Harvest Mooning

Let me start out by saying, I'm so sorry :).  Our handful of followers may have realized that this blog has gone from a weekly to a monthly publication.  It is solely a function of being crazy busy and not because we don't want to keep you up to date!

 Where to begin...?  Well Jeff, John Thomas and myself are still having lots of fun finding adventures and making the most out of our time together.

 We've also been "soaking" up some family time!  John Thomas asks to go swimming in the "hot pool" every time he's at Gramma and Poppy's.

 Thanks to Nana Gay and Tony, we got to go to our first family UT football game!  It was about 200 degrees though, so we only made it about halfway through the first quarter.  We came, we saw the power T, we heard Rocky Top, we ate a Smokey Dog, and we left.  John Thomas had a blast and, in spite of the scorching heat, wasn't really ready to go home when we headed out. #VFL

 Over our much-needed Fall Break, we drove up to spend some time with Jeff's family in Pennsylvania.  The leaves were gorgeous as we drove through West Virginia!

 If you want to see something really cute, just ask John Thomas to say "Pennsylvania."  We did some hiking and sight-seeing while we were in the area.

 This one makes my heart so happy!  My handsome boys, doing what they love the most.

 The gang (Jeff, Wes, Tia, and Me) decided to go to a local haunted house/forest/corn field.  I have no doubt that they were thoroughly entertained at my expense.  If you want an idea of how funny it was to them, just watch this clip from the Ellen show: http://www.ellentv.com/2013/10/22/andy-and-amys-haunted-house/

 Here is my beau with his super sweet mom and dad (Ms. Viv and Tom) at the ski resort.

 We had such a great time going up on the ski lift and sledding down!  There was also music, BIG construction machines (like bulldozers and snow blowers) and hot chocolate!

 You can tell Ms. Viv is no stranger to fun!  Thanks so much for being such a gracious host to us both!

 They even had a hay bale maze for the kiddos!

Couldn't resist sharing this holiday yard decor with you all!  Made me laugh out loud!  Hope that you and your family have a spooktacular Halloween this week!

Hot Diggity Dog!

The last several weeks have been filled to the brim with lots-o-fun!  Who knew the gigantic hot dog at Dollywood would be the highlight of the trip?!  It only took three mommas with their cameras and twenty or so pictures to get these kiddos all standing still, looking at the camera, and flashing their sweet grins!

John Thomas has really started trying to be more independent lately, which is bitter sweet for me.  I love it because it is so much fun to watch him discover his place in the world.  I struggle because it is a daily reminder of just how fast he's growing up!  

 Move over dog whisperer, John Thomas knows a thing or two about managing these mangy K-9s!

 Last weekend, Jeff and I had people up to the lake.  A Labor Day Eve soiree of sorts.

 We ended up having quite a house full.  There were great friends, great food and great times to be had by all!

 Maggie even brought the karaoke game along, which always makes for some laughs and some healthy competition!  Girls versus boys.  I'll just say, we'll be ready for the rematch guys!

 Even had our own panel of judges, who actually ended up being more like background singers!

 I won't mention names, but these guys were not afraid to leave their masculinity at the door so that they could "rock" Sonny and Cher's "I got you babe."  We may not of won, but we at least had a great time getting beat!

 This weekend, we had the first camping trip of the Fall!  John Thomas, has learned his way around a camp site: helping mommy put up the tent (sort of), roasting marshmallows, finding all sorts of treasures...  We all had a blast!  Thank you Stooksbury's and Courtney's for letting us join in on all the fun!

 I made him his own little palate for a bed, but when I crawled in the tent he was snuggled right in the middle of Mommy's bed.  It's the first time we have ever slept in the same bed.  Needless to say, I didn't get very much sleep.

John Thomas LOVES getting to spend time with all his friends, sleeping in a tent and enjoying the great outdoors!  

Saturday the Hayes and McAffry families came up to join the party.  Watching John Thomas be so sweet with Brooksie just warmed my heart.

 When we weren't busy throwing parties or camping, we were still having a blast spending time together.  John Thomas, Jeff and I can have fun doing just about anything.  Baseball in the yard, grilling out, chilling on the couch...

