Life with My 3 Guys...

Logan's 7 Borthday

2009-02-27T13:50:00.001-05:00

Myrtle Beach 2008

2008-10-22T11:37:00.002-04:00

Myrtle Beach 2008

2008-10-22T10:40:00.001-04:00

Two Jobs, Two kids, Two sports.... TOOO Much

2008-06-06T00:11:00.006-04:00

Just so you know.... I am still alive!!! barely.... quite honestly I have been MIA more since starting the blog, than I have been blogging.... I think I am certainly at the 1 yr mark as I remember barely getting this blog initiated before heading off on vacation last year. So for year two I plan & hope to do a lot more blogging! & since I mention all the two's in my life currently, just thought I would let you know that CHANGE is in the air... because I QUIT! :o)

Yes, that's right! I am proud to say that I have quit ONE of the TWO jobs!! (Good bye BC) & I am sooo excited!!! I look forward to rejoining life with my famly & friends!! I can't wait to play in the yard & go for a bike ride with the boys, sit in the living room at night & read books or watch a movie or just cuddle up with them in bed when they want me too! Oh yeah & having lunch dates with friends! It's the little things that we take for granted & these are just a few on the MANY things I have missed over the past 2 yrs.

I have 1 more week of my notice & then a week of vacation! I CANT Wait!!! I'm am not sure how the bills will be paid but I have peace that it will all work out! We will learn to live with the things we NEED & not so much with every little thing we want! :o) (Logan even said he really didn't need any more toys from Wal-Mart! AWWWW, I was not kidding when I said he was my thoughtful sweet one! & that right there gives me PEACE that it will all work out!)

So, I will catch everyone up with what's been going on in our lives upon my return... like Spring Soccer & TBall in which Logan totally ROCKED at both! Logan's K-5 graduation (tear jerker)! Seth's 3rd Birthday! Seth's graduated to talking in full sentences & 90% potty trained!!! Where I am with my weight loss journey & new life plan! Summer plans & lazy days! Oh I can't wait! be back soon with lots of beach pics & a bit of regained sanity!!!! Until then.....

New Look....

2008-03-28T12:08:00.003-04:00

So a whole new look... the other was a bit tired, this one was created by me.. thanks to a fellow blogger post located HERE. So I have been super busy with the kids being home for Spring Break, nothing note worthy, just good old family time! Everything is in full bloom which I love but my allergies do NOT. I have been plaqued with Sinus headaches this week which has also led to too much down time.ughhh

Too Cute for Words....

2008-03-11T14:41:00.003-04:00

Happy Birthday, Logan!

2008-03-09T09:03:00.002-04:00

Today my "Big Guy" turned 6... I am having a really hard time grasping the fact that he is actually 6, but here are some of the clues that he has given me to show me just how much he has grown up!...

1- when asked what he wanted for his birthday he said... "you just do whatever you think is best, Mommy" Oh yeah, I would like an art set... but other than that just what ever you think.... (really?? no Power Rangers or Transformers, Yikes)

2- when asked if he wanted to go see Elmo when I took "Lil Bit" his reply was...
Logan: NO, Mom. Elmo is Lame
Me: what you used to love Elmo?
Logan: "LAME"
(oh yeah, Thomas, Dora & Deigo?.... all lame)

3- 1 week before his birthday, he states "Mom, I know what I want for my Birthday, I want a phone, an ipod & a basketball game for my PSP2."... Really??, I am sure these things didn't appear on my list of wants (well, the equivalent for the times: JAM Box, phone in my room & Atari) until I was at least 13

4- He is often found watching football, basketball or baseball game instead of watching cartoons (& always pulls for who ever is winning)

5- Did I mention that we just received his cap & gown from school??

6- He goes to the bathroom, shuts the door & LOCKS it... & no longer yells, "Momma" when he's done & heaven forbid, he ever let me in there until all his business is DONE.

7- He can read & even knows the words you are spelling to avoid saying it out loud. "Are you talking about Candy, Mommy?"-- "Can we?? Can we go to McDonald's" --"Can I get a toy if we go to WAL-MART?".... SERIOUSLY??

Every year I often reflect to the day he was born, so I thought I would share here... if you are family I am sorry to bore you with this again but here it goes....
We were married for 10 yrs before we decided to have children & even though I will often be heard talking about life before kids & how great things were, WELL... 6 yrs ago today, is when life all of a sudden had meaning! All wrongs turned right & Our life as a family began! I will never forget that I went in to the hospital on a cold dark morning & when I came home from the hospital all the Bradford pear trees were in full bloom, the grass was turning green & the sun was shinning! I have always loved spring but love it even more now because of this reason! Logan has been such a blessing in every way! In my mind he was a perfect baby (although had you asked me then I am sure I would of told you otherwise)& he taught me how to be a mom! I thank God daily for sending this wonderful blessing into our lives & showing us what true meaning in life means, for "saving" my life in so many ways & giving me the opportunity to experience true unconditional love!

I love you, Logan! More than you can ever imagine! Even more than your "two steps bigger" I hope you have a wonderful Birthday & have lots of fun with your friends!

The Journey Continues!!

2008-03-05T13:46:00.002-05:00

Mid week 2 & I am proud to say that I continue on my New Life Plan journey!! :o)
I am well into week 2 of the C25K journey & I can't believe that I am actually running & still able to walk & breathe! I must admit...there is no love affair yet! About mid run, I am hating life & really questioning why in the HECK I am doing this! But once I am done, the sense of accomplishment & well being, makes it all worth while! Which has kept me motivated & I have already completed 3 workouts this week! (can you believe that?) Unfortunately no change in the scale... but I am a patient woman & know this is the better way to becoming healthy! My clothes feel a little better, little less muffin top (hehe) & overall I feel better! It's amazing how much smaller I feel mentally (I mean when you are as big as a whale... to lose half a whale you really feel like a skinny whale) THEN... I walk by a mirror or see a pic of myself & so know that I am no wher near a skinny whale & I have a lot more of this journey to travel! I am NO where near ready for Venus swimwear & don't know that I ever will be again... but I will most definitely try! :o) On we go....

