Kaden and ND Football Camp

Wow oh Wow what an awesome experience for Kaden and Mom, Dad and Aunt Karie!! This 3 day camp was packed with everything a kid that loves football would want and everything a true Notre Dame Football fan only dreams of!

The camp was made up of 3 days from 8-Noon of skill and training that was lead by ND Football players and coaches. The camp was kicked off my Coach Brian Kelly talking to the kids and then the great Brady Quinn giving a little speech. I remember him telling the kids " school work, home work comes first if you want to get into Notre Dame you have to have the grades. It doesn't matter how much talent you have the grades come first" That was so encouraging to hear him say that and I am hoping that sunk in and Kaden will remember this!

This first day at camp towards the end it got really cold and you could see a storm rolling in. They took the kids and parents into the Stepan Center to get out of the rain and approaching storm. This provided a really awesome opportunity. The Notre Dame Football players started playing basketball with the kids, signing autographs and posing for pictures! What a great way to end the first day at camp!

We returned to camp on Day 2 and this was the day of the Stadium Tour! Yes I said Stadium Tour which meant you get to go into the ND Locker room, You get to touch the sign, You get to walk the same walk as all the great ND Football players have walked! Now for a kid I am sure this was amazing but for a parent who is a huge ND fan well lets just say I was in Awe!! It was AMAZING! To think of the pep talks that were shared in that locker room to think of the Rally to Victory Speech's that were made what a wonderful feeling it was to be standing in that Locker Room! And then to touch the Sign!!

Play Like A Champion Today

On to the 3rd and final day. Well as we arrived it was raining so we knew that they would still have camp it would just be indoors. We were directed to The Loftus Sports Center. Wow I really thought that the camp had seen its highlight the day before when we got to do the stadium tour but wow this place was awesome!!

It was a huge indoors field, state of the art weight room, huge video theater room for watching films with big comfy chairs that we got to sit in. One little boy raised his had and said " you mean ND Football players have sat in these chairs" It was too funny it was like he didn't even realize that ND Football players were who was training him all week!

Kaden Catching a Pass From Kyle Rudolph

Kaden working on Some D with Manti Teo

Working on some QB skills with ND QB Dayne Crist

All in All I think this was a Wonderful Camp put on by the Campus of Notre Dame! I know that we will continue to go back and Kaden is looking forward to the camp when he gets to actually stay in the dorms for a few days! I am not so sure I am looking forward to that because that just means he is growing up entirely too fast!

I Love This Man

My Mr. Wonderful ,

My Mr. Awesome, My Everything. I meet this man when I was only 16 years old. We were high school sweet hearts and I knew from the moment I meet him that he was the one! I pretty much loved everything about him. I just knew I would be with him for the rest of my life.

You see the story of us began a long time before we ever knew each other. My husband use to live just a few houses down from my great grandparents in the town of Fowler. He remembers seeing my grandpa out on his front porch in his porch swing, he remembers there garden and I remember going trick or treating at zach's house when we were little.. Its so funny how things just work out and people find a way together.

I really do believe this man is the world's best dad most amazing husband and someday he will also be the world's greatest grand-dad! You see this man is really to good to me. He will pretty much do anything I ask him to do for me and our boys. He is a superstar of taking care of our 2 rotten kids and believe me he has to do it a lot. I am involved in several charitable organizations which take some of my time and he is always so good about watching the boys, taking care of dinner, dishes, baths and laundry.. I don't know how he does it but he does and I love him dearly for all of it. Several weeks ago I got to stay home with the boys while my Mr. Wonderful had a class for work.. I honestly don't know how he does it. I was ready to pull my hair out by the end of the night and I was really missing him. He makes our life complete and we would be lost with out him.

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Bottom Line is I love this man He is Amazing, He is my Everything, He is my Best Friend, He is my saving grace, My boys and I would be lost with out him and we are thankful each and everyday that he is in our lives! He teaches us all so much everyday. My boys will be avid outdoors men because of this man, they will be great workers because of this man, great team players, great caretakers, and wonderful daddy's! On October 21 we will be celebrating our 10th anniversary and I am looking forward to that and spending many many more years with this Wonderful Man!

