How Can You Say NO??!

Last night Ty and I went to dinner with Matt & Katie. We decided to go to Cracker Barrel and those of you who know me know I can't just go in and not look at the "Country Store" part. Well, Nathan has inherited that from me. Ty knows that and told Nathan upon entering that he will NOT be getting a toy tonight. Nathan agreed and we went in and headed straight to the table to eat. After dinner I asked Nathan if he wanted to go look around the store, he agreed so we went. Nathan had found one of those toys that you grip the handle and the clamps at the end of it close and you release the handle and it opens again. He WOULD NOT put it down. He asked Ty if he would hold it and as soon as Ty got a hold of it Nathan turned to him and said, "don't put it down daddy, don't put it right there (and pointed to the box that it came out of)... EVER!" Ty asked him why not (as he was trying to not bust out laughing) and Nathan said, "because it's going home with me!"
I proceeded to get $6 out of my purse and buy the toy for him.. oops! :) I couldn't resist!

Calling All Coupon Clippers!

My friend Amanda @ More Than Words is currently having a drawing to giveaway over $200 worth of coupons and a coupon organizer! Anyone interested in a chance to win this awesome prize go to her blog and enter for the drawing! In this economy every penny counts and a penny saved is a penny earned!!
here's a link to her blog:
http://everythingelsewastakensoichosethis.blogspot.com/

1 toddler + 2 beds = sleep depravation

I thought it was a mini stage that would quickly pass but it seems that it is a bigger problem than I anticipated.
The problem has been going on for several months now and instead of improving it's getting worse.
Here is the problem:
NATHAN IS NOT WANTING TO GO TO SLEEP!!!

OK, now here's the details...
Bedtime is 8:30. We begin the process around 8:30 and after prayers and hugs and kisses lights are out. Nathan wants to try everything to make this part of the process go for as long as he can. Lately he's been begging me to sleep with him. I have NEVER slept with him (other than when Ty's out of town I'll occasionally let him sleep with me, but that's not often). I truly believe that in his mind he sees that I have someone that I sleep with and right now he sees that Tina and Allen sleep together and he wants someone to sleep with him. When I think about it from his perspective I have to say that I don't blame him. I just don't know how to make him understand that isn't how it works. He'll lay in bed and cry for me. Last night Ty put him in bed around 8:30, it was 10:30 and he was STILL crying. Just about every morning I wake up and he's in the bed with me anyway. He'll come in there some time during the night and I guess in his eyes he's won. The thing is I don't care if he sleeps with me but I can't start that because I know it won't solve anything. I'm at the end of my rope and Nathan is exhausted! We've bought a dimmer switch to put in his room because at first his excuse was "I'm afraid of the dark." We then bought him some spiderman sheets so he would have a "cool" place to sleep. Obviously, none of these are working.

I know I'm not the only parent who has this problem so all of you out there that has dealt or is dealing with this any advice or opinions are welcome!!

snOw DaY

So as many of you know we woke up on Sunday morning with arctic weather. Alabama hardly ever gets snow and when it does it's not usually enough to really cover the ground. We were all suprised at how much was coming down and how much had already stuck. Nathan wanted to go out immediately and play but we had to get ready for church. We had hoped it would stick around until church was over. It did! Ty and Nathan had a blast playing in it while I got lunch ready. Here are a few pics of Nathan and his first snowball fight.

Our much needed time away...

was spent in Nashville TN. Both Ty and I agree that Tennessee is a beautiful state and if we ever move again we would love to live there. I absolutely love the mountains. We decided to save for another trip back to Tennessee but this next time to go to our MOST favorite place.. Pigeon Forge! Talk about somewhere I could live forever! To be able to look out your window and see God's beautiful creation and the breath taking view of the mountains! Anyway, I'm daydreaming and drooling :)

This trip took us to the Opryland Hotel. Those of you who know us well know that is where it all started for me and Ty. Each year we would go to the hotel for Lads to Leaders/Leaderettes convention. It was so nice to see the place where so many memories were made so many years ago. It was great walking around recognizing the smells and sounds and scenery. Not much has changed but some of the things we had looked forward to most were not there anymore (like Rachel's kitchen and that ice cream place). We had a great time together in such a beautiful hotel. Here are some pictures, of course the pictures do not do this hotel justice! Enjoy~

I love this man so much!