As far as the rest of the plan, I have done good with the eating, breakfast daily & certainly more conscious of my portions & choices. I have taken a bath daily & gotten ready! I must admit that I feel a lot better. Walking on the ball field with confidence that I look like I have my shi-ot together, rather than a frumpy mom that just thru on some clothes & pulled my hair up does a lot for a girl! & I hope in the process my boys are proud to say that I am their mom!

Continue to struggle with getting enough sleep & not working too much! For the most part last week I got 6-7 hrs of sleep a night (not 8 I know) & on Wed last week I ended up taking nap mid morning & paid for it the remainder of the week! It was a BIG eye opener! So this week.... NO NAPS! So far at least 7 hrs per night, which is better! My work hrs are still all over the place & I hope this will get better as I get more on schedule! Lil' bit has been sick & at home this week which has thrown things a bit off track but we are certainly not derailed!

Quality time with the boys, well, this still needs some improvement! We did spend 2 nights last week at the ball field & 1 so far this week! We did take a walk in this absolutely beautiful weather, which is Logan's absolute favorite thing!

Speaking of Logan, you guessed it, we are back into the full swing of things with soccer & T-Ball! First Soccer game was last Sat & we WON 7-3 & Logan made 4 GOALS! He continues to amaze me daily! He loves any & ALL sports & somehow manages to get out there, have fun & hold his own! (I could not be more PROUD!!) Also last week, his cap & gown was sent home for graduation... (TEAR) Steven thought I had absolutely lost it!! "It's only kindergarden Joy" but it feels like it was just yesterday that he was born & I blinked & here we are... I am scared to blink again! I just know he will be in High School! So for now, my eyes are WIDE OPEN! & I continue to try to make the most of every moment!

OK, now I must work, until next time.....

The Journey begins...

2008-02-25T13:30:00.007-05:00

Woo HOO!! I did it... almost 2 completed months into 2008 but I finally managed to get a date with my treadmill & I showed up, too! New MOTTO from here forward is... NO MORE EXCUSES!! New life plan begins NOW!!

So, this morning I actually completed the first day of the C25K Program... I originally got this idea from a wonderful & hilarious blogger located HERE who has become a daily must have/read who led me to another blogger located HERE who gave me additional Inspiration & motivation to finally Get.OFF.The.COUCH!! (Also a daily read to carry on the motivation!! Keep up the good work, JKW!) So, I did it... & I am still BREATHING! & I have a whole new look out on the week & it's MONDAY! (Previously always a BAD day after completing 24 plus hrs of work in 2 days) Matter of fact... this has brought me to the NEW LIFE Plan....
#1- At least 8 hrs of sleep per night
#2- Breakfast, everyday (Also to eat sensible but NO Diet)
#3- Exercise... (C25K)
#4- Shower... everyday! (No judging here please... FT job from home M-F, plus 2boys, sports, ETC)
#5- Only work 8 hrs a day... (Seems simple enough but being at home it often takes 10-12 hrs just to get that accomplished!)
#6- Spend quality time with MY GUYS every evening!

(Oh, Yeah... I probably should also list on here to Cut Off my Drug of Choice....
You guessed it... DR PEPPER!! But hey... 1 body can only take so much change!!) I will limit to 1 a day & get back to H2O!!

Hopefully, this will make me feel better & find the JOY that most of you remember! :o) Plus also help me take off an additional 20lbs & I might even look more like the JOY you know & the one I am so much more comfortable with!! (I mean, Seth is about to turn 3... can't really still be using that excuse, can I? & Since he's almost lost all his baby fat... maybe I should too!) ;o)

OK... I am going to stop before I get waayyy too ahead of myself! I know it was only 30+ min on the treadmill.... so don't burst my bubble here! I WILL be back before the end of the week with updates! (Provided I can still walk! He He) Oh & another bonus... Steven joined me on the journey & he also completed his first day too! How cool is that?? Truly my life partner & Best Friend E.V.A.H! Hopefully we both will be SMOKIN' HOT by summer! (OK... realistically, I will settle with healthy & great role models to the boys!)

Until next time....

January Rounup....

2008-02-01T15:24:00.000-05:00

WOW, 2 posts in 1 week.. don't pass out! There just might be help for the "Goals of 2008" yet! :o)

It's been another busy week & next week looks even worse! FUN!! Despite my best efforts I ended up getting called in on Wednesday (ugh!!) but it really wasn't that bad & was noce to get out of the house midweek! Thought I would just do a summary of the events of Jan & hope to get back on track soon.

As a whole, we did not have too much going on.... Mid month we did get SNOW! yes that's right... **SNOW!!** In this area this is a rare occurance & now Logan is once again a believer that it really does snow.... I have some great pic's of them playing & watching those first few flakes fall... Logan loved catching them (even with his tongue) & even saw "snow reindeer" take off from the top of the neighbor's house... No,they were not Santa's reindeer, they were "snow" reindeer... this came from his top advisor & best buddy "Prancer" (they developed quite the bond thru Christmas after Nana gave him to Logan as a gift) So who am I to question?? Gotta love the imagination of a child!
Seth, also really enjoyed the snow... much more than the "ice" we had last year! He ran out the door once the ground was covered & began calling for "FROSTY" "F-R-O-S-T-Y" He shouted from the top of his lungs (too cute & priceless) we never saw Frosty that night but we were sure to build one the next morning, that he absolutely LOVED!! Commentary from Logan as we were building.... "Mommy please take a picture of him before he gets run over this time" (Long story, but to say the least Frosty hasn't had such a good stay with us in the past... )Needless to say, a few days later Seth was heartbroken when again Frosty he left us in a traumatic way... this time ran over by none other than Logan in the Jeep! Laughing out Loud! I'm sure Frosty will probably never be back! (Who could blame him, really?)

Logan has been playing basketball with a local church, he has only had 2 games so far, but in the last game he called immediately once the game was over (I was working) to happily tell me "We WON!!" & "I made 2 shots!!" & "Mom, I Rocked!!" He has really enjoyed basketball also! The games have been sporadic so far & tonight starts the mini version of "Sweeps" Fri & Sta games for the nest 2 weeks & then back to Soccer & Tball! He also got his second report card & again got ALL A's! He has begun reading & is doing quite well! He reads mosts nights before bed... even comes to me & asks for more books to read! We are so very PROUD! It's amazing when I stop from all the running around & see just how much he has really grown!

