Another Episode of Random Ramblings

Okay, so it has been a week since I last posted. I wanted to be sure you all got the low down skinny on our trip to Talladega. We are now in process of making plans for our Atlanta Race come Labor Day weekend. We are going to rent an RV and do the weekend up right with the rednecks.
I have no photos to share of the last week as my camera busted while we were at Talladega and I have yet to purchase a new one. So I have missed a week of funny moments. Such as last night when Gracie had three tee-tiny little pony tails in and looked as though she belonged to the Who family. Maybe as Gracie Lou Who?!?!? Or when Sophia was oh so sweetly reading books to Grace? Or how long Dawson's hair is getting? Or Brandon has he was around a bit last week and would wrestle around with his sisters, or how he has convinced Sophia to walk on his back every night? Yes, all pictures I will have to recapture once I purchase a new camera.
I have started a debate of sorts on my Facebook page with my latest status. What is the standard tip rate for a Sonic worker? I googled this and there appears to be much confusion on the issue and more than just I that wonder this. The question of many is if the Sonic wait staff makes minimum wage or not? If they make min wage, then the extra change or $1 or 2 seems appropriate for their troubles of bringing you their food. I mean they do brave the elements and all to bring us the delicous goodness that is Sonic. And if you do stay there and chose to destroy your car, they will ask you if you are okay, if you need ketchup or salt, and if you need refills. I can definately see giving them a bit extra. But consider if each car gave them $1 and they delivered to 25 cars in an hour . . . they are making over $30 an hour now at Sonic. However, if they are not making min wage and depend on our tips . . . then we should probably go with the percent type standard. But what is that percentage when you are not seated at a table and they are not taking your order , getting it right, and bringing you your food? We are up to 18-20% in sit down resteraunts as a standard I believe. So does that now make Sonic a 15% tip? Ah, the things I can consume my brain time with. I am sure there are much more important things to debate . . . but none as fun as the Sonic Tip Debate 09.
Sophia has been up to her usual thinking habits lately. Her latest favorite subjects are God and if he is magic and Wedding Proposals. Her and Dawson talked Jeff into circles last week with saying God was magic to do all that he does. And while magic isn't exactly the word we would want to use . . . I suppose from their perspective it is all pretty magical how God can do all that He has and continues to do. Sophia is also wondering at what age you can ask someone to marry you, why the boy has to ask, why I said yes when Daddy proposed, etc. To the last question, I said, "because I loved him." Her response . . . "hmm, well, why didn't you just say Nah I will wait for someone else to ask me?" Oh the poor blessed man that snags her heart is in for a ride.
We are gearing up for the end of school so we have a busy month ahead. Sophia will graduate from Pre-K. Dawson will graduate from 5th grade. I am all for celebrations and such - but I also tend to lean towards the celebrating smaller milestones make the large ones seem less significant. I am also of the belief that if it is a game you are playing, you should be keeping score and there is always a winner and a loser. Ah, another debate I am sure. Anywhoooo . . . so we will be attending some grad ceremonies in the next few weeks. We will attend grad parties for those seniors that we love. We have two weeks of soccer left. We have field day at Dawson's school. Dawson has two field trips. Brandon will be having finals. Right after school gets out, Brandon and I will head to youth camp, and then after that Dawson will head to Cross Camp and Brandon will be off to Mazatlan for a mission trip. (breathe) Somewhere in there Jeff might be going to India for a week or two with work, but will be installing his huge project at the end of May. Oh, and Grace, well as always poor thing gets to be along for the ride looking just as cute and adorable (and ornery) as ever.
And there you have it . . . another fine blog of random ramblings with a couple debates included.

We experienced it!

We experienced Talladega on Sunday. Now some might think experienced is a big word to use. So you went to a Nascar Race in Talladega, Alabama. So should not you say . . . we went to Talladega on Sunday. Or we went to a race on Sunday. No, going to the race just doesn't serve it justice. We experienced Talladega.