Jeff, thank you so much for bringing so much richness into our lives.  From helping with all life's chore list, to making up hide-n-seek games to avoid the "lions," you make everything so much more fun!

Macho Macho Man!

The Three Amigo/as!  Even though summer is officially over for us teachers and students, as long as the weather holds out, we are going to be soaking up the great outdoors!

 We took this little selfie on the back of Jeff's four wheeler.  Notice who gets the drivers seat.  John Thomas has had a summer full of firsts: four wheeling, jet skiing, tubing, boat driving, bee stinging, skiing, tee-teeing in the potty, and just general awesomeness!

 Look at this little surfer showing off his balancing skills!  "Land ho!"

 Whilst riding the four wheeler last weekend, we stumbled onto a whole mess of deer.  Initially, John Thomas invited them to come ride with us, for which they declined with blank petrified stares.  Then he decided he wanted to catch one. Go for it buddy!

 As you no doubt know, he came back empty handed (thank goodness).  But he got an A+ for effort!

We've also planted the second round of our garden this year.  By we, I mean mostly Jeff.  John Thomas loves to piddle in the garden, so we extended the season a few more months (hopefully).  

It is so nice having such a manly man around take care of man-tasks!  Besides tilling, mowing, staining...and an abundance of other wonderful demonstrations of love and support, Jeff caught a bird with his bare hands and saved it from a short life of suffering as it struggled to liberate itself from the garage.  Don't tell him, but I think I might get Jeff a superhero cape for Christmas!  Da-da-Da-Daaa! Love him :).  But, John Thomas got to free it, so now he wants to catch all birds so that he can hold them and let them go.  My response goes something like this: "Ummm....no, but do you want to go pick in the garden?!"

 Had a back to school slumber party a couple weeks ago.  LOTS OF FUN!  I lucked out on the best singing team, so in spite of my lack of vocal skills, we won the sing off.  I may or may not still be gloating over this :).  Thanks Maggie for hosting!  Thanks to the rest of the ladies for making it such a fun night!

Speaking of girl friends, I forgot to mention on the last blog that I did something kinda cool a few weeks back.  I was asked to speak at Cedar Springs Presbyterian Church for their women's group and I said yes.  After a month of prayer and preparation, it was time.  Some of my dearest friends showed up to support me and I can never thank them enough.  But thank you to Janiece, Andrea, Tamara, Sarah, Beth, Katie, Kelly, Maggie and, of course, Mrs. Viv! Nearly 70 women were there and no one booed me off the stage!

On a side note, I loved speaking to these women.  In fact, if anyone needs a speaker for your church or group of folks, I would love to help you out.  I think speaking in front of groups is a talent God has given me, and I love the challenge of trying to decipher His purpose for me in that capacity.

Err...Surprise?

So I said goodbye to 33 last Friday.  I know it would be too much to say that I feel a little bit like Jesus did during his thirty-third year. Yet, I do feel that I was finally able to begin letting go of the old me (full of hurt and disappointment) and, with faith, resurrect the new me that clings to hope and love.   

Before we get into the birthday recap, we've got some catching up to do.  JOHN THOMAS IS OFFICIALLY POTTY TRAINED!  He loves wearing his new superhero undies and he is doing such a great job, which has proven to be a gift to us all!

The annual Bradley houseboat blowout was just a couple weeks ago.  I think it was just supposed to be my parents and the the Bradley's, but I invited us along and I have discovered that it is getting increasingly hard to say no to my very cute lil boy.  As usual, we all had a blast!  Thanks Nana Gay and Tony!

We also had to help my dad celebrate birthday number 64!  We spent the day helping my parents move into their new house in Kodak and then they treated us to dinner!  There are so many things I love about my dad; his humor, his work ethic, his hugs. But one thing I am noticing more and more is that no matter how old I get, what mistakes I've made, he still looks at me with pride in his eyes and love in his heart.  His love is a difference-maker.  Thanks dad, happy birthday, and I love you!

 Dad's birthday wish was that we come help haul off decades worth of accumulated furniture.  Jeff and I loaded a trailer and truck to the gills and have spent hours trying to unload, throw away and donate all of it.  One strained back and lots of ibuprofen later, it is done.

