Carpet Adventure

Has anyone ever tried carpet shopping with four kids? Let me tell ya... it's difficult.

Billy and I picked out our carpeting for the new house, purchased it and thought we were set until this morning. We found out that the carpet we chose was on back order, which would delay us closing/moving into our new home. I thought I could handle the challenge of picking out a different carpet on my own AND take the kids with me.

They got the usual "keep your hands to yourself, no tattling, blah blah blah" in the parking lot. We no more than walk through the entrance and my kids turned into psycho's! Really, you think I'm joking? I'm not.

As I'm trying not to freak out and hold a serious conversation with two employee's, Amos is running in and out of the automatic door while it opens and shuts a million times, Kent is pushing little Rylee in circles so fast I thought she was going to throw up and Grace is sobbing uncontrollably because, well, she's a girl. In between me threatening them with their lives and grounding them for eternity, my credit card wouldn't work.

Man, that was stressful!

After two hours of madness and frustration we came home without our carpet ordered. I just couldn't handle anymore and it wasn't worth me losing my mind any more than I already had. I will attempt to return to the store tomorrow minus three children. Hopefully, something productive will be accomplished on the next trip.

On a side note...

The Getty concert was wonderful! They have an amazing love for Christ that spills out into their songs. Each one is written with words that are so deep and powerful. They tell Christ story in such a unique way that you can't help but be touched by the message. I can't wait to listen to my new cd!

Guess what...

We have a house! Well, it's not quite official but it's very, very close.

We have been renting for one year and three months, so it's long overdue! The house we are in now is very nice, but there is nothing like having a place you can call home.

The bigger part of me is very excited and ready for the move and the other part of me is nervous and scared. Our new house is in Huntsville, which means the kids will be changing schools and Billy will have a long drive to work everyday.

Billy and I have put a lot of thought and prayer into our decision and we both feel like this is God's plan for our family. We are ready for the new chapter in our lives.

Master bath

It has a "his and hers" closet!! This is my closet, and I can't wait to get organized! :)

I have dreamed of a sink in the laundry room, and I finally have one! Yay!

Kitchen

One of two living rooms (we still need to pick out flooring - hence the concrete)

And one of my most favorite things...

Acreage!

I'm so happy our kids can run, play and explore!

Please keep our family in your prayers. There is a lot going on all at once. We will be closing on our home, putting down flooring, moving, having Christmas and starting a new school all within two weeks.

Thanks, friends!

I'm Gonna Hurt Him!

Okay, so it's 12:30 AM and I should be sleeping, but I'm so mad that I can't.

We came home from our multiple Thanksgiving dinners to find our Lab's collar nicely placed on the welcome mat of our front door and our side gate on our fence standing wide open. I couldn't believe it!

The kids and I get back into the car, roll the windows down and start yelling for our dogs. (Keep in mind it's 10:00PM and 28 degrees outside) After an hour of driving up and down the road I give up and come home.

At 11:15 PM I'm trying to fall asleep in bed when I hear this really weird noise outside. It's our Beagle scratching at the front door. Yippee, right?

Wrong!

When I open the door, both dogs run in the house and BOTH have been sprayed by a skunk! I'm not talking about a little stinky, I mean so stinky I almost threw up. It was the most offensive odor I've ever smelled!

So-o-o, I bathed Buster in tomato juice and he still stinks! I seriously can't take anymore from this dog. I'm so nauseous and really, really angry.

What am I going to do with him???

Hungry For Love

Last night was amazing. Billy and I went to FBC Rogers to see Sanctus Real, Leeland and The Afters in the Hungry For Love tour. These three bands are truly talented men that have a heart for God.

I was so impressed with Leeland especially. Their lead singer is so young, yet has the kind of passion and love for Christ that is infectious. He talked about how they were "just a band from Texas" in the beginning, but now God has opened their eyes to people living in poverty all around the world. It was so inspiring. I love it when someone is so "on fire" for Christ. They have turned their songs into a call of action by being the hands and feet of Jesus to those in need. It made me want to jump on a plane and minister to someone that is "lost" and in need of all the things we take for granted. That kinda stuff makes me happy!

Anyway, the concert was lots of fun but I stayed out way too late. After I took the kids to school this morning, I came home and slept until noon! I know, that's bad. Good thing we have a holiday coming up. :)

I hope everyone has a safe and wonderful Thanksgiving with family. I am really looking forward to the pecan pie and more naps. Woo hoo!

