New Truck!

This mama is riding in style, now! The Neal's are proud new owners of an Infiniti QX56.  It's a 2006 with only 33,000 miles and fully equipped with Bluetooth, navigation, DVD player, sunroof, a 3rd row seat - that folds flat, Xenon headlights and a trunk that opens with the press of a button. It's like new. The man we purchased it from is the first and only owner and only drove it back and forth to church. He had some sick rims on it, too - but the original tires were in his garage and we had him put them back on. ;)

Thanks to Craigslist for the awesome find!! It may be a little pretentious, but I love it.

John & Kate Visit Georgia!

Jack, Luke and I had very special guests this weekend! John and Kate came down from Jersey City for the 3 day Labor Day holiday weekend. We went to the Georgia Southern football opener (which was unbearably hot) and spent a lot of quality time with the boys.

Kate was also gracious enough to snap some great pictures of the boys!

See more on her blog at katenealphoto.com

Neal's Stand Tall in Georgia Guardsman

So I still haven't talked about Bryan's deployment. That's me, putting things off. However, here's a good reason to start. The Georgia Guardsman published a nice article about the 265th's deployment; this morning, one of Bryan's friends told me we graced the back cover. So as I sat at my desk eating my Frosted Mini Wheats, I looked at the back cover - wow. There were were. Then I flipped to the front and started scanning all the articles one by one, reading about the Georgia National Guard. Finally, I came across the story about ADTII - paired with it a huge picture of my family.

I lost it.

There we stood, staring at the bus Bryan was about to board and Jack clutching his flag that he held onto all day. Moments after this photograph was taken, we let go, I held Jack as he screamed for his daddy and Bryan boarded the bus.

Jack was too upset, so I got him out of there before the buses left. However, during my drive out of Metter, I watched in my rearview as my child cried and the buses followed me through town and onto the interstate. It's something I can't get out of my head.

Open publication - Free publishing - More air force

To start the day, we had lunch at the Metter Armory. It was nice, but it just prolonged the heartache. The food, decorations - everything was donated to the unit by the City of Metter or other establishments.

From there, our soldiers boarded their buses and we met back up with them at the Metter High School where they stood in formation during their departure ceremony. My mind was in other places, obviously, so I didn't catch a lot of what they said. Following the ceremony, they gave families about 30 minutes to say their goodbyes. It was a somber setting - very quiet. Again, just dragging out the inevitable.

Here are a couple of photos from the ceremony.

Metter Amory; Nick in the front, Skyping with his brother in Afghanistan.

Metter Armory

Jack & Daddy, Metter Armory

Jack & Daddy, Metter Armory

Family Photo; Metter Armory

Departure Ceremony; Bryan, back right

Jack & Mommy during the ceremony at Metter High School. (unposed) 

My emotionally exhausted baby.

Slept all day.

It's a Boy!

We're having another boy! It's true. Bryan and I went in for our ultrasound and the technician put the wand on my belly. Before we saw a foot, a leg, a booty, a belly or a head - we saw the penis. For a split second, I was a little disappointed ... no cute leg warmers and precious outfits this time around. But like I said - a split second. Luckily - I know all about boys due to my other little handsome devil. 

I can hear the neighbors now, "Those Neal boys are at it again ... "

Everything in the ultrasound looked great. She said he was measuring a little big when looking at his head. Bryan and both responded, "That's the Neal head."

A Recap of 2011: Lake Vacation

August 2011

Every year, we get together when the Georgia Southern Girls for some fun. This year we headed to Anna and Maggie's family lake house in South Carolina. In Jack's world, the weekend was called Lake Vacation. We (Lindsay, Jeb, Jack and myself) met Anna, Maggie, Jill, Carly, Dave, Brian, and some other South Carolina folk for a weekend of lake fun with jet skis, board games, wake boards and boats. (For those wondering, Bryan had to work . . . )

Auntie Maggie hanging out with Jack in his tent

You know, being a boy.

Maggie, Me, Jill, Anna and Lindsay

Toddler Pass

Jack's first JetSki ride! He called this a motorcycle boat. Pretty smart, kid.

Driving with Mommy

The weekend was awesome, it was full of much needed friend-time. Jack loved riding the JetSki. He loved hanging out naked on the dock. He loved the lack of schedule and bedtime. He loved all the lady love he received. The most memorable story of the weekend was Saturday morning. Dave was frantically searching the house for his ... wedding ring. That's right. The poor guy was broken-hearted and pale in the face. He searched through he and Jill's room, we scoured the front lawn where we hung out at the fire pit the night before. Let's not forget fishing from the dock - all of us searched and searched for a couple of hours, at least. It was awful.

