Recap

This weekend Brayden spent his last weekend with Todd's parents. They took him downtown to the memorial service on the circle. Then grandpa took him to see the movie Battleship. Once they got back from that they went out for pizza. He was worn out. He fell asleep on the way back to grandpa and grandma's house.

Saturday they took him to the Indy 500 parade. He took his little American flag with him. His favorite part of the parade was when the motorcycles went past and the guy rode down the road standing up on it. They had a late lunch at McDonald's. They were going to go to a baseball game but grandpa looked at the schedule wrong and the game was an away game. Since it had been a busy weekend thus far they decided to stay at home and watch movies. Gannon and I hung out at home. We were on our way out to go get some diapers and I was attacked by our front screen door. It hurt I glanced down and there was no blood. So I proceeded to walk to our car to continue on with our errands. On the way down the road I was at a stoplight and looked down and noticed it had started to bleed. So in the parking lot I cleaned it up thinking okay we will be alright. Just kidding. It was running (luckily it didn't get on my shoe). Needless to say once I got into Walgreen's I found the band aids ASAP and sat down in the middle of the isle and fixed myself. It was touch a go on whether I needed stitches but I waited and waited and decided against it. I was also gonna put some ice on it but we had no ice BUT we did have those frozen Daley's. So I put that to good use and used that as my ice. Hey it worked!

Sunday has been pretty chill. It's been so hot. I have been fighting off a migraine most the day. Brayden got home this morning after him and grandpa drove around the airport to see some fun planes. Brayden acted and looked tired, Gannon has been cranky, and I have been packing. This week is going to be very busy with all the packing I have to do. I can't believe two weeks from today we will officially be living in TX! I can't wait to see the house Todd has picked out for us. The pictures I have seen make the house look great so I am really really excited! 

I have to laugh because every few minutes Brayden keeps asking me something about Texas. He has now decided in his Texas home he will have a game room like Incredible Pizza, Halloween room, Science Room, Sports room, and a game room. All these rooms he thinks he needs in our house means that Todd will need to work overtime to get this huge house Brayden wants. I love listening to his imagination on what he describes how he wants each room to be. I told Todd today about my head hurting and I think it's the weather and because it is so dry and humid. He told me I was prepping for TX.

Did you guys have a great weekend? What fun things did you do?
XO -Lins

Book Club Friday

I am going to talk about two books today. I wasn't able to blog last Friday but I did want to tell about the third and final 50 Shades Freed.

I was really not a fan of this book. Where the second book left off you would have thought they would take you through the wedding. It took me a little bit to catch on and to get into the book when they would just look back and think back about the wedding. I think after the first book had so much sex the second and third book just got boring. You would know what was coming and the scenario never really changed. It left me wanting more. There was a time or two that it did have you feeling like oh well this will get interesting now but then it just dropped off such as when she found out she was pregnant.  I was kind of tired of the double crap, inner goddess, and feeling my sex.


My next book I am going to tell you about is Bethenny Frankel Skinnydipping.

Per Amazon:

“Who do I have to sleep with to get a drink on this plane?” Beloved by countless fans for being devilishly dishy, outrageously funny, and always giving it to us straight, three-time New York Times bestselling author Bethenny Frankel now makes her fiction debut with the story of Faith Brightstone. Faith is an aspiring actress just out of college, who moves to L.A. determined to have it all—a job on the most popular TV show, a beach house in Malibu, and a gorgeous producer boyfriend. But when reality hits, she finds herself with a gig as a glorified servant, a role that has more to do with T&A than acting, and a dead-end relationship. Finally, Faith decides she’s had enough of La La Land and moves back to New York with just a suitcase and her dog, Muffin.
Five years later, Faith has finally found her groove as an entrepreneur and manages to land a spot on a new reality TV show hosted by her idol—the legendary businesswoman and domestic goddess Sybil Hunter. Diving into the bizarre world of reality TV, Faith’s loud mouth and tell-it-like-it-is style immediately get her in trouble with her fellow contestants—the delusional socialite; the boozy lifestyle coach; the moody headband designer; and her closest friend, the ambitious housewife who eventually betrays her. Even Sybil is not what she appears.
As the show comes to a dramatic close, Faith discovers that the man of her dreams may have just walked into her life. Will she choose fame or love? Or can she have it all?

