renovation time...again

we are currently involved in the largest renovation of our home to date.  (our reason for the lack of blogging.)  for those of you that know our house these are some of the changes, so far.

* our room is now josie's room

* russ and i have been sleeping on the pull out couch for 2 weeks now.

(i kind of like watching tv while going to sleep, i feel like i am on vacation)

* our closet has thrown up and exist on our dinning room table

* there are strange men in our house a lot.

* no cleaning for me...the house is a wreck all the time and will only get worse

the goal is a master suite (bathroom and walk-in closet).  things are coming along really well. when you live in an old small house little things seem really great.  russ and i are so excited to not have share a sink or a closet.  

hopefully, the saw dust will settle soon and i can upload some pictures.

"ewws"....shoes

Josie is enthralled with shoes these days.  I have to say, she gets that from her mother.  Hello!!! What girls does not love shoes?!  She found KC's old boots at my mom's house.  We brought them home and they have won the "toddler entertainer award" for the month.  She is so amused just slipping, stomping and sliding around the house with them on.  It is quite funny and helpful.  I can hear when she falls or has stopped to get into something else.  A friend said, "It is like bell on a cow."  Hmmmm.

The "toddler entertainer award" was held by my running shoes, last month.  Girlfriend would sit for 20 to 30 minutes trying to untie, tie, tangle.... those laces.  She has mad skills! 

I will leave you with some recent pictures.

We visited Burt's farm again this year.  We have been enjoying this weather, any chance we can get!

mom intentions...

We have a new niece.  Sherry, Russ' sister, had her sweet baby girl, Alyssa Clare last night (when the c-section was scheduled for Wednesday the 16th....hmmmm).  Alyssa wanted to be the one to pick her birthday, apparently.  

Alyssa's older sister, Emma, just had her 3rd birthday.  My creative mom intentions took the pictures that are to follow.  Did I mail them to Emma? No, I forgot.  Did I get them developed? No, I forgot.  Did I send them to Sherry in an email? No, I forgot.

Well, here is to remembering about 3 weeks late. (I did remember to mail the birthday present).

Her personality is really starting to come out.  The "let me start to figure this out."  

Next, "I am really cute." 

Third,  "I need to go somewhere other than here."

(I believe this last phrase is the most common statement in her smart little brain.)

And here is my sweet baby girl a year ago.  Wow.

come on Fall...

I love fall.  Always have. Always will.  Here is just a small list of the things I love in the fall.

1.  festivals (Grant Parks was this weekend) such good food  and crafts.

2.  hiking (everyone in our family loves it and it wears everyone out...at no cost)

3.  Georgia football (i heart college football a lot)

4.  fall clothes (gotta love the jeans and a long sleeve t-shirt)

5.  weather (love the cool weather and little humidity)

Well, our family started a little early on the hiking deal.  We headed to North Georgia for a fun afternoon the other weekend.  Thomas is being a little shy here.  Josie loved riding on our backs.  She had her own game of trying to touch/grab the leaves along the way.

We visited the Yellow River Game Ranch the other week.  We had a blast with all the animals.  Josie loved it.  Getting as close as possible to each one.  Remember fearlessness has no boundaries.  Especially when you best friend is a 100 lion/dog.  She was hilarious.  Bella and Katie came too.

This picture cracks me up.  I wanted to take a picture with the Billy Goat because he has a 

goat-tee like dad/Russ.  Upon getting close he let our a yell.  It surprised both Josie and I, therefore giving us a great picture.  

my news...

I have to confess I have been withholding information to the blog world.

I am going back to work.

Part-time, Tuesdays and Thursday mornings while Josie is at Parents Morning Out.

I am working again at the Lovett School.

I am really excited.  I know that sounds dorky.  Who likes to go to work?  I do.  I guess it is in my blood.  My dad loves to work, my older brother Kevin loves to work and, not so little, KC loves to work.  

Thank goodness I am a combination of my mom too.  In which I also love to spend some time with people.....not working.  So this is the perfect combination for me.

I was born to teach.  I love it.  I crave it and it all makes me feel like I am walking out in the gifts God has given me.  

This job really fell in my lap.  Thanks to some caniving co-workers at Lovett.  But I am really excited!  Happy back to school for me!

some good thoughts/reminders on being a wife

http://www.beckyturner.com/

check out my friends blog.  

her friend wrote it. 

just good reminders, even when you are in a good spot.

scroll down to the 3rd post.

josie + the beach= love

My whole family went to Destin last week.  It was great!  My parents rented a huge house for all of us and our kiddos to fit.  And remember this is Gramps and Mimi, therefore each grandchild shall have their own room (if desired) for the best sleeping accommodations.  Can we say "rock star" in mom language!?!  It was great! Oh wait, I already said that.  I mean it!

Typical beach activities took place.  So let me give you the low down on Josie and the beach. Before leaving I took it upon myself to ask other moms their beach "tips."  What do you do about a child and the waves?  "Just let her get knocked down by one and she will then stay away from the water."  Not my Miss Priss.  We are FEARLESS!!!  Josie got knocked down by a wave and while getting up proceeded to get knocked down by another wave.  As I picked her steamrolling self up full of saltwater I was excited for her to now stay away from the water....she pushed herself out of my arms to do it all again!  Needless to say... it did not work.  She wanted to walk up and down the shore over and over and over.  People ask Russ and I how we got so much sun.  Our little Josephine, that is how!

A few action shots....

Let me make the disclaimer that I was hoping Josie would join me in not liking the beach.  Yep.  It is true.  I am not a huge fan.  I don't like sand, saltwater, hot-ness, stickiness, standing around in my under garments etc.  You get the point.  But Josie had me converted rather quickly.  I had to enjoy it for her safety.

Here are a couple of picture from our fun trip.  Thanks Mom and Dad!