If You Like Grease....

Then you should eat at the Varsity! BCSM went to Atlanta two weeks ago. We went to eat at the Varsity before going to a Braves game. I greatly enjoyed the greasy food. Burgers, Hot dogs, onion rings, fries, shakes.....you know. Heart stopping food. Also, The Burgess family and The Metcalfs were brave enough (no pun intended) to take our children along with 62 students. I see a future problem here....

Walker and Jackson couldn't be any cuter if they tried.

Walker is so sweet with Marley. He's like having a baby sitter...

.....and precious little Jackson (the one smooshing the hat on Mar) is the male version of Marley. Full Out. All the time. He told us Wednesday he had his shirt unbuttoned to show off his chest hair! Love him.

Sitting at Seven

Well, Farrah Blake has been in our lives for seven months now. Life before her was good, but our family is more complete with her here. I would constantly kiss Marley Ruth's lips when she was a baby, but I can't get to Farrah's because of those gosh darn cute cheeks! Her smile is contagious, and it goes right down through her toes. Brent says she smiles with her WHOLE body. All around she is an "easy" baby. Her little temper has been showing up though when a toy or bottle is taken away by someone who shall remain nameless. Farrah has her own little way of "crawling". I can't even describe it. She grunts when ever she does it and it is quite hilarious. We love the little gal and have decided she should stay;).

Sitting up like a champ

look at those rolls.

she sits like this ALL the time.

she likes her sister here.

she doesn't care for her sister when she is trying to look down her throat like Dr. Myers.

marley ruth can ALWAYS make her smile though.

no babies or Mac Books were hurt in the making of this blog.

farrah will find ANY cord left laying in the floor.

and no, we have not let her play with them:).

bye bye ya'll!

Comfortable

After two children I have just grown comfortable being comfortable. The problem is that I'm not comfortable because MY clothes don't fit, but Brent's do. That's right. I'm wearing my husband's t-shirts. This is so contrary to the pre-children Amanda. I love fashion and shopping, but food just happens to be something else that I love. The battle is that I have no idea where to start. A diet is crazy with a three year old. How and what do I cook other than chicken every night? I'm clueless. I want the slimmer, semi-stylish Amanda back. On the other hand. I'm comfortable being here.

Oh. Yes, I'm still running. Well, as much as a big gal like me can run. I would also like to add that I get up at 5:30 am to run. Only because I like Amber;) . One more thing, my dearest friend Bekah is getting married in November. Make no mistake this will be an elegant wedding if it is anything like the bride. So shlumpa-dinka Amanda doesn't want to look frumpy standing at the alter of Daniel Chapel at FU in her J Crew dress.

To Be Continued......

Chick-fil-A

My efforts to get the girls to the Library for story time was futile today. Maybe it was due to the lack of cooperation getting ready and a screaming baby. Who knows? Any who, I had told Marley we were going to do something fun today. I needed to run to Babies-R-Us to get a present for Brooke and Brad's little one, so the only fun thing I could think to do was to hit up Chick-fil-A on our way. Driving to Asheville by myself with two kids even for just one errand takes the entire day. Marley Ruth just couldn't contain her excitement when she found out we were going to the Chicky. I love the place bc of these things: polynesian sauce, the milkshakes (I could stop here), chicken sandwich, waffle fries, place mats for children (they stick to the table btw. genius.), the old people who smile @ you and bring you straws, and the indoor playground. I gotta tell you that I dislike Chick-fil-A for one simple reason: lunch time with the stay @ home moms. It's like a secret cult. Dress your kid up in the cutest Gymboree or Old Navy dress, strap the biggest bow you can find on your kids head ( i like bows, but not when they eat the kids head), make sure their crocs are spotless and sit around and talk about your facebook page. I don't mean to sound cynical it's just that it feels like Middle School, a place in which I never want to return. I just want to eat chicken and laugh at Marley Ruth running a muck. I heard a nanny say, "Elaina, go down the slide like a lady". She was referring to a little 2 year old girl in an adorable dress. What? We are at Chick-fil-A? I wanted to say, "Elaina, smear some bbq sauce on your face, tuck your dress in between your legs, and go up the slide instead of down, Marley Ruth will go with you". (Gee, why does Marley wear me out?;). No one loves a cute dressed up little girl like I do, it's just that us moms have gotten so consumed by how our children appear that we forget that they are just KIDS! Maybe if our kids are cute we will get compliments that make us feel like "good moms". I didn't realize the pressures that moms feel until I became one. The constant fear of failure or that our kids won't be accepted by others. Man, it is overwhelming.  Whatever it is, we don't need affirmation from man (or other moms) to be loved or accepted. God's got that one covered. Let's just all go to Chick-fil-A in our play clothes, get dirty, laugh, and have fun!

A Lot to Pray About...

Erin Shelton's mom: she is in the hospital after getting bit by a dog. Not sure about all of the details, but praying for my friend.

Hannah Compton:  a nine year old girl in our church who is having open heart surgery on Wednesday (this family has gone through so much with their two sweet children) 

Mike McCurdy: The stinkin' sweet heart who helped get me hired at Brevard Elementary. He had a heart attack while he was going to see his brother-in-law who had just died! Him and his wife Brenda also go to our church.

Laura Tompkins: a student in our youth group who's aunt just died (not sure of details yet)

BCSM Middle Schoolers, leaders, and families who are still very sick from this virus we have all passed around! The Doctors don't smell piggy yet, but we have all affectionately called it the "piggy bug".

The Garrens: They will be going to Big Stuf Daytona with us and I'm sure it will be hard but healing to be back to where Jessie had such an amazing experience. We just love them and look to them as mentors! Parenting at it's finest!

The Parkers: I'm sure the summer is not the same without sweet Kyla's smile.