Happy 4th! Family photos and a few more things...

Good morning!  The sun is shining bright and it is already hot here this morning in Alabama!  My hubby is working today and me and the kids are planning on spending the day out in the pool and having some fun.  I actually have secretly planned to scrapbook this afternoon ..... after I wear the kids out and bring them in for napping and/or watching a movie later this afternoon.  :)

 Old Glory....I love seeing this flag hanging from the front of our house each time I pull in the driveway!  It reminds me of the freedoms I have and of all the men and women that have fought and gave their lives for that freedom!  Pray for and remember OUR soldiers today....both past and present....AND be sure and thank God for this great country and the blessings we receive as a result of being citizens of this great country!

The last few days I have been printing lots of sketches off of some really cool sites that I have familiarized myself with lately....Pencil Lines and Page Maps are probably my two favorite....however, there are a few more that I have found and I will share with you soon. Oh and one that I found on my buddy Leah's blog....Little Book of Sketches....I am quickly growing fond of it!  Check these sites out!

I am working on some birthday gifts for some of the girls friends and some wooden letters and coasters for home decor.  I plan to share my finished projects with you soon!  Also, I have been printing pictures and getting pages together a little this week and really hope to be able to share some new layouts after the weekend is over.

I have gotten so far behind in my scrapping...and it makes me so mad at myself....because I DEFINITELY collect plenty of cool supplies to be able to do all the cool pages....and I have collected and continue to collect many idea book, magazines, and websites that I view and think....I can do that ....

However, I never seem to be able to start or finish a layout....it stresses me and makes me uninterested when I think of how far behind I am....IT IS TOTALLY OVERWHELMING TO ME!!! and the madness has to stop!!!  :)

I am so so tired of not getting any pages done....so, I have come up with a system that seems to be working for me....I will share it with you in the next post....I had to do something so that I would get my tail in gear and preserve all these precious memories that we have made as a family....maybe you can pull something from it and use it in your own scrapbooking.

I have some pictures to share with you today....I mean come on....is it really a post if there are no pictures?  LOL

First, we had our yearly family photo done this past weekend and I was pretty happy with the way turned out...we were supposed to get my mother and father -in -law with us in one of the sittings, but at the last minute they couldn't come....hopefully we can get one with them soon!  We went to Hollis Photography....which we have been going there for some time now....and as always they did a great job!  You can go to the above link and click on the button that says View Your Photographs Now and then our password number is 5678.  Type that in and you can view a slide show of our family photos.  Let me know which one you think is the best....cause I am having a hard time choosing!!!!!

Here are just a few others that I have taken over the last few days that I thought were cute!

Just "Croc" -ing around outside!  Parker finally got his first pair of Crocs and he is trying to figure them out....he will walk in them...but does not seem too sure about them... :)

Some outside fun in the backyard yesterday with the bubbles!

Good morning Sleepy Head!  Took these this morning when I went in to get Parker....he was in there singing and letting me know it is TIME to come and get me Mama!  :)

Have a great day and enjoy the festivities!

More later....

Too may first's to count...and thank you from the bottom of my heart!

Hey everyone!  I have so much to tell you and a bunch of pictures to share with you....a bunch of first's to talk about....

• First time I have had the chance to sit down and update my blog and actually start to get back into a routine here at home in several weeks
• First night in several weeks that I actually feel caught up on housework and laundry
• First day (well actually today is the second day...but I started typing this last night  :)  ) of a new week and the first of many new posts to share with you.....I hope
• First day that we have had rain in a long time...and I hope we get some more tonight.  We had a pretty good shower this afternoon and it really cooled things off and I am so thankful for the rain!  We REALLY needed it!
• Parker finally got his first haircut a few days ago....bye, bye little curls....my little man is growing up to fast!
• Before

 

 

 

 

 

 

 After

•  

 

 

• First time to have one of my children not scream and go into hysterics around a dog....Way to Go Parker!

 

• First ballet recital for Kennedy

• First pool party of the summer

• First time Parker has ever been brave enough to run into the sprinkler (while the water is on) by himself

• First trip to the Kiddie Carnival...however, I am sure that there will be many more to come during the summer!

• First taste of a Cheeto for Parker...it ain't easy being cheesy!

• First look at my finished flower gardens out front....It took us over a month to finally get everything transplanted and mulched and like we want it.....it isn't perfect....but we are pretty happy with it.....now for working in the backyard! 

