Tuesday, February 28, 2017

Fox In Sox Day!

This week, the twins' school is acknowledging and celebrating "Read Across America" week.  One way they are asking the kids to show how important it is to read is by have us, the parents, encourage our child(red) to take part in the school's reading celebration activities this week.  This is also the perfect way to show school spirit.

Monday was "Read A Shirt" Day!  All of the students were asked to wear a shirt with words on it.  Jax was home sick, but Liley did participate.  I failed to take a photo of her though.  #MomFail

Tuesday (Today) is "Fox In Sox" Day! The students body is asked to wear their craziest and foxiest socks.  On the fly, because I forgot, I made this socks for Liey.  Just simply inserted a toilet paper roll into the socks (to keep the socks from being hot glued together) and then hot glued times that I had laying around my house: plastic spiders AND bulk candy!  On the way out to the school bus, LIlah was compelling of a cough, chills, and headache.  I just took her temperature and it is 100.8.  Sigh... after all that work and ruining a pair of socks, she's staying home today.  I had to share the socks with someone.  LOL!  So here...

Saturday, February 25, 2017

Bring Your Best Game!

Darren and I waited until February 17th to celebrate Valentine's Day as a couple! We made February 14th about our kids.  I was fine with that because it would have been next to impossible to find a babysitter anyway.  To be honest, it's sorta becoming a tradition, to spend the FRIDAY after Valentine's Day celebrating.  We did it last year too! See last year's celebration here.

When Darren arrived home, there was a red table of goodies, sitting at the foot of his entrance, waiting for him. The red table was candle lite and contained a bottle of my favorite wine and a new red wine for him to try, a red rose, chocolates & strawberries (which we didn't touch, lol), a GIFT in the heart-shaped box (and it wasn't chocolate), a pair of boxers, with hearts on it, and two "gifts" with sweet messages on it.  
"Marry the one who gives you the same feeling you get when you see food coming at a restaurant!" I love this sign.  It was purchased at Altared State!
Inside the "#1 Draft Pick" box, I made and printed a little message to him: "Every minute spent without you is a minute that is wasted!" The box contained a nice selection of top shelf whiskeys in airplane bottle form.  Want the tag I created?  Click here.
Boxers: Ha! The standard blah gift.  BUT they look so good on him.  HAHA! I texted him a message he arrived home when I heard the garage door open.  "When you come inside, put on your new boxers!" I know you all were just DYING to know these details.  
Underneath the boxer shorts was a beautiful plate that read, "Hello Gorgeous!" It's ivory and gold.  The photo doesn't do it any justice.  I bought it at Pier 1.
Waiting at our bedroom door was a message on my light box, "Bring Your Best Game!" along with my favorite cologne that he wears.  There was an extra purpose to the message on the light box.  You'll find out.  Don't worry, it's not X-rated.  
After our little love date, I presented another gift to him.  It was ANOTHER heart-shaped box and inside were little basketballs and several printouts that I created for him.  What was that all about?
Well, I presented part of his birthday gift to him on this day! His birthday is February 27th.  He turns 40.  I spent countless hours planning a weekend trip for him.  ONE that was ALL ABOUT HIM and his loves, NOT what I love, but certainly ANYTHING WITH HIM would BE something awesome.  THAT'S where my light box message came into "play"... pun intended.
I hired a babysitter, booked a 3-night stay at the LOEWS hotel in Philadelphia. I even reserved floors 22-35 so that we could be HIGH UP and have a gorgeous view of the city's SKYLINE.  I had champagne and an impressive cheese/italian deli meat/crackers being delivered on HIS actual birthday.  
This would have been OUR room and our view!
We would shop, get massages, ice skate at their downtown ice rink, AND on his ACTUAL birthday, we were going to go to a 76ers VS. Golden State Warriors Game! We were also going to go with my sister and her husband who lives in PA. I even had our airline itinerary picked out.  I presented the gift to him and Darren seemed genuinely happy.  However, once he realized that I did NOT yet PAY for the tickets and I could cancel the hotel room, he started expressing a desire to NOT go.  Apparently, Stephen Curry has been making rude comments about Donald TRUMP and has started doing things that Darren doesn't approve of, things that go against his profession of loving Jesus Christ, and Darren has a small distaste in his mouth for Curry.  He doesn't mind watching the team play, but he just thinks Curry is getting too big for his britches and is losing himself.  I was so bummed.  I really was.  I had no idea he felt this way about Curry.  Ugh... Why does fame ruin humility? BUT, I am SO happy that my husband doesn't give in to the WORLD and has wisdom BEYOND his years.  Darren was also upset that he would be missing our children's LAST basketball games that/this weekend and said, "I would MUCH rather watch my children play basketball than Stephen Curry!" Just another reason to be so thankful for this man.  He gave up an entire weekend for HIM to be a selfless/sacrificial daddy!
Darren gave me a beautiful pair of lavender, silk pjs, lotion from Bath and Body Works, and (2) new Alex and Ani bracelets.  We went out to lunch together and after that it was pretty much time for the twins to arrive home from school!
BACK to the ball game, meaning back to ground zero! Time to REPLAN something special for the birthday boy! UGH... I can't deny that after putting all of that effort and excitement into the above and having it all crumble, doesn't give me MUCH hope for a new plan.  Stay tuned...