I Love This Man

Five Question Friday On A Saturday Night

1. What is your favorite thing about summertime?


I love the Baseball games, Swimming, 4th of July, Drive Inn Movies, Summer Camps, ice cream, watermelon, corn on the cob, family reunions,  Kids being out of school... I pretty much love it!

2. What is your ideal retirement location (if money didn't matter)?
I would love to retire at the beach... Probably my favorite Panama City Beach! I would take a house right on the beach or even a nice big condo about 8 floors up that would be perfect!


3. Do you live in the same town you grew up in?
I sure do!! Sometimes I wish I didn't but I pretty much for the most part love it!

4. What nervous habit did you have as a child that you kicked to the curb before becoming an adult?
I use to bite my nails all the time and finally kicked the habit after becoming an adult.... I now have long nails and I love it! I do have acrylic out over them to keep them nice looking but they are my nails underneath and I no longer bite them!!

5. What is the most embarrassing thing that happened to you while on the job?
When I worked at Taco Bell for 1/2 a day... yes I said 1/2 a day!! They stuck me in the TCBY part all by myself and it had rained the night before and I went to push the drive up window open and it had water in it and got all over my pants... looked like I peed my pants!! I was so embarrassed!
 
 
 

Tasty Tuesday!

The crock-pot is back!! After taking a few weeks off of my crock-pot cooking I decided that I needed to get back with the swing of things! I really missed my crock-pot cooking! It comes in very handy when we are rushed in the evenings and it is also a blessing when we aren't rushed! More time to sit back and relax!  I actually tried this recipe out yesterday because Kaden was suppose to a game but it got rained out so we ended up with a meal that was ready to go when we got home and the whole evening to Relax!!  Well I hope you all enjoy this one I know we did!! It was very yummy and I will be making it again!!

Cheesy Potatoes & Ham

6 - 8 Red Potatoes

1 Ham Steak

1 can of cream of something ( I used Cream of Chicken&Mushroom because this is what I had)

1 soup can of water

2 cups of shredded cheese ( I used Velveeta)

Salt and Pepper

1. Slice up your potatoes and ham and mix together in crock-pot

2. Mix together in separate bowl soup, water, cheese, salt and pepper

3. Pour mixture over potatoes and ham in crock-pot and mix together

4. Turn crock-pot to high and walk away! Cook for about 4 hours.

***When I got home mine was a little runny so I added some cornstarch to it mixed it up and that thickened it right up! I just kept adding cornstarch until it was thick for me ******

Crabosaurus Wes

Well today it was just me , the man and the rotten one.... and Oh My was he ever being rotten!! He was a Crabosaurus!! He had sent the night with my parents the night before while me and The man went and seen The A Team!! That was an excellent movie that I would see again and again Bradley Cooper had his shirt off a lot during the movie and that was wonderful!! Ahhhh watching a wonderful with The man drooling over another man!! lol.... too funny.. Shh don't tell The Man. Alright back to the Crabosaurus.... So we had to make a run to Lafayette and my child was awful!! I mean really really awful! Melt down after melt down in different stores and at the restaurant we ate at! The child screamed for me when I went to the bathroom... and when I say screamed I mean screamed!! The man was not very happy! Well after that event we decided to go to once upon a child.... Mom's Parents let me just tell you do not I repeat do not take your little ones into once upon a child! Did you know they sale toys in there!! Yes toys and let me tell you Crabosaurus Wes wanted them all!! Well I had decided that he could have this one very noisy toy that you push around and makes the balls pop pop pop... well he was happy for a split second and then he spotted something else... Well that something else was $17 and the other toy was $3.... So as you can imagine I was not going to pay $17 for a crazy toy that he really didn't need the cheap $3 toy was going to be an outside toy anyway and I thought he would have $3 of fun out of it!! Well he started crying.......*sigh*...... and I told him fine go out to the car with daddy and I will get the stupid phone toy! So he went to the car with daddy and mommy put the toy back and only bought the shorts that I had went in to by!! ** clap, clap, clap** I felt good about this until I got out to the car and realized that I had just lied to my Crabosaurus!! Bad Mommy!! You are not suppose to lie!! Well he threw an even bigger fit and cried himself to sleep by the time we got to the next stop!! ***** smile*** Thankfully when he woke up he was in a better mood and the Crabosaurus was almost gone!!

