The Hawkins Herald

Out of Touch..

2009-06-16T20:38:00.003-04:00

It's been since Oct 08 that I logged on to my blog... I couldn't even remember my password. So much has happened in the last 9 months that if I even attempted to document it all, I would be here for days. So, here's a short recap of family events.

- November 08- saddened deeply by the loss of our precious Grandma Omega Jefferson
- Christmas visit from Poppa and Marilyn
- Short trip to New Jersey for our Uncle Charlies funeral, nice visit with our family.
- Karlee turned 2 January 24th
- John coached Jalen's basketball team for the first time
- Jalen celebrated his 9th birthday in March, John- 34th
- John hospitalized unexpected for 9 days after major stomach surgery- had an abscess removed. Spent Easter in the hospital with Daddy.
- John spends April recovering while he continues graduate school.
- Brandon loses his first teeth within a week apart.. didn't take long to catch on to how the Tooth Fairy works
- John starts new job as a sales consultant May 1st at Lake Murray Floor Covering. No more big blue van and rolls of carpet!!
- Jalen visits the emergency room for an evening.. possible appendicitis.
- Jalen finishes 3rd grade... A/B honor roll
- Brandon graduates from preschool.. on to kindergarten at the "big boy" school in August
- Mom has a heart attack.... hospitalized for 3 days. wake up call!
- Karlee is potty trained! NO MORE DIAPERS!
- Brandon learns to ride his bike without training wheels!
- Nina gets a new ride! one with enough room for the entire gang plus some
- Grandaddy Cleve visits for a few days
- Summer begins... a few boat rides on the lake with Travis, swimming, cook outs, and lots of sun!

Deep breath! I think that covers it. Lots of plans to come for the summer- 10 days away from a weekend away in Atlanta hanging out with Carrie! No kids, no husband, and lots of girl time! Can't wait for some ME time! Long overdue.
A beach trip, Brandon's 5th birthday, 2 weddings, a baby shower for Elaine and Brian, a trip to Minnesota...... all to come.

Changing Seasons

2008-10-03T16:20:00.003-04:00

Life has once again thrown new challenges and adventures our way. I will make this short and brief as I catch you up on the last 3 months.

Jalen started 3rd grade end of August and has been sailing right through. He has adjusted well to his new teacher and this is his first year with official "grades". So far so good.

He started his first year of football.. games on Tuesdays and Thursdays at Crooked Creek Park, if you have an hour to spare!

I have been back working since the middle of August. I landed a great job very suddenly with Rymarc Homes (home builder). I interviewed on a Tuesday and was working by that same Thursday. My drive is only about 8 minutes from home! I am still in the process of learning and figuring out exactly what I do... customer service/accounting/sales administration/job costing..... Needless to say, everything is going great and things fell in place so smoothly with the transition. John is very very happy about this change:)

Brandon and Karlee started back at daycare and picked up right where they left off.

John continues his studies as well as work. He has hired an additional employee to run a separate crew so his work load has doubled.

Our only major setback recently was a 4 day hospital stay for John two weeks ago. He came down with what we thought was a migraine headache (even though he has never had a migraine before) but it turned out to be viral meningitis. After a trip to the urgent care and no luck, we ended up at the emergency room within hours and the doctors determined the problem after a spinal tap. He was admitted and hooked up to strong pain meds and fluids. The viral form is very common but thankfully not as easy to catch and is NOT deadly. It takes about 2 weeks to run it's course- miserable pain in his head and neck. John is just now starting to feel normal again.. he has a new appreciation for a common headache. He is playing catch up with work/school and sleep.

We did manage fit our yearly beach trip in over labor day weekend. We enjoyed a visit to the Aquarium, a little shopping and a day at the beach.
October is a busy month for us... state fair, fall festival at school, birthdays :), football, and of course Halloween.

A Change of Pace

2008-08-13T08:01:00.004-04:00

Summer is finally coming to a close... I will love the day they decide to have all year schooling. Two months is just way too long for me! We have enjoyed our outings on the lake and we do still have a family trip to the beach planned for labor day weekend. So, it's not quite over but I am definitly ready for fall.

Since I last posted, many changes have taken place in the Hawkins fam. Some good, some not so good.

I will begin about a month ago.. we decided to take the kids out of daycare to cut expenses. It's been a reallllly long month for me. It's been too hot to play outside, and as you all know, taking my three children into public places is out of the question. I attempted that a few times and was not successful. So we've spent 90% of the time couped up within these walls. I love my new chocolate paint, but it starting to get to me. BUT thankfully, I have finally found me a JOB! Went for an interview yesterday and got an offer by the time I arrived back home. Whew-- can't explain the relief that has overcome me! I will be starting tomorrow full time at Rynmarc Homes. Great job, great benefits and it's only a 15 minute drive from home. Can't ask for anything more. The kids are excited to get back to school and I am sure they are relieved to get away from mommy all day! Brandon and Karlee are going back to the same daycare and Jalen will be at the same after school program as before. I think John is more excited than any of us!! He came home with a very big smile on his face last night!

We had a tragic loss in our family last Saturday... Iggy the lizard took his last breath after we decided to feed him a frog that Jalen caught in the yard. Not knowing the risks, we eagerly fed the little guy a gourmet meal (has hasn't had any live critters in months) so needless to say, the frog was gulped up within 10 seconds of being in the cage. Sparing you details, the frog was found back in the cage and Iggy was on his back with his legs straight up in the air about 15 minutes after the meal. We had a memorial services and buried Iggy in our backyard.
To my surprise, Jalen was not as upset as I expected him to be. Daddy smoothed the situation with a promise to replace Iggy. Umm.. not so much what I wanted. So off the pet store we went "just to look"... I convinced Jalen that we did not need anymore hairless creatures that sat in a cage and starred at you. And no dogs or cats or birds. Fish is more my speed but J wasn't having it. That leaves fury rodents. Netti and Jalen ventured out on Sunday for a second trip and came home with .. a .. RAT. Yup, a four legged creature with a really long tail that I despise! He acquired the name Simon before he arrived home. It took me a few days to hold him, but I can honestly say I am getting attached. I may change my mind after a few weeks of daily feeding and weekly cage cleaning.

Next.. John has now officially taken up golf.. I thought after his first adventure out that he may change is mind. But he invested in a set of golf clubs and been on the course 3 times. In his words, he "stinks" but with his determined mind, his goal is to eventually shoot under 120! Ha! Good luck with that!

We took Karlee to the allergist to runs test to determine what's been going on with her.. and to our surprise, she has NO allergies. We've concluded that she is lactose intolerant. No big deal. I can handle that. Brandon was traumatized for days after the trip to the Doc for his 4 year check up and shots. Whew.. his lungs are definitely working. He has reminded me numerous times since then that he is never going back to see Dr. Whitaker. Sure.