Now my thoughts as I was reading this book was I felt like it was actually Bethenny talking. You could imagine her going through this in her real life. It seemed like maybe she had but just changed the names. I am a huge Bethenny Frankel fan because she keeps everything real and does not change to be someone else on or off camera. This book was just okay. It was not one that I couldn't put down. Honestly I tried to finish it yesterday and I couldn't. I am not sure if it is because I have followed her on TV or what.

Have you read either of these books?

XO -Lins

Last day of school

Today was Brayden's last day at his school. I am the mom who drove slowly after dropping him off and recorded him running up the stairs into the school for the last time. I am also the mom that stood in the grass recording him coming out of the school for the last time and tell the staff members we became really close to bye. I am also the mom who teared up when seeing it and got sad and teared up when Miss G came down to the street and hugged me bye. I honestly never thought I would love a school so much but I do. Like I have said in a previous post this place is more of a family. This new school has HUGE shows to fill!!

Today was my dad's last day teaching. He retired after teaching for 38 years (at the same school) and coaching for 30 years. In those 38 years he taught 6th grade for 10 years and then 28 years Junior High. My dad is has taught several subjects. Some of them being Geography, Map Skills, Heath and Safety, Drivers Ed and P.E.  Some of these classes are also high school classes too. There are not to many teachers who can say they taught at the same school they started out with.

One of my best memories is when I had my dad when I was in 7th grade. He did NOT take it easy on me. At the start of the school year since I had to have my dad as a teacher I told him he was not to call on me in class only if I put my pinkie up in the air. He actually did listen to me on that aspect. Then when in high school our sophomore year we could choose if we wanted to take World Geography or History. I picked History so I wouldn't have my dad. HA HA Needless to say my mom was not a happy camper that I didn't pick my dad. I had a good reason not picking him. I didn't want made fun of. Kids thought I got special treatment just because my parents worked at the school. I thought it would be easier not to have him so the kids didn't think I had it "easy" in his class. Another memory he was my drivers ed teacher. I was a competitive gymnast so when I was of age to drive I had to go out of state for a competition. My dad drove me through KY to put my time in. When we got back he had another teacher also ride along as a second opinion. The other teacher wanted to give me an A because I am a good driver. Dad said nah give her an A-...I never once made a driver mistake. I went home and told mom and dad got in trouble. Dad has not ever lived that down!

Daddy,
You are one of the best role models ever! I am so proud that God picked me to be your daughter. I am glad that I was able to go through school and have you be my teacher. I think you are a fantastic teacher and really relate to your students. You are a great listener and very knowledgeable about all of the subjects you teach on. Mom and I are so proud of you. You have always worked so hard for our family so we can have what we want. You have always stood by us and supported us. You have always been a good sport when you were out numbered by mom and I! :) Thank you for showing me what a husband/father should do for their family. It really set my standards high growing up on knowing what kind of man I wanted to be my husband and the father of my children. I love you daddy! Thank you again for everything you have ever done for me. You are the best daddy ever!
XO -Lins

Busy day

Today was so so busy. I had so much to do and tried to fit it all in. Needless to say that didn't happen. Once I got Brayden off to school I decided to make some cookies for a few of the staff members and give them thank you cards. Originally I was going to have Todd sent me something from TX to give each of them but I thought a hand written note was a little more personal than a trinket.

I had to go in for an end of the year meeting at the school today. As I was going I thought to myself I am not going to cry! HA We all did great until the very end. Of course there were some tears. Words can't express on how awesome of a school Brayden goes too. This school is more of a "family" than anything. When you drop your child off you know that they are not only going to get taught their lessons that day but also get the love from the teacher and staff members.

