Not alot has been going on this past week. Loren was in Delaware I think and this week he's in Talladega for an ARCA race. Then next week he has a race in NC so no traveling and I finally get to go to my first NASCAR race. I'm not sure if I should be proud of this or not...I'll let you know...I think by the 18th he will have a weekend off and I think I am due a date and some flowers. This past week I finally signed up 3 consultants to sell Scentsy with me and I am learning how much extra work I have to do now. I've been training the ladies who live close to me and it's been rough since NC hasn't had a lot of gas in the past week. But I am excited to make a little extra money for christmas.

So, every morning when Case wakes up and Justin is usually already up I put Case on the couch with Justin while I take a shower. He usually sits there the whole time I'm in the shower and shares a bowl of dried cereal and watched cartoons with his brother. Sometimes Justin even turns it on the Wiggles for Case. He's a good brother that way. I couldn't resist this cute picture of their morning bonding!
This other day Justin comes running to me and says to come look where Case was. I looked in Justin's closet and saw that he pushed the stool over to the bookshelf and climbed on top of it. Isn't he a genius! I had the run and grab the camera for this one. This kids can't walk but he sure is motivated to climb!
I hope everyone has a great week!

This is Out of Control

This post is just something I need to write and get off my chest and vent and then I will quit obsessing about it. I promise!

Unless you don't watch TV or read the paper or talk to anyone else I'm sure you know about the "Economic Crisis". I'm so beyond sick and tired of hearing about it. Yes our economy is in trouble. Yes people are in a lot of debt. Yes the banks are in debt too. No the government should NOT bail them out! I think it's crazy that the government first is calling it a "Bail Out" hello! what does that teach the people of this country and our children who we are hopefully teaching how not to be in debt? It teaches them they can accept all those credit card applications they get in the mail, they can get that nice new home they know they can't afford with that "interest only" loan that they know they won't be able to afford once the agreement is over and they have to start paying the real mortgage payment. This country has taught us by example how to live way out of our means and that is including these banks who gave all of the people the loans and credit cards!

I know of one person who went Bankrupt not even 2 years ago and already this person has 5 credit cards and racked up $3000.00 in debt on those cards! Who gives a person a credit card when they went bankrupt 2 seconds ago? The idiot banks and financial institutes do and they are the ones now crashing!

So, I say let the banks crash and let all these people who are too big for their britches crash too. It will hopefully teach them how not to handle their money and then this country can hopefully climb out of this hole we put ourselves in...

Disclaimer: I do realized situations happen were jobs are lost, gas prices are insane, food costs go up, and just about everything you budget for has changed in the past year. The cost of living is not very cheap right now. This rant is mostly directed to not living within your means and giving out loans and credit cards like they are candy...

ok...I feel better. sorry if i offended anyone. that wasn't my intent. i promise my next blog will be happy with pictures of my kids:-)

Sorry it's been forever since I've updated my blog. Nothing really has been going on exciting. My that's why I haven't felt like talking about nothing. Loren has been working and traveling every week. But there is an end in site come Thanksgiving. He'll have a few months off during the off season so we'll get him on the weekends. It hasn't been as bad as I thought having him gone thou. He is usually away Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. Sometimes it just Thursday and Friday. He's usually around on Sundays so I don't complain.

I went to a baby shower for a girl at church the other week and made some really fun gifts. Of course I can't take credit for these ideas. I made a hooded towel. (thanks Chantell for the idea)

And then I made a Memory Can out of a paint can and some scrapbook paper. (Thanks Elissa for this idea! I love the one she made for Case) I also made a couple of burp rags and a blanket. It was nice to have a project to do.
Justin was being silly one night. He's actually silly every night and we made some fun spikes in his hair. I'm not really sure what this pose is...
And Case was just being his cute self in the car yesterday. He is adjusting to having Justin gone all day and having to play with me. I'm not as funny as his big brother is. He's been cuting his 3rd molar for like the past 2 weeks and been supper crabby. I can't wait till all those come in! And in case some of you are wondering...he's still not walking! He's almost 14 months old and could care less. I was really hoping he'd be walking by Halloween but I don't see that happening. That's all our exciting news. I'm doing good. Staying busy with my Scentsy Business and meeting a lot of new people doing it. It's been nice to have my own "mad cash" to spend and shop with. The weather is finally in the upper 70's and low 80's so I'm so happy to finally have my fall weather here!

Happy Birthday Loren and Justin goes to School!

