Check it out.

I love a good recipe.

I have thrown together a few of mine on this blog.

I will update it periodically as we try new recipes.

I hope you enjoy it!

Pee or death.

I am a huge fan of roller coasters.

I love them.

For some reason, I was extremely anxious this past weekend when it was my turn to ride.

Ryan chose this one. It is the newest ride at Carowinds.

Walking from the waterpark to the roller coaster was a short distance.

I couldn't talk on the way there.

I had this overwhelming fear that I was going to pee in my pants on the ride.

Don't laugh.

I'm serious.

I have described my bladder before. I have had two children. I sneeze... I pee. I jump on a trampoline... I pee. I do a dive into the pool... I pee. I have issues.

Anyway, I kept thinking about this roller coaster. What if I pee my pants? What am I going to do? I can't control it. If it starts, I can't stop it. WTH!

Like I said, on the short walk to the coaster this was what was going on in my head.

Then, I saw it. "It" being the roller coaster.


What the hell? It goes forward... then does the whole ride backwards. As you can see the the drawing, the roller coaster isn't one big connected track. It just... ends.

I'm going to pee for sure.

While waiting in line, there was this fan. Looking back, I realize it was there for park visitors who were standing in line waiting for the roller coaster.

When it blew across my face, for a split second I thought it was death.

What are you talking about, you ask?!

Remember this little movie?



So on top of the peeing fear, I was now worried that I was going to die. The roller coaster was going to derail and go flying across the amusement park and I was going to die.

Peeing my pants was looking a lot better than dying.

Then, it was our turn to get on the ride.

I took a deep breath as the gates opened and let us walk to our car.

Ryan decided on the next to last car which just so happened to be number 13.

I am not even kidding you.

I was 13L.

He was 13R.

We are going to die.

Then, I kept thinking that I was "L". "L" is for left. You know the saying lefty loosey. Yep. The left side will come loose and I will die first.

Just before the ride began, I was on the verge of a panic attack.

Well, I didn't pee my pants and we didn't die.

However, I didn't ride another roller coaster.

I couldn't handle the pressure.

Wordless Wednesday: Summer

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Buggy looks so white in these pictures! Mama might use a little too much sunscreen! Haha!

I wanted to lay down and cry. {Seriously}

I have never had professional pictures taken of my children.

I'm not sure why exactly.

I just didn't find it necessary, I guess.

Then after I got my camera, there was really no point. I could take my own pictures.

This weekend while away, we had an appointment to have our pictures made Saturday morning at 10am.

We wanted to have a picture taken of all seven of the grandchildren for Ryan's parents.

Ryan's sister, our BIL and 3 nieces live in Germany so it is not often that we are all together at the same time to take a picture.

Anyway, the experience for me was horrific.

I should have known that the day was going to hell in a hand basket when I had to go to the bathroom before the pictures even began. Caroline of course had to follow. While I was tee-teeing, Caroline decided to open the door as I am in mid-stream. What was I to do? I kept tee-teeing and yelled for her to shut the door. This caused at least 3 heads turn my way and see me tee-teeing. One guy must have gotten an eye full because he stared at me as I walked out of the bathroom and past his little table. I should have yelled, "LOOK AT THE PICTURES OF YOUR KID YOU FREAK! THERE'S NOTHING ELSE TO SEE HERE!"

However, I kept my cool and kept walking.

Let's just say that Caroline and Emma had multiple breakdowns after that.

The photographer kept throwing a dog in Emma's face. She took to it lightly the first 3 times. By number 6, Emma was over it. I thought at one point her head was going to spin around and she was going to start shooting green vomit everywhere.

Caroline would be fine one minute. The next she was having convulsions in the middle of the floor as if someone was ripping her hair out. (Ok. It wasn't that bad. She was just crying. But, she might as well have been having convulsions. It couldn't have been any worse.) Poor Ryan was promising Starbursts and his right arm for her to cooperate and stop crying.

We had a come-to-Jesus meeting in the corner at one point that may or may not have been overheard by my BIL, Kevin. If it was, I hope and pray to God I didn't say any ugly words. I was just trying to put the fear of God in her. I just wanted her to smile and take a freaking picture. Is that too much to ask?

