Trying to Reason with a whole heck of lot of snow!

Good Morning.

Its snowing and it has been since about 4 am, with no stopping in site.  Forecast says until about 4 pm. 

 

We have all been up since 5:45, which is ridiculous. 

Have to teach the kids that you do not go outside with bare feet.

You would think they were raised in AZ or something.  That stuff is cold children.  Yes you have to put a jacket on.  No Rye you can not wear a cut off tshirt.  I don't care if you are hot.

Look , they even all posed for me........

But it didn't last long

They would rather have a snow fight

Me and Bear(the neighborhood) dog would rather watch from the porch.

Poor baby, the boys ganged up on her.

Then they gave up snow ball fights in favor of eating snow. Don't eat the yellow snow!!!!!

and making snow angels

and making art

Happy snow day everybody.....

I will leave you with this cool fact brought to you by the Weather Channel.  If it snows in Florida....this will be the first time all 50 states have snow......pretty cool. 

Thursday 13....

Here you go, I am not very creative with my T-13 post today so I give you 13 random things from my day.
And here is your link to go check out the T-13 website.  Linky

1. Its 9:53pm and the house is asleep.  I am blogging in bed while J sleeps. 

I absolutely love webcams.  He would kill me if he knew I just took a pic of him sleeping.  shhhh.......

2. Just got a voice recording from the school.  Looks like there is No school tomorrow.  Great.  This better be one heck of a snowstorm! 

3. Mardi Gras may be cancelled......hopefully just postponed.  If all this snow everyone is talking about comes then I may not be able to leave until Saturday.

4.  I was totally introduced to this awesome place in Selma, AL.  Technically yesterday.  Its this little market store that has the most amazing meat.  Like chicken wrapped in bacon, porkchops, steaks, seafood.  J cooked some tonight.....and it was awesome! 

5.  While we were at Marks Market yesterday I got some interesting looking wine.  Their wine selection was out of this world.  I could have stayed in there all day.  Kylene and I are definetly making a trip back.  Here is what I got. 

Big Tatoo Red- I got this California Red because....well because I love tatoos and see that Fleur de lis......thats my next tat!

The Other- Okay this wine looks sinfully good.  It is 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40%  Merlot, and 10% Syrah.  Hello yes.

The Red Guitar- This was J's pick.....a nice Spanish Red.

6. I totally finished my paper on the Odyssey.  Its good too and it only took me.......8 hours to finish it.  It ended up being a 4 page essay.....I think I am an overachiever.

7. The house looks like St. Valentine threw up all over it.  There are cards, balloons, and candy everywhere.  The day is not even here and the kids have had so much already.  Its pretty sweet though.....but I got to get the candy out of the house! 

8. Got my book yesterday.....I heart it.

9. J is logging close to the house lately.....this week he is across the street.  So he came and got the kids and let them see what he does...of course the boys took off to grandma's house but K......she took off in the woods with J.....she had her camera too (this girl is so good)

10. K got in her Kindergarten graduation pics....Love them....and really glad that since we have to go through this ridiculous ritual again....at least she did not have another white robe picture like she had last year for her preschool graduation.  Why are we going over the top with all these graduations? 

Not sure why this pic looks all distorted....I like A.

11. J and I had a long ride back from Auburn last night and we got on the subject of Ray Stevens which led to the subject of Jerry Clower.  I told him how old Jerry was all my dad used to listen to and we were talking about how funny it was. So tonight we got online and listen to a bunch of his skits on youtube.  As well as Ray Stevens and even so Lewis Grizzard.  If you have never heard of any of these men.....do yourself a favor listen, your funny bone will be thankful......Laughter-its good for the soul. 

Ray Stevens

Its me again Margret.....are you Naked!!!!  Watch this one and the Mississippi Squirrel

Jerry Clower

This is the guy I know best......Thanks dad . 

We also listened to some Lewis Grizzard.  Which is absolutely hilarious. 

