A New Chapter Begins...

First Day of Kindergarten

Get out the tissues!

World, I bequeath to you today one little girl in a crispy dress, with two blue eyes, and a happy laugh that ripples all day long, and a batch of light blonde hair that bounces in the sunlight when she runs. I Trust You'll Treat Her Well.

She's slipping out of the backyard of my heart this morning and skipping off down the street to her first day at school. And never again will she be completely mine...

Prim and proud, she'll wave a young and independent hand this morning, and say goodbye and walk with little-lady steps to the nearby schoolhouse...

Gone will be the chattering little hoyden who lived only for play, and gone will be the delightful little gamin who roamed the yard like a proud princess with nary a care in her little world. Now, she will learn to stand in lines...and wait by the alphabet for her name to be called...

She will learn to tune her little-girl ears for the sound of school bells, and for deadlines...

She will learn to giggle and gossip...and to look at the ceiling in a disinterested way when the little boy across the aisle sticks out his tongue.

Now she will learn to be jealous...and now she will learn how it is to feel hurt inside...and now she will learn how not to cry. No longer will she have time to sit on the front porch steps on a summer day and watch while an ant scurries across a crack in the sidewalk...

Or will she have time to pop out of bed with the dawn to kiss lilac blossoms in the morning dew. Now she will worry about important things...like grades...and what dresses to wear...and whose best friend is whose. Now she will worry about the little boy who pulls her hair at recess time... and staying after school...and which little girls like which little boys...and the magic of books and knowledge will soon take the place of the magic of her blocks and dolls.

And she'll find her new heroes. For five full years I've been her sage and Santa Claus...her pal and playmate...her parent and friend. Now, alas, she'll learn to share her worship and adoration with her teachers (which is only right).

No longer will her parents be the smartest and greatest in the world. Today, when the first school bell rings, she'll learn how it is to be a member of the group...with all its privileges, and, of course, its disadvantages, too.

She'll learn in time that proper young ladies don't laugh out loud...or keep frogs in pickle jars in bedrooms...or watch ants scurry across the cracks in a summer sidewalk...

Today, she'll begin to learn for the first time that all who smile at her are not her friends. That "the group" can be a demanding mistress... and I'll stand on the porch and watch her start out on the long, long journey to becoming a woman.

So WORLD, I BEQUEATH TO YOU TODAY ONE LITTLE GIRL in a crispy dress, with two blue eyes, a happy laugh that ripples all day long, and a batch of light blonde hair that bounces in the sunlight when she runs.

I TRUST YOU'LL TREAT HER WELL.

By Dan Valentine
From the book "American Essays: Sentimental Classics Designed to Make the Heart Sing"

It's the Most Wonderful TIme of the Year!!!

Well other than Christmas that is! Campmeeting is here in full force and I LOVE IT!! Nothing is better than...

Two full weeks spent swinging on your front porch and socializing with friends and family that you don't get to see nearly often enough!

Eating country ham sandwiches and drinking the best milkshakes ever made!

Listening to the best gospel music around!

Hearing my daughter's laughter running from tent to tent because she is chasing her boyfriend around!

Hearing my son throw a tantrum because he wants to throw rocks and be pushed around in his car night after night!

Going to the shack to buy the cheapo toys that your children think are better than gold! =D

My list could go on and on, but I'll stop here for now. I'm just so thankful that I grew up where I did and campmeeting is part of my life! I couldn't imagine my life without it! I really mean that!!! Some of my best childhood memories were made there and I'm sure that some of our best family memories will be made there also. Ashlyn and Brennan absolutely LOVE IT! I'll try to get some pictures up later.

Myrtle Beach Days

Toes in the sand...

Drink in the hand...

Sun shining down...

Smiles all around...

This weekend was the freaking AWESOME!!! Our weekend started by getting pulled over by a HOT State Trooper 2 miles from Ocean Lakes! Just Lovely!!! We flirted our way out of the ticket though. He let us go with a warning. We told him that the single one in the back, Ida, was loving being pulled by him! He grinned and then shined his light on Brennan and told him he didn't know how lucky he was to be riding in the car with all of us. Ha! Too funny!

Saturday we laid out and played on the beach all day. Brennan thankfully took an snooze out there so we didn't have to go in for his afternoon nap. That evening we went to my favorite restaurant........Miyabi! YUMMY! It was Hanna's Birthday so we couldn't end the night without going to the Crazy Pelican. Sunday we went to the pool for about 3 hours and then headed back to the house to pack and clean up for our dreaded trip back home. =(

I swear I am such a beach girl! I could move down there in a heart beat if I didn't have to leave my friends and family. Just the thought of my parents ever selling our beach house makes me tear up! That can NEVER happen! It's my home away from home! I love it so much! I wish I was there right now! Geez!

