The Post With No Title

Jeff's been working on this puzzle for a couple of weeks now. I bought it for him thinking he'd have it done in no time. It's 2000 pieces and it's the painting Starry Night by Van Gogh. Boy, was I wrong. My kitchen table has been turned into a puzzle table. If and when I cook, we eat in the dining room. I think after this one is finished, he's gonna need a puzzle vacation. And I just may have to get some of that puzzle glue stuff and save this one.

Last night we celebrated Reid's birthday at my mom and dad's. Mom made a huge pot of homemade vegetable soup and homemade cornbread in a cast iron skillet no less. She also made something that I'm now addicted to. Stewed tomatoes and rice. Of course, I'm sure if I try to make it, it'll taste like something they sell in the pet supplies aisle. But I really don't see how I could mess it up. It sounded so easy and it was delish.

We had such a good time. Reid got lots of cash for his birthday and an iTunes card. Ross made him a potato gun, which I think he liked a lot. He's officially taller than his mom and has been for a little while now.

Suz always makes her kids birthday cakes. She never buys them. She's made some pretty cool ones. I have to say, though, that the one she made for Reid is my all-time favorite. She got it from Pioneer Woman. It's her chocolate sheet cake and OMGoodness, it was soooo good. What wouldn't I give for a piece of it right now? Anyway, yeah, it was very good. I suggest going to her blog and getting the recipe.

During the course of the night, Alayna got her feelings hurt. And believe me, one person's feelings you don't want to hurt are hers. You may be able to tell in this picture that she can pop that bottom lip out and end up making you want to cry. And you can definitely see my dad's fist in this picture. He was directing that at the person who hurt her feelings. You don't mess with her. He says if you mess with her, you mess with him. Guess that's normal for a man who is daddy to three girls, huh? He's definitely a softie where she's concerned.

And then there was Eli the acrobat. He has been practicing his handstands. Only doing a handstand wasn't quite good enough for him. Now he's working on doing a handstand with only one hand. Pretty good, huh? He has endless energy. He was doing flips and handstands after spending the entire afternoon at baseball tryouts. Oh, to be five again.

Ethan's football team won the superbowl and they got trophies and superbowl rings. Yeah, you heard that right. Ten-year-old boys got superbowl rings.

I thought that was just about the cutest thing I've ever seen. I hope I'm wrong, but I predict he'll have lost it by spring break. I think it'd be neat to hang on to it and share it with his kids one day. But he is after all only 10.

Saturday night Reid had Cam and a few friends go to the movies with him for his b'day. They saw Avatar. Jeff, Suz, Jason and I saw Edge of Darkness with Mel Gibson. I have never screamed so many times during a movie before. I'm a jumpy person anyway. I was caught off guard several times by the special effects. I thought it was a pretty good movie.

I went to the gym today. I've been doing good and I'm actually enjoying it very much. I try to take the classes when I can, but if not I work out with the equipment. I can feel myself getting stronger. But I am so darned tired. I mean, so, so tired. Like I'm sitting here wondering if it's a bad thing to go to bed at 8 o'clock. I'm wiped out.

I also went to Target and got some stuff to make my cousin Justin a package. It was lots of fun just looking around and thinking about things he might like. He's in Afghanistan and when he comes home, he's going to be the most spoiled Marine ever. He's got so many people mailing him packages and cards and goodies. He -- and all the others too -- deserve it. I will be so glad when his boots are back on the ground in the good ol' USA. I admire his mom, my aunt Cindy. I know it's been incredibly hard to have him out from under wing, not to mention being put in harm's way. Y'all say a prayer for him and all the other troops. One thing you can never have enough of is prayers.

My hubby and I are heading to Tybee Thursday. It's his birthday Friday. We go to celebrate his birthday and also one of the locals there that we just love, Ms. Sylvia, turns 101. She plays her tambourine and Doc's Bar, our favorite hangout. I'm so ready to go. My work's been kinda stressful the last few days, so a break will be nice. Just not long enough.

Okay. I think I'm heading for the sofa or the bed. Hmmm. I think if I get on the sofa, I won't feel so guilty if I just so happen to "fall" asleep.

Till next time. Live, love, laugh. Oh, and pray.