Crazy Day

Today started off kinda bad. You know how it goes... you plan to wake up early but keep hitting the snooze button until the last second, which leads to scarfing breakfast and the kids wearing wrinkled clothes.

Anyway, at about 7:20 I get a phone call from Billy. He informs me that he took my vehicle and was in Huntsville for the day. This meant I would need to drive his Jeep. No biggie.

Well, things just fell apart after that!

I immediately started to panic because Billy doesn't have a baby car seat in his Jeep for Rylee and I couldn't find his car keys. At this point it's about 7:25 and I'm freaking out! School starts in 25 minutes.

I send Kent out to the Jeep to see if the keys are in the ignition and he informs me that "we only have three good tires."

Sigh.

I end up taking Staci to work and driving the kids to school in her mom's Honda Odyssey. Life is good.

When I get home from West Fork, I realize two out of three of my kids left their homework on the kitchen table. Last week Grace left her homework on the table and it resulted in her teacher giving her five minutes on the fence at recess. I felt really bad, because after all, it was my fault it didn't make it in her backpack this morning. So, you guessed it, I went back to the school to drop it off.

Needless to say, the day was crazy. I held up the car line after school because I am incapable of working the sliding doors on the van, and Amos has a huge bruise on the side of his head from a kid throwing a chair at him.

It's 5:00 now, so hopefully not much more could go wrong (I hope).

As we speak I can hear our Labrador barking. This usually means our beagle has escaped! Guess I better go check to see!

Bad Dog

I need some advice.

Our Beagle, Buster, keeps digging holes under our fence and escaping on adventures. This has been an ongoing problem for about a year and I'm sick of it! We are so desperate to plug the holes in the fence that we had to use the kids bikes, wood and concrete blocks! He has escaped so many times, we just started leaving the front door cracked and he always comes strolling in when he's ready.

I love my Buster Brown, but I'm about to hurt him if he digs again.

It would break my heart if anything happened to him.

Anyone have any ideas on what to do?

The Letter

Most of you know Kent... shy, quiet, sensitive, respectful, sweet, smart, helpful...

Well, at the beginning of the year, we had our first PTC and his teacher said he was a wonderful student. She talked about how he is "all business" and is always on task and focused. You would think that was a good thing, right?

Well...

Not long after our meeting, I picked him up from school and I could tell something was wrong before he opened the door.

Me: Hi, Honey! How was your day?

K: Horrible.

Me: Oh. Well, what happened?

K: ______ kept interrupting me during group discussion time and was telling jokes that weren't funny. He talked so much that no one else had a chance to talk. So, I told him "thanks a lot" and was really mad!

Me: Okay, so why did that ruin your day?

K: Because he told me to shut my piehole!

Me: (Trying not to burst out in laughter) Did he get in trouble?

K: Yeah, the teacher sent him to the office and the principle made him write an apology letter to me.

I can't help but love this kid! He is hilarious...

My favorite part: "because your Kent"

Sounds like this kid has it all figured out. I love it!

Fall Farm Pictures

Mark Your Calendar

Keith & Kristyn Getty

December 12 - 6:00 pm

First Baptist Church Fayetteville

corner of College and Dickson

FREE ADMISSION

Authors of...

In Christ Alone

Still, My Soul

Speak O Lord

The Power Of The Cross

O Church Arise

I am absolutely in love with these people. The songs they have written give me chill bumps every time I hear them. This concert is free to the public, so please come! The doors open at 5:30 and parking might be a little tricky, so plan to come a little early. It will be an exciting time of worship.

www.GETTYMUSIC.com

Halloween Costumes and a Trophy Deer

So, this year I must say, my kiddos were pretty darn cute. It was probably my most favorite costumes yet! Take a look...

This is the greatest. Every time I look at him I crack up! Doesn't he make a great hotdog? We stuffed a ton of Wal-Mart bags on top of his head to make it stick up. Funny, huh?!

She's pretty funny too... always posing!

It was a "no-brainer" that he wanted to be a cowboy!

Shifting gears a bit...

I guess I'm a little bit of a prissy girl and killing animals is not my thing, but Kent asked me to post this picture.

