MANY HATS......

So....someone told me this past week...you don't seem that busy and really don't do anything besides work!!! EXCUSE ME...............DO YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE TALKING TO???????AHHHH.....now that I have that off my chest!!! So for those of you that know me know that I run from Sun UP to Sun down!!! So I decided to share an example of my day...keep in mind this is just a day NOT A WEEK!!!!

5:00 AM - Get up and get myself ready for the day and possibly the evening depending on what is to happen after work and school hours!
5:50 AM - Get AK up and ready for school!! A CHORE I must say!!!!
6:00 - 6:10 AM - Try to get AK and I both in the car and on the road headed towards school! If we leave the house later than 6:10 we will be LATE!!!
6:30 AM - Drop AK off at school for a long day!!! :( She likes to talk to YAYA every morning on her way to school and see the Horses on the way in! God help us if we ever live in the city..she won't know what to do without horses!! LOL
7:00 AM - Get to work and start my LONG day of my job!!! Some days are stressful but all in all I leave with a SMILE! Some days you just have to LAUGH it off! :)
3:45-4:00 PM - Leave work and head for AK!!!
4:00 - Pick AK up and the FUN afternoon begins!!!
After getting AK we usually have stops in between school and home! Target, Grocery Shopping, YaYa's, Dr. Appts, Medicine pick up, Scentsy Deliveries/Pick Ups and WHATEVER ELSE might be thrown at us on any given day!!!
5:30-6:00 - Get home from the LONG day we both had! We like to go walking, go the park, go to neighborhood friends houses and have fun together!
6-6:30 - Dinner Time! We either eat a yummy big meal or we get a quick meal! Just depends on whats going on!!

Oh, Have I mentioned this is just a sample becuase there are many days that Miss. AK is attached to my hip, or having a BAD day and is fussy, or mommy is fussy and tired and we adjust as needed!!!!!

6:30 - 7:00 Bath and Bed time for AK!!! Addie gets a bath and we get her ready for bed! Every now and then she lasts till 8:00 but not often! She is usually exhausted from the day! We like to read books, watch elmo or mickey and we love to facetime before bedtime!!!

BEDTIME: WE must have our YaYa, PaPa, BB and KK picture to be able to go to bed!! This is a MUST! We say our prayers and she has to get comfy and then shes out! :)

MOMMY TIME: Well some nights I am right behind her in crawling in bed bc I am so tired from the day...other nights I enjoy watching TV, Cleaning (not enjoyable but a must), doing laundry and whatever else that has to be done!!!

Then it starts over again the next morning....all the while I am doing all of this ALL BY MYSELF AS A SINGLE MOM!!!!!

So...next time you tell a mom that she does NOTHING you had better think again!!!

I found this picture and this was perfect....If I only had this many hands! LOL

RANDOM THOUGHTS FOR THE DAY.......TUESDAY MAY 22, 2012

Well I sit here not soo busy and think...and think...and think! By the way Thinking can really hurt your brain some days! I just have to wonder why and how my life has changed in the ways it has! There have been lots and lots of negatives in the past year and half, but there have been some positives as well!!!

Having gone through the MAJOR LIFE CHANGES I have learned lots of new things, met new people, re-kindled friendships, learned more about myself and who I am! It has tested my patience and strength each and every day!!! All I have to say is watch out bc I am pretty strong willed these days! :)

What I still don't understand to this day is how someone that you LOVE so much and spent so many years with could treat you the way that they do and furthermore treat a child the way they do! I have always dreamed of having a husband forever and a father for my child forever! I didn't grow up with the father daughter bond you hear about and wanted that so much for AK! I had a wonderful step dad that no one could ever replace! Most people don't even know its my step Dad!!! When you give this person the opportunity to spend extra time with their daughter and they turn it down! When you try to work with them to arrange things so you can still do some things you want to do its not good enough. When you get the phone calls from them saying that they are headed out of town and dosen't have time for their daughter on their weekend you need to keep her. What do you do...Well I flew off the handle bc I couldn't belive it!!!! I simply try to be human and ask him to watch her for a weekend so I can enjoy myself and he goes crazzzy!!! I don't want her 2 weeks in a row!! Shows what a father you are!!!! And then he tells me I am unreasonable! REALLY???? I'm sorry Mr. wanting to be 18 again and party, and have relationships with more than 1 woman, and eat my cherrios too!!!! LIFE DOSEN'T WORK THAT WAY!!!!

