Ready for the weeekend

We have been busy getting ready for the weekend...

Brian and Hunter getting their fireworks display ready. I seriously have 3 children and Brian is the biggest one of them all.

Pumpkins were picked up  yesterday

I got all of our s'more makings out

and we started to gather wood for our bon-fire

Looks like its going to be perfect fall weather to relax with family and friends. Bring on the weekend!!

Sleepover with Bonnie

Bonnie came and stayed the night with us and we were super excited. She and Hayley have been buddies since Kindergarten and this is the first time EVER that she has been away from her family overnight. It was cute to see how all everyone at school was excited for her as we left on Friday. We are hoping that this will be beginning and she will be allowed to come around more.

Everyone has to feed

playing before the game

waiting patiently to dance

Hay and Em

 The girls were so cold and tired by the time we got home from the game they were ready for bed (and this Momma was too)!  It was no time and they were passed out cold and slept til 8:30--that's late for Hayley.

 Who doesn't need to play a little Wii after breakfast?

 

Pine Wood Cars

RA and GA's are working on their Pine Wood Derby cars for the big race Oct 22. Sadly, we will have to miss because of the WEDDING!!! The kids are loving getting to design their cars from start to finish. I'm excited to see the final products.

Dance Camp 2011

Saturday was the annual SCHS Dance Team Dance Camp. This years theme was Selena Gomez, thank goodness it wasn't Bieber Fever or Taylor Swift....a Momma can only handle so much. Hayley had So much fun this year and is becoming quite the little dancer. I am excited to see them perform this Friday night, its always so cute to watch.

 

Hayley and Bonnie

Farmer's Daughter

LOVE THIS PICTURE

The kids always have loved to ride on the tractor with Brian as he's working on the farm. It's guareented one on one time, filled with lots of special memories!! Not too much longer before they boot Brian off the tractor and start doing things themselves!

Ms. Sweazy

Disclaimer: I normally only blog about the kids and our crazy, wild life but really wanted to do something special for a dear friend of ours, Ms. Sweazy. She has NO idea that I am doing this blog, guess she will find out when she reads!! This far in my life, I have neve had to watch nor battle my weigh and I am extrememly thankful and blessed.  Who knows, the older I get this could not be the case and I may be in "the other shoe." I have many loved family and friends who are constantling battling theirs and my heart breaks knowing that I could lose a loved one to obsiety, I pray this never happens.
                                             Dedicated with love to: RAS, my loyal blog stalker




 Hayley had a wonderful Kindergarten teacher in 2009, Ms. Sweazy, and we have been friends since Hunter started school in 2007. She is someone very special to us and we are blessed that she is one of my "loyal blog stalkers" and we are her bedtime story every night! If I haven't blogged for a while she is sending me texts asking where he story is.
I can't even begin to express how proud Hayley and I are of Ms. Sweazy. She has been battling her weight forever (she will even tell you this), has tried many unsuccessful diets but has finally found one after lots of research and joined a special diet program(HMR Diet) at Baptist East a while ago and the results AMAZING!!!
Every Tuesday we get our "fat class" (these are her words, not mine) update on how much weight she has lost for the week.  This class is serious; she has to log her intake amounts, exercise, moods, journal and even gets phone calls to check in on her. I guess we are her accountablity partners in some ways, but more then anything, we are her biggest cheerleaders!!! This has been a life changing  experience for her, eating differently and exercising daily!! Something that has not been easy or fun, but she has stuck with it and is in it for the long haul.
 We had not seen Ms.Sweazy all summer and on the first day of school I was walking to the gym and saw her and started screaming and cheering!! Literally my mouth hit the floor because of the drastic change. I knew we were going to get a new teacher in the building and thought it was her!!! Hayley was telling everyone she saw about how different Ms. Sweazy looked!! I think she was more proud then Sweazy herself!!

 I have to laugh when I am subbing and she gets stressed out because she has not drank or ate her scheduled amounts at certain times!! Yesterday, when I was working I get a text from her with a picture that she was chosen as Healthy Hero for Spencer County. This was a total surprise and shock to her,  I hated that I didn't get to be there and see her reaction but I went over after work to see it!! SHE IS PROUD as she should be and what a better honor for someone to get! She is serious about this and it has paid off 10 fold!! Ms Sweazy has lost 127 pounds in 8 months!!!!!
 I have included some pictures (with her permission) of her and Hayley. I just wish that I would have more from the month to month.

Dec 209

Healthy Hero Award
September 7, 2011

September 13, 2011

 We are beyond proud of you for hard work and your loss this far. Keep up the good work and know that we are cheering you on!! Looking forward to celebrating your next goal with you...maybe I can treat you to some blueberries or HGC pudding?!

September 11, 2001

10 years ago today, I was 6 months pregnant with Hunter. I remember having phone duty at work and was lucky (?) enough to be on the side where the MOHS waiting room was and could see the TV. I was on the phone with a patient and all the sudden Dr. McCall and Lynn coming running down the hall into the waiting room, glued to the TV for obvious reasons.We had a full schedule that day, but needless to say not may people came to their appointment. After my scheduling was done, I went to the waiting room and watched as the towers and tears fell with my co-workers. My emotions were all over the place, I was: numb, guilty, terrified, sick, sacred, upset, and confused. Tears couldn't be held back as we sat glued to the TV, time. stood. still. I didn't move all day long.