This past weekend he shot his first deer all by himself... ONE shot! Now, I could care less about hunting 99.99% of the time, but after I saw how happy it made him and his daddy, I feel like a proud peacock!

I guess I might as well just face the facts... my boys are hunters! That's okay as long as no more deer heads are mounted and brought in the house. :)

Precious Baby

Our nephew was due to arrive in early November, but on October 26, Leslie found out it would be earlier than expected. At her regular scheduled doctor's appointment, they found out that the baby had turned. They tried to flip him in her belly, but were unsuccessful, so they scheduled a c-section for the next day.

Proud Mimi and daddy

William Cahill Bullard

October 27, 2010

6 lb 6 oz

Leslie holding her baby boy for the first time

What a sweet little family

It's hard to see, but his pacifier says "I Love My Uncle Billy"

I'm an Aunt and my kids have a cousin!!!!!!

I never thought that I would be an aunt. Leslie and James have been married for several years, and all along the way they thought they would never have any children.

Most of you know my brother, bless his heart, and he will never have children. So, this baby is so precious to us all!

It has been so sweet to see Leslie and James with the baby. They both have been wonderful with him. Everything just seems so natural. I love it!

I can't wait to watch him grow and see him play with our kiddos. They have waited so long for this precious baby, and he is finally here. God is definitely good!

Birthday Boys

Kent Alan

October 12

Dear Kent,

Here you are another year older, and another year closer to double digits! Before long, you will be taller than me and shaving!

Since last year, you have accomplished so much. Your a big third grader now, and your really being challenged in school. You have lots of friends and all the teachers love you. Your grades are outstanding and so are your baseball/football skills! Reading is still one of your favorite things and, of course, video games. But the most important thing of all happened this year... you were saved!

I am so proud of the person you are becoming, and hope that you carry the love you have for Jesus in your heart forever. Everyone that meets you says you are such a sweet boy, and they are right! You are!

I can't wait to see what this next year has in store for you!

Happy Birthday, son. I love you.

~mom

Amos McKinley

October 6

Dear Cowboy Amos,

It's official, your a big kid now! A big six year old Kindergartner! It's still hard for me to believe that you are in school.

Over the last year, we have watched you grow and change, and it's been interesting...

You like school and are still crazy about baseball.

You have decided that you want to dress like a cowboy for EVERY occasion, and you can't do without the cowboy boots. I NEVER thought I would be okay with you dressing this way, but your so stinkin' cute and it makes you happy.

You still love to pick on your brother and sister, but your finding out from school that there are tougher kids than you! :)

You still love Georgie and sneaking in my bed after daddy leaves for work.

Dinosaurs in the bath tub are still a big hit, and so is daddy's cologne!

I think if I didn't monitor you intake of popsicles, you might turn into one!

You still love eating your cereal without milk, and picking off all the sausages on a pizza before anyone else gets a chance to get a bite.

I will never forget all these little things that make you who you are. Eventually, they will all fade and you will become more and more independent and grown up. Until then, I will enjoy it.

Just remember, no matter how old you are, you will always be my little man!

Happy Birthday, buddy! I love you.

~mom

Sew Busy

Okay, so school is back in session and summer is over. Lots of people are asking me what I'm doing now and the answer is - a little bit of everything.

I do not work full time at the office anymore. I gave that up to be available to my children for school activities and to help watch little Rylee. Things are really going well. I have adjusted to staying home and I LOVE it!

Although being a mommy keeps me very busy, I am still pursuing my passion...

Sewing!

I have decided to post a few pictures of some past projects in hopes that maybe I can round up a few orders to help keep me brushed up on my skills!

You've probably seen Amos' best buddy, George, in a few blog pictures. He was in desperate need of a new t-shirt, so I fixed him up this summer with his very own custom made "G" shirt.

Backpacks:

My sweet friend, Brittany, asked me to make her baby bedding. Surprisingly, this is made mostly of shower curtains! Turned out to be one of my favorite projects!

Hair Bows:

Burp Cloths:

Owl t-shirts:

Baby Blankets:

Embroidery:

Well, there you have it folks.

Besides my family, this is my other love (I know, I'm kinda weird).

Anyway, if anyone is looking to have something embroidered/monogrammed please feel free to contact me!

Hope everyone has a terrific Labor Day! :)