Sunday, February 22, 2009

Ordering Pizza

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Our Forefathers

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Saturday, February 21, 2009

400

400 Is the amount of miles that my brand spanking new car has on it.
Brand Spankin!
New!
I have never had a brand new car.
It feels kinda good.
The selling point for me?
The moon roof.
I've never had one of those either.
And I love it.
Here it is.
The color is a little lighter than that and pay no mind to the price listed on it.
Cuz that sho nuff ain't the price we paid!
Our Expedition started acting a little crazy last week. I feel as though I need a post about my beloved Expedition all by itself. I LOVE that car. We've had it for 7 years now. It was a used car when we bought it and it had 16,000 miles on it. It has been the best vehicle EVER! I am still SO so in love with that thing. I pray for it.
Yes.
I do.
I pray for my Expedition.
That it lasts a really long time. The ole girl has 177,000 miles on her. And I think she'll go a good ways more.
So anywho.
When it started acting funny I knew that it must be about time. I gently mentioned to Mike that it might be time to start looking for another. (sniff-sniff....sob) I knew our tax return would be able to help out with sales tax and because we never have that large of an amount just hanging around...I knew it was time to at least mention it. Last Saturday after Carson's game we went shopping. Car shopping. Valentine car shopping. Time well spent with my love. Just the 2 of us. In the last 8-10 days Mike has called everyone that he knows or even thought about knowing that had, will have or might even think about having anything to do with cars.
And you know that Mike knows lots of people.
Well we both really started praying about it. I prayed that the Lord would even send us to the right salesman. We ended up last Saturday at North Point Ford. Sam the salesman came out to meet us. We wanted to do a test drive. He was new so he had to go in and get Rich Whitaker a real salesman. He goes with us on a couple rides. As we're pulling out Mike mentions that one of the salesman out on the lot looked like Randy. Randy sold us our Expedition way back in 01. He was at a different dealership. It was indeed Randy. He remembered us. He should have as much grief that we gave him back then. So long story a little less long...we ended up dealing primarily with Randy. It was relatively painless. Thank you for that Lord.
We had driven another car that was used and 2 years old that I really loved! The vehicle we ended up getting was the same exact price as the used one.
Hello.
Not much of a decision there.
Everyone that Mike called to ask their opinion about the deal we were getting seemed to think that it was a 'heck of a deal".
I think Rich and Randy probably shared the sale.
If you need a great great salesman call Randy Doughty or Rich Whitaker.
Tell them that we sent you.
Seriously.
Call them.
We get a referral fee.
So call them.
Thank you Lord for a nice new little rig.
I like to drive it.
Did I mention that it has Sirius satellite radio? All kinds of channels that you could ever want....and some you don't! We'll have to read the manual to see how to block some of those channels.
Can you believe that?
Heck yeah!
It also has SYNC. Your cell phone comes over the radio and it's hands free. Rich the salesman set Mike's up.
We'll never get to hear the radio.
And I mean never!
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Friday, February 20, 2009

Knot Head

Mike likes a knot headed girl.

I can't hardley get mine to do it.

Here's my answer!


Favorite Foto Friday 02/20/2009


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Monday, February 16, 2009

Color Test

Betcha you can't get this the first try.

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Can You Say Humongo?

Octomom.
There are no words.
Just look.
Seriously.
Look at the veins.
Oouuuuccchhh!
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Sunday, February 15, 2009

My Valentine

What are your middle names?
Michael Preston and Shannon Dee
How long have you been together?
Around 22 years give or take a break up or two and married for 18.
How long did you know each other before you started dating?
Hmmmm. Kind of a hard question. We went to school together beginning in Jr. High but Mike was always around football and baseball and since my brothers played I'm sure we made eye contact at some point. Destiny. That's what it was. He says that he remembers seeing me in my little pee wee cheerleading outfit while he was on the football field (running a touchdown I'm quite sure) and knowing that he was going to marry me. Ahem.....YEAH RIGHT!
Who asked who out?
I would have never done that so I'm sure it was him. And to be quite honest we were both dating other people. (ouch) It was Thanksgiving day and we went to the Cinema 150 to see Top Gun.
How old are each of you?
Mikey G is the big 40 and in 11 days I'll be 39 and forever holding.
Whose siblings do/ did you see the most?
His. He has 3 siblings who all live locally. I have a brother in Texas and my other brother that lives here in town...well...I don't see him too often. We've really gotten away from so many Sanders family outings. I kinda miss you crazy people. Yeah - I'm talking to you Lisa!
Do you have any children together?
3 lovely boys!
What about pets?
Unfortunately....yes. Cricket the incredibly annoying teacup Yorkshire Terrier. Anybody want a dog?

