Ending October 2015

I got our Disney bands customized on Thursday, October 15th, since we are just one month away from our trip. Devin, Brooke and I took a daycation to Chattanooga also. We loaded up mom and took her on a trip to get her up and moving a little. She sits in her chair day in and day out like a statue. She needs to get out and live a little. So, we went to the Incline Railway.

She seemed to have a very good time. We hit up a local lunch cafe and had a great time. So glad we all spent the day together. The only downfall was when I got pulled over on the way home for speeding in a construction zone.

He asked if there was a reason why I was in a hurry. I told him "No, just taking my mom back home from a family trip".  God's grace was on me that day because the officer let me go without a ticket. Actually, God's grace is on me everyday, but some days are just more evident than others. thanks God.

After dropping mom off, I swung by Tina and Tae's to pick up my freshly painted paper tray and I am in love!!! Can't wait to get home and sit this on my side table.

Stroker went to dinner at a men's meeting for church Thursday night. We didn't see much of each other all day.

We closed the week with dinner at the Dipsy Doodle Friday night.

Saturday, October 17 had late deliveries, so we slept in until 10am. I also spent some time working on a wreath for my sister. October is breast cancer awareness month and happens to be the 6th year of my sister being cancer free.

Sunday, we went to church, lunch at Outback, took a nap, made dinner at home and cupcakes. How's that for Sunday funday?

I finished the wreath for Darlene on Monday, October 19. Finding the pink for the ribbon was the hardest part. I hope she likes it.

I took an old trunk to Tina and Tae's to be repainted on Tuesday, October 20. It's an old project that I started over a year ago. Do you remember THIS post? Oh how I wish I could start things and finish them during the same decade.

I picked up my mom and took her for a perm on Tuesday as well. We finished the night with dinner at Cracker Barrel. She loves their dumplings.

I treated myself to a chemical peel on Wednesday, October 21. I was sure to warn people that my face would be peeling for several days. i didn't want anyone confusing my "cootie" episode with the skin flaking off my face. 

Wednesday evening, I repainted the patio steps and put up a new support bracket in the master closet, because I sure test the limits of what a shelf can hold at my house. 

Thursday, October 22 was the first basketball game of the season. Football came and went in a flash, now basketball will fly by as well. 

Friday, October 23, we joined Sterl and Debi for dinner at Olive Garden. Brooke went to Ella's after dinner and spent the weekend. the 23rd also started the 14 Days of Brookelynn, but there is an entire post of how that played out.

I picked up my newly painted trunk at Tina and Tae's on Saturday, October 24. We had to drive from Sparta to Gordansville twice, yet I somehow found time to pick out a new paint color for our bedroom. We went with HGTV Olympus White.

And, although it has the word "white" in the name, it has this ever so slight hue of blue. Very calming. I could sure use some calm in my life. We run ourselves ragged most days.

We had dinner at dad's on Sunday, October 25. Not just any dinner, but his 78th birthday dinner.

So thankful to get to celebrate with him. We are truly blessed to have both mom and dad still here with us. 

While we were all gathered at Daddy's, I took Darlene out to the car and gave her the wreath that I made for her. She seemed to like it. I gave it to her just a day shy of her 5 year mark. 

Stroker went to the Vision Works to have his eyes checked on Monday, October 26. He was moving right along until they threw that $800+ bill on him. At that point, he backed out. 

We also got a call that Billy, our 12 year old nephew, is being sent to Vanderbilt with Lymphoma. 

Can't believe that came about so suddenly.

I called daddy to wish him a happy birthday on Tuesday, October 27 as we were on our way to Vanderbilt to check on Billy. 

On Wednesday, October 28, I had an appointment with the dentist and stopped by daddy's afterwords to look over some new health insurance information. When I made it back home, I finished up the trunk by adding a cushion for a seat.

Stroker had the day off work on Friday, October 30. We went to lunch at O'Charley's and Stroker took the obstacle course to set up at Darlene's church for Halloween.

We made deliveries all day Saturday, October 31. Brooke dressed up as a minion and went to Ella's to walk her neighborhood.

Fall Break

Charter had to come pay us a visit on October 1. I had received an email from someone who said they had been trying to call to make a reservation but kept getting a recording that our phone was out of order. Turns out, squirrels had decided to make our phone line a snack item. Uuugghh. I don't even know how long the line had been out. Thank the Lord this lady emailed me to tell me about it when she did.

Fall break began after school on Friday, October 2. Brookelynn was sooo ready for it. There first full day of break had nothing but rain on Saturday, October 3. We had cancellations which meant a fall break for us :)...and Brooke spent the day at Ella's.

The sunshine made a reappearance on Sunday, October 4, so we were back to work right after church. Ella came home with Brooke for a sleepover. Brooke went back to Ella's house on Monday, October 5...those girls are back and forth :)

I had a dentist appointment Monday and stopped by to visit mom, while back at home, the blue slide was set up again to dry out a little more.

I spent 4 hours of my life in the shed on Wednesday, October 7, just organizing and straightening out all of our storage. At 9pm, Stroker yelled out the kitchen window "do you want me to bring a pillow out there so you can sleep in there tonight?" I admit, it's a little ridiculous to spend that much time in the shed, but when cold weather comes I don't want to be out there freezing looking for something.

Brooke had a hair appointment on Thursday, October 8 to get some of the ends trimmed. I went to Nashville in the evening to a Chris Tomlin outdoor concert. It was fantastic...the weather, the worship, the singing. Everything was amazing. We had dinner at Rock Bottom and it was good too, but not as good as everything else.