For Sale & Sold in 24-Hours


On Thursday, I put our living room furniture on Craig's list and on FRIDAY it sold!!!!!
This living room set has been with us for 10 years (this year).  
It came from the well-known furniture CAPITAL of the world... High Point, NC.  AND from the best furniture store EVER... Furniture Land South.  
At the time of purchase, I felt so blessed and beyond thankful that we were able to decorate our home in this way.  This furniture is gorgeous AND good quality!
BUT looking at it now... it's JUST not our style anymore.
Like AT ALL!
We SOLD the furniture to the new owners of the FLOYD COUNTRY store.  They will be putting it in the cottage, directly behind the store.
I am really just posting this furniture as a memory.  This is the ONLY living room furniture my twins have known and Ty can recall.
We kept it in GREAT shape.  The owner's of the Floyd store couldn't believe it.
On Monday, when they come to pick it up, we will have a COMPLETELY empty room.  Eeeeek.
It is so exciting and so overwhelming at the same time.  The best part about Furniture Land South is that if you shop there, you are given a complimentary design service. That's well worth the drive to highpoint.  Interior designers are NOT cheap these days.  

Good furniture.  You've been good to us, BUT we need something LARGER now.  With two adults, 3 half sized adults kids, and 2 dogs (one 90 pounders), it is time to move on to BIGGER and more beautiful things.  We spent $6,400 on this furniture back in 2007 and we sold this furniture for $3,000.  I think we did good.  It's like we rented this furniture for 10 years for $3,000.  Not bad.  Time to start designing, shopping, and decorating.   










Saturday, February 18, 2017

Team Cancelled ~ 2017


This was Lilah's FIRST year playing basketball.  I was pretty adimate about her NOT playing, but she pressed the issue and I am so glad that she did.  My girl has got game AND with more practice and good coaching, she could definitely improve 10xfold. She's aggressive, happy, enthusiastic, and has a good knowledge of how to play the game (as much as she can have in the first season). 
I was asked to take the photos of both the individual players, team, and coaches.  I begrudgingly agreed.  LOL!
This is the outcome! To see EVERY.SINGLE.PHOTO. just click here. I just decided to post my favorites.
Darren was just a helper, until Coach Brett decided to pick up and move to Tennessee.  LOL!  So now, he is a coach with Erin Carroll.  

I wanted to create some unique shots in addition to the normal, boring, standard poses.

It was stressful and slightly painful trying to capture 8 fidgety girls, but I did it and I am very glad it's OVER WITH.  LOL!
I LOVE THESE TWO SHOTS SO MUCH!
Well, that's a wrap! Next Sunday is TEAM CANCELLED's last game followed by their banquet.  We are NOT participating in baseball season this year and I am SOOOOO excited.  The boys will be conditioning for football and Lilah is still in dance.