31 Days to Clean

So I have found something new to take on. I was perusing Amazon the other night looking for a book that Proverbs 31 is doing an online study in February with. Let. It. Go. How to stop running the show and start walking in faith. You should check it out. However, the recommended books that they put below also caught my interest. I saw this little one at the bottom and was intrigued.

So I bought it. I mean $4.99 for a Kindle edition. Even if I didn't like it, it wasn't that much lost. So far? I love it. The reading is short. Yay for me (for those of you that know me and my reading habits). It's also inspiring and the tasks for that day are totally doable with the rest of your busy schedule. Makes me feel like I can do this. I have just started and am on day 3. If I remember I'll keep you up to date on my progress.

Miss LMS 2013 Pageant

This past Saturday night Sidney participated in the Miss LMS Pageant. Even though I, along with others, thought she was beautiful and should have at least gotten a favorite she didn't get anything. The down side? Of course we were disappointed. The up side? Sidney could care less. She is has the attitude of "oh well, there is next year." Wow! This from a 13 year old girl. I am so proud. Here are a few shots of her getting ready and her dress that my mom took with her phone. I'll have better photos later when I can get Evan to download them for me. Toodles!

Lunch with Reese

I went and had lunch with Reese and his class. He is such a goofball.

Happy New Year

Hi all. Those of you who actually still check my blog (if there is anybody) thanks for checking in. Yes, I know. Shocking that I am writing a post since I didn't write ANY last year. Wow! I am really behind. I have decided to get back to updating my blog with things about our family. Maybe I'll even get some subscribers.

A lot has happened since I last wrote. In a nutshell here are some of the updates.

My oldest is now 13 years old. Wow! Where has the time gone. This past Thanksgiving she broke her ankle roller skating and got braces in the same week. Wowzer! She was a champ through it all. She did get her cast off before her birthday so that was awesome so she could enjoy her party. She also participated in the UAB Honor Band and made 13th chair Clarinet in the Gold Band. I was SO excited. That is the same band I was in my first year. She is in 7th grade this year. This weekend she will be participating in the LMS Pageant again. Fingers crossed.

My youngest is 3 years old. He is getting so big and so smart everyday. He has new favorite words and phrases popping up all the time. Right now he is running around saying "awkward." Sometimes the situations in which he says it are appropriate and I am like "what?" He ran through the kitchen the other morning with he pj pants hiked up to his belly button yelling "I'm Ferb, I'm Ferb." He was referring to the character on Phineas and Ferb. It was so sophisticated and funny. He is such a mess.

Last July I left my job of 8 years at Luckie and Co. here in Birmingham. I loved the company, but Evan and I decided it was time for me to make a change for me and my family. Now I am a stay at home mom and I have really loved it so far. I don't have to ask for the day off to take my daughter to the doctor and that is awesome. I usually hang around the house with Evan as he works from the house. I can take both kids to school everyday and pick them up. I don't have to miss so much of their lives.

I guess that is enough for now. I promise to update more often. Thanks for reading.

It's Homecoming Week at LMS

They had dress up days and here are Sid's pics. The first is nerd day, then wacky tacky day and finally decade day.

Homecoming Dance 2011

So Saturday night Sidney went to her first dance at the school. She had a lot of fun with her friends and didn't seem to mind that I had tagged along to chaperone. It was easier than I thought it would be. Thankfully I didn't have to get on to anyone or tell them they were being inappropriate because lets face it some of these kids were bigger than me. Yikes! It was a great night and I know she is looking forward to the next big thing at school.

Inspiration Workshop! — Inspiring Books

This is my favorite book of all time. It was first read to me when I was younger at Camp Sumatanga by Nina Reeves (an awesome lady). This little book is so simple. It is about true friendship and has always been my favorite book. My favorite part would have to be the ending:

"I don't really know why I like you, I guess I just like you because I like you."

Inspiration Workshop #9 - The Beach

this has always been one of my favorite photos of my daughter sidney.
she loves the beach.

Inspiration Workshop #3 - Green

So I saw my friend Rebecca blogging about an inspiration workshop last week and got curious. Found out it was through one of my favorite bloggers, Maggie Whitley over at Gussy Sews. Though I don't blog as much as I should I thought maybe this would get me back in a habit and it would be tons of fun. So here goes.

As in my title this week's prompt is Green. I started thinking about what is something green that inspires me. I have thought and thought all week and different things have popped into my head. Like the outdoors, the color of my bedroom and bathroom (not a flattering green though) all kinds of things. But the inspiration I decided to use was something that I see everyday. It is a picture of my daughter taken almost three years ago when she first became a cheerleader for Upward Basketball. The uniforms for that year were green with accents of black and white. I get to see her smiling "at me" all day long while I am at work. Wouldn't that smile make your day better too?



So I have found inspiration to blog again. Hopefully I will do more than just the weekly post with Gussy. We'll see.

And the winner is....

