Sing You Home by Jodi Picoult

Well since we are leaving in a week for vacation I bought a couple new books. I was so excited about them that I started to read one. Sing Me Home by Jodi Picoult is by far one of her BEST books! I haven't finished it and I really am only half way through but man is it good!

I want to write about what the story is about but I am scared to give away all the good details! What I love most about Jodi is how she tells the story through the different characters! I think I have become a snob when it comes to reading books because her style. If I get confused in a book I tend to put it down. Her style makes it easy to relate to each character but she also pushes the envelope when it comes to who you take a side with! Since each character has their own story and she tells their story each time you begin to relate to each one.

This is what she wrote "In the aftermath of of a series of personal tragedies, Zoe throws herself into her career as a music therapist. When an unexpected friendship slowly blossoms into love, she makes plans for a new life, but to her shock and inevitable rages, some people-even those she loves and trusts the most-don't want that to happen." This synopsus doesn't do the story justice! Man she really gets you pulled in with her provocative story lines and really makes you think. She also takes many twists and turns!

You have to go out and get this book! It really is amazing!

Run Elizabeth Run!

Totally corny title but that is how I have felt the past month! I have started to run....ok ok I would say more or less jog these days! I hate running! I really hate running but I love to set goals and meet them! Running is a quick way for me to set a goal and work towards it! I also like the affect it is having on my weight loss plan!

These are all good reasons but the best reason is that I have two great running partners that motivate me and encourage me! Having someone run with you and tell you how great your doing really makes a difference. It also helps to have someone who runs so much better than you because it motivates you!

I bought a pair of new running shoes to help me be motivated but also help with making it easier. :)


I bought a new pair of running pants and a running shirt. I was totally one who thought spending money on that was a waste but man do they really help with the sweat and the keeping me cool.


I also downloaded an app on my phone to track my runs and to tell me my speed and elevation. I am so darn competitive that I keeping track makes me push myself a little more.

I can't believe I am saying this but I am looking for award to each time I run now which is so odd since I hate running! :)

Busy Busy Busy

Well all I can say is life is crazy busy! Being a family of three has really sucked up all that down time we had two years ago! This is a good thin in many aspects but in others it can be overwhelming!

Well we have been busy since January! First I made a resolution to get healthy! I know you snickered just then! If you go back in the archives weight has always been a topic but I needed to get serious in January! I have really worked hard the past couple months and I feel great! I have kept off consistently 8 pounds! I am 142 solidly and have been that for a few weeks. I have started to run which is exciting because I hate running! :) I hate running but I am super competative so I set these mini goals for me and when I meet them I am on a high! It is great! The running is starting to get my fat under control. Two times a week I take a weight lifting class which has really strengthened my arms and legs. I can actually do ten pushups!! So needless today this resolution is still going strong!

Something else that is pretty exciting is that I was accepted into NC State University for their graduate program in administration! I am really excite but totally scared out of my mind. There are nights where I have a panic moment and think what have I done! I applied to a distance learning program so I am still waiting to hear about my acceptance there! Keep your fingers crossed!

School is great I love second grade and my kids are amazing! I have really enjoy a new curriculum and challenges that brings! I am excited to start a new year with having this year under my belt! Next year will be so much better since I will know everything about second grade!

Now to the main show! Tillman is great! He amazes me so much these days! He is so verbal and knows so many words! He loves to eat and play with balls and cars! He knows most animal sounds. He knows the letter B and R. He loves to sit with his "TapTop" laptop in his lap while we have ours in our laps. He LOVES "Ella" Stella to pieces but we have to watch ourselves because he mimics everything we do. When we yell at her he yells too! He is 28 pounds of all boy but can be such a drama king! He loves to be "utside" outside watching the big boys play basket ball then we will walk to the park and go down the "ide" slide! He has learned the word help which is nice since he doesn't whine as much when he wants something. He says ouch for anything he doesn't like you doing to him such as changing his diaper or picking him up to bring him inside. We are working on our letters and colors which he has the attention span of a fly so that is fun!

We are busy busy busy but loving every moment of it!

Turn your head for one minute....

This is what happens when your turn your head for one minute!




