Most Expensive Field Trip EVER!

I'm just putting this out there.  I volunteer too much.  I am always helping my boys, helping school, church, and at the ballpark.  If I took as much time for myself as I do for others, I would prob look like a supermodel. But...I don't.  I enjoy volunteering.   I use all my extra time for other people.  I am trying to find a balance...one that works for all of us.  I'm not there yet...but this lesson I'm sure happened for a reason!

Curtis' class was going on a field trip.  They need volunteers.  Usually there is this HUGE demand and it's filled instantly.  Most years, they pick names out of a hat.  This year, they redistricted our neighborhood and a few others to another school. Some people are happy, some are mad, some are livid.  Getting volunteers is now like pulling teeth.  Long story short.  Only one parent stepped up to volunteer.  On Monday, the day before the field trip, they were in need of another parent or two.  Curtis said the teacher told him they would cancel the trip if they didn't get any more parents.  I wrote her an email and said I'm happy to do it, but would have to bring my 5 year old along as well.  Monday afternoon, they sent me an email and confirmed that I would be going.

Monday night I was running around like crazy getting groceries, lunches packed, book bags packed, and the car packed with other things.  This field trip was in Asheboro North Carolina at the Zoo.  It's about an hour and forty five minutes away. We had to leave at 6:10am and we were suppose to return at 3:30pm.  A friend took Johnny home from school for me and watched him.  From School, we then had to get up to church by 4:15pm for the live Stations of the Cross that my fourth grade Faith Formation Class I am teaching was doing.  Then, after that, we had to RUSH to grab a bite to eat, and get back to school for the Spring Musical where Curtis was one of leads in the play.  BUSY, BUSY, BUSY....but it's only one day, and I could handle it.

I got up at 4:30am.  I was so organized. Car packed...showered...made breakfasts, got kids ready, etc.  We got to school in time.  This is where it gets good.  I had to drive myself to the field trip.  Then, once we got there, I had to pay for Bubba and I to get in.  No big deal. After that, there was a Bugz Exhibit and we had to pay EXTRA to get into that.  Not a huge deal. But...my volunteer position was now costing me over $100 with gas, and admission charges.

The classes were late leaving the zoo and so now we weren't expected at school until 4:00pm.  I was going to be late for the Stations of the Cross.  I got in my car and set the cruise for 5mph over the speed limit-70mph. Bubba was chilling in the back seat and I was talking to an old friend on the phone.  Then, it happened,  I saw flashing lights in the mirror.  I pull over.  I've NEVER been pulled over.  The officer was NOT nice.  He was super arrogant and stern.  He asked why I was in such a hurry and where I was going?  I told him I was volunteering at a class field trip to the zoo and was going back to Charlotte to volunteer at church.  I apologized that I was going 5mph over. He asked for my license and registration. He came back and slapped me with a $223 speeding ticket. Seriously...I have never gotten pulled over...or a ticket before and he didn't even give me a warning. Just a hefty fine.  I am steaming b/c didn't know in NC the speed limit was 55mph on the hwy, not 65 like in MN. So, yes, I did break the law.  But seriously...I didn't know I was, and I have NOTHING on my record.  Not even a warning.

 I get to church at 4:30pm and am late and pissy.  I do the stations with the classes, and then bust it over to school.  Curtis did an AWESOME job in the musical and my day was slowly getting better.  When I crawled into bed that night, I was exhausted, and reflecting on my day.  Decided this was God's way of telling me to slow down, and step back from trying to "do it all."  I was ready to start fresh the next day and fell asleep very quickly.

That was until the kids started waking up one by one with the stomach flu in the middle of the night. And that's what life is like with kids. Very unpredictable.  You gotta roll with the punches. It makes for a good story now, but lets just say I wasn't smiling at 2am (:

THIS GIRL IS READY FOR SPRING BREAK!

Long Time No Post...

