Despite a few obstacles I conquered!

The weather is so not cooperating this week. I started this whole lawn expedition on Monday it's now Wednesday and I finally finished but not without some mishaps;

1. The weed-eater kept coming unravelled

2. There was sun, then no sun, sun, then no sun....the problem was every time the sun left the rain came

3. My weed-eater kept coming unplugged (maybe I should purchase a gas powered one)

4. Finally the weather cooperated yesterday (for a brief minute) and I got one loop around the yard and the lawn mower ran out of gas :(

5. I told myself today come hell or high water I'm going to get this done so I mowed in the RAIN!!!!!

Here are some pictures of this great event....it's a great event because I hate yard work. Get use to reading blog entries like this because for me this is a BIG deal!

My neighbor mows his lawn down to the dirt and then my lawn looks like a jungle and of course he mows right along the property line so it looks horrible. Believe it or not I just mowed a week and a half ago. Why is it 2 or 3 days after you mow the dandelions spout up 6-8 inches? How do they grow so fast?

No wonder I couldn't start this thing last time....should have read the directions right on the machine.....it clearly states push to pime 3x. I had no problem starting it today or yesterday.

My new gas can!!!

Just wanted to admire the bushes in my yard....I need to weed my flower beds anyone want to help?

Look at that yard and I did it all by myself!!!!!

No picture to prove it but..............

I used a weed whacker yesterday....all by myself, no help from anyone!!! It even unraveled and I put it back together. I feel like such an adult!!

Now, who wants to come and mow today?

Pie = 3.14

Every morning I give Cameron a thumbs up or a thumbs down...it's his way of showing Grandma how the morning has been. Some days it's double thumbs up, some days it's a side ways thumbs down, and he's even received two thumbs down (that was a rough morning). As we pull up to Grandma's and he's collecting all of his stuff (this usually takes several minutes) like his backpack, several toys and other crap he just has to bring. Then he debates with me about what he thinks he should receive for the morning:

C: Do I get a thumbs up?

M: Yea, you get a thumbs up!

C: Two thumbs up?

M: No, one today!

C: How about 3?

M: Bud, just one today! Hurray get you stuff....I love you but I got to go!

C: (now talking non-stop over my chatter) 4? 100? What about 1000? 1 billion? Pie?

M: Wait, Pie? What's pie?

C: (looking at me like I should know) Pie, is a number!

M: Who taught you about pie?

C: A friend.....

The things he is learning this year from 'friends' are cracking me up. Can you picture a bunch of 1st graders playing on the big toy and discussing pie???? Good times, good times!!!!

I got the blue ribbon

Yesterday Cameron had his final track meet and I was actually there to see it. Here is a video of the 100yd dash. He received the first place blue ribbon, however; it appears after watching the video that he was second place.....but shhhh don't tell!!!

This is a video of Cameron's relay team....they did great and came in 2nd place. Cameron was the first runner so you can barely see him in the video---look for his red jacket!

JOY!

Things are beginning to come together......

Vicki and my Mom worked hard this week on putting our new website together for the clean and sober house....it looks great! I contacted my new friend Diana and asked if she would create a header and a button for us and she was so impressed with what we are doing that she donated it to us. Thanks Diana!!! Check her blog out!

Donna will be moving into our house mid-may and we can't be more excited! If you have no clue what I'm talking about then you'll need to read here.

If you feel so inclined please place our button on your blog; even if you don't live in my area it's ok....there are lots of resources out there!!!

The Jerk (white boy style)

One of Cameron's friends taught him a new dance move today.......

I love my mom!

I'm lacking festive Easter decorations. I had hardly anything in the attic and then when I went out to purchase some I couldn't find anything that I liked. So........I decided I would just live with what I had!!!

My mom still thinks of me at Easter and makes a little basket for me each year. I love it! This year she surprised me and made me the cutest table runner. Yea, something to add to my Easter collection!!!!!

Look at how cute!!!!

She even beaded.....ahhh, now that's love!

My mom and sisters are so creative and I love it when they make me things! Thanks Mom!

Not prepared

I forgot my camera at home today when I went to visit Vicki in the hospital. I used my camera phone and got 4 great pics and now I can't get them downloaded on here......so, this upside down leg picture is going to have to do for right now.

Vicki is resting well at the hospital. The giant cell tumor was removed successfully along with her fibula. The doctor said the leg does not need that bone just the ankle...taught you something new didn't I? As long as the drain comes out tomorrow with no problems she'll be able to come home. We love you Vicki!!!!! 

2nd Place Winner

Cameron had his first track meet on Saturday. Unfortunately, I missed the whole thing because I was off selling handbags but he did great. When I finally arrived I went and found him on the field. He was so excited to see me and never realized I wasn't in the crowd cheering him on.

Here is the mass flood of people....it was some serious chaos.

The first graders got to participate in 3 events; the long jump, 50 yd dash and the baseball throw. Next meet he will get to do the relay.

Here he is just before the race (thanks Jem and Alicia for taking pics)

and their off

always have to check out your component

Cameron is a fast runner....my mom says he's like a gazelle. 

Cameron won 2nd place in the 50 yard dash. He was super excited!!! Thanks Dad, Mim, Vicki, Jem, Alicia and Aiden for hanging out and supporting Cameron!!!

Aiden is finally here.........

