Organization

Since I've been out of school for a week now, everyone I've talked to has asked the question....so I guess you've been packing? To which I had to reply, no, not yet. One thing about me is that I LOVE to organize! I actually end up making a bigger mess before I get things just how I want them. So this past week has been me making a bigger mess of things.
I am happy to say that today, Sunday May 30th
all my crafts are finally organized and in two storage bins



and my old filing cabinet with just two drawers with some file folders not even labeled...



is now in a larger 4 drawer filing cabinet, all files labeled.



I was also able to get my thoughts together on my home schooling curriculum & other HS information. Which is all labeled in the top two drawers. So really I guess I did get some packing done this week, considering everything I sorted through and put up is in containers that do not have to be boxed up. So Go Me! I made more progress than that I thought!!

Light 'em up

Ever since Caden could walk & talk he has wanted shoes that light up. I however can not stand shoes that light up. I think most are bulky and just plain ugly. Every time we would go shoe shopping we would always find something that we could agree upon, but it never failed that Caden would ask - beg - for some that light up. I really thought I was in the clear and that maybe he was past this phase. Until this past Friday. Ben is off on Friday's and was heading out to pick up some boxes so we could start packing and he took the boys with him. While they were out he gave me a call and said he noticed the boys shoes were looking rather ruff. I told him if he was up for it to go ahead and take them shoe shopping.

This is what they came home with....
(By the way yes they both had mud on their new shoes within 24 hrs)

Carter's choice



Caden's choice



Yes, they light up! And he will be very proud to show you.



Even though I do not like the shoe choice that Caden picked or the fact that Ben actually spent that much money on them, I do realize that he is only 5. To see his little face & the excitement he has for his new light up shoes, it's so worth letting him have at least one pair that light up. That's what I keep telling myself anyway. I'll let you guess who plans on taking them shoe shopping next time....

Playroom

We enclosed our porch so the kids could have this...



Yet, this is where they play....

Not Me....

Welcome to Not Me! Monday! This blog carnival was created by MckMama.

• I was not almost late to pickup my kindergartner and two others we carpool with today because I was thinking I didn't need to leave our house till 2:45, when carpool starts moving at 2:45.

• In my mad rush to get out the door at 2:45 to pick up the kids, I did not forget to take the stickers off my leg that I let my 3 yr old put on so I could have a moment to think and pay some bills at the computer.

• I did not get out of the car to motion to the kids where I was parked because they didn't hear their name called - while all stickers were in tack

Not me! Not this mom of 3 who has it all together :)

Whew! What a week!

Well....it's officially over! This was my last week teaching at Pals (sad face) and now I'm moving forward with teaching my three monkeys at home (frazzled face)!

More post on that I'm sure, once I figure out which direction I'm headed. Right now I'm in the boat...in the water...but without a paddle!!

A few other pictures from this past crazy hectic week....

Isabel & Gigi



Mattie & Carter



Granddaddy, Ben & Carter



Rhon Rhon & Caden



Mommy & Caden



The Family



My favorite pic from the week!

Caden, My Preschool Graduate

4K Graduation
Tuesday, May 18th

Singing songs they have learned this year



Next comes the cap & gown







Can't wait to see that official preschool diploma!



Thumbs up, it's good! I'm outta here :)

Isabel, Younger 3's Exhibition

Younger 3's Exhibition
Wednesday, May 19th

I think she saw someone she knows :)



Singing a few songs they've learned this year







Couldn't help, but look toward proud grandparents & give a big smile

Carter, My Kindergarten Graduate

Luau and Kindergarten diploma ceremony
Thursday May 20th



Boys are fire dancers



Girls are hula dancers



Carter & Aunt Kay-Kace



After the Luau there was a picnic lunch



then the handing out of diplomas



Jumping for joy to be finished with Kindergarten!! Or because summer is here :)



Kindergarten Class of 2010

Where is that???

Now that we are in the process of buying a house in East Lake, the question I am getting now is where is that in relation to....???

Note about myself - I have no sense of direction! Honestly I'm just hoping I can figure out how to get to our new house. Don't laugh....I'm serious! I'm getting more familiar with the East Lake area and recognize different places, but once I'm there and you ask me to get from point A to point B, well lets just hope you don't mind if I'm late. I will get there, but it may take me awhile to figure out exactly how to get there and I'm sure I will be driving in circles several times before I arrive.

So, here is a map for those of you from B'ham who do have a sense of direction and know where our new home will be in relation to what you are already familiar with in the East Lake area.



