Pool Party

Paradise celebrated her 7th birthday yesterday and we joined in her celebration. She had a pool party and a bounce house. Those kids were from the pool - to the trampoline- to the bounce house all evening. The men hung around playing corn-hole and the rest of us relaxed and enjoyed the beautiful day. It's hard to believe that the kids are growing up so fast.

Today after church, we were invited to lunch at Debi and Sterl's house. We hung out with them and some other church members until after 3:00.
Today was also Nan's birthday. We headed back up to Mildred's around 4pm for another cook-out and time with family.

New Tread

I hate having to spend money on replacing things that we already have. Stroker discovered that one of his back tires had a broken belt last week. We have only had the set for two years. He didn't even get 40,000 miles out of them. We had to purchase a new set Wednesday. The truck rides a lot smoother but it left a dent in our bank account.

On Thursday, June 27th, we met up with Debi and Sterl for dinner at O'Charley's. We were seated right out in the middle of the room. With O'Charley's new remodel, it felt like we were on stage...front and center. The entire restaurant is now one big open room.

This evening, we made a trip to Bondecroft and I cooked dinner at home for a change.
Stroker decided it was time for Kimba's first round of de-wormer so we administered his first dose. That is one crazy puppy. He ate those pills like a kid eats candy.

Monsters

Monsters University started last Friday so we paid the theater a visit this evening to kick back and enjoy a movie. We got our popcorns and drinks and headed into the theatre just in time for the previews. The place was packed. We wound up in the second row. The movie was great but the crick in my neck and the popcorn in my teeth were  equally painful.

Loving Grey

Devin got behind the wheel of the car today and drove us to Sparta where we picked up mom. He then drove us back to Stacia's house so that we could all visit with Grey this evening. We all took turns holding him and passing him around and admiring his cuteness for a couple of hours. Afterwords, Darlene and mom joined us at Logan's for dinner. Devin drove us there too. He has really got into driving today.
During dinner, Brookelynn spotted a cock roach climbing the wall next to one of the booths. That was pretty disgusting, but I guess these kind of things just happen sometimes.

Growing Closer to HIM

Today, we officially became members of Faith Fellowship Church as we were voted in by the congregation.
 We also attended my Brad's baptism, (my nephew). It was a great experience to see someone get baptized in the river.That is something that none of the Hayes House had witnessed before. There was singing, a sermon and a walk down to the water where we witnessed Brad proclaim his relationship with Christ. "Wonderful" is the word that comes to mind. So glad that we could be a part of this occasion.

After his baptism, we joined family and friends at his church for fellowship and a meal.

Relaxation

I must have been too overwhelmed by Tuesday's events, because on Wednesday I had to take a nap before church. I didnt get up in time for dinner before church, so we ate dinner with Debi and Sterl at Logans afterwords.

Thursday, June 20th at 4pm was my long awaited massage appointment. It was overdue and it was sooo relaxing. The day had been beautiful and sunny, but just as I pulled up and walked to the door, it began to sprinkle. As I got stretched out on the massage table, it began to storm. I really didnt need any background music...the rain and thunder were relaxing enough.

The rain carried on for over an hour. I couldn't have asked for a more relaxing evening.

On Friday, the kids and I went to Chili's for dinner while Stroker hung out at the house. 

Today we drove through Lake Tansi to Cumberland Mountain Farms. It is a beautiful drive even though it is an hour away.

Life Is Good

Guess who made his grand entry into the world today?...Grey Monroe Drouillard arrived at 10:42 this morning. Guess who was there to capture the entire event in photo's?  ME

When Stacia first asked me photograph the delivery, I agreed but felt like I was going to be in the middle of an awkward situation. I had wondered just how I would position myself and the images to create photos that Stacia and Delano could look at without their faces blushing (and mine too). To be honest, I really didnt know what kind of images we would end up with.
This morning, when I received the text that Stacia was close, I grabbed my camera and took off headed straight to labor and delivery. I snapped the first photo as soon as I went in the door. I snapped and snapped as I walked around the room. To my surprise, it was like nothing I had expected. It was awesome, it was moving and it was an amazing experience. My pictures are beautiful (in my opinion) and my heart is smiling.
Welcome to this great big world Grey.

First family photo of all five

Take a look at those two proud big brothers

Tuesday held more than the delivery of Grey. 

My childhood best friend and I had plans to meet up in our old neighborhood Tuesday evening to take a stroll down memory lane (and around the block). When we were kids, we walked that neighborhood hundreds of times. We have walked at all hours too. It is no joke when I say that we have walked at dusk and we have walked the neighborhood at sunrise. I miss it. I really really miss it.

