Afternoon in town

Tonight is Jesus' Birthday party at First Baptist Church Corinth. Such a special day, I decided we would spend all afternoon at Meme and Big Daddy's. AND, to increase the specialness, we bought lunch at Wendy's; Nuggets and fries for kids; half size chicken BLT for me.

Then we drove to Big Daddy's, but there was no room to eat at the table since Meme has it decorated. So next door to Nana and Dad's we went!

Peyton chose to nap with Big Daddy (ha! he still isn't asleep two hours later) and TJ stayed to nap with Nana. I hope he is napping anyway.

Unfortunately, Peyton said words that his babysitters taught him. WE AND RT. Luckily, it was time for church.

Gasoline

No pictures.  I was moving too fast for pictures.

I'll keep this short.  Peyton and TJ were playing in the backyard this morning after lunch.  Peyton got into 'the shed' of doom, and he came out with the gasoline for the lawn mower. 


Shed door- does not close completly, therefore cannot be locked.
little brother- fun to terrorize

Peyton poured the gasoline on TJ's head.

Humbug

I'm not in the mood.

Life is too sweet to worry about getting in the spirit. Spirit of what I ask?? Fake happiness and joy. Nah

Joy is not for one season.

We are joyful in our daily house-ful of crazy. Where biting, crying, and screaming happen constantly; but I don't want to be anywhere else.

Happy Birthday, Jesus!! You, we adore.

I'm not back

Nor will I be anytime in the near future. 

The Key family is starting to find a real routine; Peyton has even returned to learning activities that were halted when I started packing. 

Most days I find myself busy cleaning and cooking while texting Jessica (Jessica is the only one who texts regularly.)  Jake ordered dishnetwork so we are back to watching Nick Jr., Disney Jr., and PBS.

My birthday is Thursday; I will be 28!  So glad I'm not looked at as a youngster anymore. 

Rather Difficult Days

Whew! I am glad when bedtime comes every night.

I don't think I sat down all day except when rocking outside with the boys- and having my hair done.

Wednesday might I realized that I hadn't read my Bible in a while. This is a problem.

The children are settling down some, but not without the ugly fits (which are kin to the ugly cry.)

It seems I will not be able to do real posts for a while - no DSL available where I live.

So I love you all, but my iPhone bill will be outrageous.

Sick

Sinus drainage - not a fan

... cause for me, this always means laryngitis.


Gray skies

... Cause nothing goes with feeling bad and still sad better than depressing skies.


Internet-less


... Jeers to At&t for not having anything other than dial up out in the sticks. Dial up is so two thousand.

Thinking about stuff

What kind of STUFF lasts?


For sure, not material goods. I know this truth, but I still worry about my worldly stuff. I like my stuff.

But what really matters is my 'people' stuff. Ya know, Jake, Peyton, and TJ stuff.


I included some pictures of my babies , but not their Daddy. My iPhone does not have pictures of Jake.

I'll try to fix that.

Seriously

Monday night my bible study group held a going away party for me and the kids. I might have slightly threw a wrench in the surprise when I attempted not to return to Demopolis. But those sneaky little girls convinced me otherwise.

I feel so bittersweet about this week. Tonight is the babies last night in the house where they both turned one. I have so many wonderful memories here.

I knew my moment was coming; when I could no longer hold back my flood of emotions. That is precisely where I find myself.

This is a painful place.

I've been here before.

I'll be here again.

Because you see, I can't live in a vacuum. Somehow I think the depth of affection is directly relational to the depth of pain.

I am hurting, quietly. The kids are sleeping.

Then I took a cleansing shower.

And I'm ok now.

I'm a girl; ugly cries happen.

Busy busy

I am posting from my iPhone app, so I can't be too verbose. The following are pictures of my new house / the mother in law's.

I don't want anyone to cry

...but our Demopolis season is drawing to a close. I spoke with relocation specialist today (Wednesday) should hear something back tomorrow.

