heehee...isn't he cute!

Sorry for the bad quality...this was taken with my cell phone!

Top 5 Tuesdays

Cory Writing....

My Top 5 Movies are.

5. S.W.A.T

4.Bad Boys 1

3. Bad Boys 2

2. Major League

1. Tommy Boy.

Top 5 Tuesdays

April writing...

This week's Top 5 is...My Top 5 Favorite Movies

5. Braveheart
4. Grease
3. The Notebook
2. The Princess Bride
1. Tommy Boy

I could watch ANY of those movies at any given moment!!! What are yours?? (Be sure to include the button on your post too!!)

PICNIK Contest - Your turn to VOTE!

April writing...


Here they are!! Thanks to all who participated, you all did a GREAT job! Everyone had their own style!! They are in no particular order...and you get TWO votes for your top choices! We are looking for creativity!! Leave a comment with your TWO favorite pictures (use the letter that is to the RIGHT of the picture of your choice), also PLEASE try and leave a brief description of the picture with the Letter. (i.e. A - Picture Lasts Longer). THANKS

I will take the TOP 5 and then we will have one final VOTE!! :)

Hurry VOTE NOW!!! Voting will be closed on Thursday night at midnight!

A BC DE FG H

I J

K L

M N

Monday Moan

Cory Writing....

My Monday Moan today is going on a wonderful weekend and coming home with a cold. I left on Friday to go to a youth weekend retreat and on Saturday I came down with a head cold. It lasted the rest of the weekend and I am still trying to fight it off. I didn't let it ruin the weekend, but now I have to go back to work. No rest for the weary.

What are you Moaning about on this Monday?

testing...1...2...3

...just seeing if bloggin from my phone really works...

My Husband Rocks Friday

April writing...

There are many reasons my Husby rocks...this week...it's because he "Don't."

Check out the video...and you'll get it.

My husby "don't" do those things...he is still a man and does man things. But he still ROCKS!

*heehee*

Simple Pleasure Thursday

Cory Writing....

My life is at such a great point right now, I am happy to say I am having a ton of simple pleasures, so this blog is easy and I am finding it hard to do my Monday Moans. I am sorry for those of you that are going through a valley right now, but just know that God is with you through your valleys as well as on the mountain top.

I have two simple pleasures for this week. The first simple pleasure is being able to leave town for a short time and spend the whole day with my wife. We got the opportunity to leave last Saturday afternoon to go to Ocean City to see a family friend. We spent the night in a hotel and came back home that morning. What a great time away and a great time spent with just me and my wife.

My second simple pleasure is discovering something new in the bible. We have a pastor that has decided to leave our church and take a job at another church. The reason he is doing this is because his parents are getting older and he needs to be closer to them, so he can take care of them. He shared a scripture with us that I had no idea was even in the bible.

The scripture is 1 Timothy 5:8..... But those who won't care for their own relatives, especially those living in the same household, have denied what we believe. Such people are worse than unbelievers.


Let me hear your simple pleasures and if you don't have any simple pleasures or you are finding that you are in a low point and maybe you have more moans than pleasures...let us know so we can pray for you.

Wordless Wednesday

April writing...

"I'm excited to share my upcoming weekend with some of the greatest kids on the planet!"

My Top 5 Tuesday

Cory Writing...

5. Sleeping in when I get the chance.

4. Going to bed with my wife. I work midnights and we don't got to bed with each other except three days that I am off.

3. Getting a massage. Although I don't get these very often but they are nice. If only I was wealthy.

2. Spending a day on the golf course. So relaxing.

1. Giving gifts.

...the Tuesday TOP 5

April writing...

I'm taking a little cue from one of my BFF's Brittany over at Evolution of Brittany and making Tuesdays my TOP 5 day!

This week's prompt is... (thanks to Britt)

I wouldn't say that I have the SAME exactly routine everyday...and I work 9:30-4:30 M-F so that takes up most of my day...and honestly...I don't have many top moments at work...so here are some of my favorites that happen throughout the days of my week...

