Fun Family Times

2010-12-09T22:06:00.001-05:00

Well, its official, we saw Santa! Tonight we went to a local event at the "Magnolia Manor" which is a all around wedding and event site. They did a very nice job with holiday cheer, by providing outdoor movies, marshmallow roasting stations, indoor shopping and musical entertainment and of course, Santa!! Ben told Santa he wanted mittens and Maddie told him she wanted a gold necklace with a key!

It's Football Time in Tennessee!

2010-11-29T22:24:00.000-05:00

Finally, we got to go to a UT football game! We are joined by friends and family and had a great time. This was the UT-Ole Miss game. We came away with a win which was even better! A noon game made for some early tailgating- but we didn't mind. Here our friends, the Montanari's get their first taste of TN football

Ben Turns 7!

2010-11-29T22:17:00.002-05:00

Ben is 7. I find it so hard to believe! We had a "Camp Out" birthday party for him and 4 of his buddies. We had a tent in the backyard, complete with a campfire and lots of food and supplies. A sheet tacked to the deck- hanging below- made for a great stage for shadow play and flashlight tag was a fun pasttime too. But, as boys will be boys, they mostly just ran and ran and ran in circles with various weaponry such as light sabres, swords and just anything that resembled a gun. What fun!

Our Little Scientist

2010-11-29T22:15:00.001-05:00

First grade has been full of high points, and this past week was no exception...Ben got to be an Ichthiologist (fairly sure I didn't spell that right) but he is a scientist who studies fish. He and his classmates got to participate in an Ocean's conference that allowed the little scientists share all their findings. They all dressed the part too. Doesn't Ben look absolutely academic? Who knows, this may be a harbinger of things to come.

Fall Break! BEARY FUN

2010-11-21T21:56:00.002-05:00

Michel, our Brazillian exchange student- "the big brother"

Family Talent Show!

My affinity for blogging has declined dramatically. Call it life, call it being busy- whatever it is, I am falling down on the job as chief blogger of the family. As I explore the blog-o-sphere, I get slightly overwhelmed and paralyzed by the amazing creativity and talent out there....then I stop and realize, this is just my dynamic scrapbook that really only gets visited by myself, so why cave to all that pressure? Just get the dang pictures posted - the grandparents in Florida really deserve it! So here it goes...

On October 14-16 we went to Wears Valley at the foothills of the Smokies and spent two nights in a huge cabin overlooking a beautiful view. Highlights include getting to celebrate Michel's birthday- let me introduce you to our exchange student, from Brazil- who is Japanese! We had a great time ushering in his 17th year! Also on the trip we all had fun playing games, eating lots and having our first Family Talent Show. This was all great and very cozy.....then we had a visit from the bears. No, I am not kidding. Friday night a mama bear visited our trash receptacle which was locked in a sturdy cage. She manhandled it no problem and threw the huge structure shockingly close to our car. Little did we know, the excitement would continue. Saturday night, we cooked out steaks and had a beautiful spread as we all sat down to dinner. We left the back door out to our enormous deck open, as it had gotten a bit hot with all the clamoring to get the food prepared. Well, bears love steak too! As we started to eat, we were all shocked when my niece yelled "A Bear!" Thinking she was kidding we all thought "yea, right" Then, we saw a baby cub- about 4 feet tall sauntering into our cabin. My dad came to the rescue and shoo'd him away, and we were all safe! A surreal experience to say the least, and not exactly a kodak moment- so no photos!

Fall in the Smokies is splendid- and lots of fun was had by all. Great memories!

Wow How Time Flies!

2010-09-01T12:21:00.009-04:00

Maddie at preschool last year...09-10. Now look at the next photo....she got so big!!

Here is Maddie smiling ear to ear because she is so excited about the new school year. She loves her new teachers. We are off to a great start. Mama is sure happy! We are so thankful for all the nurturing people God has sent our way to help care for our children. We are looking forward to lots of fun and memories ahead. Now, if I could only find the pause button...

Maddie last year.....

Maddie this year!

Ben: Kindergarten (above) and 1st grade. What a difference a year makes!!

Kindergarten. New year, new school building...we have so much to be thankful for. Ben is excited to start his 1st grade year. So far he has been most interested in the kickball games at recess, but overall he is very happy. He has a class of 12 and he loves his new teacher, Mrs. Babbit. We are proud of you Ben!

Flower Girl Power

2010-07-21T12:26:00.000-04:00

I just had to post this photo even though it is a little out of order. I was having a small problem downloading photos from my camera and this one lagged behind for some reason. Maddie recently got to be in my cousin's wedding as a flower girl. It was a beautiful ceremony and luckily Maddie's debut as a flower girl went just fine. I am pretty sure this could be her album cover when she hits the big time.

Their Future Looks Bright

2010-07-15T22:59:00.000-04:00

So, last night was interesting. Before bed, the kids decided to play barber shop/beauty shop. Maddie got decked out *notice the pink high heels. Ben was just hanging in his boxers and t-shirt. too cute. It was good clean fun. And, no scissors were ever used! thank goodness.

A Day in the Life

2010-06-26T16:59:00.002-04:00

Ok, see this picture of Maddie? This is how she greeted me this morning. She slept until 8:30 (pretty sweet!) and proceeded to dress herself and greet me with a "Hello Mi'lady". Ben chimed in and they proceeded to have a great morning. They each made up their own beds! (I am recording this in my blog because I will never believe it when they are teenagers.) We went on the Bloomsday at UT gardens which is a yearly event that proves to be as hot as it is interesting. So, with lots of Kettle Korn in our bellies, we came home tired, and wathced a movie and enjoyed the afternoon. Fleeting.

