Belated Birthday Posting.....BIG TIme!!!

Wendy Lynn Whitman celebrated her 4oth birthday on November 28th, 2011. She was surrounded by family and dear friends....and of course yummy food. Some of the guests provided the refreshments for the occasion myself included.

Wendy is paralyzed from the waist down....she was born with Spina Bifida. Her grandmother has been her primary caregiver from birth. Mildred has been wonderful in taking awesome care of Wendy. Wendy and her family moved across the street from me when I was 2 years old. We have been friends ever since. There is no telling how many times I have walked across the street to her home......how many miles we have traveled around the "block" (we would go walking around the neighborhood all the time).....how many time we have ridden in the back of her granddaddy's truck to the ballpark.....how many time we have gone to the mall together.....how many times we have chatted on the phone! Of course, our spending time together has slowed down some. I am about 3 miles from her now, and I am married with kids. We still chat on the phone and buy each other birthday and Christmas presents.

The doctors did not think that Wendy would live past her teenage years......that just proves that they don't always know EVERYTHING only God does! I am so thankful that my oldest and dearest friend celebrated her 40th birthday, and it is my wish that she celebrates 40 more!

Uncle Roger turns the BIG 60

Taulbe's Uncle Roger turned the BIG 60 back in early December of 2011. I am playing catch-up! :) It was a surprise party at his oldest daughter's home. He was surrounded by family and a few close friends. Get out the fire hose!!!!

All the guest waiting on their arrival......

They are HERE.......total surprise! Roger and Lucy

Roger and his moma

The Barnett's ( Roger's sister's family....my family)

The Lewter's (Roger's sister's family)

His oldest daughter's family (that is Jewel's boyfriend)

Roger's middle child, Laurie's family

Roger's son's family .....missing the newest edition Sam because he was taking a nap

Fun was had by all......enjoyed a delicious meal and time with family on such a special occasion

Where have I been?????

Well, it has been many months now since my last posting. I may not have been bloggin' about myself, BUT I have been keepin' up with all of y'all. The past few months have been sooo busy for me. If you do not know it or not, I got pink-slipped last year for the education profession. I knew that my current job was just for one-year, BUT there is ALWAYS room for wishful thinkin'....RIGHT? I have been subbing this school year. Back in early October, I did a short leave in 2nd grade for a teacher at Rylee's school then back to regular subbing. In early Novemeber, I started a leave that lasted until December 21st. It was in Kindergarten. It was kicking my tail at first, but then I got the hang of it and totally LOVED IT!!!! It was at Rylee's school too. It is so nice to work at your child's school because you don't have to rely on anyone else to take or pick up your kids from school. Sometimes, it was a pain when I wanted to stay late after school. Of course, they were ready to come home! :)
The holidays were busy of course. I did not put up all 14 of my Christmas trees....only 11. Which made it alot easier when it came time to take everything down! About 2 wks before Christmas, Taulbe surprised me with a house-puppy!!!! NEVER in my WILDEST dreams would I think he would bring home a house-dog!!! He has ALWAYS been against it! Her name is Rosey Belle. She is a YorkiePoo. Now you know why I have been sooo busy......house training a puppy!

Auburn Wreath

Well, all you AU fans will appreciate this posting and all you thrifty/crafty ones will appreciate it too. I noticed this mesh wreathes on an Esty website going for about 75 bucks. Yeah, I wanted one but not for that price......thought to myself.......try makin' one!

Bought some wooden letters at Michael's for about 1.50 ea.....wanted bigger ones but oh well! Bought some paint. Already had the circle foam paint brush thingy.....got busy paintin'.

Bough the wide ribbon mesh last year during an after-Christmas sale. That saved me some $$$$! Used pipe-cleaners to attach the ribbon to wreath. As you can see, I used a grapevine wreath. Got it 1/2 price at Hobby Lobby....that saved me some $$$$!

Alternated the colors......

Hung by front door so EVERYONE can see my talent...hehe and say WAR EAGLE!

Pretty nifty for about 20 bucks compared to 75 bucks!

WAR EAGLE!!! WAR EAGLE!!!!

Botanical Gardens

Rylee's class went on a field trip to the local Botanical Gardens. Weather was perfect....little chilly in the morning, but it ended up being just right!

Beautiful gazebo the perfect setting for a garden wedding......

Perfect place for wedding photos....the Koi pond

Looking thru a waterfall

Rylee and I enjoying the day together~

Who you gonna call??? Ghostbusters!

Throughout the garden, there were scarecrows all of different sizes and types!~ Rylee posed with some of his fav!

Halloween Fun 2011

We started our Halloween festivities by having a school sponsored Fall Festival. The next day was Rylee's Halloween party at school. Had lots of yummy treats for the kiddos to eat, and they were allowed to wear their costumes to school on Friday. Sunday, we gathered our pumpkins and our Jack-o-Lantern carvin' tools and got to work!

Rylee and his vampire inspired Jack-O-Lantern.

We always get the boys a little something for each holiday......nothing too big. Rylee got the new Captain America DVD and the Thor DVD. Caleb got a Auburn banner that shows the different AU symbols throughout the years. Note to self~gotta hang that thang today!!!!

Where's the Zombie Skeleton???Kinda blends in the porch display, huh? Better not kill my scarecrow....he's part of the family! Been around since 1997!

Took Rylee 4-EVER to decide on a costume this year.....he is usually a superhero.....my baby is growing up! From superheroes to Zombie Skeleton! YIKES!!!

Talk about growing up, Caleb didn't even go Trick-or-Treating this year~ He stayed at home until it was time to hit the family homes.

Havin' a simple brother-to-brother or should I say Zombie-to-brother disagreement! hehe

The cousins at grandmoma's house: Noah, Caleb, Sarabeth, and Rylee.

Off with his head.....Rylee is really enjoying this whole Zombie experience!

Next stop, Aunt Di's house: Rylee, Haley, Presley (dog), and Caleb.

Talk about strikin' a pose.....Presley, Haley, Rylee, and Aunt Di.

The love birds: Josh and Haley







Well, Rylee got a boatload of candy this year......guess that means more chocolate candy for moma! Yippee!

Pumpkins, Bottles & Leaves equal a Tabletop Tuesday

I am joining Marty from A Stroll Thru Life for TableTop Tuesday. This is the area above my stove/oven in the kitchen. After we purchased our home in 2000, we removed the cabinet doors from this area and made a display area. Gotta have places to sit "stuff" right??? I have been collecting Longaberger Baskets for about 20 years. I have not purchased one in several years, but I still decorate with them. Did not realize how "off-centered/unbalanced" or how yucky this basket arrangement was until I saw it in a photo! Well, that's an easy fix! Anyways, the main focus is on the top shelf......

The heavy bronze plate was a steal at a local antique store for 1 buck! Just perfect for fall decor!

All of the old medicine bottles were found in our backyard while digging around. Makes you wonder what went on back there years ago.......Many years ago, there was an old house here before ours was built. Don't remember it but that is what we were told. I have lived in this area all of my life!

Various pumpkins from Wal-Mart and the Dollar Store

More medicine bottles from our yard, cute little squirrel (which we have All OVER our Yard!) and lovin' my new pottery jar from Hobby Lobby....note to self.....gotta get more of these in different shapes and colors!

Thanks for stopping by to check out my little nook of fall decor in the kitchen~ Be sure to check out all the other talented bloggers! Happy Fall Y'all~