Okay.
Here it is.
An exciting announcement.
I am engaged.
YUP!
Gonna get married to Lamar.
And I couldn't be happier!
The date has been set.
August 1, 2011.
I know, it's soon.
But we figured, why wait?
So if you'd like to continue to follow our family, check out our new blog.
*SHADES OF GREY*
You can either click on the hyperlink above or the link to the right.
It will be a whole new look and will focus on our new, expanded family.
The Coker-Bunton Family.
See you there.
About Me
- Kim
- "Peace. It does not mean to be in a place where there is no noise, trouble or hard work. It means to be in the midst of those things and still be calm in your heart." ~Unknown
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Young Women's Camp 2011
This year Sammy went to camp on her own. Yep! I was supposed to go with, but at the last minute she felt like she could handle it on her own. She was actually really excited to go. I drove up to camp with everyone...
But as soon as we arrived it started to downpour. I was in no way thrilled about helping to set up camp in the rain. When I checked on Sammy, she was happy as a clam with Sister Bergloff and the other girls. They were planning to sit and wait the rain out. So I headed home. Unfortunately, it ended up raining all day. All the girls ended up getting accomplished that first day was setting up camp and eating lunch.
The whole week long I worried about whether or not Sammy was having a good time at camp. When I got there Saturday morning to pick her up, she was in high spirits. I was told that she had been given an award for her positive attitude. As we drove out of the camp area, Sammy was waving to everyone she saw. On the way home she admitted that she was trying not to cry because she missed camp so much! What a successful week!
But as soon as we arrived it started to downpour. I was in no way thrilled about helping to set up camp in the rain. When I checked on Sammy, she was happy as a clam with Sister Bergloff and the other girls. They were planning to sit and wait the rain out. So I headed home. Unfortunately, it ended up raining all day. All the girls ended up getting accomplished that first day was setting up camp and eating lunch.
The whole week long I worried about whether or not Sammy was having a good time at camp. When I got there Saturday morning to pick her up, she was in high spirits. I was told that she had been given an award for her positive attitude. As we drove out of the camp area, Sammy was waving to everyone she saw. On the way home she admitted that she was trying not to cry because she missed camp so much! What a successful week!
Redesigning the basement
Since Lamar and the kids will be moving in at the end of July, Jonathan had the choice of sharing his upstairs bedroom with Derek or converting the basement in to a livable space. Not surprisingly, he chose the latter. Who could blame him?
While Sammy was at camp we worked like crazy getting his room ready. We had to clean, organize and capret the basement. Then new furniture was brought in. It sure looks great now!
BEFORE:
AFTER:
BEFORE:
AFTER:
I have to admit that his bedroom is pretty cool now. Kind of like his own personal "cave" to retreat to when he wants to get away.
While Sammy was at camp we worked like crazy getting his room ready. We had to clean, organize and capret the basement. Then new furniture was brought in. It sure looks great now!
BEFORE:
AFTER:BEFORE:
AFTER:
I have to admit that his bedroom is pretty cool now. Kind of like his own personal "cave" to retreat to when he wants to get away.
Cookies as a substitute for BBQ ribs...
Gotta love our missionaries.
I saw that no one had signed up to feed them today so I told them they were welcome at my house - although Lamar wasn't going to be cooking. Elder Stringam said, "That's okay, Sister Bunton. We can come over anyway." So I promised chocolate chip cookies since I knew my dinner wasn't going to be very exciting.
When they arrived, the missionaries sat down at the table and loaded their plates with chocolate chip cookies before dinner was even served. Elder Stringam must have eaten two dozen alone! I snapped this shot so I could send it to Lamar so he knew that we missed having him there.
I saw that no one had signed up to feed them today so I told them they were welcome at my house - although Lamar wasn't going to be cooking. Elder Stringam said, "That's okay, Sister Bunton. We can come over anyway." So I promised chocolate chip cookies since I knew my dinner wasn't going to be very exciting.
When they arrived, the missionaries sat down at the table and loaded their plates with chocolate chip cookies before dinner was even served. Elder Stringam must have eaten two dozen alone! I snapped this shot so I could send it to Lamar so he knew that we missed having him there.
Preparing for "Boot Camp"
Since the theme this year for Young Women's Camp is "Boot Camp", the girls all tie dyed t-shirts in camoflage colors. Each t-shirt also had a nice big boot print on the back side.