View Larger Map

Under Contract

We have a contract on our house! We actually received it the last week in April, but I've been a little hesitant to tell everyone and especially post it on the blog. You never know just what can happen, but things have been going rather smoothly. We actually had an offer mid April and we counter offered twice and never could come to an agreement and he walked away. No worries, we knew the right person would come along and we wouldn't have to just give our house away (which is what this guy was obviously wanting us to do). Just a week after that we got our second offer which we accepted.

I totally forgot what all has to go down once that offer is made. There is the counter offers, faxing back & forth, signing of the contract, faxing back & forth, inspections, faxing back & forth, fixing repairs, more faxing, appraisals, faxing, not to mention all the emailing, and then eventually the closing.

Even with all that goes on, so far we have had a pretty easy road. When we got the offer Ben and I looked at each other and said...it's perfect!...we didn't even need to counter and we would actually walk away with some money going in our pockets! Few days later we had the inspection. Little nervous considering we had added the wall for the laundry room & enclosed the porch ourselves. Inspector only found two things. One was to get the AC unit checked out and the other was that the pull-down stairs to the attic were installed incorrectly. We had the AC guy out the next day and Ben fixed the stairs that night. Almost seems too simple so far. Then again we have given this move totally over to God and know that He is in total control. Amazing how well things work when you give them to God.

From the time we put the sign in our yard I said that it would be nice if it could sell after the end of May. That way I could finish my school year teaching (last day May 21) as well as Carter (last day May 27th). We are set to close June 10th. What a blessing! I even got a few days to box up everything :)

Where are we going you ask? We put a contract on a house in East Lake that was For Sale By Owner. 737 77th Way. Not sure on a closing date there just yet, but we're totally trusting God that He will work all that out as well. I don't have pictures of the house yet, but hopefully soon.

Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.

Mother's Day 2010

The joy of being a mommy....

Friday I went to Muffins for Mom at Carter's school








Then I got to have a Mother's Day Tea with Caden in his classroom





Both boys had songs they sang & special books read along with breakfast treats. They also gave lots of crafts they had made especially for mommy. Isabel didn't get to have mommy come to her class, but she did make me two beautiful flowerpots with flowers she planted herself.



The pots say "Mommy's love makes me grow"

Saturday the whole family loaded up to go see Iron Man 2. Now don't think that I just went along with the boys - I LOVE those action filled movies! It was really a great movie :) Then we walked down to have dinner at one of my favorite places, Taziki's. Then to finish off the night a little more girly we made a stop by Hobby Lobby.

Sunday I woke up to breakfast in bed - omelet with steak & cheese...one of Ben's specialties. For lunch I was served my favorite Jim N Nick's grilled chicken salad w/ Diet Coke and then for dessert a slice of Johnny Ray's coconut pie.



My ever so creative husband also gave me this...



A lemonade glass drink dispenser filled with flowers that I don't have to water. Inside were three boxes, one from each child, each with a pair of earrings.
Yes, this momma has been spoiled to the max this weekend and I have treasured every moment of it!

Mother's Day Craft

Kitchen tile from Lowes - Check



Box of paint & paint brushes from under the bed - Check



Half-way accomplished



Finished product



Happy Mother's day to my wonderful mother, mother-in-law & step mother-in-law! I love you all so much!!

If you give a mom a muffin

If you give a mom a muffin,
She'll want a cup of coffee to go with it.
She'll pour herself some.
Her three-year-old will spill the coffee.
She'll wipe it up.
Wiping the floor, she'll find dirty socks.
She'll remember she has to do laundry.
When she puts the laundry in the washer,
She'll trip over boots and bump into the freezer.
Bumping into the freezer will remind her she has to plan for supper.
She will get out a pound of hamburger.
She'll look for her cookbook ("101 Things To Do With a Pound of Hamburger").
The cookbook is sitting under a pile of mail.
She will see the phone bill, which is due tomorrow.
She will look for her checkbook.
The check book is in her purse that is being dumped out by her two-year-old.
She'll smell something funny.
She'll change the two year old's diaper.
While she is changing the diaper, the phone will ring.
Her five-year-old will answer and hang up.
She'll remember she wants to phone a friend for coffee.
Thinking of coffee will remind her that she was going to have a cup.
And chances are...
If she has a cup of coffee,
Her kids will have eaten the muffin that went with it.

Show Condition

I am person who really needs to have everything in its proper place before I can lay my head down at night. However some nights if I'm tired enough I can let it go. Since the house is on the market, I have no choice but to have everything clean & it's in place. With a family of 5....this having the house in "show condition" 24/7 is getting old really quick!

DeLoach house daily to do list....







Sometimes I wonder if people would be ok with seeing a "lived in" condition instead?