We experienced poor spelling from fans when they write ON their vehicles. Yes, on their vehicles. Because even though it says window paint . . . they thought it made sense to go all over their truck. And the "I am going to dog this driver on my vehicle, but jokes on me because I can't even spell his name right." fans.

We experienced good food. Of course, this was food made by Melissa and I. We don't tailgate in a normal fashion. No we take race chicken, potato salad, baked beans, and corn muffins before the race. Oh and Sundrop Cake . . . must have Sundrop Cake.

We experienced a new idea of What Not To Wear. We had been told that the tanks we were going to sport that day (in which we were very cute in by the way) would be more than some would have on their entire body. And yes, it was true. Bikini tops on girls that definitely can wear them, and on those that definitely should not. Topless MEN everywhere . . . again those that should and those that should not. Sunburned topless man who went to the effort of applying sun screen to his back only in the way to get a number 24 to appear later in the day. Oh yes, we saw it! We saw a man in full body paint for the Hendrick boys. More than happy to pose (see pic below). We saw girls with cut open shirts, short short cut offs, and dirty cowboy boots. We saw boys with cut open shirts, short short cut offs and dirty cowboy boots. Oh yes, we did!

We experienced hearing the engines roar as they flew by us. We experienced our drivers moving up the field . . . for the first 6 LAPS!!! Then we experienced our drivers being involved in the first BIG ONE of the day at Talladega, and realized we just paid a whole lot of money to watch our drivers wreck!

We experienced first hand why we will not be taking our kids to a Nextel Cup race anytime soon. As the poor young boy in front of us struggled with boredom all day. He was hot, he was tired, he was hungry, he was yelled at, he was spitting water on folks below us, he was . . .a good reason why my kids won't be going until their old enough to want to really go!

We experienced our drivers returning 50 some laps down with cars held together with duct tape and new parts from the garage. We did get to hear the funny side of Kasey as he was bored driving around the track. Comments we heard:

"How much longer do I have to do this?"

"Next pit stop can I get a Bud and a pizza?"
Kasey had to stay out on the track as long as 24 and 29 did. So when 29 came down pit lane "Please go behind the wall, please go behind the wall, ..." was Kasey's plea.

When trying to get drafting with his team mate that was also many laps down, and he couldn't catch up, a conversation went on for awhile about how he could catch up to him, finally Kasey said "tell him to slow down, you know the brake pedal . . . duh?".

Yes, we experienced the BIG BIG ONE when Carl went flying into the fence just about 10 sections from us. We stood on our feet will thousands of others screaming for Carl to get out of the car. We cheered as Carl got out of the car finally. And we laughed as Carl ran to the finish line in Ricky Bobby form.

We experienced post-race DUH-ness as fans couldn't find their cars, were too "out of it" to walk, and oh the bucket brigade - A group of men and their sons with buckets on their heads and a bucket as a drum marching around. We sat and watched as folks drove all over a field trying to find the fastest way out only to sit in another long line.

And after we loaded up our race gear and headed out of Talladega, we sat on I20. And there we experienced birth! As we were sitting there an ambulance came flying by us on the right shoulder. We saw the ambulance parked a bit later, and noticed a car parked in front of it. And just as we pulled up next to it, we saw the paramedic bring the baby up so the mama laid out in the back seat (not facing the interstate thankfully) could see her baby! Oh yes, we saw a baby being born on the side of the road!

So, there you have it, our Talladega experience. We will become crazed race fans again Labor Day weekend as we travel to Atlanta. We are contemplating getting an RV for the weekend and having the full NASCAR weekend.

(My camera broke while at the race . . . so I only have a few photos to share with you. Mel over at Karaoke Confessions should be posting some more photos eventually.)