Fun Weekend!

Y-M-C-A

Doesn't Ashley look thrilled to be on stage for her birthday?!?!? HA! =)

Amber onstage for her birthday also!

We had a great weekend! Friday night we went out for Amber and Ashley's birthday. We started out at Vinnie's and ended the night at Jokers. We had a FABULOUS time! Saturday Ashlyn wasn't feeling well so we just hung out around the house. Sunday the kids played all afternoon. It was a nice end to a great summer weekend! I'll try to post updates on the kids soon. Brennan is changing by the minute.

Beach Pictures

Beach Bums

We headed off for a nice relaxing vacation trip to the beach this past week. HA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Who ever thinks that going to the beach with 2 kids, well actually 3 for half of the week, ages 1, 2, and 5 is relaxing then you need to give me some of whatever you are on because I NEED IT!!! We did have a nice trip, but our beach trips have a whole new meaning now that we have kids. They just aren't quite as laid back anymore.

Our friends Marty and Jenna, and their little girl Reese stayed with us from Friday to Sunday at Ryan's/Metal Roofing System's place since no one was there over the weekend. The first day there Marty and Britt decided to go play golf so Jenna and I got the BRIGHT idea to load up the wagon, because the house where we were staying is about a block from the beach, and lather the kids down with sunscreen and go out to the beach. We didn't want to waste our beautiful day! Well............Brennan started screaming his lungs out as I started getting him ready for the beach. We finally were on our way. Jenna was pulling the wagon loaded 4 chairs plus all of the beach toys in one hand and Reese in the other hand. I was lugging Brennan in one arm and my HUGE beach bag loaded down with sunscreen and 3 beach towels in the other plus Ashlyn's hand. We made it to the beach and then............Dun dun dun........there are steps. We couldn't get the wagon up, but oh yes, we did try! We tried to carry this heavy ass wagon up those stairs with a baby on one hip and a wagon on my other side while men were watching but not offering us any assistance. WHAT THE HECK!?!? I'm sure they were getting a good laugh out of our disaster. Finally we just said forget it. We parked the wagon and unloaded what we could and made our way onto the beach. Ahhhhhhhh.........We'd finally made it. Peace at last. Yeah right! HA! Brennan HATED the sand. He HATED the water. He wanted to be held the entire time that we were down there. Ashlyn wanted me to build a sand castle with her and play in the ocean with her, but I coudln't because Brennan was attached to my hip. It was AWFUL! Once Brennan finally fell asleep I flagged Jenna down and she ran back to the wagon to get the baby tent that we had brought along to set up on the beach. She struggled to get that thing set up, and once again the men just sat and watched while she was fighting with this tent. No one offered any assistance. She had to ask one of them to help her. HOW RUDE!!! After all this I softly lay him down in the tent and do you know that I don't even get my hand off of him and he wakes up screaming again! By this point we had had it, so we packed up and went back to the house. I was ready for a drink by this point and time. The next day was a little easier with the boys help.

The 4th turned out to be a great day other than Ashlyn getting sick with what we believe was strep throat again. I don't know why our vacations can't be smooth sailing anymore. She was sick from Saturday to Monday with a fever and complaining of her throat hurting. I called and had what felt like a planned scavenger hunt to get her left over antibiotics back down to the beach to us. Once she got her first dose in her she felt better the next morning.

Sunday, Monday, and up until lunch Tuesday we packed up and stayed at Ocean Lakes with Mom and Dad. My old stomping grounds. Oh how I LOVE this place!!! Everything finally started calming down with the kids. Ashlyn was finally starting to feel better. Brennan was finally beginning to like the sand and the ocean a little better, and would at least let you sit him down on a blanket without pitching a royal fit. Maybe it was also better because we had Nana and Pappaw there to help keep us sane. Once it was finally time to leave we didn't want to come home. We wanted to stay! But, all good things must come to an end. I had to take a notary class yesterday so we had to come home on Tuesday. =( We are definitely hoping to make a few more trips this year. At least one more with the kids and one without. Ahhhhhh......the beach life! Gotta love it!

1000 miles a minute...

That's what pace I feel like my life is at right now. We are going going going constantly! I have a feeling that it's probably going to be like this for the next 18 years or so. We've had graduations, dance recitals, numerous birthday parties including Ashlyn's big Princess Pool Party! We've been to Chuck E Cheese, had kindergarten screenings, gone through one bout of strep throat with Ashlyn, then the next week Brennan was sick with a terrible viral infection that left him with a 103 fever all weekend long. It's been BUSY, but we are surviving!