#5 - Getting home from work. There is something so calming about walking in the door to my own home and getting into more comfortable clothes. I could wear comfy clothes to work and the outfit I change into will always be MORE comfy! :)

#4 - Reading my Blogroll. Thanks to Google Reader I am able to subscribe to all of my fav Blogs and read them as they roll in. Sometimes I can get lost in the many subscriptions that I have. I usually do it first thing when I get in at work in the morning.

#3 - Cooking dinner with Cory. We have been doing this more and more lately...and it is so much fun. Even though sometimes we argue and we both cook and prepare differently...it's still a great time to get to know him more and to have fun cooking a great food.

#2 - I am with Brittany on this one...taking a shower. I love that time alone. Sometimes I just sing or dance around and take my shaving and just enjoying the warm water. All that, and I come out so fresh and so clean...clean.

#1 - Going to bed. Even though I am a night owl...I love 'coming down' and watching a few shows in bed, and then those first few moments when my head hits the pillow. Bliss.

What are your TOP 5 Moments of the Day? (feel free to use the picture above too.) I will change it weekly with a new prompt. Comment with any prompt ideas too!

Another cute idea...

April writing...

Photo courtesy of Becky's Blog.

If you remember this post...then you will see a slight resemblance in style and theme. I LOVE this one too. I think I actually have everything on had that I would need to complete this little project. Now let's see if I can actually get myself to do it...yes, that's the trick my friends.

CONTEST...Free Starbucks! *extended*

April writing...

I am extending the CONTEST through this Sunday at midnight!! (February 8th)

Come on people it's easy! Just go to Picnik and play around with some pictures!!

Here's how easy it is:

1. Make some edits, create a one-of-a-kind picture, whatever! Just use Picnik and your creativity!

2. Leave me a comment with where I can view your pictures.

3. After the deadline I will put all the pictures up in a post for everyone to choose the Top 5 pictures. Then I will pick my TOP choice.

4. Winner receives a $15 Starbucks gift card!

Other notes: Collages don't count, you must use Picnik, you can enter up to 3 pictures!

HURRY NOW! There are only TWO people entered currently!

Here is an example of what you can do...

Lovey Ideas... :)

April writing...

Valentine's Day...it's coming. Hope you are ready. And for those of you who "don't celebrate Valentine's Day"...get real. We all hope to get something special from that someone special!!


So...I figured...(especially since I know that my dear Husby was struggling a bit with some ideas) that I would post some goodies that I wouldn't mind getting for V-Day :)

Wonderful ideas :) And I am easy...such a simpleton!
A. Target gift card - or to anywhere with clothes for that matter :)
B. Dwell Duvet Cover (Queen) - Cause I likes it...and it still matches the room.
C. The new Morgan Style Vera in Raspberry Fizz just in time for spring!
D. Baskets - I think I finally found some that match the size I want!
E. Wall Decor - more for the room...
F. Refurbished iPod Nano - Oh oh and you can get it engraved for free at Apple Online...waahoo.
A.
B. C. D.

E.F.


So there are some of MY ideas...(in the form of a little help fur the Husby too!) So what would YOU like to get for Valentine's Day??!!

Dumb groundhog...

April writing...

He saw his shadow. Doesn't he see it every year? Isn't it about time to fire this groundhog and hire a younger, less fraidey-cat groundhog for the years to come?

We need one like this guy...he ain't scared of no shadow!

p.s. - and yes...I am very aware that this is a chipmunk or hamster or whatnot in the the video...not an actual groundhog. (or is it?!)

GOSH! 6 more weeks?!?! It better at least bring us some sledding weather!

Monday Moan

Cory Writing......

My Monday Moan today is about the company BGE (Gas and Electric Company). I am so annoyed because we got our bill for this month and it is a hundred dollars more than last month and we haven't changed a thing. I know it has been colder this month, but still a hundred dollars more is just ridiculous. That isn't the only thing I am annoyed at.

