I left our bedroom to hang up a coat in the hall closet:

I actually let out little squeal and jumped. I don't know how I even noticed it, but I did feel like I was being watched...This is a picture from our bedroom to the front door and you can see the coat closet I was headed to. I don't really want a lizard neighbor that close to where I sleep... (As a matter of fact I am going to be spending my first night ALL by myself in...I don't even know how long...Probably 12 years...Aaron and Jake are going to the father and son camp out tomorrow. Usually that is the night I invite the dogs up on the bed, and lock the bedroom door...Now I don't even have my dogs to be with me...I am officially a wimp.)

I guess it is a little cute...No I didn't get this close, I just zoomed in. Aaron scared it a way for me. Jake was excited by the news of course.

And now on to the wild animals at Cub Scouts. I am the den leader of the Wolf pack at church. We have been working on writing two plays, making puppets, making props, making backgrounds, and practicing for our pack meeting over the past month and a half. Last night we announced the Pine Wood Derby next month (yes it is late, but at least we are having it right?) by doing some skits and then having some races. I had Wednesday off and tied up all the lose ends and was ready for everything. Except for the boys craziness. How can I forget that these kids are getting ready for EOG's and have a lot of extra energy?..It was crazy, but they LOVED it. So, I guess that is all that matters. And for any of you who have watched your children play sports and you can always tell who the coaches kid is because he is the one not listening and goofing off...I totally get that now. I am the "coach" and I would occasionally like to strangle my child. It is to the point that on the way home on Wednesday night Jake gets in the car and says "I am sorry Mommy...Do we have to talk about what I did all the way home again?" NO! WE DON'T IF YOU WOULD STOP DOING IT!!! It isn't like he is being bad. He is just being a boy at Cub Scouts. They are all weird and crazy...And I have to say I love it.
This is the "photo finish" of the race in the skit. Look at Jake's happy face. Boys are so funny. A box made to look like a race car is the best thing ever when you are 8.

One of the races:

The background poster. These are the people in the stands at a race. Don't you love the picture of the boys in it? They really had great ideas and worked so hard. You will notice that the pictures I zoomed in on are of Jake. :) Truthfully there are only 2 Wolves (but it was a Pack Meeting so we were all together) so the poster only has 2 boys on it Jake and Garrett (or Granite as Jake calls him-its his nickname now and he loves it) and there are even amounts of both.

Yard Work (Jake wanted me to post this.)

Jake had last Friday off for a teacher work day (got another report card on Wed. still all A's and 1 B...I had to work. Picture me pouting again. Just kidding! Kind of...) and they did some yard work. Jake wanted to take some pictures of the piles and the yard. So, here they are...

The piles are bigger than they look I swear.


Jake wanted to take a picture of the yard and me...

Here is my cute boy. :)

Sunday

On Sunday I only went to Sacrament because I had been battling a sinus issue for a few days and I had to work the next 6 days (make that 7. I found out today I have to work Mother's Day...Picture my pouting face right now...)with only one day off (and I hadn't been able to sleep the night before). Aaron convinced me I should rest and make sure it didn't get worse. I took his advice and went home. I had a yummy roast in the crock pot and really didn't feel like making all the other things to go with it. So, we had these instead:

Yummy roast beef sandwiches, with garlic, and melted mozzarella...It was so good...I could say the little one was for me...but I would be telling a lie...

Here is a close up of the yumminess...

And the happy eaters...Yes we ate on the couch...Pitiful I know.



And later that day when I was taking a nap, Elizabeth dropped off these pretty flowers for me! Thanks Elizabeth! :)

Thanks Melissa...

If it weren't for you I NEVER would have started blogging. Aaron downloaded a program for me to use to print my blog into a book (I am going to do it every year as a kind of scrapbook of the year) and I have been having an awesome time getting last years posts already. It has been so fun to go back and read all the things that happened, all the things Jake said, all the comments from family and friends. This is what my title page is going to say:

What a year! And by the way...WHERE DID IT GO!!! I guess they (whoever they are) were right when they said"Time flies when you're having fun".

I finally did it. By "it" I mean: used the pictures I love to take, journaled for a whole year, put special memories of Jake growing up in a place they won't be forgotten (unlike the millions of scraps of paper that have long since been lost...), reached a long term goal, and followed through with a hobby. (I am patting myself on the back right now...and it feels good.)

Volume 1 is definitely dedicated to Melissa Mann. You talked me into it-I never would have started blogging if it weren't for you. NEVER! You inspired me. It is more than just a blog to me... It is a time capsule of all I feel, love, and hold dear. I will forever be greatful for all you taught me. Blogging is a good thing...

Things I though today...or technically yesterday...

I can't sleep...which is a big bummer considering my allergies seem to be starting to turn into a pressure building sinus thing...I guess that is what happens when you don't stop doing things (blogging, searing a roast to put in the crock pot...) until it is late already! My head is full of things that I can't stop thinking about so I though maybe if I got them out of my head I could sleep. So here goes:

1. Am I too fat to run a 5k? I mean I know it won't be record time or anything but by my birthday (May 31st) could I run a 5k at my pace without stopping and walking? I am going to do it. I am not going to go sign up for one. I am going to have my own. I will map it out and have my own race. With whoever wants to cheer me on and/or run it with me. Tina, you guys maybe here that weekend. You want to run or cheer me on at the finish line?

