Walking for Charlotte

Hi everyone! I am participating in a WalkAmerica event April 28th that raises funds for March of Dimes. If you aren't familiar with March of Dimes it is an organization that funds research and development to understand and prevent prematurity, birth defects and infant mortality. This event and organization is very near and dear to my heart because of our experience with Charlotte and also because of the experiences my friends and family members have had with complications and prematurity.

I am hoping you will help support me in whatever way you feel moved, either through a donation, by joining our team and walking with us or through your thoughts & prayers. If you would like to donate please know donations don't have to be large to make a difference. Tad and I have started a "Dime Bank" where we are emptying any change (especially dimes) we have at the end of each day into the bank. Sarah-Grace is collecting her dimes as well.

I have a personal web page that you can visit to read more about the event, why I am participating and where you can choose to make a donation or join our team if you feel moved to do so. You can visit this web page by clicking on the following link: http://www.walkamerica.org/kgraces

I appreciate each and every one of you, your thoughts and prayers for us and for Charlotte where overwhelming and that experience was life changing for us. Thank you for your love, your support, your friendships and God bless you all!

Kimberly

Down the Drain

SO, I totally forgot to write the most interesting thing about the past 2 weeks in my last blog. I was consumed with duties and details last week leading up to the auction. Myself along with the PTO board worked non-stop. I had about 4 hours sleep Thursday through Saturday night. Thursday was so nuts, Tad was gone, I had more shopping to do for last minute details, I baked 130 cakes that day and made the mousse filling, then I had to get 14 dozen roses for the centerpieces I had to make. Friday morning I was exhausted from the day before plus no sleep. I had to be at the 1818 club again first thing in the morning to put out a fire, then more shopping, then off to the school to make 15 centerpieces, deliver the centerpieces, fabric and candles to the club later that evening. I was doing SO great on time. All I had to do was unload my car (the centerpieces, fabric, risers, candles, etc.) then I would be off to the house to finish filling the cakes and then start glazing them - with the schedule I had stuck to I would be home around 8pm and in bed by 11pm.

The auction chair, Debbie, came with me to unload and drop off. We made a quick pit stop to the bathroom. She had been on the phone ALL day and was talking to her friend while she was waiting on me. When I went to stand up and, pardon my "graphic-ness" here, pull up my pants when I felt something fall out of my jeans pocket. What may have dropped out you ask? Well, that would be my car keys. Any where did they drop you may ask? Well, that would be in the TOILET AS IT WAS FLUSHING!!! Yes, that's right I flushed my car keys (9 keys, keyless entry, gym card, Kroger card, Publix card all attached) DOWN THE TOILET!! And apparently the 1818 club has the most powerful toilets in the world because it didn't even hesitate. It didn't clog, didn't back up, just flushed them straight out to sea - with Nemo I suppose.

I was panicked and mortified. I had to interrupt Debbie to use her phone and call Tad - which was oh so fun. He had to come bring me the back up set we have - thank the good Lord. Then I had the oh so fun task of walking out to the main desk. Now, the 1818 club is a members only club for many distinguished people in gwinnett county. They have an incredible seafood buffet on Friday nights so it's usually packed. I had to walk out among these people and explain to the front desk lady that I just flushed my keys down the toilet. Of course she couldn't hear me because of all the people around (and I was trying to whisper) - she said 'YOU DID WHAT?" so loudly everyone had to turn around. I just wanted to die.

SO, I waited on Tad, set up every table while I waited, didn't get home until 10pm and didn't get to bed until 2am. Tad refused to let me hold my keys when he came to pick me up. He walked me to the car and put them into the ingnition for me. It's going to be a long time before I live this one down.

I'm still here

Sorry it's been a while. In the past 2 weeks Tad was out of town 7 of the 14 days and part of that time he was hospitalized in Colorado. He had to take some serious down time last week, which invloved resting, doctor's visits, more blood work and then he took another trip to TEXAS. Then the annual fundraising auction for the girls' school was this past weekend. Every year I say I'm not going to help and every year I do. Case in point, this year I was the decorations committee chair, the silent auction chair, the check out chair, I made 130 mini choclate ganache cakes - yeah and pretty much I was the honorary auction co-chair. I was EXHAUSTED after Saturday and so I slept for 2 days straight and I actually left the house today. But, we raised a good amount of money so that's rewarding!!

