Wednesday, February 27, 2013

What on Earth Did I Do?

Well. In making "We Three Dyes" turn into "Doodle Bugs & Daisies," I must have really messed up!

See, I had started this page as "We Three Dyes" because there were three of us. Rooster, Husband and I. Now Nat has joined us, so we are no longer three, but four. And "We Four Dyes" just didn't have a pretty little ring to it like before. So I dubbed the blog after my small crafty business Doodle Bugs & Daisies.

HOWEVER... We Three Dyes was on a Google account I created through my Hotmail email address because I had not as of then created a Gmail account. Fast forward to a few months ago when I got back into blogging, I had not one, but TWO Gmail accounts. Personal (because I have an Android cell phone), and business... I could link my two Gmail accounts and switch back and forth, no problem (yay!) but when I wanted to blog, I had to log out of my Gmail accounts and log in to my Hotmail Google account {Whew!} and if I emailed myself photos, I had to log out of hotmail-google and log BACK in to Gmail...blah blah blah... Tired yet? I am!

SO! In my Hotmail blogger account, I made my Gmail-self an admin to the new Doodle Bugs & Daisies blog. Genius! Then, logged in as Gmail-self, I un-admin-ed my hotmail-self and VIOLA! No more Hotmail crud! Fast Forward to TODAY... and decide to go back and read through the blogs of the beginning of then We Three Dyes... What's this? No Photos?? What????!!! {Boo Hoo} Here is what I see:
Yes, I still have XP on this computer.
Don't Judge! *New laptop soon!* {Yay!}
Notice all the triangles with exclamation points? Yeah. Me too. They are screaming at me, "Courtney! What did you do!? I used to be a BEAUTIFUL bridal shot of Yooooouuuu!!" On Every. Single. Blog post. Since before DB&D... Yes, I messed up big time.

So now what? Well, I've considered one thing so far: Copy-pasting all blogs prior to the "Merging of Accounts" into Word (Dates/times, everything!)... Deleting all prior posts.... Then Copy-pasting back into Blogger and re-uploading appropriate photos and re-publishing each blog post with original date-time stamp via the Schedule under post settings.

Sound tedious? 
Yeah, I think so too. 
So, do you have a better idea?? 

Monday, February 18, 2013

20 Questions Part 4 of 4


There was a blog floating around Pinterest where a list of questions were compiled so that you and your husband (significant other) could get to know each other a little better. Like the author of this blog, I thought it would be neat to answer them so that my children could get a little insight about their momma! So that is what I have done. It was originally 30 questions, but I have pared it down for myself. I hope you enjoy following along with me


This is part four of four

I hope you have enjoyed following along with me! If you happen to do a 20 questions (or 30) rendition on your blog, I'd love to read about it! Post your link in the comments section if you do!



-Describe a typical day in your current life.

*I wake up when the girls wake up. Usually about 7:30 or 8. I get dressed and then make breakfast for the girls. While they are eating, I usually have about 15 glorious minutes alone in the bathroom to do whatever the heck I please. After the girls eat, I get to eat. While I eat, they start to make a mess (play) in their room. I check Facebook, Pinterest and my blog for a few minutes before I clear away any dishes from breakfast or the remainders from last night’s dinner. We play until lunch time, eat a sandwich and then they play until I have cleared everything away. By 12:30 or 1, I try to start getting Natalee sleepy for her nap. Riley plays or watches a video in bed until Nat is asleep. Then, I start getting Riley ready to take her nap. If I am lucky and both girls’ naps overlap at one point, I will turn Pandora on and bring laundry into the living room to fold or put on hangers. If I have a little more time, I lay on the couch for a few minutes until Nat usually wakes up ready to play (go figure!) I get her settled in the living room with a few toys and a drink and I move on to something else that needs my attention. Riley usually wakes up a half hour later and I get snacks ready. Sometimes we go to the neighborhood park after snack or the girls go back to playing in their rooms depending on the weather. I start thinking about dinner so that it is ready to eat soon after Matt gets home. When he does get home, I quickly do a spot check of the living room, move the far couch over and vacuum quickly so that we can do our workout. While we work out, the girls are playing. After our workout, dinner is usually ready. I add the finishing touches to our meal while Matt showers. We eat as a family, then I shower while Matt gets Riley ready for bed. After I get out of the shower, we sit up with Natalee and watch a show on Redbox just till Natalee is ready to fall asleep. If not, we go to bed and put Natalee between us so we can get some rest while Natalee is trying to fall asleep. Matt is usually asleep as soon as his head hits the pillow. Mine, not so much. When I know Natalee is asleep, I move her to her crib and I go back to bed.

