Pumpkin Time

What started out as a brisk Saturday morning turned out to be a beautiful day. After Austin's soccer game, he and I headed out to a few garage sales and to pick out a pumpkin. He found a desk and it fits nicely in his room...and a new sleeping spot for Amy underneath it. We found a few other bargains and one house ended up being a long stay chatting away and the man gave Austin a fishing rod. What a nice family! Our last stop before home was the pumpkin patch at Hope church in Dallas. They are selling pumpkins to raise money for a mission trip to Romania in December. We found a rather large pumpkin for Austin to carve and a bumpy cute one for me...oh and a few odd looking gourds too.

A beautiful day and an equally pleasant day on Sunday. I finally took all of my school stuff out of the dining room so we can enjoy fall, Thanksgiving, and Christmas in there. It isn't Halloween yet, but I am getting excited to start decorating and making things for Christmas already!

Extended Birthday Celebration

Well, change of plans....we ended up meeting Paw Paw, Pawk & Nana, Holly, and Aaron at the nearby Tokyo Japanese restaurant with Austin's friend Noah. Due to some other obligations, it worked out best to do dinner Friday instead of Saturday evening. It was fun and Austin was able to be serenaded by the wait staff with fried cheesecake...he didn't share!

On Saturday, Austin and Noah had their fill of playing Airsoft at Tango Charlie's. They had a good time and met up with some friends from school there unexpectedly...a fun time and some time to relax for Mom, a great day!

Nothing can be compared to the feeling of pride when you get to see your little son, grow up so wonderfully into such a gentleman. Thanks to you dearest son, we can call ourselves proud parents. Happy Birthday to you!!!

We have a teenager in the house!

It is so hard to believe that Austin is 13...where does time go? It seems like yesterday he started Pre-k and now he is a big 7th grader threatening to be taller than me. It won't be long now!!! Since his birthday was on a Monday, we did the first birthday dinner on Sunday night. He wanted spaghetti and red velvet cake for dessert. We are still eating on the cake but are looking forward to a family get-together on Saturday at Hai Hai, a new Japanese Steakhouse nearby. No matter his age, I am a proud mama and love Austin to pieces. We are very blessed and look forward to what God has planned for his future!!

Mini vacation

School is back in session and we finally had a chance to get away for the day in Helen, Georgia. We went with Austin's soccer coach and family and we all had a ball. We met early last Saturday morning and headed north on 400. We did not eat breakfast prior to leaving home, but we thought we would stop and grab a bite at some point. The road seemed long but we finally discovered a hole in the wall that fit the bill, the best breakfast available and the little lady inside was a hoot:)

After breakfast we finished our journey to the waterpark just in time as they were opening. The lazy river surrounded the park and there were 4 waterslides. After we did our fill at the waterpark it was tubing time....a bit of advice for anyone going on this adventure: bring a waterproof camera and a stick to help "unstick" your tubes in case the water level is low...LOL:) We enjoyed our hour and a half trip down the Chattahoochee. Along the way we saw a bear cub in a tree, a bubble gum tree, a tree filled with lost "soles" (abandoned flip flops), and alot of interesting people. We ended the day with dinner at the magic burger place (a stomach adventure in itself) and a walk through historic Helen visting several shops. All in all a great trip, but next time we go we will definitely use sticks when we go tubing, bring money for a better dinner, and play miniature golf!

Throughout the summer it is easy to lose track of friends that we work with, but thankfully on a couple of occasions some of us were able to reconnect. First, a big group of us were able to meet at a local favorite hotspot, LaParilla for lunch. While we were there, we ran into another group of teacher friends doing the same thing.

Stephanie was able to come this week and see her family and friends before her and hubby Josh move off to Maine to start there three year tour there. She is excited about possible job opportunities and we all look forward to keeping in touch to share in whatever comes their way. We will miss you, Steph, but technology is great and we'll talk often!

Halfway Through Summer, Already?

