Random thinking of you gifts

The best gifts in the world are the Random thinking of you gifts..no special occasion, no reason, just saw it and thought of you...I can't think of a better thing in the world than having someone that knows you so well that they do the right things at the right times just because....like surprising you with a cherry coke and a special notebook before a much dreaded trip for work--

That was one thinking of you gift--

The other I got yesterday-- a sun catcher that I will enjoy for a very long time--Along with it I got a card that was so funny (and so me) that I almost didn't get to the present or the inside of the card for laughing so hard-- but once I got to the personalization on the inside--I wanted to keep reading it--

The little things-- that is what they are-- a thousand dollars in cash would not be as great as the little thinking of you gifts to brighten your day. THANK YOU MINWII--- By the way-- YOU ROCK!!

Missin' his buddy

Carter put on his visor tonight and said "I wear my hat like Bad" (that is Brad in his little language)-- and said about 5 times over "I have hat like Bad"-- then threw a fit when it was time to take it off for bed-- I guess he is missing his Buddy-- have a safe trip B-rad--

Mountain Bums

After a long week of traveling for work I came home and packed right back up to go to the mountains-- trip # 3 in 3 months to the North Carolina Mountains-- each time for different reasons but this time the weather was actually pretty nice so we were able to enjoy some fun outdoorsy things--

Like Hiking:

To Linville Falls:

And seeing Linville Caverns: (Okay not outdoors but it does need to be warm to do it)

Went Gem Mining:

Got cute family pics:

Of the Danisons:

And the Browns:

And the Random woman on the rocks (I've always had the urge to take a pic of a random person so I did)

Saw Resemblances:

Like Father, Like Son:

Like Mother, Like Daughter:

Played in the Trees:

Rested on the trees:

Posed for Pics:

And more pics :

and played and played and played until we CRASHED:

Hurry up Summertime--- and look out Beach cuz here we come.......

We did it, we did it..

Carter decided in Walmart tonight that he wanted "Cars" big boy underwear, so I told him I would get them for him if he would pee pee in the potty. He hugged them all the way through Walmart, and had me open them up as soon as we got in the car. When we got home, he wanted them on immediately, (actually he wanted to put all 3 pair on at the same time). I told him before he put them on he had to sit on the potty and try to pee pee, and that he did-- but not only did he try ---he went pee pee too!!!!-- Joe, Payten, and I were so proud-- Payten told him she was proud of him and was going to give him a dollar so he could go to the dollar store and spend it-- what a sweet big sis she is.....

Here he is calling Mimi and Mama J to tell his big news...

Now we have to teach him consistency-- that is the next big trick -- Oh and one more thing-- we will definitely need to teach him how to put them on (this was pair # 3 that he managed to put on himself (on top of the other two))

Braggin'

It is fun to brag on my own kids-- but even more fun when someone else does-- for those of you that do not regurarly read Mindy's blog click on this link to see "Mrs. Horners" thoughts on little Pay Pay--BTW Pay Pay thinks the world of her "Mrs Horner"--her very first teacher-- and the best I could have asked for to help with her transition to "BIG SCHOOL"--(and just a little side note-- I didn't know her before she became Payten's teacher--that is fate-- and I am happy for that -- for many reasons :))

Garbage Trucks....

LOVE THIS-- Take a minute to enjoy this thought for the day--

Beware of Garbage Trucks-----How often do you let other people's nonsense change your mood? Do you let a bad driver, rude waiter, curt boss,or an insensitive employee ruin your day? Unless you're the Terminator, for an instant you're probably set back on yourheels. However, the mark of a successful person is how quickly she can get back her focus on what's important. Sixteen years ago I learned this lesson.

I learned it in the back of a New York City taxi cab.

Here's what happened. I hopped in a taxi, and we took off for Grand Central Station. We were driving in the right lane when, all of a sudden, a black car jumped out of a parking space right in front of us.

My taxi driver slammed on his breaks, skidded, and missed the other car's back end by just inches!