The next few months are NUTS!! Kelly is moving in next weekend!! I am so excited. The boys are in for a rude awakening - and some serious trash tv on every night!! I have Sarah-Grace's birthday, spring break, 4 showers, one wedding, a bar mitz vah, Teacher Appreciation Week (I'm chair of the committee - go figure), Laura Kate's arrival, baby Rogers arrival and on and on all in the next few months!! I'm excited but I'm a little overwhelmed just thinking about it.

On a random note, Charlotte just started saying Sarah-Grace this week - she use to call her just Grace. Sarah-Grace is obsessed with babysitting, she is constantly "babysitting" her dolls and keeps asking about her new cousins that are due soon. Both the girls will watch a new DVD until it won't play anymore. They are still watching the first season of Full House. I wish I could record everytime they are watching with their headphones on and the show starts because they both belt out the theme song. It is SO funny - neither one off them can carry a tune and because Charlotte doesn't know most of the words or can't enunciate the words she sounds, well, challenged.

Pink Monday

Not much to report today. We really didn't do much over the weekend. We did hang some pictures and replace the fan that fell in the keeping room. Yes, that's right it fell right off the pole last week at 10pm. It would have killed or seriously injured our children had it fell on one of them, but we are just thanking the Lord that it didn't. And now it's gone and a much lighter and securer one is in it's place.

I was dropping the girls off at school this morning when I realized Charlotte's eye was pink. SO we ran out of the school and to the doctor's office where we sat and waited and waited and waited for them to tell me she had pink eye. Every mother knows you NEVER go to the doctor on a Monday morning unless it is absolutely necessary, and unfortunately pink eye is absolutely necessary. At least our doctor had mercy on me and not only wrote one prescription but a refill just in case this nasty junk comes back in Charlotte's eye or if one of us happens to wake up in the next few days with it. God bless that woman!! Then we had to pick Sarah-Grace up from school and lug everyone to the grocery store to get the prescription filled. FUN. It was lots of FUN. Charlotte has never had eye drops before so her first dose went really well. - mainly because she had no idea what was happening. Of course she got wise to the eye drop bottle and her second dose involved screaming and being held down. Fun, it's really fun.

Sarah-Grace helped me make dinner and fold laundry (she LOVES to fold towels - and I love that about her). We made my grandma's easy mac & cheese, pork chops and green beans. I'm always recommending this recipe for "during the week meals" so I thought I would blog it and share it with all of you. If you make it please write me and tell me what you think! Thanks grandma Grace Wills!!

Easy Mac & Cheese
2 cups UNCOOKED elbow macaroni noodles
1 1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
2 1/2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
4 cups milk (I use 2% but my grandma uses whole milk)
(my grandma adds 1 tsp dried minced garlic but I don't)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Put UNCOOKED macaroni, salt, pepper and 2 cups of cheese in a casserole dish. Mix with a spoon. Pour milk over the cheese/noodle mixture. Bake for 1 hour total. I usually check on it after 45 minutes and mix it around with a spoon then put the last 1/2 cup of cheese over the top. It's SO easy and only 1 dirty dish when it's done!!

Brag Blog 2-23-07

Attention!! This is a shameless "brag blog" to document the little accomplishments my babies have made lately. SO, if you don't want to hear about them, then don't read any further. I don't want to be obnoxious about my kids, but part of the reason for this blog is to have an online journal of my memories and the girls' milestones. Here are a few updates:

• Sarah-Grace read 3 books this week and for the first time actually seemed to be comprehending the story and not just reading the words. She also kicks butt at the bank game (this is advanced math work in the montessori class)!
• Charlotte started repeating her prayers and scripture this week. It is so sweet. She even had her baby doll kneeling, putting her hands together and telling the doll to pray with her.
• We had parent teacher conferences today. They showed us a picture that Sarah-Grace drew of us this week and she wrote the sentence "Trampoline How Long Will It Stay Up" on the bottom of the page. The teachers told us how sorry they were that we may not be able to keep it. This is the first time that we knew Sarah-Grace knew anything about it!!
• Charlotte keeps saying Uncle Jesse every time she sees Full House or just thinks about it. I think Sarah-Grace has had Full House on the TV so much Charlotte actually thinks he will come if she calls him enough.
• Ms. Joan's been teaching the children about dinosaurs at school. As usual she makes up a song to help them remember what she's teaching them. She sent a paper home and I figured I would just see if Charlotte could recognize the song. Um, yeah she now knows 4 dinosaur names and what their traits are. I don't know why I think that is so cool. Ms. Joan's the best!!
• Sarah-Grace actually asked to come in from the playground today and help the teacher's clean the shelves and equipment in the classroom instead of playing anymore outside. No wonder they absolutely adore her at school!!
  

Hickory Shower

This weekend was good! Kelly's shower went very smoothly (although her friends got a little stressed out at the baby picture game). As usual, I have to post a list of things to remember over the weekend.

• Next time I play the baby picture game and I have the mom of the prego girl bring the baby picture I'm going to make sure the prego girl actually sees her baby picture and knows which one she is! It's all good, Kelly figured it out in the end.
• Kelly & I are so very lucky to have Tad and Rick, or so they like to tell us very often.
• When running into random delivery guys Rick will stop to give them tips and suggestions on how and what to deliver in their box.
• When in a situation where the car that is waiting on Tad is moved or hidden, Tad will continue to walk and act like he knows exactly where we are and what is going on - even when he doesn't.
• "People" talking like Anna Nicole Smith.
• Rick STILL being upset at Anna Nicole's death.
• Tommy is really reading up on mother & baby articles lately.
• Everyone trying to sneak out of the room and leave Rick sleeping on the couch (instead of snoring all night and keeping Kelly up) - AGAIN.
• When Rick asks a server's opinion on a particular beverage and she tells him that the beverage in question is pretty nasty - Rick will still order the beverage, take one sip and agree it is nasty. He just likes to taste it himself.
• After the above mentioned beverage is consumed Rick will give you his honest and passionate opinion about the people in his life.
• Rick snoring so loudly in the car he actually woke himself up.
• Gabe's dog Louie likes me. He really likes me.
• Skittles in Zima is apparently still tastey - even if you're not in college anymore.
• Meeting Dwight - he's really much sweeter and better looking in person.
• When Tad feels guilty about going on a ski trip its a great time to "stop" by the outlets in Gaffney.
• Kelly winning the bet about the first question Rick would ask after receiving his "man daiper bag".

Charlotte's B-day 2007

We got back from Seattle and its been a whirlwind since then. Charlotte's birthday party was last Saturday so we had family in town all weekend. We spent Sunday afternoon celebrating Judge's birthday and I had a blast. I've never been to a "garage sale" that was that exciting as the one Kathy hosts!! I have a billion things to do for the auction - I say every year I'm not going to help and this year I'm "not helping" by soliciting 8 donations and chairing the decorations committee. I know I bring it on myself, but I can't wait until this is over!! This weekend I'm hosting Kelly's shower in Hickory and then, oh yeah, today was Valentine's Day - so I've been just a little busy!!

Below are some pictures from Charlotte's birthday party. It was tons-o-fun. She pretty much refused to open gifts after about the 3rd one because she wanted to eat ANYONE's cake that was left sitting on the table. She discovered you can't eat M&M's out of a cup with a plain fork. BUT, if you dip the fork in icing and then dip it into the cup, the M&M's will stick to the fork and you can eat them!! When it was time to go she kept saying more party. When we explained the party was over she looked at Tad and said "This party fun". Yeah, she pretty much melted his heart and guaranteed a great party next year. Tad video recorded the party with Kelly & Rick's new DVD camera (thanks again y'all!). And now the girls stay GLUED to the TV in the playroom because they keep watching the party over and over again.

