Interesting Week!

Well, it has been quite a while since I have posted!  We were out of town for 2 weeks for a 33Miles concert in Louisiana and Easter with my family.  Here are a couple of pics from Easter Sunday.  The pic of Jake crying is pretty funny (he didn't want to take a nap), and reflect the type of week we have had so far.  This week is GMA week.  That means daddy is gone all day every day, the kiddos are stuck with me which includes a trip to teach a one hour dance class everyday.  Fun for all let me tell ya!  We have also had house guests (Chris and Joy Lockwood and baby Ella 1 yr).  Jonah is at the age of 2 1/2 which means he is territorial of his things and his big brother.  Ella loves his things and his big brother so you can imagine how many "discussions" I have had this week with our baby boy.  Of course he started loving on her and playing with her on the day they were leaving!  UGH!!!  The tip top thing that happened this week is that on Ben and Jerry's free scoop day my children had a blast eating ice cream and RUNNING AROUND THE STORE LIKE THEY HAD A MOTHER THAT COULD CARE LESS WHAT THEY DO!!!  At one point Jonah was in the window swinging the fluorescent sign!  I was soooo embarrassed!  When we got back to the car, the conversation went like this...

Disclosure...yes I know I probably shouldn't have said what I said, but I did so anyway:

Me:  Jake and Jonah, I can't believe you acted that way and made such bad choices.  I am embarrassed boys, and feel like I looked like a bad mommy.  Am I a bad mommy?

Jake:   Well, that face your making at me when your talking to me is bad!

HA!  Yes, I know HA!!!  Thankfully someone walked up right as he was saying this so I didn't completely loose it on him.  So, that has been my week.  And my husband leaves to go back out  on the road today.  So, today is another day of bringing the kids with me to dance class, and a rehearsal tonight because my sitter is crazy busy this week.  Fun times people, fun times!!!  I really do love my life in case you are wondering just not so much this week!

IPhone Users Beware!

Jake (4 yrs) has had a love affair with our IPhones since we purchased them a few months ago.  There are lots of free kids games you can download from the many applications available.  I started noticing that he was pretty obsessed with playing them pretty early on.  Jake has an obsessive personality like his daddy which is definitely not a bad thing.  It makes for a pretty smart individual, but it can be bad in certain areas.  This is why I am hesitant to get a gaming system i.e. the Wii or a Leapster for our home.  I know we can have "screen time", and all that business, I just don't know if I am up for the battle.  Anyway, we have noticed that some of the games on the iphone have ads that come along with them.  We have been watching Jake very closely while he is playing, but the other day a questionnaire came up that asked "Are you a flirt, yes or no?"!  Really!  It's a kids game.  Needless to say, there will be no more playing games on our phones.  No telling what will come up when we aren't looking.  CRAZY that we have to think about that while our child is playing a matching game!  The handheld leapster is looking a lot better right about now.  But, it's going to take a lot of convincing for me!

MY LOVELY HAIR!

A couple of weeks ago I went to get my hair colored like I do every couple of months.  Well, let me just say it was not what I was expecting this time.  My friend Meredith does my hair, and she is really good at it I might add.  But, I had been complaining that my hair has been turning gold couple of weeks after I have it done.  Yes, I am a complainer when it comes to my hair.  Sometimes, I feel like my hair is the only thing I have left.  I am getting wrinkles, some cellulite, and I still have a slight cupcake over my jeans even though my baby is 2 1/2 so my hair is my staple.  I know that is so stupid and blah, blah, blah, but I can be dramatic that way.  Anyway, so Meredith decided to try something different this time to cut the brassy look I was getting after a couple of weeks.  Well, this is what it turned out like....RED/PINK!!!  Oh my, it was hilarious!  She stripped a lot of it out, but it was still there.  So, instead of doing another highlight over it and breaking my hair off, I decided to opt with brown for a few weeks.  Yes, I said it BROWN!  I haven't had brown hair since I was pregnant with Jake and was so psycho that I wouldn't color it.  All that being said, it really hasn't been bad.  I still have a few highlights in it, and it has lightened up quite a bit after washing it.  But, I will be going back blonde in a few days.  Brown hair, it has been fun  but I will be leaving you again!  I don't think I will go back to my really blonde days, but blonde is where I will stay!  I know this is crazy and so superficial, but sometimes a girl just gets that way about certain things.  My thing is my hair.  Don't hate me for it!!!

ONE ROOM!