I guess so.

In those moments, I thought to myself... This is why I don't do professional pictures. My children can't handle the pressure.

Reason number 387 that my children will need therapy when they get older.

Aside from those experiences, we got a few good pictures.

You better say they are good or I might go nuts on you, ok? We worked hard for these.



Here are some shots we got for Ashlyn to use for Cole Baby Tutu's. A little secret... Ash may or may not be working on these headbands and hats to sale. Shh! Keep your eyes open!

Charlotte's Web.

We left Thursday to spend some time near Charlotte with family.

My BIL and SIL live there and we had a fun-filled weekend.

We went to Carowinds for the first time. Caroline had a blast and Emma did really well. I was surprised. I was scared to death that she was going to have a nervous breakdown in the middle of the park and we would have to leave. However, she really enjoyed it despite the heat.





It is nice because Carowinds has their own waterpark inside the amusement park. After riding rides and walking around, by the end of the day we were all ready to cool off.



The rest of our weekend looked a little something like this...







The best part? Ashlyn and I went to IKEA! I was extremely overwhelmed. I don't know what I was expecting but the store was HUGE! I'm talking... I need a whole day to go through the whole place. We got stuck in the kids section.

I got a pink little potty and reminds we a lot of the BABYBJÖRN Little Potty. Here is the one I got that is a lot cheaper than the BABYBJÖRN.


I also got this little set for a friend of mine that is having a boy. I don't know what to buy boys so when I saw this, I grabbed it. It looks and feels more expensive than it is. It's so nice, I got Em the green set and Braden the blue.


I also made two bigger purchases at Pout Couture in a super duper cute town called Cornelius. One was a new small blanket for Bug and the other purchase I will show you in a later post. It has to do with Emma's first birthday.

Pout Couture is where my SIL, Ashlyn, found these super cute shoes for Caroline.
They are Lelli Kelly's and I adore them.


---------------------

Yayy!! I feel better now. I am caught up with what we have been up to. Now, back to our regularly scheduled programming.

Caroline AND Anna conversations.

Caroline calls my best friend, Jordan, "Boobie". We don't know why. She just does.
"Boobie" is preggo and she and Caroline were having a talk the other night.

Jordan: "Caroline, are you ready to meet Boobie's baby?"
Caroline: "Yes."
Jordan: "What's her name going to be?"
Caroline: Thinks. "Boobie, why you have a vagina?"
Laughter.
Jordan: "Because, girls have vaginas and boys have... penises.
Caroline: "PENIS!"
----------------------------

My sister is starting college in a few weeks. We were talking about the whole college experience the other day.

Anna: "You know, I am suppose to read this book as summer reading. Do you think I should read it? I don't think that I am. Do you know what? They expect me to BUY the book! Can you believe that?"
Hailey: "Anna, this isn't elementary school. Your teacher doesn't pass out your books on the first day. You have to buy all of them."
Anna: "Oh."

Love Stitched Giveaway

Check out this fabulous Love Stitched giveaway!

One winner will receive a Boutique Pillowcase dress in their choice of size. I puffy heart pillowcase dresses! I just ordered one for Emma's first birthday!

Just a FYI: Love Stitched is one of my favorite Etsy shops!

He has reason to be concerned.

Edited to add #12. Forgot it. Sorry about that.
-------------------------
A few weeks ago, I drove to Wilson to go to The Cookie Boutique. On the way, my friend started talking about the state my car was in.

"Look at all this junk, Hailey. You know what? I demand that you clean it out. Really. You have to!"

We talked a little about the situation at hand. Then my friend asked, "Why didn't we just drive Ryan's car?"

This question stirred up a lot of memories. Memories that I talk about now that they are over.

"Are you a nut ball? Ryan would NEVER let me drive his truck all the way to Wilson." (It's only 45 minutes away.)

So, I decided to share with you the reasons why I am not allowed to drive Ryan's truck... especially long distances. FYI- Long distances for me are 45 minute drives.

1. I ran a stoplight and got a ticket a few months after getting my license when I was 16. It was not my fault. I was too close to the 18-wheeler in front of me and I couldn't see the light as I was going through the intersection.

