MY FIRST TICKET EVER!

I just got my first ticket EVER this week. Not for speeding, not for running a stop sign or a red light, not for switching lanes in the middle of the inersection. NOPE not for any of the good stuff. Instead my 600.00 (THAT'S RIGHT - 600 DOLLARS) ticket came from expired tags. WHAT?!?!?!? Who looks at their tags? Isn't something suppose to come in the mail from the DMV? Well according to the Police officer, for the last part of 2007 the DMV did not send out notices for this, so he let me know not to feel bad because he is writing tons of tickets for this. OH YES, that makes me feel tons better.

When he pulled me over and walked up to the window the first question he asked me was, "Do you know why I pulled you over?" To which my response was, "If I knew why you pulled me over I probably wouldn't have this look on my face." Propbably the wrong answer because he asked me to step out of my car after that. AHHHHHHHHH! I thought I was going to get cuffed or something, because on the show COPS when they ask them to step out of the car, you know they are getting cuffed. So after I am out of the car he asked me if I knew my tags were expired to which I replied, "If I did, the same look wouldn't be on my face."

OH to make matters worse I could not find my insurance card! Well actually the boys had ripped it and I took it out of my car the week before. GREAT TIMING!

So now I have a court date of January 24th. GOODNESS! I don't understand why they can not just say HEY YOUR TAGS ARE EXPIRED, GO GET NEW ONES. What is the purpose of tags anyways? Why do we have to get tags? We already register our cars, get insurance, have drivers licenses. WHAT IS THE TAGS PURPOSE?!?!?! Some one answer me that.

AND TELL ME IF THIS MAKES SENSE? THe next day my friend Jenny got pulled over for speeding in a school zone and she only got a 125.00 ticket. NO SENSE!!!

Britton's First Pill No-No!

Let me just start off by saying that the boys have never gotten in to any medicine before today (with the exception of Benson getting in to Melatonin at Grandma's... and that had NO affect on him). Britton some how decided he was a monkey today and climbed to the highest shelf in the pantry and ate EX-LAX. It was not even the chocolate kind! After downing two pills, Benson came running in to the bathroom (yes I was going potty) to tell me about Britton taking the "Big People" medicine. I ran in to find blue all over Britton's mouth and him looking at me saying, "Yummy, Mommy." AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! I, of course, freaked out and called Poison Control (thanks for pointing me in that direction Jessi). It took about 20 min of me being on the phone with them (because I was crying so hard) for them to let me know just to keep him hydrated, and keep him on the BRAT diet. So of course he has been pounding the water, pedialite, bananas, toast, rice, and applesauce.

As you can tell from this picture it has taken A LOT out of him, and I think tonight will be a long night for both of us. It is a little tramatizing for him, and even for Benson to watch. I hope it has taught them both that big kid medicine is NO GOOD!

My poor little guy...

I DON'T EVEN KNOW HOW TO CONTAIN MY EXCITMENT!!!!!

YEAH! YEAH! YEAH! Dan and I have decided to get married before he deploys! I did not even know this kind of excitement existed. I am giddy all the time, have a constant smile on my face and cry out of joy about every 30 minuets. GOODNESS! Someone slap me I have to be dreaming.
We set the day for February 9Th. ONLY TWO MONTHS AWAY!!! I bought my wedding dress last night and it is BEAUTIFUL. He will be wearing his uniform and BELIEVE YOU ME, he looks so handsome in it.
EVERYTHING is coming together beautifully! I just keep asking myself "How I got so lucky? What did I do so right to deserve this perfect man in my life?" For every bad turn and up and down I have done in my life, I am so grateful that the end of my path lead to him. I honestly feel like he is the one I was meant to come to earth and meet. I can't wait to spend ETERNITY with this man! I LOVE HIM!!!!!!!!

Personal Accomplishment

I set a goal three weeks ago from today that I wanted to run three miles. I was going to accomplish this in a period of a month and a half, but the more I ran the stronger the urge was to accomplish this goal as fast and as strong as I could. AND TODAY I DID IT!!!!!!! I feel so good about myself! I have not felt that I have accomplished a goal in a really long time and so reaching this goal earlier than I planned just put a huge confidence boost on who I am, which I feel I have really needed lately.

I think if anyone was in my head while I was running, trying to make myself push longer and harder, they would think I was the craziest person in the world.I seriously sit there (actually run there) and put certain people's voices in my head telling me to "Push it Pearce" so that I don't stop. For some reason I have my 7th grade Track coach MR BENZIE as one of them. Wow he was a mean Cowboy, but he has helped out! Then i have Dan in my head telling me that "Pride lasts forever Lacy!" IT SO DOES BABE! Then I make up some characters, I know crazy, but hey I AM RUNNING THREE MILES! So I don't care who is in my head, as long as I am pushing myself.

