I forgot to mention the GIRL SCOUT SLEEPOVER in my last post. It will be Friday July 19th 7pm-8:30am. Wear Red. Bring your favorite game and sleeping bag/pillow. Please label your games so I'll know who they go home with. I will keep them in my utility room while we aren't playing them so we won't loose any pieces. I also found an awesome candyland cake recipe I can't wait to use. I will post a picture after I make it for everyone else to try. It looks just like the boardgame and is covered in candy. The girls will love it I know. I also will let the parents pick which movie the girls watch to go to sleep with. We will make a game piece swap for our swap hats I will hunt for. We will have supper then play games. Board games/ dance games/ misc. games. We will then lay down in our sleeping bags in Brooke's room at around 9:30pm to watch a movie. When the movie is off the TV will go off. Ashley will sleep in the room with the girls and alert me if anyone needs anything. We will also have Brooke's star light on as a night light along with a plug in night light. This will be some of the girl's first sleepover so if there are any other situations you need me to help plan for let me know. We will earn a sleepover patch and a game night patch. Yeah!!!!
Monday, June 30, 2008
Sorry I haven't posted anything in a while. Life has been very busy over here. I am enjoying the Financial Peace University class I go to every Monday night. Also work has been crazy. I am now on night shift and dayshift. My sleep and kid schedule is thrown for a loop when I have to work nights. I physically feel ill hopping back and forth. Hope is on the way b/c we have 2 interviews this week and we just hired 2 new people. We have contract help (who make $68.00 per hour) working our complete night shift and one of them just walked off the job without letting anyone know. Which who do they call. Me. I really need to work on being able to say NO. I just can't say no when I know there is no one else to work it if I don't. No one higher up notices any sacrifices made. They have had a proposal on their desk for raises for about 3 or more months now. They don't see the need. I was the only reason the lab lasted as long as it did without contract help. When I finally said No to working nights they had to hire them. I worked nights for 8 months staright. And for at least 1 of those months I had only 4 days off. Yes my paychecks looked great, but my kids took it hard. Jarrett became very clingy and cried for me every night. That hurt really bad. For those of you that don't know I am a (dayshift) department supervisor. I tried so hard to keep my department in order during this time. I can say that I didn't get any deficiencies during our 2 CAP inspections we went through during that time. When I was given the job the last supervisor had let the department go to pot and had 25 deficiencies that I had to correct. I corrected them all and tried to reorganize the department to make it easier on everyone that works in it. Well enough about work now lets talk about the kids:
I realized today that Brooke has never been to a hotel. She was asking today about if it had beds and a bathroom. She is extremely excited about our beach trip we are leaving for Friday. I haven't had a vavction in 13 years and Brooke has never been on one. Jarrett has but he was about 6 months old so of course he doesn't remember. I can't wait. I am already packed. I haven't packed Brooke or Jarrett yet. I will tomarrow. I had to sleep a little today since I am at this moment working a 12 1/2 hour shift. My plans are to pack them tomarrow and to bake cookies for our snack instead of buying a bunch of junk to take. We never stop at convenient stores except to go to the bathroom b/c with 5 people it would take forever and cost a fortune to pick out a drink and a snack. We always take an ice chest with coke and koolaid along with some snacks. We are going to destin florida. We will return Monday. I know it isn't a long trip, but it is way better than nothing. Jarrett is looking forward to digging a hole, and Brooke I think is looking forward to staying in a hotel the most. At least that is what she talks about the most. HaHa. Ashley doesn't say b/c she is a teenager. She is excited about going though. She probably is dreading the drive in the van with her siblings knowing her. I am trying to fix our DVD players so we'll at least have one to go with. I am going to clean them with a cleaner disk and charge them. I think there probably is with the charging. For some reason these have had issues with that. We will hoepfully take 2 of them and when one runs out of battery we can use the other for the remainder of the trip. We tried to use the car charger last time and it wouldn't work adn that was rough hearing Jarrett cry to watch a movie b/c he didn't understand why they work for 4 hours and then they don't. Well I better go for now. I'll try to post more later.
