Because he deserved it!

For the last 13 years Brandon has been driving this... a 93' Subaru Legacy

It has been a great car, for all, this is what attracted me to Brandon in the first place! No, Not really, but I do remember on our first date Brandon pulling over and having me get in the drivers seat to teach me how to drive a manual. I was surprised that he was volunteering himself for whip blash. From that day to the present it has been a very reliable car. I am sorry to say that the time has come to finally get something else. So we did, a 2010 Nissan Altima. I am very proud of all Brandon does to strive to protect, take care of and love our little family. He is such a hard worker and goes out everyday to "slay dragons" for us. He is an awesome Husband, Daddy & Friend and he deserved it!

Out with the OLD in with the NEW

Just over 3 years ago the phone rang. Brandon not sure if he wanted to answer it, finally said Hello? It happen to be a recruiter who stated that he had found Brandon's resume' online. He was looking for a Financial Analyst for Hollywood Video and wanted to summit Brandon's resume for the position. It had been going on 2 & 1/2 years out of school searching for something, being very pessimistic Brandon said what the heck, sure. Less than 2 days later he had an interview, and 2 days after that he was offered the position at Hollywood video corporate office in Wilsonville, OR. Finally the bruises on our knees were all worth it.


Awhile back Brandon had expressed to me that he felt his time at Hollywood was coming to an end. For all, he had direct access to the revenue numbers and knew that they were falling and fast. Who can compete with with $1 Red boxes & Netflix by mail with no late fees?


Just over 2 weeks ago Brandon was told that Hollywood video was going to be closing their doors to the public. This was definitely a bitter sweet moment for us, because Hollywood was the company that took a chance with a young guy right out of school when no one else would. They have given us lots and we are blessed to have been apart of the Hollywood family.

We have since joined a new family now...NIKE!

Friday Headline

Reminder of Home

As I was driving down the highway today my eye caught this license plate. Havin' been born & raised in Middleburg Florida, a small town outside of Jacksonville, I was excited to see another Floridian. I still consider my true self a "southern gal at heart." When I married Brandon and we finally settled down in Oregon it was hard adjusting to all the rain & cold weather, but I have grown to love it...well a little of it! I am sure that people look at me weird when I step out in my shorts and flip flops in the pouring rain and 2 feet of snow. But that is me, I LIVE in flip flops! I feel like I have lost some of my trademarks since moving west, possibly because of Brandon not knowin' what I was talking about.

"Are we stopping at the Jiffy?"= Gas Station

"Do you think we need a buggy?" = Grocery Cart

"Whatever floats your boat"

"Pellow"

"Y'all"

Maybe these things make me sound like a red-neck,but I don't care. I am also I little sad that being around Oregonians has contributed to me losing my accent. I have been told some things I say still pick it up, but let's face it~it's pretty much gone. So you can see how just this one little license plate today made me smile and brings back memories of sun tanning on the beach, tubbin' down the Ichetucknee, running around barefoot, and most of all family! And even though I'm 3500 miles away, a piece of my heart will always belong to Florida!

I feel like such an Idiot!

Well lately I had been wondering if anyone was even looking at my blog anymore. I had noticed that I had no comments even from my number one fan, my sis Melinda. So you could see how I thought something was odd. I began trying everything, blinkies, buttons about "everyone loves a comment", my background(maybe it was turning people off)...etc. It makes me laugh because I am usually am not one who cares about what people think, but I guess with all the baby blues I have had I've gone a little bonkers thinking you were bored with my blog.

Then today I got a message from my sis-in -law stating that she had posted a comment and that it came up that the blogger had to approve it before it could be read. It then clicked..I had been messing with my profile about 2 weeks ago, so I went in there and sure enough I had made it so the comments had to be approved first. I felt like such an idiot! I saw that I had like 15 comments that needed to be approved. I felt so loved! Haha! So I wanted to thank you all for being a part of my blog world.

Wisdom Teeth HILARIOUS!

Monday Headline

Lukas~2 Months

Lukas is now 2 months and growing @ lighting speed. It feels like just yesterday my parents were here and I was getting out of the hospital. Bryce, Kayla & Maddy at first had a hard time adjusting to the change of not having Mommy & Daddy's attention all the time. I usually am pretty good at picking and choosing my battles, but I have noticed that I have let many things slide. Now I find myself having to stand my ground and establish my authority again.

The kids have been great helpers, this is one area I can't complain. They all want to be part of holding,changing, or feeding Lukas. We have to monitor who did what last and who's turn it is now all the time. I working on finding a better way of handling this because if I don't I am going to go bonkers.

Lukas is a very determined baby, much like Bryce was. He is holding his head up great, has been smiling for sometime now, & sleeps like a champ. I have loved being able to be home, it has been hard having to work full-time this past year. I have felt like I hadn't been there enough for my children. How was me working effecting them? I was always stressed, and found myself yelling. Not a little, but a lot! It is not easy that's for sure, but then again no one is perfect, especially me.

Lukas was blessed Sunday and Brandon blessed him with having a strong testimony of the gospel, that he would be an example to those around him, and that he would be worthy to take a young lady to the temple and be married for eternity. It was a very special day not only because of this but it was also the 1st time Bryce expressed he wanted to bear his testimony. As I watched & listened to my handsome little "man" stand and express how much he loved Jesus Christ, his family & going to primary it brought tears to my eyes. I can't explain the feeling I got from seeing my youngest blessed and and then my oldest testify of Christ. It was a memorable day!