The age of the teen.

It's official...there are no more teenagers in the Tomlinson family. Jake is 20! He has looked older than me for quiet some time now. When he was in the 8th grade and I was a freshman at state, I had a girl down the hall in my dorm ask if he was my boyfriend. No...he is my cousin and he 14. Thanks.

I LOVE YOU, JAKE!
Hope yesterday was the best. Trey and I are practicing the happy birthday song to sing to you in person...we both felt that yesterday's phone tune was not up to par.

While we on the subject of teenagers:
I composed a brief list
Reasons I am glad that I am no longer a teenager:

1. My parents can not ground me anymore. (I was grounded a lot for my "attitude". pa-lease)


2. No more curfews
   
3. I would not go back to the day I wore that 2-piece prom dress for anything


4. Math was required in school
   
5. I drove a car that fell apart on a daily basis
   
6. There was a time in my teenage life that I both glittered my face and wore backless tops. geez. (yes, I am embarssed about this fact. Don't judge me)

Reasons that I wish I could be a teenager again:

1. I didn't pay bills when I was a teenager (ok, well, Trey does them now, but some of it is MY money!)


2. It was easier to ask for money from the parentals
   
3. Let's face it...I was thinner

that's all really.

Girl Scout cookies are vegan?!

I prefer telling stories dialogue:

Time: noon

Setting: walking to our car for lunch, USM campus
Actors:

Trey, eating a whole row of Girl Scout cookies
Heather, judging him

"You don't need to eat that many thin mints...we are going to lunch right now" - Heather

"It's OKAY, Heather. Thin Mints are Vegan." - Trey

"A) YOU are not Vegan. You are not a vegatarian. You eat squirrels, Trey and B) No, they are not Vegan. Girl Scout cookies are not vegan." - Heather

"Yes they are. Have you ever seen a fat vegan?" -Trey

"that doesn't even make sense" - Heather

"Google it, they are Vegan." -Trey

I googled it. THEY ARE NOT VEGAN.

Why was this even a topic of conversation? I don't understand.

Is this what all married people talk about?

PS - I was never a Girl Scout ( like the lucky girl to the left). My sister's both were, but by the time I was old enough they convinced me that it was not "the cool" thing to do. Thanks for that, Kristen and Laura. I never watched Sesame Street either.

Here comes the bride...

Well, not exactly.
But while Trey was in Nashville for work this week, I got bored and watched our wedding video. (I can only take so much Wheel of Fortune on the local channel)
Anyway, I came to the conclusion that it is silly that I will never again wear my wedding dress.
So I am doing something about it.
I am wearing my wedding dress.
It may be a while before I can fit in it again, (I took my frustrations with that "pregnant" comment out on ice cream and sushi.) but I will.
I am considering having my hair done as well for this event.
I am not sure when this will take place, but I will let you know when the time feels just right.
Perhaps this will become a tradition and soon a party with all my friends in wedding gowns/bridesmaids dress/prom dress attire.
It will be an incentive to not gain too much weight throughout the years.
"I can't eat that!!! I have to fit in a wedding dress in a month!"

I am a genious.

Why was this pose ever considered okay? Who is this girl?

No Cable? No Problem!

"The people at the conference this week made fun of us for not having cable." - Trey, to me
"Well, I make fun of us too." - me
"I told them we were never getting cable. It makes you dumb." - Trey, being dead serious.
Blank expression - me

Real men wear, and carry, PINK.

Trey puts up with a lot being married to me. There, I said it. I make him answer rediculous things ("Trey, would you be my friend if I couldn't walk, I could only skip everywhere I went?") and play rediculous games ("trey, on the count of three, let's dance to this song like they do on the video" and "trey, what if you could get pregnant? Like if someone said 'WE'RE pregnant' and the response is 'awww...which one is having the baby? the husband or wife?'")

This is another way he puts up with a lot: Pink luggage.
Now, I must confess, I do not LOVE the color pink (I know, it looks like I do, but I promise...it's not my favorite) but I do have really cute pink luggage (gift from my sister, Kristen).

So when Trey was packing for his trip to Nashville for the week, it seemed obvious to me that he should carry the pink luggage.
Afterall, his luggage is held up by ducktape. What a lucky man.

Pictures from the weekend...courtesy of Laura

We had a wonderful weekend! Henry got to meet my grandmother, his great-grandmother, for the first time. Everybody in the nursing home loved him (how could they not?)

Couldn't figure out how to turn the music off and it was getting on my nerves...click HERE to see the precious Henry!

AWWW...HOW EXCITING!!!

TRUE LIFE: I LOOK PREGNANT
Time: 10:30 am, Friday

Location: Hickman Hall 1st floor, USM campus
Audience: nearly all my co-workers.

