Dream, Pray, Love Anyway

Last 7 Months in Pictures...Part 2

Again, in no particular order...

In 298 degree weather, Mom and I took Haley and Tyler to the park.  They didn't seem to notice the heat, Mom and I on the other hand....melting!

 

There does seem to be some genius and ingenuity in their genes.  They created their own water slide on another ridiculously hot day.  I do, however, question their choice of 'pool'...that would be one of Jasons coolers that probably smelled a bit like fish. 

 

 

And here are some of the many things my poor little doggies let Haley do to them....

 
 

 

huh..I thought there were more.  Must not have been fast enough to capture it on film.   There were lots of 'walk's around the house on a leash, wagon rides around the yard, and hanging out in 'tents' on the front porch.  Those poor poor dogs.  The white faced dog is Roxie and the other is Wrinkles (the object of Luke's affection). 

I'll wrap this up with Halloween:

At the fall festival at Haley's school.  Waiting on a balloon animal:

 

On the Hay Ride with Brianna:

 

Pumpkin Painting:

 

 

 

Baking Cupcakes for a Hayride at the Bobo's

 

Since we live so far out, we go to Labadie and trick or treat.  Labadie has such a great community, residents sit around small fires in their front yards and little ghosts and goblins (and high school musical & twilight characters too) trick or treat from fire to fire.  We met Nicole and Moms and hit the road:

 

With their prisoner Buddy:

 

 

 

 

 

Here's our new Boy!

 

Ain't he a Cutie Patootie!  Say Hello to Luke! 

He's about 3 years old.  A friend needed a home for him, Luke had outgrown his previous home and since Jason and I have a little running room, we were first choice.  Sitting at my mom's one night, Mike (a friend of my Dad's) starts to tell me about Luke.  All the while I'm shaking my head no and Jason's behind Mike shaking his head yes.  Before I know we are all in the car driving over to Mike's to take a look at Luke.

If anyone recalls, when we adopted Roxie and Wrinkles we were going in for one dashound and came out with 2 because Wrinkles gave me 'the look' and that was all it took.  Well, it happened again, Luke gave me 'the look' and now he's been a part of our family for two weeks.

We havne't had a large dog since Haley was 6 months old when I was in 'new mommy just back to work can't hardly handle it all' mode and paniced when Haley started crawling off the safety of her blanket and onto a floor I would have to vacuum 3 times a day to keep up with the dog hair from our beloved Queenie.  If you believe I vacuumed 3 times a day I would suggest a mental exam.

Here is a list of things I've learned from having a big dog again:

1 - My dog can walk up to the bath tub and took me eye to eye while I'm taking a bath.  Not a good feeling the first time that happens, let me tell you. 

2 - When Mike tells you to keep the socks and underwear picked up, he's not kidding.  Luke's one and only accident in the house included a sock and the upper part of a raccoon toy.  (The tail is still in the driveway as of yesterday....)

3 - Homework must now be done at the kitchen table.  It's not fun having an 80lb dog lay his head on your books only to find them slobbery when he leaves...professors don't like the slobber on the homework either.

4 - Training a dog that the 3rd buzzer is the buzzer we get up to NOT the first is a hard thing to do.  I now open my eyes to Luke's nostril in my face.  He's so tall, he can walk right up and lay his head on my bed without jumping or bending his legs.

5 - Protect your muffin!  I had two muffins, I sat down to enjoy one, got distracted at the door, turned around and my muffin was gone!  Luke was only slightly ashamed - he sat looking out the window and would turn back and look at me, duck his head, and look back out the window again. 

6 - Make sure the dog is spayed before you agree to bring him in your home.  I had no idea Luke was in his horny teenager stage!  He is very in love with wrinkles, he has no idea what he's doing, and he knows the word no but he just keeps going back for more.  (We only had one really bad day, he's learned to stay back....mostly)

7 - I forgot what it was like to have an 80lb dog follow me everywhere I go.  On the other hand, it's nice having a big dog for protection at night in particular.

8 - Next time you agree to take in a male dog....make sure the other male of the house is not working out of town all week long. 

