Trip To DFW Part 3--A Stud & Some Grafitti

John and I are definitely different. If you've spent any time around us, you know exactly what I'm talking about. Try to put us in a box and we'll find a way out of it. We might even decorate the box just for fun after we've escaped. haha
Anyway, this trip to DFW was, as I've already stated, very relaxing. After spending most of our day Saturday at Hurricane Harbor, we had great long naps and then had some free time that evening. What do John and Melissa do when they have free time and nowhere to be? Two words should say it:
TATTOO PARLOR
That's right ladies and gentlemen. Even in lovely DFW, we heard the call of the wild. It actually took us to 2 different tattoo parlors. Don't be freaking out just yet. It's not THAT bad.
John and I have been planning a tattoo each for about 6 months now. Actually, I've had 3 in mind, but I'm to the point to where I have to scale it back a bit or I will resemble Kat Von D. Just kidding Mom. :)
We knew that this certain tattoo each of us wanted was gonna be hard to accomplish. There are a lot of tattoo artists that won't even agree to it, just because it's a tad on the difficult side. Figuring that since we were in DFW, there would be at least 1 artist that would jump at the chance.
That takes us to tat parlor #1: we walk in and ask if there is an artist in the house that would like to grafitti us--nope. Feeling kind of cranky that none agreed, I just decided to get a piercing instead. Last minute decisions are the bomb! haha Anywho, we left that parlor with the name and address of another place that would do what we requested, and I had myself a new nose stud!
Isn't that fun?!?
Ok, on to tat parlor #2: we walk in and immediately found an artist that would do what we were wanting. After about 10 minutes each in the chair and a very minimal amount of pain, we walk out with these...
We figured that nothing says "Happy 10th Anniversary and I Love You" like permanent wedding rings. *insert big grin here* They can be covered at any time with our regular wedding rings if we so choose, and they are a great alternative to massively expensive diamonds. It's just our special way of showing our love and commitment to one another, and I couldn't be more pleased. Since they are so difficult for a tattoo artist to do and do perfect the first time, we will eventually have to go get them touched up. That part of the skin takes ink differently, so it may be a month or more before they are just right. Oh yeah--they don't go all the way around. The skin on the underside of the finger sloughs too quickly to ever permanently hold ink. Just a little FYI there.
So yes, we had a splendid vacation--but we are glad to be home!

Trip To DFW Part 2

While we were away, Mimi, Pappaw, and Grandma Duke took care of the small fries. That was my only concern--that the kids would be tazmanian devils and the grandparents would call us the first night and demand that we return home. :)
The great thing about it all was that Mimi & Pappaw had everything planned out ahead of time. The kids were going to attend CAMP MIMI & PAPPAW. They even had shirts made for this "camp." When we went to visit them the night before we left, Mimi gave the kids each a gigantic Hershey bar to eat, and inside was a golden ticket! The kids had to bring their tickets so they could get in to camp (FYI--the golden ticket idea came from Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory--the movie that the kids have been watching lately. Each ticket Mimi made said the same thing the tickets on that show said) Very cute idea Mimi!
Also, they had set up different activities for each area of the camp. They were areas like crafts, food, exercise, etc. Each child had a chart to keep up with, and they could win prizes as the camp went along. Apparently it worked great. Each kid came home with a ton of loot and smiles on their faces!
A funny story from their "camp":
Mimi let the kids play dress up in her closet. Christian wanted to be a cop like Pappaw, so he dressed up in Pappaw's uniform shirt and boots. The next morning, Pappaw called Mimi from work and asked if the kids had been in the closet. When Mimi told him that they had played dress up, he explained why that was a problem---apparently Christian took all of the laces out of his boots, hid the belt, and then stuck a piece of gum inside the uniform shirt. Pappaw was almost late to work trying to find all of his gear. Then, he noticed that his uniform shirt was stuck to his undershirt--fun stuff!! Note to self: don't give Christian gum, and don't let the kids play dress up with important clothing! :)
Caitlin and Christian also got to have a lemonade stand. They actually made good money at it too! When I saw their baggies full of cash and coins, I immediately began to scheme and plan the next lemonade stand--one here in front of our house. Caroline got to watch and sample the goods, but she didn't make any money.
Lastly, the kids had a fun July 4th picnic in Mimi & Pappaw's backyard. Mimi let them get as messy as they pleased with the watermelon. Then, the 2 older ones got to go to see the fireworks with Mimi while Caroline and Pappaw hung out at the house. I think it was all a total success, so thank you again to the grandparents for watching the babies for us!!