♥ Which situation is the hardest on you as a couple?

Right now...finances. We're in a transitional period AND we need a new car!

Did you go to the same school?

Yes. Jr High and High School

Are you from the same home town?

Mike actually grew up in SW Little Rock until he was about 8 or so and then moved to this area. I was born and raised here.

♥ Who is the smartest?

I am of course. Okay so not really. For the first several years of our marriage I thought I was the smarter one. I guess the old saying is true...you find out the older you get the less you really know. Mike is certainly smarter than me. He has taught me so much about my own self.

Who is the most sensitive?

Really? It is SO not me. I'm not one for compassion and lovey stuff. Just ask him - he'll tell you. When we watch chick flicks he'll look over at me to see if I'm crying. Ummm...no. I laugh at him because he usually is. He's just a sensitive little fella.

Where do you eat out most as a couple?

Fast food is Wendy's and non fast food is usually Carino's.

Where is the furthest you two have traveled together as a couple?

Cozumel, Mexico.

♥ Who has the worst temper?

Oh hear Lord....MIKE SANDERS!

Who does the cooking?

When it actually happens it's usually me. Although Mike has been stepping up somewhat lately. And even Chase has taken a few turns...and I'm loving that!

Who is more social?

He's not called Mayor Mike for nothing!!! I HATE to be in social situations!

Who is the neat Freak?

Have you seen our house or car? Neither!

Who is the more stubborn?

I would say me on this one. And like Forest Gump says...that's all I've got to say about that.

Who hogs the bed?

I think we probably share equally.

Who wakes up earlier?

Me.

Where was your first date?

See heart bullet number 4.

♥ Who has the bigger family?

Him...see heart bullet number - Oh I don't know. You've already read it, though.

Do you get flowers often?

We discussed this just last week. I really can't tell you the last time I got flowers. It's nice and all - if you have expendable income. All is see is $ signs withering up. Clean my house, cook me dinner or take me shopping. That means more to me than anything. (Can you tell what my love language is?)

How do you spend the holidays?

We've always switched it up...although Christmas Eve is ALWAYS at my parents as well as 4th of July.

Who is more jealous?

Mike

How long did it take to get serious?

Not very.

Who eats more?

OMG. This question ain't even right!

Who does the laundry?

I do most all of the laundry. Changes are soon to come, though. I'm fixing to teach Chase AND Carson how to do their own. I have learned through trial and error that my children need to know how to do things on their own. And the earlier you teach them...the better off everyone is.

♥ Who’s better with the computer?

Mike works on them for a living!

Who drives when you are together?

We used to carpool to work together. He would drive to work (so I could put my face on) and I would drive home...while he always slept. He's out of town so much now that we rarely carpool because he has the company vehicle. But on the norm it's mostly him.

He had plans for Valentine's evening but Tammy called and needed help. She was shooting at a high school dance at the Clinton Library. Mike and I both went. It's so pretty there at night. Later we had dinner with the Blenden's and enjoyed our evening out.

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Friday, February 13, 2009

Favorite Foto Friday 02/13/2009

Happy Anniversary
to my parents.
Ken and Barb
That's right.
Ken and Barbie!
Here they are with my oldest brother.
Acting like his dorky self with Chase.
With my other brother.
Good ole Barb.
The matriarch.
They've been great examples of love.
Thanks for that!
Love you both!

