It's that time of year

I'm not sure I will ever catch up on my blog, but I will do my best to get back on track. Lots of exciting new things have happened. I, for one, feel like I am living somebody else's life right now. I guess that feeling will eventually go away as we continue to settle into our new home. This house is not my forever house, but we are going to enjoy it for awhile. My forever home will be smaller and hopefully close to water. :) We have lots of painting and still unpacking to do, but I am happy to say we have found a new home for our dogs Dooley and Walker. But first we are happy to pause and celebrate Christmas. Grayson, Parker and myself were excited to bake a birthday cake for Jesus. This really needs to be included in our traditions each year. It was really important to me for our children this year to honor and celebrate this very important birth and the true meaning of Christmas. Presents are great, but it's important to me for Christmas to be about more than just presents. Some families get all caught up in what and how much they are buying for their children that through all the hustle and bustle we forget what Christmas is all about. Back to catching up....here's a sneak peek of the house along with pictures from school parties, Christmas at home, Christmas at my Aunt Lorine's and who knows what else. I think there may even be a couple from Thanksgiving in here. Beware lots of pictures.....and they are not necessarily in order of event.

Great looking Elf.

School Parties...PJ Day is the best!

Playing with cousins in Blue Ridge on Thanksgiving

Don, his sister and Aunt Judee



The first look Christmas morning.



You have no idea how obsessed he is with Kung Fu Panda and yes he is 15.

Front Entry

Sprinkling out reindeer food

Derek and Don competing in my Aunt Lorine's version of Jeopardy.

Ok...so our cake is not a masterpiece, it's the thought that counts.

Parker and Ally exchanging gifts for the second year in a row.

one room with  no boxes

Merry Christmas from the Breedlove's 2011!!!

Moving on...

We have definitely had our fair share of changes this month.  We are moved into our new house and LOVE, LOVE the neighborhood.  We are so close to everything!  In addition to the exciting, happy changes associated with the move we had to stop and say our goodbyes to my grandmother this week.  At the young age of 93, she went home to be with the Lord.  It was just only the week before when she was getting written up for having a weapon at the nursing home.  I guess I should clarify......she convinced one of her daughters she needed a knife for some reason, but then ended up using it to remove a bandage from her arm; yes feisty until the very end.  I will miss her during this holiday season.  She was a strong willed lady who was not afraid to speak her mind.  We all might be a little better off if we were more like that.  She liked what she liked and she didn't mind telling you. My last living grandparent has now departed this earth, but I know I will see them all again someday.  Rest in Peace Grandma...we love you.

Our Daughter........

It's almost Thanksgiving

Tomorrow is thanksgiving and I have so much to be thankful for.  I couldn't possibly list everything that I am thankful for, but most importantly I am thankful for God's mercies.  These next few weeks are going to be busy, extremely hard and exciting all rolled into one as we begin a new chapter in our lives.  It seems at times that so many new things are headed our way..I can hardly breathe.  I post on here often all the wonderful milestones that we encounter and the memories that we cherish, but right now they are coming at me so fast, I find myself not being able to keep up.  I so want to savor each and every moment, but life seems to not slow down.  I have to briefly mention....Kanon turned 15 yesterday and got his learners permit...wow that makes two teenagers who can legally get behind the wheel in our family.  Birthday post to follow.  But for now as we get ready to move into our new home I pray:

Heavenly Father, we are trusting you now and in the days ahead to continue to watch over our family and pour your blessings upon us.  We are scared, nervous and excited about the move and the changes to come, but are completely trusting you.  We know you have a plan and we pray that we will live our lives in a way that is pleasing to you.  When we find ourself worrying about what everybody else thinks, help me to remember, You are the only one that matters. Amen

Halloween 2011

All things leading up to the perfect night for a 9 & 10 year old. Earlier in the week we did our annual pumpkin carving.  Well, I guess I should say Daddy, Parker and Grayson carved a fabulous pumpkin.  I just watched and tried to take a few pictures.

Then....The big night arrived! What if every night included the opportunity to visit every house in the neighborhood and come home with enough candy to sink a small ship?  Grayson and Parker had a blast trick or treating this year as always and our two older boys held down the fort giving out candy by a warm fire.

Parker wanted to be something scary this year which was kinda new to me, but he was happy being "zombie killer" and Grayson was a new kinda witch, she designed her costume all by herself.  She knew exactly how she wanted it to look.  Tyler and Kanon ended up "supposedly" running out of candy before we got back from trick or treating only to find out they were saving the Peanut Butter Reese Cups all for themselves. :)  I must admit they're my favorite too.

October 2011

I cannot believe its been almost a month since my last post, major catching up to do.  Both our high schoolers had homecoming at school this month and both looked amazing.  Tyler was asked by his best friend Ashley to escort her for homecoming court and had a blast.  Kanon attended his first high school homecoming dance as a freshman.  Don and I ran around that evening like crazy people trying to be at all the places for pictures for both boys, but I must say I LOVED it!

My little boys are growing up so fast.  I find myself hoping and praying that we are preparing them for the great big world out there.  When Tyler started driving a whole new person emerged.  The boy who now needs to be responsible for his car, who now is responsible for getting Kanon to school safely and the son that now makes a few more decisions on his own.  I pray he chooses wisely and doesn't ever end up where he shouldn't be.  I have some more pictures from homecoming night to add as soon as my friend Laurie gets them to me on disc.  She has printed me out some awesome ones that I plan to frame for Tyler's room.  She was so kind to drive from Alpharetta to be a part of this night with us....and her pictures were definitely better than mine.

