What have we been up toooo

Well to start....The new business has a better name...Fashion Forward Denim. To say the least it is a full time job. I work day and night and many times I am up between 12am and 5 am working too!!! It has definitely consumed us lately. There have been many bumps, lost boxes from UPS is the biggest, but we have had a great response. Lots of positive feedback and lots of jean purchases! We have three more big parties before Christmas, then hopefully we can take a few days off. I want to share some pics with you. I have no pictures of Cooper with Santa. He has hated Santa until this year...now of course he understands the concept...sit in his lap, tell him what I want but then WHEN WILL HE DELIVER??? This is the question of the day..Cooper is having a hard time waiting for Christmas!!! So since he likes Christmas so much, he has been 3 times!!!!

I do have to say, he has learned so much about Jesus at his new school. I am glad he is in a Christian environment where he goes to Chapel weekly. He tells me about Jesus' Bday, that Mary and Joesph are his parents. He sings about Jesus and knows several prayers. But for now in his head Christmas is all about the presents, but he does like to hear about the True meaning of Christmas!!


This is at Bass Pro Shop..they have the cutest Christmas set up. With trains, fake animals, crafts...Check it out if you have time.

This is from the Jingle Bell Ball..we go every year to the Very Special Needs party with one my old students Caroline.

These 2 pics are from Zoo Lights. Nana, Granddaddy and Martin went over Thanksgiving. The two other kiddies are John and Larkin, our cousins from Atlanta.
MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM MY FAMILY TO YOURS!!!!

Thanksgiving Feast at St. Dominic

Cooper has been singing Thanksgiving songs for weeks. I invited the whole family to come see him preform. Nana (martins mom), Granddaddy (martins dad), GeGa (my mom), MiMi..aka Aunt Judye (martins aunt), Coop can not get this one straight! I had a camera and a video camera charges and ready. I got there helped the mothers st up food and went to get my video camera ready...guess what..no blank tapes. I was not happy, but guess what Cooper got up there smiled, waved, set down, and then threw on his Coop face. Those of you who know him well..you know this face. I think I got a good pic of it. So needless to say he didn't sing, he didn't do anything but sit there!!!!

Yes this is it. This is the Cooper scowl..his favorite face!
More fun pics of the play.


More Scowl from the Flying Squirrel!

Coop not letting me take a cute pic!!!


This is Coops best little bud from school. He is the brother of one of coops classmates, Webbie. But Coop loves this boy because they are both obessed with trains especially GEOTRAX! They spend hours playing trains, talking trains, and watching train movies.

Coop and Riggan..what is up with boys refusing to pose!

Hope you all had a Happy Thanksgiving. I will post pics from ours later today.

The Sweetest Child Ever!!

Yesterday, Martin was sick with the stomach bug that was going around so he was total out of commission. I had a ton of work to do plus a house that looked like a bomb had gone off. Needless to say Cooper was bored and sleep deprived from Thanksgiving! So around 3 I enticed him in the tub with a full bottle of shaving cream and just let him go to town. About 30 mins later I heard mommy I have a suprise for you...oh no..is there going to be shaving cream everywhere...well this is what I found.

Mommy..It's a beautiful heart for you!

What a love bug!!!!

More of the past two weeks

Ok so here is more of what we have done in the past two weeks...
Coop went to his first dentist appointment. Ok the dentist, is Uncle Jack, Martin's uncle. Not only are we spoiled to have a dentist in the family and can come in on very short notice, he also has three grand kids! He was great with Coop, he cleaned his teeth himself while Coop was sitting in his lap! That is what I call talent. I was so impressed. Coop is not cool with new things, especially unfamiliar things...he set right in his lap and let him clean his teeth. I was absolutely amazed! Good Job Uncle Jack!! It is funny because Coop has three toothbrushes, a Thomas one, a Spider one, and now a Uncle Jack toothbrush! I have to say it is a big decision each morning. The Uncle Jack toothbrush wins almost everyday!