One Word: Disney

2010-06-26T16:52:00.000-04:00

Ok. Need I say more? I had to do a collage, because I could not sit here long enough to upload all the photos. I must say, we had fun. the other hand, we have fun pretty much anywhere. So, I am pleased to say we probably do not need to go back any time soon, but we did create some spectacular memories.

Maddie the Ballerina

2010-06-26T16:45:00.000-04:00

Maddie was exposed to her first dance experience, Kinderdance. She had a great time and here, at the end of year recital, we got to see mucho talent. I see bright lights in her future! Go Maddie.

Goodbye Kindergarten (sniff)

2010-06-26T16:38:00.002-04:00

Here is Ben with his classmates at the faculty kickball game!

Ben's teacher was just the best.

Our last field trip to the zoo was well, a trip.

Kindergarten for Ben was so much fun. We had a great year and frankly I was a little sad to see it end- only because it went so quickly. Who hit the fast-forward? Thanks to some wonderful teachers, faculty and friends, Ben has grown up so much. We are very proud!

Boy of Summer

2010-06-26T16:35:00.000-04:00

We had another great season of Spring Baseball. Ben was a Dodger this season (we bled Dodger Blue for a while!) We all had fun and discovered that when your children are in sports, the whole family is committed! We had lots of support, for which I am thankful! Go Dodgers.

It's Official: I am a Locavore

2010-06-26T16:27:00.001-04:00

See these beautiful vegetables? They were grown locally by my wonderful CSA (community supported agriculture). We purchased a share in a local garden, and once a week, we receive a box of the most beautiful vegetables. The deliveries come from April thru November. Thanks to Meghan, our wonderful farmer, we have are eating all kinds of new veggies: swiss chard, kale, turnips and beets (not all new food but certaily rare in my grocery buying!) Here's to a bountiful harvest!

Free Toys with Some Imagination

2010-06-26T16:21:00.000-04:00

Recently, Maddie had seen a play grill in a catalog. I knew the love of grilling would be fleeting, so we improvised. My neighbor had left this perfectly good box on the curb, so i decided to do some recycling. We made Maddie's grill and got hours of playtime. No mastercard needed. yay!

Happy Birthday Grandmama!

2010-06-26T16:06:00.002-04:00

Goin' to the Chapel

2010-06-26T16:01:00.001-04:00

This past Spring was eventful to say the least! We got to head to West Tennessee and all the kids were in a beautiful wedding for my beautiful cousin, Amy Beth. The kids did great and we all had a fun time. Congratulations to Matt and Amy on your big day. It sure was fun getting all dressed up!!

St. Jude Trikathon!!

2010-06-26T15:56:00.000-04:00

Well, I finally got around to downloading all 327 photos that were just hiding out in my digital camera! What a load off. Anyway, thought I would document this great Spring day. I am in charge of our preschool's St. Jude Trikathon, and this year it was a big success. We raised over $1200 and had a great time to boot. Maddie got to tag along even though her class did not participate. Fun times just kept coming from here into the Summer.

Happy Mother's Day!!

2010-05-09T07:46:00.004-04:00

So, today is a good day. I spent so many years being sad on this day, that now I can hardly contain my happiness. Thanks to a great husband and two beautiful children (thanks be to God!) I have a full life and every year I have a new level of understanding about life. Today I am blogging from my brand new hp G62 laptop. I have not yet learned all the bells and whistles, but I will eventually get there. Here is how I started my day. More to come on how the rest of the day goes. A big shout out to my own mother and my very special mother-in-law, Ju Ju!! I love you!!

Fun in the Mountains

2010-03-24T15:49:00.004-04:00

This Saturday was a big day....we actually saw the sun all day!!! March has been a cruel month so far, so we were thrilled to get out and do some exploring in the Smoky Mountains! We started off the day by checking out the Fiber Arts Festival in Townsend. We saw a sheep getting sheered, and then we saw some interesting fiber loving folks who actually spin the yarn into thread and yarn the old fashioned way. It was very interesting and I was impressed with the talent.

After this learning experience, we went on to Tremont to hike this most excellent hike. It is not on the park's hiking trail maps, and we were informed about it after stopping at the coffee shop in Townsend (Thunderhead Perk is awesome!) . This was the perfect hike for the family- One mile out and it ends at a beautiful waterfall.

This was a great shot, and very telling of our day out and about! Thanks be to God for such beauty surrounding us!

Freeze Frame

2010-03-12T16:25:00.004-05:00

Recently I was making observations around my house that reminded me that I am in a season. A beautiful, fleeting season. So, with my handy camera I just recorded a few things that I want to remember. I want to remember this when I am old(er than i am now), when I am bored and tired(er than I am now). I promise these are not props, nor did I stage any of these photos. I am often reminded of my life motto as a still new parent: The Days are Long, but the Years are short.

some colorful vocabulary by Ben on the marker board in the playroom. So glad he can spell now.

noteworthy: this is in the playroom. We are anticipating painting and have allowed the kids to write on the walls with chalk....until now. Isn't that special?

designer tile makes a great backdrop for the mammoth playmobil collection we have.

In the Kitchen with Mama

2010-03-12T16:14:00.001-05:00

Recently I was on a cooking jag (not uncommon) and Maddie independently retrieved her toy mixer and started cooking right beside me. It warmed my heart. We made a memory! As you can see my kitchen does not lack in the electronic appliance area. But seriously they all pale in comparison to my Kithen Aid stand mixer. I just love it. Maddie is a girl after my own heart.