Today the girl's got the first season of Full House on DVD for Valentine's Day. Sarah-Grace has NOT stopped watching it. I figured they could watch it on really long trips - she figured she could try and watch all 22 episodes TODAY.

And here's just some random things I feel like blogging because I don't know when I'll have time to blog again...

• We were officially welcomed to the neighborhood association with 2 "nasty-grams" yesterday. One for the trailer we've had parked out front for about a month now and one for the trampoline we put up without consulting the architechture committee. I sure hope they let us keep the trampoline up or they are going to have 2 upset little girls and about 8 pissed off Thompson, Tully & Rawlins family members.
• Tad & Rick can both do toe touches on the trampoline?!! This is just wrong.
• Rick flails his arms like a helicoptor when jumping on the trampoline.
• I think the rendition of the BEE GEE's song with the beat box guy on American Idol was the BEST audition EVER!! I would totally buy that single if it was made.
• I think I might possibly hate Spencer on The Hills more than Jason from the Hills. I never thought that was possible - what's up with his grill? He looks like a vampire. Plus he's just cheesy and creepy. Yuck.
• Tank & Jessica are the closest I've ever come to reality MTV. They actually know a couple who were on a show!!
• I love Anna & Josh - especially after around 10pm when it's late and we're goofy and tired and just being ourselves, and even our "couple-selves".
• I don't get Ali-G or D'Ali-G or whatever the heck that silly show is. I just don't.
• If you've ever read my blog or heard me talk about our friends Matt & Beth who are adopting a little boy Eli, I thought you would want to know he is HERE. He came home last Thursday and he is just stealing every person's heart he comes in contact with. Seriously, you know people were going to fuss over him, but you can just hear in people's voices and see in their faces when they talk about him he is SO special. And he has such special parents to watch over him. Talking to Beth on the phone today you can literally HEAR her smiling. He is an answered prayer and we are so happy for them.

Shopping in Seattle

I love this city!! It's so clean, and pretty, and busy and interesting..and clean. Honestly, I love it here!! I am sitting at my desk in the hotel room and in one window I can see the Puget Sound, the Space Needle and some incredible snow covered mountains (which Tad will be attempting to ski on tomorrow). I've walked more in the past 2 days than I have in a month. I ate a piece of the best pizza I have ever had at the Italian Specialty Food Shop at Pike Place Market this afternoon. I bought more of my FAVORITE cookies of all time at Three Girls Bakery in Pike Place Market (here they call them Chocolate Drops, up north they call them thumbprint cookies or black eyed susans). I only got hassled by 1 fish guy today. I spent an hour looking at vintage estate jewelry at this fabulous antique store - I LOVE old jewelry. I would so rather have a piece of vintage jewelry than anything new. I think that all the old colorful sapphires and diamonds they used to use are so rare and beautiful. I also LOVE vintage aprons. I always stop to look at them whenever I see them. I stopped by the old Bon Marche' flagship store which is now Macy's and it makes me want to puke. The store is beautiful and has so much history to have the ugly Macy's sign and nasty star logo down the side of it.

Yesterday I went to the Nordstrom Rack and got some great deals - they get all their stuff from the 7 story Nordstrom flagship store 2 blocks away. The shopping here is incredible - you name it, they have it. Even the department stores are amazing. Anyway, I'm enjoying my vacation and I think Tad is enjoying work. He won Sales Rep of the Quarter today. Everyone I meet here just gushes about him, so I think he likes it here too. Some of his co-workers we've known for years, either from other companies he's worked for or I've worked for so it's always nice to see and "reunite" with them. And some of the "new" co-workers that I've never met are just as sweet and friendly (and they read my blog - so I have to give a "shout out" to Erin - you are so sweet). I think it's pretty nuts that the weather here is nicer and warmer than in Atlanta. The past 2 days here have been gorgeous and in the high 40's low 50's. Oh, well. We'll be home in just a couple of days.