Our Christmas Tree

Yes, Laugh all you want..we have put up our tree. I am almost done with the whole house. The funniest part is we still have a pumpkin on the dinning room table and a tree in the den. Guess we are feeling the holiday spirit this year!! All Coop has been talking about is Christmas and Santa. He hated Santa last year so I am so excited. He also keeps talking about Jesus...I think this comes from weekly chapel at school. He told me last week Jesus was the son of the Holy Spirit!!! He loves the Nativity scene that I have been collecting for years. I love the tree the most because every ornament we have has a meaning. My grandmother use to give me an ornament a year, I have them all since I was a young child. Libby(coops grandmother) and I now do the same for Cooper. We have Disney ornaments from our recent trip, you name it and I can tell you where it came from and why it is special. I even have ornaments that my old students made. I think this is what a tree should be...full of precious memories! Oh one funny one for you...one of my college best buds Laura gave me the best ornament ever and I still have it(although it is a little broken) its a short bus...I know your thinking how terrible..but when your special ed teacher you sometimes have to find the humor!!
So we decorated the tree, Coop just repeated how beautiful every ornament was, he has never used the word beautiful...so so cute. I enjoyed every minute of it. I had 2special ornaments for him this year so I told him to close his eyes while I got them out of my room. One was a train, James and the other was a firetruck from Disney with Goofy in it. Well he then told me to close my eyes because he had a special ornament for me...he went to his room and came back with an old pipe cleaner bracelet that he made last year at school! I told him it was beautiful and we hung it on the tree! See a tree is not about a color scheme or the perfect ornaments, it is special because of the memories it holds and the ones it creates! I hope you have a Merry Christmas even before Thanksgiving!!!!

Lake

What have we been up too...um let me see..I am up to my eyeballs in jean orders! Coop is so excited about Christmas he can not stand it. Last weekend we went to the lake and I forgot to take any pics of Coop working outside with my dad and Martin...they rode the 4 wheeler, burned sticks, cut trees...all things that boys love to do! But here are 2 pics,one of the camel that someone has on their farm really close to our lake house and the other of the lake..

WOW Where has the week gone?

I can not believe it has been a week since my last post..I do not know it just came and went! We went to the lake this weekend..I will blog about that later, but first lets talk about my new business adventure!
Party in Our Pants has come to Memphis!
I know I know..name is a little much, but product is FABULOUS! Ok we are all feeling the money crunch these days, remember I decided to become a stay at home mom right when the bottom fell out of the economy!!
So what am I doing??
Loretta Kane, a native East Memphian, and I are bringing Party In Our Pants to Memphis..PIOP is a company selling authentic designer jeans at not so designer prices. We all wear nice jeans, we all love nice jeans, and now we ALL can AFFORD them! Check out the website at www.partyinourpants.com, here you can read about the history of the company, learn about the retail store, and find out that they are REAL!! Many people are doing jean shows, but after much research they just cannot be selling jeans straight from the manufacturer! We on the other hand will be selling jeans that come straight from the makers and what is even better they are this years styles and washes, not what is left over from last season! So if you walk into Indigo fall in love with a pair of True Religions, chances are I will have them or can order them immediately! The way this works is this...all retail stores mark jeans up at least 100%, now it is becoming more like 120%. Well we just will be selling them for much less than that. We have 6 parties scheduled through out December. I will post their dates and locations soon...if you would like to book a party send me an email...www.partyinourpantsmemphis@yahoo.com. If you book a party you will receive 10% of your sales in jeans, plus 10% off your jeans purchase. Do not want to have a party, but still want some jeans..let me know that too. We will add you to our mailing list or just stop in and try some on!

WOW Where has the week gone?

MEMORIES!!

Memories...I wish I would have known then how quickly the time would pass. I would have stopped and cherished them more. This is Coop at 2 weeks and Amelia (known in my house as MooMoo, she calls me Taco...go figure!!)at one week. This is my fav picture it still hangs on the wall in my bedroom. Check out the link to the Two Girlies and see the two of them now...three years later.

OH NO!!
I guess we did not talk enough about the election! My father "popo" would be proud.

