Christmas Programs - 2009

Today was the 5th grade Christmas Program. The following video is of my son Samuel, the Breakdancer....dancing his part of Reindeer Moves for Ms. Nolan's class performance.



Breanna & Samuel in Chorus (one of two songs)
Breanna- Red Santa Hat second row, Samuel Spiderman front row.

Well....

....looks like somehow I have flubbed the blog up, don't know how to get all my links and such on the side of the page again. Tried moving them and no luck.

Looks like in the last year I have only updated this blog twice, since I am doing photography and facebook now. Take a peek over on face book or my photography blog to keep up with me. I may start a new blog and close this one down since I can't figure out where I went wrong..........

I have been busy, settling the house, getting my photography going, and it seems to all of a sudden become a HIT. I am so enjoying meeting people, receiving email from those that love my work, and phone calls from people wondering when I can work them in my schedule. LIFE is good, God is good....and I shall survive!

Summer Break

I find myself lagging behind once again on my blog. I focus so much on spending time with the kids since they are all out for summer break, and on photography stuff, that time slips away, and there just aren't enough hours in the day to keep everything up to date.



I have this site, my photography blog, and constantly stay online with Facebook (no..no..no kidlets mommy isn't addicted...I just leave my computer signed on all the time.) So if you want to catch up to date info...I will jot notes here...but feel free to click on my links on this page and visit my photography blog...don't forget to bookmark it for next time!!



Lets see where did I stop last time?

Since my last notes, all the children passed to the next grade, with wonderful grades on their report cards. Iam so proud of them. They have gone to the Pink Palace Museum, and are currently going to Vacation Bible School. Me, I have been sick off and on for a month and went last week to the Dr...a round of antibiotics has followed me...and I am feeling somewhat better.

I have a meeting this week for my next photography shoot....a wedding in September.

I have some wonderful shots on the blog as well of the June 12th storm that passed through here(Quito - Millington, TN) ....

Thanks for taking a peek....more to come soon...as I start to feel better and get out more.

May 24, 2009

I have added the pictures to both facebook and my photography blog of Jadan and Samuel's Cub Scout graduation. Jordan was sick and unable to attend but I received his certificate for him. So I now have two WOLVES and officially one WEBELO.

Samuel was supposed to be a webelo this year, but our little rural area didn't have a pack for him ,....so since this was his first year in cub scouts, they made him an honorary bear. I am so proud of my boys.

Breanna helped bridge our new little Brownies up to juniors this week, as well. I am officially a Junior Girl Scout leader...this should prove to be FUN!

Click on the links at the bottom of the page to go take a peek at the boys graduation.

Birthday Pictures

Breanna and Samuel - I can't believe they are 10!


Breanna, Norman, and Marcus in the background extending his leave.


Jordan between bites of cake and ice cream.


Jadan, just got done..."Off to watch the girls play and dance outside, mom."

May 14, 2009

What a week it has been. Rewind all the way back to last Thursday...the drama.

So a few weeks ago I get a call from Marcus telling me he will be home the Friday before - HIS, Breanna and Samuel's Birthday/Mother's Day weekend. I think to myself..great, all will be well with the world, and I will have my children home for a nice family weekend.

I go over to pick mom up as I had some errands to run, and she sometimes goes with me...gives me a chance to spend some time with her away from the general family grind, and without my grandmother being in the middle of our conversations. Anyway, she tells me Marcus called and will be home - "TODAY" about lunchtime. ...Umm today is errand day, and I didn't have plans to be back home until late in the afternoon...just before the bus runs. Apparently, my cell phone went dead and he couldn't reach me. Needless to say... I am thinking...UH OH.

So sure enough as I am checking out at the grocery store, I get a phone call..Mom, are you going to be home soon? Yeah, yeah, yeah....off I go.

We get home...get the car unpacked and he goes and lays down for a nap...this is where it starts to fall apart....LOL. Marcus gets up from his nap and decides there is about an hour and a half until the kids get home and he wants to go to my grandmother's house for a visit. No big deal she lives maybe two minutes from me up the hill. He has this general idea that he will take his car over there, walk back and hide the fact that he come home a day early from the kids....then surprise them.

