Please Come with Me today!

Tyler was adamant to stay home with Daddy & Trever today. However, Daddy needed to finishing up work at the neighbors house & wouldn't be able to keep him at home with him. So to coax him out of the house I made him a scavengar hunt. He had to find a police car, a mcdonalds, teddy bear, & more! He loved it! It helped me avoid major meltdown so Daddy could work!

Snowman Chocolate Bars

My girlfriend from high school, Jillian (Nettles) Davis, is quite a crafty woman and has started her own blog to show case her crafts.  Last week she posted this tutorial on how to make a chocolate bar festive.  I found Ghirardelli chocolate packs on sale at Walgreens for $1.50 & had the rest of the supplies to complete the project here at the house.  I will be giving these to the Trever & Tyler's teachers & teachers assistants.  However, I will slip Starbucks gift cards under the scarfs for the teacher. Thanks Jillian for the idea!

Family Photos 2010

Here are our favorite family photos taken by our photographer Amanda S Long of http://www.amandalongart.blogspot.com/!

Breath of Fresh Air

I went home to Gulf Breeze, FL this past weekend to visit my Grandparents.  Shortly after we arrived I stepped out on the dock & was greeted with this site.

What a breath of fresh air for me to see Pensacola Bay & the sky airbrushed in colors.  Its always nice to remember where you come from.  I have been there atleast 3 times a year for the past 10 years, but haven't taken time to see the sunset.  It was a welcomed calm for me.

No Matter What, Kerrie Roberts

The end of 2010 has come with many challenges, from a sinking real estate market, learning emotional boundries, having a very sick Grandmother, and more.  Somedays are so mentally challenging for me that it feels like getting out of bed is a HUGE chore.  But I know that once I am out of bed and force myself into routine I find I feel better. I heard this song as I probably do every day on The Promise today and it really hit me.  I need to remember to continue to "Let God & Let God" .. no matter what the circumstance maybe presenting itself at that time. I know the Lord presents all of its challenges in my life because I can handle them.  I need to remember to trust in Him, NO MATTER WHAT!

I’m running back to your promises one more time, Lord that’s all I can hold on to, I gotta say this has taken me by surprise, but nothing surprises you. Before a heartache can ever touch my life, it has to go through Your hands, and even though I keep asking why, I keep asking why.
No matter what, I’m gonna love You, no matter what I’m gonna need You, I know You can find a way to keep me from the pain but if not, I’ll trust you, no matter what, no matter what.
When I’m stuck and there’s nothing else by myself, I’m just sitting in silence, there’s no way I can make it without Your help, I won’t even try it. I know You have Your reasons for everything, so I will keep believing, whatever I might be feeling, God you are my hope, and you will be my strength,
No matter what, I’m gonna love You, no matter what I’m gonna need You, I know You can find a way to keep me from the pain but if not, I’ll trust you, no matter what, no matter what.
Anything I don’t have You can give it to me, but it’s OK if You don’t, I’m not here for those things, the touch of Your love is enough on its own, no matter what I still love You and I’m gonna need You
No matter what I’m gonna love you, no matter what I’m gonna need you, I know You can find a way to keep me from the pain but if not , I’ll trust You, no matter what, no matter what. I know You can find a way to keep me from the pain, but if not, I’ll trust you, no matter what no matter what no matter no matter what

5316 Sanders Completed Photos

Here is a link to the web album of the completed property!

MLS Listing

Here is the link to the BEFORE pictures of the property!  Troy (or should I say Eric & Sean..since they did 90% of the labor on the property) did an amazing job at rehabing this house.  I am so proud of everyone!

5316 Sanders The Beginning

5316 Sanders is Complete!

We have listed our property at Militarybyowner.com! Check out this link to see some pictures!
Real Estate Listings

*Over this holiday weekend I intend to do the before & after's like I did with buttontree so keep you eye open for those soon! & Wish us luck trying to sell this house in the recession!

Modeling Session!

Back in August the boys decided it would be fun to do a modeling session!  Fun for me, as I love to use my camera taking pictures of the boys.  Here are some of the shots we took!

They are both so handsome and growing so big!  Time flies when you having fun.  I should also note that Trever has grown out of the jeans he is wearing in this pictures.  He has shot up an inch in the last month and has also gained about 15lbs over the past 6 months!  Woowzers no wonder we go through so much milk a week!

Diaper Bags & Acessories

Its baby central around these parts!  It seems as if I am always aware of 5 or more people having or just had babies between this past summer and next summer.  One of my girlfriends from when I worked at David's Bridal, Wendy Douglass, and I have kept in touch through facebook, email, texts, lunches over the years.  When I found out she was expecting a baby girl, I was elated!  Wendy is a wonderful woman and I value her friendship so much.  I couldn't wait to sew her something.  She sent me a message and requested the Folklore bag.  So I got to work gathering supplies, cutting patterns and making her the diaper bag & accessories.  The accessories are the diaper changing pad, wipes case & 2 burp cloths.

Wendy's mother, Joyce, will be the sitter when Wendy returns to work.  So I thought it would be neat to make her her own diaper bag and accessories.  I used a different bag pattern, than the one used for Wendy, but made her all the same accessories.

Pumpkins are carved!

Here are the pumpkins the boys carved! They did get a good amount of help from us but they picked the templates and cut until their hands hurt. :) Tyler's is the frog and Trever's is the mummy!

Tyler Pre-K 4 School Photo

Tyler is getting so big!  This is a great picture this year!



Spooktacular

The Jacksonville Zoo throws a wonderful event each Halloween called "Spooktacular!"  We had a very enjoyable outing with the family there last night.

