Crash Boom Sparkle and Gluten free muffins

This was one of the best Fourth of July weekends ever. It was as close to perfect as you can be without being on the beach. I didn't get to spend time with ALL of my loved ones this weekend, but I came close and I have seen the majority of them recently so that counts for something.

Friday, after having what could possibly be considered one of the most stressful days ever at work during which one of our kids managed to completely bust a couple of his teeth during a game of team basketball, my best friend Austin came by the house and we carpooled to our friend Keelan's house. After watching the best loading graphic ever, we watched Angels and Demons which was a lot better than I was expecting it to be since I'm usually massively disappointed when such excellent books are translated to film. Granted, the movie didn't have all of the main plot points from the book, but it was still wonderful. And how can you help but love Tom Hanks? After the movie we went and got the boys some chinese takeout and then were treated to a wonderful firework show put on by Keelan, David, and David. Then back inside for some ps3.

Saturday, I ended up sleeping until noon which is HIGHLY unusual for me. Usually, I'm up by 9 or 930 at the latest. Then I just had a lazy day of doing laundry and laying out at my grandparent's pool. I ended the day with a wal-mart shopping trip with mi madre'.

Sunday I went to Family Worship service at church where I ran into someone that I would be perfectly happy to never run into again. Had a delightful lunch of Waffle House hashbrowns then spent some time with Kelly. We wrapped some birthday presents for her boyfriend Colton and then went by Barnes and Noble at Hamilton Place. I managed to find a devotional that I think I really like. Then it was back home for some girl time before Austin and his little brother Adam came over. Once they were there we had a yummy dinner of barbecue, sweet potato fries, broccoli, green beans, and zucchini. And nothing completes a summer meal like fresh cut watermelon and a seed spitting contest. After dinner we decided to try out two new board games, Balderdash and Quiddler...they are both extremely fun but I definitely prefer Quiddler. It's like scrabble but with cards, and for the most part much quicker paced.

I started out dreading today, but it ended up being the perfect ending to a perfect weekend. Well, ok, maybe not quite perfect, but once I was off work at 8:45 this morning (our first kid didn't show up until 8:30 and by the time I left we only had two kids) I made a huge batch of homemade chicken salad and then a dozen gluten free apple cinnamon muffins. Granted I did use the Hodgson Mill mix but it was my very first attempt at baking gluten free. For the most part I followed the directions on the back of the box I did add some brown sugar to combat the bitterness that several reviewers had mentioned on Amazon and it seemed to help a little. They were delicious served warm with honey drizzled on top.

Activation, Commencing, generating....or simply a beginning.

So this is the beginning. I decided to get a blog because all the cool people are doing it. And because it reminds me of Xanga which I loved. Plus when I'm not at work, school, church, hanging out with my wonderful friends, I can usually be found online.

Speaking of wonderful friends, mine really are the greatest...there are:

Kelly and I at Chilhowee for her 21st birthday

Kelly/Kell-bell/Jellybean

Kelly became my best friend during high school. now that we're in college we don't get to hang out nearly as much but we still love each other and have crazy adventures together, usually involving water of some sort.

Austin and I on Kelly's front porch getting ready to go swim

Austin

Austin has always been there for me, he's a great guy and we have toooons of funny stories. We don't hang out as much as we used to, but we don't really have anywhere to hang out now that I no longer have the apartment. It makes it really hard to hang out when you both are living with your parents.

Barbie and me in her dorm room last fall

Barbara/Barbie/Coffee Girl

Barbie and I met at OBC in the youth group, and are really good friends. She lives up in Jeff City most of the time but we still get to hang out every now and then. Our "thing" is going to waffle house and listening to songs about tractors :-)

Candi and me at her aunt and uncle's house on Christmas day 2009

Candis/Candi

Let's see...Candi is basically my big sister (which is fun b/c I have considered her husband my big brother for years lol) When she lived in Cleveland we basically hung out all the time but now she lives in Eufaula AL so it's hard to meet up. We both love photography and just laying out by the water :-)

Jeff and Malachi during our Eufaula photo shoot

Jeff

Jeff was my youth pastor back in high school but was only 3 years older than me. We became

pretty good friends once I graduated high school, and after three visits to their house (in Cleveland at the time) I was declared family. There have been rumors that he pushed me down a flight of stairs during youth camp when I broke my ankle but they are completely unfounded :-P

Then there are also Jordan, Lisa, Keelan, Michael, Sarah, Amber, Julie, Michelle, Adam, and Charlotte who are all cool in their own ways even if it's just that they can't wear hats of any kind, are in love with vampires, build secret forts behind their house, give incredibly injurious high fives, are incredible artists, have a precious Westie for a pet, want to be an athletic trainer when they "grow up", love zebra print, or keep their caps flat billed :-P

I love my job, and am convinced about 92% of the time that it's the best job in the universe..at least while in college lol. The reason I think it is the best is because I literally work with some of the coolest people ever. Some of us are even planning a weekend getaway to Dollywood and the smokies :-) which I think it's pretty cool that we like each other enough to hang out during our free time. Most of the kids I take care of at child care are pretty cool...we do have a few that I'd be okay with sending to some other school but for the most part they're okay.

Let's see what else....I'm gluten free because I recently found out that I have a gluten allergy so that makes my dietary lifestyle a little interesting. Luckily I love to cook and try out new foods so it's not been too bad so far. There are days I would love to have a thick slice of hot fresh sourdough bread with a swirl of honey though. Since I do love to cook I am always on the search for yummy gluten free recipes. I'm also allergic to at least one other thing but I'm not sure what I just know that I break out in hives which is EXTREMELY itchy and uncomfortable, thank God for benadryl.