12. In 1 hour it is supposed to start snowing.  I don't hear anything yet.  I wonder if all those people who ran to the store to get milk and bread will be dissapointed.  I did not go to the store.  I figure we can live on Valentines' candy, soda, and if things get really wild I got my wine.

13. It took me exactly 1 hour to write this post.... I don't have much else.....so I am going to call it a night. Put down the laptop and curl up next to my man.  Night Night.

Oh it had better snow

I am not willing to miss Mardi Gras for nothing! It better snow. Though the forcast does not look good. Schools are closing. Roads are closing. Its sleeting in Mobile. WahHHHHHH! Well if I am going to miss moonpies I better be able to make a snowman. All Im saying is all Im saying.

keeping with Valentine's week

I am watching O brother where art thou for an essay. Technically I am reading the Odessesy and comparing the two. I have not see this movie in forever, but this is my favorite part.



go to sleep little babe
go to sleep little babe

your momma's gone away and your daddy's gonna stay
didn't leave nobody but the baby

go to sleep little babe
go to sleep little babe

everybody's gone in the cotton and the corn
didn't leave nobody but the baby

you're a sweet little babe
you're a sweet little babe

honey in the rock and the sugar don't stop
gonna bring a bottle to the baby

don't you weep pretty babe
don't you weep pretty babe

she's long gone with her red shoes on
gonna need another loving babe

go to sleep little babe
go to sleep little babe

you and me and the devil makes three
don't need no other lovin' babe

go to sleep little babe
go to sleep little babe

come lay bones on the alabaster stones
and be my everlovin baby


Those sirens(bewitching, fascinating, alluring women)........"they loved him up and turned him into a horney toad!"

Yep guys....thats exactly what we do! Beware! We just lure you in with our beauty and charms......turn you in to a (horny) toad. Not that you needed us to make you horny. A dryer could make you horny. Then when you are head over heels we pull the plug. We start nagging, yelling, and demanding. We get PMS. We tell you to do your own damn laundry. Forget it if you are Horny!

Yet.....we still expect you to get us something for Valentine's Day.

Hmmmm.......I don't really like this scenario. Ladies this is not a good quality to have.

Go give kisses right now to that man. Call him and tell him you love him. Write him a note on the mirror.......

Okay , thats enough.....Bry is back....Scared you there for a minute right?

hello from Books-a-million

Sitting in Auburn at BAM, got the whole day to kill while J takes a Logging course he has gotta take. I am guessing is kinda redundant for someone who has been in the business for ...well forever.  I ate a blueberry muffin. Drank a rasberry white chocolate mocha.  Read 4 pages of Homer's Odessey. Watched 11 kids eat rice krispie treats and drink milk(I am guessing a field trip). Gave up on the Odessey contemplated on paying a ridiculous 5$ for Wifi, when lo and behold(yes I just said that) Verizon finally kicked in and I have my own damn wireless connection.  Screw you BAM.  Now what.  I have only killed.  1 hour 48 .....49 minutes.    Apparently I can be easily amused.  I dig the webcam.  Yet there is only so many pics you can take of yourself sitting at Joe Muggs.  Lets see what else do I got.....Oh yeah, going to get a few new books while I am here.  Happiness Project definetly being one of them.  Stoked about that one.  Okay, I am reaching here.  I need more caffeine.....maybe just sleep.  That 4:00am wake up call came early.  I am totally brain dead.  Which is totally my excuse for not being able to read the Odessey.  I'll write more later.  Totally have a video to post.  No, its not me at Joe Mugs. 

Horse Drama.....hee hee

I got to watch this today.

  Got a text.....Come hop in the truck and join me.  Mmmmm, okay.  Of course bring my camera.  Its freezing....but I like the view.  And the babies loved the hay.  I love watching them follow J around.....probably just the hay. 

Look at those ears.  I love horse foreheads and ears. 