-If you were an animal, what would you be and why?

*I would be a bird, penguin, or dolphin! I would be a bird so I could fly. A penguin so I could withstand cold, and slide on ice on my tummy. A dolphin so I can swim all day and be in the sun and jump high and do summersaults!

- What is the thing you most wish you were great at?

*I would love to be able to sing well. Not even great. I’d just love to be able to sing well enough to not hurt others’ ears! Ha!

- If you could live anywhere, where would it be and why?

*Anywhere near water. I just want to be able to walk out my back door and hear the sound of rushing water. I don’t care if it is a creek or the ocean, just as long as it is a natural water source.

 -Describe 3 significant memories from your childhood.

*My dad flies remote controlled model airplanes. Several of my greatest memories have been when I was able to go fly with him. I knew how to fly at a very early age. I get tickled every time he tells people when he used to hand me the controls and take over flying when I was about 4 or 5. I get so proud of myself when he tells those stories. I also remember falling to a fit of giggles whenever my dad used to do loops or rolls way up high in the sky. That was the funniest thing in the world to me!

*I remember Kyle and I used to have “plans.” Like, we were 7-12 years old, and during the summer, we would create these super secret missions for SUPER early in the morning. Our best one was one summer when we had one of those big plastic pools that was about a foot and a half deep. We had made a plan to wake up at 6:30, before mom and dad were awake, and sneak outside to go swim! The water was sooooo cold, we didn’t stay long, ha ha! 

*Another Kyle memory, One Christmas as a little kid, we woke up around 2AM hoping to catch Santa. Well, he had already been to our house, so we were kind of bummed. Kyle had the genius idea to JUST open one gift each. We saw that several of the packages were identical for each of us so we picked one that looked the same and was smaller than the others so Mom and Dad wouldn’t be TOO mad at us. We hurried back to my room to open it. We got SAFETY PADS! What on Earth did we need safety pads for? We definitely went back to bed all sorts of confused! The next morning, Mom and Dad didn’t seem too out of sorts that we were out of bed in the middle of the night opening gifts, but were pleased to see us disappointed in our gift selection, ha! We did figure out why we got safety pads, though. One of our other identical gifts was ROLLER BLADES! SCORE!

- If you could have one superpower, what would it be and what would you do with it first?

*Flying. Duh! I just want to be able to fly way up high and go anywhere and do anything. I just want to fly!

- Where do you see yourself in 5 years? 10 years? 15 years?

*In 5 years, I will be 30. I hope by then I will be graduated and teaching for real.

*In 10 years, I will be 35 and I hope that we are living well. Not extravagantly, but comfortably. I hope we don’t have to struggle financially forever.

*When I am 40, Riley will be 18 and most likely graduated from high school. I see us sending our first born off to college to do great things for herself. I hope that we are able to provide for her to go to whatever school she wants to go to! 40 will be the start of something new for me (and Matt). Just a few years later, Natalee will be graduating and going off into the world, too. Then we would be empty nesters. I am all excited, sad and fearful of this time. I am excited because this will be the first time Matt and I would be alone. Ever. I would be sad, because my girls are growing up (and right now while they are babies, it is hard to believe this will all be happening in 15-17 years! Too fast!) I am also fearful because this WILL be the first time Matt and I are alone. We never really “dated.” I pray that we will have grown together in our relationship and our marriage and our relationship with God that we continue to make it all work and work well for us.