"awww....how exciting!!" - said to me by the little lady with that cleans our building
"umm, ok. What is exciting? that it's Friday?" - me, awkwardly
"No! That you are PREGNANT!!!" - little cleaning lady
"WHAT? No I am not!" - me, looking around at my staring bosses
"Oh! Well, I am sorry! You look it in that shirt" - Little cleaning lady

No really. That happened. this morning. about 10 minutes ago. They laughed. I laughed. (awkwardly)

geeez.

Note to self: NEVER wear these trendy little jumper shirts again.

I am in it to win.

This is no longer a joke.

I must win this house.

I may be a little, um, dramatic, but this is the truth: According to this website there are criminals close to my current home and NOT my winning home. Have you ever seen "To Catch A Predator" on Dateline? Well, I have. We don't get cable ("it will be fun not having cable, we will communicate better and read more!" yeah, thanks for that, trey. ) Anyway, we do get NBC and ABC, so I watch Deal or No Deal and To Catch a Predator. And this is what I learn. AND I HAVE A DAUGHTER AT HOME ALONE!

So that along with the fact that our 1950's kitchen has only TWO outlets (really? And where do you suppose I should plug in my food processor?) , this new home is a must.
I am in it to win.

i am still full

Yesterday I mentioned that Trey and I were going to eat at my favorite restuarant, Sho-Ya and that we eat alot when we go there.


Well, Valentine's day was no different.


I ate SO much. Thank goodness those loose "maternity" looking shirts are instyle, cause it is needed. I am still full.


But I must say...very worth it. SO YUMMY. And how cute are the people that work there? So cute. We had reservations for 6:45 to sit at the Hibatchi grill. We sat next to this cute couple that I thought were juniors or seniors in high school. so I asked where they went to school. they were in college. they looked really young to me. Trey immediatly felt old when we got to talking to this girl and as it turns out Trey pledged Kappa Sig with her big brother when she was in about the 6th grade. Too funny. We left there (SO FULL) around 9 and what did Trey want??? BOPS. Yes...ice cream. Ok. I LOVE ice cream, but it was FREEZING and we just ate our weight in japanesse food. None-the-less, he pulled up at Bops for our "Valentine Dessert" moments after leaving Sho-Ya. "But, Heather, you are the one who taught me how to celebrate. Valentine's is a celebration."


HA! I will be celebrating when I put on that bathing suit in a month. The thought makes me cringe.


ahh...the joys of being a woman.



Anyway, I hope that you all felt loved by someone in someway yesterday and that you showed someone you love that you love them. (over-kill of the word "love". My apologies.)

Trey found this picture yesterday of us. It was our very first picture that we took together. We are at the Journey (a college church retreat) where we met. Our mutual friend, Russell (who is in divinity school at Candler...COME HOME!!!!) insisted that we take a picture together. So here you go: the first picture of Trey and Heather!

(sorry it's so small. Man, to have not known each other we sure are all huggy-huggy.)

Have a wonderful Thursday!! It's ALMOST the weekend!!!!

Oh how I love thee...let me count the ways

On this day of love, I will share a few things of which I am fond: (in no particular order)

1. chinese children ( I want one, but I will save this for another post)
2. Chrystal Light
3. Starkville
4. fresh notebook paper
5. crayons
6. babies (Henry)
7. puppies
8. strawberry cake with cream cheese icing
9. Spring and Fall
10. little old men (or fat old men. just old men in general. like really old)
11. dressing in costume. I wish everyday was like Homecoming week in highschool and swaps in college.
12. 5:00 on Fridays
13. Fergie (don't judge...she is fergilicous)

And on this day of anti-love, I would like to share a few things of which I am NOT fond: (in no particular order)
1. Math
2. Numbers
3. Driving in the rain
4. Bob Saget
5. Math

conversation hearts

Why do I eat these things? They are not even that good. Yet every year someone has a box and I eat them. Why? I hope you eat candy you enjoy today, and when given the opportunity, ALWAYS pass on the conversation hearts.


On a happy note, Trey and I are going to my FAVORITE restaurant in the 'burg...SHO YA.
It is amazing.
I LOVE Chinese people. This is a Japanese restaurant. I love them too, so it is fun. We always eat WAY to much when we go there so I am saving up for a big meal tonight!
Anyway,
HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY, EVERYONE!

Perhaps this will be the last post of the day...

ATTENTION, ATTENTION!
The BUTTS are now online! Read all about these two crazy Butts HERE!

Tricia, in her element, on her wedding day.

ON TO MY NEXT STORY:
Trey and I registered to win a house. I really think we are going to win, Trey thinks I am nuts. Yesterday they held an open house, so naturally I went to make sure our furniture will fit nicely in this home. They will.
SOOO....If you are feeling, how should I put it, charitable...you can go online and register to win. (under our name, of course) The last name is SKAGGS, two G's. Thanks! I am sure all of you will jump right on this. Especially you, Laura. There are more pictures online.
Here are a few photos of our soon-to-be home. (We will find out that we won in March)

I took pictures of the closets...This is only about half of the master closet. I could get use to this.

