The Proud Daughter...

You know, it's interesting how the older we get the more we are able to truly appreciate how spectacular our parents really are. I learned several years ago that my parents were almost always right (I did say almost:) when giving me advice and direction while I was in high school and college. Over the past several years I've also realized that my parents can be both parents and friends (now that I am older and no longer disciplined by them! :). But the thing I think I can change the most is how clear it is to me that I am SO very proud of both of them and that they need to know that. When I think about all that they've been through, how they've raised 2 children, found success in their careers, and still managed to share a close bond with their families, I am truly overcome with awe and wonderment. My only hope is that when my children are grown, then can someday look back on Sam and me and share those same feelings.

This past year has brought about 2 very important career transitions for both my mother and father.

My Dad was the first to receive a promotion and was named the Northeastern District Fisheries Biologist. He's worked with the Department of Fish and Wildlife for as long as I can remember and he's now the head honcho of his division/district. He knows his stuff and all of his hard work and experience has paid off! Those who know my father, you probably can tell he's a rather humble and laid-back man; therefore, when he received his promotion you could tell he was happy, but of course he did not make it out to be such a big deal (even though it REALLY was). I think that's one of the things I love the most about my father - he's okay being just who he is. He does not need accolades or pats on the back to know he does a great job... those are just icing on the cake! I am so very proud of him.

My Mom's career accomplishment has occurred most recently. On Monday I went to silently support my mom at a public forum (basically a public interview). As I sat and listened to all that she has done as a professional educator I was actually overcome with emotion... I've known her for almost 28 years and I think that night was the first time I had ever really realized just how much she has devoted to students... how much she's done... how many different aspects of the educational system in which she's participated. I've always know just how much she LOVES her job... teaching... and the students, but I saw it all in a completely different light. I saw her that night as more than just a Mom who was a teacher and then a principal... I saw her as a professional... and I was so very proud of all that she has done and will continue to do.

Weekend Excitement!

First-of-all, Happy Mother's Day to all of the Mother's out there... mostly to my Mom, my Nonnie Jane, Mamaw Cornett and Mother-in-Law Mason!!! Also to my sister of course, who's a great mom to her kiddos as well! (And too all of my friends who are Mommies as well!)

It's going to be a great weekend for Sam and me! We're going start our weekend festivities by going to eat with some friends and their kids tonight (let's keep our fingers crossed that the food's good at the restaurant!). Sam and I do not eat out too much; therefore, when we do go it's always something to look forward too - as long as we can eat something relatively healthy!

Tomorrow Sam has to attend Commencement, which comes with the territory of being a college instructor, but I'm going to skip it and go yard-sailing instead. Wish me luck, because I'm normally too anxious to go by myself... let's hope that I make it to at least 2 before freaking out!

Once Graduation is over, Sam and I are going to Flemingsburg to celebrate Mother's Day with his step-mom and then we're off to Cincinnati to attend a Reds Game!!!!! I LOVE watching baseball live... and it's even better when we have free tickets! (My only disappointment is that we won't be able to spend time with family while there - due to the late game and having to return for Sam to work the lights at Church on Sunday.) Never-the-less, I'll be happy to spend some time with Sam, as I have not seen him a single night this week...

Then on Sunday we'll round off our wonderful weekend by celebrating Mother's Day with my Momma! The best Mom in the world!

What could be better than spending quality time with family and friends.... nothing! :)

I hope all of you have a FABULOUS weekend too!

The Oscar Meyer Weiner Mobile

Sam and I thought that Saturday would be regular day…. we were wrong. Little did we know that our trip to Lowes would turn out to be the ‘highlight’ of Sam’s month (maybe even year). As we pulled out of the Lowes’ parking lot, we looked to our left and saw it… the OSCAR MEYER WEINER MOBILE! There it was, in its pristine glory, sitting in front of Kroger, just waiting for us to take a tour.

At first I thought Sam might cause us bodily harm by swerving across 3 lanes of traffic to turn the opposite direction (toward the mobile, of course). He pulled into the Kroger parking lot and immediately exclaimed his disappointment that we only have the phone with us to take pictures with. (And I thought… we’re taking pictures?)

