Wake up!!!!

Good morning! Rise and shine....it's morning time!!! Get up, get up, get up! You're gonna be late! You have just heard my best morning routine. Sometimes it works....sometimes it doesn't. Today, it's not working. Wyatt and I are the only ones that have to be up and out by 7:30 today and Wyatt is still in the bed! Luckily, he showered last night (which is a whole other story) so he just has to pull himself up and get dressed. Once he brushes his teeth, we can be out the door. Ben's new class doesn't start for 2 more weeks, so he is a sleeping beauty this morning. Since today is the last day to early vote, he's going there before he goes to work this afternoon. He just turned 18 in August, so this is the first time he's voting. A pretty important election to start off with....just like Ben to start off with a bang! Speaking of being ready to hit the door at 7:30.....I better get dressed so we can leave! Have a fabulous day!!!

The biggest kid in the house

No....I'm not talking about Ben. The biggest kid in this house is The King. He'll tell you that he's the biggest kid I've got.....but he's mine and I love him! So....this post is dedicated to my big kid. We have tons of fun together. He can make me laugh like no one else can. I can't even begin to add up the times that he's made me laugh until I've cried. Gotta be hundreds.....even thousands of times over the years. 18 years and 10 months today to be exact! I'm sure no one ever thought that 18 years and 10 months later...we'd still be Jimmy and Tammi. But we are. Actually, that's one of the things in my life that I'm most proud of. And the fact that The King's fantasy football team is in the playoffs. Ya know....Sunday's were made for fantasy football. *insert sarcasm here* If it weren't for fantasy football.....I'm not sure Sunday would even be worth having! I love you, honey....you now I mean it!

They make me proud everyday....

Ben and Wyatt do! I have been emailing Wyatt's teachers everyday now, to be sure that his work is being turned in and he is keeping up. The replies that I got back really made it all worthwhile today! From his math teacher, I got..."Going great!! Thanks!" And from his Social Studies teacher....I got a longer response but he said that Wyatt has made a 180 in his class. He is attentive and ready he help when needed. He also said that he has only taken one grade so far and Wyatt has an A! Sometimes we have to celebrate the small steps so that we can celebrate the big victories in the end. Way to go Wyatt! I knew you could and would do it!!! I'm very proud of you being so determined!

Ben has been in an algebra class because he didn't score high enough on the placement test that he took before school started. He has been bored, bored, bored in there for 3 weeks now. Today he sent me a text to tell me that his teacher waived the placement test and is getting him moved into a higher math class! Way to go Ben! Now that time doesn't feel like it's wasted. There is a slight schedule change, but other than that, it's back to business. Just be careful coming home after class now....it'll be late!!!

H O P E

Today was the Breast Cancer walk. It was a fantastic day. This is something that I will absolutely participate in again. From start to finish, everything about the event was awesome. We started the day at Chick-Fil-A for breakfast. Then headed down I-40 to LP Field. As we drove over the bridge, everything was PINK, PINK, PINK! Once we got there and met up with the rest of our team, we did a little people watching while we waited. That was interesting, to say the least! 9am came and we were off! 5 miles through downtown Nashville. If you have never walked through the city that you live in, I definitely suggest doing so. There is so much that you miss while you're driving! Anyway, we walked and walked. A new friends were made (who knew I'm so much fun, Tina?!?) and old friendships were strengthened. It is very touching when, in a time of so much bad news, so many people can come together for one reason. Even with all of the negative things that are happening, it's great to know that we can still do that. Once we crossed under the pink and white balloon arch finish line, we got our bananas and water and.....yes, folks...we headed toward Vanderbilt to GiGi's Cupcakes! Oh yeah.........

Everything is SOOO much better with icing on it! So, all in all, it was a fabulous day! Thank you to everyone that donated so generously. We also found out today that all of the money raised for this walk stays in Tennessee.

Speed bumps of life...

I recently posted that something funny usually happens to us most everyday. Well, this week has been different. Nothing tragic, just not a very fun week. A little stress, a little worry, and nothing a little pushing and lots of love can't handle. Anyway, as I've said before, I love my boys for thousands of different reasons (at least). Times like this make me remember some of the reasons that I love them.

On a different subject, Saturday is the American Cancer Society Breast Cancer Walk. It's a 5 mile walk through downtown Nashville. Too many people that I know and love have had to battle this beast known as cancer. Some, tragically, have lost their battles, while others have very courageously won their battles. I'm walking in honor of a classmate who is fighting breast cancer now. While I never got to know her very well in school, I was and have remained friends with her husband. So when the opportunity to walk in this event presented itself, I asked them if I could walk in her honor. Since I'm walking with a team of people, there are several that we are walking in honor/memory of. It should be a fantastic day.

After the walk, is the monthly birthday dinner at Grandmomma's. We didn't get to make it to the last one, so I'm looking forward to seeing everyone this weekend. Hopefully, the rest of the weekend will be uneventful...and we can get on with our funny lives. This is just a speed bump and every family encounters them. I'm just thankful that so far we've only had speed bumps to cross....not mountains. As my mom always says, "This too shall pass."

Dessert Day

Wyatt and I had dinner with a very special somebody tonight. So..Very Special Somebody...you have inspired this tonight.
I want to have Dessert Day. I just want one. It doesn't have to be a weekly event...or even an annual event. Just ONE Dessert Day would make me happy. I would start with some frozen custard from Rita's....a reasonable breakfast. Then for lunch I want Fried Cheesecake from Long Horn Steakhouse. I'd probably need some chocolate chip cookie dough for a mid-afternoon snack. Then for dinner....it's on to Maggiano's for cheesecake. Wouldn't that be a wonderful day!?! I think so. There are so many other choices for Dessert Day...those are just a few of my favorites. I know Wyatt would add some Fried Ice Cream to his Dessert Day. I'm sure The King would include some sort of chocolate in his Dessert Day....and I'm almost positive that Ben would have cookie dough ALL DAY on his Dessert Day! Happy Dessert Day everyone!!

