I know you were just dying to know...

What I would have looked like in 1984. ;) So wonder no more. :) Curious as to what you might have looked like in the past? Go to www.yearbookyourself.com

Lots of fun!

Does anyone besides me think that might actually be a picture of my mom? :P Guess we really do look a like. ;) Not a bad thing.

Alert the tooth fairy!

The Little Guy...

Got his first haircut the other night. His hair was getting so long, most people thought he was a girl. So I decided it was time. Yes, I saved his curls! They are safe in a ziplock baggie.

Isn't he getting so big?? Its hard to believe he's 18months old already. Such a handsome lil man. :)

Welcome!

Today is the long awaited debut of my home! Come on in, take a look around. Please, no pushing or shoving. I have enough of that in the afternoons. ;)

First Stop...

this is what you see when you first walk in. Walk forward and you hit the office, turn right to go down the hall.

To the left is our living room- small and cozy.

My picture wall.

To the right is the dining area, my cross wall and bookshelf- OH and look! A Matthew! Very rare, and happy creature. ;) This is worth the price of admission right here.

Turning to the Right.....

Here is the view from the dining room into the kitchen. Look! My cabinets aren't white! I'm so happy. :)

See my cute little chalkboard I picked up at a garage sale? And my stand mixer! I have counter space and cabinets tall enough that I can put it on my counter. :) I love it. Thanks again Mom!

My cute little green desk. I got that from my grandma because I loved it so much. It makes the perfect microwave stand. Goes with the vintage feel I'm going for in this room. It also is handy for storing my dish towels, and cords for griddle etc.

Through this door is the back door, pantry and very large laundry room!

Moving forward...

Our bedroom. I love my french doors! I have gorgeous fabric to make curtains for them. Its on my to -do list. Promise. For now we tack a sheet up. lol

My beautiful bed.

The view from my side of the bed.

My gorgeous armoir. My wonderful husband, and good friend David worked so hard to get this into the house. I am forever in their debt. (it took an hour just to get it from the truck into the house) It hides our tv, and dvd player, along with some of our clothes.

The end of the tour

In here, you will find the office. The main hub for my business, and where all my scrapbook stuff is.

Nothing overly exciting. But its nice to have a place for all this stuff that isn't in a living area.

And the end of the road for now- to the left are the kids' rooms. You'll see them one day, just not today- they are closed to the public until I get a chance to get in there. On the right wall I have two closets, a linen closet, and a coat/game closet. Then at the end of the hall is the bathroom. I figure, if you've seen one you've seen them all. :)
Hope you enjoyed this tour of my home! Now come visit me soon!

Long Overdue...

I finally had a chance last night to sit and start editing some of the pictures I took at Steven and Megan's wedding. I know its months over due- but if you want to see, hop over to my photography blog. www.mandyhowephotography.blogspot.com

Oh By The Way

I don't usually reveal this type of information- but I'm very excited about it- so here goes.
Before we moved I weighed in at 254.
I weighed Saturday morning at...drumroll please..................................


228.4!
YEAH! I guess walking 10 miles a week helps ;)
In addition to lower stress levels- cutting out most sodas, etc. Haven't made any huge changes, but the small ones I've made have obviously made a difference. :D

Home Sweet Home

We are moved- halfway settled- as I sit in our office surrounded by boxes. lol
Internet was turned on today. YAY!
Here is the breakdown of the house.
Our room- Done
Kitchen- Done
Living room/Dining area- Done
Bathroom- Unpacked- but not organized the way I'd like
Boys Room- Done
Girls room- not done
Office- Not even close to done.

We seem to be coming down with something- Sadie started it- scratchy throat, headache etc. I'm hoping its just allergies. I'm not 100% today, so I'm not sure how much I'll get done- I'm doing a crockpot dinner- so at least that won't be time consuming. I'll get pics posted once everything is settled and unpacked. :)

Miss me?

Offline

Just a note- internet will not be hooked up at the new house until the 8th. We move in tomorrow. I'll come post pics and check email on occassion here at J's house. But I will not have constant access for about a week. See you then!

What a shocker! Not! :P

You're 80% Irish

Congratulations, you're a shining example of an Irish lass (or lad). There's hardly anyone more Irish than you!

How Irish Are You?

First Day of School

The first day of school went great! Both kids did exceptionally well- as did I. I expected a little sadness when I dropped them off, but there was none. I'm very excited for them. They both loved their teachers, and made new friends. Connor had a purple day- which he explained is a very good day. Lets hope it continues.
Grace loved being in charge of the tv/xbox. Matthew enjoyed napping in a quiet house. :)

Its the most wonderful time of the year!

Tomorrow is the first day of school! Yay! I've been looking forward to this!
The backpacks are packed, the first day of school clothes are set to the side- but where is that other shoe???
Why is it that one shoe constantly goes missing- and as soon as you find it- the one you had in the first place is gone! I hate shoe hunting.
So as I hunt for Connor's missing shoe- and hope that Sadie's shoes are in the same place I put them last week- I try to avoid the thought that I have a first and third grader! Next year this time I'll be packing Grace up for her first day of Kindergarten, sending Connor to Second grade and Sadie to Fourth! Where has the time gone???

Wow

11-27-07
8-16-08

What a difference almost a year makes! I didn't realize how much we had changed until I saw this picture from our anniversary. We've both lost weight, and made changes! WOW is all I can say. What do you think?

Lab Results

Doctor's office just called. All labs are normal.

I should be happy- but it frustrates me- not that I want something to be wrong- but something isn't right, and I was hoping the bloodwork would give us some insight on how to fix it.

Doctor Visit

Yesterdays Doctor visit was uneventful really. The doctor isn't quite sure what is wrong with me. Its always comforting when the man you go to for medical advice stands there and looks at you like you have two heads for five minutes.
They drew a bunch of blood work, and put me on progesterone. We'll see what the blood work shows, see if the meds help and then go from there.
I had no complaints about the office though, so thats good.

Baseball and Prayers

Mark was able to get us free tickets to tonights Air Hogs game. It really was a lot of fun.
The kids spent most of the game at the playground- which is monitored by staff members, has a little basketball court, mini golf, etc. We were playing the Shreveport Sports funny enough. We won, 3-2. I think the games will be a family favorite activity next year.

Now for the prayers part Tuesday I go to a new doctor up here. I've been having some 'monthly' trouble for a while, and I have been putting off going to the doctor. Its gotten to where I will get lightheaded and pass out, and generally feel horrid. Anyway, like I've said- I have put off getting checked out- because thats the most unpleasant dr to visit. But once we moved up here that was one of the first things J made me do was make an appt. So I go Tuesday at 3pm. Pray for me- pray that this will not be a long drawn out thing to fix, and pray that I make it to the dr's and back ok. I have to go by myself and the dr is in Arlington.

A little note...

A few days ago my best friend, Jayme, found out that one of her aunts has breast cancer.
This is not the first time her family has been struck by this unfair disease. Cancer doesn't play fair. She has family that has survived, and family that has passed from the same disease.
I have been a shoulder for her, and will continue to stand by her side through what is sure to be ups and downs. I plan to do everything in my power to be there with her as she goes and gets "squeezed".

On October 18th I will be walking by her side as we complete the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure. Watch for a donation button too. I will be walking in memory of her family as well as a close family friend of mine that passed, and in support of her aunt who was recently diagnosed.
Also hop over to my photo blog to see what is going on over there in the month of October!

If you are at risk, or are of the age to begin getting mammograms, PLEASE go!!! I love you all! Go get squeezed! Its so worth it in the end!

Edit: If you would like to show support- or even just offer prayers- visit Norma on her blog