Better get back to the daily duties... only got a few hours left before life changes pace once again for us!

Overdue update

2008-07-14T13:39:00.002-04:00

If there is one excuse why I haven't blogged since April.... it's plain and simple..... slack! The last three months have completely gotten away from me and I feel as though I've been on a summer break even though a "break" is not in my dictionary. Here's the latest briefing on our fam-

John- still managing to work full time and study FULL time. He is nearing the end of his 2nd class of grad school and hanging on to his proud "A". (first A he ever received on a college course!) I think some days he feels he has bit off more than he can chew but through it all, he is persevering and making progress. Hopefully a new career is on the horizon!

Jalen- finished 2nd grade with a great report card. Just gotta work on the chitty chatty problem. (wonder where he gets that from). June was filled with Vacation Bible School, a week long trip to grandma's to hang out with cousins, basketball camp and driving mom nuts. :) July has been a bit more laid back. He's gone to work with John a few days to get a taste of what the term "work" really means. And he's cheap labor :)

Brandon- We just finished celebrating the big number 4!! And it seems like along with the age came a big attitude and big mouth! We've been battling the "I don't have to's". His best friend is the time out mat these days. But besides that, he enjoyed his birthday JOHN DEERE style. The one and only thing he asked for was no fireworks on his birthday. So we made sure that ALL the fireworks were gone before his big day. As terrified as he is of these loud noisemakers, he did manage to sit outside and watch the entire night. The only day of the year when the boy is speechless! He was on a different level, but we were very proud of him for hanging with the big kids. . He ended his birthday celebration in style- with the stomach bug. And needless to say, it made it's way through the family within 2 days. Too much fun for a little guy I guess.
Also, Brandon just finished a two week session of swimming lessons.(his second fear-"big" water) According to his instructor, he has made significant progress from sitting on the steps to getting in the water using a float. baby steps!

Karlee- or should I say little Brandon. Yes, we have another one on our hands. As she continues to grow leaps and bounds, she continues to become her own little person- rough and tough. She has a very strong will and it's her way or the highway. And her loud screeching yelp is her way of letting you know who's in charge. Besides teething and keeping us up every night, she has been very healthy. Only one trip to the doctor recently to find out if she has a possible allergy to milk or maybe acid reflux. We have switched to Soy Milk and are still in the process of figuring it out. She has been enjoying sprinkler day at daycare twice a week. And she has no problem struttin her stuff in her bikini!!

John and I did manage to get away for 3 days and join our friends Brian and Elaine at Wild Dunes on the Isle of Palms. It was an overdue getaway with lots of laughs and relaxation. We enjoyed the beach, lots of good food and rest. I was most impressed with the alligators that were hanging out in the lagoon beneath our condo! Never been so close to those little guys... and not sure I want to get any closer.

As far as my status, I am in the job market very again. I am still cleaning but in need of a full time job with benefits as soon as I can get one. It's a tough market, as most of you know. Please keep me in mind if you hear of anything.. preferably in Human Resources.

On to the next task... dinner and bathing. Will be posting again soon!

Saturday Trip to Target

2008-04-28T06:57:00.002-04:00

No big deal- few things to pick up at Target. Karlee napping, so I decide to take Brandon. First mistake.. going to Target on a Saturday mid morning. Second mistake.. thinking that taking Brandon alone would be just fine. We discussed behavior the entire ride there... "I promise to be a good boy..."
We arrive.. had to get popcorn and icee (thought that it would entertain him during the trip). Icee machine broken..... the first tear breaks. A diet coke will do. Tears disappear. 5 minutes into trip- popcorn spills. Clean it up and go on. 10 minutes later- popcorn spills. My voice gets a little louder. Then lid comes off diet coke.... cup dumps over. "Mommy, I didn't mean to, it just fell ober" Ok, starting to get a little distraught, but I can handle this. Piling my purchases into buggy (trying not to put them in the big part of the cart to entice curious hands). I then hear this strange noise of something scattering all over the floor... it was the cup of Easy Mac, opened and spilled. Voice REALLY loud now. Ready to go. Get to register.. Brandon had to help. Items go flying in the counter mixed in with someone else's... along with a candy bar and sucker from the kid reachable parent-hated candy shelf. Put those back. tears and yelling start.... "I want some candy"..... Popcorn spills again, clean that up. ahhhh! Check out (with hopes that I only paid for my stuff). Get in car and drive down the parking lot to Publix to pick up a few groceries. The "I wants" start all over. My voice is REALLY REALLY loud. Half way through the store I realize that I forgot a birthday present at Target (my original reason for making the trip). Find a display of gift cards- perfect.. Toys R Us to the rescue. Get to checkout. 2 packs of gum make it through the scanner. As I am trying to grab hold of the wrist and hang on with one hand, I open wallet with other to pay... no debit card. The machine at Target ate it... So I get out the backup checkbook. Cashier informs me that I can't pay for the gift card with a check. No cash. No gift card. So much for that idea. Gotta head back to Target anyway. Get Brandon off the floor and head out the door. Back at Target.. customer service. Wait 25 minutes for a manager to bring card. Brandon is running through the customer service doors and jumping from table to table in the cafe. I take deep breath and hold back.... get card and have to go stand in line to sign some log that I got it back... another 10 minutes. Face it hot and I am ready to explode. Wander to back of store to pick out an outfit. No buggy this time- in a hurry. Look down and I see flip flops but no Brandon. Call his name, he eventually appears with smirk. Grab hold of the arm and drag to checkout. Fingers begin grabbing candy.. hand gets a good poppin. Meltdown starts. Pay and get debit card. Ready to go.. No Brandon. I stand in front of registers and calmly wait for him to make appearance. Wait.. wait.... begin walking up and down... No Brandon. Start calling.... no answer. Panic sets in. Manager sees me looking... the search continues. I am in full panic mode calling his name very loudly. I am sure everyone in Target has heard the name "Brandon" by now. And ready for this out of control kid and mom to GET OUT! I walk to front doors and low and behold.. there he is standing outside in the front entrance people watching with a cute little smile on his face. And I am sure everyone just smiled and waved back. Not so cute to me.... fill in blank to next part of story.
Get home.. everyone snoozing. Begin putting groceries away. As I am carrying the cans of soda into fridge, one drops, hits my big toe and then the floor. Explosion. Root Beer spewing out everywhere.. inside everything in the fridge, the blinds, the floors, the ceiling, my eyes, hair, clothing, cabinets...... and I just stood there. Frozen. I officially called it quits for the day.... i was DUNZO!
Anyone wanna take a trip to Target with me? It'll be fun.... We can even get an Icee and Popcorn!!