Part of the Master bath

I have blinds!

Trey surprised me last weekend with my early Valentine's present...WOODEN BLINDS! This may seem a little "non-Valentiney", but it is EXACTLY what I wanted! Plus, I am quite possible the most un-mushy Valentine girl ever. Just ask Laura. It drives her nuts.
So blinds as opposed to chocolate and roses??? PERFECT!!!!
Here are some pictures of Trey putting the blinds in our kitchen and bedroom.

One windown in our kitchen..

.And one window in the bedroom...

Come on in, Y'all!

This weekend Trey's parents came up to put in our new front door. this was very exciting for me since our old front door was plastic. YES...plastic. With a triangle piece of see-through pastic in the middle. WHY was this ever okay? Even in 1957 (when the house was built) pastic should never have been involved in the making of an exterior door. I am conviced that my 5 lb maltepoo could have torn down that door with one push. Luckily we were able to replace the old door with a BEAUTIFUL solid mahogony door that his parents recieved after Katrina. It is gorgeous! Trey and I are having so much fun putting work into this home. It is exactly what we wanted...an older home that needed a little TLC and then sell it in a couple of years. This door definately added some value. Here are some pictures from the weekend.

Ronnie putting in the glass
BYE-BYE plasic, HELLO safety!Trey and RonnieMy husband is such a handy man

THANKS, PEGGY AND RONNIE!!!!

It's beginning to look a lot like...

CHRISTMAS?
Yes, My husband has starting listening to Christmas music. It is February. Christmas is in December. Somehow "Baby, it's cold outside" and "have yourself a very merry Christmas" doesn't exactly have the same feeling when I have spring fever and am concentrating on the fact that I will be in a bathing suit in a month at the beach.
Just so you know, this is what I live with.

So, Have a Very Merry Christmas.

Mid-afternoon Chi update

(my late Chi)

First of all, thanks for your thoughts today. It has been hard and trying to concentrate on work during such a crisis is tough. I have managed some how.

BUT I HAVE GOOD NEWS:

I forced the husband to look at the blog (against his will) so that he could see exactly what kind of pain this has caused and just how many of you out there understand my feelings. Being the savy saver that he is, he advised me to look online for a cheaper Chi. And so my new chi was found and ordered. Wheww. A little more money to get it here faster was a must.

After one look at what my hair looks like without a Chi, Trey is convinced that I must do ALL that is possible to not allow this to happen again.

So that you might get a taste of what not only I am experiencing, but those around me have to see, here are a few pictures of how I look at work:

(no need for comments, please)
Thank goodness tomorrow is Friday. I need a break.

A Tale of A Chi

Ok...So, If you do not enjoy pity stories, you might want to skip this post.

However, if you are in the mood for a sad story, I suggest you continue. But I should warn you, it contains graphic detail.



Here it is:
Every morning it is the same things: ( I will bullet it for easier reading)

• Trey and I get up at 5:40 to work out (I HAD to put that in the story. This is a new thing, and I am pretty proud of this fact, so yes, I am bragging. this has nothing to do with the story)


• We get home about 6:45 and begin our morning routine of getting ready for work.


• Trey showers first while I play/feed Sophie and eat oatmeal


• After my shower I put my make-up on. (which is fun. I got Bobbi Brown for my birthday. Bobbi works wonders. Again, nothing to do with the tale, I am just trying to make myself feel better)


• 
  
  THEN.....I blow dry and straigten my hair. This is where the real story begins. I plug in my CHI and
  BOOM !
  it explodes. Yes, you heard correct. My chi died this morning. Fire sparks, black hands, the whole works. It even singed my ring. It was a sad/scary moment in the home of the Skaggs'.

Only, the story doesn't end there. I explain to Trey (in a panic, I might add) that I MUST get a new Chi ASAP. My hair simply doesn't work without this essential product. So he says (calmly, i might add) "It's ok. Just go to Wal-Mart and get one tonight. They are probably about $15 or $20, right?" AHHHHHH!!!!! Does he understand this tragedy? NO they are not $15 and YES my hair is horrible today.

So, I explain that CHI's cost more than that so he concludes that a Wal-greens brand of straigtners will suffice. Was he kidding??? Was this a joke???? I don't understand.

No, a wal-greens brand will not suffice. I must have a chi. And it must be soon.
So, the moral of the story....

1. 
   I am, in fact, a hair straightner snob


2. 
   
   It is best not to inform your husband of the cost of beauty (did I really just write that?)
   And, last, but not least,


3. 
   
   NEVER leave a CHI in the sight of a teething puppy. For she/he WILL indeed chew through the cord causing an exploison.
   
   Now...If you will....a moment of silence for my loss.