Day Thirty: Whatever Tickles My Fancy

Ernie Haase and Signature Sound is a group of men who sing Southern Gospel music.  My mom found them one day while flipping channels on the TV and the rest is history.  She hooked me, my sister, and Brandon who LOVES to watch and sing with them!

The video below is of the first song by Signature Sound that mom played for me.  It's titled, Until We Fly Away.  The lyrics to this song melt my heart and it is my favorite of theirs to this point.  I've been lucky enough to see them perform in concert three times, and they've done this song each time.  It's incredible.

This group, along with Gaither Vocal Band (another Southern Gospel group) often make changes to the members of the group.  In this video you'll see:

Doug Anderson, Ryan Seaton, Ernie Haase, and Tim Duncan

Since that performance, Ryan Seaton has left the group, pursuing a solo career.  He was replaced by Devin McGlamery; the young blonde on the left

For more information about them, click here

Ernie Haase and Signature Sound, and Gaither Vocal Band will be making appearances on YouTube Friday in the near future.

Day Twenty-Nine: Year in Great Detail

Since I lead a relatively boring life, and don't have a great memory, this potentially long, detailed post will be quite short!

November, 2009:  Started working as a paraprofessional in a kindergarten class

December, 2009-February, 2010:  Normal, boring, day-to-day stuff

March, 2010:  Brandon turned 3; Nick and I began slowly dating again

April, 2010:  Sprained my ankle at work in front of 130 kindergarten students!  Began physical therapy for my ankle and wore a cam walker while it healed.  Nick and I decided to remarry

May, 2010:  Brandon and I moved into the apartment that would be our new family home

June, 2010:  Nick and I remarried.  Brandon's wonderful daycare closed due to the crappy economy.  I began potty training Brandon so he could attend a new daycare in August

July, 2010:  Attempted to survive the summer at home with an active 3 year old...it wasn't easy!  Went to the county fair for the first time

August, 2010:  Conquered potty training!  Brandon began his new daycare, work started again for me

September, 2010:  Brandon finished a summer soccer program.  I began our family blog

October, 2010:  Took family pictures.  I turned 32...ew!

November, 2010:  We are both actively seeking new employment, and considering relocation

All in all, not a very interesting year!! 

Day Twenty-Eight: Songs You Listen To

Today's post wants to know what songs I listen to when I'm happy, sad, and mad.  If I listed every song that I listened to when I felt these emotions, this post would be VERY long.  So I'll just pick one song from each category.

When I'm frustrated, upset, or angry about something that has happened in life, I love listening to the song "Stand" by The Rascal Flatts.  The lyrics help me remember that life isn't always going to be easy, but "when push comes to shove you taste what you're made of".

When I'm sad, and need to be uplifted, I enjoy listening to the song "A New Day Has Come" by Celine Dion.  There are two versions of this song:  one is fast, the other is slow.  I love the slow version.  The lyrics remind me that after the crying and hurt has faded away, a new day will come.

And when I'm happy, there are so many songs I listen to that picking one is almost impossible!  So, I've chosen a song that simply makes me smile each time I hear it.  "19 Somethin'" by Mark Wills.  Any song that starts with the line, "I saw Star Wars at least 8 times" is awesome!

Day Twenty-Seven: My Favorite Superhero and Why

Superman, Batman, Iron Man, Spiderman...why are most superheroes men?!?

Anyway, this is a fun post for me because my favorite superheroes aren't conventional superheroes.  They don't wear suits that provide protection, or have gadgets that give them awesome powers.  They don't even have a vehicle that goes very fast.  In fact, it breaks down more than any vehicle I've ever seen!  They have a horrible sense of direction, often finding themselves lost and in the wrong place at the wrong time.  Two of them could eat their way out of any situation, and they all love a good mystery.

My favorite superhereos are four teenagers and their dog.  That's right, my favorite superhereos are:

Daphne, Shaggy, Freddy, Velma, and Scooby-doo!

I have LOVED Scooby-doo my whole life.  Not the Scooby-doo cartoons or movies that are made today, but the old school Scooby-doo from 1969-1972.  Before Scrappy-doo and A Pup Named Scooby-doo were created and nearly ruined the franchise.