We got Ashlyn a trampoline for her birthday and she was thrilled about it! Mommy was even more thrilled! Let's keep this a secret between us blogger friends, but I asked for a trampoline for my 30th birthday! HA! I didn't get one, but my little 5 year old did so I can jump until my little heart is content. It's all about losing weight and having fun at the same time......right??? I just have to wait until the kids are in bed because Ashlyn FORBIDS me to jump while she is on there with me! She is terrified that I'm going to bounce her to the sun and back. =) Brennan loves it too, even though he STILL ISN'T WALKING!!!! The child is spoiled ROTTEN! He wants to be carried everywhere 24/7! He just sits and bounces as Ashlyn jumps. He grins from ear to ear! I'm just waiting to get out there on it and try my back handsprings and flips. Do you think that I'll still be able to do those or will I break my neck? Maybe I'll have Britt get up there with me the first time and be my spotter. LOL! I need someone to come video this!


We are in the process of searching for a new car. Mine is getting on up there on the miles, and since Ashlyn is starting kindergarten that will be one less daycare bill for me to pay. I'm wanting an SUV, but nothing too big, but something that does have the third row seating. We are leaning towards either the Toyota Highlander or the Nissan Pathfinder. I'm just hoping that we can find something soon because I am very impatient when it comes to car buying and I'm ready to find me a new vehicle before it gets too far into summer. My air conditioner is starting to go out in my car and we either need to get it fixed or find me something new in a hurry! I can't take these 95 degree days without air conditioning much longer!


I hate playdough! Sorry, but it just makes such a mess. You end up find little dried up pieces all in your carpet and it just DRIVES ME NUTS! When Ashlyn plays with playdough she goes outside to do it! Well, I found this cool bath toy for her birthday. It's like playdough, only it's soap instead of the playdough and it comes with 3 different colored soaps and all the molds and rollers. I thought it was a BRILLIANT idea for us moms who don't like messes. Well let me tell you..........Don't go out and buy this product! The soap is gooky, slimey, crap that doesn't form worth a sh*t! It was $20 down the drain. Just let your kids enjoy their playdough. It's much better and easier to clean up than this cheap mess I bought trying to take the easy way out! =)


My 14 month old little cutie pie is such a MESS! Brennan is Trouble with a capital T! He is into EVERYTHING! And the more you tell him no, it just gives him more ammunition! He bit me last week and I still have a bruise on my left arm to proove it. He is the laid back baby until he reaches his breaking point, and that's the point of NO RETURN! He was at that point when the nice bite mark appeared on my arm! Ha! He finally had his allergy testing last week and turns out that he's allergic to eggs and grass, and he only has a slight allergy to both. No major allergies. That was wonderful news! The doctor told us to keep doing what we're doing. We can continue to give him foods that contain eggs, but we may want to hold off on giving him whole eggs, and if we notice him starting to react differently to things containing eggs then we will need to pull eggs out of his diet all together. With the grass issue there is really nothing that can be done about his constant rash everytime he's out in the grass other than what we are already doing. She seems to think that once he starts walking and is not constantly in the grass with it irritating his overly sensitive skin then his eczema will start looking much better.


Off to work now. Til next time!

My Little Girl is 5!!!

This can't be right! My little girl can't be 5 years old already! It just doesn't seem possible. She wanted a princess pool party, so a princess pool party is what she got. We even had a visit from a real princess! I called tow differnet princess entertainment companies out of the Huntersville and Charlotte area and both of them were completely booked for this past Saturday. I didn't know what to do because Ashlyn was positive that a princess was coming to her party. She'd already told all of her friends at school that one would be arriving. I was in PANIC MOOD! I called my friend Hanna and asked her if she knew of anyone that would want to dress up as a princess for just 15 minutes on Saturday, hand out treat bags, and do the honor of placing a crown and a sash on Ashlyn. She called her cousin Jordan who is a student at LR, and at first she thought that we were OUT OF OUR MINDS, then when I told her that I'd pay her $50 for the job she was all for it! Isn't funny what a little money can do for a poor college student? =) She was a SUPER DOOPER TROOPER! She played the roll to a tee! All of the kids loved her and Ashlyn even said, "She was the prettiest Cinderella EVER!" That should make you feel good Jordan! I'm honestly, DEAD SERIOUS, so no one else better steal my idea or I'll be PISSED, thinking of starting one of these princess/super hero businesses out of the Hickory area. These people are raking in the money! They charge $150 for a 30 minute session, $200 for a hour long session, and $300 for a 2 hour long session. And all of them were booked when I called for her party! This is not a bad idea at all people!

Ashlyn's Birthday Party

Reese's Barney Birthday Party

Miss Holllywood!