What now

So...finished Breaking Dawn...passed it on to Sarah (ummm, you're welcome!). So, what's up...SUPER PSYCHED that Val had such a great time at her party the other night. Got LOTS of compliments, however her stylist was no where to be found (sorry guys, it was Sam's 3rd bday!) but hopefully things will pick up soon enough.....well, watching The Big Lebowski and Swords (fishing show), yes I know how random those are and totally apart on the tv spectrum. Later

New

I am having my morning coffee & "laffles" (and left over bday cupcakes) with Sambo this morning....Neal goes to work with Daddy on Saturday mornings so it's our special time :) he just climbed up in the back of my chair and hug me and gave me a kiss and told me that he loves me....this little guys is just about to turn 3...WHAT A DOLL!! He just crawled around in my lap and plopped down to watch Disney Channel. Ahhhh this is the life! We got a new station and work and I think it's going to be a top contender for the competition. I'm super psyched!!!

Engulfed

Wow, the last week has been a blur! I can't figure out what I've been doing to make it fly by...I guess when you deal with time at work the way I do it really gets lost on ya! I want to say it's been a great week...I was lost in it all really and can't seem to separate one day from another. I've been reading and everyone know what happens when I start reading....I finished Twilight and am on to New Moon...holy moly! If you want a TRUE love story then this book is awesome! Ten times better than any smutty Danielle Steele novel!!! I guess because it really invokes the emotional aspects of relationships. Penn makes fun of me because it's about high school-ers but I explained that 64% of the readers of the series are adults...for obvious reasons...sweltering, romantic characters wrapped all in a world of their own.

In between chapters we finished our gardens...looks like the forest floor to be honest. Our canopy of oaks and hickories doesn't provide much sun (oh yeah, the veggie garden failed...) but provides GREAT SHADE :) We planted 6 flats of purple fountain grass on one side with azaleas in and out (in addition to the huge oak leaf hydrangeas in the back!) Very tranquil...

Up front we put in a 6ft spruce topiary (Gorgeous!!!!) with a few roses in front. It's really looking great. We found these HUGE rocks we dug up and placed them in the garden in the back and I can't even explain how breathtaking they are. I find it phenomenal that we found these in our back yard let alone barely lifted them out of the ground. We found a HUGE flat one but can't manually get it out...it would make a GREAT table top...eventually :) One has fossils in it and the other is like a stool...flat top and two legs! We didn't discover that until we started washing off all the mud but it is truly miraculous...to think water flowed constantly over it to create that...in our own backyard WHO KNOWS how long ago!!!!!! REALLY make you think :)

Also, I've been running :) My friend whom I work with (shall remain nameless but if you work with me then there is NO doubt who I mean!) and I have been running on our lunch, I really want to do the St. Jude half marathon...Sarah, you better be training!!! Neal also has been stretching with me, he's asked to go running and he really wants to do yoga with me...soooo cute!!!

(Hehehehe, I just wanted to post another picture of Edward Cullen...YOU'RE WELCOME!!!!!!)

Robots in Disguise

Sooo... we got tix to the sneak peek of TRANSFORMERS last night (the 7:30...not the 12midnight!). Me and Neal made a special night of it. It was really good, but there was some pretty yuck language which I had NO idea. Neal was so cut, as soon as Bumblebee came out he got all excited and he cheered for Optimus Prime! It got RIGHT into the action and lasted all 2:30 hours. It was actually value night at the theater so we got a small popcorn and small drink for $1 each! We got out pretty late, about 10, so Neal was tired, wanted to listen to the "relaxing music" (JAZZ) on the way home...so sweet :) That's about it, not much going on this week. Penn's been pretty sick w/allergies so I'm hoping he can get some rest!!! Work is going really well, things are quickly improving and that is extremely promising. Started reading the Twilight books (Thanks Sarah!) I try to get a chapter in a night, sometimes it get a few chapters sometimes non...but I love the books (sophomoric, maybe but hey...reading is reading!) Actually I've read some pretty good books lately...Lamb :The story of Biff, Christ's Childhood Friend...Hilarious! Really a great story, kinds makes you think...