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Monday, February 9, 2009

Top 100

I actually swiped this from another blog but thought it might be fun.
You have my blessing to swipe it yourself.
But you'll have to come up with your own answers of course.
1. Started your own blog - Yeah!!
2. Slept under the stars - Can't say that I have
3. Played in a band - Nope
4. Visited Hawaii - I wish
5. Watched a meteor shower - It's been years....
6. Given more than you can afford to charity - Yes
7. Been to Disney World - The best vacation ever. It's truly magical.
8. Climbed a mountain - Yep
9. Held a praying mantis - Not for very long
10. Sang a solo - In my car with the radio up REAL loud.
11. Bungee jumped - Sort of. It was called the vertical accelerator.
12. Visited Paris- Nope
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea - from the beach
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch - crochet
15. Adopted a child - No (that's a whole nother story)
16. Had food poisoning - No
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty - Never been to NY
18. Grown your own vegetables - No
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France - Nope
20. Slept on an overnight train - Nope
21. Had a pillow fight - Yes
22. Hitch hiked - Good Lord No
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill - ummmm....yeah!
24. Built a snow fort - Does it count if I watched?
25. Held a lamb - ahhh....no
26. Gone skinny dipping - Nah
27. Run a Marathon - Seriously?
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice - I wish. That would be so romantic. It would also be romantic if someone else would pay for it!
29. Seen a total eclipse - I guess I would remember it if I did.
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset - yes
31. Hit a home run - No but my kids have!
32. Been on a cruise - yeppers
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person - no
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors - I'm not so sure where that would be!
35. Seen an Amish community - no
36. Taught yourself a new language - Nope
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied - Is there ever enough?
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person - nope
39. Gone rock climbing - Somewhat
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David - uhhh...no.
41. Sung karaoke - way too embarrassing
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt - No but I would SO LOVE to.
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant - no
44. Visited Africa - nope
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight - OMG YES!
46. Been transported in an ambulance - Not for myself but have ridden with 2 of my 3 children. One of them more than once (Carson)
47. Had your portrait painted - no
48. Gone deep sea fishing - No but I think that would be pretty fun.
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person - No.
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris - I wish
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling - snorkeling in Cozumel. Way cool.
52. Kissed in the rain - Not sure...have I?
53. Played in the mud - Heck yeah. When I was little we would play with crawdads and mud puppies.
54. Gone to a drive-in theater - Never in my life have I been to a drive in.
55. Been in a movie - Nope
56. Visited the Great Wall of China -- No but I did a huge report on it in 6th grade.
57. Started a business - no
58. Taken a martial arts class - no
59. Visited Russia - no
60. Served at a soup kitchen - nope
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies - No but I've eaten enough of them!
62. Gone whale watching - how totally cool would that be?
63. Got flowers for no reason - Yes. Poor Mike used to sent them to me all the time...even before I liked him!
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma - Red Cross used to call me all the time. They never call anymore!
65. Gone sky diving - I really think that is something I would love to do.
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp - No
67. Bounced a check - Uh-hum
68. Flown in a helicopter - Would love to do that too
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy - No but I certainly wish I still had my Raggedy Ann and Andy. I have lost of my kids toys.
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial - Yes and I SO want to go back!
71. Eaten Caviar - Yes on that cruise and it was totally gross.
72. Pieced a quilt - No. If I were crafty I think that might be quite fun to do.
73. Stood in Times Square - No. I told you I've never been to NY!
74. Toured the Everglades - How fun would that be in an air boat. Is that what those things are called?
75. Been fired from a job - Not so much fired as let go.
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London - nope
77. Broken a bone - never
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle - yes - with my husband driving.
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person - That is next on my list of Things To Do.
80. Published a book - No.
81. Visited the Vatican - Good Lord No.
82. Bought a brand new car - Nope
83. Walked in Jerusalem - Wow! No!
84. Had your picture in the newspaper - Local newspaper...I was in a pageant in high school and they ran all of the contestants photos.
85. Read the entire Bible - Ashamedly - no
86. Visited the White House - Drove by it.
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating - Nah
88. Had chickenpox - Yeppers
89. Saved someone’s life - Ummm....maybe with the blood that I donated to Red Cross.
90. Sat on a jury - Yeah
91. Met someone famous - Touched George Strait's hand while in concert in 1986.
92. Joined a book club - No
93. Lost a loved one - yes
94. Had a baby - A few of them
95. Seen the Alamo in person - I don't think so...wouldn't I remember it? (get it)
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake - Nope.
97. Been involved in a law suit - No.
98. Owned a cell phone - Yeah.
99. Been stung by a bee - Stepped on a bee at the rocket slide in Burns Park during an outing with Vacation Bible School. It was so dramatic.
100. Read an entire book in one day. Does a small book count?