At first Sammy wasn't sure about the whole process, but with a little guidance she got her t-shirt AND a pair of socks done for camp!
At first Sammy wasn't sure about the whole process, but with a little guidance she got her t-shirt AND a pair of socks done for camp!
Movie in the park
Every Friday night during the summer the city of Clarksville shows a movie on a big screen in the park. Tonight "Ferris Beuler's Day Off" was showing. I remember watching that movie when I was a kid, so I took the kids to see it.
Jonathan brought his guitar and entertained us while we waited for the show to start. Thank goodness the weather hasn't gotten too hot yet.
Jonathan brought his guitar and entertained us while we waited for the show to start. Thank goodness the weather hasn't gotten too hot yet.
I love this man!
Showing off his biceps...
I love that we can be silly together.
Thanks to Jonathan for taking this picture.
I love that we can be silly together.
Thanks to Jonathan for taking this picture.
Gotcha!
All on his own, Jonathan gave Lamar a great big hug this weekend. I, of course, missed catching it on camera. For the rest of the weekend, They teased me by hugging just long enough that I would grab my camera and then they would stop so I couldn't take the picture. Shortly before he left, Lamar gave Jon a great big bear hug and wouldn't let go until I was able to snap a picture. Here are the results:
It cracks me up to see the look on Jonathan's face. Doesn't quite look like he is enjoying himself, does it? But I managed to hack his Facebook page and replace his profile picture with this one for about ten minutes - until he discovered what I had done and changed it back!
It cracks me up to see the look on Jonathan's face. Doesn't quite look like he is enjoying himself, does it? But I managed to hack his Facebook page and replace his profile picture with this one for about ten minutes - until he discovered what I had done and changed it back!
Jon's Biggest Little Fanclub
Derek and Abbie thought Jonathan was just the coolest anyway, but when he brought his guitar downstairs and let them play some he took on super star status.
They loved hearing him play songs on his guitar - especially their favorite song to sing along to, Justin Bieber's "Baby".
They loved hearing him play songs on his guitar - especially their favorite song to sing along to, Justin Bieber's "Baby".
"Frick and Frack"
Sammy and Derek are in so few pictures from our Memorial Day Weekend because they hardly ever left Sammy's room! They played games, colored, played with toys, jumped on the beds, and played video games together.
Lamar said they were best buds and called them "Frick and Frack". I'm just glad they had such a good time playing together this weekend!
Lamar said they were best buds and called them "Frick and Frack". I'm just glad they had such a good time playing together this weekend!
Memorial Day Barbecue
When I took this picture of Lamar, he warned me that I was giving away his secrets to making great meat on the grill. So, if you look too closely, he might just have to kill you. Ha ha ha.
Whenever I show this picture of Lamar, he tells people that the only reason he made such a big flame is because I asked him to. What he fails to add is that I asked him to make it a big flame because I had already SEEN him do it and just hadn't grabbed my camera fast enough to snap a picture. (always trying to blame it on me...)
I'm just glad that we were able to have yet another successful barbecue this weekend!
Whenever I show this picture of Lamar, he tells people that the only reason he made such a big flame is because I asked him to. What he fails to add is that I asked him to make it a big flame because I had already SEEN him do it and just hadn't grabbed my camera fast enough to snap a picture. (always trying to blame it on me...)I'm just glad that we were able to have yet another successful barbecue this weekend!
Super sweet...
One of our favorite things to do is frost and decorate sugar cookies. Messy, but delicious!
Sprinkler Fun
The weather was ridiculously hot over Memorial Day weekend, so we had to find ways to stay cool and have fun at the same time. One idea was the sprinkler.
Derek and Abbie loved running through the water while Sammy went for a bike ride. Eventually Sammy was so hot that she joined the little kids - fully clothed! Oh well. At least she was able to cool down.
Jonathan, on the other hand, slept through all of the fun. Teenage boys - go figure!
Derek and Abbie loved running through the water while Sammy went for a bike ride. Eventually Sammy was so hot that she joined the little kids - fully clothed! Oh well. At least she was able to cool down.
Jonathan, on the other hand, slept through all of the fun. Teenage boys - go figure!
Little Helper
When Lamar and the kids came to visit, Abbie decided that any time I was in the kitchen, she wanted to be there "helping" me. She would run to the bathroom and grab her little pink step stool so she could see what I was doing.
