Not going to inundate you with pictures all at once. I'll spread them out over a few days :)
Here is me & Cheeky chilling on the couch. Can I just say I heart this girl and we could sit and talk for hours non-stop or just sit and read. She is sweet, funny and I love hearing about her wonderful family. She really doesn't mind being your chauffer either (or if she DOES, she hides it damn well!).She's a "keeper"!

Here is me & Katie. This was our first time meeting IRL but we said "Hi", hugged each other and it was like we had known each other forever. Katie is an awesome bartender and doesn't mind sharing her liquor. I love that in a person. She is also VERY funny, I LOVE her sense of humor and she has the golden touch when it comes to kids.

Stacy and Madison were completely won over by these two. I just wish it could have been a longer visit. Time sure does fly when you're having fun!

Thanks SO much for all of the comments while I was gone. WOW I sure am feeling the love. Please know that I missed all of you very much and wondered what was going on with you daily. Now I have to do some legitimate work then i'll get caught up so please be patient if it takes me a day or so. It's good to be back!

This kid.........

finally stayed in her room all night long and earned the first stars on her chart! Whooppeeee!!! Hooray!!!! Yes we made a big deal out of it and she was pleased as punch. She got to pick out the stars (all blue) and put them on the chart. Does this mean she'll stay in her bed tonight? Probably not (law of averages ya know!) but it's a START!!!
I will be MIA all next week as I will be on the Isle Of Palms relaxing, sunning and enjoying my family. Don't hate.

Madison has taken to calling her Daddy "Big Boy". We don't know where she got it from but it is funny as hell!
Here are some pics of Big Boy tubing on Sunday

You can do it!

Hang On Honey!

It's a lot harder to hold on than it looks!

Chilling on the back of Daddy's truck

New "Hello Kitty" bathing suit Mommy bought for the IOP trip next week. She also has
Hello Kitty shades and sandals. *rolls eyes*

Only three more days til' va-ca-tion. I.Can't.Wait.

I am off of work today and Madison said she wants to play in her room so after i've
1) got her DVD in that she wants to watch
2) made her bed up to her satisfaction only to have her UN make it
3) got her some "shortcake 'nana" (V8 Splash Strawberry Banana Smoothie)
4) found "Blankie"
5) launched an un-succesful search for "Boy" (she settled for "Sister" instead) ...

I can sit down and get this post up as fast as possible before I am paged again :) Honestly she is so funny and entertaining though it's hard to even get mad when she gets bossy or crabby.

I had alot of fun tubing but lord I am still sore from it

I can waterski but I much prefer this!
It really feels like you are flying across the water


Me and my baby girl

Carrie took Maddie out on the tube

Maddie liked it until they had a spill on Sunday then she was ready to get back on the boat. She was such a good sport though and didn't even cry!

We are so lucky we have Carrie! She takes such good care of my girl!

Yes for those of you who are wondering Stacy did tube on Sunday and i've got a couple pics of him but they are still in the camera. Coming soon.

Some pics of our week-end. We took the boat out Saturday and Sunday
The girls in their lifejackets. Actually we found one later that was like a swimsuit w/ a built-in lifejacket for Maddie that she liked better.

Helping Daddy drive the boat. That's Casey on the right.

My handsome husband!

Yours truly, I refuse to wear sunglasses and get "raccoon" eyes so instead i'm squinting like a squirrel all the time. I can't win *sigh*

More pics tomorrow of us tubing. I have bruises from knee to thigh. I have used muscles I didn't know existed on my body. But I had FUN!

Well the stars/chart is not working worth a damn. We even tried offering her double and then TRIPLE stars if she just made it through one night. Not happening. This morning she came in after 5 a.m. (we get up at 6). I told her "You have less than an hour to go, if you go back to your bed you'll get the stars" but she climbed up anyway. *sigh* She wanted "me" to take her to Carrie's instead of her Daddy and threw my whole schedule out of whack LOL I couldn't find the shoes I wanted to wear. I hate it when little stuff like that happens. I had to "settle" on a pair of sandals. I wasn't late for work though but I am not happy with these shoes.
I know we are probably in for a fight tonight but Miss Madison IS going to bed at 8pm. She has not wanted to go to bed lately and she's tired and irritable. I know she's not getting enough sleep. Time to put our foot down I guess. I can do it (keep repeating to self).