I am sad about leaving my DEAR friends, but Peyton and TJ cry for their Daddy every night.

I think they are trying to play the sympathy card, but gosh-a-bill miss him too.

Do Not Play in the Play Room!

because Jake spent time picking up books and I spent time picking up the puzzle/mat.

Blog-tory or not

I was feeling the need to update you on the process, but then I did my precept study for yesterday, and yes that means I am behind at least one
day behind in my study.

We were focusing on Gilgal, and why God "hated them" in that place. Hate? Yup, now you see why we're exploring Gilgal!

Gilgal just happens to be where Joshua and the Israelites set up their twelve stones after crossing the Jordan river.

The Israelites seem to have turned Gilgal into a place of disobedience. And you guessed it! God is not a fan of disobedience.

On a much happier note, I have decided to Skype into Bible study once we relocate!

I will leave you with the boy's picture of the day.

Update: this occurrence was referenced in a radio program this afternoon. Think God is speaking to me?

Really now?

I promise, my kids are the joy of
My life . Also, they hardly surprise me anymore.

Big Post

Jake came home this weekend- so we did lots of work. 

kitchen

Dining area

lving area view 1

living area view 2



master bath



Kids clothes

I'm linking up with Kelly at Kelly's Korner today. 

My boys are exactly two years and four days apart.  We were blessed in that way.  When Jake and I found out we were expecting the second time, I hoped, and prayed, for a little girl.

 Peyton, boy number one, may act like me but he looks like his daddy.  I wanted a little girl that would look like me, so I could dress her up and make her wear pink everything.

A few days before the gender revealing ultrasound, I really had a peaceful feeling, from God I know, that another little boy would be just fine.  Not to mention cheaper on the old wallet!  TJ, boy umber two, is just fine with me.

Furthermore, since their birthdays would be so close in the year, clothes would most fit in the correct season.  I would detest 6-month-summer clothes if my baby hit that size in say, November.  See what I mean?

SUYL topic: Where do you buy kids clothes?

I have only bought a handful of things for them, EVER.  Almost ALL of their clothes are hand-me-downs from older boys in our church.

 WHEN I do shop for them, I buy something matching (go ahead and judge me) generally (in the case of mass market) from Old Navy.  In the case of personalized/ home parties, I just go with the flow.  If I want the boys to wear monogrammed shirts to a party or event, then I use a entrepreneurial friend.  Just this week, I purchased Fall shirts from Amanda, here.   Last Christmas, OK August, I attended an Orient Expressed home party and ordered our card picture outfits. 

Oh! My husband put a 18-month age limit on smocked items.  So we are strictly Polo's and khakis now. 



Peyton, TJ, and Jake's hand



courtesy Sarah Snowden

Link up It's OK Thursdays...

... to put yourself in Mommy timeout. 


... to freak out when you almost lose all connection to the internet.


...to go to WalMart everyday.

Carpet

It's another blog-tory post!

I'm hoping to move this house swiftly, so I want it to look it's best.  That includes our year-old carpet.  Two little boys can make one rough year on the carpets let me tell ya.

Peyton's room looked worse, only because  of the sheer size of his stains, which we think were chocolate milk....

But it was under the middle of the bed...

so there really is no telling.

I forgot to take a picture of the stain to begin with...but here is the best I got.

See the dark spots? 

The whole area was that color!  I'm talking 1 foot by 6 inches!

here we are to save the daaaaaaaay!

Meet the dirt devil

stain: "I'm fading!"

one more touch up ya think?

It's like magic! But for now, no more drinks in the bedrooms!

We love cowbell!

Bless him, Peyton just wanted to ring his Daddy's cowbell!  As happens so often to small people, he dropped the cowbell on his toe.  This happened LAST Wednesday, but today (Tuesday) his poor little toe is still suffering.

bless him

If I Had a Tear....

...for every time I've been frustrated today - I'd have a river! 

BUT- I am still here and so are the kids. 

