My ballerina

Berkley is only 21 months old but we went ahead (for fun) and started her in Baby Ballet. I have more fun doing it with her than she has doing it. It is a good time. Teaches them coordination, following instructions and actual ballet technique. Of course, they aren't expected to do everything. The first class she was very quiet and didn't say too much and didn't want to participate. Needless to say, Daddy was videoing through the glass and once she saw him, he had to join us in the class. The second class was much better. She ran around and did as much as she could. Of course, once in the comfort of her home, she will do all the steps and things we did in class. It's amazing to see that she really does retain the info. She has a pink leotard with nude tights and her little pink ballet slippers!!! Here are some photos I wanted to share with you all.

Here she is all ready to go to her class!!!

From the left: Catherine, Reese & Berkley...her new little friends!

She didn't know what to think about holding hands with the other girls!

Having fun in the dance studio!





Her square...we learned how to pivot and what diagonal lines are. The point was to run diagonally across the room and leap over the flower. She is the youngest in the class and of course didn't get it but we had fun anyway!

I'm sorry for my lack of posting lately. I was afraid you all would abandon me because I don't write enough. I've just been in a funk lately and the computer has been far from my thoughts!!! Thanks for sticking with me though! Much love to you all! XOXOXO

Bowling Green Hot Rods Pictures!

GETTING READY TO LEAVE THE HOUSE FOR THE GAME!

WATCHING SOME OF THE PLAYERS WARM UP.

BROCK HANGING OUT. WE BOUGHT AN EXTRA SEAT SO NO ONE WOULD SIT NEXT TO US! SAD I KNOW!





WATCHING THE PLAYERS STRETCH. MOMMY HAS NO COMMENT! (HEHEHE)




MORE WARMING UP.

ONE OF THE PLAYERS CAME OVER AND SIGNED BROCK'S BALL!
ACTUALLY, TWO PLAYERS DID!

HEY BATTER, BATTER, BATTER!!!





THE PITCH!





DADDY AND BROCK. BROCK WAS SHOWING HIS "BIG EYES!"



HE WASN'T WANTING ANYMORE PICS!

THE HOT RODS MASCOT, AXEL. THEY WERE SHOOTING T-SHIRTS TO THE CROWD.

WE HAD SO MUCH FUN!!!

Bowling Green Hot Rods

We have our very own minor league baseball team now, complete with a brand new stadium. Greg took me and Brock to a game tonight and we had a ball. Brock loved it when the crowd cheered! He also got a couple of signatures on his ball! I'll post pics soon. My allergies are on the brink of making my head explode so I'm going to bed! Night all!

Gone Fishin'

My parents took me and the kiddos to Campbellsville to visit my dad's great aunt who is 93. We do this every Memorial Day weekend and have since I was a kid! While visiting, Brock got to go fishing with my dad(papaw) for the very first time!!!

Checking out the pole!




He reeled it in all by himself!!!

Brock decided to name him BUDDY! He had to pet him before we let him go. When we baited the hook with the worm he was afraid it was hurting the worm. Dad told him that it didn't hurt the worm and the worm was happy to catch the fish for us!!!

There's the BEAST! Buddy the Blue Gill.

Taking the hook out of him to set him free!

Fun times with family today! (hubby had a previous engagement today so he didn't get to go this time.)

Rain, Rain Go Away

Rain really gives me a headache for some odd reason. I suppose it's the pressure in the air (or lack there of.) I am also really, really sleepy today.

Everything has been good around the home front. We are building a 22 foot deck on the back of the house. Since Greg raised the floor in the old laundry room (it will be part of the kitchen soon), there was about a 3 foot drop off out the back door and I've been using a step ladder. I can't wait to get it finished and have a cookout for friends! We never entertain because we don't have a lot of space so I'm hopeful. The deck will also feature railing all the way around with slats close together so the kiddos won't fall off. We are also going to put a gate at the steps so I can "corral" them in. If our drywall guy would come and finish the new addition onto the kitchen, we could knock out the wall and get it going. I'm excited for it to be finished but I'm not excited about the mess this will pose. I despise drywall dust so this should be interesting.

I'll post more later on. I am about to nod off!!! Happy Thursday!

The Circus

Brock and I went to the circus last night...Barnum & Bailey Boom a Ring. We had soooo much fun!!! Brock just turned four years old and the last time I had been to the circus, I was also 4 years old. We had GREAT seats and were right near the ring side. We were around 10 feet from the performers and the ELEPHANTS!!!! We did leave at Intermission because at that point, it was already after 8pm and he seemed to be losing interest. We missed the tigers but that's okay!

Let's just say...it wasn't cheap. Since it was his first time, I let him buy several things. The twirly light up thingy, which was I believe $15. Popcorn for $6.00; A decked out stuffed elephant for...hold your breath...$35; not to mention the picture we took together which was $16; the cotton candy with a big top hat for $15; AND, the $10 snow cone that came in a really cool elephant. That doesn't include what I pd for tickets.

