I just wanted to...

Remove the wallpaper...

We ended up with all new appliances, granite and backsplash






I just wanted to...

Paint the front door, which meant we needed a new door knob, which meant we had to change all the other door knobs, which meant the hinges had to go as well...

We now have all new door knobs and hinges thru out the house...





I really want to paint my bathroom and get rid of the last wallpaper in the house, but I am afraid I will end up with an entirely new bathroom...which wouldn't be all that bad now that I think about it...

The Great Escape

Puddy escaped last night.

The door was open, he saw his opportunity and he took it.

We are getting all new door knobs throughout the house and in order to change them, the door has to be open.

And Puddy is no fool, he knows an open door means freedom. Even tho I warned Ed, Puddy is pretty quick for an older, out of shape kitty and he slipped out. Not once, not twice, but THREE times! The first time, I managed to corral him pretty quickly.

The second time, he decided to take me on a tour of our property and it was very dark. I finally picked up a very big stick and "herded" him back to the house.

But the third time was the charm for him. He had learned the lay of the land (and it was raining), so I wasn't able to get to him as quickly. He was just gone into the dark and stormy night. I decided to teach him a lesson and didn't go running after him (it was raining). But because I am the moma I am, I was worried sick about him.

After what seemed like days (2 hours)I heard MomaKat hissing and realized Puddy was at the dining room window. It took three attempts at the door to convince him, but he finally decided he was ready to end his wild adventure and rejoin the family.

I am so relieved and as I write, he is in his usual spot, laying on my feet. And if my hair wasn't already totally gray, I am sure I would have had some new ones after his little adventure.

Bad Kitty!

My Babies

It was so wonderful having all my babies together for a few days. We had a wonderful time showering Kari and her baby boy, spending time with family and friends and laughing at Oliver. I can only imagine what it will be like when these two little boys get together in a few years. If my hair wasn't already gray, I am sure the two of them would help it get that way!

It's going to be a busy few months ahead with trips to Cali and Cincy coming up, doing some more updating to the house and a couple of fun procedures I am not looking forward to. But at least the time will pass quickly. Not sure how long I will be with Kari, probably until she kicks me out!

Here are a couple of pics from this weekend.

Yes, I'm still here...

Although you can't tell by my blog...I have been very lax in posting since I returned from Boston. There are many reasons, but the main one is that I miss Oliver! And there just doesn't seem to be anything fun to write about. I just never knew how much this little boy was going to change my life. And Lord help me when the next little boy comes into my world...I will just be a big old blubbering mess for sure...

But, life goes on here in the hills of Arkansas. We have had some beautiful snowfalls here since I returned. I like to think I brought it home with me! Northwest Arkansas had record snowfalls this past week. We had 5-6 inches over 2 snows as well as some ice. But it is all melting today with the 50-60 degree highs and they are predicting 70's for next week. Crazy for sure.

Kari arrives Thursday. She is having a shower in Tulsa on Saturday. Hard to believe it is less than 2 months before we get to meet this little boy. She is on her "Babymoon" this weekend. They are in a cabin in the Smoky Mountains for the next few days and then she will come here for 5 days. Looking forward to some quality time with my baby before she has her baby. They closed on their house a week ago and she has been busy painting the nursery and doing other projects. I am planning to go up the last week of this month to help with whatever she needs help with.

Getting excited about our trip to Cali in March. Cindy and I are planning some fun things and we are still waiting to hear about the Ellen tickets...sure hope we get them, that would be a fun way to spend her birthday. Really hoping Alissa, Brek and Oliver will be able to join us for part of the week as well.

Ok, enough already, going to leave you with a recent picture of the most precious little boy on earth, IMHO!!

Snowy Stoneham

Well, I missed the blizzard and now I have missed another huge snowfall. This storm decided to come during the night and in one place dropped seven inches of snow in one hour! There was also Thundersnow! I think we ended up with about 10-12 inches here. I took some pictures of Alissa and Brek digging out this morning so she could go to work.

Enjoy!

Brrrrr....

So, I may have missed the amazing blizzard, but I am here in Boston for the coldest temps they have had in the past 6 years. Haven't heard the official low yet, but when Alissa left for work this morning, it was -3 degrees with a windchill of 21 below zero! And of course her train was late, so late that she finally came home after standing in the -3 temps and Brek drove her in to work. I am worried about her 20 minute walk from her office to the train station. I imagine she will be one chilly girl by the time she gets there!