- List your top 5 hobbies and why you love them.

*I don’t really have hobbies. Taking care of my kids is my job and hobby, I suppose. I have had several hobbies that were started, but never really finished, though:

**R/C trucks. I have a TRAXXAS T-maxx (2.3) that looks absolutely awesome and runs great, but it hasn’t been run in maybe 2 or 3 years now. Sad face. That has always been my favorite hobby. Not many girls are into this kind of stuff and it made me just a *little* smug to know I loved it. Now, I just don’t have time to get it out. Matt has one also (but a 3.3) as well as an E-Revo and a car, too. He can run them pretty much whenever, but I never have the time.

**Shotguns. I have an Iver Johnson .16 shotgun that I inherited from my granddaddy. It was given to him on his wedding day! It is a beautiful gun and I love to shoot it. It has a very hard kick, and your shoulder will be in pain after a few shots, but I’m so proud of that gun! You see, about 20 years ago, it was stolen out of our home by a burglar, lost forever. Several years later, my dad was browsing in a pawn shop and SAW IT! He was able to prove it was his gun, because when you take the stock off, there are some numbers that are scratched into the wood. When he told the owner to open it up, the numbers matched my daddy’s dog tag numbers. I love that story. My dad tells it better than I do, of course. When he tells it, I get chills sometimes. I also have a Browning .12 shotgun that I bought myself. I bought it because my husband (at the time boyfriend, maybe just friend…) had taken me out with his friends on several occasions to shoot skeet. On one of the times, he MADE me try it. Like my hiney was glued to the tailgate and I was NOT getting up. Well, there was one other girl out there that day and her boyfriend was able to get her to try. She did well. She hit 1 out of 5 clays. So, Matt asked me one more time if I wanted to try. The other girl said it wasn’t bad and she kind of liked it. So I gave in. Matt handed me his Remington .12 and explained how the clays would be thrown. Well, let me tell you! I hit all five clays! Matt reloaded for me and I hit the next five! Some of the other guys asked if I had ever done it before and of course I had not! (It’s funny to me, because a lot of the guys were missing targets occasionally.) I was just naturally good at it! So a few weeks later I was able to purchase my Browning. My dad went with me to a range to test fire it. He shot it a few times just to make sure it worked well. Then it was my turn. I fired it at nothing in particular, just to get a feel for it. It was great! Hardly any kick and easy to handle! My dad decided to throw some clays for me, and again, I hit EVERY. SINGLE. ONE! Dad was pretty thrilled :) But of course, a few weeks later I found out Riley was coming along and I had to put that hobby down. Actually, we both put that hobby on hold. I don’t think either one of us has shot our shotguns ever since. Right now we are looking into purchasing pistols. Mostly for protection, but I would love to get into sporting with them. I think it would be a fun discipline.

**Riding lessons. Ever since I was little, I would beg to have horse riding lessons. I was never able to have regular lessons, because my parents had other priorities (you know, like feeding us, keeping a roof over our heads, etc..) I understood, but was always pretty bummed that horses weren’t permanently in my life. I usually got to ride a family friend’s horse a few times during the summer. Once I exchanged mucking stalls for riding lessons. That lasted a few months during the summer. Occasional birthdays I got to have a trial lesson, but those were never truly fun. Since I was new to the barn, the instructor would put me on a slow-poke beginner’s lesson horse and it wouldn’t want to GO. The instructor would feel bad and tell me, “Next time we’ll put you on So-and-So that way you’ll get more out of the lesson…” but there was never usually and “next time.” I’d give anything to be able to take riding lessons. I can’t remember a time when horses WEREN’T on my brain…

-If you could have dinner with anyone in history, who would it be and what would you eat?

*I’d want to have dinner with Jesus. I have a million and one questions for him, but I don’t have any idea where I’d start. I’d probably fix him a steak dinner or anything really. It wouldn’t matter; I’d either talk so much I couldn’t get a bite in or just sit there in a quiet awe and never want to take a bite.

-What is your favorite part of your body and why?

