2012 In Pictures

Another year has came and gone!

Time just seems to be flying by quicker and quicker now!

It seems like I was just sitting down yesterday and

writing my blog post for the New Year 2012!

I thought all day on what I wanted my last blog of 2012

to be about and I think this is the perfect way to end.

Anyone that knows me, knows I love to take to pictures!

JJ asked a couple of weeks ago for me to stop and I told him,

"You have had a camera stuck in your face since you were born,

get use to it by now!"

Therefore, I decided to make my last blog of 2012

sort of a year in pictures theme!

Now, does it encompass the entire year?

No but it is fun to look back on some snapshots

and just remember the fun!

Enjoy!

JJ playing for DuPont Middle School Band.

Grilling Hot Dogs during the Boy Scout Hike in March.

Said hello again to Trent!  (We Miss You)

Went to see WVU in the Blue/Gold Game.

Yes, I do bleed Blue and Gold!

JJ went to his 1st formal dance!  Tear!

Enjoyed my view from our seats at Power Park.

While hanging with an awesome friend!

I miss seeing you Tina!!

Though we said goodbye to Trent at the beginning of May,

we got to meet some other fabulous individuals

that made this season great!

JJ turned 14!  YIKES!!

And went to camp for 4 different weeks this summer!

Top - Boy Scout Camp

Bottom - WV Jr. Firefighting Camp

We added another furry baby to our family.

I attended my 20th class reunion!  Hard to believe 20 years has passed!

My baby boy stated high school and joined ROTC.

I got to hang with my two best friends all year!

I love you Terri and Melinda!

I got to meet Charlaine Harris at the WV Book Festival!

Completely awesome experience!

Johnny celebrated a year post-surgery!

I am so PROUD of him!

We survived "Sandy" and the snow she brought in October!

I got to spend the year with my two wonderful men!

I am finally learning how to LOVE myself!

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!

LOVE TO YOU ALL!!

My Couponing Way!

Coupons and I are BEST Friends!

Give me a whole bunch of coupons and

I am in seventh heaven!

Now, I am in no way an EXTREME couponer!

I don't go out and buy tons of stuff that I know my family

will never use or products we don't like/use.

However, I do stockpile certain things like shampoo,

razors/razor blades, etc.

I also only buy products that I know we like.

My opinion is why would I purchase something

(even if I can get it for free)

that I know my family won't use it!

Here is a picture of my coupon bible!

I will be blogging some more about my coupon addiction later.

I would really like to start a small little class about couponing!

But I will say, if you are a couponer, get yourself a binder!

Best thing ever!

I also LOVE to get FREE samples!

Samples are awesome!

Most of the time, samples come with great coupons.

High dollar coupons which equals a BIG YEA!!

Now, I am still learning the FREE sample way.

My hope for the new year is to score some of the GREAT samples

that I see on some websites!

Here are some of the samples I have received in the past week.

Finally, if you like to coupon like I do, there is a magazine

you need to get!  It is "All You" and it is available at WalMart.

I personally have a subscription and I have been known

to buy an extra copy if there are some really cool coupons in the issue.

Love to you all!!!

WOW!! JUST WOW!!

Today, as I was trying to figure out how to add some stuff

to my timeline on Facebook, I came upon a picture.

This picture made me immediately start crying.

I honestly was in disbelief and could not believe what I was seeing

in this picture.

However, I know this is the way it WAS

but I also know it will NEVER be like this again!!

Here is the picture that had me in tears:

Yes ladies and gentlemen, this is Johnny (my husband) and I

in April 2009.

All I can say right now, as the tears come back into my eyes,

is WOW!!  JUST WOW!!

If you have been following for a while, you know that

Johnny had gastric bypass surgery in September 2011 and

he has done absolutely fabulous!

He has lost almost 215 lbs and feels wonderful!

Here he is on December 1, 2012:

Doesn't he look amazing?!?!

I guess the reason I start crying when I see these old pictures of us

is because I never realized how big he was at those times.

When you live with someone and are around them all the time,

I don't know if you block it out or just don't comprehend the situation.

However, that was then and this is now!!

He is healthy and happier than I have seen him in a long time!

I am thankful everyday that he made this decision

because I honestly believe he saved his own life!