Snow Much Fun

2010-02-02T10:27:00.001-05:00

When it snow in "these parts" it is a big deal. The kids (and grown ups) had a blast. We say, Let it Snow!

Deja Vu

2010-01-26T13:32:00.002-05:00

The other day I was sitting at the kitchen table and looked over and saw Ben dragging out the pantry items to create something uniquely Ben. I was suddenly reminded of a time not so long ago that Ben had done the same thing when he was much younger (March of 08 or just 4yrs. old) In the updated photo he was technically "organizing the pantry" in the first he was playing musical instruments. hmmm.

Maddie's new look

2010-01-07T17:23:00.000-05:00

Well Maddie has a new look! I officially lost the hair war! No bows, no baretts. So, I went for a bob. Isn't it cute! Also, notice Ben's pajamas in this picture...he was clued in on the official "snow dance". Here's what you do if you want it to snow: Wear your pajamas inside out, put a pencil on the windowsill and flush an ice cube down the toilet! And guess what? It worked!! It is snowing like crazy right now! More photos to come!

Let it Snow!

2009-12-05T22:12:00.001-05:00

This morning we woke up to a beautiful snowfall. This is a bit early for our area and we welcomed it. The kids had a blast. I think it is funny that Maddie just knew how to make a snow angel! The huge hill across the street provided some great sledding. We hope it snows more!!

Halloween 09

2009-11-03T13:38:00.000-05:00

The pictures say it all!!

Our Favorite Fall Pastimes

2009-11-03T13:37:00.000-05:00

One benefit about living in a beautiful Southern city is beautiful parks. We use the heck out of parks (as any good tax paying citizen should) Ben's very favorite thing to do in the whole wide world is FISH. He and his PaPaw are fishing buddies. Maddie just loves playing and riding her bike. She has fun most anywhere she goes.

Our Last Garden Party

2009-11-03T13:34:00.000-05:00

Our last harvest took place near the middle of October! We had some sweet potatoes that proved quite tasty. The garden is all cleaned up and we are already planning our spring season!! Any suggestions out there?

Spring Baseball 09

2009-11-03T13:31:00.000-05:00

Ben had such a wonderful experience with Baseball this year. He played coach pitch with a wonderful coach, Jonathan Watkins. He made new friends and proved to be a good little ball player.

Can You Guess What Letters These Are?

2009-11-03T13:28:00.000-05:00

During our jaunt thru the mountains, I decided to try and find letters. I was inspired by a recent article in Family Fun Magazine. I was hoping to find the entire contents of my christmas card message. HA. But these were the best of the bunch. This takes time and skill. Two things I am very short on these days.....

Fall Break 09

2009-11-03T13:21:00.000-05:00

This year for Fall Break we just headed out to our own backyard, The Smokey Mountains! We did an indoor water park one day and did a little hike to Clingmans Dome another. Of course we had to eat at the Pancake Pantry TWICE!! It was worth the wait. We were reminded just how blessed we are to have this national treasure so close.

Maddie Goes to Preschool

2009-11-03T13:15:00.000-05:00

Ok, so I am a little behind! This day actually took place on Sept. 1, 2009. Everything is going by so fast! Maddie loves her teachers, Mrs. Sue and Mrs. Cherie. You can see that she really is a big girl now!!

First Day of Kindergarten!!

2009-08-19T17:24:00.000-04:00

Breakfast with Ben

2009-07-06T09:05:00.000-04:00

Ben had an idea recently. He made a deal: if I stay in bed all night, can I have breakfast in bed? Well, the planest aligned and he stayed in bed all night! Voila! Breakfast is served!

Skaters

2009-07-06T08:57:00.001-04:00

This is a new pastime for my kids, thanks to my biggest kid, Todd. One of his favorite toys is this longboard and the kids are getting into it too. Maddie of course just loves the accessories.

Maddie is Dancing!

2009-07-06T08:52:00.000-04:00

Well, it is official. Maddie is hooked on dancing. If you have spent any time with Maddie, it is no surprise that she loves to dance. She just started in a little dance class called Kinderdance. She is loving it! This day's theme was sunglasses day, and of course, I forgot her sunglasses, but, she didn't seem to mind. She had her necklace and bracelet on. She was confident and secure.

Tour de Cure 09

2009-06-11T22:43:00.003-04:00

Last weekend Todd and our long time friend, Brandon, accomplished a great feat...they completed Tour de Cure and raised over 3K between them both. When all was said and done, they covered 70 miles- in one day!! Way to go boys.

Here we show some girl power with our friend Loesje and her daughter Avery and her friend Abbey. Maddie is looking especially festive.

Are they CUTE or what?

2009-06-11T22:41:00.001-04:00

Ok, today at 4:00 I was not thinking this.....but as I sit back and take a breath, I know these are some very precious gifts from God. I love my job.

In the Garden with Ben

2009-06-11T22:32:00.001-04:00

Ok, I know if I did not record this, I could possibly forget it....so. With the power of digital photography, I captured one of my son's favorite activities....rushing harvest time. Yep, he is so excited about vegetables, that he takes my perfect store-bought vegetables and TAPES them to the existing plants and is elated to come in the house and show us what he has "picked".
It kinda made my day. hahahahah

The recession garden is coming along! We have green beans coming in and we even picked our first cucumber today! The kids are getting having so much fun!