Life in the Fast Lane

2008-04-25T18:15:00.003-04:00

It's Friday night again and this last week went by faster than I can blink... And here's a breakdown of the race....
Last Friday- nursing Karlee's pinkeye and Jalen's so called "fever", planting some flowers in the yard, Spring Carnival at school
Saturday- John and kids went on a day trip to Charlotte to visit Aunt Tonya and Cousins, an entire day with the girls for me- pedicures, shopping, lunch, coffee.., A late afternoon birthday party for Jalen's buddy, a wonderful dinner at Bonefish to celebrate Angela's birthday (John loved the Tilapia that he got tricked into eating. NOT. We haven't stopped hearing about it since).. then downtown for some fun with our friends. We actually do get some time away thanks to Netti! (above pictures from the festivities)
Sunday- Church service, ushering and working in the nursery, afternoon laundry, setting up new laptop for John. Thanks Tonya-we owe ya!
Monday- John work, kids back to school/daycare, small cleaning job for me, John orientation for school via quick phone conference, help Janelle with yard work, and the best part of the day- listening to 3 people try to sell me a Kirby vacuum.... hmm already got one but that didn't stop them from sitting in my living room for 3 hours doing a demo. Time I DIDN'T have to spare. Lesson learned.. don't answer the door to strangers!
Tuesday- work, suppose to have a doctor apt for Karlee but for the first time ever, we had negative test results so we were free and clear this week (yippee!), John began his studies... and was consumed until midnight, and I got a quick glance at my fav show American Idol
Wednesday- catch up on house cleaning and chores, a few hours on the computer working on financial/tax issues, quick evening trip to Target with Janelle, more studies for John, and of course the American Idol results show
Thursday- another cleaning job, afternoon nap induced with lots of cold medicine to try and fight a nasty bug that has hit me, evening playtime outside with the kids
Today- cleaning job, two trips to the bank, laundry, and a trip to Bojangles for some good ole southern chicken.

Of course this is just a brief overview but it sums up our weekly life- In the fast lane. The Hawkins 500!

As I sit here on the patio blogging on our new laptop, I am enjoying the summer weather while the kids play in the sandbox. Not so bad after all!

Taking one step back but five forward

2008-04-18T11:48:00.002-04:00

It's happened.. John is officially a student again! Everything went well with his admissions process with Grad school and will begin classes on Tuesday. After his 4 year stint at Wofford, he swore he would never study or write another paper again in his life, and reality has set in.... it's getting ready to all start over. Books, laptop, PDA, more books... wow, it's strange! And everything has happened so fast that personally I have not taken it all in yet. I am so proud of his motivation and courage to take this step, especially at 33 years of age. Jalen let him know that homework had to get done before he could play everyday! I guess what we have been pounding in his little head is working! We will see how it works with Daddy!

It's been a quiet week, but it couldn't end without some sort of sickness in our family. Jalen was sent home from school yesterday with a very low grade fever (which has mysteriously gone away since he came home) and the nurse informed us that he was NOT allowed back at school today (ya know, the 24 hours rule). hmmmm... We have a Spring Carnival at school tonight.... and of course he has let me know that he is ALL better. So all rest and no play today despite the symptoms that don't exist. interesting how that works, isn't it!? It's not over there... I took Karlee to daycare this morning and as I was dropping her off I noticed her eye looked funny... yup the good ole pink eye. It's been going around the daycare for weeks so I wasn't shocked. Thank goodness we have the meds at home so it saved a trip to the doctor.
Hopefully the rest of our weekend will go smoothly...

A Record Set

2008-04-15T08:57:00.002-04:00

We did it... after a long 3 weeks of "cleansing", we managed to stay away from the doctor's office! A record for the Hawkins family. Karlee has been on the mend and doing well. We do go back for a followup appointment tomorrow with the specialist, but thank goodness it's only that. We are seeing runny noises again, but I will take that! I can only guess that the extreme weather patterns here in the south are to blame... it was 38 degrees last night but will be 80 again by Friday.
We survived Spring Break.. barely! Jalen and I spent some alone time while the little ones were at daycare. We saw the Dr. Suess's Horton Hears a Who movie and the week didn't go by without a visit to San Jose for some cheese dip and taco's! The past few weekends have been filled with yard work and playing outside. Brandon's new obsession this week is finding "holy polies" in the yard with his friend Emma. I guess "Holy" sounds better than "Roly"..... whatever works. I have even found several of his little friends around the house... on the counter and kitchen table. I definitely draw the line there! No critters in the house. But he insists that they are not bugs. Another battle lost!
The big news in the family is that John has decided it is time for a drastic change in life.. He has enrolled in the Masters of Business Admin program with the University of Phoenix. The carpet industry will soon be seeing the end of John's talents. The courses will be online and should take approximately 18 months to finish. Until then, please keep this direction that God has laid on John's heart in your prayers. This will definitely be a challenging time for all of us as we seek His wisdom and guidance for our family and future. We are unsure of what lies ahead, but we know that this is a huge step and leap of faith to completely change the direction of John's career, emotionally, physically, and financially.

We have a busy weekend ahead... Spring Carnival at school, birthday celebration for Angela, and nursery service at church. That's all for this week.... Love to all!

Spring Already?

2008-03-30T10:26:00.003-04:00

Since it has been exactly one month and one day since I last posted, I completely forgot my password to the Blog and had to reset it. That will explain how this last month has been- CRAZY! and my mind is on overload! It's now Spring (even though it's 50 degrees outside today and the heat is running) but my brain is still stuck on winter. I am not ready for yard work, flowers, or bathing suits. I still haven't transitioned winter clothes to summer clothes. Hopefully I can tackle that before summer is over.

Here's the latest updates on the fam~

John- we began March with the celebration of his 33rd birthday. I managed to pull off another surprise for him. I had our friends waiting at Outback for a looong evening out for dinner. He was a little disappointed that our quiet, romantic birthday dinner was just a hoax. Despite our 2 1/2 hour wait, we all thoroughly enjoyed the evening with plenty of laughs.

Jalen- It's amazing to me that another year has come and gone and my little boy is not so little any more. We celebrated his 8th birthday with a dinner out for Mexican and a party with friends at the bowling alley. The age is showing- instead of getting dump trucks and bubble makers, it's cash-ola for the kid! Embarrassingly, He's got more in his savings than I do! But he is very antsy to spend it on SOMETHING. It's burning a hole! Thank you to everyone who

was able to celebrate his day with us. (the thank-you cards are still on the to-do list but I promise they will be in the mail soon)

Brandon- we all have been refreshed on our months of the year and days of the week. That is the latest hurdle he has accomplished, even though he has no concept of "time". And we get to hear it a zillion times a day! The transition from winter to spring has been a little tough on his brain as well. He doesn't understand the difference of wearing shorts vs. pants and flips flops vs. sneakers. So, needless to say, we have a slight battle every morning getting dressed. And being we never know what the weather is going to do from day to day, thanks to the "southern" spring we have, I haven't figured out how to explain to him why we can't just wear the same thing every day. He left for church this morning with a heavy jacket and winter hat on his head. I just go along with whatever his little heart desires. We are getting very anxious for July to hurry up and get here... Due to the recent birthday celebrations of all of our family members, including my nephews, Brandon has been a little upset that he hasn't had a party yet. So we have begun the planning process and he refreshes my memory of that very day. And, according to him, we will NOT have fireworks this year! (For those of you who have been around on the 4th of July, the only thing in the entire world that this boy is terrified of is fireworks!)

