Ketchup

So... I have been so bad lately about updating the blog. I am just going to quickly write about some of the things that we have been up to lately and post a few new pics.

Last major thing that we did was tak a trip to Florda for Memorial Day weekend. Both Alex and I had off of work Monday and we always like to try and take advantage of those free three day weekends. We didn't actually get to do much while we were there, in Orlando, but a short getaway is always nice - even if you can't or don't have time to do much. One thing we did get to do though was drive to St. Augustine and see my oma and opa at the beach and spend the day with them!

It was not a long drive and Avery got to see his great grandparents, aunt Vanessa and uncle Mike AND he went to pool and the beach for the first time. I am not sure he is crazy about the beach yet, but he does LOVE the pool. We had SOOOOO much fun visiting with the family and spending a wonderful day in the sun. Thanks to oma and opa for having us and for feeding us!! We love you!!

Also in BIG news... Avery has eight teeth now, he wants to eat everythig that I am eating and he will stuff as much as he can into his mouth until he looks like a little squirrel with big cheeks!! :) He is crawling completely on his knees now. He wishes he could walk but he's still afraid to let go if hes standing up. He pulls up and stands and bouces on everything he can reach and he's already trying to get into everything. He loves to get his hands on our cell phones or lap top, but one his favorite things is pulling items out of a box or basket looking at them or playing with them for a few seconds and then moving on to the next thing in the pot. He is a HUGE flirt and will literally look a girl up and down as she walks away..... I am wondering who taught him that.... He is doing just great.
As for Alex and I, we kicked it into third gear this summer and we're busting our tails!! So, we should both be done with school in December. I will have my Bachelors and Alex will be finished up with his Associates in Business and if things turn out the way he wants we will be moving to Orlando, FL for Alex to finish his degree in the hospitality field. Who knows where we'll be after that...... :)

9 hours!

So I'm sitting here watching the season finale of Ax Men working on my foul language, haha. I love DVR I record all the good shows so I can watch sports and then watch primetime in the morning time. BAM! So this morning I listed the Rodeo on craigslist... I sold it in 9 hours, and for more than any trade in offer we got. I told Jess I should get a lot and sell cars...No thanks! I think too many times people, dealerships included, ask too much in order to maximize their profit. I believe that in business you have make the customers think they are getting a deal. So what if you don't make as much as your "need" you still make more than what you had.


Tip of the day: If you list an item on craigslist avoid any email you get that asks for personal info, mentions a moving company picking up the item, or anyone that "lives overseas". There are tons of scams out there. I look for clues that shows they are local. That goes for when you are looking to buy on there too. Look for a specific area in town mentioned, a local phone number, and/or pictures that look like the town you live in. I've seen cars that are listed in Athens but are pictured next to palm trees. Craigslist is great just be careful.

Strasburg...a soon to be household name.

1.24 , 11. 87.1, 48, 17, and 164. No those are not my winning Mega Millions numbers. But they will get Stephen Strasburg millions of dollars on June 9th at the MLB Draft. The only thing the Nationals have going for them is that they have the first pick, and man do they need it. Strasburg has a 1.24 ERA which for a college pitcher is great. He has 11 wins in 12 starts. His 11th win came last Friday were he threw his first no hitter of the season. Strasburg has pitched 87.1 innings that's an average of 7.25 per start. It gets better...these last three are the "money balls". 48 - that's the number of hits he has given up - yes that 48. Now 17 what could that be....how about walks. The Braves pitching staff has given up the same number of walks in the last 5 games. This stat is by far my favorite...164 strikeouts! That's almost 14 a game. (I hear K-mart is looking into an ad campain). He has faced just 299 batters so far and 164 have made a slow walk back to the dugout. Keep an eye on this kid. I can't wait till next season when the Braves and Nationals meet and Tommy Hanson faces Strasburg.

I don't write on here much but I could talk sports all day and night long. There is a lot going on right now with MLB, the NBA playoffs, NHL playoffs, and all the other sports. I need more TVs or what about a sport talk radio show...I like that. Then I would have to watch all the game for work and get paid for it all. Untill then I'll just vent here.

Best. Mother's Day. Ever.

So, I know this past Mother's Day was my first, but I have to say it was better than I could have asked for!

As many of you know, we have been a one car family for about three months - and it has been almost the worst three months yet. Not that one car families are bad - but right now Alex and I have such different schedules and we are both always running around for school or work or appointments... I'm still not sure how we managed for as long as we did. But, for as long as we've been a one car family, we've been a car shopping one. We hadn't found anything that we liked that fit what exactly what we wanted. We test drove and really liked a few different ones and after research and consumer reviews, everything just kept pointing to the Kia Rondo and we felt like that was the best fit for us right now. Only thing was, we couldn't find one it seemed like the dealerships just try to take advantage and do whatever they can just to make a sale. After a lot of contemplation I told Alex that since school was getting out and our schedules would be less hectic we should just wait till the end of summer and try looking some more then.