Be watching for Part 3 tomorrow---there are definitely some reveals coming your way!! :)

A Trip Down Memory Lane....And To DFW (Part 1)

Hello all! I know this post is long overdue, but please forgive me. I have been waiting on pictures, time to blog, etc. Something about having 3 small children hanging on me 24/7---it's tough to find time alone to do anything. Right now I think they are extra clingy because Momma and Daddy have been MIA for several days.
We celebrated our 10th anniversary on July 3rd. In ways it seems like it has taken forever to get to this milestone. In other ways, it seems like we were newlyweds just last week. I can't say it's been an easy time, but I am so thankful for every second we have had together. Here is our little trip up and down memory lane! :)
*yes, it's another one with sound!*

Make an on-line slide show at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Now about our trip to Dallas/Fort Worth...

We had such a relaxing, rejuvenating, exciting time! It was so weird to think that we had no other responsibility other than ourselves for a few days. We rented a car--got a Pontiac G6 which was a hot little number for sure--and took off toward DFW Thursday around noon. We took our precious time getting there, and the first thing we did was go shopping at Grapevine Mills Mall. I tell ya what, that's some gooooooooood shoppin' folks! John and I walked around the whole mall twice, and then we slowed down to shop. After cleaning out Old Navy, Gap, and a few other places, we stopped at the Rainforest Cafe to have our anniversary dinner. It was super yummy!! The best part was the dessert. It was called the Volcano, and it was made of about 5 huge pieces of chocolate cake, several dips of vanilla ice cream, and whipped cream on top--all in the shape of a volcano. When they bring it to you, it has a lit sparkler on top too. VERY COOL!
After dinner there, we made our way to the hotel and crashed for the night. Oh yeah--look what was waiting for us on the table every evening!
Friday we decided to spend some time with our wonderful friends Sheridan and Doug. They were so sweet to have us over, cook us dinner, and chat it up for several hours. Their kiddos were gone to the grandparents' house as well, so we had a great time just chillin' and visiting. After we left their house, we watched the fireworks at Six Flags (which was literally right across the street from us!). Such a laid back 4th of July I tell ya!
We spent the majority of Saturday at Hurricane Harbor-the water park next to Six Flags. It was HUGE!! There were so many great (and scary) rides, but we had to wait at least an hour PER RIDE, so we ended up waiting more than riding. Oh well. :) The one thing I would suggest if you are ever going to go to Hurricane Harbor---WEAR SANDALS of some sort. Our feet felt like fried pieces of bologna by the end of the day. I swear, the hot pavement melted through 3 layers of skin! At one point, I was carrying a drink and had to pour some of it out on the pavement just to give my feet some relief and be able to continue walking! It was great fun though, and John even got me to ride some of the big stuff that scared me half to death. Hard to believe, I know. :)

Check back tomorrow for more details about the trip---and MORE PICTURES!!

Howdy From The Haskells!

John and I are having a complete blast in DFW on our anniversary trip! :) I have been wanting to post pics, but we would have to pay for internet access at the hotel---the only way I'm even posting this is because we came to visit my friend Sheridan (woopee!!!) and she let me access her wireless network. Isn't she sweet?!? As soon as we return, be sure that I will post about what we've been doing and have pics to prove it all. My wonderful parents and grandma are wrangling the kids while we are gone--please say a prayer for their sanity, for I know it can get crazy around our casa.

Thanks Mom, Dad, & Grandma--you're the best! We are feeling so relaxed right now, probably how you guys are gonna feel once we step through that door on Sunday and relieve you. Ha!

As long as the furniture is still in place and the hamsters are alive, I guess we can call it a success. ROFL....Love you!

Leave It To A Muskrat

I think I just read the most hilarious news story ever. Ok, really it's sad--not so much funny. No wait-----it's FUNNY. :)
The title of the story is "Burrowing muskrat causes levee to fail in Missouri."
Here's an excerpt:
The furry rodent dug a hole through the earthen levee in this eastern Missouri community, allowing water to penetrate the floodwall, which failed shortly before dawn.
"It's so disappointing," said Linda Wilmesherr as she peered through binoculars at water pouring through a gap that appeared to be 30 feet wide. "With all the guns in this county, couldn't we kill a muskrat?"
I'll just post the link so you can read the whole story. After all, how does an animal weighing only 5lbs outsmart the Army Corps of Engineers' dam safety expert?!?

(click on this link)
NEWS STORY ABOUT BURROWING MUSKRAT