Small Town Friday Night

This picture has nothing to do with this post, but I haven't posted a pic of me on the blog. And it seemed like I should. This was taken in December at the Christmas Tree farm where we go to pick out our tree. Despite the fact that I have terrible allergies, I remain in the "real tree" camp- as opposed to the "fake tree" camp. But, I digress. The point is that - this is me! And I did not have a photo to go with tonight's Friday Night Post!


So, it is Friday night and I am just tickled enough by tonight to blog about it! When I lived in Little Rock and was Single and Fabulous I wouldn't have predicted that my life could come to this! Not that it is bad- just soooo different. And I am sure that after you have a baby your life changes dramatically no matter where you live, but tonight was just "SMALL TOWN"!

First, and worst of all, as soon as Don came home I practically RAN out of the door...are you ready...TO GO TAN! Like, in a tanning bed! Hello, 1993. I am fundamentally opposed to "tanning". I have fair skin, I do not like deep, dark tans, and everybody knows it is bad for you!! But, I have to wear a cocktail dress tomorrow night, and the nearest spray tan is an hour away. Hopefully, I can get one in the morning, but just in case that doesn't pan out...

Then, Don forgot to pick up pizza from the only place that makes pizza worthy of Friday night consumption on his way home. So we had to regroup. We picked Paxton up at basketball practice and headed up to our favorite Mexican restaurant. It is located in the lobby of the Holiday Inn. We all had on gym clothes and I had just gotten out of the TANNING BED! Of course, the whole town was there. There was a constant stream of people coming over to say "hi"- and I guess I learned my lesson about wearing sweats to dinner on Friday night!! I mean, what has happened to me :)?? !!

But then, when I was just about to label the night as a loser- something happened. The best part about small town living. The high school sports hero who has already signed with" The University" for next year came in. He is just as cute as can be, clean cut, and all of the young boys idolize him! He was straight from his baseball game, still in uniform, and he came over to OUR table to say "hello" and to chat about tonight's game. Now, I don't really care much about sports, but PAXTON was absolutely awestruck! He couldn't even speak! I am talking about completely mesmerized! Pretty cool Friday night for a 12 year old boy. And that makes me big-time happy in a small town kind of way!

Goodnight! Sweet Dreams!

Happy Campers...

Well, it looks like we are the proud 1/2 owners of a summer home! I am so excited! We have gone in with Don's brother and sister-in-law and bought a little jewel! We haven't actually seen this new aquisition, but we get to park it in my in-laws yard at the lake. And you know what they say...If you're lucky enough to be at the lake then you're lucky enough! It is a 30 foot camper and it sleeps six! And the best thing is that we won't have to stay at the "no tell mo-tel" this summer like I had feared! Of course, Don hasn't given me ANY details other than the basics- forcing my imagination to go WILD! I wonder if it will be PINK?!!

I would DIE and go to heaven if it turned out to be a PINK CAMPER!! How cute! Or maybe it has a cute little awning with fringe around it or a scalloped edge?! I did find out that it has a shower and that the refrigerator doesn't work. Oh darn, I guess I won't be able to cook at all!

Do you think a pack-n-play will fit in a camper? Or will we have to leave the baby at home? That is a nice idea...Hubba Hubba!!!

This is me on weekends when we leave John Stephen with the grandparents! Of course, when we have the kids with us I will be wearing pearls and setting up lovely picnics of fried chicken, deviled eggs, and my signature dessert- "Motor-home Marvelous"! I think I found the recipe in one of the Sweet Potato Queen books, and it totally goes with my "June Cleaver goes Camping" theme!

Oh well, I am so honored that the family doesn't mind if we camp out at their house some this summer! I'll post the real camper pics as soon as I see it! I think we are going to have a "work weekend" real soon!! And I know we will be "happy campers"!

A Quick Trip

We are back from a quick trip to Little Rock! So much fun to "do lunch" and visit with my mom and sister! John Stephen had a great time and was quite intrigued by my mom's furry friend- Baxley the Westie!

We also got to have dinner with these two cuties! Wilson and Liza! They were way more entertaining than Baxley the Westie.

But, John Stephen was pretty curious about Bax. It was his first time to see a dog up close and personal...Baxley was less impressed with John Stephen.

I have been doing lots of laundry today, and trying to put the house back together- Will it ever be again? Seriously, the laundry could blow your mind! But, I better get it done since this cutie will be coming tomorrow...

And, she will probably want to be my sous chef. Sydney has a future as a chef- she can't get enough. I need to send her to Aunt Stephanie's "culinary school"- she could learn so much more from her!! Can't wait to see her and Paxton who is never still long enoough for a photo shoot...

