Saturday, July 30, 2011

clay to bisque!


Soo excited about these fun chunky Christmas ornaments I worked on today. The wedding cake is my favorite. I cannot wait to see what this looks like painted and fired.
Had super fun evening last night with friends for my annual Pampered Chef party with Carrie. Carrie is so good at her job she makes me want to cook! Yesterday was busy as I had to get ready for the party. I did bootcamp which was great. We had to be outside in the court yard b/c the volleyball girls were in the pe gym and registration was going on but it was shady there and it was a good work out. I probably did better than usual b/c I wasn't going to look like I was out of shape in front everyone. After bc I popped into Wal Mart to pick up some things and then I finally made it home around 1. The house didn't take too long to clean, I should have scheduled my party the week that Teresa came but I didn't so I had to do some dusting and sweeping and vacuuming but it looks good this morning and I love that! I finally met Alex's mom. She is so sweet and fun. I can see where he gets his sweetness from. We are both on the same page with the kid's relationship. They are quite smitten with each other and that is worriesome for mama's. Kate being a senior and Alex being a freshman in college but I guess they'll be okay. Karen Amidon brought all of Kate's senior pics. OMG! I love them. They are beautiful. Learned last night that a friend of Kate's is having her pics done by Karen too. I can't wait to see them. I need to visit her new studio. She said Kate's picture is on the wall! I texted the kids yesterday and told them that this week we are on a tight budget b/c I spent over $500.00 out of the checking account to register everyone. I didn't buy anyone the activity card, we'll just pay for those games as we go or as they go. I honestly can't imagine how the families who are truly truly struggling financially are paying for back to school. It is a lot of money at one time. And I'm sure the next couple of weeks we'll be shopping for new clothes and shoes which I love buying!

I just finished reading Ricky Martin's book ME. I really liked it. I'm half way through, The Life They Gave Us. It's about the baby air lift from Vietnam right before Saigon fell. Very interesting how the government brought over about 3000 Con Lai children to be adopted here in the States, Canada and Austraila. Had they stayed in Vietnam, they most likely would have been killed. I had no idea this happened as I was five years old when it took place. I'm eager to get to the part of the book when it talks about the lives of some of the adoptees.

Tuesday, July 26, 2011

So, I was leaving spin class this morning and I remembered that Joe was supposed to go to the speed and agility class at HHS yesterday. Oh well, we totally forgot. I took Jack to the driving range to hit a bucket of balls and Joe was at Logans. Football starts Sunday so I guess he'll have his fair share of speed and agility camp coming up. I got home from spin and took Jack to HHS so he can play football with some friends. We got Joe's hair cut. I love his hair short! Kate is working and Rick is on his way home from GA. I learned today that an acquaintance of ours had surgery to remove some cancer that had returned. I hate that so much for her and her sweet family. One of Joe's friends in his class has a mom who is going through her second round of breast cancer. They are both too young to have to go through this. I'm sure when you have something like this in your life, you learn to live one moment at a time. Not a bad thing for all of us to do.
When dealing with a challenge, remember to check out the conditions thoroughly. Factual information is your friend.




Taking care of yourself is your friend.



Trust in God is your friend. You don't need to have fear or doubt towards yourself or the conditions. So strive to let those go and let God.



