Craziness...

The past couple of weeks have been crazy...or so it seems.

I've totally slacked on updating my blog, so here's my attempt to cover the past few days/weeks/months...I've lost track.

Let's start with:

1) My work conference went very well. It was a ton of hard work, but in the end, it was awesome! We had a great time. It was great seeing my clients. It took me two days to recover though...ouch! Now, I've got tons of work to do...I love job security.
2) Brent finished our fort/tree house/swingset. He built it all by hand with no help from plans, etc...I have pictures and will post them later (I forgot the camera at home). It looks awesome...heck, even I want to play on it/in it!
3) Peyton and Palmer started Karate lessons. Well, Palmer only lasted one class, so he's officially "out" of the whole extracurricular activity thing, but Peyton is still going and seems to be enjoying it...he's my Karate Kid in the making! We've ordered his uniform, so once we get it (and I put my superior sewing skills to work on sewing on the patches), I'll post pictures.
4) I am the "official" Room Parent of Peyton's class. I sent home letters to the parents, so I'm thinking that makes me official. Of course in my everything-has-to-be-perfect/PR writing junkie/first impressions are the best impressions way, I had to completely re-do the letter they suggested we send home to the parents. It was embarrasing, and I never would have signed my name to something like that, so I re-wrote it. It was awesome:)
5) I volunteered in Peyton's class, while the teacher had them painting these huge fish-shaped papers...anyone that knows me, knows I am not a "arts and crafts" type Mommy (can't take the mess), but I survived! And Peyton was so excited to have me there!
6) Brent went alligator hunting...again! Can you say "let's just play with fire?" So, I bravely took Peyton, his friend Cannon and Palmer to the bowling alley, video arcade, McDonald's. It was fun and expensive, but I survived:)
7) Peyton busted his head open. He's tall enough now that he can hit our extremely tall kitchen counter/bar...so he took out a chunk of his head. I probably should have taken him to get stiches, but I didn't. Instead, we stopped the bleeding, put ice on it and watched Scooby Doo, The Mystery Begins...he was good with this (and oh, I did watch for the whole outward bump and sleepiness thing). He's still alive:)
8) I cleaned my house from top to bottom. A long day, but a great looking house...especially with all the fall decorations. I'm going to take pictures soon...just so I can remember what a clean house looks like!
9) Work outs, karate, workouts, karate...I love the fact that Peyton's karate lessons are at the Y...I work out while he is in his class. It's awesome. I did go back to my Zumba classes and was convinced at one point that I was dying, but alas, I'm still alive!
10) Book Fair, Picture Day, Work Celebration Party...all in one week! How in the world am I supposed to attend an after work party, pick up both children by 5 p.m. so we can get to the Book Fair, so I can get to Karate by 6:30 p.m.? And oh, did I mention it was Picture Day for Peyton?
11) I think I need a girl's weekend!!!! And by that, I mean, a vacation with just me. No one else:)

So, TRULY BLESSED to have a wonderful life full of activities!
Chasity

PS...Did I mention I need a girl's weekend? Soon!!!!!

Today...

was beautiful.

65 degrees outside, beautiful blue sky, no humidity. BEAUTIFUL!

I thought I would write about today because it is the last day of September and Fall is definitely in the air.

The leaves are already changing color. School is well underway, the temperature if falling and I've even had to break out the boys lightweight jackets for in the mornings...I haven' quite progressed to making/letting them wear pants/jeans to school...I'm not there mentally.

But it is beautiful this time of year. Living among the mountains is one of the few things we love about living in Nashville. Plenty to be thankful for, but we actually love the change of seasons.

Anyway, just had to share my thoughts about today!

TRULY BLESSSED to experience God's beauty during the change of seasons!

Chasity

PS...Halloween decorations are officially up in the front window and throughout the house!

Amazing...

Another year has come and gone in the world of cj Conference...

WOW! This is my 2nd year of helping with cj Conference and I am amazed, even more so than last year...It is unlike any conference you have seen or been too! All 60 something colleagues get involved...no meeting planners allowed in our office!

It was months of hard work in the making. Months and months of details. In the end, it was successful. In the end, we were tired, but proud.

My company has a Purpose: EMPOWERMENT. We all know this. My company also has 4 Core Values: Integrity First, Creative Enthusiasm, Team-Driven Culture, Uncompromising Service. We all know these as well. No excuses, we know them. We live by them.



I work for an amazing advertising agency. I work with amazing clients and amazing colleagues. SO BLESSED. BEYOND BLESSED.

TRULY BLESSED to have found this agency!
Chasity

PS...Have I said how much I love my job?!

My Name...

is Chasity. However, I really do answer to everything...

Chasity, Christy, Charity, Chelsea, Cassidy, Chastity, Chas.