Once parked, Sam gets out of the car, hands me the phone, obliviously walks in front of traffic (he had wiener mobile tunnel vision) and stands proudly in front of the large metal wiener automobile for the perfect photo opt. He looked like a kid in a candy store. Although I had no particular fondness of the Oscar Meyer Weiner Mobile at the time, it grew on me over the next 15 minutes…. Mostly because I could see how excited Sam was to see it and get to tour the inside. He told me later that it was only the 4th or 5th time that he ever saw it (one of the time’s actually being in Wisconsin – it’s apparent home), but it was the first time he got to tour the inside (it’s not really very big).

We both got a free glow-in-the-dark Weenie Whistle, as well as, some memories that will last a lifetime. Who would have thought that the Weiner Mobile would be so memorable?

You know you’re in love with the right person when you love your spouse even more because of their ever -so-cute and endearing affliction for a moving, metal, hotdog. :)

Team in Training

Every ten minutes, another child or adult is expected to die from leukemia, lymphoma or myeloma. Leukemia causes more deaths than any other cancer among children and young adults under the age of 20. Although many of us have been fortunate to not have been directly impacted by any of the children or young adults affected by such forms of cancer, I am sure that we have all have had an acquaintance, close friend and/or relative that has experienced battles with blood cancers.

My brother-in-law, Jamie Sparks, is raising funds for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) as a participant in their Team In Training program. In honor of the individuals in his life who have been affected by blood cancers, he will be running the Derby Festival Mini Marathon in Louisville, KY in April 2009. Prior to running the race, he is trying to raise at least $2000 to donate to the LLS.

If you would like to make a donation of support please use the link below to make a secure pledge of support. You will receive a confirmation of your donation by email and Jamie will be notified as soon as you make your donation. The website will also allow you to track Jamie’s progress and learn more about the LLS.

http://pages.teamintraining.org/ky/KYDerby09/jsparks

Each donation helps accelerate finding a cure for leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma. More than 823,000 Americans are battling these blood cancers. Jamie hopes that his participation in Team In Training will help bring those individuals hope and support.

25 Random Things

So - I'm a total slacker and I have not yet posted anything about Christmas, New Years, etc. I will... but it might a little while before I have time! ha Until then, here are 25 random things about be. Someone tagged me to do this on Facebook, and I thought it would be a neat addition to the blog...

1. I’m obsessed with collecting (and trying) new recipes.

2. I love to sleep – but would much rather go to bed early than sleep past 7:30am.

3. I have just about every episode of 'Friends' memorized.

4. I've only really dated 4 guys (I married the 4th!)

5. DVR (TiVo) is my best friend - I refuse to watch commercials!

6. I love to watch NFL football. (I don't even care who's playing!)

7. I always thought I hated Italian dressing, until I actually tried it! Now I totally love it.

8. It took me 3 years to decide what colors to paint one bedroom in our house. (I still have to decide on colors for two other bedrooms, one bathroom, the kitchen, living room, and the great room!)

9. I wish I’d never stopped playing the violin.

10. Every guy I've ever dated went by a 1 syllable name.

11. Right now I have 20 cases of Diet Caffeine Free Dr. Pepper in my dining room. (Long story..)

12. I have not eaten fast food in almost 2 years.

13. I try to only buy things on sale… and am almost always successful. (Some things, though, are essential and are never on sale!)

14. I just figured out what exactly Sam's doctoral degree is all about.. (Instructional Systems Design)

15. I’ve never had a cavity.

16. I wish I’d gone to culinary school.

17. Sam and I purchased a road bike and a tandem kayak from money we earned collecting and recycling cans.

18. One of my New Year's Resolutions was to floss everyday... so far I have not missed a day!

19. I’ve been in love twice.

20. When eating cereal, I like to have twice as much milk than cereal in my bowl.

21. I want to cut my hair short but am too afraid!

22. I got a red card and was ejected from a soccer game while in high school.

23. I cried like a baby the first time I ever flew... even though I was 17! ha!

24. Looking up at really tall buildings totally freaks me out!

25. I once picked 1600 dandelions out of our front yard because my Dad told me he would pay me a penny for each one I picked.

Let me just say...

I TOTALLY love my bread machine! I've had a bread machine ever since Sam and I got married in 2003. While living in Butler we used the machine once, but since that time I never I bothered to get it out again... until this past weekend.

It was my turn to make breakfast/snacks for the church volunteers and I thought that I would try making homemade cinnamon rolls. I found a recipe that suggested the use of the dough cycle on a bread machine. Since I was baking other goodies Saturday I thought using the bread machine would save a little time. I'm SOOOO glad that I used it because the dough came out almost perfect!!! It was just the right consistency, was easy to roll (on a floured surface) and baked beautifully!



