Change

Change: -verb
to make form, nature, content, future course, etc. different from what it is; to become different; altered or modified; a transformation.

Some people despise changes in their lives or routine, but I have learned to embrace it and welcome it; as scary as it may sometimes be. We've had so many changes in our little lives in the last three years I guess we've had no choice but to love it! I think I mentioned in my last post that we had an answered prayer.

We've been on a roller coaster ride for awhile. Three years ago Lantis left his employer of 15 years. He sold HVAC equipment and was king of the block. He was one of the top 10 salesmen for the manufacturer that he sold for! We made the tough decision to start our own HVAC company...a couple months later the economy tanked. And I HAD. A. BABY! Since then we've done a little struggling, a lot of soul searching, been totally humbled, learned how to sacrifice for a little human you just met, and learned to give it all to God. It was probably one of the best things that could have happened to us and we didn't realize it. We've also learned a lot about business in general that will no doubt be valuable for both of us.

In the meantime Lantis has had numerous job offers from former competition, current competition and things totally unrelated to the HVAC world. Yall. We had people leaving business cards in our mailbox and on our front door for him! He decided to stick it out though.

Finally, after some changes (thanks to the economy) with the banks and how their business loans are set up we decided it was probably time for Lantis to be an employee again and start taking some of the job offers seriously.

After several interviews, offers, counter offers, business lunches, prayers, and late night talks between us on the back porch, he narrowed down the opportunities...to two. They were drastically different choices and a decision that I didn't want to have to make. I prayed like a maniac for three days that God would lead us to the right choice. At the very last minute one company just couldn't quite match the other's offer. The decision became obvious.

Sooo...Lantis is now an employee again! He is selling HVAC equipment once again for another manufacturer. We're super excited for the opportunity and excited about the change.

God has been so good to us and hes blessed us more than we could ever ask for.

Did that just happen?

If weeks could be compared to hurricanes, I just lived through Katrina. Finally several days later I've recovered enough to talk about it.

Let's begin with last Monday and my car breaking down. It died at work, Lantis luckily had a light schedule that day and was able to rescue me. We swapped vehicles and I drove his gigantic truck the remainder of the day. In his heroic attempt to get the car back home--because he can fix it himself!--the car dies with him on the interstate and leaves him coasting off the exit ramp.

Next was a broken flat iron on Tuesday that left me looking something like...this....I just told everyone that I needed a little extra bounce in my life that day. I didn't want to admit defeat and make excuses for my appearance. I figured if I made the decision to leave the house in that condition I'd better own it!

Tuesday and Wednesday also brought with them some major furniture issues at work that nearly gave me a heart attack. Thankfully it was someone elses mistake, but still my responsibility. I know. Its furniture, not brain surgery, but having to reschedule a move of 100 people is a big deal. Especially when they've already scheduled patients in their new location. Luckily I was able to put out that fire and rectify the situation.

Speaking of the situation...who is "The Situation"? I know nothing about Jersey Shore except that I would rather poke out my eyeballs with a dull pencil than be forced to watch those confused individuals roam around with big hair and tacky clothes. Really America? Why are we giving those people attention? I know we're all making fun of them, but let's move on and find something not so trashy to watch.

Now back to me...I had no time for grocery trips all week which lead to eating cereal for dinner or eating out.

Thursday brought on a visit to the dermatologist which I was stoked about leading up to the appointment. The derm date ended with a mole removal, horse pills, several lotions and potions, and talk about a cosmetic procedure that pretty much scared the you know what out of me. They aren't kidding when they say beauty is painful. I'm putting it off as long as possible or at least until I have a week off work since I'll look like a burn victim for seven days. I'm considering this.

Then we ended the week with a big fat PRAISE GOD!!! I'll have to let that be a separate post. It deserves its own.

Decisions, decisions...

I have to ask a big favor: please say a quick prayer for Lantis and me. We have some big decisions to make in the next 24 hours. (yes we're fine and healthy) These decisions will lead our little family of three on a new journey. We just have to decide if path A or B is best for us. Both are great options no doubt, but that's where your prayers come in. Which path is God's plan!? I'll have an update in a day or two. Thanks in advance to my prayer warriors. Much love! Mwuah and adios amigos.

Punkin Patches--a review of sorts

Saturday I took the day off from my crazy fall/holiday photo schedule to take Hudson to the pumpkin patch. Last year we went to the Old Baker Farm which was fabulous and I highly recommend it. This year we switched things up and we went to The Heart Of Dixie Railroad Museum and took a ride on the Pumpkin Patch Express.

Hudson is currently crazy about trains and I knew he would love it. It was great! I would have liked it to be a few or 15 degrees cooler, but what can you do? We sucked it up and enjoyed ourselves. Hudson LOVED it! I would highly recommend it to any parent with little boys who love trains. It was organized and very kid friendly.

