Kid's Are SO Funny!

Cade has had us all rolling in our seats laughing this week with a couple of things that he has said....Had to share...(this one is mostly for the family-so bear with me)

Cade and Macey come skipping to the car in the pick up line....Everyone gets in, and the talking begins....I sometimes can't even hear myself think due to all of the chit chat going on in the van...This was a particular conversation that went on this week...

"Macey?" Cade said to his sis...

"What Cade..."She answered...

"I got a library book today, and this is it(showing it to her-something with a dragon on the front). Now my teacher taught us about books today...so is this book fictionary or unfictionary?" Cade asked Macey proud of his knowledge....

Macey handled the question very well...She does have a very good bit of tact..."Do you mean fiction or non-fiction?"

Cade answered very frustrated,"That is WHAT I SAID!"

We were all cracking up...He is too much sometimes...

Another one on Cade...Once again, he is sharing his knowledge that he has learned in school with us...

"Mommy, I know what the center of your eyeball is called....Do you?" He asked me...

"No, Cade, I don't know...What is it?" I asked him...wanting him to share with me what he has learned today.....

"A Pimple!!! It gets bigger in the dark, and smaller in the light!!" He said proudly...

No tactfulness here...We all cracked up...I love that little guys...We did correct him, and let him know that he meant to say, a pupil....and he didn't argue with us this time...

Gotta love the things they come up with sometime....Have a great weekend....

Blessed

Being a night shift worker, means lack of sleep, constant tiredness, naps in the afternoon, feeling blah all the time...But I do what I do for a reason. I used to work 12 hour days, and I felt as if I missed so much of my kids lives. You leave for work before they get up, and get home when it is bedtime-so I made the choice to change to nights about 7 years ago. I didn't realize it has been that long, until just now. Wow. But, now the kids don't even realize that I am gone. I am gone when they are sleeping, and they have their daddy to take care of them. Works great. When I complain about my job, and working "at night, when normal people are sleeping", I just think about the ballgames that I haven't had to miss, the plays, the school programs, the class parties, picking the kids up if they are sick from school....Yes, I may be sleep deprived sometimes, but the blessing of getting to BE with my kids is worth it. Here are a few thoughts about my kiddo's-a little sentimental today...must be this weather....

Ian is so mature for his age. I see it. Everyone may not, because yes, he still is 11. He worries about me and James. He wants us to be proud of him. He cares what we think about his friends and girlfriends (I know, Ian-couldn't help it) He has a big group of friends, and he loves to hang out with them. They all get along better than any group of boys I have ever seen... He loves sports, and dreams of playing football professionally. He has struggled so hard with school over the past few years, and has finally "got it" this year. He loves middle school, and is doing better than he ever has in school. He is a young man. I love him so much.

Macey, my only girl...A little fiesty, loves to read, loves to talk, and has a little bit of drama going on in just about everything she does....=) She is a beautiful girl, who loves to read. I mean, more than anyone I know. She has a book in her hands at all times. Wal-mart, ball games, bed, car, everywhere. She even made the comment yesterday that she thinks she has read all of the books in the school library. That wouldn't surprise me. Macey is very independant. She doesn't have a lot of friends, a few good ones, but that is it. She dreams big. Always has. The reason for our 6 week trip to New York City coming up this summer. She has signed 2 modeling contracts, and we are Super excited about this trip. I am so proud of her. Growing up before my eyes. Love you Macey.

Cade is growing up so very fast. We were sitting in the den last night while he was working on his writing assignment. I love that. Writing has always been an outlet for me. I have a bookshelf full of journals that I filled up in middle and high school, of all of my thoughts and feelings....Reading through those sure is comical now...Anyway, just looking at his hand holding a pencil amazed me. Seems like only a few weeks ago, that he was a tiny little baby, and we all were wanting to hold him, and he carried his little "night, night" with him. Now, he is writing a story. Capitalization. Punctuation. Characters. Dialogue. He had a little check off list, and all of these things needed to be in his "story". I was impressed. He ceases to amaze me every day. I love this time in my life, where my kids need me, love us, and come to us for everything. I know that this won't last forever, but for now-I want to be content-with the blessings God has given me.

And even though sometimes my job doesn't seem like a blessing...I think God knows what we need as a family. He knows that I need to be here for my children. I am glad that God doesn't always give us what "we" want. Because I believe that he wants what is best for us. So, if you hear me complaining about my job again....which I am sure I will do.....remind me of the Blessing from God that I have been given...my job...so I can spend time with the best blessings ever-My Family!