Sleeping in Seattle

We made it to Seattle!! Last week was a blur (as usual). Tad got the plasma TV mounted (which took 5 days to do and don't even get me started on the huge hole that had to be cut and then re-drywalled, plastered and painted). AND, David took all the wall paper down in the girl's vanity room and then re-wallpapered while Tad helped and watched. At one point Sarah-Grace looked at Tad and said, "Aren't you suppose to be doing something Daddy?". The room had striped yellow wallpaper and now it's pink with white polka dots and it's super cute. Next week they will get started on the shower room - or rather David will get started on the shower room.

I had a Creative Memories party - which was awesome - and why we ran mad last week to put the house together as much as possible! Tad said he doesn't know what the CM chick gives us but it must be good because Julie came home just as excited as I had been when I went to my most recent party and was giving Elliott the EXACT same speech I gave Tad when I got home! They now have all this stuff to keep your pictures on the computer (which is where all mine are and the reason I have cropped NOTHING with any of the junk I bought in the past).

I went to bed at 5:30 on Sunday night and had to get up at 6:30am yesterday to make our flight to Seattle. BUT, all of the laundry, Charlotte's birthday invitaions and Kelly's invitations are DONE!! Some are waiting to be stamped and put in the mail - but the parties are planned and on their way!! Which takes a load off me this week. SO, once we got to Seattle I slept the ENTIRE day, all night - until this morning!! I can't believe I slept that long?!! Tad had a dinner and an "after party" (that's code for meet his co-workers at the bar) for most of the time I was asleep. I was up at 6am this morning (that's 9am if I were at home).

Charlotte kept everyone up Sunday night according to Sarah-Grace (I got a minute by minute recap when I asked her yesterday how things went). She said that Charlotte was up with Jeannie and at 3:45am. She had her babydoll on her knee and was singing "this is the way the ladies ride, ladies ride, all through the town". Jeannie said she was trying to pretend she was sleeping in effort to lure Charlotte to sleep , but she couldn't help but laugh at her.

When I kissed the girls goodbye and asked them if they would miss me Charlotte said NO, several times. She loves me deep down inside, I think. Oh, well. I'm off to shop some more.

Random Blog Jog

Just random things I wanted to blog.

• Box Update (please disregard - this is only to hold myself accountable)- I have 3 boxes of the girls books left and 3 boxes of coat closet crap - and then I'm DONE!! Although I no longer have a coat closet so I'm not sure how long those boxes will sit in the garage.
• Sarah-Grace really likes broccoli and Charlotte really like asparagus. I'm writing this down because I keep forgetting this now, so I know I'll never remember it later.
• Charlotte starting talking in sentences last week - FINALLY!! This child goes for weeks, sometimes months, with out reaching any milestones and then, BAM, she does them all at once.
• Charlotte finally starting repeating her prayers every night.
• Charlotte can't say the word strength, but she can say Deuteronomy?! She can now almost repeat her scripture I'm teaching her - Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul and strength. Deuteronomy 6:5.
• Sarah-Grace's interest in learning scripture has returned - maybe from seeing Charlotte doing it. So, we've started over from her old list and it's coming back to her very quickly. She's already reciting 2 scriptures after 4 days! Psalm 139:14 and 1Kings 3:9. I don't know how long this will last, and I'm not going to force it on her (I want scripture to be something that she grows to love not forced to do or begin to resent) but I hope it lasts a while.
• That's all for right now. Super busy but promise to post more often.

Quickie

Just a quick update from today...

