And so it begins...

  Oh hey y'all! You know how when things slow down in life and you're finally like, "Oh yeah, relax time!" something A L W A Y S comes along to go, "I got you sucker!", well I basically just did that to myself. Last week I made the informed and very excited decision to make not one, but TWO big life changes regarding a very exciting career path. First! I finally requested information from the local cosmetology schools in the area and I have my first walkthrough/interview on Friday at Creative Images! AAAAHHHH!! I'm very nervous about it. Before Bryce and I were married I was in line to attend the Paul Mitchel school in Charlotte, but alas, marriage and love came first... then a house... then a major surgery for Bryce and then our sweet princess Emory and mommy's school got put on the back burner. I wish I could say I'm sad about that, but I'm not. Not every one is fortunate enough to be able to spend these precious moments with their little ones the way that I am and I know how lucky I am for that. That being said, I'M SO FREAKING EXCITED I CAN'T EVEN STAND IT!!! I'm 99% sure this isn't going to help my recent make up obsession, but hey, you win some... Bryce loses some.

Can we take a second to appreciate how cute Emory's
kissy face is... and that sweet bow necklace!?

  My second life endeavor is that I joined the fabulous and fierce Premier Designs jewelry team! That's right y'all, I'm officially a jewelry lady and I couldn't be more excited/happy/ready to make some money if I tried. If you know me at all, this is hilarious to you. You're probably even laughing at the idea of ME, the yoga pants and tank top queen, being a jewelry kind of person. I too laughed that the idea at first and then I purchased my first Premier piece. It's a bracelet that they make called, "It's a wrap!" It's a super simple wrap bracelet, but my goodness I could NOT get enough. Once I had that bracelet, I wanted more to match it and then Bryce's ALS graduation rolled around and something in me said, "Uhhh... ACCESSORIZE!" and it was down hill from there. I bought my kit and have lots of training in my near future, but with the prospect of me going into a business that deals primarily with women, I think I'll do just fine.
  It's so weird to think that I'm going to get to do something that is 100% for me for once. I'm so used to being MOMMY and WIFE all the time, that I'm almost uncomfortable stepping out of that zone for more than a minute or two during the day. I really needed this though, I needed something to challenge myself and to really push me. At first I had my reservations, I was very nervous and almost talked myself out of it (like I do with everything), but this A M A Z I N G man that I married came along and said, "Amanda, you're going to be amazing at whatever you do. If this is what is going to make you happy, then just do it." It's moments like that one that make me so thankful that I was smart enough to marry my man meat. He's been so encouraging and so supportive through all of this, it really makes life a lot easier knowing that he's Team Amanda no matter what happens in life. I truly am one blessed lady.
  So that's ME right now. Lily is FINALLY home from her daddy's house and back in full swing. She came home her usual outgoing and sassy self, but I swear to you in those two weeks, she aged 2 years. When she got home she did something (lord help me, but I can't remember what it was) that just made me automatically tear up and want to cry. I looked at bryce and he just busted out laughing. I'm such a sap when I comes to these little princesses and sometimes it's borderline embarrassing. She started summer camp at Goddard the Monday after she got home and to our surprise they had a field trip planned for that day to the Dayton Dragons field. She was so excited to tell us all about it when she got home. Naturally, she made Bryce promise to take her to a baseball game and the requested to watch baseball (it wasnt' on) so she said, "Football?".... not on. Okay, cheerleading? nope. Hockey!? no ma'am. She finally settled on soccer, which she watched for a total of about 5 minutes and ran away to do Lily things with her hoodrat sister. Gotta love em.

  Alright y'all, I have more premier studying to do so I can be ready for my debut show on the 31st!! (which also happens to be Harry Potter's birthday... NO BIG DEAL OR ANYTHING!) and about 5 seasons of Doctor Who to catch up on. I'm mildly obsessed, it's becoming a problem. I hope your Independence day is amazing (i know mine will be) and that you take time to really appreciate every one that has sacrificed something in their lives to make sure that we can continue to celebrate the land of the free and every amazing opportunity that comes with it. Now in closing, LET'S GET STAR SPANGLED HAMMERED Y'ALL! OW OW! .... no but really, 'MERIKA!

G'night, Y'all.

-Amanda

Let's hear it for the boy!

  No but really, let's give MY MAN a hand!! After 5 very very long weeks (and almost 6 years of service over all) for Bryce, he finally graduated Airman Leadership School and picked up Ssgt.! Not only did he graduate, but he graduated and won the award for distinguished graduate, which is a pretty big deal. Don't get me wrong when I say this. I am ALWAYS very proud of Bryce and how much he's willingly taken on in his life and how much he's endured and rose above; I was an exceptionally proud wife when I watched him receive his award and diploma though. He really worked his butt off every single day that he was in that class and it really paid off for him. We had a blast at his graduation ceremony with our friends and his colleagues and MAN did he look handsome in those blues. That's one thing about ALS that I'm going to miss, blues Mondays. Maybe I can talk him into just wearing them around the house for me or something. Bryce actually picked up Staff Sergeant on Friday since he was supposed to pick up in January, but couldn't due to him being deployed. Today was his first day back to work since and he came home from work and said how weird it is to have people calling him "Sergeant" and "Sir", which I totally understand. The idea of having Bryce be somebody's boss makes me giggle a lot when I think about it. . . He plays with lightsabers and owns a Golden Tee game.... come on now people. I did tell him he should get used to, especially since it's his dream to go officer after this and he's one step closer. No matter what he does, I'm extremely proud of my man meat and I wanted y'all to share that with me, because you're my people and I figured you're allowed to be proud with me.