Wow, we are almost halfway through summer vacation already. It is amazing how it all flies by. We just celebrated the 4th of July which is not only our country's freedom birthday, but my dad's birthday too (Happy Birthday, Pawk). We had a good time getting together at Holly's for a cookout with all the trimmings:)

Last week Austin participated in Airsoft camp at Arkenstone and had a blast. He was so tired every day but had the time of his life learning tactical strategies from "The Captain," a retired Army Ranger, now a history teacher at a nearby Christian school. He learned so much and is looking forward to future opportunities to do the same.

I walked in a graduation ceremony to get my Associate of Arts in Elementary Education recently and am ready to keep plugging along, getting closer to my goal...obtaining my Bachelor's Degree before I am 40!!!

Wedding Bells

It has been a whirlwind since my last post. Erin and my friend, Jenna were both married in May. I had such a good time seeing both of these two girls plan and be able to enjoy their special days!

My hubby has continued to do wonderfully with watching what he eats (but not too drastic) and keeping the 60 pounds off that he has lost. He goes to the doctor this week to see if he can come off medication for diabetes. My schoolwork is going well...a year and half to go before I can start student teaching. I am excited that this is getting closer to completion...I know my family is too:)

Austin is gone to camp and will have another fun-filled week next week when he attends the Airsoft mission camp. He is so excited!!! Later, we will take a long weekend just the three of us..not sure where yet.

We are on Spring Break and enjoying ourselves. This past weekend we went to Birmingham for Erin's bridal shower, for Austin to have some time with his uncle and cousins, and then time with Nana and Pawk. On Saturday, he was able to finally go to the shooting range and loved it! Austin later got to to go Teddy's house to learn how to do some woodworking.

We also got to spend some time with Teddy, Jessalyn, and Aiden who is already4 months old. He is getting so big. I am excited to see him again next month at Erin's wedding..oh yeah I cannot believe this is happening already!

Monday we went bargain hunting at the flea market with Nana and Pawk. Austin, of course, found several knives and some nunchucks.

We have a few days left on our break. Today we helped Terry (Paw Paw) pick out some furniture for his new house. Tomorrow, Austin will be helping him with some yard work. I hope to go visit my girls at by old job. I don't get there often enough to catch up...and I'm looking forward to it:)

Must finish up some homework for school at some point though...when do I have time to work?

Feeling very blessed to have a job that I love and a wonderful family too...cannot ask for more.

Playing catch up.....

So much has transpired over the past few months...friends having babies, wedding plans for several special people, Austin's first D-Now experience, obtaining my associate's degree, new addition to our PreK class, and saying goodbye to one of my faves, Miss Stephanie. She was married on March 5th and has moved to North Carolina where her hubby is stationed currently. They will be moving in August to New Hampshire to start a new chapter. Austin is a little over 5'3" and trying to reach 100 pounds...On the other hand Heath has lost a great deal of weight since being diagnosed with Diabetes. He is doing great, weighing under 220 now! He wants to lose another 10-15 pounds. Spring soccer is in full swing and it is our last season in this age group. Ausitn must work hard and exercise his lungs because, in the Fall, its time for the "big boy" fields!!! We are about to be out of school for spring break. Austin and I will be heading to Birmingham to see family and to Erin's bridal shower. I cannot believe she is getting married in less than 50 days. Heath and I met when she was about a month old. How can she be getting married??? We feel old but are so happy for her and Chris! We plan to spend some time with my nephew Teddy, his wife Jessalyn, and my great-nephew Aiden. I know he has grown so much since Christmas. I cannot wait to hold and love on him:) We also will be able to celebrate my sister, Tina's 45th birthday while we visit...halfway to 90, whew! Wow, is it my imagination or is time slipping away faster and faster as I get older? Either way, I am blessed beyond measure and am excited to see our family next week!

The snow that just won't go away....

When we came back to school after Christmas break on Tuesday, January 4, there was talk of snow coming on the weekend. Sunday night we found out that we would have no school on Monday due to the accumulation of snow that was well on the way. Little did we know we would get 3-5" around our area and some freezing rain to follow the next couple of days. It is Friday and we have not been at school this week due to the snow, freezing rain and low temperatures. I am glad to say that next week is looking bright with higher temps and school should be back to normal. I feel for so many who could not work due to this weather and are stuck at home. So many of my friends and I are ready to go back...you know we didn't expect this type of weather in the deep south! Be safe and enjoy your family everyone:)

Thanksgiving and Christmas

Well, this year has flown by and my boy is growing up. He turned 12 and seems to have grown a foot. We enjoyed Thanksgiving this year with Holly and Aaron at their new house!! Aaron's parents and Pawk and Nana were there too. Black Friday shopping was a great success:)

We have much to be thankful for. Heath and I both have our jobs and our family is healthy.