• I unpacked 8 boxes!! - Mostly lamps, books, and candles (which Tad "may" have packed all in the same box). We lost 3 lamp shades in the move - possible more once I "unpack" the rest of the lamp shades Tad packed in a garbage bag. He really meant well - but we are so totally hiring someone to pack us if we ever move again - which I'm thinking will be NEVER.
• Tad & I discovered a ton of storage space in these cubbies in Charlotte's room that David told us about 2 weeks ago!! SO we packed ALL of the baby stuff (which was a lot) in them and still have room to fit all our Christmas boxes too!! We just may be able to park one of our cars in our three car garage sometime next week!!
• Charlotte was sitting on the potty (yes she has chosen the most hectic time in our lives to try and potty train herself - and of course this time she had to go in the middle of dinner) and kept looking down into the potty and yelling "come on pee pee"! Just when I'm about to pull my hair out with this child she makes me laugh so hard I fall down - literally - I almost dropped her in the potty.
• Tad & Rick are convinced that we will lose weight on the Sacred Heart Diet - today was day one. All we could eat was vegetable soup and fruit. I don't really buy into this whole diet thing so I substituted my corn chowder from last night for the vegetable soup today. We are very hungry and very grouchy and not looking forward to tomorrow - leafy greens and vegetable soup - nothing else!! I am so going to cheat tomorrow.

Happy New Year!!

Happy New Year!! I know, I know it's been a while. Well, December was hectic but fun. We got through the closing of our old house, moving in with Julie & Elliott, the closing of our new house, 1 lingerie shower, 1 bridal luncheon, 2 weddings, 1 bowl game, Christmas, the flu, and moving out of Julie & Elliott's house and into our new house all in ONE MONTH!! We are exhausted. No, we are NOT unpacked and I'm not sure we will be anytime soon. Tad is so excited about our new house that he keeps inviting everyone over, thus delaying our unpacking. Now, don't get me wrong, I LOVE having people over, and let's face it I am a total procrastinator - so I'm usually in the background saying sure we can totally unpack tomorrow. But, seriously we have to buckle down and get it done.

Case in point, Saturday we had a list of what we were going to get done - I even put on my work clothes and painfully turned down a really cool shopping trip with Anna & Josh to the Whole Food Market. I decided we would just take a "quick" trip to the store to pick up a entertianment center for the keeping room before we got started on our "to do list". On the way we were talking to Dave & Court on the phone. Tad invited them over for dinner (way after we would have everything on our list done). But after we got off the phone Tad realized he would need a TV in the basement so he & Dave could play pool and watch TV. So we made a pit stop at Circuit City to get a TV, then we drove by the furniture store to find that they were out of the entertianment center. So, we just "stopped" by 2 more stores and an antique store, bought a baker's rack but still found no entertainment center. We came home, put the bakers rack in the kitchen, unpacked 2 boxes and then spent the rest of the day grocery shopping, making dinner and putting the tv up in the basement. And that's what we did, after the entire day was over I unpacked 2 BOXES!!!

At least we are enjoying our home, and I'm sure we will get things done this week. That's why tomorrow night we are having EVERYONE we know over to watch the football game. Well, maybe Tuesday....

The No Snow Show

Well, we finally closed on our house!! It was painful and frustrating but we did it!! We have to be out by Saturday at 6pm. As of right now the only furniture in our house is our mattresses, Tad's desk, our tv's and some chairs in our den. Sarah-Grace and Charlotte think its great. They have one small container of toys but prefer to just run wild in all the open space. We move in with Julie & Elliott for 2 weeks and then we can move into our new house!!

Bink's finally getting married this weekend!! I am so excited for her and I can't wait to see how beautiful it's going to be!! Between her and Christy (whose getting married on the 30th) I've been to 5 showers in the past 5 weeks. WOW. But they have all been great and all the hoopla couldn't be for 2 more deserving girls.

OK, so we finally went to the Snow Show at Atlantic Station. It sucked. I'm sorry to say that because I was so looking forward to it, but it just plain bit the dust (or rather suds because that's what the "snow" was). If you stood RIGHT UNDER the "snow machines" which looked like weird megaphones, then it actually looked like it was snowing. Otherwise, it looked like nothing. Anyway, here are some pictures of this disappointing event.

Happy Birthday Tracee!! She turned 18 this Saturday.

That would be suds all over Sarah-Grace & Tori, not flakes.

Notice Charlotte's hat, she is refusing to take it off - even when we are inside.