My prayer is that AK grows up and makes her own decisions! I pray that she sees all the good I have done for her and appreciates all that I have done for her!! I strive to make sure that she is okay and has everything that she needs and more!!! SHE IS MY LIFE!!!

I even pray each day that GOD will give us a man that has family values and morals! Someone that will LOVE me for me and LOVE AK for AK!!! I want a STEP-DAD for her like the one GOD gave me!!!
I pray that I can have patience to wait for that person as GOD has a plan and this is one of the things that I am learning everyday.

So today I am praying for STRENGTH because its just been that kind of day!!!

"With GOD all things are possible"

HAPPY 2012 BBQ FEST

HAPPY 2012 BBQ FEST......

It's that time of year again...our favorite Memphis in May event! Addie Kate got to go to BBQ fest on Thursday night to watch the Miss. Piggy contest and I must say she was the cutest PIGGY there!!!

We had lots of fun seeing all of our family friends and dad's clients! Addie Kate sure did steal the show in the tent! She was BUSY...BUSY..BUSY but lots of fun to watch!

Watch for more pictures from the weekend!

Papa and Addie Kate ( 2 years old)

We found a horsey to ride!!! ( 2 years old)

Addie Kate taking a water break! (2 years old)

Addie Kate loved Mrs. Wendy's music!!!

Go Addie Go!!!

(2 Years Old)

Addie Kate and Mommy at the Miss. Piggy Contest!

Addie Kate put her own sunglasses on!! Such a DIVA!!!

(2 years old)

FUN PICTURES FROM MAY 2012

Addie Kate and Mom at Kyler's Birthday!

2 years old

Addie Kate playing at Kyler's Birthday Party!

AK - 2 years old

Addie Kate riding her horse on Mother's Day! 2 years old

Addie and Mommy hanging by the pool! 2 years old

Addie Kate laying out by the pool! 2 years old

Addie Kate playing outside! 2 years old

Addie Kate blowing bubbles! 2 years old

 

Our Future SOCCER PLAYER! 2 Years Old

Mothers Day

Well today is MOTHERS DAY! AK and I had a really good day together..pretty laid back! It was a quiet day and I got through it! It would have been better to share our my child's Mothers Day with her father. Maybe one day we will have that father.y love in this home. Anyways...we went to church together in our matching pink...enjoyed another day at Highland Church of Christ and then left early to go and have dinner with family! Addie Kate napped and BB was able to watch AK this afternoon while Mommy got pampered with a pedicure! I just live my sisters and I love that they are here to help me and enjoy their niece! I don't know what I'd do without them! Today was a restful day and I must say it was super nice due to its a crazy month in our house! Here's a poem that I found that I really liked about mothers! A Mother's Love by Michael O. Adesanya   There are times only when a Mother's love Can understand our tears, Can soothe our disappointments And calm all our fears. There are times when only a Mother's Love Can share the joy we feel When something we've dreamed about Quite suddenly is real. There are times when only a Mother's faith Can help on life's way And inspire in us the confidence We need from day to day. For a Mother's heart and a Mother's faith And a Mother's steadfast love Were fashioned by the Angels And sent from God above...  

Mommy and AK at the Easter Egg Hunt

Mommy and AK at her Birthday Day Party!

Addie Kate sporting her new Sunglasses that BB got her on her actual Birthday!

Happy Birthday to my LOVEY!!!!

A LITTLE CATCHING UP.....