Everything is so new for Luke, it's been a great adventure!  So far the funniest learning experience for Luke has been the furnace kicking on.  At about 2am earlier this week the heater kicked on.  Luke likes to lay in the bathroom which happens to be directly across from the furnace.  I sat straight up in bed because what I heard was Luke's legs running ninety to nothing in the bathroom and Luke's body not going anywhere.  When he finally got out of the bathroom he came straight to me and all but dragged me out of bed and to the furnace door.  After assuring him all was normal I went back to bed laughing myself to sleep.  All I could picture was Bambi on the frozen ice only it was Luke on the bathroom floor.

 

*In an upcoming post I'll introduce you to my brother Mike who's not my brother and the kick-ass family pictures I took for him...

 

Random Photos

Yet again...Haley has embarrassed my poor dogs.  Well, just one of them.  For some reason my dogs only listen to Jason and to Haley.  They let Haley do whatever she wants to them whenever.  On many occasions she will put a leash on them and drag them all over the inside of the house, not on long glorious walks outside, just around the inside of the house.

On this particular day, she decided to tie various items around Roxies waist to drag around the house.

 

Haley took this photo and 3 others just like it.  I've just walked out of the room in the direction Roxie is facing - she definately looks like she was beconing me to come back and help her.

A few weeks ago we recieved a letter from the county about a farm number and that it had changed.  The way the letter read was very confusing and after talking with the county myself, it seems that it has taken them 10 years to re-assign us a farm number from the original farm. 

Now that we are officially a farm - this is what I saw the other night:

 

We (and when I say 'we' I mean Jason, Tommy, and Keith) tilled the land and planted seeds.  You would think they would be seeds that would grow into delicious fruits and vegetables for us to eat at a later date and time.  No No No.  Clover.  We are growing clover for the Deer.  FOR THE DEER.

Last Friday night Central Elementary held a free Movie Night.  Here are Dane, Haley, and Dalton enjoying some popcorn before the movie started.

 

And because I promised to show the would - this is Devon in all his Freshman Football player glory.  After a skrimage and all nighter - he showed up with a mohawk and no eyebrows one week before school pictures.  His parents are so proud. 

 

Recent Happenings...

Some stuff we've been up to...

The week before school started I had a 'the best Mom ever' moment.  Haley was bored, and when Haley is bored she latches onto one of us and doesn't let go.  After about the 20th time in about 2 minutes she said 'Mom....Mom....Mom' just for me to get up I had a genius moment.  I got up, pulled four chairs into the living room, got out Haley's folding chair,  got a sheet out, and created a tent.  The smile on Haley's face....priceless. 

I let her sleep in this tent all week.  And I even joined her on Friday night....myself and Sheri's dog Hunter.

 

After enjoying the rodeo at the Town & Country Fair we were on the hunt for a Pink Cowboy hat.  When she asked her dad for some nachos, she told him 'I need those (pointing to Chris's nachos, and a pink cowboy hat.'  We heard about this hat for a week.  After making her earn it a bit rather than just getting it for because she said so, a good week of listening and no steaks in the underwear if you know what I mean, we made a trip to Dickey Bub's and there it was.  She was so happy she held it out the window in the Jack In the Box parking lot to show her friend David - she yelled out the window 'You have got to get one of these!'  I'm sure David really wants a Pink Cowboy Hat.

Later that night she put on her Pink cowboy boots, her horse costume and her hat.

 

We've been her for 10 years.  10 years!  And not once have we had deer in our yard....that we've seen.  Until now. 

 

Do you see them out there behind the garage? No?? Here, I'll get a little closer...

 

We now have to feed them bits of apple, the bits of apple we save after we do this....

 

Since we ran into the owner and she told us we could feed him apples, this horse who has mostly ignored Haley and I when we make our nightly walks to visit, is now our friend.  But only if we have apples, and only if we walk down the fence line to a particular tree where Haley had left apple slices the first time we took treats when he still just didn't trust us...yet. 