We hung out all evening today, we visited Doyle Elementary where we both attended and we even went to

The street that I grew up on.

Me and Maleigha in my (old) front yard.

This is was home from the day I was born until the day I was old enough to move out on my own. The first 19 years of my life was spent here.

Kindergarten - 6th grade

Life is good, but Today was awesome.

Flying

Today was the first day of Cheer Camp and boy was it a disappointment for Brookelynn. When I picked her up, she was visibly upset. The new cheer coach decided to make Brookelynn a flyer. If you don't know what a flyer does in cheerleading, they are the ones that gets tossed in the air during the stunts. Brookelynn was so upset that she has to put her safety in the hands of girls that she just met. I called the coach to see if there was any way she could swap positions. I know, I know...I should let her work this out on her own. But hey, I'm mom and it is my duty to protect my babies. I think once Brookelynn gets to know the other girls and builds trust in them, flying will not be so scary; however, until that day comes, she would rather be closer to the ground.

Brookelynn is back row 2nd from the right

Brookelynn is front row third from the left

Our electrical work was completed today. We can now move on to sheet rock in the closet.

Sterl, our pastor, paid us a visit today as well. He came by to invite us to become official members of our church.

Fathers Day 2013

We began our day by visiting our Father's house just as we do every Sunday.

After church, we went to Sparta for a Fathers's Day dinner with my dad. He also decided to take us for a walk to show us an area that he had been cleaning up with the tractor. The terrain was a little rough considering non of us wore the appropriate shoes for hiking.

Daddy led the way while the rest of us trudged behind him.

The view from the area that we hiked up to.

Devin and Rusty

On the Road Again

It's been one of those traveling days. Bondecroft, Livingston, Cookeville and a wedding chapel in Gainesboro. We have racked up the miles on the truck today.
We visited a home with a gorgeous back yard on the lake in Bon Air. We visited a beautiful wedding venue in Jackson County and we drove down the new Clay County highway which is a huge improvement to what they previously had.

Victory is Over

Brookelynn attended her last session at Victory Gymnastics last night.With the new cheer practice schedule, Power Athletics schedule and ball game schedule, there just isn't enough time to keep up the twice a week visits to Victory.
We went to Livingston this evening for the Relay for Life event on the square. I tried to get a fountain photo but I was photo bombed by Devin.

This was our second day in a row that we had to make a run to Livingston. Yesterday to VolState, today to the square for Relay for Life.
On another note, these dogs are becoming closer friends these days. They are a little sleepy eyed in this photo, but they got up to see me off this morning. Just like a good dog would.

Senior Year, Here He Comes

Since Devin missed his opportunity to have his senior portraits taken at school while the photographer was in town, Devin and I got to take a tour of the countryside for over an hour to have his senior formals taken. It was a nice drive, but it took all afternoon. I didn't think I had ever been to Woodbury TN, but as we drove through the town I began to experience Deja-vu.
As I watched Devin sit up straight and tall and give the photographer his "million dollar smile" I couldn't help but to have flashbacks of his toddler years. I could picture him in the wagon as I pulled him with the lawnmower, I visioned him driving around the back yard in his little red cozy coupe. Yet, here we are today preparing for the last year of school. It's not that this makes me feel old, it just makes me feel like I didn't have enough time. There is a window of opportunity to shape and mold children, to really make an impact on who they become. A small chance to make an impression of what a well rounded, respectful, considerate adult should be. Once that small window of time has passed, kids start tuning you out.
I think I mostly feel guilt; or maybe it's just because I am his mother, but for every struggle that he faces, I feel like I failed to teach him something. I think I have been so used to handing him everything in life that I didn't realize how fast he was growing up and that he needed to learn how to do things on his own.
I blinked and now he is grown. He is a smart young man, I just hope that I can stay out of his way as he finds his way through life.

Sleepovers and Slides

Monday (June 10) Devin and Brookelynn went to spend the night with Darlene. Stoker and I had a quiet dinner alone. There were intermittent rain showers all evening. I gave Stroker his first massage on the new massage table that I purchased.

Tuesday (June 11) I took a drive to Smithville by myself to get a slide cover sewn to our obstacle course. I don't usually travel alone, but it was a fun ride with the windows down and the radio up. That evening, I drove to Sparta to pick up the kids from Darlene's and I picked up mom to join us for a quick dinner at Mickey D's.