It totally beat mixing by hand, letting it rise, punching it down, letting it rise again, and worrying that something will go wrong along the way. Plus, my house is normally so cold that my yeast doughs take forever to rise.

I'm definitely going to use my bread machine more often now! If anyone has any good recipes, just send them my way!

Completely Thankful...

So often we let life just pass us by as we race for the next adventure, accolade, or accomplishment. It's important to stop and realize just how blessed we are for the many 'luxuries' we may enjoy that others do not have the opportunity to experience. Therefore, I thought it was appropriate to mention just a few things for which I am ever-so-thankful!

God - That's a given! Without the Grace of God, nothing else would appear on my list... actually I would not even be able to make a list! :)

Family - I have an awesome spouse, family, extended family, and group of friends that I will always consider as family.

Freedom - As a US citizen I have been given more freedom than I know what to do with... ultimately, it is hard for us to fully appreciate how fortunate we are when it comes to this item of thankfulness... as many of us have never experienced life without freedom.

Opportunity - I have control over what I want to pursue as a career, where I want to live, what job I want to apply for, etc. I can essentially choose my own path.... my success is directly based on the decisions I make... although that cause some stress, it is definitely something I would not want to give up.

The lighter side of Thankfulness....

Cereal and Milk - I could not live without my daily intake of cereal and milk. I seriously think that I could eat cereal for breakfast, lunch and dinner and never get tired of it!!!!

Chapstick - Could you imagine living life with dry lips?

Sweatshirts/hoodies - Nothing beats wearing a hoodie on a chilly day!

Christmas Lights - How could anyone be in a bad mood after looking at Christmas lights!?!

Boca Burgers - If you have not tried these you need to! They are the best veggie/vegan burgers of all time! I'm neither a vegetarian nor a vegan, but I found these guys and fell instantly in love. I could probably eat these for every meal of the day and never get tired either!

Warm socks - What can I say? I hate it when my feet are cold!

Blogs - I LOVE to be able to 'keep-up' with my friends who I don't see very often. It just makes my day when I read about what's going on with them, something new their kids are doing, or if I'm just able to make sure things are okay. It's definitely a form of technology for which I am very thankful!

Remember when..

Remember When...

1. Add a comment on my blog, leave one memory that you and I had together. It doesn't matter if you knew me a little or a lot, anything you remember!

2. Next, re-post these instructions on your blog and see how many people leave a memory about you. It's actually pretty funny to see the responses.

The fruit (or veggie) of our labor…

I had to just quickly post something funny that happened at the end of the summer. Why, you may ask? Because it is one of those things that you just have to laugh at and chalk up as a life lesson learned.

This summer Sam and I were very excited and convinced that we would be able to grow tomatoes and peppers in a raised bed next to our carport. We bought 4 little pepper plants and 4 little tomato plants. We planted them in the bed, nourished them with some plant food and water, and waited for them to produce home grown veggies!

It turns out that turtles like to eat pepper leaves, blossoms, and stems.... and tomatoes need much more light than what our yard can provide.

But, the effort was not completely wasted. We were, after all, rewarded with our little baby tomato.

Please note that this was supposed to be a very large tomato, not a little cherry tomato!

Halloween, Mason Style

Since Sam and I live in the most 'traditional' neighborhood out of Mom & Dad and Nik & Jamie, we have hosted Halloween every year since we moved to Lakeview Heights. However, this year was the first year that both Sam and I were able to participate in the festivities. (In the past either I've had night class or he's had class.)

We made the famous Mason 'Junk' Chili, carved several pumpkins, hung orange lights outside, and stationed ourselves on the front porch with candy in hand.

Mom was in charge of passing the actual candy out, while Sam and Dad worked on trying to scare the trick-or-treaters with a fake rubber snake tied to a piece of jute. (Realizing that the jute was very visible, they later opted to tie it with thread, as we had no fishing line at our house.)

Nikki and Jamie took Ross (a.k.a. the good Anakin Skywalker), Hannah (a.k.a. the ballerina) and Ray (just Ray) out trick-or-treating in the neighborhood.

As always, it was a great night. We had 154 kids stop by the house for candy and saw a few interesting costumes. Mostly, it was just fun spending time with one another, laughing, and worrying about whether or not we were going to run out of candy!

These are the lovely Mason Family Pumpkins! :)