Update

I figured I would update my blog a little bit. I was getting bored with the old background. I have lots to post this weekend.

Check back soon...

Family

They mean the world to me...

Boys

Just wanted to post some pics of Carson's room. I love his room. It just makes us smile. It really fits him. Inspired by his Daddy, but created by Mommy...

A little of this & that...

Don't let his cuteness fool you! :) We went to the book fair at his school today. Carson picked out some books and I got Lauren a book called, "Pinkalicious"! I was eyeing it at our book fair this week. I figure she will enjoy it once she will sit longer than five minutes to hear a story. Carson is going on his first field trip next week. Yes, I am nervous. Funny, I am a teacher who is always reassuring parents that their children will be safe, not to worry, etc...when the tables are turned I understand EXACTLY how they feel. I may need to do some extra yoga or something next week!

They are going to Master Kim's Karate...he is so EXCITED. Oh, I meant CHRIS!!! I bet you thought I was talking about Carson. I think he is going to go. For those who don't know, he is an avid Kung Fu student. A huge passion of his. So, I will send him with the camera if he decides to "crash" Carson's field trip.
Stay tuned...

Pig Tails

I have waited almost 19 months to post this! OK, so I did not have a blog 19 months ago, but I HAVE waited 19 months for PIG TAILS. No, not mine, Lauren's...drum roll please!!!!!

Yes, I am really "that" excited about them. I just think they are adorable. Any moms want to give me advice on how to fix her hair w/o having to wrestle her to the ground? Right now I give her a toothbrush and turn on the water so she can play in it, but it is still so hard to get them straight!

"The greatest wealth is to live content with little."
~Plato

Quite an interesting picture...
I am sure you are wondering why in the world I am posting a picture of a blurry dollar bill, in an old frame, that is matted with corrugated cardboard...

This is the first dollar I ever made...well, from a REAL paycheck. I babysat quite often when I was younger, but this is from my very first paycheck. I worked at a daycare center and taught the after school children. I loved it! This type of job continued through college when I taught after school kids again for several years through the Boys & Girls Club.

OK, so why the dollar?? My Dad asked me to give him the first dollar from my check. For the longest time it was "thumb tacked" on the wall beside his bed. It used to make me smile when I would see it just floating on the wall beside the closet. My dad framed it himself and gave it to me about the time I left for college. It sat in Carson's room until last week. I discovered him trying to put it in his bank...I explained why it was so important to me. We have always taught Carson the value of money and why hard work is very important. Also, nothing is truly free & money does not grow on trees! Blah, Blah, Blah...boring parent talk! Now, it is on the bookshelf up high enough so little hands can't reach it. Especially little hands that realize that money does not grow on trees, but "'finders keepers" :)

September 3, 1940

Ralph Waldo Emerson:
Life is a succession of lessons, which must be lived to be understood.

Today would have been my Dad’s 68th birthday. I cannot believe that it has been almost 3 years since he passed away. I vowed that his birthday would always be a special day. I know that he had a much bigger calling. In my Dad’s passing he inadvertently taught me many lessons much like when he was here. Those lessons I will pass on to my own children. My son only remembers his Papa through pictures. He calls him his Angel Papa. My daughter never got to meet him. Although I like to think that he kissed her when she was sent from heaven to be our tiny princess! I smile when I see him in them.

Here are some of the best memories I have of my Dad…in no particular order of course:

· Every Monday when I was in high school he put my lunch money and gas money on the counter in the bathroom.
· He read the paper every day.
· My Dad loved to grill. Every Saturday night we had steak…EVERY Saturday night.
· He loved his front porch swing.
· Sometimes my Dad could be really silly…not very often, but often enough to know that his hard exterior was not so hard.
· He hated to be late!
· I never remember him missing a day of work when I was young.
· My dad dyed his hair once to cover they gray and it turned black…then it turned orange when he tried to fix it… It was really funny! I don’t think he appreciated the humor of the situation until years later.
· I always knew how proud I made him even if he did not always say it. Some things you just know.
· He made sure I always had what I needed & much of what I wanted.
· He bought me an apple tree. When that one had to be cut down, he bought me another one.
· When my Dad said I could not have a cat…I asked Santa! Santa gave me a cat that year.
· Every birthday I received a card filled with money representing each year of my life. My last card held $29.
· The last time I spoke to my Dad we talked about my son, ate life-savers candy, and laughed because I told him I was sorry I could not smuggle a Snickers into the hospital.

OK, I could go on forever. Whatever life throws your way today be happy that you are alive to enjoy it. Learn a lesson from something and reflect on how it can make you a stronger individual. Don’t sweat the small stuff. Life is way too short!
Happy birthday Dad…I miss you! ~BB

PRAY

To all of my family & friends:

Please say a prayer for my friend Amy's sister, Ashley. She is about 1 hour north of New Orleans riding out Hurricane Gustav. Last I heard, she is at the veterinary hospital w/ her belongings. I can't imagine how scary this must be for her.

She was also in the Caribbean (sorry I can't remember the name of the island) at vet school when Ivan came through a few years back.

Please pray for Ashley and her family! I know they would appreciate it!!!!

Lauren SINGS

Yes, I know I am posting like mad, but I don't really have time to during the week now with school starting back....so I am determined to keep you busy for atleast the next 5 minutes reading about things the kids are up to....

Lauren's new accomplishments:
She is a singer. Well, not really words, but the tunes. She can now hum ABC's, Twinkle, Twinkle, and Wheels on the Bus! My favorite is Wheels on the Bus. She does the hand movements. Very cute when she hums: The baby on the bus goes Whaaa, Whaaa, Whaaa...& rubs her eyes.

I figured it out on the way home from Hendersonville yesterday. I heard her singing and turned to watch her. I picked up the tune as I saw her moving her hands for the wheels, "shushing" for the parents, & crying for the baby.

Carson's BIG leap

OK, not so much a leap, but a big feat! Carson learned to cross 9 "monkey Bars" today! That is what Chris told me. I was not there to see it. :(

ALL BY HIMSELF.

Now, some of you may be thinking that is not a huge thing, but if you know Carson it totally is. My little guy is TINY! He is barely 30 pounds and a munchkin compared to some his age. This kid has a huge heart and tons of competitiveness to go with it. He has been determined to cross the monkey bars for a while now. In true "Monkey" fashion (you may recall that has been our nickname for him since he was less than a week old) he crossed them with ease.

Way to go tiny Monkey!

Weekend Adventures

Yesterday we ventured up to Hendersonville, NC. We went to the Apple Festival. My good friend Amy is always great about reminding me about upcoming festivals. I can never keep them straight! Carson loved walking around. I t was pretty hot, but we had a cool breeze blow every now and then. Lauren loved riding in the stroller looking around at all the people. On the way home we did one of our favorite things...we found something to explore. We followed the signs to Campbell's Covered bridge. If you look at the pic below you can read about it. Carson got to explore a little. The men who were also there saw a huge black snake. Carson and Chris went to check it out, but it was nowhere to be seen...YIKES...glad Lauren and I opted to stay in the truck. I am not fond of snakes....enjoy our adventures!

Campbell's Covered Bridge built in 1909

Looking for the black snake

Lauren...awww...isn't she cute!