Gift card..therapy :)

Today..my..super sweet..super fun..MIL and I found this really cool store in Goodlettsville..GFS Market Place..we orginally went there to pick up a chef's hat and apron for Izabelle's cooking class tomorrow..we ended up having a little field trip..you gotta check this place out..it is like Costco/Sam's without a membership..but better..very cool! It has been open for about three weeks now. Look what I bought!
Crushed Red Pepper (huge container..'cause Rich eats these like crazy) $4.99
PURE Vanilla..16 oz. $9.99
Vanilla Syrup..yummy in Coke's $5.99
Sloppy Joe Sauce..big can $2.59
Cry Baby gum..340 pieces..Rich & the kids love sour candy $12.99
Cloth chef's hat $5.99
Cloth apron $4.29

Then we went to Fazoli's..yumm-o..mom's treat..thanks mom:) xoxo

After that we hit Toys-R-Us..Izabelle still had a $25 gift card from Christmas & Mattie had a $20 gift card..so Mattie bought:
Just Like Home Microwave Oven $10.99..........free:)
Peg Puzzle $4.99..........free:)
10" Play Ball $1.99..........free:)
Easter basket $6.99..........free:)

Izabelle bought:
Bratz skateboard $19.99..........free:)

Total out of pocket cost at Toys-R-Us...$4.11..gotta love that!

Then after that..Izabelle and I hit Starbuck's before we got home..I still had $30 worth of gift cards there..
(1)Tall Caramel Macchiato $3.15..........free:)
(1)Tall Iced Decaf Mocha $3.10..........free:)



I took this picture Tuesday night..*so sweet*..Mattie is really into babies right now..she usually has her Strawberry Shortcake doll..that blows strawberry kisses...that smell bad..definitely not like strawberries..or a 10 year old Teletubby..Tinky Winky & Po..they used to be Izabelle's..Po talks..or I should say makes a funny noise that sounds like he is saying..Hello

Izabelle is "skateboarding" in the kitchen as I blog..she is telling me that she can picture herself doing flips and tricks and being a skater girl..with really cool skater clothes..and she is all of a sudden using the words "narly" and "dude"..is there some sort of chemical in those boards..that move quickly through your shoes and all the way up to your brain in just minutes?

Snowbird

Hey {Jersey Girl}..check this out! Here in Tennessee..public schools close for this..bwahahaha! Yesterday it was almost 60 degrees..now it is 31 degrees and snowing..welcome to my neck of the woods:)

Mattie's new "favorite place"..the kitchen cabinet that I cleared for her is..so..yesterday.

Izabelle's "Art Line"..she is always creating..and she loves to give her art to Rich & I..but there is only so much you can put on the refrigerator..so here ya go..I saw something like this the other day on Chelle's blog. Great idea!

Father/Daughter Valentine Banquet

Ok..I figured it out. How to transfer our photos from {Pictures From Heaven}..that is..it took awhile..but I got it. They are just precious..I had to share..these two just melt my heart:)

This last one is my FAVORITE..I get teary-eyed and giggle at the same time when I look at this one..I am ordering the 8 x 10 Canvas of this one! It looks like a postcard..with my sweet husband and my sweet girl:)

Ok..gotta scoot to the barber..Toto has an appointment at 11:00 am!

"Bella"

Izabelle on her Bella..she got for Christmas..I took a spin on it yesterday..weeeeeeee..that was fun..Izabelle was freezing..her little ole hands were like ice..but she was having so much fun..we kept telling her to put her scooter up and go back in the house..oh..no..she said she was fine..later we went to Marble Slab for ice cream...go figure.

After Bella..before ice cream..Izabelle decides she is going to tackle Mattie..I think Wizard was trying to protect..them both?

He gets a bath today..yippee..he had to wait a week for a bath..because of the neutering last Monday..so the suds with be flying today! Toto has an appointment at 11:00am today at the barber..hasn't had a hair cut since before Christmas.

"Potty Time" with Mattie..she loves toilet paper..wonder where she gets that from..yep..I have been guilty in using too much t.p.

Learning to blow her little nose...cute..I took a survey this morning..did you know that 80% of toddlers (18-19 mos.) go to daycare? For those of you that fall into the 20%..take some time today and thank your spouse for working so hard..this is a BIG deal:)

She still hasn't officially peed or pooed in the potty..but she has officially peed all over the wood floor..so thankful for hard wood floors:)

Trend-setter.....? Or is it the "hillbilly" coming out.....?

Awwwwwwww...B.F.F.

A little D.Q. history

Woops! How did she get in here? Ha! I found her on the internet..itsn't she pretty? Miss Diary Queen.

Dairy Queen History

For more than 60 years, the "Dairy Queen" system's recipe for success has been simple. It's been a combination of hard-working people who own and operate restaurants and great-tasting food and tempting treats served in our establishments.