The thing that really bugs me is the fact BGE has a monopoly on the market and nobody did anything about it. Think about it. If you aren't happy with your cable company, cell phone company, or insurance company you can call another company and get a better rate and switch. Not with BGE because our wonderful politicians didn't pay attention to the fact that we only have one company that controls gas and electric and now they have us by the neck. This is utterly ridiculous, I want to fire BGE and I can't because I won't be able to live. When is the government going to bail me out.

Wow I feel a little bit better now. Share your Monday Moan so you too can feel a release.

My Husband Rocks Friday

April writing...

*rather lengthy, but worth it*

*Taken from The Great Adventure* Prompt/Theme for Friday, January 30, 2009. . . the moment or the circumstances that led to you knowing that you were going to marry the man who became your husband . . .

I have thought and thought hard about the prompt for this week, and I have come to the conclusion that I don't remember that ONE time where I KNEW that Cory was the one that God had for me.

You see my relationship with Cory had many twists and turns before we ever became an "item." When we first heard about Cory and his family moving to Maryland (from California) I remember sitting with one of my girlfriends (Manda) and talking about how we were sure that him and his brother (JoJo) would have the typical surfer-boy look...just like the boys we see on TV. I was hoping for something like Jeremy Jackson from Baywatch...(yeah I totally watched that show). We talked about who would try and date them first...and we talked about how cool they must be. Bottom line was, we were really excited to meet them.

When they arrived...my opinion of Cory dwindled very fast. He was cocky, arrogant, chauvinistic and a Mommas boy. He totally didn't fit the style or characteristics (that I had hoped for) of the typical California Boy. Needless to say. I did not like him. In fact I distinctively remember playing ping pong with him one day (a few days after they moved here) in the youth chapel and he beat me. He beat me BAD actually. I remember thinking.."What a jerk!" I was used to the guys that I had grown up with, that would never think about beating a girl...they weren't competitive and cocky like he was.

Shortly after they got settled in, and I had more than openly professed my disgust in his personality...he started dating Manda. We also started attending the same High School. Cory picked on me incessantly. About anything and everything. Years went by and we all hung out alot as a big group of friends. At the time I was with my boyfriend (Steven) of almost 3 years.

I didn't realize it then...but Cory and I got closer and closer. He still drove me crazy, but I had learned how to put up with it. I learned how to fight back and I even learned how to get under his skin. Before I knew it a couple of years later, Cory was one of my best friends. He had long since broken up with Manda...and on occasion there was much talk and joking about how Cory had a secret crush on someone. I was oblivious, but all my girlfriends knew. I would come to find out later that it was me.

I graduated High School and started working and going to school. I was still with Steven. We had been together for almost 5 years. I was content in that relationship. I was for sure that I would marry him. Looking back now I am not sure that I felt that way because it's what I wanted or because it was what seemed like the logical next step. My and Steven fought constantly. Not bad fights, just growing pains (as I thought of them then). We both really needed different paths in our lives, but neither one of us was ready to pull the plug officially. I mean we broke up time after time...only to go maybe at most one month before we patched things up and were back together.

All the while, my best friend Cory was there. He let me cry on his shoulder. He talked me through how relationships worked. He explained to me the 'guy' side of things. He was caring and loyal. Something that I never realized he had in him. It was at this time (unbeknownst to me) that his feelings for me were growing everyday. During those times he would talk about me to his Mother, and a time or two he even let her know that he was sure I was the ONE for him.

I never even sensed it. We hung out all the time...especially on the nights when Steven didn't feel like getting together. I was always honest about hanging out with Cory because I never thought anything of it. He was my best friend and we always had a blast. Steven never liked how much we hung out, and time and time again I explained that I absolutely had no feelings for Cory...and I honestly believed that.

