Reindeer Food

I made these for my class at Maxwell that I am working in for one of my classes, but I was wondering if you guys thought this is something I might be able to sell?

The little bags are sealed.

If you think that they couldbe sold, let me know what you think a good price would be. I could even do different pictures and colors on the paper.

I thought it might be cute little gifts for children's classes.

Leave a comment or email me at vaughnthayer@gmail.com

Adult Co-Ed Softball

Thursday night was our first co-ed softball game. We had a blast! We lost, but we had so much fun.

This is Cody! She is looking serious about getting on base!

She also broke her finger and got her leg busted by the ball!

She is such a trooper!

Alicia on third base! She was the first

batter of the game!

She also caught a line drive during the game!

Todd on second base!! He hit EVERY time

he came up to bat!
Todd getting ready to SMACK the ball!

Alicia in the zone!!

I hit the ball and made it to first base, but I

got out on third!

BASE HIT!!! (I can't breathe!!)

I play catcher!

Morgan took the pictures for me! I hope that next time she gets more pictures of the rest of our team, but she was also busy chasing babies around! We had a great time, but boy am I sore! We have a DOUBLE HEADER this Thursday! I am excited! It is so much fun!

The best part was our kids telling us how well we did and how proud they were of us!

I sure hope my legs aren't as sore tomorrow because we have practice!! We are going to be ready for Los Ranchos Thursday!

Bad Blogger Finally Updates!

The month of June has flown past and we are now in July! We have been busy looking for jobs for Todd! He has interviewed in Dothan and we are hopeful that he will be offered the job! It is for a 6th grade Science teacher at Honeysuckle Middle! I know that he will be a great teacher, he just needs someone to offer him a job so that he can prove it.

We have spent a lot of time in Dothan the last few weeks because of the application process of Dothan City Schools! While in Dothan, we worked on cutting the grass around Todd's parents house! It is funny how everyone is interested in yard work when a tractor is involved!
The kids love to just ride on the tractor!

We also celebrated Todd's 34th birthday while we were in Dothan. His parents took us to one of his favorite restaurants Blue Plate. I made him a strawberry cake.

We have also welcomed a new member to our family, because with 3 kids, 4 African Dwarf frogs, 2 dogs, and 21 chickens we didn't have enough to keep us busy! Georgia is such a sweet kitty! We got her from some friends of ours. She sleeps in the bed with Todd and I almost every night. She doesn't like to eat though! She is so funny because she would rather eat our food instead of her cat food. The first night that we had her, she at peas that we had gotten out of our garden. The next day, I opened a new can of cat food and placed it on a plate and a few of the leftover peas from the night before on another plate. I set the two plates side by side to see which she would choose and she went for the peas! Todd keeps saying when she gets hungry she will eat! I sure hope so!

Todd and I have been playing softball! He plays first and I play catcher. We are playing on a co-ed team her in Prattville. It has been fun! Our first game is Thursday night! We are excited and we hope that we do well.

We have been working in the garden and we have "put up" a lot of tomatoes, squash, and I have made pepper sauce. Normally we don't have enough peppers, but this year we have them coming our of our ears. The garden is just about finished and I think we are going to plant a fall garden this time. I NEVER plant enough beans or peas, so we have been having 'mixed beans!' They are good, but I would love to be able to put some fresh peas or butter beans in the freezer.

We went to my parent's house in Clanton last week and Zach made a comment about his loose teeth! My mom told us that there was a little boy on the new who pulled his tooth using a model rocket! I told Zach that I would go down to the firework stand and buy some fireworks to pull his teeth! After much conversation about it Rett finally talked him into it!

The bottle rockets that we tried didn't work after several attempts! So then, Zach decided that he would put tie the fishing string on the back of the car and let Todd drive off! Well, this worked on the first try! It grossed me out, but it worked! He is now without his two front teeth! The tooth fairy left him $5 for the two teeth that he lost!

We enjoyed the Fourth of July weekend with friends. On Saturday night we went to DJ and Eva's and meet her sister and her family who are from West Virgina. We had a good time, until the brand new bunk bed got broken, complements of my son! DJ and his brother-in-law got it fixed, but I still feel terrible! Absolutely terrible!

On Sunday night, we ate with Ben and Alicia and then rode in the back of the truck to watch Pratville's fireworks! It was a nice laid back evening, with nothing getting broke!

Well, I think that brings us to today and we are just hanging out around the house. Morgan has been in a cleaning mood, so she is cleaning my kitchen! She has even cleaned the walls! It is like the cleaning fairies have finally shown up! She is doing a great job!

JUNE

I haven't updated in so long because we have been so busy! Our summer has been in full hustle and bustle since day one. Since Todd graduated in May, the job search has been in full swing. So far we haven't had any luck, but he still has several applications out and we are hoping that all those years of school will pay off with a teaching job.

