SERIOUS Yard Work

We are still in the process of clearing out part of the backyard.

Previously, Matt had trimmed the lower branches from many of the trees out back.

This weekend he rented a Bush Hog and took out the bushes and brush and growth from the ground.

(the mask is to protect from the poison ivy/oak)

(the duct tape is to keep the chiggers away)

Matt, Lauren and Tyler have all experienced chigger bites and let me say I hope they never do again.  Remember L and T's encounter?

Matt worked H-A-R-D.

He rarely rested but when he did it was from pure exhaustion.

The yard looks Amazing.

(the day before the ground was completely covered with 6+ inches of growth.)

 There is a lot more usable space now.

(The angle of the picture (from the 2nd story deck) just doesn't do it justice.)

Well Done WildMan Matt!

A Suite Braves Game

Last week Matt was offered a couple of Braves tickets for the Thursday game against the Toronto Blue Jays.

We are are not ones to turn down any free tickets so we said, "Sweet!"

These tickets were "Suite" indeed!

Suite 17 to be exact.

We had our own balcony to sit outside if we wanted.

Or we could choose an indoor open window seat like Matt did. 

The balcony included its own TV to see playbacks and hear commentary.

Inside the suite there was free food and drink.

Hamburgers, Hot dogs, Chicken Nuggets, Pizza, Veggie trays and Chips and dip

Water, Soda, Beer and Wine to drink.

The weather was perfect but had it been too hot or too cold we could have comfortably watched the game inside the suite's sweet big screen tv.

It was a fun impromptu date night for Matt and I.

To top it off, the Braves won 11-3.

What a sweet, Suite day at at Turner Field.

Loving my Boy on the Five Twenty-Nines

The kids were bored this afternoon so I suggested they go to a neighbor's house and invite their friend to play.

Tyler said, "Yes, can I go ask?" and Lauren shyly said, "No."

Tyler then asked if he could talk to me in private.

"Momma, can I talk to you alone?"

We went into the bathroom and he said,

 "I don't think Lauren wants to go because she is shy.  But I'll go and ask."

I finally convinced Lauren to go along with her brother with a promise that Tyler would do all the talking.

And look who they brought home.

Our neighbor and friend Rock.

Tyler's bravery really impressed me and Lauren's hesitancy brought back memories of myself as a child.  I also, would often shyly hang back and let my younger brother ring the door bell and ask our friends to play.

Seeing Tyler take charge today made me think of how much he has grown over the years and I wanted to reminisce.  Enjoy these pictures of Tyler on the Five Twenty-Nines (May 29th) over the years.

last year, 6-years-old, at a friends pool

5-years-old, at a friends birthday cook-out

4-years-old, our backyard pool

3-years-old, patio of a restaurant (Rita's)

2-years-old, stacking blocks in our family room

1-year-old, at the condo at Miramar Beach, FL

2-months-old, Gulf Shores, Alabama

I love that boy today and everyday.

On the Fourth Day We Rested

 The first three days of summer vacation have been Go! Go! Go!!!

We went to the pool three days in a row.

And we played with friends three days in a row. 

(bouncing with the neighbors)

(Chutes and Ladders with Troy)

Today, the Fourth Day of Summer Vacay, we took it easy.

Since the kids are on my schedule now they got to accompany me to the gym for my morning workout.  After a quick shower we headed out for a fun afternoon at the library.

They each checked out 5 books.

Immediately, after we got home they settled into their respective sofas and started READING!!

(check out the charging iPAD being ignored off to the side!)

  

The other books they checked out.

(I love their love for reading.)

We've started a Summer Reading List.

Lauren's goal is to fill up a whole sheet of paper.

(she's off to a good start) 

Tyler's off to a great start too.

He's actually up to 7 books.  He listed 4 books in lines 4. and 5.

(4.  Dinosaurs Before Dark, 5. Monster School First Day Frights, 6. Gravity is a Mystery, and 7. Pyramids)

Summer's off to a great start.

Oh...but this...

I saw Matt pull into the driveway after work today and noticed these black marks on his front bumper.

(say what?!!!!)

He said he unavoidably hit a piece of a semi-truck tire while driving on the Interstate.

(it happens)

It actually broke the plastic underpan and cracked the paint on the brand new bumper.

Go ahead and re-read these posts again to see why I cracked up in disbelief.

Hail Storm March 2013

A Thing About Emergency Breaks...

These things are done in threes, right?

So we're done.....right?!!!

School's Out, Pool's In!

The kids asked to go to the neighborhood pool on their first day of Summer Vacation.