These Photos Need some 'Splainin

2009-06-03T16:31:00.000-04:00

Ok, it is official. Life as I know it is over. Maddie has moved to a "Big Girl" bed. Last night was her maiden voyage into sheer freedom from the crib. She did GREAT! She slept all night and if you look closely, the Paci is tied to the bed. This was a fabulous idea from my friend Kelley- thanks KCK. THis caused a major meltdown to ensue, but alsas, we survived, and as seen here ended up all smiles. But in all my maternal wisdom (and brace yourself this will sound terribly cruel) but I told her if she got out of bed for any other reason than going to the bathroom, the carpet would be hot lava. Now before you call DHS on my, you must know my daughter has had a real obsession with hot lava since seeing it in a movie this winter (the velveteen rabbit of all things- it was actually fire, but she called it hot lava) anyway, I digress. Well this is how smart the little cookie is...she went to her closet and got out "princess" shoes because the hot lava would not burn them. All in all, it has been a very good transition. She loves her bed, and her brother donated his red pillow to her. Thus, the beautifully matched ensemble. (yes, I am too cheap to buy a "bedspread" for a junior bed.) It's temporary people!!

Now on to Ben's office. For quite sometime Ben has had an "office" in our home office (Todd works from home about 20% of the time) We eventually got him his own desk and various birthdays and holidays have landed him with countless office supplies- because that's what he dreams about. He loves his office. It is endless hours of play and mess. We try to ignore his corner, but I just can't help marveling at his prowess for decorating.
These are his "knights" and "pirates" that he loves too. I think they are in trouble and this is their punishment.

Joyful memories!

A Hair-Raising Week!

2009-05-24T20:57:00.002-04:00

So, with summer here, we decided to take the plunge and give Ben his first BUZZ! It pains me to see that beautiful blonde hair fall to the ground, but we will just have to take a break from brushing, fussing and traveling to the barber for a summer. On the other hand Maddie had an unplanned hair cut recently. She took the scissors to her own hair twice in the past couple of weeks. (I might add that both occasions were NOT under my watch)- now, that just jinxed me....anyway......Take a close look. Her future as a hairdresser is, lets just say, questionable. Look closely, and you will see here bangs are less than an half inch long!!

Our Recession Garden

2009-05-24T20:51:00.000-04:00

Ben has had a love of dirt and gardening since the very first sunflower we planted several years ago. This year we decided to go all out and build a garden in our own backyard. I, mommy, tired of pots and mish mash gardens, and borrowed land 10 miles away, so we bought a raised bed. I feel very efficient seeing as how I crammed about three times the allowable vegetables in this space. We also have a corner garden of green beans, squash, cucumber and one lone sunflower. We recently added a second row of corn. We hope to have a great posting of our harvest in the late summer/fall!!

Cousin Time in Tennessee!

2009-05-24T20:47:00.000-04:00

Maddie and Jessie are finally starting to actually like each other! So, I thought I would record a fun night they had here recently. They both LOVE spaghetti, and I simply had to resign myself to some messy faces until this stage passes. In the meantime, I will just enjoy the memories!

Vacation at the Beach '09 Santa Rosa FL

2009-05-22T16:33:00.002-04:00

Hey Grandparents! The Blog is Back in Business.

2009-05-22T16:18:00.003-04:00

Many thanks to the family and friends that still check my blog! I got a little overwhelmed, and took a break from blogging, but with summer here, I just had toooooo many kodak moments. Hope you enjoy!

this is Maddie's favorite friend in the whole wide world. She loves Brady!

here is Ben's end of the year music program. So sweet!

PaPaw is 70!

2009-02-10T17:59:00.004-05:00

How lucky am I? Well, I don't have enough room or time to go into that here, but I do feel immensely blessed to have my parents close by. Not only are they close geographically now, the are very involved in our lives and the lives of my children. Nothing could make me happier. We celebrated Dad's 70th birthday recently, and did it up right. Can you say cream cheese icing with caramel? Go Dad!

Let It Snow!

2009-02-10T17:52:00.002-05:00

We recently had a bit of snow, and if you are from Michigan, or say North Dakota, it would have simply been a dusting for you. But, in these parts, it was big news. Here are some kodak moments. We had a ball.

Ok, More Fun Ahead!

2009-01-31T16:57:00.004-05:00

Recently we had some very fun people come and visit our home, and we had a "Blue Party". The title of the party was left open to interpretation, but it just seemed like a good excuse to have a party. A big shout out to our Tullahoma crew. We love you.

These first two photos are from our game of Guestures. Fun stuff. Todd did the grumpy thing all too well!

New Happenings

2009-01-31T16:40:00.004-05:00

Maddie just loves cereal!
Look out! Pirates and Policemen
Here's Grandmama having fun. This was here first visit not long after Grandaddy passed away. She is nearly 88!! She is an amazing Grandma. My family has been blessed to have her visit. This past week would have been her and Grandaddy's 71st wedding anniversary. Isn't that incredible?

Glad to be back on the blog. I am getting ripped by various friends for being so lame and addicted to facebook. I do have fun taking photos, and I do catch my kids in some definite Kodak moments. So here are just a few

Christmas 08

2009-01-01T19:44:00.003-05:00

Well, we survived! Santa found us, and we celebrated a new year. Christmas with children is really magical. Ben loved all the anticipation of Santa. We had a visitor, an elf. He watched us all by day and at night, he returned to the North Pole to report on our behavior. Really. Maddie loved her carousel the most. Ben really loved his "hunt gun" the best. The spy equipment was really a hit too. Many thanks to all the grandparents who helped make it fun with lots of presents to open. Ben can't wait to use the Target gift cards, and Maddie is really enjoying her Wonder Pets.

Oh so behind!

2008-12-22T14:14:00.002-05:00

I realize I have totally forgotten about my blog, and I feel bad about that. I got very distracted by life, and then the next thing I know, my blog is dormant. So, here are some holiday updates: Ben turned 5! He had a policeman birthday party and it was a blast. Here is the very homemade cake. He really wasn't that impressed, but I sure was!