And he loves me too!!

WOO-HOO!!!

I usually wait until I have pictures before I post but I COULD NOT wait to get this post out. I am so super excited about this weekend. Several weeks ago my mom mentioned getting Nathan for the weekend. Well, I couldn't pass up the opportunity of mentioning to Ty about us going away for the weekend. *Side note* Ty and I have NOT be away (just the 2 of us) since before Nathan was born so this trip is much needed! Anyway, I kept running into barriers with everything I tried to work out. Either things were booked or too far away or cost too much or one of us didn't want to go to that particular place. Well, long story short, we both decided on a weekend in Nashville, TN! YEAH!! I would LOVE to stay at the Gaylord Opryland Hotel (that's where it all started for me and him 10 years ago this April) but it just isn't cost efficient so we are going to stay across the street from the hotel and spend all our time in the hotel other than the time we are sleeping. (I'm the brilliant one who thought of this!) :) HA! I can't wait! Our plan is to try and get off early Friday and head up and come back Sunday afternoon. You guys just don't know how much I'm anticipating this wonderful weekend with my fabulous husband! Thanks babe!! I love you!!

Playing Catch-Up

Our lives have been very eventful this past month. Here is a little "quick version" to catch you
all up on what's been going on.

Nathan has become pretty good at riding his bicycle. He is now riding it to "Mr. John's" house (aka Uncle John) which is about a quarter mile down the road.

The Saturday before I was to start work on Monday I was offered a job at Pigg Enterprises. It is a GREAT job and I really love it. Plus, it has great perks. One, good deals on cars. My first week there we bought Ty a new truck. Very nice!!!

I had to throw in pictures of my guys. Look at how handsome they are!!

And we had some great family time during the Christmas holiday. Aunt Tiffany and Nathan being silly...

The 2 daughters in law with our wonderful mother in law!

And the most eventful happening actually happened today. Nana (aka Tina) said that after today all her hair has turned gray underneath! I'm surprised mine just didn't fall out. Here's the story:

Ty has been out of town this week because of a sales meeting in Dallas Texas. I was putting Nathan in bed Tuesday night and as he was saying his prayers I glanced in his ear (no idea why) but I noticed something white. I looked closer and it looked like a piece of paper. Panicking on the inside I came out of his room and told my mother in law that I think Nathan has a piece of paper stuck in his ear. She looked and saw it too. She then asked me if it's just in that ear. (didn't think that he would possibly have something in BOTH ears!) Well, he did.. It looked like paper in BOTH ears. I was freaking, called Tiffany (who works at a doctor's office) and she tells me to take him to the doctor first thing Wednesday morning. We did just that. Dr. Glover was able to get the paper out no problem. In the right ear it wasn't as easy. Picture this, Tina sitting on and holding his legs, I have his arms and chest pressed down and Dr. Glover has his head. We proceed with the right ear thinking it would be a quick grab like the left ear was. It wasn't. Whatever was in his right ear kept breaking apart. Dr. Glover said it was some type of sugary substance or maybe foam. He finally got the majority of it out after about 5 minutes. Nathan is screaming at the TOP of his lungs. His ear starts to bleed and we are all sweating. While we were there he is checked for strep (which was negative) because it's going around his school. After this is all over he is clinging to me so tightly and telling me he doesn't want to hurt anymore. :( Needless to say, I stayed home from work the rest of the day, Tina took off the rest of the day and we all lounged around.

Here is the before picture. He has no idea where we are and why we are there.

The after picture... bless him!!!

The cause of all the drama!

Maybe after this trip to the doctor he will not be putting anything in his ears or nose ever again. We have already been to the doctor getting out a marker tip that he shoved up his nose. I hope he's done!! It will be something I'll never forget.