Y'all all know I heart me some holiday decor. This is the last one until Halloween and darn it - I couldn't find my blow-ups and I do have two small ones. (they are VERY hard to find for Easter unless you order online and the shipping is EXORBITANT).
I present my entranceway. Shaddup about that !@#$$% wallpaper SHELL! LOL

I bought these big eggs at Hobby Lobby. I might go back and get some more. I like them.

These little twirly guys line the walk-way! Whee!!!

A view stepping back. Too bad we only have one tree instead of the four we had last year to do an easter egg tree but one is better than none right?!

A little signage just to make sure the Bunny doesn't hop on by!

I just thought this "up close" pic of the eggs was sort of neat. Perspective.

I am feeling a little better but I still think I am going to go ahead and call to go in and discuss surgery - in a few months maybe May or June. *sigh* What a year it's been for Doctor's and hospitals but hey it could have been funeral homes and cemetaries so i'd best shut up and count those blessings! :)
p.s. I don't know how to get rid of that weird thing below the first picture so ignore it!

This was what her and her Dad were doing while I went to Urgent Care (for the record he offered to go but I saw no point).
First Sneaky had to check it out..........

I think i'll give it a jump....

Hey! This is pretty fun!

Now it's time for me to let Sneaky go out. She's not much on jumping!

Had to go to Urgent Care last night, don't feel like posting much today (not the flu). Probably won't be getting around to reading much today either but you know i'll catch up eventually.
Thanks to Daisy and Manblogger for the cute St. Pat's Day card they sent. Madison loved it but she's a little confused about St Pat's/Easter (since they are so close this year). Y'all have a great day.

Anybody else love AC/DC? They are one of many rock bands I love. Bon Jovi, Styx, REO Speedwagon, Cheap Trick,Queen are some others. I love this shirt. I have a few t-shirts (

Katie

and I share a common AC/DC one) but I just really love this thermal shirt.
Stacy is recuperating good and my baby girl is back home with us. She had been at her Grandma's since Wednesday! We missed her so!

Okay after my hard day of sitting on my ass nursing my infirm spouse I went for a little shopping expedition.
To start with I got some baby gifts for Stacy's friend/workmate Brett who is having a baby next month. A baby bank filled with crap stuff such as a rattle, snack bowls, sippy cup etc, a ralph lauren polo baby onesie, a GAP baby outfit. I don't know Brett's new wife, but I was friends with his former psycho wife and wish him the BEST this go-round!

I got some Easter stuff for Madison. Two cute spring capris (one pair flowered on left and the one on right striped)and a shirt with a sequined bunny on it that will match either pair. A pair of socks with easter eggs adoring them and the classic "Here Comes Peter Cottontail" DVD. I hope she likes it but not as much as A Christmas Story wherein I have to watch it every.freaking.day. LOL

I also got some stuff to celebrate upcoming St. Pat's Day. A shirt for me, and an Irish Boa (got one for Madison too) and pair of Beer Glasses for Stacy. Yee Haw! Bring on the Green Beer!

Then last but not least I got these shoes (or as the cashier said "Oo wee you got you some hot mamma shoes!" (I kid you not) These will match the black and red dresses I recently bought.

Y'all won't even believe how long I was gone screwing around shopping. I left at like 10:30 a.m. and didn't return until almost 5 p.m. and only went to Kohls and Target!

Rarin' to go! Actually we had to be there before 6 a.m. and I was so sleepy I crawled up in to bed with him and napped for over an hour before a nurse came in.

Whoo hoo aren't those surgical caps just too sexay?! The first old guy who came and wheeled Stacy to the prep room had been with the hospital for 42 years. I wish I would have taken his picture. He was great! I think he put Stacy at ease.

Back in the room with his leg all bundled up in a heavy brace. He can actually walk on it with the brace. Something we were not expecting but are VERY thankful for. NOT that it is easy, it just isn't as hard as we had feared. Does that make sense?

They have this cooler pack thingie hooked up to Stacy's leg and it allows "icing it" without the pain or mess of an ice pack. It's pretty cool. Hah. Pardon the pun!

Last but not least... those damn hospital johnny gowns never fit properly do they? *snort*

*** Just so you know I do have Stacy's permission to post these pics. We laughed and giggled this morning and made the best out of what could have been a miserable day.

Last but not least here he is relaxing at home in his recliner....look at that sweet little face peeping out! Isn't that the cutest little doggie nurse ever?