Adoption Tour Kickoff

2008-10-07T10:23:00.000-04:00

Well, it is official, Todd is currently riding his bike across Tennessee to promote and bring awareness to Adoption in Tn. and the need for homes for over 400 of Tennessee's most precious resources- our children. That's right, over 400 children in Tn. are without a "forever family" , and Todd along with 60+ other riders are trying to bring solutions to this problem. Check it out at their website
We are all so proud of Todd!

Here are some photos of the start in downtown Memphis. The kids and I promptly hopped in the car and drove home after this photo, and we will meet Todd at the finish line on Friday. Can't wait to see him. I spoke to him last night, and they had completed 89 miles of the 433 total miles they will undertake this week.

So far, so good!

Boot Sale!

2008-09-24T22:24:00.002-04:00

You should have seen the folks lining up in our driveway for Ben's Boot Sale today. Yep, this was totally his idea. I am so proud of my entrepreneurial boy!

The next innovation from Ben was indeed blogworthy. This is called the Bad Talking Scope. This handy invention will be adored by parents everywhere because you can turn it on downstairs and hear any bad words being used upstairs in the playroom. Ingenuity abounds at our home!

Ride'em Cowgirl!

2008-09-24T16:07:00.001-04:00

The picture really says it all. What can I say? My kids are creative!

Ben's Garden and the Bunny Trap

2008-09-24T16:05:00.000-04:00

Last Saturday we ended up at the garden center for our family outing. It turned out to be a very productive day. Ben was very excited about the pumpkins he persuaded his parents to buy, but it was the broccoli, yes broccoli plants that really got him fired up. He and dad decided to build a new little garden. But a corner garden is too simple. Later in the weekend, Ben and his Uncle Wade (you know how every family has a crazy uncle?) built a bunny trap. It is very elaborate. Look closely and you will see all kinds of physics at work. pulleys...levers....trap doors....oh my!

New mix!

2008-09-04T23:04:00.003-04:00

Ok, I know what you're thinking...what is this, and why are there no photos of the kids?? Well, I do have a life outside of my kids, it's just that it takes place in the wee hours of the morning or late at night at my computer!! I found out about this neat site from another great blog that I frequent. Warning the music is eclectic. like life.

Hooray for Preschool!

2008-09-02T12:15:00.000-04:00

What a wonderful concept, preschool! Ben and Maddie had great starts and they LOVE their teachers. It is just the best!

2008-09-02T11:56:00.000-04:00

This was a wonderful day at the park nearing the end of August. We were glad to find some shade. Maddie loves her new bike and Ben is cruising with no training wheels (and has been all summer!) Unfortunately this was right before Ben's first major bike crash. Luckily he made it through, and even got back on the bike. What a trooper. Can you tell Maddie likes pink?

Creative Summer Fun

2008-09-02T11:53:00.001-04:00

As you know, Ben is always rummaging around the kitchen looking for some fun stuff to ge into (like his mommy) and he came across my "cake decorating bag" He then had the great idea of making a gingerbread house. So what if it is the middle of August. right? So we mad a faux gingerbread house with a recycled orange juice container and LOTS of frosting. What fun.

Harvest Time at the Garden

2008-08-17T22:16:00.005-04:00

This year we have learned lots from our first garden. The first is that a garden that is within walking distance is better than one that is 10 miles away. Secondly, keeping a garden relatively weed free is nice. And, finally it is all about the soil. We hope to take all we have learned and make next year's garden in our own backyard. Even though our harvest has not been stellar, (the bunnies have had lots to eat however!) we have enjoyed some tomatoes, peas and squash. The kids have had fun and there is a perfect shady spot by our garden that makes for a fun picnic place. It's all good!

Happy Birthday Mommy!

2008-08-17T21:43:00.007-04:00

Yes, I recently had the joy of celebrating another birthday. I just had to preserve my favorite brfday card from Ben. His dad assures me he did this by himself! Just for the record, he is 4!! Look out MENSA!

Summer is just Peachy!

2008-08-17T21:23:00.004-04:00

As most of you know, I am really into agritourism right now. I recently stumbled upon a "you pick" peach orchard nearby. The cousins and I went to the orchard and came home with the absolute best peaches I have ever eaten. The orchard was beautiful and we had lots of fun picking. We all ate a juicy peach on the way home. yum!

2008-08-17T20:47:00.003-04:00

A big shout out to Daddy! Many of you know that Todd is training for a cross-state ride (yes, 433.7 miles!) and this milestone of a century recently took place. We were all so proud of him! The ride he is training for is called the Adoption Tour and it will happen the first week in October. More to come!

Down on the Farm

2008-07-23T08:44:00.004-04:00

Recently we were lucky enough to meet some wonderful people that opened up a whole world to us! Life on the farm! Ben, Maddie, Dee Dee and I headed to the country and visited them. These kind folks showed us all how to get eggs from chickens, feed the goats, pick okra, squash, corn, and beans, and even played a little bluegrass/gospel for us! This was a great experience- one my children will really treasure.

Maddie Grace!

2008-07-21T20:16:00.000-04:00

My sweet little girl is growing up! Here she strikes some poses on a hot summer day.

Let's Get Crafty

2008-07-21T16:23:00.003-04:00

Summer days are fun, I must admit. We recently had time to paint some place mats. Word to self- a drop cloth can come in handy in times like these! We ended up with some real works of art that we can see each time we eat now!

Ben is just finished a week of cooking camp here, so he was ready to put his skills to work. Look out Food Network!

Need I say More?