2. Will Jake go to a college close by or far a way?

3. (Do not be offended by what I am about to say if you have ever used U-Scan and had problems with it. It is a machine and all machines have flaws that make it tricky sometimes. This is not in any way directed toward you. That is my disclaimer...Seriously no one I know falls into the category of people that I am getting ready to talk about. The people I am talking about in this section are people who use U-Scan and think the machine and Bi-Lo are out to get them...) I like my job, but I hate U-Scan. Why is the U-Scan so hard for people to use? We just got one at Bi-Lo and I am not a fan. I used to like to use them at Walmart before I was a cashier. Maybe it is because it was my destiny to be a cashier that I could figure out how to use it. (that was sarcasm just in case you couldn't tell) Or maybe it is because I can read and follow directions and use common sense. Now that I occasionally have to be the one standing there watching people use U-Scan and fixing their problems, I am shocked at the amount of people that can not follow some very basic steps. I really wonder how these people make it through the day! I understand U-Scans are quirky and act up-but when the screen says to touch this button to start, you probably aren't going to be able to start until you actually touch it. It makes for a long day when you have to stand there and watch people not be able to follow the directions. I understand that it is a new thing to some people but if you are already grumpy and not prone to wanting to do anything for yourself you should probably go stand in line...And if you can't read (which is really very sad and I feel for you) don't try and do it yourself. I had to fish a quarter out of the place where you insert your $ bills because a lady didn't see the place for the change...It is maybe 1 inch below where you put your bills. I also had a women try to put her Bi-Lo bonus card in the place where the bills go. And another tried to put a credit card where the bills go...People don't understand that the same automated voice that tells them to put the item they just scanned in the bag before scanning your next item knows you haven't put it in yet because where the bags are is a scale. So, that means if you put it in the bag and then immediately pick up the whole bag and put it back in your cart before you pay and then the voice tells you to put it back...it isn't the machine (or my) fault that it is telling you to put it back. It is still on a scale and it thinks you are stealing it BECAUSE YOU HAVEN'T PAID YET! I have seen people have the same thing happen seriously 15 times and they sigh like the machine is acting up every time! Even though the machine is telling them the problem and I have very politely told them the problem-they still think it is the machine!!! Another reason it is acting up is because you are letting your child climb all over that scale and the poor machine can't understand why all the sudden your groceries went from 15 pounds to 60 in a matter of seconds! I am sorry you have a shopping cart full of produce with no codes on it and you don't know the codes and you are all upset about it. That is why they pay cashiers and why if you have a buggy full of 25 varieties of produce you should probably not have come to the U-Scan! And yes mam I can see that you don't have any more room to put the stuff you are scanning...That is because this is not supposed to be for a shopping cart full of groceries to last you a month. This is where you come when you have a FEW items and don't feel like waiting in line with the people that have HUGE amounts of food like you do. ...Okay I am done venting! I really do like my job. I love having regulars come through my line just so they can talk to me. I love knowing that the sisters from New York are going to come together and use their coupons. And the cute older lady will wear her jean jumper with an American flag on it every Friday to grocery shop because one of the baggers mentioned he like it. I love the mom that comes a couple times a week with her little boy and they always use the little shopping cart we have for children. That is the fun part. The U-Scan...not so much!

4. Who are they going to get to replace Simon on American Idol? I guess it doesn't really matter since the show won't last with out him.

5. It is supposed to be hot tomorrow...I hate putting on make up and doing my hair and sweating it all off before I even get to church. Then walking in the bathroom after Sacrament meeting, looking in the mirror and not believing THAT is how you have looked for the past hour...

6. Is my brain empty enough to sleep yet?

7. Why do old hardwood floors squeak even more when you are trying to be quiet?

8. I am seriously going to to to Sonic this week and buy a bag of ice. They actually sell there ice. This sounds bad but we call it rabbit turd ice. You know that small ice that is so fun to just eat like a snack?

9. They have a bag of just the rye chips from those chex mix type snack stuff (it starts with a "g" I think-the brand I am talking about...)! That is totally the best part!

10. I wonder how old Jake will be when he is taller than me...

11. I hope I can go to sleep now that I have emptied my brain...

The Kitchen (some how this turned in to a long post..consider yourself warned!)

I really love Mom's (and Dad's-I know it is his too but it really is so my moms style!) kitchen. It is soooo pretty! I love that you feel the charm of the age of the house. They really knew how to make the most of space back then...How old is your house any way Mom? I am sure you will comment and answer that question! :)I love that Grampa Smith (Mom's father) come down from Vermont for a "vacation" and that he put the glass in the cabinets. It is perfect! I love that the window is over the sink and looks out to the "secret garden". I love thinking about how Jake took baths in that sink when he was a little guy! It is really just a cozy, warm kitchen.