So I get a call literally two minutes before the bus rolls up saying, I am going to be a few minutes late..I am helping Granny mow the grass....ok...no big deal...I run into Samuel's room as the bus pulls off and stash Marcus' bag in an area that isn't readily seen. A few minutes later I get another panic call...Umm mom, "we" have a problem. Not so sure how this is my problem....I hear "I got my car stuck in Granny's yard." Thankfully my mom, Nanna is here and we skirt our way out the door to go over and see if we can be of assistance in getting his Jetta OUT of the yard.

Yep, it's stuck! And he has spun in the mud until his car's front bumper is maybe 6 inches off the ground...Fortunately my grandmother's neighbor has a tractor, and pulls him out...we make it back home and manage to surprise the kids when Marcus finally show's up. He then says: " Mom my car seems to be running hot, the temp gauge jumped up when I came over here." Common sense would tell you to let the car sit a bit and then check the fluids....all is well doesn't get hot while idling...seems fine. Little bit of drama with borrowing dad's car, carrying all the boys to the store...while Bre was at scouts (making her angry, and feeling left out)...and kids not being home in time to go to bed...next day is a school day...boys have a field trip...makes for an upset mom.

He gets up and decides he wants to run here and there, after we already told him we were going birthday shopping. He decides to go with us...get back home and once again he's going to grandma's house...ok,no biggie. Get another phone call, "mom my car overheated again."...Call the tow service and take it to Millington and have it checked out." . "mom..how do I do that? Umm, don't you have it on your cell phone...example: Road Side Assistance....I don't think so...Umm hand me your phone.......Marcus...what does TOW stand for?" Makes me want to smack him on the back of the head and call him a "PROBIE" (its an NCIS thing). Finally gets the car out to Millington, and of course Dad has to go get him. I swear from then until bedtime he makes five trips to Millington for some unknown reason.

Car is in the shop. Norm gets home from work, I didn't sleep well...so I go lay back down with him..kids are playing with friends..all is good..party is 4:00, countdown has begun. I get back up about 10:30, Bre has already called my grandmother to ask her again if she's coming to her birthday party (She has memory issues since her stroke several years ago)...to get a I don't think so...hence she was at the boys birthday back in December, and now Breanna is all upset. So I tell her to call her Nanna, who drops what she's doing to come over and spend the remainder of the day with us...soothes Breanna, and then my grandmother calls...and out the door Marcus goes to go to Millington with her.

Apparently, Marcus had her drop him off on the way back home at the "shop" where his car is..and they tell him it's an engine problem..take the car to the local dealership, as it's under warranty. Off he goes into the edge of Memphis to the dealership...No problem....I am icing cupcakes, Norm is still sleeping, and my phone starts ringing...at least half a dozen times...every time it's Marcus. Mom I can't find....How do i....is dad up yet....and I can't remember the rest of the conversations....I am getting annoyed as he should be able to follow simple directions...I am prepping for the birthday party, and have a houseful of kids due at our house in 1 HOUR! Finally, I have enough of a break to jump in the shower...he must have called a few more times, however no one heard the phone ring.

Norm gets up...I shower....he's off to get the pizza for the kids. I get out of the shower, and dressed, my grandmother shows up >HURRRRRAY!!, kids start trickling in....birthday party is underway. Marcus: Mom I am going to need dad to come pick me up. Umm You are going to have to wait awhile: Dad is gone to get the pizza, I have a house full of kids, that means he has to drive over there after he gets back.
Eventually he gets a clue and before I know it...he's pulling up in a rental car...

He comes in enjoys some pizza, cake/ice cream, then starts "I don't know what I am going to do...I have class on Monday, and the dealership is closed until Monday. I am supposed to be back home and in class on Monday." "Marcus it's simple..you have leave on the books, there is a reason for "emergency leave/leave extensions"..call the OOD (Office of the day) at your command...run it by your chain of command and get your leave extended, tell them what is going on. Much to his relief within an hour he gets it cleared to be back Thursday instead of Monday. At some point as I am getting table cleared off..Marcus talks his dad into taking the rental car back...to the dealership (an hour trip)...and Norm has to be at work at 10PM.