What Not To Wear

Redneck Hot Tub

Fav Foto Friday

Pitiful Blogger

It appears I have become a once a week blogger. Yikes! As much as I love to talk and love to write, who would have thought I would have stayed away so long? Actually, Jeff and I figured out that we had sick kids or Spring Break kids home with me for three weeks straight until Thursday. All four kids have now successfully completed their allowed once a year sickness. (like that will happen) Everyone appears to be 100% now . . .okay maybe not . . . Gracie is having some allergy issues due to wanting to live outside even when all the mowers in the neighborhood are going. But a little Benadryl and the firecracker is back in action.

Let me see . .. what are the highlights of the last week . . . ah, Monday, I entered Throwdown territory and made this . . .

The picture probably doesn't do it any justice . . . but what you see here are Shrimp and Grits. Oh yes, I have become southern. :-) We had seen this on Bobby Flay a couple times and Jeff and I both wanted to give it a try. So we used a combo of Bobby Flay's recipe and the challengers recipe and made a YUMMY creation. The grits had cheese and whipping cream. The shrimp . . . oh yes, it was cooked in bacon fat. And that 'gravy' substance you see around the edge of the bowl . . . bacon drippings. But when you put a bite into your mouth and you don't want to swallow for fear of losing the taste in your mouth . . .you know you have made you some GOOOOOOD food. I don't often think I am a good cook . . . but that night . . . I was puffed up proud of my dinner!!

After starting the week off with such flair, the rest was pretty typical. Soccer practice and soccer games. Hanging with the youth at WNL. Softball season has kicked off and my team won on Thursday night. I am playing this year with a group of gals from about 5 different churches. We are a fun group and I love playing with them.

This week is pretty busy. Tonight I get to join my gals for some BUNCO and food! MMMMM! Then we got soccer, WNL, softball, and more soccer. But this Sunday, Jeff and I will be journeying with our NASCAR buddies to Talladega for the race. We decided that Atlanta is our fall race, but we needed to add a spring race . . . so watch out Jeff and Kasey . . . Mel and I will be there this Sunday. And we are going to be sporting some new tanks . . . with no be-dazzling . .. yet . . . maybe . .. we will see how redneck we want to be!

On a serious note, through a series of blog surfing, I came across the story of Stellan. This little baby boy will be undergoing heart surgery tomorrow. You can visit his mom's blog at My Charming Kids to see his story. But please be lifting Stellan and his family up in your prayers.

Easter Weekend Recap

What did we do for Spring Break and Easter weekend you ask . . . Or maybe you didn't ask . . .but I am going to tell you anyway . . .

WE BUILT A SWING SET WITH HELP FROM GRANDPA'S

WE DYED EGGS . . . WITH GREAT SKILL AND CONCENTRATION

WE GOT ALL DRESSED UP AND WENT TO CHURCH

AND WE HUNTED FOR EGGS!

We hope you all had a great weekend too! We loved getting to spend time with our family!

Proud Mama

This week at our Wednesday night youth service Brandon painted a canvas during both services. He has an amazing talent! He has always loved to draw and it was great to see him painting for Jesus on Wednesday. It is amazing to me to see what an awesome man he has become, he is going to make someone a great husband someday!
So here he is painting his canvas, and with the final result.

Which mouse was it?

This weekend was a busy one. Dawson was sick and on the couch for most of it. Brandon was working and watching UNC win some b-ball games. Jeff helped some friends move. And the girls and I got to attend another round of Saturday birthday parties.
We started the day off at Chuck1e Cheese for a b-day party for one of Sophia's girl friends. This was a 'girl' party . . . not a boy or a tomboy party. In fact, I believe between Friday night and Satruday afternoon, I was told quite a bit by sweet Sophia that she was a tomboy . . . for example she didn't know what to buy a girl for her birthday because she is a tomboy. She was cracking me up with reminders that she was a tomboy.
Gracie went with us to the birthday party to have her first Chuck1e Cheese experience. She was fascinated by the mouse but would not get close enough for a picture with him. However, she did give him five. Which resulted in hours of conversation for Saturday and Sunday telling us over and over that 'Mickey Mouse Five'. Enjoy!