Seth has continued to be Seth! :o) He continues to love school! Every day he can't wait to tell daddy or me about his day.... it goes like this....

Me: Did you have a good day?
Seth: Shakes head "no" or says it (which we have learned is code for yes)
Me: What did u do?
Seth: "Kudder"
Me: What did you Color?
Seth: a horse
Me: Really?? What color did you color your horse??
Seth: "Pink"
Me: Oh, that's great.... who did you play with?
Seth: "Dean"

Everday... it's the same! & has become priceless as he is so excited to tell us the same thing everyday! :o) He's still trying the potty thing at times & at other wants "Nothing" to do with it or Big Boy Undies... Ughh! I try not to obsess & worry about it! We did have POOP in the potty twice this month & to me that is a success! He continues to talk more & more & has begun to LOVE singing! His current favorites are... "Jingle Bell" "Frosty the snowman" "Mighty Day" & as always "WAA WAAAAH" (Little GTO)! He also graced me once with those 3 little words I yearn to hear him say... "I Wuv you" & will often whisper them to me but rarely says it out loud... His response when you say "I Love you" he either blows you a kiss... or says "too" or "more" When you ask him how much "too" is he holds his arms out & says "this much"

We also went to see Sesame Street Live... Seth has developed a love for Elmo,"UhOHH", as he calls him BUT his favorite is "COOOKIEEE" He did really well! sat thru most of the show, sang or danced with the characters! We were pleasantly surprised! The expression on his face was Priceless & forever engraved in my mind!! & Logan even admitted that Sesame Street wasn't as "lame" as he thought it would be! :o)

We also went to the movies & watched "Alvin & the Chipmunks" WOW! what a great movie! Logan loved it (it was his reward for straight A's) The music was great... I must admit one of my favorites as a child, I can remember starting to listen to that record in Oct... Seth fell asleep on the way to the movies so we let him sleep as long as possible as the last time he went, he & daddy had to quickly exit the movie... well, he awoke & fully watched the remainder of the movie! We were SHOCKED! & then felt bad, maybe we should of awoke him sooner?? We vowed to take hime back again! Maybe next week...

OK, that about sums it all up! I promise to add some pics soon! The goal for next week is 3 posts... We'll see, I am making NO Promises! But a girl must have goals, right?? Until Next Time... Stay warm! :o)

Still MIA... Updates coming soon!

2008-01-30T08:53:00.000-05:00

So, I promise... I have not abandoned blog land... Updates to come soon! It looks like my blog needs some serious "clean up"... the header pic is gone.... fonts have all gone crazy & super sized... Hopefully I will figure out how to get things back to "normal" soon & be back with some updated pics....

Oh yeah, not doing too well with the "goals" for 2008... each week I plan to step back on that treadmill & start the "Couch to 5K" plan.... maybe this is the week, who knows... butI will keep you updated, maybe that will give me some accountability!! I really would love to lose another 20 lbs before summer... still have time, just need to get MOTIVATED... you got any suggestions?? Wanna join me??

Weekly to daily blogging.... well, as you can see I have failed on that one also! :o) January 2008 only 2 posts making a lot of unkept promises (sorry) well, today makes 3... Hopefully this will get better & easier! I must let go of my type A personality... I have lots of things to say! :o)

OK, for now I must work, work, work as I am on call today & I promise if time is wasted... I will most definetly get called in & will be regretting it later!

Be back soon....

Happy Birthday to my Mom!

2008-01-14T17:17:00.001-05:00

**Just wanted to send a HAPPY BIRTHDAY wish to my Mother!! Today she turns 68... which she probably does not appreciate me telling all of blogland, but hey I think it derserves to be shouted LOUD & PROUD because I am very PROUD!!I have always been blessed with strongm great women in my life & a few years ago my mother made a prediction that she would continue skiing until age 71 in honor of my Grandmother. Who at the young age 71, not only learned how to drive but also got her driver's license for the first time Ev.aH!! (impressive, I know!)
**SO, on this special day I thought I would send Mom this little reminder (which would also be good for a few B-day LOL's) Because last year we soo missed the annual SKI run & I am ashamed (but PROUD) to admit that in 2006 she put me to shame!! So as part of my New Year's "Resolutions" & goals... I plan to not only get in shape but to also return to skiing on at least 2 & hopefully 1 ski again! So that I can at least say I was skiing in my 30's & hopefully make my children as proud as I am someday!WOW, I must get busy because I have some Big Shoes to fill :o)! Enjoy...

">Mom, I hope you have a terrific day! I only pray that I inherited the great genes of the strong women in my life!! You inspire me daily.... I Love you!!!

** Enjoy the song below... remember to turn the volume up & press the PLAY button on the bears belly! (Sorry, had to turn it off of auto play as after a while of non stop playing it's not quite as "cute" anymore! Love YA!

I made this music player at MyFlashFetish.com.

Happy New Year!!!

2008-01-01T23:57:00.000-05:00

Sorry, that I have been MIA!! My goal for the new year in blog land is weekly blogging starting today! Promise to blog this week with an update of all the Christmas events! Let me just say.... The boys must of fooled Santa again this year & he actually believed that they were beyond good! :o) Until then, I hope that every one has a safe, prosperous & HAPPY 2008! May you have the Strength, Will Power & Ambition to achieve all your 2008 Goals & Resolutions & the satisfaction of seeing them all become reailty!

With Love to all!!!

Father & Son

2007-11-13T17:46:00.001-05:00

Reflection of each other... 33 years prior & 33 years in the future! WoW! Another priceless moment! True Love goes both ways! :o)

Family Night at Falls Park 2007

2007-11-13T16:33:00.001-05:00

** My boys & I ** Here's My 3 Guys

Since Seth was born every year we have made it to Falls Park in the Fall. This place is such an asset to our area. It is such a pleasant place to go & always FUN, whether in the Spring or Fall. The boys love it. They love to walk the trails, climb on the rocks, play at the waters edge, roll down the grassy hills & now swing in the swings.

