Well, here we are at the end of another wonderful school year. Jackson is ending his pre-school career and Sutton is experiencing his first pre-school graduation this week. This picture was actually taken at Easter, but they have decided to wear this for graduation too - Miss Carol's Graduation. They'll have to pick something else for Miss Angie's Graduation tomorrow. On Friday Jackson will have graduated six times - that's a lot considering he hasn't even started grammar school yet. He's so ready for Kindergarten. Sutton loves school too and will be going to both pre-schools for the next two years. It's so hard to believe Jackson's about to be in Elementary. It goes by so fast. Our nanny is moving this summer so Chris and I along with my sister and parents will be doing the shuffle this summer. I'm planning on spending a good amount of the summer with the boys. I have good help at the store, so it shouldn't be a problem. I just don't want another summer to fly by and regret not having spent more time with them. We've been cleaning out my dad's pool and hope to have it ready to go by the end of the month. I think we'll probably have Jackson's 6th b-day party out there if all goes well. It's unbelievably busy right now with end of school activities, t-ball for Jackson, tuxedo rentals for prom season (coming to and end) and the beginning of wedding season, Greenbelt Bowl - I'm doing the pageant and the football program this year, and other family stuff. Jackson is suppose to have his tonsils out on June 15th. So I'm really looking forward to getting through all this and the calm of summer setting in. Colorado here we come - end of June! Consider yourself updated!

Did you...

Did you know that when the Pilgrims died they became sherrifs?
Did you ever wonder where whale's poop comes out?
Did you ever almost cry from looking at a picture of a troll or a giant and wondering what they could do to you?
Did you ever ask if your baby sitter could have a day off because she's having back problems?
Did you think your Mom was hillarious when she made toot sounds with her mouth?
Did you ever laugh uncontrollably when someone told you a story in a funny voice?
Did you worry about tornados and storms when you were little?
Did you ever tell your mom she was the best at everything or that you loved her more?
Did you pray for your dog EVERY single night of your life?
Did you ever say that saying a bad word was an accident or that you didn't mean to?
Did food that was made of more than one ingredient ever make you vomit every time you ate it?
Did you ever beg for just one more toy in the bath tub when it was already too full of toys for a bath?
Did you ever break something that was really important or expensive?
Did you want to ride in the back window or very back of the vehicle (with out a seat belt)?
Did you ever lick the snot off your face because you were too busy to get a klenex?
Did you ever beg for just one more minute at the park?
Did you enjoy making finger prints on glass that had just been cleaned?

Did you ever feel like you were the most important person in someone's life for so many reasons and more blessed than you deserve to be? Thank you Jack and Sutton for the unconditional love you have for me daily and for the constant laughs you provide!

Sutton's clothing delima!

My baby boys is in a terrible funk. Maybe he gets it from me. He has to have on the perfect outfit every day. Most days he is happy to wear what he wore the day before, as it was the perfect outfit. As a mom who loves clothes, you can see my delima.

I might add that he and I don't see eye to eye on the perfect outfit.

About a year ago all Sutton Hawk would wear was Bobcat shirts or jerseys. He's outgrown all his jerseys and he's so sad about it. Currently he wants to wear jeans, a sports shirt (something with a football, basket ball, or baseball on it) and either a long sleeve denim shirt buttoned all the way up or this red zip up hoody he zips ALL the way up. He drug some shoes out of the hand me down box that were Jackson's. They are camo little slip on tennis shoes. Jackson never would wear them, so at least I'm getting my money's worth out of them. Thing is, he's obsessed with them. No matter what he puts on, gotta have the camo shoes. He's even decided that the ONE camo shirt he has is a decent substitute for the sports shirt.

It's still pretty cold outside, unless it's hot (if you live in Childress, you understand that) so I make him put on a long sleeve undershirt if he chooses a short sleeve T-shirt. He will come completely undone at this request. This morning I put a white long sleeve under his brown and green T-shirt (I wanted him to wear a l/s red shirt for his Valentine's party). He really didn't want it, but I gave him two options, the red shirt I wanted or the one he wanted with the l/s underneath. He agreed and put it on, then pushed the sleeves all the way up to his shoulders so they wouldn't show. CRAZY!!!! I put his favorite red hoody on him and we agreed we had gone round and round enough for one morning.

I won't even go into the constant obsession with putting a costume on every single day on top of the perfect outfit.

I like that he has his own style, even though it's not mine, but I hate that he gets so out of sorts about getting dressed in the mornings. I went through the same thing with Jackson and he's better now, so maybe Sutton will come around. He sure is cute when he's pleading his case. I feel crazy trying to explain to him every single day why we can't wear dirty clothes and I refuse to wash the perfect outfit daily when he has a closet full of clothes.

Please tell me my kids aren't the only freak shows in this area.

You never know when!

Today, I am sad and shocked that she's gone! We weren't friends all that long, but I truly admired her. She taught me many things with out even knowing she was. She was strong, outspoken, giving, funny, but most of all convicted. If she thought something was worth it, she gave it her all.

Our connection was Rotary. She joined a few years after me, but had been involved much, much longer. She was very well connected in Rotary and knew probably better than any Rotarian in our club the true meaning of "Service Above Self", the Rotary motto.

She was sick the year she was president and relied on many members to help her. One day, she told me how much she truly appreciated those club members and I was honored to be one of them that she felt confident she could count on. She had a way of making people feel special and important. She extended her help every chance she could too!

She was serving as Assistant District Governor and it really meant a lot to her that she was chosen and able to serve Rotary in this capacity. Now that she's gone, I pray that there will be someone as willing and able to step into her shoes to finish her term. It's an important job.

Our club, our district, and Rotary as a whole will truly miss her enthusiasm and willingness to love and give of herself in every way. Childress lost a very important member of our community yesterday. What a true loss!

