The Cascio Whirlwind

I'm on the MOVE

2009-07-25T00:44:00.002-05:00

So, I've got this weird glitch in my blogger codes and cannot get it to fix, so I'm moving my blog. So make sure you update your links for me to www.thecasciowhirlwind.blogspot.com. I've already got another post over there, so head over and check out my stuff!
Leigh-Ann

We're back...from the unblogging world

2009-03-21T20:19:00.004-05:00

So we've been addicted to oil-rubbed bronze spray paint lately. Here is a before and after shot...much better indeed.

So, I haven't posted in a long time and decided we needed some pics up here. We had a fun day today taking pics as kid models for Skye Hardwick's workshop in town. She flew in from California for a workshop with 17 other photographers, so we signed up to help her out. It was fun. I can't wait to see the pics from it.

And now for some kiddo shots. Marybeth invited me to her tea party yesterday after school. And requested I wear these fabulous shades for her. She is a hoot! We had a good laugh.

Merry Christmas

2008-12-12T21:19:00.002-06:00

Mom-Preneurs Shop a Thon and Daily Giveaway!

2008-11-11T16:39:00.001-06:00

So for 12 days they'll be giving away two prizes per day from Mom's who are crafty at making things to help support their families. Check it out on the link above.

Trick or Treat?

2008-11-02T09:40:00.007-06:00

My girlies had a lot of fun Friday night for Halloween. We were quite the busy peeps! We had 3 people bring our treats to us...now that's a riot. Then we went to Trick My Trunk which was super fun with cars with tons of candy in their trunks all decorated up. And you know they had the bouncers to jump in and slide on till your heart was content! They had a blast. As if this wasn't enough fun, we then left and went to the Portico Square Dance!!! Yee haw! It was so funny to see everyone in costume and really square dancing. I think fun was had by all. The girls loved the kids area complete with buckets of corn kernels with hidden candy and a sticker table with crafty stuff. They were completely occupied the whole time and never even thought about dancing. Paul missed all the festivities at home with a horrible migraine hugging the porcelain goddess. So here are our pics to show you are two rootin tootin cowgirl, horse riding, chicken riding, square dancing tots. We had multi-functional costumes for the evening thanks to Granna!

I Got TAGGED by someone

2008-10-26T22:13:00.002-05:00

i received this game of "blogger tag" from cyberspace and the deal is, you fill out the answers and tag a fellow blogger. IF you read this, you are to copy it into your blog and answer the questions...then tag a fellow blogger and pass along the quiz!

1. Where is your cell phone? in my KNITTING bag
2. Where is your significant other? decopaging(yes, ladies) a box to house our cell phone cords...saw it online and oh so nice.
3. Your hair color? brown
4. Your mother?Granna, Granna Banana, Momma
5. Your father? Popsie, Roberto, Daddy
6. Your favorite thing? sleeping!
7. Your dream last night?Too tired to dream!!
8. Your dream/goal? dream: to not worry about finances Goal: have extra time in my life to spend with my family doing fun stuff
9. The room you're in? the dining room/office/catch all room, soon to be reorganized by my dear friend Tera
10. Your hobby? I sure enjoy the IDEA of knitting and scrapbooking, but seriously it doesn't generally happen.
11. Your fear? Kidnapping
12. Where do you want to be in six years? Um, maybe a different house with a little more room.
13. Where were you last night? Um, Lowe's(ogranizing aisle)
14. What you’re not? smart about politics, patient
15. One of your wish list items? A new knitting bag.
16. Where you grew up? mostly in ruston, louisiana (also a little in Little Rock, Brandon, FL, Dermot, AR)
17. The last thing you did? mod podged some magnets for christmas gifts
18. What are you wearing? pajamas
19. Your TV? Not a flat screen big tv, but maybe one day
20. Your pet? Kids are plenty!
21. Your computer? it works
22. Your mood? tired...as always...
23. Missing someone? a few
24. Your car? Chrysler Town and Country Minivan! (my husband totalled my Mercury Villager mini...at first I was sad, but I am LOVING this new van)
25. Something you’re not wearing? over the shoulder, boulder holder
26. Favorite store? man, I need to get out....maybe our new TJ MAX!!!
27. Your summer? boring
28. Love someone? boy do I
29. Your favorite color? well, there's two...pink and lime green
30. When is the last time you laughed? today at one of the kids for something goofy
31. Last time you cried? tonight during communion at church...i love that reflection time....one of the most peaceful times I know of

ok...i am tagging Granna Banana...hop to it, woman!