It was all great fun though and well worth it to see the smile and amazement on his face. Here are the pics! Notice my little volunteer! He has the red shirt on.

Top of the morning to ya!

For some odd reason, I fell asleep in the recliner last night laying sideways with my legs all scrunched up. I woke up this morning around 3:00 a.m. and couldn't hardly move my legs. Of course at that point, I was completely awake so I made some coffee and stayed up. Berkley and I went back to sleep around 7ish and got up a little after 8:00 a.m. so I feel energized from my slight nap.

My cousin and her new baby (6 weeks old), Chaz and her 5 year old daughter Keri came to visit and stayed most of the day yesterday. We had a really nice time. Brock absolutely LOVES Chaz and is intrigued by this little person!!! Of course he loves Keri too but he really took to the baby. Here is a sweet video of him rocking Chaz in his carrier and singing! It was too precious!

We also took Brock to eat at Red Lobster on Friday night and went to the new Circus Square. This is where they are building the minor league baseball team stadium. They have an awesome fountain there that kids play in. We didn't have any trunks and it was dark and cool outside so Brock didn't play in it but he loved it. Actually, Friday was the Duncan Hines Festival so they had bands, duck races, cupcakes, etc. We walked around for a while and then headed home!

Today, Brock will be heading out with daddy to the country club to play REAL golf! He is so excited!

Berkley got in her 7th tooth yesterday. She now has 4 on the bottom and 3 on the top! She is also saying oh-ee-oh now and sounds as if she's one of the flying monkey's from The Wizard of Oz!

**I'm feeling much better now. Still a little tender and sore. AND, Brock starts pre-school tomorrow. Work is allowing me to be late so that I may take him myself. I'm a nervous wreck already!!! Separation anxiety stinks!**

Brickyard 400 - Indianapolis Motor Speedway

We had lots of fun at the race. I resemble a lobster (gotta love the sun) but it seems to be going in pretty well. It was a long day but well worth the tickets we were given ($90.00 each). It was nice to sit in the shade right in front of the pits!

Brickyard Bound

It's 3:42 a.m. and I'm up. Have to start getting ready to leave! Indy is about 5 hours north of us and is an hour ahead...so! I'm wearing my dry cotton shorts (they absorb moisture) because I know it will be hot as heck!!! No makeup...because it will melt off and a tank that I don't mind spilling a little beer on. Or Jack Daniels. Not because I'll be drinking it but it never fails that the awesome pack of rednecks that are sitting behind you will spill it on you! I'm not saying anything bad about rednecks because that is my heritage but I'm sure it will be amusing!!! Never a dull moment at Nascar! Definitely looking forward to the covered seats at the start/finish line! I'm hoping to catch a glance of Kasey Kahne! WUHU!!!

Well, I should probably chug my cup of coffee and get ready for the road. We are driving Greg's new truck! I have DVD's packed and ready so Mom and I have some entertainment in the back!

Much love to all and I'm sure I'll have some interesting pics to post!

C

BTW, where has Guitar Hero been all this time??? I knew my life was missing a little something and that was it. I am completely and totally addicted! Even though I can't play anything above EASY mode! HA! We decided to go ahead and purchase it yesterday and it's a blast!!!

Beep Beep! Vroom Vroom!

The Envoy is gone! WHOOPIE! Goodbye! I loved that SUV, don't get me wrong...BUT, I don't miss filling up the tank! I LOVE whizzing around corners in a car and being able to park easily!

Greg and I went to Gary Force Honda yesterday with the intention of getting a 2nd car and we ended up getting rid of our Envoy and got 2 vehicles. I got a Gold 2007 Chevrolet HHR LT. I absolutely love it. It has every option on it you can think of and even leather interior and remote start! YEAH! It resembles a PT Cruiser...but IT'S NOT! (I had a million peeps say yesterday that it looks like PT Cruiser...ugh) Very different I promise. It had one owner, an older gentleman that hardly drove it. It even has the new car smell. It will be 1 year old in August and has 18,000 miles on it. Just like brand new. I will also post pics of the inside as soon as it stops sprinkling rain.

This is not my license plate...lol! Seriously! I would have blacked it out but it's not mine. Will have another one on Monday!

Greg finally has his truck! He has a 2006 GMC Sierra (4 door pickup) Heavy Duty. It is silver. Loaded with every option, even a DVD player for the kiddos. He loves it and it is very nice! I will post pics as soon as he gets home. He's probably out driving around! (Just kidding.)

We were both tired of having to share a car. Even though he works out of town and is home only 3 days a week, one of us would always end up stuck at home. The crazy thing is, our payments are only a little more on 2 vehicles than the one payment on the Envoy. The truck isn't very great on gas but like I said, he will only be driving it for 3 days unless I decide to take it out for a spin!!!