Well needless to say we LIVE a VERY BUSY BUSY life!!!! But we wouldn't have it any other way! Since I have posted last we have had a 2nd birthday filled with family and friends! Addie Kate had so much fun at her Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Party!
The Easter Bunny visited Miss. AK and left her lots of fun goodies! Her favorite was the BUBBLES!!! We are having a Bubblin fun! :) AK got to go on a Easter Egg Hunt at our new church that we have been visiting and we had such a wonderful family day with Me, AK and YAYA!!! She loved running for all her candy...and yes she wanted to eat ALL the candy as she picked up her eggs.
April brought spring or what I should say is Summer here in Memphis TN!!! It has been a VERY..VERY HOT SPRING here!! We have done spring cleaning around the house and I must say it looks AWESOME!!! We moved AK's room to a BIGGER room because she is turning into a BIG GIRL and not a baby anymore! She has out grown her nursery! Mommy has been busy selling Scentsy! I have had several fairs this month and I am LOVING my SCENTSY business and AK is loving it too becuase she gets lots of fun new things becuase we have extra FUN money!!!
May is here...WOW does time FLY when you are having fun and enjoying life! MAY will be over before we know it becuase we are soo busy this month too! We have BBQ fest coming up next weekend and AK is excited about seeing everyone! They are going to be excited to see how BIG she has gotten! Aunt KK graduates from Arlington High School on May 25th! and then it's Memorial Day! And Guess what???? Then it's June!

A Little AK Update:
She is growing like a wild weed! YES she is TALL as a WEED!!! LOL
She is loving her school, friends and teachers...and did I mention becoming smarter each and every day!! She is telling me all the time, "Mommy I 2" and hold us 2 fingers!! **SMART GIRL**
Heres a better one...when I put her to bed at night she says, "Mommy I 2" as if she dosen't have to go to bed! LOL
She is talking more and more everyday! I am amazed everyday as to what she says and how much she talks!! She is in LOVE with horses! So we have to see the horses when we leave Oakland and when we come home every time!! She looks for them and then gets upset if they are not out! She went to our family friends house a few weekends ago to see their horses...well lets just say up in person that wasn't her cup of tea! LOL
I just love my AK! What I LOVE more than ever is she LOVES to Pray...she folds her hands at dinner and says" Pay Mommy..Pay" so we Pray and then when we are done it's "More Mommy More" so I amnot going to tell her no, we pray to GOD more!! I love that she LOVES to pray to GOD!!!

All the while we are staying busy and living life to the fullest which is the title of this blog we are doing good! Things are starting to become more "normal" in our lives and Mommy is adjusting better and better everyday! I am not going to say that its any easier because that would be a lie! However, I am adjusting to this life in which God has handed me and moving forward with it one day at a time! I am filling my life with the memories of family and AK! I pray that GOD knows what his plan is and he is in control. He will bring a loving husband in my life and a loving father figure to AK when he is ready and when he thinks I am ready!

I leave you with this.....
I have been visiting Highland Church of Christ here in Memphis and they have a song that we sing that I have really become partial too...and it is Our God is Mighty to Save! It talks about God being there and he is the one that will move the mountains and he will help us through it all!

You should look it up and listen!

I will post some pictures soon of all the fun the past few months!

Lots of Love!
Ashley and AK

Addie Kate's 2nd Birthday Invitation....

Addie Kate is Turning 2

Addie Kate is turning TWO!!! EEK...Where does time go??

She is going to have a Miska Mooska Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Birthday Party!

She loves Mickey Mouse Clubhouse so I found her a Micke Mouse Dress

for the Special Occasion!

Scentsy is on the move!

Well this past week marked my 1 year with Scentsy! I am so glad that I joined Scentsy when I did! It came into my life at the perfect time. It has been a blessing to be apart of this wonderful company. I have been able to help pay bills and have an extra income. Scentsy is rising to the top as always. They are releasing an addition to the addition family and it is.......Bath and Body Works line along with a laundry line! These products will be available March 1st.

In addition to these new products on July 1st Scentsy is releasing a brand new company within Scentsy.....it's a chocolate Fondue Warmer all operated on a lightbulb! Yes these will be just like the traditional Warmers!

There are solo many new opportunities with this wonderful company and room to grow! So if you are excited about this awesome product or the least bit interested in learning g now you can make an extra or full time income call meal we can chat!

Visit my website at: https://ashleyday.scentsy.us

Hope to hear from you soon!

25 RULES FOR MOTHERS OF DAUGHTERS

25 Rules for Mothers of Daughters. Source:

Pinterest- meggielynne.tumblr.com

1. Paint her nails. Then let her scratch it off and dirty them up. Teach her to care about her appearance, and then quickly remind her that living and having fun is most important.

