The Sweet Family

Matt's Graduation Formal

2011-01-17T12:20:00.004-05:00

Hard to believe in a couple months time, he will be graduating from:

Fort Chiswell High School
Max Meadows, VA

Home of the Pioneers!!!

HOKIES vs. Wake Forest

2011-01-17T12:17:00.002-05:00

Kristin and I cheesing it up at Lane Stadium while watching the HOKIES.

ebates.com

2011-01-17T08:36:00.002-05:00

Okay all you online shoppers, if you haven't been introduced to ebates.com then you are missing out.

Click the link to go to ebates, enter the store you are shopping with and see how much money you get back by simply shopping through ebates.com. YEP, that easy.

Whether I purchase items from Victoria Secret, Dicks Sporting goods or Walmart, I am given cash back for all my purchases.

3% on $100.00 is $3.00 in my ebates account!

If you are like me and are always looking for rebates and ways to save money, this is it! Not only do you shop in the convenience of your own home but you save on gas (since those costs are rising again as well) and your valuable time not being wasted by going to the store to find out they don't have your size or the color you wanted in the first place!

Enjoy the savings like I am!

Braceless

2010-05-28T14:31:00.001-06:00

I cannot believe that both of my children have gotten their braces off and are done with the Orthodontist; on a regular basis that is. Aside from the retainer checkups every couple months, they are done. Kristin already got her widom teeth out last July 4 and Matt is getting ready to get his out.

One great thing about Matt getting his braces off, SENIOR PORTRAITS!!! YEP, it is now that time. This is the first of probably many posts I will add to keep everyone posted on my first born and his high school senior year. I know it is going to be a crazy one and I am already getting weepy eyed on a regular basis! Whats a mother to do? I am so proud yet so sad that my baby is all grown up! Kristin starts high school in the fall and will get her license this time next year...YIKES!!!

Hokies win the Chick-Fil-A Bowl

2010-01-05T17:01:00.004-05:00

JD celebrating a HOKIE touchdown. Even our black lab Max got into the HOKIE spirit!

All because two people fell in love. . . .

2009-12-29T09:04:00.003-05:00

Wow, where has the time gone? I cannot believe that today my husband and I celebrate 19 years of wedded bliss.

Please enjoy the picture from our wedding day. I am more than proud of this picture because my husband and I basically paid for everything ourselves. My mom did make all of the food for the reception but that is pretty much it. We did it all.

Happy Anniversay JD!
I Love you!

Kristin's new hairdo....

2009-12-08T16:09:00.001-05:00

First Winter Snow pics!

2009-12-08T16:05:00.003-05:00

World AIDS Day

2009-12-01T14:52:00.005-05:00

A day that is so close to my heart. A disease that hits closer to home than many will ever know.

A walk back to February 7, 1992, the death of my favorite Uncle. What... he died of what? What the hell is AIDS? Why didn't he tell us he was dying? Dammit.... he is too young to die. Dammit, I feel cheated, he didn't get to meet his niece and nephew; my children.

No cure, nothing they can do except give you your t-cells count and death would soon be knocking on your door. You hid everything from your family as you felt it would ease our pain; WRONG! I so wanted to be there for you. Dammit, you cheated my emotions. I still long for you, cry thinking about your kind soul and those warm eyes that I know you would use to communicate with me.

You were considered an outcast, a freak, a disease, a queer, a fag... no, you were my Uncle and I loved you so. I loved the fact that you found love as you saw fit, that makes me proud to know I was related to you.

To my dear Uncle, Thomas C. Jackson, I will see you on the other side and boy will we have so much to catch up on.

I love and miss you more and more everyday.

Happy Thanksgiving

2009-11-25T10:31:00.001-05:00

Enjoy the Thanksgiving holiday like this is the last.

Love, The Sweet Family

New Moon, Fort Chiswell Pioneers and the HOKIES!

2009-11-23T16:44:00.005-05:00

This past weekend was probably one of the busiest weekends I have had in a long time. I didn't really see my house until Sunday.