Ok, so I have completely ignored my blog for the past few weeks!  Our crazy life has taken over.  We have been busy moving the boys into one room (our bonus room), and getting ready for house guests.  We felt like we had actually moved when we were finished.  The boys are loving their new room!!!  It is quite large for two little boys, but it works.  We are so happy to finally only have to clean up one room of toys instead of three (Jake's, Jonah's and the bonus room). Jason is also so happy to have a little office space in the guest bedroom to display some of his memorabilia, and have a place to work or write if needed.  I call it a man cave.  He has never had one before, so I am happy for him!  Oh, and by the way if you are curious we DID NOT move the boys into one room to make room for an addition to the family!  They just wanted to be together, and that makes me smile!  

The Wives Club...

There are certain things that keep you going when you have a hubby on the road a lot.  One of those things are the wives that can relate to this fun and crazy life.  Thankfully I have two other 33 wives, a couple of the band wives, and other friends with husbands that are artists, musicians, road managers, etc. that travel a ton too!  I don't know what I would do without these ladies in my life! There is just something about being able to say one thing, or give one look and they get it! Let me introduce you to a few of the ladies in my life that listen to me when it's hard, and celebrate with me when it's great!  

Joy Lockwood(wife of Chris from 33miles pictured above) Joy is my girl! Unfortunately she lives in Mobile, AL but they are moving to Nashville very soon hopefully...YAY!!!  Joy is one of the sweetest people you will ever meet.  We talk on the phone quite a bit while the guys are away, and not so much when they are home.  We laugh, cry, complain, and celebrate together.  And of course we always think our ideas would be better than the guys...we don't tell them that though. HA!  

Jenna Stoddard(wife of Collin from 33miles) Jenna is my other girl!  She lives here in town, and it is wonderful!  She is also one of the sweetest people you will ever meet!  I can always depend on Jenna to lift my spirits, and hang out with me and my kiddos even though she doesn't have any yet.  We also don't talk much while the guys are home...that is a recurring theme in this crazy life I think!

Nikki Silverman(wife of Adam 33miles drummer) Nikki is amazing!  She is so easy to talk to, and can relate to any topic!  She also is a converted health nut that has all the answers I ask when it comes to Whole Foods, Trader Joes, and crazy good organic chocolate chip cookies!!!

Rachel Williamson(wife of Aaron 33miles bass player) Rachel is one of the funniest people I know.  She has a crazy sense of humor, and I love hanging out with her anytime I can!  She also lives in Mobile, AL so I don't get to see her much.

*The rest of these I will just have to let you guess who they are...

Stephanie Lee - I love, love, love me some Stephanie Lee!  She has lived this life much longer than I have and always has great advice to give, and not to mention she is one of my best friends!  We always have a blast together, and our kids LOVE each other so much!  She left me and moved to Atlanta so I don't get to see her as much as I would like!  

Emily West - Emily lives here in town, and is always so much fun to hang out with!  She is so sweet, and very positive most all of the time.  Sometimes I definitely wish I was more like Emily!  But, I really love it when she can "tell it like it is"!  It makes me laugh so hard!

Courtney Roy - Courtney is a new friend that I pretty much only see at our management's Christmas party every year (our hubby's share the same managers), and out on the road sometimes.  When we see each other, we can barely catch a breath trying to get it all in!  She has some of the best advice, and our children are close to the same age so that makes it fun! She also started a website for band wives called www.rockerswives.com.  

These are just a few of the ladies that help get me through, and make me laugh hard in the process.  Even though I don't get to see much of them, it is comforting to know that they are just a phone call away!  Thanks girls for the love, encouragement, and support you give!

PLEASE DON'T LEAVE!!!

Doesn't he look so sweet and innocent!  Well, last night before my man headed back out on the road my 4 yr. old (Jake) started giving him a hard time.  "Please don't leave daddy!, I don't want mommy, I want you!  I don't want you to go!!!"  Then it progressively got worse.  We have sort of been expecting this for a few weeks because it has seemed to take a little longer for Jase to be able to get out of the door because of extra hugs and kisses.  But, we are talking lots more than extra hugs and kisses.  This was death grip, screaming, crying, hands and feet pushing on the outside of the van while Jason was trying to get him in his car seat.  MAJOR!  I felt a little sorry for the neighbors.  It sounded like someone was hurting the poor boy!  By the time Jason finally got him in the car seat and strapped it (which took a while, the kid is strong), I was hysterical!  Thankfully Jake didn't see me, but Jason not only had to deal with a crazy 4 year old, but a crazy wife too!  It was just so sad to see him react that way.  I know that daddy being on the road as much as he is will affect our children.  I am just hoping that we can turn this around, and not allow it to affect them negatively.  It just so happened that our small group leaders were at a meeting that I had to be in at church after the drama.  I was able to get some good advice on how to deal with it the next time!  Gotta love the life of an artist!  Sometimes it can be so fun, but sometimes it just really stinks!!!

We're Back!

