I haven’t had much time lately to post.  Abbey was in the hospital a few days.  She is better now.  But, I’m still recovering from my overloaded desk at work.  I don’t think I have ever seen such a mess.  Invoices and bill were stacked to the ceiling.  I love my job.  Did y’all read that with plenty of sarcasm?

On to better things……

Y’all know I’m a huge fan of yard sales.  I am bad.  In fact if there was a support group, I would be the president.  My kids are just as bad.  Last year while camping at Virginia Beach we walked around a curve and there was a campsite covered with everything you could think of.  Abbey Beth yelled YARD SALE!  My poor mama covered Abbey’s mouth and walked a little faster.  It wasn’t until our last day that we realized those people were French.  Thank goodness!  Then last Saturday I bought Zack some Osh Kosh B’ Gosh shoes for FIFTY CENTS!  Mama asked him if I got them at Wal-Mart.  He answered with, “No, yard sale.”  Gotta love that even my little man knows the best bargains come from yard sales!

I know y’all know how to yard sale, but do you know the great tips?  You guessed it, I am sharing my knowledge today.  You have to know how to find and have the best ones!

Finding the best:

1. Get up with the chickens!  The good stuff is only there for a short time.
2. Take plenty of small bills and quarters.  Change is often scarce.
3. Read the classifieds to see what area has the most yard sales.
4. Watch for signs.  Signs that are big and neat usually have the best stuff.
5. Don’t be afraid to dig to the bottom of a stack. 
6. It’s OK to make an offer if you want all of a certain thing.  (i.e. box of books, bag of clothes, etc.)

Having the best:

1. Make your signs big, bright, and neat.
2. Get started early.  People will come before the sun comes up!
3. Have plenty of change.  Quarters and ones go fast.
4. Keep your stuff tidy.  People won’t stop if things are thrown everywhere.
5. Have some bags on hand in case people buy a lot.
6. Put like items together.  Kitchen items on one table, clothes on another, etc.
7. Price bigger items a little higher than you really want.  People will ask for lower prices.
8. Have a “freebie box”.  Include mismatched lids to bowls, plastic cups, bags of small toys, etc.
9. Greet people when they come up.  People tend to buy more if you aren’t rude early in the morning.
10. When items aren’t selling, mark them down.  Especially if it’s late in the day.

There are tons more things to remember when it comes to yard sales.  These are just a few of the ones I tend to look for and do.  Any other great tips?

*** my found money is up to $.14! *** 

I am so frustrated!  I have been trying to upload Christmas pictures on here for weeks now.  I despise having to ask Jason for help.  He is just too smart and it makes me feel a little inferior.  HA!

Until I can post some pictures y’all get….. ready for it? …. A LIST!  Oh yeah!

1. My heart goes out to the people of Haiti!  The destruction is devastating.  I thank God for protecting me everyday.  I pray every morning for the safety of my family.  We just never know what God has in store for us. 
2. I have to to change my ring tone.  An older lady sitting in front of me has the same one!  Not good.
3. I have a gift card I have to use before February.  Guess what…. I can’t find anything to use it on.  Now if I didn’t have that gift card, I would be finding things all over the store. 
4. Some random guy just came in.  He started talking to me about school.  Then he realized we didn’t go to school together.  HA!  I love my job.
5. Zack is so smart.  He takes all his cars and lines them up side by side.  He puts them in line by colors!  He can’t tell you what color they are, but he can line them up!  Love this baby boy of mine!
6. Abbey is still grounded over the money issue.  She keeps asking how much longer.  I may just keep adding days since she’s not keeping up with it!  She acts much better when she’s grounded. 
7. Tyler is growing so fast!  This year he hits the double digits!  TEN!  Oh my!  I just can’t stand it!  My sweet baby boy!
8. I developed some pictures yesterday that were 5 years old.  AND… I have three more rolls to go!  I am so thankful for my digital camera!  No more developing film. 

OK there you have it.  Dani’s randomness until I can get my Christmas pictures uploaded!

I’m still here!   Things have been so crazy for us lately.  I haven’t had time to do anything.

I don’t make resolutions because I usually break them by the second day.  I did however decided I’d blog more!  Oh … and I uh.. sorta made a little bet with the kids.  I’m gonna be sporting a two-piece swimsuit this summer.  Yeah… I know.  I haven’t done that since college, and probably shouldn’t have done it then.  We shall see.

This year I sat down and thought about what I need to change in 2010. These are not really resolutions.  More like things I need to be more persistent with.  Things that will make me feel more organized. I will feel more in control of certain aspects of my life. 

On with my non-resolution list.

