A new look

I am still on the kick and my list keeps getting larger and larger.  I finish one project only to realize there are 2 more I still want to complete.  Summer (for me as a teacher) is one of many projects.  All the "spring cleaning" (and some) takes place during the months of June-August.  My time is running out and the list is still long!

On top of that, I am in a funk in the everyday look of my house.  I am "tired" of it and wanting a change...has anyone else been there????  I started to change up one room and suddenly I am wanting to change/add/rearrange the whole house!  Some new things we are purchasing but I am trying to be frugal and use what we have and just rearrange for a new look.  We started with the den and have rearranged it and are liking the change.  Then Jay decided he wanted to rearrange his upstairs office (and when he says he wants to do that....I go running at a full sprint!).  We completed that a couple of days ago and on one side is his new office and the other is a play area for the kids.  It looks alot better I might add.  Also the kids are both getting "big kid" beds and all the bedding/curtains are ordered and will be here early next week....so I can't wait to work on theirs.  Tonight I have rearranged our bedroom!  I would love new bedding but it is last on the priorities, so maybe soon.  But, while Jay was on a training call, I rearranged the bedroom (all by myself...bed and dressers).  I might not sleep tonight because it is so different but it sure does look good!  :)

Today we spent the day with Jay.  He took the day off because he had camps the past 3 days and another camp starts tomorrow until Saturday.  Our plan was to swim but the weather changed our minds.  We ran some errands, ate lunch, and just hung out.  While the kids napped, Jay and I watched Goonies...I had never seen it before today!   We took the kids to meet Pop because they are staying at my parents' house for the next few days.  Then Jay and I did some prayerwalking around some apartment complexes that we are wanting to start Bible studies in.  The Lord is doing some really neat things regarding this.

Tomorrow Jay's camp #2 begins for another 3 days of girls' missions camps.  They are always so much fun but so busy for him.  I leave tomorrow morning to go with my mother-in-law and sister-in-law to go to market in Atlanta.  Never been to Market before but hear it is alot of fun and I am really excited!

Happy Birthday Kevin!

Just want to give a shout-out for a birthday....Jay's step-dad Kevin (Pop-Pop)!  He has been wonderful to Jay and I am so thankful to him for so many things.  We love you Kev and hope you have a wonderful day.  We missed you this past weekend and wish you could have been with us.  I about cried when Brayden said randomly, "I want to see Pop-Pop!"  Happy Birthday!!!

We're ok

I know some of you have been wandering where in the world we are...we are ok and just doing alot at home.  Since we have been back from Corinth, there has been so much going on.  Sunday night we had a big time at our Connect Group at the Potts' house with a pool, large mounbounce, and moonbounce slide right there in the backyard.  Oh and I forgot to mention the best part...freshly smoked barbeque by an award winner, Brandon, right there in the backyard.  THE BEST BBQ WE HAVE EVER HAD!!!!  We had some the next day for leftovers and it was still the best! It had the best flavor! Anyway, forgot the camera battery at home again so no pictures although I was tempted to go back home and get it!

Other than that, we have decided to redo most of our rooms (just tired of the setup) on a very tight budget.  We are just tired of the "same-ole" so we are trying to move around, adjust, add little things, etc.  We started with the upstairs which is a big chore!  We have switched it around and Jay now has a nice new office area and the kids have a playroom equipped with our tv from our room (which gets no use...especially since we have no cable) so they can watch videos. While in Corinth, Jay's sister gave him her old Playstation which Jay was really excited about although he hasn't had time to touch it this week! The kids have brought some toys upstairs and they really enjoy playing up there.  Also both kids are getting new "big kid" beds so I have been searching/shopping for new bedding, curtains, etc.  We are going to rearrange our room also just haven't gotten to it.