Luckily, I caught him right after his shower the other night chillin with John Stephen! Don and I think this is sort of a "before and after" pic since John Stephen looks so much like Paxton! Well, not much else here. Just cold. I have never been so ready for spring! I'll be back soon!

12 Packs and 12 Steps

Hello, my name is Elizabeth...And I am an addict!

HaHa! Mom, before you call and make my reservation at "The Betty", let me explain...
They were on sale! $11/4 for 4 12-packs! And I am getting good at buying things on sale. In my dream house we will have a super large pantry where all of these things can live. Right now these are riding around in my car until I figure out a good home for them...


Here is a new pic of my boy, who also likes his beverage of choice- Enfamil - Premium Lipil. In fact, he drinks until he passes out! See it dribbling out of his mouth! It is probably one of those things that only a mother finds hilarious, but I do!!

I love his chubby cheeks! Gotta Go! I have a hair appointment today, and I am so excited! I swear people have begun to wonder if I have been casted in the upcoming season of "BIG LOVE"! Time to remedy that!

Be Mine!

Be My Valentine!

Happy Valentine's Day! It has been a good one around here. Don sent me flowers and brought me breakfast in bed (donuts and diet coke- the breakfast of champions!) And we have a babysitter tonight while we go to dinner! Nice!

I just got back from a stroll around the block with the baby, and now we are going to doze off with a little golf on the TV! I guess that is a sign that Spring is just around the corner!
YEA!

Ripping the Bandaid Off and a Little Surprise!

I have always heard that it is hard to get back into your social life after having a new baby, but I never really thought it would happen to me! I am a PEOPLE Person! So I guess it became apparent that I have a problem when John Stephen turned 5 months old and I had barely left the house! Stephanie, my sister, said it was time to RIP THE BANDAID OFF! I guess she was right, and let me tell you it was PAINFUL and FUN!

Here are the shoes I wore on my big night out- that should explain the pain! They are brand new, as was the dress I wore! Last week when I wasn't cooking dinner for the board meeting I was schlepping a 5 month old and his humongus stroller through every store in Memphis looking for
the one dress that would make me look like I had not given birth to a nine pound baby recently!

And then, once I found the dress, none of my shoes looked good! So I had to get new shoes! That's how it goes!

We went to a fundraiser for the Children's Museum of Memphis with our friends Allen and Lauren. And we had so much fun! The event had a circus theme. There were fire eaters at the front door, and acrobats hanging from the ceiling doing cirque de soile style routines! And they had face painters doing elaborate patterns on the guests faces- I had a huge design painted on the side of my face with glitter and sparkles! It was so neat that I wanted to wake Sydney up when we got home just so she could see it, but since it was 2 am...I decided she could just hear about it! Here is the program from the event- we did not take any pictures...But we did dance the night away, and I would say my "Coming Out" was successful!

So I took two naps yesterday, and was so exhausted that Don asked me if I thought I could have MONO! I told him" NO, I just had a dinner party for 30 and took a 5 month old out of town for 2 days of shopping, and stayed out until 2 am dancing! All in one week! I can't imagine why I am so tired!" We went to bed early and woke up this morning to a little surprise...

SNOW! Buckets of it! And it is still falling! We had no warning that snow was coming our way, and Don had to slide to the store this morning for formula and diet coke (the two essentials). The cupboard is bare so I do not have anything simmering on the stove. Guess I will just hibernate here with my little snow baby.

Hope you are warm and cozy at your house...

Do they make sleep masks for babies?

John Stephen has a hard time winding down at night and at naptime. He is very social, and he likes to hang out with me and Don. He fights sleep until he can't make it any longer! As soon as we begin feeding him his last bottle he puts his hands over his eyes. It is like he is shutting us out so he can get some rest! He needs a sleep mask!

Not much going on here this week- I'M JUST COOKING DINNER FOR 30 PEOPLE TONIGHT!

It is for a Board Meeting at Don's office, and I should be getting a full length mink as payment for all of my efforts! On the menu: Shrimp Creole (yes, I just deveined 7 lbs of Shrimp), salad, bread, and WHITE CHOCOLATE BREAD PUDDING!

Luckily, John Stephen took a nap while I worked in the kitchen. Here he his with his covers over his head- another alternative to putting his hands over his eyes. Of course, I uncover his face as soon as he does this because it totally freaks me out!

Oh, and then I got started on paying bills- while my pots and pans soaked in a bubble bath.

Well, If you see any sleep masks for babies we could definitely use one!