Karlee- not only does she look like Brandon, she is turning into Brandon! We've got trouble on our hands! Despite her constant smile and happiness, she is full of herself now! A little independence has changed her ways!

March has been a month of one doctor visit after another. She developed another abscess which brought us back to the doctor numerous days in row. We finally ended with a specialist who has put us on a strict regiment of "cleansing". We have all had to participate in this consuming process with betadine washes, clorox baths, bactroban swabs, sheet and towel washing every day and extra sanitizing. We have to do this for 3 weeks straight- the doctor feels this process can prolong the side affects of the MRSA staph Karlee has encountered. We are keeping our fingers crossed and praying for healing on a daily basis! So far... so good!

Along with taking care of the daily tasks around the house, I am working 2-3 days a week cleaning. The business has been steadily picking up. Please keep spreading the word for me! I would like to stay busy enough to not be stuck home with the kiddies over the summer :)

We enjoyed a relaxing Easter Sunday. The boys were decked out in their suits and ties and Karlee showed off her pretty dress. That was one of the warmer Spring days so we were able to sit outside and soak up some rays. No big cooking this year.. we ended up grilling hamburgers and hot dogs for lunch. Not your typical Easter dinner but it worked for us!

Not too much else on the home front. I hope everyone is doing well and we all send our love!

That's all for today....

"It's just that Season"

2008-02-26T11:47:00.002-05:00

Those were the words that came out of my Pediatrician's mouth yesterday afternoon.. and it's been no kind of "season" for our family, it's been a never ending season for us!! I ask myself everyday if this season of illness is ever going to end, but I am beginning to think that this is just life and I need to deal with it! FOREVER! After our stint with the bacterial infection Karlee managed to pick up a few weeks ago, it turned into the stomach bug.. first with Karlee, then Brandon, then Jalen (maybe more mentally than physically) then me! aahhhhhhh! ok, so that was last week. I think we are finally on the mend and wham, Karlee comes down with a high fever Friday night that lasted all weekend. Along with diarrhea, intolerable crying, irritability and no sleeping. Monday trips to the doc are pretty routine now. She has another ear infection and some other sort of intestinal infection that we don't know for sure what it is yet.
Maybe one day I will be able to blog that Karlee is WELL! This has been a daily prayer of mine.
So, due to the fact that I have been house bound playing doctor mom and nursing my own ailments, not much has been accomplished. I did managed to paint the downstairs bathroom one day in between washing sheets and changing poopy diapers. We vegged on the couch most of the weekend. I did convince John to replace a light bulb outside but that was the extent of housework that got done. ( and asking him to do that was a HUGE ordeal!)
Now I have a nice long list to accomplish this week. First on the list: Doctor Apt! My week wouldn't be normal without it.

A Blog a Month

2008-02-13T09:02:00.006-05:00

Ok, so keeping up with the blog has been more challenging than I expected. Even though I am home now, I still find myself consumed with my "to do" list and never set aside a free minute to blog.

Gotta catch you up a bit on the local front...

Karlee's First Birthday Party- She was one cute Princess!! She definitely loved the attention and made it known that it was her day! Thank You to everyone that helped her celebrate!

Brandon- The spice of our life! He was very excited that he got to do his very own valentine's day cards for his friends at school. So excited that he thinks he will be having a party everyday! How do I explain this one?

Jalen- Basketball season is almost over.. whoa! He had a shining moment at his last game- he scored a 3 point field goal on the buzzer! Never seen a facial expression quite like the one he had. It was definitely a Kodak Moment.

John- still working hard. He had managed to fit in a night of basketball with a local church team now. His schedule if filling up with extra cirricular activities... ushering at church, a monthly men's bible study, bball, and soon softball with our church!

I have finally been able to get my cleaning business up and running. Got brochures out and will be doing some more advertising soon. I have 4 clients now with 4 more potential in the near future! Please continuing spreading the word! I am ready to work!!

We had another health setback last week with Karlee. She somehow (gee... could it be daycare?) contracted a nasty bacterial staph infection called MRSA. She developed an abscess near her tailbone. The doctors had to open it up and drain the infection. She was put on a very strong antibiotic and of course we are now dealing with the side effects from that. She is definitely much better now and we are very thankful we were able to catch this early so that it didn't lead to any further problems. I think this one topped it all-we've had every sickness, germ, infection that is known to man! I could write a book!

Hope everyone has a wonderful Valentine's Day!!

Until next time... Nina

My New Adventure

2008-01-25T20:43:00.000-05:00

Career News:
It's been almost 2 weeks now since I have been an official "statistic". Unemployed, receiving a weekly check that pretty much equals minimum wage. Better than nothing- covers daycare expenses. I have found myself staying rather busy each day... still getting up around 6 am to get Jalen off to school, running the young ones to daycare, drinking LOTS of coffee, daily house chores and errands, watching a little Paula Dean and Oprah, and even a nap or two here and there. Not so bad after all. I have even managed to earn a new title --"PA"-- aka Personal Assistant!! Janelle makes sure I stay busy! But as the last week and a half has raced by, one thing I have done is decide where I am headed in life...for now. I am in the beginning process of starting a cleaning business- SOUTHERN BELLES CLEANING SERVICE. I am so excited about my new adventure.... and ready to get busy! Cleaning is one of my "specialties" and has managed to consume most of my spare time. With 3 kids (and a hubby) , the only way to stay somewhat calm is to have my house clean and in order 90% of the time. That's why I decided to put my skills to use. I have been behind a desk pushing paper since I graduated high school 13 years ago, always answering to some boss and working with crazy people. NO MORE! The only crazy thing I will be answering to is a mop and broom! I am hoping to have brochures and marketing material out within the next week. For those of you that are local- help spread the word! I will be offering a wide range of services- from basic cleaning to customized and detailed cleaning to organizing! And of course, very reasonable rates!

Household News:
HAPPY 1ST BIRTHDAY KARLEE ELAINE!! Yesterday was the big day for our little Princess. It's amazing to me that my baby has reached that 1 year milestone. And for the record- she officially began walking (more than 2 steps) on her big day! We had a very small celebration last night and she wanted nothing to do with it. She was running on an early morning 1 hour nap and not in the mood for any sort of cake or presents. Instead of eating the icing, she cried and rubbed it in her hair. Hopefully she will be in better spirits for her party on Sunday. ( I am going to attempt to post some pictures after her party)

Brandon has been a bit confused about the change in our morning routine. He asks me every morning if we are going to church... since we don't get out the door quite as early and I am not in my normal attire, he thinks that daycare is history. So needless to say, we have a battle to get dressed and in the car. Eventually he gets bribed with some sort of snack!