And we have 3 winners!!!!

2008-10-19T16:41:00.002-05:00

Congrats to our three Pay It Forward winners-Granna, Meredith and Jen!! Okay, so they were the only three to sign up, but that doesn't make them less of a winner!!! As stated in the previous post, you'll get something handmade by me in the next 365 days...and believe you me...I am a PROCRASTINATOR!!! Seriously, just keeping you all aware of my nasty little faults. So, all you need to do is email me at scrappinmomma@bellsouth.net and let me know your favorite color/colors, shoe size...yes, your shoe size...your address and then wait to be surpised one glorious day out of the blue! Thanks for playing my game. Ohhhh, and you all three have to do the same on your blog...make a pay it forward give away post! Enjoy good times.
Leigh-Ann

The Secret is in the Sauce

2008-10-14T10:52:00.002-05:00

I stumbled across the blog above. The Secret is in The Sauce, or SITS for short In other words, you get your blog featured as the blog of the day and TONS of people visit your site and leave comments. It's a win/win situation for all involved!

SITS has introduced me to some great blog finds that became daily reads from the start. I found these blogs either through the blog of the day or through comments they left here and I followed over to their site.

P.S. Did I mention the prizes they're giving away on the main site today? Run on over and check it out! There's a new prize every hour! Good luck!

Pay it Forward of my own

2008-10-10T16:05:00.002-05:00

So, I signed up to win a pay it forward thing and I WON from http://joystitch.blogspot.com/!!!! So, now I must pay it forward and offer my bloggers a chance to win.

"I will send a handmade gift to 3 random people who leave a comment on this blog post. I don't know what that gift will be yet and you may not receive it tomorrow or next week but you will receive it within 365 days, that is my promise! The only thing you have to do in return is pay it forward by making the same promise on your blog."

So sign up and be ready to win. Mallory and Marybeth will pick our winners on Oct. 17 after 6 pm CT. Happy winning!!!

Winner Winner, Chicken Dinner

2008-10-10T16:01:00.002-05:00

PHOTOSHOP ELEMENTS 7.0 plus a book: I need to win this thing. I have version 5 and just got a book this week to take my pics to the next level. Enter here for a chance to win...
http://thesecretisinthesauce.blogspot.com/2008/10/october-giveaway-photoshop-elements.html

My new favorite treats

2008-10-10T15:48:00.004-05:00

OH MY GOODNESS how I love these things!! Talk about scrumptious!!!! I found the idea for them on http://bakerella.blogspot.com You will love this site if you enjoy tasty and absolutely adorable little treats. My batch made up about 43 cupcake pops. The girls enjoyed them. Our 9th grade LifeGroup loved them. Their a hit! I can't wait to make some for Halloween. I am using brown and orange for the colors. I also want to make them for a bake sale sometime. Enjoy...and don't eat too many!

And to think...

2008-10-10T15:45:00.002-05:00

She looks like such an innocent little cherub...but we all know by the last post, that maybe that isn't the whole picture! I love my girl...mischief and all.

Need I say more?

2008-10-10T15:01:00.003-05:00

Umm, so we had a little discipline problem at school, but I think it was handled well. She swiped M.E. Guy's Dora doll on the way in from the playground! Little hound then went and hid it in her backpack...under her jacket. It's hard to imagine being dishonest starts at such a young age. Hopefully she learned her lesson. Life rolls on...

Beach Life and Such

2008-09-07T16:35:00.008-05:00

We went for our annual Labor day trip to Orange Beach this past weekend. We had great weather on Saturday and enjoyed our stay at the Phoenix VI. The girls enjoyed the beach and sand...that is except when Marybeth would throw it in her own eyes and her sisters...We had to cut the trip a day short and come home on Sunday instead of Monday because of Hurricane Gustav. We left right before they had a mandatory evacuation of that area...just in time to beat all the traffic. All in all, we had a good time. Enjoy our pics...

Where to begin...

