Picture Dump

This is going to be a HUGE post of pictures. I have had these for a little while but just haven't had the time to do a nice long lovely edited post of these. So, please excuse the lack of editing and some of the crappy pictures. I just love to share them even if they kinda stink. Enjoy!

 Yes we walk our cat on a leash. Haha.

 

 Stratton loves his Groucho Cat

 

 We have an awesome parking lot behind our house that is great for Stratton to get his scooter out and get some energy out of his system.

 

 He is so serious sometimes.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 He loves giving Groucho kisses on the back.

 

 Such a pretty kitty

 

 

I have such a handsome husband.

 

 

 

 He is such a cheese ball!

A few weekends ago Derek's friend Aaron got married. They had such a beautiful wedding and it was nice for Derek to get to see all of his friends.

 Jess made a beautiful bride.

 Derek and Luke being silly.

 

 Derek doesn't get to see his step brother Danny very often so it was nice to see him too.

 Before the reception Derek and I went to Schlafly's restaurant and got some shrimp and a few drinks.

 Derek got the beer sampler.

 Again I have such a handsome husband :)

 I stuck with the root beer and water. It was SO good!

 And another beer for Derek after the sampler.

Ok so I got two good pictures out of him before I got this. 

 ...and this.

 One of the only pictures of me from that night. Whoops. I forget to get any of myself.

 Our friend Amanda and her boyfriend Tommy. They are so fun!

 Danny, Derek and Money Bags as Derek refers to our friend Kody's dad.

 Kody, Ronnie, Derek and Luke having too much fun.

 Same group except now with the lovely groom Aaron. These boys are seriously too much sometimes. Hah!

 Aaron and Amanda

 

 

 Danny and Money Bags

 All the boys for photo shoot. They love getting their pictures taken. 

 

 

 

 

 Aaron and his friend Jake

 They boys were dancing up a storm. It was hilarious!

 Words can't even explain.

 

 

 

 

 I bought a cheap water slide at Wal-Mart for Stratton last week. It lasted all of like 2 days before it busted but it was really fun while it lasted.

 Stratton had SO much fun on it except for the water being a little chilly.

 

 Cutest butt around.

 

 

 He screamed the entire time he went through the water. It was SO cute.

 

 

 

Day 2 with the slip and bleed slide, my mom came over and walked the cat.

 

 Stratton wanted to play in the water SO bad but it really was a lot colder.

 I had to hold the bottom of it once it popped because the water wouldn't flow through it I didn't hold it.

 He was getting SO mad at me because I wouldn't slide down the slide with him.

 So we stood outside and he did this for an hour. Haha

I went over to my friend Terea's house to take her pictures for her profession "head shot." I'm not gonna lie I felt a little like Glamor Shots by Deb from Napoleon Dynamite. Haha. She has the coolest dog I've seen in a while. His name is Semore and he is too cute.

 Poor puppy.

Look at those big ol lips!

 Happy Dog

 

 

 

Hope you enjoyed all the lovely pictures. I'll try to keep them coming. I'm excited to get out there and start taking pictures again. It's been too long.

Friday Confessions

I confess I have worn my hair down everyday this week, not because I'm trying to look nice, but rather to hide a huge mountain of a zit that is forming on the back of my neck. How embarrassing.

I confess as much as I complain about having to work late, I kind of enjoy it because it's so quiet.

I confess school this semester is going to be a little easier than I first thought. My second day of Ceramics I was what I was learning in my summer art classes 14 years ago.

I confess I am SO sad that Kat Von D is no longer going to be doing LA Ink. I love that show! I guess I'm just going to have to move to LA and get a job from her so we can hang out. (I wish!)

I confess I watched Paradise Lost I and II last night and it made me sick to my stomach. I couldn't imagine going through what those parents went through.


I confess I have been ready for it to be Friday since last Sunday. I'm glad this week is over with. I'm ready for the weekend. I get so anxious for the first day of school then once I get it over with I get back into the swing of things.