Later that morning, we were cleaning up from breakfast and I checked in on Jack hanging out under the kitchen table playing with the ducks (He has a love for ducks - and the Bunch lakehouse has a collection of them. The kid was in heaven). I asked him - "Jack, what's in your hand," expecting him to hold up a miniature duck. He looked up, held up Dave's ring, and exclaimed, "A ring!"

Dave's hero.

A Recap of 2011: My 3_ Birthday

I confess. My blogging attempts in 2011 were unsuccessful. However, I've been getting the good ol' laptop out recently and have been looking through old pictures. So...  decided it wouldn't hurt to share some memories with everyone!

Starting with my birthday - 

 

After a lovely afternoon with family at my Aunt Bev and Uncle Dale's house, we headed home to have a family dinner with Derich, Mom, Dad, Bryan and Jack. Mom baked her famous red cake and loaded it with 3_ candles. My little helper loved helping me blow them out. (Sidenote: he just saw this picture and said, "Whoa. That's A LOT of candles!" Thanks, son.)

After dinner, we headed to Uptown to Chino Latino with Courtney, Jason, Freddie, Melissa, Nia and Brandon. (Nia and Brandon not pictured - they had to head home to feed precious baby Tegan). Fun evening had by all! I love and miss my Minnesota friends and family dearly. (Thanks for celebrating with me!)

Eagle Nation on Parade (in the paper!)

Hard work pays off.
I'll be spending my Sunday in the studio finishing my abnormally large blue eagle while Bryan takes Jack to Monkey Joes!

Happy Holidays!

Well Wishes Holiday

Create personalized holiday cards online at Shutterfly.com.

View the entire collection of cards.

Eagle Nation on Parade

Eagle Nation on Parade Unveils First Round Concepts Commemorating Traditions Held By Georgia Southern University and Bulloch County!

Check out the press release from Georgia Southern's front page: http://news.georgiasouthern.edu/pressrelease.php?id=2184

Happy Everafter In Your Eyes

The morning sunrise spread her wings
While the moon hung in the sky
Held the sea in your hands
And happy everafter in your eyes

Couldn't leave you to go to heaven
I carry you in my smile
For the first time my true reflection i see
Happy everafter in your eyes

Every star in the night
Promises the dawn
I will be there if you fall
To ever so heavily rest upon

All that I can give you
Is forever yours to keep
Wake up every day with a dream
And happyever after in your eyes

Happy everafter is in your eyes

 - Ben Harper

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY

A Commissioned Artist?

Add that to my repertoire.

As part of my job, in the last year, I've exhausted myself working on a Public Art Project called Eagle Nation on Parade. Starting from a blank slate, four of us have brought this project to fruition. It's been a painstaking process, but in the end it's for a great cause - to celebrate the visual arts while raising money for art scholarships and undergraduate research initiatives for the College of Liberal Arts & Social Sciences at Georgia Southern University.

Over the summer, we put a Call for Artists to submit their personal designs and a chance to make their mark in our Eagle Nation. Well, last minute, I decided to submit my idea and plopped it in the middle of the others we received. I used my maiden name so no one would know it was me, but after looking through all of the entrants, I decided a completely blind jury would be best. Therefore, they wouldn't unknowingly favor or judge on friendship, hometown, alma mater, etc.

Before I knew it, I was called in to jury the entries alongside three other people - one being my boss. I felt a little awkward but made a point not to pay any attention to my design. We weeded out designs with negative messages, picked three that will go to auction in February and gave the remaining designs to our three Commissioned Eagle Sponsors.

Today, the last Sponsor decided on their sculpture's design. My colleague said, "it's #19 - the all blue eagle with the writing on the rock."

I told her to "shut up." (Professional, I know)
She questioned, "what's the big deal?"
My response, "that's mine!"
Her surprised excitement was followed with silence... "where are you going to work on this 6' eagle?"
"Shit." (I guess it's time to finish the TVs ...)

Above is my über simple design. While some of the other chosen designs have extreme detail, mine clearly does not. My reasoning was to simply pay 'homage to the fanatic Eagle Nation supporters who represent the True Blue spirit' and to one of my undergraduate professors who always pushed, 'less is more' - ha.