2. Let her put on your makeup, even if it means bright-red-smudged lips and streaked-blue eyes. Let her experiment in her attempts to be like you…then let her be herself.

3. Let her be wild. She may want to stay home and read books on the couch, or she may want to hop on the back of a motorcycle-gasp. She may be a homebody or a traveler. She may fall in love with the wrong boy, or meet mr. right at age 5. Try to remember that you were her age once. Everyone makes mistakes, let her make her own.

4. Be present. Be there for her at her Kindergarten performances, her dance recitals, her soccer games…her everyday-little-moments. When she looks through the crowds of people, she will be looking for your smile and pride. Show it to her as often as possible.

5. Encourage her to try on your shoes and play dress-up. If she would rather wear her brother’s superman cape with high heals, allow it. If she wants to wear a tutu or dinosaur costume to the grocery store, why stop her? She needs to decide who she is and be confident in her decision.

6. Teach her to be independent. Show her by example that woman can be strong. Find and follow your own passions. Search for outlets of expression and enjoyment for yourself- not just your husband or children. Define yourself by your own attributes, not by what others expect you to be. Know who you are as a person, and help your daughter find out who she is.

7. Pick flowers with her. Put them in her hair. There is nothing more beautiful than a girl and a flower.

8. Let her get messy. Get messy with her, no matter how much it makes you cringe inside. Splash in the puddles, throw snowballs, make mud pies, finger paint the walls: just let it happen. The most wonderful of memories are often the messy ones.

9. Give her good role models- you being one of them. Introduce her to successful woman- friends, co-workers, doctors, astronauts, or authors. Read to her about influential woman- Eleanor Roosevelt, Rosa Parks, Marie Curie. Read her the words of inspirational woman- Jane Austen, Sylvia Plath, Emily Dickinson. She should know that anything is possible.

10. Show her affection. Daughters will mimic the compassion of their mother. “I love yous” and Eskimo kisses go a long way.

11. Hold her hand. Whether she is 3 years-old in the parking lot or sixteen years old in the mall, hold on to her always- this will teach her to be confident in herself and proud of her family.

12. Believe in her. It is the moments that she does not believe in herself that she will need you to believe enough for both of you. Whether it is a spelling test in the first grade, a big game or recital, a first date, or the first day of college…remind her of the independent and capable woman you have taught her to be.

13. Tell her how beautiful she is. Whether it is her first day of Kindergarten, immediately after a soccer game where she is grass-stained and sweaty, or her wedding day. She needs your reminders. She needs your pride. She needs your reassurance. She is only human.

14. Love her father. Teach her to love a good man, like him. One who lets her be herself…she is after all wonderful.

15. Make forts with boxes and blankets. Help her to find magic in the ordinary, to imagine, to create and to believe in fairy tales. Someday she will make her 5 by 5 dorm-room her home with magic touches and inspiration. And she will fall in love with a boy and believe him to be Prince Charming.

16. Read to her. Read her Dr. Seuss and Eric Carle. But also remember the power of Sylvia Plath and Robert Frost. Show her the beauty of words on a page and let her see you enjoy them. Words can be simply written and simply spoken, yet can harvest so much meaning. Help her to find their meaning.

17. Teach her how to love- with passion and kisses. Love her passionately. Love her father passionately and her siblings passionately. Express your love. Show her how to love with no restraint. Let her get her heart broken and try again. Let her cry, and gush, giggle and scream. She will love like you love or hate like you hate. So, choose love for both you and her.

18. Encourage her to dance and sing. Dance and sing with her- even if it sounds or looks horrible. Let her wiggle to nursery rhymes. Let her dance on her daddy's feet and spin in your arms. Then later, let her blast noise and headbang in her bedroom with her door shut if she wants. Or karaoke to Tom Petty in the living room if she would rather. Introduce her to the classics- like The Beatles- and listen to her latest favorite- like Taylor Swift. Share the magic of music together, it will bring you closer- or at least create a soundtrack to your life together.