- John Morton

Sunday, July 24, 2011

I just finished eating some very yummy pop corn that I popped with the Cuisinart popper Rick bought us with his "points" It is so cool and works great. I haven't been great about eating my coconut oil so I used it to pop the corn. I added some spray butter and salt and it was so good. I looked up to see about this old fashioned snack and I am happy to blog that it is a fabulous snack containing about 140 calories for 3 cups and when popped in a healthy oil, even better! Joe is a huge fan of pop corn and I worried that all the microwave popcorn wasn't good for him so this has been fun and I don't worry about him using the stove. I worked in the nursery this morning and then Rick took me to lunch at Firebirds. I love the grilled tenderloin salad they have. Then I treated him to frozen yogurt. I was stuffed! I didn't work out today, Rick and I did walk a couple of miles but thats it. I think a day off was needed. I'll be back at bc in the morning. Last night we met a friend of ours at Beef O'Brady's. We had a wonderful visit and saw some other friends too. The owners of Beef's are friends of our's as well and they've done a wonderful job making Beef's a true neighborhood bar and grill. Whenever we go there we are sure to see friends. There was a musician playing Buffet tunes too, I didn't want to leave but we had to get Jack over to his friend Nick's and pick up Joe from Logan's. Kate is home from South Carolina but she isn't home home. I want her home! haha She had a great time and I'm excited to hear about her trip.  I'm totally expecting she'll want to visit a college there. We've rescheduled our Troy visit for the 12th so we can go with a couple of friends. I have no idea if she'll like this campus but I want her to have several that she applies to so she'll have options. Lauren is packing her all her stuff in preparation for her move next week to her apartment. I'm so excited for her to be in the new place and she'll be close to the hospital and she'll be there a year! I was thinking of the Martina McBRide song about the girls and the part of the 25 year olds in little apartments living on spaghetti'0s is very much where she is right now, paying her dues. I'm the 41 year old throwing pennies into the fountain of youth. This week is our last week of basically summer. We don't have anything planned and if the afternoon storms would quit for a bit then we can get to the pool and hang out. I'm working registration on the 28th but that is all that is on the calendar oh and lunch with Vonnie and Susan. Two of my favorite peeps! Next week is jump start for Joe at BGI, orientation for Jack which he said he doesn't want to go to but he's going and he has golf camp too. He is really really working on this golf thing and I love the clothes on him! Not sure what Kate's schedule is but I'm sure she will be working and she has to help at orientation for the 9th graders as a peer helper next week. Oh and Joe starts football practice on Sunday! Exciting! Go BEars!!! :)

Saturday, July 23, 2011

"You can't stay in your corner of the forest waiting for others to come to you. You have to go to them sometimes." -"Winnie The Pooh"


Popped over to HHS for spin. Totally forgot about the 7 on 7 tourney and had to park up by the school and hustle to down to the spin room. There was a small class today but it was a good work out. The air is turned up on the weekends at the school and it is always brutally hot and humid which I love! I know I'm strange. Anyway, I came home and made a vanilla protein shake and I put a half a banana in it and frozen cherries. It tasted just like cherry ice cream!! yay!!
Up early this morning for spinning. Why do I continue to go to this grueling class? I think its because I can burn 600 calories in 45 min. and I can do anything for 45 min. Bootcamp was tough yesterday. Not sure why it was so hard but it was. Tatum has increased our workouts. Here is what we did. warmed up with suicides. run a suicide then do 10 real pushups, run a suicide, then do 8 real pushups, run a suicide do 6 real push ups, run a suicide 4 real push ups, run a suicide 2 real push ups. there, all warmed up! Then we went over to the mats and did 30 jumping squats, 30 double mountain climbers and 30 push ups. we had to tier down and a set of each at 20 and then 10 then we did frog hops down the line of the gym, plank walks over and frog hops back, plank walk over and back to the mat. Then we did 30 bicep curls, 30 up right rows and 30 bicycle abs, tiering down 20, then 10. after that it was lateral hops down the line of the gym, crab walk over, lateral hops up the line and crab walk over then back to the mat. I honestly don't remember what we did here. I think it was lunges with a punch, then shoulder press to a fly and something else. tiering down again. We ended with a set of abs. Tough tough tough but so good!! I signed up for the next session. It really is therapy for me even though, it is so hard.

Joe met some friends at the movies yesterday and then I brough them all back here for pizza and smores. The girls are so cute and the boys are funny. What a difference a few years makes. They were all really good and went home around 9 then I took Joe to Sams where I'm sure he didn't sleep one bit. Kate is in SC, she said she had a migraine. I hope she is feeling better today. I think Jack is going to try to play some golf today.

Friday, July 22, 2011

Well, my bedroom is painted a new color, kind of like the color of this post. I love it! Rick loves it too. I need to order curtains next. I painted our lamps and some accessories a buttery creamy soft yellow. Our old color was just yucky. Kate is off to South Carolina with the Mortons. I've never been there but I hear it is so pretty. I know she'll have fun. Our summer is quickly winding down. Joe starts football practice next Sunday and Jack has golf camp this week. His friend Nick graciously gave him an awesome set of clubs. Rich wouldn't take any money for them and they're probably a 1000.00 set brand new. Nick is an awesome golfer and he has inspired Jack to get into the sport too. Last night Jack met Nick and some other guys at the ACC building for open gym. Kind of cool that its 5.00 for the kids to run around jump in the foam pit and be wild for a couple of hours. That probably helps with the a/c bill for Britton and the kids had a great time.  I went to spin yesterday morning. Whoa, what an awesome work out. I literally left there soaking wet. I was supposed to meet Vonnie this morning before Friday's boot camp but since Kate is leaving this morning I felt like I needed to be home before she left. I do love my coffee time with Vonnie though so we will be rescheduling! Soon, we'll be working in the baby room again. I can't wait to see our babies. And I can't wait to see my two's! I'm so excited to be in the two's room again.

