Flowers.

I've been hanging out at the Jernigan House Bed and Breakfast this week. Love it when the flowers are blooming.

The Aquarium.

And finally....our trip to the aquarium. I've always had a hard time taking photos at the aquarium because it requires a steady hand...something I don't have. But I propped myself up against the tanks and this is what I got. Believe it or not...G grabbed the camera from me and took the last one. I have about 5 pictures of myself....make that 6 now. :)

The Beach.

Here are the photos from the beach at Fort Macon. The water was icky, so we didn't get wet. But we did get to feel the sand between our toes and that's what's important. :)

Fort Macon

While on the coast yesterday we decided to take Trent to see a few things. Our first stop was Fort Macon. We didn't stay long since they were having a fundraising day for the fort and their "entertainer" wasn't so entertaining. :) But we took a few pictures and then went over to the beach (photos coming soon).

Here are a few photos from Fort Macon:

Celebrating Samuel

Yesterday was my nephew Samuel's baby dedication. He's a cute little critter....chubby...and quite content most of the time. He smells good, too....I love sniffing babies. :)

Here are a few photos from his big day:

Preschool!!!

Ok...I'm feeling better about the whole preschool thing....and Trent is totally ready! We had to pay his enrollment fees by the 30th, so instead of mailing them we took them to the school. The preschool director happened to be in the office and asked Trent if he would like to come see the school. Of course he was over the moon!

When we got to his class they were reading a book so we sat in the circle with them. Then they did their morning routine of the Pledge of Allegiance, singing of "God Bless America", the day of the week, the month and date, etc. Then it was free play time. Trent was instantly surrounded by girls....six of them. :) I had kids pulling me in all directions...it was fun! After free play we all went outside. All of the preschool classes were out there so there were kids EVERYWHERE. One girl pulled me away to play ball with her, another boy wanted me to play soccer and one girl was content just trying to beat me up and push me up against a wall. Next was lunch, but that's when we decided to leave. We did hang around long enough to see them say their blessing before eating...I was impressed! Makes having to pay for school seem so much better! Trent really didn't want to leave, but they said we could come back another day and bring lunch so we can stay all day. Trent wants to go tomorrow...ha!

I felt so much better about where Trent is now and where he needs to be by the time he goes to school....he is totally normal. Imagine that! :) We may work a little more with numbers and letters, but everything else seems to be right on. And I had to remember that these kids were getting ready to start Kindergarten in the fall, so it made me feel even better to see him jump right in and participate just like he was part of the class. His teacher was really nice and thrilled to see him so excited!

The cool thing happened as I was leaving: they offered to let me sub for the pre-K department! I really wasn't expecting it...at all, but I HAD been hoping that I could find some extra work in the fall. I've got to go back and pick up the paperwork, but it will be nice to be right there on campus with him! I used to work in their daycare when I was in high school and the pre-K director remembered working with me. I'm not sure what types of certification I'll need, but from what they said I should be fine! Yay!

So it has been a fun day! And I think I'll be less nervous when August rolls around....until those girls start chasing Trent again. :)

Catch Up.

Just wanted to stop in and let everyone know that I AM alive. :) That nasty cold really had me down for awhile and the last week has been spent playing catch up on laundry, housework, photo orders, etc.

Lots of stuff going on.....

-It's time to enroll Trent in preschool for the Fall. Not sure I'm ready for this. Afterall, it's been the two of us together almost every single day for the last 4 years. And this is an all-day, everyday preschool. Not only that, but the hurtin' it's gonna put on my wallet is going to be MAJOR! That's the price you have to pay for a good education in this county. I really wanted to homeschool, but I had to face the fact that I'm more of an entertainer than a teacher. I was afraid that I would rather play with macaroni and glue instead of learning how to add and subtract. My free spirit keeps me from being disciplined enough to set aside a block of time for structured learning. But anyway....Trent is SO ready for school. He talks about it constantly. He seemed a little uneasy when he realized that I wouldn't be going to school with him. Once I explained to him that I would drop him off and pick him up every morning and afternoon he was cool with it. It's going to be a big adjustment for all of us, but I think it's going to be good.

-My yard finally looks acceptable again. Not the next candidate for the monthly Garden Club award, but not too shabby either. The flowers are blooming, the grass has been cut and G cut down almost all of the hedges that were quickly becoming a nasty eyesore. Trent and I went to a plant swap at my parents' church Saturday and believe it or not...the plants we got are still living. Trent picked out the plants....I don't even know what half of them are....and he planted them that afternoon. Luckily it has been raining non-stop since then so they're all doing well!