19. Share secrets together. Communicate. Talk. Talk about anything. Let her tell you about boys, friends, school. Listen. Ask questions. Share dreams, hopes, concerns. She is not only your daughter, you are not only her mother. Be her friend too.

20. Teach her manners. Because sometimes you have to be her mother, not just her friend. The world is a happier place when made up of polite words and smiles.

21. Teach her when to stand-up and when to walk away. Whether she has classmates who tease her because of her glasses, or a boyfriend who tells her she is too fat- let her know she does not have to listen. Make sure she knows how to demand respect- she is worthy of it. It does not mean she has to fight back with fists or words, because sometimes you say more with silence. Also make sure she knows which battles are worth fighting. Remind her that some people can be mean and nasty because of jealousy, or other personal reasons. Help her to understand when to shut her mouth and walk-away. Teach her to be the bigger -the better- person.

22. Let her choose who she loves. Even when you see through the charming boy she thinks he is, let her love him without your disapproving words: she will anyway. When he breaks her heart, be there for her with words of support rather than I told-you-so. Let her mess up again and again until she finds the one. And when she finds the one, tell her.

23. Mother her. Being a mother—to her—is undoubtedly one of your greatest accomplishments. Share with her the joys of motherhood, so one day she will want to be a mother too. Remind her over and over again with words and kisses that no one will ever love her like you love her. No one can replace or replicate a mother’s love for their children.

24. Comfort her. Because sometimes you just need your mommy. When she is sick, rub her back, make her soup and cover her in blankets- no matter how old she is. Someday, if she is giving birth to her own child, push her hair out of her face, encourage her, and tell her how beautiful she is. These are the moments she will remember you for. And someday when her husband rubs her back in attempt to comfort her...she may just whisper, "I need my mommy."

25. Be home. When she is sick with a cold or broken heart, she will come to you: welcome her. When she is engaged or pregnant, she will run to you to share her news: embrace her. When she is lost or confused, she will search for you: find her. When she needs advice on boys, schools, friends or an outfit: tell her. She is your daughter and will always need a safe harbor- where she can turn a key to see comforting eyes and a familiar smile: be home.

Addie is1 month away from being 2.....

Well....my Addie bug is growing up each and every day!!! She is talking to me and starting to put a few words together!! She is changing every day so it seems. She is just a little social butterfly and loves life! She can make you smile in the moments your not so happy! She is as busy as a BEE!!! I promise you can barley keep up with her!! She can go from 0 - 100 in seconds! lol

I just can't believe that 2 years ago about this time I was getting all the last minute things ready to welcome her into our lives! I will never forget those memories! I will cherish them forever!

We are busy preparing a Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Birthday Party!!! She is in LOVE with Mickey and Friends! Can I just tell you we have every shape, size, and color of the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse freinds! LOL That's okay bc she loves them and her face lights up when she seems them! :)

Well...stay tuned for all the pictures to come from her birthday! It is sure to be a magial day at our house!

Ashley

Addie Kate in her LollyWolly Doodle Outfit!!!

I love dressing her up!!!

Addie Kate wore her LSU dress for the game yesterday!
Maybe we will be Champions Next Year!!!

GEAUX TIGERS!!!

HAPPY NEW YEARS 2012

Well....It's a NEW YEAR with NEW BEGINNINGS!!!!!

We brought the New Year in with some of the best of friends...The Longs, The Irwins, and many more families!!!! All the kids played with one another and all the adults sat around ate dinner, watched our kids play and enjoyed having some time to be with one another!!!

We are putting 2011 behind us as it wasn't a great year for our household! I have a few goals for Addie and I this year and they are:
1. To enjoy being with one another
2. To have fun and go places
3. For Mom to get to know herself better
4. To get involved within a church even if it is a new church
5. To be the happiest person I can be

These are just a few goals that I have more for me than Addie but I do want to work on these things!!! Addie is my rock and I say to this day that I don't think I would be as strong if I didn't have her!!!

There is a New Country Song that is titled "God Gave You Me for the Ups and Downs" This song came out at a perfect time in my life. I truly believe that God new what was coming my way and gave me Addie Kate to help me along this journey. I love this child more than anything!!! She is my ROCK!!!

Happy NEW YEARS to each of you and I hope that you each find this year to be good!