Hello World

Just wanted to let you know I'm still around and I'm still alive. Even after working some horrible shifts I'm still here. I've had my plate quite full this week but I feel like my days are flying by (which is sometimes nice). I hope everyone is having a wonderful week so far. It's half way over! YAY!

I just wanted to remind everyone also that SEMO Bloggers Meeting is right around the corner.

On Sept 5th we will be having another meeting and I am going to be speaking about the basics of blog/web design.

Even if you do not blog but would like to know more about blogging we encourage you to come and join us!
If you have any questions please feel free to head over to our SEMO Bloggers Blog HERE.

Friday Confessions

I confess when I'm mad at Derek and we are riding in the car I purposely listen to music he doesn't like just to spite him.

I confess I cried like a baby at work today when I found out the WM3 were released from prison. I have been following them for 4 years now reading every detail of their case.

I confess when I'm by myself I talk to myself in the car on windy roads to keep from getting car sick. I think it's a distraction.

I confess I have worn the same jeans at least 6 times without washing them. I'm trying to go green.

I confess I came home to the kitty litter box tipped over and poop on Derek's leather chair. So, I went Macgyver on it and now it won't tip over due to the hair ties and peg hooks holding it down.

I confess I will probably make fun of you if you don't know who Macgyver is. If you don't know what Macgyver means stop what you are doing right now and google it. 

I confess I cut all my nails off the other day because I couldn't stand how long they were. I didn't bite them though. I neatly cut them with fingernail clippers then filed them down.

I confess I love helping people but I hate when I get tired and my brain turns into mush. I go into auto pilot and wind up hating what I make.

This is the best thing that I have seen in the news in a long long time.

 This is now what is on the wm3.org website. How wonderful is this!

 Jason Baldwin giving his statement with his wife/girlfriend next to him.

 All three men finally free.

 Damien and Jason. Damien was thanking Jason for taking the plea bargain that led all three of them to their freedom. 

 Damien with his wife. She has worked on this case for many years and now has her husband next to her as a free man!

Damien Echols. Finally a free man after being in jail for 18 years!


Thank you Lord for the freedom of these wrongly accused men.

Free The West Memphis Three

I don't know if some of you know this about me but I have been passionate about the case that revolves around three men that were wrongly accused of the killing of three little boys back in 1993.

via

Shortly after three eight-year-old boys were found mutilated and murdered in West Memphis, Arkansas, local newspapers stated the killers had been caught. The police assured the public that the three teenagers in custody were definitely responsible for these horrible crimes. Evidence?

The same police officers coerced an error-filled "confession" from Jessie Misskelley Jr., who is mentally handicapped. They subjected him to hours of questioning without counsel or parental consent, audio-taping only two fragments totaling 46 minutes. Jessie recanted it that evening, but it was too late, Misskelley, Jason Baldwin and Damien Echols were all arrested on June 3, 1993, and convicted of murder in early 1994.

Although there was no physical evidence, murder weapon, motive, or connection to the victims, the prosecution pathetically resorted to presenting black hair and clothing, heavy metal t-shirts, and Stephen King novels as proof that the boys were sacrificed in a satanic cult ritual. Unfathomably, Echols was sentenced to death, Baldwin received life without parole, and Misskelley got life plus 40.

In the years since the convictions of Damien Echols, Jason Baldwin and Jessie Misskelley for a crime they did not commit, their cause has gained support from all over the world, and these men have become known as the West Memphis Three. The story of the injustice they have endured at the hands of the state of Arkansas has never lost momentum, and in recent months, the evidence in their favor has grown to the point where it's nearly impossible to view this case as anything other than a miscarriage of justice.