The time came for me to end things with Steve and it was one of the hardest things that I have ever had to do. He cried. I cried. It was the end of 5 years of my life. He asked if it was because I wanted to be with Cory...and it was literally at that moment that I realized that I wasn't even truly sure how I felt about Cory. All I knew was that I wanted to know him more. I wanted to see where life took us. I was honest with Steven...which I am sure made him feel worse.

I wanted him to know that nothing inappropriate ever happened. Cory was nothing less of a gentlemen and nothing more than a great friend to me. I wanted there to be no ill feelings between the two of them. They were both great guys. I knew that deep down we both knew that "we" were no longer meant to be. That we both had different plans for our lives, different paths to travel, but it didn't make it any easier.

That weekend, I still didn't know where I stood with Cory. I had no idea how he felt about me. I remember not talking to him until Sunday afternoon, he had given me space. I remember feeling awkward around him when he approached me and asked if he could take me on a ride for a few minutes. He said he had some things to discuss with me. I thought it was going to be about what happened and how I was handling it. By now, everyone at church knew. (News like that spreads fast)

We hopped in his car and I remember him taking a right out of the parking lot. I don't remember how it started...but before I knew it, Cory was telling me how he felt about me. How he knew that he loved me. How he knew that we should be together. I know that by the time we got to the 7-11 (about 5-6 minutes) he had to stop and get a drink because he had "cotton-mouth" he said.

I sat in the car alone...for those 2-3 minutes and I was honestly in shock. To this day I don't think people believe me when I say that I had no clue. Ever. Apparently Cory had had feelings like these for a while...at least a year or more. I had no clue. I was dating someone else. He had other girlfriends. I had even recently set him up with someone at church and they were dating during this time. When he came back we talked more. I remember it being easy from that point on. We talked about how he would have to speak with his current girlfriend and end things. We talked about how I was doing after breaking up with Steven. It all seemed so awkward and refreshing at the same time.

Before long we were officially dating. I remember we took it slow, but from the beginning I found myself telling him that I loved him. I had known that I did as a friend, but I could see it growing into a romantic love before my eyes.

It was only a couple of months into our relationship before we knew that we would get married. We were open with our parents about our relationship, we were open with our friends and with each other. I felt different. I felt like an adult who was in love...not just content.

I knew that I was finally with my best friend, my lifelong partner, my soul mate. There was never a defining moment of clarity...it was baby steps that God designed for us to take together that brought us to that point.

Today, I still think my Husband rocks because he was ever the gentlemen...ever the best friend I needed. There were many times where he could have taken advantage of our friendship and crossed lines not meant to be crossed, but I think he grew up too during that time. He was patient and loving, loyal and true. That cocky, arrogant Cali-boy took his time loving me and in the end he got me. I truly felt like a gift for him that he had waited years to receive.

Baby, thanks for being persistent, thanks for loving me, thanks for believing and trusting in God...you ROCK! :)

Simple Pleasure Thursday

Cory Writing...

My simple pleasure this week is having a wife that understands me. I have had a long week with not a lot of sleep. I had a meeting last night and after the meeting I was just so frustrated that I requested that my wife and I just go home. When we got home my wife just allowed me to explode and vent some frustrations that I really needed to vent. She sacrificed going to Chick-fil-a like we do every Wednesday because she knew that I needed something. Thank you baby.

What is your simple pleasure?

Eww.

April writing...

Totally nasty outside...See that pink in the middle...that's me...right now. Gross. And I have to drive home in it in 45 minutes.

Ehhh.

...going back in time.

April writing...

I was just going through some old pictures...lookie.

There's my sweet little Pickle-Bear on the day we brought him home from the breeder. What a sweetheart he was...and he was so tiny. He is still a sweetheart only not so tiny anymore :)

I remember picking him out for his cute puffy pink eyes and his playfulness. Hard to believe that we have had him almost 6 years!

I don't miss the puppy days though...there were many days that myself and especially Cory were not on good terms with that sweet little puppy. I am glad to have both him and Olive in our lives...keeping us busy and keeping us laughing.