Daddy's Biggest Fan!

Job Joy

After having Tyson I did not think I would ever be able to use the words "job" and "joy" in the same sentence, however, God has blessed me beyond measure with a job situation that I absolutely love! I am "job sharing"with my best teaching 'buddy' Jessica. She and I both taught first grade together last year and became great friends, along with our husbands...and soon our babies. We were pregnant together and her sweet baby boy, Carter was born just 7 weeks after Tyson. We have even more fun being 'mommies' together and our boys are 'best friends', so we have decided. Neither of us could imagine going back to work full time. She had asked me if I was interested in job sharing, but I did not think we could afford to cut my income in half (aaah, I am still not sure we can...). In the mean time, she decided not to go back to work....DEVASTATION struck me. I could not bear to go back without her! I had even thought about looking for jobs doing something different. I have always been interested in teaching teacher education at a community college, so I called several to inquire about the possibility. I talked to a lady at a local CC, who informed me that I would be qualified, but she did not have any positions available. Two weeks later she tracked me down (I had not left my number) to offer a part-time position teaching classes ONLINE. It sounded perfect! With this opportunity I could supplement my income and perhaps work part time! I called Jess to see if she would still be interested in job sharing...she was in! Lots of details needed to be worked out, but we made it work!

We now share a first grade class...and love it! We teach every other day (MWF one week, TTH the next week). I focus on writing and reading on my days and she focuses on Math, Science, and Social Studies. It is fantastic! Our class is so wonderful. I really have loved going back to work (what in the world, I can't believe it)! We also are 'sharing a sitter'! My cousin, Amy, keeps the boys on our working days. She is an angel and loves them both so much! She has older children, so the boys get her total attention all day! Tyson smiles so big when he sees her in the morning. Jess and I are having so much fun together!! I am so lucky to have this amazing situation!

God is so good and I could not be more grateful for the time I have to "hang out" with my boy!

Visitors!

We also had lots of visitors at the end of summer...

Mommy's BFF Crystal

Aunt Karen and Uncle David

Susan "Flowers" Stephenson

Cousin Gregg finally held me!!!

My Sweet Boy Jackson

My Princess Carlie

Karen "Bunn" Bracey and her sweet Alex

Cheryl Noe (Ralph's Vet and our life-long friend) and Mrs. Carol Cheves

Shawn and Jessica Hubers and little girl Kylie from Kings Mountain

Ms. Rosemary Naylor- mom's cousin and lifetime friend

Bethany White and Megan Potts, friends from Royal

Season Babies

Morgan and Brianne (winter and spring) came to our home for a weekend of fun! It was the first time we met Brianne and Jessie's precious little boy Ryan. Cedric and Morgan's sweet Gabriel was very entertaining. He loves his Aunt La La's brother Michael and wants to "ride Ralph!" We had such a great weekend. Miles and time can separate us physically, but nothing can ever separate our hearts. When we are together words cannot describe our joy. It's as if nothing has changed (just ask our husbands-ha ha)!

Summer Ending by the Sea

Mom, Michael, Travis and I took Tyson on his first trip--of many--to Atlantic Beach. It is my very favorite place on Earth. My Aunt Tillie let us use her ocean-front condo and along with all of the dogs, Ralph, Nick, and Dre, we had a blast! Mom and I went down with Ralph, Nick and Tyson on Wednesday and the boys joined us for the weekend.

On Thusday night around midnight, we witnessed one of the most amazing things I have ever seen! A sea turtle had laid a nest on the beach just outside of our balcony 59 days prior. The incubation period for the Loggerhead Turtle is 55-60 days. A large team of "sea turtle experts" had watched the nest around the clock for 5 days and had noticed a depression Wednesday evening, indicating that the turtles would soon hatch from the nest...and we were luck enough to witness their appearance. It was incredible! Nearly 100 tiny turtles "boiled" out of the small hole and slowly made their way to their home in the ocean...led by the full moon. These words I am typing can not adequately explain the magic of the moment! Mom and I will treasure the memory forever!

The boys joined us Friday night. Michael and I enjoy each other's company so much, especially at the beach! He had so much fun playing with Tyson and swimming in the ocean with me! Tyson really seemed to enjoy sleeping on the beach. Travis and Michael went deep sea fishing and mom and I had lots of fun reading on the beach (our all time favorite thing to do together). We all had fun going out to eat, shopping and watching movies. Tyson and I stayed an extra night after everyone else left so that I could visit with Miss Debby at her beach house and also to see Aunt Tillie and Millie and the girls.

It was a perfect trip to end a perfect summer...the first summer of Tyson's sweet little life! I am so thankful for the memories created and I love to imagine the fun summers in our future. Next year I have a feeling we will not be relaxing while Tyson sleeps for hours in his tent...but oh the fun we will have!!!!