Brenda & The Boys

I just love when the seasons change. I especially love this time of year. When summer is turning in to fall. Something about the smell in the air. The colors of fall, I love! Kids going back to school. Kevin getting excited about football season. Fall means the holidays are near. I don't know. I just love fall and all it brings!

Today was the Cookie Lookie (orientation) at the Weekday Learning Center . School starts on Sept. 4th. Yay!! (I'm not excited.) The kids got to take a lookie at their classrooms, meet teachers, and meet some new friends. And yes there were a ton of cookies! It was fun. This is Matt's first year. He is in the Itty Bitty Bugs class. Preston is in the Eager Beavers class. And Alex is in the Shining Stars. His last year. He graduates in May. Matt cried some. But overall it was a good time for everyone at the Cookie Lookie!!

Last year, Alex was in the Musical Monkeys class at the Weekday Learning Center . I think from the get go we all bonded. Moms, Monkeys, and teachers. Even the Monkey's siblings. So, yesterday we got together at Skeeter's before school starts again and we all go to our new classes. The Monkeys are in four different classes this year. We are sad! But we are glad that we can still see each other and monkey around from time to time! Have fun in your new classes you guys. We can't wait to see you again soon!!

Miss Teen South Carolina hosts a quiz — about geography. I like that she is laughing at herself and her little goof and milking her 15 minutes of fame. Who actually won the pageant is what I want to know?? With all this Miss South Carolina stuff, I couldn't even tell you who won. Gonna have to find out. Click here to take the quiz.

Ok. So the last post with Miss South Carolina , I just noticed that the girl that read her the question. Her name is Aimee Teegarden . Just thought it was a funny name. Teegarden. Googled her. She is an actress on the NBC show Friday Night Lights . There. You learn something new everyday. Even if you don't want to. :)

I don't know what is worse. Going to Wal -Mart the day before school starts. Frantic parents trying to buy last minute things for back to school. Or going to Wal -Mart last night the first day of school with crazed parents trying to find school supplies that their kids need for school. It is easy to say and think why wait until the last minute. But I too have been guilty of that a time or two. Waiting and putting it off. That store was a madhouse the last few days. I guess like Kevin says, I just need to stay out of Wal -Mart. NOT!

I hope that everyone that had to go back to school today had a great day!!

These three are like peas in a pod!! Or more like three boys in my entertainment center.

Yup. I was in Dollar Tree yesterday and they have Christmas stuff out. In August. I have to say I am not surprised. Come on though!! In this heat, it is kinda hard to even think about Christmas.

Read! Books. I used to read all the time. Then when I had Alex and Matt that kinda faded. I just stuck to magazines on parenting, family, and the latest celebrity break-ups or make-ups. This summer I picked up a book. I read The Nanny Diaries first. Very good. Movie just came out Friday. Then after that came two GREAT novels by Lolly Winston . Good Grief and Happiness Sold Separately . These I could not put down. It left me wanting more!! Check them out. I highly recommend them if you like to read a good novel. I also read Debutante Divorcee . It was ok. And I read Catcher In The Rye . Third time. One of my faves. Yes, this summer I started reading!! Again. I can't wait to read more...any suggestions!?!

It is hard to believe that the holidays are around the corner. One of my faves is Halloween. Alex is already saying what he wants to be. He has said a bat, Superman, and Bob the Builder. We will see what he ends up being. I am going to be Ugly Betty. Alex wants me to be a pumpkin. I have been to several stores and have already seen the costumes on display. Fall is upon us y'all. And hey by next month the Christmas decos. will be out, too I am sure.

This morning the kids and I went to feed the ducks near Lake Meredith here in Summerwood . If you have passed through our neighborhood you may have noticed that we have a lot of ducks here in Summerwood . The numbers are still growing as I saw a mother duck with some new ducklings following her just the other day. These ducks are not shy either. They started walking towards us as I was getting the kids out of the car. It is funny. Before we knew it we were out numbered. Notice Alex is missing. He got a little scared of how close the ducks got to him. So, he watched from the van. Matthew. Not so scared. Go figure. He is not afraid of much. Quack, Quack!!

This morning the kids played on a slip and slide that my friend Keri brought over yesterday. They were too cute, cause they weren't sure what a slip and slide was exactly. Of course it did not take them too long to figure it out. Thanks, Keri for letting us borrow it!

This morning I went and bought breakfast for the kids at the donut shop here in Summerwood . I got kolaches and sprinkled donuts for the kids. Maddie and Preston have been at our house this week. So I thought this would be a treat. The older kids finished every last bite of their breakfast (of champions) and hopped down and went to play. Matt stayed and took his sweet time. He loves to eat and will stay until he has had his fill. Then he will announce that he is done. I done. He will say. So, I went to clean him up and take his plate and this is what he had left. His little bite marks left on his donut were too cute. I thought anyway. I guess he ate all of his kolache . Unless he shared it with our dog Phoebe. She sits by Matt when he eats. :)

Today my dear ol' dad is 60! Happy Birthday, Dad!!!! I called him about an hour ago and he was at Graceland in Memphis, Tenn . He has for as long as I can remember wanted to go there to visit. So, I know he is having a great birthday. I love you, Pop!

We have Lived, Laughed, and Loved!! It has been an awesome ride. I love you Husband!!!

I have had so much fun this summer. We have swam almost everyday with my sis in-law, niece, and nephew. It has just been a good summer. I am sad it is almost over. I am excited for Alex and Matt to start preschool next month. This girl has had a great summer. I will recap my "what I did for summer" soon. I hope you all have had a good one, too.

Oreo Cakesters are ADDICTIVE!! They are intoxicating. The sugar goes straight to your veins. One cakester is not enough. Before you know it you have finished the entire box of 12 yummy, moist, creamy, chocolaty cookies. That taste like cake! Yum! I mean. You'll be a ball full of nervous sugary energy after just two. Please heed this warning: STEP AWAY FROM THE BOX people!!! If you see it in your local grocery store then RUN !! Don't look back. You will be glad! These things are dangerous to your waistline, if not to your overall health!! I am in recovery as we speak. Forget about giving it your kids. They will have a sugar high for days. They also come in chocolate cream. Darn, those Oreo people. You have been warned. :)

We have been having all the floors in our house redone for the last five days. And just let me tell you. It is NOT FUN !!! Times like 1000! Today is the final day. So, I have been told. We are covered in dust and dirt, etc. Here are a few pics. I am losing my mind. No. Wait. I have lost it. Seriously!! As soon as it is all cleaned up and pretty I will post the after pics.

Ok. The heat is on. Sunny hot days are here. Is it May? June? July? Oh, yeah it's August. It is finally starting to feel and look like summer around here. Go figure. Because with back to school around the corner, now I am ready for fall like weather. :)

I just have to say loud and proud that if you watch AMC , I have a friend that has been appearing on several episodes. His name is Joey Auzenne . He is playing a drug dealer named Lenny. His story line is heating up this week. I have been watching only because he is on there. He and I went to middle school together. I always new even back then that he would be a star. Remember the name. He has also been on Law and Order. And he has an AMAZING voice. So I am sure that some day soon we will be hearing him on the radio waves as well. Just had to share. You go Joey!!!

We celebrated our 10th wedding anniversary in Banff National Park . Yup, The Parks love national parks. Ha! We had a great time. It is so beautiful there!! Here are a few pictures of our trip.

This is a funny video I found on You Tube . Office Space . Good movie. I lived in Austin the year they filmed this there. One of my fave movies. This makes me miss working. Just a tiny bit anyway. Like for a second. Ha. Enjoy! It is funny.