2. I killed a dog and in the process ripped part of my bumper off.

3. I ran over a tree limb that was laying in the middle of the road. I shut my eyes and drove over it. I got a busted headlight in return.

4. I ran over another dog. He got stuck under my wheel. I didn't know what to do and was in a terrible part of town. Thank goodness someone I knew walked up in a group of people and helped me out.

5. I was leaving a friends house and the friend yelled, "HEY! DON'T HIT MOM'S TREE!" It just so happened to be the only tree in the whole yard. It looked like a stick that was planted in the ground. I rammed that twig. I then threw it into the back of my car and sped away. I call this my hit and run.

6. I backed into my Mom's car in the driveway.

7. I got a speeding ticket.

8. Ryan let me drive his truck to the gas station to get a drink. Bad idea. I hit the pole that sits beside the gas pump. Left an ugly mark above the rear tire. He was not happy.

9. I rear-ended an old couple. That's all I have to say about that.

10. I was driving home from Ryan's birthday dinner last year. I turned onto a road that had the stop sign in the center of the two lanes... do you know what I'm talking about? Anyway, I rammed the bitch. I'm talking I drove slam into it. I ripped Ryan's side view mirror off and broke the plastic mirror part.

11. I got a speeding ticket.

12. Totally pulled out of a parking lot... hit the curb... tore part of my car off... Ryan had to get out and throw the whole bottom left side of my car in the trunk. (This happened in college... when I drove a mustang.) Fun times.

That's all I have to say about that.

The first thing I would do if I won a million dollars, would be to hire a driver. Seriously!

PS- I wrote this list out and numbered it. I didn't like the numbers... so I marked them out.

Just call me Roseanne Roseannadanna.

I always take my own shampoo and conditioner when we stay overnight somewhere (except the beach).

When we stayed in Raleigh this weekend, I forgot to pack our shampoo and conditioner. I didn't think it was a big deal because I checked the bathroom and sink area and saw that the hotel had Neutrogena shampoo and conditioner. SCORE!

Saturday after swimming in the pool, I hopped in the shower.

I washed my hair with the little travel size shampoo bottle. I almost used the whole thing. What can I say? I love shampoo.

I looked around for the conditioner. No where. Then I remembered that Ryan doesn't use it so he must not have put it in the shower for me.

Anyway, I hop out of the shower, soap still in my hair, saggy boobs near my belly button, and I search for the conditioner. Good thing there were only shears over our windows that afternoon. I may have given someone a peep show because I have a hot bod like that.

I finally found it. I rinsed my hair and opened the conditioner bottle.

"Why the heck won't this come out of the bottle?" I said really loud to myself.

The conditioner didn't want to come out.

I shake it above my hair... nothing.

I squeeze... I got a little.

Finally, I start shaking and squeezing the bottle and FINALLY got the conditioner out.

"Wow this stuff smells good!" I said out loud to myself again.

"But, it isn't going through my hair. What the he... OH MY GAWD! I have totally put lotion in my hair. How? What am I going... Gross... How does..." I couldn't even complete a sentence at that point. I was so angry.

So, here you go. Laugh a little. I hope that made your day.

Dear Hilton Homewood Suites,

You are a fabulous hotel. I really enjoy staying with you. You have a spectacular breakfast each morning and your coffee is to DIE for. However, please do not place the shampoo and lotion beside each other on the vanity. People like me don't read labels and just assume that the lotion is conditioner. This does not work out well. My hair felt super greasy.
Thank you Hilton for such a fabulous stay... and frizzy hair. You rock!

Hailey aka Roseanne Roseannadanna

What we may OR may not have done this weekend.

This weekend may or may not have turned out a lot better than I expected.

I may or may not have wanted this weekend to be a "date weekend" with just me and Ryan. Really just an overnight date.

I may or may not have been a little disappointed when I found out that the children were coming with us. That sounds terrible but I was so excited about a date with my hubs. But like I said, it turned out to be a FABULOUS weekend!

Emma may or may not have fallen asleep with her eyes and mouth wide open on the way.

We may or may not have stayed at this fabulous hotel in the state capital.


We may or may not have been within walking distance of one of my favorite malls.

