I love our exit off the interstate. We pass it at least twice a day. It has 2 truck stops, a construction site, a place that sells boats, and amazingly like a cement making place where there are always cement trucks spinning and dump trucks dumping. Now for those of you who haven't been here to Knoxville it isn't in the boonies. It's across the interstate from the biggest shopping area basically in town, Turkey Creek. It's just an effect of the urban sprawl. So Jackson loves to point out everything he sees so it becomes a very happy, exciting point of the trek home. So imagine my delight when slightly farther down the road we get stopped a by a police man, holding a sign, lights flashing on the car to direct traffic for the electrical truck who had two men up in a bucket fixing the wires. Oh I could hardly contain myself with such a find. Jackson on the other hand couldn't be urged to look right and missed the whole thing. oh well. At least I saw it right?
Oh and I would have put up a random picture of a truck but I don't know how to get pictures off the internet. sorry.

Experimenting

Do you see anything odd about this picture?Try again.

Well he couldn't see anything odd either. His blanket was in the wash and so he just assumed this piece of scrap fabric in the sewing room was his blanket. I just let him think it. Then I put him to bed with it. Am I evil or just a genius?


I am so thankful for a mother who just so happens to always have a spare of whatever it is that you need and a very gracious heart. She sent up her extra camera so I'd have one until Christmas. I love it. I'm not sure what kind of camera I will get (suggestions anyone?) but I'm loving hers. These are some back porch shots. I so love our view!

Smiles

Since my camera broke I decided to at least send you off with one more good smile.

Trunk or Treat

This...

plus this... equals this!
M&Ms for our little M&M! yes it was his first M&M.He was so cute.

For those who only come to the blog for pictures you can stop here. I'm gonna tell a little story for the few who actually read. I promised Brent I wouldn't use the word "cute" but when he gets so in to details like the "m" in just brings out the pefectionist/engineer inside of him. Did you notice the calculator, ruler, math scribbles. so classic. i am so in love with that man! He was so excited about Jackson's costume which just made me fall even more in love with him! Also, I would have added better pictures but I can't. My camera broke shortly after the squatting picture. I've dropped it several, like hundreds of times but that was the one that killed it. We had wanted a new camera for Christmas anyway but now i have to go a really long time without one. sob. well sorry about all the extra writing.

Boys are icky!

There is a reason that people say boys are icky.

It's because they are! Check out Jackson coming home from the park this week. Can you see the dirt on his hands! He was filthy! His handprint (after getting wet of course)
He does clean my tub though. That's seriously how he plays in the tub. cleaning.
maybe he's not terribly icky.

Music For a Happy Anniversary

As a tribute to our fourth anniversary, I've decided to overcome my anxiety for writing by posting a blog with the hopes that this contribution will melt the heart of my wonderful wife. Unfortunately, we have to spend the week apart as I am away for work in The-Middle-of-Nowhere, Texas. But although we are apart, she remains constantly in my heart and mind - especially on this anniversary eve as I've prepared this playlist just for her . I also found this was a great excuse to get a playlist up on our blog (so I guess its not just for her). I've pressed her to put up a playlist for some time, but she keeps refuted me. So if you like the playlist, leave a comment in favor of keeping it up, otherwise she will assuredly take it down after the romance of it has worn down a little. Given the excessive sappiness of this post, you can now see why I hold so much anxiety in documenting my thoughts for the critical assessment of generations to come. Don't expect many more posts from me! I LOVE YOU NAT!!

I love family

So maybe I'm being a bit redundant after my last post but going home is more than just returning to the familiar. It's being with family for me. It's having moments like some of these... (and a lot more that weren't captured on film.)

This is my sister-in-law Robyn who just moved to Chicago. We webcammed (is that how you say it?) and it was just so good to talk to her and see her. She looked super cute despite being surprised by our invitation. She is such a good mother and example and it was just good to feel like us girls were all in the same room chatting.

This is my great-grandaddy and Jackson. He is such a loving man. Considering his life experiences, I could justify him being a little harsh around the edges but he is such a positive and kind man. I love him tons and always enjoy visiting him.
It's an odd feeling to see your youngest brother come home in a dress shirt and slacks from work. It makes you feel like your family has completed the step into adulthood.
and then your mom makes fun of your sister and you think....maybe we haven't changed all that much.
The picture I wish I had but nobody was around to take it was of my mom, my sister, and me just chatting and laughing together. We tend to gather in the kitchen and back deck and just talk. We'd give each other a hard time about boys, clothes, personality and whatever other ammunition we could find. Maybe I'm just feeling sappy, but I seriously love my family and miss the ones that I don't get to see as often. (Grandma Hutchison!) I love y'all!

Hey, what do you think about that expression on Rachel"s face? So classic.

So refreshing!

So I know 16 pictures is way too many but I just couldn't decide. I went home to Alabama this week while Brent was away and it was so much fun. And as many of you know my mother, the week was one giant photo shoot. Ahhh... I love going home.

I thought this was funny because Jackson dragged the laundry detergent from the laundry room (which i think is very heavy) to use as a stool and of course WHENEVER Jackson was eating Bullet was always right there to share.

Peek-a-boo!
Ok so this is my favorite series because these 4 pictures were totally taken in order as he was deciding whether or not to smile at the crazy people dancing and singing and whooping in front of him.



To give him credit he did wait about 15 shots later before he ran.

Pity Party

I thought I would host a pity party tonight. For those of you who don't know Brent has to travel for his job. He'll be traveling to Borger, TX (a tiny town 1 hour north of amarillo) for the next 11 weeks or so. He leaves Sunday afternoons and gets home around midnight on Fridays. Woe is me! Last week was the first week he was gone and I tell you it is tough! I love my son and all but conversations are still a little difficult. "ball, yes thats a ball, ball, ball, yes ball" I just get to craving adult conversations so bad. One day the only person I spoke to all day was my insurance person. I also changed the wallpaper on my phone to this picture so when I'm lonely I just look at it...and miss him.

I tell you it hurts to love husbands so much because then you miss them so much. This picture was at the UT game we went to last month.
Do you have a reason for me to pity you? You can share and we'll all pity each other.

Woe is us.

Do you still get 'em?

Kool-aid Smiles!
It just adds extra emphasis to a happy boy!