Update on my life

So, obviously I've slacked off taking a picture every single day. I got busy and bored taking pictures of what seemed to be the same ting every day. BUT I do want to keep up this blog, so I will be posting from time to time with pictures and stories of what's going on in my life.

The best update is that I got the one thing I wanted for Christmas. My sister is going to have a baby!!!!! I told her a month ago that that was all I wanted is for her to get pregnant and they are! I couldn't be more ecstatic. Keri and Daniel came down Thursday night to have dinner with my dad and me. She nonchalantly gave us a Christmas card with a picture of the two of them on it. I didn't even read what the card said until Daniel (or Keri, I can't remember who said it) asked if I had read the card. So, I picked it up again and saw that it said "Seasons Greetings from the THREE of us!!!!! Love the Victorys" I squealed, I teared up, I jumped for joy, I did a little dance, I hugged a lot. And I haven't been able to stop grinning since then. Here's a picture we took that night. You know I will be taking pictures all the time now! I am so excited, IF you can't tell!!!

I'm so excited!!!!!
Grandpa and Keri. He's excited too!

Expectant parents to be!!!

Also, I thought I'd give you a little update on how my List of 30 Things to do before I turn 30 is going. So I'll tell you the ones I am working on or have accomplished so far.

Me and Keri after I sang at church. And 17 1/2 pounds thinner!

1. Live a healthy lifestyle and get to a healthy weight

So, I told you before that I joined Jenny Craig. I am definitely learning to live a healthier lifestyle. I've been doing really good too. Smaller portions, better choices, working out more. And I finally am seeing the results. I have lost a total of 17 1/2 pounds so far!!!!!!! I'm so excited. I'm making little mini goals for myself. My first one is 20 pounds by Christmas, so I have 2 1/2 left to lose. Then I'll make another mini goal.

2. Find a church to call my own

I can check this one off the list. I am now a proud member of Eastside Baptist Church. I love it there. Everyone is great and I'm really excited to be a part of it!

5. Learn to spend and save wisely

Still a work in progress, but with the economy the way it is, there really is no choice. I'm making a budget and doing a lot better about not spending on unnecessary things.

17. Become a better cook/take a cooking class

I haven't taken a class, but I have been trying different recipes for things and trying to cook more often.

18. Acquire more patience

When you work with kids, you can't help but have your patience tried. I have noticed that I am becoming more patient and understanding with the kids, which lets me be that way with adults too. Even when I don't want to. Still not ready to cross it off the list though.

22. Stand up for myself and others

I'd say I'm working on it. I'm definitely not letting people push me around.

23. Have more faith and believe in myself more

I am definitely working on this one. And I would say the best example is that I believed in myself enough to finally get up in front of a large crowd and sing.

29. Make new friends

Definitely making new friends this year at church and school and everywhere. Yay!

30. Do/try something I’ve never done/tried before

I sang in front of a large crowd. Definitely not something I've done before.

Finally an update

I'm finally updating! Lots has been happening in the past month! The biggest thing is that I decided to sign-up for Jenny Craig. It's probably the best decision I've ever made for myself! I'm learning how to eat healthier and make better choices about what I eat. After only 3 weeks, I've already lost 10 pounds!!!! I'm so excited. Yay! Thanks for all of the support you guys have been giving me! I love you all!

November 15, 2008

After cleaning all week, we had a bonfire and hayride at my house. It was so much fun! My family and friends came. Keri and I made our soup specialties (me - Chicken and Rice soup, Keri- Taco Soup). Everyone ate both down to the bottom! It was great! Perfect cold weather, warm bonfire, and yummy food!
Keri and Daniel on the hayride

Julie and her mom

Kelly, Val, me, and Julie on the hayride.

Kendall, Aunt Phyllis, Karly, Maggie, Emma, and Rusty on the hayride.

Chris and Annie on the hayride.

Karly and Maggie ready to go on the hayride

Emma trying not to smile.