What made me laugh was the time she used her stool to see into the oven while the cookies were baking. She apparently needed to make herself taller so that she could scrunch down to see inside. Too funny!
What made me laugh was the time she used her stool to see into the oven while the cookies were baking. She apparently needed to make herself taller so that she could scrunch down to see inside. Too funny!
Chalk Art
One of Sammy's favorite things to do outside is draw on the pavement with chalk. Today she took Derek and Abbie outside with her to color pictures for a while. Here are the results.
I always like the pictures in chalk because they are fun to look at and wash away in the rain!
I always like the pictures in chalk because they are fun to look at and wash away in the rain!
Another son?
Jonathan tells me that his friends like to come over to our house because they say I'm such a "cool mom". I'll take that compliment. I actually prefer to have them at our house because it gives me a chance to get to know his friends and also keep an eye on what they are up to. 
Whenever Bradley comes over, he calls me his "other mother". I've offered to kidnap and keep him, but he always insists on going home.
Whenever Bradley comes over, he calls me his "other mother". I've offered to kidnap and keep him, but he always insists on going home.
Seriously - I am embarrassed!
Let me set the scene for you.
Me sitting in the corner of the living room working on the computer.
Jonathan and Sammy talking to their dad on Skype.
Jon's friend, Kiana, over visiting for the evening.
A big, black spider crawling on the wall.
I HATE SPIDERS!!!
Jon hates spiders.
Sammy is a big chicken who has never killed a bug in her life.
Kiana is a guest, so I can't very well ask her to kill it.
And I REALLY, REALLY HATE SPIDERS!!!
So I run to the kitchen and grab a bottle of ant and roach spray - spiders must be related to these somehow - planning to kill it by spraying it with poison. But the stupid, hairy little thing crawled onto the beautiful sign April made for me! I was not about to spray bug spray on the sign, so I started blowing (yes, like blowing out a birthday candle) at the spider hoping to scare it off of my sign.
Well, needless to say, that didn't really work. I tried bumping the sign and that helped. It crawled onto the wall where I was able to soak it with bug spray. It promptly fell onto the floor - onto Kiana's flip flops!
Seriously?!?
So I had to pick up one of Jonathan's flip flops and smack the crap out of it. (Okay, yeah, I was screaming bloody murder at the same time.) Keep in mind that this was the first time Kiana had been to our house AND Mike was listening to the whole episode on Skype. Can you say "embarrassing"?
Before Kiana came over tonight, Jonathan asked me not to show her how crazy I am.
Um...sorry Jon. Too late.
Me sitting in the corner of the living room working on the computer.
Jonathan and Sammy talking to their dad on Skype.
Jon's friend, Kiana, over visiting for the evening.
A big, black spider crawling on the wall.
I HATE SPIDERS!!!
Jon hates spiders.
Sammy is a big chicken who has never killed a bug in her life.
Kiana is a guest, so I can't very well ask her to kill it.
And I REALLY, REALLY HATE SPIDERS!!!
So I run to the kitchen and grab a bottle of ant and roach spray - spiders must be related to these somehow - planning to kill it by spraying it with poison. But the stupid, hairy little thing crawled onto the beautiful sign April made for me! I was not about to spray bug spray on the sign, so I started blowing (yes, like blowing out a birthday candle) at the spider hoping to scare it off of my sign.
Well, needless to say, that didn't really work. I tried bumping the sign and that helped. It crawled onto the wall where I was able to soak it with bug spray. It promptly fell onto the floor - onto Kiana's flip flops!
Seriously?!?
So I had to pick up one of Jonathan's flip flops and smack the crap out of it. (Okay, yeah, I was screaming bloody murder at the same time.) Keep in mind that this was the first time Kiana had been to our house AND Mike was listening to the whole episode on Skype. Can you say "embarrassing"?
Before Kiana came over tonight, Jonathan asked me not to show her how crazy I am.
Um...sorry Jon. Too late.
End of Year Rewards
I made a deal with Jonathan. He had to wait until the end of the school year to get his hair colored. Well, it is the end of the year, so we did it. Of course, Sammy had to do it too. We were there for almost three hours! I wasn't allowed to go into the salon area, but they were super nice and let me sneak back for a few pictures.
