Mommy Moments -- The Color RED

I had to search back for some RED photos as well. Apparently that is not one of my favorite colors either. Hmmmmm......

So, here are my red photos for the week.


Kids bouncing in a RED moon bounce:


Charlotte wearing RED clothes (playing in the sprinklers. LOL) - Age 3:


Tina wearing her RED shirt, modeling her Lava Bottle - Age 11:


Connor in his car seat which has a RED button - Age 6 weeks:


Twins Cheyenne and Courtney wearing RED - Age 3 months:


My cup from Daiquiris and Company with RED writing:


The Rougarou, an old French legend in Louisiana. The "monster" is red. Replica is at the Audubon Zoo in New Orleans.:


The Riverwalk in New Orleans. The letters are RED.:


Carolyn with RED apples - Age 6:


Caitlyn unwrapping a RED present - Age 3:


Raising Cane's, the most awesome chicken place ever, which has a RED sign:




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What I Learned This Week....

I think this totally random meme is a wonderful thing. A wonderful mommy blogger I have been following for awhile now -- Julie from From Inmates to Playdates -- hosts this on her blog. Anyways, I kinda digressed a bit to give her a shout-out, but I think this meme was a wonderful idea because hey, you learn at least one new thing a day. Why not share it with the world.....

Now, what have I learned this week.

1 ~ Well, I learned that auditing is not for me. So, when I finish my degrees and begin working and my boss tries to assign me to an audit file, I will probably quit on the spot. I - WANT - NO - PART - OF - IT! And to elaborate a little more on this, I have learned that I am incapable of having a fraudulent thought. I could not for the life of me figure out how Netflix could fix the books for a financial gain. Hmmmmm......

2 ~ I learned that the KFC Double Down Sandwich is not worth a repeat purchase. I know, I know.... It was bad for me anyway, but I just had to try it. And although it was edible and didn't taste that bad, it is just not something I will buy again. Thanks for the thought, Colonel, but I'll just stick with my regular grilled meal. Thanks....

3 ~ I learned that your "friends" aren't always your friends. I have made it a point not to speak to a group of friends in almost 3 weeks. 3 weeks people! And do you know how many of them have bothered to see if anything was wrong? Not a one. Sounds petty, but hey, if they aren't my friends then I am not missing anything by not talking to them, right?

4 ~ I have learned that no matter what your stance in a disagreement is, that your friends will make you choose between them. And I have also learned that if you choose to remain neutral, then they will choose sides for you. It's kind of depressing, but I learned this little gem last night. Want to know how? I went to leave them a comment on facebook and found out that I was no longer on their friends list. Hmmmm...... sure..... okay. Kind of reminds me of a page I became a fan of the other day -- You're angry at me for that? That's cool,just let me know when you grow up! I mean I haven't done anything to you.....

5 ~ I have learned that it is perfectly acceptable for a grown sports broadcaster to announce on national television that "He (the basketball player) got hit in the grill." Really?? In his grill..... what happened to "mouth"? Leave the grill for street talk. Those poor old folk who were watching were probably confused.....

6 ~ I have learned that the more kids you have, the less you will sleep. I know, many of you may already know this, but I can hope. It seems that at least one of my kids is always up needing something......... Oh, to sleep again........

7 ~ I have learned that I need to trade in some parent reward points for a copy of "How to survive living with a pre-teen girl." Any suggestions????

Be sure to check back next Tuesday to see what I have learned this week......

And be sure to check Julie's blog - From Inmates to Playdates - to see what others have learned this past week.

Mommy Moments -- Yellow???

While looking for pictures in this week's theme -- the color yellow -- I have learned something about myself. I have learned that I do not care for the color yellow... at all! I had to search back in old photos just to locate one picture of each child in or with something yellow. So, here goes.....



