Wow, Where did the Summer go???

They say time flies when you're having fun, I must have had a BLAST this past summer *lol* Actually I can't think of a thing that I've done except work on the new house and try to keep this one in some kind of decent order. We had planned on being in the new home by the beginning of August, but that's Not Happening : ) The overhaul remodeling is moving along nicely now but still we are way behind our original schedule and shooting for mid November now. This past weekend we got all of the kitchen cabinets installed and had a friend of the family to lay the tile flooring for us......Thanks so much Jay!!!

Sept. 24th was Chad's birthday so I took him to lunch at one of his favorite places to eat which is Litton's Market, suppose to have the best Burgers in town and I have to agree with everyone else. We spent half the day together and enjoyed our lunch and of course he had to have his favorite German Chocolate cake for dessert. It's so hard to believe he just turned 33 years old.

Here's a pic of us together as we were leaving...

Also, he got to go to the first UT football game this year (and has been to all the home games so far) The boy loves tailgating and all the day long festivities that go along with UT Football. Here's a pic of him in his Eric Berry jersey (GO VOLS)!!!!!!And one of him and his good friend CJ. Makes me happy to see him enjoy himself and especially getting to take in a few of the UT Games!!!!!

Happy Birthday Mom

Happy Birthday to you Mom!!!! Although you are not with us any more, there is not a day that goes by that I don't think about you and miss you so much. My heart and life has an empty spot for you. You will never know what an impact you made on my life and how much like you I am becoming, the kids always tell me "you sound just like your Mom' I take that as a compliment now. This time last year we were all celebrating your Birthday at O'Charley's restaurant and the whole family was there to celebrate with you. I am thankful that we had the opportunity to do that. I wish I had thanked you for all of the sacrifice's you made for me when I was growing up Mom, I know life for you was not easy raising two little girls by yourself, but you did a pretty good job, I think we turned out pretty good.

I miss you so much still and the pain in my heart stays with me still. You were loved by all that knew you and we were blessed to have a wonderful, loving person like you in our lives. I'm so thankful that God chose you to be my Mother.

I will love you always....

Your loving daughter,

Donna

Back from the Beach

With all of the anticipation of looking forward to our yealy get away to the beach/ocean what a total disappointment. When we got there on Sat. afternoon the beach was so crowded I didn't think we would be able to find a spot to sit without stepping on someone's toes. Well, not to worry about that, it poured rain, thunderstorms and heavy winds almost every single day we were there. I only got to spend about one hour total on the beach on Sunday, then we went down Monday morning and just getting my chair set up right next to the water so I could stick my toes in when the waves came up and felt something on my face, my first thought was birds *lol* but it turned out to be raindrops and then pouring rain, so I had a total of 15 minutes on the beach that day : ( The forecast showed severe storms for the next three days and they weren't kidding. We finally gave in, packed up the car and headed home on Thursday morning. We did get to see some FANTASTIC fireworks shows on the beach right in front of our balcony and enjoyed that tremendously. Got to spend one afternoon shopping downtown and went to the pier to take a few pics. DH is not a very good photographer so I don't have any to post here, all of his pics taken were in movie mode *LMAO* I'll have to wait and get some from Marci that she took and will post a few later. I did enjoy getting to spend the time we did with the kids, I've missed the togetherness we have always had before we moved off so that was a treat for me even though we all kind of went our own way this trip. OMG you won't believe the freakin bridge we had to cross over to get on the island. I was driving at the time we got to it and about had a panic attack when I saw it. I told DH there was no way I was driving over that thing, he tried to encourage me it was okay and I got right at the foot of it to go over and pulled off to the side real fast and told him he was going to have to drive *LMAO* no friggin' way was i driving over that thing : ) Want to guess who drove us out when we were heading home? Nope, not me *LOL*
Anyway, we got home Thursday night and spent the next two days working at the 'other' house trying to get a little more done before hubby had to go back to work on Monday. I was half way wising I was still sitting at the beach on our balcony watching it rain, how pathetic is that!!! Got a whole year to wait for our next vacation and I bet we will be going back to our old vacation spot that we love, it was nice to visit Tybee but I don't think I care to go again. The beach is beautiful though and lots of shopping places.
Spent this week cleaning house, spent a day with Asera and Losa catching up and getting to spoil him a little more. Hubby hurt his foot this week, thought he had broken it but turned out to be a small hairline fracture so he has been off work the past two days. He seems to be healing and putting a lot of ice packs on it so he should be okay and back to work on Monday. I've got a stack of coupons here for the shopping mall that are itching to get spent so hoping to head out early Monday morning and hit the malls : )
I hope everyone had a great 4th of July and didn't get as much rain as we did!!!
Can you believe it's already the middle of July, this summer is really getting away from me this year, I think I need a pool at the new place, huh??? Got to do some sweet talking!!! LOL

Happy Fourth of July!!!