Rebel pride y'all. This was taken at the Racetrack last Saturday night. This bunch were all hanging out happily for hours and as they got increasingly drunker well you can guess what happened. Yep a good ol' fashioned redneck fight broke out. I was videoing it on my phone and one of the guys got a little upset so I stopped. Then I erased it by accident while viewing it later dang it! It was TOO funny. It always follows the same pattern. Guy A and Guy B are running their mouths. Then a little shoving starts. Then Wife A tells Guy A "Let's Go". Then Wife B says "Kick his @ss" to Guy B. Then the wives start screaming at each other. Hilarious. Then the po-po showed up and escorted one couple out. Then we had to listen to the other guy go on about what "would" have happened if the po-po wouldn't of showed up. Uh huh. Whatever dude.

Me and my Princess at one of our favorites places to eat Cre*ek R*atz. I love the southern bbq pork eggroll. Mmmm..... they have a vinegar sauce to dip it in. That and the buffalo shrimp wrap are the only things I have ever eaten there. I am a creature of habit sometimes. Hopefully we might go there tonight!

I pass over this bridge in the five minute commute between my new home and work at the Crying Cow Bank every day. It's very beautiful and peaceful. I even saw a doe last week. Fabulous!

Sometimes my kid is just too cute to be believed!


Random Brain Dump:

I spend way more time at work wishing I were away from it. It's not that I hate my job and I actually like the people I have the most contact with I just feel restless and very, very bored. Thankfully SFG and the hub keep my spirits up via email!

I wish my husband could get to know some of my blogging buddies by reading their blogs or comments. Honestly you guys are the greatest bunch and i'm afraid due to the past events he will never give you a fair chance.

I wish people didn't think that friends you make via the internet are somehow not "real". My internet friends show more interest and concern in my daily life than people I am related to and/have known for YEARS.

I am just feeling really really bitchy and negative this morning and I hate it. Hate.It.

The song "Waiting On A Friend" by the Rolling Stones keeps playing on a loop in my brain.

I wish I would get a nice surprise today.

I am so sleepy this morning! Do I look it? LOL This is the last pic in my "haunted" house when we were moving. I am SO glad to be away from there. I love the house we are in now and am pretty sure we will end up buying it. The kitchen and bathroom both need to be re-done but that's okay. We would take that into consideration when we do the mortgage. I like the way the house is laid out and I love my huge closets in every room.
Tonight we oficially start the "earning chart" to get Madison to sleep in her own bed. I just need to put a small nightlight in the Hall so when she gets up to come to our room she can see the chart and (hopefully) think "Oops I have to go back to my own bed so I can earn a star". Cross your fingers. She picked out the stars herself and was mad because I wouldn't let her have them this morning. I explained she has to earn them so we have a little learning curve ahead of us but I think she'll catch on quickly. After five stars she gets a new toy or DVD of her choosing.

Wow am I glad it is Friday! We are picking up my favorite nephew tonight (well one of two of my favorites - they are brothers) and he is staying with us all week. Hope he gets to catch lots of Fish :)
Madison is still getting up at night. She's not scared, not talking about the boogeyman or anything but she wakes up. I guess she's still becoming acclimated to the new place. She does love her room and she goes to bed fine. *sigh* I guess it's just a small glitch we have to get through.
I do love our new place, it's kinda cold there right now though........

Okay I bought some Nature's Miracle. Still waiting on the cushions to dry. At least when I walk in I am not overwhelmed with a cat pee smell! Thanks for all of your good advice yesterday!

I love the word humpday....humpday~humpday~humpday!

We met our neighbors to the right of us. They are: Dad: Leon, Mom: Kenya, 13 y/o girl (I can't remember her name), 8 y/o boy, Lafayette and 5 y/o boy Jordan who is Madison's buddy. They were riding in her Barbie bug last night all around the cul de sac. Too cute! So much nicer to have normal neighbors now.

The Ice Cream Man came by and I was so shocked because all of his stuff is only $1! He said he at least comes by every Tuesday but he'll try to come at the end of the week too. It was so funny - Stacy beat the kids running to him! LOL

I want a cupcake this morning - BAD. Might have to make a CJ's Bakery run when I get off work. Okay that's all i've got this morning! Have a wonderful Wednesday all!

EDITED TO ADD: My hard drive crashed right after I finished this entry so I haven't been able to respond to any of your comments or visit any blogs and now I have to get "some" work done! Waahhh!!! Thanks for all of your kind commments on Friday. Maybe some things will die down now that we have the move behind us. If not I'm in for the biggest battle of all. Keep praying and your fingers crossed for me.