Saturday, June 21, 2008
PawPaw to the rescue!!!
Jarrett holding down the supplies. He did this so weel for several hours.
My little carpenter Ashley, my dad, & my hubby digging to make the ground even which was a royal pain. 
Jarrett gave up and decided to rest in the supplies. I took this as a hint and took him in for his nap.
Today my Dad came to help my hubby put together our swingset from Santa which I had to scramble around town trying to find one last night so the kids wouldn't be disappointed again like Christmas. Santa haad to leave them a note b/c I couldn't find one around Christmas time either. We finally found one at Acadamy which of course was a little higher in price, but worth it. As you all will notice in the pictures they had to dig into the ground just to get the thing level. I love our hilly land, mu hubby doesn't. Jarrett was so good watching and kept out of the way pretty good. I realized they were getting bored so I set up the slip-n-slide so they could have something to do. We had tried to go to the Shake 4 Jake kid thing this morning so I had already had to hear the cries to go bounce in a bouncy thing. (Sorry Mel I read the date wrong and I have to work next weekend so we won't get to go.) I learned a valuable lesson. I won't tell them about something until we drive up and see it in the parking lot. I did fumble upon a scrapbook thing inside the WM Convention Center raising money for breast cancer. And no I couldn't pass by scrapbook stuff without adding to my collection. Yes I have an addiction, but no I won't seek professional help at this time. HaHa. So please noone call crafters anonamous on me. Thanks. Sorry back to the swingset. We didn't get it finished today, but we did get the swings up and Jarrett did get to swing for a little bit before we went to visit with the family. We have to finish the slide and fort tomarrow. My hubby, Dad, & Jarrett will finish it while us girl's are at Lynnsey's wedding shower.
Thursday, June 19, 2008
Race Day!!!
Of course Jarrett was the only kid to ask to see the motor. 
Here's hubby and Jarrett giving a thumbs up sign by the car.
Brooke news: She made straight A's all year at George Welch Elementary school. She got a library certificate and a trophy for straight A's which she is very proud of. She even went home and counted her trophies, Ash's, and Jarrett's (of course he didn't have any). That seems to be a good motivation for her right now so next year I probably will say remember to work towards your trophy.
Here's a picture of Ashley being Ashley. She loves to pose like this. She helped me yesterday with the shower crafts. I will post those after the shower Sunday. She can't wait to go skating tonight. All of the kids are super excited. It is how we got all of them in bed last night. 
Well I better go for now. I'll post more later. See all of you guys at the skating tonight!!!!!Sunday, June 15, 2008
FPU
I have joined Financial Peace University at my new church. I have decided that my blog will be my accountability partner. If I want to purchase a non necessaty(spp?) I have to blog about it first. That will make me think about how badly I need it and how it will affect my savings. I am on baby step #1 $1000 savings in the bank. We have that, but some of that has been allotted for our family vacation that we have scheduled in July. I have not been on a vacation in about 14yrs and decided with the stimulus check that our family needed to head to the beach for some R&R together. Jarrett doesn't even know what the beach is. I have put a ticker on the side and what we don't spend at the beach I will add to this after we get back. I want to get to wear the gas prices won't hurt us like they are now. My husband and I work 30 minutes from our jobs and this is killing us right now. I now am more conscious of how much me and the kids drive around. Hopefully the gas prices will go down soon. I think I heard a few AMEN's in the crowd. I also have my little sisters wedding that 4 of us are in. I have to finish paying for alterations, buy Brooke a dress, rent Jarrett a tux, throw a shower, & purchase a wedding gift. My budget will be tight for a while. I have been following a budget for several years now just not as faithfully as I shoud have been. We will now. Thanks for helping me with this goal.
JARRETT & HIS FROGS.
This is the frogs little house that I bought at my fav store "Target". You can barely tell, but there are 2 large frogs in there.
I know I know poor frogs. I made him be very easy with them. I think this is a life lesson on how to treat God's creatures. Nice and loving. Play with them and then let them go home to their families. I am trying to get him to kill spiders though. I know I know that is contradicting, but spiders bite ok. Am I off the hook now? 