Our first encounter with this school was when Brayd was in Kindergarten last year. Mrs. M really set the standards very very high. She was always going above and beyond for our son. It really takes a special person to be a teacher. I should know my dad has taught for 38 years. Todd and I were a little nervous about his teacher this year. She was young and this was her first "classroom" job. Miss G gave us NOTHING to worry about. She picked up where Mrs. M left off. What is something else that is really special about Miss G she has my cell and I have hers after school hours she will text me or I will text her. She stays in contact with me contstantly through email. I am sorry we are going to miss out watching her and passing her at the school. I honestly wish we could pack her up and take her with us. It's also nice to know that Miss G is so layed back. She loves to have a great time with her class and when the class gets to talking about something other than the subject they are talking about she finds a way to turn it into a lesson to which they are learning. That takes quick thinking. One of my favorites with Miss G is to listen to her tell stories about Brayd. She gets into them and her facial expressions just crack me up. Brayd even told her one day during a paper they were doing together that I was as pretty as Daisy...(Daisy is our Golden Retriever that is 2 yrs old) HA HA!

This school has a great support staff! We can't talk about the teachers without talking about the others. It's great when we are out in the community and we run into one of them they take the time and stop and chat with us and mainly Brayden. They spend non school hours working to make the learning better for the kids and helping the teachers. The thought that has gone into getting binders and packets ready to send to the new school for Brayd so the new school will be informed on him was amazing. They are a bunch of hard working ladies.

This new school in TX has a lot to live up too. Todd is suppose to go tour the new school today. Hopefully the tour will go well. I read that their were 913 students just from K-5 and that is for one school! I can't imagine that. That is basically the entire school from K-12 where I grew up! I graduated with like 65 kids I think. I hope that Brayd is not just a number at the school but the staff get to know him like his current school has. One thing that touched me in the meeting today the staff that Brayd is involved with daily is going to take a picture of themselves so Brayd can have it to keep. 

 This was the first day of school. How adorable is Miss G?!?!?!

We sure are going to miss all of you guys! Please stay in touch!!!
XO -Lins

Mother's Day

Everyone thinks that their mom is the best mom in the entire world. I KNOW my mom is the best mom in the entire world. She has taught me so much. I am the one that is honored that I was the chosen one when God picked me to be her daughter. My mom is the strongest, kindest, smartest, prettiest, loving, caring,  most nurturing person there is. My mom always tries to find the good in someone and does not speak poorly of others.

Mommy-
I love you so so much! You are my world. I enjoy our morning chats that we have together when I drop Brayden off at school. I enjoy our afternoon chats when I go pick Brayden up from school. I enjoy our chats in between those other times.  This is our last Mother's day in Indiana together but hopefully next year will be the first of many more together in Houston. I have always tried to model myself after you of being such a fantastic wife and mother. I hope that I am half of what you are to Todd and our two boys. I am glad you are my best friend in the entire world and we can talk about anything together. I love that I am almost 30 and still call you mommy. I love that you are the best mamaw ever to our boys. You remind me of how mamaw was the best to me. I can't wait to spend the day with you.

I love you mommy!
XO -Lins

Book Club Friday Link Up

Hi Everyone I am linking up with Blonde Undercover for book club Friday!

This week I am going to tell you about 50 Shades Darker

I was glad when I started reading this one that it picked up where it left off from 50 Shades of Grey. I was wanting more when the book was over. I thought the beginning of the book was really good. It caught your attention and interest but then I felt like it was missing something in the middle of it. Basically it was all the different ways to have sex whether it being "vanilla" or "kinky". That got kind of old to me. It got better towards the end where again it left you hanging wanting more. Towards the end it turns into a mystery type of setting. It is an okay book but not my favorite. I do suggest if you have read the first book then continue to read all three because there are different twist throughout. 

If you have read this book what did you think? 

XO -Lins

Safety

I think stressing saftey to our little ones is one of the most important things to teach them. Maybe because I come from a small town that I get scared easily of larger towns and cities. Our oldest Brayden is one of the most friendliest kids I know. If a stranger talks to him he will talk to them and tell them his name and if Gannon is around he will tell Gannon's name too. I have tried to stress several times the importancce of not telling a stranger his name or his brother's name. I have really tried to stress it more since we are moving to the 4th largest city in the U.S.  I've tried to explain to him why we don't talk to strangers and why we don't tell strangers our names. He views as everyone being nice. I wish the world was that way. I really hope he will realize once we are down there what I am trying to say. I think that is another reason why I don't put many pictures of them on my blog.

