{he's finally here!}

Welcome To The World
{James Tyler Allen Simpkins}
July 21, 2009
9:01pm
8lbs 5oz & 21"

{It's TOO Hot!!}

Welcome to Three Word Thursday. Cathe over at Just Something I made always has cute things on her blog. Today is Three Word Thursday. Post your three words and leave me a comment with those same three words.

{swim buddy swim!!}

Our wonderful neighbors have pretty much given us free reign in their pool! It's been a great lifesaver to the boredom of one 11 year boy off school and to one very pregnant and overheated mom! 4th of July weekend the neighbors and all of us were desperately in need of cooling off.....even Buddy!!

We'd taken him to the lake and he's swam out after fish but the pool....well it was too funny!!

Boy oh boy was he in heaven! He loved to dive right in after daddy

Just jumping in to cool off like most dogs wasn't exactly what Buddy had in mind....

He actually wanted to join in the fun and splash everyone! It was too funny!!

And you better watch out too because boy can he swim fast!! He'd just sneak up on you and you'd be water blind before you could even blink!

His favorite thing was to dive in after someone so he was constantly getting out of the pool and jumping back in....daddy tried to show him where the stairs were to get out easily but....

Buddy was just as stubborn as a 2 year old trying to dress themselves "I do it myself" was the look on his face as he kept trying to attempt exiting the pool from the side!!

It was an eventful day for Buddy and quite and entertaining afternoon for the family and our wonderful neighbors! Buddy is most definitely a water dog!!

{goals week of 7-12-09}

Ok so let's try this again...I've talked with my family and we've decided how we're gonna do this. We'll choose together one bog family and then we'll each post a goal of our own. So that gives each of us 2 things to really work on for a week. I intend to post these every Sunday night but I completely forgot last night so it's a few hours late this week! Hey if it happens again maybe my goal for next week will be to post my goals on time! haha =)

This weeks goals are:

Family goal: To stop saying shut up in our home.
Somehow this nasty little habit seems to have snuck in our home in the last few months and we are all guilty of it. I have always hated those two little words and I'm a bit shocked that we let them in. I hope this is one goal we can stick to and keep forever!

Mom's goal: To finish sewing the rest of James things (4 outfits & 1 blanket).

Dad's goal: To eat healthier. Going to try a low carb diet for one week. (I guess it will kind of end up somewhat of a family goal considering we eat dinner together and all) Anyhow dad's off to a great start with a nice big egg breakfast this morning!

Wyatt's goal: To make his bed before watching morning cartoons without being asked. He's off to a great start this morning! Mom is REALLY hoping we can make this one stick!!

James' goal: To arrive!!! WE ALL HAVE OUR FINGERS CROSSED ON THIS ONE!!!! I have a doctors appointment today so I'll keep you all updated on James' goal later this afternoon!

{Goals update}

Well this week didn't go as planned at all!! Here's how our goals went:

1. Make sure everyone puts their dishes in the dishwasher and NOT the sink after they are used.
**The dishwasher broke!! I kid you not! I am calling the landlord today! So much for that goal!

2. Take a 15-30 minute walk with the dog everyday.
**Well I walked....a alot actually but not like we had planned. Apparently this last few days were busier than I had thought they would be. Oh well hopefully at least my doctor will tell me today that all the walking did some good with pushing along this delivery.

3. Get the front porched cleaned up before the in laws come to visit Saturday morning.
DONE!! And not only done but the garage got organized too!!

And one just for mom:
1. Finish sewing at least 2 of the outfits I have for James before I go to bed Friday night!
Half done...I did so much walking Friday that I was too sore to sit at the sewing table! But he's got one outfit ready to go!

So as you can see things didn't quite work out as planned but hey we tried and this goal setting thing i think will be a fun way for our family to grow closer!

{goals}

A friend of mine posted a blog about weekly goals. She found another woman's blog here that was about creating a weekly goal every Sunday posting what the goals are then keeping everyone updated on them as the week goes on. This friend of mine has now challenged all her friends to the same idea....It's such a great way to encourage each other to accomplish the little things or even the big things each week.

