Zoo and BBQ

We had such a great time today at the zoo. The weather was absolutely perfect. We headed down to Owen's Beach for some fun on the sand after the zoo. Some great photo ops!! Then it was off to grandma and grandpa's house for a BBQ. Fun with cousins, incredible food and cribbage! Who could ask for more.

YES, YES, YES!!

Well, yesterday afternoon was a breath of fresh air. We found out we don't have a code violation and the gas piping is safe and I aced another test. WOO HOO!! There is one more inspector to run it all past, but after going under the house it was found that we do have the right kind of flex running to the fireplace. They just stripped off some of the outer covering for whatever reason when they built it. I didn't recieve any emails or calls last night so it looks like we are in the clear!! School is going great. I know some of it which makes it a little easier and I am learning a lot. The kids and Greg are also doing great. Jordan started his soccer season this week. Awana starts this wednesday too. We are loving all this great Fall weather. Today is going to be awesome so we are heading out to the zoo and then to grandma and grandpa's for a barbeque. P.S. I am getting so excited for the holiday seasons that are quickly approaching. Pumpkin Patch here we come!!!

ALOHA!

Our church is launching another site. To promote the opening they had a luau themed party after service. We got into the spirit of things!! Thanks to friends who have been to Hawaii, Mikayla and I got to be twins with our special sarongs. Daddy and Jordan had some great tropical shirts so they got into it too. What a fun day worshiping our Savior and Lord together.

Orange Tagged!! Code violation!!!

Well, we started out the day with a gas leak being checked and fixed in our fire place. No big deal. The power company came out and did it for free. BUT.....when they went in the garage to double check all the gas lines they discovered that there is an illegal flex connecting the gas through the wall under the house and into the fireplace. It's potentially very dangerous and has to be taken care of. We were orange tagged. I about fainted. So next Tuesday someone will be coming out to estimate what that will entail to be fixed. SHEESH!!!

A little intimidating....

It's official. I'm a college student. As I was walking on campus yesterday with my 4 year old in tow I had to take a big breath and fight the urge to go back home and just stay the same. I love being a mommy and right now that is my most important job. But God has really placed a love for medicine in my heart and Greg and I have decided it is time for me to start pursuing my RN degree. We are both excited about it but I was so intimidated walking around and going into the college bookstore. No one treated me any differently and I realized it was just in my head. It will be fine. A lot of hard work but fine!! I can't believe how much it all cost though. If anyone needs a charity just look me up.

Princess Isabella is 4!

What a beautiful day to celebrate Isabella's 4th birthday. The sun was shining and all her princess friends got to come and celebrate with her. The princess tea party was magical but the real party began after the presents were opened and one special makeup kit (thankyou Aunt Chrissy) was opened immediately. The beauty salon commenced outside and Isabella was completely enthralled.

Thank you to everyone who came to celebrate with us today. I am honored and blessed that God chose her for my daughter.

Oh the HORROR!

For anyone who knows me, I hate going to the dentist. Like use to get panic attack the night before hate it. I have had so much dental work done in the past and it hasn't been pretty. So today was my dental check up. AND......I'm cavity free. Everything looks good. I guess it's working to brush and floss and rinse and use special toothpaste and the list goes on and on.

On a happier note, Isabella loved watching mommy. She will get to go to her first check up soon! She even got an early birthday present from the dentist. A princess toothbrush. WOO HOO!

Arrival at 12:15 A.M....YIKES!

Wow. I have not stayed up that late in a long time. I had the priviledge of going to the start of the Girlfriends kickoff last night at Faith Baptist. What an incredible group of women that God is raising up to impact their world for Christ. I can not begin to tell you how it ministers to my heart. I also can not tell you how hard I am praying for my church's leadership to realize the importance of "strengthening the core" (especially for the women)!!

Then afterward I got to go out with my "pumpkin patch crew" at Applebee's and stayed out way to late. In fact, we closed the place down. It's wierd when you're sitting there chatting away and you see the manager walking around putting chairs up on the tables. You kind of feel like they're shouting....HINT HINT!! Ladies, I love you all so much. I actually stood up twice to go but found myself glued to the conversations and not wanting to miss a beat. God has granted me such blessings overflowing. With the drive home I arrived in my garage at 12:15 A.M.! YIKES. It was hard to get up this morning. Unfortunately Greg shared his sore throat with me too.

But, it was a fantastic start to a good week. On to birthday preparations for Isabella.

ADD THIS UP!!

I have been blessed to be at home with Isabella this year. It is already so amazing. She and I have never had one on one time before without other siblings around. So we have been playing games A LOT the last week. Today we had our morning ritual of walking the kids to school and then coming home to immediately get out the Leap Frog Bingo game. There is a number wheel that practices adding as one skill. Isabella has been listening to me recite the number sentences and then figure the problems using items. Well today she promptly told me that she would do it. She began reciting math sentences and figuring out the problems. She is almost four!! I am so proud of her.

Saved more than I Spent!!

I absolutely love the times I go to the grocery store and end up saving more than I spend. I stopped by Albertsons this afternoon due to some really good sales they were having on a few things that we eat. After the preferred savings (albertsons card), manufacturers coupons (which the machine spit out while I was checking out), and store coupons out of the weekly add I saved $48.96. I only spent $33.59!! I love it. I bought 25 items. It was so awesome. I don't even shop there very much so it's really not a plug for them but this time I made out really well!

Jordan's 6th Birthday

What a fun time today. We celebrated Jordan's 6th birthday with a bunch of family and friends. He had a bowling party in the backyard. Thanks to the beautiful sunshine we were also able to get out the big waterslide. There was some tackle football towards the end which Jordan absolutely loved. He keeps asking when the next time is that his boys will be back. With Jordan starting the 1st grade and his birthday this week I am reminded just how quickly time is passing. Thank you God for my precious son!

First Day of School

Well we did it. We started our first day of school today. The kids did great! Mikayla was so excited. She could hardly get through breakfast. Jordan was too. He is such a little man. We headed out the door to find all our neighbors walking as well so that was a bonus for the kids. Once we got there Mikayla was happy to have her mom hang out and talk to kids and be around. Jordan on the other hand was a little different. Once he was in the correct line waiting to go in he let me know that I could go. He was sure he could do this on his own. I wanted to stay and walk in with him all those great things for a first time at school moment but he wasn't having any of that. He let me know he had it under control, he loved me, we took a picture and he said "O.K. mom, you go. I know where to meet you after school."

So, it all went well. Daddy even called before we left and the kids got to speaker phone with dad for a few minutes while he encouraged them and loved them. It meant the world to them that He took the time. Thanks Greg. We love you.