Now I am empowered to ROAR like an Independent Woman (yes sometimes I have Destiny's Child in my head as well). YEAH YEAH YEAH! I don't know what is next for me, but I might just take over the world with all this empowerment I have received off of accomplishing this goal. CAN I GET A BOO-YAH?!?!?!?!?!

SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE!!!

IT FINALLY CAME!!! We bought our tickets months ago, but it was WELL WORTH the wait. All the dances blew me away, and they even made up new ones just for the tour that were AMAZING! Dominic blew me away with his solo (you know what I am talking about Casey), seriously... who can brake dance with a lawn chair?!?!? OH HE CAN! By far Sabra is just the best dancer, I suppose that is why she won:-). Even though Sarah is still my favorite. A girl that can break dance? How can she not be your favorite? AWESOME AWESOME AWESOME! I can't wait for the new season to start!

My Baby Turned THREE!!!!!!!!!!!!

Britton turned three on November 20Th, and I just can not believe how fast the time has flown. He could not be more boyish, which I have come to completely adore. All he wanted for his birthday was cars, trucks, motorcycles, just anything that goes VROOM! VROOM! VROOM! So of course, that is what he got. Every time he would open a present he would throw is arms in the air and scream with joy over the amazing gift he just opened. He loved the attention of us singing HAPPY BIRTHDAY to him and blew out his candles like a CHAMP! He picked out his Lightening McQueen Birthday cake all by himself and had a hard time with all of his cousins eating his perfect cake. SO FUNNY! He loves that he is three and every time someone asks how old he is he proudly holds up his pinky, ring finger, and middle finger and exclaims he is THREE and that is older than two! He is no longer a baby, he is boy.... WOW! Time really does fly.

Another Awesome Trip With Dan

I just had another opportunity to go see Dan! Every time I see him our relationship gets better and better. He is truly an amazing man and someone who I adore full heartedly. It is so nice to respect the person you are with and love everything about them.

The event of this trip was attending one of his best friends weddings. I think it is a pretty big step for any couple to attend a wedding together... what's next after that?!?!? The wedding was absolutely beautiful and we had a blast dancing. BY THE WAY, Dan has some serious moves and he even tried swinging with me! It was so fun to get out and dance and laugh with him. It is nice to be able to be myself and not have to worry about what my other half is thinking. He always lets me be myself and I love that!

We also took our first road trip together (the wedding was 4 hours away from his home). OH GOODNESS! Nothing will bring you closer than being enclosed in a confined space for four hours...

We are now heading in to our 7 week separation and I am praying it goes by fast... I HATE BEING AWAY FROM HIM!

Thanks to everyone who watched the boys! It is always nice to know your babies are being taken care of when you are away from them.

HALLOWEEN

FOR SOME REASON I DON'T KNOW HOW TO TAKE NIGHT PICS WITH MY CAMERA! AHHHHHHHH!

Halloween lasted three nights this year and the boys loved every minuet of it.

Night 1 - Trunk or Treat at the boys school, and that is where all the pics are from. They got balloon swords, tons of candy, and got to go to a little Festival with games and prizes.

Night 2 - Halloween Party - I actually do not know where we were - But they got to go through a haunted house, hay ride, play games, get candy, bowl and every other fun thing you can think of.

Night 3 - HALLOWEEN - Benson stayed Spider man, but Britton went as a Pirate and he was soooooooooooooooooo cute. We even got him a Parrot to stick on his shoulder.

They are finally coming down off their sugar high! AHHHHHHHHHHH! THANK GOODNESS!

DID YOU GET THE MEMO?!?!?

Apparently no one has received the MEMO when it comes to WHAT TO WEAR and WHAT NOT TO WEAR to a wedding.

My girl Jessi and I went to get the dress I am wearing to Dan's, Best Friends, Wedding in November and GOODNESS... the dresses are out of control. Let's make the list first of what NOT TO WEAR to a wedding:

1. Bright colors, BIG NO-NO! This day is not about you it is about the Bride... do not wear anything so bright that when you walk in the room others can't help but look at the girl in the dressing that is screaming, "I know this dress is bright pink, but isn't it cute?" The answer is, "NOT FOR A WEDDING! Take it off..."
2. White, there is just no excuse for another girl wearing white. Are you getting married today too? NO YOU ARE NOT! Take it off....
3. Black Dress. Everyone says a little black dress is great for every occasion, EXCEPT A WEDDING. This is not a funeral. Take it off...
4. It is OK to show skin, but HELLO! Make the dress a little longer and cover up more of your chest (it does not have to cover the whole thing, but no one needs to see your whole world). If you see a girl wearing this dress at the wedding, she is going to get plastered and go home with her knew found love, by the way... this person is also plastered. This girl for sure is going to TAKE IT OFF (most likely to some Barry Manolo (sp) song)!
5. Leather.... Need I say more? Take it off...