WOW It is already Thursday. Not much to report this week. I have been busy working on a new work adventure. More on that as the details fall into place. If those of you reading this have not checked out Love Loud Designs on the right of this page you need to do so ASAP. This week I have received a few of the necklaces that people ordered from my party..I have to say they are so cute! Everyone seems so happy with them, now I have to get on there and order mine! The brains behind the operation is my friend Emily, I am very impressed with the buisness sense she has all the sudden shown! Who knew? I guess we all have many talents that we do not even know we have. Well today is picture day. I am about to go wake Coop up now...this is the first time all week he has slept past 6. He has been so out of whack with the time change. I knew moms always talk about this with their kids but I always thought it sounded so silly. Well Coop is truly off! Maybe this is a step in the right direction! I will post pics in just a few. Have a great day!

Wonderful Weekend!!

Yes it has truly been a wonderful weekend! I have been home alone all weekend. Yes home alone, no boys at all. Martin and Coop headed to the lake to see my father, aka PoPo. See Coop doesn't care anything about Halloween..he doesn't really like the costume and he doesn't eat candy so when given the option to stay here and do Halloween or go to the lake, he grabbed his Cars boots and work gloves then was in the truck before I could get his bagged packed!! So, I cleaned the house from top to bottom, actually one of my fav things to do. Hit the liquor store for some wine and visited some neighbors before finally ending up at Em's house. We had a great time. She introduced me to facebook and got me caught up on who has a baby and so on. Goodness you can find out anything you ever wanted to know about someone on there. WILD! Saturday my mom and I took Petie to lunch, we had such a nice time. It really was great! Then I napped and had a great dinner with another mom in Coops class at River Oaks. I've read the paper in bed and talked on the phone continuously. Now I'm headed to the grocery store and ready to enjoy the rest of the day by myself!!
What a wonderful weekend!!!!!!!

Coop had his school Halloween party today. It was really nice and I really appreciated being able to attend. Days like these make me thankful to not work so Coop doesn't have to be the only child without a mother at the party!

Yeah it is fixed...the student of mine who is in the hospital has a brother who is very good on the computer..he actually is a graphic designer so my problem was one click of a button for him!!
We are headed to a birthday party for Coopers friend Webbie. Cooper loves the Kramer's, especially Riggan the older brother because he is more obsessed with trains then Coop, especially GEO TRAX!! I will post pics tomorrow

Cute pics of Coop before school today.
Hi Everyone,
Long time no type!!
First things first....does anyone know how to make this background solid so you don't see it through the pictures or posts. I want the dark green part to not be translucent. If you can help shoot me an email or comment!
My mom and I had a great time in Starkville. I have to tell you though my mom made reservations at this old hotel because it was a game weekend and no reservations were to be found. So my mom and I thought...Oh it couldn't be that bad...it is probably just old. Well Mallory my sister called Friday and said I found you guys a new room, you are not going to want to stay at the University Inn. Well mom and I thought it doesn't matter...not worth $100 more. Well were we wrong...first we pull up and the place is literally falling apart, we get our room key, yes a key...what hotel still has keys...we drive around and quickly realize people actually live in this place. There were grills outside some of the rooms and men sitting out in front of there rooms. Well we open the door and the bed was broken, head board slit, nasty smell and a black sink. I looked at my mom and said not just no but HELL NO!! So we got in the car and left immediately. The crazy part is the manager didn't even argue about giving our money back...guess he knew. I swear I felt like I was on Lamar at an hourly hotel!!!
On a lighter note, my sister looked great! She ate like a champ!! And she had a date to the football game that night.. Very cool, huh?? I will try to get the picture of my mom, mal, and I at the sorority brunch, it is really cute.
On the way back we hit New Albany and discovered this great little gift store called Southern Traditions. Great stuff and great prices...we plan to visit again soon.
Do the.... drive you crazy....I love them! Like a continuation of your thought!!!!!!!
Oh guess what, my student got his trach out yesterday and maybe coming home by the end of the week. I am so excited and so proud of how hard he has fought to get well. Have to say there for a week or so many people(including Dr's) didn't think he would make it.
Have a great Tuesday, I am off for a nap.....