I've never had leather seats. Anyone have any words of wisdom on treating them and cleaning them? I have car seats so should I buy seat covers to put under them? Do I need to condition them? Help! I really have no clue when it comes to them. There are no flaws in the seats and I'd like to keep it that way! Any suggestions on products?

You'll be seeing more pics soon.

Much love to you all,

Crystal

From China to Queensway, Hong Kong

I took a vacation from China to Queensway, Hong Kong! NOT! Apparently, there is a Chinaman that has been vacationing on my bank card! YES, I HAVE BEEN HIT BY FRAUD! Greg called the other night and wanted to know what I had spent $277 dollars on. I went through every receipt, check, etc. to try and remember what I had spent it on. I didn't recall spending that kind of money and couldn't believe I had forgotten. It was a pending transaction getting ready to hit the bank so there was no "transaction name" on it. Just the amount. When I awoke the next morning, my account said the transaction was China Southern Airlines Queensway Hong Kong. I flipped out and then laughed at the same time. I called the bank, cut my card off and then rushed to the bank. Apparently, Mr. Chinaman has tried to take me for $1500!!! My bank was more than understanding and said this happens all the time. I asked him if this was the internet because I had been making purchases. This was where I was totally dumbfounded. People that do this for a living can get your card numbers from gas stations. When you swipe your card at the gas pump, they are hacking into the card readers. The bar code has your card info on it and they steal it! Yes, steal it. In my case, they just could have been putting together random combinations of numbers and came up with mine. We will probably NEVER know...that's the sad part. One would think that banks and companies would be tired of this happening, tired of giving money back to people due to fraud and that there would be SOMETHING that could be done about this. All transactions, which were flights were turned down except for 2. The $277 and one for $231. The bank will be reimbursing my money and will also reimburse any NSF fees that accumulate. Everyone says this happens, you see it on the news BUT you never think it will happen to you...and I am here to say that it can! Anyhow, thank GOD it can be taken care of. That's the only thing that comforts me. Oh, and my banker also said that this person or people could have had my card number for years and just now decided to use it. He said that when they get a hold of numbers, they hold onto them and might sell them off to another person for a mere $10.

ON A HAPPIER NOTE:

Mom, Dad, Greg and I will be attending the Brickyard 400 (NASCAR RACE) in Indianapolis on Sunday! A wonderful vendor they are friends with had 4 tickets he could not use and immediately called them to see if they wanted them. The best part is that we are under the cover at the start/finish line!!! Yippie! No sitting out in the hot sun all day...and they just gave them to us! I have never been to an actual Nascar Nextel race, only a Busch race so this will be a fun new experience. I watch all the time on television because Greg loves it, Papaw loves it and Dad does too. I actually enjoy it and have my favorite drivers so this should be a great time! WUHU!

ON AN EVEN HAPPIER NOTE:

I have a job interview scheduled for Monday at 1:30! It is for a receptionist position at KY Legal Aid (part-time) and I am very, very excited! Please wish me luck as this would be a wonderful place to work and a good position, esp. part time to get my feet wet back into the working world. When I say that I don't mean, work there for a while and leave, I mean, part-time, less stress position with the potential to move up at some point!!!

I have sent out 8 resumes and cover letters within the last week.

Anyhow, Greg is awake now so I have to become busy!

Much love to all.

Crystal

RESULTS OF THE SOKY FAIR PAGEANT

BERKLEY WON BEST DRESSED AND MADE IT INTO THE TOP 10. THERE WERE 23 GIRLS IN THE 0 TO 11 MONTH CATEGORY! I AM SO PROUD OF HER!!!

SOKY Fair Beauty Pageant

Wish us luck tomorrow! I have entered my princess into the Southern Kentucky Fair Beauty Pageant. It's not like the ones where you do fake hair, spray tans, and $2,000.00 dresses!!! It's just our local fair's pageant. I put Brock in the pageant (he won best personality and best smile!)when he was around this age so I decided at the last minute to enter her. She is in the girls 0-11 months category. As of this morning, there were only 11 registered for her age group. You are allowed to register before the pageant though.

Here is the dress I bought for her today! It is so beautiful on her. It goes all the way to the top of her feet. It is teal and white gingham in the seersucker material! The bow matches the ribbon that runs around the bottom! (chocolate and teal) This dress was normally $56.00 at a local boutique but I got the dress and the bow for $36!!! Yeah! I will post pictures of the pageant and pics of her in the dress!!!

The bow matches perfectly!!!

I'm actually not putting shoes on her because the dress falls right on the top of her feet! Shoes would be overkill! Plus, you can't even see them really see them!

I have also entered her in the "Most Photogenic" category and have submitted the following photo for that. It was taken a few months ago but I love the picture!!!