Can I just say that my husband is one of the hardest working men I know? We are polar opposites because I am inherently lazy and need someone to crack the whip on me when it comes to manual labor. We got all moved this week-end and Thank Bob my sister and niece were there to help me stay focused and organize is all I can say. Stacy busted his ASS doing the heavy labor.
He didn't call his friends to help so I can't talk any shit about them this morning. Dang it. Foiled again!
There is still lots to do but i'm happy for the most part. I sat outside on the back stoop and listened to crickets last night.
Oh and our backyard neighbors catty-cornered, Brittany has a crush on the little boy from school, so guess who will be at my house 24/7 if she can!
LOL She was so funny. Standing up trying to peep over the privacy fence. She's alot like me at her age.
Yep, I was boy crazy!


Happy BirthdayPat!

I feel a storm front moving in... and I don't know what to do about it

It may not look like much but we've rented this house on the Isle Of Palms,SC (outside of Charleston) the week of August 18 -25th. It has 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms and 2 screened porches. We got a really good deal. I know it's not the taj mahal but the pictures looked nice enough and the rental company has a very good reputation. So.... now I can get through all the stuff of moving with something to look forward to!!!
**Oh and I won't even be all negative and blog about the fact that Stacy mentioned inviting his mega drunk friends down to stay, um, the ones I probably like the least. I see a little trouble brewing on the horizon but i'll overlook it for now.

Well my baby has slept peacefully for two nights now. Mommy not so much. I feel like I have to watch over her. Heard some noises last night but they could have been my imagination and nothing so clear as the first night. (Thank God).
Kris (first time commenter - welcome!) mentioned my asking Madison what he looked like. Well, I did and she said "He nasty boogey man, he was white" and I asked was he little like her she said "No Mommy he big".
Tammy mentioned how she "whoooshes" her ghosties out in the trash. We tried several things. Daddy beat him up, Lala got rid of him, she was all in agreement but still... she'd say at night that he was there.
I know I have some skeptics and I don't blame you but if you stood in my shoes I guarantee you would feel somewhat differently.
I stopped at a healthfood store last night that I thought might have sage but they didn't. Anybody have any ideas? Would a sage candle work as well?

Okay you know Madison has been having sleep issues for about two weeks now. She has been waking up every single night at home.
Well Saturday I was talking to Carrie and she said she thinks there might be something to Madison always saying the boogeyman is in her room. She slept fine the two nights she spent at her grandma's (when we went to Folly Beach).
Sunday night we put Madison to bed at her usual time. She never argues or cries when it's time to go to bed and she likes her big girl bed and has "boy" and "sister" and her big stuffed dog in there with her. So that's not an issue.
Well about 10 minutes she comes back out. "Boogeyman in my room" I said "Maddie there is no boogeyman" She is looking at me with wide eyes "Yes Mommy, he touch my hair. He throw blankie on floor but I put it back" (My girl gonna FIGHT the boogeyman lawd have mercy).
I told Stacy "This is it. This child has got to have a good nights sleep so we're moving her toddler bed into our room". and we did.
I must also say Saturday night I even offered to let her sleep with us but she told me she wanted me to rock her and then she said "I ready to get in my bed now" (at 2:30 am) but it wasn't long before she was back saying the boogeyman was in there. But I digress.
I had went in her room with a Bible and told whatever was in there that it has to leave. It has to go to God, to the Light, I don't care WHERE but it's got to leave my babygirl alone and let her sleep.
After we moved her bed into our room and we all went to bed I heard some loud knocks coming from her room.
Y'all my heart leapt into my throat but I was too chicken to get up or say a word to Stacy. The next morning he said he could hear something moving around in her room. The cats were outside all night, Reilly sleeps in the livingroom, and her door was shut tight. I don't know. AND she slept soundly all night long.
I don't know what to believe exactly, do I think a spirit or being has been stirred up because we are moving. You betcha. I think maybe I made it mad when I ordered it out. You can scoff or laugh but that's what I believe. I know we are getting the hell out of that house as fast as we can and my baby will be sleeping in her toddler bed in my bedroom until we do.

Well first off can I just say you know you live in a bad neighborhood when a crackhead pays for items at your yardsale with a lottery ticket. It's probably expired *sigh* I"m glad that's over with but Stacy did 99.9% of it. He wanted to split the money but I told him keep it, he earned it. I hate having yardsales. Hate it. If you ask a dime for something somebody will want to pay you a nickel.