The white one(don't you love how horse educated I am) is Houston's horse Snowflake.....she is prego and  baby is coming in May or June.  The brown and white horse is Silver(heigh ho Silver).  He is the dad.  Turns out he is a two timing, no good.....Just kidding, but he did knock up this yellow horse too.  This  is Butter, J's horse.  Butter is due in May or June too.......Which means he was sleeping with two women at the same time. Men....er Stud.   

Ah , yes just another day here on the farm.  In the country.  In lower Alabama baby.  We even got a soap opera. Or horse opera......Why do they call it Soap Opera anyway? 

The making of Valentines................

Saturday K. and I got out the cricut, the scrapbook paper, and the glue.  She practically fell to her knees beggining and whining for me to make them with her right then!!!!  Not practically, technically she threw a big fat fit until I threw down what I was doing and did them.  We made it 5 minutes.  5 minutes of cutting and pasting....with a little to much glue(see thee curling cards)

and she was completely done.  Stating it was time for her to get into the bathtub with her bathing suit on!  Hello.  No.  I ignored her.  Contrary to my earlier post about making your own Valentines.....this would have been so much easier to just buy them.  No, I am sorry I should not have said that.  I patiently finished the cards.  Cleaned up the mess and ran the bath water.  The next day of course K. had to start signing her names.  And last night she finished writing her friends names.  Tonight we stuff envelopes and add the blow pops.  This is just a multi step process.  They are darn cute though if I do say so myself.  We even mailed a bunch out.  Which I think is pretty good.  I am not usually this ahead of the game with holidays. V day is one I kinda despise too.  This will be mine and J's first Valentines Day ever.  I told him I will call him from

Mardi Gras.  He said I will tell you "I love you" .  I said works for me!  Glad we are on the same page.  No gushy love stuff for me.  All though some lucky person may get some "love" from me......Gotta do what you gotta do to get those beads dear. (kidding.....mostly)

We are working on her writing.  K's teacher said it was pretty bad.  I said she was like me......"Its not that she is not capable of it, she just doesnt care." The teacher laughed.(kinda).  Chicken Scratch and its an art form. 

  

Hello

Relay for Life

This year, I am helping save lives from cancer by taking part in the American Cancer Society Relay For Life®, and I’m hoping you will support me.



The American Cancer Society Relay For Life® is a life-changing event that gives people in communities across the globe a chance to celebrate the lives of people who have battled cancer, remember loved ones lost, and fight back against the disease. At Relay, teams of people camp out at a local high school, park, or fairground and take turns walking or running around a track or path. Each team is asked to have a representative on the track at all times during the event. Because cancer never sleeps, Relays are overnight events up to 24 hours in length.


In addition to helping people celebrate, remember, and fight back, Relay For Life® also helps raise much-needed funds and awareness to help the American Cancer Society save lives from cancer.


Please support me in my efforts by visiting my personal web page to make a secure, tax-deductible online donation.


Every donation really does make a difference. I know that times are tighter than normal for many of us, but any amount you can give truly can help save lives.


You see, thanks to your support, the American Cancer Society can:
•Help people stay well by helping them take steps to prevent cancer or detect it early, when it’s most treatable


•Help people get well by being in their corner around the clock to guide them through every step of their cancer experience


•Find cures by funding groundbreaking research that helps us understand cancer’s causes, determine how best to prevent it, and discover new ways to cure it


•Fight back by working with lawmakers to pass laws to defeat cancer and rally communities worldwide to join the fight


Each of us has our own reasons for caring about the fight against cancer … whatever your reasons, I hope you’ll choose to make a difference by making a donation online to support my efforts. I’m so grateful to have people like you in my life who want to see an end to cancer in our lifetime. Together we can save lives.


Thank you and I will keep you updated on my progress.


To learn more about Relay For Life®, please visit RelayForLife.org.


Hey guys!  I am participating in the Relay for Life this year.  The team I am involved with is in support of Ella, Josh's niece. 
To read about Ella, check out her page here.......  ELLA'S HOPE
If you would like to Donate  check out my Relay for Life page ..........   HERE
There is also a badge on my facebook page here......... Bry's Facebook

new math

family

Yeah......This is us.....     :)   Ahhhhhh , the other stuff.....Good thing Love is on top

Catching up on the weekend.......