The driver of the other car, the guy who almost caused a big accident, whipped his head around and he started yelling bad words at us. My taxi driver just smiled and waved at the guy. And I mean, he was friendly. So, I said, 'Why did you just do that? This guy almost ruined your car and sent us to the hospital!'

And this is when my taxi driver told me what I now call, 'The Law of the Garbage Truck.'Many people are like garbage trucks. They run around full of garbage, full of frustration, full of anger, and full of disappointment. As their garbage piles up, they need a place to dump it. And if you let them, they'll dump it on you. When someone wants to dump on you, don't take it personally. You just smile, wave, wish them well, and move on. You'll be happy you did.

So this was it: The 'Law of the Garbage Truck.' I started thinking, how often do I let Garbage Trucks run right over me? And how often do I take their garbage and spread it to other people: at work, at home, on the streets?

It was that day I said, 'I'm not going to do it anymore.'I began to see garbage trucks. Like in the movie 'The Sixth Sense,' the little boy said, 'I see Dead People.' Well, now 'I see Garbage Trucks.' I see the load they're carrying. I see them coming to drop it off.

And like my Taxi Driver, I don't make it a personal thing; I just smile, wave, wish them well, and I move on.

One of my favorite football players of all time, Walter Payton, did this every day on the football field. He would jump up as quickly as he hit the ground after being tackled. He never dwelled on a hit. Payton was ready to make the next play his best.

Good leaders know they have to be ready for their next meeting. Good parents know that they have to welcome their children home from school with hugs and kisses. Leaders and parents know that they have to be fully present, and at their best for the people they care about.The bottom line is that successful people do not let Garbage Trucks take over their day.

What about you? What would happen in your life, starting today, if you let more garbage trucks pass you by? Here's my bet. You'll be happier.Life's too short to wake up in the morning with regrets, so..Love the people who treat you right. Forget about the ones who don't. Believe that everything happens for a reason. If you get a chance , TAKE IT! If it changes your life , LET IT! Nobody said it would be easy...They just promised it would be worth it!

Carolina In my Mind

Last week-- yet another week away from home-- it was tougher this time, I left with the kids being a little more clingy than normal, Joe being a little more sweet than normal, friends telling me they were going to miss me-- then while I was there-- both the kids got sick-- so Joe had to miss work, so much that he couldn't take the time off on Friday to take Carter to the Circus-- and there I was in CT feeling helpless-- so since I was feeling a little sappy-- I made a mental list of the top 10 things I really miss while I am away---

1. Good TV-- not that I watch a lot of TV but the hotel had about 4 channels and one was the menu channel--
2. A feeling that I can help out my friends-- there were several friends coming to our rescue this week-- and the feeling that I am not near enough to pay them back or really tell them how much it means was difficult
3. The mini van-- believe it or not I missed ol' bessie, sometimes when you don't drive all week it just seems weird-- and this time I drove Joe's car to the Airport, so she wasn't even there to greet me upon my return
4. The smell of home-- sometimes that smell is of poopy diapers--but there is nothing like the smell of home
5. My body pillow to snuggle-- yes I could make one with a bunch of pillows but they wouldn't be quite as cute as my body pillow at home ;)
6. Eating at home with the family- it is funny the people in my training class are becoming as close as family-- but still miss those cute little Brownie faces looking at me and asking if they ate enough to have a snack
7. My Comfy bed-- Was in a king at the hotel too-- but missed my pillow top mattress and snuggly home sheets
8. A good shower-- those showers are good- but they dry you out for some reason
9. Decent weather-- Man it was cold up there this time
10. Then LAST but certainly not least was all of the loving, and fussing, and crying, and loving, and whining, and loving, and kisses, and fighting and loving-- from those sweet little babies of mine (and their daddy)--it is hard being a working mom especially when you know your babies are at home without you. With that said-- I have begun to appreciate recently the feeling of knowing that you have folks close enough to you that give your kids that same feeling of comfort even when Mommy is not home-- like little morning lovings as Payten enters school-- and a family that says we'll take Carter to the circus without hesitation.

As much as I hate to leave-- the feeling of coming home and the appreciation I have for my family and friends-- only deepens with each time of being away.