Lacey's First Dance!!!

Okay, so I never knew how hard it would be to watch your little girl grow into a woman, but that is EXACTLY what is happening right before my eyes. I am sure you all remember my little girl, the cute little short thing with the dark blonde hair and the dimples, right? Well, I am having to face the fact that she is no longer a little girl, but has grown into a beautiful young woman. Last Saturday night was her first dance, and I promise you it took all I had to keep from crying when I dropped her and her DATE... omg, did I just write that?.... off at the dance. She looked absolutely beautiful and I thank God that he put her in my life. I don't know what I would do without this kid. I just wanted to share a bit of her first dance with you guys. Thanks for being a part of our life, and we love you!

My Beautiful, Beautiful Girl... Could I have possibly helped to make her?

Mom and kiddo before the date arrived.

Acting shy while putting on corsage/butineer

My two girls at La Huerta before the dance.

Lacey and her date, Russell, out in the snow while leaving the house.

From Left to right: Russell, Lacey, Nick, Adriana, and Kody.

What a crew!!! lol

And Finally, a Dad and his daughter... He was so proud.

Thanksgiving

Since tomorrow is Thanksgiving day, I thought I would let you know some of the things that I am thankful for.

1.) I am thankful for my family, they are my heart and soul and the reason that I am on this Earth.
2.) I am thankful for the many friends that I have and the many good memories that we have shared.
3.) I am thankful that Christ died on the cross so that I could be saved and live in Heaven with him someday.
4.) I am thankful for the many mistakes that I have made that have helped me to be the person that I am today.
5.) I am thankful for the gift of being able to love everyone, no matter who they are or where they come from, and having so many blessings from this in my life.
6.) I am thankful that my daughter still loves me and still talks to me and wants me to know what is happening in her life.
7.) I am thankful for my husband and how hard he works for our family.
8.) I am thankful for my neighbors, they are so good and have become such a part of our extended family.
9.) I am thankful for the time that I was able to spend with my parents, and the lessons and morals that they taught me.
10.) I am thankful that I have a good job and great hours, and that I am able to help provide for my family.
11.) I am thankful that I have a warm place to sleep and food on my table.
12.) I am thankful that my family still loves each other enough to get together for the holidays and that I am a part of that.
13.) I am thankful for the many opportunities that I have to help those less fortunate than me.
14.) I am thankful for love, most of all Gods undying love for us......... what gift could be better than to have a glad heart?
15.) I am thankful for you. If you are reading this, you are my friend, and I love you, and wish you the Happiest Thanksgiving ever!!!


Happy Turkey Day everyone and don't eat too much, although I know I will!!!! Love you guys!

Warning... camera bogarting going on. :)

Okay, so as I was going through my camera to download some pics to put on here, I discovered that my daughter and her friend Adriana, had gotten ahold of my camera and left some silly pictures for me. Thought you guys might get a kick out of it. Enjoy!

They so totally look deranged in this one.

Wish I would have had this kind of confidence when I was this age.

Okay, so this one is a bit more stable.

This is Adriana, Lacey's best friend and my other kiddo..... We have been thinking about adopting her since she is at the house so much, but her parents might not like that. We love her like she is our own and feel priviledged that she feels the same way about us.

Hope you guys enjoyed these as much as I did. I will have some new ones on here after Thanksgiving. Hope you all have a wonderful Turkey day!!!

This is scary.

Okay, so on Sunday night about 10:00 p.m. Lacey calls me into her room and says "Mom, please make sure all of the doors are locked, I think I heard something outside of my window." She is a little paranoid since we were broken into when we lived above Dover, so I usually give into this bit of paranoia and double check the locks, and the wind was blowing, so I just chalked the noise up to the crape myrtle bush outside of her window scratching on her screen. I go into the bedroom, get ready for bed, and then go into the kitchen to put the remaining dishes into the diswasher. The dogs were in their bed in the kitchen corner as usual, sleeping. I got the dishes done,and then turned off the light and headed to bed. Our older dog, Daisy started barking. I was like "Hush, Daisy!!!" , but she did it again and again. I was a little bit perterbed, but she finally stopped, and I settled into bed to read my book. About 10 minutes afterward, Cailem comes in the bedroom and says "Kim, you have to get your clothes on and come out the front. The cops are shining spotlights in this area again, and they are at Liz's(our neighbor across the street) house talking to her. Needless to say, I get dressed and go out looking just beautiful with no makeup and hair already messed up from laying down for a bit, in a hurry. I got outside just in time to call Liz to make sure she was okay. She said that she had heard someone outside her house and then heard some glass break, so she called the cops, but that they had walked around the perimeter of her house, and all looked safe. So, the cops left. The other neighbors had came out of their houses also, and Jacob, a 19 year old neighbor, took off around the house to do a double check. As he reached the corner of Liz's yard where the porch light did not hit, he spots this guy and they take off running. Anyway, the guy got away. The cops searched for about an hour, to no avail. So now, we have a black guy going around our neighborhood dressed in black peeping in people's windows and now trying to break in..... needless to say, Lacey had a hard time sleeping last night. Please everyone say a prayer that they catch him, so that we can all get back to normal again and feel safe and sound in our own homes. The question I keep asking myself was "What if that guy was at my back sliding door watching me do the dishes?" - this is my scary thought for the day. Hope you all have a great day guys-- and watch out for black guys in black outfits in the black of night.