This show simply makes me laugh because of how ridiculous it can sometimes be!  The crazy "traps" they make to catch the bad guy (that Scooby always manages to get caught in), how everyone (the audience) knows who the bad guy is except the five of them, the kooky songs that are played during the chase scenes...what's not to love?!?

And I love that Brandon also loves Scooby-doo!

Below is one of the kooky songs that Brandon and I dance to whenever we hear it.  The words are just plain silly, talking about being in love with an ostrich.  All Scooby-doo songs are weird, but they have catchy tunes!  The song is titled "Daydreamin", and it comes from one of my favorite episodes of the show:  Jeepers, it's the Creeper!  The sound is a little slower than the animation, but you get the idea.  It was the best version I could find!

Day Twenty-Six: A Habit That You Wish You Didn't Have

For as long as I can remember, I've been a nail biter...fingernail, NOT toenail!!  Over the years I've tried many times to try and rid myself of this habit.  I've only found one thing that keeps me from biting my nails:

If my nails are painted, I don't bite them.  However, since I am poor and can't afford WONDERFUL manicures, I have to do it the old fashioned, cheap way:

I paint them myself.  That's half the reason I still have this horrible habit.  Usually I'm really good about keeping my nails painted and filed, but this past summer I've let them go and gone on a nail biting frenzy! 

Isn't this the cutest picture?  It makes nail biting look adorable!

Day Twenty-Five: Something I Miss

Yeah, once again an easy topic!

There are a lot of things I miss, but what I miss the most is being able to fit into all the clothes in my closet!  When I was 23, I worked my butt off and lost 70 pounds, putting me in the BEST shape of my life.  9 years later my body has put all the weight back on.  Now, in my defense, I've had a baby, and I don't have the body that just "snaps" back into shape post baby (ooo, those women make me crazy; I hope they realize just how lucky they are!) 

Last year I began loosing weight and right as I was getting into a wonderful routine a heel spur stopped me dead in my tracks.  9 years later it's harder to exercise.  I'm older, I have a 3 1/2 year old to keep up with with, I work, keep a house in order.  But let's face it:  I love food too much to not eat it and I'm lazy!

I keep trying to loose the weight, but it's not going to happen until I'm truly ready:  which means no more excuses, and basically giving up the foods I love! 

I'm very grateful to have a husband who loves me and all the giggly parts that come with me!  He gets frustrated with me when I make comments about how chunky I am.  I'm slowly coming to terms with the fact that this is what I look like until I'm really ready to change.  Until then I tell everyone that eating the way I do helps me maintain my giggly parts!!   

So, instead of looking like this:

I look like this:

The other part that sucks about this:  Nick hasn't changed a bit...so unfair!!

A girl can always dream, but as long as Dove chocolate candy and Dairy Queen Blizzards are around, I don't expect to be loosing any weight anytime soon!!  Oh, how I miss those days!

Day Twenty-Four: Whatever Tickles My Fancy

Okay, so I found this really strange YouTube video.  Apparently every year Disneyworld has a weekend where they celebrate Star Wars.  They have some weird character parade, and this contest called Dancing With The Star Wars Stars.  I can't decide if I think it's funny or the dumbest thing I've ever seen, degrading Star Wars and how awesome it truly is!  Either way, at least watch it until 3 minutes in.  That's when the best part of this video takes place...if there is a "best" part!!!

So, what did you think?  The ending was definitely the best part!  And I agree, it is the dumbest thing I've ever seen, but because I love Star Wars, I laughed anyway!

Day Twenty-Three: A YouTube Video

I don't like YouTube videos about stupid animal or people tricks.  So finding a video for this post meant going in a different direction. 

When I was in college, one of my roommates and I shared a common interest:  our favorite actor was the same man.

While looking for a video for this post I stumbled across something that reminded me of those days, when we constantly watched the movies of this actor.  Handsome, rugged, talented (and sexy!):  our favorite actor is the charming Harrison Ford.

I LUV my husband but, oh, those lucky women!!

Day Twenty-Two: A Website

An old college roommate recently started a website called:

Free Stylin'

It's all about fixing up your home without using a lot of money.  This is a wonderful website.  She is so very creative and has wonderful ideas to help you save money.  Because let's face it:  even if you have the money, it doesn't mean that you have to needlessly spend it!!!