We leave at o'dark thirty so he can have arthroscopic surgery on his knee. It's his first surgery EVER. I know he's nervous but of course he's such a manly man he won't admit it. I will take good care of him during his recovery. He gets six weeks so he should be nice and mellow by the time he goes back to the old salt mines. I just hope his surgery is a success. He's had such a bad time with this knee for awhile. I'll probably catch up with y'all Thursday while he's recuping and Mad's at school.

Madison had to wear her pink weave :)

Picture of Mommy taken by Maddie. Ignore the double chin please - not the most flattering angle!

We sat next to this young couple, she had straight blonde hair and was "beside" me, Stacy and Madison sat across from me with the guy "beside" Madison. Madison says to me "Mommy her hair is pretty". I said "Yes honey it is". She continued "You're hair is not pretty. It's ratty". The girls date burst out laughing and me & Stacy did too. WTF? Moi going to Olive Garden with ratty hair??? I think NOT! LOL The things kids say!

Well i'm back here at work for one day before the week-end. The weather is craptastic and cold but hey... somehow it could be worse!
I am not one to wear dresses alot. I've got a few beachy ones I wear in the summer and for bathing suit cover-ups but you will never see me just say "Hey I think i'll wear a dress today for the hell of it". It's rare I find a dress I like much less love. Well here is the LBD (Little Black Dress for those who are fashion impaired *snicker*) I wore for our dinner out last Saturday night. The burnout velvet is very subtle so I can get away with wearing this year round because of the short sleeves and could add a jacket if necessary.

It's been awhile since i've had a SEXY dress but I LOVED this one upon sight. It is a dark red (the color looks sort of pink to me but that was my stellar photography skills). Not sure where i'll wear this one to but Stacy says I will so....... What do ya think?

I cheated and did this yesterday but anyway she was feeling better and wanted to play in her room (i.e. get out toys, spread them around and make a mess)



Yes that IS a Vera Bradley purse Katie & Cheeky. :) She put all of her toys away and then proudly came and told me she was done playing in her room. A very nice surprise!

This friend was a valentines gift from Mommy and Daddy (we thought it suited it her to a "tee"!)



Another chum who resides in her pink princess rocking chair most of the time.

Also Shell, to let you know the pillow you sent was her main-stay. She held onto that thing, dozed on it until it got puked on Tuesday night and the cover is being laundered today.

Hi Guys n' Gals

Sorry for no post today, Madison is one sick little chica. She's taking a tubby now after barfing in Kmart when we went to pick up her scripts hence my quickie post. I will be keeping her home tomorrow as well so maybe you'll hear from me Thursday.
Hope all is well with you all. This just came up out of NOWHERE as sickness often does.

Okay I KNOW y'all are going to kill me but I forgot my camera. It was charging and I just walked right out of the house without it. So... I will try to show you my week-end with some pictures "borrowed" from the internet. The Southeastern Wildlife Expedition was going on while we were there. Jack Hanna was a guest. What I thought was so neat was EVERYONE brought their dogs, mostly big dogs. We saw one pug and a few other medium sized dogs but no "lap dogs". Labs were the most prevalent. I didn't see any dog poop (and yes I was looking) I wonder who gets that wonderful job????

We enjoyed some shopping on King Street. Can I just say that I may sound like a nerd or whatever but Urban Outfitters is the WEIRDEST store I have ever been in. Bizarre.
We ate lunch at the Mellow Mushroom (best steak pizza EVER) and yeah I got drunk and might have drunk texted a few persons. I am not supposed to text anymore but Stacy knew he was gettin' some later so he didn't care *snicker*

For our (rather late) dinner I had seafood pasta....

While Stacy had some delectible Prime Rib

We had the best cupcakes in the World at CUPCAKE at $30 per dozen they are pricey but man are they good and the variety. If you EVER get to King Street you have to try one.

Oh and here is our hotel... it was nice, the harbor view was gorgeous!


Somehow Madison screwed up the resolution on my computer when she was doing online play-doh puzzles and it is driving me NUTS! Happy Presidents Day all and I hope you had a great week-end as well!

Also last... but NOT least go give my friend BRAD some love and take part in his cool new "Ask Brad the Stay At Home Dad". His instructions are"

Please submit questions in the following format:

Dear Brad the Stay At Home Dad,

*Your question here*

Signed,

Your name or anonymous

All you have to do to get started is think of a burning question you have always wanted to ask and email me at bradegel@comcast.net (Please submit questions by email only and not through the comments section of this blog)

If you choose to remain anonymous I will never breach that confidentiality agreement.

I will also let you know if your question has been selected and give you a heads up so you know to look for your answer and the discussion that follows.

Brad is a great picture taker and a very entertaining writer (as well as a Nascar Fan) and has the cutest son, Sammy, as well as a Beautiful Wife and his Mom is the sweetest lady ever! Go Visit Brad!

