I LOVE this show!

The Vampire Diaries

 I LOVE this show...I know it's another vampire show and I know that it is made for teens, but I just can't help myself.  Ever since my sister, Mindy made me watch the first season on DVD, I've been hooked.  I did not start watching the first season until the second season was half way finished.  So that meant that I had to wait until it came out on DVD to get my fix.  I really do like the story line.  It is always interesting.  So far there have not been any parts of a season where I just want to give up watching it.  I mean who would, you have Ian Somerhalder, who plays Damon.  I can't forget Paul Wesley, who plays Stefen.

 Everyone...say hello to Ian.  Hi Ian.  Okay, back to the point.  I do have one complaint for The CW...why do have to take mid-season breaks?  I mean really!  First we have to wait a year for the new season to come on and then, BAM midway through we have to take a 2-3 week break!  Is this really necessary?

If you have never watched this show...I suggest that you do so.  Season 4 premiers Thursday October 11.

Life Will Never Be The Same

On August 2, 2012 my life changed forever.  My hero passed from this world, my Dad, David Andrew Starnes.  I know that God has a plan and a reason for everything.  I do not question God's timing.  It does not take away the hurt and pain that I now have, but I hope with time and prayer that God will heal my heartache.  Most days I am selfish and wish he was still here with us.  My dad's last days on this earth were full of suffering and pain.  During that last month I prayed that his suffering would not last and he would not linger here.  My prayers were answered, and after his passing I reflected on those prayers and wondered if that was what I really wanted.  I could not imagine him still being here in the state that he was in.  I can assure you that this is the hardest thing that I have to walk through as an adult and it has proven to me just how strong my faith is.  I could not imagine going through this without the support that my faith, family and church family have given me.  I know that this is the course that life takes.  The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away. 

The Lord blessed us with two more years with my dad.  Two years that the doctors said would never happen.  I feel very blessed to have had those years.  We spent a lot of time with my Dad.  My Dad was able to live a very fulfilling life in those twenty four months.  After his surgery on July 1, 2010 he was only slowed down for about a month.  He was a fighter!  Some may say stubborn.  If you knew my Dad you would agree.   He begged me to let Andrew go to Texas with him during last Thanksgiving.  I had my mind made up on the matter...NO.  Andrew was not going to Texas, almost to the Mexican boarder, and missing Thanksgiving.  My Dad knew that his time was limited and all he had to say was, "Please Amanda, I won't be here this time next year.  Please, it's a once in a lifetime trip."  I am so thankful that I let him go.

My life will never be the same...my children's life will never be the same.  He was such a big part of our life.  I live next door to my parents.  My mom watched all 3 of my children before they started school.  My Dad took my kids everywhere, hunting, fishing, 4-wheeler riding, to Wal-Mart...lol.

My Dad and Nathan Fishing at the pond by our house.  They would go just about everyday.  My six year old had his moment a few weeks ago, when he realized that Grandaddy wasn't going to be able to take him fishing anymore.  He sobbed, I wept.

This was at my Dad's Surprise 60th Birthday Party in April.  I was born seven days after his 30th birthday.

Dave in a suit!  You didn't see that much!  I can tell you he really didn't want to wear it that night, especially without his hat!

It's been almost 2 months...I cry almost everyday.  I know that time will help heal my pain.  I just don't want to believe that it's real...I'm sure that will never change.  I can tell you that I miss every single thing about him!

For Real!

I can not believe that my baby, Andrew, is 13! What has happened? Where did that cute little boy go?

See him...in the picture below...he's 2. He loved playing outside with his Mi-Mi...and he was still wearing pull-ups at night. ****sigh****

Here he is again...in 2004. He was 6. Isn't he a doll?

I still think he is...even though he now has to wear deodorant...cologne and cut his own toenails. I my be his mother, but I'm not touching those things with a nine foot pole!!!!!!!!!






If you want to see a more resent photo of him you will have to look at the post below, "Christmas 2010".

Everyone keeps telling me, "he'll be driving before long". Those are not the words I want to hear. I feel he should still be in love with me and want to sit in my lap and tell me how wonderful I am. We have entered into new territory...TEENAGER! I know scary ain't it?

He had a very low key birthday party. Just family and his 2 best friends. I made him a Colts Football field cake...not as easy as I would have thought, but he loved it.

I am glad to call him my teenage son! HAPPY 13th BIRTHDAY ANDREW!

Christmas 2010

Merry Christmas...yes...I said Merry Christmas...and it's January...lol Sorry it's late...I like to take my time. No really I haven't had time to sit down and do it.

We love Christmas at my house. Not for the gifts, but because of the feeling. Love the Christmas Feeling!