Wednesday (June 12) we wrestled that slide cover back on the obstacle course. As luck would have it, we chose the hottest day of the week to take on such a task. It was 92 degrees outside and we had sweat rolling off of us. My eyes started burning from the sweat getting in them. Stroker was ramping and raving about how we better not ever remove that cover again and the kids were the only ones that were not delusional due to overheating.

When we finally finished and got cooled off, we swung through a drive thru on the way to church.

From the Orthodontist to the Attic

Both Devin and Brookelynn had appointments at the orthodontist Friday. Devin had a check up just to see if his teeth had shifted any since his braces were removed a couple of years ago. Dr. Wheeler.

Brookelynn was there for her first evaluation. They took x-rays and consulted with us on pricing and procedures. Brookelynn was okay with everything except the idea of having four teeth pulled.

 We spent Friday evening playing with the dogs in the yard. Cletus is still upset about the new dog. It’s gonna take a little longer than we expected for him to get used to Kimba. Stroker took them both for a ride in the back of the truck. It was Kimba’s first ride in the truck.

Saturday, I felt like Willie Nelson because we were “on the road again”. We went to Whitleyville, Baxter, Livingston and Clarkrange.

It was my turn to help serve breakfast at church on Sunday. I took my usual. Cheese Danish and chocolate milk. The day turned out to be a rainy, stormy one, so I thought it was a good opportunity to get our attic door fixed. I text my brother and asked if he was available to come over to help. About three hours later, we had a brand new attic door installed. I am glad to have that fixed. We lost another limb out of the side yard tree today. I think it is going to fall one limb at a time.

We went to Cheddars for dinner Sunday night.

Multi-Tasking

We had to make a trip to Monterey before church Wednesday evening. Cassidy went to church with us on Wednesday night. That is the first time she has joined us in a few months.   

Cletus has had about all he can stand of Kimba. His little nerves are shot. 

He is getting more comfortable here at the Hayes House. He has started chewing on our rugs and he decided to dig up a plant that we have out front.

I treated myself to a pedicure on Thursday while Brooke went to gymnastics.  Earlier Thursday, Brookelynn had to visit the dentist to have a cavity repaired. That was the first time she has ever been numbed without the nitros-oxide gas beforehand.  She had “not-so-sure about this” look on her face. While she was getting drilled and filled, I had Devin at the barber shop getting his "pre-senior picture" hair cut.

 I’ve been a bit of a multi-tasker all day.

Tuesday Treat

We were up until midnight playing with the new puppy last night. We can’t seem to figure out where that little fella came from. Stroker said that it had to be someone that knew he wanted a German Shepherd.  Stroker’s first thought was that it was his stepdad, but we stopped by his work to ask and he was as surprised as we are.

Cletus is so stressed out. Kimba has tried to play with him all day and Cletus is just too old to play. He keeps showing Kimba his teeth and he growls a little. Kimba has chased Cletus all over our yard today.

We made a trip to Standing Stone Park today to the Overton Lodge. It was a tranquil place with the lake and the wilderness surround us, but it doesn't take our bunch long to get tired of nature. 

This evening was the anniversary dinner that Brookelynn prepared for us. We knocked on the front door and when Brookelynn answered, we told her that we were the Hayes and we had reservation for 2.  She politely led us through the house to the back patio to a table set up with a candle light. She presented us with menus (that she made) and asked what we would like to drink.  We got to select appetizers, salad, our entree and anniversary cake for dessert. 

What a sweet girl to put so much effort to make us an anniversary dinner. 

Today was a great day. I enjoyed every second of it.

Anniversary Puppy

We began the first day of June with traveling the Upper Cumberland. We were from Gainesboro to Spencer. The evening brought in showers and threatened us with storms.

Sunday (June 2) was our 10^th anniversary. We kept it pretty simple.  After church, we went to lunch at Applebee’s with our church family.  Brookelynn was determined to spend the entire day with us, so she stayed right by our side. We looked at a few open houses and made a trip to Livingston later that evening.

Stroker went to join the men’s group from church for dinner at Golden Corral while the kids and I went to dinner with mom on Monday (June 3).  Brookelynn had mom to go inside Wal-Mart with her while she shopped for ingredients for our anniversary dinner that she planned to prepare for us this week. She spend $32 on items for this meal. It will be interesting to see what we are served.

After getting into bed Monday night, we were awakened suddenly by Devin flipping the overhead light on in our face. “Someone is outside!” he said. “Turn the light off..turn it off” we replied. Stroker got up and went out front to see if anyone was there. He said no one was there. Meanwhile, I opened the back door and seen Cletus on the step. As I bent down to pet him, a cute little puppy appeared from around the corner.