Well, actually they are on their side of the hall. 

I am hoping to finish "Knowing We're Showing" this week; first part of the week hopefully.  The worst part of deep cleaning your house to put it on the market: surely is dirty-ing up one room to clean another. 

I don't have pictures to prove this, can you trust me?

Something else I don't have pictures to prove?  Our first poison control scare!  Peyton swallowed trace amounts of a cleansing medicine. 

Dude, I am tired.  This single mom stuff ain't no joke. 

not the poison control issue- this is when they spilled apple juice and found candy corn

Jake was Right

Everyone has obsessions.

Mine is books!

(for the kids)

board books

one stack I didn't have space to display



more books I can't find a place to display

Jake is constantly encouraging me to stop increasing the collection.  After this experience, I will...sort of.

I PLEDGE: to only purchase high quality literature for the kiddos.

water bottle courtesy Peyton

?

??

fan blade?

"Mommy,  I  took a picture of your beautiful clothes!"

I'm thinking maybe PeyPey has a future in photography. 

Shenanigance

I make this face all the time.  I'm so glad to know how ridiculous it is.  What does this look mean?  I'm perturbed.  Basically, one of the kids has just come up with a completely insane way of making my life harder.  That is when I make this face. 

Look closely at the background of the picture.  See the shed?  Want to see inside of it?

Please focus on the newly painted floor. 

See, what happened was..............

I was merrily packing boxes with china and crystal, when I realized how mice and quiet my surroundings were.  That's not good. 

So I trotted myself outside and found my shed door open.  Then I ran

What I found was my two little preciousness into Mommy's art paints. 

The ones Jake keeps asking me to throw away.

SIDE NOTE:  During this move, we have resolved to decrease our possessions by one-third.  It is my opinion that my boys just want to help.

Anyway, so I found TJ with black paint on his lips, (why?) and Peyton squeezing the tar out of all my paint bottles. 

"OK, boys, let's have a bath." 

I took the picture AFTER bath and boys were at nap. 

NEXT

I once had a nice patio table.

Not anymore

The boys decreased that for me too.

Fortunately, it was made of tempered glass, so no one was injured.  I used four WM bags to carry all the little rounds of glass away.  TJ tromped on the glass as if it were snow.  Peyton tried to run his hands in the broken glass.

To Gloss or Not to Gloss

May I just gloss over teh last week?  Would you mind terribly? We went to MS this weekend after Praxis day.  Actually, the boys all went to MS Friday so I could make a last ditch effort to study. 

Remind me to study BEFORE the test day next time.  Oh, nevermind.  I hope not to have a next time. 



My weekend was filled with shopping (new black shoes), and new church visits (TJ did cry).  Then my Daddy had sinus surgery Tuesday, I made pasta fagoili, and we all went to sleep. 

See? Nothing too exciting. 

I worked my tail off last week on this house.  Upside? My kitchen now has clean cabinets, dining room has bright windows, and TV cabinet is covered with minimal junk.  All that is left before listing my house is everything else. 

But today is not the day to start anything else.  No.  Today I wwill wash clothes and try to reclean the  kitchen, dining room, and living room.  Becasue deep cleaning is messy!

I'm still here

a new post will be coming soon

Southern Living Chase

Sometime in 2010, my Aunt Donna gave me a two year subscription to Southern Living.  I have poured over every issue EVER since I was a little girl, so this was the sweetest thing she could have done for me.  At that time, we used a PO box. 


At Christmastime 2010, my Daddy and Dad put up a mailbox by the road for me.  One of my first actions was to transfer my subscription to our house.  This can be easily done on the internet!

Well now, I am changing it again.  But I made a boo-boo this time. 

A couple months back, we ordered Shutterfly pictures for my MIL, but she has never received them.  I was convinced that she gave me the wrong address! 

So when I forwarded Southern Living, I supplied the address I just knew was right.  Then I informed Jake.   I was wrong. 

