Blog Hopping!

Today's all about hopping around to other blogs - lots of fun!

If this is your first time to our blog, WELCOME! We're just a family that lives in a small town in West Virginia having fun and enjoying life! There is always something going on around hour home so our blog is pretty active. Here's a picture of our family during our vacation in St. John, VI over the summer. Feel free to look around to get to know us better. I hope you will come back and visit us often!

Join the fun! Link your blog here!

What's in a name?

When Chase was born a lot went into his name. We wanted a strong name, one that worked for a small child but would also be one that matured with him. We wanted a name that connected to water/sea/ocean since we love being near and/or in water and love warm places. Thus the middle name "bayley". But what you can't choose (typically) is your last name. Your roots, your heritage, your family that all comes with you, no option.

Chase has a project to complete for Music so we set out to dig into CROCKETT - it is a Scottish name. He had to download a Scottish song so he chose "A Begging I Will Go". Next up a food - of course some Scottish Shortbread cookies (so dry). Next up a holiday. Did you know they celebrated April Fool's day by sending someone on a 'fool's errand. (something to keep in mind next April 1st:)



All in all he had some fun with this project now let's just hope the class likes the cookies and his presentation land him an A!

It's Monday but at least it is NOT raining!

And it's time to play along with MckMama so here's a recap of last week -

I DID not create another blog just to highlight our travel adventures. Nope, I wouldn't do that knowing how much time it takes keeping up with what I already have. I definitely know better than that!

I wouldn't think of going to Hobby Lobby two days in a row because I didn't have enough time to shop the first day. That is not something I would think of doing especially since it is an hour away. Nope, not me!

It wasn't me that didn't believe my son when he said he didn't feel like doing his homework. Nope, I would never doubt him being sick to get out of school. It also wasn't me that read the thermometer and said "oh, I am so sorry you feel bad", NOPE, now that's just pathetic!

I would NEVER think of buying ten different kinds of ribbon to make Kayden bows just because it is 1/2 price. Never.

Finding a new, really neat Fall digi scrapbook package and attempting to download it, I did NOT get a message asking if I was sure I wanted to do so since I purchased this package two weeks ago.

I did NOT allow my two sick children to partake in my oldest daughter's job interview. I don't care how bad she needed them in order to get the job, I am a believer that if you don't go to school, no other activites. NOPE, it wasn't me.

And last but by far the funniest, when I was looking in our freezer trying to figure out what to fix for dinner I remember something a 'friend' of our's shared. It sounds as if she is known for putting everything in plastic bags in the freezer without marking what exactly is in the bag. So, the church was having a pot luck dinner and she had a big pan of fresh green beans. She called her husband and asked him to bring the ham bone out of the freezer. When he arrived, he dumped the contents into the pot of beans. Wow...once all cooked, it was actually a fish!! Now that is hilarious and worth sharing. So, I guess everyone actually does have "not me Monday" stories they can share. But, I would never do something like this (if I did, you would be the first to know, ha)!

Heading Back -

Wow, I think I'm going to have to drive Chase to school with all those books!

The show must go on -

Cierra has been sick ALL week and so disappointed she can't go to church tomorrow. She is much better but still has that lingering cough. We just don't want to take any chances with the other children at church catching the 'bug'.

But....the the show must go on....Cierra's bake sale starts tomorrow for the Teen class and she was not about to let anything stop her from baking. She has worked for the past several hours baking, bagging and tying cookies, muffins and bread.




She is 'trusting' Ronnie and I to fill in for her tomorrow but her church family is certainly going to wish she was there with her smiling face, raising money for 1)the blanket drive, 2)Beading to beat Autism and 3)UNICEF. Her and Brianna will continue to bake each Saturday through November. They are also planning to make Christmas gift tags to sell (they are really cute). Because she was sick, they also didn't get to make their Poster showing all the many ways in which they help our community and other countries.

Feel better Cierra and we'll do our best tomorrow! :)

Friday Night

Typically Friday night is a 'night out' for Ronnie and me. Since he is off on Friday, he tends to plan our night. Today was just that - by the time I got home, he had our evening planned.
We headed toward Chambersburg in search of Hobby Lobby which is a store Mendie and I have been waiting to open.
They close at 8:00 so we had a limited amount of time but are already planning to go tomorrow if baseball practice is cancelled (yah!!)

