Some pictures that needed posting

He tries to hang with the big kids, but he still really needs a nap.  This baby.

Precious girl

How fun is this!??  ALL of our names in calligraphy! (Amy's wedding invitation)

Sweet K-3 class photo

Day 27-30 of me! (It's over, aren't you glad?)

Day 27- Why are you doing this 30 day challenge
I really just liked getting to answer all of the random questions.  I started it back in the summer when I had a bunch of spare time on my hands and I've really enjoyed it.  


Day 28- A picture of you last year and now, how have you changed since then? 

August 11, 2011 and August 11, 2012

I have changed for obvious reasons: I went from being pregnant to having a 1 year old!  I went from having 1 kids to 2.  Neil and I have grown in our marriage.  Our year has been full of challenges, fun, and happy times.  I am so glad I had these 3 boys to accompany me this past year.

Day 29- In this past month, what have you learned
Lots and I hope I continue to learn new things daily.

Day 30- Who are you?

I am wife to Neil

Mama to Henry

Mommy to Bennett (love this picture of him)

I am daughter of Lauri and Bill, sister to Michael, and friend to many.  I am a lover of church, blogging, food, people, computers, Words with Friends, monogramming, and new clothes (not necessarily in that order).  Basically most things you want to know about me you can find out right here on this blog. There are some things I keep private and will always keep private especially when it comes to my family.  I am honest and feel deceitful when I am trying to surprise someone.  I love to make lists and cross things off the lists. I like to grocery shop especially when it's a Target.  I am proud to be a wife and a mother.

Days 24-26 of me (I didn't forget about this!)

Day 24- A letter to your parents...I am changing this to letter to my kids and I'm skipping it now because I just can't think like this at the moment.

Day 25- What I would find in your bag:  I just looked in my purse and it would be shocking to see what is in there...totally random items.

• hard drive to my computer (the computer guy gave it to me about 2 months ago and I've still not taken it out)
• a #1 candle from Henry's birthday
• lipstick/lip gloss
• a pacifier
• pens
• wallet
• gum
• phone
• keys

Day 26- What you think about your friends

I think my friends are fabulous.  I love being able to confide in them.  I love being able to have girl time.  I think they are great mothers.  I think they are great people.  I love having girlfriends because they just speak my language.  (Thanks for that language, Amanda!)

Days 21-23 of me!

Day 21- A picture of something that makes you happy

I am always happy when our families our all together.

Day 22- What makes you different from everyone else?
Hmmmmm...  I know that I am different from most people in that I usually say what I am thinking and it is not hard to try to guess what is on my mind.  I can't really think of anything else...can you? I just asked Neil and he said "your attention to detail, the way I like to plan parties, the way I turn money to shit, your white teeth, and how you aren't scared to travel anywhere." 

I said "wow, wish you would have said that I was loving or something." He said "a lot of people are loving I was trying to think of things that make you different!"

Love it.

Day 23- Something you crave for a lot
Where do I start?  SWEETS!!! LOVE them. Get my drift?

Days 18-20 of me (you sick of me yet???)

Day 18- Plans/dreams/goals you have: these are in no particular order

• learn more of the Bible
• to work part-time
• go to all of boys' parties/events
• take a trip with just Neil and me
• make a "date night" bucket list
• finish decorating my bedroom
• get my classroom finished in time for school

Day19- Nicknames you have; why do you have them: 

• Linz and it's for obvious reasons...it is a shortened version of my name 
• Awesome and it's also for obvious reasons although I can't even remember anyone but myself calling me it.

Day 20- Someone you see yourself being with in the future: Hands down...NEIL. period.

Days 15-17 of me

Day 15- Put your iPod on shuffle: First 10 songs that play: PASS (I don't have music on my iPod)


Day 16- Another picture of yourself

me with naan bread in Dallas

Day 17- Someone you would want to switch lives with for one day and why


The only person I would want to switch lives with for one day would be a movie star.  The only reasons are because I could just get massages all day, shop at really expensive places, be pictured in a magazine, travel to wherever I wanted that day, and basically just live a day of leisure.  If this question would have said "switch lives with forever" I would have said "no, thank you I would keep my own life because it is pretty darn good!"

Days 13 and 14

Day 13: A Letter to someone who hurt you recently: PASS (I will leave something like this for my private life.)

Day 14: A picture of you and your family

Church Easter egg hunt

Day 12: How you found out about blogging and why I made one

I found out about blogging back in 2008.  Leslie told me about Beth Moore's blog so I started reading it.  I always loved getting a nice word from her on a daily basis.  She always linked to "famous" bloggers so slowly I began to read Bigmama and Boomama and Kelly's Korner.  I never really thought I would have a blog, much less have anything to write about on a blog.

