One for the Boys...

Cliff took his Toyota FJ up to World's Edge last weekend (and actually he went again this weekend) to play in the big mud holes.
Here is the view:


And Cliff and CJ @ the edge: (and why, no, I wasn't nervous)


and the FJ when he got home:


We also stopped to pick out a pumpkin:


Are you ready for Halloween?

Read any good books lately?

I haven't. As a matter of fact, I don't remember the last time I even picked up a book. And I am wanting to jump back in. Any suggestions?

Ghost Town

Last Sunday, we headed to Maggie Valley, NC to visit Ghost Town in the Sky (http://www.ghosttowninthesky.com/). We picked a wonderful time to go - no crowds or waiting in line and the views were awesome. The leaves were just starting to turn and I am sure in a couple of weeks, the colors will be breathtaking.
Here are a few pics from out trip:
DH and DD and a view:

DD and I riding the "horses":

DD and I in jail (LOL):

actually that pic was taken by DH putting his arm inside of the jail cell and taking a pic of us standing on the outside. We had a lot of fun taking that one.
And DH and DD panning for gold:

We had a great time and just may go back in the spring!

I have a Chipmunk...

in my house!
I stopped by the house during my lunch break today just to let the dog out. Well, I opened the backdoor and called for Brewster. Just as he was stepping out, the cat went flying from the outside and over Brewster. As this was happening, I thought I saw something else run through. You know, maybe Boots (the cat) had a hold of something that she let go as she flew into the house. I looked and didn't see anything so left and went back to work.
Well, I called my dear husband and explained it to him (and I know he thought I was crazy). He said he would look when he got home. So, I had to stay late for a meeting and didn't get home to almost 7. They had ordered pizza and DH was resting in the den. DD and I played with the Wii for awhile then went to my room where she could practice her trumpet. Several minutes later, DH comes in laughing his head off. Apparently, a chipmunk appeared from behind the TV and ran across the room right in front of him.
So now, the back door is wide open with a pile of bread crumbs sitting in front of it. We are hopeing that the chipmunk wants to go back to his home and out of mine.

CrockPot Love

In case you don't know - I LOVE my CrockPot especially in the winter. There is nothing like throwing a bunch of stuff in it in the morning and coming home and having dinner ready. I LOVE it - oh, did I already say that? Well, look at the blog that I just found: http://crockpot365.blogspot.com/ . Its the CrockPot Lady. She is using her CrockPot everyday this year and is bloggong about it. Way too cool!

DD's room

It's been a long time since my last post but I am just catching my breath. We finished the room, picked DD up from camp and have been so busy since. And the house is still a wreck from before the painting.
Anyway, here is DD's new room:

the dolls in the corner: (and the desk)

new nightstand and dresser:

dresser and desk:

She still needs curtains and a bed skirt / dust ruffle but I think its pretty cool and she loves it!
Just wait til I finish the quilt.

Busy weekend

Well, I have been up to all sorts of sewing as documented at my other blog: http://sweettsews.blogspot.com/
But we also spent the whole weekend painting CJ's bedroom "smokin' orange". I hope she likes it. I also made some blackberry freezer jam. And I wanted to post a layout that I did last weekend:

This is an awesome pic of one of my fav nephews. I also made him something with a copy of the pic and he was concerned that I did not have a pic of him so I wanted to show that I did.
Love you guys!

Girls are home....

Whew!! What a week! So glad the girls are home! They came in around 11am this morning...and I've heard bits and pieces, here and there about their week! From dancing, pranks (one particular involving another counties van, lots of vasoline and cling wrap...hmmm), fun roommates who keep their undergarments on the microwave, to a mattress falling off the bunkbed, to mysterious M&Ms, unwanted potato chips, breaking down in their own van & getting a new one with an emergency door sunroof, workshops~both boring and fun, and tons of other stuff!
Anyway here's a few pictures Amber had on her camera...this one was apparently taken by someone with a very shaky hand, it's just a bit blurry...Amber and Caitie are both in the picture...if you have a hard time figuring which one is which, etc...just let me know! All of these kids are from Washington County. This was taken last night before their banquet and dance and very late night pulling pranks. Amber said they slept possibly 4 hours total last night!
This is Caitie on the way home from Raleigh today...apparantly very much into an important text message!

and one of Amber taken sometime during the week!