Basketball season is in full swing for Jalen and he is continuing to improve each week! I can honestly say that I am beginning to enjoy his games every Saturday. I think the light finally came on this year.. maybe we will have the next Kobe on our hands!! :)

John has been busy as always.. which is a good thing! I think he is more excited about my new business than I am...... He can only support my Target shopping trips for so long!! Even though he has been home late more often than not, we managed to get a free evening and take the boys to the Ringling Bros Circus last week! I think he enjoyed the popcorn the most! AND- John is officially a "golfer" now. Him and our neighbor Jason ventured out to the course a few weeks ago and experienced 18 holes for the first time. I think he was a little disappointed when it was all over- he said he has never really done bad at any sport -but that one! It's ok Johnny- keep practicing!!
Finally, one last thing- John has officially become an Usher at church and begins his service this week. We had to get the dusty suits out of the closet... this is big time!

Better get to bed... That's all for tonight!

Home Again

2008-01-15T19:33:00.001-05:00

As most of you know, I have been working at Saluda Hill Landscaping for nearly 2 years. After the holiday season, the company began experiencing cut backs due to the industry downfall. It began with laying off over 25 employees two weeks ago. We all sat around not knowing who was next but prepared for the worst.- as they say it was the "calm before the storm". Being in the Payroll/HR department I had mixed feelings if my position was safe. On one hand, we had to continue processing payroll and there was always HR issues, etc. But on the other hand, we had just cut a huge portion of the workforce that I had to pay each week so my workload took a sharp decline, So being said, I did begin to "prepare" myself slowly- updated my resume, started browsing for jobs, etc. Well, even though we think we are prepared for something like that- we are not, especially when the reality of it hits. I went into work on Monday and about 20 minutes later walked out with a box of my pictures and belongings in my hand, completely numb. I was jobless. Life can take such sudden turn in a matter of seconds and we are never prepared. After the initial shock and emotions that ran over me, I was able to get my composure and realize that no matter what happens.. God ALWAYS has HIS hand on our life and HE has a better direction for me than I can even begin to understand. I have never been laid off from a job or "let go" so even though this was not shocking, it is still hard to swallow. Thanks to my bestest friend ever, Janelle, I was able to enjoy my day- she came over and picked me up and
I don't know what life has in store for me in the days ahead, but I do know that I will continue to ask God for direction and He will lead me. I will be keeping the kids in daycare so that I can actively look for a new job, or perhaps even being looking into furthering my education. Or maybe even start a little side business to earn some extra cash...
Thank you to all of my friends and family that have sent encouraging emails and phone calls. I appreciate all the support and love. It's people like you that can make these difficult hurdles easier to overcome!
I love you all!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

2008-01-07T16:38:00.000-05:00

Wow, here it is January 7, 2008 and I haven't blogged since the week before Christmas. And it seems like yesterday. I can only hope that each of you had a very blessed Holiday and Happy New Year. We certainly have had an eventful few weeks- let me back track... (some of this may be repeat since I have lost track of time)

December 15th- My mom and I and the kids went to see the drama held at a local church called "This Man Called Jesus". Unbelievable!! If you live in the area- you MUST see it next year! I can't even begin to describe how wonderful this live production is. Unfortunately Karlee was NOT going to be the sweet little princess she normally is so I ended up leaving the show early. Being this was my second time, I wasn't too upset. The boys were intrigued. Brandon was so excited that he got to meet "Jesus"! He talked about it for days! And even cried some!

The next week was eventful- Basketball Practice/Game with Jalen, Karlee was at the doctor again with a nasty cold, and Brandon had a party at school.

We had our annual Christmas Dinner with our neighbors on Saturday the 22nd. John decided it was time to master Frying a turkey. And he did quite well. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed his Jalapeno Butter marinated masterpiece.

Christmas Eve- Made baked potato soup and had sandwich at Netti's, attend a candlelight service at church and last minute preparations for the big day!

Christmas Day- wow! Santa was good this year! Brandon got his very own John Deere Tractor, Jalen a drum set and fancy electric guitar (that is collecting dust until he gets lessons) and Karlee got her very first Cabbage Patch Baby Doll and a push buggie to ride in. We were outside in the freezing cold as Brandon rode his tractor with a smile from ear to ear. I think he managed to run into the cable box and John's van only once.
We enjoyed our traditional Lasagna for dinner and lots of fudge, toffee, and cookies! Travis and his family spent the day with us. Lots of chaos but enjoyed our family time!

Back to work on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.

Picked Karlee up from daycare on Friday with the "bug". Ended up in the ER Friday night because she was dehydrated. However our 4 hour wait in the ER was a not such a pleasant experience. We ended up walking out after I attempted Pedialyte again and she held it down. Whew- I think we would have been there for at least 6 more hours. Just needed stinkin IV fluids, no big deal. NOT. I was able to help doctor her back to being hydrated. Needless to say though- this "bug" turned into a 2 week fiasco! Poor little thing is just now on the mend. We had her tested for every bacteria and virus and everything came back normal. Just the nasty winter stomach bug. We endured endless hours changing stinky diapers and washing numerous loads of laundry. All this goes without saying... we have not slept much the last few weeks. On top of the bug, she did have a double ear infection as well. Back to the doctor tomorrow (1/9) to re-check the ears and possibly another shot of antibiotic.

New Years Eve was quiet- small celebration with the neighbors. John and the boys had their usual fun time with fireworks, while Brandon stayed inside in complete fear- He was absolutely speechless and walked around in a daze until after midnight. Never seen that kid so quiet in my life! Grandma Sica came and cooked for us on New Years Day. Chef John fried another turkey as well. He is mastering this skill now. Good Stuff.

Back to school on the 2nd and I think back to normal now. John and I celebrated (well, the day came and went) our 7th anniversary on the 3rd. We are planning on celebrating with an evening away for dinner this weekend.

I think that briefly catches you up with the latest events. I wish each of you a very Happy New Year- It's gonna be great in 2008!!

Will be back soon.... Love to all!!

The Countdown Begins

2007-12-21T12:53:00.000-05:00

With 4 days to go, I am finding myself running in circles and re-checking my lists. After every trip to the store, I come home to discover that I have forgotten something. Lists don't even help me. Hopefully I will be making my final trip today (fingers crossed) so I can enjoy the next few days and reflect on what this time of year really means.

We are battling the winter colds again- Karlee was at the doctor on Wednesday and we are hoping Brandon will fight his on his own. We did manage to accomplish baking some Christmas Cookies and taking a drive through the Holiday Lights on the River at Saluda Shoals Park. That will probably be the extent of our festivities. The next phase is cleaning the house, laundry and wrapping gifts so we can be prepared for the big day.