The kids had a great Christmas...got way more than they needed.
Andrew got a North Face on Christmas Eve...he looks so much older in that picture. *tear*

In case you didn't know...we had a "White Christmas" here in Bucksnort...yep...a few flakes fell and you would have thought Bing Crosby had opened The Holiday Inn. The only thing we were missing was the horse drawn carriage.

Back on point here...Savanna and Nathan had a blast running around in the flakes. He had to take a break from playing his DS...because he ran the battery down.

Shelby and Kalan got in on the snow action. So did my baby...see him in the back round. He has the snowman pj bottoms on. Even sexy in his pjs...hehe

Okay...back to it again.

My baby girl got everything she wanted...her desk, pink chair, pink lamp, pink alarm clock, pink shaggy rug, and pink shaggy pillow. Do you see a theme here? Just wondering.

This photo just proves that no matter the age...the amount you spend on the gift...the thought put in it...the time it took to find just the right thing...fighting 1000 people in Walmart the day after Thanksgiving to get it...they still like the box it came in better...

He's FIVE!!!!!!!!!!

It is totally unbelievable to me that my baby turned 5 on November 16th...I'm stilling crying over it...really I am.

He wanted a Toy Story 3 birthday cake. I decided to do a small cake and cupcakes.

(Colandra...these are for you..haha) This is a close up of the 5.

All the cupcakes. My favorites were the blue ones with the yellow stars. I loved the toppers...I got them in a set with the cupcake paper.

Here is the whole thing...I think it looks good. My mom made the board. The birthday boy loved it so...that's all that mattered!

HAPPY 5TH BIRTHDAY NATHAN OWEN MEREDITH!

Girl's Movie Night

I know that the next posts are late...but better late than never I always say.

We had a Girl's Movie Night at my house the first Friday in November. All the youth girls and most of the Young Adult Ladies attended. We had a great time!

We did our devotional thought on Ester...I love her. My favorite Women of the Bible. Then we watched the move, "One Night With The King". A great movie. Stays fairly close to the Biblical story. I highly recommend it. We decided to do a salad bar...you know us women...always looking out for our waistline...(;

As you can see below we had everything you could ever imagine for a salad...and then some.

The girls loved it! We also had baked potatoes...so much better than pizza.

They also were very jacked up on Dr. Pepper...see coffee table in the background of this photo

Nikki...always the life of the party...not sure what Katie was looking at...Emily is a hoot!

On the same night the boys and guys had a Guy Night at John and Amanda Wilson's house. They watched Iron Man 2 and cooked homemade pizza in John's brick oven. They had a lot of fun too!

So Excited!

When I saw this for pre-order on Amazon.com yesterday I did a little jig! I immediately text my sister Mindy to share the excitement. See...we are hardcore fans...we get excited over these types of things...don't judge okay.

There is no description yet...I'm not even sure Charlaine Harris has completed the book at this point. The release date is May 3, 2011. I have my copy pre-ordered...I will have it on the day it is released...YES!

If you have never read the ever growing, "Sookie Stackhouse Southern Vampire Mysteries" you should. They are wonderful. I also watch True Blood...I believe that I've mentioned that on here a few times. I will have to say that I love the show, but they do not touch the books! Charlaine Harris is my favorite mystery writer so far. I am asking for some of her earlier books for Christmas.

Here is the link to the book set on Amazon.com...you will not be sorry!

DO NOT FREAK OUT!

Listen up Mid-South viewing area!!!!! I know that The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Weather Advisory for our area, but this in no way means that you are allowed to attack the area Wal-Marts and other local grocery stores. Please people...DO NOT FREAK OUT!

You do not have to buy up all the milk, eggs and bread. We are not waiting out a Nuclear Holocaust! So please be kind...there are some of us that are, just by chance, out of milk, bread and eggs. I am one of those people that will be Wal-Mart because I, by chance, ran out of Milk and some other items. I now ask that all of my readers, regardless of how few, please pray for my safe trip in and out of my local Wal-Mart....Thank you!

It's December!

I would like to start by apologizing...the pics are horrible. They are uploads from a phone.

Okay...so...where were we....ahhh yes...IT'S DECEMBER! You heard me people. I can't believe it. Where has the time gone? It seemed just like yesterday we were working really hard on our Halloween Haunted Trail. We have eaten the Turkey...done the Black Friday...now we're just waiting on the Fat Man to come to town. I just can't get over how fast it goes by...you know...it takes forever for December to get here and then in a blink of the eye..........it's gone!

We put up our tree the day after Thanksgiving...it took me from then until the next week to decorate it. We were busy. What can I say? This past Saturday we took the kids to see Santa at Bass Pro. They love going there. So do Josh and I. Mainly because it is not crazy like the mall Santa. We stood in line 5 minutes max and the kids got to do the other activities, paint a snowman, target practice, watch the train. Not a lot of hussell and bussell there. I love that.