My funny family.

If you know my little family, you know that there is usually something funny that happens to one or all of us at some point during the day. However, today doesn't seem to be one of those days. It's been rather uneventful actually. Part of me is waiting for some 'tragedy' to happen! Wyatt went back to school...so he and I argued about homework and dinner. (No surprises or funnies there.)
Ben went to school today too....they had to shoot a video based on the opening scene from Alice in Wonderland. I don't think Ben has ever seen Alice in Wonderland...better known to some as Wonder Ass. I'm not sure...but I hope he's never seen a movie by THAT name either! (ok..so that's a little funny.) Anyway.....he said that his group did something different and the teacher really liked it. I asked him if he has homework....he does...for Algebra. Go figure...Ben..with homework! Hard to believe!
The king is still at work. That's a good thing, since they seem to be slowing down some...long days will certainly make up for stay at home days. I was back to work too, after Thursday and Friday in meetings. We were pretty busy today....that's a good thing too.
Stay tuned.....something funny is bound to be right around the corner!

Today was made for a nap....

.....but I didn't take one. It has been a nice, lazy day though. Had a few friends in and out of the house....even got last nights chili just about gone! Ben is at work and Wyatt is outside enjoying the last of his fall break. Back to school for him tomorrow. Not much else is going on.....it's rather nice, I must admit. Have a great Monday tomorrow!

L-O-L-A...Lola

Do y'all remember the story about when I thought Minnie was at the bottom of the bed, laying on my feet? She wouldn't move, so I pushed her and she fell off the bed. When "she" hit the floor...."she" started to cry....turns out that I kicked BEN out of the bed instead of MINNIE! Sometime during the night, he had slipped into our room and went to sleep....on my feet! I'm sorry, Bubby....I never ever meant to kick you out of the bed! So, I say all of that because a similar incident happened this morning. (NO...I didn't kick Ben [or Wyatt for that matter] out of the bed.) Lola has been sleeping in the bed with us and she always sleeps under the covers. Occasionally, when she gets hot, she will come up and sleep above my head on my pillow. Well, Ben's alarm had gone off for about the 23rd time and I got up to tell him that he had 15 minutes to get to work. When I laid back down, my pillow seemed to be stuck between the bed and the wall. I gave it a good tug....and I heard a "THUD"! Poor Lola was asleep and bonked her head on the wall when I tugged the pillow out from under her. That confirms it...maybe I need a bed all to myself!!! I'm sorry Lola.....Ben understands what you went through this morning!

I wish I could fix it.

I am a fixer. Not a 'fixer upper', but a people fixer. There. I said it. If someone is down or sad....I try to make them smile....just one smile and I'm happy. If someone is sick.....I want to try do everything I can to make them better. Realistically, sometimes....that's not possible. Sometimes (alot of times) there's not one thing that I can do to "make it all better". In case you ever read this (and I'm pretty sure you will....because I'll probably send you the link sometime soon)....I wish I could make things all better for you. I can't. But I wish I could. Just know that we love you and your family. We will do anything we can to make this all easier for you. You know who you are....and you know how much we love you.

So sweet. So tiny. So BOY!

A new little baby boy visited the office today. He slept the whole time they were there, until right before they left. What a sweetie he was. Makes me wonder where all the "sweet" goes! Ben is 18 and Wyatt is 12. Sure, they still have sweet moments.....but,not the same. They're different sweet moments. One of the best sweet moments lately has been watching them interact and just get along. I could be fooling myself and the "getting along" part could be more like tolerating each other. Whatever it is....I love it. So much better than listening to them bicker everytime they're within a mile of each other. I love my boys....for thousands of different reasons....and I know one day that they'll be able to say that they love each other too. I also know that you don't exactly have to like someone in order to love them. I really hope that they end up really liking each other too. Maybe I should have HELD that baby today....I might not feel so darn sappy!!! I'll end tonight with one of my favorite quotes......."Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away".

Just another manic monday.....

Not too bad, really...for a Monday. The day went fast, nobody complained too much, and everyone liked their supper! This is a short week for me....only in the office through Wednesday, then in meetings on Thursday and Friday. Now that I think about it...I might have to take the "nobody complained too much" comment back. My youngest son, Wyatt, is on the basketball team at school. We found out today that we need to send in $150 to pay for their shoes and warm-ups. Not a big deal, since they get to keep it all. So.....I just happen to be the 'messenger'. Actually, it wasn't bad...just had one concerned parent email about it. Can't make everybody happy all of the time, right? Just because they're playing school sports now......doesn't make it all free! Far from it actually. Seems like we're always fundraising or writing a check for something. But, it's for the kids...and well worth it.

Before I'm 40...

If you're reading this and happen to know me, you know that I have a goal to reach before I turn 40 in June. That goal is to finish the Country Music 1/2 Marathon. So....I've been walking. And walking. And walking. You get the idea. The King thinks I'm ready.....I'm not so sure. Six miles seemed really far today. Far....but not as hard as it might seem. I have until April....keep your fingers crossed for me.

I guess if you're reading this and already know me, you know who The King is. If you're reading this and don't already know me.....you should know that The King is Jimmy....my husband.....you'll soon learn the other players in the game we call "our life".

My first post. Ever.

So, here I am. Does this make me a blogger now? I have lots of questions about this whole blogging thing. How will I know what to write? Will my family and friends mind if I write about them here? Will they even know that I've written about them? I guess I'll soon find the answers to those questions....and more too, I suppose. But the biggest question....will anyone even read what I've written? We'll see..........