Hair

I've always heard that when people go through chemo one of the hardest things to deal with is the loss of hair. What is it about our hair that gives us so much of our identity? I always love getting my hair cut. It makes me happy (except for that one time I got the 1995 Jennifer Anniston haircut when it was 2009). I just had my hair cut and colored yesterday, and I feel like a different person when I look in the mirror. It's just the oddest thing because I am the same person I was before I went into the salon. :) Then there is another unnamed individual that does NOT like the fact that he is going bald. I don't think he is going bald but it doesn't matter what I say :) Plus, even if he WAS going bald...most females usually don't care. And then there is a little person that I know that was less than amused that her mother came home with a bob hairdo. Apparently now that SHE has a bob, everyone else seems to be doing it. HA!

Goodbye Facebook

I am about to close down my Facebook account and start blogging again. It will take a few days to make sure I have everyone's email addresses saved in my Gatormellie@hotmail.com account. I will be using the blog for my Ally-isms :)

Casey Turns 1

Well, Casey has officially made it to 1. She is such a funny dog. She stands on me in the mornings and stares at me until I get up to let her out. She runs laps around the yard in the mornings just to make sure nothing happened to her yard in the night. She loves to make an obstacle course of anything possible. She spends more time in Allison's tent than Allison. She despises getting groomed. She loves to have her belly rubbed and loves to make sure she is involved in anything allison is doing. And she loves her Gigi...the walking goddess. I thought it would be difficult to have another dog because of our situation with Sydney...and granted I still miss my Sydney Jo so much....but Casey has definitely brought us love and laughter. Oh and did I fail to mention...Casey LOVES to dig. She is supposed to be white but stays a nice shade of khaki most days :)

First Day of School

Headed Home

So on the way home from Alabama, Allison and I stopped off in Greenville, SC and picked up Cousin Noah. When we got to his school, his teachers informed us that they knew we lived in NC because Noah had been talking about us all day long. We loaded up and hit the road. The kids had some of the funniest conversations. Noah told us that he had been sick and the doctor gave him cherry medicine. When I asked him if it was because his head was all stopped up...he said...no it was for my sickness :)

We listened to Laurie Berkner's new cd until we got to Statesville. I turned off the music so I could concentrate better during the storm. That is a picture of what we were were about to drive through. It was NOT FUN but we powered through and I only jumped twice due to the lightning.

I had to work most of the weekend because it was tax free weekend, but we managed to squeeze in some good quality time. I took the kids to the carousel and showed Noah where I work. He was not impressed :) Then it was off to the Cold Stone for some cake batter with sprinkles. Friday, we went to story time at Barnes and Noble. It was Skippy Jon Jones day! Over the rest of the weekend, the kids got in some sprinkler time (thanks to Aunt Jamie for the sprinkler) and had a trip to Billy Bob's Diner...don't knock it til you try it! Nate, Allison and GiGi returned Noah to his mom on Sunday. I was at the mall of course. Fun week/weekend!

Visit to Alabama

Allison and I packed up and went to Granna and Papaw's house last week. Jamie and Bryan came down for a night as well. The kids were so excited to see each other.





















They pretty much sang, danced and played guitar the entire time they were together. They also got to play in the sprinkler which was a huge hit. It was well over 100 degrees while we were there. I missed the cool front in NC! Temps in NC were in the mid-80s the entire time we were gone. Allison and I did squeeze in a visit to Monkey Joe's and Fuddruckers. We got to tour the facility where Papaw's church is currently meeting. And every night....we went to The Chill. I have never been to a place like the chill....self serve yogurt and toppings bar....pay by the ounce....YUMMY! Jamie was headed home to go to work on Wednesday and her a/c went out in her highlander. So I got an extra night with her :)

 

 

Meet the Bakers

Meet the Bakers

Casey Marie England

 

Wrapping Presents

Here is Allison posing with the present that she wrapped :) She is very excited about it!

 

Making Biscuits

 

YEEHAW!!!

 

Allison had a great time at Monkey Joe's today. She asked to ride the horse. I thought she would be scared of it but instead she LOVED it and was yelling "yee-haw"

Photo Shoot

Here is a collage of Noah and Allison from our photo shoot. :) They are so funny! They have been running like chickens with their heads cut off since wednesday.

 

Happy Birthday Nate!

 

 

Taco Casserole

I made dinner tonight and it wasn't BLAND!!!!!!!!!! This is a really big deal! haha :) So I wanted to pass along this recipe. It was quick, easy and tasty. There was enough for leftovers as well.

Taco Casserole

3 cups of cooked chicken
1 packet of taco seasoning
2 cups of crushed tomatoes
1 cup of corn
1 cup of black beans (drained)
2.5 cups of Mexican cheese
10 6-inch flour tortillas

combine the cooked chicken and taco seasoning. this coats the chicken.

next, add 2 cups of crushed tomatoes, 1 cup of corn, 1 cup of black beans, and 2 cups of cheese. stir together until evenly blended.

in a greased 9 X 13 baking dish, put down a layer of tortillas. you can cut one in half so that you can layer the bottom without overlapping too much. add the chicken mixture. spread out evenly. put another layer of tortillas on top of the mixture. use the rest of your cheese on the top of the tortillas.

cover with tin foil and bake for 30 minutes on 350. let it sit for about 5-10 minutes after baking.

**i got a rotisserie chicken because of lack of time and it was really good**

Conversations With Allison

OOO I love your frinkles! (freckles)

I can't walk because I'm broken.

I'm Superdog and I can fly!

That one was a squeezer.

Good Times

 

Pigtails

 

 

Allison finally has enough hair to pull up...sort of :) She went to look at herself in the mirror and said "Wow, I think I'm a girlie girl" :)