We're on Our Way to See the Tigers Play!

They weren't quite feeling "The Tiger Cub"!


MacKenzie was all smiles because the Tigers won!

This past weekend was the home opener for Clemson football. We weren't quite as excited as we would normally be since they totally sucked it up against Alabama, but nonetheless, they're our Clemson Tigers and we LOVE IT!

As tradition will have it, the Friday before the first home game is the First Friday Parade. We've been every year since we've been married and I couldn't stand the thought of missing it this year. Jarrod couldn't get off work in time to go, so I took the kids BY MYSELF to the parade, which I'll never do again! By the time I found a parking spot (in Egypt), walked a country mile up hill while pushing a stroller, I was completely EXHAUSTED! Then it was over in what felt like 5 seconds and I had to turn around and do it again! I seriously think I had shin splits because of how fast and hard I walked! Anyway, I think the kids enjoyed it?? But I didn't bring my camera, so I couldn't remember if they did or not! Remember...I was exhausted!

On Saturday we took the kids to the game. It was Mason's first game, and it may be his last for a while. While he was good for a little while, he lost interest by the time half time got there, and he had totally had enough of the heat and the whole sitting still thing! Still, it was an experience that we'll never forget! It was also Military Appreciation Day, so that's always a special thing for Jarrod. I know he enjoys it each year since both he and his dad served our country.

Oh and one more thing...the Clemson dress that MacKenzie wore to the game...that was MY DRESS when I was her age! Isn't that just precious!! :) HEHE!

Balloons, Fireworks, and More!

It's been a while since I've blogged, and I'm trying to catch up. We also haven't had internet service in about 5 days, so I've been without a computer!

Anyway, last weekend was Labor Day weekend and Balloonfest was going on in Anderson. It's just a weekend long festival with hot air balloons, bands, food, etc. It's kinda like Freedom Weekend Aloft. So we took the kids to see the balloons and see the fireworks/lazer light show. We had a lot of fun!

Of course Mason favorite thing was the "Paw, Paw" hot air balloon. He spotted that thing from a mile away!

Here are some pictures from our weekend last weekend...

"The Shack"

Well, it's been a while since I've had the chance to blog. Even though a lot has happened this week, I feel incredibily compelled to write about one thing. (And no, it's not about the Clemson football game and how Tommy Bowden couldn't get his team ready for that game...even though I am mad about that one)! Anyway, it's about a book I just finished reading called "The Shack". I HIGHLY recommend it. It's only the 2nd book that I've finished front to back since either one of my children were born, so that should say a lot!

Our Home Group is getting ready to discuss it, so I'm sure I'll have more to say about it once we've had some group discussions about it. However, I just thought it was an incredible book. It's a fiction book, but it's a book about pain, heartache, and finding faith after such great tragedy. It kinda ties into my post from last week & the church service I was talking about. It gives you a different perspective when going through hard and trying times.

I had never even heard of the book, but it's been on the Bestseller List for some time now. It's been a bit controversial (from what I hear) especially among the Christian world. However, I thought it was great. If you read it, be prepared to cry at the beginning and end. Don't give up in the middle because it does get a little boring and sometimes "out there". But at the end it all makes sense, and it's just GREAT!

If you get the chance to read it, I'd love to get your perspective on the whole thing. It should make for some interesting discussions.

Christmas in August?!

Well today sure felt like Christmas to me! knew that the Clemson car seats should be here sometime today. I bet I tracked them through the UPS website at least 10 times today! Finally, they arrived around 4:30 just as I was leaving from work. I hurried to pick the kids up from school, and when we pulled in the driveway, they were sitting on the front porch! I was like a child on Christmas morning! I couldn't wait to rip that box open to see them...and MacKenzie was just as excited as I was.

So, I finally figured out how to adjust them and strap them in the car. As soon as Jarrod got home, I had to take the kids for a ride just so they could sit in their new car seats. Mason kept trying to look behind him and say "Paw, Paw"...that's his word for Tiger Paw. It was great!

I know some of you think I'm crazy..and that's OK. But for those of you who are just as crazy as I am about Clemson (or some other team) and you would like to purchase one...I have a coupon for $25 off any car seat from Toddler Teams (and it doesn't have to be a Clemson one)! f you decide you would like one put in the coupon code "football08" to receive the $25 off! They also sell covers for those of you who already have the Britax car seat! :)

A Great & Simple Weekend

Have you ever had one of those weekends where you didn't do anything extraordinary or spectacular but it ended up being one of those weekends that you just love? Well, that's how my weekend was. It was simple, relaxing, and all-in-all fun.

Friday, we went to see my sister in Greenville and went to dinner with her and her boyfriend at Red Robin. When we got there we ran into Carrie, Chad, & Caleb & Carrie's parents. It was so random! Carrie and I live about 3 miles apart from each other now in Anderson yet we see each other in Greenville! After dinner we went to Mr. Knickerbockers where we bought our "pre-season" paraphernalia.

