A True Housewife

While growing up, my mom could sew anything. She hemmed her own clothes and could make anything.  Being a full-time working mother, she didn't have all of the time to make a lot of things.  She was always running three kids to practices, games, and events.  I was such a tomboy that I never paid a bit of attention to cooking and had zero interest in sewing.  I made a comment to Brandon that all of Ashlyn's 5T dresses are too short but I can't go any bigger because they hang down and show her 'dots.'  A good friend of mine has been making some really cute dresses and I happened to mention that I think I could do it.  So guess what comes in the mail?

Sewing and Embroidery Machine

I went to Jo Ann's to get some fabric and found a lot of really cute patterns and am excited about it.  While the lady was cutting my fabric, she said it was so nice to see young people sewing.  I didn't comment back.  When I got in the car I started thinking that I haven't been called young in awhile.  Hmmmm.

So tomorrow I am taking Sewing 101, a class at Jo Anns.  Maybe I'll post a picture of my first project---maybe not......

Myrtle Beach Trip

 So we were at Myrtle Beach for a week.  Brandon was only there a few days and then had to travel for week.  Fortunately the kids were great and I enjoyed the rest of the week with my little fishies.  Take a picture trip with us..........

Ashlyn loved being buried in the sand

Chloe did not like sand in her face(or anywhere else)

Spitting out the sand in her mouth!

I LOVE THE BEACH!

Showing Daddy how to putt

The playground at the resort

WEEEEEE

They had kids activities.  They made bracelets, painted banks, and got their faces painted.

Doggy

Rides at Broadway at the Beach.  I didn't know this one went that high until I put her on it.  However she didn't care and rode it numerous times.

Kid pool

Getting ready to 'fish'

Fishing for duckies?

I only went to the Disney Outlet.  HONEST

Ashlyn wanted to stay in the pool the whole time. Not Chloe

My kids hog the camera.  Brayden is behind Ashlyn

One of my good friends was at the beach the same time as us.  So we met up for dinner.

Ryan is not so happy about getting his picture taken

We stopped at the Columbia Zoo on the way home.

HAHAHAHA

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Lion King

September 11th Remembered

Where were you when the world stopped turning?  I was in my first year of teaching a class full of innocent children not too far from DC. I remember the AP going door to door telling the teachers but also telling us not to tell the students because several had parents that worked in DC. Over the next few hours, my class slowly diminished as parents came to pick up their kids. The other kids questioned why others were getting picked up and I had to play dumb. At lunchtime we turned on our tvs in one teacher's classroom to see what was going on. This is when I found out a plane went down in shanksville PA which is a mere 20 miles from my mom and dad'a house. Less than a minute of flight time and it could have been a lot more devastating for me. After work I went back to my apartment alone where I graded papers while watching the news coverage wondering what was going to happen next. The next day I did my best as a young 22 year old to answer questions from my students. After all, I had only been teaching for two weeks and was clueless myself.

Are They Learning About Planets at School?

I was mailing Grandparent's Day papers that the kids made at school and this conversation entailed:

Ash:  Where do Grandma and Pappy live?

Me:  Far away

Ash:  On another planet?

Me:  No a place called Pennsylvania

Ash:  No you're joking.  They live on another planet.  I think they live on the one that is hot and red.

RIP Shelby Jealousy Pemberton 2002-2012

This is not a post I wanted to make.  At the moment Brandon is taking Shelby to be put to sleep because I am too much of a basketcase about it.  Shelby has been having issues the past year and moreso the past three months(seizures, accidents, urinary tract infections, weight loss, throwing up, bacteria in urine).  She has been on three medicines this summer and nothing has helped.  I can't bear to watch her when she is having a seizure and thank God that the kids have never seen it.  She has dropped 25 pounds in the past two years and hasn't eaten a thing in three days.  Brandon finally got her to eat a hot dog last night and I was scrubbing carpets at 2 am.  I know it is her time and that we can't let this go on.  She has given us 10 great years.   I would like to share some memories:

1.  When we decided to get a dog ten years ago, we weren't married.  We picked out at a dog at the SPCA and then later received a phone call that we couldn't get that dog because it was being trained to be a seeing eye dog.  We liked this other dog named Ruby but she kept yipping and I didn't want a yipping dog.  Well we got Ruby who we renamed Shelby and later picked up the middle name of Jealousy.  She never yipped so we always said she was calling out to us.

2.  Brandon and I got married the next year and our evenings and weekends were spent taking Shelby to the park and for walks.  She loved to catch balls and frisbees.  One night, we came home to pieces of green plastic laying around only to realize that Shelby ate almost the whole frisbee.  Oh and it was a sight when it came out!

3.  Shelby used to get car sick when we would travel from Virginia to PA so the vet gave us some medicine.  We decided the carrier was too confined for her so I bought a puppy dog seat belt at PetSmart.  I thought she was in there good and tight until she jumps on my lap as I'm driving and later onto my feet.  I still don't know how she got out of that thing.

4.  She earned the middle name Jealousy because she was always pushing my hand away from Brandon if we were touching.  It was so funny.  I would put my hand on him just to see what she would do.  She would see me, come running over, and push me away with her nose.  She loved Brandon more than anyone.

5.  One time we were eating dinner at our apartment in Orange, VA.  She took a running start and tried to jump on the table.  She didn't make it but it was quite funny.

6.  We snuck her in a hotel room through a window once.  :)

7.  I was soooo afraid how she would be when Ashlyn was born but she was great.  She let Ashlyn to do whatever she wanted to her.  Trust me, Ashlyn would pull her ears, tail, and try to sit on her.  She may not have got much attention once the kids were born, but she was always a great dog.

I could go on but it has been a pretty emotional day.  We told the kids and had them say goodbye to her.  Ashlyn was so great about it.  She told Shelby that she'll get to jump and chase cats in heaven and she won't have to sleep.  She also said that she'll get to eat whatever she wants and not get sick.  As the kids went up to nap, Ashlyn put Shelby in our bedroom and told her to lay down and close her eyes because the angels would be coming to take her away.  Ahhh a full day of tears for me.  Ashlyn had more questions and I answered them as best I could.  She seems to have a great understanding of God and Heaven so I am hoping for the best.  Chloe didn't say anything but she wasn't as close to Shelby as Ashlyn.

So RIP Shelby Jealousy Pemberton.  We will miss you.

To the Moon and Back......

I read "Guess How Much I Love You" tonight and the last page says 'I love you to the moon and back.'  So I told Ashlyn that I love her to the moon and back............

Ash:  That's far..

Me:  Yes it is.

Ash:  I think I love daddy that far....to the moon and back

Me:  You do?  What about mommy?

Ash:  Yeah I love you to the moon and back too.  oh and chloe too and shelby.  Can I love dogs to the moon and back?

Me:  Yes

Ash:  (as I'm leaving the room) MOMMY!!!!!

Me:  Yes??

Ash:  I love Carter to the moon and back too.

Uh Oh.  She's already in love...........

Firsts.....

We had a few firsts this week....

Chloe's first homework assignment:

The kids' first time doing Awana at church:

Our first tomato from the garden:

Our first tomato-eating hornworm:(

I don't have a picture of this but Ashlyn ate alligator for the first time at Claude's Off the Bayou.  The kid who won't eat anything LOVED it.  I tried it and thought it was good but I can't get the picture of an alligator out of my mind.........