We have a new "So you think you can dance " fan. Jarrett loves to watch it with me. As we took my hubby out to eat for father's day last night Jarrett said "Mom let's dance on that show. ok?" My hubby really quickly replied "Oh no you are not." I couldn't help but giggle. I told him that it is ok to dance and that he needs to practice for his future proms and dances he will invite girls to. That helped satisfy Dad a little. Happy Father's Day: PaPaw (my granddad), Dad (my dad), Mr. Charles (my father-in-law), & Jason (my hubby)!!!! We love you!!!
Love, Brandi, Ashley, Brooke, & Jarrett
Saturday, June 14, 2008
My hubby.
My Daddy who is the strongest most loving person in the whole world. It kills me to live so far away from him. I think he knows it b/c we talk to each other on the cellphone about just about nothing just to hear each other's voices. (PawPaw Don)
My Father-in-law (PawPaw)On the way to Girl Scout Camp. They just can't wait.
When I dropped them off. They are now officially QuaPaws and can be Counselors In Training next year. They made it through the mosqito nets, and to hear Ashley talk about it it sounds rough. She woke up one morning to a giant spider that no one would kill on her net. And the first 3 days they had to shower using a lantern in the other room b/c their battery powered lights were out of battery. I forgot to ask them if they fulfilled the 24 hours of silence. I'm pretty sure her and Kaitlyn found a way to sneak some talking in ther. Ashley couldn't go 24 hours without talking if I bet her $1000. Who am I to say, I couldn't either. I'm pretty sure I'll have more camp stories for you all in days to come. She was too excited about seeing us to tell us much. I saw all of the bites and injuries and heard all about them. 
This is Brooke's new hair cut. She felt so grown-up getting to pickout her own hair cut. She doesn't realize it, but I do kind of influence her decision a little. I try to aim her towards a more no fuss haircut. She looks so cute!!!!
*******Girl Scout News*******
Thursday June 19th Family Skate 7:30-9:oopm. Troop #29 bring yourselves, your parents, and your siblings. We will have a blast together and earn our skating patch.
Don't forget about the movie days in July. Cost $1.00. I'll post dates another time b/c I don't have the info with me.
Sunday, June 8, 2008
Just another day.
I am so sorry girl scout parents. I should have told you all if you don't get the camp brochures by a certain date to call the girl scout office. I have never had any issues, but the merger it seems we have been having issues. Sorry. I have had 2 of you all not get the camp brochure in time for the deadlines, but thankfully the office is still going to let you all sign up. I dropped Ashley and her best friend Kaitlyn off today. They were soooo excited that I have a slight headache from hearing all of their squeals and laughter on the way to camp. They are Quapaw's this year and they get to kind of rough it. They will be staying in a cabin with tents over their beds. Which is roughing it at Girl Scout camp. The Girl Scout camp has cabins with cots in them and bathrooms and showers with running hot water. Which I have heard compared to the Boyscout camp we have it made. I will find this out in a few years with Jarrett. I will post a picture of Ash & Kaitlyn tomarrow night. Along with a picture of Jarrett and his 2 frogs we found. That is a funny story. It could have had a bad ending, but it didn't. I found a frog Friday night as we got our garage sale ready. I quickly cought it and put it up for Jarrett to play with the next day. When I gave him to Jarrett I went out to the garage sale to be told by Ashley that they had lost the frog. I came inside and searched the house. We found lots and lots of dust bunnies that I will be taking care of asap, but no froggy. Jarrett was so sad. He said his friend was lost. About halfway through the sale I saw a frog by our garage door outside. I assumed that it was the froggy that Jarrett had lost and gave it to him. Later I visited my room for some reason and almost stepped on the original frog. Yeah!!!! I'm glad I found it that way instead of during the night. Can you invision my scream????? I bet you all would have been able to hear it. Later that day we talked Jarrett into letting his brother frogs go home to their crying momma. He let them go great with no tears. We only play with them for a while and them let them go. I had to take Jarrett to the dr. today. He ran 102.8 all day yesterday with tylenol. I started tylenol and motrin last night through the night b/c I didn't want a 104 temperature scare in the middle of the night. It makes for a bad night. And at 2am Kaitlyn (who was staying the night) woke me up to tell me Ashley was throwing up. Yeah :( So all night I had to wake up every hour to give Jarrett medicine and check on Ashley. She said she was fine this morning. Maybe she ate too much. You know girls and sleepovers. They tend to raid the kitchen after we all go to bed.