1. Spend more time with God.  I borrowed a devotional book from my mom.  I love it.  We are also reading the New Testament.  Every night I give the kids one Bible verse from the chapter to learn.  They love it.  I remember reading the Bible with my mom as a kid.  I hope this is one thing they will continue when they have their own kids.
2. Do some form of exercise everyday.  I started by just doing some basic sit-ups, jumping jacks, leg lifts, etc.  Then I bought the Biggest Loser DVD.  Me and the kids have been doing it at night.  It’s tough, but so much fun to watch the kids. 
3. Game night once a month.  Tyler and Abbey have so many new games.  Battleship, Connect Four, Chess, Checkers, etc.   What better way to take advantage of all the games and some quality family time?  Game night! 
4. Change jar.  We started a change jar.  Any change we have goes into it.  We call it Disney Money.  We hope to take a Disney Cruise in a few years.  We have read some good things about how they handle allergies on the cruise. 
5. Not only do we have a change jar, but I have decided to pick up any change I see laying around on the ground.  So far I only have a penny, but a penny is a start…. right?  If I can talk my husband into making me something to go on the sidebar, I will post the new amount every week.
6. Organize every room in my house!  I started with the utility room.  Jason hung me a shelf with a rod Saturday.  It’s amazing what a difference one shelf made!  My plan is to pick one room a month to declutter( why does spell check say this is not a word?) and organize.  I’m  ready to have my house back the way it was when we moved in. Clean, clutter-free, and semi-organized.
7. Take more pictures!  I got a new camera.  I will be doing my sister-in-laws wedding in February.  I have been reading about ways to improve my pictures. 

There are my top seven non-resolutions.  I will keep y’all posted on how things are going.  So far I have stayed on track.  But, it’s only the 12th day. 

I hope everyone has an amazing year!

I have got to get back to posting.  I really miss typing all the craziness I encounter.  I think now that school is back I’ll have plenty to post about.  Trust me… there is never a dull afternoon at my house with all the school stories.

Since I have been a bad blogger, I’m going to bombard y’all with a lot today.  I just could not choose one thing to write about today.  Not to mention that not one of these random things could merritt an entire post.  So, today you get my favorite kind of post… A LIST…  ohhhh ahhhhh applause.  I could just see Vanna White for some reason when I typed that sentence. 

• This morning we were praying on our way to school.  Tyler gets all upset because Abbey is eating her dry cereal while praying.  Then she shoots back at him that some mornings he doesn’t even pray.  They are just back and forth for a few minutes.  Then Tyler says, “Abbey, that is between me and GOD! So back off.”  I was so shocked that he would say that.  Of course Abbey was back at him with the same thing.  I’m not so sure she knew what she was saying, but hopefully one day she will.  My point… or Tyler’s point rather… Our lives with God is just that “With GOD”.  It is only ourselves that will answer to Him for what we do. 
• On a little lighter note… we then started talking about Halloween.  I know it’s early, but since I don’t spend money on costumes, I have to get an early start to making them.  I want Abbey to be a “party in a box”.  I can glitz up a box with glitter, balloons, and streamers and she could wear it.  They just hooted at that idea.  I thought it was good.  Guess it’s too “Giant Preschooler” for Abbey. 
• After a few minutes of talking about costumes Tyler asks me if I remembered the house with all the ghosts and scary stuff from last year.  I wasn’t sure so he says, “You know the one with the Ripstones.”  I’m like Ripstones?  What was he talking about.  He then explains that it was cardboard with R.I.P. on it.  I almost ran off the road.  Seriously where do they come up with this stuff?  Ripstones?  HA-HA!
• Last night we had steamed asparagus, black-eye peas, pork chops, and creamed potatoes.  This is not a joke… Abbey ate almost an entire plate of asparagus!  Then she asked for more!  That kid is going to explode!  At least she eats healthy… not that her allergies will allow anything else.
• A gigantic frog with those suction cup looking feet was on my passenger side window this morning.  Again, I almost ran off the road.  It kept moving back until it was on Tyler’s window.  He was screaming like a girl!  I rolled it down a little and that dang frog PEED on my window!  PEED!  YUCK! 
• Abbey’s room is almost finished.  Pink with brown polka dots.  It’s not what we were expecting, but it’s still cute. I’ll post some pictures as soon as her comforter set comes in.
• Finally, since I’ve bombarded y’all with a lot of nothingness…. I think it’s about time to have another giveaway.  Keep watching… I hope to have my ducks in a row by next week. 

There will be more vacation stories.  Oh yes there will.  But today I thought I’d give y’all a break. 

Here are some things I just had to share!  I don’t have to, but I love to share all the little pieces of my family with y’all!