So, Loren had a birthday on the 26th and turned 31. Happy Birthday!! I'd like to point out the color of cake that I made him. I really wanted the cherry frosting so he got stuck with the pink frosting:-) For his birthday he got a PSP video game. He was actually surprised that I got it for him but he was the one complaining that all the guys have one on the plane when they go to races. I happened to be paying attention that day and got him one. He got to try it out this past weekend on his way to California and was happy he had something to do on the long flight. Case was being really quiet one day and we all know what that mean...he got into one of my crystal light drink pouches and broke the foil on it and had it all over himself and the floor.
So, I was really disappointed that Justin wasn't starting school this year becuase he has a late birthday. However, the good people of NC, Iredell County feel it is nessesary to sponsor a "More At Four" program. If you qualify financilly they pay for the whole thing. Well, I got him into it and yeah for me he is gone M-F 8:30-3:00! They feed him breakfast and a hot lunch everyday! And did I mention that it is free to me? He had a 1/2 day last week and starts full schedule on tomorrow. I feel a little bad that I'm not the kind of mom who got weepy on the first day of school...I was so excited you people have no idea!
He has his own little cubby to keep his stuff in.
I did hang around the first day while he ate breakfast. He actually drank the milk which he doesn't at home. He said that if he drank it at school then he will get big and strong.
When I came to pick him up he was really mad and didn't want to leave. He'd already been there for 4 hours! Him and his friend Aiden got the same class and this is their favorite station to play in. That kid can really build some impressive bridges and roads with blocks!!

Worker's Comp??

So this is the last time that I try to hang with Justin and do crafts!!! Does anybody know where you file for Worker's Comp when you're a mother? I'd love the number!! I swear it's like a 2 1/2 degree burn!
However, this is the result of our bonding time togther. Hot glue guns should be outlawed. It is Michael's fault because they had these kits on clearance!
As a side note...I've posted before about Justin's problem with animals in the bed...this is a little out of control. There were some more under the blankets as well. Is there soem kind of 12-step program I can look into?
And finally...isn't Case so stinkin' CUTE!!! I can't stand how much I love this kid!

Case's Birthday Party

Here is my way last minute birthday cake that I did for Case. I made the cake the day before but I had no idea until like 2 hours before the party. Thanks to Justin for letting me borrow his farm animals from his 1st birthday party. Anyone love my homemade Silo? In case you care it's a Pringles can with a fruit cup on top...seriously last minute!

Case didn't really care about the cake. At least he didn't cry when he had to touch it like Justin did! He loved the tractor attached to the ballons better. Just some pictures of his gifts. We had a really small attendance for the part since our family is mostly in TN but we did have a few people there. He definitely got spoiled from his Grandparents. Thanks Jo Jo and Papa Boyles for the ride on Truck. And thanks to Papa and Nanna Kern for the cash. It went to some fun toys. He got 2 different Leap Frog Fridge games. One is the Barn one and the other has vehicles. With the money he also got this awesome kitchen. Everything on it makes noises and the oven and fridge opens and closes. This one is his favorite and Justin likes it too!
These next two pictures are not from the party but from Yesterday outside. It is finally starting to cool off here so me and the boys try to hang out outside a little bit each day. Case still won't walk but he won't crawl outside on the grass either. He bear crawls and it's really funny to see. However, don't count him out yet cause he saw Justin climb up this slide so he had to try it to. He got all the way to the top! He just couldn't pull himself up!!! I'm really in trouble I think with this kid:-)
Justin seriously pushed Case around for like 30 minutes. What a good Brother!

Well, there you have it! Our last week is good ol' Troutman, NC. Thanks for stopping by to read our blog! I love staying connected even in this little way with our family and friends!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY CASE

So, exactly one year ago today I was in the hospital being induced with Case. What I thought was going to be a scary and painful delivery was actually pretty darn easy compared to Justin who was 9lb 7oz. Case was born on August 7th, 2007 at 12:06pm weighting in at 7lb 5oz. Just going by his weight he was already my favorite child. (Justin never had a chance!) We have had a crazy year and I can't believe how fast it has gone. Just in his first 2 months of life Loren saw him I think a total of 10 days because he was working in NC and I was living with my parents after we got our house rented out. In October we finally joined him and everything was pretty calm after that.

This kid has been the complete opposite of Justin! I think Justin came out the size of a 4 month old and started crawling at 5 months and walking at 8 months! It took Case forever to roll over and he didn't even start to crawl until 9 months! He's still not walking and doesn't really even care to. I try to hold his hands and walk with him but he sits down after a few steps. He will pull himself up on stuff and he's really good at climbing. (something Justin never did) I can already tell he's going to get into a lot of mischief! He is very vocal and loves to talk. He says mama, dada, ba (this is for bite and ball) and he knows what I'm talking about when I ask where his phone and drink is.

He is such an easy going kid and I'm so thankful he's apart of our family. He is a joy to be around and I can't wait to see what he accomplishes this next year!

He was like 3 weeks old

He loves his brother Justin

He loves his Paci (I finally got him to take a new brand:-)He will finally hold his own Juice Cup!!!!

He loves any kind of food!

He's got some amazing skill at holding stuff between his toes!

And...he hates it when he doesn't get his way!!

Lastly...I just want to say thank you to my beautiful new camera I had to buy a new one since my old one died on my trip to AZ. I took most of these pictures this morning with it!