Get together

So everyone, I really liked the idea that Michelle had about all of us getting together soon. Name the time and place and I will be there... Miss you all. I know what you all mean about being busy. I only have one kiddo, but she keeps me hopping all of the time. Between her, work, and trying to get done with school, I barely have time to get over the previous day's activities before it is time for a new one. I don't see how you guys with 3 or more kiddos do it. You are my heros!

Has It Really Been THAT Long?

Today, while going through my dresser cleaning out the clothes that I never wear to take to the Main Street Mission, I ran across something that I hadn't seen in ages, my Class of 93 senior shirt. This brought me to one certain conclusion, that being that I am not a "Spring Chicken" any longer. Has it seriously been over 15 years since we all shared so many great times together?
For some reason in my mind, it seems like we should all still be those youngsters not yet ready to go out into the real world, hanging onto our youth as tightly as we could, but still wanting to be granted the independence of adulthood. It does not seem possible to me that so much time has passed. Some of us have teenagers and are about to go through what our parents went through with us. (My dad always did say I would pay for my raising.:))
Looking at the shirt brought back so many great memories, like the Senior trip we all took to Hot Springs, all of the trips that we took with our youth group, hanging out in the locker room after a game either elated or disappointed, but sharing it together. Those were some great times in our lives. I know that we didn't understand it then, but what would we all give to go back just for one day or one week knowing what we know now. I think we would cherish those times all the more. Ang this got me thinking about the time you, Amy and I were having a sleepover at your house and were having a huge discussion about 2 in the morning about angels and devils and the phone pager went off, but your grandparents were asleep. I also thought about your 16th birthday party when we all went out cruising, and would have gotten into a wreck if your senses hadn't told you to get in the other lane when you did.
I thought about the time when we all went to Beta convention in Little Rock and had that dance, and those guys from Fouche Valley wouldnt leave us alone. lol. I remember when we were all in headstart in Appleton and would fight over the tricycles. lol. I remember in Kindergarten when we all had a crush on Dirk Hart and would fight to be his "Princess" at the top of the monkey bars. lol..... I think about Susan's little yellow "Banana" car, and all of the places that it went with how many people in in? LOL.
We all have some great memories together and are so lucky to have been able to share great times like that. I am so proud that life has been so good to us all, and that we are healthy and happy and full of love, all of us with a happy heart and great friends, no matter how far away they are. We have truly been blessed!!! Love you guys!

Lacey's First Dance

This last weekend was Lacey's first real "Boy/Girl" dance at school. They didn't have to have a date to go, and she had a blast. I think their first formal dance is this winter, and I am not really looking forward to it, but nonetheless, it is coming rapidly. :) Hope this finds you all well and doing great. My week started out slow by cleaning the carpets and cooking and doing laundry, but I work on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, so here I am at work. I have my work done and can leave when I do, but it is a little quieter here than it is at home, so I choose to stay here for a while and finish up any odds and ends that are left. :) I have been busy trying to come up with reasons for her to stay home as of late, though, which kinda sucks, considering the fact that "Mom" as I know it doesnt exist anymore.... I am now just a lowly chauffeur. lol.

I thought this was cute.... Lacey did it herself.

Looks like they are having a pretty good time to me... but then Im a mom.. what do I know? :)

Those kids are such a mess!! Reminds me of another bunch of kids when we were about 13 or 14. LOL.

Are they not too darn cute? It still makes me sad every time I look at them.. weren't they just in 2nd grade yesterday?

This is Lacey and Cailem's sister's daughter Brittney. They are about 8 months apart, but they act like sisters. I love these two!!!

Not much else going on around here with the exception of her Halloween party in a couple of weeks, and the constant kiddos at the house. This is my life... at least for another 5 years or so, and then I think I will be lost. :) Hope you all have a great day!!! Love you guys!