Whew!

We are all breathing a huge sigh of relief!!! That was a close one, but luckily for us, all we got was lots of rain and a little wind! At least I don't have to water my flowers today--or for a while! Not so lucky on the coast, though...we hear that our friends who were under mandatory evacuation in Gulfport have water all around their house, but not in it. We have also heard reports that Jourdan Shores had a big surge of water, not sure if it made it up into the camp...Im sure Michael and Chris will head down to check things out as soon as the curfew is lifted in the area.
Chris and I do have some friends with family here from South Louisiana, Lafouche Parish to be exact--that's right where Gustav came ashore, so we definately want to say very special prayers for them, as they aren't sure what they will be going home to...
We will keep our eyes open and watch Hanna and now, Ike....

Back to School is....

Back to schools means a lot to different people--here are my thoughts...
Babies...the best part and the Brown Bear song that means the day is over...
Art projects--Ms. Sarah loves to finger paint
Crackers--the Goldfish variety...our favorite!!
Kid size cups and chairs....so cute

Teachers...need I say more.
Overtime--but we work for the state--overtime hours, but no overtime pay.

Smiles...
Cries...
Hugs...every morning!
Overjoyed mom's and dad's when we finally meet THAT goal that we worked so hard on!
Old McDonald and Wheels on the Bus and Itsy Bitsy Spider--EVERYDAY!
LOVE and lots and lots of it!

Welcome back my sweeties!

Back to School

Well...it is August--middle of Mississippi summer and HOT and it is time to go back to SCHOOL! Didnt' once upon a time, school start after Labor Day?? Though so... needless to say--last week was EXHAUSTING! Went to bed one night at 6:00...Chris asked if I was napping---nope in the bed to stay till the alarm went off the next morning! I have lots of new babies to see and a few old kiddos...This will be a great year--once we get schedules worked out and a routine established! WELCOME BACK!

Making Friends

Well...almost making friends...




My sweet Maggie just wants to play...especially when baby Dali thinks that white tip on Mags tail is he play toy. Then it gets a little hectic...Magster just doesn't realize she is quite bigger and HEAVIER than Dali...who ends up all pissed off and biting Maggie's ears and lips and belly...quite funny, but we don't let it go one too l ong. We are scared Maggie will get hurt--that's right big ol' Maggie. Dali is one tough kitty!

But I love my babies!!

Sarah and Chris go to Tennessee

Chris and I just returned from Tennessee from a visit with his parents. The trip to Tennessee was a bit of hard, but the joy of seeing Martha and Joe took over. Chris and I--well mostly Chris--did lots of work around the house. I know it is hard being so far away from his parents. He quite the landscaper and carpenter. We got to spend some alone time... we went to Downtown Chattanooga to our FAVORITE PLACE...The Big River Brewery and Grill...they were out of our favorite beer there, Sweet Magnolia Brown. (Maggie is named for this beer--perfect for her) But we found other things and still love the place. We were able to walk down to the Tennessee River. The minor league team, the Lookouts, were just finishing a game so we had fireworks...it really was a perfectly ROMANTICAL evening!
We also spent an afternoon friving up the Ocoee River, watching the rafters and kayakers. So fun to watch...not sure about actually getting out there and doing it, though. We drove up to Chilhowee National Park--up being UP A MOUNTAIN. There is a neat lake on top...and we made a good effort to walk to some waterfall...effort only because we had no water, and I was wearing my site-seeing by car only flip-flops...
Still had a great time....it is great to see Chris's face light up when he is in his "stomping ground." And it really is good for him to get to see his parents. You I have always heard "Watch how a man treats his mother!" I know that I am in very good hands! I LOVE YOU MY CHRISTOPHER!!

