Treading Water...

Ever feel like you're going nowhere...like your life is standing still? You go to work, come home, avoid housework :), go to bed, get up and do it all over again. I have felt that way lately. I'm in a rut and can't figure out which direction to go, how to make life fun again. I essentially feel like I'm treading water. I seem to have these spells every year or so. I'll have a year when everything's changing and I'm 'swimming' - I've got to stay above water. Although it's exhausting at times, I feel alive, like I'm doing something other than being 'a bump on a log' as my mom says (don't know where that saying comes from). Last year I was graduating from college, looking for a job, getting engaged, then married, buying a house and moving...so much in one year and this year, I'm...working. Anyways, that's my blurp for today...maybe next week will be better.

More pictures...

Just some random pictures to share....The first one is just one of me and Anthony goofing around - disregard my double chin :) - hate when I have one of those in a picture. The second is of my mom and my niece, Trinity. Look at those cute little fat rolls. She was saying, "Ooohh!" and making that face each time the Jack-in-the-box would pop up. Isn't she just the cutest. And, the last is a picture of Gibson and Wesley dressed up in princess shoes. Gibson is the eldest of Andrew & Haley Littleton (I have linked their blog). It was kinda funny to see Wesley in these shoes because about fifteen minutes before I took this picture he saw Gibson wearing some and said, "Eww...he's wearing girl shoes." Then, I turn around and Wesley has some on too. So, of course I had to take a picture. This will be prime material for embarassing him in front of future girlfriends (hopefully not for another twenty years). Sorry, Andrew, but I had to post it. Hope all is well with everyone.

Say bye to Mollie #1

We finally found someone willing to take one of our rugrats (one of our many dogs that is). They seemed very nice and responsible, even brought a brand-spankin'-new leash with them to take her home with. She, of course, was licking them and running around the yard like usual. I was trying to get them what they needed as fast as possible - I'm a fan of the 'rip-the-bandaid-off-fast' method. Just get it over with. So, they've asked all the questions, gotten her shot records and I'm ready to be over with it because as much as she is a pain sometimes (chewing EVERYTHING and I'm not exaggerating), I think she is a beautiful animal and very friendly. We shouldn't have gotten in the situation we were in with so many pets, but you live and you learn. Anyways, back to saying goodbye...I was thinking I had better let Wesley say goodbye, so I call him over and say, "Give Mollie a hug and say bye, she's going to live with someone else now." No sooner did the words get out of my mouth than he starts bawling, not just whining, I mean sobbing, with his body shaking when he takes in a breath. I have to unwrap his arms from around her neck, pick him up and take him in the house and hold him in there until I see them finally drive away. The guy that took her was saying, "If you don't want us to take her, we won't," and "If he doesn't stop crying and you want us to bring her back just call us." I'm thinking all the time they're chatting with Anthony and Wesley is sobbing, "Can't you see we've already made the decision, just take her and go!"
Anyways, we had a rough time with giving her up. Wesley is still a bit upset about it. I guess I should realized he would need more time to get used to the idea. I have already started preparing him for when we give Mae to someone.
He was so funny. When we were discussing it later that night he was like, "I wanted them to take the yellow and black dog." (This is a neighborhood dog that thinks he lives at our house). I said, "Honey, that's not our dog. We can't give him away." He says, "But I didn't want them to take Mollie, I want them to take that dog."
I have to say I miss her head popping up over the wall to greet me when I pull into the carport every day.

Pics of Wes...

Someone asked for some new pictures of Wesley...so here you go. These were from a week ago when we went swimming at a friend's house. Yes...my little boy is swimming BY HIMSELF and UNDER WATER nonetheless. He hasn't mastered it yet, but he's learning. Forgive me for for being a parent, but I'm really proud. I don't think I could swim underwater until I was well over ten years and I still don't like getting water up my nose.

me and meg...

Ok...so not the greatest picture of either of us, but I thought it was cute and wanted to have at least one picture of myself on here. Yes, we did take the picture ourselves :)

Our Nephew...

Anthony's older brother, Braden, recently had a son. He lives in Seattle so these pictures are the first we have seen of him. I think he looks like his dad. His name is Jace Everett Maurice Brawner. He weighed 8lbs. 6oz. and was born on August 3rd. Just thought we'd share the photos.