I don't go around correcting people. I tend to think it is because someone usually ends up correcting it for me at some point. I've also learned, overtime, that people feel bad when you correct them. So, I don't. I just go with it and then eventually someone either corrects them or they realize it themselves...no need for me to make them feel bad.

My maiden name is Chasity Jean Bailey. It's funny...I tend to forget that I have a "weird" name...so, when I make fun of someone's name, I have to remember that I have too have a weird name and the table could easily be turned. I do have to say, though, I've always thought Jean was worse than Chasity...or at least I did until I realized how much it hurt my Mom's feelings that I didn't like Jean. You see, Jean is a family name...my Mom, Grandmother, my Great Grandmother, my Aunt..we all have the same middle name. Of course, I only found out how much it hurt my Mom's feelings when I officially "dropped" it after getting married...yep, dropped it like a hot potato. That's when I became Chasity Bailey Phillips.

I think I was lucky growing up. I went to a private Christian school, so I didn't get teased about my name. Virginity was preached daily, so having a name like Chasity, I think, just became something we didn't really think about. I think things would have been different it I had gone to a public school. It's funny...I just got asked the other night by a client if I ever got teased...and I can only remember one person ever teasing me about my name (I won't name names, but I will say that this person was one of the cutest guys in our class...he's now going bald!).

If I'd been asked the question "would you change your name" when I was younger, I probably would have said yes, but now...no. Why? Because Chasity is a name people remember. When I was going through RUSH at Florida State, I wasn't one of 100 Amys...I was Chasity...the only one...easy to remember. So, no I wouldn't change my name. I like my name. It's grown on me.

Now, my children...they got different, but easy to spell names -- Peyton and Palmer. Both a little different, but spelled the most normal way possible. And Brent, well his name isn't exactly normal either...it's Brenton (he just shortens it)!

TRULY BLESSED to be unique and original,
Chasity

PS...IF, and only IF, I like a person can they call me by my nickname: Chas (and it's pronounced Chas, not Chaz)!

Disney...

Enough Said.

My assignment is to write about a memorable trip we have taken. I can come up with many...honeymoon in Aruba where it rained the entire time; trips to the mountain for our 1st and 2nd anniversaries; trips to the Bahamas; trip to Europe, but I'm going to focus on Disney, as I have a few things I'd like Disney to consider before we arrive in November -- see below:)

Since I was five, pretty much every year, my family made a trip to Disney World. Now, we are doing the same for our boys:

2002 -- Yes, Peyton was conceived at the Swan and Dolphin Resort while Brent and I were visiting Disney. (No pictures of that...small children might read this:)!)

2004 -- Peyton's 1st Birthday -- we only stayed a 1/2 day and he slept most of the time, but it was fun.

(Peyton kissing Pluto -- I know, I try not to think of all the germs...and I'm not a germaphobic)

2005 -- Peyton's 2nd Birthday -- He was cute, I was pregnant...a FUN time.

(Photo taken at The Grand Floridian)

2006 -- Peyton's 3rd Birthday/Palmer 8 months -- Two days of stomach flu before we went, then 3 parks in 3 days...enough said (with an 8 month old).

(One of my favorite all time photos. Taken at The Crystal Palace Breakfast with Pooh & Friends)

2007 -- we skipped this year since we were moving :(

2008 -- My Mom and I ventured to Disney for one reason: To get Palmer's 1st Haircute:)

(I miss his little curls, but they did a great "memorable" job on his hair)

(I love this picture!)

So, this year, when we make the journey, I just have a few things I'd like Disney to consider before we arrive. Don't get me wrong...I look forward to these trips, but these few little things would make it A MILLION TIMES BETTER, so that our day would be "The Happiest Day on Earth at The Happiest Place on Earth."

Please consider:

1) We will be having breakfast with Pooh & Friends. I know I signed up for the "character" breakfast, but do you think maybe you could hold off on having the characters come to our table until after I have gotten at least 1 bite in my children...I mean, after all, for the $30 I am paying for just one meal, I'd like them to take at least 1 bite. Just 1.

2) My children do not like waiting in lines. Do you think that you could possibly manage to either 1) Treat us as a VIP guest and get us onto Dumbo without waiting...I mean, I have given you a TON of money of the past, oh say, 35 years of my life OR 2) Realize that my children are far more important than the other children trying to ride the ride, so really, they deserve to go first. And I can only hold them still for so long.

3) Please remove the carts of souvenirs and toys from the middle of the walkways...Really, I give you enough of my money, but do I really have to buy the "Invisible Dog Walking on the Leash" toy that costs me $50? I have three real dogs at home that my children ignore...why must I buy the invisible dog to take care of too?