2008-07-21T16:03:00.000-04:00

Sometimes we just need to be reminded to Celebrate. Thanks to Ben's love of letters, we have been reminded lately.

Road Trip!

2008-07-21T16:01:00.002-04:00

Well, the 4th of July was a real trip for us. Literally. We headed West to see some family that we don't often get to see. We stopped in St. Louis on the way out and saw the Arch. This was fun, although Mom was a little shaky once on top! The kids thought the hotel was the best! And we got the joy of getting to be a close family for four whole days. So, Happy birthday, America.

Gardening Delights

2008-07-08T21:34:00.001-04:00

We just couldn't stand it. We had to PICK something.
We decided to harvest the onions and potatoes. Cousin Carly joined us, and we had a ball. Come to find out, both root vegetables did not grow as much or as big as I thought . Our harvest was a bit meager, and if we had to live solely off of this garden, we would be hurting, or at least very thin. Dad has been our gardening partner, and it has proven to be a favorite pastime of his this summer.
This is an onion blossom! So pretty i had to capture it.

One potato!

Here they are finding surprises in the dirt- underground surprises- potatoes!!

This is our friend, Dan. His land is where he generously lets us garden. He and his wife also have some blueberry bushes that are as big as a truck! Here, Ben and He are picking some new berries that just came in. Sweet memories!

Ahoy Matey!

2008-06-26T13:13:00.000-04:00

Here are some priceless kodak moments from a summer afternoon during Ben's first experience at Pirate Camp. A local church offered this experience- and I am so glad we took advantage of it. Ben is just loving it and Maddie gets to tag along on Tuesdays and Thursdays- thus the long awaited blog entry! Summer is going by fast, but we are enjoying every moment. Our mantra this summer is..."If we're not at the pool, we're at the lake, and if we're not at the lake, we're at the pool!" So far it has proven true. So, get your swimsuit on, or you walk the plank!
Aaaaarrrgggghhhh!

Cookin' Cousins

2008-06-26T13:04:00.000-04:00

Ben and Carly are having such a fun time playing together this summer. Here they are making homeade pizzas. We picked fresh basil from the garden- of course I am the only one that ate any- they just wouldn't touch the yukky green stuff- but it was fun to pick!

Sweet!

2008-05-10T15:07:00.001-04:00

Maddie's Birthday

2008-05-10T13:59:00.003-04:00

Here is the sign of a guilt ridden mom- documenting their child's birthday, even though it was one month ago! Better late than never, I say, and besides her baby book is still in the wrapper- and I have not lost hope for that!

If you ask Maddie what kind of party she had, she would say a Pink Party. It was indeed, complete with a pink butterfly cake. Her friends made it very special and fun.

To the Strawberry Patch

2008-05-10T13:50:00.003-04:00

Fewer things are more precious to me than watching my children experience new experiences. This is a local farm that offers LOTS of strawberries to pick. They also have an awesome pumpkin patch in the Fall, so we were familiar with the farm. Ben invited his buddy, Jeffrey, so they were in little boy heaven. Maddie was just thrilled to pick and get really dirty. I now have a fridge full of the most beautiful berries, and my camera is full of beautiful shots. The grandparents (Dee Dee and Paw Paw) are getting settled in to their new home which is very close by so we are doubly blessed to have shared this exprience with them.

Now for the show!

Action Sports International - www.asiorders.com

2008-05-05T15:31:00.002-04:00

Action Sports International - www.asiorders.com

Here's a post where I must admit that I am two things. Cheap, and crazy. Cheap, because I don't want to fork out the $$ for these candids(click the title link above)- from the Country Music 1/2 marathon I recently completed. First they are not that great- I really should have been looking up to heaven when I crossed the finish line. Thankfulness and meeting my maker were two things on my mind, so I really should have looked up. Secondly, I am crazy for doing this run- and for the record, my time was 2:27!! Not the 3:10 in the photo- that difference is the time it took me to cross the START line. yes, really...anyway, I only trained for 4 weeks-that was crazy. There were approximately 32,000 folks that ran the race, so there, I am not alone in my craziness! This officially makes two and 1/2 marathons I have completed. I would do it all over again too, because the group of women I went with were AWESOME! and they made it uber-fun.

Now, if you think I continued my wonderful training schedule.....I wish I could say I had, but alas, I did not. but it has only been two weeks, so I really hope to jump back on the wagon again.

Hopefully someone can read this and get motivated!- like me!

Action Sports International - www.asiorders.com

2008-05-05T15:30:00.000-04:00

Action Sports International - www.asiorders.com

It's About Time You Updated the Blog!

2008-05-05T08:16:00.004-04:00

Easter!

Hello to all three of my blog readers! I am sorry I have gotten behind- but Life just happens. Thanks to Public TV and a late sleeping 2 yr. old, I am going to try to slip in some Life-happenings. First of all now that it is May, I thought I had better document Easter!! It came very early this year(Mar. 23)- so, wearing white shoes was a little beyond me, but Maddie did. We were lucky enough to get to visit my Grandparents at their home of MANY years during the Easter holiday. What a blessing this was. The kids enjoyed a breezy day on the farm, and Ben enjoyed exploring the old barn.

We started a family tradition this Easter. I am choosing to record it here, because I will likely forget it before next year. As a mother in her 40's I feel it is prudent to do this.

The night before easter we dyed and decorated eggs and leftthem for the easter bunny. On the eve of Easter, he visited us and hid all our eggs- this year he hid them outside, and an animal enjoyed one of them-(note to self). On the morning of Easter, we found treats left where our eggs were, and then we went outside to find all the hidden eggs. He is a very creative bunny.