Shortly after this picture was take the horse took it upon himself to check me out.  I was standing by the fence laughing with Haley as she was being silly with her bike and there was a noise right beside my ear....the horse had leaned over the top of the fence to blow in my ear.  Hey, I still got it babe. 

Just because - here is the first day of school.

 

And since Haley's TV has broken in her room, she has become a bit more creative with her play....most recently our poor puppies have been subjected to multiple humiliations...testing their very patience.  Poor Poor Wrinkles, she just lets Haley do whatever.  I think part of it was she just too chubby to get out of the chair but still, such a sport.

 

And I'm real happy she has no idea I just posting this for all to see.  If it wasn't for the food and love we provide her, she might just walk away.  I think even wrinkles knows that every princess needs a crown around her middle, an chair upon a chair as to raise herself up a bit more, and an umbrella to shade away all the inside light.  What a pretty princess.

 

 

'Hey Mom, Where's Roxie?'

'I don't know Haley, where is Roxie?' I half asked as I was still immersed in an article in the February O Magazine.

'Not in my room.'  Okay.  That was a sure sign Roxie was indeed IN her room.

I go in her room and her bed is covered in all of her blankets.  I check under the blankets, no dog.  Haley is standing at the door with that shit grin she got from her dad.  The one that tells me she's telling a little white lie.

'She's not in the closet.' 

I checked in the closet.

 

And as if this wasn't odd enough, Roxie didn't seem to want me to move her.  But I did anyway.

Christmas Cont....

Before I post more fun photos, I have to finish the story about Biscut - the Fur Reel Dog Haley requested on her letter to Santa they wrote at school....a letter I did not see until the Friday before Christmas, a dog that cost $187 (!) and in no way could we purchase on such sort notice.  That dog!  On our way home Christmas night we called Jasons sister Stacy to wish them a Merry Christmas - as I'm telling her this story, I mention the letter from Santa telling Haley how he picked the guitar just for her in hopes of maybe forgetting 'that damn dog' - yes, that's what I said to Stacy.  From the back seat we hear 'Biscut is NOT A DAMN DOG!'.  Oh boy.  Jason just completely lost it, I couldn't talk as I tried to tell Stacy what was just said.  It is very rare (surprisingly rare with the f-bombs that fly out of Kieth and Jasons mouths around Haley) that Haley repeats a bad word, apparently she didn't like my use of it.

An adorable picture of Justin kissing his mommy:

Justin, Haley, and Tyler posing....this was a game that lasted about 5 pictures
 

Dad with 'The Sisters' as Haley calls them, Jessica and Donal - Doesn't Dad look good! 

I have no idea why every time I take a picture of my dad he leans back in the chair he's sitting in.  No idea.

Last one - this is my very unhappy dog Roxie - Santa brought her and Wrinkles sweaters  in their stockings since they huddle under blankets 90% of the day.  They weren't too thrilled, Wrinkles acted like she couldn't move her back legs, Roxie just went to her happy place - her cage.  They both had the sweaters removed by the time we returned Christmas night, they were balled up in the corner like discarded waist, as if I wouldn't see them.

 

I put Wrinkles sweater back on her the other night - the Turkey in the truck night - and she seemed happy,  was walking a bit better,  I think she enjoyed the attention more than anything with Sheri, my mom, 'the sisters', and Patti looking on.  Then she laid in her pillow bed with her head hanging over the edge and started whining like she couldn't move.  Of coarse the minute I get the camera out she walks away.  I took off the sweater and tail was wagging once again.  Poor dears.  Little do they know they are going to have to model the sweaters again this Saturday for our annual New Years Gun Shoot.  The poor poor dears.

OH and if you haven't seen Marley & Me yet - GO SEE IT!!!   It was so good, so funny, and oh my gosh, I cried like a baby - so did Sheri.  Mom and 'the sisters' along with my nephew Chris went to see it yesterday and loved it.  Great movie especially if you appreciate the life of a dog!

Have a safe and Happy New Year!

