Another February Comes to a Close

After church on Sunday, February 23, the kids and I went to mom's and we all went to lunch at KFC. We spent a little time in Sparta before coming back to look at an open house on Patrick Street. I made Taco Soup for dinner after Stroker joined me in a grocery run to Wal-Mart.
I felt like I was back on track with cooking at home because on Monday, February 24, I made a pot roast for dinner. Brookelynn had an orthodontist appointment. Her teeth are moving right along. Stroker had a dentist appointment at the same time. Stroker and I went to look at a kitchen table, but neither of us liked it. The search continues. We went on Faith visits Monday evening to conclude the day.
I must have jinxed myself with that line about being back on track, because we are back to drive thru dinners by Wednesday, February 26. We went to Steak-n-Shake before church and went to another store to check out a table that I found (and like).
Brookelynn cooked dinner for us on Thursday, February 27. I finally got all the kitchen sink stuff put away that got wet last week. I also had to go to the cable office for a new HDMI cord that was too replace an HDMI cord that went bad. The new one that they gave me is too short, so I guess I will have to buy a new one. Seems like there are errands to run every day. Why can't I just go home and sit quietly one day?
I went to JC Penney on Friday, February 28, to pick up the summer shorts that I ordered for Devin. It's hard to find shorts that will reach his knees. I also watched Grey Friday evening for Stacia and Delano while they went on a date..

Brookelynn missed out on that visit because she spent the night with Ella.
Just like that....February 2014 was over.

Birthday, Promotion, and the Kitchen Sink

I had two things to accomplish on Sunday, February 16. Breakfast committee at church and covering the soundbooth at church. Needless to say, after that, it was a leisurely day. Brooke and I went to look at an open house, I took a 2.5 hour nap, dinner was at Cheddar's and Devin arrived back home from Memphis around 7pm.
Monday the 17th was a great day at home. It was Presidents Day, so the kids were home from school and I was home with a list of chores. Brooke and I got in the shed and drug out all the consignment totes...5 of them. I can't believe we accumulate so much stuff. The worst part is that it's only Brookes things that she has outgrown. We don't even consign Devin's old things anymore because he is in men's sizes these days.  So anyway, as I was saying...5 totes of Brookelynn's consignment stuff. I knew it would take a while to sort and price, so we are taking this one step at a time. I had till Sunday to get prepared. 
While I was at home all day, I cooked a home cooked meal consisting of meatloaf, mashed potato's, and corn which we ate on the couch because I still haven't decided on a new kitchen table yet. Stroker and I also went on FAITH visits with Lee Roberts Monday night.
By Tuesday, February 18, I had wore myself out from all the Monday activity. I picked up a pizza at Papa Johns on the way home for dinner. Brooke and I had to make a trip to the office store to get supplies for her science fair project. I am still disgusted by the $10 price tag on the science fair board. It's a piece of cardboard for Pete's sake. Stroker had to work till 5pm today. He was feeling worn down by the time he got home too.
I went to get something out from under the kitchen sink on Wednesday, February 19, and noticed everything under the sink was flooded. Not with clean water. With drain water. The pipe came off the drain of the kitchen sink and I have no idea how long it has been that way. I had to empty everything out from under the sink, which is like emptying a landfill and dry out the bottom as best I could. Plumber Stroker arrived at almost 5pm because he is still working 10 hour days. This five minute fix took us about an hour and a Facetime call to my brother-in-law. We were done just in time to get to church.
Temperatures were in the 60's today, but too bad we had our heads under the kitchen sink and didn't get to enjoy it.
Good News! on Thursday, February 20. Stroker found out that he got the job that he applied for! It is supposed to come with an earlier "go home" time in the evenings. He is excited and I am too. Temperatures today was 70+ degrees. It brought on some storms by night though.
Sunny and 60 degrees on Friday, February 21. The ladies at work brought in refreshments and cake to celebrate my birthday. I sure am lucky to work with such a awesome group of girls.

For dinner, we went to Olive Garden.
Happy Birthday to me on Saturday, February 22nd. God gave me beautiful weather for my birthday. Sunshine and 66. We made a trip to Jamestown, but made time for a birthday lunch at Cheddar's before leaving town.

Hair Cuts and Holidays

We began Sunday, February 9, with church and then went to Chili's afterwords for lunch with some friends from church. Devin drove me to moms for a visit. He is doing well with his driving. If only he would get to the Drivers Testing Station and get a license.  Don't get me wrong, I know my real worries will begin when he gets out on the road.
Brooke and I decided to make homemade S'mores Sunday night in the oven. The toasted marshmallows on top were my favorite.
I decided to try Fasting again on Monday, February 9, since my last attempt was a flop. Again, I made it till 5 pm and it was all I could stand. Part of the problem was that I cooked ribs, cabbage, and fried squash for my family and it just looked to good to pass up.

I am still sticking to the vinegar regimen though. Also on Monday, Stroker and I went with Jackie from church on Faith visits for about an hour. We struck out though. We just couldn't catch anybody at home (or they wouldn't come to the door).
Cletus got groomed on Tuesday, February 11 and boy oh boy was it overdue. He looks like a handsome doggy now.

Devin got a haircut today too. He was already handsome. With all the grooming going on, Brookelynn had to get in on the action. I took her for a manicure, but it is her Valentines gift from her daddy and me.