Let's see. Joe is  all registered for 6th grade! Whoo! He is jazzed. Registration was crazy this year. it was easy at BGI but we won't find out what hall he is on or who he is with until August 9th. He hopes his buds are with him but there are so many kids that he'll know a lot of them already from football and baseball. He and Jack both have big shoes to fill coming after Kate. She has paved the way for the boys and she has worked so hard through high school. Jack didn't really enjoy his math class but I know it was good for him to be at the high school, meet some teachers, learn his way around and sit in a class there before the first day of school. Senior year isn't always the best year. So many expectations are put on this year. Joe is going to the movies today with some friends and then they're coming back here to roast hotdogs and smores. His friend Sam's birthday party is tomorrow and he was invited to spend the night tonight. They always have fun at Sam's. I'm off to bootcamp this morning, I'm sure the high school will be buzy with the 7 on 7 tourney going on. Tomorrow is spin and Sunday is well Sunday. blah! haha...

Wednesday, July 20, 2011

This week has been about trying to register the kids for school. I've ran into some snafoos, like hoover was not on line when I needed it to be for fees and I forgot to print out the acknowledgement form for Jack. Hopefully, tomorrow will be it!! I scheduled our first college visit for Kate. She is so undecided about where she wants to go. Her bf is playing soccer at Montevallo and she would love to be in school with him but she and I don't think that is the right school for her. We are both thinking she needs something a little bigger but not SEC big. she says she would have way too much fun at an SEC school. We'll see. Everyone I know who goes to Troy loves it and it is actually more affordable than Auburn or Alabama. I'm excited to see the campus and to visit with her! All the things she has done in hs like belles and peer helping and working at Wrapsody will be so great on her college form. I've told her from the beginning that everything will pay off and all the service will be worth it.

Monday, July 18, 2011

Inspirational Quote of the Week: “Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time.”- Thomas Edison

Saw this quote on the massage envy status this morning on fb. I love it. It is so true right? Just one more time, you never know, that might be it! What if it is? I am one who does things backwards all the time whether it is sewing, painting, gardening, it doesn't matter. I do it wrong the first time and maybe the second time but I never give up, unless its Algebra and who knows maybe I'll try that again someday. I really don't want to though.

Keep working, keep doing and keep going. We're here to learn and that means just one more time!
Ahh, it's registration time for HCS. The kids are excited, well Joe is. ha. He can't wait to see who is on his hall. Jack has his math prep class tomorrow and Michelle and I are going to register the boys before class. I need to get all my paperwork in order and I know Jack needs his schedule changed. Joe's will be much easier and more fun to see all the 6 graders. I've never been one to request teachers or certain halls. I figure that the kids will end up where they need to be and if there is a problem then we'll look into and change but I've never had an issue.

It is finally sunny here today. I am excited to get back to bootcamp this week in the morning. I am spoiled, come fall, bootcamp is back to after school. I love getting it out of the way early.

Saturday, July 16, 2011

I have not been very good about blogging this summer. Not sure what my deal is but I just haven't felt moved to write about anything until..... today! ha! So, we wrapped up the second camp at the playschool. I loved being a part of it and the children were great. This camp was definitely busier as we had so many boys but they were really good and we had fun. There were a couple of days we were worried we wouldn't be able to get outside b/c of rain but we did and with it being overcast, it was actually really comfortable. We are really blessed to have such nice families at our school. I'm seriously considering finishing my degree through the Bama distance learning. I have more than enough time to devote to reading and it would be really cool to have my degree. I'm not sure what doors will open once I get it, that really isn't why I'm wanting to do it, I'm just doing it b/c I can. I have time, I am interested in early childhood education and it would be a wonderful accomplishment to finally have that degree and from Bama to boot! ha, maybe mom and dad will buy me those diamond earrings. I'd tell them to get me really good cz's b/c I always lose diamonds. So, I have several emails into people at Bama. I've applied and been accepted there twice in my life, I bet I have to reapply. They probably need that 30.00. ha...