Always guarenteed for great family fun & always leaves me wanting to spend even more time there! There's just not enough time. So here are a few of our pic's from this year... It turned out to be a little cooler than we would of liked, but we had a great time & made the most of it! So to see all the pic's just click HERE.

Hard to believe that we are half way thru November already... I'm a little behind in the blogging, will try to do better... Is there anyway to add more hours in the day??? I sure need it! :o)

Until next time.....

Trick or Treat!! :o)

2007-10-31T15:34:00.000-04:00

** Here's Logan as Optimus Prime Himself!

** Seth as Lightning McQueen's crew chief. "KAPOW" as he says....

HAPPY HALLOWEEN! I have really been looking forward to Halloween this year, as Seth gets older it truly expands the possiblities of what we can do. I had hoped to go to one of the local churches to a Trunk or Treat or hit up a few more of the developments in our neighborhood, anything to make the night more MEMORABLE or FUN. Well, maybe we are not quite there yet!...

We started out in our development as we are not very big & it's always great to make connections with those that we see pass by one way or the other every day. I had even made the great plan of going around in the back of Steven's truck to speed up the whole event & hopefully make it thru both our development & the development across the street before heading out to either one of the local churches. To be honest, I think tthe truck slowed us down or maybe we got delayed due to the time change being later because before I knew it... it was almost 7:30 & we were still in our development. So... since both boys were already dragging their bags because they were so FULL, we had a change of plans. We finished up our neighbor hood & hit a few houses across the street & Then headed over to Uncle Russ & Aunt Angel's (wher the boys were loaded up with buckets full of candy & treats) & then on down to Aunt Lynne's for a bonfire with roasted marshmellows & wennies. It was a busy night but we did have a BLAST!

So at the end of the night I was really in conflict! I really had wanted to go to one of the local churches but we had had a great time!... It seems as if everyone is headed to church for Halloween these days & as much as I have NO problem with that & see how great & a safer option that is... What about TRADITIONAL trick or treating?? You know, walking up to the neighbors house & knocking on the door & anxiously waiting to say "Trick or Treat" We had such a good time seeing all the neighbors & I believe the neighbors enjoyed it also! We don't get a lot of kids come thru so those that do get special TLC or shall I say "THF" (Two Hands Full) with great fellowship with all! (You could hear Ms Melrose laughing all the way to the house!) And because we have such wonderful neighbors the boys got enough candy to eat it all year long & still have left overs next year. So after reflecting on all this, It was somewhere in the ride home with the boys snoring in the back seat that I came to the conclusion that next year... we will walk the neighborhood, again! There's few things that you can still do these days as we did when I was a kid & I hope that I can share just a glimpse of that with the boys. I promise though to my neighbors that I won't let them beat the door down or ring the doorbell 20 times :o) -- our rule if no porchlight is on, then we don't stop! (Logan had a hard time with this! he kept saying "but they are home mommy they have lights on inside! Boy, do I remember that feeling!) I realize that they can't wander all over the country as it is not safe for that these days! BUT I am sure there will be plenty of years that we will get to do all that other FUN stuff & I am sure the boys will outgrow our little area before I know it! So until then we will WALK while we can (yes, we will ditch the truck next year as Daddy missed out on a lot) & enjoy these years while they last.

OK... so I am sure you are really just wanting to see the lastest pic's of the night... Yet again I am trying a different way to get them here... So, if you just click HERE, this should take you to the Real Treat of the night! Hope you all had a wonderful night full of great memories & fellowship. In my reflection, I realized the boys had a wonderful night with Mommy & Daddy, great neighbors & family! What could of been better than that? PEACE, at last .....

First Official Report Card

2007-10-30T14:13:00.000-04:00

Yes, Logan got his first real report card yesterday and I am so proud to report he got all A's. He was so proud & excited. Of course, mommy made a big deal of it! He is so smart it blows me away sometimes. Just yesterday morning before school he recited almost all of his Bible verses to me that he has learned this year so far. Heck, I can't even remember last weeks Bible verse. He just picks up everything so quickly. He's getting better & better with his reading & spelling. Coming to me & spelling words out or saying that word or that name starts with letter ___. I think math is going to be his better subject, though ... he loves to see how high he can count (usually 100 & higher) & he loves adding & subtracting numbers.... always asking "Mommy, dod you know what 5+ 2 is??" We ran into his teacher the other night out to dinner, she had nothing but wonderful things to say of him. Stating he was truly a blessing to teach & always did exactly what she said without question & was always excited & ready to do whatever came next! I'd like to think we had something to do with that... but in all honesty that's just his nature & the special blessing WE were given from God!! It's amazing when I stop & think of just how much life has changed, how big he is getting & how great life really is!....

Coming soon.... the fall sports round up (can you believe the season is over?) & Halloween FUN!!! Until then....

Seth... More like Daddy than we knew

2007-10-18T16:14:00.000-04:00

So... since Seth was born we have heard so many times how Logan is just like Steven & Seth just like me! Perfect... right??? Well, as the kids get older they begin to look more & more alike! Honestly when I look at them they are Logan & Seth... It's hard for me to see Steven or I...they are just my babies.

I will admit that even though Logan looks just like Daddy I see a lot of me in his personality. Likewise in Seth... he may look more like me (which is changing daily to look more like daddy) but I see a lot of Steven's personality & characteristics in him..... (Steven will so disagree with this! :o)) But we have to admit that Seth is certainly a very head strong child, once his mind is made up, there is no stopping him or changing his mind (sounds exactly like me right?? LOL)

So today, I had confirmation that Seth is truly his Daddy's boy.... Steven came home from picking up the kids at school with a "cute" story from Ms Miranda (Seth's Teacher). She says when they are playing outside that she frequently finds Seth under a toy car.... & when she asks him what he's doing?? He responds.... " I fix it".... "Daddy fix it".... WOW, what a truly proud daddy moment (there's that smile on Steven I talked about before) & I also noticed the other week when we went to Aunt Lynne's house for dinner, instead of Seth interacting with all his cousins or Nanny... I found him inspecting all the locks on their doors & he would not leave them alone till he had it ALL figured out... you know exactly how they worked, what they did, & if all the locks on all the doors worked the same. Don't know about you, but that sounds exactly like DADDY to me!

