Amendment to my last post ....

Sorry, I can't believe I even let that last post pass my inspection! Those pictures were aweful! Is this better? How about a little more description too ..... this is Braden's GREAT grandma. She is really GREAT! We hate that she lives so far away, and we also hate that she isn't here more often. I even tried to talk her into moving in with us. I have a neighbor that I've already identified as a perfect BFF for her! Anyway, here's some better pictures. And Shelly ... I'm truly sorry. You know you can tell my mood by my blogs/lack thereof! I'll get better I promise! No one wants to hear my blogs about how tired I am, how hard I'm working at the gym, and how I can't sleep at night because I just lost the love of my life! Ha! Well, you don't! So I filter my posts!
This face is why I get out of bed most morning!
Jeeps ran out at the last minute to buy him a swing. And then he acted surprised that he couldn't get any work done because Braden wanted him to swing him all day!

A visit from Grandma

She was only here for 2 days, and I wish I'd gotten more pictures, but Braden had fun with his great grandma! We hate that she lives so far away!

Fathers' Day 2009

So I'm pretty sure I'm up for daughter of the year with this one ....Yep, I got him a steak branding iron with his initials from Williams Sanoma! He loves it!

and a cool cutting board too!

So I almost forgot the most exciting part of my day ... I got stung by a bee! On the bottom of my foot! Braden and I were playing out in the pool, and I stepped on it! OUCH! I seriously would take labor over that pain ... and my epidural didn't work!!!!! I cried like a baby. Braden freaked out. It's better now, but I can hardly walk! Call me a baby if you want, but it seriously hurts way worse than I ever would imagine from a tiny little creature. I think the stinger is still in my foot. Any ideas on how to get it out?!

HAPPINESS

What is happiness? Happiness is my sons tiny little arms around my neck as I tuck him in at night. Happiness is the smell of my new dog after I gave her a bath in my $22 bottle of Matrix conditioner. Happiness is the pizza buffet at Mazzios with Grammy and Jeeps. Happiness is the smell of rain from my back porch when I'm all alone with my thoughts. Happiness is the look on my son's face today when I left work early to take him to see a movie with his friend. Happiness is when all my coworkers stick their heads in the OR doors to check on me when I had a bad day this week. Happiness is when a friend from high school surprise visited me after Braden went to bed last night. Happiness is giving my money online to my church and IMMEDIATELY finding I have more money in my account that I thought I did. Happiness is when Braden tells me, "Momma, I love you the whole world," when I dropped him off this morning at school.

You see .... that is what I've been doing this week .... redefining "happiness." I so selfishly thought the happiness in my life revolved around me. When I found myself "unhappy" I started to let my life and my little family slip down with me. I'm not perfect, and I don't even claim to be completely "happy" right now, but I have a world of great things around me, more love than I can even describe in words, and a growing faith in the Lord makes me want to push forward and be a better person.

(Sorry Shelly! Is that better?)
I left work today 2 hours early to surprise Braden and Rhagan at school. I took them to see "Up" in 3D. It was really good.

Andres and Jackie went too!

Our Uncle Dre .... he's been a great support for us for the past 3 years. Thank you.
I'm not sure what we ever did without our Lucy. These two are inseparable, and she is such a blessing. She is actually an inspiration - she came from a not-so-perfect life, to a tad bit better one, and she is so sweet and loving. I'm not sure if I told the whole story, but she was rescued from a puppy-mill where she most likely took abuse from her owners, and certainly neglect. She also had heartworms, and was seconds away from being euthanized when her wonderful foster mom and angel, Julie Roberts, literally kidnapped her from the shelter and rallied around town for money to treat her. So many people and their kind hearts saved her from death and brought her to us in a strangely unexpected way. Many had/still have their doubts, but we are so thankful to have her and will do our best to be the best family for her.

Answer to a tiny little prayer

So getting a dog is a bad idea for us for one reason .... our schedule. As I was talking it through with some coworkers, one of my managers says, "Oh I have a doggy door for patio doors that you can just HAVE!" What? Those things are almost $300!!!! And just as I'm worried that my timid little scaredy-dog won't have anything to do with a doggy door ... she took right to it! Yay!!!! And I installed it all by myself!

We love our friends!

I'm not quite sure if it was out of pity or if these people had nothing better to do on a Sunday, but we were surrounded by our great friends today all day long. They came out to play on a slip n slide and tiny little blow up pool. Thank you, guys! I have some really great friends. Becky, Kenton, Julie, Jeremy, Andres, Christy, and your babies, and fur babies ..... thank you thank you thank you for keeping us busy today! 
The slipnslide was big-kid friendly


Andres' puppy took a few swims!

New family member!

Ok, so here she is. Her name is now Lucy. She was "Cricket." Here's her success story link on their website ..... http://labrescue.net/adoptables_current/adopted_200906/cricket.htm. Her foster mommy has emailed me a few times (from vacation on some island!) to tell me her story and what a sweet girl we have. She was beaten and used as a puppy machine, and her foster said that she watched her go from a scared little girl who would not let anyone pet her to the sweetest pup she's ever fostered. She said she's had over 90 rescues in her years with the foundation, and she's one of four dogs that she's wished she could keep. The best part is she wants to dog sit for me if I ever go out of town! Yay! I know it sounds nuts because I work out of town, and I'm a single mom with enough on my plate. I hope to prove my doubters wrong and make Lucy a special part of my little family for as long as God will let us keep her! She recently had pups, and took to Braden immediately like he was hers! They were instant buds, and it really made me tear up when they met because we just all knew she was the one! She's such a calm, submissive dog. So far, we've learned that she's scared to get in the car (fear of being dumped we think), and she HATES taking a bath with the hose in the backyard! HA! We'll have to get use to that! She doesn't fetch ... so much for the 6 pack of tennis balls I bought for her homecoming gift! Oh well. Ok, that's enough. Just wanted to introduce my bloggy friends to the new addition. Love you all!