In the mean time, Jay started his month long camps yesterday and it has been crazy around here.  It is his busiest time of the year no doubt and when July is over, he is usually exhausted.  It literally is around the clock work.  It has gone very smoothly so far...we are planning to hang out with the kids alot....my kids enjoy it so much being able to be around the big kids.  Karis came in with Jay last night at 9:30 and they had been hanging out with the kids for game time. She was so funny...she came in grinning and ran over to me and said, "MOM!  Those big kids had to stick their face in jello to eat those gummi bears!  It got all over their face!!!"  She thought it was great!  Jay and I were laughing so hard.

Despite all that, Brayden is sick.  He has been crabby for a few days and has had fever off and on and a really runny nose and yucky cough.  So yesterday I decided to take him in to the doctor and of course, just a virus!  There is nothing that can be done...just motrin for fever and claritin.  He seems better this morning and no fever...just feels yucky.  

Sorry for the long post...just trying to fill you in on our crazy week.  We plan on hanging with the kids at camp some today and working on the house some more. :)

Our 4th of July

Our family spent the 4th of July at Nonnie's (Jay's mom) house in Corinth and it was the typical holiday and was such a blast.  It consisted of relaxing, family, lots of food, swimming, lawn chairs, watermelon, homemade ice cream, conversation and of course, fireworks!  We spent most of the day at Grandmother's house (Jay's grandmother, the kids great-grandmother).  It started off with the kids swimming...as if they didn't get enough of it the day before!  It was as if they hadn't ever seen it before and they played for hours!

Brayden going down head first

The kids were jumping up and making big splashes as they fell on their bottoms...it was like a big bathtub!

Trying to drink the water...

Karis playing with a kitchen strainer in the water...easily amused!

Daddy and Brayden chillin in the yard

Brayden wearing daddy's sunglasses

Karis and her daddy

Karis blowing bubbles for grandaddy "Pinto"

Karis showing her daddy and Uncle Haha how to blow bubbles

Jay's mom, Aunt JuJu and Grandmother Wicks

The kids on Grandmother's bridge

Brayden has gotten into holding our hands lately.  He will come up beside you and say "hand!"  Right before I took this picture, he grabbed his Nonnie's hand and I said, "Aww...how sweet Brayden!"  Then he says, (I have created a monster) "Picture, Picture!"  So of course I went and grabbed my camera. :)

The neighbor let Karis have a few sparklers and I was so shocked considering she screamed the last time we saw fireworks back in October.  She has obviously grown up alot this year because now she is holding one!

Grandmother and Brayden watching Karis do sparklers

Uncle Haha

Our family :)

The Lemonds with Grandmother and Pinto

The end of the night consisted of none other than watching fireworks.  We weren't sure how the kids would do this year since in October at Disney World they both were scared to death but they both did great and no tears were shed.  Karis loved them and wasn't scared at all and Brayden just stared at them not moving a muscle.  This is Karis watching fireworks with Nonnie at Shiloh Ridge.

This was Brayden during the fireworks...he laid on my shoulder and didn't move a muscle or utter a word.

Karis and her daddy...she loved the pink and purple ones and the sparkly ones too!  

After the fireworks we left and headed home and both kids were out within minutes.  But Brayden got in all the words he had withheld during the fireworks first.  He kept saying, "See fireworks!...See fireworks!...Fireworks...BIG...Air!..Air!...BIG...See Fireworks!"  Then he grabbed his blanket and was gone.  It was a fun-filled day with lots of memories!

We are thankful for our country and will continue to pray that God would not take his hand off America.  I pray that hearts would be opened and be sensitive to Him.  

Nonnie's house

Tonight we headed to Nonnie's house for the 4th of July weekend.  Jay hooked up Karis as you can see below.  While Brayden napped in the car, Karis watched "The Little Mermaid" on Jay's IPOD.  She was so excited and thought she was big stuff.  

Karis and Brayden with their Aunt Jessie

Nonnie got the kids this blow-up pool and the kids played on it for hours until it finally got so cold they couldn't stand it anymore.  Karis loved the slide and Brayden played with the basketball goal.