Other happenings throughout the month have included the haunted corn maze with wonderful friends for me, Grayson and Parker. I was a little nervous about taking Grayson since she is only 9 years old, but I think I should have been more nervous about taking me.  What a joke!!! She loved it and did not appear to be scared at All....I on the other hand was a complete wreck.  I was scared to death!!! of course, I have always been a bit of a chicken and never really loved haunted houses as a kid.  There were a group of middle schoolers who we love ahead of us and they were all crying hysterically....not Grayson and Parker they were loving it. Parker was our fearless leader with Ms. Lori.  I stayed in the back and just prayed it would hurry up and be over.  Before the haunted house, we had a great time at the Pizza Farm with Ms. Dana and Ally.  I think that was my favorite part. Pictures to follow soon.....

Blessings!!

What A Ride........

Wow is all I can say about the month of September.  It has been crazy busy.  New business, kids activities, wedding, Church, bible study, CSL and all the other things our family gets into. I have definitely failed miserably when it comes to keeping our family blog updated.  I think my husband has quit even checking to see if I have updated it. :(  But through all of the craziness, I must scream from the mountaintop how blessed we are.  God has had his hand on our family this month.  I know it and can feel him.  My mom continues to improve and prayers have been answered.  Our new startup business is growing leaps and bounds and God has surrounded us with the right people to make it happen.  I can never thank some of them enough for the help in getting started.  Our friends are our family! 

At one point in time I was journaling in somewhat chronological order the fun things that our family participates in, well.....throw that idea out the door.  I have missed adding on here some exciting things so please forgive me if the next few posts seem out of order and a little dysfunctional. 

Don finally got to enjoy his gift with his friend KL.  They had a great time at the Georgia/Boise State Chick Fil-A Kick-Off Classic at the Dome.  I am so glad he got to share it with his long time friend and also somebody who appreciated the game too.  I think if Don had taken me I would have just been a waste of a good ticket :)  They enjoyed staying downtown and all the people watching too.  It was really funny that they ended up having dinner with some of my old high school friends...your likely to find those Chatsworth people just about anywhere. 

Cross Country season is well underway for Tyler and he is running his tail off this year. We are so proud of him.  He continues to take time off and received effort of the week a few weeks ago from the coach.  I have a few pictures that are not so wonderful cause I get to excited and forget to zoom in and they run by so fast, it's really hard for me to get a great picture.  I hope the team mom is getting better ones that I can snag from facebook.

This year continues to get better and better and we are so thankful for all our many blessings. As for me.....my new bible study has just began a few weeks ago and boy is it powerful.  Jennifer Rothschild is amazing and I know I want to be that woman  who is clothed in peace and grace.  The study is Me Myself & Lies.  We all could use a thought closet makeover.  I know I can anyway.  I am concentrating more and more on what I let into my thoughts.  Focusing on positive and pure thoughts is pleasing to God and has a profound effect on the person I am.  My hope and prayer is I will remember Ps 19:14 and learn to follow as it says "Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer".  The ladies in our women's bible study are remarkable and I am learning so much from them.  As the busyness surrounds our family, I pray that we not lose focus on WHO and WHAT is important.

The Wedding

These cupcakes were so cute in person, the picture really doesn't do them justice.

 The rehearsal was followed by dinner at Little Rome (a favorite).  This was the sign out front.

Even though it was a late night on Friday, we had a great time having dinner with everyone.  Grayson and Parker were asleep before we left Chatsworth heading home.  The wedding rehearsal and dinner ran a little late, but Grayson and Parker were great not complaining even once.  Don and Kanon were at a football game and Tyler was at relay for life.  Since they were not actual members of the bridal party, they didn't have to be at this part of the festivities.

These are the adorable gifts Parker and Grayson received.  LOVED them!

The pictures of my family all dressed up bring tears to my eyes.  I am so incredibly blessed with a handsome husband and sons and a beautiful daughter.  It's special days like this that make me proud to be wife and mother to this bunch.  Each one of us played a special part on this day for my cousin Derek who played a special part in our big day almost 18 years ago as our ringbearer.  We wish Derek and Ashley all the happiness in the world.

The decorations and colors were beautiful and the the reception was filled with surprises that were hilarious and only added to the memories of the day.  The "Village People" showed up and were very entertaining.  Derek and my Aunt Lorine's dance music was temporarily interrupted, then changed....LOVED that! And.......

of course Don couldn't miss the Georgia game.  As you see here he is watching it on his phone during the reception with Kanon right beside him.  The funny part is....everybody expected him to do just that and didn't mind at all.  Don did say at the end of the day, his children would not be allowed to get married during football season and if they tried he wasn't paying.  HA...that's serious.

Cake was beautiful....I have lots more pictures to share...as Don put it...I took pictures of everything down to the bricks on the Church.  It was such a great day, I didn't want to miss a thing and I wanted to remember all the fun.  But, after all the pictures I took..I didn't get a picture of the grooms cake which was hilarious, it was a zombie cake. Derek and Ashley definitely let their personality and their sense of humor shine through during their wedding which I think was the best part of all.