First, we have Tina sliding down a YELLOW slide. (Taken in 2008 -- Age 10)

Next, Carly sliding down the YELLOW slide. (Taken in 2008 -- Age 5)

Caitlyn, in her beautiful YELLOW Easter dress. (Taken in 2010 -- Age 4)

Charlotte, in her YELLOW jacket. (Taken in 2007 -- Age 2)

Cheyenne, in her YELLOW shirt. (Taken in 2007 -- Age - a few months)

Courtney, with her YELLOW Easter basket. (Taken in 2010 - Age 2)

Connor, with his YELLOW Fleur-Di-Lis on his shirt. (Taken in March 2010 -- Age 1 month)

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Thursday 13 -- 13 Questions I Always Hear

13 Questions I Always Hear

These are in relation to my children, pregnancy or parenting style.

1. Did you intentionally name all your children with "C" names? - At first no. When our oldest was born, my husband named her Crystina after the both of us. We were young; we didn't think of future kids. When our second was born, I named her after my Nanny which happened to be Carolyn. Then our first set of twins came along and I named Twin B (definite girl at 20 week u/s) Charlotte after my granddaddy, Charles. We decided that since this was it for us, then Baby A should have a C name as well and we chose Caitlyn. Surprise! We got pregnant with Twins Part 2. At first, if they were girls, we were going to name them Alexandria and Brooke. But then, hubby decided they both should follow the C tradition and he named them Cheyenne and Courtney. When we found out I was pregnant this time, we knew it would be a C.
2. Do twins run in your family? - Well, since I have 2 sets, they apparently do now! But, before me - No, no other twins.
3. Did you use fertility drugs? - Not that it's any of your business, but no I did not use fertility drugs. They were conceived 100% all natural!
4. How did you get twins? - I prayed to the fertility god? Well, in all honesty, if they are identical then it would mean my fertilized egg split into 2 separate babies. If they are fraternal then my ovaries released 2 eggs and they both got fertilized. I can't really explain it any other way.
5. Wow, you've been pregnant a lot! You must really love pregnancy, huh? - Nope. In fact I hate being pregnant!
6. Are you done? - Again really none of your business, but yes, I am done. I said that once I get my boy I was done. He's coming, so it's a done deal.
7. Don't you have a hobby? - Sure, I do. But, I also have a marriage. And, um, well intimacy is a part of that.
8. So, why did you decide to home school? - Because I'm a controlling human being and wanted my kids with me 24/7. No, I AM KIDDING!! I decided to home school because the school system in VA sucked and the ones in LA are no better. I can teach them just as much, if not more, at home. And so we do.
9. Did you always want so many kids? - H-E-C-K No! I wanted 2 - a boy and a girl. Haha! Joke's on me. I take what I got and I'm happy.
10. Are they identical? (referring to my oldest twins) - Honestly, your guess is as good as mine! I have not a clue. Some doctors say yes, some say no. I never had the genetic test done.
11. How many months are between these two? (referring to my youngest twins) - 30 seconds! Yes, my friends they are twins. I understand its hard to believe that one is a chunky, dirty blonde, blue-eyed mama's girl and the other is a skinny, dark skinned, dark haired, brown eyed, long legged girl. I understand that it is strange when I buy clothes for them and one is a 3T and the other is 18 months. But, that's how they are! And, no they are not identical, so skip that question.
12. Why no boys? - I really don't know. I guess the hubby's male swimmers were not that great of swimmers. My dad swears that Mt Dew plays a role in this. I just say, its whatever!
13. Do you know what causes it? - No. I'm 31 years old and an honor graduate. I have no clue! Of course I know what causes babies and apparently I like it! So there!

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Aloha Friday #4

In Hawaii, Aloha Friday is the day that they take it easy and look forward to the weekend. So I thought that on Fridays I would take it easy on posting, too. Therefore, I’ll ask a simple question for you to answer. Nothing that requires a lengthy response.

What has been your favorite class you have taken, high school or college?