So there you have it! Seth is truly more like daddy than we have thought! I can remember Lib (Steven's mother) telling me the story of when Steven was in elementary school that he had a teacher that told her not to ever worry about his grades that Steven was going to do something with his hands & would be able to work on or fix anything. So was she seeing these behaviors that we have seen in Seth?? It's truly amazing to me, as I sit in AWE & watch my babies grow up & how both of them are perfect mixes of both Steven & I. I just pray that got the BEST of our personalities..... :o)

My Wonderful Husband!!

2007-10-16T16:48:00.000-04:00

Steven, has been my better half for almost 16 yrs now & to those who know him he often comes across as very harsh & cold but he has a wonderful soft side that he will ocassionally let others see.

He has always loved to catch me off guard & last week he certainly did that!! My camera has been broken for a while... not to the point that I could take no pictures but broken to the point that I hoped that soon we could replace it. We had begun to look at what our options were & see what was out there & I, of course had my eye on a few that I dreamed of having. Well, out of nowhere last Friday he came home from taking the boys to school & "running a few errands" with 2 big bags from Best Buy & a huge smile on his face!! (Priceless glimpse of his soft side!)

Yep... you guessed it! He had got me the camera I had been most hoping for of course with all the bells & whistles! as he does nothing on a small scale! NOW... I have that huge smilw & I'm just blown away! "Happy Anniversary!" he says. "I know it's early but I wanted to make sure that you had it in enough time for Halloween, visit to the Pumkin Patch, etc." So now I have become a "MAMMARAZZI" as I saw phrased on one of my favorite blogs! I have a lot to learn & this camera can do way more that I will probably ever know... BUT I love it & I actually got a pic of Seth smiling! Not the back of his head or his eyes closed! YEAHH!!

So... to the love of my life.... Thank you, Thank You, Thank You! You still amaze me & keep me on my toes after all these years! You are the best! "I love you!, Steven"

Ok, Anniversary coming up... 16 yrs... How could that be??? Again, that's worthy of a whole other blog coming soon! ..... I Promise! ...

Escape to Myrtle Beach

2007-10-11T00:45:00.001-04:00

**Logan Lovin' the Beach!! **WOW, Let's go... I'm ready!
**LOOK at those waves!!

**Let me show you how, Seth!
**My biggest Beach Bum!
**"OK... You have to tackle these waves sideways" What a great big brother!
**I'll show you how to dig a really BIG hole!!
** Seriously MOM... We have no time for pictures!!

** Well, Brudder.... This is how I do it!! :o)
**The boys thought this was the BEST tub ever & almost as fun as the waterpark!
**Check out our "bubble" beards!
** Not sure which one enjoyed the rides the most!!
** LOOK.... There's Mommy with that camera again!

** They absolutely LOVED the lazy river & the water park!!
**It's raining.....
** Seth swimming!
** IT's POURING!! :o)
** The boys at Broadway at the Beach!!

** A Little More "CHEESE"
** SERIOUSLY.... I'm Innocent... (What you can't see so well in this picture is that his face is covered in chewed crayon pieces!)
** Imagine that... The boys riding Dinosaurs @ Broadway??
** I'm Pooped... Good Night, ALL!!

Long Weekend at Myrtle Beach...

2007-10-06T22:16:00.000-04:00

The last couple of years I have not seemed to be able to get enough BEACH time... Maybe it's all those years of only going to the lake or the fact that we did not go to the beach for over 10 yrs straight, but then again, does anybody ever get enough beach time?? Well, for the last 3 years every time we have went to the beach it has only left me yearning for yet more time there. Last year I tried really hard to plan a late summer or early fall trip.... but after the life changing events of last fall we never quite made it there... To say the least, huh? SO... a few months ago looking ahead at our calendar & crying because summer was OVER, I realized that the boys had 2 days out of school in late summer & I was exhausted so what better time to take a long weekend at the beach??? We searched many options & finally decided to go to Myrtle Beach.

I spent so many summers at Myrtle Beach as a kid & as we started planning; I first realized that we had not gone to Myrtle Beach in over 15 yrs (really, not on purpose... but time really does FLY) & then I began to get excited at all the options of stuff to do with the kids & couldn't wait to share such a special place from my childhood with my own children. Well, let me just say Myrtle Beach has changed a lot in 15 yrs.... the Pavilon is GONE (nothing but a big empty lot), which I knew about; but to see it first hand is SHOCKING & SAD!! Steven just couldn't understanding why I wanted to ride up & down the "Strand" numerous times or why I was excited to do so! & had no idea what the "Gay Dolphin" was or why I got excited to see it, either!?! (It is one of the things I do remember that is still there) But regardless how much things had changed... In my mind I could recall so many precious & priceless memories from my past.... Oh Yeah, did I mention the flash backs of being "tortured" by my big brother? Let me share... You know after such a long ride as a kid I can always remember how exciting the FIRST view of the actual ocean/beach was, something I remember in my mind as always being a big deal not only to me but also my family. Well, just as we turned onto the road to go to our hotel...there it was... That first glimpse of ocean, just as I had remembered it in my mind! & At that exact moment in my excitement & trying to share that with the boys & Steven (who all thought Mommy had LOST it) The flashbacks began....of being sat on & held back in the back seat so that I could not see the beach or the ocean by my BIG brother all while Oohing & Ahhing about his great view.... Yep, Torture... I Started to call him right then & there & THANK him for that "torture", but instead I just enjoyed the moments of reflection & realized what I thought was "torture" then was now a wonderful memory from my childhood! (Thanks, Jimmie!) ;o) It was about that time that Logan asked what house were we staying at this time, as we have stayed in a house with my whole family every time he has ever been to the beach, so I said... we are not staying in a house this time we are staying in a hotel...he responds.... "What's a hotel?" I looked at Steven, like really he has no idea what a hotel is??? could this be?? & as we brainstormed we could not recall of 1 time that we had actually stayed in a hotel since he had been born! Shocking, yeah I know! I was shocked also! "My poor deprived child!" not really, I guess just lucky & fortunate! He has no idea!