Life is crazy busy in the best possible way! I love that the boys are older and involved in sports and music. Not gonna sugar coat it...I wasn't a huge fan of the baby stage!  So, we have our good moments, and our meltdowns. But all in all life is good.  Few stories I wanted to jot down before I forgot them!

1.  Bubba LOVES baseball!  LOVES it!  He feels so special that he gets to play coach pitch.  Anyways, we started in February and since then, all games and practices have been rained out or cancelled. (Due to field construction, no lights on fields during this time, etc.)  Here are a few cute things he's said:

• Bubba's game was rained out AGAIN and he started crying and said, "My WHOLE LIFE IS RUINED!  Why do the angels hate me so much?"  I asked him why he would say that and he responded- "Because EVERY TIME I have a game, they CRY and ruin it for me!" 
• Bubba asked me if I knew what a "double play ball" was.  I responded "no" because I wanted to hear him explain it to me.  He then said, "Neither do I...but I am TOTALLY going to do one tonight!"  I laughed and he said, "What, I AM!!!!"
• Between innings Bubba runs over to me at the fence and says, "We are TOTALLY crushing the other team!"  (BTW- they don't keep score!)
• I was pitching one game and he comes up and hits the plate with his bat a few times and says, "Me verses You BABY!" 
• First practice the coach was throwing them grounders at short stop and Bubba stopped and looked at the coach and got a crooked smile on his face and said, "Hey coach...give me a hard one!"
• Last night's game was cancelled and Bubba had a TOTAL meltdown.  I told him not to worry, it would be rescheduled after Easter, and he said, "I CAN NOT WAIT THAT LONG!" As he carried on as if someone was telling him he had 3 hours left to live. 

Johnny and Curtis are super funny too.  Johnny is making his first communion and he wanted a seersucker suit, like a traditional southern boy. I thought it might look cute with his dark skin and eyes. We should embrace our southerness. So,  I ordered one for him. When it came he put it on and he didn't like it b/c it felt like pj's.  Curtis came around the corner and said, "WHAT ARE YOU WEARING?"  Johnny said, "I'm not wearing this...I was going to for my first communion, but I hate it!"  Curtis then said, "Thank God, because if you did, I would start yelling BEETLE JUICE,  BEETLE JUICE, BEETLE JUICE when you got up to the priest on the alter!" I was DYING of laughter!

Johnny had the WORST day of his life when he went to buy the suit because he not only had to shop...but ALSO had to try it on in the dressing room.  (Literally bought the 2nd one he tired on).  When we were leaving, I said, "We need to get you some shoes now."  He responded, "Not WE...YOU need to get them when I'm at school.  I'm DONE!" Man...this girl who LOVES to shop got boys who absolutely HATE IT!

Finally, Curtis' class is learning the "Birds and the Bee's" in school. The girls brought home a note for the parents to sign to give permission.  (The boys will be next year).  Anyways, Curtis came home from school and said, "Mom, the girls got the notes today about you know...(and then he starts to whisper and spell out a word to me) P-U-B-E-R-T-Y." I looked at him and said, Curtis, you mean PUBERTY?  You can say the word, it's not a swear word or anything." He looked shocked and said, "REALLY????It's not?"  

Life is going get interesting in the next few years to say the least!  Only 8 more years till Curt-Dog goes to college!  Going to try to enjoy every minute...when I'm not pulling out my hair or at the ER!

Like a Gangster...

We were at football practice the other night.  Bubba and Johnny were playing on the side of the turf field, while Curtis' team was practicing. They LOVE to take off their shoes while running on the turf.  (I'm not gonna lie...I LOVE the feeling too!)  Erik was on his way home from work and was going to swing by to pick them up because it was close to 8pm and he was so tired!

Me:  Andy, put on your shoes, but don't tie them.  You don't need them tied because you are just going to take them right off when you get home. 

Andy: I don't want to do that, that's what Gangsters do. 

Me:  What do they do?

Andy: Have long shoe laces.

Me: What is a gangster?

Andy: Someone that plays games all day and thinks they can do whatever they want. They think they are really cool. (Very matter-a-factly).