Miss Cordelia's

Saturday I woke the boys about 9. Well, Sam was already awake so I woke Neal. His Aunt June invited him to attend their VBS that day and I knew he would have a blast. We dropped him off and headed back to Papas house. I tried to prune back his azalea by the house, but it was HUGE and once I got out the deadwood there was a big hole in the front so I threw in the towel. We had lunch (you guessed it, leftover Gus's!) and rested for a bit. We decided to get out so Sam and I went across the bridge to Harbor Town. We walked down to the river and sat under a tree while Sam threw rocks "in the river" (well, about 3 ft to the rocks further down). He loved it, his exact words were "this is amazing!". We were HOT so we went across the way to the square, to Miss Cordelia's Grocery and got some ice cream and sat on the porch swing and just...sat. It was great, I realized then that I missed that part of Memphis. A variable mix: Seaside cottages of all different colors placed on a New Orleans zero lot-line street with a Charleston air....quite lovely....

Free Music

Pulled into town and stopped by Rhodes to hang with Sarah...I HAD to get a cup of coffee or I thought I would fall asleep!!! The boys loved playing at the office (if they only knew!) and being in midtown. Neal still remembers that Sissy works by the Zoo, he said it was a beautiful day and a trip to the zoo would be a great idea...but this was a cheap trip so no dice...sorry. Then went to grandmas to visit with her. She filled me in on her trip to Texas. It made me think of going there as a kid. I can still remember all the places and faces she talked about. Actually, as we were looking at pictures I kept asking about something else and it would ALWAYS be the next picture...funny. We had a great visit but had to go to Papas and let Ophelia out. We did that and waited for Pops to get off work so we could go to the Levitt Shell for a free concert that night. They all go once a week but I had not seen it since it was redone. We picked up Gus's for dinner (HOLY MOLY! I miss Gus's!!!), hot chicken served with white bread in grease spotted brown bags...need I say more? The shell was awesome, it cooled off and we were in the shade. Of course Neal made a friend AS SOON as we got there (really, like before we even sat down!) and they were off. It was a great evening, Reba Russell, Jackie Johnson and a few other blues singers really put on a show! It was a late night with Sam falling asleep on my shoulder during the last song, Sitting on the Dock of the Bay. All in all....summer picturesque :)

All of it

This week was a busy one. With work load doubling and church going well, Penn tested a Sunday school class (YAY PENN! I know that took a lot of guts), then we planted about 12 flats of flowers!!! (Coleus, lantana, fountain grass, ferns, and more and more coleus...LOVE the colors!) My body feels GREAT! Lots of exercise with the kids at Summer JAM and then planting all weekend! I also did some "spring" cleaning on Saturday, got the house ready for a magazine shoot it looks so good! Neal and Sam even helped! I guess that was it, boy it sure FELT like a long week. In actuality, it was pretty uneventful, other than Summer JAM. We re-upped our Costco membership (exciting for us! yeah, that tells you a lot huh!) We have sat down and reconfigured a way to get the rest of our debt paid...debt free soon! I can only IMAGINE the sweet, sweet day :) I guess that is about it. Heading to Memphis this weekend to see my fam! Super psyched about that...hang with Grandma and Pops. Well, back to work I guess, start on my many proposals and schedules! Oh the glamour of advertising.....

Work...

Working today on a promotion for Honda involving the all-new 2010 Honda Insight...TennesSEE-IT. I have been working on the PowerPoint ALL DAY and feel like my eyes are going to melt right out of my head! If it weren't for Pandora I think my brain might have exploded already! The promo is pretty intense with blog elements, web, on site, on air and tourism (fun part!). The idea is to take our 2010 wrapped "TennesSEE-IT with Honda" Insight on various road trips in TN, urban adventures, outdoors as well as music/sports venues. (OK all you guys in advertising out there...I know who you are so if it goes to a competing cluster I know who to hunt down!!!) I am also gearing up for our 3rd day at Summer JAM (Jesus And Me!) Neal is loving it and the other kids are excited as well. I LOVE to have them run up to me and hug and squeeze me so excited to be back again!!! I'm wondering if I can make it physically...if I do make it through the week it is time for a consistent workout plan! Neal and I have done some yoga stretching each night afterwards and Neal has done great with it! He is turning into such a big guy :( Sam is turning into such a little guy...he does his happy dance ALL THE TIME and just talks non-stop. Each night and day he asks me "Please don't leave me...but I will miss you." Sweet as molasses that one (and just as sticky!). Wish me luck and say a prayer I make it all week....

