Photo Flashback!

At my BFF's request, I bring to you a Photo Flashback! Little league ball is gearing up in the next couple weeks, so I present to you one of my MANY softball pictures. This is the best one (believe it or not) I could find... the others should be burned immediately. I know that you can't see my face as it blends in with the white bat, white shirt, white turtleneck, and white shoes, but it's there...don't look too closely, please! Spring photo's should never be allowed since it's the first photo taken coming out of winter hibernation and everyone looks as if they are knocking on deaths door! Blech! I played softball (slow-pitch...yeah, the one that only 45 year old church men play) for 10 years! You would think in 10 years I might be pretty good, but you would be mistaken. My dad coached my team (The Diamond Dolls...what!What!) for a good portion of the time, and then he had son's and it was "sayonara, suckers!" And then I was on my own. My best friend was always on my team, and she was always better than me (yes, Amy, you were!), but it's ok...really! The one, and only time I was chosen for all-stars (I think I was 12) I didn't swing the bat a single time...not even once. I'm pretty sure my coach's blood pressure was through the roof that season!! He would also tell (or yell at the top of his lungs) me that I ran like I had a piano on my back. Needless to say, I never got a scholarship to play college ball, but I do look back on playing fondly. This time of year will forever remind me of ball season, the smell of using my dad's high school glove (which in true "Ashley form", I lost), eating french fries and big pickles...oh and drinking pink gatorade.

30 Day Challenge: Day 1...

I have been experiencing some serious "writer's block", and frankly, I've been kind of blah about the whole blogging thing lately....so blah, in fact, that I've thought about closing up shop. So, in an attempt to get out of my funk, I've decided to steal the Facebook 30 Day challenge that I've seen pop-up all over my newsfeed and participate right here.

Day 1: A picture of yourself and 10 Facts

1. As a punishment growing up, my mom would make me play scrabble with her, I hated it! But I got quite good and now it's one of my faves.
2. I'm passionate about food. I love eating food, thinking about food, buying food, talking about food...it's a good thing I have high and fast metabolism.
3. It's really hard to think of things someone wouldn't know about me, because I'm an extremely open book.
4. I'm a terrible sleeper! It takes forever for me to fall asleep and it doesn't take much to keep me awake...I have a highly over-active imagination.
5. I have a mighty temper...not a good quality, just a fact.
6. I really like office supplies (pens, markers, sticky notes, notebooks, notepads...) and organizational items (baskets, file folders, tiny boxes...), but I'm TERRIBLE at being organized. I don't know how to put anything away.7. There is something in my brain that won't physically allow me to shut doors all the way, close drawers all the way, or turn-off lights...drives my husband nuts. Which is why he has installed occupancy sensors throughout our house, so the lights turn off on their own...which drives me nuts!
8. I like making lists. Grocery lists, "Things-to-Do" lists, vacation packing lists, etc. I'll write the same list a few times just because...
9. I know how to knit, but I don't know how to end what I've been working on, so I basically have the worlds largest scarf and sometimes I'll just knit knowing it won't become anything. I know... waste.of.time.
10. I've worn the same lotion/body spray since 5th grade ( I loved my 5th grade teacher, and she smelled wonderful, so I wanted to smell the same). I do switch it up from time to time, but I always go back to Victoria's Secret Pear Glace.

A Profession of Love...

Many of you know Mr.Clean personally, and some of you only know what I have told you through my blog. He has given me a LOT of material to write about because we are extremely different. We are polar opposites. He has been a good sport though, as I have given him a hard time about his anal-retentive cleaning habits, his tight purse strings, and slow-pokeyness.But, since tomorrow is his birthday, I will go easy on him. I will tell you how he is the most loyal, hard working person I have ever known. I will also tell you that when he says he will do something, he's not just blowing smoke...it will get done. He is extremely trusting...almost to a fault, and that is because he is, hands-down, without a doubt, the MOST honest person you will EVER meet (sometimes too honest...those who know him can testify) and I think he believes everyone is as honest as he is, which unfortunately, isn't the case. When he does something, he gives 150% and holy moly, is he persistent (which we'll pretend is a positive quality today)!He may be the most unromantic person to hit this planet, but he loves me. He works his butt off so I can do what I love to do! He will do whatever it takes to support us and meet our needs. I will forever love him for working hard to pay for me to have all of my teeth (another post for another day).Mr. Clean has a year round, perfectly natural tan (NOT FAIR), awesome chocolate chip colored eyeballs, and his lashes are unbelievable (again, NOT FAIR)....yep, that's my Baby Daddy! And speaking of my baby, man does Mr. Clean love Kidd-O! Nothing delights my heart more than to see such a big, strong man so in love with a little, bitty bit! The joy on both of their faces when they see each other after a long day apart melts.my.heart! He is much better at some parental duties than I am and he possesses a lot of the patience I terribly lack. If I wasn't already married, I'd marry him for loving our baby so much!
My husband makes me laugh...even when he doesn't mean to, and hearing him laugh is one of my favorite sounds on earth. Because when he laughs, he means it! He is genuine and deliberate with everything he says or does. His loyalty is unmatched. He knows me better than I know myself. We fought hard for each other, and I'm glad we did! The past 10 years has been: fun, challenging, surprising, filled with personal growth, difficult at times, packed with joy and overflowing with laughter and happiness. I can't think of a better husband for me, father to my babe, or friend.Happy Birthday to My Love.
(No, he probably will not read this because he has yet to read any of my posts by his own will, but I will be sure to make him a copy.)