Mine was just fine. I ate more chocolate than usual and my face is breaking out just a little but oh well. That, too, shall pass. We took Madison to dance class and handed out treat bags. The girls were delighted (and a few little boys who tag along with their sisters as well). I am super excited because we will be taking pictures for the dance recital program the beginning of April. You can believe i'll be taking out an "ad" in the program for my baby girl! They've also moved the venue to a brand new place that will be much more parking friendly as well as mobility friendly to older folks (like my Mom). Great news all around!
I just know today is going to d-r-a-g because i've got this wonderful week-end coming up but I will make it through. I've got to take my camera and pray it acts okay so I can have a few pics to share from my week-end. Happy Friday Everyone!

For some reason that heading and this picture just cracks me up. Yeah i'm juvenile like that!

The dinner Stacy cooked was DELICIOUS. That cube steak couldn't have been better. So tasty! Madison helped him mash the potatoes and she just loved that. They were yummylicious too along with the gravy. The nut forgot to tell me there was lemon meringue pie too but I spied it this morning and it will be enjoyed! Stacy hit a homerun with that dinner let me tell you.

Woke up and Gave Stacy his card and candy (put some $ in the card) and when Maddie came in she gave him his gifts a USC muscle shirt (he loves muscle shirts) and a new pair of Levis. My baby will be stylin' and profilin' :) (do people still say that? LOL)
Then we sent Maddie out to the livingroom where she had Valentine cards waiting, a heart shaped box of candy and a big monkey dressed like a princess. It was so cute! She was so pleased. I should have taken some pictures!
We have our reservations for Charleston, we are staying on the harborview side. My unreliable niece didn't come through (no surprise there). Someday I will learn my lesson with that girl and realize I have given for the last time. She's such a taker. Snows her Mother all the time but I know the truth. Oh well. Hope y'all have a good day and at least get a little.................. candy that is!

I got the ADORABLE pillow that

Shell

made for Madison in the mail yesterday. It went right on her bed. It is so plump and so soft and just precious. Thank you so much Shell. Madison has a "thing" for pillows so it was quite a HIT!

Yesterday I wrote about Valentines Day (which is tomorrow). As you all know I love holidays. I am sort of sad that Easter comes early this year. Next month St. Patrick's Day is on March 17th (as always) and then on March 23rd (less than a week later) comees Easter. I am not even putting out my holiday flags, just keeping my SC State Flag flying until it gets warm enough to put up my summer "Flip Flop" themed one. I already have most of my Valentines purchases. I still need to get two more things to complete my list. Then it's on to Easter! I like to buy early because if you don't all the good stuff is gone. Maddie is excited about her Valentines Party at school tomorrow. I will (probably) make treat bags for work and Stacy's work and the kids in Madison's dance class. Stacy is cooking me dinner tonight - cube steak, gravy and mashed potatoes. Something we haven't had in awhile. I'm sure it will be yummy!

For this week-end i'm trying to plan what I want to do. I hope my sometimes unreliable niece can get us a room reserved (she works for the Hilton Chain) as it will be a busy week-end in Charleston and I asked her last week. As I said she's unreliable but I guess I will call her tonight and check. I am not sure where I want us to eat dinner at (the "dress up" dinner). Maybe California Dreaming ... there is a thrift shop on King Street i'd like to visit. Strangely enough I don't think I care about going to the Market. Been there done that and it's always the same. Oh well i've got time to think about it! Enough rambling here. I'm done for now.
Oh and I had some "issues" with my blogroll so if you disappeared off of it and want back on let me know.

Valentines Day is fast approaching. I do not have any high expectations for it. We are going away this week-end (for which i'm very glad) but I am trying not to have any high expectations for that either. That way I won't be disappointed. My sweet hub did try to book us a Dinner Cruise but it was already booked up. He gets an "E" for effort on that one. He did try. I am convinced there are three kinds of Valentines Couples. 1) they totally ignore the holiday and the wife secretly resents it (or sometimes not so secretly) 2) the husband goes all out, flowers at work etc. to impress her co-workers. 3) the hub genuinely does not know what in the hell to do. He wants to but spending mucho $ on flowers seems a waste to him. The wife wants him to go all out for her and make her feel really really special. But spending mucho $ on flowers seems a bit silly to her too. I already have gifts for Stacy from Madison and the pets and i'm doing a little something for him also. I think he will be pleased.
I bought a "little black dress" this past week-end. I've always wanted to get dressed up for Valentines Day and even though we are not going on the cruise i'm getting dressed up for dinner or whatever we do. I want to feel beautiful and special. Something I haven't felt in awhile.

