New Home Tour

Life has a funny way of repeating itself. We moved to Conway 7 years ago. And I mean 7 years (almost) exactly. We moved from Ft. Worth and stayed with my parents for a few weeks (or months) until our housing situation got straightened out. The boys went to their first days of school from my parents house.

So...fast forward 7 years and the house we planned to buy then is actually the one we are buying now. (It did not work out before, and it wasn't pretty.) AND we are going to be staying with my parents for a few days while everyone gets moved. The boys will be going to their first day of school from my parents house. Weird, huh?

Anyway, here are some pictures of our new house. Front of house. There is a nice porch that doesn't really show up here.

Another view of the front. Nice roomy garage.

The kitchen has two ovens and a walk-in pantry.

Breakfast area.

Dining room.

Living room.

Master bedroom (not my bed).

Another view of the master bedroom.

Part of the backyard. Notice the firepit and the third garage (aka Mark's man cave).

Just a swingin'.

Jackson in his new room. Big plans for this room.

Upstairs bonus area. TV conveys. Oh yeah! There is an office next to this room that will be mine. I might allow Mark to come in.

OK Stephanie, there is the mini-tour. Blogger seemed to have a mind of its own today.

Yes, I Still Have a Blog

For some reason my kids told me today that I need to update my blog. Do they read my blog? No. Will they even know if I do update my blog? Not unless I tell them Why do they care? I have no clue.

It feels like we are living life in the fast lane, and I don't like it. When I was a kid (way back in the dark ages), summer lasted forever. Or at least it felt that way. I know that time seems to go faster as you get older, but I think even the kids feel this summer is going too fast.

I am not ready for school to start. In three weeks! Yikes! I feel like I need to hurry and make more memories with the boys. We need more lazy, do-nuthin' days.

I am not ready for Jackson the be in 4th grade; his last year at our elementary school. I am not ready for Jonathan to be in 6th grade. I remember 6th grade - it does not seem possible that I have a child that old.

OK, so I do not have any words of wisdom to share or deep thoughts I need to publish. This is just what is on my mind right now.

There, I am updated.

Tagged

I've been tagged by the very talented Amanda Sanders. The only rule is that the questions have to be answered in one word. Here goes:

1. Where is your cell phone? nightstand
2. Where is your significant other? Work
3. Your hair color? Originally?
4. Your mother? Jo Anne
5. Your father? Robert
6. Your favorite thing? chocolate
7. Your dream last night? None
8. Your dream/goal? Heaven
9. The room you’re in? Office
10. Your hobby? scrapbooking (ha ha)
11. Your fear? loss
12. Where do you want to be in 6 years? Caribbean?
13. Where were you last night? church
14. What you’re not? tall
15. One of your wish-list items? convertible
16. Where you grew up? Camden
17. The last thing you did? dinner
18. What are you wearing? clothes
19. Your TV? OFF
20. Your pet? dogs
21. Your computer? frustrating
22. Your mood? Happy
23. Missing someone? Husband
24. Your car? small
25. Something you’re not wearing? hat
26. Favorite store? Target
27. Your summer? poolside
28. Love someone? absolutely
29. Your favorite color? pink
30. When is the last time you laughed? Today
31. Last time you cried? yesterday

Doing that in just one word is a challenge. If you read this, consider yourself tagged.

Farm Fest 2008

Last Friday the boys and I drove to east Texas to be with some of our favorite people in the world for the 6th annual Farm Fest. We love to go there and hate to leave. We consider these people our family, even though we are not really related. We look forward to this event every year.

Our gracious and generous hosts:

Dick and Ruthie Graham

aka: Uncle Dick and Rufie

Poopah and Gigi

We love these people! Thanks again for everything.

Jonathan with his buds Jordan and Bo.

Jackson was so busy running around I felt like I hardly saw him Saturday. He did slow down to enjoy this swing though.

Everyone loaded up for the hayride.

Jonathan and Mark waiting for the hayride to start. Mark made it to Farm Fest again this year, even though he had to commute home Saturday morning and then drive to east Texas.

Rhett and Jackson on the hayride.

We raosted hot dogs on a bonfire. This is the prep table. Check out that sunset!

Mark showed everyone how to build water bottle rocket for the second annual water bottle rocket derby. (Try saying that three times fast.)

Ready for launch.

Kolby, Rhett Jackson and Jonathan

I Just Can't

I have not blogged in two weeks. I know, I know. I am a terrible, slacker of a blogger. But here is the thing: I have been overwhelmed lately with one crisis after another. Even if I had the time to blog, I could not have blogged about most of it for fear of offending someone or just saying too much. It has been stressful to say the least.

Have I mentioned that I am PTO President of my younger son's elementary school this year? Yeah. I loved being involved, but this has been an especially hard year. And it is only September! We have had one issue after another come up. I have lost a few pounds, but I think I stressed them off.

I knew going in that this year would be different. A new school opened up for this fall and about a third of our student body went there. Our numbers are different. Our demographics are a little different. Everything is a little different.

The principal of the school is a great guy. The kids love him. They think he is cool and it is a treat to get to spend time with "Mr. Lewis." He is very involved and very supportive of the PTO. He is a big part of why our school is the great school that it is.

The Lewis's live down the street from us. They are a cute couple with an adorable little blond-haired, blue-eyed, three-year-old boy. Three weeks ago that sweet little boy was diagnosed with leukemia. ALL to be specific. His long term prognosis is good, but he has a long road ahead of him. Mr. Lewis has not been at school since the diagnosis. All my PTO crises pale in comparison to this situation.

I am not sure where I was trying to go with this post, but understand that blogging is way down the line in my list of priorities right now.

Prayer for 9-11

Morning Prayer, Thursday, September 11, 2008

Lord God, grant us as Americans the kind of unity that comes from really caring for each other, not just unity that comes from the fear, the calamity of hurricanes or terrorism. We continue to pray for the USA, for its leaders, for all Americans. Hold us in your everlasting arms. In the name of Jesus, AMEN!

Deuteronomy 33:27
The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting harms: and he shall thrust out the enemy from before thee; and shall say, destroy them.

One of my classmates sends out a "morning prayer" everyday. They always seem to say what I need to hear, but this one seemed especially appropriate.

The End of Summer and the Beginning of School

The last weekend of July ( the hottest days all summer) Mark and the boys went to Cub Scout Resident Camp for four days.

Waiting for the closing flag ceremony.

Jackson and his tent mate William.

Jonathan and Chase outside their tent.

We drove in our 8 year old van to San Antonio, Texas and back. The van could not take it anymore and we had to put it out of its misery. The boys - especially Jackson - was not entirely ready to give up the van yet.

Our new ride: a Honda CR-V. It is fun to drive, but I do miss the space the van had.

The first weekend in August we went to Hot Springs and went on a float trip with some dear people. Part of the group went downtown to see the sights. Our Texas friends were intrigued with the actual hot springs, so we had to show them. These boys (Konner Graham, Jordan Graham, Jonathan and Jackson) are great friends and love hanging out together.

I hate this picture of myself, but I love these women. I have known these two forever! I could say I've known them since grade school, but it is actually more complicated than that. With me are Lauren LaCotts Hook and Cindy Cook Tittle.

Jonathan participated in his first triathlon and finished despite having bronchitis and coughing so hard he got sick during the run. (I did not know he had bronchitis!) He is a tough kid.

Jackson and Mrs. Jones. She was also Jonathan's 3rd grade teacher, so we already knew we liked her.

Jonathan was ready to start Intermediate School even if I was not ready for him to. He is doing great and loving it so far. It blows me away that he is in 5th grade already!