School Bus Ride

Reese's K4 class is not allowed to go on field trips because of the car seat issue. Because of that, they don't get to ride on the school bus until they get older.

Well, this week they are studying the letter "S" at school. Today they got to go on a school bus ride around the school one time. Isn't that great? I am sure my ACA friends reading this can picture it now.

I was emailed this picture and can't wait to hear what Reese has to say about it!

Beach with the girls

My girls from work and I went on our 3rd annual Orange Beach trip last weekend. It was so nice to get away and just spend a few days relaxing!

We always stop at the outlets on the way down. The Old Navy outlet was not as exciting as it was last year. Some of us did find some things at other stores though.

No she didn't buy these.

We stopped at Lamberts that night for some great food. We love to go there because they give you so much food, that we eat the left overs for the next few days for lunch.

We next day we relaxed on the beach and wend to the Oyster House for supper. YUMMY!

Chocolate chip peanut butter pie!!!!!Then we decided that we needed to go buy floats for the ocean. Fitting six, blown up floats into a mini van was interesting!The next morning you could see clean up crews going down the beach. We only saw traces of oil while we were there. We found a couple of shells that had oil in them and that was about it.There is a story behind this picture. On Friday, I was out in the ocean but the other 5 girls noticed this man on his hands and knees. The waves kept knocking him back under the water. They took off down the beach to go help him and another stranger helped too. They sat him up on the beach and he kept saying "Leave me alone, I am fine." I don't know if he was embarrased or just a curmudgeon (which was our word for the trip.) Wouldn't you know on Saturday he was out there again doing the same thing. That is when I snapped this picture.From the balcony it looked like part of the ocean, right up next to the shore line was dirty. When I got down to the water their was millions of tiny fish swimming around. I have never seen them like that at the beach. While we were laying out, one of the lounge chair guys came over and put a red flag right by where we were. He said the undertow was especially strong right there. We said to ourselves, "Of course it is right where we chose to be."We had another great year and thanks to my mother-in-law for the mini van. Can't wait to go back.

See ya later alligator

This is a picture of the GINORMOUS alligator that Brent and his friends got this weekend. It is pretty impressive!

"Apparently it is your world, ladies."

My sister and I have began a workout routine where we go a couple of mornings a week to a gym. This is the only way we could make ourselves workout; knowing we have to meet the other person. Otherwise I would hit snooze a couple of times and get a little more shut eye.

Anyway, us going to the gym isn't the point of this post. Since we have been going there we have noticed these two women who work out together also. I am going to call them "Thing 1" and "Thing 2." Apparently I missed the memo somewhere along the way that it is their world and that they don't have to play by the same rules that everyone else does.

Common sense would tell you that this is what you should do at the gym:

• come in put your things in locker
• go workout
• come back into locker room and get things and get in the shower
• get out of shower
• use one of the two counters and mirrors to get ready at
• then leave for the day

But oh no, this is what they think is appropriate:

• come in and put your things all on one of the two counters so that no one else can get there
• go workout
• come in during workout and move part of their things to a shower stall so that they can claim it
• go workout some more
• come back into locker room and get in shower that they have already claimed as theirs
• get out of shower
• use one of the two counters that all of their belongings are already on anyway

Christina and I had had enough. She called and spoke with a manager yesterday about the situation. Isn't that sad that these two grown women are going to have to be told what proper etiquette is in the locker room. I know for a fact that they probably already know what they are supposed to be doing, and don't care.

Where along the way did society learn that they can just do what benefits them and not worry about how that effects everyone else. It isn't just in the locker room, it is everywhere in society.

And don't get me started on "Thing 3" that leaves her things in a locker all the time, rather than taking them with her, like common sense would tell you.

On My Mind

These two wonderful ladies from church have been on my mind. Laurie donated one of her kidneys to Janet. I cannot think of a more selfless act than this. Laurie and Janet went through kidney transplant surgery yesterday at UAB and both are doing well. You can read all about it on Leigh's blog. (linked and also in my list)

Prayers have been answered but please continue to pray for them.

Fun with PSE!

Having fun with the Pioneer Woman's Photoshop Elements actions.
This could leave me sitting at the computer all night playing with my pictures.

First Day of School

This past Monday was our first day of school. This included Reese this year! He is starting K-4 and it makes me wonder where the time has gone? He picked out a Star Wars backpack (of course) and I found him a cute Star Wars lunch box that is metal, like the kind everyone my age used to have! I probably like it more than he does.
Brooks of course, not to be outdone, had to show off his backpack and lunch box too. These were the same ones he had last year. I told him next year he can get a new backpack.
Don't they look ready?
I snapped a couple of pictures on the way to school. Of course they were playing with storm troopers.

Walking in to school.
Brooks with his teacher Mrs. H. (most of you probably know who she is)
Brooks at his new desk. Apparently it was maroon shirt day and no one told us. J/K

Here is Reese putting his things in his "locker."
And here is Reese with his teacher Mrs. H.
And so it begins. I am looking forward to a great year for both boys. I have heard wonderful things about both of their teachers.

The FOURce was with us.

On Saturday we celebrated Reese's 4th birthday. I can't believe he is growing up so fast! He wanted a Star Wars party so that is what we had. We decided to invite just family and our friends that are as close as family over for a small gathering.
Here is the food: It is pretty self explanitory.




Reese had such a big day. He loved having his friends over to play!Brent and I made light sabers. I had seen on the internet that people made them from pool noodles. Then I saw another website that made them from pipe insulation because that was softer. So we went with that and bought colored electrical tape and duct tape to cover them. The only problem is that I should have made them all the same color!
Here is Reese opening his presents. (with Star Wars on in the background)
He got a cute pirate costume from Ibu, amongst his other great presents.
I attempted to make a Yoda cake. It turned out pretty good. I know what I would do differently if I had to do it again. More importantly it tasted yummy!

Reese blowing out the candles.
I am sure that William wasn't ready for the light saber attack, but he fought a valant fight.
Happy Birthday Reese! Live long and prosper. oh wait, that isn't from Star Wars. Oh well!

Swimming Lessons

We let the whole summer slip by without taking the boys to swimming lessons. After the way Reese reacted last year, we decided to wait a year with him. He seemed ok with it except for the morning when his beloved Pop left to take Brooks to swimming. He had a melt down.

Other than that, swimming lessons have been good.

I will let you in on a little secret. If you take your children to the YMCA in Wetumpka for swimming lessons, and wait until the last week, you pretty much have one on one attention from the instructors. Brooks had one other child in his class, and they were the only ones in the pool.

This was a blessing because he received so much instruction that I can see vast improvement!

This was Reese. He was happy as long as he had is red Power Ranger, red motorcycle, and even red shirt. (Can you tell he likes red?)

Brooks did good and passed his test to go on to the next level. Way to go Brooks.

Christmas in July

This past Friday night, Julie and I had our second "Christmas in July" party. We invited all of the ladies from church this year.

Julie created this awesome table decoration!

**Edit: My sister pointed out that I didn't mention the tree. The tree came from William's mother's house and was actually used in Christina and William's wedding as well. Thanks Christina!My mother let me borrow some of her Santa face mugs and wreathes, and my aunt let us borrow her small wooden trees and snowman. Thanks ladies!The food! Oh, the food! I think everyone agreed the food was awesome. Everyone voted on their favorite appetizer, dessert, and then their favorite overall.We had a couple of Christmas trivia games. Did you know Alabama was the first state to make Christmas a holiday? Me either!It was a great night with great ladies. Thanks Julie for making it another awesome party!