Of course, being of the male gender, he did not listen to me! ;) He kept looking online and one night he showed me something he'd found on craigslist. A 2008 Kia Rondo with about 13,500 miles. It was listed for sale by a man from the Blue Ridge area that has a small car business where he mostly sells Mustangs. He said he bought the Rondo at a dealers auction and used it for traveling so as not to put the miles on his other vehicle. It was perfect, it was like the answer to our/Alex's prayers =)

The best part is..... the guy was selling his Rondo for almost $4,000 cheaper than a Rondo almost identical, down to the miles, at a dealership in Athens. Alex went to the bank and talked to some people he knows and they gave us the money. The bummer part is that we now have another monthly obligation, but the great part is that it was just a deal that we couldn't pass up. We would have never found another car even close to being in the same shape as this one for the price we got this one for, it gets awesome gas mileage and it's still under one of the best factory warranties there is out there for a little while longer. I really feel like this just happening to fall in our lap at the right time was a great blessing, and also a good lesson to learn about not loosing faith that things will happen when they are meant to... I know that it didn't work out for us at any of those other places and dealerships because Heavenly Father knew what we needed and what we could afford and He came through for our family. So we have another car payment, but it's less than what we expected to spend and I know that we will be blessed with ways to earn or find or recieve that extra money.

I want to say thank you to everyone who has helped us in this little chapter of our lives - "the car buying experience."
The people at the bank who loaned us the money and said "we didn't need to go through the trouble of running a credit check..." they are so great there.
The people who help support us by calling us regularly to babysit and are always telling us to make sure we bring the baby and people who just donated to our "new car fund" because they care about us and want to help.
Our family who is always willing to give advice or help or whatever we need.

This was the best First Mother's Day because it reminded me of all I have to be thankful for, besides my beautiful baby boy.

This is what it looks like for those of you who are wondering!!

Seriously?!?!

I have to say I L.O.V.E. that word. First, because it's like a Grey's staple and second, because it's in the title of one of my favorite reading materials! :)

I had my own "seriously?!" moment on Thursday this week. It was literally the worst day. EVER.

So, I started out by having to get up for 8 a.m. class - which is usually not that bad - but was way worse this Thursday because Avery kept having these moments where he'd start fussing in his sleep and I had to keep getting up to quiet/settle him down again. So I was way exhausted and sluggish throughout class. Left class and then went home and had to get ready for a dentist appointment. For this, I have to start a whole nother paragraph

I DESPISE the dentist. I've never had a good experience at any dentist ever and I hate going to them becaus they scare me - and I'm not embarassed to say so. I absolutely loved my orthodontist - I wish he could have just been a general dentist, not that he's in GA - so I guess it's beside point.... anyway - So, Thursday afternoon I went to the dentist and got my teeth cleaned and all checked out. I hurt SO flippin' bad. I mean, I guess it wasn't as bad as I had imagined and the Dr. was really nice. But after going densist free for the last six or seven years I'm sure you can imagine the news..... it wasn't good news. And, it's definitely going to be like an arm and a leg and maybe a few fingers and toes to get everything done. Bye-bye new car fund. Hello filling fund. Good news is I don't have to get any root canals. Thank the Lord for that.

So after my amazing trip to the dentist - my whole mouth aching from the experience... I had to go to work. Once I got there they let me have it. Guess I shouldn't really elaborate. And I guess that getting "a talking to" Thursday wasn't the worse I've ever gotten from my boss - At least she let me explain the situation. I think it was just a misunderstanding. But it couldn't have come at a worse time.

Maybe I'll move to Austrailia.

Yay for free Sharpie's

Spring break was awesome. Alex, Avery and I went down to Orlando to help Valerie get packed and come back to GA. We left early on Wednesday morning and spent the days just taking a break from it all and having some fun. Here's some of the things we did!

Here is our little man doing so good in his car seat for such a long time - 8 hrs... :(

This was our first time going down to the boardwalk. So pretty and really nice to walk around.

Downtown Celebration - right before we met Nicole for dinner at Marketstreet. (Totally a tradition to go there everytime we are in town!)

SOOOOOOO Cute!

Avery absolutely LOVED riding in his stroller and looking at all the sights. He thought the breeze was funny. He is SO nosey.

L.O.V.E. the picture of Nicole and the Dancing Hippo. Fantasia mini-golf was way fun and so much awesomer than any other mini golf because we got half price AND Free Sharpies!! Plus also, we got free golf balls - which was cool, but not as fun as mini-sharpies!

I also must mention that some people took way more than one ;)

Thanks Nicole, we had so much fun hanging out with you!!

On the way home we stopped and visited my Oma and Opa who live in Chiefland. So good to see them since my Opa had his surgery. Thanks for the way yummy pizza.

The drive home wasn't that bad, but the getting home and realizing that we had a big mess + laundry to clean was a bummer.

Taah Daah

We've got some news!!! Avery now has two little teeth poking out on the bottom. They have not fully come in yet, of course, but WOW... so exciting. Once we can actually get a picture of them I will post it for everyone - our little boy is growing up! :(

We can't believe he's already got teeth coming in and we are going to miss the cutest gummie smile EVER, but it will be so much fun when he can start having more yummy things to eat.

P.S.

We are looking for a walker - if anyone has one they want to get rid of or knows someone who does please let us know!! Thanks.