(they received Yard of the Month, August 2011)

The Sponsor is The Heritage Bank of the South and have prime real estate in downtown Statesboro. Therefore my blue eagle will get overwhelming face time with the public.  I'll drive by it on my home, on my way to the bank and on my way to El Sombrero.

I am anxious to work as a commissioned artist verses a hired designer. I am not a painter by trade and have never studied it. I know I can paint a blue bald eagle, but will soon find out if they'd like the design altered in any way; I pray I can paint their vision.

So there's the mark I'm making in Statesboro and my Alama Mater - I hope many eager eagle scholars go far with the money raised for them.

Happy Birthday to Dadddddddy!

Happy End of August! Where did the month go? We've been really busy on this end. Bryan has been working hard at Ft. Stewart and I have been dealing with the fall semester of school to start - as an employee and a student.

Of course, our biggest event in August was Bryan's birthday. Since he's been working this hot month of July, I'll thank all of you on his behalf. He was showered with cards, gifts and love - we appreciate it.

On Bryan's birthday, Jack and I decorated a overly chocolate cake and headed down to Fort Stewart to spend time with Bryan. Jack was a very good helper. He picked out the decorations, sprinkled on "blue rice", dinosaurs and white nonpareils onto his daddy's cake as I rotated it to get even coverage. Jack at one point dumped the full jar of nonpareils all over the counter. I made him freeze while we listened to the little candy balls bounce all over the house for at least 5 minutes. It's been over a week, I've vacuumed 5 times and I am still finding those little suckers.

The second Jack arrived to Bryan's Bachelor Pad, he wanted to 'see the goats & chickens at daddy's work ...' Poor Bryan - back to work after he'd been working alllll day. I noticed immediately that they only had one chicken when there used to be a handful. Bryan said they had a visitor from a fox ...

Jack loooooooves animals!

Following, we headed to a high class eating establishment in Hinesville called Applebees. It was an adventure. Jack was on his best dining behavior EVER - no sarcasm, seriously.

During our drink order, Bryan ordered a Blue Moon.
Jack immediately says, "I'd like a Blue Moon, too."
We all laugh ... "Silly Jack, you can't have a beer."
"NO," he corrected us, "I have a BOO BOO, too!" And he stands up while trying to pull his pants down to show everyone the welt on his hiney he gave himself previously that day. I thought the waitress was going to die laughing.

Following that, in a nutshell, Bryan came across a raw boneless chicken wing; a huge storm rolled through, cutting the power off inside the restaurant; the generators tried and tried to kick in, the fire alarms kept going off and Jack kept screaming, "We have to get out! We have to get out!" (Looks like someone was listening during his fire drills at school!) Our dinner was average (surprise!) and we headed "home" for some cake!

Helping daddy blow out candles

Jack helped put candles in the cake ...

Hanging out at Daddy's home away from home.

Jack's Lullabies

The more I thought about Jack and his Dumbo lullaby, I started wondering how normal Jack's lullabies were. We (Jack & I) have the three go-to songs (Jack and daddy tell stories).

It's amazing what songs come back to you, verse by verse, after you have a baby. . .

#1. Didn't Leave Nobody But the Baby, O Brother Where Art Thou
(Thought about using an Allison Krauss/Gillian Welch video - but this supports the randomness of this song.) Have no fear, I ad-lib this song. But the repetition and tone of this song has knocked Jack out since he was born. (by the way ... one of my favorite movies - I thought you was a toad!!!)



#2 Smile, Charlie Chapman // Nat King Cole (NOT Michael Jackson)
An old dear friend, Chrisine Person (Prentice) taught me this song back in 8th grade and I used it for auditions (when I used to be able to sing).



#3 Baby Mine  (see previous post)

What does everyone else sing their little ones? Something more normal?

Today Brings a New Job

Today is the start of a new job.

The Betty Foy Sanders Department of Art is definitely adding to America's job pool. For fall semester, we've hired 5 new full time professors, a studio tech, a full time advisor - and me (that's 8 new positions in our department alone).

I've taken on a larger role, organizing my boss, graphic design, outreach, overseeing student workers and working on 'special' projects.  My old job consisted of organizing my boss, graphic design, 'special' projects, overseeing student workers and outreach. The way I see it, I'll be doing just as I was and will be doing what I would have been doing had this new position not been granted.  So even though there was a job search and a pool of applicants and interviews, I'll just call this a promotion. But with this promotion, even though many of the same accountabilities, I believe it will be the type of promotion where jeans and a top just won't cut it for Monday mornings anymore.