Unwelcome Guests

Shortly after moving into my new house, a couple of birds started to move in as well.  When I saw a nest starting to go up on my beautiful back patio – the kind that is made of mud and straw and makes a really big mess on wood – I knew I needed to do something.  Jason had the same problem at his house on his front porch (even after power washing down a “nest in progress”) so we decided to invest in some bird repellant and a plastic owl.  After some research, we thought those would do the trick.  He used the bird repellant and the result – no birds.  I used the owl and the result – the birds completed their nest and laid eggs.  Once the eggs were there I couldn’t very well destroy the nest, so they have made their home on my back porch and I now have 6 little baby birds eating and pooping like crazy, making a mess of everything.

As Ben Franklin once said, "Fish and visitors stink after three days."  Well, they have been here a lot longer than three days but when those cute baby birds spread their wings and fly, they will not be coming back to 11184 Hunters Trail.  No sir.  They will have to find new homes to raise their families.  I pay the mortgage here and there will be no freeloaders, especially the kind that poop everywhere, don’t clean up after themselves, and yell at me (well it is a loud chirp) every time I walk onto my own back patio.

One week ago…I thought there were 5…

Today…I am pretty sure I counted 6…

The sight I see and hear (birds swarming and yelling at me to go back inside) from my back patio…

I spared the pictures of all the bird poop.  You will have to just imagine that part!  Get them fed Mama Bird and teach them to fly so I can have my patio back ASAP!

Another Graduate…

Jason’s oldest son, Cole, graduated from Owens Elementary in Tyler today and will be heading to middle school in the fall.  The students provided us with an entertaining and touching graduation program and each teacher recognized her students individually with a certificate.  Cole is so smart that he received an award for making all A’s from 2nd through 5th grade – quite an accomplishment!  He said he didn’t even have to work very hard.  We will see if this holds true once he reaches middle school.  Way to go Cole!

Congratulations Graduates

I am so proud of Cody and Courtney – they are both officially college graduates from Louisiana State University Shreveport.  We were glad to get to spend some time with them during their graduation weekend.  They have both worked hard to complete their degree programs, while holding jobs, planning a wedding, getting married, moving/setting up house, and being very involved in church.  Makes a Momma proud!

Pre-graduation festivities with lunch on the patio at Marilynn’s Place (maybe a new favorite Shreveport hangout with the most delicious fried shrimp remoulade poboy and pepper jack mac and cheese)…

Hanging out with two of my favorite guys…

The graduates pre-cap and gown..

Louisiana State University Shreveport class of 2012 graduation…

Cody Michael Brown…

Courtney Kreid Brown…

The graduates are “official” with diplomas in hand…

Mom had to get some post-graduation hugs and a picture before heading back to Texas…

Now to tell a funny story.  So, Jason and I get to Centurylink Center early (of course) and so I am trying to locate the Kreids in a very large facility with lots of people.  I finally spot them and Lauren and I begin to text.  Then I notice someone familiar sitting in front of the Kreids – the Bayou Billionaires!  It is Gerald and Kitten Dowden sitting right in front of them.  Apparently their daughter-in-law was one of the LSUS graduates.  I had to get a shot of them to prove it.

Beautiful Lauren is in the yellow dress and the Dowden’s are one row down and to her right in this picture.  Kitten is in the flowered dress and Gerald is to her right.  Super funny after watching their show on television this season to see them sitting right there in front of the Kreids.  We were hoping to see our favorite character, Albert, from the show, but they left him home for this one!  Probably a good choice.

Moving on up…

We are looking good here at EPC with another day of work behind us.  The offices are starting to come together.  Now on to hanging pictures, getting organized, cleaning, and getting settled in to our new place.  We are definitely moving on up…

On Base!

I just had to share the news that Ashley got on base for the first time this softball season.  In our machine pitch league, they get 5 balls from the machine or 3 strikes (when they swing or foul), whichever comes first.  Ashley has swung and missed a number of times, but not last night!  On her first at bat she struck out, but on her second at bat, she had two strikes and coach moved her up in the batter’s box and she hit it!  I was so excited and proud and so was she.  Although she was left on first, she got on base, and you can’t take that away from her.  Maybe next time she will get to run around the bases too!

Moving Day

Yesterday and today have been the official moving of EPC from our old location of 12 years to our new and improved location.  Everyone is super excited about our new digs.  Check it out!

Moving out…

Moving in…

We still have a long way to go, but it is looking like home (work) already!  And our great EPC employees packed, moved, loaded, assembled, unloaded, cleaned, hauled, and all with smiles on their faces, a sense of humor, and a positive attitude.  We had a moving company to do the big stuff but it wouldn’t have gone so smoothly without all of the preparation ahead of time.  I am very blessed to work with such a hard working, helpful, and fun group of coworkers.  Oh, and since Daddy and Mama are on an Alaskan cruise, he missed the whole thing.  I had to take lots of pictures so he wouldn’t feel like he missed anything (although he would have hated being here for this).  Hurry home, Daddy!  Your new office is waiting for you (and it is almost finished too).