Wow, the fourth isn't even here quite yet and fireworks are going off all over the neighborhood!!!
Our first week of vacation is over and we spent every day gutting out the 'new' house...LMAO Poor Dwight spent two full days under the bathroom floor redoing the plumbing under there for the new bath we are designing, keeping fingers crossed it all fits in that tiny room. Can't wait to see how the shower is going to look. I got my first tryout of the John Deere mower this week and mowed the two acre field twice this week. Wanted it to look tidy when we get back from the beach....Speaking of the beach, Woo Hoo can't wait to get there, this is a much needed vacation away from all the stress and drama that goes on with real life here at the Caldwell house *LOL* This will be our first visit to Tybee Island so will be interesting how it turns out. I'll miss Topsail Island/Surf City but we can always use a little change of scenery for a change. Got the blender packed and can't wait to stick my toes in the sand and sip on an ice cold margarita or two!!!!
Baby Esera is doing good, miss the little darling already and didn't get a chance to see him this past week with all the work going on and they had several doctor appts. and things to attend to also so first thing when I get back home I'll be heading down there to get that little bugger and give him kisses from head to foot.
Hope everyone has a wonderful and safe Fourth of July holiday, don't eat to much at those barbeques this weekend and I hope the weather is gorgeous for you!!!
Love & Hugs till I get back home.
Cathy, Cee and Judy, I will miss you girls bunches and be thinking of you every day!!!!

Welcome to the World

I'm a new grandma again (grinning ear to ear)

Welcome to the world lil Esera Graysen Cunningham and Congratulations to the proud parents Losa and Chad!!! He is the most beautiful little baby boy I have ever seen. Esera was born on June 22, 2009 at 1:34 PM and weighed 8 lb. 9 oz. I stayed at the hospital during deliver (in the waiting room of course) LMAO Chad came and got me as soon as he was born and I got to hold him awhile, hated to give the lil bundle back to his Mom but I HAD to *lol* Marci has already threatened to hide him in her pocketbook and slip him out the door. We just want to keep him for ourself. Him and Mom went home yesterday so there will be plenty of time for visits with him now and we can hold him all we want to.

Welcome baby Esera, the world is yours, go get 'em gorgeous!!!

Of course I have to show off some pics, that's what grandma's do *LOL*

This cute lil frame is from KimBSdesigns, thanks Kimmie : )

Where did the month of May go??? LMAO

Wow, May went by like a whirl wind and here we are already into the first full week of June!!!
We closed on our new house on the 30th of April and have been busy all month out there planning on our remodeling job, which walls to knock out where and stripping wallpaper (pulling hair) Marci and Megan came and helped me with the paper for two days so I think we got the hang of it together *LOL* Got it all finished this past weekend and will start on the painting and laying tile floors now ~ can't seem to get enough punishment for myself. In between working on the new house I was busy the first part of the month trying to get my Mother's house cleaned up, emptied out and ready to sell. My awesome real estate lady, Trish, came out and put the For Sale sign up on the 15th and it has been unreal the people that have already looked at it. Keeping fingers crossed for a reasonable contract on it and they better be serious if they put something in writing for me to sign *LMAO*
I had a tanning bed package last month too, figured that was the only sunshine I was going to see for awhile. Getting a decent start to my tan so I can at least wear shorts and capri's this season without looking pale as a ghost.
On Memorial day, the 25th, all of the Caldwell's got together and had a cookout at Sandy Springs park in Maryville. OMG at the food that we had and the weather couldn't have been any nicer. We were worried about rain but it held off till it was about time for us to head home and call it a day anyhow. Enjoyed getting together with all of them and always enjoy getting to spend time with Dan and Kathy.
I haven't had time for much anything else, not even playing on my computer lately. But I am so looking forward to our trip to the beach this year!!!!!! Can't wait to get the bags packed in the car and head out. Got Butch booked at the kennel and will be taking Daisy with us, can't leave the baby at home : ) Dwight is taking Fridays off at work for now to use some of his vacation time while all the GM production is shut down so that gives us an extra day to work at the new house. Maybe we'll have it ready to move into by Sept., was pushing for August, but that's not happening *LOL* Off to pack a few boxes and get my closets cleaned out, still have my winter clothes hanging in there.
Have a fantastic month of June and enjoy this gorgeous, warm weather!!!!!
Hey Marci, glad to have you back from the sunshine city of Miami, you lil hussie *LMAO* You and Christy deserved that trip and I'm happy for you that you two got to go together.

What a busy week....

