Whatcha Think?

Is it too early to get the Christmas decor out? I was thinking today about how muggy and humid it is and it's about to be NOVEMBER! Hello... is Mother Nature on vacation? So maybe if I get out the Christmas stuff, it will usher in a little cooler weather!

Really, I want to get out my Christmas stuff so I can go through it and get a plan in place on how to decorate our new home! And then I can get rid of what I'm not gonna use in the yard sale. I'm doing a yard sale for the Boemer Christmas fund! This year, our family (as well as many others, I suspect) is scaling back significantly. But Hank and I are determined to make it a good Christmas regardless! I have some really good ideas for sentimental gifts.

My baby girl has been sick... and I mean really sick lately! She had the flu over the weekend, and now she is rocking a double ear infection. I just want her to be well!

The boys are getting excited about Halloween! And this year, instead of buying $20 costumes, we are using what we have. Tres is gonna be Indiana Jones again. He has everything he needs except a whip. Bryant has been changing his mind like a girl changes clothes... but I think he's settled on an Alabama football player. And Sophie wants to be a fireside girl... all I need for that is an orange shirt... Hank is gonna make the rest. If Sophie is gonna be a fireside girl, I'm thinking about printing out some pics of Phineus and Ferb pics and put them on some sticks for me and Hank.

God, My Shephard

"God, my shephard!
I don't need a thing.
You have bedded me down in lush meadows, you find me quiet pools to drink from.
True to your word, you let me catch my breath and send me in the right direction.
Even when the way goes through Death Valley, I'm not afraid when you walk at my side.
Your trusty shephard's crook makes me feel secure.
You serve me a six-course dinner right in front of my enemies.
You revive my drooping head; my cup brims with blessing.
Your beauty and love chase after me every day of my life.
I'm back home in the house of God for the rest of my life."

Reading the Bible in the Message translation has made the word come alive once again! I was so used to the rote, memorized way I could prattle off Psalm 23, that I never thought to explore the depths of what it meant to me and my life. I love this: "True to your word, you let me catch my breath and send me in the right direction."

I love the action verbs used in this translation: you serve, you revive, your love chases... what a picture of our Saviour!

Thank you, Lord. Thank you for this quiet pool to drink from today! I love you.

Henry John III turns 8!

While Tres and Bryant were in school, Sophie and I headed out to pick up a few gifts for my eight year old! Do you like her outfit? She WOULD NOT be swayed from her Ariel costume.

I seriously can't believe it's been 8 years since Henry John was born and took Hank and I from 'couple' status to 'family!' So after he got home from school and after his Daddy got home from we gave him gifts from us. Just look at that smile! He has been a smiler since the moment he was born... what a joy! And that his brother is his best friend is a prayer that is answered and a bond I hope lasts their whole lives.



Lego's and silly bands were top on the list this year! Then we followed the present opening with his favorite meal... chicken Alfredo! I didn't have time to make a cake on his actual birthday, and I knew I was making one for his party... but I live next door to Becky Crocker... and she wasn't about to let that happen!

So she whipped up a giant cupcake and a batch of cupcakes and all the neighborhood kids came over and enjoyed!


This year, instead of a huge party, Tres decided to invite a handful of kids to go see a movie with him. So, while Hank took them to the theatre, I stayed home and boiled hot dogs, finished his cake, and made homemade ice cream.Before you guys all think I'm just a one hit wonder with the stinkin' LEGO cake, I must say, they now request this cake... I tried to do a black base LEGO and then build on it with a green one, but I only had enough black dye to make the icing a sickly gray color... so completely green was what we ended up with!

Homemade chocolate ice cream was also a birthday boy request!




One of the gifts Hank and I gave him were tickets to Six Flags. So we planned to go the next weekend!

He received mostly money, because he has been saving for a DSi XL for a while. So he was so excited to be able and take his birthday money that night and get one!

I was so excited about taking my family to Six Flags! I have been to Six Flags many times as a little girl, teen, and young adult... but I think the last time I had been was when I was around 21!

The boys talked big about trying this roller coaster or that one... but in the end... the only ones they rode were the Mine Train one and the one in Toon Town (all accompied by Mom since Dad doesn't do heights!). We also rode Thunder River several times (including a petrified Sophie who glued herself to my side and buried her head in my arm the entire ride!) and Splash Mountain. I'm sure that I am mixing up the Disney names and the Six Flags names... but oh well!







I had so many more pictures, but something happened to the memory chip in our camera and these were the only ones that made it! Bummer... but at least we have something to remember the day with.

