Moving...YUCK!

Shane and I helped Tracie and Bill paint their new house on Friday night. Well, Shane and Bill did most of it, but I did actually do a few walls. =) Tracie and I came home to a hot house around 9:30....our air was not working. We had a house full of 8 people, and it was HOT! Fortunately the ac people came Saturday and fixed it. They also charged us for a part we just replace, but that is for another post. We got up early Saturday morning and helped them move their stuff. Moving is so awful, but thankfully we had lots of help. THANKS to the Wyatt's and Latham's for helping. Bill got called in to work for a mandatory work day, so we frantically began trying to find help. The Latham's and Wyatt's were willing to help, and we were willing to let them. =) Thankfully, Bill went to work and they had enough people, so he got to come home. YEAH!!! So we began moving about 9 and were done with the big stuff by 4:30! Shane and I came home, showered, and headed off to Grams and Pawpaw's for a birthday celebration. We were exhausted when we got home! Boy did I sleep well. Welcome to the neighborhood Bill and Tracie!

Bad things happen to good people....

Ok, going back to this time last year....I got a student teacher, Loren. She was a student at DBU graduating in December. We hit it off right off. We had a great time teaching together. She is a natural! She loves the kids, and they love her. Loren was with me and a first grade teacher. When she graduated she began subbing, mostly at Brockett. Then in March or April our ESL teacher moved, so Loren took her place. She did an awesome job! She did not really know what was going on, but she jumped in with both feet and figured it out. We kind of had a secret plan because we knew Julie was going to go part time the next year, so that left a spot open on our team. YEAH!!!! She was a perfect fit. She already knew everything there was to know, so we would not have to spend weeks "teaching" her.

Ok...now rewind to last Tuesday....our principal called us all into the library to announce that we were losing one teacher per grade level and two on second! We were devastated! I did not know what to say. The teacher I had "groomed" since last year was finally on our team and now she was moving. The last person hired on each grade level is the one who has to leave. Loren sat next to me crying her eyes out, and all I could do was say I was sorry. She knew God had a plan for her, but couldn't it be a Brockett? =) That evening she worked on taking her room apart. She had spent weeks up there making it look great, and now was going to move it to another classroom across town. I walked in the school on Wednesday and saw she had taken down her bulletin board. I walked in her room and cried, and I am not much of a crier. She had taken the whole move very well, but it SUCKS! She had Wednesday, Thursday and Friday to get her new room ready. She will begin with new students on Tuesday. Loren is so efficient, she was ready for kids on Thursday afternoon! She took her room apart, moved her stuff, and got her new room ready in less than 3 day! Brockett is sure losing a great teacher, and Sheppard is gaining one!

Loren, you are an awesome teacher! You will do great wherever you are. Your faith in God is so refreshing to me. God does have a plan, and He will reveal it to you in His own time. It will take more than you changing school to keep us from one another. Thanks for your friendship! Love ya Webblo!

All in one morning....

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Nanny and JoJo bring donuts on Saturday mornings. Every time they come Aidan wants to hide from them. This particular morning we looked everywhere. He is a good hider, but not normally so good we can't find him. Finally, I found him....under Owen's baby bed. As you can see from the picture, there is not a lot of room under there. Notice Aidan sucking his finger, I think he might have gone to sleep under there if we would have taken any longer.

Owen is riding a horsey that Ninna and Grandpa Steve bought for Aidan. When you push the ear on the horse it starts making galloping noises and its nose moves like it is chewing. Owen would run from the horse as soon as we took it out. He got over that fear, and began riding it all over. It is really cute when he want someone else to ride it. Giddy Up!!!

Pillow Fights in the Living Room....

For those of you who thought I only had 2 boys, take a look at my third child, Shane. There is never a dull moment at our house, and I LOVE it!

First day back at school....

Today we had to report back to school. It was bitter sweet! It was nice to see my friends, but that means that the kiddos are coming in less than a week. =) Today was pretty boring, sorry Chuck! There really is no way to make going over the handbook fun, is there? We did play some pretty fun games. One was to blow up a balloon, but not just any balloon. Our principal makes balloon animals, so he challenged our color cohort groups to blow up those balloon. He offered points to the team who finished first. Everyone was blowing away and guess who won.......ME! My husband says I am full of hot air! I am not sure it was worth it because my jaws were hurting so bad, and I had to hold on to some boxes to keep from passing out. We got to go out to eat, which is something teachers don't get to do often. We went to Mama's Pizza...YUM! When we were leaving Loren noticed the chocolate chips cookies at the counter. They were as big as my face! Loren bought me one, and boy was it good! THANKS LOREN! I took it home, and of course had to share with my boys. Tomorrow my team will go to math textbook training. Yeah!

Digital Scrapbooking....

I have learned how to put my digital scrapbooking layouts on my blog all by myself!!!! YEAH! So, take a few minutes to look at the older posts. Let me know what you think!