Hmm! Mischevious!

Annie and Chris

Val, Granny, and Kelly

Val and Kelly

Daniel being the good husband and eatin his wife's soup instead of his sister-in-law's.

Sweet Karly

Maggie Moo

Keri holding Ellie. My attempt to spark her interest in maybe having one of her own!

Ellie smiling at us at my house.

A moth trying to suck nectar out of the one rose we still had blooming into the middle of November.

The moth was trying to get the nectar out of the flower. That thing was on that flower for at least an hour! That long black line was his tongue!

November 8, 2008

TTU had homecoming. My mom drove up with me for the parade and OPA lunch afterward. We had a really great time seeing everyone. I forgot what a beautiful campus Tech has. I do miss it and all the wonderful memories I have from there.

Nicki and Miss Bella

Andie and Ms. Georgia Peach

Nicki and Me

Mary and Me

Julie and Me

OPA Alumni sister.

My mom is drawn towards babies and they love her too. She befriended this cutie patootie, Bella, when we were at the OPA Alumni lunch.

Goodbye Jack

Jack ????-November 3, 2008

For most of my life, Jack has been here. My Granddaddy got him when he was just a puppy. No one really knows how old he was because we never could remember exactly when Granddaddy got him. But Jack was special to all of us. He would always great us at the driveway. He loved all of the grandkids, kids, Granny, and Granddaddy.

My Granddaddy loved Jack. Jack followed him everywhere around the farm. When Granddaddy sat in the swing, Jack lay at his feet under the tree. If he went out to the barn to check on the cows, Jack was there by his side. When my Granddaddy died ten years ago, Jack grieved too. He wouldn't eat much and he would be gone for days.

Jack was all puppy too. He chased cars, chased dogs, and loved to play with us in the yard. Over the past couple of years, all of it started to catch up with him. He started to not get around as well. He was deaf and mostly blind. Last year we thought we were going to lose him a couple of times, but he bounced back and started acting like a puppy again. He had a great summer. He followed us around everywhere we went, would greet us when we got to Granny's, and would lay under the same tree he used to with our Granddaddy if we sat in the swing.

But when the weather changed and it started to get colder, Jack's health just went down hill. He lost all movement of his hind legs and could long drag himself. It was sad. We all knew it was time for him to go, but it was still hard when I found out. I know to some people he was just a dog, but to me he was family. To me, it was like the last part of Granddaddy left. Jack was there for all of us growing up.

It will definitely be hard not to think about him when I'm at Granny's now. I still expect him to come running around the house to greet us at the barn. But now, I just imagine him sitting with Granddaddy under a tree watching all of us from a cloud. And that makes me smile.

I had a wonderful last week of fall break. I spent lots of time with my dogs, who, as you know are my children. And I spent lots of time with my friends catching up, playing cards, and just sharing stories, which is also always fun.

Fall is my absolute favorite time of year. I have really been happy to see all of the fall colors popping out everywhere. Maples are my favorite tree and we have a gorgeous red maple in my front yard I've enjoyed watching change colors.

My granny is wanting to replace the Senior pictures she has of all the grandkids (all 8 of us who have graduated) and replace them with family pictures because everyone (with the exception of yours truly) is past that chapter in their life meaning that they all have families of their own and are married, almost married, and/or have kids or almost have kids. I pointed out to my granny that I don't really have a new chapter of my life going on with a new family (except my two wonderful Dogters (haha, daughters). So she told me she would start getting everyone else's new family pictures when I gave her mine. She said I would have a man in my life soon, which I told her probably would be years and years from now if ever and I'm not going to make her wait on pictures if she thinks I have to have a family before she replaces every one elses. So, I decided I needed a new family picture (by family, I mean my dogs and myself).

Which brings me to the next couple of pictures. My love of the fall, coupled with my love of my dogs, and the need for a new family picture brought me, my dogs, my sis and my dad to my most favorite place to go in the whole world to take my family picture. My amazing sis did a great job getting the pictures and I absolutely love them.



