This could be the beginning of...

A beautiful relationship.

Dear iPhone,
I love you. You know, since it's valentine's day and all (almost). I just downloaded the Blogger app on my phone so perhaps this blog IS BACK. I'm not even going to attempt to "catch up" it's been so long! Just going to attempt to start where we are. Here.

The beginning of my 10th Tax Season!
The first day of Brian's new job (more details later)!
Busy busy with 2 crazy little boys.

Maybe I'll dedicate a post to each member of the family and what they are doing now. Or maybe not. We'll see! Ok kids are screaming. Be back soon.

Does this count as a blog post????

I've been pondering a title for this post but nothing seems very fitting, so no title. I'm going to try to start blogging again more regularly - more for my record keeping benefits than anything. I don't keep up with babybooks very well and I'm not into scrapbooking, so this is it really. My poor children are going to have no record of their childhood if I don't get on it! So, anyway, here I am back from wherever I was doing whatever I was doing. I'm not sure whether I want to recap the last few months or just start fresh. It appears that I last blogged a depressing post two days before Christmas...hmmm...well, it's May now - the trees are green, the grass is green, flowers are blooming, strawberries are in season - so life is definitely a little sunnier, literally and figuratively. I survived tax season, sothe long hours are behind me until the next big deadline (which is in September in case you're wondering). We currently do not have a kitchen. Well, I guess we DO have one, it's just spread out between my office where the refrigerator resides, the laundry room hallway where our food is stored on a hutch and bookcase, and our unfinished second bathroom where our microwave, toaster oven and sink are. I know, you're jealous...it's the life of luxury. Brian is currently doing the electrical work where our new kitchen will be and, supposedly, the sheetrock guys will be here tomorrow to put up the walls...we'll see. Let me just take a little break to offer some advice - if you ever think that remodeling would be fun, adventurous, cheaper, faster, etc. etc....think again!!! It is NONE of these things. Ok, back to where I was...the cabinets are actually in our house...in the basement...in boxes. Hopefully they will be installed in the next few weeks.

But enough about all of that and onto more important things like these two cuties! My post didn't really turn into much about them I guess. They are getting to be more and more fun...playing together (fighting with each other :/). They had a great time searching for Easter eggs this year and love being outside. Suzimama has supplied us with some cute shirts for S[ring time! Thanks Suzi!

MIA

Ok, I've been MIA for quite some time. I come and go, but I'm having a hard time keeping up - with this blog and with life in general. Things are pretty difficult right now. Jack is a hard kiddo, but we are moving in the right direction with him. I know that's pretty vague, but sometime I will write more. Our house is torn up right now (nothing new, of course) which causes me lots of stress. There is a tiny glimpse of some light at the end of this tunnel but I am skeptical. I will elaborate on that some time as well. This post will not offer much insight to our life, but I wanted to document why there has been such a lag in posting for myself in the future. I hope that I will be able to look back and laugh at this crazy time in my life, but right now I am just surviving. I know that sounds dramatic (especially considering that things could always be a lot worse), but for now, that is the feeling I have. Please pray for our family, for our progress in various areas of life, and for moving forward for us. We wish you all a Merry Christmas! There probably won't be pictures, but our thoughts are with you all.

Half Marathon

I completed my first half marathon Saturday in Charlotte. I started running in May and decided to attempt a half with an awesome friend of mine from work, Bethany. We did some 5Ks and a 10K together and this weekend we completed our first half marathon (13.1 miles).

I've always wanted to run, but have always struggled with it. I'm not sure what was different this time, but I'm hooked. I've been running with a great group of girls that meets in Kannapolis or Concord a few mornings a week. I think the time with other women my age, most of whom are mothers, has really been good for my spirit even more so than my body!

Here are a few pics from the run...it was COLD!
Before the race started...it was cold!
Bethany in motion around mile 9
Me in motion somewhere around 9
WAHOO!!! We made it!!

Family Photos

Family photo shoot with Hope Bray!

Birthdays!

So, I didn't even post on my children's birthdays. I feel pretty bad about that, but both of my children were born near tax deadlines and there are only so many hours in the day...sooo...I'm catching up now.

Sweet Paul turned 1 on September 14th and he's still just the sweetest little boy. He does like to be held although he is toddling around all over on his on. He is all over the place since he started walking and loves to throw things in the potty, help load the dishwasher, and play in the kitchen cabinets. He's said a few words since his first birthday including mama, ball, and book. He had his one year check up at the doctor and was in the 50th percentile in height, weight and head circum., so he's right on track. It's hard to believe that one year ago, we were in the hospital with him and he was so sick. At the time we were so worried about potential developmental delays and other unknowns, but he's just as healthy as he can be and the most wonderful little boy ever!

On October 19th Jack turned 3...oh from the terrible twos to the...terrible 3's??? Just kidding...although Jack is challenging he's also really smart and super sweet. He still has an obsession with Thomas the Tank Engine, but we working on getting him interested in other things. He loves to read books and is doing great at preschool. He was doing really well with potty training, but has had a slight regression...we're getting back on track. Last night I gave him a lion costume that a friend at work had given me. He put it on and insisted on sleeping in it...he definitely marches to the beat of his own drum, but we love that about him.

The boys celebrated their birthdays together with a joint party at my sisters house. She made an awesome cake for them that Jack noted "smelled so good." I think we'll do joint parties as long as the boys will allow it!