First, let me say Happy Birthday to my baby girl!!!! Marci turned 29 on April 17, her last year in the good ole 20's. She had to work that day as it was a Friday, but we took them out to Puleo's for dinner and I got her a pretty necklace that she really liked.
This week has been a whirl wind, I spent all day Monday running around Maryville getting our electric and water switched over and took out a new homeowners insurance policy on our new home. Tuesday and today I ran Dwight's car to the dealers to get the A/C fixed, they had to order parts, wrong parts, so they gave me a loaner car today cause it's so hot outside and didn't want me driving in this heat *lol* Looks like another trip to the dealers next week and keeping my fingers crossed the right parts are ordered this time.
My sister has 'handed over' the deed of getting my Mother's house cleaned out and ready to sell. We're going over in the morning to change the locks since I was there on Wed. this week and someone had been in the house again and left the door wide open : ( I've got a ton of work to do there, getting all the old appliances and junk hauled off by someone, having Goodwill come pick up the furniture and then get the carpets shampooed. Landscaping will need to be done and then get it listed with my real estate agent/friend Trish. Did I mention between all of this that we will be closing on our new house this Thursday, April 30 ??? Ohhhhhh lord what have I gotten myself into, I'm a glutton for punishment *LMAO* That will be exciting and a lot of hard work but I am so happy to be getting ready to move back home again ~ doing the happy dance : ) I'll have to put a pic up here next time I post (hubby is using my external hard drive right now and I can't get to them) I've already got a lot of boxes packed this week, things that I know I can live without for the next few months and if I do happen to really need it then I'll borrow and buy another one *LOL*
Going to go watch my recorded American Idol to see who goes home before I hear it from somebody and ruin the show. Goooooooooooo Adam and Danny
Have a great weekend, it's going to be in the low 80's here!!!

Time flies by....

Wow, I can't believe how fast this year is going by already. We are well into Spring now, although the weather outside isn't showing it. Temps in the upper 70's one week and snow the next.
We have our vacation beach house rented for the summer trip and I'm excited about it, not our usual place this year. We wanted somewhere that had a pool and ocean front and LOTS of shopping and things to do so we are going to Tybee Island, GA this year with the kids. I know the week will go by so quickly but I anticipate we are really going to enjoy it there and can't wait for the time to get here to pack our bags and head out!!!
We finally found a house that we both agreed on that we fell in love with as soon as we pulled up in the drive. It sits on two acres and has a view that will take your breath away, looking at the Great Smokey mountains...aaawwwwww Home again!!!! The kids are excited about it too and have already been to check it out. I'm off today to get the homeowners insurance on it and have the electric and water turned over to our name so we will have everything ready for our closing date of April 30th, oh gosh, that's less than two weeks and I have barely started packing : )
Easter was last Sunday, April 12 and we had a nice day, the kids came over for dinner and spent most of the day, Megan kept us busy with egg hunts *lol* I enjoyed it with her this year and kept thinking she is growing up so fast and most likely won't be interested in things like this next year so I want to take advantage of her being 'our little girl' as long as I can.
Been busy trying to get Mom's place all cleaned up and ready to sell, that's another story and I won't even begin to get into the crap that is going on with my sister on that. Pretty much in a nut shell, she has left everything for me to do, cleaning out everything, hauling off junk, taking care of the yard and all the cleaning that is to be done and she said she would show up at closing for her part of the check!!! Can we all say 'BITCH' Well, enough of that, have to keep myself on a positive note and not let her drag me down. I will say that my heart just sank and I sat down and cried after going into Mom's over the weekend and seeing the mess that my sis left behind for me........
Better get off here for now and head towards Maryville, got a ton of work to do on the house but I am so looking forward to getting started on it and get the hell out of Dodge *lmao*

Where did January Go????

I can't believe how quickly January has passed this year. Busy getting all the Christmas decorations taken down and packed away in the attic and trying to get the house back in order. Now it's time to decorate for Valentine's Day.

Jan. 18 was Megan's birthday, she is 10 years old now, OMG how fast she is growing up, seems like yesterday I was sitting in the rocking chair holding her. Marci had her a fantastic dinner at Wasabi, a Japanese steak house. Megan was afraid they were going to set her on fire with all those flames from the grill *lmao* She had her best friend with her and afterward they had a slumber party.

Still having a LOT of problems with my back, but hoping to get my injections done again around the end of this month. Sure wish they would come up with a cure for this pain.

This week was Groundhogs day!!! It looks like another 6 weeks of bad weather for us and we ended up getting a beautiful snow that day. I think this is one of the prettiest snows we have had in several years and everything was so peaceful and clean looking out. I didn't get out in it except to take the pups out, Butch didn't care much for it and poor little Daisy just was trying to figure out why her legs kept disappearing from her when she would sink down into the snow *lol*

Here's a pic from miss Megan's birthday.

Hope everyone is off to a good start for Feb. and not snowed under!!!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

I sure hope that everyone had a great Happy New Year!!!
We had a fun night here, kids came over and we brought in the new year together. We played board games and Rook most of the night and had a toast at midnight and ate way to many munchies *lol* at the stroke of midnight everybody's phones started ringing with calls from our friends and sharing toasts for the New Year. Did you make any resolutions??? I made the usual but hope I can actually stick to a few of them this year, New Year, New You!!! My biggest one is to quit smoking and exercise more (big grin) My biggest wish for this year is to find us a home in our old home town and get moved back there before to long. I miss being close to my babies! With all the food and snacks and not to mention the big bowl of fudge I had better stick to my exercise or there's no way we'll be wearing shorts or a bathing suit come summer : ) lmao So to pull out the exercise bike and Gazelle and get started. I'll share some Christmas and New Year's pics with ya just as soon as I get some pages finished and learn how to create a slide show *lol*
I wish you all love, happiness and peace in the new year.
Cheers : )