We stayed at the Dunes, which has a spectacular indoor water park, complete with lazy river, kiddie pool, hot tubs & 2 slides, big enough that even us grown kids could enjoy! :o) The place wasn't quite what Steven & I pictured in our minds, but at the end of the weekend we could not of asked for anything better! It seems like we ran from the moment we go there to the day we came home. Water park in the morning, beach in the afternoon, dinner & Broadway in the evening. We had a blast!! The boys were great... except for the fact that they wore out several nights before we were done running but hey.... it all worked out! A few nights we had children sleeping at the dinner table or falling asleep in the car before we even got to dinner but they were troopers & kept on going. ( We did try to alter the plan & get a nap in... but they were too excited & yet even though tired, when the sun was up.... there was no napping no matter how hard we tried.)

Logan got a little more brave in the water & began to swim under water! (This a big step for him!) YEAHHH!!! & Seth continued to jump in like a pro... still no idea that he can't swim & Mommy tried really hard to sit back & let him realize that... but there's only so long that you can watch your child under water with eyes open staring back at you... with no intention of trying to get back to the top! By the end of the weekend he was almost resurfacing but far from swimming or really trying! UGHHH!!! The boys just loved the Jacuzzi tub in the room & that's where they retired too after we came home from the beach every day... as Logan said... This tub is a great bubble maker! :o) Bubble beards & all it was great seeing them play together as they usually can't agree to like & share the same things! We went to Broadway several nights & the boys loved all the rides!! For Logan the more scary the better!! His favorite was the catipillar... fowards...backwards 3 times straight! He loved it! Yikes... my stomach is not what it used to be! Thank Goodness, Steven & I took turns & we survived just fine. Logan kept begging to get on the Pirate Ship... Thank Goodness he didn't make the height requirements for that one!! :o) ::WHEW!!:: Seth loved all the rides too... The Cars, the Motorcycles... he even wanted to ride the big rides just like Brother... He also liked the faster rides! Giggling non stop. "Agin... Agin" :o) he would ask! Unfortunately my camera died while we were at the rides so my pic's are limited :o( More Priceless moments!

We wanted to go to the Museum in Columbia in route & to the Aquarium at the Beach but time was not on our side & really a nap was more important! :o) Regardless I don't think we could have had a better time! & Logan's summary of the weekend.... "This is the BEST Beach trip EVER!!! I want to come back here forever!! " When asked what he liked best.... "The Elevator!!".... What???... what about the water park...the rides... the ocean???? "Oh yeah, I liked that too" he said.

Overall, Job accomplished... This weekend alone was a weekend that I will never forget! Just as special as all those times I went there as a kid with my family!! & A very special weekend for the boys! Maybe next year we will try to brave the crowds of summer at Myrtle Beach... to see those faces of excitement & happiness again... It would most definetly be worth it!! :o) As for rest...well we didn't get too much of that but I did have 4 days off with no work so I am not complaining! :o) We rolled back into reality on Monday afternoon & was shot out of the cannon!! T-ball practice, Meeting a work, Softball practice, Dr's appt, On call day for work, Tball game... This is my life & I love it!! But... Can we go back to the beach???

Until next time!

First Day of School Photos

2007-10-04T12:58:00.001-04:00

**Logan's First Day of K-5 **The Boys getting ready to leave for school
** Seth calling Nanny & Nana to tell them all the details of his first day!
** Are we ready yet???
** Logan's being a HAM for the camera
** Day 2... We've got the hang of this now... Ready??
** Homework Time
** No looking back now... Off We Go!...
** This school stuff really wears me OUT!!

First Day of School...

2007-09-26T02:03:00.000-04:00

My first born (Logan) started K-5 & my baby (Seth) started K-2 on August 20, 2007. Here's a recap of the day, my thoughts & emotions. Yes, I am still behind on my bloggng but definetly catching up! Here we go.....

What an emotional & monumental day for Steven & I both, as proud parents of 2 big boys! My first thoughts on the day is, "Oh... how could this be???" How could Logan be starting K-5??? It seems just like yesterday, that they laid that little tiny being (6lbs) on my chest. I promise I just blinked & now he's starting K-5??? Looking back now it seems like a blurr... hard to remember life without him here yet at the same time hard to believe that 5 yrs has passed so quickly. Also, to add to the emotion.... Seth started K-2. My baby, no longer a baby, truly a toddler now starting school.... They are both going to the same school & excited to be there together! Seth kept saying "brudder koouul"... "brudder koouul" So as daddy & I walked both our "big boys" in to school, it hit me... My babies are growing up... will I blink again & they be entering Middle school? ... uh, High school?... gasp, College?... holding breath, Moving out of the house & starting a family of their own?? ::PANIC:: Tears are coming... ::PANIC:: Idependence & growing up is a good thing, right??? That's what we are striving for as parents, right?? ? Yet somehow all I wanted to do right then was grab both of them... drag them home, hold on to them tight & freeze this moment in time, FOREVER!!!! Back to reality....(well sort of) every time I ask Logan to please stop growing up, (which seems to be more & more often) he refuses stating.... "I have to grow up mommy, so I can be big" with a huge smile on his face. How do you resist that?? OK... I will settle with just being so PROUD of my boys & the realization that we have made it this far... Let's just take it ONE milestone at a time! :o) ::calm, returns::