If you're contemplating the two pumpkin patches and trying to decide which is the best for you, here is my opinion: There are two major differences in two pumpkin patches we've been to. One: The Old Baker Farm provides a fun tractor pulled hayride to the pumpkin patch. The HODRRM provides a breezy little train ride to the pumpkin patch. Personally I preferred the easy breezy train ride to the pumpkin patch to the hayride at the Baker Farm. I also don't like to smell like I just hopped off a tractor. Two: you have pre picked pumpkins versus on the vine pumpkins. I also preferred the pre-picked pumpkins set out in the nice grassy field to the authentic pick-your-pumpkin-off-the-vine-and-beware-of-the-wild-animals-and-pressure-wash-your-dirty-pumpkin-when-you-get-home at the Baker Farm.

Let's just call a spade a spade and put it out on the table: I'm a slightly high maintenance gal. So it should come as no surprise that walking through a grassy field and picking up pre picked pumpkins that are relatively clean is my preference over the real deal down and dirty pumpkin patch. I mean really, do the kids know the difference? I doubt it. Therefore lets make it easy on mom because I don't own work boots and I felt like that's exactly what I should have worn last year to the Farm! All that said, I think both are great choices depending on whats best for your family and your style.

We had a blast on the Pumpkin Patch Express! I look forward to the Polar Express and then doing it all again next year!

Of course I didn't go without my camera, so I'll share a few of my favorites from the day...

Our little Hollis family

My sweet baby boy who looks less like a baby every day...

He's such a big boy now! :*( I swear he looks like a 4 year old in this pic!

Love him.

Having a blast!




Posing.

So excited! :D!!

Getting his ticked punched to get on the train. What pumpkin on the conductor's hat? I didn't notice!?

We sat in one of the open air cars and hoped for a breeze.

The patch.

Can I have this one? He chose a small one that he could carry. Because he can do everything "by myfelf!!"

Searching for the perfect "punkin".

...and we have reached our limit of heat and dusty fields full of pumpkins, jumping (apparatuses...apparati...appa...) whatever. Jumping things! And large blow up yard decorations.

Me, Dad, and some stray cast member from Beach Blanket Bingo. Oh crap that's my Mom! Hey Suzy Q!

Hudson and the Howard's-my parents' best friends and my other mom and dad.

Loaded back up on the train and waving goodbye to the pumpkin patch. Particularly to the pumpkin patch employee with the giant megaphone and overalls. I was waving hello to a breezy train ride.

And look who's family also rode the train with us? Our friends Rachel and Wyatt and their sweet family! I had hoped to get a couple of pictures of Hudson and Wyatt together, but it was hot and we had two year olds with their own agendas and families to keep up with. But I did get a shot of this handsome little fella'--all smiles on the choo choo!

Can I use a lifeline?

I've officially entered my insane portion of the year. Hence the reason you haven't heard a peep out of me in a few weeks. I wish I had something new and exciting to report but I do not. I'm busy watching football, scheduling photo sessions, designing Christmas Cards, editing photo sessions, working two crazy jobs, trying to keep the household fed and alive, trying to have a life outside all that, getting Hudson to and from school with everything he needs, trying to be an A+ room-mom (yes I'm following closely in my mom's foot steps for all that know her and I volunteered to be the room mom this year) at his school, and wishing this were "Who Wants to be a Millionaire" and I could use a lifeline! Despite the hectic schedule, we're alive and well and happy to have too much going on.

Since I last posted something, we've officially bid summer farewell.

We've done a little tailgating in Tuscaloosa.

We have made it a point to have some fun and most importantly enjoy Hudson.

Which obviously isn't hard to do...look at this guy!

A little superman never hurt anybody.

And prayers from somebody this sweet must be God's favorite!

My recent obsessions

Ya'll know I love fashion. Like fo real. I love it all and I wish I had lots more to spend on clothes, but don't we all? This is my time of year as far as fashion is concerned. This time every year I start combing the internet and magazines to see what everyone is wearing. You may remember this post last year. This year I have a few things I'm totally pumped about and can't wait until it drops below 80 degrees so that I can wear them. :) Such as...

My leather riding jacket

My jeggings

My boots

But there's one thing I just don't know if I can handle: OMG. OTK BOOTS!!!! Are you serious? Is there ever a good place in a normal person's world where these over-the-knee-boots are acceptable? I really love them and wish that I could wear them, but where!? I think I would feel overdressed, tacky, out of place, like cat woman and/or like a hooker. What are your thoughts? Are yall wearing OTK boots this year?

I'm also loving everything J.Crew this year. I broke up with J.Crew for awhile but Oh. My. Heavens. Their. Fall. Line!

Another little lovely completely unrelated to my closet is this little nugget. I want this table so bad I can taste it!!! (sans cat)

Why is it...

Why is it that at the first sign of fall I'm ready to...

bring out the red wine and cozy by a fire (in my imaginary fireplace because we have gas logs which I loathe. I guess someone thought that carbon dioxide poisoning would be better than having to clean up after a real fire)

make some chili in my crock pot (even though Lantis doesn't eat it)

carve a pumpkin

rake leaves into a big pile and jump into them

buy pretty sweaters and boots

make appointment TV

go camping

make smores (even though I don't particularly like smores or marshmellows)

start making my Christmas lists

and most importantly...shake my red and white pom pom and scream ROLL TIDE!!!!!!