This here my friends was the stupid $17 toy that created the major meltdown in once upon a child!!

The - A - Team

Well me and The Man were with out the kiddos on Saturday night and we were going to get groceries..... Boring*** yawn***  So we decided to go see a movie instead and boy I am glad we did! We had a great time seeing a great movie! I remember just a little about The A Team from when I was younger probably the biggest thing I remember is Mr. T... So really the movie could of been about anything and I would have been fine with it! Ladies let me say 2 things to you that makes this movie well worth it! Bradley Cooper!! mmm yummy he takes his shirt off in this movie and he does it often!! I really did like the movie this was just an added bonus!! At any rate if you are looking for a good movie go see this one I am sure you will like it!

Five Question Friday

Its Friday..... Finally Friday!! YAY!!!! This week has been crazy and there is still a few more crazy weeks of June left! I still can't believe how busy June is with all of Kaden's running for sports.... Baseball, Basketball Camp and Football Camp.... But he loves it.. He said last night man I'm a busy kid!! I thought ha your telling me!

1. What do you think makes a good friend, or friendship?
Communication is key!! Being able to talk about things openly with each other and laugh and cry together makes for a great friendship. Looking at each other from across a crowded room and knowing what the other is thinking that is a great friendship!

2. What is the last thing you bought & later regretted?

I spent the extra money at Bath and Body works a few weeks back to get this bag full of goodies... Then I had to pay like $25 for the bag or something like that.. It came with over $100 of stuff in it that I will use at some point and it looked like a good deal...  heck it was a god deal but I really didn't need it just an impulse buy I kind of regret buying now!
3. Have you ever had a prank played on you?
I am sure I have.... nothing is really coming to my mind currently... Thinking..... Thinking.... Thinking.... Ok skipping this question and coming back when I get done with 4&5..... All right I am back and I have nothing.....nothing that sticks out in my mind that is.. I am sure at some point something has happened to me but I am not thinking about it at this moment.. So there you have it no prank!

4. What is your favorite theme park?
I haven't been to all that many theme parks but I would probably say Kings Island or Dollywood... We really don't go all that much and I am not a huge ride person so theme parks are kind of just not our thing!


5. Have you ever seen someone else give birth?
Ummm no unless watching A Baby Story on TLC counts!!
 
 
 

Thankful Thursdays

On this Thankful Thursday I am very thankful for summertime and the Baseball Season.. Such a fun time of year to go and watch Kaden play. The whole family enjoys it and so does Kaden.  Zach is helping coach this year so my little Wesley man is stuck with me during the whole game and so far so good! I am thankful for that as well.. Usually he is a daddy's boy when we are out and about!

Tasty Tuesday!

All right so I have been doing my Tasty Tuesday and it has been a slow cooker recipe. Well today its not a slow cooker recipe. I have plenty of them that I have been gathering so we will be getting back to that next Tuesday. But for today we are making Monster Cookie Bars!! YUM-YUM These things are the best and I keep telling myself they are healthy for you because of all the oatmeal!

1/2 cup softened butter

1 cup brown sugar


1 cup white sugar


3 eggs


1 1/2 cups peanut butter


1 teaspoon vanilla


2 teaspoons baking soda


4 1/2 cups oatmeal


1 1/2 cups chocolate chips


1 cup m&m's






1. Cream the butter and sugars.


2. Mix in the eggs and peanut butter.


3. Stir in vanilla, baking soda, and oatmeal


4. Stir in chocolate chips and m&m's.


5. Put in a jelly roll pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes, until lightly golden on top.


Do not over bake.