Well, we have actually been back from our work/vacation for a week but it's not unusual that I am just now getting around to posting.  We had a BLAST!  The cruise was so much fun, and the boys absolutely LOVED the new adventure they were on every day!  They loved Camp Carnival (the little place where the kiddos can go play games, get their face painted, etc.)!  But I think the beach in the Bahamas was their favorite thing.  We have some great video footage of Jake body surfing and Jonah screaming with excitement when the waves would crash up on him.  It was a little colder than normal, but we made the best of it and had fun anyway!   

We definitely had our share of dramatic events take place.  I threw my back out right before getting onto the ship so I couldn't walk the first night, but the next day I was filled with drugs and flying high for the rest of the trip so I was able to enjoy myself.  LOL!  Then while we were in the Bahamas the 33Miles bass player (Aaron) and his wife Rachel got into a scooter accident and he shattered his knee cap.  He managed to play at the concert that night and worship the next morning!  He was flying high too!!!  But, the most dramatic and saddening of all is that one of the morning DJ co-hosts (Ron) from the radio station (88.1 The Promise) we were with on the cruise had a massive heart attack while playing basketball on the ship and died.  He was 33 years old.  It was SO terrible!!!  His wife was on the ship with him.  Her name is Rebecca, so please be in prayer for her as well as his family during this time!

Overall, it was a great experience for our family!  The boys had a blast, and it was so much fun to have all of the grandparents and Jason's sister with us!  Most importantly we were reminded that we are not promised tomorrow or the next 5 minutes for that matter.  Just like the 33Miles song "One Life to Love" says "You only get just one time around...one life to love"!  We desire to make the most of this life that we are given, to be intentional, and love passionately!  

2 Days and Counting!!!

The perks of having a husband that is on the road constantly is that sometimes we get to take really fun trips for free!!!  33Miles will be singing on a 5 day cruise starting at the end of the week!  We are so excited to get out of this dreary Nashville weather and experience some warmth and sunshine for a change!  The boys are going with us as well as my parents and Jason's parents and sister.  We have told Jake and Jonah that we are going on a surprise vacation this week.  They are so pumped!  I can't wait to see their faces when they see that big boat!  I think we will show them a pic before we leave for a little preparation.  We can't wait to make new memories with our family this week!!!

Those Eyes!!!

Look that those eyes!  I have to brag a little and say that my baby is growing up to be quite a sweet (and handsome might I add) boy!  His hugs and kisses make my day just a little bit (or a lot) better!!!  You gotta love the hand in the pocket too!

Family...the pic sums it up!

This picture from Christmas is of all of the little cousins.  It is impossible to get one of everyone sitting still and smiling at the same time!  The pic includes my two boys, my sister's 10 year old Jana, and her 7 year old Josh, and my cousin Laurie's 3 little ones...Jack 4 (him and Jake are big buds!), Camille almost 2 (going on 20), and baby Henry almost 4 months!  Yes, my cousin had her last two very close together.  I was not about to keep up with that!  Anyway, they all love each other very much, and it is such a blast to be home and see them all together.  It always makes me sad that we don't live closer to them.  I grew up playing with Laurie and her brothers and sisters (well mostly babysitting them since I am so old), and I cherish the memories I have with them!  My sister...well, she is the best and so are her children!  They love our boys and miss them so much!  But, even though we are so far away we keep in touch often and are giving each other advice on a constant basis!  There is nothing better than family, and I am so thankful that I have such a wonderful extended family too.  My cousins are just like brothers and sisters, and my aunt is like a second mom to me!  Last year was a rough year for our family with the death of my grandmother, and the ailments that it brought on the daughters that bore the brunt of it,  but I think it has all brought us all closer together!  I am looking forward to a new year and making new memories with my wonderful family!!!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Wow, I can't believe it is the beginning of another year.  The time is flying by!  This year was a crazy one that consisted of lots of travel and 2 boys growing up way too fast!  It has been exciting, exhausting, and fulfilling!  Looking back as I approach a new year I have to sum up last year in one word "Survival".  I do feel like we did have a great year, but I feel like I was running in survival mode.  This was the first year that Jason was traveling consistently on average of 4 days a week.  For those of you who have a traveling man understand that IT IS HARD!!!  Meeting the needs of two small children, and taking care of the day to day needs of a household 24/7 gets very demanding at times!  I also am very blessed to have a husband that is very involved, and takes a lot of the load on when he is home.  It is amazing, but makes it a little difficult when he leaves! lol!  All that being said, I am moving into a new year and desiring to move into a new mode.  I don't want to be in survival mode anymore.  I want to feel like I am accomplishing things, and helping my family accomplish things as well.  I would like the word that sums up 2009 to be "Consistent".  I am hopeful that our family and friends will grow together, and love each other well this year!