Graveyard Shift

I learned something new on our trip back to AZ. . . I could be a truck driver and survive!! We drove straight through and I had the "dark time" shift of driving. All it took was a few cans of Dr. Pepper and a bag of peanut butter M&M's, each way, and I was good to go.

Watching the sun rise was the highlight of my shift. If you know me well enough, you know my family is not normally out of bed before nine. Needless to say, I can't remember the last time I saw the sun rise.

I had one minor set back during my driving time. I lost my wallet in Amarillo (I am thinking I should write a country song!). I stopped for gas about 2 am. While the gas was pumping, I cleaned off the windshield. I set my wallet on the hood of the car, and the was the last I saw of my wallet. . . for a few days.

As I was getting back on the freeway I heard something hit the car, but it didn't sound too major so just kept going. The next morning I was trying to get breakfast and couldn't find my wallet anywhere. After credit and debit cards, I remembered that small noise I heard back in Amarillo. I immediately got on the phone and started calling the love stations in Amarillo. My third try a VERY nice man said, as I describe what had happened, that it sounded like "this" love station and I should call and ask for "so and so". I thanked him and did just that.

Now this VERY VERY kind man jumped in his truck right away and drove off to go look for my wallet. He called back a few minutes later saying he had good news and even better news. He found pieces of the insides of my wallet. A few rewards cards and things like that. The even better news was a sanitation worker had found the actual wallet and turned it in to. . . I actually don't know where, but the love station worker tracked it down. My money and all cards were found. The lady that now had my wallet was kind enough to use the money inside and ship it to my parents house. SCORE! I was so nervous about our trip home with only ONE driver. Luckily we will never have to know how that would have turned out!

I had wanted to use the money inside the wallet to pay the men who helped me, but they both had left as soon as the lady knew she could get a hold of me. So I will throw my thank you out there to all of the kind people who are willing to stop and help a stranger.

I have 500 pictures to sort through from our vacation, and will be posting them, throughout the next few days. Along with catching up on reading 150 blog posts from friends. Wow! With that, I am off to tackle the mountains of laundry, that has currently over taken our family room.

The New "Do"

I finally had my hair colored today, after being my natural color for three years. It's been four or five years since I have been blonde and I LOVE IT!

Isaac said it best when he said "Miss Holly makes some pretty hair." I agree. Thanks Holly!

before:
After:

MIA

I know I have been MIA for awhile. I have been busy as a bee, organizing and painting our home. HARD HARD work with two children underfoot. But I finished Isaac room in two weeks. I am starting Ainsley's room by the end of this week. Here is Isaac's freshly painted room. . . still missing pictures on the wall, but you get the general idea.

Every wall is a different color, and I LOVE it. The big brown stripe on the "accent" wall, is chalkboard paint and also magnetic. (sorry the lighting was weird, but the colors are all the same)

This is why it has taken me two weeks to just paint Isaac's room. While I am busy working, and I am thinking my sweet children are busy playing, they are really busy getting into trouble. This was today's mess. While I am cleaning out the guest room, getting ready to paint, the kids found acrylic paint and decided to paint the bathtub. Gotta love it! (Janette this is for you since you think my kids are SO FUNNY! If you want to send Ryan over for some REAL PUNK training. . . feel free!)

Kind of pretty after draining the water! LOL! My kids have talent!

I will be sparse for the next while, but will update as I get new pictures of finished rooms. We will also be taking a little vacation to AZ in the near future, adding to lack of blogging. Here are my cute kids, dressed in their Sunday best, to hold you over until my next post.

New Scooter

I did a "reward"(bribe) system with Isaac, for potty training. When he finally stopped having accidents in his pants, he would get to pick out his first scooter. That's just what we did this weekend, and he is very proud of his new Spider Man Scooter. I am just as excited as he is. . . NO MORE DIAPERS. I love how grown up he looks on his scooter. I just love him period!


Of course Ainsley wanted a turn.

This is a DAILY activity at our house. Our kids are obsessed with water balloons. They both know it's a "Daddy" activity, and they wait by the door with balloons when we see him pull into the driveway. He can't even walk through the door before Ainsley is shoving balloons at him saying "ba-oon ba-oon, on do it" (balloon balloon I want to do it).


And THIS is what HAPPENS when you leave Daddy ALONE with children and some painting tape. The kids became "ninja turtles" according to Isaac.

That Giraffe is Sad

Yesterday was a BEAUTIFUL day. In the 80's, cloudy and a little breezy. We ("Aunt" Sylvia went with us) took advantage of the nice weather and went to the zoo. The smallest zoo I have ever been to, but it was PERFECT for toddlers. Just a handful of animals, and by the time you have walked through the whole zoo, the kids are ready for it to be over anyway. It was PERFECT!

Isaac's favorite was seeing the zebra's "racing stripes". You get to see all of these animals up close, and the zebras had looked at Isaac and were grazing their way the same direction we were headed. Isaac thought for sure they were following him, and listening to everything he was telling them. Which consisted of things like "Hi racing stripes. I love your movie. I will be back to see you later Racing Stripes. I will watch your movie tomorrow. I love you Racing Stripes." Isaac was very sweet with all of the animals. Talking to them like they understood every word. He even got a little teary eyed as he told me the giraffe was sad to be in his cage, and he wanted to be in the grass with the zebras. Sweet boy!

Ainsley's favorite part was the Parrot. It kept saying "hello" and every time it talked, she would jump. She actually did really good and I think she liked all of the animals. The cages are so close to you, and not that big, so it was easy enough for her to find the animals.

After the zoo. . . and the gift shop, went to the park across the street and went for a little train ride. Another big hit!


We are a much happier family when we can spend time outside together. I am very thankful for this beautiful weather. I sure hope it sticks around for awhile.

Pool Time

I can't believe it's all ready that time of year again. . . time to hit the pools. Our community pool had opened over the weekend, so I took the kids Monday morning. The water was FREEZING, but we had a blast. I forgot my camera, so no pictures. . . bummer, because they looked so cute.

Later that evening we turned on our sprinkler and ate Popsicles for FHE. I truly love this time of the year, when it's warm enough to enjoy summer activities but we aren't dying of a heat stroke every time we step out the door. So expect lots of outdoor pictures for awhile, while we live it up with this nice weather!

These pictures of Ainsley running through the water crack me up. I know you can't see her face, but it was HILARIOUS to watch her run as fast as she could. So funny!

Isaac and Ainsley enjoying a summer staple! Okay a year round staple in our home.

Sharing Sand Man

I have been wanting the kids to spend more time outside, more specifically outside in our BACK yard. Their choice place is in the garage, and front yard, so decided to make the back yard a little more appealing. This weekend we decided to add a sandbox.

Isaac has been in this sandbox ALL day. As soon as breakfast was over he was out the door, and after his afternoon (weekend) nap, he was right back outside.


A second "Little Tykes" car was also purchased this weekend. Isaac and Ainsley had been fighting over our ONE for weeks. I know some might say they should learn to share the ONE. . . but my theory is every child has their OWN bike. . . and these are our backyard bikes.

Lucky for me they now SHARE the TWO cars. Each taking turns riding in the blue and then the yellow.


This last picture is our little stick of a tree we planted on Earth Day. Isaac calls it "His Tree", and is very diligent about giving it water and checking on the tree every morning. Yesterday it sprouted/grew (?) it's first leaves. Isaac must be doing something right!