It's the Ultimate Party

I love a good party!  I've seen this banner/button on a few blogs, and SusanD.at This Day! is partying over on her blog.  So, I decided to check it out.  So, get your beverage of choice, finger foods, music, and let's get this party started!

Click on the button either at the top of this post or on my sidebar to find out all about it.  Since I'm new to blogging, this will introduce me to new blogger friends.  There's even a chance to win some free stuff!  To me, the only thing better than going to a party and meeting new people is coming away with some free stuff!

First and foremost, I'm a mom of 3 boys, 1 of whom (OS) has flown the nest and is in college.  Middle son (MS) will be flying in August, but he's staying close to home.  Youngest Son (YS) is still in high school.  We live in the SE U.S.A., in a small town in Tn.  after living in Ga. & SC.  We are living in the same small town (in fact, the same neighborhood) where I grew up, although I have never lived her as an adult until 6 years ago.  I come from a  large family (there are 10 of us), and most of my brothers  & sisters have moved back home.  I felt left out and thought it was time to come back home.  The town we live in is a wonderful place to raise children;  I'm extremely glad my husband was supportive of me to move home.  I guess it made it easier that he is a military brat who was used to moving around anyway, as oppose to me whose parents live in the same house that they've been in for 47 years.

I'm a full-time working mom; I love my job!  Working in a school system has its advantages (breaks & snow days!), and the kids keep me laughing.  That's what life should be all about:  laughing and being happy.  I used to play tennis in the summer with an "old ladies' group", but I'm going to take this summer off.  I love to read (I have so many books on my list but not enough time...especially since I've discovered blogging!), cook (the clean up:  not so much!), watch movies, go to hockey games (semi-pro), watch college football, college women's basketball (but only if a certain team is playing!), take my 2 little girls for walks in the park (as long as there aren't any other dogs in the park), and take rides in the mountains. 

As you may have guessed by the 9 siblings, I am a Catholic.  I am rediscovering my faith and struggling to be a faithful follower.  I'm very friendly, honest, and loyal.  I love learning about different cultures!  So, if you visit my blog, you may read about my boys, my dogs, my husband, high school sports, college sports, being an almost empty-nester, living in a small town, being Catholic in a small southern town, books, etc.  In other words, just a whole hodge-podge of things!

But, enough about me!  Hop on over to see what the noise is about at 5 Minutes for Mom:  The Ultimate Party Blog and meet some new friends!  Who knows, you may be one of the lucky ones who leaves with a prize!

As far as the prizes:
Of course my first choice is to win the Grand Prize:  a Toshiba laptop  from 5 Minutes for Mom  (Might as well dream big, right?).
My realistic top choices are:  Be My Guest Certificate (2 night stay) from Hilton Garden Inn, Soy Collection Moisturizing Candles Gift Set from Soy Delicious Moisture Candles, or a $100 Gift Certificate to Restaurant.com from Thrifty.Jinxy.
If I should happen to not win any of the above, here are my other choices in no particular order (from the US Continental Only Prize List):
28, 32, 36, 37, 49, 57, 70, 73, 74, 75, 82, 87, 88

Y'all have a good time and come back soon!