Where do my weekends go?  J. was off for 4 days because of the rain and yet we spent hardly any of it together and I am not sure what I did.  We had 1 or 2 kids spending the night somewhere else at least one night of it.  I think they really enjoyed not having to travel anywhere.  They could just do whatever.  Except for the blasted cold weather.....Sick of it. Saturday I got to do this.....a new toy Sig Sauer 22 ......for practicing my tomb raider, assassin skills....Or for when that WILD animal comes into the yard......ha(thats an inside joke)

Don't you think I have great form? Grunt.........ha! Thats okay....the Pepsi can is dead. 

Okay....Never thought in a million years that I would get into shooting.  But something just happens when you start shooting!  Its a total turn on....and forget it if you actually hit the target.  I hit the Pepsi can like 4 times and I was HOOKED.  Watch out Lara Croft.  I could do this all day.  Need some earplugs though.......because thanks to my psychology class I know that the ringing in my ears is because I have damaged the hair folicles inside my eardrums......damn. I do like it babe......but I am not wearing it strapped to my leg while I run (no matter how sexy that might be)  Lets see......Oh yes I cooked. I got in one of those baking moods.  You know the ones you get....No? Well Ky was having a superbowl get together.  So I got bake happy.  And a mean craving for Chinese Chicken Salad.  Thankyou Lolo for getting me hooked on this so long ago!  So I will leave some recipes today.

Chinese Chicken Salad

Ingredients: 1 head of Cabbage, Coleslaw dressing(I buy this already made), ramen noodles, 2 Cans of tysons chicken

Shred cabbage(I like my leafy, not shredded line coleslaw), Add in chicken,  stir in enough dressing to cover but not make it too wet, add salt and pepper to taste, Sprinkle top with ramen noodles. 

Optional: Add almonds and baconbits.  Yummy.

2nd option: add mandrin oranges.....Which I do not like but that is what the original calls for. 

3rd. option:  Add in seasoning packet from ramen noodles. 

Now I know I have varied from Laura's original recipe......maybe she will chime in here and set me straight!!!! 

Chewy Chocolate Chip Granola Bars

Ingredients

4 1/2 cups rolled oats
1 cup all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

2/3 cup butter, softened

1/2 cup honey

1/3 cup packed brown sugar

2 cups miniature semisweet chocolate chips

Directions

1.Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Lightly grease one 9x13 inch pan.

2.In a large mixing bowl combine the oats, flour, baking soda, vanilla, butter or margarine, honey and brown sugar. Stir in the 2 cups assorted chocolate chips, raisins, nuts etc.

3.Lightly press mixture into the prepared pan. Bake at 325 degrees F (165 degrees C) for 18 to 22 minutes or until golden brown. Let cool for 10 minutes then cut into bars. Let bars cool completely in pan before removing or serving.

Options:  I think through trial and error some extra honey or perhaps a mashed banana would make these a little better.  They are good but came out a tiny bit to dry.  Still good though.  I also took some and drizzled the top with bakers chocolate.  (almond bark)

A note on Almond Bark:  I have been using this for years so we are friends.  But here are some tips.  Always heat on med.  Stir constantly.  Do not have water in hands, in pot, or on fork or spoon you are using to stir.  I like a fork because it makes cool stripes when you drizzle. 

See......I made pretzels too.

It looks cooler to make white stripes as well.  But I just had dark chocolate.  Now to make these you simply lay pretzels out on wax paper.  Melt Almond Bark(whatever color you decide)  You can also use those colord Wilton Candy disks. Drizzle with fork......You can dunk and cover completely but a little too sweet for me. J got in on the action as well.....The things that entertain.......

Think he is getting used to my picture taking.

I also made Chocolate no bake cookies.  Which happen to be my favorite cookies in the whole world!!!