Sophie hates to have her picture taken. They were very excited about the water.
Of course I love to have my picture taken! With my new hair trim
I almost dropped Sophie and in the process Keri captured the "Oops!" face I made.
Sydni loves to give me kissies!
My favorite! Perfect background, both of my girls are looking toward the camera and I am not in mind blink! I love it!

My dad had to feed my uncles donkeys this weekend and Keri and I went with him to help out and of course to see the new babies. This one is the newest edition to the group.And I just love these two! I love the colors of them.I also went to Julie's mom's house for her annual bonfire/weenie roast and I got to meet Ethan! He's such a cutie. I got to hold him for a good amount of time too. He was so cute because he was asleep the whole time I held him and he kept making little noises like he was in the middle of a dream. If you look you can see his super cute little/big hand by his cheek. I mean Adorable!!!

It was quite funny because one of the women there told me that I look like a natural. hahahaha. I said a natural aunt/babysitter/friend who likes to hold babies. Not a mom. Not anytime soon. I do want kids one day but definitely not soon. I wouldn't mind being an Aunt though! :-D

Have a great week!

My List

I know that I have 3 1/2 years until I turn 30, but I thought I'd go ahead and get started. I thought I'd make a list of things I would like to accomplish before I turn 30. It should be fun. If you want to help me with any of them or want to go on any of the trips I want to take, let me know! Here's my list!

30 Things to do before I turn 30

1. Live a healthy lifestyle and get to a healthy weight
2. Find a church to call my own
3. RUN a 5K
4. Fall in love
5. Learn to spend and save wisely
6. Get my own house
7. Have a picture/pictures published
8. Write a book
9. Win a competition
10. Travel the Mother Road/Route 66
11. Make my t-shirt quilt
12. Visit another country
13. Learn to speak Spanish
14. Learn sign language
15. Learn to play guitar
16. Visit 5 states I’ve never visited before
17. Become a better cook/take a cooking class
18. Acquire more patience
19. Pay off my student loans
20. Raise at least $5000 for good causes
21. Get tenured
22. Stand up for myself and others
23. Have more faith and believe in myself more
24. Inspire others—to do good; volunteer
25. Meet someone famous
26. Visit New England in the fall
27. Go skiing at stay at a ski lodge in Colorado
28. Sing the National Anthem at an event
29. Make new friends
30. Do/try something I’ve never done/tried before

Friday, October 10. I went shopping with my good friends Andrea and Nikki. We hit up Cool Springs and while we were there I finally spent my gift card to For Love 21 (part of Forever 21) and got the super awesome blue hat and the black rose feather headband. I figure I will wear them eventually. I love them!Saturday, October 11. I gave Sophie a haircut. She did really well, sitting there and letting me use my dad's clippers to shave her up. She even let me us the scissors to trim her face. She's such a pretty baby.My dad went to the White Bluff Main Street Fall Festival too. It was fun. They had some booths set up where you could buy stuff from and/or get snacks. They have band set up all around. It was so country and so fun. It kind of reminded me of the bazaar they have in Pollyanna. After the fall festival, I met up with my best fella friend on his way back through from a wedding. It was great catching up with him. We took two pictures. I like this one and
He likes this one, so I put up both.

Sunday, October 12. This is a common sight in our house. Sophie loves to give Sydni kisses.

Monday, October 13. I met up with Annie today for lunch at the best Mexican restaurant ever! Did a little shopping at the big ol' Wal-mart and then came home and tried on the different outfits I have for Sophie to wear for Halloween. Isn't she so cute? I can't decide which one I'll have her wear. I may take both and just change them out. I love this picture where she is actually looking at the camera. Such a cutie!

Finally Fall

Finally! I'm posting some pictures. There's not one from every day, but there are quite a few. I didn't put dates cause I can't remember them all. Ok, Enjoy!