We have four weeks left of summer and it better get sunny! The kids are registered and I'm volunteering for registration at both schools this year. Jack is going to be doing the math prep class this week in the afternoon. I'm excited for him to get to know his way around HHS. Joe is super excited for Brocks Gap. He is going to do the jump start program there. I figure its a great way for the boys to slowly get acclimated into school. Jack is signed up for a golf camp beginning of August and Joe starts football August 1. The team roster for the Bears was emailed yesterday. We are on a great team with lots of fun parents. Next year, we'll all be on the same team that is if Joe decides to play football. Rick and I aren't so sure we want him to play in 7th grade. We'll see. Middle school football is really tough and I've seen boys become discouraged before they've even grown and gotten strong and fast. The early bloomers are the superstars in middle school. It might be best to let those boys have the spot light and save Joe for later. Who knows. I do know we are getting excited for some football around here and senior year for Kate. I was running tonight, my three miles, up hills and down hills and I was thinking that I'm so very glad to have a boy going into high school this time and not a daughter. I don't care who you are, or who your daughter is or who y'all hang out with, whether you're kid is a cheerleader, dancer, school news paper editor, flag corp, straight A's, all F's, it doesn't matter, with girls you're gonna have drama. And frankly, I've learned that it doesn't matter how old we are, girls always have some drama, we just learn how to handle it better. So, with Kate being a senior, there is still drama and blah blah blah but its considerably less and with her being more mature, she knows how to deal with it. With boys, ha there isn't any and it is fabulous!

Friday, July 8, 2011

Just got back from Joe's 6th grade check up. He had to get 4 shots this morning and he is good to go for 10 years! He was 4'6" and 70lbs. Dr. Malone said he is a little under weight but all in all he is great. Jack is on his way to the beach with a friend where they'll get to watch the Blue Angels do their thing. His endo upped his synthroid a little bit so it'll be interesting to see how that works. He is growing and changing so much every single day. His voice is really starting to change now.  We are sort of in the dog days of summer, one month til school starts again. I will be ready. Jack and Joe are registered, just have to pay. Next week is speed camp for Joe and then maybe football camp. He doesn't want to do the football camp but I think its good for him. I'm loving being back on a work out schedule. Yesterday was spin and it was a good class. I couldn't make the bootcamp this morning but there is spin tomorrow so that will be good. I should run outside today of course Owen has eaten all my ear buds so I have to buy new ones.

Tuesday, July 5, 2011

Not quite sure where the time is going but it's already July5th. Last week I worked the princess and pirates camp at playschool. I had a blast with the kids and with my coworkers. The only bad thing was, I picked up a little summer cold. That brings me to the 4th. I woke up stuffy and had a sore throat but I managed to make it through bootcamp and come home and get things ready for the bbq at the pool. Some woman was freaking out about Michelle saving chairs so we hurried and got there and I was like, okay where are all the people? there were tons of chairs available. I mean come on now! Whatever, we started to get our groove on and the guys grilled yummy burgers and ribs and dogs and then it started to thunder. Boooo!!! It stormed for like 6 hours. We left not long after we ate b/c the radar showed storms for a while. God knew that I needed to rest so I came home and read a little bit and took a good nap. I didn't eat too much and I barely drank anything but water. I went to bed fairly early even with the neighbors doing their fireworks. I needed to sleep, I feel a 100% today. Yay! NOw, I'm putting in a request for a do over for the 4th! So today, I had to take Jack downtown to Childrens at UAB for his endo check. Ugh! Its always a huge ordeal to do this but we had to especially with him growing so much. Turns out he has grown like 4" and gained 40lbs in 17mo. Dr. Mick was amazed.  We saw this sweet baby boy there too with both his parents and Jack was in awe of him. We got to chatting and the mom asked if Jack was here for the thyroid thing. I said, oh yep, hypothyroidism. She said her Charlie was born with out one and i said, yep, Jack really doesn't have one either. I told her I used to love seeing big strong boys with hypothyroidsm b/c it meant that they were okay. I think Charlies mom was happy to see Jack, happy and healthy and a robust 143lbs. I promised her little Charlie would grow to be big too and everything would be okay. It was just so strange that I'm the mom now with the teenager reassuring moms with hypo babies. Jack said that is the first time he has ever met someone born with out a thyroid too. We had lunch at McDonalds and then proceeded on to Publix where I spent basically all the money I had for the week. HOlidays are alwAYS expensive and never budgeted for but we are eating steaks tonight so all isn't bad.