A Few Random Thoughts

I have quite a few things running around in my mind...so thought I would do a little "random things" post....So, here goes....

I love Family Fun magazine...and as I was reading it yesterday, and looking at all of the cute valentine ideas for my kiddos....realized...all of a sudden, that Ian won't be needing valentine's for school this year....Middle school kids don't "do" valentines....you know...So, I have three kids, but only get to be creative, and come up with 2 sets of valentines....kind of sad...what all of this really means to me, is Ian is growing up...fast....Another thing about Ian, he has really been wanting to become more independant lately...one of the things he has wanted to learn to do, is to cook...(Sounds great to me!!) So, since James and I have been on the South Beach Diet for 2 weeks this Sunday-There have been a lot of eggs consumed in the Allen household...My kids are loving all of this cooking that is going on...and Ian decided he wanted to learn to make his own scrambled eggs.....Sooooooo, James gave him an "egg-cracking, pan-spraying, cooking lesson", and he did a great job! Ian has cooked himself some eggs a couple of times already....He thinks he is the next Emeril!!! Who knows? You can be anything you want to be...Right? All you have to do is put your mind to it....That is what we try to teach our kids....(Not that Ian wants to be a chef, but you get the point...right?)

South Beach Diet....Yes...James and I have been doing Phase 1 of the diet for almost 2 weeks...For those of you who aren't familiar-Phase 1 exists of meat, veggies, low-fat cheese, eggs, peanuts, and sugar free jello(there are more options-but that pretty much sums it up)....We both felt pretty rough the first 3 days or so...but I am feeling much better now, and am pretty happy with my weight loss so far....7 pounds as of today...and James has lost 8, I think...So, we will continue on this journey...We are both looking forward to Phase 2, which begins on Monday, because we can begin adding in some carbs!!! Yippee!!! Cereal will have never tasted so good....

I am so happy to see the sunshine, and that the temperature is above 30!! I mean it would have been good to be above 15!!! I have realized, not that I didn't already know this-but this past week has helped me remember that I am NOT a cold weather girl...at all...I simply shut down...I don't want to go outside, don't want to leave the house, don't want to get out from under the fleece snowman blanket.....Here is a pic of it...to show that it really does exist...for those of you who have heard me mention it numerous times lately...Hee hee...So, to say that I am ready for spring-is an understatement...

I used to be a huge fan of the soap opera "Days of Our Lives"(hence the name of my blog; ), back in my college days...So, since I have been spending a lot more time in the house, under the fleece snowman blanket-I have caught a few episodes of it again...Hmmm..I am not quite so sure why I was such a fan of the show...It is on my tv right now, and they are currently performing CPR on a "dying" man, who by the way has died numerous times over the past few year, and it is just cracking me up...I just would hope that they wouldn't be the ones performing CPR on me, if a psycho-psychiatrist jabbed a lethal dose of muscle relaxer into my back, so my heart stopped beating...ok...you get the point....moving on....

Work is another sore subject for me...I feel so blah about my job...I know that I should be just thankful to have a job with our economy the way it is right now...and believe me, I am...but I would love to have some "normalcy" in our lives...I am so over working night shifts...but it works for our family...always feeling like a zombie, being tired...ect...I know that I can't "do anything" about this right now...but I SO want to...I have been praying about this for quite some time...so I know God has a plan for my life...I just have to wait on his timing...not mine...which is so much easier said than done...=)

Well, on that note...I guess this has been enough rambling....Gotta run out and do a few errands...It is back to work tonight for me...=( Have a good day...

Ice, Night Shifts, and More Ice

I haven't had the time to post about my most exciting experience coming home from work Sunday morning.....While at work on Saturday night, I was well aware of the weather situation. We had seen one motor vehicle accident after another come into the hospital, and continued to get updates on the number of incidents that were happening due to the weather....which was mostly ice...My co-worker even decided to walk out into the parking lot to check it out, and was stranded only a few feet away....I have to say that situation was quite funny. Every time she tried to move, her feet slid...she finally got back into the office...scooting her way along...Needless to say, that made me even more worried about getting back home...I considered staying at work for a few hours, until the roads had time to clear, but I also was finishing my second night shift in a row, with one more to go, and really wanted to get home....