The founders of the "Dairy Queen" system were men and women who introduced a new kind of dessert treat and, in the process, developed the foundation of the franchising industry. The history of the "Dairy Queen" system is a story of a unique product that created an industry.
Our phenomenal story began with a 10 cent sale of a then unnamed product on August 4, 1938, in Kankakee, Illinois. A father and son in the mix plant business in Green River, Illinois, had been experimenting with a soft frozen dairy product for some time. They contacted Sherb Noble, a good friend and customer, who agreed to run the "all you can eat" trial sale at his walk-in ice cream store. Within two hours, he dished out more than 1,600 servings of the new dessert.
Back then, food franchising was all but unheard of, but the new product's potential made it a natural for such a system. When the United States entered World War II in December 1941, there were less than 10 "Dairy Queen" stores. However shortly after the war, the system took off at a pace virtually unrivaled before or since. With only 100 stores in 1947, it grew to 1,446 in 1950 and then to 2,600 in 1955. Today, the "Dairy Queen" system is one of the largest fast food systems in the world with more than 5,900 restaurants in the United States, Canada and 20 foreign countries.

Although much has changed in the world and in the "Dairy Queen" system through the years, one constant has remained: "Dairy Queen" stores are still, and always have been, the place to find Little League teams celebrating a victory, business people on their lunch break and families taking time out to enjoy great food and soft serve treats. And, success for the "Dairy Queen" system is as simple today as it was in 1940. Satisfied customers lead to successful restaurants. Each owner of our independently owned and operated establishments worldwide are committed to nothing less than the slogan "We Treat You Right."

Over the years, "Dairy Queen" acquired Orange Julius® of America and Karmelkorn® Shoppes, Inc. In January 1998, International Dairy Queen, Inc. and its subsidiary companies were purchased by Berkshire Hathaway Inc.IDQ is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway Inc.

Highlights of the "Dairy Queen" system include:

1940 First "Dairy Queen" store opens in Joliet, Illinois.
1949 "DQ" introduces malts and shakes.
1951 Banana Splits appear on the menu.
1953 First "DQ" store opens in Canada.
1955 The "Dilly" Bar debuts
1958 The "Dairy Queen/Brazier" food products are introduced.
1961 The "Mr. Misty" slush treat cools throats in the warm South.
1962 International Dairy Queen, Inc. (IDQ) is formed.
1965 First national radio advertising sends "DQ" message 169 million times a week.
1968 The "Buster Bar" bursts forth.
1970 "Hot Fudge Brownie Delight" debuts
1972 First "DQ" store opens in Japan and "Dennis the Menace" becomes the spokescharacter for "DQ."
1973 Say the word "Scrumpdillyishhus!" and get a "Peanut Buster" Parfait for 49 cents.
1979 The "DQ" system debuts in the Middle East.
1980 "We Treat You Right" themeline is debuted.
1985 More than 175 million "Blizzard" Flavor Treats sold in its first year.
1989 "Dairy Queen" ranked America's number one treat chain.
1991 First "DQ" store opens in Mexico
1995 "DQ Treatzza Pizza" and the Chicken Strip Basket make their debut.
1998 "Chocolate Rock" Treat is introduced systemwide
1999 "Pecan Mudslide" Treat is introduced.
2000 The "S'more Galore" Treat makes its debut.
2001 Blizzard turns 16 - 3 new blizzard flavors introduced

Lunch at Dairy Queen today..I am thinking..yes!

I won an Oscar!

Click on the "Oscar" to take the quiz. I found this on Susie-Q's blog..fun!

Presenting...

Wizard..he is the newest addition to our family as of yesterday @ 4:45 p.m. Trae and Izabelle still had Christmas money left..and they decided that they wanted to adopt a dog from the animal shelter..so $75.00 later..here he is! He is sooo sweet..Toto & Krissy-Boy welcomed him into our home without any fuss:) P*E*R*F*E*C*T
He is part Jack Russell Terrier and part Heinz 57..he looks like he might have some Dalmatian in him..he has some freckles on his body..and on his ears..he has some pinkish coloring on his face..I think his face is shaped a little like a Dalmatian also.

Happy Birthday to....

..my sweet *Aunt Susie-Q*!! I hope you enjoyed your trip..I wish I was there to celebrate with you. I will talk to you later this evening.

Love you bunches,
xoxo

Eighteen months...

..today!

We are approaching the {birthday zone}..Trae: April 27, Izabelle: May 4, Me: May 19..then the little Leo trailing behind us..Mattie: August 16. She will soon be 2!

She has a strange resembleance to Don King today with that hair. I didn't put hair dooey's in while her hair was still wet and this is what happend..Mattie King! So what does an eighteen month old do? Currently..sitting inside the kitchen cabinet..banging from the inside..hope they are the industrial kind. She counts from 1-5 with help..she even holds her fingers up while we count..then when we get to 5..she will high-5 us..very..very cute! Official potty training will begin today..she cannot stand to be wet or stinky..as soon as she does one or the other..she will wave her hand near her panty area and yell..shoooo! The look on her face is hilarious:) I just thought it would be a good day for staying inside all day..no panties and the talking potty traveling from room to room with us..I guess I better hold off on mopping the wood floors..'cause I see pee-pee puddles in the forecast today.