Karis going down the slide

Brayden playing ball

Karis going under the water...yah Karis!

Brayden going under the water....face first

It looks as if she is bowing..but she is not...she is just going under the water :)

Kiddos

Me and my boy

Nonnie keeping Brayden warm

Here is a video of the kids playing today...

"Itty Bitty Teeny Weeny Yellow Polka Dot Bikini"

Our buddies came over today and we had a swim day...Rachel Morris (and her 3 kids), Paige (and her 2), and Mary Beth (and her 3).  As always it was a blast and the day flew by.  We swam for about 4 hours (including lunch) and then they all wanted to come to the house to play in Karis and Brayden's room so we packed up and went to play for a while.  

Karis' Lolli gave her this "Itty Bitty Teeny Weeny Yellow Polka Dot Bikini" and she wore it for the "first time today"...

Brayden waiting on his friends to come

The girls chillin' out

Kendall in Brayden's basketball goal

The boys looking for frogs

Some of the kids looking at butterflies....(this was 7 out of the 10 total kids)

Ellie watching her little brother Eli

Brayden and Drew and their matching swimsuits

The girls stopped to eat a "healthy" snack (Doritos)

Karis after lunch

Then the kids came over to play...

Jay's Post

My husband Jay updated his blog today with some very cool information and I wanted to fill you all in.  Please click here to see his post.

Google Reader

Hey friends, my friend Faith introduced me to Google Reader today and it is awesome.  It allows you add blogs that you check so frequently (and don't have the time to do so). But you can click on it and it shows all the updates of any blog you are subscribed to.  It saves alot of time and I am really excited about it.  Thanks Faith!

Today's random events (this one is for you Stephanie)

This morning I had to go court for a student of mine and that in itself was NOT fun.  The thought of testifying to what I have or haven't seen in front of a crowd of people just makes me a nervous wreck.  And it breaks my heart that two people, his mom and dad, who are currently divorced, cannot come to an agreement about how to handle their child.  The poor child and everything he has been through just brings tears to my eyes.  The good news is I didn't have to testify after all and we were out of there by noon.   The best news is the child's custody has now been given to dad and it is definitely what is best for him.  It is amazing that a child's home life can have a huge effect on a child and his success.

On a happier note, while I was there and Jay had a meeting, my friend Paige kept Brayden for me (Karis was still at Lolli's) while I went to court.  Thank goodness for friends! Of course Brayden was ecstatic that he got to go to "Natins" (Nathan) and "Mo-gan" (Mari-Morgan) house.  Below are some pics of them playing outside:

Riding the Barbie Jeep

Playing with their new kitten Bella (that poor cat!)

After that, I picked Brayden up and met Lolli, Karis and Kaylee and went to see a movie that has been on the agenda all summer!  We haven't been to the movies since Christmas Day and this one was soooo important to Karis.  She loves American Girl dolls and has 3 at home including KIT.  Well today was the premiere of Kit the movie. And of course, Karis and Kaylee had to bring their Kit dolls.  Below is a picture of the girls with their dolls. (Kaylee is my mom's friend Stephanie's daughter who Karis adores...they play American Girl dolls together.)

Then we went across the street to Baskin Robbins to eat coffee ice cream (mine and Karis' favorite) and the Kit dolls are in it too of course.

Brayden eating ice cream (who needs a spoon?)

Well the movie was a hit!  It is rated G and it was an excellent movie, so I heard.  I missed the last 30 minutes of the movie because Brayden decided to get squirmy so he and I went to the arcade.  But Lolli told me it was great!!!  We will be owning it when it comes out! :) After it was over, Karis and Kaylee said, "We want to see it again!"

Happy Birthday Paige!

Today is one of my closest friends' birthday and I just want to give a shoutout to her.  Happy Birthday Paige...I hope you have an awesome day and it is memorable.  May the Lord bless you and allow you to know Him more this year than ever before and may He give us many more years to celebrate.  I love ya girl!