There's No Place Like Roam

Grandma Jackie: When you were born you were so round you looked like a bowling ball. Hunter: why don't we look that round now? G Jackie: well, because you sprouted! Carter: mommy is done sprouting....now she's blooming!

Good decisions come from experience, and experience comes from bad decisions. -Author Unknown Well, good or bad, decisions have finally been made! Jason turned in his three week notice to Honda Manufacturing of Alabama today because he has taken a position with an automotive supplier. He starts on August 23 as Quality Manager with Atlantic Tool and Die in Anniston, AL. He is looking forward to the opportunity! Since the position is located in Anniston, that means we won't have to sell the house and move, which makes things so much easier! Just one major decision to go... We have decided to put all the boys in Word Alive Academy this fall. Graham is still in daycare there and Hunter did very well in Pre-K there. All three of them have been there for "Summer Fun" this summer and are really enjoying it. They have an excellent program there for K-6 with lots of enrichment courses that aren't available in public schools. Thank you "No Child Left Behind"! The boys...

I started cross-stitching when I was younger, but when I wanted to go back to crafting a few years back, I couldn't find any designs that matched my decorating style (or lack thereof). About two years ago, I found a website that had primitive wool rug hooking instructions (NOT Latch Hooking) and a link to Ebay where they sold the kits with the pattern, instructions and all the wool you needed to complete the project. I thought they were quite spiffy and it looked as easy as cross-stitch. I've since completed three designs. Two are below....and a completed sunflower is MIA. I decided to drag out all my crafting goodies on Saturday since I had a little extra time over the holiday weekend. I'm currently working on saltbox house and I have ordered some additional woolen projects to complete for the craft bazaar at church in October. Hopefully I'll keep the momentum going. This fall I'm going to try to complete a felt wall hanging like this . One of my favorite website ...

We had a busy weekend for the 4th of July holiday. Our friends Doug and Shea and thier boys Peyton and Collin came for dinner and fireworks on Saturday. Jim & Jackie came for lunch on Sunday and then my cousin Christy came for a quick visit with her hubby Shannon and her 6 month old son Riley. We had a blast the entire weekend. And the weather was BEAUTIFUL!!!

This year for our summer trip we decided to rent a home near Pine Mountain, GA. The house had a pool and a lake for the boys to fish in, and was super nice. The boys would have LIVED in the pool if we would have let them. They caught lots of small bass, bream and bluegill and had a good time. We also went to the Animal Safari and got our van slobbered on by various deer, elk, moose and cattle. It was hilarious to say the least. The boys playing in the pool. Ready to swim! Fishing on the pier Caught one! Graham tried his best! YUM - S'mores! Mommy and Graham Graham was super impressed with the turtle. A buffalo scratching his chin on our hood. Jason feeding the wildlife.

Carter wanted to start a garden in 2009 because his Granny gave him some seeds and a hoe for Christmas. Well, mom and dad flaked out and didn't get things started in time. We promised him we would do something this year. After much deliberation, we decided starting some plants from seeds indoors and transplanting them to a raised bed would be as much as we were willing to handle. You see, we assumed Carter would be interested in the seeds sprouting and the initial construction of the garden, but we figured we would be the ones remembering to water, fertilize and harvest. Boy were we WRONG! Carter has gone full-on FARMER on us. He remembers to water on his own every day. He reminds us to help him fertilize every 7 days. He pulls weeds, and sometimes he checks on the crops multiple times a day. He frequently sits next to the garden and plans his expansion (he is hoping to add a cow) for next year. He has visited the Farmer's Market and wants to sell his crops there as soon as the...

We have a new addition! A barn cat that has lived in the neighborhood since we moved here had a litter of kittens this spring. One kitten got closed up in our garage one evening and when we let it out the next day the momma cat never came to retrieve it. So, after a day of its pitiful meowing, I went and bought it some food. It immediately ate the dry food, so I guess it was old enough to leave its mom. Carter has always been allergic to cats (sneezing, itchy red eyes), but he was the most excited about having a pet. He has done very well about washing his hands after petting her, so I think it will be fine if we keep the kitten outside. Graham LOVES this kitten...poor kitten. He chases her around and will grab ahold if given half a chance. The kitten on the other hand, loves Hunter and Jason. He chases them around, pouncing at the slightest movement. Hunter is tickled, and Jason acts like the cat is a pain....until no on is around. I've caught him playing with it and it snuggling ...