What a Merry Christmas....

Well Christmas was bright and merry this year for little Addie Kate! She had so much fun opening all her gifts! She had soo much fun with hers that she had to help everyone open their gifts! She really got into it this year and that made my day that much better seeing the happiness in her precious face!

Santa brought her a doll house, a table, baby dolls, and solo much more! Santa brought mommy a new IPad 2 and a new car! What a surprise we both had Christmas morning!

Addie and I opened all of our gifts with one another, her daddy came over for a little while and then we had Christmas breakfast with our favorite neighbors The Pattersons! The Pattersons are like family to us we love them dearly. We then went to church and then went to Ma and Pa for lunch and Christmas! To end the big day Mom, Dad, Brooke and Kenzie came over and did Christmas with us! Monday we finished up Christmas by going to my dads and step moms to enjoy lunch and gifts! Addie loved going to see Pops and MiMi! Did I mention that she was a trooper through all the many Christmas trips and long lasting days? I love that girl..she just rolls with the punches!

2 WEEKS TILL CHRISTMAS....

Well, it's two weeks till Christmas! The presents are bought, wrapped and we are all eagerly waiting on Santa!!! Addie Kate really...really wants to open presents and she dosen't understand why she can't touch and tear the paper now!!! She loves the lights....We drive around every night just to ooh and aww over all the pretty lights. She is now starting to say, "See Momma"? It's SUPER cute to hear her say this!!! She LOVES the Christmas Tree. The tree is always lit up while we are home and it goes night-night when she does. She always turns it off at night and it "wakes" up when she wakes up!! I love seeing her get sooo exicted over turning the tree off and one each morning and night!

Addie Kate had her 1st Christmas Program this past Saturday! She was a Lamb in the Manger Scene while the big kids sang songs. She was the cutest lamb, of course, and did a GREAT job! She was HAPPY the whole time until I got close to take a picture and she saw me. Cookies made her feel better...Thanks to her awesome teachers. (Pictures to come)

We have lots of family from LA and MS starting to come in this weekend to start the Christmas Season! We are all excited about seeing everyone. Some have met Addie Kate but a lot of them will get to meet her for the 1st time! We look forward to spending time with them and catching up!

This holiday season is a little depressing for me...but I am trying to make the best of my emotions and enjoy this time with Addie Kate! She is really enjoying all the lights, trees, songs and etc that some with the season and I don't want to let her down! There are moments that I have to hold back the tears and remember that God has a BIGGER PLAN! I thank GOD for my Addie Kate, Family, Work Family, and Friends each day. Without them I am not sure that I could do this.

Well For Now...Hope everyone has a good night and Merry Christmas!

Thanksgiving 2011

Thanksgiving was a time to be Thankful around our house! We enjoyed being with family and friends! Most of all...I was thankful to have Addie Kate! Addie and I spent the long weekend resting and playing with each other! She was even my shopping buddy on Friday! She's a good little shopping buddy but boy does she like to buy things! LOL

Addie Kate got to go and visit with her Daddy over Thanksgiving break and she enjoyed seeing Daddy for the few hours she got!

We decorated for the upcoming Christmas Holiday and we are so excited that the season is here! We hope that each of you too had a Happy Thanksgiving and wish you all love during the Christmas Season!

HALLOWEEN 2011

Addie Kate was an adorable Minnie Mouse for Halloween! I made her TuTu and I had a friend make her Minnie Mouse Shirt. We went trunk or treating at our Church and then YAYA and Aunt Brooke joined Halloween night to do some more trick or treating! Addie Kate had lots of fun and was excited to be given candy...so excited she needed some for her bag and each hand! lol

Our Pumpkin that AK and I Finger Painted!

Miss AK as Minnie Mouse!

Minnie Mouse trying to pose....wind dosen't help!!!

Mommy and Minnie Mouse

Ma and Minnie Mouse!

FALL IS HERE

Addie Kate and I took some FUN FALL PICTURES with Mrs. Lindsey! Addie Kate is getting to that age where she rules when you take her picture!! We had alot of fun though with her and got some candid shots! Hope you enjoy them as much as we did taking them! Happy Fall Yall!