Then Sunday they went to Gran's and got to hang the ornaments on her tree. They love doing this. If they wouldn't fight over who gets what ornaments it would be a lot merrier...lol

I let my Mom hand the ornaments out...I wasn't going to be in the middle of that war again. Maybe I will get to post more while I'm on Christmas Break...but don't hold your breath.

MERRY CHRISTMAS

Fall Break

I know...I know. I am sooo behind. As I have said in previous posts, life just gets in the way. This was the first time in 3 years that we haven't had a camp out in the back yard during Fall Break. We sold our camper last year and I refuge to sleep in a tent when my bed is 50 feet away. I told Josh to go right ahead and camp out in a tent...without me. So, he didn't.



Like most people we were too broke to actually go on vacation somewhere. My thought on Fall Break is that it is too close to Christmas for me to go out and spend a whole lot of money on a vacation. My kids are fairly easy to entertain.



Case in point...our form of entertainment for Fall Break was saddling up 2 new horse that we got and trying them out...hahahahaha.



I got no pictures of all that action, but it was quite entertaining to watch Josh, Clint and Ronnie who in my opinion will ride any horse. Trust me people I know. I have seen them get on some very lively ones throughout the years. Me, on the other hand, am an admirer from afar. I have only ridden a handful of times. After witnessing what those beautiful massive creatures can do...it has hindered me from throwing my inhibition to the wind and just jumping on. I did however get on a 20 year old full blooded Arabian horse. Josh was leading her and we only went a total of 20 yards. Her name is Comet. She is very calm. We have Chance...he is not so calm.



My Father-In-Law...Ronnie...who I like to call the Horse Whisperer, came to my aid. Every time Josh would ride Comet out of view Chance would go nuts. I held him as long as I wanted to. He pulled my arm through the fence...so I surrendered. Ronnie held him for a bit and then looks over at me and says..."I dun got to old for this". This coming from the man that owns 9 horses and 1 mule!



Next came Chances turn to get saddled up. This was not to pleasant...neither was getting the bridle on him. After all the work getting the bridle and saddle on him Josh just looks at him and turns to his brother Clint and says..."I ain't gettin on him man...you do it." WAIT...WHAT?! This coming from the man that has broken horses for years..not afraid of them...shows them who's boss. Clint falls into that same category too. Clint says..."me either man". Okay...okay...am I missing something? I say Chance is acting nuts, but the whole time Josh is correcting me telling me that he just fells good. Finally they both are brave enough to go up to him...put one foot in the stirrup... then get down and say they don't want to get hurt riding that crazy joker. Huh? Okay I am lost. I don't argue....what can I say...I'm scared to death of him?!




The kids had a good time too. All of them took turns riding Comet. Then once they were finished they ran around playing. I got a few pictures of them...they are all so cute!

My Kalan with Nathan in the back round

Kendal Sue Diddle also with Nathan in the back round

Reagan

My Baby...Josh

My Goofy brother-in-law Clint

The Old Man...Duke!

So folks...that what broke people do on Fall Break!

Bible Bowl

On October the 9th our church youth, 1st-12th grade, competed in our 2nd Bible Bowl. In the first one our Senior group won their age division and the Over All. We were so proud of them for all the hard work.

But this time it was our Junior group that won their division! I am so proud of Andrew and Taylor. It was just those 2. I didn't take any pictures. I forgot my camera...we were in charge of the food that day and it was crazy! lol

I am going to get a picture of the 2 of them with the banner!

Our next Bible Bowl is November 12. I wish all of our youth luck...may a sweep is in our future!

These are some pictures I took with my phone of them studying...

Josh and our Elementary Group

Brother Tim and our Junior and Senior Groups together...there are 5 more...they all wouldn't fit in one pic.


I will let you know how we do!

Recent Cakes

Wow! Has it really been that long since my last post? I can't believe it. Time is rushing by. I have done a few cakes in the meantime. I enjoy doing them, but they are time consuming and with all the recent activities that I have going on I had to turn down one yesterday. I hate that, but I didn't want to disappoint them with an ugly cake...lol


This one is Sheri's birthday cake. She wanted a True Blood Cake that had "Bite Me" on it. I put some fang marks with blood coming out of them under her name. Her husband wanted it to bleed when they cut it. It stumped me, but I thinned out some strawberry preserves and put it in the middle. She said she didn't let it set out long enough for it to run, but she LOVED it.

I made Mindy a Twilight inspired cake for her birthday. If you know my sister then you know that she loves books...she loves to read. So I did all four of the books as her cake. The picture above are the book spines. I did have a little trouble with this cake. It cracked and I cried.