My Little Girl is Growing Up!

2008-04-10T12:51:00.002-04:00

Maddie will be turning 2 next week, and I thought some of these photos captured her well. She is changing every day. Here are some noteworthy things she is coming up with:

She can sound just like a donkey- "eee-awww" and when asked who taught her that, she said, Miss Pam (her sunday school teacher)
She tells me all the time, "Sit Down" which I might already be doing- i think it is code for "play with me" But, this is something we say to her VERY often, so who knows!

She will scratch my back now - unsolicited! And then give me a kiss.

She is amazing.

The Paci Fairy is on Her Way!

2008-04-10T12:39:00.002-04:00

As many of my closest friends know, I am a real entrepreneur wannabe. They have spent years putting up with my "ideas" and waiting until I actually pursue one. Well, here is one that I have decided to pursue. Yes, for real. You can check out the origin of the idea here. But for now check it out and PLEASE pass it on to a friend if you can! www.ThePaciFairy.net Many well wishes to all.

Cousin Time in Cozy Corner

2008-03-04T13:13:00.000-05:00

I have to record a benchmark this week. For the first time Ben and Maddie actually played together in the playroom for a sustained amount of time, and with no screaming, crying or major injury! And I got some glorious vaccum/laundry/pickup time to myself!! It was glorious! Here is another great milestone!! Ben, Maddie and Cousin Carly got to spend some quality time in the cozy corner reading. Ok, this was staged, but i really did catch them all reading - it just all changed when i entered withe the camera- Carly was actually reading to them! how sweet.

Art Time

2008-03-04T11:38:00.002-05:00

This past Sunday, we had some glorious 70 degree weather. March is in like a Lamb! Mommy decided that art could be fun and productive. Actually, Ben just wanted to paint this board! Then we got out paper, then limbs started flying and the rest is laundry challenges. Maddie just loved eating the paint, but she was quite the artist too with stamps. Ben decided after painting the board that he would make a "nose print".

the nose print!

YeeeeHaaaaa!

2008-03-04T11:35:00.000-05:00

Does the peanut butter sound like the Corn?

2008-03-04T11:34:00.000-05:00

Why my son loves to play in my pantry so much is out of my control. I simply have to let my OCD go and let them play. This was a fun kodak moment that i just couldn't pass up. It was quite a musical experience.

In addition to Gardening...

2008-03-04T11:28:00.000-05:00

In addition to gardening, Ben's favorite new pastime is looking for golf balls. As you may have read, the garden is a "co-op" of sorts that our friends Dan and Carolyn let us share. Dan, who is retired, likes to use all that land as a pseudo driving range, so as our gift to him, after working in the garden, we go search for golf balls, and there are lots! I think it is great practice for upcoming egg-hunts. So, watch out all you other preschoolers! Another activity we have discovered on the way to our garden (which is about 10 miles away) is the dairy bar that lures us in each time we pass it on our way home. After toiling in the fields, it is a welcome treat! Besides, I am a great rationalizer!

Let's Garden!

2008-03-04T11:12:00.001-05:00

Well, it is official, thanks to some very dear friends, Dan and Carolyn, we now have a beautiful garden! About 2 weeks ago, Ben and I started our garden with lettuce and onions. We watched as "farmer" Dan tilled the beautiful soil and then we planted away. Ben was just ecstatic. More to come.

On A Winter Day

2008-02-15T13:40:00.001-05:00

So, what can you do on a winter day when you are living life with a 4 and two year old? Well, you make the most of it, try to stay busy, and don't ever skimp on a babysitter. Todd was out of town all week, and luckily, my mom was here to help me (as she came to my rescue last week when I had pneumonia) In the meantime, I tried to keep everyone happy, and healthy. Ben really enjoyed his new "rainsuit" on our snowy trampoline, and then we tried a few things with the tried and true grocery bag. We made valentines and we made cookies too.

This was one of the funnier shots. Look closely, Ben put his "rainsuit" on over his pajamas and decided to wear his sunglasses while watching tv. I swear the book was not placed as a pose- he did this all himself, I just caught the kodak moment. The book, oddly enough, is "The Dangerous Book for Boys" We had it out earlier in the week to learn how to play marbles. It is a magical book that explains much of the lost art of being a boy- art that has been lost on video games and tv. I jsut love it- it was my Christmas gift to Todd. Now! what about Maddie? More to come! NowThis photo was taken just as Maddie discovered a new headdress- her brother's underwear! Classic.

So, Maddie has a real fascination with shoes. I find this comical, and interesting - girls will be girls. These are some shoes that were handed down to us from a friend, so, they are a little big, but they fit over her footie pajamas just fine. She likes the sound as she clomps thru the house, as she says over and over, "big girl"

Hotel Rooms and Baby Traps

2008-02-10T20:15:00.000-05:00

Ok- this is by far the weirdest title to a post, but I will explain. Funny things happen in while raising a four year old and a two year old. If I fail to write them down, they will disappear into memory oblivion. So, I thought I would use my handy blog to record some funny things that happened recently. First of all my son simply loves hotel rooms. He is all about remembering the hotel room over the trip. It is just a great memory for him. So, recently when I drug out some boxes for another project, he cut me off at the pass and decided to make two hotel rooms; one for him and one for his sister. They were both completely decorated too. I am talking hours of fun. Who knew.

Another one of my son's favorite pasttimes is playing in his dad's and my office. He drags out tape and paper and sets up his office. Here he created a "Baby Trap" so that his sis couldn't enter without being "trapped" by tape. He was very proud of this invention!