United Way website

I have tried to insert a clickable link--having trouble...or ignorance...but you can copy and paste from below!


www.unitedwaysems.org

A Little About United Way

I know lots of you hear about the United Way--especially around football season..It is my understanding that the NFL is a huge partner with United Way. Well United Way is at work everyday in our community.
I have the wonderful opportunity to work for a United Way Agency, The Children's Center for Communication and Development. There are many services that we would not be able to provide if it weren't for the United Way.
Ii is almost time for the Annual Campaign to raise money for our LOCAL United Way. Many of you work for companies that participate. I have heard "Oh, Im not giving...that money goes to some person far away." NOT TRUE!! The money you give stays LOCAL!!
SO, as the United Way campaign comes around, please consider donating...they make it easy. A Fair Share Giver is one who gives one-hour per month of their salary...so very doable!!! You won't even miss it and all of our hours really add up to help our community! Thanks...the thank you that you may get from a recepient will warm your heart and make it all worth it!

Gonna do better!

I am going to try to be a better poster....not that I will put any thought provoking or interesting posts up, it will give me an outlet to ask questions that may or may not get any answers and to say all those things I want to say without who ever is around tuning me out....does that all make sense....

Question for Today---

Who around me, other than my neighbor, has a wireless doorbell...It has to be within 75-100 feet of my receiver...can't figure this one out. I have been home a lot lately with school out, and several times a day I hear my front doorbell--I get all excited because I am BORED out of my mind that someone has come to see me, have lunch, grab a mid-day margarita, WHATEVER---but NO ONE AT THE DOOR. Either my building is haunted or someone close by keeps setting off my front door bell.--never the back, just the front. I have thought that maybe it is someone walking by, but no one is ever around--or any where close. SOOOOO, if you happen to drop by while I am off, come ring the BACK door! THen I will know it is for real--and we'll go to lunch!

Have a good day!

YEAH!!! THE BEACH!!

We just got back from a well deserved trip to the beach in Panama City...seven days of sand, sun, and fruity drinks--minus the umbrellas...GOOD TIMES!

Amazing Video

Someone sent this to me and it is something we should all watch...especially when we think we are stressed and work or life is just giving us too much trouble...

Memorial Day Weekend..

We OFFICIALLY, I guess, started summer off on Memorial Day weekend at the Camp....lots of fun! Here are a few pictures...

Mother's Day

For Mother's Day, Chris, Mom, and I went to see Grandma Ann in Monroe! Chris was such a trooper--he handled the "Girls' Weekend" very well. We did some yard work and trimmed some trees for Grandma. We had a fabulous dinner on the bayou at Cypress Inn--so glad this place was still there. Chris and Mom had ALL YOU CAN EAT crawfish--these were the biggest crawfish I have seen in a long time...then we fed the turtles that hang out in the bayou...we spent our last day there at the zoo and met some neat creatures!

Summer TIme is HERE!! YEAH!!!

I love summer! Summer is...
Apple Pie, Aloe, and Ants
Boats and Bikinis
Catching some rays and canoe trips
Days OFF
Eating yummy summer food!
Fishing and flip flops
Going a little crazy
Hawaiian Tropic Tanning Oil
Ice cream--homemade!
Just not long enough!
Kicking back with a Corona and some Jimmy Buffett
Linen pants and Laying out in the sun!
My favorite time of the year!
Never long enough...didn't I mention that earlier...
OUTSIDE TIME!
Putting off today what you can do tomorrow!
Quitting early
Riding the waves!
Sundresses, Sunburns---ouch--and SPF (15 at least)
Taking it easy!
Unwinding
Vacation
Watermelon
X-citing!
Yellow Sunshine all DAY!
Zoo trips to New Orleans...

THESE ARE A FEW OF MY FAVORITE THINGS!

We made the news again! Watch and listen!

Live After Five Train Depot--Grupo Fantasma

Photobucket Album

It's Crawfish Season!!

Photobucket Album

HAPPY BIRTHDAY CHRISTOPHER!!!

Our New Place

We love our new place! Hope to show it off very soon--

We are Officially DOWNTOWN!

Finally, we have moved downtown. While in Tennessee finishing up a long 2 years of turmoil, we closed on our house and our apartment on Pine St was finished. Actually, we moved some, ran to TN for the day(like it is just up the road), drove in late the next, and finished moving as we had to be out of the house VERY soon!