I am also having issues with Brayden and Gannon fighting. They are 6yrs and 4 months apart. Gannon is at the age now where everything big brother plays with is so cool and he wants to do too. So when Brayd is at school Gan will break into his room and play with his toys. All I feel like I get done doing is scolding that Brayd needs to be nice to his brother and let him play with him too. It was a huge fight this morning before school. All I heard was yelling from Brayd and crying from Gan. I really hope they grow out of this stage soon. I don't like to see them fight. They do love each other tho. It's my favorite part of the day when I watch them give each other hugs and love on each other. I am an only child so I didn't have anyone to fight with. This is all whole new ballgame to me! :)


XO -Lins

Weekend Fun

This weekend was spent outside most of the time. We had hot somewhat humid weather and the kids and I took full advantage of it! Friday evening we ended up going over to Grandpa and Grandma's and grilled out hot dogs. Gannon and I were outside most of the time. He loves to run in their yard. They have six golden retriever dogs, one in particular always follows him around. One point in time he ended up laying down in the grass and Gabi layed beside him. It was so sweet. He didn't stay down long. With the hot dogs he ended up with ketchup in between his fingers. Grandpa took Brayden to see a movie. They went to see Avengers. Brayd loved it! While Grandpa and Brayd went out Grandma thought that Gannon needed some ice cream. So we went and grabbed some ice cream. By the end of it he had ice cream in his hair. One thing that got me and kind of ticked unnerved me a little while we were eating ice inside the restaurant there was another older couple there eating their supper. The wife kept looking over and giving us dirty looks for Gannon making noises...mind you Gannon is 20 months. Tell me what 20 month old is going to sit and not say one word or make one sound. UGH it made us so made. So I said loud enough where they could hear that I guess if they had kids they were perfect and very quiet. My mother in law suggested a dentist. Although they could not hear that. What made it a little funnier there was a family that had three or four small children sitting behind them...they made loud noises too!

Saturday we ended up going and visiting with mamaw and papaw. We played in the yard there all evening. We then ordered some pizza for supper and the boys got in the tub. Boy by the time they were done outside at mamaw and papaws they needed a bath BAD! We flew Brayden's helicopter that he got for his bday. Well it broke so I have to take it back. I am a horrible helicopter driver! I ended up getting it stuck on top of the roof of the garage and then once it got free it got stuck in a tree. Luckily our friend Andy was there to help us free it!

Sunday we have hung out because it is soooo hot out today. We flew kites this morning while it was cooler but we have been inside hanging. Gannon took the longest nap this afternoon that I know he will be going to bed late.

Did you guys have a fun weekend? What did you do?
XO -Lins

Book Club Friday Link Up

Hi everyone! I am doing something new instead of doing Confessional Friday I am going to link up with Blonde Under Cover for Book Club Friday!

<a border="0" href="http://www.blondeundercoverblonde.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://sites.google.com/site/blondeublonde/files/bookclubbutton.png" /></a>

50 Shades of Gray is the book that I had just finished and I am currently reading 50 Shades Darker. If you are debating on reading this book I suggest that you go out and read it. The book is written kind of poorly but on the flip side it is one that you can not put down. Maybe I am just not reading the right smut books but this book goes into so much detail that I felt myself blushing at times! HA HA The ending is not what you expect which makes you want to run out and get 50 Shades Darker.

Happy Reading! :)

XO -Lins

Handmade things

 I have noticed that more and more I am loving the more antique items. I love the way they look and I love that you can make them into your own for what fits into your home. I went to school with a girl name Jodi. She is a few years younger than me but is very very talented. She has made me several items to go into my home, my parents, and my in laws home. She recently found me a old barn window and painted it black and antiqued it for me. In the window slots I am going to put black and white photos of my family.