While cleaning the kitchen this morning..I found a "man" in my freezer..have you ever experienced that? My guess is that Izabelle would be the guilty one. Hmmm? How long should I keep him? Izabelle is gone this weekend..I would have a lot of explaining to do if he wasn't here when she returned. Poor..deprived child..is this what you do when you long for fresh beautiful snow in large quantities? Build a mini..and I mean mini..snowman and then let him live in your freezer?

36 Dum-Dum Posies

Izabelle and I finished them this morning..whew! She had a Valentine party with her home school group this afternoon..they went bowling and exchanged Valentines. They don't give us a list with names..so we just filled in the from part..we made 36..and by then we were just tired of making them..we cut a total of 144 hearts. They turned out really cute though..didn't they:)

Snow ? ? ?

bwhahahahaha (well that is how Renee laughs on line) *wink* Yes..it is pretty..but c'mon..I would like to see atleast a foot. Maybe someday..in a far away land..like Michigan! There probably isn't any milk or bread to even speak of at Publix, Kroger or Food Lion right now..ha! But that is the southern thing to do..right? Run to the nearest grocery store when snow is in the forecast and buy all the milk and bread you can afford..just in case a blizzard hits. All I have to say is...bwhahahaha!
No school today for Trae..Wilson county is closed..so I also am allowing Izabelle to have a snow day..no homeschool! Trae is enjoying the day vegging-out in front of the 65" inch..until it is time to get ready for church..Chicken Alfredo is on the menu tonight at VBC..gotta love Wednesday nights..I get to hang the CLOSED sign up in my kitchen:)

Well here ya go..Izabelle & Mattie..standing on the deck in 24 degree weather..on "the snow day"..thinking to themselves..geesh..the things our mother puts us through just for a lowsy photo!

I took these pictures of Mattie on Sunday night..she fell asleep reading her newest book..from Renee. *That's Not My Mermaid* Have you read it? I guess it was such a good book..she just couldn't put it down..and before she knew it..she was asleep!

Enjoy your "snow day"! bwhahahaha

Mount Juliet DQ..famous?

I think so! I must live in the same rose colored world that Renee (the owner of Mount Juliet DQ) does.

Susan Gregg Gilmore..the author of Looking for Salvation at the Dairy Queen, has written a novel inspired by the days when her grandfather used to take her to the Mount Juliet DQ after church on Sundays.

I think this is fabulous! I have such great memories of when I was a child..in West Branch, Michigan..we had a DQ that I could safely ride my bicycle to for either: 1. Cherry Dilly Bar or 2. Cherry Dipped Vanilla Cone. This DQ had a double walk-up window..and when I visted this past summer..they still have the same walk-up window..sweet! Gotta love small towns:)

Another fun memory of DQ in Sonora, Texas..when I was about..9 years old..my family would go to DQ every Sunday afternoon after church to eat lunch. I remember they had these awesome nachos. It was just chips and cheese and jalapenos. But the best chips and cheese. You just can't find that quality anymore. So I am finished rambling about my DQ memories..now you must go and purchase a copy of this book! Then lets talk Renee into starting a book club..we can meet at the Mount Juliet DQ and sit out on the patio and eat ice cream until our hearts are content:)

Wish list...

I really, really would love to have this..but..it isn't available until May. So..I guess it can be my birthday present to myself..on May 19th:)
Anybody know how much this baby is gonna cost?

Finally..Mattie has gone to sleep..it is 12:54a..she was quite the party animal tonight.

P.S. The Recipe Idea Box is going to be $19.99...not bad!

Night..night

Cinderella

So..most of you know that last night was the Father/Daughter Valentine Banquet.

As of 10:00am..Izabelle's hair was rolled in her little spongy rollers (these are the same kind that my grandma would put in my hair on a Saturday evening for beautiful curls for Sunday morning) I love these things!

Izabelle had a 4 o'clock appointment at Stylemaster's to get her hair done. We were there awhile..until 5:30p..the banquet started at 6:30p.
Izabelle's hair was dry by the time we got there..but she really wanted to sit under the dryer..so I took a picture..she thought was sooo cool!

Finished! Time to go get her dress on..

Both of them dressed and ready..I couldn't go with them to take pictures..so I had to take some before they left..both reminding me.."We gotta go.".."We are gonna be late." I said "Just a few more..just a few more!"

She kissed me, Trae and Mattie goodbye before she left..but she couldn't forget about Krissy Boy.

They arrived home a little after 10:00p..totally pumped..giggling..talking about the evening. Dancing, laughing, eating yummy dinner & dessert, music, the photographer & people they remembered from last year. Rich told me about the last dance of the evening..it was a slow dance..they played a Cinderella song..but it wasn't "Stealing Cinderella"..but it left the dad's a bit emotional..Izabelle was telling me about it when she got home..I started tearing up..she said "Why are you crying?"..I said because you all were talking about the dad's being emotional..it made me cry just listening..she said "Oh, mama."