We had a great time at the Lake. I love it. It inspired me to get a new steering wheel cover for the car

Flip Flops rule! I've been a "flip flop" fan for years. I have several dresses and shirts with the flip flop theme. So cute!

The seat covers are cute also. I forgot to check for floor mats. Oh well. If they have them okay, if not, that's okay too. I don't have to go overboard.. or do I?

Maddie got a little too much sun under her eyes, I put SPF 50 sunblock on her. It looks worse than it was. She never complained about it and when I asked her if it hurt she said "No" but I gave her a little dose of childrens Advil anyway just to make sure she was okay. Here she is in her "Princess" nightgown!

Mommy got some sun too! (no I am not trying to flash anybody either LOL). Stacy was like "What am I taking this picture for?" I said "To put on my blog". He didn't say anything negative but I bet he doesn't even come check it out. He probably already lost the address for it. *snort*

I hope my girl Cheeky had a wonderful, fantabulous birthday and I will be checking to make sure your birthday gift was shipped.

I don't know if you can read my shirt but it says "Queen of Everything". Hah. I love it! The Kept Woman isn't the only one whose Vicki's Secrets make her boobs look bigger. Lawd Have Mercy! Oh and that is my hair in it's natural state. Ugh. That's all i'm saying about that! Happy Friday my Friends. We are going to the Lake Sunday and I can't wait. We won't even talk about tomorrow except to say it involves a yardsale. Double Ugh.

***GREAT the IT F*ckers have blocked my access to my Yahoo Mail. Those of you that have my work email can use it. Assclowns.

Tomorrow July 14th my dear CHEEKY will turn, um, 29! Yeah that's it! She is celebrating all month long so feel free to send her a belated gift (I am :( due to circumstance beyond my control).

We are going to the Lake this Sunday. I can't wait. Maddie loves it. She puts on the "swimmies" and goes to town. She is getting quite the suntan despite the 50 sunblock I slather on her.

Also I guess I should mention that yesterday (July 12th) was my five year anniversary since I had gastric by-pass surgery. Despite gaining some weight when I went back on an anti-depressent last year (after childbirth) I would do it all over again. Yes, a few people that made the journey at the same time I did, did not make it. And others gained just about all of their weight back but I am one of the lucky ones. If I put up a "before" picture you just wouldn't believe it. I think I showed one to Southern Fried Girl.
Anyway Happy Friday The Thirteenth Y'all!

I feel like a parrot but i'll repeat myself again.

When you are in the parking lot at Crying Cow Bank, and you see me pull up and my back-up lights come on. That "might" be a clue that i'm going to back into a parking space. My backing skills leave a lot to be desired Mmmmkay? In the afternoon when traffic is rather heavy in the parking lot I prefer to pull straight out. It's for best, trust me. If you persist in trying to zoom around me and then park a mere few feet away you might just get out of your hunk of junk car and find me beating you about the head in a frenzied manner.

To the lazy bitches I work withMy Beloved Co-Workers: Don't stand around and bitch and moan about "how much you have to do" and "Omigod i'm so-o-o swamped that I need help". If you are standing around talking for the length of time I actually "see" you, i'm sure it is that much more and you can't be so busy if you can spend 3 hours of the day gossiping with your neighbor.

To the dumbass who knocked on my door to inquire why all the For Sale signs are sprouting up in our neighborhood. Um, do you live around here? Do you see the crackheads loitering up and down the street at all hours of the day/night. Have they approached you and asked for money. Uh-huh? They have? Okay that should be a clue.

To my darling husband: You can stop stressing about the move now. You know you can begin next week and you are going to be busier than a one-armed man in wallpaper hanging contest. You should be content. I will be at peace because I will not hear you say every five minutes "I wonder when we can start moving". Now you know. Happy~Happy~Joy~Joy :)

To My precious two-year old. If you don't STOP getting up in the middle of the night EVERY FREAKING night (for over a week now) I am going to super glue your little butt to the bed. I'm kidding, no hate emails ok? Seriously I don't know what is going on with her but it's rough being awakened from a sound sleep, having to go rock her for about a half hour and then go back to bed and wonder if she'll show up again.

I think that is enough. Just a few things I wanted to get out of my system today. Happy Thursday!

Also I want to thank Cheeky,Tammy,SFG & Wendy again for giving me the Rockin' Girl Blogger Award! I feel so special!