Question of the Day...And an update on Dad - GOOD NEWS

Question of the day:  What do the dogs do without Haley dragging them all over the yard like this:

Apparently they enjoy Haley a whole lot more than you may think.  They both walked around the house this morning after I got back from dropping off Haley at school.  Whining.  Pacing.  Wrinkles more than Roxie.  Wrinkles needs a bit of help getting on taller objects.  I follow her through the house and she wants on Haley's bed.  HOURS later I find this:

I had just changed the sheets and made the bed that morning.  And these two little rascals moved the animals and pillows around to their liking.  And when Haley got home this afternoon they cried like crazy till they could get out of their kennel and hug on her.  She's been in school for 7 days and this is the first day they've showed how much they miss her. 

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

Good News from Dad's several doctor appointments today.  He does not have to see his Chemo doctor for another 6 weeks and then after that just every three months for a check up.  He will continue to see the radiation doctor on a weekly basis for continuous check ups on his leg.  Well, actually he sees the head nurse Diane.  And she's very good.  His leg is looking really good, they are very pleased with the progress of the skin healing.  As long as all the tests come back okay the above plan is the plan man.  As Dad says - he ain't done racing yet, no one's taking away his leg!

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

A small warning for our immediate family and cousins and friends and co workers and neighbors.  Haley has her first fund raiser.  And we will be visiting everyone in Franklin County and the surrounding counties.  Jason and I have donated to every fund raiser that any family member has brought home - sometimes on occasion a last minute order over the phone but still we've supported and now - It's Haley's turn.  Ahhhh.  Don't worry about the ridiculous grin on face as you fill out your check - such sweet bliss it will be for me:)  And you might as well start saving your penny's for Girl Scout Cookies - granted she won't be selling for another two years but she's starting her Girl Scout career this year as a Daisy and the momma has joined as well as the Leader.   I'm a bit obsessed with it right now, trying to register for as many training classes as I can.  I know I'll be the fun goofy leader but I'm a bit nervous when it comes to planning the meetings and budgeting and all that good stuff and making sure parents volunteer to HELP me:) 
Speaking of which - I go to my first Neighborhood Meeting this Thursday night and I have to say - it's been a challenge to find a babysitter for my child.  I've been reassured that Haley is the easiest child to watch - she's very content to play by herself and not need a whole lot of attention - but MAN - you'd think I was asking for a kidney.  Thank goodness for my wonderful, loving, brave, sweet, always there for me sister Sheri or I'd be up a creek without a paddle.  Won't be so much of a challenge when Jason is back working in town but yet again he's at the lake for another two weeks.  The Washington job is ready to go but they have to get so much done at the Lake first. 

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

In honor of opening day of Hunting Season - being the good hunters wife that I am - I've changed by blog background back to Pink Chamo.  You're eyes were not deceiving you. 

Yes, another weekend full of...well....Amy.

First - a quick update on my dad.  He's done with radiation but the wound left behind is something else.  It's worse than a 3rd degree burn and it covers his entire upper leg.  Very painful.  Each night mom has to spray some stuff on it, wipe away as much of the dead skin as possible to expose the new skin.  Which after all the pain of removing the dead skin, dad says those areas feel a lot better.  Last Wednesday was Dads first day on the pain medication and he fainted from the pain itself.  So Thursday new medicine was prescribed and Friday I sat with Dad all day and that's when it happened.  The moment all mom's fear.

I forgot my child at school.  (yes, I can hear you all gasping now)

I left Labadie at 2:10pm.  I usually get to the school at 2:30 and read till they open the doors for the parents.  At 2:15 I get a phone call from the school. 

'Are you picking up Haley from school today?'  Nice office lady asked.

'Yes' Confused Mom answered.

'Okay, we have her here in the office' At the same time confused Mom's brain kicked into gear and said

'OH MY GOD they get out an hour early on Fridays!'

I quickly apologized, explained I had been with my dad all day and made sure to mention cancer and all was forgiven. 