So, after talking with James, and my dad, I had a plan on how to attempt my drive home...I got into my warm van, because I had let it warm up before I got in, and slowly put it in reverse....This was the beginning of one of the most stressful times I have ever had behind the wheel of a car....I made it through the parking lot okay, but when I pulled out onto the main road, cars were going 5mph, and every where I looked, cars were off the road-in ditches, upside down, completely turned around....Ugh...What was I doing? The girl who hates to drive in the rain, was going to attempt this dangerous treck home....Knowing that there was no possible way that if I got to the road to go to my house, would I be able to make it up the hill...I knew that there would be some walking go on...and of all nights, I chose to wear my Crocs...=) Not good planning for sure!

So, I attempted to get on the road that leads me home...No...A policeman was sitting there blocking it...So, I had to try another route....Turned the van around very carefully, and backtracked and attempted another way...Seemed to be going well...Driving very slowly...I had made quite a bit of progress, when I came upon a part of the road, known in our area, as Dead-Man's Curve....Ummmm, yes, I was a little nervous about this part of my journey...No worries...Another police car...yes...He too was blocking the road, and wasn't allowing anyone to pass through...All I wanted was to get home...and now, I am not sure how to even do that...unlesss, I park the ole' van somewhere, and take off hoofing it, in my crocs....hee hee....I called my "Navigator" a.k.a. James, and he told me to try one more way....

So, for the second time, turned the van around (not like this was the easiest thing in the world to do either!!) and started towards my third destination....This road was passable....Horrible!!, but passable.....Covered in ice...and cars going about 4-5 mph....all the while, noticing all of the cars that were in the ditch, ect around me...I prayed the entire time but, I pressed on, and after what seemed like an eternity, made it to the part of my drive home, that I had dreaded the most.....There are two ways to get to my house...one is a road that has a VERY steep hill...with no guard rails, and no where to "go" if sliding happened...so I was attempting to take the second way in...which meant I had to travel through a curvy, but flat road-that the people around here call "The Ridge"....

As I got closer to this part of the drive, it had gotten dark, due to the lack of street lights around me, and the farther this way I went...the worse the roads looked....I was driving very slowly, and then I noticed the car in front of me seemed to pulling off of the road to the left(across the oncoming lane of traffic-not that there was any)...Hmm...Wonder why they are doing that...Is there a wreck up ahead? Well, it didn't take me long to figure that out...because I started sliding across the road also...this was the worst feeling EVER..No control...I was only going about 3 mph, so I just simply slid all the way across the road, and into the grass-with about 10-11 other cars....Looks like I wasn't the only one in this predicament....A policeman was at the scene, and he walked up to my van, and told me to just pull it up in the grass a little more, and simply sit and wait until the salt trucks came by, and the roads were a little clearer, before attempting to go any further....Great! I am stuck on the side of the road, until who knows when...I was sleepy, tired, and had the beginning of a horrible headache....I called James, and let him know I was ok, but had slid off the road, along with a crowd of people...and would let him know when I tried to pull out....

Turned the car off, and simply sat there, listening to my praise music in the car....watching one car after another attempt to get through, and end up in the same situation that we were all in....5 minutes, 10 minutes, 20 minutes, 30 minutes passed, when I heard something...I looked in my rear view mirror and it was the salt truck...Thank the LORD!!! Once the salt truck passed, a few cars started to pull out of our little parking area on the side of the road...Watching them slide, and spin as the pulled out, I decided to wait a few more minutes before attempting it....

The car in front of me, was sort of in my way, so I walked up to her window, and talked to her a minute, and she ended up getting out, and making sure that I got out safely, by watching me get backed out onto the road...God amazes me by putting such nice people on the side of the road just for me!!!

Anyway, I made it the rest of the way...still going very slowly, still seeing cars off the road everywhere I looked....I got to the hill that goes up to my street...I thought to myself, if I could simply pull into the bottom of it, and park the van, I would walk from that point....So, I slowly turned in, and once again...the van slid completely sideways...crossways the road...Lovely...This close to home, and can't get the car parked....UGH! I had it in park, with the emergency break on and I was still sliding....I finally got the rear wheel into some grass, got a little traction, and was able to get it out of the road...Never was I so glad to put my feet onto the ground...

I called James and told him what I was doing, and where I was, and he came to meet me, to help me get my stuff in....Our entire road was a solid sheet of ice...He "skated" all the way to me...Crazy! When he opened the door of my house, I was so glad to be home....We shut the door, and locked out the cold-I hugged James, and told him thanks for praying for me, and talking me through it all...He is so good that way....