It's already Thursday night so for the rest of the week our family goals are:

1. Make sure everyone puts their dishes in the dishwasher and NOT the sink after they are used.
2. Take a 15-30 minute walk with the dog everyday.
3. Get the front porched cleaned up before the in laws come to visit Saturday morning.

And one just for mom:
1. Finish sewing at least 2 of the outfits I have for James before I go to bed Friday night!

Now I may not get pictures of all these things but I'll try my best to keep you updated! I'm hoping for Family Goal #1 to become a permanent habit!!

So who's up for the challenge?

{2 weeks 2 go}

Not the clear of pictures but Wyatt tried his best!
And these were actually taken with 3 1/2 weeks to go...

It feels like forever even though now it's only 2 more weeks!!

{special delivery}

Wyatt was SO excited when a box came in the mail and this time it had his name on it! What a special treat for him! He ran for his pocket knife and got that box open fast!



Auntie Heidi sent him a couple of nice outfits....a growing boy needs all the clothes he can get and Auntie Heidi knows just what he likes! She has great taste!



Wyatt thought it was great that he received a box in the mail but it was fun for him to see it was addressed to him and his new little brother. There was a pile of new clothes for him and one for James!



Thank you Auntie Heidi for all the great stuff your sent! Wyatt has already worn just about everything in his pile and we are all anxiously awaiting James' arrival and the chance to try all these wonderful outfits on him as well!



We love you Sis, Auntie, & Sister in Law!!! Thank you for the special treat!!
(P.S. We love you too Ryan!!)

{awards}

Wyatt received an award at the end of the school years assembly. It was not for honor roll or attendance but something rather special. An award a mother will be proud of for years to come. The principle announced that the next award was very important. She said that there was an amazing story behind each child who received it. Then Wyatt's teacher continued to say that the students who received this award had been through some difficult times and had overcome their trials with a determination to succeed! He said that they never gave up despite the bumps in the road. Then I cried as the first of only 3 students called was Wyatt!! He had a rough year with trials that would have knocked down some adults but he kept on. He found a solution got through those trials and right back on track! I am SO proud of my baby and all that he has accomplished in his life. The pride in Wyatt's eyes when he realized his teacher was giving him recognition for something he learned inside was, for me as his mother, worth more than all the honor roll awards he could have! He gained more than just the knowledge that was in his books this year.....he gained wisdom, strength and determination! A priceless education!

{photography}

Hey everyone don't forget to follow my photography blog! There isn't much up there just yet but I'll get it filled up soon!!

http://keriannsimpkinsphotography.blogspot.com/

{Do it anyway}

Things I would like to say "Screw It" to and just do it anyway!
(i found this idea on a blog I was reading...how fun!)

MOVE TO MONTANA

Oh to get out of the smog and heat of Southern California! And not just to a cooler place but a beautiful place! Oh to look out my kitchen window and see green rolling hills and mountains with evergreen trees! Oh to teach my children how to bake a pie on a snow day and shoot a riffle on the first day of hunting season! And OH how I would love to just drive out every December in the snow and cut down any old Christmas tree I want!! Oh to live a simpler, slower life!

BUY A CABIN IN MAMMOTH

Now this one well a bit less realistic considering I know very few people who can afford the million dollar cabins in Mammoth but still this is a "if I could i would" blog post! =)

RUN A RED LIGHT

I can't count the times I've been running late but if it hadn't been for that one red light I would have made it to my destination right on time! Stupid red lights!!!

PUT IN A POOL

We just have a rental home right now and honestly I think the landlord would let us put up an above ground pool but to have our very own built in pool would be fantastic!! He'd probably let us even put that in but it's just a rental....who pays for a built in pool when they don't own the property?


I'm sure I could right a longer list of things I'd like to say screw it to and do anyway but my growling tummy has now gotten the best of my brain so I had better feed before I start writing gibberish!

FRUIT LOOPS HERE I COME!!!!