*I love my eyes. They are brown, but when the sunlight hits them just right, you can see these gorgeous golden or greenish flecks sprinkled about my iris. I love doing eye makeup on me too. I love trying new tricks to make them stand out.

-What is your love language?

*My love language is a tie between Quality Time and Acts of Service. I wish we had more time to be together without the girls. I love my girls to pieces, but we never really had a chance to be ourselves, together, without children. Sometimes it feels like we just co-exist, but aren’t actually married, and that scares me. When we do get rare evenings to ourselves without the girls, I’m in Heaven. Or even if the girls are home with us, I like it when he actually talks with me. I hate when I’m in the kitchen making dinner or doing laundry and his butt is glued to the couch with his phone, mouse, or xbox controller in hand. Sometimes he does come in the room with me, it’s not often, but I love it. Even if he wasn’t helping me and was just in the same room with me to talk would be perfect. My other love language is acts of service. I like when Matt (rarely) cleans the kitchen for me or starts a load of laundry. It really helps me out and makes me feel good.

- What do you think people misunderstand most about you?

*I’m a very quiet person. I just don’t have much to say. I think people mistake my quietness for boredom, sadness or anger. I always get, “are you ok?” or “what’s wrong?” and I’m just like, “LEAVE ME ALONE!” I’m fine, ok? Drives me nuts! When in the car, I like to just look out the window and admire the scenery or listen to music. If someone is with me, I still do that. I can sit in a comfortable silence. My husband has had to learn this about me. But he’s used to it now. Other people seem to have a hard time with it.

Sunday, February 17, 2013

20 Questions Part 3 of 4



There was a blog floating around Pinterest where a list of questions were compiled so that you and your husband (significant other) could get to know each other a little better. Like the author of this blog, I thought it would be neat to answer them so that my children could get a little insight about their momma! So that is what I have done. It was originally 30 questions, but I have pared it down for myself. I hope you enjoy following along with me


This is part three of four




-What is the hardest thing you have ever experienced?
*Hands down, losing my little brother in a car accident in 2008. Definitely the hardest thing ever. I think, mostly because we don’t know the real cause of what happened.

-What is your dream job, and why?
*Growing up it had always been to be a veterinarian for livestock animals. I’ve always been an animal lover! Now, my dream job would be getting paid to be a stay at home mom! But since that is kind of unrealistic, I want to be a high school Ag teacher so I can work with kids and their animal projects.

-What are 5 passions you have?
*My salvation
*My children
*Agriculture
*Teaching
*The Constitution

 -Describe 10 pet peeves you have.
*When I am driving and coming up to a construction zone. I hate when there is a lane closure up ahead that drivers have known about for MILES and most of us get over into the correct lane only to have a few jerks speed all the way up to the cones directing us over and expect the rest of us to just let him in. JERK! I DID NOT OBEY TRAFFIC SIGNS JUST SO YOU COULD FORCE YOUR WAY OVER!

*Again, when I am driving, I hate when people camp out in the passing lane. Going under the speed limit???! Grrr.

*People writing Christmas like “X-mas” or “C-mas”

*All forms of grammar misuse. Your vs You’re, They’re, There, Their…

*Spelling shortcuts! Use VOWELS for goodness’ sake!

*Phones at the dinner table. Phones out at all when you’re supposed to be doing something else…

*Getting a text from the person sitting IMMEDIATELY next to you…

*People not picking up their dog’s business in my yard.

*Dodge trucks. I can’t stand to look at them. Yuck.

*People who double park. You’re tiny compact car is not big enough for even ONE space, yet you insist on two? Your enormous dually truck actually CAN fit into a normal sized space, USE ONE only!! Geezzzz…..!