Another Day Last Week While Walking the Dog:

Me:  Ugh, Willow is so constipated. It is driving me crazy! 

Andy: I know. Willow is ALWAYS constipated.

Me:  No she isn't.

Andy: Yes she is.

Me: What does constipated me?

Andy: It means you are really sleepy all the time. 

I left it at that.  Wish I was four and knew a little bit about everything!

Monday, Monday...

Another Monday...another golf lesson at the retirement community waiting for me and my friends! Same things as last week...I got up early.  Got all my ducks in a row and was totally organized.  I had the car packed up, and was ready to step out of the door 20 minutes early. (This is unheard of!) I wanted to have enough time to walk Bubba into school if he gave me a hard time.  I gave Bubba his snack and told him to get in the car, and buckle in.  I quickly ran to the bathroom, so when I got to the golf course, I could run right on the course.  When stepped outside to leave, Bubba was screaming.  He was out of control, holding his head in pain in the driveway.  Apparently he slammed his head in the sliding door of the mini van. (Not sure how, as we don't have automatic doors).  I looked at it, and he had a little dent in his head, and it was purple.  His face and ear were also red.

I went and got ice, and rocked him in the car.  He was very upset and in a lot of pain.  I couldn't tell if it was all due to the head, or was some of it because of school. So, I drove him to school and he held his head the whole way.  He was still upset and crying when we got to school.  (By now, we are 15 minutes late).  I had him walk in, thinking he would forget about his pain once we got in there. I asked the principal what I should do.  I said I'm willing to take him home, and I DON'T want to leave them with a kid who is going to be a problem. She got him ice, looked at his head and said he could be her helper for a half hour and then she would call me.  Then after a little bit of talking to him, and seeing how upset he was, she agreed with me, that he should probably just go home. She did make him promise he would come back to school tomorrow.

I carried Bubba back to the car, in my ugly collard shirt. I got in the van and texted my friends that I would have to bail on them today.  We drove home and he's been laying around ever since.

I did get two funny things out of him though this morning/afternoon.

1. I asked if his WHOLE head hurt, or just the spot where he got hit.  He responded "that even on days when he doesn't slam his head in the car door, his head hurts because he misses me so much!"

2. After lunch I asked him if his head hurt any more and he asked me if school was still going on, or if it was done. When I told him it was still going on, he told me his head still hurt.  What a little stinker!

He's Getting Good....

I'm going to start this blog off by telling you that one of my friends organized golf lessons for 8 of us every Monday this fall.  I said I would try it, but I'm not sure I'll love golf.  Will be nice to learn the rules, and get a little instruction.  But, let's be honest...I'm really only doing it for lunch afterwards with a bunch of fun ladies!

Monday- I am pumped up for golf. I'm on a roll.  I had a load of laundry done, dishes all loaded, dinner made in crock pot, and was all dressed and ready to go.  I wanted to leave for preschool a little early, so that I could do the drop off, and get to the golf course in time for the lesson to begin.  I try to make school sound like it's going to be fun.  I got Bubba out of the house, and he was whining already that he misses me and he just wants me.  We pull up to school and Bubba decides he is NOT going to go in.  Then, he worked his magic. You know the "Oh Shit" handle in the car?  The one on the passenger side that you reach up to really fast, so the driver get the message that they are driving like an idiot?  Well, Bubba put a whole new meaning into that handle.  When the teacher came to get him out of the car, he held on to it like he was a monkey.  Legs pulled up to chest, dangling from the roof of my car, crying and whining that he didn't want to go to school.  (The next time you get into your car, I bet you will look at that bar and smile!)

I had to pull around to the parking lot.  I ended up peeling him off the handle, and carrying him into the school.  They virtually had to peel him away from me.  I was feeling two things.  1. Guilty for leaving him. 2. I wanted to throw a tantrum.  Not just a regular one..but a 4 year old, all out tantrum!  "Seriously...just go to the DAMN school for 4 hours....4 HOURS...is that so much to ask?  I want 4 HOURS to myself! Why do you have to make me feel so BAD about leaving you!"  (*Insert me kicking and screaming).

