First Day of First Grade

With everything going on the past couple of weeks, 

I didn't have the chance to fully commemorate 

Isaiah's first day of First Grade!  

It's a momentous occasion.

  So far, he loves school.

He loves that he has his VERY OWN desk...

with his name on it.  

He loves his teacher, his friends...

and he LOVES the class pet, Daisy.  

He's convinced that he now NEEDS a bunny.  

Oh, yay.  

I'm pretty sure our lazy black lab would see her as a new toy...

or possibly a snack.  

One thing that can get that lazy dog worked up

are the bunnies that come to eat the clover in our backyard.

I think that's the only time she actually runs is when she spots a bunny.

Thankfully the bunnies are much quicker than she is.

I can't imagine having one in a cage, 

IN OUR HOUSE.  

Lord help me.  

I reminded Isaiah that we already have bunnies...

the ones that love to eat the clover in the backyard, 

but he informed me that those bunnies belong to nature and 

he needs one that belongs to him.  

Oh, boy.  

Any advice on bunnies?

Anyone have a dog and bunnies that reside in the same house together?  

How was everyone else's first days of school?

Dale Houston Barney

Dale Houston Barney

April 4, 1932 - August 20, 2010

Online Tribute

If you follow the link above, it takes you to a tribute page.  There are additional pictures and sweet, kind words about my grandpa.  My cousin and I went through a bunch of old photos and picked out some of my grandpa from when he was in the Army.  

They are really neat pictures.  

Something well cherish even more now.

Living Life

Life is not a race - but indeed a journey. Be Honest. Work Hard. Be Choosy. Say "thank you", and "great job" to someone each day. Go to church, take time for prayer. The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh. Let your handshake mean more than pen and paper. Love your life and what you've been given, it is not accidental ~ search for your purpose and do it as best you can. Dreaming does matter. It allows you to become that which you inspire to be. Laugh often. Appreciate the little things in life and enjoy them Some of the best things really are free. Do not worry, less wrinkles are more becoming. Forgive, it frees the soul. Take time for yourself ~ Plan for longevity. Recognize the special people you've been blessed to know. Live for today, enjoy the moment. ~Bonnie Mohr

Thursday Thankfuls

I haven't been on the blog much this week.  

Real life is not so happy  

and I usually keep this my happy place.  

I'm a cups-half-full-silver-lining-somewhere-over-the-rainbow 

kind of girl.  

That's how I roll.

So, I don't do sad very well.

I'm here today to count my blessings 

and remember the things I'm most thankful for.

• Today, I am most thankful for today.  We don't have every day promised to us, so I'll just be thankful for the day I've been given.
• I'm also very thankful for knowing Jesus.  He's been my real peace this past week...the peace that passes all understanding.
• I'm thankful for family and spending time with them even though it's under sad circumstances.
• I'm thankful for the 3 years we've had with my Grandpa since his stroke.  The Lord knew that we needed a long time to say "goodbye".  If he had just suddenly passed that day in June 2007, we would have all been crushed, devastated.  To me, my Grandpa was someone I thought would be around forever.  He has always been a constant in my life.  He's someone I've always depended on and trusted in.  The Lord knew that we needed time.  He's good like that.  I've written about my grandpa from time to time on the blog, so I thought you all should know that he's very sick.  They've "called in the family".  We know his days on this earth are short.  Please pray for peace for my Grandpa and for my Granny.

♥

McLinky Monday - Elevator Pitch

Today on McLinky Monday, Mrs. McGillicutty wants to know...

"What is your elevator pitch?"

To explain it in further detail, 

she wants to know how 
you would pitch your blog.

What do you write about?

  

How would you explain/sell your 

blog in a couple of sentences?

Hmmmmmm.

Tough question.  Dontcha think?


A couple of years ago, I would have said
"I write about family and motherhood, 
mixed in with a little humor."

Now?
 I would say about the same thing.
  
Except, there are the frequently occuring posts about

and

and

and occasionally

There is also my ever-expanding love of photography, 

and I enjoy using this blog as an outlet for that.

Plus, I really like to talk about books and music.

It's really hard to sum it all up.

I think if I was going to tell someone about my blog, in hopes that they would soon visit, I would tell them it's about 

the life of a mom 

who loves her family. 

She frequently writes about

how being nerdy is the new black, 

her Starbucks addiction, 

her love for all things Twilight, 

and her constant companion, 

Pocket Edward.

She doesn't take herself too seriously, 

so you shouldn't either.

Oh, and she takes lots of pictures.

And apparently, she is now referring to herself in the third person.

The End.

For more McLinky Mondays:

What would your elevator pitch be?

Friday Confessions

• I am a nerd of epic proportions.  I just recently realized this, which explains a lot.  
• I do countdowns to book releases, for crying out loud.  It's like I can smell the fresh, unturned pages just waiting on me.  Oh, the endless possibilities that await between those book covers.  *Nerd Alert*
• I sit out in my front yard in a lawn chair for 2 hours watching a meteor shower at 2:00 in the morning.
• I'm not as tough-skinned as I would like to think.  Occasionally, my feelings get hurt.
• I cheated on my diet this week...of epic proportions (I'm liking this phrase).  However, I still managed to lose 3.5 pounds.  Sweet.
• I can not live without Starbucks.  I tried and I failed.
• Isaiah starts school a week from today and I went and checked out the class lists this morning.  As soon as I got to work, I sent an email asking for him to be switched out of the class he was placed in.  Am I one of "those" parents?  Gosh, I hope not.  I just really want him to have a good year and I couldn't see that happening with the teacher he had.  

