The age of innocence

What I wouldn't give to have Kara in the backyard on the swingset laughing like nothing was wrong ...For those of you who do not know ... this is Braden's buddy, Connor. His mother Kara and I have been friends for 10 years, were roommates for a while after college, and now have the great opportunity to raise our boys just 1.2 miles away from each other. Kara lost her 46 year old father last night very unexpectedly. Connor has been with us all weekend, and it has really made me realize just how precious life really is. He may not remember what a special person his "G-pa" really was, but he was a dad to everyone he knew. He reminds me a lot of my dad in the sense that all of Kara's friends knew him as "dad" and not Kerry. He owned a bait and tackle shop here in town that Kara has worked at for many years, and he was very well known and loved here in Claremore. So many people will miss him. Please pray for my friend Kara, her husband Brandon, her brothers Eric and Cameron, and her mother Tammy. I've tried so hard all weekend to find the words to comfort her, and I just can't. I can't even begin to imagine what it would be like to lose my dad right now. He was my dad's age ... 46. Tell your loved ones that you love them, hold them tight, and never take a minute for granted.

Need some prayers!

I am needing my blogger friends to start praying .... my good friend Kara, whom most of you know, just lost her father. He died doing what he loves best ... sitting at the Arkansas game. It was very unexpected. He left behind a wife, 3 kids, and his grandson Connor, Braden's buddy. His youngest son is only 13. I cannot even begin to imagine what this family is about to endure ... please pray.

This morning, I ran my first race - the Race for the Cure. I did ok ... 31 minutes - better than I expected. I want to get under 30 for the Tulsa Run in October. This is my friend Jennifer who smoked my rear today at 27

The Tulsa World reported 12,000 runners! Wow!

We had to take Zebra to the ER today because he fell of the chair and broke BOTH legs! Ha

Claremore Regional had a childrens' safety fair today. The ER did a great job putting on a teddy bear clinic. It was great. They asked Braden his name, birthday, and what happened ... he had to go through admissions, get a bracelet, sit in the waiting room, get xrays, and the ER doctor came in and diagnosed him! It was hilarious. Braden just kept saying, "poooooor Zebra!" Ha! Braden loved it! Zebra is still recuperating. He has to leave his splints on for 6 weeks, and no baths! He needs to be more careful!

Braden and I both really test ourselves!

So after Braden's near-drowning incident last summer, he still has a fear of being in deep water. I talked to a friend of mine at the gym that teaches the swim classes for the kids, and next thing you know .... here we are in swim lessons. He is a little timid, but today was day 2 and he's getting much better! Gary is very patient and persistent with him, so I think this will be a good experience. I'm not looking for him to learn to swim just to be more comfortable in the water!

As for my challenge? Well, I will be running my first 5K race this weekend. I know to some that doesn't sound like much, but I am NOT a runner! I really have to dig deep to get my body and mind to cooperate long enough to run at all!! HA! I also did my orientation today at the child abuse shelter here in Tulsa. It was so awesome! It works just like I'd hoped it would ... I have a badge that will literally let me in any time I want! I could show up and rock babies or just sit in the floor and watch TV with the teenagers. I can even arrange off-campus activities with the kids, and they will provide the transportation and money for the kids. It's great! I am really looking forward to getting as much out of this experience as I possibly can. I don't have a lot of time to dedicate to them, but I think I'll get out of it what I put in! Also, I start KICKBALL tomorrow! Ha yeah I know, right?! Me, kickball? Eh ... I'm just wanting to be a little more social with my "not-mom" friends. No offense guys! Braden will come to probably most of the games, but I just really would like to do some stuff for ME and my wellbeing. He gets swim class; I get kickball! Hope everyone is having a good week!

I'd like to briefly mention my friends Julie and Kenton: they are going through their first IUI today (insemination!) They have struggled with fertility issues for a while now, and I just would like to ask everyone to pray that this works for them. It would be such a blessing if it works the first time! I love you, Julie! You have brought such joy to my life by being my friend lately. I feel like I'm right there with you in this journey, and I can not wait to go through a pregnancy with you! We all really take a lot for granted. I think God sent me Julie to remind me that being a single mom is such a blessing, and I have alot to be thankful for! I've gotta go hug my baby .....

Love you all!

Amber

I love Duff!

So I love Ace of Cakes! If you don't know who Duff is .... then you are so missing out! I am addicted to Ace of Cakes - it's on right now on the Food Network! He makes amazing cake creations - hard to really call them cakes. Anyway, here is my challenge for my blogging buddies ... I WANT A FREAKING DUFF CAKE! I don't care if it's my 50th birthday .... just make it happen! Ha! And I would also like to go on a date with him. Let me know if you can make that happen. Thanks!

hahaha

The highly anticipated Before and Afters

Of all the ugly things in my kitchen, I hated this sink the worst. It had no sprayer, the hole for the garbage disposal was jacked up so I had to hold something over it every time I put something down it or I'd get hit in the face with flying food particles! I had no sprayer!
New sink with a great sprayer! Dad put in a new garbage disposal too!
The old cabinets, countertops, and hardware

the new cabinets and hardware (same old ones - new look) and the great new tile!

old nasty carpet and ugly wall color

new tile ... new green walls

old ugly wood paneling, gross countertop, and brown appliances

same old stuff .... new fresh look! The only thing left to do is seal the grout next weekend and put my little island counter thing back in ... I miss it. I'm not sure what to do with all my crap when I walk in the door now.

and, of course, what everyone has been waiting for ...... Braden's whale before ....

and after ...

Labor Day weekend

We did a whole lotta nothin! I had kickball practice Sunday, so Braden had to go and show me up! He ran his little booty off for a couple hours, and then we went on a 6 mile bike ride on the river and had dinner alone at Los Cabos ... we are pretty lame! HA! He slept the entire bike ride and griped the entire dinner .... it's time for me to start dating! Anyway, here's some fun pictures.

Today we took Lucy to the Dog Wash ... it was really cool. It's just like a car wash ... it takes quarters (like 20 of them) and it has a dial with options like "shampoo" "conditioner" and "big dog dry" or "little dog dry" She hated it, of course. There's a fenced in area with a sign on it that says, "clothes line." Pretty clever ...

Wet, tired, very freaked out Lucy .... she looks like she just saw a ghost!

Braden joins the Army

Not really ... actually, until I got over there - he was totally freaked out that the helicopter might take off with him in it! When I walked over to join him and Jeeps, he agreed to go if I went! HA! This was at Weston's first football game. They flew over before the game (Braden and I were in the bathroom, so we missed it!)

This was Friday morning. It was raining, and we were slow at work so we went in an hour late and stopped off at Starbucks for some breakfast! This is probably my most favorite thing in the world to do ... especially with my favorite date!

Of course, I have to throw in some kitchen pictures. We are getting close to the finish line. Of course by "we" I mean Jeeps! He rented a wet saw to do the cuts and finish the tile ... just have to get them all glued around the edges, and grout! The backsplash is on the to-do list as well.