They told me after about 5-10 minutes he was absolutely FINE! My golf game on the other hand was NOT fine.  I was late for my first lesson, and the instructor told me I swung like I played softball!  Now this guy knows his stuff!

Tuesday- 7:45am and it started.  "I'm tired. My head hurts. I don't really want to go. Do I have to go?"  There were so many excuses that I had to start writing them down. Curtis stayed home because he thought he had strep throat.  So I told Bubba that if he stayed home with us he would have to go get a throat culture at Dr. Reynolds office. (Oh yes I went there!) We did the drive-thru and he got out with little effort on my part and a LOT of positive praise and cheering from the principal!

Wednesday- Today his excuse was that he missed me. "Sometimes when he missed me SO much, it made his belly hurt. That's why he always had a belly ache at school."

(Teachers say he is JUST fine once I leave).  I ordered a beanie boo off Amazon and told him if he makes it till the end of the week, he can earn it.  (I'm a TOTAL sucker). This worked and he was on his way, but very hesitantly.

Thursday- I kept pumping him up, telling him since he went to school all week, he can have the beanie boo on Saturday when it came.  (If he was good, and didn't give me a hard time).  I didn't realize that the principal also told him he could earn a sucker if he came all week. He got into the car fine, and went to school pretty good.  The end of the week was in sight!

This was Bubba on Monday after I told him to get ready for school. I went up and showered and found him laying like this when I got downstairs.  He was hoping I'd fall for it, and let him stay home for the day! Pretty good acting job by a four year old!

More Bubba-isms

A new week, and more Bubba quotes to blog.

Monday- Went to school just fine.

Tuesday- "Mom, I PROMISE, PROMISE, I will never ask again.  I just need ONE day off. Just ONE.  That's all.  PLEEEEAAAASE Mom, Carter took one day off.  I just need a day off. Just ONE."  ( I drove him through the drive-thru line, and then he wouldn't get out.  I had to go park the car and walk/drag him into school.  He was 8 minutes late).

Wednesday- Today he told me I needed to walk him in.  He didn't want to go to school because he was "HUNGRY and his TUMMY was grumbly." I got him into the school and he stopped on the first step and said, "I am SO hungry that I don't feel good.  I can't go to school because my tummy hurts." I reminded him he had a BIG breakfast and also had a bag of goldfish on the way to school.  It might take a few minutes for it to settle in his tummy.  Then, Ms. Theresa the principal came up.  (She knows Andy and his excuses for school).  As soon as she saw him she said, "Oh Andy, we are SO happy to have you at school today.  The other kids have been waiting for you.  Come with me."  (Insert the BIGGEST Southern accent you have ever heard).

He wasn't having it. She whispered something in his ear.  Then he kissed me and walked in hesitantly.  She turned to me and told me she promised she would check on him after a little while, and would bring him a little something if he went to school without giving his "mama" a hard time.  (She had a son just like Bubba, who is now 16 years old).

When I picked Andy up, he said he had something VERY special to show me in his backpack. It was something he couldn't show me until after we got into the car because he didn't want the other kids to feel bad.  When we got into the car he frantically searched his bag for this:

Ms. Theresa put this in his backpack as his reward for going to school. He was So excited and happy!

Thursday:  He let me drop him off in the drive-thru line, and didn't complain.  Not sure if it was the sucker, or knowing that it's his last day for the week.  But, whatever it was, made me happy!  I didn't have that Mommy guilt when I drove through Starbucks blasting the song, "Cause I'm FREE....FREE FALLING."


A few other Bubba lines this week:

We were driving from our house to the gym for class on Friday and he informed me that he was "NOT a showboat like his brothers tell him he is.  He can't help it that he is just so good at everything!"