I broke every speed limit across the country roads, broke the parking rules at the school, pulled right up front where buses were still pulling in (and was in shock that kids were still waiting for their bus 30 after school was out).  Ran into the office and there sat my little girl all alone on the bench all red eyed.  She completely played it up, grabbed a Strong hold on my shorts as we walked out the door and sniffed and said 'I need Ice Cream'.  Yes ma'am you do.  After ice cream, all was forgiven.

You have to understand my day and my altered schedule.  And the fact that I rarely make the same mistake twice so I'm pretty glad I got this one out of my system early in the year.  And I didn't technically forget my child, I forgot to pick her up at the early time.  But all I could think about on the drive over was that scene in No Reservations when the aunt truly forgot her niece and the little girl was sitting out on the steps waiting.  Oh the guilt.  And the laughter that came later from everyone.  Nice. 

That was the drama on Friday.  I can quite proudly say that there were no incidents Saturday except well that Jason had a bit too much to drink and had fallen asleep with his leg on mine and it just became dead weight to the point where I had to get OUT of bed, lift his leg and scooting it over I would have more than 5 inches in which to sleep comfortably, almost falling over myself in the process.  I swear Jason and I could win Big Brother hands down with our antics - the audience would not get enough of us. 

Sunday I spent with Sheri and you know what that means - have I got a story to tell.  Mom needed to stay at home with Dad so she sent us out with a list and her credit card.  (wow, the trust, scary)  So we are at Target, and this is our 6th store (5 being at the mall and in no order whatsoever so there was LOTS of walking) - our 6th store we took a 'shortcut' to that Sheri wasn't all that sure it was the short cut till we pull into Target and then THERE is the confident driver like she knew where she was all along.  We are checking out and she makes me do the credit card because Lord knows our luck one of us is going to be asked for our ID.  I'm signing and the lady says - wow you have nice handwriting till you scribbled at the end.  I immediately say 'yeah, the pen got away from me'.  I was as shocked as Sheri with the sharpness of my brain power there.

We are on the hunt for one particular item and pass up two other items because as Sheri so boldly decided we don't want to charge too much at one time at the risk of having someone ask for our ID.  You would think we were plotting a stolen card for crying out loud.  10 stores later to which Sheri parked WAY far AWAY each and every time, we still don't have the two main items on the list we passed up 3 times.  Finally we go to Wal-Mart right next to Sheri's house, our last and final spot.  But again, we park a mile away.  Then we go through the store so crazy and I'm carrying all the crap.  We start in dairy, then walk all the way to the opposite side of the store for the toys, then back to the grocery side for some Febreeze (which Sheri couldn't figure out why the picture on her coupon didn't look anything like the bottles on the shelf - she had the wrong brand coupon which quickly got crumble up in her purse and away we went) At this point in our day I'm think 'yeah, we get to leave'.  Oh no.  We have to walk to the OTHER side of the store to get hair spray for Harley.  Nicole gave him a kick ass mow hawk and he needed the exact hair spray she uses because he had a hard time styling it that morning. 

FINALLY the check out.  And we are not done.  I slide the card, and the lady decided she needs to sing to Harley.  I ask her to hit the credit button and she says - I heard you, I want to sing to him.  WHAT!!!!!

You'd think my weekend ended there.  Oh no no no.  Haley and I spent the day at my parents house yesterday with my nieces and nephews.  My sisters chose to arrive much later so guess what Amy and Sara got to do all day.  Take turns accompanying the kids on the golf cart.  At one point Harley actually argued with me at to where I was allowed (the 33 year old) to take the golf cart compared to his rules with out an adult - (the 13 year old).  I think my adolescent self needs to hide away for awhile so these kids remember I'm not a kid.  I did take a ride with Harley and he almost killed me in the middle of down town Labadie.  I was very close to being thrown off when he turn a sharp left at the one and only stop sign.  Thank Goodness the businesses in town were all closed and there was ZERO traffic cause THAT would have been one for the video phones.  Harley just laughed and laughed. 

And no, I did not have my camera with me at all - not one time this weekend so I'll leave you with this.  Another example of what my poor poor wiener dogs put up with.  (I think they secretly like it)



Got to go - New Kids on the Block on The View right now!!! 