I don't think Logan realized the importance of the day, but then again he has been in school since K-3. I kept trying to stress the importance of the day to him, but not scare him at the same time. This is BIG BOY School, it is no longer an option... :o( The reality of this just set in & was probably harder for me to accept than him! :o) His teacher's name is Ms Bryant, she seems very nice & upbeat. This is her first yr teaching at the school she has 3 kids of her own & her baby is in Seth's class. Logan unfortunately again had no familiar faces in his class... which always scares me to death, but NOT him... he walked in without hesitation & really didn't want Mommy or Daddy to walk him to class at all.... "I can do it" he said. "Just drop me off at the door as usual" Does the rejection of Mom & Dad start at this age, really??? Please tell me NO... I'm certainly not ready for that! Sure enough after droppong Seth off we went to his class & he had made it without any help. ::sniff, sniff:: Later as I sat at home watching the clock I had flash backs all day long of some of his little sayings thru the yrs that are now PRICELESS memories....
Before he started school, when it was just him & I at home, I would often wake up in the morning with him in the bed beside me. He would be there patiently waiting for me to wake up, watching his cartoons & often having already been downstairs to get himself a snack (Mr Independent since day 1). Patience would eventually wear thin or the sun would come up when he would tapp me on the should saying... "Good Morning Mommy, the Sun is ready" No better way to start the day I promise. Or I remembered how when we would be outside playing when he would come & ask for a "little push" stating "a little push please" or "Can I get some push over here?" when he wanted us to come push him on the swings. Or when he would ask me numerous times a day... "Mommy, you know what???.... I Love you!" I remembered how he went from Baby Einstein to The Wiggles to Rollie Pollie Ollie to ELMO to Thomas the train (where he knew all those trains by heart, by color & number & sometimes just by the face) then he started moving to the bigger cartoons of Dora & Blues Clues. Now his favorites are Power Rangers, Transformers & Sponge Bob. I also remembered how I could not wait for him to be able to play on the computer beside me at work to finally mastering the mouse, then he quickly moved on to the Super Ninetindo, V Smile & computer games. He now has his favorites saved on the computer & does it all himself.

So even though today is sad in someways, it is also a very PROUD day for Steven & I. He has grown so much.... He's now playing Tball & will also start Soccer this fall. His confidence grows daily & he is truly transforming into such a big boy right before my eyes. I tear up just watching him walk down the hall on this day, thinking of the precious years that have passed & looking forward to the exciting years yet to come.. WOW, again realizing how quickly time passes... makes me understand even more that each & every moment is to be cherished!

On to Seth... as excited I was for him to start school, the closer we got I began to have great anxiety. He's never been away from home, here with me or Steven since the day he was born & never truly spent much time away from us! Also the closer we got, his "not so nice" behaviors seemed to get worse daily. I just knew I would be getting a call by 9 or 10am that I must come pick him up. And just as I remembered with Logan... on the first day... He walked in to the school... had to have his backpack on (just like Brother... although it was so big & heavy he could barely stand up). Not really ever looking back "I do it" he said, we did convinced him that we must at least walk him across the parking lot & he walked straight into class & began to play... no dramatic scene, no tears, no wanting Mommy or Daddy to stay.... ::sniff, sniff:: So we walked out of school that morning empty handed... with 2 big boys in school. I just prayed on my way out that he would be OK when reality set in that Mommy & Daddy were not there & also prayed that he did terrorize all the others in the class! :o)

That was one of the longest days I can remember & the silence in this house was deafening!! I promise my ears were ringing all day long as I am sure the house had not been that quiet in yrs. As the day crept along, all the cats came out of hiding & seemed to enjoy all the "Mommy & Daddy" time they had missed over the past 5 yrs. We both sat on pins & needles waiting for the phone to ring ...but it never did! Yeah! It's funny thinking about it now as I know I got very little work done that day, we both seemed to just look at each other not quite knowing what to do with ourselves, you would of never knew we spent 10 yrs without kids! :o) Once 2:00 finally came, we both could wait no longer!!! We anxiously headed back to the school & could not wait to hear how the day went.... Good reports from all around. Seth was an "angel" (What?, Really?) & Ms Bryant said Logan was a treasure, "I couldn't ask for a better student" Again, I could feel my body fill with SO MUCH PRIDE! Here comes the tears again.... How great is my life?!?!

I wish I could say that the entire week went that well & for the most part, we were extremely LUCKY. Poor Seth really had his world turned upside down & suddenly going to "brudder's koouul" wasn't so exciting or anything he wanted to do at all. The drama started on Tuesday with the tears, crying & clinging on to Daddy for dear life... It was actually the worst.... Per Ms Miranda he cried most of the day. The phone did ring that day (just as an update on his crying) & I believe there was divine intervention as I was tied up in a meeting & Steven with a job so by the time we actually got the call.... Crisis had passed, he was sleeping & had formed a bond with Ms Miranda his teacher. Each day got a little easier & by Friday he was a PRO. The first week once home all he wanted to do is to be held & cuddled... Daddy & I soaked that up as that rarely happens with him! He also got his 4 remaining molars :: OUCH:: all at once as usual. He decided himself that it was time to start wearing big boy undies & the whole potty training process of which he let us know by finding him in the big boy undies with his shorts on bakwards, all on his own. Last but not least words began coming from his mouth, all of them, he was talking up a storm.... Not able to understand them all but hey it's a start! Oh Yeah... those "bad behaviors" I talked about earlier... apparently, not been a problem so far! Thank goodness!! Ms Miranda braggs daily on what a good boy he is! :o) She calls him "Bubba" Like I said earlier, his world was turned upside down & seems as if he's starting out on a new foot.... :o)

What a day for memories! The most special part was that Steven was also there every step of the way & got to experience all those Firsts that he had missed before! How many little boys get to start a new school year & a new phase of life with BOTH parents by there side?? Really; everything happens for a reason, I am reminded of all the benefits & great family times we have had over this past yr, as challenging as it may have been. Another truly PRICELESS moment & TIMELESS memory has just been added to the life with my 3 guys!

Ok, next time, Let the sports begin..... Until then......

Hilton Head Pictures

2007-09-19T21:01:00.000-04:00

** Logan & Shannon Tanner
** Seth loved the pool & learned to jump in... " Ready??"
** He also loved the sand, except when he
realized that he was dirty
** Logan had a blast jumping the waves

** All Nana's grandchildren....

Justin, Brandi, Seth & Logan

** "Looking" for dolphins .... Well, mostly just
posing for Mom..... ;o)
** Here's my Lil' Surfer Dude...
** Logan up close & personal...
** One of the last nights at the dunes

** And we end with My 3 Guys on the Shannon

Tanner Dolphin Cruise! Boy, was it HOTT! "

As promised here's a few pic's from our vacation to Hilton Head. We rented a house in Palmetto Dunes with Mom, Jimmie, Annette, Brandi & Justin. We really enjoyed the island life! :o)

A quick summary of our Summer....

