#10 (From Facebook's 25 Random Things)

#10 I love my mother's cream corn

There are so many things that mother cooks that I love but one of my favorites is her cream corn. Some times we call it fried corn but either way it is so good. My nephew, Zach, and I can't get enough. Every time we get together as a family we are looking to see if she has made it. She has given me the recipe and I have made it a couple of times but it's still not as good as hers. It is a lot of work too. Cutting off all that corn takes time!
My mom made cream corn for our Easter dinner and I just had to take a picture to go along with my blog update. Doesn't it look good???!!! Look at all that butter around the side.... YUM! Mom, I'm requesting this for my birthday! I don't care what else we have, I just know that I want cream corn.

Some other favorites of my mom's cooking: Frozen cranberry salad, sauteed vegetables (the ones with cabbage), shrimp stroganoff, gumbo, seafood bisque, and so many more. Thanks mom for all the good cooking for all these years. It's nice to be able to "go home" and have good food.

#9 (From Facebook's 25 Random Things)

#9 I wanted to be a physical therapist

When I first went to college I didn't know what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. I don't think many college freshmen do. I knew that I loved science so I decided to claim Biology as my major. By the second semester with little thought, and probably less prayer, I decided that Physical Therapy was where I wanted to land. It was much easier way back then and I was very interested in it.

When I was in college I didn't study like I should have. I was more interested in the social scene. Philip says I was just looking for a husband. Well, maybe he was right! Anyway, I was not a good enough student to just study the night before a test. I needed to take time each day to study along the way. I didn't do that. I took Human Anatomy and Physiology my first semester, Sophomore year. I made a D. A big, fat D! I decided it wasn't for me. I wish so many times that I would have just started over. Taken it again and done better. Instead after a couple trys at different things I landed into Elementary Education. I did really well and went through my student teaching with flying colors but it was never wanted I really wanted to do. I'm so glad that I have a college degree to fall back on but I just wish some of the time that it had been physical therapy. I still would have been a stay at home mom but I think that I would have worked in the field for a few years and really enjoyed it. I probably would have even worked somewhere part time and loved it. Don't get me wrong, I love where I am in my life. Working part time for a really good friend and being home with the kids in the afternoons and when they need me other times. I just hope that when my kids get to college that they can remember the lesson that I learned! I will try to remind them often. :)

#8 (From Facebook's 25 Random Things)

#9 I love to be lazy.

Do you ever get a day when you can just stay in the bed with covers pulled all the way up and watch TV, movies or read? I don't get to do it much, but I love it when I get the chance. I had one of those days last weekend. It will probably be the last chance I have for a long while. Our soccer schedule is heating back up. But last Saturday for several hours, my family was busy with other things and I just watch 2 Lifetime movies and had a blast. It was beautiful weather so the kids were all playing outside and Philip was reading and watching other preachers preach. (I don't get that, but he loves it) Philip even cooked dinner so I wouldn't have to get up.

I don't have a picture of me being lazy because it doesn't happen often! I guess there is a reason for that. If I did it too much I would be worthless!

#7 (From Facebook's 25 Random Things)

#7 I had the same roommate all four years of college. (and we're still friends)

Stacey Norris Hight is my friend. She always will be. We didn't really start off as best friends. We met in high school, had yearbook staff together and became friends. When we, and all of our friends were talking about what college we wanted to go to, we both said MS College. After some thought, we decided to be roommates. I don't ever remember thinking about the fact that we didn't know each other all that well. We just got along great and seemed to naive to know any better. We went to college with boyfriends, quilts for our beds, and worried moms. It was a blast. We soon became inseparable. We did everything together, except classes. She was too smart for me! I rarely remember eating a meal at college without Stacey. She was there for me through about 100 boyfriends, failed tests, the death of my grandmother, sickness, lonely times, etc. We cried together, laughed together, made messes together, but never really fought. We always tried to wait the other one out to take the trash out. We could get it pretty high in the corner. I still do that today!
The summer that she went to Korea for summer missions was a long summer! I missed her terribly. Over the years in college we got closer and closer. Our summer before our senior year we had summer school classes together, we worked together and we spend the night at each others houses every night. I'm sure our parents were sick of us but we had a great time. It was a shocker to both of us when the summer ended and Philip came back from being in Bangladesh. You mean, we have to share our time????