Being that I will not return to work until Wednesday, this is probably the last chance I will have to blog... so I wish each and every one of you a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Happy Birthday Jesus! We Love You!

O Christmas Tree!

2007-12-12T12:16:00.000-05:00

As most of you know I grew up in Rapid City South Dakota most of my childhood. For as long as I can remember, we had an annual tradition of driving miles into the Black Hills the day after Thanksgiving, walking through 5 feet of snow to cut down a fresh Christmas Tree. We'd tie it to the roof of our car and head home to thaw out. Remember- these were "real" pine trees so they looked nothing like the ones we buy at the store. After decorating them with home made ornaments and tinsel, each and every one had a special touch. When I moved down here to the good ole south, those traditions changed a bit. We were definitely missing the snow and 30 below weather. When I moved out on my own, my tradition changed to a trip to Lowe's, but it HAD to be the day after Thanksgiving. I wasn't going to change that. Now, as I have become a wife and mother to 3, things just don't quite happen when I want. John and I began taking the kids to a local tree farm 3 years ago. We still didn't cut our own down, but pick out a Frasier Fir. So this years trip was no different-- drove to Old Barn Christmas Tree Farm, picked out a tree, had it loaded up and headed home to decorate-- in 70 degree weather I might add.
That was two weeks ago. The biggest challenge since having the tree up is keeping Brandon away from it and not eating all the candy canes off. Karlee doesn't even pay attention to it.
Well-- when I arrived home from work on Monday, I happened to notice these little black speckle things on the tree skirt. As I took a closer look, I noticed that these little things had legs. So I assume they were baby spiders. No big deal- spray and they will be gone.
I came on from work last night and happen to glance over at the tree again............ the skirt went from gold to black...... there were hundreds of these little spider looking things EVERYWHERE!!!!! under the tree, on the stuffed animals, all over the trunk of the tree........ INFESTED!! I completely lost it. The boys were standing on top of the couch as I stood in the middle of my living room screaming with the hairs on my arms standing straight up. All the animals that were under the tree went flying out the front door along with the tree skirt. What in the world?? I panically called my rescue squad across the street- Brian and Elaine. Before I could even finish saying what was wrong ( I was screaming in the phone to Brian that I needed help) Elaine was on my front porch barely breathing. They instantly thought something was wrong with the kids. I felt terrible-- but I was hysterical-- you just don't understand--- it was AWFUL! I hate creepy crawly things! And especially in my house. So, Brian got some spider spray and went to town on the tree. After taking a closer look at these things, he informed me that they were not spiders- they only had 6 legs. We went across the street to google these stupid things to find out what they were. Every sight said APHIDS-- also known as tree lice. OMG!! Get that thing out of my house! I called the tree farm to let them know what was going on and thankfully the lady was extremely apologetic and felt terrible. I will be getting my money back!
OK, so next step.. how do I get this thing out of my house. John was at work and not expected to be home anytime before midnight. I didn't even want to be there, so I put the kids in the car and took a drive into Chapin, picked up some Micky D's and realized that I had to face the music. After putting the kids to bed, I got out my gloves and went to town. The ornaments and lights that took me 2 hours to put up came down in about 10 minutes. Janelle and I somehow pulled the thing out the front door by the branches and it's now in the yard. Of course I had to disinfect everything and vacuum. I think the hair on my arms finally laid down this morning. I have never experienced anything like it. Bottom Line-- I WILL NEVER OWN A REAL CHRISTMAS TREE AGAIN!!! Tradition or not- that was enough for me to break that tradition and start our own. I bought a fake tree at Kmart today and I will be buying some pine plug ins to go along with it! So, here we go again.. Tis the Season!!!

If it's going to happen to anyone, it's going to be ME! I have come to realization that my life just can't be normal in any way, shape or form. But better to keep it exciting than boring.
We have a busy schedule with the holidays fast approaching. Jalen only has 2 more days until Winter Break. We will be making a trip to the dentist tomorrow with him to fix and abscessed tooth, remove his spacer and seal another one. Karlee and Brandon seem to be doing much better now that they fought off the flu virus. Think we have a trip to the ENT next week for a followup. Jalen also began his basketball season last week so his first game is scheduled for this Saturday. Friday night John and I will be attending Lake Murray Floor Covering's Christmas Party and Saturday we are going see the play "This Man Called Jesus".
Sunday will be a "Ladies Get Together" at Paulie's-- food and fellowship. I think that covers most of the upcoming events... Hope all is well with everyone! More to come...

Our Second Home

2007-11-30T16:34:00.001-05:00

Sandhills Pediatrics get a visits from the Hawkins on a regular basis. And my paycheck is either spent on copays for the visits or copays for medication. Our week was suppose to start out with a 9 month well visit for Karlee. However, as my luck always has it, it turned into sick visit for both Karlee and Brandon. Brandon woke up barking like a seal and gasping for breath and Karlee has the typical symptoms of an ear infection. So off to see Dr. Whitaker. Amazingly Karlee had NO ear infection- just a "cold". She did get 3 shots and the flu shot. Brandon was diagnosed with the begin of Croup. And somehow we managed to sneak a flu shot in for him as well. Not without lots of tears. But he was a good sport and we managed to make the boo-boo better with a sucker and sticker. Karlee's "cold" wasn't exactly a "cold" as we were told. By Thursday we were back to see Dr. Whitaker with a temperature of 103. Again- no infection, but this time it was the viral flu. The one you can't treat. I was home with her all day yesterday. She was so miserable but sweet as always. So here we are heading into another weekend with a house full of sick little kids. But we won't be able to complete next week without more visits to the Dr.- a follow up with the ENT to check on Karlee's tubes, and suppose to be a 3 year "well" check up for Brandon (5 months later). Maybe we can accomplish these appointments as intended, without coming home with another antibiotic. keeping are fingers crossed.
Have another busy weekend planned so I am sure I will be back with more report in no time!

A Morning in the Hawkins Household...