So far this summer, we have been trying to keep the kids busy. We have taken them to the splash pad, bowling, the movies, skating, swimming, the Golden Flake Factory and to the Iron Dale Cafe (aka Whistle Stop Cafe). We have enjoyed fishing and swimming at my parents house. We still have several things that we want to do with them before the summer is over. None of which are big vacation plans, but we hope that they will be fun.

Tuesday we are planning on going to the Birmingham Zoo. Alicia and the boys are going with us, as well as, Tatum and her kids (Alicia's sister-in-law). We are going to meet Jennifer on the way there and pick up Brooks and take him with us!

We are in Dothan right now. Todd has an appointment to take a test with the Dothan City School System. It is not the ideal situation for us, but we have to explore all options. I REALLY hope that something comes about in our area. I know that Todd is anxious to start teaching. I am anxious for him to start teaching.

Todd's Graduation

I don't know why these pictures are not uploading with the right size, but you can still see this wonderful event that took place May 15! TODD Graduated! I am so proud of him! He has worked so hard the last 5-6 years and his hard work has finally paid off! He actually has TWO interviews today!!

Beautiful Free Sunday Afternoon!

This past weekend Maxwell Air Force Base had an air show! We went Sunday afternoon and had a great time. We were at the end of the runway and had the very best seats in the house. The kids were able to run and play without the crowds! It was a wonderful way to spend the afternoon! Especially since it was FREE!!

We were this close to the runway!!

The Thunderbirds were VERY loud!
The main event, the Thunderbirds.

We were so close!

Old aerobatic planes

Golden Knight parachute team

A fighter jet

Thanks to Rolling O Sod Farm for letting us set up in such a great spot! We took a picnic and enjoyed the show!

World War II plane

A fighter jet and the old WWII plane.

Chirp, chirp here; chirp, chirp there

I must say, the things that we do our familes can sometimes, be a bit crazy. After watching Food Inc., Todd decided that we needed to get chickens again. Todd and our neighbor Ben built this great coop for us! We have 16 pullets! We had to replace 2 Buffs that our dogs got a hold of! We hope to have plenty of eggs and even some chicken dinner!!

Snow Day!!

We got about an inch of snow!! It was enough for us to have fun!
What else to we do in Alabama, but find a hill to "sled" down! The clock tower hill across from Academy and Hobby Lobby worked for us!
ALABAMA STYLE!!

Using pool floats actually worked very well. The kids seemed to enjoy it! We just needed a little more snow to go really fast!

The floats even work, if you don't blow them up!

building our "family" snowman!!

We enjoyed the snow and was excited to see it, but I am thinking that I am glad that it doesn't snow here very often!

10 Things I Didn't Know Until I Became A Mother

1. I didn't know how tired I would be, even still when they get older.

2. I didn't know how little I actually knew!

3. I didn't know that I could love someone with every ounce of my being.

4. I didn't know that that person I love with every ounce of my being could drive me so crazy!

5. I didn't know that I would actually miss reading Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel for the millionth time.

6. I didn't know that I could have so many hopes and dreams for one person.

7. I didn't know that a little person would go through so much laundry (and still do that since they are older.)

8. I didn't know that such little people could make me feel so guilty.

9. I didn't know that Barney would actually be welcomed in my house and car.

10. I didn't know that the bathroom would become my favorite place....until they find me anyway.

10. I didn't know that I would actually turn into my mother, even though I know now that is not such a bad thing!

Birthday, Food, and Anniversary

Happy Birthday Brooks!!!

I got to spend the day with Brooks on Friday while Loren and Jennifer prepared for his first birthday party! I had a great time. Especially since I didn't have to share him with anyone! I am looking forward to him spending the night with us in a few weeks! We will have a blast!

Loren and Jennifer really outdid themselves on the party, but most parents do for the first party! I can't believe that he is a year old. It just doesn't seem like it has been a year! It was nice for our whole family to be together again. It was nice to have another family picture.

On a totally different note, Todd and I watched Food Inc. If you haven't watched it, I would recommend that you watch it, but don't eat meat before you do! Needless to say, we are changing the way that we eat around here. We are going to be buying locally and eating less meat, unless it is local and grass fed! I know that it may sound crazy, but Todd and I feel that it is what is best for our children. I want my kids to grow up healthy and if our food is full of ammonia and poisonous gases then we don't need it in our bodies! We are going to be planting a garden and all of our veggies will be organic! Maybe we are just jumping on the crazy bandwagon, but maybe we will be a little healthier!

On another different note, Todd and I will be celebrating our 14th anniversary tomorrow! WoW 14 years!! I am so glad to be married to my best friend and that we have come so far in the 14 years that we have been married! I look forward to many more!!