I dropped off a vintage 3 tier paper tray at Tina and Tae's on Friday, October 9 to have her repaint it.

I love the tray, but imagine it will be so cute once each tray is painted in three different colors.

I also packed a weekend bag for me and Stroker to have our romantic weekend for two in Gatlinburg. Our second fall break. Brooke spent the weekend at Ella's. On our trip, we drove through Cade's Cove, walked through the streets of Gatlinburg, shopped a little,  had a quiet dinner and hung out at our cabin. It is not often that we have time for a trip like this. It was very relaxing.

Henry Whitehead Place

Carter Shields cabin

Missionary Baptist Church

Inside the Primitive Baptist Church

Our Cabin Photos

The following week, was back to our busy schedules. I had to take Brooke to get her photo ID, I had a massage to be proactive with my sciatic nerve.

  Tuesday, October 13,  I was at Satellite Med about a weird rash under my arms and on my stomach.  I was kind of freaking out that the hot tub at the cabin may have given me cooties. Satellite Med assured me that it wasn't cooties and gave me a cream to apply.  Not sure that I feel better about it just yet.

Warning! This Post Has Graphic Images

Stroker had his 40th birthday on Wednesday, September 16. We celebrated with a home cooked meal. We got him a few gifts such as an NF CD, Toby Mac tickets, Redeemed t-shirt, and a book named "How to Ruin your kids in 7 easy steps".

Brooke's Homecoming game was Thursday, September 17. We sat up a couple of canopies for tailgating and had some good food with friends.

Darlene and Gary to the game too. The school year is flying by as usual.

Our weekend activities included a Friday night sleepover (Alyssa) and a Saturday night sleepover (Ella). I worked this weekend on adding an overhead light and shelving in our shed. I never actually have a weekend to relax. If we are not on the road, there is always a list of chores waiting for me.

When Monday, September 21 rolled around I got online and ordered our tickets to the annual Trade Show. We are just under two months away. This year, we are driving the truck so that we can make a few purchases while we are there. We found things last year that we wanted, but did not have the right vehicle to bring it home.

I spent Tuesday evening at moms since I didn't have the opportunity to go during the weekend.

I broke down and had a meeting with Mr. Meihl's on Wednesday, September 23 about the cheer coach. Just in time for the last football game and 8th grade night.

on Thursday, September 24. It wound up that the 8th grade cheerleaders were recognized at the game.  Brooke sent me this and asked if it was okay if they announced this as we walked out onto the field with her.

Brooke was all smiles, and so were we. But, on the inside my heart was saying "this is my cheerleader's last football game" :(

Later on that night, the assistant coach sent out this text message to the 8th grade cheer captains. Other cheerleaders had tattled to the coach and said the 4 girls (the Captains) were telling them what to do. You know, acting like captains of a team. (insert eye roll here)

So I bought these for the 4 girls for their next game.

Saturday's weather was an on and off mist of rain all day long. We still had to make a trip to Alpine and thankfully dodged most of the rain. I had breakfast committee at church on Sunday, September 27. Afterwords, we had to make a run to Bondecroft.

More rain on Monday, September 28 and a Planning Department Meeting. I also went for a microdermabrasion...that I love!!!

I got a call from Stroker on Tuesday, September 29  to tell me that he had cut his thumb and needed me to take him to get stitches. So that is how we spent that Tuesday night.

I ended September, by cleaning Devin's room while he was hanging out at Jesse's. 

Unfortunately the lid on the washing machine stopped locking the same day. I had to call the repair man to come fix it, because if the lid doesn't lock, the cycle won't start. 

On a good note...I found Count Chocula on the shelves at the grocery store!!! 

September...the First Half

September arrived and I wasn't even done with summer. As a matter of fact, I didn't even feel as if it was time for summer to begin. It seems as every time I go to sleep, I wake up to a whole new season.

I began September by working on shelving for a storage closet and I worked on an invitation to have some family over for Labor Day.

We set a policy in place this year to be closed for holidays, it gives us a chance to enjoy an occasional day off.

Alyssa came home from Power Athletics with Brooke on Wednesday, September 2, but I was so tired that I had to take a nap that day.

Brooke's school had their first home football game on Thursday, September 3,

Michigan had their first football game, and I (being anti-athletic) vacuumed the attic. Because I would rather do almost anything except watch sports.

We ended the week with a sleepover. Morgan came home from school with Brooke on Friday, September 4. By Saturday, September 5, Morgan, Ella, and Alyssa were here to spend the night with Brooke.  We all went to Cream City for Superman ice cream, we played at Dogwood Park for a while and even roamed the streets of Cookeville looking at Graffiti (past curfew).

Here they are on Broad Street.

After church on Sunday, September 6, we were busy running to Sparta, Livingston and just across the street.

Our Labor Day gathering was Monday, September 7. We played on the water slide since Labor Day is the un-official last day of summer.

We went to the movies on Tuesday, September 8 to see War Room. It was a good movie. 

We were visited by Gary and Darlene afterwords.

Thursday, I got my car vacuumed and took a peaceful drive to Rose Cemetery.

Friday night was sleepover time again. Ella came home with Brooke and we went to dinner at Longhorns. We kept the routine on Saturday as Ella and Alyssa both spent the night. After church on Sunday, we spent the remainder of the day drying out the water slide.

I was feeling pretty tired on Monday, September 14, so I had to take an evening nap to re energize. I spent the rest of the evening working on website updates because apparently, websites do better if they are mobile friendly.