I hope you enjoy these yummy treats as much as I do!!

It's Not About You....

It’s Not About You ~ It’s About Them -

Over the past few months I have learned that when people initiate negativity, it is a reflection of what is going on in there lives at the present moment and it is being expressed externally and you just happen to be in front of that expression. It’s not  a personal attack on you its really not personal at all.......... so why do we take it personally? I think our ego likes problems and conflict and therefore we think its all about us when really .... Its Not!!  People are often so bored and unhappy with their own lives that they want to take others down with them. Why is this... Is this just human nature I would have to say probably. I know looking back on things that have happened in my life I can honestly say I have been rather negative to people before and looking at what was going on in my life at that given time... Well I wasn't in a happy spot in my life and that kind of explains things! I do not think we should use this as an excuse as to why we are hateful or mean to others I just think that the next time someone is hateful or mean to you maybe just stepping back thinking about the situation and thinking ok is this really about me or is this about them and what they are going through currently in there life!

Chances are It's About Them! So don't sweat it!

Five Question Friday

All right here we go the moment we have all been waiting for.......Its Summertime!!! Yay Schools Out for The Summer!!! Well thats a big Yay if your a kid I guess... But for me that means lots and lots of running the month of June and I am already wishing July was here!! Oh Well Its all for my kids so no biggie! Now On with the Questions and Answers!!

1. If you could go back to college would you change your major? Or, if you were to go to college right now...what major would you choose?

I always wanted to be a teacher so I would probably do something with early childhood education. I love all the time I spend at the school with PTO so I know I would love being there all day teaching them!! The only other thing would be something with computer programing.... I am always fixing computers at work or home and I always joke with myself wow Karena if you had a degree in this you could be making some big bucks!!

2. What do you love most about your home?
What I love the most is that it is our home! Its isn't just a house we live in it is our home. We bought it and fixed it up and the thought of moving somewhere else just makes me sick! Sure there are things about my home that I would change but I am very much attached to our home! One thing that is very special about our home is our Kitchen Cabinets. When we moved in we redid our kitchen. Well some friends of ours were also redoing there kitchen and I was in the right place at the right time and learned that the cabinets they were getting rid of were made by my husbands grandfather! Such a special addition to our home. We were able to get these cabinets from our friends who were just going to use them in there garage and they are now in my kitchen. We did paint them and put new pulls on them but they are still old cabinets made from the 70's by Grandpa Herb! Such a neat neat story and I love my cabinets!

3. What types of books do you like to read (if you like to read at all)?
I am not so much a reader I never have been and probably never will. I do like self help self motivating type books. Right now I have been reading through "Don't Sweat The Small Stuff For Women" Great book of short stories of things that happen in life and how to deal with them.... The other book I have been reading is 1-2-3 Magic.... I will let you know at a later date how that works out for me!

4. What is the grossest thing you've ever eaten?
Nothing is really jumping out at me here! I would say that when I was little I was at a family reunion in TN and we had some BBQ well I thought it was gross and come to find out it was BEAR BBQ!! I am not for sure if it really was the grosses thing I have ever eaten but I just remember how freaked out I was by that!


5. If you HAD to be a character on a TV show, whom would you be?
A Character on a tv show..... Hmmmm I am not sure here I am going through all shows that I have watched and loved over the years....

I would love to be Meridith Grey because well hmmmmm Mc Dreamy.... Need I say more!

Thankful Thursdays

Thankful Thursdays come and is almost gone and tonight I am thankful that my favorite summer time place has opened!! Yay for the Frosty Freeze! We made the drive over to Reynolds tonight for some yummy food and then some wonderful ice cream!! It was sooo Good!! We usually eat at the Frosty Freeze once a week during the summer and it is just tradition! So what do you say am I thankful for.... Well Ice Cream and yummy food of course!

I am also thankful for good friends. After coming home from the Frosty Freeze I went on a walk with a good friend and had a wonderful time. I am sure my legs will be killing me in the morning but oh well I have wanted to start walking for a couple of weeks now and finally did it!