Everything from Nascar to Saturday night poker...

First I have to start with the Saturday Night Poker game at our house.  Priceless.

Friday night we went to the 'Movie at the Park' in Union.  Apparently Union had been doing this all summer but since I decide to regularly read the paper till mid-July (you know, my child is in the school district now I should probably take an interest in the community) we had already missed June's movie and July's was a bit old for Haley.  But I highlighted August on the calendar and Jason agreed to go.  Complained at first till I calmly explained to him that even though we have seen the movie (Disney's Enchanted - love me some McDreamy under the stars!) about 30 times, it's the experience of seeing the movie up on a big screen under the stars and we are creating a moment for Haley - a lasting memory she'll remember for quite some time and even years from now that both her parents were there and she was under the stars.  Sure enough, about 4 times she rolled over and said 'Look Mom, I see stars'. 

We saw some friends of ours that we hadn't seen since December.  They arrived after the movie had started - Jason saw them in the parking lot and that was the end of our family night.  After a few minutes of chatting, Michele took her kids home, I took Haley home, and Jason jumped in the truck with Matt and they ended up in our drive way talking till about 3am.  Always the way it goes with these two - much worse when the other 3 guys are around as well.  They just chit chat and reminisce about all the crap they caused and got into back in the day - and of course they are accompanied by their favorite beverage. 

This is Haley sitting, eating her popcorn, and keeping an eye on the kitten the couple in front of us brought along with them.  I had to hear about that cat the entire movie, how she wanted one, how we could just put the dogs away and get a cat.  Jason was all about putting the dogs away but no cat.  Thankfully Haley decided she already had two pretend cats and didn't need a real one once we got home. 
Whew.  I've never been more happy to have a conversation be done with.

 Now to what's really on my mind this morning and has been since Saturday night.  NASCAR!  Holy crap!  I enjoyed the after race show way more than I did the actual race.  It was no secret how upset I was with Kyle Busch earlier in the season when he spun out Junior at two laps to go and took the win.  (I guess I should say allegedly - he claimed it was an accident but followed that up with a very cocky arrogant jealous comment 'he needs to know it's not all about him'.  Nice. 

Anyway.  I forgot the race was on.  I know, bad Amy.  But found it with 50 laps to go.  Best 50 laps I've ever jumped in a race on.  At about 30 laps to go Carl Edwards did a hit and run on Kyle Busch.  Typical normal racing.  Carl bumped Kyle from behind causing Kyle to loose momentum and Carl quickly passed him.  Kyle came up behind him with a little tap but Carl had already gained his own momentum and quickly had 1.5 seconds on the field.  (maybe 2 - let's just say it was a big lead) 

Carl wins.  Which is always fun because he then pulls up to the start/finish line and does his back flip off the window of his car.  LOVE THAT!!!  Anyway. Carl is driving around the track and the camera is showing Carl from inside the car and then the whole car shakes - like he's been hit.  And he was.  Little Kyle Busch AFTER the race was over Kyle rammed into Carl from the side.  Carl turns his car down track and hits Kyle in the side causing Kyle to spin out.  EXCITING!!!  I LOVED it.  It was so satisfying to see him get what he usually dishes out.

Kyle is interviewed after the race - he came in second.  He made a remark to the point that he didn't like how Carl passed him, and if Carl wants to race that way - they will race that way.  HELLO Kyle Busch - do you not recall the way YOU have been racing.  I didn't think so.  Even when Kyle has a good day he complains about something. 

I can not wait for Inside Nascar tonight - can't wait to hear was Mikey has to say about this on!  I'm apparently very bad with details so here's what was on Nascar.com today.

BRISTOL, Tenn. -- For the second consecutive Sprint Cup race, Carl Edwards beat Kyle Busch when it counted.

Executing an adroit bump and run on Lap 470, Edwards passed for the lead and pulled away over the final 30 laps Saturday night at Bristol Motor Speedway, winning the Sharpie 500 by 1.969 seconds over Busch.