Thursday night, Kristin and I ventured to Christiansburg, VA to see New Moon. Regal Cinemas deserves an award for being the most organized I have ever seen. Upon arriving at 10:00pm ish, I showed my Fandango tickets and we were immediately sent to our assigned theatre - Aud12. We were allowed to immediately enter the Auditorium and begin our wait for the 12:01am showing. After about 10 minutes of being seated, in comes a refreshment cart! What? It comes to me? Awesome. I wanted a popcorn with butter but all of the popcorn on the cart was plain. Believe it or not, the wonderful girl uses her headset to call for a medium popcorn with butter to be brought to Aud 12 (to me). Less than 2 minutes, I had my corn. AMAZING! It was warm and yummy! (of course I was still full from Red Robin but I let it marinade until the movie started. You know what I mean, waiting for the butter to begin coagulating! MMMM MMMM . . . I could hear my arteries gasping..

The auditorium I was in was nicknamed by me as an all girls dorm at Va. tech. TONS and TONS of college girls. I think there were 3-4 guys and I know I was the oldest one in there. My daughter fell asleep during the movie for about 15 minutes but then awakened for the excitement at the end. I absolutely LOVE the Twilight series and New Moon was excellent. I honestly cannot wait until Eclipse.

Here are Kristin and I before leaving for the movie. I am so ready to see it again. I will probably wait about a week or so before going again!
Last Friday night we went for some more Friday Night Lights at Chilhowie High School for playoffs. Fort Chiswell beat Chilhowie and will host Radford High School this Friday Night. Blackout at the FORT! Go PIONEERS!!!

Last Saturday we headed to Virginia Tech for the last football home game of the season against NC State. We had a blast. We tailgated in Chicken Hill and got to spend some quality time with a distant member of our family . . . The Hokie bird!

Lots and Lots going on!

2009-11-19T17:00:00.002-05:00

I hope to post lots of pics and stories after this exciting and well needed weekend.

No work tomorrow...woo hoo!!!

Thursday night/Friday Morning: New Moon with Kristin and my coworker Angie and her daughter.

Friday Night: Fort Chiswell High School takes on Chilhowie High School as they continue in the Regional playoffs!!! GO PIONEERS!!!

Saturday: Lane Stadium. GO HOKIES!!!

Everyone have a great weekend; Thanksgiving is coming and Winchester bound for the day I will be.

My new favorite song

2009-10-30T14:27:00.003-05:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aI4JLa0hbUw

This is my new favorite song....

Fireflies by Owl City

Another fav is Justin Bieber and One time! Such a little cutie!

Kristin Lizabeth

2009-10-29T12:11:00.002-05:00

2009-2010 School year: 8th grade

It is so hard for me to believe that 14 years ago tonight at midnight, I work up with contractions. After pacing and trying to convince myself that this was the moment for her arrival, I woke my husband and said the proverbial, "Honey, its time".

We proceeded to pack a bag for me; which I had not done. I grabbed my baby bag and put them in the car. I came back to wake up my 2 1/2 year old son for his unexpected trip to Grandma's; at 12:30am.

We arrived at Winchester Medical Center (pre Valley Health Systems) at 12:45am and at 1:14am, Kristin Lizabeth Sweet was born!

Happy 14th birthday Kristin!
We love you!!!

2009-10-16T16:30:00.001-05:00

Try JibJab Sendables® eCards today!

Closing our Pond

2009-10-12T08:01:00.007-05:00

It is that time of year when we have to close our pond down due to the onset of cold weather. Fall is here and honestly, I think old man winter is trying to cramp his style!

After my husband and son put the netting over the pond; saying goodbye and goodnight until next Spring, a furry little creature began exploring. We have these caterpillars (I have always called them woolly bears) all over the place. Its like it is the invasion of the Woolly Bears! They are all over the ground, the carport and our steps leading into the house. Kristin stepped on one yesterday and boy what a big mess something so little and cute can make! I have always heard that the colors of the woolly bear predict the winter to come. The longer the black segments on the ends of the caterpillar, the harsher the coming winter. It looks like to me, not a harsh winter at all. Good thing the brown doesn't signify the winter to come; we would get slammed.

We also noticed that another one of our pond inhabitants had made it above the netting!

Lastly, a picture of the sunrise last week. I stepped outside just before leaving for work and could not believe what I was seeing. It truly looks like the sky is on fire . . .. simply beautiful!

Burgermeister, MeisterBurger . . .

2009-10-06T08:28:00.007-06:00

My son's sole responsibility at Wendy's is making burgers.

Numerous things come to mind, the Burgermeister, Cheeseburger Eddie (the Longest Yard), just to name a few. . .