I always thought I was the guilty working mom but now I think I am the guilty non working mom! I feel like I have to do Everything all the time since I now do not work full time. I volunteer for everything, I send in everything the teacher requests the day it is requested. Which brings us to the cute pumpkin above....this weekend is Octoberfest at Coops school, I am working a shift on Sunday to volunteer, I baked all day yesterday for the bake sale and made this cute (if I do say..the cutest) pumpkin. Now here comes the guilty overachiever non working mom part...my pumpkin had to be the best! I do not have an excuse to not spend many hours working on it right??? We are entering it in the Pumpkin Alley contest at school, I am anxious to see what everyone else does. I have a feeling although I think it is absolutely adorable, I know there are probably other moms that also wanted their kids pumpkin to be the BEST!

Many of you would probably say none of this is any different from when I worked full time!! And you are probably right.

But anyway it is another wild Friday...taking care of baby Emily for a few hours, meeting this afternoon and then headed to MSU to see my sister. It is homecoming this weekend and my mom and I are headed down. I wasn't really looking forward to another weekend away but I do think this one will be relaxing and not so much going as fast as I can to get it all done!

Have a great weekend...GO VOlS!!! We need a miracle to beat BAMA

We had a great weekend..it is just such a long drive to Knoxville and nonstop once you get there so we have been worn out. Coop was sick on Friday with a fever and vomiting so that delayed us leaving by a few hours..till we got him feeling better and now last night he was up coughing! Always something! I was really looking forward to getting some errands done today. I also was looking forward to heading to the hospital today to see one of former students. He has been in the ICU for several weeks now...he has a trachea and got off the vent yesterday. Well the sweetest thing happened to me on Friday..I get a phone call from his father asking me if I could come by the hospital, I explained that I was in the car headed to Knoxville but was concerned about what was going on...he went on to tell me my student had been really agitated trying to tell them something so they got a message board and he typed BROOKE SHANNON, all he wanted was for me to come see him. I have to say I started crying instantly. You just never know the effect you have on other peoples lives. You do not realize the little seemingly not important things...that really effect another person. So I am off to the hospital...have a great day

TGIF

Just like last week...I love Friday!! Last night we had a huge turn out at my house for the Jeans, Lala Land, and Love Loud party. We sold a ton of jeans and would have sold even more if she would have had more! Of course the stationary order were nonstop, everyone seems to love LaLa Land! I was even able to create a new card not in the books for a picture from our recent Disney trip, I am very excited! And my friend Emily got huge response with the necklaces, mant of you wanted to show it to your husband so he could order for Christmas...look to the right and click on LOVE LOUD DESIGNS and it will take you straight to their store. Today we are off to Knoxville to see the VOLS play. I am beyond excited because I haven't been to a game in 3 years. Martin and I are leaving Cooper here with family and we are headed out. We have every meal planned out so we can hit all of our college favs! I have also promised my hubby no fraternity parties! For those of you who haven't heard this story I will fill you in...3 years ago when I was last at a game, I begged and begged Martin to go to the Figi house...see Martin was a Figi and I used to be well known around there because we dated in college for a long time. SO I walk in and I am so excited until I soon realize nobody knows me anymore and nobody cares who I am! It all came to end with me getting in beeper(pledges who drive actives so they do not drink and drive) and discovering that the pledge driving the car was in 7th grade when I graduated from college!! Needless to say I quickly learned I am TOO OLD for the fraternity houses! Have a great weekend....OFF TO SEE THE VOLS PLAY!

Jeans, Purses, La land Stationary, and Love Loud Designs

IT’S FALL YA LL AND WE ALL NEED A NEW PAIR OF JEANS TO START THE SEASON OFF…

Do you love jeans, but hate the thought of paying $150+?? Come to the Jean Party- We will have over 100 pairs of designer jeans- with NEW designs from names like AG, Habitual, Joe’s True Religion, People of the World, and many, many more! A new shipment has just come in, so the selection will be huge! They now carry tops and handbags too! And yes they are real!!!

Jeans average 40% off the price you’d pay in the store, and, at OUR party, they are offering BUY ONE, GET 1 HALF OFF!

Sizes are mostly European, but average from tiny to size 12!
They accept credit cards, checks, and cash!