Jonathan's hair took forever! They had to put it into a whole bunch of little pony tails first. He looked hilarious. I threatened to post pictures on Facebook. Luckily Jonathan doesn't embarrass very easily. The final effect wasn't quite what he was hoping for, but it was quite an experience anyway. Sammy's hair turned out shocking! My friend, Amanda, called her "Rainbow Bright".
Jonathan's hair took forever! They had to put it into a whole bunch of little pony tails first. He looked hilarious. I threatened to post pictures on Facebook. Luckily Jonathan doesn't embarrass very easily. The final effect wasn't quite what he was hoping for, but it was quite an experience anyway. Sammy's hair turned out shocking! My friend, Amanda, called her "Rainbow Bright".
Hat Day
I don't usually post pictures of me by myself. Usually only for my birthday. But today was Hat Day at school, and I just love this hat...
It was a good thing it was Hat Day too, because I woke up late and was able to put my hair in a pony tail and pop a hat on my head and NOT be late for work. No shower? No problem.
It was a good thing it was Hat Day too, because I woke up late and was able to put my hair in a pony tail and pop a hat on my head and NOT be late for work. No shower? No problem.
Too cute to leave behind...almost!
Another day at the animal shelter. The first puppy we took out to play with was so hyper and kept biting Sammy. This little guy was a spaz in the kennel with his buddies but was sweet as can be once we got him outside.
It's getting more and more difficult to leave each week without adopting a dog. (Be strong, Kim. You can resist. Just think of the messes. The vet bills. The piles of poop in the yard.)
It's getting more and more difficult to leave each week without adopting a dog. (Be strong, Kim. You can resist. Just think of the messes. The vet bills. The piles of poop in the yard.)
His Royal Heighness
Shopping at Walmart, Jonathan and I started getting kind of silly. At one point I turned around and saw him sitting on a "throne" of paper towels. He looked like he belonged there!
As we continued to shop, I kept handing more items to Jonathan and expecting him to haul them all over the store for me. He was a good sport, but it was ultimately determined that his mother must have been a shopping cart and his father was a pack mule because he was so good at carrying everything.
As we continued to shop, I kept handing more items to Jonathan and expecting him to haul them all over the store for me. He was a good sport, but it was ultimately determined that his mother must have been a shopping cart and his father was a pack mule because he was so good at carrying everything.
Little Blue Dots
Okay, so in an effort to be sweet and silly at the same time, I sent a letter to Lamar telling him how much I care about him. But I wrote it on a bunch of little blue circles. 140 of them to be exact. One word on each circle. Don't get me wrong, I numbered each one so he could put them in the correct order. It was all in good fun.
But this afternoon I got the following text message from Lamar:
But this afternoon I got the following text message from Lamar:"I really love you, but I don't know if I like you right now. 140. Really. And 81 and 18 look alike so far. Grrrrrr. Lol."
At first I was so confused. I couldn't figure out what was making him mad. So I called him to find out. All he said was, "Really? Little blue circles..." Then I knew what had happened. And I could not stop laughing.
He swears that he will be getting me back someday, but no matter what he does it will be so worth it! And that silly man actually took the time to put each circle in order and glue them to the sheet of paper. Such dedication. (It only took him the whole day to finish. Ha ha ha.)
Double Doozies
These have got to be the BEST cookies in the world! When we lived in Indiana, there was a cookie store in the mall called the "Great American Cookie Company" and they made these cookies. Two chocolate chip M&M cookies with frosting in between. We used to buy them all the time - until the store went out of business.
Now we live in Tennessee, and there is totally a "Great American Cookie Company" in our mall! Today I took a day off work to go to a meeting at Sammy's school and afterwards I stopped at the mall to do a little shopping - and left with this cookie! Wow! It was so good that I ended up eating it for lunch. Not after lunch. FOR lunch! Mmmmmm.
Now we live in Tennessee, and there is totally a "Great American Cookie Company" in our mall! Today I took a day off work to go to a meeting at Sammy's school and afterwards I stopped at the mall to do a little shopping - and left with this cookie! Wow! It was so good that I ended up eating it for lunch. Not after lunch. FOR lunch! Mmmmmm.
Paparazzi gotcha again!
Jonathan is always trying to hide from the camera. I don't know why. He's such a cutie!
But he's a teenager, so I guess I'll just have to enjoy this stage and wait until he is willing to show his face again...
But he's a teenager, so I guess I'll just have to enjoy this stage and wait until he is willing to show his face again...