Stacey was there for me the night I got engaged, in fact, she knew before me. She was very instrumental in Philip and I getting together in the first place. She helped me plan my wedding down to the last detail. After I got married we really didn't know how to be friends any more. We have talked about this alot so this is no shock to her. We grew apart some over the next few years but stayed in touch. Now that we are "all grown up" we are still friends. We don't get to spend as much time together as we want to and/or should but we know that we are there for the other one.

I have never had to pretend with Stacey. I can be myself with her. She takes me like I am. Good or bad...I feel the same way about her. She never has to pretend with me. She is always herself and can say whatever she wants to and know that I will still be her friend.

I hope she knows how much I admire her and think she's great. Thanks, Stacey for putting up with me for 4 years! You are a true friend. Love ya!

Shelby's 13th birthday

Shelby turned 13 this week! Oh my! She had a great day. We started celebrating early. We went shopping on Saturday for new bed covers for her. We found some really cute things but finally settled on this...

Isn't it cute. It goes really good in her room with the brown walls. She also found some rain boots that she has been wanting.

On her actual birthday my mom and I took her shopping for some clothes. My mom usually takes the kids shopping for new clothes and we found a lot. While we were gone the boys cleaned the house and made Shelby this sign that was hanging in the garage. I would have never thought they could be so thoughtful.

That night for dinner Shelby wanted flat iron steak, green beans and potato casserole. She asked for a cookie cake. It is the ugliest cake I have ever made. The icing just didn't do what I wanted it to do and I couldn't find the decorating tip that I needed. Oh well. It tasted good and Shelby enjoyed it.

She opened her presents after that. She got an over night bag to take to her friend's houses when she spends the night and she got a promise ring and new book. She had a great day!

I can't believe that she is 13! I remember when she was born like yesterday.

She was 3 1/2 weeks early. She was so blue and limp when she was born. It scared me to death. She came out face up. My doctor called that "sunny side up". I guess that effected her breathing at first. She was a pretty good baby, though. She adjusted to our crazy life right away. Brice really loved her and was a big help to me. He didn't like it when she cried. He would make sure he told her it was going to be alright. When she drooled, he would say, "Hers drippin' mama!"

#6 (From Facebook's 25 Random Things)

6. I'm scared of mascots or anyone dressed in a costume that doesn't talk

I can't stand these things. These costumes that some people think are cute scare me! I don't like it when they come near me because I can't see their face and I can't hear them talk. Once in college our mascot came up to me and gave me a hug at a football game. I knew the guy that was behind the mask but it still freaked me out. I'm still haunted by that experience.

I chose to show you the falcon and the jaguar because I belonged to the falcons in high school and now my kids belong to the jaguars. I'm not sure what it is about them that creeps me out but I would rather not be around them. We did go to Disney World when I was young, maybe something happened to me there that scared me for life. If so, I have erased it from my memory. I've tried not to share my fear with my kids. The same fear doesn't seem to effect them. Shelby did tell me that she was scared of clowns. It's the same in some way but clowns talk to you, make you laugh... What are you scared of????

# 5 (From Facebook's 25 Random Things)

# 5 I could eat a whole bag of Dove chocolate all by myself.

Have you ever had a Dove chocolate? If you haven't, you need to. It is so fine! I remember the first one that I had. It was about 6 years ago. I bought a bag around Valentine's Day. Of course, I opened it on the way home from Walley World. I had to open another one and another one.

I used to help in Brice's 3rd grade class each week. I took some to his teacher. I told her just put one in your mouth and let it melt. She went out the next day and bought a bag for herself. Just last week Sean, my boss, brought me some to put on my desk. Between me and Sean they were gone by Wednesday. I've been known to buy a bag and hide it after I share a few with the kids. I'll end up eating all the rest by myself. Not in the same day but probably within the week. I know it is so bad for me but oh, it's so good!!!

Don't you want to have a chocolate now????