Hello World.

Hello World.

I haven't COMPLETELY abandoned this blog.  

I think of it often.

I tell Kent, often, good blog post titles.  

He just looks at me and smiles.

I don't know if he smiles because he thinks it is the cutest thing ever.

I don't know if he smiles because he thinks I am crazy.

I don't know if he smiles because he thinks, "Blog post.  You didn't even brush your hair today.  How will you have time for that?"

I choose to think he thinks it's the cutest thing ever.

I have many posts rolling around in my head.

Like the difficulties of being away from home from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.

or the loss of a brother

(For this I don't know if I will ever be able to understand.  I am not sure I have accepted this reality.)

or the happiness children bring at unexpected times

or friendships made at work

or impressions made by total strangers

or passions that I dream to one day achieve

But,

here are two blog titles and post continue to be reoccurring in my mind:

"Hanging on by two inches of the bed, and a hangnail of sanity."

"How to raise children to be empowered; without feeling entitled?"

(To this I do not have the answer.  Just think it is a conscious effort we need to make.)

On another note: 

Here is one photo that I am just in love with.  It shall be framed. 

One day. 

Who knows when that will be.

Until next time.

Possibly next year.

Possibly next week.

b

Breakfast with the Girls

This past Saturday Brandy, Jeanine, Maggie and I got together for an 8 o'clock breakfast!  Brandy and I were both LITERALLY blowing through town for a bit and we got a chance to meet up with Maggie and Jeanine.  

Jackson joined us for breakfast!  He is the cutie patootie sitting beside Hughes in the navy shirt.  Jilly joined us after breakfast at Gran and Papa Sam's house for a play date with the boys!

This turned out to be the best start to my day!

Let's do this again very soon!

God is good...

by: britanny mortimer

Our preacher says this all the time.  I think it is a great reminder and saying!  

Just wanted to share with you all!

Happy Birthday Big Daddy and Daddy!

Today is Kent's birthday!

Rodney and Kent share the same birthday!

June 4th!

It is a good day!  

Last night we gathered for a birthday party in honor of some great men in our life!

The Cake was sooo very good!

Father and Son blow out the TWO candles that were on the cake!

One for Rodney and one for Kent stood in each corner of the chocolately goodness.

If I had to guess, Kent is now getting the candle to eat the icing off.

That IS one of the best parts. :)

The almost WHOLE crew

Back Row:  Rodney, Francie, Wiley and Kent

Front Row:  Harlan and Hughes

Counting sheep in a queit peaceful room:  Baby Wilkes :)

The pictures just went down hill....

or up hill...

.... depends on how you look at it!

We look at it as UP hill!  We had a great time and left with full hearts...and tummies...

We are so thankful today for Rodney and Kent and all they mean to us!

Happy Birthday Boys!

Beach Trip

Gran, Ben, Hughes, Wiley and I headed to the beach for a couple of days while Daddy was gone to "Bank Camp" aka: LSU School of Banking.

Before we headed out I whipped up a little beach bag.

Since mine broke a few days before we left! :(

The Sunset Grill is our FAVORITE Lunch spot...and dinner spot too!

Hughes loved the crab claws...once he mastered how to eat them.

Wiley...not so much...

Wiley was tuckered out from all of the beach play!

Yet, Hughes kept on playing!

Mommy and Wiley at lunch!

Ben and Wiley snoozing at lunch!

Mommy and Hughes

The boys did so great on the beach.  They just chilled in the shade and made "dolphins".

We had a great time!

We are already ready to go back! :)

Hughes goes for a Jog with Mommy

I have about 2 minutes to finish this post.  I just want to remember the funny things Hughes and Wiley say to us.

We head out for our run.  

We wave out to the firetruck taking a leisurely drive.

We check out the deep ditches we cross over for snakes, alligators, tadpoles and fish. (Hughes added the alligators! :)

We wave to the bushy tail squirrels scavenging the lawns of young and old.

But the point is: I am learning to run.  I don't run.  Never have.  Never had the mind to do it.

Here lately, I have been trying to run.

Today Kent and I took turns running with the boys.

I strolled Hughes.

Kent is still strolling Wiley.

During our run, the app I use told me "Run."  

So I told Hughes, "Hughes, we are about to start running."

Hughes:  Okay. 

You can almost here the grin through his words.

Mentally and physically I am giving it all I have.  Pushing the stroller.  Mad that my music has stopped playing.  Exerting all the energy I could muster...since I have gotten a late start to the day today WITHOUT COFFEE!!!!

I am Run.ning. 

Hughes Says:  Mommy.  I thought we were going to start running.

----------------------------------

Silence. (Besides my heavy breathing and heavy feet.)  

I guess Hughes may be my best trainer/motivator, yet.

The second funny in a 30 minute span came a bit later.  

I am huffing and puffing but not giving up.  

I will run this entire 9 minute stint if it kills me.

And kill me it might.

But determination will trump weakness.

---------------------

Cue Hughes:  Mommy.  Why are you breathing so loud?

Me:  "I am tired Hughes.  Mommy is running."

Hughes, laid back and feeling the breeze in his dirty hair from the day of play says, 

Hughes:  "Oh.  Well I am not tired Mommy."

That about sums it up.  I will take Hughes running with me as much as possible.  

I need his light humor to help numb the sting of the pain.

Well, the post is over.  

Kent is home.

Telling me the workout is not over.

We have more exercises to do.

And I thought it was over! :(

See you guys later.

b

Hughes and Swimming Lessons!

Hughes Swims!

Salley Carr Swims!

Hughes and Salley Carr have been going to swimming lessons this week!

Mrs. Debra has done an amazing job teaching our little ones!

They "graduated" today and the proud Mommies were able to watch!  

We are so so proud of Hughes and Salley Carr!

Please excuse the annoying proud Mama screaming in the background...

that would be me! :)

I had a great time taking these little tots to and from swimming lessons this week!

Turns out their little personalities can bring some pretty big smiles to our faces!