More useless information you never needed to know about me.
Gah...I need to get to traveling don't I?

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Friday, February 6, 2009

It's In The Past

I know Thanksgiving is over.

It's way over.

But if you'll remember I couldn't post pictures for forever.

Well here's the Thanksgiving post.

We went to my PawPaw's house.

It was actually pretty low key. Not a whole lot of people there...just the important ones with the exception of my Texas brother)

I do believe it was one of the best Thanksgiving's that I can remember.

And I must brag on myself that we arrived ON TIME!

Everyone was shocked!

Usually we roll in about the time everybody is sitting down to eat.

We actually had to sit and wait for the food to be put on the table!

The pictures start out with Taylor...of course.

And here's 2 of my favorite people.

My Pawpaw and Mikey G.

Here's the barn door that Lindsey tore down.

She just hopped her little self right up there on it and it just came right off the hinges.

Now I could understand if I had gotten on it.

Mike doing the repair work.



Taylor and Kyle in a civil moment.

Her momma is really trying to hug her (and get in a picture)

Still working on it.

Lindsey (the destroyer) and Chase helping in the repair.

A view of the back of the house from the chicken house.

Still repairing.

Kyle in what Lisa thought was corn stalks. To be honest I did too by my mom tells me that they were just dead flowers (can't remember the name).

Kyle and Carson were fascinated by the horse poo.

You would die if you even knew how many pictures I took with them posing with/by horse manure.

I guess that's what boys do.

Another civil moment.

I'm sure they were muttering something rude to each under their breath.

Kyle use to hate having his picture made.

He now likes it just like his sister.

That's the chicken house behind him.

Lindsey Adelle.

Ahhh...one of those sweet moments.

And I think they actually were muttering under their breath.

Chase and the ladies.





Visiting on the back porch.

My cousin Joe with my PawPaw and uncle Mel.

The storm cellar.

When I was growing up anytime I would hear on TV that a storm was moving through Saline county...we always knew where Stevie (my Grannie) would be.

I spent lots of time playing in and around this thing.

We knew that we had a chore when we got there.

Raking leaves.

Here's' the hottest raker ever.

And I'll show you why he's the hottest raker ever later.

Don't even think like that!

This is my PawPaw's mule. A different kind of mule than he's used to but none the less it helps him get up to the barn and where he needs to be. I think these are the coolest things invented...and way fun to drive.

That's just how Mutt rolls.

(Mutt is my PawPaw's name - not his given name)


Here is Mutt after Thanksgiving dinner eating his desert.

He's eating coconut cake (gag) BUT he's putting brown beans on top of his cake.

Don't even ask.

I have no idea.

That's just how he rolls!

That's my brother Kirk standing there laughing.

Look at that spread would ya.

Oh yeah...there's Mutt eating his beans and cake.

More visiting on the porch.

There's more of those corn stalk things

This is a box that was added on to the house when I was little. One of my PawPaw's many little projects. It was used to put fire wood in and it opened on the inside of the house where you could pull the fire wood from the box. A pretty ingenious idea I think. I do come from good stock don't I? We used to play in this box all the time - crawling in and out.

Fun memories.

The front porch.

Lots of memories on this swing, too.

This is a painting type deal of my grandparents that hangs in their hallway. Not sure about when this was but I LOVE this picture.




I have ALWAYS loved this doorknob that is attached to the front door. I would LOVE to have this some day.

Weird!

Becky I think you'll like this pyromania part of my post.

The end result of the raking.

And there he is...the hottest raker ever.

He had sweat dripping off of him.

Thanks honey for raking my PawPaw's leaves.



Kirk and my Dad also raking. Actually Kirk had his blower out.

He got off easy.

Don't you just love this little house? It's catty-corner from my PawPaw's. My mom said that my aunt's ex-husband lived in that house growing up. Hmm...something i never knew.

The girls.

Look how pretty and green that grass was.

Taylor and her momma, Lisa.


Chase Kyle Taylor and Lindsey

2 of the 4 of these children are asthmatics.

Smart thinking to play in smoke and fire!



Lisa and Nanna watching the excitement of the fire.



Kirk resting after a hard days work of blowing leaves!


The end to a great day!

Food and family.

What more could you ask for?

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