In high school, my favorite class was Child Care. We actually had a part-time pre-school that we ran 2 days a week. I wish I had taken part II of the class, but let a boy interfere with my schedule. In college, really haven't taken one yet. LOL I did enjoy Business Law though.

If you want to participate in this meme, go here.

Thursday 13 -- 13 Movies I LOVE!

Well, it's that time again. Time for me to ramble off 13 random things based on some random subject I have come up with. This week I have chosen:

13 movies that I LOVE



These are pretty much in random order.

1) Twilight (2008) - I am quite unaware of why I love this movie so much but I do.
2) Gone With the Wind (1939) - This was my favorite movie since I was like 8 years old, maybe even younger! I always wanted to be Scarlett.
3) Sweet Home Alabama (2002) - I love Reese Witherspoon. I think she is an awesome actress! This is probably my favorite movie by her.
4) Big Money Hustlas (2000) - It is crude, obnoxious, and definitely not a movie to let your kids watch. But me, I love it. Chris finds it tacky yet humorous. Go figure.
5) Ladder 49 (2004) - I love this movie. I went to the theater to see this one when it first came out. I was in Firefighter I class at the time. Oh, I cried like a baby.
6) Backdraft (1991) - I love this movie as well. I had the brilliant idea to watch this on Christmas morning while we served breakfast to our families. Yeah, bad idea! My dad (retired firefighter) decided it was his duty to inform my in-laws of every screw up in the movie. Thanks.....
7) Wizard of Oz (1939) - Who doesn't love the Wizard of Oz? I can remember being allowed to stay up late every year when it was on TV. Of course, I kept having nightmares about tornadoes and witches. Wait, maybe the witch nightmares were really my mother??? Haha.... I still love to watch it. I always loved Glenda, the good witch... and the Lollipop Kids. That little smirk was soooo adorable!
8) Dirty Dancing (1987) - Always been a favorite.
9) Titanic (1997) - Who could not love this movie?? Ok, first get past Leonardo's cheesiness (I did not like him as Jack). And past Mr. A$$, Rose's fiance. And then it was good. I wanted to slug Rose's mother during the whole thing. And it took me a couple years to figure out what the ending meant.... yeah, I'm slow!
10) Goonies (1985) - Once a goonie, always a goonie!
11) Steel Magnolias (1989) - Oh, my favorite movie for years.... Ok, behind Gone With the Wind. I read the original play. I watched/owned the movie over and over and over. And I love Julia Roberts movies. "My colors are blush and bashful. I have chosen two shades of pink; one is much deeper than the other. I like pink. Pink is my signature color." Oh, that is soooo me! And another of my favorite sayings came from this movie: Shelby: "I would rather have thirty minutes of wonderful than a lifetime of nothing special." And then there's the quote I live by: Clairee Belcher: "That which does not kill us, makes us stronger."
12) The Fast and the Furious (2001) and Fast and Furious (2009) - I couldn't decide between the two. They are my 2 favorite simply because Vin Diesel is in them.
13) Gameplan (2007) - Who wouldn't love a movie with the Rock doing ballet??
And simply because I needed an extra movie to make the above picture look right, here's an honorable mention:
The Pacifier (2005) - Vin Diesel and baby.... Nothing more needs to be said!
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The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others’ comments. It’s easy, and fun!

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Aloha Friday #3

In Hawaii, Aloha Friday is the day that they take it easy and look forward to the weekend. So I thought that on Fridays I would take it easy on posting, too. Therefore, I’ll ask a simple question for you to answer. Nothing that requires a lengthy response.

What is one accomplishment from this past week?

Mine is simple: I finished up 3 of my 6 online classes with 1 A and 2 B's. I finished a 4th class as well, but that grade has not been calculated and once it is, it won't be pretty!

If you want to participate in this meme, go here.

Thursday 13 -- 13 Things I Have Been Craving

Connor will be amused by this when he's older....