 

•         
•   

 

• First time I have had the chance to really and truly THANK ALL OF YOU from the bottom of my heart for the friendship, kind words, emails, and most of all prayers for my family and for my Gram and Pap over the last few weeks.  I have made so many new friends because of this blog....and many of my "old" friends read my blog....it has just really and truly been a blessing to me to communicate with friends through this medium and know that there are so many people out there thinking about and praying for our family when we were in need!  It sort of becomes like your extended family I guess....I mean I have learned a lot about all of you and your families from reading your blogs....I feel like I have known some of you all my life....and I am sure you have learned a lot about me from my blog, emails, and all our commenting back and forth.    So enough mushy stuff....but just a big THANK YOU!!!!  Love to all of you!

Isn't she beautiful???

**Explanation:  I haven't forgotten about my promise to keep my blog updated...after I posted last week there were some unexpected events that happened and this is the first time I have been able to sit down and update since my last post...keep reading for more details.

Well, both people in this picture are beautiful to me...but both for very different reasons.  This is a picture that I took last October when were we in Memphis with my grandparents.

I will admit that I don't have a lot of pictures of my grandparents...and believe me, I plan on changing that real soon...life is way to short to not make all the memories that you can while you still have the ones you love the most here with you.  (Edited:  I starting typing this post a couple of days ago and since then I was able to get some really good pictures and will put them randomly in this post for you to see)

Let me give you a quick summary of what I am talking about.  About 6:30 am last Wednesday,  I received a phone call from my Papaw telling me that my Gram had suffered a heart attack and was in the hospital.  Emotions were running high and I didn't have much information, nor could I get much at the time from family because there was just so much happening.  I immediately said...We are packing up and will be there as soon as possible.  Now, you have to know that I live 6 to 7 from where she is in the hospital.  Needless to say, Shane and I started slinging clothes and bags and got things ready and hit the road.  We made really good time and arrived at the hospital the evening.

So here is the short of it....basically, she had a heart attack on Tuesday late afternoon and was rushed to the emergency room and later admitted.  The doctor came in late the evening and confirmed that she had indeed had a heart attack.  Early the next morning they took her back for a heart cath. and found one complete blockage and on the opposite side a blood clot that the doctor removed. 

We are home now from the hospital...she got to come home on Friday.  She is doing pretty well and will have some cardiac rehab starting in a couple of weeks and has some new medicines and dietary issues to overcome....but I think she is going to be just fine!  Of course this has been a scary experience and the emotions that she and all of us are having right now....I think are normal....but with time, I think we will eventually all get back into the swing of things.

Here are some precious pictures that we made this afternoon...I love them so much....Gram is not a picture person....in fact normally she won't let you get a good picture of her....but she did this time and I am determined to get more. 

Gram with her grandson Jordan....below, me and Gram

me and my kiddos with Gram....love this picture

So, instead of going through all the details about what happened to my Gram and about what she still has to go through....I wanted to share with you some lessons that have really hit me hard this week.

1. Life is too short and you need to make the very best of each minute you have and take advantage of every opportunity you have to tell the ones you love how much you love them.
2. Memories last forever....so take lots of pictures and make lots of memories with those that you love.
3. Be prepared!  In every way...make sure you have your life in order, make sure you live your life in a way that will help you to get to your final destination in eternity.
4. Be strong and rely upon your faith to help bring you through tough times.
5. Prayer is the strongest and most helpful and healing thing you can do for yourself and for those you love....in good and bad times.

And lastly, back to the title of this post....I love this precious lady.  She is so beautiful to me...from outside to in....and although I didn't tell her often enough....I am so grateful that my life has been blessed by her presence  and constant love and support.  She has a beautiful soul and a loving heart!  Her family is one of her greatest treasures and we are all so lucky to have her in our lives!  She is beautiful in every way!

Thanks for reading and letting me share this story with you.  I am planning on updating this week while I am here this week...and now that things have settled down just a bit. 

More later...

You might want to grab a Dr. Pepper, some popcorn, and maybe even some candy before you dive into this one.....:) WARNING! Danger!....This is a long post!

