Wow...it's been a while

I can't believe its been this long since I've last posted.

Not too much new going on here...kids started school in August. Hayden is in 2nd grade this year and homework is not near as much fun as it used to be. Abby is in 1st grade and already "knows everything". She's had to learn a few lessons on listening to her parents direction with homework....I have no idea where she gets it from that she thinks she just knows it all and doesn't need help. No idea at all.

We LOVE both of the kids teachers...we're in a new school this year and we couldn't be happier.

Hayden is playing baseball and won the game ball on Sunday. It's amazing to me how much he's improved (considering he has his mama's athletic skills). We're having fun with it, but I personally cannot wait for it to be over. It's so hectic with church, small group, ball, school....there's just not enough hours in the day.

I am working on getting my jewelry business back in the swing of things...when I took the new position at the Credit Union the jewelry kind of got put on hold. Now I feel like the stresses of the new job have died down enough that I can focus on my jewelry again--well, once b-ball is over anyways. :) I do feel a renewed passion for it and believe that I need to be using this gift the way I believe God is leading. I'm excited to see where it goes.

Ummm...I also realized that I have not put pictures up from Hayden's birthday--I kind of dropped the ball on the blog thing for a while...but if your a fb friend then you've already seen the pictures. If your not a fb friend...go add me because I do much better posting pictures there than I do here. :)

Abby's Birthday Pictures

Since today is Hayden's birthday, I figured I'd better get Abby's pictures up here so that I can post his sometime in the hopefully near future. :) I can't believe how quickly both the kids are growing up...I keep saying that but with each year, it just amazes me. Abby's pictures include a few shots from her actual birthday and then from her "friend party" which she had at a gymnastics place and it was a blast for the kids.

#5

One thing I left out of my 30 second update on the last post...which I cannot believe I did it because it is the most important thing that has happened and will ever happen in our son's life...on May 26th, Hayden, in his words "asked Jesus into his heart."

Hayden played for the Cardinals this past baseball season...he was #5. Albert Pujols plays for the St. Louis Cardinals...He is #5. Hayden told me he really liked him (I thought it was because they shared the same number)...but no, you know why Hayden likes Albert Pujols? In his words, "Mom, you know what?" No, what? "I like the Cardinals #5 (I don't think he can say his last name) because he is a big time Christian...just like me, Mom. He plays baseball and he is a big time Christian."

I thought that was pretty cool. Welcome to the big league, son...

30 seconds to catch up the last month or so...

I know...I know...I've been so behind. When I say its been busy, it's been busy! So, I'm going to try to do a short version recap of what our life has looked like since I last posted....Here goes:

~We moved to a new house (love it) over Mother's Day weekend...
~Friday-the day we moved-I ran over some metal stake and yanked the muffler away from the
catalyc converter--thankful for our wonderful friend Mr. Gordon who was helping us move and also ended up fixin my car.
~I got mono at that same time of the move (literally two days before the move I started getting sick)-no I had not been kissing anyone other than my hubby.
Took a few weeks to rebound, hated it...do not like being sick at all.
~Hayden played ball...Abby watched Hayden play ball
~Mimi came to visit over Memorial Day
~School's out (cannot believe the year is over-how did that happen??)
~Baseball season is over, Hayden had improved quite a bit. This season was much more competitive--Dad liked, Mom not so much. :)
~Abby's 6th Birthday was yesterday, (more to come on that in the next post)
~The kids leave for TX on Wednesday to hang out with grandparents and cousins, already regretting signing up for this...I have a pit in my stomach thinking about them leaving but I know they'll have fun.
~Kids are starting a new daycare for the summer which we're so excited about when they get back from TX.
~James and I celebrate the big 10 this Friday!!

That's about it. I'll download pictures of Abby's Birthday and maybe some baseball and get them uploaded on here as soon as possible (like within the next week hopefully)

Our Girls Weekend...

While the boys went on their trip to Talladega the girls stayed home and had our own little girls only weekend.