The best boyfriend of the year award has to go to Jeff!  He was scheduled to work, but decided to play hooky and throw me a surprise birthday party.  I have proven to be incredibly hard to surprise, so he ended up having to spill the beans early just to get me to play along.  I love that my birthday fell on a Friday, so I got to extend the celebration all weekend :).

 Thursday night, we headed out with Tia and Wes to hear a band.  Maybe I'm going to be more bold in my 34th year because I danced, I sang, and the whole joint serenaded me with a happy birthday song.  Thanks friends for helping me ring in the big 3-0 for the fourth time!

 All day long on Friday, I felt special.  Jeff did all the entertaining, my besties came up with their kiddos to play, my parents made it to the party and fun was had by all!  I think I set a personal record for birthday cards, texts and phone calls received from friends and family too!   Thanks everyone for making me feel so loved. You all are the true gift to me on my birthday and always. Speaking of gifts, I hit the jackpot!  Jewelry, clothes, money...  Best. Birthday. Ever.

There are lots of famous people who have the same birthday as me, namely Sandra Bullock (notice the resemblance?) and Mick Jagger (yes, I had moves like Jagger on Thursday night).  But I love that I share my birthday with sweet Charlotte more than all the rest!  She is probably going to make that list of celebrity birthdays one day as a famous singer or actress!  Happy birthday Charlotte, we love you!

 Cutest pic of the day!  These three kiddos have no choice but to love each other, just like their momma's do!

 Here is the recap of the candle blowout.  Big inhale...

and exhale!  

If you ever get a card from John Thomas, know that he picks them out himself and he is selective.  Jeff said that John Thomas had tossed nearly ten cards on the floor as rejects before he found the perfect card for his mommy.  He was so eager to see me open it.  Such a precious little boy, he makes my heart melt!

Pure joy

This is how I will remember my summer: Full of fun, new love, time with my sweet boy, skiing, beautiful sunsets, and new memories.  It's as if the I have turned the first few pages in the next chapter of my life and the story is so good, I can't put the book down.

Life's a Beach

You know how they say, "time flies when you're having fun"?  This summer has been living proof of that!  I cannot believe that a month from today I will be back in my classroom!

Besides going to the beach, which I will recap in a sec, we have gotten to celebrate a birthday, a holiday, and a wedding in the last three weeks!  I'm gonna pretend that we earned our vacation :).  Congratulations Rachel and Justin Link!  Jeff and I had a blast helping you celebrate your beautiful day as you start the most amazing adventure of your life!

John Thomas' dear buddy, Dare (on the right) turned the big three just a few weeks ago.  We helped extend his celebration with a Mexican feast, sparklers and fireworks!  The Smith boys and the Smith household are always a blast (so to speak)!  

 Brody and Dare are all boy and John Thomas LOVES spending time with them!

Thanks Smith family for always being the bomb (hahaha, I'm cracking myself up)! And happy birthday Dare!  We love you!

 We've been looking forward to Edisto for months!  This picture above says it all...we LOVED it!  The weather and the company were hard to beat!

I am thankful that Jeff, Wes and Tia were able to join John Thomas and I this year for our family vacation.  You should have seen all the pictures leading up to this one.  We were all hungry and John Thomas kept trying to sneak off in the sea grass to go to the bathroom.  Nonetheless, John Thomas loved hanging with the boys, digging holes, crab hunting, and goof-balling around.

I'm pretty sure he had his first crush on Mrs. Tia!  Affection well placed, because they were both so sweet with him.  Thanks guys for sharing the week with us!

And these two boys couldn't have had more fun!

 Find crabs, name them (Penny), and let them go...  Repeat.

Here is Jeff playing like a kid.  His back may or may not have been hurting on the way home :).

Check out these thumbs up!  Like I said, his back may or may not have been hurting on the way home.

 In an effort to spare you all bathing suit pics, I have craftily chosen pics where I am conspicuously covered.  You're welcome :).

 We spent several hours every day at the pool and at the beach.  I love how John Thomas brings out the kid in all of us!  We ate great food, laughed a lot, rested, played cards, and most importantly had the best time just being together!

In all of it's splendor, the beach always makes me feel small.  I love this.  God created a majestic playground for all of us to enjoy and all we have to remember to do is look up and say "thank you" and "I love you too."