Speedstar pics

Hey guys, I thought I would post a few pics of the car we finished a few months ago. It has been filmed for the show Rides and photographed by two major magazines. We have three more shows to take it to this year( Pigeon Forge, Kansas City, and Las Vegas) before it will be sold at the Barrett-Jackson auto auction in Scottsdale,AZ next January. Unless of course it sells before then. Betcha can't guess what the asking price is. (not you mindy)

More pics

I guess since I have a pic of our new dog I should put pictures of our other two as well so they won't get jealous. The beagle is Mae and she's about four months old and the black lab is Mollie (I know, that's the name of our new dog, too) and she's a little over a year. The spots on her nose are where she apparently got into a wasp's nest and they weren't very friendly with her. By the way, we are trying to find new homes for them if anyone would like to take one of these beautiful, friendly companions home with you :)

Megan's senior pics

Here are a couple of my favorites that I took this weekend of my sister, Megan. She only had formal shots done last summer for her senior pictures so my mom wanted me to take some casual shots of her. I am slowly adjusting to the fact that she will be in the army. I was messaging a friend today and came to the realization that maybe the reason all this is so hard for me to accept is because she's an adult now, making adult decisions. I remember her being little and me protecting her... teaching her.... yes, even bossing her around. The best way to explain what I'm feeling is that it's almost like what I'm going through with Wes... I am proud of who he is becoming and loving every stage he goes through, but a big part of me is sad each time he leaves a stage behind because I know he'll never be an infant or a toddler or a little boy again. I have a hard time letting go... of people, of moments, and I guess of my sister's childhood. Deciding to serve your country is such an adult thing to do. I am in awe of her courage and am proud that my sister is going to be defending my freedom. I guess I feel like the tables have turned. I've always been the older sister, the more mature one, and now I'm looking up to her. Anyways...this was just supposed to be a post to show off her pictures...

Birthday ticker...mission accomplished.

Yay! I got it. Thanks Brando. Can't believe my baby is starting kindergarten next year. Although he insists that he's ready for 'big school' and doesn't want to go to Pre-k (at daycare) anymore, I still feel like he's my little baby. Being a parent has to be the most amazing experience....seeing this helpless little human grow and change and become his own person...what a blessing!

Wes's birthday ticker

I'm trying to add a birthday ticker for Wesley from snugglepie.com. Can anyone help me?

Megan

I can't believe my baby sister (okay, she's not much of a baby sister anymore - she's 18 - but, I remember when she was a baby) is going to be in the Army. I know she'll have the opportunity to travel and she'll learn responsibility and discipline, but it just seems like she has signed her life away to someone else for the next six years. I'm going to miss her and I know Wesley will miss seeing her when we visit my mom. I'm kinda bummed about it.

Happy Birthday to me...

Happy Birthday to Me, Happy Birthday to Me, Happy Birthday dear Meeeee, Happy Birthday to Me. In case you didn't get that, IT'S MY BIRTHDAY! So far it has been very nice. My boss even left me a birthday card on my desk this morning. I love birthdays.

I love trash

This is for you, Brando....Oh, I love trash, anything dingy or dirty....that's all I know, but tune in tomorrow for the Cookie Monster song.

You know, I was once Oscar the Grouch for Halloween.

Yet another pet..we're up to 3 dogs, a cat, and two boys

Here is the newest member of our family, Molly. She's a four year old golden retriever/labrador mix and so sweet. She doesn't try to jump on you or lick you to death like our other lab and she's fixed so we don't have to worry about any puppies. (Sorry about the pic but she wouldn't stand still long enough to get a good one)

welcome to our blog...

Hi...I'm new to all this blog stuff, but I thought it would be a fun way to post pictures for friends and family (thank you to Brando & Sunny for introducing me). Just to explain our title....Anthony's passion is cars-hot rods, rat rods, sports cars, matchbox cars-basically any kind of car, and I love photography-Hasselblad is a brand of camera that I dream of owning one day. Guess I should have added one of Wes's interests but one day it might be Spiderman and the next it might be Woody & Buzz Lightyear or maybe cars - Anthony is brainwashing him. His newest thing is to point and yell "Mustang" each time he spots one and I must say he is quite skilled at seeing them about five miles away.