Never has it felt so good to crawl into bed, in my flannel sheets!!! A 7 minute drive home from work, turned into a two hour drive.....God's hand was on my car all the way home...So many people weren't as blessed as I was...I am so thankful, that I made it home safely, without a scratch on my car, or me...Thank you Lord....Sorry for the long post...but I had to put in all the details....=) I would have posted a pic...but obviously photographing the moments were not at the top of my agenda..Have a Blessed Week....

Uno, and a Miracle

Papaw got Cade a new game yesterday....Uno....and he loved it...He played against me, James, Macey and Ian....and actually won quite a few times! He loved playing...Of course, I had to take a few pics of the little guy.....Check out that thinking face.....Hmmmm....Laughing because he put down a draw 2 card on James...He loves to win...especially if he is playing against James.....Cracking me up....Macey working on her homework while the boys are playing.....such a good girl....=)I was watching the Today Show this morning, and the many amazing testimony's of the survivors of the flight that landed in the Hudson River.....I can't even imagine what a terrifying experience that had to be....But God had his hand on that plane. One of the ladies spoke of how that as the plane was going downward, that you could hear prayers going upward all over the plane. She said she was a born again Christian, and she knew that God took care of them all....Our God still works miracles every day....Right before our eyes...and there are still those who choose not to believe....Unbelievable....He is real. He is here. He is watching over us. He is taking care of us. This story is just another example to me of God's amazing love for us.....=)

Dissapointed....

I couldn't seem to come up with a "catchy" title for this post....so I just decided to title it...the way I feel....I know that I had posted a couple of times about the cute little house that James and I had made an offer on....Well, we found out today that it isn't going to happen....I had SO many ideas...and to own my own studio, is a dream to me...But, we had signed the contract pending financing....and to keep from writing one very boring post....It just wasn't meant to happen....It is very dissapointing. But I am sure that God has something better in our future....Just going to keep praying....

Let's go watch some American Idol...Might cheer me up...=)

We are headed to the Beach!!!

South Beach that is!! James and I started the South Beach Diet yesterday....We have now completed Day 2...and are doing good...I just thought I would blog about this....sort of as an accountability type of thing...No, I am not going to post my weight ect...I do plan on posting my weight loss....though...hopefully there will be plenty of that!!! =)

My motivation is our New York Trip....which is the month of June....For those of you who don't know, Macey signed a modeling contract, and we are going to be living in NYC this summer for 6 weeks....So exciting...but I want to be in shape when we get there...Lots of walking, and lots of auditions for Miss Macey...want to look and feel my best....This is going to be a much easier road, because James is doing it with me....So, I will try to update about my weight loss once a week...just for me...=)

Getting off of here...I am so excited that my favorite TV show is back on tonight!!! I am a BIG American Idol Junkie!!! and tonight is the Season Premiere....So, let's get off of the computer and spend some time with Simon, Paula and Randy!!!!!

Upward Basketball, Week One

Today was our first Saturday of the next eight weeks....of basketball ALL day long!!! With three kids playing...we felt like we were at the church the entire day...Cade played at 9am, Ian at 140, and Macey at 250....So, we didn't have much time to do anything else....This was Cade's first year to play Upward...So, I took a few more pics of him than the other two...He looked too cute in his uniform....Here is a shot of his team...The Tigers....James and I are helping our friend, Duffer coach....James and Cade....too cute... It isn't baseball, Cade...I think he forgot what sport he was playing...and decided to slide....=)Cade blocking and his good buddies, Jett and Blake with the ball....Cade taking the ball down the court....Me and my little guy....Duffer giving Cade his stars...( In Upward, you recieve a star for your award each week) Cade recieved most Christlike and Best Effort....Way to go Cade...Ian's game was next...Here is a few action pics of him...Yes, he is the one with the "big hair"...He normally has a buzz cut...high and tight to be exact, and wanted to let it grow out...I am ready for a trip to the barber shop....Not a fan of the haircut...at all....anyway...here is a few pics from his game...Stealing the ball....He shoots....He scores....=)And last but not least, Miss Macey's game...Macey played good today...She scored a goal, and really hustled on the court....