-I bought a new crockpot. I rarely buy things for myself....seriously. But I NEEDED a new crockpot. I had one and G's mom borrowed it a few weeks ago, so I took it as an opportunity to get a new one. You're probably wondering why I would buy a new crockpot when I already had one. Well, my first crockpot belonged to my first husband's ex-wife. Yeah....time to toss that baby out and get a new one. So $30 later I have a new stainless-steel/black crockpot. I really wanted one with a timer, but I bought the best thing our Wal-Mart had. I have used that thing so much in the past 2 weeks it's crazy! It's so nice to get everything together in the morning and have a hot meal waiting by early evening.

-Today is Earth Day. What did you do to "go green"? I'm really wanting to be greener....really, I am. I'm more careful about what can be recycled and not trashed....and I'm trying to use green cleaners (that new Clorox stuff smells heavenly and is an awesome cleaner!!). I'm scrubbing my floors with vinegar and water instead of store bought cleaners...and it does a MUCH better job! I'm trying to make myself grab a cloth instead of a paper towel....I figure the little things count, too. I haven't converted to reusable grocery bags.....but I'm so very close. I think I could be a vegetarian and like it, but I know G and T would highly debate that one. The smartest thing I ever did was trade in my gas hog SUV for a car. Going from 16 MPG to 35 MPG has been AMAZING!! I still cringe when I have to fill-up, but when I realize that I could be spending DOUBLE.....ahhhh...it's so nice!! Plus my car payment is $500 less than it was with the SUV....it's a win-win situation if you ask me! So yay! Go green!! :)

-Wedding planning is the pits. The thoughts of running away and having a private wedding in Hawaii or some other cool place are looking REALLY good right now.

-Trent is *almost* potty trained. He's 4...it's about dog'gone time! So many have said that he'll just wake up one day and that will be the day. Well, it hasn't been like that. We have been "training" since he was 18 months old and started showing interest in the potty. We've done reward charts, stickers, candy, etc. We've tried the cold-turkey technique and the Commando technique. I've set timers....every 15 minutes....no luck. Now he's old enough that he knows what to do and when he needs to do it, but he's so stinkin' hard-headed. He is FINALLY to the point where he'll tell us when he has to go and will even go when he's wearing a Pull-Up. But he still has his share of "accidents".....or moments of laziness....whatever you want to call it. Just seeing that speck of light at the end of the tunnel has been wonderful!!!

I guess that's it. I haven't been taking too many pictures lately, but I'll share the ones I have taken soon.

ACHOO!!!

Sniffles and sneezes. Fevers and aches. Sore throat, stuffy nose and yucky ears. That would be the theme of the last few days. I haven't been off the couch to do much more than get a drink or some fruit. The cloudy/rainy weather isn't helping much. But luckily G has been around to help with Trent and they both cooked me spaghetti for dinner! Trent was so proud of himself! I've been doing a lot of reading....catching up on some books that have been shelved for months. However, the work...and laundry....are piling up, so at some point I'll have to force myself to get up and accomplish something. But for now....I'm heading back to the couch. Good night!

Sleep.

I need sleep.

I do NOT need to stay up until 2AM playing video games like I did last night. They will be there tomorrow.

I do NOT need to stay up editing the 187 photos I took of HeatherW today. They will be there tomorrow.

I do NOT need to stay up washing dinner dishes. They will be there tomorrow.

I need sleep.

Wii have fun!

Today was a fun family day! G was off and we didn't have any plans. He realized that he had a set of keys from work in his coat pocket, so we decided to all ride with him to take them back. It was cool....Trent got a chance to see where G works. He couldn't go in the plant, but he did see a train, several tractor-trailer trucks and he saw G wearing a hard hat (I think that was the highlight of his day).

Since we were so close, we decided to ride to Franklin, VA....just for kicks. We thought we would take Trent bowling, but the bowling alley was closed. Trent literally broke down and cried....until we took him to Wal-Mart. It's sad when the best way to describe Heaven to your child is to tell them that it's a million times better than Wal-Mart. So very sad! :)

Luckily the toy of choice today was only $1.97:

They came with tanks....or as Trent calls them: "cranks". That sealed the deal on this toy.

We came home and broke out the Wii. That thing will give you a work out. And Trent beat me at tennis. Apparently you have to be hyperactive and move a lot to succeed at Wii Sports. :)He did let me and G have a turn every now and then. He just sat in the corner and picked his nose. EWWWW!!

Yes that is a booger between his fingers. And yes I told him that was disgusting and made him go wash his hands. But only AFTER I took a picture! I AM a photographer. It's my job to catch those "one of a kind" moments. :)

Fun day! LOVE fun days! However, fun days all come to an end. Now it's getting late and Trent is hyped up and doesn't want to sleep. G is playing Guitar Hero so I get Trent-duty. Oh joy! Good thing I had a Mountain Dew earlier! Tomorrow is a big day....I'm doing a bridal portrait photo shoot so I have GOT to get my sleep! I'm a procrastinator and did not pack my car tonight. I'll regret that in the morning! Good night, all!

