Half Marathon

My Mom called me today, to see if I was interested in being in a Half Marathon with my Aunt Linda and my Cousin Taran, in May. Of course I said Yes!!! I can't wait! I've always wanted to do a Marathon, or Half-Marathon, and here is my chance. Woo-Hoo!!!! :)

back to school

Most of the ice melted off yesterday afternoon, so it was back to school today. Yea! :)

Ice=No School

No School today, due to all the ICE we got last night. It's so nasty outside. It's supposed to warm up and it's supposed to melt this afternoon, which is good because I have to go do an appraisal. But they are talking about it all becoming ice again overnight. Yuk.
The boys sure had fun playing in the ice this morning though. They were out there slipping and sliding on everything! :) Then they came in and warmed up with some Hot Chocolate.

Long time, no talk....

Sorry I've been out for so long. It's been SUPER BUSY with work lately, and then the kids and I were all sick also. I've actually taken the past few weeks off, from blogging and from working out. I simply didn't have time with everything that was going on. (Yes, I hate that excuse...there is ALWAYS time to squeeze in a workout....'slapping my wrist for that one'). However, I was in the midst of completing my Appraisal Continuing Ed Requirements, and Renewing my Appraiser Trainee License, and working my tail off (we've been swamped with refinances, YEA!!!).
I don't know how consistent I can be with blogging, with as busy as work is lately, but I'll try to update from time to time.

Levi had his third basketball game yesterday. They have lost every game so far. Poor kids. It isn't their fault though. Their coach isn't consistent and keeps changing "plays" on them...hello, they are 1st Graders! They don't even know what "offense" or "defense" means, much less remember what plays are. Then of course there is the "one man team" attitude with one of the boys. He runs down and shoots almost every single time, without ever passing the ball. GRR! It is so infuriating! When he isn't in the game, the other kids actually pass the ball and try to "play basketball". But Levi is getting better every time, and is having fun, so that is all that really matters.

Oh, my Daddy broke his leg! He called me on Thursday and said he had fell off of a ladder while trimming a tree at the church. He went to the emergency room and they put him in a knee/leg brace type cast, that is hard on the backside and velcro's up over the leg to keep it straight. Then he has to go the Orthopedic Specialist on Wednesday to find out if they are going to put a cast on it, or if it needs surgery, and how long he will be off of it. He is on crutches, but isn't supposed to put any weight on his leg at all. He's been in a lot of pain. He was also having to find others who could fill in for him, preaching the services, until he feels better. Y'all please keep him in your prayers.

That's all the major things I can think of that the moment. So I'm going to go exercise before I have to take Levi to Basketball Pictures. Why in the world they would think it is OK to always schedule sports photos on a Sunday, during church times, I'll never know. It really chaps my hide! So, we had "church" at home this morning. The kids love it, because we make it for them to understand, and then do a craft. It isn't the same as "real church" (which we are missing terribly today), but God knows our hearts.

Love you all!

Happy New Year

We went to visit my parents on New Years Eve. We spent the evening at their house, cuddled up on the couch watching movies. It was so nice and relaxing (and safe from all of the drunk drivers on the roads). We actually went to bed at 11:45pm, to the sound of fireworks people were shooting off. We at least gave each other a kiss before we went to sleep. LOL! :) I didn't have any desire to stay up any later. I was dead tired and couldn't wait to cuddle up next to my husband and just go to sleep.
We spent about 4 days with Mom and Dad. While we were there, my dad and Stephen went squirrel hunting. They had so much fun together. They got 10! Wow! while they were doing that, Mom and I took the boys shopping to get Levi some new basketball shoes. After that we went to play putt-putt and games, and then out to eat at Olive Garden. It was a fun day. Once we got back home, Mom and I went for a walk in their neighborhood. I love walking/running there. It is so beautiful, and the weather was in the upper 70's. They have some big hills, so it's always a great workout. We did about 2 miles, and half of that was with Seth on my back. He insisted on going with us and about 1/2 a block into it he said he was tired and needed a piggy back ride. LOL! But I didn't mind. It just gave me an even better workout. :)

We are finally back home, and things are back to normal. Oh, but wait! I forgot! When we came home from Stephen's parents house Tuesday afternoon, we were in for a shock. Our fridge had gone out at some point while we were gone. We came home to a stinky, smelly, nasty mess. Everything in our freezer had defrosted. Steaks had leaked blood into the bottom of the freezer and out the door. Frozen rolls had risen and exploded all over the inside of my freezer. Everything in the fridge was spoiled and smelly. It was so GROSS! So we had to throw everything away, and immediately go buy a new Fridge. Wow, what an unexpected expense. But thankfully we were able to find one we liked, and were able to purchase it that night. We got it home and installed. Then of course we went to visit Mom and Dad; so yesterday we finally went grocery shopping and re-stocked our freezer and fridge. What a way to end the year and start a new one huh. LOL!

Christmas at Granny and Papaws

We went to visit Stephen's Parents the day after Christmas, and stayed with them for about 5 days. We had a wonderful Christmas with them. Everyone LOVED their gifts, and the time spent together.

We let the boys make Granny a Picture frame and paint it themselves.

the boys worked on these (the red one was Levi's and the greed one was Seth's), while Stephen worked on the Pie Safe he was building for her. She had been saying that she was wanting one, but couldn't find one anywhere. So my husband found the plans, and built this for his mother. He even punched the designs in the metal. He is so artistic and talented. i could never do something like this.

While we were there, we helped them knock out the wall between the living room and the garage, and extend the living room into the garage.

Then we helped them put in a fireplace and get it ready for the brick.

We also helped tape and bed the walls and ceiling (that was my job), and then texture the walls and get some of it painted. It is going to be so nice to have all of this extra room now. They are going to put in a huge bay window (where the panelling is, in the pictures), and then build a new garage onto the end of the house. It is going to be so nice once it is all finished.

Levi painting primer on the walls and painting. He loves to paint, and did a really great job!

Seth wanted to help paint to. He was very careful and did really good! This color will be extended through to the other room also, and it will be one really large room once it is all completed.

Admiring their hard work. :)