All in all, a very good birthday extravaganza for Mr. Tres man! Following is a list of things I want to remember about him right now:

- He still does a version of the Tres man rewind... this occurs when he gets excited when telling a story. He will sort of suck in his breath and repeat in a whisper what he just said.
- He is obedient and kind!
- He does not want to leave his brother out (he's okay with leaving his sister out though!)
- He is tall for his age.
- He reads on a 5th grade level.
- He loves to ride bikes.
- I don't think he will ever outgrow LEGOS!
- His unquestioning belief in God is an incredible example to me.
- Although he went through a phase where kissing Mom was not cool, he has now decided that it's okay (at home and where no one can see it!).
- Even though he could have had his own room when we moved, he wanted to share one with his brother.
- He has decided this year, that he doesn't like cake anymore... even the special ones his mommy makes for him on his birthday.
- His misses Alabama, but loves his new home and friends.
- He would hang out with his Daddy 24/7.

You Are Here ---->

Okay, so we're all on a journey, right? We're on a road, ultimately leading us to our final destination.... So on the road I'm on, I feel like I've passed through the city of Vulnerable, GA. Now before you pull up another tab and google it... there's not a literal city called Vulnerable. It just seems to have been a pit stop for me. During this transition, I have found myself way outside of my comfort zone. I was born, raised, married, and had children all in Alabama. Surrounded by the support, love, and encouragement of my family and friends. So moving was a big deal to this home body. If you ask me how the transition has been, I will answer honestly. It's been good. God has been in the details. We are so very, very thankful for God's hand. I've said it before and I'll say it again: I know we are smack dab in the middle of His will. But man, it's been a little scary for me at times. A new church, new friends, a new normal. No instant babysitters. No big, loud, chaotic, impromptu family meals. No lunch dates with my Mom, or clearance shopping dates with my sister.

But I'm hanging in there. I've only broken down publicly once! I'm proud it hasn't been more... I've only gotten lost a handful of times (stinking post office). I've overcome most of my insecurities. I'm learning that my comfort zone is wherever God puts me. I'm learning that a large church is comfortable and homey. And I'm learning that my husband is an amazing friend.

Feeling vulnerable is not comfortable. But if God has something to teach me while I'm here.... I'm ready to learn.

Blueberry Pickin'

So another one of my fabulous neighbors has a connection to a cool farm about 20 minutes away. And they called to tell her that they were overrun with blueberries! Since school had already started, we loaded up the little kids and headed over. Sophie decided to get herself all 'dress up' for the occasion.

When we got there, we explored a little.
We found goats.

We found chickens. Then we hit the blueberry patch! Getting the kids to put the blueberries in the bucket was next to impossible!






We came home with plenty though! Enough for a blueberry jello cake! And a lot of other fun stuff!

Living in the Land of Pink

When I found out I was pregnant with a little girl, I was excited and nervous and a little out of my element... I mean, I had lived in the land of blue for 5 years! But never did I ever think that our family as a whole would embrace PINK so thoroughly! Three years later, Ava Sophia has her boys trained to turn down the pink aisles at stores automatically. Three years later, she has her daddy giving her manis and pedis. Three years later, you can find me walking the sidewalks of our neighborhood with her, decked out in her princess costume and pushing her babies in a stroller. The land of the pink has been good to us! It's full of sass, imagination, hugs, and fun!

This year, when she woke up, we decided to let her open her gift from us.

Note the sleepy eyes... but she's rearing to go!

Grammy and Pop Pop were here that weekend, and Sophie enjoyed sharing all her toys with them.

See her pretty birthday dress? Grandma got that for her! It's a 24 months, and she rocked it!

One of her favorite gifts was her tea set! She immediately changed clothes (cause that's what any good diva does), pulled her hair out of her pony-tail and promptly demanded that her Daddy have a tea party with her... which, he did!

While they were partying... I was busy preparing for the party to come...

See how busy I was? I mean... someone had to taste test it!

My neighbor, Becky Crocker made her a Barbie cake (per the princess's request) and I helped her decorate it! It was fun pretending to be Cake Boss for a minute.

The rest of the food was equally as pink... watermellon balls and sugar cookies on a stick (rolled in pink sugar, of course!).


Once the food was ready, we set up the big inflatable water slide that we borrowed from one of our fabulous neighbors!





Then we played...



Toss Across....


Water Sprinkler.... and an improvised baby pool!



A little sidewalk chalk....


Water Balloons.... [Sidenote: I'm STILL finding these things!]



And after a short break....

It was time for the main event! Cake and presents!

Sophie was infatuated with her cake! She loved it... wanted to hold it and not let anyone eat it. We had to distract her and move it away.



After all the kids got reengergized with sugar, we moved them downstairs so Sophie could open her presents.


It was a fun day, from start to finish. My parents came for the day with my niece Sierra and my sister Jennie! And it was a hot day, but a nice night, so everyone hung out outside well into the evening! It was a fun "pink" day! Here are a few more memories from the day!