An awesome pass.....She is one of the shortest ones on the court...but she knows how to hold her own....Then we came home, and Macey's friend Alexis is spending the night with her...and we had our friends, the Hite's over for some pizza and Domino's....(our favorite game). Cade and Emmy playing on the gymnastics mat....They laughed and giggled the entire time they were playing...I love Miss Emmy....she is such a sweetheart!!! Love you Girl!!!I took this one of me and Christy myself...not too bad...I am letting my hair grow out, and thought it looked long in this pic...I have had short hair forever...so this is a big challenge for me....I will probably only grow it out simply to cut it....but we will see....

We had a good, but busy day....Love spending time with friends, and love watching my kids play sports...Well, I am tired, and am going to hit the sack....Hope everyone has a blessed Sunday tomorrow....Good Night....

I Can See Clearly Now

Well, it is not normal for me to post 2 times in one day...but I worked nights last night...and when I got up a little while ago-I opened the curtains...and what to my wondering eyes did appear???? Not Santa in his sleigh with 8 tiny reindeer....(yes, I know-corny) But some beautiful SUNSHINE!!!! Seriously-It has rained here in east Tennessee for more days than I can count....dreary, rainy, just blah!!! Not sure if any or all of you have heard of S.A.D. (Seasonal Affective Disorder)-but I have it. Bad. Seriously. No joke. So, this weather has put me into hibernation...I put on my fleece pj's, get under the fleece snowman blanket, and just simply hibernate on the couch....So, when I woke up today...and looked outside...I was so happy...This song started running through my head...

I can see clearly now,

the rain is gone,

I can see all obstacles in my way

Gone are the dark clouds that had me blind

It’s gonna be a bright (bright), bright (bright)Sun-Shiny day.

Yes...I am silly...but happy today...Blue sky, sunshine...I don't care if it is only 32 outside...It's Gonna be a Bright, Bright, Sunshiney Day!!!! =)

Re-Decorating

Macey got a new bed for her birthday....and just now got to put it up....Her birthday is in September....We told her when she got her room clean, that it would happen...Well, here it is the first week of January...we just now got through the cleaning process....;) We are planning on moving her to our room, once we get our new roof, and finish our additon...But we decided, that since she cleaned her room so well, we would put the bed up, and her new bedding that she got for Christmas...on the bed....She had a ladybug room...with lots of hard work that I put into it....There is a green stripe in the new bedding....so we decided to remove all of the ladybugs...and everything will "match" until the big move... Here are some pics from our long day of work....Cleaning out her room...and throwing lots of things away....She takes after me...Throw away anything that you don't need or use....

Posing for me...once the bed is up...love the headboard...Thanks Mamaw and Papaw!!!Here is a color version...Love the colors in the new bedding....We are going to paint the wall aqua in her new room...with some chair rail....gonna be so pretty....The bed has a canopy too...Mamaw is going to buy some fabric for it...Will def take a picture once we get that part finished...Going to be a Girly room for sure....Kind of sad when I look in here now...Doesn't look like a babies room anymore....Miss Mace is growing up.......Well, let's say a prayer for some sunshine!!! I know I need to see the sun!!!!Have a great day! God Bless...

Back To Life

Back to Reality...Well, it is so hard for me to believe that 2008 is behind us-and we are sitting here facing a new year-2009. Christmas break is over, and the kids head back to school in the morning...We have all enjoyed our time off together...Watching movies, playing games, spending time with friends, and just being together....=) I have been thinking a lot about the New Year and the "resolutions" that we all tend to make. This year, I am not going to make any "formal resolutions....But there are some things that I would like to do..Such as.... I do want to grow closer to my Lord. I want to remember to put Him first in all that I do. I want to pray more. I want to have a better attitude. I want to teach my children to do the same. I want to be a better mommy. I want to be a better wife. I want to be a devoted friend. I want to spend more time in God's word. I want to follow God's will for my life. Whatever that may be. I have been doing some soul-searching. I know that He has something in store for me, I just haven't quite figured it out yet. Still praying. Still Listening. My wish for this new year is to spend it loving my family. spending time with our special friends. Growing closer to my Lord. Daily. =)

I think it is sad that the little guys head back to school tomorrow, but all good things must come to an end...We can just count down the days to the next "break"...=) I guess....I personally am ready for summer...Once Christmas is over, I am done. Ready for some sunshine, blue skies, and warm weather....I guess I am just dreaming. considering it is only Jan. 5. Well, hope everyone has a blessed week...Remember today is the first Monday of 2009-make it a good one! God Bless.