On the 1st day of Fall, I told my kids you are supposed to be able to balance an egg on it's end. After we researched it, we found out that if you have enough patience you can do it any day of the year, whether it is on the equinox or not. When I was in college a group of us did stand eggs on their ends on the first day of Fall. So, my class decided to experiment. Now, the only eggs that I had were eggs that had been in my fridge since April. They are ripe! Well, we never could get the egg to stand on its end by itself, but there was a small crack in the floor that we were able to balance the egg in. They kids loved it too because we were able to trick some of the other teachers into thinking we really had stood the egg on it's end. It was great, they were so excited!
Daniel's Final race of the season. He is the blue blur at the back of the line. He came in 6th but finished 1st in the overall points standings for the season. Yay Daniel!!!
Tire marks that Daniel left after the most awesome burnout ever!
So, on my Granny's birthday (September 28th) she called to tell me that she had seen a new calf out in the pasture with our heifer Harley. We were quite surprised cause we were not expecting a calf to be born before December at the absolute earliest. After our birthday lunch, my dad, Daniel, Keri, Julie, and myself went calf hunting to check on it, find out what sex it was, and see if it was ok. It's a boy! We are either going to call it WJ or 83 in honor of my Granny and it being born on her birthday.
After Daniel found it in the field, my dad carried it closer to where its mom was.

So cute!!!One of the bees that has been frequenting my marigolds by the porch. I was VERY close to it. I took this before I went to the homecoming game for Dickson. Yay! just playing with the cameraRedneck Party at Laura and Chris' house. This was the turd toss using a Baby Ruth or something chocolatey nastiness that looked really gross when thrown into the old commode.Sweet baby Ellie. I love her.The end result of the turd toss. Quite disgusting, but very realistic

Patrons of the Redneck theme party.The hostess with the mostest, Mrs. Laura or should I say Billie Sue McCoyThumbs up for winning the official NASCAR cooler. Now I'm set for Bristol Baby!Nothing says redneck like a Monster Truck Rally Cake and....A Dale Jr. before he left D.E.I. and changed his car number to 88 cake.

I swear she looks EXACTLY like one of my neighbors.Drinking up some 'shine (aka Sprite on the rocks)Doggie mullet. Don't you think she looks like the hyena on The Lion King that is crazy?Wooooo! Dale Jr. is #1!!!!! Woooooo!AFter the party was over, the kids (big and small) decided to roll the front yard, and then immediately clean it up. I loved this pic of them doing this because this little one was REALLY into the pull your arm back and let it fly method.

Playing with the candle setting mode on my camera. OOooohh. Spooky. Gotta love long exposures for dark lighting.Baby girl! Super cutie. She was just a laughing and smiling. So cute.Mesmerized by the ceiling fan.Mom's big baby Zoe all snuggled up.

Maggie after I cut her hair on her face. She was pooped.Sophie, Lucy and Bindi, snoozing on the couch.The four amigas chillin' on Keri and Daniel's bed. I stayed at their house for a few days with my dogs, their dogs, my mom's dogs and my mom. It was fun!

Breakfast with Ms. Terra. Such a cute preggo!Nice afternoon sunlight in the fall. I couldn't resist being just a little bit narcissitic.The incredible Sophie!

She's slightly allergic to pictures. She always gets a case of the licks and looks away from the camera.Again, being narcissitic in the hammock.Sophie licks and looks away, but Sydni poses by rolling on her back every time I try to take her picture and she knows it.Sweetie pie Sophie. I was holding her, but she would not look in the camera.Surprise shot of Sydni and Radar. They didn't have a chance to lick or roll over.I love her!Pretty fall leaves on my red maple in the front yard.The tooth saga ended Today!!! I got my crown. I'm done! Finally! Yay! My smile is back.
Ok, just one more narcissitic picture.Really cool spiderweb on the fence.