Finally another little conversation that deserved recording. We were in the car recently when Ben asked, "Mommy, when I grow up and get married and become a Dad, will I get a ring?" To which I said, well, yes! He came back, "And they will let me keep it?" "Sure!" He replied with great relief...."Yea, then I will lose all my hair!!"

Sweet memories. Just another reminder that the days are long, but the years are short!

Wake Up! The First Look

2008-01-26T22:13:00.000-05:00

Of all mornings for my children to sleep late- wouldn't you know Ben slept until 8:30! and we finally had to wake up Maddie at 9:00. Now most mornings I would be thrilled (this hasn't happened since!) They were both so excited, and shocked to find that toys just kept appearing! It was just magical!

Hooray for Grandparents

2008-01-26T22:03:00.000-05:00

My children are so blessed! They got to spend Christmas with both sets of Grandparents. Bob Bob and Ju Ju drove all the way from Florida and Dee Dee and Pa Paw drove all the way from down the street! They helped make lots of memories for the kids and we all enjoyed our time together. Ben and Maddie are really enjoying their toys from the grandparents, and the hugs and kisses were great too!

T'was the Night Before Christmas

2008-01-24T13:40:00.000-05:00

Yes, Yes, I know...it's almost the end of January and I am just now blogging about the biggest holiday of the year, Christmas. Let's just say it took me this long to recover, like a really bad hangover. No seriously, it was pretty magical as you can see here. This was the little ones spreading their reindeer dust. You know, so Santa's reindeer could find our home. Well, thank goodness they did that, because those little sleigh pullers found our house no problem!

Here they are posing in their matching new Christmas pajamas. Psych! That just didnt happen this year. Although they look pretty cool. This is not a great photo of Ben, but I loved it of Maddie, and I am having a really hard time getting them both to smile at the same time! They both loved Christmas and really for the first time Ben "got it". At 4, things seem to kick in.

Advent Calendars Rock!

2007-12-19T22:54:00.000-05:00

I just have to give a shout out to my friend Heidee for giving my son such a meaningful and fun gift. This simple advent calendar has been so much fun. Every morning Ben wakes with the question..."Mommy, can I go get my chocolate now?" He just loves it and it is just one magical part of this Christmas season.

Fun Times

2007-12-19T22:51:00.000-05:00

ok. Sometimes you just need to be silly. So, this morning as we were making breakfast, we decided to play with my most recent christmas gift. I received this lovely gag gift at my book club outing where we decided to exchage "white elephant" gifts....the only catch was you had to wear whatever you received- throughout the whole dinner. Luckily, I did not pick the shower cap! Ben looks like a real chef here.

Santa Photos!

2007-12-04T23:58:00.000-05:00

Ok- it is official- Ben and Maddie have had a little chat with Santa. Ben wants a wobbly scooter (aka a razor) and Maddie just said Ho Ho Ho the whole time. This was a great Santa, and the kids were just great too! hint: click on the photo to get a better look at these beautiful kids God gave me!!

The Christmas Express

2007-12-04T23:43:00.000-05:00

So, like many of you, I am trying to find some traditions that will stick at our holidays. I am pretty sure we will do this again! This was a train ride called the Christmas Express. Akin to the Polar Express, this is a 90 minute train ride that was great fun. We entered and had snacks and hot chocolate. A story was read to all the children by a "celebrity" reader- a local newscaster. Then, we all got a visit from Santa, who gave out little toys. We all had a ball, although, Maddie opted to stay home with the grandparents, where it was nice and warm! Ben's favorite part was the open air car- yes, it had no top- it was like a big wagon. He stayed out there (with dad) most of the trip home. Brrrr. We topped the evening off with a meal at Calhouns on the river, and relished the memories all the way home.

2007-12-04T23:37:00.000-05:00

More Birthday Fun

2007-12-04T23:29:00.000-05:00

I have come to the conclusion that when it comes to kids' birthday parties: Sometimes less is more. If you could only go back to last year's party- you would see that I am slowly learning this. We kept it simple. No games- just playing. ok, I did have favors, but overall, boys and girls (especially boys) love just running around and playing. It was even raining and messy out- but they didn't care, they had frosting and hotdogs to eat! And, check out that teepee! Many thanks to Auntie Robin for that creative and generous gift. The wheelbarrow is a favorite too- it get's lots of use in the "Landfill" which is what Ben calls the diggable area under our deck- aka little boy heaven.

All Aboard the Birthday Train

2007-12-04T23:24:00.000-05:00

Yea! Ben is 4! Can you believe it? How time flies. Ben decided on a train cake this year- in the spirit of the Polar Express. He is still not a crazed fan like some of his peers, but he is intrigued somewhat. I saw the cake pan in a catalog and just "had to have it". It was really fun to make, and it is served as pull apart cupcakes. Anyway, I am gastrinomically digressing. The most fun was just having friends and family join in on the fun. Many thanks to the grandparents who sent gifts and moolah! Ben has been ejoying it all.

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

2007-12-04T23:19:00.000-05:00

Ok, it's not easy being green! We recently took on a recycling venture, and Ben created an "airplane robot" . This was during the last warm days of our ultra warm Fall.

Night Time Fun

2007-12-04T23:16:00.000-05:00

Well, I have decided to finally get back on the blog! Many apologies to all my faithful readers out there. I have had two nights of 8 hrs. of blissfull sleep- and since I just feel so good, I thought I would burn the midnight oil and get some things done. Like my blog. So many things have happened within these very busy months! Here is a shot of Ben and Maddie on the cool "husband pillows" that Auntie Robin bought at Target for $5 each! I love a good deal, don't you?

I am grateful for daylight savings time! Bedtime is so much more fun!!