2008-08-27T14:40:00.016-05:00

I cannot believe I do not have more time on my hands to update this blog like it needs to be done! Life is so busy...We've started another school year and Miss Marybeth is in Pre-K3 and Miss Mallory is in Pre-K4. They are both attending the same private Christian school which makes schedules a lot easier on me for drop off and pick-up. Before the first week was up, Marybeth made a visit to see the principal for being loud during naptime, not laying down and disturbing other classmates...my, my, the journey has begun. So, therefore, we have succumbed to bribery every morning to achieve good behavior at naptime at school. She has already earned Dora socks(BLUE of course), ice cream (BLUE of course), snow cones(BLUE of course), candy...she is slightly motivated by treats such as these. BLUE is her signature color. She wants blue everything! Mallory is doing very well in her big girl class and they are learning their vowels to read short one vowel words! I am so amazed. I don't remember learning to read until 1st grade! She'll be a bookworm for sure once she learns how.
Paul and I have made a decision after prayer and talking to committ to the Portico ministry. We are excited about the work that God is doing there and what is yet to come. Portico is our church that is very non-traditional. Portico is accepting of all peeps and wants to share the love of Christ and His salvation with many who would never step foot into the traditional church setting. Although they have no youth at this time that aren't already affiliated with First West, Paul is committing to be the volunteer student minister at this time. Challenges lie ahead, but in the days to come as Portico becomes a separate church(kinda like a church plant), God will grow this area, I'm sure. We are so excited to be part of something so fresh and out of the ordinary! Worship each week is quite an experience and God truly is in it. AND WE REALLY ENJOY RANDY'S TEACHING STYLE...We enjoy being part of a small community of believers. We have a couples community group that meets on Thursday nights and we are thoroughly enjoying it. Our new study is on communication....could it be more appropriate? Sometimes in the busyness we've come to think that the other should know our every thought, but that is definitely not true...even after 7 years of marriage.
Here are a few pics to let you know how our girls are quickly growing. Enjoy!

New Eyes

2008-06-04T16:45:00.002-05:00

Many of you know that I had LASIK surgery on both eyes this past Thursday. I will say that this is proving to be the most beneficial thing I have ever spent money on in my life! I am so amazed at how I can see the alarm clock in the middle of the night and how I am able to see the ceiling as I go to sleep and as I wake. I have prayed that God would give me new eyes to see people in need that I often pass by on a day to day basis. I have found that some of those people have been my own children as I am caught up in the busy-ness of life. This week I have tried really hard to make sure to show and tell them often how much I love them and also to take time with them. Marybeth kicked a hole in the sheetrock in the hallway last week during a bedtime tantrum. I am reading many parenting books currently and praying that God will give her the ability to overcome her anger and to react and respond in different ways. Mallory is enjoying summer camp at school and both are looking forward to VBS this next week at First West. Paul is keeping busy at the Children's Home with recreation stuff right now. My knitting is going well. I just finished a cute little sweet pea hat for John Martin Arabie, born yesterday to Kelly and Trey. I can't wait to meet him. I have a new blankie on my needles for the girls for their car blankets. They are going to be cutie patootie! Will post some new pics soon.

The Intrudor

2008-04-14T11:18:00.003-05:00

The girls enjoyed running and playing in the wonderful weather on Saturday. They got their new shades for the spring and were ready to go. Marybeth committed her first crime this day. I say CRIME because she broke in the back door of our neighbors house after escaping from our yard in a split second as I sat in my chair by the swing set! I went looking for her and she had opened our gate, their gate, and proceeded up their back deck and into her little friends room to play with her "Baby Lie" aka Baby Alive...I could only laugh at her shenanigans! Imagine me, going to the wide open back door and calling for Marybeth...I know laugh all you want, I am still snickering at it. Thank heavens everyone was clothed! I could just imagine walking in on someone in their skibbies! They got a kick out of it too. Oh, and she let their dog out who ran off down the street and around the block. Our neighbor Susan had to get in her car and go find her. What a day of play! So beware of the two year old intruder! She is quick on her entry!

Christmas Pics

2007-12-21T17:02:00.001-06:00

Sorry I've been missing in action for so long. Trying times we have been going thru. Paul resigned from FBC Monroe on Nov. 4th. We are looking for a full time student ministry position within about 7 hours from home. We know that God will provide when the timing is right.Enjoy our pics.

Our Anniversary 2007

2007-07-17T20:53:00.000-05:00

Saturday we celebrated our sixth anniversary of holy matrimony as husband and wife. What a wonderful 6 years it has been to spend with my best friend and love of my life.

I came up with the idea of having a little wedding so that Mallory and Marybeth could participate. So, after Paul got in from MissionFuge on Saturday evening, he and I went to Portico to eat and celebrate. Then we came home and Mallory was the flower girl and Marybeth was the ring girl! They had so much fun...and Mommy even wore her wedding gown. Still fits, girls!! That is what Weight Watchers will do for you! We had a fun time, reminiscing on those days. Enjoy the ceremony...and don't forget that this was around 9:30 at night!!