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n7gR0dj9X6o

Things I did not know about Wendys:

- Their burgers really are NEVER frozen.
- They are cooked in a press and take approximately 45 seconds to a minute to cook!
- Mustard is squeezed on in the shape of a W
- Ketchup is spread on with a spatula
- Each burger only gets 2 pickles. If you get more than 2, you got something free!
- Chili is actually made at the restaurant.

Now, I am sure you are so enlightened that you simply must visit Wendy's for a fresh never frozen burger. Remember it is Wendy's 40th Anniversary.

Matt working at Wendy's

2009-10-05T07:22:00.003-06:00

Here are two pics we managed to get just before he got off of work.

He was a little miffed because he had to work on Friday night during the Blackout at "The Fort". It was the rival game of the Fort Chiswell Pioneers vs. the George Wythe Maroons. After 13 years (last Pioneers win against the Maroons was 1996) the FORT CHISWELL PIONEERS prevailed!

There were over 4,000 people at this game. I think it may have been the entire Wythe County population....hehehe just kidding!

We were nice parents and sent him quarterly text updates. After he got off work at 10:15pm, he headed to the school ( 5 minutes from work) to celebrate with his classmates!

After midnight, Matt and Seth came to the house to fill us in on all the fun! (Sitting in the parking lot recanting all of the big plays of the night with random football players).

Seeing your Son happy is the most priceless thing ever!

BFFF - Matt & Seth

2009-10-05T07:19:00.003-06:00

Matt and his bestest friend in the world - Seth.

(the sad part, Seth is a Senior and Matt is a Junior. . . It has been so tough already).

I swear these two share the same brain!!!Here they are making fun of all the Fort Chiswell girls and their "My Space" photos.

Welcome to the workforce!

2009-09-22T14:30:00.004-06:00

Well, it has become time to introduce my son to the workforce. He has been diligently looking for a job since he turned 16 in April. He has applied at so many places it was beginning to become very frustrating for him: No, were not hiring. No, were good for right now. Thanks but were not hiring.... the same scenario for lots and lots of people. Well, good ole' mom decided to apply for him online and got him the start. He called to follow up on the online position and low and behold, he got a job!!! He is so excited. (SUCKER). Well, he is excited about getting a bank account and not having to always ask mom and dad for gas money, spending money, etc... He truly wants to work and I couldn't be more proud.

Happy Birthday JD

2009-09-18T07:09:00.003-06:00

Happy Birthday to my husband today!
He is 42 years young!!!

Dirty Dancing

2009-09-16T11:11:00.002-06:00

I just found out that I live within 1 hour of the resort where Dirty Dancing was filmed . . Mountain Lake (Smith Mountain Lake) http://www.mtnlakehotel.com/

Now I have a great reason to go visit.

Visit the site, it is for some very interesting reading about the lake.

Patrick Swayze

2009-09-15T06:48:00.004-06:00

R.I.P. Patrick Swayze

Well always remember that no one puts baby in a corner!!!

Wasp happening?

2009-09-14T15:28:00.002-06:00

JD was stung two weeks ago mowing near the bushes that line our driveway but we just thought he rustled up a few and they showed their frustration by stinging the shit out of him!

Well, he was getting ready to mow again yesterday and took a look at the bushes near the driveway and low and behold, look what he found . . . While JD sprayed it with bee killer then we cut it out of the bush and torched it! No more stings from this hive.

HOKIES!!!

2009-09-14T08:55:00.005-06:00

The Sweet Family headed to Lane Stadium in Blacksburg, VA for the Virgina Tech HOKIES football game.

The HOKIES beat Marshall "The Thundering Herd" 52 - 10. In case anyone doesn't know, this is the team the movie We are Marshall (with Matthew Maconaughey).

The weather was amazing and we just could not have asked for a better day! We arrived early to visit the University Bookstore www.bookstore.vt.edu then headed for the Drill field where the memorial is for all of the students that lost their lives on April 16, 2007.

JD is standing just above the memorial watching the Highty Tighties in the far distance practicing. The picture beside him is the picture of them performing.

There was a Stealth Bomber flyover in honor of all the lives lost during 9-11. This is the best picture I could get because that sound just scares the crap out of me.

And finally, Kristin and I posing during 4th Quarter. The end was nearing but we were still very happy HOKIES (until I got to the car and saw my sunburned face).

It is so funny that everyone says she looks like me but I just don't see it that much. She actually looks and acts more and more like her daddy everyday!