I'll miss you Terry! I only wish I would have told you that, but I thought there'd be more time.

Some things you might hear while shopping with a 5 and 3 year old

Yesterday we did not have anyone to watch the boys and Chris needed the day to get caught up. I had a few things I needed to exchange from Christmas, so I decided the three of us would go to Amarillo for the day. Not the smartest idea, but I really needed to get them some shoes too so I needed them there. Anyway, it went pretty good, but here are a few things I heard. Just in case, Jackson is 5 and Sutton is 3:

At Bed Bath & Beyond:
Sutton Hawk - "I'm not enjoying this"
Sutton Hawk - "You should have left me in the car"
Jackson - "Can I have that M&M fan"
Sutton Hawk - "Mommy, did you toot, something stinks" (I did not and explained the possibilities to him)
Jackson - "Can I have that M&M fan"
Sutton Hawk - "How many times are we going to go around this place"
Sutton Hawk - "can I have some gum"
Jackson - "Mom, am I being good"
Sutton Hawk - "Can I have some gum"
Jackson - "Mom, I've been really good, can I have that M&M fan"

Target:
Sutton Hawk - "I have to go to the bathroom" (we went)
Jackson - "we need all this stuff" (the dollar spot)
Sutton Hawk - "Toot, Toot, Toot" (a whistle a the dollar spot)
Sutton - "I'm thirsty" (we got a drink and pop corn)
Sutton Hawk - "my feet are huge and I want to get them" (the shoes he wanted were too big)
Sutton Hawk - "I have to go to the bathroom" (we went)
Sutton Hawk - "can I have some more gum, I dropped mine"
Jackson - "This is the best day ever, Mom I love the toy section, Sutton I love you, isn't this fun, Mom you're the best, Target is awesome" (he gets overcome with bliss from time to time and expresses himself as if he's on some euphoric drug)

Dillard's:
Sutton Hawk - "Just leave me in the car"
Jackson - "Can we go to Chuckie Cheese"
Sutton Hawk - "Can we just go home"
Jackson - "none of them feel good, but I like them all" (trying on shoes - ugh)
Sutton Hawk - "Can I have some gum"
Sutton Hawk - "I have to go to the bathroom" (seriously?)
Jackson - "can we go on the escalator again before we leave"
Sutton Hawk - "am I going to die on the escalator"
Sutton Hawk - "can I have some more gum, I dropped mine"
Jackson - "Mommy, why aren't you answering me"
Sutton Hawk - "my feet are huge" (to the sales lady @ Dillard's)
Jackson - "can we keep these socks" (the ones they let you borrow to try on)
Jackson - "can I get a black suit for funerals and a black shirt and tie to go with it"
Jackson - "why can't you wear a black shirt with black pants"
Sutton Hawk - "can we just go now"
Sutton Hawk - "do all malls have gum machines, can I have some more gum"

It was pretty funny at times. They really did impress me all in all. There were only a couple of melt downs, but Sutton didn't get his nap out.

Goodbye 2008!

Well, I have to say that I am glad this year is coming to an end. I am also really excited to see what the new year has to bring. If I've learned anything this year, it's to realize that no matter how much you wish for something it won't happen unless you really put forth the effort. Of course I'm talking about the wait loss thing. Last year Chris and I started out really strong and finished up really weak! Shocker! I am going to try to be realistic in the new year and actually try to change up our life style - eating wise that is. We have talked about it and are both ready to try really hard. Our plan is to get up early and have breakfast as a family. Something other than pop tarts and toaster struedels. This really is a big step for me and the boys. We're really lazy in the A.M. We like to sit in the chair and cuddle. Jack usually doesn't eat and Sutton wants something fast and junky. I can take it or leave it, but know that neither is healthy especially with our current menu.

In addition to eating healthy, we have to get active on a daily basis. My boys spend the days inside playing and Jackson informed me the other day that getting dirty and sweaty is just gross. I think I've failed them by keeping them indoors all the time. They never really have the opportunity to just play outside. They got bicycles for Christmas so maybe we'll all go ride. Chris also got a b-ball goal for Christmas and we're hoping to get the drive way poured with cement so we can play. So hopefully 2009 will see much more activity from the Blackburn's.

I have also got to get back into my daily routine of working out. I am not motivated to do this at all! I have got to figure out how to get past the pain without taking breaks for recovery. I am getting older and my body expresses this loudly after working out. I'm not making excuses, I'm seriously at a loss. I am planning on seeing a podiotrists in the new year for my chronic foot pain. Don't laugh if you see me in some crazy orthopedic shoes or something. I know that he'll say no more heels - boo hoo! I love heels! But my feet don't and I can't take the pain any longer. I also plan on seeing the chiropracter in the near future and have talked with Chris about weekly massage. I always promise myself I'm going to take better care of myself, but don't ever follow through with it. But, I feel that with the new year ahead of me I have no choice. I want to feel good, I want to look good, and I want to be healthy, so wish me luck!

Funny Story

Yesterday Chris, the boys, and I were driving around in Noman, OK looking for the Harolds. They were having a going out of business sale and I really wanted to go. While we were driving around the cute little streets we noticed there weren't very many students around. Just then this cute little blond co-ed walked down the sidewalk just to our right. I was watching her because she was dressed really cute and her hair was really pretty. Apparently, I wasn't the only one. Out of no where this dude comes jogging past her. He has on shorts and a long sleeve running shirt. No big deal although it was pretty chilly out. But then he did something that blew us away. He got to the stop sign at the end of the block and got down and did about 10 push ups. Chris and I both died laughing. The girl barely noticed him. She just kept on walking by. When he finished he got up, shook it off and continued to jog on past her again. I don't think his efforts paid off on her part, but it was a great laugh for Chris and I.