I cannot believe that I have let soooo much time pass since I last updated this blog!  I know I have been a bad blogger.  I have tried several times to update, but they have been late at night and to be honest....when I would sit down to type, I would have a brain dump and then I was so tired and sleepy that I just couldn't do the thinking necessary to write.  :)

This has been one of the busiest times in my life that I can remember.  Maybe it just seems like that because I am getting older, the kids are more active and getting older themselves, maybe it is the nice warm weather and the need to get outside, ???  Maybe it is that fact that I have been officially diagnosed with migraines (duh....I already knew that) and my doctor has been trying to help me get them under control over the last several months...without much luck.   I don't know, but I have felt swamped over the last couple of months and I am finally, just now feeling like I can breath again.

I have soooo many things and topics I could tell you about....so many things that I have documented with pictures and I even keep a running list of BLOG topics.....remember, I told you in an earlier post....I am a list maker!   :)  But the main idea I want to convey right now is gratitude to all of you.  Thank you for wondering about me, emailing me, calling me, sticking by me and still looking at this blog....even when the title "Grab a coke and dive on in..." keeps popping up on your screen each time.  Thank you for being my friends and caring whether or not I was still alive.  :)  I am grateful for all the sweet people I have met through blogging and I plan to keep going.  I enjoy writing here and going to different people's blogs and reading and commenting.  I have still been reading blogs for the last month, and keeping up with all my buddies out there...and I have enjoyed it so much. 

Let me just say this...I am back now.  My vacation from my blog is over!  I never intended to be gone so long and it didn't make me happy  :(  I think now that school is out and we are not on a strict schedule with bedtimes and things anymore.....that the hecticness of my life will calm down some.  I guess I sort of feel like I am taking an oath here....I, Heather Jewell, do promise to return to commenting regularly on blogs I read and to keep MINE updated regularly so as not to provoke emails that say...."Are you still breathing? "

I feel like I have my groove back and I am ready to rock and roll.....so here we GO!!!

I really don't even know where to start and what to tell you first....so here is a collage I made with  some snapshots of what has been going on over the last month or so. 

So much has been going on since I last posted!  We have had several birthdays in our family....including Mallory turning 7 and Parker turned the big ONE!  We have had dance practices going on to get ready for Kennedy's ballet recital, installing a new fence, finishing a swingset,  and re-doing all our front flower beds, ...throw in Mother's Day, a few short trips, a Senior banquet, and just having some fun outside because summer weather is here in the south!!! Oh, and of course I forgot about redecorating the girl's bedroom.   We have been a very busy family, but that is just our life and we have a lot of fun watching the kids grow and change....even though it is much too fast for me!!!

I plan on sharing lots of pictures this week about many of the above mentioned things we have been up to....so keep checking back!  Also, stay tuned for a RAK later on this week.  I have some goodies to give away....just because you all have been so good to remain loyal visitors.....even though lately have done a lousy job of keeping up to date!  So.....like I said....stay tuned for a jam packed week here on the 'ole blog!!!

I will leave you with a few more pictures and captions...

Mallory and Parker have birthdays two days apart in May.  So here they are celebrating with family and a big cookie cake! 

 

Parker was sitting outside the other day while Shane and I were working in the flower gardens out front and here come his sister to dress him up with flowers.  He loved and thought it was funny!  Couldn't resist this picture!

 

 

 

Mallory and Natalie(Leah's little sweetie) on Mallory's birthday.  We took a little trip that day and had a blast!

 

 

This has become one of my favorite candid photos. I played in Picasa with this one for a little bit and this is what I did. What a bunch of sweeties!!!

 

More later...and like I said earlier...thank you to all of you who have shown concern...I am fine....just been really busy....but this too shall pass and for now I HAVE MY GROOVE BACK and I am back to bloggin'

Have a great day!

Grab a coke and dive on in!

Ok...so this post is going to be somewhat random and knowing me it will probably be lengthy too....I have so many things to catch up on around this house and with my blog and my blogging buddies.  I am sorry that I STILL have not got around to commenting much...but hopefully I will get to soon...maybe this evening...maybe by the end of the week.

What have we got going on right now?   WHEW!!!

• In the process of getting a fence built around our back yard...and I am beginning to wonder if that is going to happen.  Hopefully, we will hear today or tomorrow what day they are coming out to start the construction of the fence.  I am so ready to have the fence up!
• Shane is still putting the new swingset together...that had like 500 pieces and 99 steps in the instruction booklet

 

• In the middle still of redoing the girls room...have made a good start on it....but still have a little way to go....of course more pictures later when I am finished.  BTW, this is a totally different bedding than what I showed you a few months ago...we went a different direction with the decorating.

