Birthday- Give-Away

It's my Birthday!!!

I'm 32 years young!

I want to give you, my blog readers a gift! Giving is better than receiving. After all, I have already been given so much in this life, what more could I ask for. That sounds so cliche, but I really do mean it.

Here's how it works:

Leave me a comment and your name will be entered in the drawing to win one of the two gifts. This give-away will be open until Sunday night. The kiddos will help me draw two names and I will post the winners on here. Happy Commenting!

This is a beautiful Brighton necklace along with a Vera Bradley tin of mints...some of my favorite little things!

I can't get enough of this scent...Bath and Body Works Autumn candle and a Brighton bookmark. More of my favorite things :)

Rams Game, Flip Flops and a Mess!

Seems like I come to a point when I have pictures and random things to blog about...so, I group them and blog about them and they have absolutely nothing to do with each other. But, I am the author and maintainer of this blog, so I guess that's ok! We went to a St. Louis Rams game a few weeks ago. We had FREE tickets! Thanks to my sweetie's boss! We rode the metro down to the game, saved money and time and worry of where to park. It was a great idea, but it totally reminded us of being on the train in Korea (it was so packed because everyone else had the same good idea we did and we were up close and personal with the other folks, that's the part that reminded me of Korea). Anyways, we got to the game and climbed all the way to the tip-top; that's why the players look like ants on the field :) Ha! We could barely keep our eyes on the ball. Jamison did the best, he likes to go to ball games. The other two were ready to go after they had eaten all of the cotton candy and pretzels we shared; that was before the second quarter! We did leave at halftime...we decided it was just time to go, we had gotten the goody out of that deal! Always better to leave before everyone just falls apart :)

Being from the south, south Georgia, that is! I really, REALLY like flip flops! I live in them until my toes can't stand the cold anymore, which is going to be really soon. I saw these flops in FL while we were there on vacation back in the summer. I wanted them, but refrained. I saw them on someone recently and realized I needed some. Ha! I do like bling and I do like to accessorize...these flops are good for that! You can get a variety of colors and then the snaps are interchangeable. The possibilities are endless, and I do mean ENDLESS!!! I can't wait for next summer, so that I can stock up on the snaps. I won't be needing too many right now, because fall is here and wintry days are around the corner. PS, do NOT laugh at my toes! They do look a little scary!

Okay, now. This is how my island counter in the kitchen looks like at it's best. I like it like this, but it just doesn't stay like this for long. I am thinking about hiring a secretary to help me with ALL of the papers that come in on a daily basis. It makes me crazy sometimes...I did not stage the messy picture, it is what it is!

Sunday Finest

Friday Fun or Freaky Friday...

Last Sunday, as we headed home from church...IHOP beckoned us to come in. Something about pancakes for supper just sounded good. We are breakfast for supper eaters, know what I mean? I mean we like to eat typical breakfast food for supper sometimes! While in IHOP, we were all so lucky to have been given a pair of these silly glasses. We all laughed, so hard; I think my kids will always remember that night! Pancakes and silly glasses, perfect combination for a good laugh. The next time you need a laugh, (or a scare), put a pair of these babies on :)

This picture of me, it scared me...seriously, it did! I had to post a normal picture that our photographer (Jannah) took, or else I might just get freaked out at how freaky I look!

Have a wonderful weekend and don't forget to do something silly and fun with your children; make some memories that they won't forget!

Mama's new toy!

Oh yes! These babies are my newest toys! They sure look pretty enough to be a toy! A couple of weeks ago, my washer stopped agitating correctly. So, we talked about getting it repaired (it was about 10 years old, got it shortly after we married) or getting new ones. We made the mistake of "just looking" at Lowes, and well, we ended up doing a little more than looking. Turns out most appliances were on sale, then marked down for a Labor Day sale, plus there was an additional 20 % off, plus Lowes gives a 10% discount to military (thank you Lowes). We decided the deal was too good to pass up! In all honesty, we had been wanting a new washer and dryer, just didn't know it was gonna be now :) I have to say, G and I were super stoked about getting them. I think that means we're getting old! The bad thing is that they are large capacity and really do wash/dry a LOT of clothes. That's bad because it takes forever for me to even get them out of the dryer, I feel like it's a bottomless pit! One of my favorite features is the tune that chimes when a load is finished...makes me happy :)

All-about-JORDAN

Jordan is the proud new owner of a Nerf Vulcan, EBF 25 Blaster! In case you're wondering what that is...it's a fancy nerf gun, that costs a lot of moolah! I must say, it's super cool, and that's coming from the mama!