"It's one of those deals where I couldn't get by him, I couldn't get by him, and I just had to ask myself, 'Would he do that to me?' Edwards said after doing his trademark backflip off the car in Victory Lane. "And he has before, so that's the way it goes.''

With the victory, his sixth of the season and the 13th of his career, Edwards secured a position in the Chase for the Sprint Cup and trimmed Busch's bonus points margin to 30. Unhappy with the way Edwards passed him for the lead, Busch bumped Edwards' No. 99 Ford after the checkered flag.

"He hit me getting into Turn 1,'' Busch said. "Whatever. Carl's going to say he's sorry, that he didn't want to race that way, but he always does. We'll take it, we'll go on and we'll race him that way in the Chase if that's the way he wants to race.''

Edwards bumped back, and Busch's No. 18 Toyota went spinning. To make matters worse, NASCAR summoned Busch to the sanctioning body's transporter after the race.

"Let's make it real clear -- I'm not apologizing for it," Edwards said, citing several instances where he felt like Busch took him out of races to gain positions. "We're even.

"They keep talking about rivalries,'' Edwards added. "We might have one now.''

All About Me Part 2 - Movies

And a little side note: She likes to lick my toes:

 

This is my sister Sheri's dog Hunter.  Hunter licks my toes.  And only my toes.  Even if I have tennis shoes on - she's licking my toes the minute I walk in the door.  Sheri wore a pair of my flip flops home one night and for the first time - Hunter licked her toes - it was totally the shoes.  Cute girl though, isn't she.  She's a good dog. 

Back to me - cuz that's the way I like it.  (Just kidding)

I LOVE movies!  For a long time I would refuse to go to any movie by myself.  Now, I go all the time.  Well, when Jason is home to watch Haley and it has to be a great movie.  My favorites are always the romantic comedies and l absolutely love the movies where the average girl gets the guy.  Love that!

I have a stack of movies that are my go to movies when nothing else is on TV - cuz I generally love the TV as well.  I'm an inside girl and it's been a rough lesson learning to be an outside girl with my outside girl Haley.  She gets it from her outside Daddy - darn the luck.  (I really think it's a great thing and most of Jason's outside passions are some of the reasons I love him most)

My go to movies:

The Holiday / Two Weeks Notice / 13 Going on 30 / 27 Dresses / Win a Date with Tad Hamilton (although I currently have the dvd holder and not the dvd - not happy about that) / First Daughter / Last Holiday / Because I Said So / Secondhand Lions / Love Actually / the list goes on and on and on and on The National Treasure movies / Indiana Jones / 6 Days 7 Nights - so funny / Just Like Heaven / Sweet Home Alabama / The Notebook / Finding Neverland / The Prince and Me / 50 First Dates / etc, etc, etc, etc

My favorite actresses are Sandra Bullock, Drew Barrymore, and Reese Witherspoon. 

The person who would play me in a movie about my life would be Drew Barrymore (voted 2 out of 3 by fellow family members)

Favorite Actor - it's a toss up amongst many many men.  If they are nice to look at, they are my favorite.  Like Vin Diesel, and um hmmmm...Vin Diesel.  OH, okay, I have one - Sean William Scott from the American Pie movies and The Rundown.  Joshua Jackson - sigh - so cute.  Leonardo Dicaprio definitely in the top 3.  I love English actors - Hugh Grant and Colin Firth - especially together in Love Actually and the Bridget Jones movies.  Who doesn't love Johnny Depp?  I would have never started watching the pirate movies had he not been in them - GREAT series. 

Favorite Scene in a movie - when Kate Winslets character wakes up in LA in the movie The Holiday - she's dancing while in bed - that is sooo me.  I love that scene.  AND the Ladies Choice scene in Hairspray where Tracy Turnblat catches the eye of Link Larkin.  Love it.  Love it.  Love it. 

I really could go on and on about my love for movies and my inevitable way to disagree with the critics 90% of the time.  I should just start critiquing movies myself on my blog from an average movie goers eyes, not the critics who are just looking to hard.  Sit back and enjoy yourself for crying out loud.  Hmmmm, I think I'm onto something here....