Working with the boys

So today I had a full dy of sessions and since Brandon is working at Home Stead Hollow and my mom is out of town it means the boys are coming with me.  I love it when they get to though, we always have a good time and since it is Saturday and we will be on Morris Avenue it means a trip to the Peanut Depot, which always makes it worth it to the boys! 
Uncle Kenny met me there and picked up Danny.  He was surprised to learn that he was going to the Auburn game.  He was super excited.  He loves going.  Thank you so much Uncle Kenny for taking him and making these vry special memories.  Auburn was playing Georgia and unfortunately they lost, bad.  Danny had a good time though.  This was his first all SEC game so it was special.
After my sessions John Michael and I went to lunch and we went to the Dollar Tree, it was his treat for being such a big help while I worked.
Danny got home about midnight and was exhausted.  He had a great time though.
It has been a great Saturday.

First Load

Well, we got the first load ready to take to the new house, we are just ready to close so we can take it.  Brandon and Danny loaded the trailer completely.  Corey, we promise we will have the trailer to you as soon as the move is over.  It seemed easier just to pack it tight and then unload once we get there.  You have been a life saver for letting us use it, I am so sorry we have not been able to get it unpacked before now.  The motivation is different now so it should happen quickly.   We seriously owe you big time, thank you again.

My toe is still seriously killing me.  I am not a fan of pain, and I have a lot of that happening right now.  Typically I have a pretty high threshold, but this is not even fun. 

We headed to the new house to find that they had done a lot, but also made some bigger messes.  For instance mom's bedroom closet door has a HUGE hole in it.  We are down to less than a week and we still have no blinds, no screens, a leaky faucet and an air conditioner that is not working.  Grrrrrr!!!!

Welcoming July

So today is July 1st which is exciting for so many reasons. 
The first is that if everything goes as planned we close in 15 days!  Praying for smooth sailing from here on out.  So ready to be at our new home.  I am so ready to enjoy the house, the new beginnings that I feel are coming with it.  I am so ready to enjoy the pool with my family, and I am ready to meet all of the great neighbors.  So far I am loving the ones that we have!  I am just ready to be HOME!  We actually did not go to the house today, we had so much to do and we knew that they would probably not have done anything so we are waiting till tomorrow.  This took some serious self control.
Second July is when my sweet baby, Danny, turns 9.  I cannot believe that I have a nine year old boy.  He is such an amazing kiddo and he is so excitd about his birthday.  If all goes as planned we will be moved in and his party will be at the pool. 
Another reason is it is the middle of the summer, which is my favorite time of the year.  I love the heat, the family, the friends, just everything! 
We headed to Beth's today to get some boxes from her and Brandon!  Thank you guys so much!  They are perfect and already holding a lot of our office stuff.  In fact the desk is emptied and the craft shelf is emptied, which is a HUGE step towards moving out.  Thank you so much.  We love you guys!
We did take the boys to Whataburger today.  The men in my house love it, I could leave it but it was a treat for them and they have all been working hard. 

Well, I am off too bed.  I have listed on eBay, written two papers, packed up a HUGE bag for Hannah Home, packed up some things to mail out, paid a bill or two, caught up on my blog, and done a load of laundry, all in the past hour.  Now I am ready for bed, since I have to be up in a few to get started again! 

I hope that you all have an amazing week! 

Happy Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is a great day for so many reasons.
We start the day every year by watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. One of these days we will go to New York and watch it in person. I have wanted to since I was a little girl and I really want to make it happen for my boys.
I usually am running on little to no sleep because I am up all night cooking and getting ready to have everyone over. I love it though.
This year was probably the last year that I do it though for a few. I am tired of people acting like it is such a horrible thing for me to have it at my house. Sorry just a little bitter. I will deal though, and it will all work out. Somehow what I try to make a tradition seems to be a tragedy for others. Oh well, one day it will all work out.
The food today was yummy and almost completely gone. Usually there are leftovers for days but these will be gone in no time.
I have so much to be thankful for.
My amazing husband
My wonderful baby boys (who are not really babies anymore)
My career as a photographer picking up rapidly
The amazing school and church that we are a part of.
Family, and Friends.
Every day is a blessing and I am thankful for all of the blessings that we receive daily.

Haunted Cubs

So today was a pretty good day, while I was nowhere near as productive as I would have liked, it was all good though.

It started with the school Mass with the boys. Today's mass focused on listening to the many voices of God and how He sends us messages in many ways. It was a great message and I was super proud of the boys and the fact that they were able to tell me what Fr. Bob said.