13 Things I Have Been Craving This Pregnancy

1) Twinkies - Only fitting since I craved them with my first and now my last


2) Sunny Delight - Only the smooth


3) Wild Cherry Pepsi


4) Marie Callender's Chicken and Broccoli Alfredo


5) Crunch and Munch Caramel


6) Stouffer's Chicken Cordon Bleu Pasta


7) Barber Food's Cordon Bleu Stuffed Chicken


8) Raising Cane's


9) Little Debbie Christmas Tree Cakes


10) Bubble gum - And I only chew it until the taste is gone, then it must be replaced


11) Baked Potato with lots of butter and Concord Food Potato Topping - I have tried it with bacon bits and nope, not the same!


12) Snickers


13 3 Musketeers


I know, nothing healthy, but what can I say???

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Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!

The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others’ comments. It’s easy, and fun!

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Mommy Moments -- Chore Time

This week's theme for Mommy Moments is Chore time. In all honesty, I wish I could get my kids to do chores these days! They feel they are "royalty" and therefore exempt from work. Mmmmhmmmm!

Below are some pictures of my second daughter, Carolyn, back in 2005. These were around her 3rd birthday. I was pregnant with Twins part 1 and was on bedrest. I was folding laundry, the one chore I could still do, and Carolyn decided that she wanted to do laundry too. So, she went and got her doll baby clothes and spent HOURS folding, unfolding, and refolding.







I once had a picture of Carolyn when she was about 2 pushing her toy vacuum. She loved that toy! Of course now, getting them to do chores is next to impossible! The kids like to play with my vacuum now, but scream if I ask them to turn it on and vacuum!

Click here to visit Mommy Moments at The Mommy Journey. You can also read about others' Mommy Moments!

Don't forget about the Cans for Comments Blogathon! For every new comment I receive between November 27 until December 2, I will donate a canned food to my local food bank! See here.

Aloha Friday #2

For Aloha Friday, I ask a question. I will leave my answer; you leave your answer as a comment. If you wish to participate on your blog for Aloha Friday, go here. So, here's my question for this week:

How did you celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday?

Our Thanksgiving holiday was spent together and alone; just the 8 of us. We ate late lunch/early dinner at Ryan's (buffet). This is the second year that we have spent this holiday as just the 8 of us!

Whatever you did, I hope it was relaxing, warm and that you got to spend it with the ones you love the most!

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Don't forget about the Comments for Cans Blogathon! Click here to read about it. Remember EVERY comment counts!

Thursday 13 -- 13 Holiday Foods I LOVE!

I was going to go the Thanksgiving route and write about 13 things I am thankful for. However, I just did "What I am Thankful For" for my 10 on Tuesday post (you can see that here). So, I am keeping the Thanksgiving theme but going in another direction.

13 Holiday Foods that I LOVE!

(This picture is not mine. I got it from the WWW. It does look absolutely delicious, though!)

1) Turkey - The main piece of any holiday dinner. I will only eat the breast meat though. And it has to be warm.

2) Mashed potatoes - Oh, I will fight you over my potatoes. I will stab your hand if you come near them. I love homemade mashed taters, made with milk and butter and a bit of sour cream. Sometimes I like the skin on, sometimes I prefer skin off. I'm just a potato type of gal.

3) Stuffing - I will not eat homemade stuffing. I will only eat Stove Top Stuffing. Hey, I never said I was normal. I'm an individual when it comes to my food.

4) Gravy - I prefer homemade, thank you. And it gets poured all over my turkey, potatoes and stuffing. So yummy!

5) Ham - No salt cured (which is what my maternal grandmother always had) and served warm.

6) Butterbeans - Prefer homegrown. Cooked with a ham hock..... (My mouth is watering)

7) Corn - Again, homegrown from the garden is preferred. Mixed in with my butterbeans.

8) Green Beans - Ok, I was raised in a farming family. My grandparents have always had a garden where we got our vegetables and froze/canned them for the year. I love green beans cooked with lots of black pepper and a ham hock.