I was upstairs working on my graduate school application! All of a sudden I hear Oh God Oh God Oh God, progressivly getting louder! I run downstairs to find Tillman sitting in the kitchen table chair with a marker in his hand! Oh boy did he look stunned like "Huh what did I do?" I laughed and then ran to get my camera! He had scribbled all over the table and the outside of the envelope that my National Boards Certificate was in. It was so funny!

Such a lame momma!

So this Christmas I was so lame...I took NO pictures except for Christmas Eve! I was in shock once I sat down when we got home and realized no pictures of Tillman's second Christmas. At least when we have a second kid they won't feel like I took tons of pictures of Tillman and not them...I won't have any of anybody! Here are a couple of us hanging out around the tree watching Mr. Show Off!

If only he knew...

So as a mom you have many opp. to take pictures of your kid in the most funny perdicaments.

I heard Matt laughing in hall and he yelled for me to get my camera. I walked around the corner and this is what I caught....couldn't stop laughing! He did it all by himself!

Alternate World...

So in another lifetime I would like to be a photgorapher. I am not an artsy person which is why I think I am not one in this lifetime. I don't have that artsy eye which in turn makes my photos genaric or odd looking. I LOVE to take pictures and learn about how to make pictures better but I am not one of those people that execute ideas.

Well with the birth of baby Liam I have been playing around with my camera. I am a visual person so when Tillman had his portraits done as a newborn I watched and asked TONS of questions in hopes of mimicing what she did. Well needless to say I am not near as good.

I am going to blame it on the fact that I need a better body to my camera but I also know that I lack a lot of knowledge on light and apeture settings. Here are a couple I took and editted with my stock computer program.

Baby Liam

Lets take a look back to 6-15-09, I was walking the dog because it was my due date and I wanted Tillman OUT! As I was walking I came upon the Ridouts. Jill was yelling "get him" while Aj was killing a spider! Molly was standing beside Jill laughing. Jill being the friendly person she is asked when I was due and I told her my due date was today and I was walking hoping to start labor. We talked about babies and she was so friendly! I went home and the first thing I did was facebook her! I told her I wasn't a stalker but since she lived in my neighborhood I wanted to be friends. Moments later she called and said she wanted to bring me something. She showed up at my door and had Fisher's baby book. She wanted me to not be scared about labor and show me how neat it was. I was so amazed with her and how friendly she was! I had never met someone so genuine and outwardly caring to someone she just met!

Fast forward and year and half and Jill and I have become great friends! She keeps me grounded because she isn't a "teacher" friend. I hang with her and teaching isn't a topic because we have so many other things in common to talk about. What I love most about Jill is that she is the most genuine encouraging person I have ever met. She isn't afraid to stand up for what she believes and always wants to support her friends. Whatever I tell her she gives great advice and always motivates me to be the best me! She is an amazing mom who has three beautiful children! She is one of those friends who I may not talk to all the time but we pick up right where we left off.

Well ever since Tillman was born I have been intrigued with birth! I really wanted to see a baby be born and Jill offered to let me see baby Liam be born! I was amazed with how beautiful this event was. Take away all the science and just ground yourself with what is happening! When Liam made his appearance I kept saying "Oh my gosh..that is a baby!" The neonatal nurse said, "I have seen hundreds of births and it still amazes me!" I am so grateful for Jill letting me be present for such an amazing event! I will forever remember baby Liam's birth! Here are some pictures!

Me and Jill loving on baby Liam!
AJ and Jill with baby Liam!
Getting cleaned!
Jill's favorite part of a baby is the labor...can't you tell! Took her eight minutes to push baby Liam out!
Molly and Jill enjoying a nice popsicle while waiting for baby Liam!

New Year's Resolution....

So this year is a new year! I can't wait for this year to begin. I love new adventures and get bored very easily! I am always looking for a new challenge and the last couple months I feel that I haven't had a challenge and so I am looking for a new one this year!

This resolution was sparked by many different things but mainly I wanted to eat healthier, spend less money, and feel productive in the house wife category. ;)

So this year I have decided to attempt meal planning for our family. If you all knew how much we spent on food for a family of two and a half you would flip! We are very spoiled and don't want to give up cable or Internet so in order to be better stewards of our money, I want to help cut our food bill down. We believe that Walmart is still in business because of our family! ;)

What I have going for me is I love to cook! I love to eat and I love to try out new foods! Meal planning seems pretty easy and seems to really make shopping organized.