I was the luckiest lady in the room, no doubt.

  Aside from Bryce's exciting news, we've just been spending a lot of time with the girls before they left for Florida for 2 weeks. Yesterday we dropped them off and that was NOT an easy task for me. I have no idea how to be without my kids, which is sad and funny at the same time. I woke up this morning to a completely silent house and in that moment I realized that being a mom is the best job I could ever ask for, no matter how hard it is from time to time. I missed the noise, I missed having to make a million pancakes and I even missed our early morning Super Why! cuddles on the couch. Naturally I called my mom as soon as it was an acceptable hour (I deemed 8 am as acceptable) and she reassured me that they are just fine and are having a blast road tripping with Nanny and aunt Kaity. I know Lily is more than anxious to make it to Nanny's house and get in "Nanny's HUGE pool" as she refers to is and spend some time at the beach with her aunts and sissy. I know I can't wait to get down there and spend time with my family and their bar in the back yard.  SPEAKING OF AUNT KAITY! My little sister graduated from high school yesterday!!!! I could not have been more proud if I tried. Unfortunately we missed the graduation, but I got to stop by her graduation party and give her a gift and as many hugs as acceptable. I feel like it was yesterday that she was following me everywhere and tattling on me and now she's all grown up and off in to the big world. It's so crazy to think that not long from now, my other little sisters will be on their way to graduation and all grown up too. I hate even thinking about that. I want them to be little girls that worship the ground their big sister walks on forever. OH MAN then my kids will be graduation and too cool for me too... EVERYONE NEEDS TO JUST STOP GROWING UP OKAY!?! I CAN'T TAKE THIS!!! *cries* *done crying*

the girls in their new elephant pool and adorable matching
suits!

  I know this wasn't very long, I just wanted to share the good news of my favorite graduates and my little loves. I'm off to do some cleaning and maybe napping, because I can do that now that the only things I have to care for are Winston and our NEWST ADDITION CHARLIE!!!! That's right, we got a blue tick coon hound and I love his droopy little face and long ears more than anything else. Not to mention, he's one heck of a smart dog. He already whines at the door to be let out. I'm a pretty blessed fur baby owner. OH! and he loves his sisters, like a lot. Now if only they'd take his puppy playing as him loving them rather than thinking he's trying to eat their souls, all would be well.

Charles Xavier Mande

  Y'all have a good day now! I'm sure I'll be back several times this week with date night stories and complaining about missing my baby girls.

-Amanda

Rock me momma like a wagon wheel.

  It's Thursday and while I have no pictures to share (mainly because I'm iPad blogging again) and nothing of real importance to talk about, here I am. I've been missing my mom and dad and bratty little sisters more than ever lately, so we decided to go visit the next best thing this weekend, my moms twin sister and her amazeballs family! Holla at me y'all! I'm so excited, but not excited for the 20 degree weather difference in good ol' Michigan. Besides, this will hold me over until our vacation after our vacation to see my parents/pick up the girls.
  Today was pretty uneventful. It rained most of the day, which always makes for one sleepy momma and two restless little girls. Bryce the great, let me sleep in (mind you sleeping past 8 is a task for me that usually requires me waking up every 15 minutes and making myself go back to sleep until 9) and got up with the ladies. After that it was a pretty relaxed day. Chipotle was acquired by my amazing husband (I love him a lot today) and we went and picked out our flowers for our garden this year and quite a few fruits and vegetables. We're going to go with a raised flower garden this year, because our back yard garden from last year doesn't have the best soil in the world..... And I want an excuse to use pallets in my back yard. Legit, I know. I'm looking forward to getting our back yard back in order, because there are few things in life that I enjoy more than sitting back there around the fire pit with the family, roasting marshmallows and drinking an ice cold.... Water.
  Bryce starts ALS on Monday and I'm dreading it already, but I know he will do just fine. He's seriously one of the smartest people I know, so it should be a breeze. I just know it means long studying hours and not hanging out as much, but that's the price you pay for more responsibility I guess. So we're going to make the most of our family time this weekend and I'm going to see to it that he relaxes a little, since he hasn't been letting me do almost anything since he's been back. Karaoke and beers will be had. Along with lots of laughs and a couple of hangovers, but it'll be totally worth it!

Alright y'all, time to finish up taxes (procrastination at its finest) and do some sewing/packing for our weekend! Here's to one hell of an awesome weekend away from gloomy Ohio!

G'night y'all!

-She who must not be named (see what I did there?! I made it seem like I was voldemort! I'm so funny!)

Wordless Wednesday y'all!

It's been too beautiful outside to not brag about it being shorts season here in Ohio. Also, iPad blogging is weird man... SO WEIRD MAN!

Night y'all.

-Amanda

P.s.
Having a playground in your backyard is perfect.... Unless your daughters are daredevils, then it's a lot like premeditated gray hair.

P.s.s.
So not "wordless" at all. F A I L!