9) Black Olives - Ok, maybe not a holiday food to everyone, but we have always had them on holidays. I love them! I usually ate them all waiting for the food to finish cooking. So, extra was always bought.

10) Apple Pie - Apple pie is like my favorite pie, well after Key Lime Pie. I love it when it's still warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

11) Carrot Cake - Oh, gosh. I love this all the time.

12) Pumpkin Pie - Who doesn't love pumpkin pie (my mother also did a pumpkin roll, pictured below. Click here for the recipe).

13) Rolls - Doesn't matter the brand/type. Just gimme some rolls to soak the gravy up with!

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Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!

The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others’ comments. It’s easy, and fun!

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10 on Tuesday -- 10 Things I Am Thankful For

10 Things I Am Thankful For

1) My husband, Chris - He loves me despite my faults. He accepts me, quirks and all. We have our problems, but in the end we always work it out. Thirteen years and still going strong. We had people telling us we wouldn't last a week!

2) My 6 daughters: Crystina, Carolyn, Caitlyn, Charlotte, Cheyenne and Courtney - Though they drive me crazy and I complain on days, I love my baby girls like no other. I would be lost without them.

3) My unborn son, Connor - He's the one I've been waiting for, for the last 10 years. We always said when we got out boy, we were done.

4) My nephews: Clifton, Christian and Aidyn - Clifton is 18 years old and the son of my oldest sister. I spent alot of time with him when he was a baby. Christian is my brother's 2 year old. He'll always be my other "baby boy." Aidyn is my brother's other 2 year old son. I never get to see him or hear about him.

5) My friends - The ones who see me through hard times.

6) My freedom - The freedom of speech, the freedom of religion, the freedom to have a choice.

7) The internet - To keep in touch with my friends all over the world.

8) On line classes - Because if I had to sit through Greek Mythology 3 times a week, I would be certifiable!

9) Chicken and Broccoli Alfredo TV Dinners - Have you ever been pregnant? Then you know where I am going with this. These are what I crave. And my Wal-mart actually ran out the other day. The nerve!

10) Louisiana ABC Laws and living in a "wet" parish - Well, I'm really thankful for this when I'm not pregnant, but thankful none-the-less. If you don't know what this means, then here's the breakdown: drive thru daiquiri shops, can buy beer/liquor 24/7, and Wal-marts, gas stations, drug stores, etc even sell liquor. Nothing like a 3 am beer/liquor run. LOL

If you want to participate in this meme, then go here.

Mama's Holiday Wish List Meme

Mama’s Holiday Wish List Meme

TodaysMama and Provo Craft are giving away a sleighful of gifts this holiday season and to enter I’m sharing this meme with you.

1. What 5 items are on your holiday wish list this year?

• A new laptop with lots and lots of storage

• An accounting tutor who doesn't mind me calling at 3 am if I need help




• A day of peace and quiet where all my kids listen and do as they are told (I am seriously laughing out loud as I type that)




• All new wardrobes for all of us, including Baby Connor for when he arrives




• All the stuff I need for Baby Connor (I thought the 2007 twins were my last kids. Hahahaha!)

2. What is your favorite handmade gift you have received?

• Anything made by my kids

3. What handmade gift have you always wanted to tackle?

• pillow and blanket sets for everyone. I'd have to start years in advance just to keep the attention span long enough to make them all. I have made a set for my granddaddy and grandmother in the past.

4. What was the best Christmas gift you received as a child?

• Polaroid camera when I was 6. I thought I was cool!

5. What items are on your kid’s wish list this year?

• Crystina - Wii, Wii games, Nintendo DS lite, games, new MP3 player, Saints and LSU jersey
• Carolyn - Wii and games, Nintendo DS and games, Saints jersey
• Caitlyn - WWE wrestling ring and wrestlers, John Cena (don't think I can arrange that!)
• Charlotte - all things princess
• Cheyenne - anything
• Courtney - anything

6. What is your favorite holiday food?

• I love the holidays only because of the food. I love turkey and mashed potatoes and stuffing all drowned in gravy, corn, butterbeans, apple pie, pumpkin pie. And I always eat 3 plates full! (Then complain I'm getting fat for the next 3 months!)