4) Could you possibly create a "parent zone." I know there are kid zones, but seriously, I think all parents that have kids with them should get to go to the "parent zone" for an hour...No kids, No whining, No chasing, No strollers. Just parents:)

5) Could you possibly just rub all the characters down with Purell? I love the fact the my children want to kiss and hug ALL the characters along with ALL the other children in the world, but could you do something about the germs I'm letting my children collect because of their love for these characters?

6) I know my child is 1" shy of riding the ride, but for the love of goodness, could you just have your "Employee of the Month" turn a blind eye for just a second or at least let my child stand on his tippy toes...this would avoid a huge meltdown and allow me to keep my sanity for another 5 minutes.

7) The parade. Can I reserve a front row seat for this? or better, Can my child, just once, be chosen to be in the parade? My back is tired of holding the kids to be able to see the parade, my feet are tired of getting stepped on, the person next to me smells and I can't understand what they said to me as they gave me a dirty look when they stepped on MY toes. And, I really hate answering the "WHY CAN'T I BE IN THE PARADE?" question a million times...you try explaining this to a 5 year old.

I know these are big requests, but if anyone can do it, I know Disney can. In return, I promise to:

1) Spend money...lots of money that I don't have or need to spend, but I will.

2) Take my children back to the hotel for a nap instead of dragging them around exhausted, whining, screaming and crying.

3) Not try to cross the street while the parade is going on.

4) Try to outrun the kid/parent next to us, so that I can get the "blue" Dumbo hat and not the "pink" Dumbo hat.

5) Allow my children to make a complete mess at (I mean under) the breakfast table.

6) Not people watch and make fun of the Disney guests that apparently forgot to look in any kind of mirror before they left their rooms.

7) Stalk the characters even after it is time for them to leave and the line is closed.

See, Disney gives a little. We give a little. It's all about Compromise (or so Darby says on "My Friends Tigger and Pooh).

Ready for our trip!!!!

TRULY BLESSED to be able to take our kids to Disney and have funny stories to tell for the rest of our lives,

Chasity

PS...we might wait to tell Peyton about 2002:)

YAY...

for Brent!

Just a quick update to let everyone know that Brent fixed our washing machine...I think:)

After finding a video on the web about how to actually access the tub part of the washing machine, he got really ambitious and started tearing the whole machine part...literally. In order to get to the tub part, you have to undo everything. I was worried...WORRIED!

Then I had a thought (while on the phone with my Mom, panicking that he was taking the machine apart and wouldn't get it back together), that maybe, just maybe, this was a lesson in the fact that I should have more FAITH in my husband...I do now.

He worked hard. Cut his arm. Got a rash. Sweated over the machine for two days. The end result...we found the culprit (we think)...two quarters. TWO DARN QUARTERS broke the machine.

So, I haven't officially run the washing machine. We'll see if it works this weekend. BUT, he tried. He tried his hardest and hopefully, it worked:)

TRULY BLESSED to have an I-can-fix-anything husband!
Chasity

PS...You know I was having a heart attack when I saw 200 pieces and parts lying on the top of the dryer...and oh, all this forced me to clean off the washing machine and dryer and put away clothes.

Dang it all...

Two years. That's how long I've had my washing machine and dryer...the front loading kind.

10 years. That's how long I had my previous washer and dryer. NEVER ONCE did I have a problem with those. They were the top loading kind and although, they weren't pretty and didn't clean as good as the front loading ones, I never had to call someone to come and repair them.

It figures. Wouldn't you know it. The expensive ones are the problem. Yep, after two years, I have to call a repairman. It seems something has gotten underneath the agitator part of the washing machine and won't let it spin. And of course, these new fangled contraptions are too fancy for my "fix everything" husband.

We tried. We finally got it pulled out (a miracle in and of itself). Finally got the back off. We just knew if we could get to the back, we could get underneath to get whatever it is in there out. Nope. Not happening. Dang it all.

So, instead of going to look for cute shoes for the conference on my lunch break, I'll be waiting for the repairman that will inevitably charge me a million dollars to fix my fancy, just-had-to-have-them front loading washing machine.

DANG-IT-ALL!

Well, I guess if I have to find a bright side, at least I have a washer and dryer. I'm just praying that it won't cost me a million dollars to get it fixed. And, if I'm looking for a second bright side, I washed most of the clothes prior to this happening. So, I've got about a week before the laundry piles up on me. Did I mention it was Brent's clothes I was washing when it happened. I'm, of course, blaming him for having something in his pocket that did it. He, of course, then told me that I should have checked his pockets. REALLY?! @!$#*&@! That's whay I have to say about that!

Anyway, please say a prayer this won't cost us a fortune!!!!

TRULY BLESSED to have a washer and dryer...would love it even more if they wouldn't break!

Chasity

PS...Did I happen to mention that Brent is majorily hung over after watching the FSU game (they won against BYU) with friends, so fixing the washing machine was the last thing he wanted to do. I'm wondering if he could really fix it and was just too hung over to try?!