Who Knew Swimming in the Backyard could be SO much FUN??

2007-07-17T20:51:00.000-05:00

This was last weekend before Paul went to MissionFuge. We put up a kiddie pool in the backyard and you would have thought we were at WaterTown the way they had FUN!

2007-07-13T15:47:00.001-05:00

Teachable Moments

2007-07-13T15:04:00.001-05:00

My two girls have become very adamant about making each other as miserable as possible in the last few weeks. Marybeth has finally gotten big enough and strong enough to take Mallory on-head to head! We have many teachable moments these days and our days and nights are always spent learning this verse...Children, obey your parents in the Lord for this is right. Ephesians 6:1 Mallory had to say it about 50 times last night after being disobedient and disrespectful over and over. These are the life-changing moments I want them to be reminded of as they grow up in the LORD. Praise God for His goodness!

I am still loving my new job! What a blessing to be at home working in my own environment and conveniences.

I am currently hosting an online stationary party from now until Wednesday, July 18th. You can follow this link to view the products and for me to get credit on my show.

http://laurieslagniappe.com/store/aGo.asp?aff=71201

They have GREAT personalized products at really good prices!

Here are some pics from our Fourth of July. We enjoyed the Triangle Park Parade in the neighborhood with all the kiddies. It is such a cute event where all the kids have their trikes, etc decorated up and ride in their own parade! The girls love it as do we. I enjoyed my day off with paid vacation!

Pics of the fam

2007-06-17T17:05:00.001-05:00

On again in the same week!!

2007-06-17T16:10:00.000-05:00

Check me out!! I am back again. Posting away! Mer will be so proud of me. I have made a few changes to my layout and the colors, etc.
We have had a good Father's Day. Paul is enjoying downloading music for his new MP3 player from Mallory and Marybeth. Pretty cool little get up...holds about 500 songs. Technology these days...it's incredible.
Well, the summer is officially here since it is so HOT! Ryan, our nephew, had his tournament pitching machine game today at Foresythe fields. He played great in the heat of the day. Unfortunately they lost, but they gave it a good shot. Marybeth and Mallory enjoyed being outdoors and eating their candy from the concession stand. The ring pops were a big hit!
Bro. Allen's message was good this morning. Our heavenly Father is the best Daddy ever! Anyone can be a father, but it takes a great Christian man to be a Daddy. We love our Daddy (aka Paul)!!

Long time to hear from the clan...

2007-03-18T14:28:00.000-05:00

Okay, so maybe I am too new to this whole thing! Give me a break, I'm trying. Life as a mommy keeps me extra busy! I can't believe my goodest and oldest friend Meredith is once again...EXPECTING!! I am so excited for them! I still haven't had the opportunity to meet Madden, so maybe I'll meet both at the same time this fall. Life is trekking right along, one day at a time. Marybeth is running...EVERYWHERE! She is getting some jaw teeth-OUCH! She loves Froot Loops and anything that is edible! Mallory had her first dance performance this weekend at Alphafest in West Monroe. She danced so good! I'll have to try to learn how to post that for everyone to see her doing her BEST being a cutie on stage. Paul is working hard for the LORD as usual. I am enjoying my Beth Moore Bible study on Daniel (it is AWESOME!). Spring is here and as always, we are busy on home improvement projects. Right now we are laying brick in the front for a porch and making new flower beds, etc. Send me some comments soon! Loving our family and you! Leigh-Ann

2007-01-15T22:03:00.000-06:00

My first experience with blogging! 1/15/07

2007-01-15T21:32:00.000-06:00

And who said an old dog can't learn new tricks?? I am here to tell you, it can happen as I quickly approach my 31st birthday this Wednesday.

I was so impressed with Meredith's blog that I decided our family needed one too! I want everyone to see my beautiful s and enjoy hearing about what all they are into at the moment.

Marybeth walked to Paul and also to me tonight...about 4-5 steps each. What a milestone! And tonight was her first night without her Mommy's milk. She did better than expected. I was a little saddened but felt such freedom at the same time! I began my freedom by whitening my teeth! Been waiting a year to do this...since I got my braces off.

Marybeth's first birthday party was this weekend and she really enjoyed her cake! She was such a lady...not wanting to get her hands messy. We enjoyed watching her grow before our eyes.

Mallory told me yesterday that my belly jiggles when I laugh, so I guess it is time to lose some lbs!