I walked the dog and he and his brothers were biking.  We came to a big hill.  His brothers got off their bikes to walk.  He peddled as fast as his little legs would go. He passed his brothers, as they walked their bikes, and he was riding up the hill and said, "I am the MASTER on my bike!"  As he went farther and farther up, his bike was wobbling back and fourth across the street and he was going super slow and barely peddling.  When he finally stopped and had to start walking his bike up the hill, he looked back at his brothers who were laughing and taunting him.  He yelled, "Well, if the city would have made these streets wider, I wouldn't have to get off to walk my bike. It's their fault not mine!!!!!!"

Bubba= Always the victim...gotta love him!

Bubbaisms

Well, ever since three kids keep me busy running all day, I pretty much stink at blogging.  Lately, there are many times I think to myself, "Man, I really need to blog that, or write it down so I don't forget it."  So, here goes nothing!

 Bubba: He's cute, VERY cuddly, a HUGE Mama's boy, and 100% all four!  He is also very stubborn, likes to run the show, and knows how to push his brothers buttons like no other! He comes up with the funniest things and I want to try to start writing them down.  Since he is a huge Mama's boy, trying to get him to school is not the easiest task.  Once he's there, I'm told he's absolutely fine, and the teachers can not believe he doesn't like to go.  Last week was his first week of Pre-K.  (Last year of preschool!)  Here are his excuses as to why he couldn't go to school each day:
\
Tuesday:  He was up VERY early and excited to go to school.  As the time got closer and closer his tummy started hurting.  On the way to school, he told me "I don't think I can go to school because my neck and tummy hurt really bad.  I might have got something from a mosquito up-north."  I drove him to school and was probably the ONLY mom that dropped him off and made him walk in by himself.  I knew if I walked him in to his class and took pictures, there would be NO way he would stay. (Definitely the 3rd child!)

Wednesday: Now that Bubba is in Pre-K, those kids (the older ones) go up-stairs in the school.  When you are three, you are downstairs.  Bubba has been talking about going to the "ups" all summer.  This morning, he woke up even earlier- 5:45!  He told me that he, "Didn't think he could go to school today, because the 'ups' are too hard and they hurt his brain!"  (Pretty sure all they did was color, play games, and get to know each other on day one).

Thursday:  He woke up at 4:45am, and I finally got him back to sleep at 5:45am.  (Just in time for me to get his brothers up for school).  He had a tummy ache and I was SO tired I ended I bribing him with candy and a Beanie Boo if he went to school and didn't give me ANY problems or excuses.  We are now the proud owner of "Spooks" the Halloween Owl, who has a Birthday on October 31st.  (Erik was pumped up about that!)

Friday:  He does not have school.  He takes a gymnastics class.  He slept in till 7:30am and when I went to this NEW class at a NEW gym with him, he ran right in.  When I got through the door, he looked at me and said, "Mom, you can leave now and go to Target and shop.  I'm good!" Seriously, I looked at the coach and said, "I'm outta here...this never happens.  I went to Target and got a big fat Starbucks latte and enjoyed my 45 minutes of peace!

Holy Moly...

To say it's been a LONG time is an understatement!  Whew...where to begin.  We had a GREAT summer!  In July Curtis' team won the State Baseball Tournament!  We had a great week with a fun group of parents and kids.  Will be something we will never forget! I was LOVING it!



August brought us back to the Midwest for our annual tour!  Visited lots of people, vacationed at the cabin, and had a great time with family and friends as usual!





September brought back to school and lots of chaos.  Kids were getting settled in with school and sports.  We were at a friends house celebrating Johnny's Birthday when we heard Bubba fall down the stairs and cry.  Not a normal cry, the cry when you know that something is wrong.  He had hit his teeth. He shifted and killed a few of them.  Thankfully they haven't turned black, only grey, and he doesn't need them removed yet.