Once we finished in there we played with the Garmin in search of a quaint restaurant. (we love finding new places). After a few stops (which didn't look like someplace we wanted to go), we landed at this one.....
We started in 'the dining room' then ended up in the lounge :)
We had green beans
as an apetizer which were wonderful!! I had crab cakes
while Ronnie had stuffed flounder
and both were great. So, if you're ever in the Chambersburg, PA area, Chelsea
is ready to serve you! We had a great evening and just might be heading back there tomorrow :)

Happy Boss's Day!

Yummy! These were my delicious gift for Boss's Day today. I say it all the time but I have a wonderful group of people working for me that not only make my job easier but certainly contribute to my success. This is the first 'edible' arrangement I have received and the strawberries were great! So, if you're looking for something to give someone that isn't necessarily a fan of flowers, this would definitely be a great choice.

Something special about 'hand made' -

This week it's all about those things we make or sell so this is another fun one for me -
A few years ago Mendie and I decided to learn how to quilt. We come as a pair so when we showed up for our first class at the best quilt store around, they didn't quite know what to think! Neither of us had ever sewn before and didn't own a machine. Well, that all changed quickly as we spent lots of evenings and even some PTO days among the nicest, most patient people LOL! We now both have our own sewing machines and can quilt, sew buttons on, hem and a few other things, ha!

While I haven't been able to sew as much as I would like, here's some things that I have made, all of which have been given away as presents. I love being able to say "I made that"!! The funny thing is that I have just as many 'unfinished' projects that are just waiting on me :)Patchwork placemats which were really challenging but turned out really cute!
This might just be one of my all time favorites. It's an advent calendar with an attachment for each day. There are all kinds of buttons - really cute! I gave this to my sister-in-law for Christmas. A stocking for my nephew..... These dish towels were pretty fun, too. And this is my first of many rag quilts. I made it for Ronnie to take to Daytona as his Valentine's Day gift a few years ago. I love it and we tend to fight over it :)

I also now have my own sewing room and it's the best. I have been known to spend hours up there, not bothering a sole, in my own world, sewing away..

Thursday's Thoughts - It is October...

and October is Breast Cancer Awareness month...in honor of those SURVIVORS and in support of those fighting, I dedicate this post. Remember - early detection significantly increases your chances of surviving Breast Cancer - check your boobies today and schedule that mamogram!!

a happy ending....

This is what you would have seen on our kitchen table if you visited us over the past 4 days. You got it, we have sick children. I must say it is highly unusual for them to be sick because they are pretty healthy, hearty kids but this bug got 'em! Cierra started on Sunday with a sore throat, coughing and fever. Luckily there wasn't school on Monday due to Columbus Day but even on Tuesday she wasn't quite feeling up to going and hadn't been 'fever free' for 24 hours.

Last night as Chase was studying for his Social Studies review today (test on Thursday), he put his head down on the table. Of course, my first thought was he didn't want to do his homework, right?! He then mentioned a sore throat and headache so out comes the thermometer and sure enough, he has a fever! Oh my.....that means he won't be able to go to school because again, they must be fever free for 24 hours.

This morning they both slept in until around 10 which tells me they aren't feeling well but luckily I was able to work from home to see how they felt once they got up. Cierra is still coughing alot but no fever; Chase not yet coughing but low-grade fever.

Now, for the interesting clip - Brittany was to take two models with her for her interview today. One female; one male. Yup, you got it....that would be Chase and Cierra. So being the 1/2 bad Mom (taking them out when sick and not in school) and 1/2 good Mom (for supporting Brittany's endeavor), allowed them to go with her. So, she gathered them up and headed north. Of course they had strict instructions: don't breathe on anyone, cover your mouth with your arm and do WHATEVER Britt asked :)


The first hour (gasp) they sat in chairs by the front window, awaiting her interview and computer work. Finally Chase is in the seat, he gets his 'clipper' cut with the new clippers (Thanks Brandon, lol) so he's free to go. Next up, Cierra. Oh, change in plans....they don't need to see a cut, color & highlight after all! But hey, it was all worth the effort because she starts on Monday!! Yay for her!!!


We are all proud, excited and nervous all at the same time!! So, if you're in need of a haircut, Britt can fix you up at the Hair Cuttery in Hagerstown by Best Buy :)