Sidney was in the 2011 Mr. & Miss LES Pageant on Saturday, February 5.
She was so excited and had so much fun. I mean, who wouldn't.
You get to play dress up, walk around in heels and have dozens of people
clapping for you and yelling out your name. She was a little nervous on stage,
but you really couldn't tell.

She was awarded one of the three 5th Grade Class Favorite spots.
She got a trophy and some daisies and that huge smile on her face.
I also think she gained a little more confidence in herself.
She couldn't have been happier.
We are so proud of her for even participating, but also excited she won.

Way to go, Sidney!

Good, I mean Awesome, Friday

Today has been just an awesome day.

First of all while I was in a meeting this morning I got "Boo'd" by a co-worker. Not sure who it is, but I got a treat bag and now I have to "Boo" two people. I like secret, fun stuff.

Secondly my friend and cubbie-mate Rebecca got our Park it Forward Award at work. She gets to park right up front all next week. Woo Hoo!!!

Thirdly Rebecca and I got to meet Lisa Leonard at lunch today. She was in town for Talk of Alabama and decided to do a B'ham blog meet-up. It was so much fun meeting her. She is just as nice in person as she seems when you read her blog. She had her jewelry there and it was AWESOME to see in person. So Pretty!! I need a piece. Rebecca and I took pictures of course. Ok only Rebecca took pictures, but I got to be in them. Yay!!!

Lisa Leonard, Rebecca and Myself

And lastly I am performing tonight at the Leeds High School Homecoming game with my fellow Alumni Majorettes. There are only 10 of us, but we rock it. We got a standing ovation last year when we performed with the band. This year we are up front and center. All eyes on us. Hope everyone remembers the routine. Fingers crossed for us. I will post a picture of us next time. Evan is taking it tonight for us before the game.

So you see why this has just been an AWESOME day???

Happy Friday!!

Wordless Wednesday: Yum!!!

Reese eating and wearing his 1st Birthday cake

Reese in one year

Thankful Thursday

So I asked my friend, and mommy blogger, Becca what Thursday's were on blogger and she said Thankful Thursday. So here is mine.

I am very thankful that 1 year ago yesterday I gave birth to a beautiful baby boy named Reese. We both had a very long day. 14 hours of labor after the induction. Family and friends were coming in all day visiting and what not. I took several naps and ate yummy ice chips. It finally came time for Reese to get here or do a c-section. Me, my doctor, nurses and of course Evan starting working to get Reese out. After only a few pushes he was here. Joy to the World!

Evan was scheduled to cut the cord after the doctor got Reese out and everything. Unfortunately that didn't get to happen. My doctor was spanking Reese a little to get him to cry, but he wasn't. He wasn't even breathing. The doctor called him a "smurf at birth" because he was blue. The rushed him to the warming area and called the breathing team to come quick. Luckily they manage to get Reese breathing and responding before they even got there.

Evan went over to the area with Reese and I could tell he was crying. It was a very emotional and confusing time. He said when he looked over at me I was so calm and didn't look worried as if I knew everything would be ok. He said it calmed him back down. He said there was just a peace about me.

We had already called the family to come down the hall, but had to push that back a few minutes. When they would finally come in we told them what had happened, but that everything was fine. When everyone saw Reese he was pink, happy and crying.

So what am I thankful for on this Thursday and everyday?
That God allowed me and Evan to keep our new born baby boy and have a wonderful year with him so far and hopefully so many more to come.

About the header

All of the pictures used in my header are the iPhone pictures I took throughout Reese's first year of life. They are mostly of him, but also include Sidney, Evan, my mom and dad and myself. I got teary eyed looking back through them.

My New Design

So I finally came up with a new design. I got the idea when I wanted to put a collage of photos on my desk top similar to Becca's screen saver. I googled "How to make a collage in photoshop and up popped a site for Shape Collage. It is so much fun. I made a collage of pictures from Reese's first year in the shape of his name and that's where I got the idea to make Keller and voila, I have a header and button. I hope you like it.

Wordless Wednesday

Happy Birthday, Reese

Happy First Birthday Reese!!!
Yes, it has been a whole year since our Little Buddy got here. What a year it has been too. He has grown so much and it seems too fast. I have pictures to prove it, but I can't believe it's already here.

This morning we looked confused as we sang to him and opened his cards from family. We sent snacks and treat bags with juice and animal crackers to his class. Yum!! I know he won't remember it, but I hope it is a great birthday.

Happy Birthday, Little Guy!!

We managed to have him hold still for a couple of pictures.

Change is good ... I hope

So I changed the name of my blog to My Keller Life. I have been wanting/needing a change for a while now and so I did it. My header and button still say Flip Flop Mom and as soon as I come up with a new one that will change too. I am excited about this change. I was never crazy about my name anyways. I just picked it so I could get a blog going. Lame. I know. So keep your fingers crossed for me that I can change the look too.

Chillin'

This is how Reese chills in his pool.