Here's the story behind the gun:

Jordan has struggled with adjusting to kindergarten. He thinks he would rather stay home, he is a homebody! He gets so anxious about going and just simply doesn't want to go. There are many tears and pleas, from both of us! It has been really bad; it's been rather heartbreaking for me. I hate to see him struggle and be so upset *A mama always hurts when her child hurts* So, we had tried several tactics the first week and a half of school, all to no avail. We finally told him that if he could go in school, (that meant getting out of the car and walking into school without any tears) for 10 days, we would get him a toy, OF HIS CHOICE! The same night, Greg saw a youtube video on someones facebook wall. It was about a man with no limbs, that still got around, played golf, and swam. He did his best with what God had given him. In the very moment of the kids watching it with Greg, God laid on my heart to use that story to encourage Jordan. Little did I know that would be what inspired Jordan and gave him the courage to do what he thought he could not do! We talked about that story and how God gave the man the strength and courage. I related to Jordan that God could give him the strength to walk into school. It was amazing to see God's work in his little heart, mind and soul! The very next day, Jordan hopped out of the car like it was no big deal. I was sooooo shocked, that was a complete turn around! All I could do was give God the glory! He has been like a different child ever since!

Yes, it can take 2 to load this monster; Jordan may not be too keen on sharing his new vulcan, but he's always looking for some help to re-load the bullets...Jamison will oblige him in hopes of getting to shoot!

Jordan started UPWARDS football this past weekend; our church is hosting the program. We are so excited for Jordan to play (and he is too); it was pretty funny...5 and 6 year old boys don't exactly understand the logistics of the game...although by the end of the game, they were doing well! This is not the best shot, I was way too far away, but this is Jordan running through the cheerleaders as his name was called out :)

This would be my boy, hiking the ball!

Zhu Zhu Pets, Hot Air Ballons and Corn

I suppose you are wondering if the three things in the title have anything in common. Well, kinda. not really. maybe they do. I just have something to say about each of them and they all relate to my family, so that makes me feel good about the title!

We were reading tonight and I asked Jamison to point to the animals and tell me what they were. He was doing just fine, until he got to the guinea pigs. He wrinkled up his nose and said, "zhu zhu pets." That cracked me up! Seriously, a few years ago, that wouldn't have even been an answer, those crazy little things weren't even around!

My kids had eyes as bis as saucers last night. We were outside playing and the older two called me across the street; it went a little something like this, "Mama, you have to come see this!" I walked across the street and flying over us is this hot air balloon, they were so close to us, it looked like they might hit the roof! We got in the car and followed it for a little while, the kids were hoping to see it land. We didn't see the ballon land, but we did have fun watching it. I told G if he ever wanted to take me up in a hot air ballon, I would like that. HINT, HINT!!! The kids' excitement only grew when I told them there's a BIG balloon race in St. Louis, in three weeks. Truthfully, I am even more excited about it than they are! I went to a balloon race as child and fell in love with them. I once thought I wanted to be a part of the chase teams once I grew up, but God had different plans for me...He wanted me to chase after my precious kiddos :)

Well, it's that time of year... the corn is being harvested! We truly are surrounded by cornfields! I love it though, it's so neat to watch it grow and thrive, only to become brown and look as thought it's dead. The corn around here is used for feed corn, that's what I've been told; which is why the stalks are cut down very late in the season, after they have dried out. Watching the combines has been entertainment and rather neat. The only problem is that the land will be so empty without the tall corn...until next spring!

the BIG, First Day

I'm not sure I can believe it, the big day has come and gone! Jordan started kindergarten and Jannah is in second grade. My kiddos are growing up too fast, but we are in such exciting times. Jannah has been ready for school to start, Jordan has had mixed emotions. I love the two polar opposite personalities they have, not to mention one is a boy and one is a girl! Jannah was thrilled to go back to school shopping; she was super thrilled to pick out her new outfit. Jordan had fun shopping for supplies, but told me it really didn't matter what he wore on the first day of school! It was so funny :) Although he does think his new tennis shoes are very cool and help him to run fast :) I was excited for them to start school, so I didn't shed a tear; not excited to get rid of them, just excited for them and this stage of life.

We had a fun summer; it was a good mix of lazy days, pool days, days with friends, and outings! BUT, all good things do come to an end and we can't always play and sleep in...My desire for them is that they would learn much and develop good friendships. I am praying for them, their classmates and their teachers...DAILY!

Imo's Pizza & City Garden

We ventured into St. Louis the other night for two reasons: Imo's Pizza; they boast of St. Louis style pizza, who knew?!?!? I suppose every city has the right to their own kind of pizza! I guess around here, people either love it or hate it. As for the Bailey's and the Groves (our friends that joined us), we liked it! The second attraction was City Garden; it's an area in the heart of downtown, it takes up a couple of blocks and has all sorts of water fountains; it didn't disappoint either!

Jordan punched at the water, FOREVER!

These two kids did not get wet!

Cody and Jannah having a little water fight

He's so darn CUTE!