One of my best friends from high school, Kim, had her first baby girl Sept 25th. I went to see her the day after she was born and three weeks later. I wasn't able to take pictures of her my first day with her but I did on the 15th. Isn't she pretty? I think she looks a lot like her mommy. Mommy wasn't as willing for me to take her picture to compare! HA! 
My cousin, Laken, in this years homecoming. She's the one in the middle. I didn't realize the pictures were a little blurry till I downloaded them. OH well! That's technology for you!
Laken is in the 7th grade this year! Wow, how time flies.
A statue of King Neptune sits on the beach as you drive up to Atlantic Ave. Up close it looks really neat. 
Here is the building where I went for training everyday while we were in Va Beach.
Here is one of the buildings to the Aquarium. I was a little disappointed. They are in process of adding more to the Aquarium so maybe it will be better but right now it is not good at all.
We stayed at two motels while we were at the beach. Since I was in training most of the time I never got any pictures of the kids at the first pool and whirlpool. So, this is the second pool and whirlpool at the Surfside at Holiday Inn.
We went straight to the beach when after we were settled in our room. It was pretty cold but we wanted to hit the ocean anyway. As you can see Becky and Taylor were cold!
We walked around on the pier at Va Beach after my last training class. Our motel is way down the beach behind us.
This is Taylor acting silly. Notice his tatoo on his arm?!!
Please remember my step family, The Bellamy's, during this time of loss. My step grandfather, Cecil, passed away suddenly lastnight. I found out on my way home this morning from Va Beach. Funeral services will be held at First Baptist in Jonesville from 6 to 8 and the burial will be at ten. Friends and family can meet at Memorial Gardens in Woodway. 
We are headed on a road trip in the morning to Va Beach. I am taking the kids with me and Taylor's Mamaw Becky. I have training to do during the day and the kids will stay and enjoy the beach till I return. We are all dreading the ten hour trip to the beach but looking forward to getting there. Wish us luck! 
Flowers my mom sent me to congratulate me! Thanks Mom!
Well, I made it! My fist day wasn't too bad. There was lot's to do but I'm wondering how much there will be for me throughout the rest of the week. I mainly tried to set up my office, sign papers, read policy and procedures, and toward the end of the day I had internet setup. The day passed by pretty quickly. The only kink in my day was when the kids were let out of school early for a gas leak. I became quite frantic because I wasn't sure how to get the kids where they needed to be. In the end everything worked out very smoothly and I was very thankful of that. I wasn't able to sleep very well lastnight so tonight I am quite tired! I hope to have a restless night tonight! Wish me luck on this getting up and staying up everyday! I will need it! Quite different learning how to stay awake and interact with adults rather than my husband and my kids. This is going to be a learning experience I am sure! HA! I will update again at the end of the week. We will see how well I am holding up by then!
Well, I am feeling a bit anxious today. Tomorrow is my first day at my new job. This is the last of my freedom to do whatever I want during the day! UGH! Don't know how I will deal with that! My mom pointed out to me the other day it has been four years since I worked outside of the house. I guess being a substitute teacher doesn't count? She also made me aware that even when I did work for four years at the hospital I had a uniform to wear! SO, nevertheless I had to go out and buy a whole new wardrobe for work! That was a bit tedious! I felt like I was on What Not To Wear! I was trying on stuff I had never tried on before! It was like a job and after two days of pure shopping I was over it! Hopefully I have enough to get me through for awhile at least! HA! 
Please remember my step grandfather, Cecil Bellamy, in your prayers. He had emergency surgery on friday afternoon. They thought he was reallly going to die. The doctor came out after surgery and told us that things weren't as bad as they originally thought. The doctor saved his life! Now Papaw Bellamy is in ICU and will have to recover from the surgery. He is doing much better and we continue to ask for your prayers while he recovers. It may be a long road with lung disease and his age. Please keep the family in your prayers as well. 
Amber and Grayson came over on the 19th to hang out at the pool. It has been so hot the pool has really come in handy each and everyday! I just got a new battery for my camera so I will be updating my pictures so be prepared! HA!
Well, I thought I would update everyone on my new job. Last week I filled out papers and picked out and office. I don't officially start until Sept the 4th right after labor day. The beginning should just be about getting myself settled in and figuring out what cases will be mine. My supervisor is in desperate need of my help so she said she is more or less going to throw me in with the dogs. HA! It seems they have lost two employees to another department and to maternity leave. The supervisor has been taking on cases she hasn't done in five years. So, there won't be a lot of training. It will mainly be a lot of hands on training for me. On September the 17th the company will be sending me to Virginia Beach for Foster Care new worker training with Oasis at VA Beach State Field Office. I am taking the kids with me along with my ex-mother in law, Becky, to watch the kids while I am in class. I figured I would take this opportunity to use the time as a vacation for the kids. I feel guilty about taking them out of school because I am a real stickler about "Perfect Attendance" but sometimes you have to do what you have to do. Leon works night shift so it would be hard for me to leave and have tamra taken care of. Taylor could go and stay with my mom and she could take him to school but Tamra is another story. So, I asked the kids what they wanted to do and they chose the beach. HA! Imagine that! Hopefully they will have a good time.
Well, that is it for now. Wish me luck! I am currently feeling very sick and am hoping and praying I am over this by the time I start work. It started with a sore throat/stopped up nose and now it has become more about nausea! I can't make it go away and I just feel horrible! It makes me feel like I need to eat. Once I eat the nausea goes away but comes right back when I stop. I have changed to just drinking water everytime I feel sick. It helps for that one second! UGH!!!
I got a few pictures today of mamaw's new floor. It really looks good. The workers started on the front porch later in the day so it won't be finished until tomorrow, friday. I am anxious to see how it looks out there. The carpet before really looked bad! Mamaw really loves it so all is well! This last photo is of Mamaw talking to Dorothy about her floor! HA! She hates it when I get the camera out! As you can see she is in her famous uncomfortable seat!
Today is the big day! School is back in session. I wish everyone the best of luck this year! Taylor will be in the 10th grade, Jared in the 8th, and Tamra in the 4th. It should be an interesting year. Good Luck to all.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY GRAYSON! WE LOVE YOU SO MUCH! LOVE, AUNT SANDI, UNCLE LEON, TAYLOR, AND TAMRA
In the back we have Griffin who is 14 and belongs to my stepsister Allyson, Allyson, Taylor, Me