1. Jason’s birthday is Monday.  I asked if he wanted to go fishing with the guys this weekend.  His reply?  “No, Beautiful, I’d rather find a babysitter and spend some time with you.”  Awwww….. how sweet is that.  Passing up fishing for me.  What a catch I have. (pun intended)
2. Last night Zack was doing something bad.  Jason shook his finger at him and said in a stern voice, “NO!”  Zack pointed his cute little finger back at Jason and said in his stern voice, “DOP!”  How stinking cute is that?  We will definitely have to stop him from doing that, but he was just too cute.
3. Abbey took her UFO (you remember, the smart kid test) today.  She didn’t know what was missing from the picture of a camel.  HUMPS??  Yeah that is what I thought too.
4. Tyler screamed like a pig Monday night.  I had to pull his tooth.  It was hanging by a root.  He carried on so much.  I just knew the neighbors were going to call the police!  It was really that bad!
5. I am so sleepy right this minute.  I went home on my lunch break, set my phone alarm, and took a 30 minute nap.  I really don’t think I’ll be doing that again.  I feel worse now than I did before.  It is nice to live close enough to work to go home for lunch.

I just read back through my post and realized just how country I sounded.  Screamed like a pig, fishing with the guys, carried on…. Hello world, my name is Dani and I am a big ‘ol country bumpkin!

Jason and I hit a brick wall with Abbey yesterday.  We hit it hard.  I cried.  He got frustrated.  Together we were a complete mess. 

A few weeks ago we had Abbey retested for her allergies.  I prayed for good results.  I prayed for her to be well.  I prayed for health problems to be His will.  Then I prayed for the parenting skills to deal with whatever He handed me. 

The results came in yesterday.  I was literally sick watching as the 4 pages slowly came out of the fax machine.  I prayed with each line that was printed for good news.  Unfortunately, that is not what God handed us yesterday.  Instead we have added more food allergies.  A lot. 

I was mad.  Then I got upset for having to tell Abbey she could no longer have her ONE treat of Hershey’s kisses.  My madness took over again.  “Why God?  Why did You do this?  Why does she have to suffer?  Why does she have to never taste what she has learned to love?  WHY GOD!!!??”  I questioned Him.  Then I stopped as I watched a mother walk around to the side of her van and pull down a wheelchair ramp.  That mother then wheeled a young child about Abbey’s age out.  I fought the tears as I quietly begged God to forgive me for questioning His will.  I was quickly reminded that I will never be given more than I can handle.  These allergies, no matter how difficult, will never be more than I can deal with.  God knows my strength and my weakness. 

Today I want y’all to know that I am blessed.  Here are a few.  I don’t think there is enough space to type all my blessings.  I am blessed more than I ever deserve!  I’m sure I have typed this before, but you can never count your blessings enough.

1. Salvation!  I will one day walk beside Jesus!   
2. My family is amazing.  I love my husband and kids.  In return, they love me! 
3. Food, clothing, and shelter. 
4. My job.  I may gripe about getting up, but I love my job.
5. My sight.  I love being able to see the smiles on my kids faces. 
6. My hearing.  The sound of a baby’s laughter is amazing.
7. My family’s health.  Small problems, but in all we are healthy.
8. My life experiences.  I haven’t done much, but the things I have will be memories forever.

Dear God,

Please keep me positive about Abbey’s allergies.  Help me to look to You for guidance in all I do.  Show me Your way Lord!  I know there is a purpose and I will wait for You to show me.

Yesterday I was tagged.  How fun…. My first tag and my first giveaway on the same day.  Giveaway is open until Friday!  There is still time to enter!

Ten honest things about me.