 

Two mornings later I was working out with a friend and twisted my ankle while stepping off a bench and couldn't catch myself.  I ended up falling to the ground in what I'm sure would be a video that would go VIRAL if ever viewed off the security camera.  I broke my elbow and ankle and it wasn't a pretty sight!  Friends and neighbors pitched in and really helped carry our family through the fall.  I had 8 weeks of meals brought to our door every night, friends picking up and dropping off kids, taking kids to school, etc.  I always worried about something happening to me, since I live away from family. I found out we have a GREAT support system here and now it actually feels like a home.



This fall Curtis played tackle football for the first time, and loved it.  He really mastered the techique of laying on the ground for about 5-10 extra seconds after a play, just to make everyone wonder if he was OK.  I realized that I LOVE LOVE LOVE football, but watching your son play is a different story!  Wasn't easy!

Johnny played baseball again and only threw one fit this year when he missed a ball.  Actually, we called it a "mini-fit" as he just pulled his hat down ALL the way over his eyes, kicked the dirt, and cried to himself.  He's come a LONG WAY BABY!  (:

Bubba was the little mascot out on the fields.  He is a crowd favorite, and def thinks he is 9.  He invited Curtis' friends over for his 4th Birthday Party, and all he wanted was Under Amour clothes and Nike Elite Socks that he claims makes him a "Champion!"  He picks out his OWN outfits every day.  (I still lay the other two kids outfits out).  When I was putting all the boys hand-me-downs into his drawers...you know the cute ones that most 3-4 year olds wear... with Oscar the Grouch on it, and "Santa's Little Helper" ...he informed me that ALL THOSE CLOTHES WERE FOR DORKS! I guess three power necklaces and a rosary are for the "Cool" kids!  Love me some Hubba Bubba.

Stories that sums up BOYS:

I donated money and received this bow to display on our mailbox for the month of October for Breast Cancer Awareness. Last week I put it up, and the next morning Erik came in with our newspaper and the bow ripped off and unraveled with a very proud smile on his face. He thought he was doing me a favor...thought someone put a bow on our box as a prank or to cheer me up bc of my broken arm. Total Leaver moment! Gotta love him!

Halloween 2012

I'll always remember as the day I bought Bubba the CUTEST little shark costume and on Halloween he wouldn't wear it b/c it was "dorky" and all he wanted to be was a Power Ranger and it was no fair that he couldn't!  Guess who won THAT battle.  You can tell he's my third and I'm TIRED! 

Boys made Good Morning America on the day Robin Roberts had her transplant.  They were so excited!


One last story:

Me:  Curtis, you can't have a password to get into your Kindle.  You need to take it off!
Curtis:  Umm, YEA, it's for Parental Control...so I can control what my parents see! (Duh!)

Summer Fun

 Went with the kids to the local amusement park and had the worst three minutes and thirty three seconds of my LIFE!  I didn't want Curtis to go on this 78+ mph roller coaster  by himself.  I took one for the team...and let's just say, I will NEVER do it again!

 Johnny at Kindergarten graduation.

 He had the BEST teacher, assistant, and class this year.  

We are SO excited that she is looping with them next year! 

 Last day of school fun!

 Won a bounce house rental in a silent auction and booked it for the last day of school for the day.  Was SO fun, and since it was hot, the water slide made it just perfect!

 Kids having fun!

 Won a snow cone machine too!

 But, when your name is Bubba and you are three years old, you don't even need the machine, ice, or cups.  Just your arm and some slushy juice will do!

 Johnny's football team.

He's the tall one on the left.

 Down, set....

 Curtis's team made the TOC Championship and they were loving that the announcer called him 'CURTIS CURTDOG LEAVER' each time he was announced.

 National Anthem

 He fell in love with catching on his own...but I'm not going to hide the fact that I LOVE that he loves to play catcher!

 We didn't win the game, but got runner up. Here they are getting their awards.

 Neighborhood pool is SO fun this year now that the kids are a bit older!

 Everyone loves the slide.

 Bubba loves eating at every lifeguard break!

 But not as much as he loves going down the slide!

 Curtis and Johnny were also on the swim team this summer/.  Here they are at the last meet!