And because of that decision, I know for certain

I will get to spend the rest of my life with this wonderful man!!

Love to you all!



All Plugged In

Maybe Albert Einstein was on to something when he said:

"I fear the day that technology will surpass our human interaction.

The world will have a generation of idiots."

Yes, I will admit I am addicted to my phone.

I am always checking to see if someone has posted something or

left me a message.  An addiction, I know.  I also know it is

sad that I can not seem to go more than a couple of hours

without my phone (or computer, etc).

Then tonight, I was sitting here playing on the computer and this is

what I witnessed around my living room:

JJ playing on his new Vita

Johnny playing on the X-box

Me playing on the computer while listening to music on guess what?

Yep - My phone!!

(By the way - this is a horrible picture.  Geesh!  I can't believe I am even posting this.

Oh well.  I got over that kinda of stuff sometime ago - LOL.)

Therefore my whole right now is "plugged" into some sorta electronic device.

Now, this does not happen all the time. 

Yes, we do spend time together without your electronic gadgets.

However, it just struck me funny this is what I saw tonight around my living room.

Now, as far as me and my music on my phone.

I do have a iPod shuffle.  However, quite frankly I was comfortable and did not want

to get up to get it.  (Hey, I had to go back to work today - LOL!)

However, the bigger reason is because my newest download is not on my iPod!

Thanks to my fabulous sister and her family's gift of an iTunes card,

I FINALLY got to download Terry McDermott's album from the Voice.

(snapshot from my phone)

I was really hoping he would win.  I loved him from the minute he stepped out

on the stage the very first night of the blind auditions.

Then, I couldn't unplug without listening to his coach -

the ever sexy Blake Shelton!

Now, I want to admit something.

I personally did not like Blake when he first came on to the seen.

However, I have DEFINITELY changed my tune and love all his stuff!

Finally, my night of music would be complete if I could get my

Maroon 5 music on my iTunes.

I am seriously in lust with Adam Levine!

Who could not love that gorgeous face?

And yes my dear friend Melinda - my obsession has spilled over

to my blog post!  Bawhaha!!

Love to you all!

Christmas 2012 Wrap Up

May I just say, I honestly do love the holidays!

However, why do they have to be so CRAZY?!?

Thankful, I survived all the craziness and we had a FABULOUS

Christmas season!

To wrap up the holiday, I thought I would share some

pictures taken over the past few days!

Christmas Eve was spent with the Johnson and Jarrett clan!

It is always fun seeing all the little ones opening up their presents.

It is also great seeing everyone and enjoying some time together.

Plus this year, we had a new addition to the family.

Little Levi was born right before Thanksgiving and we

all got to spend his first Christmas Eve with him.

Here is Misti and Johnny holding Lil' Levi.

He is so precious.

Some other pictures taken that night.

Like I said, I just love seeing everyone!

Also, I loved my two gifts from Aunt Sherry!

A new Fiesta wear deviled egg plate and the BEST Pez

collection set EVER!!

After we left there, we came home to get ready for Santa!

Now, I must say - it makes me a little sad that JJ is getting older

and he doesn't believe in the big man anymore.

However, I am VERY THANKFUL that my son knows the

true meaning behind the season.  That makes me one

very PROUD mama!!

JJ got a cool ACU coat to go with his ROTC uniform and just to wear.

He also got a new PSVita. 

Daddy got a new Glock!  See that huge smile on his face.

Mommy got jewelry!  I got a Cherished Memories charm bracelet.

My guys are the BEST!

After Christmas morning at our house, we headed to Johnny's parents

and then my parent's home to celebrate some more.

Another COOL KISS item from my wonderful niece Bridget.

A fabulous plaque from sister-in-law Misti.

Also, JJ got FIVE (yes, I said five) Cabela's gift cards.

Needless to say, the kid is in seventh heaven!

Finally, JJ got a new bowling ball from "Santa".

He also got a beautiful picture from mamaw and papaw.

 I also got a very cool new ornament from my sister and

a new waffle maker from my parents!

I loved every single gift I received this year.  

But you want to know something?

The best gift I got was seeing the smiles on everyone

else's face while they opened their gifts.

That goes especially double for my son!

That to me is the best gift I could ever receive!

I hope each and everyone of you had a wonderful Christmas!

Love to you all!!