Chocolate PB Oatmeal No Bake Cookies

Ingredients

2 cups white sugar

1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

1/2 cup milk

1/2 cup margarine

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/2 cup chunky peanut butter

3 cups quick cooking oats

Directions

1.In a saucepan over medium heat, combine the sugar, cocoa, milk and margarine. Bring to a boil, stirring occasionally. Boil for 1 minute, then remove from heat and stir in the vanilla, peanut butter and oats.

2.Drop by rounded spoonfuls onto waxed paper. Allow cookies to cool for at least 1 hour. Store in an airtight container.

Dear friends please heed the boil for 1 minute direction.  set a timer.  Do not go over the timer.  They will not set!  I set my oven timer as soon as I see boiling.  Also sometimes the humidity gets these. 

Okay enough cooking....Its not the holidays anymore.  I have gotten to carried away!  My waiste line can not handle this!

So back to Monday......Lots to do this week.  Lots.  Its Mardi Gras Yall!  No I can't do it.  You guys.  Ky and I set sail on our float to Mobile Friday.  Totally Ecstatic. 

Its a simple life

I had a few things to blog about this week.  Moments of clarity that I really could have expanded on........but I did not write them down and they are gone.  Darn it.  Because!!!  I am so bored.  Its a combination of things really.  All of this rain.  I am sick to death of wet shoes and the bottom of my pants being soaked, my hair in a pony tail and mud everywhere!!!  There is nothing much to do but stay inside.  So with all this rain I have not been working out and as much as I could do a video inside I loathe the thought.  Schoolwork is pretty much caught up except for this paper I am procrastinating on.  Procrastination is an art.   In fact it has been so quiet around here I found myself sitting in front of the oven watching cookies bake.  Have you ever done this?  I believe it may have lowered my blood pressure to almost stopping.   

I know, I know......I am pathetic.  I am itching to get out of town. You know me.....go go go.  Mardi Gras is next weekend.  Kylene and i are headed to Mobile for a great time and we both need it!!!!  We sat out on the front porch last night enjoying some Chardonnay and talking about the trip.  I tell you there are days I would not make it here in the deep south if I did not have her!  She is definetly my saving grace and I am glad to be hers too.  Believe me there are days I don't know what I am doing or how my life got here. I have to believe that there is a purpose under the sun(errr....rain) that puts us in the path of others.  Its the only way I can explain all the crazy mishaps that have occured throughout my wild existence.  I definetly believe she is part of my plan....even if it is to help keep each others sanity. 

So no big plans this weekend.  Kids are all here, the weather is not great.  Windy, Wet, Cold.....but the sun is shining. The boys are back and forth consumed with basketball or video games.   I let K stay at Kylene's so at least two little girls are having a fun time.  I have some scheduled fun time with her this afternoon in the way of making Valentines.   Here is my public service announcement.  MAKE YOUR OWN VALENTINES!!  Please do not go and buy prepackaged , perforated, pathetic valentines from Walmart.  Stop the insanity!  Sorry.  Yes, In a pinch I have bought them too but seriously people we need to get back to the lost art of Valentines.  Construction paper, lace, glitter.  Go forth and craft!  I am actually excited about it. 

I was reading over at The Happiness Project.......and found this really interesting. 

Read Here      

Tips on cheering yourself  up everyday.  Here are my favorite ones of the list she provided.

1. Live as well as you dare.

3. Amusing books

5. Be as busy as you can.

6. See as much as you can of those friends who respect and like you.

17. Don’t be too severe upon yourself, or underrate yourself, but do yourself justice.

Read all the rest for yourself.  Very interesting that these were written over 200  years ago. 

I think I will add my own. 

Here are things that cheer me up. I will keep this list for things I can do on a daily basis.

1. A good grade on a test that I studied hard for.

2. A good bottle of wine. 

3. A good song on the radio that I can sing at the top of my lungs.....added bonus is when my kids chime in.

4. My house being clean and all the laundry washed AND put away. 

5. The sound of my percolator in the morning. 

6. Mika (how can you not be cheered by Mika?) If you do not know what Mika is.....here

and here

See are you not just cheered? I am.