My nephew Teddy and his new bride, Jessalyn, welcomed my great-nephew, Aiden Bryant O'Shell into the world on December 5th. My niece, Erin got engaged to her boyfriend Chris the week after.

I am having a great time in a new position at school and on my way to my Bachelor's program in March. So happy to have a great family. Although there can be differences, we are learning to work through them and appreciate each other.

I am thrilled to have had my sister Holly, her husband Aaron, my dad and stepmom all go to Christmas Eve service with us at our church. We came back home and enjoyed a meal and opened gifts. What a wonderful time we had together. On Christmas Day, Terry came over and we exchanged gifts and enjoyed the view of the snowfall. Later we went to Holly & Aaron's to play in the snow and hang out. It has been nice to be off of work and our of school...but we will get back in the swing of things next week. Hope everyone has a blessed new year!

Happy Birthday, Austin

My "baby" turned 12 on Sunday and I am almost speechless. It doesn't seem like it has been that long ago he was just a little toddler. My how he has grown into such a wonderful young man. We indulged in some Japanese food on Friday; the soccer game on Saturday with some gifts; lunch and a movie with a friend on Sunday; and an impromptu surprise party at my school with all of our little ones and doughnuts-thanks to Miss Stephanie.

We enjoyed having some family join us for this occasion and hope this next year doesn't get here too fast so that he won't have to be turning into a teenager....I am so not ready for that!

Fall Break - 2010

Although it is only Thursday, we have had a full week already. Our area is out of school this

week for our Fall Break. We headed to Birmingham on Tuesday to visit some of our family. Tuesday night we stayed with Nana and Pawk. We were able to track down the highly anticipated mt. pinson, the army-Navy surplus store in downtown Pinson. Austin loved looking at all of the military gear and MRE options...LOL:)

We managed to gather a birthday gift or two there, a Vietnam era ammunition box and a vest. Somehow over the past couple of years, Austin has clung to anything military, especially knives and gear. We went to Oneonta Wednesday morning to see what deals we could find. We must make another trip soon, but just the girls:)

Next it was time to go to Helena to see sister Tina and her family. That night we met Joan and Larry and everyone for half-price appetizers. What a fun tradition Tina suggested. We all got plenty to eat and it was cheap for the seven of us. We then went elsewhere for dessert...Applebee's. From chocolate sundaes to apple pie, we all had our own piece of sweet heaven. We were able to go to Teddy and his bride, Jessalyn's apartment to see how the nursery is coming along. We also got to meet their new addition, their puppy, Cookie. She was so sweet. Since Erin had to work, we didn't get to see much of her until Wednesday night. We also got to meet her new beau, Chris. What a great guy. I am happy and excited to see what God will do next in her life. This morning we hung out with Erin and ran around until it was time for a Milo burger...it is quite sinful not to go to Bham without having this gazillion calorie meal.

Now we are back home to finish up our week off..but have to do homework.

School and more...

Wow, it has been a while, but so much to tell...This summer we discovered the kitchen fiasco of a leak that seeped under the house that resulted in a whole kitchen overhaul. After a summer full of drywall dust and hammering, we thankfully had great insurance and are now enjoying our new kitchen.
Austin has started middle school, I am in a different classroom (Deaf & Hard of Hearing, Pre-K), and school is still keeping me more than busy. Austin is adjusting to the workload of middle school and seems to like it. He is in band, playing the trumpet. He often rides his bike from my work to school, which is not too far. The other days, my dear friend picks him up for me. I am on the tail end of my last Algebra class (can I get a hallelujah?) Whew, it has been a lot harder and time consuming than any other class thus far. But the good news is, if I keep at my current pace, the end of February I will have my Associates in Elementary Ed. and will have another 18 months or so until I have my Bachelors.
Work is ever so fun and realized over the course of the summer that I would be in the DHH PreK class. It is fun working with these precious children every day. I am learning sign language and using it a lot! I am learnng so much from everyone around me. I feel I will be prepared when it is time to have my own classroom. I feel more than blessed to be able to work in this environment as I am studying to be an educator...not everyone has this opportunity.
God has known exactly where I need to be over these last few years as I have made the career move and started back to school. I am thankful for the opportunities that are available and praying that I can keep it up to see the degree that I have put off for way to long!