Summer JAM with Preston Taylor Ministries...Night 1

HOLY MOLY!!!!! I am sore!!! I ran Sunday and didn't think about it. Anyway last night was a total BLAST! The kids were all so wonderful. Neal was excited to see Xander (from his Sylvan Park school)! I was one of the first crew leaders there (no, not me) so got to hand with the kids from K-2nd till everyone got there. Neal was with us and it was a group of girls and they couldn't believe I only had 2 boys and did boy stuff like play Transformers and X-men and stuff so they taught me a Hannah Montanna dance and I get to be Fancy Nancy for the week :) We started with songs and dance, I had a kid on my back or shoulders from 5:30-8:30 (Neal wanted a ride to the car...) but it was worth it! Carb load today! Our group went to story time first and they told Daniel in the lions den. We got hand signals with that to make the story interactive (a crown for "king" and roar for "lion"). Then everyone got a wrist band. We went to crafts and made little "prayer" catchers. The kids were great. One boy, Elyuz, said that the "ladies got to go first with the glue sticks" we was a super smart guy! Next was games, relay races and sack races. Then snack...that is where we had Neal's melt down...he was a trooper though, it was 7:30 and he hadn't eaten. He didn't get juice like the other kids because they ran out and some took his bag of Cheetos so REALLY upset him. But I pulled him through!! We got in a circle to end the night with more dancing (shoulder rides and piggy-back dancing!) and prayer. I am SO sore but I woke up completely invigorated, in a GREAT mood (except for NO coffee at work, what?!?) and energized for today! Neal is excited as well and can't wait to take Sam Friday night (family night) and show him the dances!
Til' Then....
Nicole :)

Fun with Sissy!!!

Had a blast over my bday weekend...don't celebrate it like I used to (well, we did finish a bottle of wine on Friday night!) but it's much more fun now! Sarah came in town and we had a ton of fun. Had Sarah's first spa experience, he went a little "deep" in her and she was sore all weekend...sorry Sarah...I should have taken the guy, hindsight huh! We picked up the kids, some groceries and a bottle of wine and went home to cook, hand outside (the weather was FAB!) and look up SNL shorts...'nuff said.
Saturday I had a meeting for VBS early so got home at noon after a spur shopping trip to Target to get a bday present for myself and Sarah, and Neal some swimming trunks b/c we were off to Beech Bend in Bowling Green KY! Neal was so excited to visit a new state, he decided he wants to move there and live forever :) Kids! The park was awesome, little busy but no lines to wait in and the boys LOVED it!!! I think putt-putt was the best, they gave Tiger a run for his $$$, especially since Neal almost made a hole in 1 the first shot (seriously, it took a spin round the rim and fell out)! That's my boy! Sam was phenomenal too, soooo cute. Not a bad drive at all, we got groceries and went home to cook. Turned on the jazz for girls, boys watched TV in the playroom and passed out while we played a 2nd grade level game of Scrabble (Really need to work on my vocab...I'm a little rusty! it was pretty pathetic.) Early to bed and early to rise for church, came home and right to the movies for UP...the boys loved it, Sam was a little restless but made it through...they had a GREAT weekend. For my bday present Sarah got my Element cleaned!!! THANKS A TON!!! Went running again finally! My legs feel like spaghetti today, really, they are sooo sore! We will see our fam in Memphis soon so hang on Grandma, we're coming!!! Lots of Love!
Nicole

Scare...

I received a call this morning from Sarah...she said Emerson (pictured), a friend's baby, was at LeBonheur with bacterial meningitis. The prognosis in early a.m. was NOT good. He had a 105 fever and they were told to call their preacher. However, as of this afternoon he is awake and chatting, fever down and moved from IC to a private room! YAY EMERSON! Way to hang in there little man!