7. Crawling in bed at the end of a long time to snuggle and watch tv....which directly leads me to #8

8.  Not sleeping alone anymore.

9. A night where my kids don't fuss and wine and cry.....One can only wish.

10. This quote........When love is not madness it is not love

11. A new book.....especially with Vampires.

12.  Playing magic tricks or in this case ribbon tricks with the kids.......This is J's amusement....it completely cracks me up

13. J coming home and telling me to get in the truck and check out the new tires......

14. Hanging with Kylene in the morning with coffee......

15. The sound of J coming home.......and on that note......gotta go!

 

It all comes back to the coffee......

Its been a rough week though.  Monday just sucked and was Monday all day long if you know what I mean.  I mentioned that I would like to go to bed and get up and start the day over.  Well a friend told me you never start a Monday over, a Saturday maybe......never a Monday.  Okay thats true.  Yet, I hate feeling like I lost a day. Here it is and I have no one to blame but myself.  

• No creamer for coffee.....So I did not make any.  I don't do mornings without coffee.  I just don't.
• Why no creamer?  Well I never actually managed to make it to the grocery store over the weekend.
• Studied all morning for a test.  Litterally had to prop my eyelids open and down asprin to stay awake.....because of lack of coffee....and a headache.....again......lack of coffee.
• Took said test did well but passed out by 10 am.  This is not something I do......coffee.
• I was asleep for about 45 minutes.......got up to go to grocery store and looked at my phone.  There was 7 missed calls and 4 texts.  How is it I don't get a dang text or call all day and the second I close my eyes........It blows up!
• Phone call......Where are you???? ........uh home.......What the heck are you doing?........Well I was studying and I must have dozed off.........Well get up to the school and take K.K. clothes!........uh ok.  Really that was what the blow up was all about.  There was a small mishap when a couple of kindergardeners were told to wait to go to the bathroom..........I don't think you should ever tell them to wait!!!
• Run clothes to school, run by Kylene's house to bitch.........Everyone needs a good bitch session....Don't you think?
• Look at clock......there is no way I can make it to grocery store, shop , get them home and unpacked before picking up kids!  Damn.  Okay....well study until its time to pick them up.  How bad could it be to take them with me?
• I was wrong.  Pick kids up from school.  Go to grocery store.  I swear 2 hours later I emerged with a basket full of groceries.....Heck of alot more boxes of cereal them I needed.  1 to many toothpastes tubes(because they all want their kind), and still managed to forget a few things on my list. 
• I managed to make it home, unload the truck, put up groceries, and start dinner by 7pm. 
• Exhausted I went to bed...............

Tuesday was definetly better in the fact that at least I started my day with coffee, but because of my procrastination and piss poor time management skills......I had to start and end the day with Psychology. I studied over a hundred pages yesterday and by 7:30......I was ready to take the test.  I came out with a 92 but still I never want to do that again.  Yesterday was bad in the fact that J's family had a medical emergency which I am not going to disclose on.  So the whole family was at the hospitol.  So it was a stressful, wait by the telephone kind of day.  By the end of the day I was exhausted and so was J.  I am pulling for Wednesday.  Wednesday has got to be better.  Of course I am so exhausted I just want to fall into bed.  There are no creative juices in my head and I might barely muster up enough energy to sweep the kitchen floor today.  Might. 

See........I totally ramble.....I am getting more coffee.......

Totally stepping out of my comfort zone.

I am entering a blog contest! Its from The Colors Magazine.  A great blog about Life, Love, and everything in between.  I am really enjoying reading over there.   Check it out HERE  !! My intentions with this contest is to become a better writer.  I truly love to write which is something I do not tell alot of people about. Especially not in my everyday life.  I am not a closet blogger or anything I just do it for myself when I think of anything to write about.  Sometimes I have deep meaningful posts....sometimes I ramble.  So here I am stepping out on a ledge and trying to put it out there.