Thursday, April 3, 2008

I chose a boring title for this one mainly because I want to start posting a summary of my day and everything we did. It's not really as much for YOUR benefit as it is mine. I figure if I "journal" everyday, then in a year I can look back and remember everything that happened. So this is basically my online journal and you're nosey, so you read it. :) I was terrible about keeping diaries when I was a kid...but it's so fun to find something I wrote about 10 years ago and see how things have changed.

So humor me, ok?!?

-I met with a photo client this morning. She's a realtor and needed a new photo for her business cards. Photos are done. She's placed her order. And tonight I need to design her cards.

-Trent has a runny nose today and got up WAY too early, so he's been playing games on the computer. Anything to keep from having a major meltdown. We took breaks throughout the day and did a lot of reading. I think we read close to 10 books. And he actually sat still and let me read. I should check him for a fever. I tried to get him to "rest" this afternoon, but it just wasn't happening. So we drank chai smoothies instead. That boy loves coffee/tea as much as I do. Scary!

-Bathtime again! So glad to have my bathtub back!! Bathtime for Trent always happens between 4:00 and 6:00....his not-so-happy-hour(s). It really helps! Now he's out and playing his VSmile video games. It's becoming a nightly routine.

Here's a cute photo from bathtime today:

-I had a chance to make some cards today. Some of my Etsy customers have been pestering me to post new cards. Ok....twist my arm:

If you're a local and you see a card on my blog that you want, just let me know and I'll pull them and save them for you. If you're not a local....you can visit my Etsy shop: http://www.clairbug.etsy.com/

-I guess that's it for now. A low-key day. Did lots of cleaning, as usual. Trying to get things done so there is less to do when G is off. WAHOO!

A cry of relief!!

Some would say it was a "sigh" of relief, but this morning when I made my daily rounds on the internet I found myself crying, not sighing. I have been following the blog of Nathan and Tricia (and Gwyneth) since January 4, 2008. Our church sent out an e-mail asking us to pray for this family and since then I have found myself absorbed in their life....praying for them and reading their blog daily (ok...and to see the photos....great photos!). I don't know them personally, but they're from NC and they're Baptist...so I feel like we're family. :)

Anyway, Tricia has Cystic Fibrosis. I don't know a lot about CF and have never known anyone with CF, but I've seen/read what she and her family have been going through over the last few months while living in Duke hospital. Part of this includes the birth of their 1 lb. 6 oz. daughter who is growing more and more everyday! It also includes the insane wait for a new set of lungs for Tricia.

Well, as of yesterday....Tricia has new lungs!! I didn't realize that this moment would effect me like it has, but it's all I can think about today and when I read a new update I get all misty-eyed. At first I started reading the blog out of curiosity. Then I saw it as a daily reminder of how much I take for granted. And now it's like my daily dose of "look what God can do". Miracle after miracle. The big stuff and the little stuff.

I won't keep on rambling, but if you haven't seen their blog then here ya go:

http://www.cfhusband.blogspot.com/

It's amazing, I tell ya...AMAZING!!!

Read.

Perspective.

Some days I have to scrap layouts like this just to keep things in perspective. When you see me do lovey-dovey layouts...it's usually because every ounce of patience I have will quickly slip away if I don't stop and focus on the positive.

So the positives for today: I got a shower before 7AM. The church directory I've been working on was dropped off at the printers yesterday. I am caught up on photo editing and almost caught up on orders. I got the bathrooms cleaned and the laundry done (don't ask about the kitchen). I am going to shut down the computer tonight and READ! Trent read his first BOB book today (these are beginner reading books!!). We made it through Wal-Mart without a meltdown or excessive begging. I cooked lunch. We don't have much food in the fridge, but unlike many people in the world...we aren't starving. My house is too small and too old....but it's a house and it's mine. Although he has been a terror today, Trent had a VERY good day yesterday which shows me that he CAN be good!!! And he's healthy. And strong. And often very funny. And he's mine, too! :) It's all about perspective.

Conversations with Trent

This is one of those "have to share it" conversations. It took place yesterday morning while Trent and I were on the road.

Trent: "Mommy, when I get big....can I drive all by myself?"

Mommy: "Yes, Trent. When you are big enough for a driver's license you can drive all by yourself. In fact, maybe you'll even have your own car one day. What color car would you like to have?"

Trent "Mommy." (said in the MOST sarcastic tone of voice) "I'm not going to have a car....I'll have a BIKE!"

Mommy: "Well, Trent, no one can ride with you on a bike. What if you have a girlfriend one day? Where will she ride?"

Trent: "She'll ride on the back of me."

(Time out....How old is he????)

Mommy: "Well where's Mommy gonna ride?"

Trent: (spoken in one of those matter of fact tones) "Mommy, you'll just have to ride in your own car."

He's only 4 and he has it all figured out.