OFF they go....They finally get back home and we watch some TV, kids are finally somewhat settled..and living on the sugar high. Marcus gets on my laptop, and I happen to glance over his shoulder to see him emailing his "foster mom" that he will be down there to spend his birthday with him....he informs me he plans on leaving just after church on Sunday going back "home". He honestly thinks his car is going to be ready and they don't even OPEN back up until Monday morning. So much for spending a nice mother's day with "my kids" muchless birthday's.

....the trips to Millington ensue, for who know's what. All day long I listen to "not how he is glad to be home with me for mother's day"...but all the little nit pick things...he's needling me on little things that pluck my last frazzled nerve. He pushes, knowing I know of his plans, he has made. I have finally had enough....last trip to Millington he picks me up flowers....Happy Mother's Day! I finally cuddle up with my daughter in my bed..Norm goes off to work...and I just need some peace and quiet.

....I get the kids off to school, Norm comes home/goes to bed. Marcus, kidnaps Norm's car and takes off without a word...Noon, he comes back home asking for my dad's phone number. Any one that knows me...knows how my family sometimes put "FUN" in dysFUNctional. (You can't mention my MIL to my grandmother, my mom to my dad, and the drama goes on.)....I let him call my dad, and they plan on meeting for lunch.

He leaves and I get a call from my mom...apparently he's been at my grandmother's all morning. Marcus is studying to be a preacher, and wants to treat everyone as religious illerates, and has the need to shove all his newly "Hell, Fire, and Brimstone." skills down other people's throats...everytime he gets a chance. (He knows better than to pull it around us...we have told him numerous times - you have to use love, kindness..and fruits of the spirit to lure people to God, rarely will the "Hell, Fire and Brimstone" work....live by example.)Yet occasionally he will try.

I never heard any what happen with that, as the children were getting home from school..my cell phone rings yet again..."mom, my car is fixed, I need dad to take me over to get it." My question: WHY could he have not called instead of going over there to see if his car was ready and saved an hour trip?" Norm gets up about the time the kids get home from school...just in time to be picked up, go back an hour across town to pick his car up...I am out the door to scouts with Jadan before they get back. I get home from scouts...all are ready for school, and I am exhausted...mentally exhausted anyway. Marcus says his goodbye's, as he plans on getting up early to go back to MS. I specifically tell him do your best not to wake the kids up they have school in the morning; to which I am told no problem, my car is already packed. WHEW!!

...3:30AM...Harley is persistant that I get up. Half awake I get up and go check on the kids, to find Jadan and Jordan transplanted out of their room on the living room couch and love seat. Jadan is sitting on the couch watching TV, and crying. "Jadan what's wrong honey?" ..."Mom, Marcus woke me up and made me lock the door behind him, when he left." "How long ago was that?" "just after 1:00"...I AM NOT HAPPY! Apparently he woke both of the boys up, as Jordan was in the living room as well...luckily asleep. I wisk Jadan off to my bed, and go lay down with him. Breanna is already asleep, as she fell asleep about the time Norm went to work in my bed. So now it's Breanna, Jadan, and Me in my bed. I am just reeling...and get back up...before my alarm goes off Samuel is up. SO now there are three in my bed...NO way I am going back to bed. They all get up and off to school...all well, and getting back into schedule...they all took a nap yesterday afternoon...I had to drag them out of bed to eat dinner..

HOW was my Mother's Day....I survived!

If you made it this far...blessings to you!

April 28,2009

Note: Well something happen to alignment of my blog, so I played with it a bit and this is the most simple thing I could come up with to get it to look decent...may work with it again or reload it at some point but for now, it helps me share with friends and family what's going on with us....so simple it shall be. Format isn't the best part of this blog anyhow...LOL.

On with the post:
Whats going on? About two weeks ago the children were out for spring break, we went to the zoo. I turned 39 (4/16)and yesterday, My darling husband turned 40.

I was disappointed when the day before my birthday my children decided they wanted to go to their grandmothers (Norm's mother)....AND Norm got called in for work, which meant he would be sleeping all day on my birthday and the kids wouldn't be here to spend the day with me. I received a couple of well wishes per phone calls..but otherwise it was just another day. When Norm finally got up and we had dinner, he took me to see "Fast & Furious"-(good movie). I sucked it up as usual and tried really hard not to let it bother me. Jamie, I really missed you this year!