Here is the top...note the crack. She still loved it. Very fun to make, just wish it wouldn't have cracked...oh well...it tasted good.

She is Here!

Carlee-Kate Dell Johnson

September 18, 2010

at 12:09 p.m.

7lbs 15oz 20in

Let me just tell you...she is perfect! Congratulations to Kay-Anne and Destin! She is truly loved by us all! I can't wait to have stories that involve her!

It's a wrap...

That's right people...my show is over with for this season. The only bright spot is that we know they are already working on Season 4. I now must wait until NEXT SUMMER...to watch it again. Can you believe that? I can't. I am lost. Currently I have none of my obsessive TV shows to watch.

Check out what happened on the Finale here.

I am looking forward to next season. The things that I believe will happen are:

Amnesia Eric(PLEASE)

Tara is trying to run from her problems

Sam doesn't Kill Tommy

Jason will become a Werepanther (bitten not born)

Everything else is in the air. The way Allen Ball changes up things who knows what's going to happen. I just hope he doesn't tick me off by putting Sookie back with Bill.

Soccer

My Nathan...this is his first sport. I can not believe it! He did really good. I can't wait until his next game. He struck the pose above all by himself. I didn't tell him what to do. He had been at my office on Friday and seen a picture of Andrew when he played Upward Soccer. I guess he just thought this was the pose you had to do. I laughed so hard! Here is the picture of Andrew ...that picture is on my desk.

He was so happy that he was the one that got to kick in the first ball! Little did we all know...he had mistaken this for a full contact sport...lol He did clothesline a child, tripped and pushed some down. I do apologize to those children's parents.

Let me just tell you...all of the little bitty kids were so cute! This whole experience will help him when he starts baseball next Spring...please pray that it does.

Critters in my bed...

I LOVE my bed...I really love it on the weekends when I get to sleep past 6 am. My children love their beds too, most of them do anyway. There is one that does disturb my sleep from time to time. That is him...pictured below:


This was Saturday morning...he crawled in the bed and got behind me. I was trapped. I couldn't move. Soon after Josh rolled over on top of me and I couldn't breathe and thought I was going to pee in my panties. I jumped up from the middle of the bed...went to the bathroom and came back to see him sound asleep...in my spot. Needless to say I just stayed up. I couldn't bare to wake him up.

Then Monday(Labor Day Holiday) rolled around...this is what I found in my bed:

Reagan spent the night with us...her and Nathan were up at 7...yep...7. They were playing Kalan's keyboard as loud as it would go. So much for sleep. Nathan is pretending to be dead. Not real sure as to why...but he is. Reagan was "loven on her Untel Josh".

I wonder if Rid spray will get rid of these critters in my bed...

Seriously!

I mean come on HBO! Do you really have to be so cruel? I now have to go another whole week without my True Blood...and to top that off. Hold on...I'm getting a little Ver Clempt...give me just a second...
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..
...
Okay...
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..
...
I'm better now.

This is the season 3 finale...I know...I shouldn't cry. It is only a TV show...but I love it! I just hope that season 4 doesn't disappoint me in this area....

Yes...I know he is wonderful...a wonderful make-believe Viking Vampire...but he is still my favorite. I am TEAM ERIC all the way.

Football

So...yesterday was Andrew's first football game. No he didn't start and No they didn't win, but he had fun. He did get to play about 6 plays, which is good. He played on defense...don't ask me the exact position...I have no clue. I was told that he did his job. So I am proud! He is number 61...I know it's hard to see, I was in the stands and took it with my phone. He has his helmet off and is standing at an angle. I can't wait until the next game! I just pray for an injury free season...you know my children...they are accident pron! After we got home Nathan wanted to put on all of Andrew's gear. Isn't he cute...is that correct? Should I say doesn't he look tough? Either way he is cute to me.

Carlie's Cake

I know that I am always going on about time. How I can't believe how fast it goes by. Well, today is no exception. I really and truly can't believe that Carlie is 6. Where has the time gone? She is in the 1st grade too. Really! So Sheri asked me to make her cake for her. She is no different from any other girl. She couldn't make up her mind. She finally chose peace love and softball.


This is the peace sign. The colors are really bad, but I can't complain, I used my phone. The base cake was orange and the peace sign was blue on a purple cake.

Like I said, the color isn't great. The softball was the actual color of a fast pitch softball with the red stitches.

This one is better...color wise. I think it turned out really cute!

Sheri said she loved it. I couldn't be there because I had a Scentsy party. Sad I didn't get to see her face...it's the best part of making a cake.

A lot of cake! Still working on trimming skills. It's okay...the birthday girl loved it.