On a positive note as well, I think we are moving one step closer to a very tangible idea that is "the hub"...we will see. As of now it seems to be a play cafe/green retail open place with renewable energy resources and as green as possible. A rental space for music classes and play classes, maybe a space for chiro care... We would love to do a garden and I want SO desperately to do either raw milk or milk "refills" with the glass jugs (they have a place like that in Fayetteville, AR and it's AWESOME! Very old school). Still trying to tie everything together but I have a whole list of ideas (natural handmade soaps, lip balm, recycled clothes, green diapers). We are getting pretty excited about it and it looks like we are coming closer to fruition. PLEASE if anyone has ideas bring 'em on! Until later....

Co-ops and garden swaps

So...The boys are out of town :( but we will pick them up in Columbus this weekend :) so I will enjoy my free time! With that we will be extending the garden, getting our chicks, a rabbit (why, I don't know!) cleaning the house and back yard. I had a meeting at church tonight to get ready for the summer series and think I am probably be more excited about it than the kids! I was at a table with a couple we know who has an organic farm. We were talking "business" and I mentioned the chicken and we talked more "business" (gardening is the best business EVER). As I was walking out, a lady approached me and was asking about what she overheard at our table. She said she likes to garden and grows a few veggies she has a surplus in and wanted to swap out some produce for eggs....This got me thinking...what else would be more wonderful than a garden swap at church?!?!? Place it in the bulletin and those that have more herbs than they can use and so forth can swap them out at a table in the main hall. (I know...I'm such and idealist!) Pleasant thoughts :)

Splattered on the wall....

Penn and I threw around some ideas last night about some store possibilities and I am meeting with a friend today who has opened a few businesses to talk about a "tentative" business plan. Of course it took me FOREVER to sleep last night because I had all the glorious possibilities running through my head... we'll see. Oh yeah, HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my little sis!!!!!!! You are soooo old...and I hate that because it means I'm getting older :( By the way...did I mention how fabulous vampires are???

Later,

Nicole

New Endeavors

So...I did some thinking today...What if I took my passion that is Alternamamas and constructed a forum. A retail store for things green, organic, natural and such geared towards moms and kiddos alike. Embrace the attached parenting mindset with slings and nursing apparel but much more. Definitely kid friendly, and take it a step further. Weekly meetings with experts such as pediatricians to discuss vaccinations, farmers to discuss organic gardening, school representatives to discuss Montessori vs. Padeia? Maybe a monthly professionals mommy network with kids to give those working moms some time to talk work and still hang with their kids. I could definitely bring the people, that's one thing I know how to do...

WHAT THE.....

Soooo, it's been a WHILE since my last post. Boy time flies when you work, are married with 2 kids, trying to stay in shape and pick up an extra hobby....Anyway, let's see...

Work is, well, work...what can you say. It's not what it used to be out there. I would love to find something in fashion, or something with kids, or something where I could use my creative and energetic juices. Hey, maybe something with all 3 (yeah)! Well, I won't bore you with little tidbits about the last year (that long, huh) so I will just let you know where we are now.

Waiting for the ground to dry from the unrelenting bouts of thunderstorms that pop up in an instant so we can finish our garden. Don't get me wrong, a shower and a little rumblin' is great once in a while. Chicks, hopefully, soon to follow so we can work on our soon-to-be award winning compost (it'll be 'da sh*t....get it!)

Boys are AWESOME! Neal is so enthusiastic about everything, and so friendly and welcoming to other kids, never meets a stranger. Sam is super smart, he can count to 12, sing ABCs, knows colors and shapes and his vocab grows CONSTANTLY (sometimes with things we wish he WOULDN'T say...Daddy!) They will be going to school together this summer, Neal got a scholarship (let's hope it foreshadows things to come!) to CheekWood Child Development! They are both very excited about this.

Well, that's about it...working on Alternamamas Nashville, West End Community Church youth ministries (LOVE IT), wanna make some dresses and hair accessories (those cute little headbands with a splash of feathers) just need to find some time somewhere.....

Nicole :)