Anyhow Norm turned 40 yesterday....and with all good means, and angelic intentions....I made him BLACK cupcakes. Complete with black cake, on the inside and BLACK icing...LOL! It was fun shopping and planning this out, not to mention cooking while he was sleeping. I think I had more fun making the cupcakes and trying not to "wear" the black. I put a little surprise in each cupcake, by inserting Milkyway's in them. Here are my results:
Well while the kids were out for spring break we took them to the zoo. I finally captured Breanna's camera and snagged some of the pictures she took. I took the day off and spent it with them...I let the "little"photographer take over for the. My photographer "shadow" took some nice pictures at the Memphis Zoo.
Below are the pictures Bre took of various animals at the zoo...by no means is this ALL of the pictures she took...but just some random shots. **I think Norm took the most interesting shot of the day (Last one)..... **
 

I think these escaped from their cage...they kept following us around the zoo~! I ended up bringing home these home with me...

....has it really been a month? Where to start, where to stop....LOL. Between kids, scouts, photography, Norm, and holidays...I must have been side tracked and forgot to update "THIS" blog.

Things have been kind of on a spiral here. I had my final training (for now at least) the last week of March. In the last few weeks we have been busy, busy, busy. List as follows: Leader training, on the same day Breanna has a special scout event. I go to training, Breanna goes with her other leader to "World Thinking Day." Following weekend Breanna went to Camp. This week is spring break, so far we made it to the zoo after a couple of days of rain, and tomorrow they are all going to Norm's momma's house for the remainder of their weekend, I believe. We have exactly one month until the end of the school year. Oh and did I mention, this past weekend was EASTER?

Easter: We dyed a total of 36 eggs for Easter. The night before I didn't sleep well and went back in Easter morning to catch a nap. Breanna had a friend stay over Saturday evening and was going to church with them. Great....no worries. The boys were pleased with their brightly colored eggs and asked if they could have a little festive treat. NO problem, I tell them, sure have a couple (need I remind you a couple is normally ummm 2). I lay there for a bit in bed and am kept awake with "...thump, thump, thump, Ching, thump thump thump Ching". I am like good grief and get up and resign to the fact that I am not going to get a nap. I walk out of the bedroom and into the kitchen to find about a dozen eggs left. Thump, Thump, Thump = boys running across the house ....ching is the trash can lid lifting when they stepped on the pedal and pinging against the island. Fortunately, I had just enough eggs left to make deviled eggs for our Easter meal. I cut Jadan off from his egg habit (he had only eaten 10 boiled eggs....and darling Jordan boasted in the fact that he had only had 4). Let me mind you there are still 2 eggs unaccounted for...I am sure Bre had a couple, and so did I ...but there is still two eggs that got eaten that someone forgot they had...LOL.

Needless to say, we had enough deviled eggs and a nice beer basted turkey dinner. (that's another story for another time.)

All together we are hanging in there....and here are a few pictures to share our Easter with you...

I also did my first photography session here (Senior session) and have it posted on the other blog: Priscilla Leggett Photography (take a peek).

March 14th Update

What's going on with the Leggett family? Lots!


Spring is coming.

I had a chance last weekend to go to Girl Scout Leadership training (Camp training)at Kamp Annemeekee, I hadn't been there since I was a girl in scouts. We had a good time learning different skills on managing our girls for camp, camp fire cooking, hiking, and all around good camp fun. The picture above was taken on the trail from the lodge down to the campfire zone. It was nice to see spring peeking in on us, and enjoy the simple pleasures.





Just the weekend before we were selling cookies in the snow, and then last weekend was very nice, now again today it's very COLD outside. I have another cookie booth today from 4 to 6 PM ...FUN, FUN, FUN. More cookie booths, and training are coming soon.

Speaking of camp, Breanna will be leaving the first weekend in April for Camporee. It will be interesting to see "our princess" rough it for the weekend. I sure hope the weather warms up and the rain hold off for the event. Then we have spring break on top of it all.

The girls are doing wonderfully, and although I won't be able to go to camporee with them this year, I am looking forward to all the stories and pictures that are going to come in a couple of weeks.