Needless to say, I have not ventured out today. Brek has shoveled snow, moved firewood and is out now walking Norman. I on the other hand, am staying upstairs as much as possible (it's so much warmer up here)and have no desire to step out of the house. More snow in the forecast for tomorrow and Thursday! Yep, getting to experience a real New England winter. Well, at least 2 weeks worth! : )

Stay warm everyone!

My 10 reasons for loving Whataburger

Ok, so, Pioneer Woman just posted her 10 reasons that she loves Sonic.

Now, having spent a great deal of my life in Oklahoma (age 9 to 27)and another big chunk in Texas (27-44) and now residing in Arkansas, I have consumed my fair share of Sonic food and drink. I am a Route 44 Diet Dr.Pepperahlic. There, I said it and I am not ashamed. Yes, I live for Happy Hour. I time my errands around it, can't pass a Sonic during Happy Hour without stopping and will be devastated if they ever do away with it. Okay, maybe not devastated, but for sure very, very sad...

But....

Having lived in Texas for those almost 17 years, I would not be able to live with myself if I did not brag on a little place everyone in Texas knows, that's right, Whataburger!

Now, we had one in Oklahoma and I actually ate there a few times before we moved to Texas. I have to say, I was not impressed at that time. Whether it was bad management or I just couldn't really appreciate it at that time, we will never know. What matters is that we soon moved to our adopted state of Texas and as they say, everything is bigger and better in Texas! And since Corpus Christi, Texas is the birthplace of Whataburger (there is one on just about every street corner, no lie), well they just know how to do it.

We quickly fell in love with just about everything on the menu. And for my girls it was a rite of passage to finally be old enough to go to Whataburger after whatever game they had just attended. It was where everyone went to see and be seen by everyone else! Of course, by then, we were only able to go thru the drive thru, they would have been mortified if we had actually come in while they were there with their friends!

And I don't know how many nights they counted down until 11pm so that they could go and get a taquito...What, you have never had a potato and egg taquito with salsa (or ketchup in Alissa's case) from WhataB? Oh, you poor thing, I am so sorry for you...


But back to my top ten...

1. The aformentioned taquito, you can get it with potato, bacon, sausage, cheese or any combination. That is the good thing about WhataB, the combinations are endless. And if you don't like taquitos, you can have a BOB, yes, that's right, a BOB, or as it is also known, a breakfast on a bun. Again, your choice on how you put it together. Me, I like just a plain old egg sandwich, a little egg, a little cheese and some salsa....yummmm, my mouth is watering!

2. Before they took them off the menu, the chicken fajitas were pretty darn good. I wish they would bring those back...hint hint...

3.Chocolate milkshakes, nuff said...

4.Chicken strips with Texas toast and plenty of white gravy to dip them in...So not good for you, but oh soooo good.

5.Whataburger ketchup...I do not know what they put in that stuff, but it is the best ketchup in the world...I usually try and eat a few french fries with the 4-5 containers I go thru. And yes, they are containers, no wimpy bags for WhataB, they give you something to dip your food in!!

6.Whatachick'n,it was immortalized in the movie 8 Seconds with Luke Perry as he portrayed the legendary Lane Frost. You have to try one!

7.Grilled Chicken Sandwich, for those times I am trying to eat healthy...but ususally it just means I can have more of the yummy french fries or onion rings!

8.The 36,864 ways you can make a Whataburger or if you are boring like me, you just let them make it the original way and love it every time!

9.The Hot Chocolate Brownie Pie!!! Oh my goodness, I know loving this is wrong, but I just don't want to be right!

10. All the wonderful memories our family has made and will make in the future at our local Whataburger in Waxahachie, Texas. Even tho none of us live there anymore and now there are three of them in our town( who would have thunk it), we have to eat there at least once every visit. Can't wait to take the grandbabies there for their first Whataburger Junior!

And no, I am not being paid to say any of this, but sure do hope someone would convince Corporate to bring Whataburger to Greenwood or Ft. Smith AR...Our closest one is in Tulsa and that is just too far for a late night taquito run...

I'm just sayin... : )