If you go to The Olde Crow Mill on facebook you will be able to see her work. She can really make anything that you want. Her prices are great and she will ship it anywhere in the United States. Not sure about international.  If you go to her facebook page please "like" it and tell her I sent you. Once we get a few more people to follow my blog then we are going to do a give away from an item she has made! :) We need to get up to 25 followers first! :) Tell your friends to become a follower of my blog! :)

 

 
Remember go to The Olde Crow Mill 
XO -Lins

Thankful

I have four very important men in my life. My daddy, my husband, and my two boys. My daddy started out on the way I looked at a man while I was growing up. He showed me what a marriage should be and how a father should be towards their children. I always knew that my standard for finding a husband was set very high and I would not just settle for anything or anyone. For everyone who knows me they know that I am one determined hard headed person; when I set out to do or get something I will do it or get it one way or another. So when I met Todd the bar was set very high. I knew instantly he was the one I was going to marry and spend the rest of my life with. He meshed well with my family and friends. He keeps me on my toes still to this day. Most of all he loves me to the moon and back.  

Todd is my best friend, hard worker, fabulous dad and so much more. When Todd and I met I was not expecting much. We were set up by mutual friends. My friend was over at his place which he shared with his roommate. His roomie and my friend were actually dating. So when my friend called me and told me she wanted to introduce me to her boyfriends roommate I didn't think much of it. I told her I would be over in a bit after I went for a run. So I did my thing and then went over to their place. They weren't home from work yet so we just had to wait which seemed like forever. Really is was only like 20 mins. In the meantime I told my friend if he is weird or what not I am leaving. Friends is on tonight and I don't want to miss the episode. So Todd and the roommate pull up and Todd gets out of the car and I can't speak. He says hi and I manage to say hello back. Then he asks me to open the door for him (he was carrying a huge box) and I looked at him like who me. He totally had to think I was a dumb blonde. We ordered pizza but got dessert from Dominoes and while we were out we decided to go grab a movie. He told me I could pick the movie. So I picked Jay and Silent Bob. Once we got back and started watching the movie I only stayed for like 30 mins. By this time it was getting late and I had school the next day and he had work. Not to mention he needed to be wanting to spend more time with me so I had to play hard to get a little bit! :) He walked me to my car and asked for my number. He called me the next day once I was done with my classes. He asked me out on a date for that night. I had the worst time picking out something to wear. I ended up wearing a short skirt. Did I also mention he was late for our date like an hour late. He decided once he got home from work to relax for a few mins and drink a beer or two maybe three before he got ready. MEN! He took me out to the Olive Garden to eat and then we went to a movie. He walked me back up to my apartment and that is the end of it. We basically moved in with each other then. I never did believe in love at first site until I met him. I have never been speechless before.

 He has taught me a lot over the past ten years that we have been together. We have had our ups and downs like most couples. Four months into our relationship he took me to Spain to spend time with his family. That was the best ten days ever! I doubt I would have ever experienced that if we hadn't met. He has taught me how to love. He has taken over the role on treating me like a princess thanks to my daddy. :) He has given me a chance to be a mom to two wonderful boys. He has taught me to trust.  I think trust is the hardest thing in a relationship. I also hope that I have taught him some stuff to over the past ten years. I know I have taught him that when I have my woman gut feeling to go with that because I ALWAYS end up being right! ;)

 Our biggest adventure started a couple of months ago when we took the leap of faith to pick up and move to a different state 1,000 miles away from our friends, family, and everything we know. We know absolutely nobody in Texas. What we will do is make memories and have many adventures in our new state. What I admire most about my husband is how he is down in Texas now working at his new job and keeping us up here. It's hard not having my husband around but I am surrounded by our friends and family. He has just the people he works with.

 There are times throughout the day that I sit back and wonder how lucky I am to get a man like him. I always knew that when I grew up I wanted to marry a man like my daddy. I think know I scored big time. I am thankful that I have someone that supports me in everything I do. I am thankful that my husband works so hard so I can be a stay at home mom. I am thankful that I have a husband who is a fantastic role model for our boys. I am thankful that he loves our boys to the moon and back and more! Most of all I am thankful that I married my best friend.

Babe I know I don't tell you enough but I am very proud for the man that you have grown to become. I am so proud of you on how hard you work for our family. I know right now it is tough that we are not all together but we will be back together under one roof soon. This is just making our relationship a lot stronger. I am very proud on the direction that you are taking your career. I love to watch on how ambitious you are. Thank you for giving me my perfect little family.


XO -Lins