Also every ones favorite...
LA LA LAND
Stationary and Gifts

Remember LA LA LAND loves early birds….there are many October specials to entice you to order early. And as always once November has blown away so have the deals!!! Attached you will find all of the LA LA LAND specials that will be available at the party.

Home of Brooke Shannon

Cocktails and Shopping from 6-9

Thursday October 16th!

135 West Bendel Circle 38117

Heading East on Walnut Grove, take a left onto White Station, take your second left onto Normandy and first right is W Bendel, then 2nd house on the right
Heading West on Walnut Grove, take a right at White Station, take your second left onto Normandy and first right is W Bendel, then 2nd house on the right

FEEL FREE TO BRING A FRIEND!!

Funny

Coops teacher Ms. Christina brought him to the car today and said...he's not sick but he threw up. Coop was on the playground and he was pushing a heavy wheelbarrow, when it happened. He ran to Ms. Christina and said...my throat came out, she said what and he said my tongue came out...she said oh did you throw up and he said yeah thats it I threw up!!! LOL
Anyway he just had a little reflux and he is fine!!

Tuesday

Its Tuesday and it already feels like it has been a long week! I rush around like a crazy person every morning because I just have a couple of hours to myself while Coop is at school. This am I went to the dr, hit Target, Walmart, mall, furniture store, Micheals, and the post office...all between 9 and 11:30! I am used to working and like I said I can get a lot done in a short amount of time.
Has anyone started thinking about Christmas this year...I know Make Art Everyday has, she has written about it recently. I was thinking I am really going to cut back on what Santa and mommy buy this year. My child is a spoiled rotten mess and the problem is it is all my fault... I mean the child gets a new something about every few days! I know you are thinking what is wrong with me...I am not talking a big fun toy, but more so just something, Dollar Store crap...new train, etc. I did however buy him one of those "My First Computer" by Fisher Price, it plugs into the TV and plays games. I thought it looked really cool and it was on sale for $44 at Walmart, rolled back from $59!!! Get it Rolled Back...anyone who shops at Walmart does! But then yesterday we went to a friends house and they have one of those handheld Leapsters and the mom said it was fabulous and much better because it is portable. So here is my question...does anyone have either of these. If so how are they? I can not stand to buy a toy and it doesn't get played with....as you can imagine we have a house full of toys that do not get played with! I did order Coop a computer game from his school and I was proud of myself for putting it up and not giving it to him right away. Coop being spoiled is all my fault, I take full blame!! I cant help myself!!!!

GO VOLS GO!!!

OK Its football Saturday! First you need to know a little secret...I care nothing about football! I just like everything that goes with it. I love appetizers, I love to cook, I love to drink wine, I love to wear orange and put the flag on my car! But the actual game....not so important to me. I will probably just hang outside with the many kids that soon be running around my house! Like I said the more the merrier. Have a great Saturday doing whatever makes you happy! I'm going to be cooking and cleaning my house for the third time this week...which leads to my next secret...I love to clean and I do it obsessively!

TGIF

Thank Goodness Its Friday...I love Friday's. I am not like most people I love them, love them. I am not tired and I love the beginning of the weekend! Our weekend is full as usual, Coop has friends coming over from school today and tomorrow we are having a cookout to watch the Vols play. For the sake of my husband I hope they play!!! If it was up to me we would have a house full everyday, the kids, the people, the mess...none of it bothers me. I have an open door policy and the more the merrier is my motto! I am making this fabulous new recipe from Rachel Ray, its called French Onion Bites. If they turn out well I will post the recipe. I'm off to clean the house....

Thursday

Headed for a flu shot....
First I want to talk about my new favorite thing...ear plugs. OK my hubby snores so bad he can be heard all over the house, I have tried everything from lots of Tylenol PM to making him sleep on the couch, to snore strips and spray...but nothing works. So I bought ear plugs. I have to say they work, I am a little reluctant because I am afraid I will not hear Coop in the night, but everyone says a mother always hears their child! I am using these little orange cone ones...I can't decide if they hurt my ears or if I am just getting used to them. Any suggestions?? Anybody living with an awful snorer???