Back to the internet address change form.  Only this time, it was too soon.  Customer Service request?  YUP, this is serious business people.  We're coming up on the Holiday issue!

Luckily, I received a confirmation email Tuesday night to inform me that my address has been updated, with the correct address. 

The one my MIL gave me.


Now what about those pictures.....

Ugly Cry

You know about ugly cries right?  Some folks call it snot crying.   When Jake left Tuesday, I ugly cried. 

Since then I have been feverishly working on our house. 

You probably can't tell I've done that much.  I've only filled 10 boxes with unessential kitchen items!   And you probably really can't tell.  I'm a weebit discrouraged. 

Psalm 61:2 From the ends of the earth, I cry to you for help when my heart is overwhelmed. Lead me to the towering rock of safety,


The boys have been busier than usual, I will so post about their shenanigance. 

Pray for These Babies

Read about Baby Kate.  Kate's mom is a sorority sister of mine, actually she's my twin sis.  Even if you haven't clicked on her button, please take time to pray for this baby.   For me?


Read about Baby Ryder via Sweet Collette. These are families we met when Jake was finishing his degree while I taught at Sudduth.  My Sudduth teaching experience is another post altogether.  Please take time to pray, even if you don't read about her.

Thoughts from Today

Renovate to Sell-abrate list

You remember that we are moving to our hometown, but first we must sell our inaugural home.  I called the repairing part of getting our home ready for market 'Renovate to Sell-abrate."  Did you think that was dorky? Just wait.

Knowing We're Showing list

Now get your mind out of the gutter - I'm not preggs.   We're showing our HOUSE.  This is a list of things we need to do before the house is market ready.  

continuation of the list

I'm scared folks.  That is a LOT of stuff to do.  Our realtor agreed to wait a couple of weeks before putting the sign up, but I have SO much to do!    Would you be interested in before/after shots?  We'll see.

Glass Repair

Today was supposed to be the day that Jake left for Corinth.   He will stay in Demopolis until our glass gets repaired.  Several of the windows in our house have been broken in the three and a half years we have lived here.  How?  I'm glad you asked. 

summertime pastime

Sometimes, and I do mean rarely, the boys go a little too fast on the lawnmower. 

Look at the rocks

Rarely, when the backyard gets mowed (rarely because grass doesn't really grow there) they have to work around the rocks.  And since we don't use our backyard or the gravel for vehicles, the grass has grown over the rocks.   Actually, the only part of our backyard grass that WILL grow is the section right up next to the house - in the gravel. 

Shouldn't Jake raise the lawn mower blade? He does.   But...

...they lower the blade back down.

Suffice to say, a few windows needed replacing.



Up and Down People

Renevate to Sell-abrate! Phase 1: We had to relay our floor in one room.

  After the excitement of this weeekend was over, TJ's crib fell apart!  Six months ago I would have said, "REALLY?" But now I just say, "We better get over it and get on with our business." 

new bed = play pen

In case you ever wonder, your house and life turn upside down during renovation.  The kids?  They just roll with the punches and question the moving furniture.

Why does my room look different?

There are other side effects too.  The toy box was placed in Peyton's room during the floor relay, which resulted in NO sleep for Peyton Friday night.  Don't believe me?  Want proof?  I have some!

budding photographer?

You see, I found this picture WHILE Peyton was confessing his midnight adventures to Daddy. 

Comment on September 11, 2011:  Ten years ago today, Jake and I were seniors in high school.  ACHS (Jake's school) was allowed to watch  the coverage, but CHS (my school, Go Warriors!) was not.  I didn't need to see it anyway.  I do find it funny, however, that in 10 years I have grown and healed yet without fully processing the events of that fateful day.

Christmas Dance 2001

Tomorrow is our last real day as a family in this house.  I smell a house tour in your near future.  Minus the front room that you've already seen.   OH! I've painted the doors and mouldings white again, well, really I just touched everything up.  But I felt good about my accomplishment.