We may or may not have tried to eat at Hooters. Ryan's mom may or may not have admitted that it was her first experience at Hooters. What was I thinking when I suggested taking my MIL to Hooters?

The wait may or may not have been way too long. We may or may not have gone across the street to TGI Friday's. I may or may not have admitted to that only being my second time eating there.

I may or may not have had the best sleep Friday night as I've had in a really long time!

We may or may not have had a fabulous breakfast Saturday morning.


We may or may not swam in the pool and had a family cookout.


Ryan's mom may or may not have kept the girls so that Ryan and I could go shopping.

I may or may not have left the mall with absolutely NOTHING!

I may or may not left with tears in my eyes.

I may or may not left with full intentions on writing the customer service representative of Forever 21 because of a SUPER rude sales lady. I may or may not have left after telling her that I would just take my business elsewhere.

We may or may not have had dinner at The Melting Pot for my niece's 17th birthday.

It may or may not have been so fun and so very delicious!

I may or may not have eaten all of my dessert plate AND finish off Ryan's dad's. Yum!

My SIL may or may not kill me for writing this... she may or may not have pressed the unlock button (or so she thought) and shut the door to walk around and get my 21 month old nephew, Greyson. When trying to open the door, she may or may not discovered that it was locked.

After discovering that it was locked, she may or may not have called AAA. I may or may not have suggested *HP which calls the highway patrol.

AAA may or may not have sent a locksmith that showed up about 45 seconds before we heard sirens. The freaking *HP people may or may not have sent a freaking fire truck. Seriously.

Caroline may or may not have peed her pants a little. She may or may not HATE firetrucks!

That may or may not have been our weekend.

I may or may not have written this because I wanted to do a Not Me! Monday but it wasn't Monday. {ha}

GIVEAWAYS!

Are you ready for some fabulous giveaways?

I have a separate blog for the One Year Blogiversary Bash. Here is the link. Be sure to favorite it, bookmark it, whatever you want to do... just DON'T forget it.

Before we begin, I want everyone to make sure that their e-mail is enabled through blogger. This makes it SUPER easy for me to contact you if you are the winner. It also allows for me to comment back to you through e-mail when you leave a comment on my blog. Neat, huh?

Here's what you do...

1. Go to your Dashboard.
2. Look in the left corner and you will see your profile picture. Beside it, you will see "Edit Profile". Click "Edit Profile".
3. You will see a box that says "Show my e-mail address". Check the box. It enables your e-mail.
4. Make sure that your e-mail is correct. I would hate to send a winning e-mail to the wrong person!

Now if you are ready... HERE WE GO!!

PSF- Home

Hosted by Cecily and MamaGeek

And then she turned 23.

Dear sweet Caroline,

I thought you were just turning 3. Last time I checked, you had only been in this world for 3 little years.

1...

2...

3...

You, my dear sweet first born, think that you are 23.

The day that you turned 3, we were no longer Mommy and Daddy. We are now Mom and Dad.

What?

Mommy was so much sweeter.

"Mom I want to listen to Boom Boom Pow, please."

"Thanks you, Mom."

"I want my Dad."

"Dad, let's go night-night."

How did you get so big?

When did you grow up?

I guess that I am just a little sad. I didn't expect this day to come so quickly. The day that you could recite the whole Pledge of Allegiance and call us Mom and Dad. I guess I thought this day would come later in life. Like when you were... 18 {ha}!

Slow down, sweet Caroline. You don't have to get big so fast. Be little for a little while longer. Please.

Thanks you.

Love you always,
Mom(my)

I need this stroller.

Here is another fabulous giveaway you are going to want to enter!

You all know that I am on the search for the "perfect double stroller". This is my top pick so far.

It is the Bumbleride Indie Twin.


Head on over to Two of a kind, working on a full house and Dee will tell you all the ways you can enter!

Good luck!

I need your help.

I am starting to get my ideas together for Emma's 1st birthday party.

I want to send a picture or use a picture with her invitation. I have narrowed it down to two.

This is where you come in.

Which picture should I use?

Picture One


Picture Two



Of course I have edited both a hundred different ways. So, after you pick one there will be another poll of different edits!

Thanks! Y'all are the best!

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