Saturday, February 16, 2013

20 Questions Part 2 of 4



There was a blog floating around Pinterest where a list of questions were compiled so that you and your husband (significant other) could get to know each other a little better. Like the author of this blog, I thought it would be neat to answer them so that my children could get a little insight about their momma! So that is what I have done. It was originally 30 questions, but I have pared it down for myself. I hope you enjoy following along with me


This is part two of four



-Describe a legitimate fear you have and explain how it became a fear.
I have a fear of anything fiberglass that has not been sealed. When I was about 4 years old, my dad had a model airplane in our living room. He was building it for a friend. The finished product would have about a 9 foot wingspan. The cowling of this airplane was unfinished fiberglass. Dad had epoxied lead weights into the nose of it. The weights looked cool and I wanted to touch it. When I reached in, I got static shocked. Bad. Like, I still have a scar from a minor burn that occurred from that shock 21 years ago.

-Describe your relationship with your parents.
My Mom and Dad. Without them I would not have a clear idea of how to live life. They have been a wonderful example of parents and spouses. They are always teaching me about the love of Jesus. My parents will do anything for me as well as my new family. They help to provide for us when we are struggling and can’t make it on our own.

-List 10 things you would tell your 16 year-old self, if you could.

*Just wait. You don’t need a boyfriend. The two you have this year won’t amount to anything in the future. One even gets arrested later for child porn issues.

*You really don’t need to be in a hurry to have your driver license, either. You don’t get your own car till you are 21 anyway and you’ll be fighting with Mom and Dad for the car keys more often than what’s needed.

*Speaking of Mom and Dad just shut up and listen. They know what they’re talking about after all.

*Your little brother dies in a car accident Oct. 2008. Be nicer to him. And push him to get his DL more than a month before leaving for school. Maybe more driving practice won’t get him killed. Tell him you love him more often.

*You have a strong Faith. Remember this when Kyle does pass. Don’t go as long as I did without church.

*You have two beautiful daughters with a wonderful guy. The first one is out of wedlock, but don’t let it bother you too much. Your whole family life falls into place after this. And Mom and Dad do eventually come around. Just do as they say and eventually Matt will charm the socks off them, anyway! Oh, tell your Dad’s family about Riley BEFORE you go into labor. Whatever Dad tells you about Granddaddy Ted, don’t believe it. Everyone will be THRILLED to have a baby in the family again.

*Marriage is tough. 110% tough. But you have it easier than most. Work hard together and you’ll make it!

*College is long for you. Buckle down early and don’t goof off your first year. In fact, dump that Goober you’ve dated forever and don’t pick classes that he’s taking. That will just hinder you in the long run. Keep your grades up and you will go far. You can do EC’s, just don’t go out of town EVERY week with the cow show team. This, too, will hinder you. Just focus on school!

*Handle your money better. You never learn to save until it’s almost too late. You and Matt tend to miss out on a lot of fun because you’re so broke all the time. You do start a great craft business that brings in your own money, but sales are far and few between and the money seems to come when you need it most!

*RED LIGHT CAMERAS! Avoid the intersection in town by the old HEB. You and Matt get 4 tickets there in 2012 alone. Ridiculous!

-What are the 5 things that make you most happy right now?

*Working out six days a week. I’ve never felt better since leaving marching band behind with high school. My joints don’t hurt near as bad and I actually have energy!

*My craft business. I love that I have a business doing something that I actually ENJOY!

*I am happy that my girls are at the ages where they will play happily with each other. Sometimes that is not the case, but for the most part, I love hearing them squeal in delight when they are playing in their room together.

*Driving alone in my truck makes me happy. It’s rare, but when it happens, the windows are down and the tunes are up!

*Date nights make me happy. They are also far and few between.

Friday, February 15, 2013

20 Questions Part 1 of 4


There was a blog floating around Pinterest where a list of questions were compiled so that you and your husband (significant other) could get to know each other a little better. Like the author of this blog, I thought it would be neat to answer them so that my children could get a little insight about their momma! So that is what I have done. It was originally 30 questions, but I have pared it down for myself. I hope you enjoy following along with me


This is part one of four

List 20 random facts about yourself.


-I love getting snail mail. It's the best feeling in the world knowing that someone took the time to write you a personal letter. I wish all my snail mail wasn't junk, though. If you feel like writing, I’d love a pen pal!