Norm FINALLY found a job, that he seems to like. Although he was told the hours would be part time...he seems to be getting all the hours he wants. The pay isn't the greatest (descibed as crappy by some) and not quite what we had expected, but at this time...and considering the economic standings of our country, work is work...money is money...and we are looking forward to the hopeful rewards. I suspect at the rate he is going (they are already making him the manager for three days in upcoming weeks while his manager takes a vacation)...that he will promote soon, HE'S ONLY BEEN THERE A WEEK....YAY NORM! Honey, I love you!

What is up with this weather: snow, bright/sunny/70, winter weather advisory's, what's next? It was a blessing to enjoy the smaller things in life last weekend and have the opportunity to spend some time enjoying nature, and take a few pictures.

Hope you are getting ready....SPRING is on the WAY!

Snow - March 1, 2009

Yummy snow!





Cairn Terrier, bunny hopping through the snow.





Up to my ears in snow.





We received about six to eight inches of snow.





Cold, crisp, as the sun comes up.

Boy Scouts, Blue and Gold Banquet

The boys all receiving their Bobcat Badge.



The table centerpieces.




The boys learning how to properly handle a flag.




Sparky from the Drummonds Volunteer Fire Department, visits to discuss fire safety and let them all play on the fire truck.

Girl Scouts

Last night Breanna had her official pinning ceremony as a girl scout. I was also made an official leader of her troop. Once a girl scout...always a girl scout.

I look forward to working with the girls, and the adventures to come.

Now that's love.

On Valentine's Day I decided to splurge a bit and give the children a treat. I didn't tell them my plans, and it was a total surprise for them when Norm and I had lunch with them at school on Friday.

Samuel had come home from school on Thursday just devastated that some of the kids in class had been talking and somehow what he understood as a punishment is that they wouldn't have "Sharing" time on Valentine's Day in his class...so he took it upon himself to toss his Valentine's cards in the trash. Previously in the week I had bought each of them treats to share with their classmates during "sharing time". He also left his treats at home that I had got for him to share.(They call it sharing time since officially they can't have but two parties at school during the year: Christmas, and End of the year, so they get creative to work those occasions in...LOL, I love these schools.)

So Friday morning with his head hung low he made his way on the bus and off to school.

About an hour before their lunch time I went and got balloons for each of them attached to a small stuffed animal I picked up several weeks ago, and off to school we went.

We get to school and have lunch with the boys first, all went well and they were just thrilled over the balloons. While we were sitting there eating Samuel's teacher comes by and asks me, "Do you know what you precious daughter did?"....I am thinking oh no...Breanna has got in trouble, and I am not sure I want to know what happen...LOL.

Apparently Breanna went to tell her that she thought it was awful that she wouldn't let them exchange cards with their friends, only to find out that "that" isn't what she said. They, in fact, lost their playtime on Thursday, but were going to have sharing time at the end of the day. Breanna didn't think twice, she went to her locker and took her own suckers and gave them to Samuel to share, so he would have "Something" to give his friends. Samuel's teacher said that was the most precious thing she had ever seen, and of course that sent me to tears.

It is wonderful to truly see that my children cherish each other and love one another, even though they argue sometimes.

It wasn't long until Breanna came through the cafeteria to go to PE and seen us, and burst into tears, since we surprised her, not only being there but for her Valentine's surprises. I am so thankful to be so close to my children...and to know they watch out for one another....and I thank God that apparently I am doing something right. It is an honor to get compliments on my children and their behavior all the time.

I hope that each of you had the opportunity to have some "sharing" time with someone you love.

February update

..I have been working, getting to launch "Priscilla Leggett Photography". Here are a few pictures I snapped a week or so ago, when the children were out of school on a snow day. Samuel had just woke up and was staring out the window trying to wake up and watching the snow. Breanna had went across the street to visit the neighbor and play in the snow...the other picturs are in my backyard and the trees.

Enjoy I will add more later.

At least it's legal...

...in TN to have fireworks twice a year. My mom came to vist awhile back and I got her to bring me some fireworks on her way to Virginia....It was fine until we got caught shooting them a couple of weeks later and was told "Don't do it again, or else".....it was funny to be sitting in my backyard and have flashlights shine over the privacy fence...LOL, what memories.!

Being back in TN, it is legal to shoot them here on New Years and 4th of July. Here are my group having fun with sparklers, before our "BIG Fireworks" ....Hope you all had a wonderful New Year celebration.