2007-11-28T11:37:00.000-05:00

This morning was yet another test of the many challenges we face as parents- patience. Our typical morning usually goes fairly smoothly. I get up at 5, make coffee, prepare bottles and lunches, throw some clothes in the wash, get myself dressed and.. then the chaos begins around 6. John gets Brandon duty and I make sure Jalen and Karlee are dressed. Brandon definitely does not take after his mommy - he is NOT a morning person. Jalen not so bad, but it takes reminding him 3-4 times to stay on task.. he likes to dilly dally and forgets what he is suppose to be doing. So this morning was a different story. John did not get home from work until after we were all snoozing, so I decided I would let him sleep in and I would conquer the morning duties solo. What was I thinking?! Brandon was not having it today.. he refused to get dressed and get up. So I left him in the bed with John with intention of returning after I dropped Jalen at the bus stop. 20 minutes later (yes, the bus was late the day I pick to take him) I find Brandon sobbing his eyes out at the front door. I guess he realized that he missed out on the trip to the bus stop and was NOT happy. I calmly picked him up and proceeded with getting ready to leave. I attempted to give him his Medicine- after forcing it in his mouth while restraining him, he decided that he wasn't partaking no matter how hard I tried.. the entire mouthful of purple medicine came spewing out of his mouth when I turned my back. The calmness changed to anger very rapidly. And he was going to wear the clothes full of purple medicine! We made it out the door, with the meltdown continuing as we drive off. Then I realize that I had no milk for Karlee's bottles and needed to stop by the store. Everyone in Food Lion got a nice wake up call when we arrived-- the meltdown was still going on as I sped through the store and Brandon was a half mile behind me. Get to the milk section- NO MILK! What?! How can a grocery store have no milk- none, the shelves were completely empty. oh boy, I was taking a deep breath by that point. So we proceed out of Food Lion. But not without Brandon stopping by the candy and helping himself to a sucker- I was already out the door as he was nonchalantly trottin behind me yelling "I got candy". It's quite amazing how the meltdown immediately ceased and he was now smiling. But I, again, calmly with my blood boiling, took him by the arm and directed him to return the candy. The meltdown begins again. We make it to daycare.. I discover that one of Karlee's bottles had leaked and soaked the entire diaper bag with her change of clothes. As I was putting them away, Brandon was helping himself to the box of rubber gloves used by the teachers when they change diapers .. like 6 of them. Needless to say, the next step was a trip to the bathroom for Brandon. Not exactly how I wanted to start my day. I was ready to get in my car and go home and start all over. The tears were building but As I drove to work, I asked God why does He allow these small but significant situations to occurs.. and He answered me very clearly..... to teach us patience- one of the most important factors of being a parent. If we didn't face these situation we would never grow and become better parents. I have struggled with this every day and continue to pray that I can learn to overcome these challenging situations.... and look back at them and laugh as I am sure most of you are doing. If you would like to ever experience one of these morning, please feel free to join us anytime- 502 Whitewater Drive. Our door is always open!

Ok, now I will backtrack a few days....
Hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving and is in full Christmas Spirit. We had a safe trip to Grandma's and enjoyed seeing the family.
I did brave the black friday crowds with my friend Lisa. That was definitely interesting. When we arrived at Toys R Us at 6:15 am and saw 3 mounted patrol trotting through the parking lot, I knew this was serious stuff. I have never seen so many people in one store at one time. The lines to check out weaved throughout the entire store. I think we made it out in an hour and a half. But well worth it- got great deals!

We began the Christmas decorating Saturday but will complete that this weekend with a trip to the tree farm. Saturday evening was not so good... after a nail biting game, USC managed to lose again to Clemson. Jalen sobbed himself to sleep. Guess Gamecock football is a serious issue in our house now. Watch out!

After church on Sunday we enjoyed another Turkey dinner at Paulie's. I left there not wanting to see food again for days.. It was wonderful as always! And we are still eating leftovers.

I think that wraps up the events over the last week. Looking forward to another eventful weekend.

More to come..

Happy Thanksgiving!

2007-11-21T14:09:00.000-05:00

How in the world can it be Thanksgiving already? It seems like I just took down my Christmas tree from last year- But here we are again, after another amazingly fast year, preparing for the Holidays. Crazy! Through all the excitement of turkey dinner, black Friday shopping, tree trimming, and holiday cheer, we need to take a moment and sit back and reflect on what the true meaning of this season is- The birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

I will backtrack a few days since I have not been faithful in keeping you posted everyday...

We had a very eventful weekend and managed to accomplish a few long overdue goals-
First, I decided it was time to paint the kitchen. I was tired of looking at the color swatch on the wall. So, to be the good wife I suggested that John and I paint together-- that's quality time, right?! He was in agreement with my idea. Being the handy man John is, he was assigned the wall behind the refrigerator-- non visible! John's speciality is NOT with the paint brush. So off to Lowe's I went at 8 pm- had to wait to until the kiddies were asleep. About 5 minutes into taping the walls, I heard zzzz's from the couch. John was sawing logs! I pondered whether to wake him or not.. I chose to continue my project alone and enjoy the peace. I had the kitchen completely painted and put back together by midnight! And guess who woke up right as I was cleaning.. yeah- he said "My sensor went off.. I knew you were done"! Thanks for all your help Johnny!!

On Saturday we headed to Little Mountain country to play with Jacob. The boys were in heaven! Toys galore and all the room in the world to play! And I decided that my next house WILL be in the country. I would never have to worry about Brandon wondering the neighborhood and making some unexpected appearances.. and I know my neighbors will love me even more!!

John decided to be brave and took the boys to a USC Basketball game Saturday night- he had plenty of help thanks to Brian! Amazingly they behaved.... hmmm..... I think the bribery of popcorn and candy helped a little.

Sunday was a big day for our family! Jalen, Brandon and Karlee were dedicated to the Lord at church. This was long overdue but another goal completed! Please pray for their little hearts as they grow and get to know our wonderful Lord.

And here we are coming upon the final hours before Turkey Day. We are traveling to St. Stephen to spend the day with John's family. I am planning to brave the early morning rush of shoppers on Friday- yes, I am crazy! But can't hurt to see what good deals I might find.

I wish you all a very Happy Thanksgiving and safe travels. Eat plenty and enjoy special family time!

Another Week Zooms By!

2007-11-16T09:27:00.000-05:00

Section 3: More Local News

We've managed to almost complete another eventful but quiet week. And a record breaking one.. no trips to the doctor with my kids! But, I managed to make 2 trips with my mother. Paulie has had a rough week. It started with a visit to the Urgent Care on Sunday with an abscess on the back of her head. She has been to the doctor every day to nurse her wound. And it has definitely been hard on her. Not only has she missed work everyday, she has had numerous needles stuck in her and been on lots of pain meds. The strange abscess did not want to go away, instead it continued growing and filling up with infection. I think she is finally on the mend. She will be returning to the surgeon in 2 weeks for a followup. Whew!

Karlee seems to be on the mend as well. I think.... I I better not speak to soon. She doesn't seem to be showing any signs of her ear infection. We will be going for a followup in 2 weeks. I pray we make it that long.

Jalen has been preparing for a field trip today- Heritage Day Celebration. His class has been studying different cultures and Heritages. We have known about this field trip for several weeks and have been required to send in numerous items weekly. On Monday I received a note stating that Jalen is required to dress up for this event-- ummm, thanks for the 4 day notice! He had a choice of a Japanese Samaria, a Native American or a Farmer-- dah, guess which one we picked!! A Farmer it was! And of course we had nothing to complete that costume at home. So off to 4 stores to find overalls, a straw hat and a flannel shirt- $40 later. I must say, he did look like a true farmer this morning.