What I have against me is that I really change my mind about my food cravings. I can't project how tired I will be during the week. My cooking skills aren't the best!

My other goal is to cut coupons and to see if I can save money. I am trying to balance my life and one area is being a better mom and wife. I work really hard in my profession but I know that my family suffers. This year I want to work on me and to become a better person. Tillman is becoming more independent and wants to do more with us. I have really made an effort to put my things away and spend more time with him. My patience is def. an area I want to work on along with being more tolerant! (All my IB is rubbing off!)

So this year I want to meal plan, cut coupons, and lose 30 pounds! Lets see if I can do it! Since I can't post without pictures here is my sweet boy and his momma! Everything I do is for him!

To little birdies!

Tillman loves food! He loves it now so much more because he can try the food that we eat most of the time! He will stand under our feet and saw more more when we are eating. The other day Matt said grab your camera and come here! So I did...this is what I found!

Both of them begging for food!

I laughed so hard I couldn't take anymore pictures! Boy do I love this kid!

Snow Day!

So a couple weeks ago we had snow. Didn't even know that it was supposed to snow! I took Tillman out because I wanted to see how he reacted to the snow. It was pricless! I couldn't wait to use my new camera lens! Gosh he has grown up so much he looks like a little boy not a baby!

Better Late Than Never

Here is our Christmas card that many will get after the new year! :)

With Love Chartreuse Christmas Card

Turn your unique photos into Christmas cards with Shutterfly.

View the entire collection of cards.

Shutterfly Holidayness

Well my husband and I are polar opposites! I love pictures, sending letters, decorating for the holiday but him, he would rather peel potatoes then send Christmas cards or add holiday decor to our mantel! Since I don't really care how much of a Grinch he is, I am going to use Shutterfly to make our custom holiday cards and gifts!

Shutterfly has an amazing collection of holiday cards to choose from and they have something for everyone at such a great price! Right now many are on sale!

One of my favorites is this card because of the many pictures you can put on it. More is better in my opinion and for the people who don't get to see Tillman often, having many pictures makes the card worth more!




http://www.shutterfly.com/cards-stationery/cards-stationery/bright-blooming-tree-christmas-card?sortType=1&fa=8&storeNode=93476&fc=1

Now if you can keep a secret, I will tell you what I am getting my parents for Christmas! They love to get things with Tillman on it, so I am making a calendar and mugs for them!

My favorite calendar is the bright and bold layout. Here is the link if you scroll to the bottom it will show you all the different backgrounds they have. The calendar is GREAT because you can add so many pictures and you can tell a story through the year! The best part is you can make it once and then buy two or three and give them as gifts and it wasn't much work at all! http://www.shutterfly.com/calendars/wall-calendars

The mugs are great for coffee drinkers like my family! They love to wake up with their grandsons happy face looking at them! You can put as many or as few pictures as you would like on the mug.



http://www.shutterfly.com/photo-gifts/photo-mugs

I can't wait to get our pictures done and gifts made! I love when my family opens gifts that are "handmade" and how much they love using them throughout the year. I get phone calls all the time with them telling me how much it made their morning using the mug!

You really should go check out Shutterfly and all the great things they have to offer!

*In case you were wondering about this post, I receive 50 free holiday cards for posting this! You can too if you visit http://bit.ly/sfly2010

Granny and Paw Paw visit

Well each year the state fair comes which means Granny and Paw Paw are here! Aunt Katie also came to visit which means going out to eat is in order! Tillman was excited to see everyone and showed off for them!

16 Months

Well my sweet boy is turing into a drama king! Boy did the tides turn! He cries about everything now. If he wants something he begs and whines for it! He used to be to calm and patient now he wants instant results and if he doesn't get it, a tantrum ensues! He loves to eat these days and really only wants to eat what we are having. He is starting to run not walk. He loves to play and always wants us to play with him. He will bring us something similar to so we can play with him. He really understand commands now and knows what we mean when we ask him to do something. Everyday is such an adventure with him!

Dino Boy

This halloween was so much fun! I can't wait till the next one when he will kinda know what to do. This year we spent it with our dear friends and their two sons. It was so much fun to see all the costume! I do have to say though it wasn't near as much fun as it was when I was nine or ten. Being an adult and trick or treating seems to have no point and I can see why parents hate this holiday! :) Enjoy the pictures!