Caitie~ Grand Champion Winner!

This is a picture from our 4-H Livestock show back in May! Caitlin won Grand Champion Market lamb and Grand Champion Junior Showmanship!! In the picture she is with of course her lamb and John (who represents A.R. Chesson Construction~ where he works) and Danny Wombleton (he is an elder at our church) and some other lady (they are both representing Farm Bureau Insurance Company) Both of these companies are Caitie's sponsors and they raised $1200 in prize money for her...she also got a $50 savings bond for winning showmanship and because she feeds her lamb Purina Show Lamb Chow she also gets a really cool jacket and this picture posted on their website. Here's the link to where her picture is posted:

http://www.betteranimalsshowseries.com/winners_list.php?atype=sheep&ltype=local

I think they posted her picture today as she's one of the first posted on that page...anyway pretty cool! You can click on the picture on the website to see it better.

Anyway just thought I would share!

I talked to the girls around 6pm tonight, they were getting their hair done to go to the big dance in Raleigh tonight!

4-H Congress!!

Well Tuesday was a hot and busy day! Corey and I traveled to Raleigh to meet Amber at a local high school (Avery something or another) it was right near NCSU (where her and Caitie and other 4-Hers are staying in dorms for the week) to see Amber compete at state level for her presentation on egg incubation.

We left bright and early at 5am, stopped for a scurumptious breakfast at Cracker Barrel in Rocky Mount and arrived at the high school in Raleigh promptly at 8:06 am. Amber was already there and signed in to do her presentation.

It was a huge high school! I'm talking at least 5, 6, 7...maybe 10 Plymouth High Schools put together! It was really nice! Her class room was #2204 or something like that if that tells you anything!! I definately got my exercise walking around the school! Presentations started at 8:30 am sharp! Amber wanted to be first and so she was! She did an awesome job!! I'm so proud of her!! She competed with 3 other girls her age. They were all awesome!! We left the room for the judges to make their decision and Amber was completely in her element with these girls! They talked about chickens, turkeys, ducks, etc....they were fun! Amber already met them the day before as they all competed in the Poultry Judging contest that was held on Monday. They are also all going to PSSI together the first week of August...and one of the girls will be Amber's roommate...so they talked about all kinds of stuff....(definately nothing I talked to my friends about when I was her age)...but it was awesome!

Amber ended up winning the Bronze metal!! (3rd place) I'm so excited for her! She is tickled because 1)this is her first year presenting and she placed and 2) if you win state Gold (1st place) you can no longer compete in that category at state level in that particular age level! She wants to do another poultry presentation next year...go figure! (I don't know if any monetary award is attatched to anything but the Gold winner but she's learning so much and having a ton of fun!)

I didn't get to see Caitie on Tuesday, they were doing workshops all day long at NCSU. Yesterday, they worked on a service project. They packed food in a big warehouse to be sent to feed people in Central America. Tonight they have a dance and a banquet and tomorrow around lunchtime they should be home!

Tim is planning to cometo see them next week!

I'm hoping to get Amber's room ready for her for a surprise...it will be a surprise for Amber and Caitie when it's done...as the poor girls have had to share a room for a year now!

I also have a great appreciation for all the dedication the girls have to our animals...it takes me and Corey 2-3 hours total to feed all the animals each day...not to mention the added time it takes to clean up after them...YIKES....can't wait until they come home!!