I have a feeling we'll be spending a lot of time there.

I'll be sure to buy sunscreen in bulk.

Tera should be in a lot of our summer pics as well.

She's basically my third child...love all my kiddos.

Let the Summer Fun Begin!

Mr. Awesome

Matt has always been Mr. Awesome to me but his new friends at CorkSport just realized it and sent him an AWESOME! trophy.

Not only does Matt like to crash his Mazda Speed 3 into trees in the backyard, he also likes to soup it up and make it more like a race car.

He recently purchased some new Mazda Motor Mounts from CorkSport.  He purchased both a side and rear motor mount.  As far as I can tell these will simply let him peel out faster, louder, and more obnoxiously.

(but what do I know?)

The funny thing is when he purchased the new Motor Mounts he was on the phone with CorkSport  customer service for quite awhile.  He had them charge four different Visa Gift Cards he had been given over the years. 

The CorkSport guys were awesomely patient with him.

Hours later the transaction was done.

A day after Matt received his CorkSport merchandise he received a special surprise package from them.

Included was an Awesome Trophy...

and a letter,

(Matt, Just thinking of how we ended up charging 4 credit cards for you.  Last night I was out to eat with a group of friends and we tried to pay for the bill with 6 different cards and I thought, man this is just like [what] Matt did at CS [CorkSport!]  Anyway, made you a trophy.  Congrats.)

 The back of the Trophy!

Matt is an official CorkSport Winner!

This small gesture from CorkSport is impressively AWESOME.  Their customer service is top-notch as is the entire company.  If you own a Mazda of any kind check them out.

You too can peel out faster, louder, and more obnoxiously.

Awards Day 2013

 Today was Awards Day at the Elementary School.

Both of my babies did outstanding in the awards department and I couldn't be prouder of all their hard work.

Tyler's ceremony was first.

He received the following awards:

 (the Six Flags Six Hour Reading award includes a Ticket To Six Flags Over Georgia!)

He also received the Citizenship Certificate for his class.  This is the highly coveted award where his classmates choose the best Citizen (one boy and one girl) in the class.

This happens to be his second Citizenship Certificate in a row as he was chosen in his Kindergarten class...but I'm not one to brag.

He asked if I would take his picture in front of the number board.

(he's a numbers kind of guy like his Daddy)

 Shortly after that he opted to change out of his "scratchy" elastic-waisted khaki pants and into his normal silky sweatpants and t-shirt attire.

Here he is posing with his most wonderful first grade teacher and his well deserved awards.

Awesome Job, Tyler!

Next up was Lauren's 3rd grade class awards.

She received the following awards:

Did you notice she ALSO received the Citizenship Certificate for her class?!

For the second year in a row she was voted Best (female) Citizen by her classmates...but I'm not one to brag. 

So remarkable!

Here she is accepting her awards from her teacher.

She's not done being rewarded though.  She was asked to come up to the front again.

 All her reading paid off this year and she was awarded a TROPHY for earning over 300 AR points (Accelerated Reader points)

She actually earned 370 points...the highest in her class and second highest in her grade.

She is very proud of her trophy!

(as are her parents)

We Love You Ms. W!

This was hard work but made easier because she LOVES to read.

I LOVE that she shares my love for reading.

Congrats Lauren!

I was a bit emotional after the Award Ceremonies were over.  I was over the moon proud of my children.  I know they earned their awards by their own hard work but I also felt a bit vindicated in my parenting style.

I'm not the "always say yes," "best friend" kind of mom.  I'm strict, I set and enforce rules, and am not afraid to impose consequences.  (i.e.  Next time Lauren slams her bedroom door it will be taken off its hinges and removed entirely.)  I'm so much more like my Dad than I thought I would ever be.

But, I think L and T thrive in the structured, rule-oriented environment.  Even though I doubt myself and my parenting technique occasionally...ultimately, I think I'm doing alright.

THE END

Post Script:

Switching Gears to Nature

While checking on my garden this afternoon...

I found this nasty slithery guy DEAD and stuck in the netting I have surrounding my garden.  He got himself stuck and slithered and slathered so much he cut himself in the wire and hopefully died peacefully.

EWWW!

While Matt was removing snake carcass he checked on the bird nest under our deck.

These monster babies sure poop up a storm.  We're ready for them to fly the coop ASAP.

Ever since Matt was attacked by chiggers a couple of weeks ago he's been vigilant about spraying the house for bugs.

While spraying the perimeter of the house he thinks he accidentally hit this lizard guy.

He seems fine to me.

Run Lizard Run!

One more day until Summer Vacation!!  Enjoy it.