My New Favorite Thing

Spray paint. Metallic Oil Rubbed Bronze, to be exact. $5.97 a can at Home Depot

This light fixture used to be shiny brass with black shades. Instead of paying a couple hundred dollars to replace it, I just sprayed painted it! (And I am still looking for the exact linen-looking shades I want) No need to spend a lot of money for a new dining room chandelier.....just buy yourself a can of spray paint! (I have to credit my sis-in-law, Gini, for this marvelous money-saving idea!)

This plate rack used to be shiny brass- not anymore! Nothing in my house is safe anymore. I am constantly thinking "what can I spray paint today?" Stay tuned, people. I have lots more plans for my spray paint.

On a very exciting side note that all you moms out there will appreciate: Ryan pooped in the potty today!!! I was totally shocked. He always talks about it (because he sees Will) but today, he actually followed through with huge success!! I don't know if this is a one-time event or if this will be a lasting practice, but I was very excited!!

Will got out of school today at 11:30. JW picked him up, took him to lunch, then to see the new Star Wars movie, The Clone Wars. (Click here for an interesting review.) Ryan and I opted not to go because we thought it would be a little over Ryan's head. I'm pretty sure JW was more excited about seeing it than Will!!
It is nice that JW is able to do things like this right now. He starts his new job on September 2nd, and according to all the horror stories, we won't see him much after that. The boys have gotten used to him being around during the day, so I'm glad school has now started and everyone can get used to their routine. I'm sure everything will be fine. We are just so happy he has a job to start!

School

Wow! This has been a big week. Kindergarten just kind of happened. Very fast. I was thinking I had all this time left to do things with Will this summer and the next thing I know I am bawling in the parking lot of Office Max after buying school supplies. I worried about Will adjusting to going to a new school everyday, not knowing anyone, etc... Wasted worry- I should have known Will would be fine. He has always been fine. So easy-going, loves school, loves life in general, basically. What a great way to be, you know? He just kind of skips and sings through life.

We went for Ryan's Snoopy Day today. "Snoopy Day" is what Otter Creek calls their open house. The kids get to meet their teacher, check out their room and just kind of "snoop" around the school. It is lots of fun and just last an hour. While the kids are snooping around, the parents meet for the general info meeting, fill out forms, etc.. Ryan is going to school on Tuesday/Thursday and we had really been talking up school, Snoopy Day, Otter Creek, etc.. Well, he was excited until it was time to go in his room. Then, not so much. He ended up being fine, it just takes Ryan longer to decide he will be fine. He has a very loving teacher who has been teaching the 2 year olds for a very, very long time. Think of Miss Eva as like the godmother of Otter Creek.

I feel so good about this year of school for both boys. We are so blessed that they are both at Otter Creek and they will both be surrounded by great teachers. These women have a

passionate love for children, but above that, they have a passionate love for the Lord.

Ready to go to school this morning

Will at his Snoopy Day

Ryan at his Snoopy Day- thinking about going inside the room

Will walking up the steps to his classroom this morning with Miss Pat

This afternoon, coming down the steps to the car. Every child gets a blue bag with their name monogrammed on the bag- Cute huh!

Vegas

We are back from Vegas. We left Monday and got back late last night. Monday and Friday were travel days (all day long...) so we had 3 actual days in Las Vegas. We had a great time, but nothing is as wonderful as coming home to our two little boys.

We went to Hoover Dam on Tuesday. It was something like 104 degrees that day. That is hot, even in the desert. The dam was not as big as I was expecting. But, the history and function are pretty incredible.
Look how low the water is- and think- that water from Lake Mead is what keeps Las Vegas alive.
One of the many pools at Mandalay Bay
The beach- complete with sand and everything.
Our hotel- view from the pool

The best part of the trip was getting to see Lesley and Ryan. Lesley is one of my very best childhood friends. I never get to see her anymore because she has lived in Texas since we went to college. Well, she and Ryan just moved to Las Vegas! So it worked out perfectly for them to come meet us for dinner Thursday night. We had a great time being with them.

The Fair

This morning we went to the Williamson County Fair with Meme and John. Despite the horrendous heat, we all had a great time.

Ryan ready to go into the Little One's Farm

Ryan picking apples in the orchard

Will checking out the big John Deere

Ryan planting his seeds

Will riding a pony

The animal races were a huge hit! They were hysterical. We saw pigs, goats, and ducks race.

Ryan taking it all in from the top of Daddy's shoulders.

When we could no longer take the heat, we went inside to the air conditioned arena area which was filled with booths and activities of all kind. Even a really neat dog agility contest where (mostly) retrievers jumped into a huge swimming pool to retrieve a thrown ball. It was very entertaining.

Ryan came home and took a 3 hour nap (Hallelujah!) I was holding him for a minute after he woke up and he looked at me and said "this is a great day!" Amen, Ryan!

*(I have no idea why some of my picture titles are in green. That doesn't mean anything)

On Becoming a Grandfather

My Dad has a blog full of wonderful information. His latest post, however, is very special. Click here to read.
I don't have the adequate words to express how blessed my boys are to have this man as their grandfather.

Big Day- make that 2 days

Update: JW is finished! And we are all relieved! I am especially relieved because Ryan has not taken a nap since Sunday! Yes, 5 days. So, I have had some really long days with my 2 year old. Including one emergency trip to the pediatricians office because he fell off the back of the couch and gashed his head open. Fun, yes, fun. We are all glad Daddy is done with his test.

The Bar Exam has arrived. This is what JW has been working towards for the past 3 years. Tommorrow morning at 9 a.m. he will begin a 2 day exam. One day of sitting in a room, answering 200 multiple choice answers that have 4 seemingly correct choices. One day of sitting in a room writing out 12 essay questions by hand (his hand already aches). My mind aches just thinking about it.

He took the Bar review course before we left Knoxville. Here is a quote I found in relation to the Bar review course- "Bar review is considered by many to be one of the most stressful and unpleasant experiences which a law student faces before becoming a lawyer." Sounds like fun, huh? For the past few weeks he has been going to our local library everyday to study in peace and quiet. He even made friends with another guy at the library also studying for the Bar and they had breakfast together today. I'm glad he found someone to commisserate with!

He will find out the results in October, so until then, let's just all pray really hard that he passes!

The Barbri books that have become attached to JW the past few months