Brandon continues to amaze me each day. Last night as soon as we walked in the door, he was asking for a snack. and out of his mouth came "Mommy, can I have some candy.. it's good for me!" What! If I recall, my response to him when he asks me for candy is the complete opposite! I can't win with that kid.

We have another busy weekend planned.. maybe a trip to the zoo with Lisa and Jacob, John will be working and taking Jalen to the USC basketball game, and I am going to attempt to paint the kitchen. On Sunday our kids are being dedicated at church- 9:00 service at the Harvest!

Our Visit from Poppa and Marilyn

2007-11-12T09:30:00.000-05:00

Section 2: Local News

We just completed a week long visit from my grandparents- Len and his wife Marilyn. Each year, they travel to Brownsville Texas for the winter in their RV- aka "Palace on Wheels". Minnesota is just too cold for them. They begin their journey in New Jersey visiting other family, and then made their way down to SC before heading for the border. They park the Palace at a campground that is located a few hundred feet from our neighborhood. Way to plan that! Not only did we eat ALL week- we ate Italian and more Italian! Imagine that! Poppa and Marilyn slaved all day Friday preparing a feast of 101 meatballs, sauce and pasta. OMG I have never seen so much food in my life! My kitchen was not prepared for that! The best part was fighting over the leftovers. We each got 18 meatballs- and Paulie made sure I counted right!
The visit wouldn't have been complete without a trip to the flea market. Wow, what an adventure. My three kids, my mother who stops and looks at every table and the flea market pro's- not a good mix! If it wasn't Brandon lost, it was Poppa- but we knew we could find him wherever there were books. I left there never wanting to return! I will stick with Wallie World!

We ended the week without any drama- and that's pretty impossible with 4 very stubborn Italians. They continued on their journey to Texas Sunday morning, stopping in Atlanta to visit a cousin. We wish them great travels and hope to see them again next year.

On to another week...

My New Adventure

2007-11-09T12:07:00.000-05:00

OK, for those of you that know me, I can always manage to figure out a way to add more activities to my daily life and still function. And I will say that I am pretty Internet savvy-- target.com definitely gets it's fair share of browsing from me. However, I never imagined that I would be sitting here "blogging". After reading my friend Rachel's blog, it dawned on me that this was a pretty cool way of keeping all of you informed on a regular basis of our crazy life. So here goes- The Hawkins Herald. Hopefully I will be able to keep up with this regularly and I hope you will all check it out regularly as our family continues to add excitement to this world each day. You wouldn't want to miss out on the daily "Brandon stories".....

Since I am just beginning this new adventure, I will bring you up to date briefly. I would love to backtrack but we would be here forever.

Section 1: Family Briefing

John - The carpet man. John continues his duties to provide by installing carpet for Lake Murray Floor Covering. Our "lifeline"-- the famous blue van, "The Blue Bird"-- parted ways with our family on Tuesday. It was a sweet but sad parting. The blue bird passed away the day before Halloween. Graciously, we were able to find another van within 2 days. And low and behold, we now have a new "Blue Bird". Yep, same kind of van and same blue color! We can't hear this one coming all the way from the beginning of our neighborhood so unfortunately I don't get the warning and Brandon running at full speed out the front door to meet Blue Bird when it arrives. But this one has a few upgrades that has John smiling- front doors that open, heat, air, and tinted windows! We are back in business now! And business continues to stay steady. We manage to sometimes see Daddy before bed time, but we are very thankful for his hard work.

Nina- As most of my friends call me- Superwoman. I sometimes don't feel like such a superwoman by the end of the day though. I feel like a super worn-out woman. I am still working full time at Saluda Hill Landscaping in Payroll and Human Resources. My day begins at 5 am every morning, coffee first of course. Get the kids ready and off to school and daycare and then on to work, with more coffee preceding. Thank goodness for a wonderful job that involves very little stress. Once I leave work, the second half of the day begins with picking kids up from after school and daycare. On those less eventful evenings, I can manage to get home, make dinner, do homework, few loads of laundry, baths, spot cleaning, and bedtime before I completely collapse by 10 pm. Of course this goes without saying that it is NEVER that easy. We always manage to have a few meltdowns in between all that- either over being hungry and not patient enough to wait for dinner or fighting over the bouncy ball that came out of the stinkin machine at the store. And by the way- we only have 5 zillion of those around the house but why would we waste any time looking for another one.
With that being said, each day is challenging yet interesting. Sometimes I can only just smile and hope that tomorrow comes fast!

Jalen- AKA "Billy Ray". Jalen's recent obsession with his guitar and Billy Ray Cyrus definitely keeps us all on our toes. I occasionally get serenaded with his music as I am cooking dinner. -yikes!! Anyone interested in giving guitar lessons? We are lacking in that field!
Jalen is sailing through second grade now and has become a accelerated reader! Right now we are working on the chattiness (wonder where he gets that from?!) and learning to sit still. I think he sometimes forgets that he is in class, not outside running football plays.
We will be starting basketball season in a few weeks.

Brandon- The Little Devil! Yep, God definitely decided to spice up parenting when he gave us Brandon. Not sure what we will get out of him each day, but he definitely know how to keep me on my toes. Despite his very adamant ways, he is sweet little guy. I can always count on him for a hug and "I love you mommy" every day. He is back in daycare now and making lots of progress. According to his teachers, he's an ANGEL- No problems at all! YEAH RIGHT! He saves it all for home. While I was making dinner the other night, I turned around and he was dumping his shoe full of sand on Karlee's head, and then took off running as fast as he could. And he knows I can't catch him-- little turd!

Karlee- My Princess. And what a Princess she has been. After 3 months of continuous ear infections and numerous rounds of antibiotics, she is still smiling! She did get tubes in her ears last week, and we were hoping that was going to end this frustrating illness BUT we were back at the doctor yesterday and the infection is still there with a possibility that one tube has come out already- that lasted 6 days. Back to square one- another prescription, another copay, more Tylenol to ease the pain, more fevers and on the another doctor. Whew! You would never know that she is miserable. No matter how hard my day has been or what kind of mood I am in, Karlee can always make me smile!
enough bragging....

Iggy- The Neglected Lizard. Iggy continues to keep watch on Jalen's room every day. I think the last time I checked, he was alive but that status may not be as such today. Just put it this way- Iggy and I don't mesh too well. And his owner's-- (Daddy and Jalen) don't seem to worry about him too much. So, it is what it is. Brandon throws a toys in his cage every now and then, so hopefully he's getting the proper nutrition from those. - Oh wait, I think he may even have one of those bouncy balls to entertain him!

OK, I guess I better end this blog for today (or short book). But hopefully that catches you up. Lots more to come..