I guess if you stay out of these areas you can come up with your own WHAT TO WEAR to a wedding list.

To make a long story short, we finally found a good dress, but WOW there were some DUSERS out there. Or some that looked cute off, but not on (you ladies know what I am talking about). The one I bought was not something I would usually wear, but I could totally see Bre' wearing it from Desperate Housewives (yes, I know that show is smut, but they all do dress cute). So I am ready to look sassy for a wedding come November 10Th.

Now that you all have the MEMO you can go on with your lives.

KIDS SAY THE DARNDEST THINGS

My Sister Buffy is Pregnant and so is my sister in law, Karen. So the whole family has tried to explain to all of the children that Buffy and Karen have babies in their tummies. Benson is so excited to meet his new little cousins and talks about the new babies all the time. Last week he asked me if I could have a baby in my tummy like Aunt Buffy and Aunt Karen. I let him know that I can't right now, but maybe someday. Then I asked him if I had a baby in my tummy what he would want it to be. He told me he wanted a baby sister and he wanted her name to be Purple because that was a pretty name. After that he dropped the subject and went on with his day. A few hours later I was making dinner and I could feel him behind me. I turn around and he is just staring at my tush. I asked him what he was looking at, to which he replied (and here is the Kicker.... drum roll PLEASE.........)"Mommy! You look like you have a baby in your booty!" I laughed so hard!! OH I LOVE MY BOYS!

Schepf's Farms

I believe this was the FIFTH year our family has continued with the tradition of Schnepf's Farm, and I belive I can say it is the event that the boys look forward to the most every year... EVEN OVER CHRISTMAS!

Right when we walked through the gate the boys got their faces painted, and I have never seen them sit so still for five minuets in all their lives, but when it comes to IMPORTANT face painting things I can see why! Britton cried when I washed his pumpkin off the next morning. Then it was right to the pumpkin patch to pick out just the right pumpkin. Every day of this whole last year all I have heard from Benson is how he can not wait to go on the haunted train again, so of course when we got the tickets to the train he could barely wait in line. We had to keep running after him so he would not jump on the train with out us. As we started the ride Britton was sitting by me and Benson was sitting by Grandma Connie. When we ended the ride, Britton was strangling his arms around my head with his legs around my neck as well and Benson was on Grandma Connie's lap with his hands over his eyes. My mom told them that it was just people dressed up in scary costumes to which Benson responded, "No Grandma Connie, those are scary monsters dressed up in scary costumes."

The food was great and the rides were a blast. I think the Bumble Bee Ride took the cake again for the boys for the second year in a row. Papa Skip was a total trooper to go with Benson, since we know Papa Skip is not a "Ride" type of person. Even though they loves the Bumble Bee Ride, I think the LONG slide is catching up since Benson went down it over and over and over ALL BY HIMSELF!

The night ended with a GREAT fire works show and the boys falling asleep on the way home. Of course now all I hear is, "When are we going back to Schnepf's Farms Mommy?" A whole other year of Schnepf's Farms questions..... GREAT!

VIRGINIA

I barely got back from Virginia today and I could not wait to blog about my time there with Dan and his beautiful children Ava and Taylor.
I got in on Thursday night and stayed until Sunday and in that time really got to bond with his children. It made me so happy to remember how sweet little babies actually are. Once your own start growing up you have a hard time thinking of having more for the fact of what a handful they are when 2, 3, and 4 hit (age wise). So it was a breath of fresh air to get to hold and remember the sweetness. It also restores my faith in having more children one day, which for everyone who knows me knows that is something I have a hard time even thinking about. Ava looks exactly like Dan and is a TOTAL daddy's girl, which was so fun to see his little princess relish in her daddy's attention. Taylor has his features, but is his own little man. He really likes his space, but it was fun because he really liked for me to hold him and love on him. I also got to meet his parents, and sister (I have 3 more siblings to meet of his), and his closest friends. It was so much fun becoming more of his world and understanding more about what and who makes him the man he is and strives every day to be. I was so impressed with his sister and her family and just how open they were to let me stay there with them and make myself at home. It is not a common thing to feel so welcome in a strangers house, but they were so warm. His friends are hilarious and I laughed so hard with them. I also pulled a total red face at one point with them, have not done that in a while..... (from the laughing)...
As for Dan and Myself! Every time I see him I grow more attached. There is certain things that he does that when I think about I can not stop smiling. I know my strong point and I know my weaknesses and it is amazing how he helps keep my weaknesses at a distance. Even though the focus this weekend was on his children, I still felt very much in the spotlight to him. It is great to know that the person you are with cherishes who you are and does not keep you guessing. I adore him. I don't feel like I have experienced this type of happiness and securness before. I think when you finally do experience what I feel I am, you have nothing else to look for and all that is left to do is grow. I DO look forward to growing with him as a couple. I could not be happier.