2007-08-29T23:10:00.000-04:00

** The boys in their Flag T's & Camo's on the Fourth. (Seth no longer a fan of group photos) :o) **Watching fireworks on the Fourth! ** Big Boy ALERT! :o)
** Logan loving the sparklers!
**Soccer Camp at the YMCA
**The boys playing at Russ & Angel's **My Power Ranger
**The boys getting ready to go to a Baseball Game
** Seth, loves the water & to jump in... BUT has no clue that he can't swim without this life jacket! Scary!!
** Seth's famous "cheese" face, which is what I get anytime the Camera comes out! ** First Mate Logan, on our way to wait for Salty (the train) to come by!

** Seth admiring the view...if Mommy would STOP taking pictures... I imagine him saying... "What?" which was his favorite response to any question asked of him this summer!
** Logan playing at the bank @ Sunset
** This picture is blurry but PRICELESS just the same.
**Seth at Sunset.... My favorite pic's

Well, I'm not doing so good at this blogging stuff... lots of things go thru my mind each day but somehow never seem to get around to putting the words down in a blog.... or time for that matter! :o)

It's hard to imagine that summer is OVER!! Where did it go?? Honestly I feel like just yesterday Logan got out of school for the summer & I was sooo excited because both boys were going to be home all summer with Daddy. Now, I sit here analyzing the past few weeks, realizing we didn't get to do everything I wanted to with the boys.... but on the same hand we got to do sooo much.

We started the summer with a trip to Hilton Head, our first time, we went with Momma, Jimmie, Annnette, Brandi & Justin. We rented a very nice house with room for all. It was a little too far from the beach (we realized once we got there) but was within bike riding distance. We rented bikes for the week (all of us) & got to ride quite a bit. They had wonderful trails to ride, that you felt like you could ride on forever. We went to Harbor Town & ate at the Salty Dog, spent an evening over in Shelter Cove & got to see Shannon Tanner sing, which Logan LOVED & asked to go back nightly. We also took a Dolphin Cruise with Shannon Tanner that was extremely HOTT but Logan really loved it! The boys absolutely loved the beach, Seth really loved staying in the water & deep & Logan loved jumping the waves.... they also loved playing in the pool at the house that was cold but nice. Seth learned to jump in & if not careful he would attempt to jump when no one was there to catch him with no clue that he didn't know how to swim. You would hear him say..."Ready?... GO!" & everyone was on there toes! :o) Then they all would warm up in the hot tub.

We also took 3 trips to the lake, camping...not like our trips from the past but nice. I came home & worked most mornings & then we would go to the camp ground in the evenings. Gave use plenty of time to ride bikes, sit by the camp fire, "roast" marshmellows (which to the boys means to sit by the fire & eat marshmellows from the bag) We got out on the boat quite a bit, but again not as much as we have in the past... the boys love to ride on the boat to the train tracks & wait for "Salty" to come by.... It was on one of those trips that Seth actually learned to swim with his life jacket on & he has not stopped since.... He is truly my water boy! The boys & Steven did get caught in 1 really bad storm which frightened them all quite a bit, it actually ripped the awning off the camper & put a hole in the roof. Thank goodness everyone was alright & no one got hurt... there was a reality check to really put things in perspective about what's really important in life!!

We spent the Fourth around the house & then went to swim at Eddie's & had a cook out. Mom, Jimmie, Annette & Justin were all there & here Seth perfected the jumping in & did so over & over... He honestly has NO FEAR, which is scary & exciting just the same! We finished the night off at a fantastic fireworks display up the street! What a perfect ending to a perfect day with the family!

Logan got introduced to soccer when he went to a soccer camp at the YMCA. He had so much fun, we got to go with him daily, they played lots of games to teach the basics of soccer & Logan loved every minute of it. He made the decision that week that he wanted to play both T-ball & Soccer this fall & for some reason Steven & I agreed to let him do so.... He's growing up so fast!
:o( We are extremely PROUD of him!! The sports seem to have brought him so much confidence. He really gives it his ALL in everything he attempts & always wants to be the "winner" & The "best"

We also got to go to Uncle Russ & Aunt Angel's to swim on several occasions... the boys really love the water & love to spend time at their house! We also got to have an evening out with Logan... Just him, Daddy & I, we went to see the new Transformers movie & all of us had an absolute blast! It was a really great movie & Steven & I were SHOCKED! :o)

Steven is still doing odd jobs when they come up & I continue to work at BCBS & also the hospital. It's hard on some days & many days feel like we are barely keeping our head above water, BUT when I look at the quality time that we have all spent together... I wouldn't change a thing!!

So, it's the beginning of fall... The boys have started back to school, which is worth a whole other BLOG.. lots of emotions & reflections as my first born starts K-5 & my baby goes to K-2......

Until next time....

Getting Started

2007-06-26T11:54:00.000-04:00

For months now I have browsed thru other peoples blog spots & admired them...Thinking what a wonderful place to journal about your daily life & have a place to look back on when the children are grown. Not that my life is that exciting but at times raising these 2 boys (Logan, 5 & Seth, 2) can be a true adventure. So I am going to attempt to give it a try.... I have never been a person to journal, quite frankly I probably only did it back in school when I had too & even then I probably made them all up the night before I had to turn the journal in! :o) SO.... here we go.....

My name is Joy, I am 35 yrs old & have been married to Steven for 15 yrs now! (WOW, who said we would never make it!) We both were born & raised in the South & never ventured far from home. I am a Registered Nurse currently working at a Local hospital in the ER & I also work from home for a local insurance company. We have 2 beautiful boys, Logan who is 5 who will be starting K-5 in the fall & currently loves anything having to do with baseball, Transformers or the Power Rangers. Seth who is 2, we hope to enroll him in a K-2 program this fall (fingers crossed that a spot opens up) he is currently at home & keeping us entertained & busy every waking moment! There are very few things I can say he loves .... he's not much of a toy or TV child.... he likes being outdoors, eating, trucks & probably anything that he is not supposed to have! You know small objects & anything that could be dangerous to a 2 yr old! :o) We love the lake & go on frequent camping trips there, love the boat & love annual trips to the beach. We have lots of animals 4 cats (Sugar, 15; Sassy & Shadow, 14; & Princess, 6) & 3 dogs (Hank, Precious & Sweet Pea, 11yrs) we had many yrs before the boys were born & these were our first babies!! :o)

OK, so enough for now.... Until next time...