Hey mom and da send me some Hawaii pics so I can post them. If we can't be there in person we still would love to see pics.
Well I better go for now. If anyone know any fun things for me to take the kids to do pleas elet me know. I was going to take them to the concert at the Children's museum, but Jarrett got sick. We might go to yummy creations tomarrow for the mom and me, but I need to ask them if I can bring Brooke to. The ages for it are 2-4. She is 7. We'll see. We might go to a movie. I can't take her to bible school b/c she will miss the rest of the week b/c she is staying with my grandparents while I work. I found an evening bible school in July that she will attend. If anyone's church is having an evening one please let me know. Thanks, Brandi
P.S. Girl Scouts don't forget the Family Skating Night June 19th 7:30pm-9:00pm
Wednesday, June 4, 2008
WATER DAY !!!!
Ashley and I set up a Diego slip n slide and a small pool. For those of you who don't know that we left a large inground pool to move to west monroe, yes we are having withdrawals. I'd add a pool where we are at, but we have all trees in the backyard. So much so that no one, but I got a little sunburned b/c the sun was only on us for about 30 minutes all day. Ashley slid down once and found herself almost off the thing. She says she is too old for it. Brooke & Jarrett loved it!!!! You'll see below Jarrett liked sliding on his bottom and Brooke tried everything from frontwards and backwards. Ashley
Brooke & Jarrett
Jarrett pouring water on his feet to get the grass off before getting in the pool.
Jarrett in the pool.
Jarrett laying out with me and Ashley.
Popsicle break. Hey everyone we found ICEE popsicles at Walgreens we love them. They don't get too hard like the others.
Picnic lunch. Ash let Jarrett wear her shirt b/c he was cold. He looks so cute in it.
Rachel's B-day present I made her.
What I call the "Forever Flowers" that I made everyone for Mother's Day. I even made myself one. I have always done that. When I buy someone I gift I like I always buy myself one too. I'm pretty sure my hubby wouldn't lie it if he knew.
Funny Jarrett note: During us watching our new favorite show "The Mole" Jarrett looked up from playing with his cars and said "Mom, Claritin Clear will help you drive better." I made him repeat it 3 times because it didn't make since to me why he would say that. I guess he had heard a commercial while he was playing.
Nonfunny Jarrett note: He is going through a not wanting to go to bed in his room phase. My hubby says he is just too attached to me right now b/c he hollars for me a million times and cries for me to sleep with him. And no I have only slept with him once when he had a fever of 104 and that was a long time ago. So he has no reason to want me to sleep with him. Finally I had to have hubby deal with him and I don't know what he said , but he didn't hollar for me anymore that night. This is an everynight deal. Maybe it is b/c the girl's have started sleeping together since it is the summer. I think it is sweet that they are getting along so much better. Maybe them staying home and being bored this summer is a good thing.
Well before I end this today I will post some info on the Shake 4 Jake thing Ashley & I will be attending this month. I hate that I didn't get to meet Jake. (I just found out about him this year through a friend that keeps up with his aunt- Mel & his mom- Stacy.) They each have blogs I love reading. I will be contacting you Mel for tickets.
Do you know what time it is? It is time for you to get the word out about the Shake 4 Jake in West Monroe! It is time for you local yocals to buy your tickets! Yep... .BUY THEM! I think Staci told me that you can get the tickets at jakesfoundation.org If not, call me at Melanie Massey Physical Therapy 318 3961969 and I will hook you up! Leave a message that you want tickets, because I will be out a LOT in the next two weeks, but I will be checking in for messages! In honor of the big event (and because it was a ballgame night, and JOR is the name of Hayden's team), the girls donned their JOR Foundation shirts. p.s. her blog is www.mojoy.blogspot.com
Brandi