Jeremy, Alicia and Aiden finally made it to Washington for a visit. Cameron was so excited to meet Aiden and Aiden loves Cameron!!!!! It was great being able to hang out this weekend and get all caught up.

Have you ever watched Intervention on A&E?

I love this show. I love that it's real. I love the emotion that is displayed. I love that the individuals get help. I love that families come together and get into the solution. I love that I can totally relate. I love that every time I watch I cry. I love that one of the producers called me yesterday. {You just had to reread that sentence, huh?} You read it right. One of the producers called me and wants us to sponsor one of their clients in our clean and sober house in exchange for free publicity on their web and our house name will be in their rolling credits. Pinch me, please! I'm so stinking excited I could scream. The show won't air for awhile and the gal is still in treatment for another month but how cool is this! So, stay tuned and I'll let you know when it's on! If you haven't ever seen the show check it out here!

Deep fried what?

This is my Brother-in-law Nick, he's married to Sharon. We've been hearing about his deep frying skills for some time now and how good a deep fried turkey tastes. Well, it's our lucky year because Nick cooked for Eater dinner.

{Steve, don't read this blog entry}

Here's how it's done:

Injection of some smart balance

 (I think butter is probably preferred but you won't find real butter at our house)

temp up to 350 degrees

Let cook for 45 minutes

Tadaaaaaa.....a deep fried turkey

Let me tell you......it actually was very good!

At first Cameron wanted nothing to do with it because it looked so different. But he took a bite and had 3 large servings.

This is my mom take II

I'm on a 'spring blink' this week. My school district went on strike at the beginning of the year and instead of having the whole glorious week off I go back to work tomorrow. I'm so tired that I've already contemplated calling in sick tomorrow but I'll be a trooper and just get it done. Is it summer time yet?

Since Cameron had a spring break last week (next year we actually have a spring break the same week....first time in 5 years) I've been able to get some things done the last 2 days while he's been in school. Spring blink = spring cleaning! You would think since I only moved in 8 months ago there shouldn't be a whole lot of crap.....I have at least 3 bags of crap that need a ride to the DI! 

Man, I got sidetracked now onto the real post. I had lunch with Cameron today...remember last year? If not go here! He requested chicken teriyaki, chocolate milk and a peanut butter cup. I picked up the necessary items and headed off to his school. It's so cute he runs around introducing me to everyone, "this is my Mom Mandy!" All the little girls thought I was the best especially when they asked me if I like Lady Gaga and I said YES! 

So, while eating the lunch lady Ms. Wyman comes up to me and says you must be a Jones? You all look the same. Then she goes on to tell me that she remembers Sharon, Christi and Keith (all by name). I asked her how long she has worked here and she tells me 21 years. I remember when I was in an Art class in the 8th grade and the teacher Ms. ?? (Vicki you'll have to help me out) comes up to one of my friends and tells her that she taught her mother in Art. I always thought that was a little strange but now I have a kid and a lady remembers my brother and sisters. I'm either getting old or she's worked there way too long. 

Cameron and I had a great day....I went and played with all his friends on the playground and even jump roped. Cameron wants to know if we can do this again next year....I told him we'll do it as long as he still wants me around. For some strange reason I can picture him in the 6th grade still wanting me there.

I guess call it like it is

While kissing Cameron goodnight;

M: Goodnight little man!

C: Goodnight big woman!

Hippity Hoppity

I asked Cameron this morning if he knew the true meaning of Easter and to my surprise he knows. He said, "Mom, I know but do you know what happened on Good Friday?" Although the holidays like Christmas and Easter are so much fun it has always bothered me that I focus more on the commercial stuff and not enough on the  'true meaning.'  It's reassuring after his Good Friday comment and the conversation that followed that I'm doing something right.

Yesterday we spent the day with friends and went to an egg hunt in Milton. Cameron got his face painted. It's amazing to me as he grows up the more things he's willing to try. A few years ago there is no way!

Here are Cameron's friends Donnie and Lauren!

Getting ready to go find some eggs

I like to bake....sometimes! The problem is I pick and I pick and I pick. So needless to say having the crap around me is not a good idea. But I offered to bring dessert to my mom's and found a couple of recipes to try.

These are Rice Chex Krispy Bunny Pops with white chocolate. They are so cute and so easy to make. I found the cookie cutter at Joanne's and it was 40% off....bonus!

 

My friend Nancy is a HUGE cupcake fan. Every time I see a cupcake I think of her. I found a blog that has some real fun cupcakes and so I decided to try Red Velvet cupcakes with peppermint white chocolate cream cheese frosting. I forgot to add the cup of mini chocolate chips and so I just sprinkled some big ones on top.

I really want to try these cupcakes sometime but they look hard....Martha Stewart's Chick Cupcakes.

On Friday my mom decorated eggs with Cameron. Thank goodness because I don't like to do it! I don't eat hard boiled eggs -yuck- and so decorating seems like a big waste of time. Plus look how cute they made their eggs.

It seems my pictures are a little out of order. We are now on today. Here are the carrots Cameron left out for the bunny.

The basket

He's going to be sooooo excited!

Time to hunt for eggs

Real and Fake!

Happy Easter.....his face looks funny the face paint yesterday didn't come completely off.

We've had a great day so far. General Conference is on, dinner with the family and I have the next 2 days off so life is good!!!

Stay tuned my brother in law is deep frying a turkey for dinner.