Dylan's birthday weekend...

I asked him a few weeks ago what he wanted for his birthday and his reponse was Mississippi State.

I was confused at first because at one time, he'd considered going to school there--they supposedly have an excellent engineering program. We even scheduled a campus tour but he later changed his mind.

Come to find out, he was talking about wanting to go to the game. Ouch! It's been awhile since any of us have been to an Alabam game--I haven't been since before he was born! But Jeff and Dylan have both went but it's still been awhile. And since the arrival of St. Saban, we've not been able to afford the tickets.

Well, that's one thing two losses will do for ya--bring the price of tickets down! lol I found some excellent seats on Stubhub.com for a VERY reasonable price so they could both go. I love to tailgate--being at the game is just icing on the cake for me. My friend,Shari and I decided we would tag along and just hang out on campus all day and then go watch at Gallettes or somewhere. But her mom has season tickets and wasn't going to use two of them this time so we wound up going, too!

At the last minute, my friend, Christy, decided to tag along even though she didn't have a ticket. We figured she might be able to find one when we got there or she could stay at Gallettes and watch--she just had to get out of the house!

We hung out on the quad all day and then the three of us girls went to Gallettes leaving the guys to walk up and down the street, etc. till gametime. Well, while we were in Gallettes, we met some very nice folks and shared a table with them. The old man bought us all a round of Yellowhammers! Then this cute guy asks if he could rest his leg up on the platform of our booth. Well, flirty me says, "sure, hun, you can put your leg there, as long as I can put my hand here..." and I put my hand on his knee! lol

He said, "hey, whatever floats your boat!" Then we all got to talking and he was very nice. He had graduated in 2000 and of course, was in town for the game. He also used to work at Gallettes blah blah blah. Well, when he found out Christy didn't have a ticket, he got on the phone, claiming to "know people".

We thought, yeah right...what a line! lol He disappeared and we decided Christy was just gonna stay there and we'd come back for her after the game. We were gettin up to leave and cute leg guy comes back with a ticket and just hands it to Christy!

We were floored! We didn't know where it was, just knew it wasn't near us but we didn't care! She hugged him and we left.

We get to the game and Christy texts me--she is in the freakin' skybox!!!! Free food, free drinks...Saban and the players walked right in front of her! I guess cute leg guy really did "know people" and hey, it pays to flirt a little sometimes! Dangit, I rubbed that leg though--that should have been MY ticket!!!! lol

We had the best time! The atmosphere at Bryant Denny is amazing! And even with two losses, that stadium was PACKED OUT!!!! Tide fans are the best! The only downside was they didn't do the Rammer Jammer! But we did it ourselves--we were having a great time!!!

Of course, my BIL has to try and ruin my fun by texting me about Auburn--like who the heck cares? I'm in God's country dangit, leave me alone!!! lol Enjoy it while it lasts, dumbass! It's all gonna be stripped! lol

After the game, we went to Longhorns for dinner and of course, met more wonderful 'bama fans. It was a LATE night but we had so much fun!!! And my baby boy LOVED his seats and had a good time, too!

We will be touring the campus Saturday morning--his application is still pending the arrival of his ACT writing score and his HS transcript. But we're not worried about him getting accepted.

He tours UAH on Monday as well. UAH will probably be the better choice for him but a big part of me hopes he picks BAMA!!! And I will actually be surprised if he doesn't!

Happy 18th Birthday, Dylan

Click on Dylan's birth story to the right of the page to read how this wonderful creature entered my life and blessed it beyond measure...I need to get the birth video out and rewatch it. I usually do and I just cry and cry and cry. It was without a doubt the single most important, happiest, words-cannot-express moment of my life. And I can't believe it was 18 years ago.

Yes, it's official. I am the mom of an adult! Gosh, where oh were does the time go? One day you are feeling life move inside you for the first time, then holding pure love and fragility in your arms, then drying tears, staying up late to wait on "Santa Claus", nervously pacing the emergency room floor, cleaning up puke, sharing in the joy of them striking out their arch-rival and trucking the catcher at home plate, trying to find the words to comfort their disappointments, wondering if you're ever gonna make it through this "phase" they are going through....and then you do. It's over. And your life as you once knew it is over and you're left wondering again...where did the time go?

Yes, I know I will always be his mom and he will always be my son and if my sisters and I are any kind of example--the job will never be "done". We have lots left to do, lots left to celebrate but I won't lie about it to the rest of you with younger children--it's different. It feels very different.

And yet I am proud, happy and breathing a sigh of relief at the same time. I did it! I didn't raise a "child", I raised a MAN!! And an awesome one at that! One down (for the most part), two to go! Woohoo, go me! We made it!

It's without a doubt the strangest mix of emotions ever! I will share how we celebrated his triumphant entry into adulthood in a separate post. Right now, I just want to share a few pictures...of my baby...














































































Happy Birthday, Jeffery Dylan Quick! Thanks for being my son! You are amazing! I love you, am proud of you and can't wait to see what you do with your life!

Long overdue....

Though I'm not sure it'll be very informative, here is a long overdue update from moi!

Already posted about my return to zumba/the gym. It's going great. Love love love it! Found out today just how strong I must be and I swear I never had a clue it was helping THAT much but...

Last week, I moved one of the big tables out of my classroom--by myself! I didnt think it was a big deal until another teacher was trying to move it into her classroom and had to have help! She asked me how I ever moved it by myself and I really couldn't answer...it didn't seem that hard to me but hey--I do lift weights! lol Just wish it accomplished what I wanted it to--getting rid of this "chalkboard flab"! Oh well...