• Previously, as you can see, the room was themed in ladybugs...red, white and black...so these are some pictures from now and in the middle of changing things out....the red is going and going to change the colors up to pinks, purple, teal, pale yellow, and lavender....when I get it all finished I will post the final product!  :)
• Have finally cleaned out and purged a bunch of clothes and shoes in various closets around the house.  Feel good about that....and glad I am DONE!!!
• Parker is walking and a busy little boy....which in turn makes Mama a busy Mama!  Nuff said!  :)
• Had a great birthday on Friday the 13th....no bad luck here...just a nice evening celebrating with my family. Thank you to all who sent cards and well wishes.  It was so nice to have so many people thinking of me!  :) Sweet Amy sent me the coolest card....so nice of her to think of me!  I try to keep birthdays low key because I like the idea of stopping at 29 and not celebrating after that...LOL....but THANK YOU SO MUCH to everyone that wished me a Happy Birthday!  You all are too sweet!

• Have recently gotten several new scrapping items and I can't wait to use them all.  I need some help though from all you die hard scrappers.  I have PLENTY of supplies, have pretty cool ideas, love to scrapbook and alter things...no problems there...but how do you do it?  I always have such good intentions, but never seem to get any work done....and I just keep COLLECTING supplies and cool stuff....BUT????  Help me out and give me some suggestions....I thought about making a monthly calendar and identifying specific days to work on specific things...but not sure it that is practical??  I just want to be productive and get some pages done....but just can't seem to get it all together! I'll share more pictures of this in a later post.

• These little babies are so cool and were so cheap at Michael's...thanks to Telah and Leah for giving me the head's up on these!

 

• Have two birthdays coming up in the next few weeks...and I am trying to plan for those.  Mallory will be seven and Parker will be ONE!  Doesn't seem possible!  Makes me kind of sad that my little man is growing up so fast....well for that matter, all of them are....and I don't like it at all!  They are supposed to stay babies forever....aren't they?  :)

• and lastly, I am going to work on tidying up my blog a little and giving it a facelift...I need to update pictures and change some things around....obviously, I have not done a good job at taking a photo a day....so I am going to change that around too....so check back and take a look over the next little bit and let me know what you think about the changes.

That's enough for now...more later!  Have a great rest of the evening!

Did you miss me? I'm NOT dead...

Maybe I set a record for the longest absence from my blog ever....Nah!  But man, I was gone for awhile...every time I would think that I need to sit down and let someone know I am still among the living...well, something would take precedence and blogging just had to wait!  Also, maybe I just wasn't really in the mood to blog about anything...like I have said before...I think maybe I just needed a break. 

Springtime is definitely here in North Alabama.  How about where you live?  I love the weather and the beautiful things I see everywhere I look outside...but along with that come the dreaded POLLEN!!!  It is now plaguing our area and so begins the sneezing, watery eyes, and of course more sinus trouble around here for many people. 

My friend Telah, suggested to me that maybe I needed to do a I'M NOT DEAD post....so here it is!  :)  I will admit I have been really busy and neglected my blog....I have read many over the weeks, but just stopped blogging and commenting on other blogs....and for that I apologize.  I let something get the best of me and just couldn't shake a funk that I was feeling.  But the sun is shining and it is a new day that God has blessed us with and I think I might be ready to get back into LIFE!  :)  I promise I will be back to commenting and visiting all your blogs soon....very soon!  Thanks for sticking by and for all your emails and comments and concern for if I was alright.  Very sweet to know that I was missed! 

Of course since it is has been over a month, I have tons of things I want to tell you about....but have no idea where to start.  So let me just give you a few glimpses of life here with me over the last few weeks...

So there you go!  Just some quick glimpses...I just uploaded 173 pictures from my camera this morning....that tells you how long it has been since I have been in catch up mode and felt like getting anything done. 

I can't wait to share more with you...but for right now I am off to get a new driver's license...since mine expires today!  YIKES!  Glad I remembered and didn't get stuck with an expired license!  Then I have some errands to run...of course it wouldn't be a trip into town without having to stop by Wal-Mart for something...right?

Love to you all and thanks for stopping by!  More later....