See her latest creation here:

Laundry Room Makeover

Day Twenty-One: My Favorite Sport

My favorite sport became that way for a really stupid reason!

Back in the spring of 1995 I was watching TV one weekend and stumbled upon an Atlanta Braves baseball game on TBS.  I usually didn't watch baseball, but something about this game caught my eye immediately.  I thought a lot of the guys were really good looking and decided to watch the game.  Besides being really good looking, they played really well....I was completely hooked.  (Hey, I was 16, I told you it was a stupid reason!)

Chipper Jones

David Justice

Tom Glavine

I spent the remainder of the baseball season glued to my TV.  TBS broadcast the majority of the games, so it was easy to become a devoted fan.  I learned all about the sport simply by watching it;  all the termonology  (sp?), how to play the game, etc.

1995 was a great year for the Braves because not only did they make it to the World Series, but they won!  It was a great year to be introduced to baseball.

Day Twenty: A Hobby

A hobby:  really?  Well, I'm not into scrapbooking, I don't read a lot, (I read the Twilight series, but does that actually count as reading?!?)  and I don't actively play any sports.  Man, I am SO BORING!!!

The biggest hobby I have right now is blogging.  I have had SO MUCH FUN figuring out how to create and use a blog, adding pictures, and making the blog look fun and inviting to friends and family.  Since I'm not "computer savvy", figuring this out with minimal help has been something I'm very proud of.

I enjoy keeping up with friends by reading their blogs, using the blog as a way to keep a journal, and talk about life.  I don't think that my life is all that exciting, but blogging is a great outlet.  I joke with Nick because he doesn't read my blog--ouch, the knife cuts deep on that one!!!

Day Nineteen: A Talent

A talent..... umm, I don't like this topic!  But I'll give it a try.

Music has always been a HUGE part of my life, so I'll focus on that.

When I was young, my mom taught me how to play the piano.  I've been playing in church ever since.  Not a very exciting story, but it's a talent!

My mom, sister, and I used to sing together all the time.  We'd sing in church, in the car, around the piano at night, basically anywhere we could.

In high school all my friends were in marching band, but I didn't play an instrument that could be in a marching band.  Could you imagine trying to carry a piano?  Doesn't work.  So, I decided to try out for the auxiliary team and twirl flag behind the band. 

It wasn't easy.  During the practices before auditions, my brain just wasn't understanding how to twirl a flag at all!  I was just about to give up when it finally clicked and I was able to make the team.  I really enjoyed it, and I'd like to think that I was pretty good at it.  By my senior year of high school I was one of the top girls on the team.

So, I hope these qualify as talents.  This is all I got for ya!!

Day Eighteen: Whatever Tickles My Fancy

Brandon

My "love bug", "buddy", "Honey Bunches of Oats", "bubba".  Whatever nickname I use, he's my precious baby boy.    

Brandon's birthday:  March 27, 2007

6 weeks old, the day of his blessing

Look at those chubby cheeks!

Oooo, I LOVE that smile!

almost one year old

Easter 2009:  hunting in the house...it was raining outside

Brandon loves his grapes

He took a nose dive at school and scratched his face up pretty badly.  Apparently he was a trooper though, and just got right back up and started playing again!

He's my little helper.  He loves to help mow the lawns, uses the dust buster to vacuum up when I sweep, and always wants to vacuum.  Let's hope he continues to enjoy these things!!

Yes, he's wearing grandma's headband while making a spaghetti mess!

Brandon LOVES to perform for people.  He's always singing and dancing.  When people come over, he becomes a "ham" and wants all the attention in the room.  The following video is from his daycare's Christmas Concert last year.  Brandon is front and center, wiggling around in the grey reindeer shirt.  The boy who keeps trying to start the songs!  He knows how to work a room, don't you think?!?

July, 2010

September, 2010

I'm so proud of my little boy.  He's so smart.  I'm a Kindergarten Aide and this 3 1/2 year old knows more about the letters of the alphabet, numbers, and colors than most of the kids in the 2 classes I aide in!!! 

I can't believe that he'll be four in March.  Watching him learn and grow each day is such a priviledge.  And where I'm not perfect, I do my best each day to be the best mom I can be for this sweet, sweet spirit.