It is kind of interesting because me and my mom are a lot a like, in a lot of ways-but our decorating styles are different. I LOVE the way she decorates and I think she likes the way I decorate too. Our homes growing up(I really only remember 2-Lebanon, New Hampshire and Charlotte-there where a couple of more but I was too little to remember!), were always comfortable and livable AND beautifully decorated. I think that is a hard balance, but I try to do the same thing. The funny part is that as different as our tastes are my things fit in Mom's house and match the wallpaper and paint very well! In the living room (you can't tell from the picture-the lighting wasn't great...sorry) her wall color is very close to the curtains and pillows I had in our house in Fletcher. My kitchen things match her wallpaper beautifully! What can I say-Great minds think a like! I love you Mom! We are so glad that while you and Dad are a way on your mission your beautiful home is our home. Even though you are across the country, it feels like you are right here with us. Taking care of your house for you was perfect timing for both of us....Enough of my rambling-here are the pictures to prove Mom's kitchen is gorgeous and my stuff looks pretty good in it! :)

I just love my Southern Living-Gail Pittman pitcher (a Christmas gift from Mom a couple of years ago), platter (got it free for hosting a part), and vase/pitcher (did you give me that too Mom?...did I get it as another hostess perk? I know I didn't pay for it...). How cute are the little shelves? See my garlic hanging? I roasted garlic for the first time a couple of weeks ago...don't know why I have never done it before. It was yummy.

...Yep. I actually took pictures...It just smelt so good-I needed a picture memory to remind me of the smell of first roasted garlic!

...And here is another one of it on another Southern Living ("Tuscan Tidbit" to be exact) plate. I had a couple of friends who sold "Southern Living At Home" and when they had a party and someone didn't take advantage of the cheap perks of ordering so much (if you order a certain amount of product you can add on things for CHEAP...I guess rich people don't need things for cheap so they would often not bother use the extra discount..), they would let me use the discount and add on things here and there. It is nice to know the right people...I knew a lot of them in Asheville...I need to find those kind of people here in the Charlotte area....


This is a wonderful cook book from the Junior League in Spartanburg. Good thing it is pretty enough to display too! Two of my favorite aunt's had the (...what would you call it-container? I'll go with ceramic container-that sounds better.) ceramic container made when Jake was born. I love it so much. What a great gift for a baby being born don't you think?! I love wooden spoons can you tell? I should have taken pictures of the cool spoons Papa Harmon (Aaron's dad) made me...I will have to save that for another post...

My beloved Southern Living serving bowl. I really LOVE it. Especially since I got it for free too, just for hosting a Southern Living party...It makes me love it even more, considering it was like $65 or something crazy like that!...And I love the glass containers filled with flour and sugar to make it look like I bake more than I really do...(I make rolls!). My sister gave me those when they left for Mexico...or Uruguay (it is pretty sad that you lived there for almost 3 years and I still had to use spell check because I couldn't remember how to spell it...I should have written you more...) and I love them. They are from Ikea. I love that store. Tina, you are back in the good old USA now...you don't want them back do you?...



My favorite view of the kitchen...sigh...Isn't it soooo pretty? Just in case you are wondering I don't usually leave my crock pot out. I am getting ready to cook a Big roast on low all night for dinner tomorrow (and to shred up and "food saver" it and put some in the freezer. Yes, I know that isn't correct grammar but I am sure by this point that is of no surprise to anyone reading this)...Yummy. I may even use that flour and make some rolls...Great I am going to make a mess again...

I cheated on Bi-Lo...

..I couldn't help it! Harris Teeter has TRIPLE COUPONS this week! Thanks to Elizabeth (you've seen her in pictures before), Pandora (one of my managers), and all the countless women who come into Bi-Lo with their binders of coupons, I have started "couponing". Have I mentioned that before? I can't remember since I have spent the last week catching up with the past almost 3 months...Any way I am really loving it! I even sold some online (Elizabeth posted them and I clipped them!)! Yes people buy them...It is crazy. I was so excited because this was my first experience with triple couponing (I know that isn't a word but it is on this blog...), and I did pretty good. I saved about $70 and got several things for free and even more for just a few cents. And yes of course I took pictures...Aaron just asked me if I was blogging about how messy the house is. Is that a hint or something?
This is my binder. Isn't is so pretty and organized? I found a Franklin Covey binder and organizer on sale over a year ago (the pages weren't dated) at Sam's Club for less than $20. The coupons under my phone are of the items I already found and I pulled the coupons to remind myself to use them. I am working on this being our home organization binder. It has a section (well it has some of this and I am working on the others...) for school, church, house work schedule,phone numbers, bills, taxes, etc. Basically if the house is burning down we will grab this and go.

These are just a few of the deals I got:
This rice was 4 cents.

This butter was free.

And so was this!

These bagel thins were 40 cents.

It is a great feeling getting such good deals on things you need anyway! I also got French's mustard for free, Bird's Eye Steam Fresh Bagged Veggies for 5o cents, whole wheat Ortega tortilla's for free, Some saffron rice for free, Scott's flushable wipes for free...Okay, I think you get the picture! It was awesome!