4th of July

It was nice to get away from the dust and smell of plywood for a few days as we headed to Water Sound Beach, FL. We made it down Thursday and met Dad, Nana, Holly, and Aaron at Betty's home. Later her son, John with Nicole and Jimmy joined us from California. We had a houseful but Austin so enjoyed spending time with his new found family friends. We of course had to go to Reggae J's in Panama City for dinner on Thursday..we can't go to the beach without that tradition. Friday, we had the Seaside Art Walk and got rained on a little. Saturday, Heath, Holly, Aaron, and I rented bikes and rode to Alys Beach. From where we were staying, it was about a 4 mile ride one way. I was proud that all of us made it there and back; especially Heath and I being the older ones:)

We attended the 4th of July parade in Seaside again this year. It was cool to see the characters that have fun participating in this event! And Betty was gracious enough to prepare a fabulous BBQ lunch for all of us and we were able to celebrate Dad's birthday too:)

The beach was good and weather was pleasant, not too hot. A few rain showers came our way but overall a great trip!!!

Summer is finally here!

In May, Austin's soccer team, Brasil Bandits got 2nd place in the Mud Bowl city tournament! These boys work so well together. Unfortunately a few boys have to move up another level due to age. Congrats to them all...

I cannot believe my only child will be headed to middle school in August. Is it already here? Where does all the time go?

I did find out that I will have a job next school year...Praise the Lord! Austin will be able to go to middle school with his peers that he has been with for the past two years, yeah!

We went out on Lake Allatoona on Memorial Day with Terry on his boat and had a good time.

My college classes are going well. Vacation Bible School is coming up next week. I am excited to be a part of it again. This is Austin's last year:( But he can possibly be a helper next year.

Austin went swimming in the lake today...although it gives me the heebie jeebies just thinking of it. For those who don't know, I do not swim in any water I cannot see the bottom of.

It is sad when your dog minds better than your kid...LOL:)

It's Spring....

It is Spring and everything is beautifully in bloom, including the sinuses:)

We are in the midst of doing some yard work as well as attempting to start the repopening process of the pool. What a whirlwind the last couple of months have been. There has been a lot going on. Rocket Launcher, 5th Grade trip to Stone Mtn, Easter, Spring Break, and oh yeah, the CRCT tests for Austin. And soccer is back in session - GO BRASIL BANDITS! So much to do, but hanging in there. We have less than five weeks of school left now. Hope to get better at updating blog when school gets out. Enjoy the weather...until it gets too hot to enjoy!

Happy Early Valentine's Day

The weekend before Valentine's Day we heard of a special for a couple's massage. Heath's back had been bothering him, so I thought this would be a great thing to do. We dropped Austin off at Terry's and whisked off to our massage. Although Heath had done this before, I was a little nervous....but not for long. Oh my goodness, what have I been waiting on??? This was so nice and relaxing. We were in the same room, with the dim lights and calming music. Who knew how fast this hour would go by! Afterwards, we had a few minutes and ran in Starbuck's. I still had a gift card, so we indulged. Heath had never been to Starbuck's before, so I had to get proof. Even though he is only drinking hot chocolate, it still counts! We then headed to meet Terry and Austin and have dinner at the Marietta Fish Market. It was wonderful, even though the weather was not! Happy Valentine's Day, everyone!

Father and Son Day...Priceless Memories

While Heath and Austin took a trip south to Paul's property to shoot guns, ride four wheelers and the scooter, I ate lunch with Holly, Aaron, and Missy at Marietta Diner. We overate but had fun anyway:)

Heath and Austin had such a good time. These times are very few and far between due to work and sports. I know they will both remember this trip and hopefully will be able to go more often. Pause the music at the bottom of the page and check out the video!