As surgery day is getting closer John Michael is starting to get scared. It breaks my heart. I just keep reassuring him that his ear doctor is great and that Mom and Dad will be right there. It was so much easier when he did not realize what was happening. My sweet baby boy.

John Michael ended the day with a green face, which made me so proud. He is such a sweet boy and just has to learn that he cannot always have it his way.

So I have decided that I will learn how to coupon. I do not know that I will ever been an extreme couponer, but I have to be able to save money and to be able to help others would be nice. First step, remembering to get a Sunday paper.

So tonight was the Cub Scout Pack meeting, which was a Halloween party. We wanted the boys' to have a good time and get to wear their costumes. It was a great meeting. We made goody bags for all of the kids, and I want to thank the parents for all bringing candy to add to them. It is always nice to know that everyone helped out. The bags were full!! Thanks to everyone who helped me get them stuffed too! I had done what I could at home, but getting them finished up was concerning me. Thanks to the amazing parents that we have it was done without any problems.

Well, I am off to bed. Know that you are all in my prayers. Brandon is taking the boys' to school in the morning so hopefully I will be VERY productive.

Wild About Scouting

So Wednesday arrived with a vengeance. I have so many photographs to edit, as well as so much work for school, and in the house well I am feeling slightly overwhelmed. Tonight was scout night so I had to be prepared.

The boys had an amazing day at school. John Michael was back on track with green smiley faces, and that always makes me happy. Danny said that he was busy all day but that it was a great day. Hearing how much my boys like school and are enjoying learning truly makes me really happy. I am so proud of both of them.

We got home and it was hurry up and get homework done. As soon as they were done we were back out the door. Headed to get gas (sort of need that to go anywhere) and then to St. Francis for Scout Night.

We were there about 5:30 and had everything set up and ready to go when the scouts arrived at 6:00. I am super pumped about our 8 new boys. Welcome to Pack 357! This is going to be a great year and I planned to start it off right. With Brandon Cub Master and Bear Den Leader and myself as a Committee Member and Treasurer to say I am involved in the planning is an understatement. We have a lot of new ideas for this coming year.

Tonight we kicked off with Ed's Pet World coming and bringing some really amazing friends! We had snakes, lizards, an alligator, tarantula, scorpion, hissing cock roach, and a bird. It was so much fun. I have not held a snake since I was little and that took some serious courage, but tonight I did it again. Better than that is that Brandon, who has a serious snake phobia held one. It was great and I was super proud that he did it for the boys! All I have to say is that sucker was heavy and the guys from Ed's Pet World were holding the other ends of him...needless to say he was a big sucker! I truly appreciate them coming out, it was great and the boys had a wonderful time. I think that the parents did too and so did any other children who came to visit. It was great and while snakes will not be at all of the pack meetings, I hope to have the excitement level just as fun!

Well, the boys are in bed and I am headed there soon. Know that you are all in my thoughts and prayers! Bring a little excitement into your child's life and it will last a lifetime!

Weekend is Over

Well today we woke up again to the amazing sights, smells, sounds, etc of the lake. It was great. Brandon cooked breakfast again. I think his desire to cook while we are there is another reason that I like it so much ;)

We spent the rest of the morning and into the afternoon swimming and soaking up some serious sun. Margie made us a great little flower bed around one of our trees. I love it! Thank you thank you thank you Margie. We had some hosta that the previous owners had in a pot (that was broken) and it has just been hanging out. She asked if we cared if she planted it. Of course we did not. Now to get some easy to maintain flowers and add them and we are well on our way to having a nice yard to go with our lake view.

Brandon came up and grilled hamburgers again. Again him and the cooking work miracles for my feelings of the lake. When we came up to eat we also started to get ready to leave. We gave the kids about an hour to play and I started on the last of the laundry, the washing of the dishes from lunch and just random picking up. Then before we left I cleaned all the counters, swept, vacuumed and mopped. Not to forget the toilets and sinks! I love coming back to a clean place. If only we were coming back soon, but it will probably be about three weekends. We have to get ready for the beach and then go, so I do not mind.

We hitched up the trailer and headed home. Then to unhitch, unload, eat dinner, showers, baths, bedtime!!! Now that everyone else is in bed I am headed there myself. I have a lot to get done this week and next week. I am ready though. The Vitamin D this weekend was very motivational! Before I head to bed I will say a prayer for you all. I have to admit I am looking forward to sleeping in my bed!