-I like road trips. But I don't like the getting there part if I'm not driving. When we used to DRIVE to TN to see mom's family, I would sleep the ENTIRE way there, only waking up to eat or to go to the bathroom. That's like a 14 hour trip, mind you! But, if I'm driving, I love it! I can look at the scenery go by and sit in silence without radio or other people and be perfectly content! But I get super cranky if I'm just a passenger



-I love to wear Heels! It makes me feel way confident in myself and makes my posture better too

-I used to LOVE Hershey's Kisses. But then I tasted Dove Chocolate and no other chocolate tastes good anymore.

-I'm usually not a picky eater. BUT... lately I'm finding out that I actually AM! Tastes definitely change over time. The only beans I eat are Pork and beans and Green beans! Everything else is a no no. I hate mushrooms. I used to Love scrambled eggs. Now I gag at the sight of them. They are disgusting. Any egg. They are only good for baking with! I absolutely can't stand pickles, onions, or mustard. I will NOT touch anything remotely spicy either. And this isn't the entire list either... However, since marrying my husband, I’ve had to become a little more forgiving towards food. If he cooks, I have to be willing to try it once. I have found that I like HIS way of cooking scrambled eggs:)

-I'm destined to be near some sort of body of water. I don't know what I would do without beautiful Lake Conroe. I love going out and just sitting and watching the boats go by. It's sooo calming. We did live in a condo on the lake for about a year. It was so nice!

-I once had red hair for about a month. I LOVED it. I think I'm going to try blonde the next time I'm feeling adventurous!!

-I don't watch television on my own anymore. The only time I watch it is if I am with someone else and they are watching it. There are sooo many other things to do that it is pointless to sit in front of the TV wasting time!

-I am learning new recipes to cook. I love cooking. I love when I have made something and other people find it absolutely wonderful! It is so gratifying.

-When I go out to eat, I usually don't try new things. I tend to stick to the same entrees. For example, at Roadhouse, I order the rib eye with a salad and mashed potatoes. At any Italian restaurant, I order some sort of shrimp alfredo. At Mexican food restaurants, I order cheese enchiladas, no beans. At Seafood places, it’s ALMOST always fried catfish.

-I taught myself how to Knit, crochet and how to embroider. BUT, I have no patience to sit and do either one continuously till completion. How sad.

-I once had 78 pairs of shoes. I went through EVERY SINGLE ONE and decided that I didn't wear several anymore and that some just didn't fit anymore. I now have 15. That’s such a small number compared to 78! But, on the bright side, I do have more floor space now! Lol

-I have a list of about 200 books that I must read that I am trying to work through. I love to read. This list is growing ever so long... so I should be set for life on reading material!

-Matt and I were only officially dating a month before Rooster came along. It was devastating at the time and I hated making my momma sad over my indiscretions. Matt and I are very adamant that we will make this marriage work. I feel that we still got married out of love and never because we had a baby together. I believe Riley was sent to me to help my family in a difficult time. She was born the day before the one-year anniversary of my little brother’s death. I am so incredibly grateful to God for sending her!


-I will eat green beans straight out of a can. I love them so much!

-I have my own craft business called Doodle Bugs & Daisies. I make dresses for little girls as well as other crafty items as I see fit.

-Grey’s anatomy is my guiltiest pleasure. Even though I don’t like to watch TV, I could watch this all day long!

-My husband and I are currently doing the Insanity workout program by Shaun T. It really is insane, but I really do love it. It helps that Matt and I are our biggest motivators to each other!

-I’ve always been super busy in school. High school, I was in FFA, Band and Model UN. I was an officer in FFA and Band my 10th, 11th, 12th grade years. In college, I was a member of most Agriculture EC activities, even an officer of a couple of them. Needless to say I’ve been a very busy student.

-Speaking of college, I am majoring in agriculture while minoring in Secondary Education. I want to be a high school Ag teacher one day. Unfortunately, I seem to be making a career out of school. This is going on my 8th year of college. I can hardly see the light at the end of the tunnel, but I am determined to finish. One day…