Visitor's Day at Camp

Sunday, we were allowed to visit CJ at camp. After 2 1/2 weeks, I was ready to see my baby girl. We hugged and cried FOREVER when I first saw her. Once we calmed down - we went to find dad - he wasn't allowed near the cabins (with all those girls running around). Here is a pic of CJ and dad at camp:


We got to bring here home, out to lunch and around town before heading back to camp. We ate at our fav restaurant - Papas & Beer! We also did a little bit of shopping. CJ wanted this book: http://www.amazon.com/Twilight-Saga-Book-1/dp/0316015849

After shopping and ice cream at Marble Slab, we went back to camp where CJ gave us the grand tour. Can you believe she climbed to the top of this:

3 more weeks until she comes home and I can't wait.

Busy, busy, busy SUMMER

Hey guys! It's been a long time since I've posted anything! Sorry about that! It's been busy! Thought I would post a picture of the boys that Mama Jean took at her house last Saturday. They spent the day with her and I'm pretty sure they had a great time! I went to the beach with a friend of mine and spent the day cleaning beach houses. I'm going back tomorrow and more than likely every Saturday for the next month or two. It's a little pocket money and actually kind of fun. Amber, Caitie and John went to the livestock auction last Saturday (the boys didn't want to go...that's why they got to go to Mama Jean's for the day) They almost came home with a llama! LOL! That would have been a trip. Amber sold a couple of chickens for $20 a piece, she was happy, to say the least!

Next week is super busy!! Amber and Caitie are going to Raleigh for 4-H Congress from Mon-Fri. Tuesday is Aaron's Birthday. I think I may be going to Raleigh with the girls maybe Monday-Tuesday...maybe! Amber is competing in the Poultry Judging on Monday and also she won District Gold for her Presentation on Chicken Incubation so she will be competing at the state level on Tuesday! I hate to miss it!

The following week Tim will be here to visit them....

and...

the following week Amber will head back to NCSU in Raleigh for PSSI (poultry science summer institute) which she's really really looking forward too! Hopefully I'll remember to get some pictures of something this summer. I've been really bad! Corey went to the Edenton Steamer's baseball camp this week and I managed to forget my camera everyday...he also finished his swimming lessons and I never got a picture of that either...LOL! I swear I need to wear my camera around my neck!

Love you guys!

Stampin' Up Christmas in July Workshop

Yesterday I attended a SU workshop. This is what I made...

A picture goes in the red block on the bottom card. I will have to take one of CJ to put there.
Here is the inside of the "truck" card...

Had a lot of fun card making with my friends.

Coon Dog Day

Yesterday was Coon Dog Day in Saluda, NC. Cliff and I went down to spend the day with some friends of ours that live in Saluda. We left the house late and did not make it to Main Street to catch the parade however, we ended up stuck in traffic along the parade route and got to see most of it while sitting in the car. Cliff was being grumpy about the whole being stuck in traffic but I was enjoying our nice seats - the most comfortable parade seats I've ever had. Anyway, this being our friends 10th year in Saluda and their 10th Coon Dog Day - they put a float in the parade to celebrate. When their float came by - we got in line behind them and actually drove the end of the parade route, waving at the parade watchers - what a HOOT!
We ate a LOT of really good food and Cliff played some football with the kids. We ended the night by sitting with our friends on the porch then drove home around 10:30pm. I do believe a good time was had by all.
I have a couple of pics - not as many as I would have liked - and I will post them sometime this week when I get a chance to download them.
See ya later!

Cody's First Fish

We went fishing yesterday and Cody caught his first fish. We have gone fishing in the boys would rather throw rocks in the water than hold a pole.

Getting Ready for Camp Again

Well, I picked DD up from camp on Friday and we have been getting ready for the next camp ever since. Actually an old friend of ours - Shawn, whom we had not seen is years - came in for the weekend. He lives in Nashville now. He arrived Friday afternoon and all of us went to our fav Mexican restaurant for dinner. Then DH drove him around town for a short while to show him some of the things that have changed since the last time he was here. Shawn and DH actually moved here together in 1989 and found me. Anyway, many moons later - we are still here and he is in Nashville. Saturday DH and Shawn took off again to do some more site seeing and DD and I hit the fabric store, Target, etc. Sunday - church, more shopping and we started packing and Shawn headed home. Today - lots more shopping but I think we have everything and if not, I think she will be just fine. I have more name labels to iron in and the final packing. I am feeling kinda sad - she is going to be gone for 5 1/2 weeks and I don't know what I am going to do. Any suggestions?