 I wanted to be with  Brian and my family in fear that we would be the next to be attacked. I wanted to run and hide somewhere safe, but where?  How could I protect my unborn child? Brian came to work because I was so upset, I just HAD to see and touch him, afraid it would be the last time.I couldn't let him so, I felt so safe in his arms.

Never once as I was watching the events unfold in front of me, did I think that it would hit as close to home as it did. I had family and friends who were in the military, but never thought about the affect this would have on their life at that moment. It's nothing that I ever want to relive nor do I want anyone else to have experience it like Heather and her family.  I couldn't imagine losing a sibling/child ever---and especially while he serving in the military and over seas.  No words I could say then or 7 years later, can comfort her, or ease the pain and hole in their live.

I am forever grateful and in debt to the Faulkner family for Daniel. For the friendship and memories that we had together, for the lives that he touched, for seeing him the last time he was home, for ALL he gave, just wish THANK YOU was enough.  It's was 7 years ago on Sept 8 that he lost his life. Heaven truly welcomed a angel on that day way to early. It is what it is, can't change it, have to accept it, and live every day like it's the last because of it, it's what Daniel would of wanted.

So, today we as we celebrate the 10 year anniversary, I will once again relive many emotions as I pray for those families who lost loved ones,  shed tears for those who gave it all selflessly, comfort my kids and answer their questions as I  embrace this as another teaching moment with my children.

Thank you to those serve so that we can continue to live in "the land of the free and the home of the brave"


To read about Daniel's story visit: http:ourhometownhero.com

Play Practice

Last night was the 1st official Christmas Play Practice. I know its early to some folk, (but its not really all that early..108 days til Christmas!!!!) but when you have 15-18 kiddos under 5 and then 20 in grades 1-6, its pushing it. This year we are going to try something new and have 2 plays: one with the smaller kids and one with the older. Wish me luck since somehow I ALWAYS get roped into working with the smaller kids!

Promise Ridge Rodeo

We headed to the annual "Back Creek/Promise Ridge Rodeo" Saturday night with Aunt Amy, Keegan, Grandma and Grandpa. They have heard the kids talk about this for the past 2 years and we were excited that they go to join us for a fun evening.

Keegan was excited and dressed in his cowboy hat. He is one cute, toothless cowboy

 There were about 20 bull riders this year from all over.

Bulls were bucking good

 My favorite part of the entire night is when all the kids get to partake in the rodeo; chicken chasing, catch the goose, greased pig,  and calf chase. Hunter and Hayley are both getting older so they are limited in what they can partake in: chicken/goose chase and calf chase but they LOVED every minute of it. Keegan was super excited to partake in the fun as well and he did such a great job!

 Hunter was very proud of his trophy he won from catching a goose

 The evening was not complete until Grandpa bought the kids some cool light up necklace thingies.

Thanks for joining us for some country fun!

 



Kart Kountry

Brian finally had a day off and we decided that it was a perfect night to head to Kart Kountry for some family fun!! Hayley was excited that she could finally drive a go cart by herself, poor thing is just now starting to grow.

LOVE THIS MAN

After the go carts, Brian spotted the batting cages and HAD to try it. I reminded him that he is now 30 and not as young or in shape as he was when he played ball in High School.  He actually did well after he got the hang of it and his shoulder didn't hurt too badly.

 Hayley decided that she wanted to give it a try too. We put her in the slow pitch softball and let her go at it. I was pretty sure that this was going to be entertaining since she is not on any sports teams.

 A little help getting lined up from Daddy

 and she hits the ball!!

 Hunter was too cool to have his picture taken but I did sneak a couple. As always, he did well!

 Next up: PUTT PUTT  GOLF!!!!

proof I was there

 Hayley got our only hole in one the entire night!

 She was acting like Tiger Woods...Lord, help me!

 Hunter wasn't very excited about playing simply because he hits the ball too hard. After the 14 hole he finally got the concept and did well.

I love evenings where we can sneak away and have an evening of laughter, fun, love and memories. I am truly blessed with an amazing family.

Happy Birthday, Emily!!

Thursday night the kids and I headed to El Nopal (yumm-o) for a very special surprise birthday celebration...Emily turned 16!!!  Emily is the daughter of a very good friend (Terri) and is the first person outside of family to watch the kids. Hayley is absolutely in love with her---she thinks she hung the moon because she barrel races!! Hunter thinks that she is pretty cool too, but won't admit it if there are certain people around, he cracks me up!

Terri has been planning this surprise party for a while and I am so thankful that it all went perfectly and Em had no clue!! She just thought that she going to dinner for her birthday. She was but a few of her closet friends and family were there waiting for her!  I wished that I had gotten a picture when she first walked in but I was too excited to think about taking pictures.



Emily and Hayley



Happy Birthday to you,

Happy Birthday to you,

Happy Birthday dear Emily,

Happy Birthday to you!!

Little did Emily know, the surprises were not over.....there was one more out back

 A NEW TRUCK

 She was speechless...it was so cute to see her reaction!!! One very lucky girl

The birthday crowd with Em's truck

 Hayley, Terri and I went shopping last weekend for our present. Hayley was insistent that she wanted to get her a name tag/plate for her truck. (We knew she was getting a truck!) We had to wait until she got her truck before we could give her our present. I almost forgot to get a picture, that's why it's blurry!



Thanks for letting us help celebrate your special day with you. I can't believe that you are going to be driving soon, Lord help us and your Momma!!!