My sweet baby son who turns 18 in a few days *sniff sniff* (and yes, as much as it pained me to realize I was the mom of a "teenager" five years ago...the thought of telling people I am the mom of an "adult child" is even worse...) brought home the worst report card ever in his 12 year academic career! Ugh! He has a TERRIBLE case of Senioritis "I'm already outta here so why bother" or whatever you want to call it! I was furious with him. The decisions I've made in the past few months have been based largely on the fact that I didn't want to mess up his Senior year and here he goes messing it up anyway! But after the counsel of a wise friend (and a few bottles of wine--yeah, why don't you go run and tell my pastor about it--oh wait, he doesn't care! haha and for the record I didnt drink them by myself nor was I "drunk" so bite me!) I realized that at this point, he is already in control of his own life. I have to trust the raising Jeff and I have given him and trust that God has a plan for his life.

So he retakes the ACT hoping to improve his 26 a point or two, he makes a 29!!!! Good enough to be eligible for scholarships, good enough to get into "Honors College" whatever that is. He was happy and I am once again very proud of him.

He decided NOT to tailgate for his birthday after all but instead elected to actually GO to the game! He is excited and he is taking his best friend in the world--his dad! I scored some cheap tickets off stub-hub and Shari and I are still planning on tailgating--on the quad if it doesn't rain and somewhere else if it does! T-town is a lot of fun and something tells me we may as well get used to being down there!

Jeff's overtime has picked up and I've picked up some more hours at the daycare so we are slowly but surely hammering away at our mountain of debt/people we owe/things we fell behind on. I'm grateful for all the grace that has been given to us--I don't know what I'd do without such understanding people at the end of all these transactions. Believe me I am not taking it for granted!

Kayti had a blast at her first high school dance and spent the night with her friend while we went to see Fourth and One play at Dry Riders and found out that our good friend, Roger, that is the lead guitar in the band is starting his own band, Voodoo Jones! They will officialy begin playing after the first of the year. I can't wait! Love me some Roger! I hope we can get Dylan's car fixed soon so he can resume taking lessons from him. Oh and by the way, Dylan elected NOT to wrestle this year for whatever reason so our winter should be pretty calm. We don't do basketball, hockey or any of the other crap that takes place in the next few months so I'm looking forward to the break! Maybe I can actually get some writing done--ya think? lol I HAVE written a chapter of one of my fiction pieces so we'll see how it progresses.

God did something rather amazing in my marriage. I won't say everything is "fixed" but things are definitely better. Marriage is work and I realize that (after 21 years I oughtta!) I wish I could share details but it's best I dont! I just know that I am married to one hell of a man and the love he has for me is just immeasurable...

We DID go camping at Tannehill for Halloween and we had a blast! It was perfect weather and the park was all lit up and decorated for Halloween and the kids had a lot of fun. The girls each brought a friend and they seemed to enjoy it, too. We even took Mady and her enjoyed it, too!

Thursday was our anniversary--21 years! Jeff took me to two of my favorite places--Habeneros and Sips-n-Strokes! In turn, I gave him two of his favorite things--get your mind out of the gutter--Nick (the movie, Gamechanger) and Bear (which I painted at Sips-n-Strokes)!



Friday night, we went to see our friend Jenny and my cousin, Annette for some SIP-sittin! Absolutely love it! One of these days, I'm going to have my own SIP and I may never get off of it!

We still want to move but will probably wait until after Christmas. I tend to like my house better in Fall/Winter anyway, for whatever reason...???

Work is going good--my class is still not the class I had last year (I sure miss those babies!) but we are getting more and more used to each other every day. I DO love them and enjoy being their teacher. There's nothing else I'd rather be doing. I am grateful that I am able to do what I love and what I'm called to do--teach.

Yesterday, while I had the After-school-kids I cleaned out their supply room! I couldn't stand it anymore! The kids couldn't even get to books, crayons, things they needed/wanted so I reorganized everything. You guys know me--I can't stand chaos! One of these days, I'm hoping they'll let me get hold of the teacher's supply closet and resource room. They are both in pitiful shape even though Tammy did straighten up the resource room a few days ago. Both drive me up the flippin' WALL!!!! I just cannot stand clutter!

I'm looking forward to the Rock-a-thon and to visiting Alabama and UAH with my son in a few weeks. Am NOT looking forward to Thanksgiving (family dilemma) or to Black Friday!!! That is usually the ONE day I actually LIKE to go shopping but with the ballgame being on that same day--ugh! And I dont care that 'bama has lost two games this year. I am still and forever will be a Nick-chick! So bite me, aubbies!

I'm looking forward to having a lot of fun with family and friends in the next few weeks. I'm looking forward to all the fun things I'm going to do with my class. I'm looking forward to all the good things I know God has in store for me and I'm not looking back on the chaos of the last few months. I may never know this side of heaven why things happened the way they did. I dont know that I learned anything profound from it all yet...maybe in time I will realize it. I think sometimes you just have to be content with survival. And I am.

Be blessed!

As promised....

Photos from Zumba 80's night!!!



I feel like the caption here should be, "Yes they're real and they're SPECTACULAR!!!!" LOL




Me with my BFF Donna and her cute soon-to-be-daughter-in-law, Missy (ain't she just precious?)

It was a lot of fun and since then, I've been back to regular zumba and it was AWESOME!!! I wrapped my knee up but the wrap had to come off halfway through--too restrictive! But I was careful...no jumping jacks and the floorwork where I have to get down on my hands and knees--ouch! But I'm not as bad out of shape as I thought! My Mas Que Nada was right on, as was most of the other songs and I can hold the planks and side planks a lot longer than I thought I would be able to after such a long absence! Motivated me to go back to the gym though especially since I won't get to go tomorrow night--it's our anniversary! More about that in a later post. :D

Met Shari at the Trussville Y last night and we did 5 miles on the bike and weights--I have never felt better! Told ya...it's the endorphins!!!!

Be blessed!