Off to Camp

Well, my one and only is off to camp (at the beach, at a resort). And she has already called twice (on a friend's cell since I wouldn't let her take hers - I really didn't think they were allowed). Once to tell me that the bus had broke down but she was fine. And a second call to tell me about the "new" bus they got to ride on b/c theirs had broken down and to complain that the arm bracelet thing that they had to wear was TOO tight and she couldn't get it off. Now, I know being a mom and all we are suppose to be able to fix things but I was unable to do anything except tell her to go and tell one of the grownups. Did I do wrong?

SpongeBob SquareFace

That's me - SpongeBob SquareFACE - I had all 4 of my wisdom teeth pulled on Friday morning. I spent ALL day Friday and ALL day Saturday on the couch with ice bags on my face and pain pills in my body and my head elevated and today - my face is still puffy, swollen, and SQUARE.
URGHH! Not attractive at all!
On other notes - CJ is packed and ready to head off to her first camp experience of the summer. This one won't be too bad - she will be back on Friday. And this "camp" is at a resort in Myrtle Beach - doesn't sound too "Campy" does it.
So what's going on with you?

Apron Swap

Well, today was C's last day of school. She is out for the summer. We went for ice cream and a bunch of her friends were there. I offered to leave her and eat outside so she could hang out but she said no, she wanted to sit with me - such a good girl - I had better hang on to these moments.
I haven't been doing much of anything lately - no sewing, no scrapbooking, no posting on the blog. But I managed to finish an apron that I was working on for a Summer apron swap. Here is a pic

I hope my swap partner likes it.

Our Homeschool Field Day!

Today we had our homeschool field day! It was so much fun and nice and warm! Corey and/or Amber are in every one of the pictures I posted for you! I love the pictures of Corey and Caroline doing the three legged race! We had it at one of the homeschool mom's house, right on the water. It was so pretty! ~ Love Terri

Looking Forward

I've been looking forward to this and what a wonderful time to start it! Life has been very exciting lately. We are doing experiments for the schools science fair. The boys only have a few more weeks of school. And quess who can crawl! We got a ping pong table, and I'm not that bad. I play better with my left hand and I'm right handed. And if you like Doritos and Puzzles you gotta try The Quest Mystery Flavor. You try the chips quess the flavor and play for $100,000 on-line. I don't plan on winning but it has been fun and the chips aren't bad. They are kinda addictive tho. I like the flavor.

Alright! This is awesome! Well...since I just checked out this new blog of ours, I thought I would write a little something before I headed off to bed...to READ! I'm in the middle of a really good book (Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult) which I can not put down! It's about a school shooting, fiction but has real life references and just really well written! I will write more tomorrow, after church and lunch. We are eating lunch with Ken and Judy tomorrow and sometime after that we are suppose to stop by Emilou's house to pick up our 3 new lambs for the young'uns to show at the state fair this summer. Today was busy, sort of. John and the boys planted the garden, I cleaned house a little, shopped for school stuff for next year online, filled and washed dishes in the dishwasher...twice, washed tons of laundry, vaccuumed and dusted! Then we headed out to eat at the Hitchin' Post and then went to walmart...where I found some awesome clearance items in the crafts and in the school/office supplies!!! I was so excited! I went crazy, but totally justified it all!! I couldn't believe some of the deals...anyway I'm now off to bed now! Goodnight! ~ Terri

Our Blog

Welcome to our blog! This will hopefully be the ramblings of three sisters from North Carolina. Most likely we will talk about our children, cooking, our children, books, our children, and probably our children. I mainly want to use this as a way for us to keep in touch and share what's going on in our lives.