Mom, I want to color my hair!

the title says it all. .. that is what Owen said to me on Thursday afternoon. I thought you have got to be kidding me. He is almost 8 but too young for that. Plus I figured there was no way on earth Jason was gonna go along with this.. Surprise he did! I put "golden" highlights in it
here is what it looks like::: It's not very bold.. subtle in fact:::

time for spring cleaning

Spring cleaning for me sometimes goes beyond typical spring cleaning. Each year since we have lived here I have held a yard sale on Good Friday.. this is a good money maker for me. I clean out all kinds of kids clothes, house-hold junk, and whatever else I am tired of! Last year I got enough to pay for our mulch.. all 12 yards!Or however many it was..HA! So this year is no different except I have longer to prepare.. Easter is in April this year.. woo hooo!
This also gives me time to decide that I need change! So I am following my habits and repainting.. I say habits because I repaint every 3-4 yrs.. this drives Jason a tad bit insane. He recently told me "the paint we have now just dried, why repaint?" My reply:"We have been here 4 yrs and have 3 kids.. that why!"

On Saturday I did the dining room... the color is Deepest Forest!

Before:: don't mind the egg coloring(this was last year)


After( the picture is of my Papaw's barn in Alabama, the frame is made of wood from it)

Happy St. Partrick's Day!

An Irish Blessing to Share with all my friends:::


May soft gentle breezes brush o'er your face,
For each loving touch is God's warm embrace.
May you have enough for all that you need,
And never be hurt by another one's greed.
The Lord keep you safe from terrible things,
And at the end of this life, lift you up on His wings.
~ Robin C. Burns

Here are my lucky lil leprechauns

guns in elementary schools

Last Thursday I received a call from Owen's principal. I wasn't home to receive this call. She did , however, leave a message and asked for me to call her back. Her message stated that something involving Owen happened at school today and she was sure Owen would have a story for me when he got home. She also said that he was not in trouble. When I did call her back, she was in a meeting and couldn't take my call. Owen came home before she was able to return my call. I had to ask him 3x what had happened at school. It wasn't that he didn't want to tell me, it was more like he didn't recall. I finally got the story out of him. At lunch a girl from his class pulled a toy gun on him. She pointed it at his head, said watch out! and pulled the trigger. Owen was not bothered by this as we allow toy guns in our home, but he knew the rule : No guns at school!: So he told the lunch aide.
When Owen's principal called back she said the only part of the 2 stories that lined up was in fact that the girl did have a toy gun at school. Mrs. Haldamen said that there was no denying that the gun was a toy because it was bright orange. The girl was to get a "considerable amount of time out of school." I told the principal that I didn't think that was the answer to the problem,however she was following the rules when something like this takes place.
Now last night a boy in a different school district did bring a loaded hand revolver to school. He had told someone about it at the bus stop and they informed school officials immediately. There happened to be an officer at the school to do the drug talk and he obtained the gun. The boy is going to get disciplinary actions and the news said that the police aren't sure yet if there will be charges against this 9 year old boy.
This brought to light the seriousness of Owen's encounter! It could have easily been a real hand gun and Owen could have been shot! It is so scary to think what could have been! After hearing the news last night I looked at Owen and said " Owen that could have been a real gun, and you could have been shot! This is why we don't play with guns, even BB guns!" His reply was "I know but a BB gun can't kill." Whoa! did that just come out of my 7 year old! I plainly stated that even though it can't kill someone it can still hurt someone if they got shot in the eye or ear.
I thanked God last night that it wasn't a real gun that she brought in to school on Thursday and that Owen was safe!

Signs of Spring

Seems as of late everywhere i look i see signs that spring is coming. Today while walking back to the house from putting Carter on the bus, I noticed that some of my shrubs are getting lil green leaves & my tulips are popping up. Yesterday I saw my first Robbin of the season singing away high in tree top! Today I am hanging laundry out to dry in the wind... not the breeze as we are having high winds today with gusts up to 50 mph! I figured at those rates, my clothes should be dry in no time.
Ah the other sign of spring is that we "sprang" forward. This time change has really messed Callie up. She has been a crabby mess.Last night she went to bed at 7.30 & then she slept until 8 am today. At nap time she didn't want to go down. It took me several attempts of putting her tiny hiney back in her bed! Finally it was quite so I took a peek, she wasn't in her bed! she was curled up next to her door. I could barely open it. I think i should start leaving her door shut during the night as well. I have put one of those childproof doorknob covers on the inside of her door so she can't open it... better than locking it!
Back to spring... I have also noticed that there are some weeds *aack* popping through the mulch! HELP ME! The grass seems to be turning a brighter shade of green daily and the spot that Sadie uses is the most healthy! LOL!! I have also seen a few places mowed! yep yep! those landscapers are in a hurry to get those business striped and up to par! Gosh I do miss that!

Scott Michael

My sister sent this pic of Scotty to me in an email yesterday & I just thought it was the cutest thing. It looks like it should be a postcard or something!
love ya lil buddy!!

Riding fun

this past Saturday, Be & Peggy brought his bike down for them to go riding with Mom & Dad. After they were done riding we went over to mom's to hang out. Pap & Be gave the kids a ride in the yard.. they thought this was awesome! Sooo after they were done I asked for my ride.. This was like only the 3rd time I had been on bike. I only had on my knitted sweater and it was a tad bit breezy! But it was A LOT of fun.

new art work!

I finally got a tattoo for Callie. I wanted to get her footprint to go with Owen's and Carter's hand but me new tattoo guy tried one on someone else and didn't like the way it turned out.So I came up with this design for Callie's! I think it's pretty fitting since she is our princess!

Happy Birthday Pappy!

Feb. 19th was Dad's birthday. When I asked him how old he was he just said yeah! Too funny! Dad and mom stopped over here that night and we gave him an ice cream bowl filled with Reese's peanut butter cups.. yummeee!! Then on Saturday the whole family got together in the afternoon for cake.
Mom's house is getting way to small for such gatherings. There was 9 adults & 13kids(ages ranged from 14-1yr)
Here are some pictures from the crowded kitchen.
I am gonna try to name everyone..
going Left - Right
Carter, Scott, Owen(reaching across the table) Lacey (orange sweatshirt),Brianne(holding her ears) Brandon(Cailan's boyfriend), Cailan & Autumn being held

Jess, Brian(Barry's oldest son) holding Maven, Carter,Scott & Barry,Owen, Lacey and Brianne(still holding her ears)

me, Callie, Jason, Autumn, Pap, Ashley & Austin

Pap with his motorcycle gear from Me & Peggy's families

Baltimore's Inner Harbor!

The boys had off of school on Friday(the 13th) so we took a day trip to Baltimore.
We visited the National Aquarium.. there were lots of neat things to check out, too bad Callie was in a running mood!
This is the Aquarium from the outside!


Callie and I in front of a mural..realistic isn't it??


Jason and the children overlooking the inner harbor


The Inner Harbor from inside the Aquarium


We also walked over to the Science Center. The Science Center is a hands on type of museum for children.. something they can do rather than just look at!

Carter at the deck helm


A beautiful view of the inner harbor from the glass elevator at the Science Center


Carter posing under a Dino


Carter doing a "dig"


Owen examining some fossils


Owen posing with the Baltimore Ravens plaque.. notice the Ray Lewis Brick.. Owen's favorite player