 Johnny's back!

 Johnny

 Johnny on top getting ready....

Curtis on the bottom!

100% ALL THREE YEARS OLD...

 Bubba is starting to seem SO old to me. He's getting more independent and has an opinion about EVERYTHING...just ask him! He loves to go to the pool or the amusement park when the boys are at school. And makes SURE he tells them all about it when they get home.

 He is always dressing himself and wearing eye black...even if it's NOT a baseball day! He likes to be in uniform at all the boys games.  Above, is him eating the end of a donut that he weaseled out of ANOTHER baseball team's mom at the field on Saturday morning!  Everyone knows him!

 Got my seeds...ready to go! 

 Last day of school, and his teacher sent him home with these sweet glasses and hat!

 Pooped out from trying to keep up with all the big boys!

 At FUN FEST after last day of school.  

This picture is SO him! 

 He's got a soda, cheetos, hotdog, oreo, and topped it all off with a popsicle!

 On the train ride through the parking lot at school!  WILD and CRAZY TIMES!

 Headed to one of the boys tournament games last Saturday!

(His baseball outfit wasn't clean, so he wore the next best thing!)

 Driving the boys to school in the morning...flip flops rarely make it on the right foot!

 Mother's Day Tea at school!

Sneeking in a little kiss....or in the words of Bubba a "WITTLE KISS!"

Love my little Hubba Bubba!

Introducing Willow....

 It all started on an early May afternoon when we found the above beagle looking into our back door at us.  The boys have been BEGGING for a dog since September, and they thought this was a "sign."  They named her Boomer, and we fed her, and took care of her for hours until we located the owner.  They were all really sad to see her go, and 'I'm not going to lie... I was a little too.

 I joined the rescue center's facebook page and would look at dogs that came and went.  The boys enjoyed doing this with me as well.  One Friday, I went to look at a few dogs, and came home with this little puppy.  I was going to try fostering her for a few days.  I've never had a dog, and really am not a HUGE dog person. (Always been a little scared).  We had this sweet puppy, who was a REALLY good puppy.  BUT...puppies are not for me.  It was like having a baby all over again.  Watching the dog every minute, waking in the middle of the night, etc.  I am just sleeping again for the first time in eight years.  So, after three days with our family, we returned her to the rescue center....a VERY hard thing to do with three boys.

 Erik and I decided we DID want a dog, but maybe it would be best to do it after school started in September and we were done traveling for the summer....and we were NOT in a hurry.  We all decided we wanted a beagle, and my friend Erin's mom works in the pet rescue center in Norfolk, VA where the service men and women have to give up their pets when they go abroad.  She was going to search for the PERFECT dog for our family. Two weeks ago, Erin was at Pet Smart getting dog food and called me and said, "They have a few beagles in the parking lot from a rescue center in Anason County, NC."  Johnny and I were headed out to run errands and thought we'd stop by.  When we got there, there was a mom and her puppy.  There were about twelve people around looking at the dogs and holding them.  The mother dog went under the table and right on Johnny's lap.  She laid on us for an hour, and we fell in love.  I asked if we could foster her, because I wanted to see how she was around kids.  They told me no because she had a lot of looks that day and they were hopeful she'd be adopted.  Five minutes later, as I look at Johnny's big brown eyes BEGGING me to take the dog home, a family who looked at her earlier in the day came back to adopt her.  At that moment my competitiveness kicked in and I looked up at the lady and said, "WE"LL TAKE HER!"  The rest is history.  I had to get a personal shopper at Pet Smart b/c I had NO idea where to start.  Two hours later, Johnny and I showed up at home with a DOG!  Erik was shocked, and so were the boys.  After two weeks, we've all bonded well, and everyone is very happy.  We hit the doggy "Jackpot!"

 These two are best buddies!  The boys named her Willow after the Willow tree we lost in the tornado's last year near our house. Erik and I wanted to name her Charlotte, but we were out voted.

This kid now has a playmate all day, and is loving being the BOSS!