Blast From the Past...

I worked up a photo album for my FaceBook page and I just LOVE this photograph! This is my older sister, Vanessa, myself, and our cousin, Kelly. I'm just guessing that this is some time in 1980 or 81. I don't remember it, obviously, but it looks like we're the Three Musketeers...or trouble walking...either way...

Things I Hate...

• People who comment on this blog in a foreign language...
• Spiders-big, hairy ones that jump...
• Snotty noses...
• Cloudy days...
• LONG road trips with whiny boys...
• Bugs in the swimming pool...
• Public toilets at the swimming pool...
• Oversleeping...
• Public speaking...
• New bosses...
• Having boys' toys dropped on my bare toes...again...
• Being late (my M.O., by the way)...

I think that's it...for now...

Hmmmm...

What to write, what to write? So much turmoil going on in my professional life that I wouldn't even know where to begin. Just pray for me because upheaval has run amock and everything is helter skelter. I don't like not knowing what's going on or what's going to happen next...

The boys are almost through with swim lessons for this summer. Braden is swimming like a fish and Garrett is still struggling. We'll just have to work on that during our visits to Eastgate.

The boys fight all the time, like all brothers do, I guess. It's driving me crazy that they can't get along. Now I know how my mom felt all those years ago...definitely paying for my raising here!

Ready for Sea World and the Alamo. This will be our first actual vacation since the boys were born. We are all looking forward to fun, sun, and new experiences!

Grandmothers...

I've recently been contemplating the importance of grandmothers in general in a child's life. My own grandmothers, Nanny and Grandma, were (and still are) amazing! Having Nanny right next door my entire childhood was awesome. I remember peanut butter and jelly sandwiches after school, BBQ or brown bean impromptu dinners, summer in the garden, melting Hershey Kisses on her wood stove in the winter, and riding in her vehicle listening to the Dolly Parton cassette...thus my love for Dolly. Grandma used to pick me up from 1/2 day kindergarten. I'd go to her house and play for the rest of the afternoon...fun! I remember funny smelling well water (good stuff), Little Debbie snack cakes, frozen Cool Whip, swinging on the fence gate, haunting the barns, and skirting around the pond. What wonderful impacts these women have had on my upbringing. And they are the source of some of my fondest memories.

Now, with my own children, they still play such a huge role. My boys get so excited when they hear we're going to Nanny or Grandma's house, or that perhaps Nanny is coming over for a BBQ...with all of the cousins of course! Because of the unfortunate hand that fate has delt our family, the grandmothers have become that much more important for Braden and Garrett. There are still plenty of Little Debbie cakes and gates to swing on at Grandma's and Nanny still puts up with squirrely kid behavior from two boys.

And then there's Nana...my mom always has a treat and a hug for these boys. They love to attack the toy room at her house and drag out all sorts of baby toys, pretending they still need that sort of entertainment. She has the patience of Job when the boys argue over turns on her computer and she inevitably gets sucked into stacking games, etc. on the Lego website. Unfortunately, Grandma Susie is far, far away. But, the boys do give in from time to time and chew her ear off over the long distance lines. They love to entertain her now and then with the everday nonsense that goes on around here.

It's the little, everyday things that make the difference in the lives of grandkids. I have been deeply impacted by my own grandmothers, as my children are deeply impacted by theirs. So, to our grandmothers, we love you and thank you for your amazing presence in our lives! I'll close with a few quotes, just to show how much we love you.

A grandmother is a little bit parent, a little bit teacher, and a little bit best friend.
-Anonymous
A grandmother is a mother who has a second chance.
-Anonymous
A house needs a grandma in it.
-Louisa May Alcott
Grandma serves kisses, counsel, and cookies daily.
-Anonymous
Perfect love sometimes does not come til the first grandchild.
-Welsh proverb
A grandmother pretends she doesn't know who you are on Halloween.
-Erma Bombeck
Grandmas don't just say "that's nice"--they reel back and roll their eyes and throw their heads back and smile. You get your moneys worth out of grandmas!
-Anonymous

Atlanta Presentation Photo...

I promised photos, but this is the only one I have access to right now. The rest are on my school computer and it's possessed by the devil at the time being...they'll have to wait. I was, and still am, so proud of the focus team for this presentation. I conquered my fear of public speaking, but it was mucho easier with these ladies by my side. They will be presenting essentially the same program at the High Schools That Work conference in KY in July...minus me. They'll do great!

Summer Swim Fun...

Garrett and my friend's little girl, Caroline, had such a great time at the pool! He is so sweet and gentle with little kids...suprising considering the rest of the time he's like a bull in a china closet! Garrett and Braden both acted like they'd never had a swim lesson in their lives this first time out for the season. I guess it's true what they say...use it or lose it. Garrett looks like he's going under...poor baby...

Braden and Garrett were fascinated with Caroline's ducky float. Braden said later that he wanted one just like it. I kindly reminded him that I'm paying for swim lessons so they won't have to use floaties!

Braden really is just a little fish...could barely keep him out of the water! He also took a hand at designing his own photo this time around. What do ya' think? Not bad for a beginner. He's not proud or anything, what with that crown and all...

Hello, Summer!

Summer vacation is finally here!!!! AND, we began this morning with me cleaning the shower (fun, right?), Braden gagging on his cough (sick again), and Garrett throwing one heck of a fit. On top of all that righteous fun, I'm sick, too...thanks Braden. If this is any indication of how the rest of the day, much less the summer, is going to go , we're in for a real treat, so to speak...

Later today, we have swim lessons with Coach Bullock and t-ball in the evening. I'll be happy when my new swimsuit arrives in the mail so I can show my face at the public pool. If you've seen me whining on facebook for a pool, I've been told no...and to renew my membership at Eastgate. So be it...