We started off Friday night by ordering pizza, making brownies for ice cream sundaes, and watching movies while putting on press on nails. (I'm a big fan of press on nails for the little girl...no drying time, no mess, and they pop right off when we're done!!)
We watched 3 movies that night...Hannah Montana (I'm a secret fan of...except not a secret anymore since I just posted it on the blog), Pheneas & Ferb, and The Tale of Despereux (very cute). Abby went to sleep around 11:30...I started reading The Shack, bawled like a baby--ugly cried at a few parts, picked the sleeping girl up and held her for almost an hour...fell asleep at around 2:30am. Thought I was going to get to FINALLY sleep in...but noooo, Ab woke me up at about 8am. (I guess that is sleeping in for me since I usually am rolling out of bed at 5:30)...anyway, made a KK (Krispy Kreme) run...watched the last of our movies (Little Mermaid-The Beginning)...and then started our second round of baking.
Sunday was a work day for us because unfortunately packing for the move does not go on hold just because of girls weekend. So we went thru her toys and have them all organized for goodwill and the house. We were very productive.

We had a wonderful, great, awesome, fun weekend. I love doing the boy/girl stuff from time to time...its just nice to be able to hang out with each child and give them special attention.
Enjoy the pictures!

Talladega!

Here's some pictures from the boy's trip to Talladega. Hayden, James and Grandpa Jim had a GREAT time. They saw an awesome race and I'm sure they will never forget this weekend. I'm so glad they were able to share it together.

Hayden was given a lug nut by one of the Nascar Official's from an actual race car. You would think it's gold!! He also painted his own wooden stock car and raced it against other kids' cars...he won one of the races. He's still walking on cloud 9!

My Papa George

Since my grandmother (aka Mama B) passed away back in '05 we did not think my grandfather, (aka Papa George), would live much longer after that. In fact, I was surprised that it was Mama B who went before him. But Papa George was stubborn...and we think he and his Aunt were in a silent competition to see who'd outlast the other (she's 97)...she won.

Honestly, I always thought that when Papa George died it wouldn't hit me that hard because he'd lived such a long life (91 years for crying out loud!!!) and he'd experienced a good life. A very good life. So it took me by surprise the reaction I felt. I mean, people, I ugly cried at the funeral...UGLY CRY...come on! I cried at my grandmothers funeral as well...but I thought it was because my sister was sitting next to me bawling her eyes out. Ummm...no, I guess not because this time she couldn't be there--so it was just me sitting there bawling my eyes out.

It wasn't so much the fact that he'd died...because in reality he was finally getting to live again. We believe beyond a shadow of a doubt he is in Heaven where he is no longer confined to his ailing aged body. I think why it hit me so hard is that a chapter of our life has closed...one chapter that held very special memories. I think that's what I mourned...I mourned the past.

My grandparents were such special people. I was more like my Mama B...(yes, Mom I just admitted that)...she was creative and funny and liked to be around people.
My Papa George was quiet, he did amazing woodwork...tinkered with things to make in the garage...he was loyal to his friends and his work. He worked for Nabisco for 39 years and they would NEVER buy competition...NEVER.
He served our country in World War II and was given military honors at the gravesite...we have a flag and that's something I treasure.
Did I mention though, he's stubborn? I get that from him. I'm very much like Mama B...but I'm just as hard headed as Papa George.
My grandparents were different in many ways, but I think that's what made their marriage work the way it did--they weren't outwardly lovey dovey when it came to their feelings for each other but they were committed to one another, they took care of each other--they showed their love thru actions not just in words.
I do have to mention this because I think its funny...while my Mom and my Aunt were growing up in the house my Mama B and Papa George had two separate twin size beds...not until Mom and Aunt Carolyn moved out did they put the beds together. I think it's hilarious.
My grandfather lived on the same street in Orlando for 87 years. I can't fathom that since I've moved to 9 different cities/areas, lived in 17 different houses/apts etc in my life. My Mama B had to live two houses down from her Mother-In-Law...whew...(just kidding Joni!)

My grandparents always made my brother, sister and I a priority--we were their only grandkids....and they loved us so much. They drove from Florida to Texas numerous times to take care of us when my parents would go on Mission Trips, Ski Trips, Vacations...okay, just kidding...most of the time my parents did not leave us at home while they took a vacation although maybe they should have. We had so much fun when they came to visit--always a new adventure.

We really do have great memories of Mama B and Papa George that will stay with us the rest of our lives. We cherish those memories...