Teenagers at the time of their arrest in 1993, these young men were considered suspects in the gruesome triple child homicide and arrested without any evidence tying them to the crime. The police and the state managed to convince the media and the juries that "devil worshippers" were responsible, and that Damien, Jason and Jessie somehow fit that description. It was publicly stated by law enforcement officials and the media that the murders had been a part of a satanic ritual; a human sacrifice in the wooded areas of West Memphis, Arkansas. It seems unlikely that this would be accepted as motive by a contemporary jury, but once the police had a young, mentally challenged boy in their custody, they managed to coerce him into providing what was seen as a "confession" despite huge logic holes, discrepancies and the fact that he later recanted and refused

Today is their day! Today is the day that these three men will have the chance to feel the sun on their face again as free men.  They were told to pack all their belongings up today to head to court. Rumor has it that they will not be returning to their cells again. Please please please pray for these men today as they are needing all the help they can get. Justice must be served and keeping these three men behind bars would be the biggest injustice. 

To read more or support them please visit wm3.org 

Dear Friends and Family

Hey everyone! I don't know if you all remember me doing this each year but Stratton, my Grandma Marge, my Grandpa John, my Mom, my Sister and I have been doing the Jingle Bell Run for the last 2 years! This year will be our 3rd year! If you would like to help us out by donating it would be very much appreciated! OR you can come out and cheer us on our 1 mile run. We stick to the 1 mile because it's easier for Stratton to be able to run it.

Thank you in advance for all your help not only monetarily but morally also.

Dear Friends and Family, The holiday season is all about giving. I am doing my part by tying jingle bells to my shoelaces and raising funds for the Jingle Bell Run/Walk for Arthritis. Did you know that arthritis is the leading cause of disability? It affects more than 50 million Americans including over 300,000 children – yes, kids get arthritis too. Arthritis is much more than just aches and pains. For many, it significantly impacts their ability to complete simple tasks like dressing themselves or even walking.

Here are some pictures from the last two years you can read about the 2010 Run Here and the 2009 Run Here. Enjoy!

 2009 Look how little Stratton was!

2010 2nd run with 4 Generations Me, Stratton, my Mom, Grandma Marge, and Casey

It's been one of those days...

I'm stressed.
I'm PMSing.
I'm moody.
I made a big mistake at work.
I have a lot of work to do.
I'm short on $ this week.
I'm working my butt off to keep my head above water.
...and it's not working.

I made a big mistake at work that is causing a lot of stress to a lot of people. I took full blame for it and have tried my hardest not to show what I'm actually feeling inside. On the outside I'm being strong and taking the blame for the mistake I made but on the inside I seriously want to break down and bawl my eyes out.

I'm trying my hardest to save money by not buying the "stuff" that I want. The shopping fast has definitely helped me think about what I buy before I buy it but I feel like no matter what we still go negative in our bank account every week. I'm so incredibly tired right now. I can hardly keep my eyes open. I'm trying to make extra money on the side to help with the finances but it's just a drop in the hat compared to the whole picture. I feel so incredibly helpless right now.

I know the job I'm at isn't right for me. But it's a job none the less. I feel like I spin my wheels but I'm only spinning in the mud and sinking. I want to help people. I want to provide graphics and artwork to people that will make them happy. I want to do what makes me happy....which is making other people happy.

My entire life I have striven to make people happy by doing everything I can with what God has given me. I don't feel like my calling is where I work now. But, I don't have a choice as of right now. I don't make enough with my graphics to quit my job and I don't have good enough benefits through school to quit my job. I have been praying relentlessly for God to give me an opportunity to do what I love but it's not been given yet. God has a plan for everything and I'm trusting in him to help me though this.

He sent a little ray of sunshine my way just when my day was starting to overwhelm me. There is nothing better than holding a sleeping baby in your arms and that's just what he sent me. It was instant stress relief for me to hold the sweet baby girl that one of my co-workers had 6 weeks ago. She was so adorable and it made me so thankful to have those short minuets with her. It helped calm me down and let me get a break from the stress from work.

I know there are people out there that would kill for a job with benefits but right now to me it's not worth it. I stress out, my heart starts acting up, I get so tired I go to bed super early, and I don't get to spend quality time with Stratton. I just want change for the better. Not something that is going to kill me because I'm so stressed.