A few months later, my friend Amanda started her blog, The Daily Sweatpants. I was so excited that she started it but I was still on the fence about making my own. But, as Bennett started getting bigger and I realized I never remembered to write anything in his baby book...I started my blog.  I started it when Bennett was about 2 months old.  I still wish I would have started it earlier because I am so sad that I don't have any of his milestones recorded for his first 2 months.

Now, I use my blog as my memory.  Most of the time I have a great memory.  Just ask Amy.  I can't remember a lot now though.  If someone asks me about an event or just a regular day...I can usually go back to that day on the blog and tell you what happened and who was there.  Because of this I have sort of turned in to a "blog advocate."  I am constantly promoting blogging.  I want everyone to have a blog because of the memory keeping.

You will not get a lot of fancy photos here or eloquent writing.  I stick to the facts and add pictures to go with the stories.  I've said it before and I'll say it again...this blog is my online scrapbook!

Days 9, 10, and 11

Day 9: Something I am proud of from the last few days:

• I am proud that Neil and I got a night away to celebrate Erinn's birthday. 
• I am proud that I have not missed 1 Monday Bible study session this summer. 
• I am proud that I've gotten us unpacked, clothes washed, and meat thawed for dinner tonight.

Day 10: Songs I listen to: I pretty much listen to K-LOVE the entire time I am in the car.  I sometimes change it to country music.  I don't really ever download music unless it is for my classroom.  I'm not one of those people that has headphones plugged into their iPhone at all times.  In fact, I have never plugged headphones into it!  I have also never used an iPod.

Day 11: Another picture of me and my friends:

 

My 30th birthday celebration

Days 6, 7, and 8 of me

Day 6: I don't watch comics nor do I know what any of them do.  You can ask Neil.  I asked him if Hulk was nice or mean and looked at me like I was cray.  Anyway, I don't have one.

Day 7: A picture of someone that has had the biggest impact on my life: my grandmother, Gammy.  She was always the person I looked up to and the person that I wanted to be like.  Everyone loved my grandmother.  I can still go back to the church where I grew up (where she attended) and people will still tell me how much they miss her.  No one had a relationship with her like I did.  But, I think she made everyone feel like that...like you were the only one she was thinking about when she was with you.  She made me feel special and loved me unconditionally.  She would give you the shirt off her back if you needed it.  If you were at her house and you saw something you liked...she would say "take it home!"  She gave selflessly to her church and to anyone in need.  She was the type of person you could look at and say "there is a believer in Christ right there!"  I love her and miss her.

me with my Gammy in 2002 (I was a sophomore in college)

Day 8: Some short term goals for the month.

• Take my kids to do fun things during our last couple weeks of summer
• Get my classroom ready for school to begin
• Prep everything I can for Henry's birthday party
• Shop for back to school clothes for me and the boys
• Pack for our trip to the beach!!! :)

Day 5: A place I've been to

Leslie and me at Stonehenge

When I thought about all the places I've been I immediately thought of this picture of Leslie and me.  This was our favorite picture from our England stay.  I thought Stonehenge was so neat.  It rained on us while we there but that didn't stop us from walking about the whole place.  We even bought Stonehenge earrings!  

Day 4: A habit I wish I didn't have

Here we are at Day 4: A habit I wish I didn't have...hmmmmm...

I think I will have to go with I wish I didn't always feel the need to be doing something.  I feel like I need to be cleaning, folding laundry, wiping down counters, grocery shopping, picking up after people, taking the kids somewhere, or anything else.  It is very hard for me to sit still.  I must have Martha syndrome.  I need to take a lesson from Mary for sure.

After typing this habit of mine Psalm 46:10 came to mind.  I really need to take time to sit still.  Talk about God meeting you where you are.  I start typing and I have a revelation!

Day 3: A picture of me and my friends

Here are a few pictures of me with my friends.  If you have been reading this blog for long...these people are always on here.  They are special people and ones that I talk to on a regular basis, see a lot, and can confide in.  I am so happy to have wonderful friends.  There are lots more people that I wanted to put pictures of, but it is late and I am tired.  Love to all my other friends not pictured.

me and Leslie

Amy and me

The Chucktown crew

Day 2: The meaning of my blog

The main reason I have my blog is to keep my memories and pictures organized. I was an avid scrapbooker and I have lots from high school, college, and years after. I stopped scrapbooking after I had Bennett because I realized that I didn't have 2 hours to sit down and create a couple pages with a few pictures and lots of stickers!