"Wild Childs"

One night the Hogan family was visiting, and our neighbor, Dini, came to get the boys. About 15 minutes later the boys returned with the cutest mohawks. Owen's hair was a little long, but it was so cute.

Wild Man Bathing.....

Owen kissing a frog....

Donna and Owen were in the backyard, and it was like deja vu! A few years ago Aidan was in the backyard with Donna and Ninna, and they picked the frog up so that Aidan could kiss it. So, in order for Owen not to feel like slighted, when the opportunity arose Donna let him kiss the frog. Yep, they are ALL BOY!

They grow up too fast....

We have the best neighbors! The Wyatt's have been so good to us. When I was pregnant with Aidan we began to get very close and the relationship has grown since then. They love my children, and we love Dini. She always calls Aidan and Owen her brothers, even though she is an only child. Aidan has always been walked over to the Wyatt's, but since he is a big boy now, so he thinks, he wants us to just stand outside and watch him. This particular it really hit me that they grow up so fast. A few years ago we did not have any children, and now we have two who will walk themselves to visit friends. I love these pictures because it show the gentleness of Aidan. He loves his brother so much!

Project #2...

My sweet, ADHD husband could not sit still for anything once the project bug hit. He did the pantry remodel, arranged for a new roof to be put on and then decided that he needed to paint the house. We have planned on painting the house for a few years, but never gotten around to it. I told Shane that if he would wait until fall I would help. If you know my husband, you know he would never let me help paint. He is an anal artist who would NEVER approve of my work! So, while he was busy outside that left me inside with the boys in the air conditioning. Feeling a little guilty, I decided to do something inside. I took this opportunity to go through and declutter the rooms and organize the drawers, closets, toys, etc. I have to admit it was very refreshing to purge!!!! Again, if you know my husband, he is a bit of a pack rat (understatement of the year), so I bagged everything up before he could see it and sent it off. What he does not know won't hurt him, right? Love ya honey!

Star Wars....

Papa and Elsa came over tonight for dinner. We ate chicken salad sandwiches and some really good chips. When we were done eating I was looking through the Target ad and saw something Aidan was going to go crazy over.....A LEAPSTER STAR WARS GAME!!!! He asked Papa to take him to Target to get it, but of course Papa was not going anywhere. Elsa and I went to Target to get it for him, but Papa gave him the money to buy it. THANKS PAPA! Aidan is such a busy boy that it is rare that we get some time where he is quiet. Some say he is like his mommy, but if you know me you know I am not much of a talker. =) When Aidan is playing his Leapster he is still talking, but it is to his game and not us. Therefore, we really don't have to be listening ALL the time. As soon as he opened his game, which was the last one at Target (good thing we went right away), he played it until we made him turn it off, and even then he wanted it in bed with him. Aidan takes his game everywhere with him. I was not too excited about it being a video game, but it does teach concepts. The other day we were in the car, and he said, "Mommy are we almost there because we are on 35 street." We were on Fielder, so I was not sure what he was talking about, but then I saw the speed limit sign....35 miles per hour! He has to learn his numbers, and he refuses to work with me, so we love the new game.

Raspberries....

Owen loves to play tackle. Lately, he has realized that he can lift up your shirt and blow on your belly to make some raspberries. I don't know who was more surprised, Papa or Owen. It is really cute, until you are in public, and he comes lifts up your shirt and does it. I am sure Papa will be pleased that I put these on my blog.

Pantry Remodel....

Have I told you lately that I have the best husband in the whole world. He is so talented. We have an older house that does not have a pantry for food. He got the idea to make a one, where we previously had a wall.



These are pictures of the wall before he started the demolition. One is the view from inside and the other is the view from the garage. When we first started we thought, "Oh the kids won't be in the way too much." Then....





So needless to say, the next day it was off to Nanny and JoJo's house for Owen, and Aidan and I went to College Station. When we came back this is what was finished. He had taped and bedded the entire inside of the closet, painted the drywall, and painted the door the correct color! I was so impressed!


And the final product...... he even organized it and put everything back in it. Thanks babe for a wonderful job. I love my pantry!!!

Bulls.....

Aidan played t-ball this summer with Grayson and Andrew. He was on the Bulls. He really enjoyed this sport, but was not too crazy about it being hot. That's my boy! Shane loves the heat, I hate it!! Here are some pictures of the season....

Such a big boy.....

Aidan eats oatmeal for breakfast almost every day. He will only eat the Quaker Oats maple and brown sugar, and don't even try to pass over the Target generic. He caught us every time, so we finally threw them away. =) He even knows what the package looks like. Just the other day, we decided to give Owen some. He loved it!!! Aidan left the kitchen table to go to the bathroom, and guess who took over.....

He is getting so big! Shane and I were just talking about how we are almost on the down hill slide. Owen is getting so independent! He will play with his brother or independently, given us a minute to get something done.