Body Art

Not many words needed for this post.  Needless to say, Beau found some markers.  And did some decorating...

 He was VERY proud of himself!

Cried when I tried to scrub it off.

The end.

More Randoms...

 I just finished an amazing book series!!  If you like to read, you must read the Hunger Games!!!  I love it when a book grabs me and I just can't put it down.  I had a few sleepless nights while I read through the three books in the series, but it was SO worth it!!  Blake had already read them, so it was so fun to discuss them with him.  The Hunger Games movie is coming out March 23 and Blake and I can't wait!!

 I got an email about a Young Scientists of American contest where the student has to "invent" something that could help the environment....(not sure I even really understand it all).  I showed it to Blake and he was ALL over it!!  This is a sketch of his first invention.  SO over my head!  But, he had to scrap this one because the wind turbine idea he was using in his invention is copyrighted.  So, he has already come up with another idea!  He has to make a 2 minute video and submit it to be entered.  I'm so proud of him for taking the initiative to do this.  He really loves science and this seems to be a good outlet for a lot of pent up scientific creativity:)

 One morning we made waffles for Saturday breakfast.  I thought these 3 looked so cute lined up at the bar!!

 One afternoon Sharon's house was being shown, but Beau was at MDO so I was running around in Ft. Smith.  So, Sharon and Whit just hung out at my house.  At nap time, Whitney took a nap in Beau's bed.  How sweet is that????

 This is the latest in the "driving on the trail" saga...Travis texted me this picture and told me he got it from the Greenwood Police Dept. and I might be in trouble. He said the police chief wanted to talk to me:).  All I can say is that I think Travis has too much time on his hands at work some days.  He is pretty good with Photoshop though!! 

It's been a heck of a month!!

Random January Stuff...

 Lots of random things I don't want to forget...

Hanging out with Malory at MiMi's Cafe.  Bonding over an iPod:)

 Evan and his newest abscess.  Went to see Dr. Bishop this morning.  He is having another "pulpotomy" next Tuesday.  Poor Ev.

 Blake got 2nd place in a regional art contest!!  His drawing is being sent to another contest!

 I've gotten the eBay selling bug!  I'm selling everything that's not nailed down;)  This is the box I "made" out of a huge piece of cardboard.  Rockband guitar...bye bye!!

 It has been SO pretty lately.  You would never guess it is January.  Beau decided to do a little vacuuming outside:)

 Hard at work!

 One day I had lunch with Sharon and Kim at Geno's.  The kids were really good.  They all got in those positions by themselves:)

Good, busy, happy month!

Happy Day!!

I have been looking forward to this day for a VERY long time!!!  Sweet Gracie Faith Jones made her debut at her very own Sip and See!!!

This is one VERY blessed little girl!  She has been prayed WAY more than the average baby...that's for sure!!  She is so precious and every time I look at her it is a reminder that God is faithful and that he does answer prayers.

Sweet Gracie and her Daddy.

Mommy Melissa showing off her "ruffle booty".  Her outfit couldn't have been any cuter!

 A picture of that sweet face (mommy's too:)

Little Gracie Faith....you are one very loved little girl!!!

Date Night

A couple of weeks ago we managed to go out on a real date night with Ryan and Sharon.  We both had a gift certificate to the Red Barn (thanks Drennan's) so we decided to try it out! 

We had SO much fun sitting in our "stall".    Travis looks thrilled to be there:)

 Ryan looks just as thrilled!

 Sharon and I posing with the horse;)

 Wed decided to have a little Goody's afterwards.  I caught a quick pic of the boy's feet:)  Twinkies.  Ha!

 Sharon and I.

It was a much needed, fun night out!  Trying to pack as much in as possible before Sharon leaves me:(

Blake's Project

After we got Blake's room painted and rearranged we knew he still needed something on the big blank wall.  I found some artwork in an Etsy shop that I really liked, but it was $179.  I decided I would try to "re-create" it on my budget:)

I bought some canvases at Michael's and with the help of Travis's mad math skills, got my stripes all spaced out and started taping.

Travis is seriously a genius at figuring out the math on how to measure and space things.  It would have taken me 6 hours to try to figure out how to space the stars and then it still would have been wrong:)  Thanks Sherry and Sharon for loaning me the Cricut cartridge and machine to cut the stars:)

 The finished product.  I think it turned out pretty cool!

 Hanging on the wall:)  It matches Blake's bedding perfectly and breaks up the big blue wall.

For about $25 I and a little elbow grease I am pretty happy with the way it turned out!

Brag

I have been realizing lately just how blessed I am to have such good "early" boys:)  I am the absolute opposite of a morning person.  I am at my WORST between 6:30-8:00 in the morning.  I get a burst of energy every night around 10:30 and just absolutely can't go to sleep before midnight.  I get some of my best thinking and planning done and anything else that doesn't make too much noise during that time!  But, the mornings are absolutely PAINFUL!!!  I literally hurts for me to wake up.  So, I don't do it very well.

But, my big boys are amazing!  They both set their alarms at night and get up all by themselves.  They pick out their clothes, get dressed, come in our bathroom, brush their hair and teeth, and head to the kitchen to fix breakfast and eat.  Somewhere around 7:15 I usually finally manage to drag myself out of bed.  I walk like a zombie into the kitchen to watch them eat and kiss them as they walk out the door.  I know, I'm a lousy morning mom!!  And wife for that matter.  I've tried to make myself be a morning person.  Over and over.  It just doesn't work. 

So, for now I'm just going to brag on my boys.  They take up the slack in the mornings when I totally fail!!!  I'm very proud of the young men they are becoming and I am thankful that they are responsible and helpful and love me anyway!!  And I'm thankful that Travis doesn't gripe about it too much.  I know it makes his blood boil when he is up getting ready and I'm paralyzed in bed while everyone is getting ready around me.  All I can say is that I inherited it from my parents:).  Can I blame them for my problem???? :)

Oh how I love these boys!!!