My Monday Mind Dump...

1. Any time there is a "special news report" interrupting my show I get worried that it's another 9/11...that happened a lot last week with all the Egyptian news.

2. I REALLY dislike the word "goulash" I'm not sure if it's any good, but I don't see myself finding out if it is any time soon.

3. There was a time I was really "with-it" when it came to politics and current events, but I ain't gonna lie, I have no clue what is going on these days! Like all this Egyptian stuff?? NO clue! but I do know it's a big deal, so I should get to the bottom of this.

4.Because I love you, dear reader, I want you to go to a dermatologist this week, or this month, or sometime this spring... or at least sometime this year!!! Get those moley's checked, lest you become knife practice for the Dr. I have one too many scars to let the same happen to you! I BEG OF YOU!

5. Also, because I love you, I want you to wear sunscreen at all times! I know it's not "cool" and I totally know that tan fat is waaaay more attractive than pasty fat, but skin cancer ain't no joke. Praise the Lord, I haven't had it and I don't want it!

6. Stepping off my "soap box" now.

7. I have no clue if Mr. Clean even knows it's Valentines Day...eh, whatever.

8. New favorite show: An Idiot Abroad. Check it out! HILARIOUS!

9. Pancakes are extra special when they are topped with warm applesauce and syrup.

10. I'm really excited about the beautiful weather this week!

Happy Valentines Day!!

Be Mine...

Since Kidd-O is such a little stud muffin, he had quite a few Valentines Day cards to mail out to some special ladies this weekend. Of course, no lady is more special to him than yours truly, but he has enough looove to go 'round. We had fun making these little cards! I wish I had taken a picture of the incredible mess we made in my bathroom...but the camera was dead, and Mr. Clean would probably have a conniption if he got to see how much effort, and by effort I mean little red foot prints everywhere, went in to these cards!
We did little handprints for Thanksgiving:
And I'm thinkin' for Easter it will be hiney cheek Easter eggs...

My Monday Mind Dump...

Peek-a-Boo

I see you!

1. The best thing about the Super Bowl is that football is over and that means Spring is RIGHT around the corner!!!

2.Another reminder that Spring is right around the corner are the little lambies that are in the sheep pasture we pass on the way to church on Sunday mornings. I look forward to seeing these little sheep every single Sunday, the more babies means the closer to spring! At least that's my observation!

3. Do you ever think sometimes that things are going too well? I know of many people who are going through dark valleys right now and I often wonder why I have it so good. I have a very bad habit of worrying about why things are going well, and that I know it can't stay that way forever , so what is going to happen to change that??? Instead, I need to stop worrying about the things that could go wrong and be thankful for God's mercy and goodness!!! I'm constantly running Philipians4.8 through my brain:" Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things."

4. I realize #3 is kind of "heavy". Sorry.

5. Sooo, the past two weeks I've hinted at some changes that I can share now. You'll probably be highly disappointed, but it's good news in our house!!! After much prayer and consideration, Mr. Clean decided to leave his current job and accept another job offer. We have been so blessed by the company he has decided to leave (his boss is a sweet friend of ours), but it was not his cup-o-tea and we were all desperate for a change after a very challenging 6 months. That's all. Sorry if you were expecting something more "exciting".

6. Because Mr. Clean is changing jobs, we also have to switch health insurance providers, Sooo Mr. Clean told me to put on my "big girl pants" and actually call around and ask questions about things that I have no CLUE about!! He did write me a very detailed script to follow, which was helpful and I SURVIVED! I still don't know what the heck these people were telling me, but Mr. Clean also provided a fill-in-the-blank answer sheet to go along with my script..

7. Kidd-O is getting around pretty well these days by rolling, scooting, or army crawling to what he wants, which is always something he's not supposed to have : remotes, phones, or computer power cords (which he won't be playing with again). My life is about to get a little more interesting.

8. Smoothies are what I'm groovin' on these days....yummy in my tummy!

9. I hate when I take the time to paint my nails and then they just chip the second I screw the top back on.

10. Yankee candles are the best (I just bought Bahama Breeze scent and it's just what I needed to get me in a warmer weather mood), with Slatkin and Co. as a close second. Don't bother with the rest.

The Month of LoOoOVe....

Well, as everyone knows, February is the month of little candy hearts (which I'm not particularly fond of), boxes of chocolate (which, to this day, I have never received), roses (which are only found growing in our front yard), and LoOoOve songs! I love music! Mr. Clean and I both love music!

I recently heard a segment on a local radio show where each of the DJ's made a list of songs that are guaranteed to make you want to snuggle with your hunny. I personally thought that their lists stunk-a-roo, so I decided to make my own! So, here it goes, my top 10 list of songs that will put you in the mood for LoOoOoVe!!!!!

1. Slow Dancing in a Burning Room-John Mayer
2. Come Away With Me- Norah Jones
3. Beast of Burden- The Rolling Stones
4. Let's Get it On- Marvin Gaye
5. Lost Without You- Robin Thicke
6. Butterfly-Jason Mraz
7.Crash Into Me- Dave Matthews Band
8.Have I Told You Lately That I Love You- Rod Stewart
9.When a Man Loves a Woman- Percy Sledge
10._____________________

I can't decide on the last song! Maybe you can help me out! What's your favorite LoOoOoOvE song??