But we absolutely love it--not sure if you have ever had that feeling of "WOW--THIS is where I belong" but that is what it was like when got in. It is kinda small, but spacious at the same time and Maggie loves it too. I'll have pictures up soon. Even Mags got a new bed out of the move--not that she prefers it to mine or anything!

I have lots of favorites about this new place. One is NO YARD to maintain!! Yippee. There is just enough grass for Maggie to go poopy and that's all we need. Princess Maggie really isn't into hanging out outside. I think I have exhausted her with walks to Town Square Park. I think she is glad that I went back to work today. We have great neighbors--including the Sheriff Dept--how's that for a security system??!!

So as Ty Pennington would say, I will say for us--Welcome home, Price family, Welcome home!

Ready for Spring

We so have Spring Fever--Chris and I tried to get a jump start on spring and summer and spent the weekend at the camp on the Jourdan River. It was a beautiful weekend, but still kind of cool. We took the boat out and cruised up and down the river and out to the bay--after Chris spent most of Saturday getting the boat to crank. Who knew he was so mechanical?? It was a nice escape--

Hanging out in beautiful Downtown Hattiesburg

Last Sunday was a BEAUTIFUL day--and I now have definite spring fever! I cannot wait for all these cold days to end... I know my tune will change by early August, but for now, I need warm sunny days!!
We spent the afternoon walking around, taking some photos--some just for me, some for Chris to maybe paint...Then finished off with Happy Hour at Brownstone's. They do have one of the best happy hours in town. Don't forget about them!!! And sitting up on that balcony with the warm sun coming in----Ahhhhhh....it was like vacation!

Update on my Daddy

Thank you so much to all who have prayed for and offered to help my Daddy. He, his wife, and my niece are beginning to put the pieces back together--it's just such a slow, painstaking process. They are leaving the motel tomorrow to go to their local state park.. They will have a one of the newer cabins there and get a bit more settled than 3 people in one tiny motel room. Plus, it is on the lake and may be like a little vacation.
They are beginning to collect the small items that they lost, since they will be in a cabin for a while. Thank you to everyone who has offered to help and offered prayers. They truely are feeling it. But please continue--they have a very long road ahead of them!

My Daddy's Home

Prayers, please

Thanks to all who have offered their thoughts and prayers already. I am asking for all of you to keep my dad in their prayers. On Saturday afternoon, his house caught fire and burned completely. He, his wife, and her grandaughter were able to get out safely, along with all their dogs, but it was a total loss--including their vehicles. The Red Cross has put them in a hotel for two nights and on Monday they will meet with the insurance people. I have begun to get a few items of clothing but not real sure where to start. I have collected a couple of WalMart gift cards as that seems to be the best way to help, since we know Wal Mart has EVERYTHING--and that's what they lost--EVERYTHING! Thanks again for all of your thoughts, prayers, and help.

Don't Throw That Snowball at Me!!!

BRRRRRRRRRRRR! Baby, It's Cold Outside!

All I have to say is--Told ya so!!! I knew it was gonna snow! Actually, we had lots of ice and sleet, but we did have some great big honest SNOWFLAKES! Of course, I do own some super cute hats, perfect for going out in the snow and ice--Can they be found today?? Absolutely NOT! This makes me so very upset, but I braved it anyway...here are a few shots of our street covered in slush and snow. Even Maggie and Dali got to play a bit in it---Dali DID NOT like it one bit--teach her to run out the door everytime it is opened!

Sibling Rivalry

Remember that cute, sweet, tiny baby Dali from last spring.....well she has learned to hold her own. I no longer worry about her when she plays with her big (much BIGGER) sister Maggie. Dali goes for the ears....she bites down, holds on, and goes for a ride. Truly, she isn't as vicious as she looks in this shot. She is still very sweet and cuddly...as long as you aren't stepping on her and breathing dog breath!

Happy New Year!

Hopefully everyone has had their lucky black eye peas and cabbage--we doubled up and added brussel sprouts, too...surely that has to be good for something! May God bless you in 2008----2008, It's gonna be GREAT!