Anything you would like to confess?

House Update

House Update time!  

The most exciting thing happened this week...

We got windows!

Please excuse the jungle in our front yard...and I'm glad this isn't a close up, because my flower bed looks HIDEOUS!

Who knew that getting windows and picking out faucets...

and shower heads...

and toilets...

would be so exciting?!

We also picked out the bathtub and sinks for the bathroom and kitchen.  

This is the fun part!

We're still a long way from having all of that stuff installed and in working order, but we're one step closer!

Michael and my dad are going to start on the electric in the next day or so...then insulation and sheet rock...THEN the painting, installing of appliances/cabinets, and flooring can begin!  I can't wait!

I'll try to remember to snap some pics of the inside this weekend, so you guys can see how it's shaping up.

Mockingjay Countdown

So, the countdown is on!  "For what" you may ask.  

For the Mockingjay, of course.  

I've been counting down since last September, 

when I consumed Catching Fire in one solitary day.  

It  just wasn't long enough.  

I was left hanging...

what happened to Peeta?  

What will happen to Katniss?  

Is Gale in on the whole thing?  

Does District 13 really still exist?

Will the rebellion be successful?  

Who will Katniss fall in love with...or will she at all?  

Seems only fair that she would have to eventually choose between Peeta or Gale.  

I fell in love with this trilogy back in 2008.  I had finished the Twilight Saga and I was desperately searching for something to fill the void.  Steph Meyer mentioned on her website that she had just read The Hunger Games...and it was one of those books that you "take to dinner and read under the table."

That was enough for me to run out and buy it that day.

I read the first book in two nights...and I had to wait almost a WHOLE year for Catching Fire, which I turned around and read in ONE DAY...and now I've been waiting almost another year for Mockingjay, so the anticipation is high.

If you have not read the first two books, I highly recommend that you do.  They're amazing.

Yesterday, Mimi asked me if I've read the Hunger Games...and if Mockingjay was part of that series.

My response to her was "asking me if I have read the Hunger Games is like asking me if I love Twilight."

12 days!  I can't wait!

Have you read the first two books?

Are you Team Peeta or Team Gale?

A Few Favorite Pics From Indiana

A week or so ago, we made the 12 hour drive to Indiana for Michael's grandma's 93rd Birthday.

We had a great time.

Isaiah made fast friends with his cousin, Steven.  

They were two peas in a pod

  Kristen was mesmerized by my camera...she was quite the little poser all weekend.  Cute, huh?

The kiddos had a blast with the bubbles...

and I LOVE bubble pictures.

Even the big kids got in on the bubble action.

Check out this little cutie!  What a high-stepper!  

His shirt says "chicks dig me"...and they totally do.  

He's quite the ladies man.

We visited with family and got to see people we don't see very often.  

Their favorite game to play is called Corn Hole. I have no idea what the rules are, 

I just know you're supposed to get the bean bag in the hole. 

They played non-stop.

Michael's grandma turned 93.  

My father-in-law calls her Q-Tip.  

Hey, he said it, not me.

I told him, if she is Q-Tip, then he is Cue Ball.  Get it?

I know my humor is so lame.

I hope I can be just like her when I'm 93! 

She's amazing.

One last thing, 

could we have a moment of silence...

Fancy Pocket Edward lost his foot on this trip.

It's a tragedy.  

I'll be doing repairs on him this weekend.

I'll keep you posted on his condition.

McLinky Monday - Back To School

The ladies at The RHOK want to know if we're happy or sad about school being back in session.  

Well, to be honest with you, I'm kinda sad...no, I'm really sad.

We've had such a fun summer and I've been fortunate enough to be able to bring Isaiah to work with me anytime I want to.  I enjoy the extra time I get to spend with him during the summer.  

There's 75% of me that would home school if I could.  

For those of you who don't know, I went to school to be a teacher.  

I majored in Elementary Education and I would love to be able to put those skills to good use.  

However, I do have to work a full-time job.  

Plus, I like the social interaction Isaiah gets at school.  

He needs that.  He's a chatterbox.  That's where the other 25% kicks in.

Probably the biggest downer to school starting is the undeniable fact that he's getting older...

another year of school means another year older.  

Isaiah is going into 1st grade this year!  

FIRST GRADE!  

It just doesn't seem possible.  

He's playing football...tackle football!  

Which is really cute, by the way.  

But where did the years go?

I've been having a lot of those moments lately.  

Where has the time gone?  

How did it get to be 2010?  

How did I get to be 32?  

Since when am I the grown-up?

Anybody else have those moments?

You know what makes me happy?  

School supplies.  

That's my huge ray of sunshine in all this mully grub mess.  

I LOVE SCHOOL SUPPLIES.  

I love buying school supplies.  

I love the newness.  

They make me happy.

How about you, are you ready for school to start?  

Happy or sad?