She couldn't wait to show her nails to her friends at school on Wednesday, February 12, but as luck would have it, schools were closed. It was supposed to snow, but it just never got here. Another home cooked meal that night though. I am on a roll. We stayed home that night instead of attending church.
On Thursday, February 13, Stroker and I went to Logan's to celebrate Valentines early. We also celebrated his interview for the position that he applied for. He has been with this company for 20 years now and he has done the same job for over half that time.
Friday, February 14 was the day that most of the world puts their significant other on trial to test the degree of love that they have for each other. Not me...I'm taking notes on all 365 days of the year.
We did, however, make the day a bit more significant for the kids. Devin got new t-shirts and a Walking Dead poster for his room. He seemed pleased. Brookelynn went for a manicure earlier this week and received some EOS lip balm that she has been asking for.
Devin's friend Hernan needed a ride home from school yesterday, so since it was the "day to show love", I played taxi driver. Devin wasn't home long Friday evening. He took a ride to Memphis with Darlene and Gary for the weekend.
It took us until Saturday, February 15 to get together with Erin and Ansley for our annual Christmas gathering. We named it Cupid Christmas this year. Brooke and I met up with them in Mt. Juliet for lunch and a movie.

We watched "Endless Love" which was a great love story (of course).

The girls exchanged gifts on the tailgate of Erin's truck.

Brookelynn went home with Ansley and I drove back home alone with the radio loud and singing my head off. Sometimes it just feels good to take a long drive alone.
By the time that I got home Saturday evening, it was almost dinner time. Stroker and I went on a date since we didn't have any kids at home. We ate at Bobby Q's and then went for my 2 theater visit of the day. He and I watched a different type of movie though. We watched a comedy called Ride Along. It was pretty funny, but had some rough language.

Frazzled February

Our first stop Saturday, February 1, was to pick up Brooke from the sleepover. We followed that by going to my mother-in-laws house to drop off her birthday card and a $25 Target gift card. We also made a  run to Smithville today. Brookelynn and I went by ourselves to all the furniture stores in Cookeville looking at dining room tables. We did find one in the whole city that caught our eye, so we are going to think on it for a day or two before making any hasty decisions.
 On Sunday, February 2, Devin and I did the grocery shopping together after church. He was a good helper. Why hasn't he been helping me shop for all these years?....Oh yeah, because I don't cook. It wasn't until here lately that I have decided to cook at home more often. We bought several snacks for Superbowl tonight. We used to join friends to watch, but Stroker decided a few years back that he would be more comfortable at home on our own couch. He said it even saves him the drive back home after the game is over. It is definitely a win - win situation because I don't watch the game anyway. I get to kick back and browse Pinterest instead...that is, after the snacks are all cooked and ready to eat. :)  The Seattle Seahawks beat the New England Patriots in tonight's game.

I had to take Brookelynn by the funeral home this afternoon to visit with a fellow cheerleader who lost her mom. My heart aches for Kimmy. The most important thing a 6th grader could have is their mom...and now hers is gone forever. It rained all day today, as if even the clouds were weeping.
On Monday, February 3, schools were closed because Monterey had some icy situations on a few of the roads. Cookeville was dry though, so these kids just enjoyed the break. I made a trip to Sparta late in the evening, so Brooke prepared dinner before I got home.
Tuesday, February 4 was a complete wash out. Rain, rain rain. I went to PEP talks at lunch today to hear a speaker, Tim McClaughlin, talk about "Teen Challenge". It was an interesting topic and sounds like a great program. Brookelynn cooked dinner again Tuesday night. This time, she made ranch chicken. She is getting good practice on her culinary skills.
Wednesday, February 5 started off with a health coach screening at 8am.  It was also a doctor visit day for Brooke as she went Wednesday afternoon for her third and final HPV injection.  We had a fellowship meal at church, so for the third night straight, our oven was used. :)
It was definitely a rude awakening for us on Thursday, February 6 as we woke to the sounds of sirens, a high speed chase and someone getting arrested in our yard at 4 am. Turns out that some guy left a bar on Washington Ave., got pulled over and then tried to outrun the police. His motor blew up just as he entered the yard next to our driveway.
I read a book last week about the advantages of apple cider vinegar, so I have decided to start the regimen today. It makes me cringe and gag to drink it, but I am going to try it anyway. The book also said that fasting one day a week helps detox and remove all sorts of impurities from the body, so I fasted all day...until 6:00pm. It went downhill fast from there.

Stroker did just the opposite of fasting. He attended a luncheon at work to celebrate 20 years of service. The only thing that I have stuck with for the last twenty years is consistently gaining weight. I sure don't need an extra meal to celebrate that.
I did cook a delicious meal on Friday, February 7 though. Not for any type of celebration, but just because it  was dinner time. I baked a chicken casserole, potato's, corn and sweet potatoes while Stroker and Brooke went to buy Cassidy's gift card for her birthday. Dinner was served hot out of the oven and we enjoyed it on the couch because we are still without a table. I am still pretty sure that I want to get the one Brooke and I found last weekend, but I feel like I should think on it just a little while longer. I don't want to spend hundreds of dollars on something that I will regret a few days later.
Stroker applied for a new position at his work today. If he gets it, it will mean that for the first time in our lives, the entire Hayes family will have to get up and get ready all at the same time. Yikes! that is a scary thought. Are we ready for this?
Brooke went to Cassidy's party on Saturday, February 8, because that is what Brooke does...she socializes and rips and runs all weekend. She was supposed to spend the night at Cassidy's, but Cassidy started feeling sick at her party and decided that she wasn't up for a slumber party. I think she literally became a party "pooper".
We watched movies all day on Saturday...Lifetime movies. How crazy are we to sit and watch these nutjob movies all day? We will all be emotional train-wrecks for the next couple of days. One Lifetime movie a day should be the limit.