Pumpkin Patch Fall 2010

We spent Sunday with Aunt Sarah & baby Wesley!  Here are our pictures from the outing.

Outside Halloween Decor

We have completed the outside home decor yesterday.  The boys are super excited to start fall. Living in Florida our weather stays warm for quite a while.  Somedays it will cool down to the mid 70's, but the next day it can be at hot at 90 again, so its hard to get the weather change that indicates fall is here for the children. Last weekend we had the fall festival at the school, complete with derby car races and bounce houses, and it really seemed to set in that fall is here. They see the pumpkin patches adorning the sides of the road and are ready to get in full swing to decorating at our house. Here is the completed yard for Halloween 2010!



Have a safe Halloween!

Dancing In the Mindfields by Andrew Peterson

I couldn't find a more perfect song.  I heard this on The Promise the other day I balled.  This is our song!!!!!!!!!  Its us (minus being married 15 years, we are 9.5 years).  I love love love love this song.  Scratch anything else I've heard.  I want to dance around the living the room with my head on Troy's chest to this song.


Lyrics | Andrew Peterson lyrics - Dancing In The Minefields lyrics

Lead Me by Sanctus Real

Its been a while since I posted lyrics.  I love this song.  AMAZING!!  It is so true on so many levels. I may not hear the song the way it was intended when it was written but it really speaks to me.

The song seems somewhat somber in the lyrics that say "I know this is our home but I still feel alone" Don't leave me chasing dreams, don't forget about us"  I process the lyrics to say, do not to get hung up in our daily lives working hard trying to build our dreams for our family that we lose sight of today.  I process the lyrics to say we are willing to fight to keep our marriage strong and our children's emotional and spiritual needs met. This song helps me to remember to stay grounded in today.  No matter how independent I behave, I look to Troy to lead me, to lead our family. Which makes the first part of the lyrics so strong.  The second part of the song is also very affirming in that no matter how independent we may feel our children are, especially as they grow older and depend on us less, they still need us.  They are still looking to us for direction and guidance. We don't want to create a house that doesn't feel like home.  We want our children to know family first! But what I really take most from the song is that, I can't depend on Troy and the children can't depend on us if we don't look to the Father to lead us.  We must remember to ask God to "lead me with strong hands, stand up when I can't." "Father give me the strength to be everything I am called to be, Oh Father show me the way to lead them. Won't you lead me?"

Wesley's Nursery

Wesley has arrived and his nursery is 96% complete.  Sarah will put some final touches on it with a watercolor my Aunt Becky made her as well as a some other unique pictures soon.  This is the room now.

It's a golf themed nursery!  Notice the wooden golf club above the closet door?

 Nursing Chair, Bookshelves- I sewed the valance & the pillow on the chair!
The valance is also hung by a golf club! Can you see the wooden golf cart on the wall shelf? How cute!

The Crib Set!  I made the crib skirt, bumpers and the quilt. 

They look soo good.

Especially with Sarah's theme.

Here's Wesley in his chair.
 He wasn't in the mood for pictures, just nursing!  ;)

Changing Table and the obligatory diaper pail!

The watercolor will be hung above the changing table. 

It will be a watercolor of a very popular green at The Players Choice located in Ponte Vedra, FL that Josh took while there one day.

Shot of the overall room. 

Sarah did a great job picking out colors and seeing her vision all the way through to the end!  I love it.  Again, CONGRATS to my sister and her husband.

Cousins!

Trever & Tyler met Wesley this afternoon.  It was love at first sight.  Tyler asked if he could have one! ;)

Halloween Corner

We are getting ready for halloween around our house! We decorated the kids corner to get the decorations kicked off! Stay tuned for yard decorations!!

Wesley James Wiggins

Wesley James made his arrival tonight! My sisters first born. What a beautiful baby boy! 7 lbs 8 oz 20 inches

I love his little face soo much!  Congratulations Josh & Sarah!  You made a handsome baby!

Homework Time

My week day afternoon routine consists of leaving work & picking up the boys from school. I then head home and they get snacks and approximately 30 minutes to unwind. (I do insist however that shoes be placed in bins and backpacks hung up before they start their down time!) I usually begin dinner prep during this time as well.  After some down time, we sit down at the table for homework time. This is a shot of the boys doing homework this evening. Tyler doesn't have homework but insists on "doing homework." He uses a preschool workbook I picked up at the book store.

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Trever Borrowed My Camera Again

I also found these shots on my camera card today.  He's a future facebooker in the making ;).  They were too cute not to share.

 Ignore the unorganized bathroom countertop and mirror that needs to be cleaned please!

 We're in trouble now!!!

  He learned to take a picture of himself in the mirror and not get the camera in the shot.

 Gotta love the pin curl clip on his nose!

Wolverine rocks!  Too bad he has to hand down this shirt to his cousin now.  Its getting to tight.  :(

5316 Sanders Dr- Before & Half Way

We are well underway on our second flip.  This house was being rented by a CAT HOARDER, before we purchased it from the owner.  No lie the renter had chain locks on the bedroom doors to keep her children in the rooms, yet had holes cut between each room in the house that allowed the cats to run freely.  I don't get it at all. I will never understand it when people place animals before human beings.  I will not soap box about this I promise! What I do know is, we purchased the house for a great price and great location and have lots of confidence it will sell fast!

Here is the link to the album of befores:

5316 Sanders

Here is the link to the album of where we are today:

5316 Sanders Half Way

When we are completed I will do the side by side views so that you can see how far it really came.