7. What will you be hand-crafting for the holidays?

• Nothing, I am afraid.

8. What is your favorite holiday movie?

• How the Grinch Stole Christmas

9. Favorite holiday song?

• I like the good old song, Silver Bells. I'm not too much on holiday music.

10. Favorite holiday pastime?

• Driving around looking at the holiday lights displays. I still do it as an adult.

Feel free to play along. The amazing prizes up for grabs can be found here. Thanks to TodaysMama for all of the fun. You have until December 13 to join in.

Aloha Friday!

For Aloha Friday, I ask a question. I will leave my answer; you leave your answer as a comment. If you wish to participate on your blog for Aloha Friday, go here. So, here's my question for this week:

What movies are on your "Must See" list right now?

(I'm including a synopsis along with the movie poster)

1) New Moon

The second installment of Stephenie Meyers phenomenally successful Twilight series, the romance between mortal and vampire soars to a new level as Bella Swan (Kristen Stewart) delves deeper into the mysteries of the supernatural world she yearns to become part of only to find herself in greater peril than ever before.

Following Bellas ill-fated 18th birthday party, Edward Cullen(Robert Pattinson) and his family abandon the town of Forks, Washington, in an effort to protect her from the dangers inherent in their world. As the heartbroken Bella sleepwalks through her senior year of high school, numb and alone, she discovers Edwards image comes to her whenever she puts herself in jeopardy. Her desire to be with him at any cost leads her to take greater and greater risks.

With the help of her childhood friend Jacob Black (Taylor Lautner), Bella refurbishes an old motorbike to carry her on her adventures. Bellas frozen heart is gradually thawed by her budding relationship with Jacob, a member of the mysterious Quileute tribe, who has a supernatural secret of his own.

When a chance encounter brings Bella face to face with a former nemesis, only the intervention of a pack of supernaturally large wolves saves her from a grisly fate, and the encounter makes it frighteningly clear that Bella is still in grave danger. In a race against the clock, Bella learns the secret of the Quileutes and Edwards true motivation for leaving her. She also faces the prospect of a potentially deadly reunion with her beloved that is a far cry from the one she'd hoped for. With more of the passion, action and suspense that made TWILIGHT a worldwide phenomenon, The Twilight Saga: New Moon is a spellbinding follow-up to the box office hit.

[Official synopsis by Summit Entertainment]

2) The Blind Side

"The Blind Side" depicts the remarkable true story of Michael Oher, a homeless African-American youngster from a broken home, taken in by the Touhys, a well-to-do white family who help him fulfill his potential. At the same time, Oher's presence in the Touhys' lives leads them to some insightful self-discoveries of their own. Living in his new environment, the teen faces a completely different set of challenges to overcome. As a football player and student, Oher works hard and, with the help of his coaches and adopted family, becomes an All-American offensive left tackle. In the latest chapter of his inspiring story, Oher was a First Round draft pick in the 2009 NFL Draft, selected by the Baltimore Ravens. The Touhys were there to share the moment with him.

Written by Anonymous

3) Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel

Pop sensations Alvin, Simon and Theodore end up in the care of Dave Seville's twenty-something nephew Toby (Levi). The boys must put aside music superstardom to return to school, and are tasked with saving the school's music program by winning the $25,000 prize in a battle of the bands. But the Chipmunks unexpectedly meet their match in three singing chipmunks known as The Chipettes -– Brittany, Eleanor and Jeanette. Romantic and musical sparks are ignited when the Chipmunks and Chipettes square off.

Written by 20th Century Fox

So, what are your "must see" movies?