But my DOG is! LOL I got Reilly a Coach Collar while on my shopping trip. I'm waiting until he goes to the groomer to wear it on him though.

We didn't go to Charlotte but ended up at Myrtle Beach. We stayed at Broadway At The Beach and we just did what we wanted and had a really nice time. I spent too much money (although I did of course get good deals on what I bought and 90% of that was for Maddie) but oh well you only live once and I had fun.

It has been a busy/crazy past 24 hours. I had a long involved doctor appt yesterday so I wasn't at work part of the morning and all afternoon. If I hadn't have done yesterday's post on Monday I would have been out of luck! I haven't read all the comments nor responded and I am sorry. Next week should be a quiet one, the boss is going to FL and if nothing pops up in his absence i'll have plenty of blog time!
I picked Mad up and went by my parents (haven't saw them all week) and by the time we got home, Stacy was home and we raced off to danceclass. Then it was dinner at Raceway Grill (Ryan you've got to eat there in May) and home and BED. My girl didn't want to get up this a.m. and had a crying fit at school. That was tough but we weatherd. Miss Odessa called Stacy and I both and reported she was fine within five minutes, ate a great breakfast and was wiping off the tables to clean up.
You all know i've got shopping plans (my sister is now saying we might go to Myrtle Beach but I don't care long as I get to go somewhere!) but what are YOU doing this week-end? Big Plans? Nothing? Errands/Cleaning? Spill!

My baby on our Isle Of Palms vacation last August taken by

Katie

....

In 2006 at Huntington Beach State Park. I could just kiss those sweet little knobby baby knees!!!!!

My Lord my girl is growing by leaps and bounds. She brings so much joy to my life. There are a million smiles Stacy and I've shared, delighted over something our little daughter has done. She is like a little sunbeam. I am so grateful for her.

I am kinda in a mellow mood this a.m. I actually had time to go Maddie's school with Stacy and meet Whitney the regular morning girl who was out sick when we both dropped her off on Monday. She seems really nice. She said she loves working there.
I am going to Charlotte with my sister this week-end and I am SO excited. Not as good as going away with Stacy but i'll take it. I love having something to look forward too!

Okay I KNOW the first picture is washed out! Getting ready to go!

Standing tall wearing her big girl backpack!

Her and Mikayla, they are the first ones there in the morning. Getting ready for breakfast.

(Shaddup Katie!) Mamma's got a new purse! The "on-the-go" Vera Bradley bag in Mod Pink. Okay it's smaller than the Villager but I love the long wide shoulder strap. Got a matching wallet too!

Madison and her little friend Kaitlyn who is five. These two are a MESS!

Isn't she just gorgeous. I know she's my kid but gosh she was so pretty!

Her gloves were too big LOL They remind me of "minnie mouse"

"I am ready to perform!"

She has NO stage fright at all. This thing didn't start until 7p.m. (her bedtime is 8p.m.) and the performed two seperate numbers but she did so good. A real "pro"! I am so proud of my little girl. Tomorrow pics of her first day at pre-school!

I'm still smiling even if I didn't get that job! Who knows maybe I would have hated doing it (lots of number crunching) anyway i'm a firm believer in "what's meant to be will happen" and it will! I have had a weird feeling because it went to far past the date I was told I was hear. I think things are going on behind the scenes here at Crying Cow but anyway it's FRIDAY! Hope you all have a swell week-end!

Still no word on the job....

It's cold as a witches titty in a brass bra this morning!

I am wearing leggings and a long tunic but I look like a teen-aged hooker in a micro mini (or so i've been told - by an obviously blind person eh.....)

Madison told me this morning she doesn't want to get big she wants to stay a little girl (me too baby, me too)

On a positive note...

At least I do have a job right now and am not dependent on the other one

It looks like we won't be paying to the IRS this year Yiipeeeeee!!!!!!

Valentines is two weeks away and I really really hope it's better than Christmas was.

Silly and Sassy......still no word on the job (it's in-house,same company btw) this is my hair in it's natural state and natural color. My Mother would say it looks like a chicken had an epileptic fit on my head LOL

This is Rainbow. He is our betta fish. I don't like fish but Rainbow is growing on me. Yeah that probably means a death sentence for ol' Rainbow. Poor Fishie.

You can't tell little miss Madison "anything" in her new carseat! She finally weighs enough for a big girl booster! She requested a pink princess one and that is what she got!

The color is actually truer to this picture I don't know why the the close-up of the above label on top of the seat looks orangey pink. It has dual pop-out cup holders. Classy! *wink* She LOVES riding in this.

This is sort of her treat for being such a big girl about the whole dog attack.