I decided to start blogging to keep up with our lives.I like that blogging makes me "write" down what happened because I hardly ever journaled in my scrapbooks. I always thought I'd remember everything about my boys or every detail from previous trips. That's just not reality! It makes me so happy to be able to look back and see how many teeth Bennett had at 11 months old...I would have totally not known he had 6! So anyway, I blog to scrapbook our lives and so far I have thoroughly enjoyed the past 4 blogging years. Now, I print my blog into hard back books each year. I hope my boys treasure these books of memories when they get older.

I got the name of my blog Louisiana Livin' from my cousin, Abbie's blog. I just couldn't come up with a cool blog name. At the time she lived in Louisville and her blog was called Louisville Living. I asked her if I could borrow it and mine became Louisiana Livin'. Not real profound it's just how it happened.

30 days of me! (Day 1)

My cousin, Carrie found a blog that has a great idea...30 days about me.  I am going to try to do these and probably keep them light and fun and I probably won't do the hard/tough ones.  People know enough about me as it is!  I will pick and choose my favorites.  I think it will be fun for you to do it, too.




Day 01- A recent picture of you and 15 interesting facts about yourself
Day 02- The meaning behind your blog/site/user name
Day 03- A picture of you and your friends
Day 04- A habit that you wish you didn’t have
Day 05- A picture of somewhere you’ve been to 
Day 06- Favorite super hero and why 
Day 07- A picture of someone/something that has the biggest impact on you 
Day 08- Short term goals for this month and why 
Day 09- Something you’re proud of in the past few days
Day 10- Songs you listen to when you are Happy, Sad, Bored, Hyped, Mad
Day 11- Another picture of you and your friends
Day 12- How you found out about blogging and why you made one
Day 13- A letter to someone who has hurt you recently
Day 14- A picture of you and your family 
Day 15- Put your iPod on shuffle: First 10 songs that play
Day 16- Another picture of yourself
Day 17- Someone you would want to switch lives with for one day and why
Day 18- Plans/dreams/goals you have
Day19- Nicknames you have; why do you have them
Day 20- Someone you see yourself marrying/being with in the future
Day 21- A picture of something that makes you happy
Day 22- What makes you different from everyone else
Day 23- Something you crave for a lot
Day 24- A letter to your parents
Day 25- What I would find in your bag
Day 26- What you think about your friends
Day 27- Why are you doing this 30 day challenge
Day 28- A picture of you last year and now, how have you changed since then?
Day 29- In this past month, what have you learned
Day 30- Who are you?

Who wants to join us with a couple of these fun facts about YOU?

Day 1: A picture of me and 15 interesting facts about me:

Here I am!

1. I really enjoy my Sunday School class and love being around people that have similar goals for their families. I love our church and am glad we feel at home there.
2. I love my 3 boys more than anything in this world Neil, Bennett, and Henry you are my loves.
3. I cannot stand a mess.  I don't like messy beds, rooms, kitchens, food out, clutter, etc.  It makes me crazy.  I am learning to deal with this since I have the 3 I mentioned in #2.
4. My favorite color is turquoise.  I recently changed it from green.  This totally threw Bennett for a loop because it is a big deal to declare your favorite color at age 3 and changing it is just plain CrAzy!
5. I've only owned 3 cars in my life.  My first car was a Be-Boppin' Saturn, then a Jetta, and I have a 4-runner now.
6. I have lots of pet peeves: toilet paper on the roll wrong, when people don't capitalize the B in Bible, and crumbs on the kitchen counter. (I'm so weird, I know.)
7. I love having a sister-in-law because I never had a sister.
8. I worked in London after I graduated from college for 3 1/2 months with Leslie.  We traveled around Europe on the weekends.  My dad and Neil even came to visit me.
9. Amy and I got the bright idea to become summer nannies in college.  We worked with families in the northeast and they treated us like total servants. 
10. I loved college.  I loved being in a sorority. I loved the parties.  I love that I met my husband there.  I loved my roomies.  My biggest college regret is not trying out for Orientation Student Leader.
11. I do not want to miss any special event in my kids lives.  I don't even want to miss not-so-special ones.  I want to be at every school party, play, and first day of school.
12. I love the fact that if we haven't seen each other in a while, my family will just pick a mid-point city and meet for a meal.  I don't mind driving 2 hours to see the ones I love.
13. I am very un-coordinated.  I trip a lot.  I cannot dance or even learn choreographed moves.  I tried out for cheerleader once and after a week of practice I still didn't know the stuff so I just stood there during the try-out!
14. I think the subject I teach, Family and Consumer Science is the best.  I think that is teaches life skills and provides a well-rounded education.  And I probably enjoy it because math just ain't my thing.  After typing "ain't" I guess English isn't either!
15. I love to bake, be crafty, and plan parties.  Once I get a color scheme in mind for a party...it's all I can think of! 

What are 15 random things about you?  I'll admit that is was a little hard to come up with 15.  I might change them as I think about them longer.