On Saturday, we got up and took the kids to "Kid Venture" at the Anderson Civic Center. It's just a giant playground, but it was great fun for the kids. They climbed, swang, ran, jumped, went down the slides, and just had a good time...and it was FREE! Then we went to Chic-fil-A for lunch. My dad and Susan (aka Mimi & Poppi) stopped by the house for a little while and just hung out with us. Then Jarrod cooked some great steaks for dinner, and we just hung out and watched the Olympics and of course, NASCAR! That was a great race for all those race fans out there! (Yes, I'm a redneck, I know...but I really do love it)!

Sunday we got up and went to church and listened to an absolutely AMAZING message! It made me cry, but it made me feel good, too. The message was all about keeping (or finding) faith and hope during bad or hard times. It was just powerful! For anyone who is going through a difficult time, or anyone who has gone through hard times, and for all of us who will at some point in our life go through bad times...it's a message for everyone! If you ever have about 45 minutes to listen to it, I highly recommend listening to it. It can be downloaded from the NewSpring website at www.newspring.cc. This message just reminds me how awesome God is...He's always in control and always there even when we're going through difficult times.

After church, MacKenzie and I went with Brooke O'Neal to Melanie Grooms' baby shower. It was so much fun to be around old Mauldin girls! Melanie is a cute little pregnant girl! We laughed so hard that we almost cried at times! And MacKenzie was loving all the attention. It was fun to watch her interact with some of my friends. She also pooped in the potty while there, and Susie Watson did the potty dance for MacKenzie which she though was hilarious!

When we got home we had some good dinner and then just had good family time. We watched the kids play with their new t-ball and bat and play soccer. They actually played pretty well with each other as they're both learning to "share". Mason still doesn't quite get it, but he's trying. Then, they just goofed off and danced to some oldies and Jimmy Buffet! It was just funny...again there were times that I was laughing so hard I cried.
Here's MacKenzie showing off her best dance moves...she gets those from her Daddy!

Then it was bedtime, and both kids were just very sweet. MacKenzie kissed me good night told me she loved me and said "you're my best friend mommmy"! WOW! If that doesn't just give a mama cold chills, I don't know what will. Then Mason started crying after he had already been put down, so I went in and rocked him for a little while. It was just an awesome mommy-son moment that I can't even describe. He just laid there and fell asleep in my arms. I told him "I love you" and he mumbled back something unrecognizable, but only I could tell he was saying "love you", too. He is definitely "all boy", but then he has moments like that when he's all "mama's boy"!

It was a simple weekend, but nonetheless, and great one for me. The older I get the more I enjoy these simple things...

Clemson Craze!

Ok, everyone knows that I'm a huge Clemson fanatic, but this time I think I've gone a little overboard! I've decided to buy my children CLEMSON CAR SEATS!! Yes, I know, I'm crazy!

But here's the deal...the other night we were driving through the mall parking lot in Anderson. I pass this car (I think it was a Toyota Avalon) and all I can see is this sea of orange in the back seat. It totally caught my eye, so I start looking even harder. I thought it may be a big orange blanket that this woman had thrown over her back seat, but the closer I got, I realized that they were ORANGE car seats...3 of them at that! Then I saw the TIGER PAW, and I thought to myself, I've got to have those. So I get home and start googling them. I finally found them through a company called Toddler Teams. I thought about it and thought about it, and I finally convinced myself that I could consider this an "investment". You see, the kids can stay in these car seats until they weigh 65 lbs, so there won't be a need for a convertible booster seat. (MacKenzie may be in one until she's 15 years old since she only weighs about 26 pounds)! With my current car seats I would have to move them to a new seat once they reached the weight limit of 35-40 pounds. So, see, this is an "investment". Whatever, it made me feel a little better about the ridiculous amount of money I spent on them!!

I know many of you reading this are thinking "she's lost her mind"...but then, there are some of you that are thinking the same way I did "I've got to have one of those"! So, in case you're interested, you can go to www.toddlerteams.com and order yours! They are Britax brand car seats, which are the "Mercedes" of car seats, so they should last forever!! I actually talked to the owner of the company and we got the last 2 Clemson ones, but they're supposed to have more next week. And for those of you who aren't Clemson fans...they have other teams, too, but I wouldn't waste your money on those "other" teams!! HEHE!

BANGS!

So, I haven't had bangs in probably about 15 years! Last weekend, I got a "wild hair" (literally) and decided to have bangs cut! Well, at first I was thinking "oh no what have I done", but almost a week later, they're growing on me! I've also had a lot of people compliment me, so I don't know if they really like them, or if they're just being nice.

The funniest thing about them was what Jarrod said. I called him after I had them done to tell him that "I got bangs". He said, "what's that...like extensions or something"!! That just made me laugh! MEN!! When I got home I think he was a little surprised but later he told me they looked "sexy"...but then again we were at home last weekend with no kids, so I think he was just saying that and hoping....!!!

Anyway, who knows what I'll do next...