Back by Popular Demand...

:) Slightly kidding on the post - but after being hounded by one unnamed friend on Facebook about my lack of posts in over a week, I'd figured I'd give the public what they want. An update. So here ya go, Natalia Drumm. This post is for you. (Oops! I guess she's not an unnamed friend any longer!) :)

For starters, the store is coming along...rather quickly! The official opening date has been set...for SEPTEMBER 29. Like, two weeks away. AHH!! Ian has to have 80 people hired by tomorrow. TOMORROW. As of last night, he had 10-15 hired. (Don't worry - it's pretty much down to calling the people he's chosen to give them the good news. I overheard one of those conversations, and the girl almost started crying she was so excited! So much fun!) He's going through the final walk through of the store with the contractor and two people from corporate today so they can point out anything that needs to be corrected/changed before GO. The store looks AH-MAZING!! It's awesome. And we're super excited about a couple of surprises that Ian had to ask special permission for...I can't wait to see them and post pictures of them! I'll wait to tell what they are when they actually come to fruition...just in case they fall through.

New style bench being used in our dining room (low back)

So pretty at night!

My parents have offered to keep the kids for the week before the GO so that I can be completely available to help Ian with whatever he needs. So Sunday, we are meeting them halfway in Fayetteville. One week without my babies! Whatever will I do??? I'm taking guesses now on how often I will call to check in on them!!

The kids and I have been busy, busy here at home! Ian has been working extremely long hours (understandably!) so we are thankful when he is able to run home quickly to eat lunch or dinner with us. We have been playing with friends, taking trips to the park, and driving to Chesapeake without Ian for the first time! (The drive is not so bad...but if you don't leave at 9:00, you hardly have any time to do anything when you get there because of nap time! We left at 10 this past time, and we had time to go to CFA for lunch, run into Kohl's to check on sales, and then I tried to squeeze in Michael's as well, but it was quite stressful due to meltdowns.) Next time I know how to plan though!

How sweet is he? Charis loves reading books; she
sweet talked Isaiah into reading to her.

The boys took the next series of pictures. This is Aiden

Silly Ridge

Isaiah

We met Jenn and Sadie one day for lunch at Chick-fil-A
in Rocky Mount. All three kids (and then some) are
playing together in the play area.

Sweet Sadie

Charis "listening" to the headphones in the van

Silly boy at the grocery store

Even though it was stressful, my trip to Michael's was successful! I purchased supplies to work on quite a few projects (much to Ian's extreme excitement! He LOVES project time in the Moody household! *sarcasm...*) I love how some have turned out/are turning out. Others....well.....they could have been done a little differently... :) Here's what I've been working on during naptime...

This will hang on a curtain rod in our living room wall
with some of our family pictures hanging around it. 

A clay pot painted with chalkboard paint so I can
write messages to different businesses in town
which will receive these coupons from our store.

My SWEET boy - he picked a bloom from the tree in
our backyard and brought it to me (without
anyone telling him!) I almost cried...