1. I am unorganized.  There really is no reason to elaborate, but I will.  I buy all these cutesy plastic organizing thingies, with good intentions, but never can get things organized enough to use them.  Any given day, I will have laundry piled to the ceiling.  If anyone stopped by to visit, I’d probably rush my kids to a room far away from the front door and threaten their lives if they made one little peep.  I’m just a good mama that way.  Maybe soon I will get things organized.  HA!
2. I love Jimmy Buffett.  I dated a guy in high school who listened to him all the time.  I got hooked.  I still listen to him.  I don’t reminisce about those days.  I just enjoy his music. Sorry Jason.  Honey, all that air guitar you like is really just, well, it’s just indescribable.
3. I use y’all way too much.  I love my southern roots.  So I will use y’all and ain’t any time I get a chance.  Even if spell check can not recommend a spelling for ain’t. 
4. I did something bad in college.  My roommates and I went to Virginia Beach.  We were having so much.  We decided to stay overnight (big no-no at Liberty University).  We called our RA and told her the oil cap flew off my car.  Sad thing is she believed us.  Sadder thing…. we were red as lobsters when we got back.
5. I secretly have a crush.  It won’t be a secret now huh?  Bill O’ Reilly.  What a Man!  I love him!  I wish I was ½ as smart as him.  Actually, I really wish I could just yell & throw pens like him.  Seriously people, watch his show.  He tells it like it is!
6. I love to eat toes.  Ha ha!  Now y’all know I mean baby toes!  I just love to “eat” on his sweet feet. He just chuckles.  That is the sweetest!
7. I have OCD.  I can not stand to have Zack’s bottles mixed up.  I want all the nipples, rings, lids, and bottles to match.  My mom does not have this obsession.
8. I am also obsessed with falling down.  I have this fear.  I just know I will fall down at some important event.  A few weeks ago at church I signed a song while my sister sang.  She thought I was nervous about signing.  Nope.  I was scared silly I’d get my shoe caught in the rug and go sprawling.  Not a pretty sight!
9. I want to be on What Not to Wear!  I just adore this show.  But, I’d change the rules.  I would give myself all the money and head to some clearance stores!  I bet I could keep Stacy and Clinton’s fashion rules and still have money left over!  Anyone want to nominate me?  Ha!
10. Lately my biggest dream is to stay home.  I love my job.  I love the people I work with.  But, my kids need me to be home.  My daughter needs to be home schooled.  I feel pretty bad that I can not do this right now.  Actually, we are hopping that by the time she reaches 3^rd grade we can.  Praying daily for God to send someone to buy our house!

This was fun!  Thanks for tagging me! 

Now I tag:

• Emily because she can really make you feel like you are wherever she is
• Becky because she has a baby boy almost the same age as my Zack
• Jill because I just recently found her on the blog world and am already addicted to her writing!
• Liz because I found her too and I love that she changes the picture on her header almost daily!

First, Happy New Year Y’all! 

Second, just wanted to recap some highlights of 2008! 

1. I have the sweetest little addition to my family!  Zack Brenden!  Way too cute and sweet for words.  I can’t help but want to mush him like bananas! 
2. We both still have our jobs.  In November we were terrified that Jason would be loosing his.  God answered our prayers.  As of right now, he is still employed!
3. We no longer owe for a vehicle!  WOO to the HOO!  That is the BEST thing in the world!  PAID IN FULL VEHICLE! 
4. I hit a deer in that Paid in full vehicle going about 60 up and down those good ole Longview hills and the only thing it did was knock out my fog light!  Angels are among us! 
5. Abbey Beth made it an entire year with out ONE overnight hospital stay!  WOW!  No joke, that is the first since she was born SEVEN years ago. 
6. Tyler was saved.  Now how is that for a great thing?!  My little man will be in heaven with me! 
7. I got a Kitchen Aid mixer for Christmas!  (thanks mom)  You are the best! 
8. We elected a new president.  May not have been my choice, but God is in control.
9. I learned to appreciate the husband more!  He really stepped up this year when we had Zack.  He has stayed up many nights with him and even Abbey Beth. 
10. I was actually awake at midnight this year!  he he.  I fell asleep on the couch and woke up about 11:56.  I stayed awake for the next few minutes and then headed to the bed!  Maybe I’ll ring in 2010 by staying up ALL night.  Nahhh why waste precious sleep?

Happy New Year to you all!  May this year bring you all happiness and good health!

• Start my Christmas shopping.  Yeah Yeah I know.  Only one week.  I’m gonna do it TOMORROW!

Not a long list, but a very tedious list!  I will be gone ALL. DAY. Tomorrow.  I am actually excited about it too.  Nieca and Mama are going with me.  It has been forever since I went anywhere with both of them. 

Watch out TUPELO, HERE. WE. COME.

I know Thanksgiving is next week, but I may not have the time to sit down and do this any other time.  Here are the top things on my list this year.

• I get to experience another baby.  I love every little thing about him.  His sweet little fingers, toes, and nose.  His cute grin.  His low chuckle when he gets tickled.  I just want to mush him like a banana!  Thank you God for this experience once again!
• I have a son that will someday be with me in Heaven!  This summer he became a child of God!  How awesome is that!  Thank you God that You allowed my son to follow his heart!
• My daughter has had a better year with her allergies.  The exposure to her allergens is inevitable.  However, this year she has not had as many asthma attacks!  Thank you God that You are keeping her safe!
• My husband still loves me.  Even after three kids and my body doesn’t look the same, he still calls me Beautiful every morning!  Thank you God that my husband loves me!
• Jason did not get laid off!  Yesterday he found out that he would be one of 18 people keeping a job!  Thank you God that you answered my prayer and provide for us!

What are you thankful for this year?