All Bundled Up

OK. I just had to take a picture of this today. Rick & Kelly bought the girls these adorable gloves, mittens, hat & scarf. Once we got dressed to go to dinner, Charlotte reminded us of the liitle kid in the Christmas Story all bundled up. You should have seen her sitting super stiff in the car seat!! It was hysterical. She wouldn't smile but she really did love her new accessories.

See Spot

See Spot

See Spot Spread

See Spot Spread Red Spots All Over My BABY!!

Charlotte has Hand, Foot & Mouth virus. This is what it looks like. She acts absolutely fine, no fever, no loss of energy and most importantly no loss of appetite. For all you moms out there, this is a vey mild case. It is only contagious when the child is broken out in bumps (which today would be her first day of being contagious - yipee). The doctor said she contracted this lovely aliment approximately 2 weeks ago when she must have come into contact with a child that was broken out in bumps. She can't go back to school until the bumps are gone - which will hopefully be soon but could take up to a week. Anyway, that is the news of the day.

Oh yeah and this is what Tad looks like after he took Charlotte to the doctor by himself.

Just Stay Calm

OK, so Tad tells me tonight that a couple accepted our counter offer and we have to be out of our house in 15 days (pending inspection). Yep, 15 days. No biggie. It's just Thansgiving this week (in Augusta where we will be most of the week) and the GA/GA Tech game on Saturday and after all that's over we'll have...10 days. Yep, 10 days to pack our entire house in boxes, wait...I don't have boxes. Things could be worse.

Our New Addition

This is my life right now:

• Rick moved in with us. He's a director now at a local hospital. He is hysterical, and him and Tad together is just plain scary. Rick, Tad & Josh together is indescribable. Watching our family get adjusted to eachother has been quite amusing. I think when Kelly moves down Tad might send me to live with her and keep Rick.
• When we first told Sarah-Grace we were getting a new house, she constantly cried that Rick wouldn't know how to get there and she wanted him to live with us. We assured her that we would Rick give directions to our new house and he could live with us there too.
• Tonight Tad & Rick spent 30 minutes trying to find an X-Box game that they could both play. After 30 minutes they load the game and realize that Tad's character is "in jail" and Rick's character has to save him. SO far Rick's died five times trying to save Tad and Tad's guy is "locked" to standing and kneeling in his cell. Tad's now sitting with the control in his lap and watching Rick play - wouldn't this have been easier to do 30 minutes ago with a game only one of them could play?
• Last week Josh, Tad and Rick spent over 7 days plotting a camping trip for PS3 - Josh was captain since he was the veteran!! The plan was Josh & Tad would camp out, get their name on a "list" and Rick would meet up with them after he got off work. Josh & Tad got up at 4am on Thursday and spent the rest of the day driving to every location that had PS3's from here to Covington to Athens to Winder and back to Lawrenceville. It was really sad watching their dream die.
• This weekend Rick had what he now classifying as a mysterious "24 hour tooth ache". He asked me to research this on the internet.
• Rick has gotten lost everytime he's tried to drive home to Hickory or to David & Jeannie's house since he's been living with us(apparently Lawrenceville-Suwanee is a confusing road). The first time he was driving back to Hickory he got so frustrated he stopped at Best Buy in Athens and bought a GPS system to find his way home - then returned it when he got home. The scary part is Tad did this same thing a month ago when he was driving to Tennessee - they even bought the exact same model. This past weekend after an hour & a half of driving and ending up in Dacula he just called Kelly and told her he was staying here. We are beginning to see why Sarah-Grace was so upset that Rick wouldn't be able to live with us because he wouldn't be able to find our new house (at least the new one's in Dacula).
• Rick and I pretty much argue about food all the time - we both consider ourselves experts. Last night he informed me he was making Rhubarb pie to bring to Thanksgiving because that's what people in California do. When I told him Rhubarb wasn't in season and that the traditional pie for Thanksgiving was PUMPKIN no matter what state you lived in he said, "Oh". The day before that he was saying he wanted mincemeat pie.
• Rick grew up in California. His father was a fire chief. Any restaurant or entertainment place that ever existed started first in California, and Rick and his dad not only went to these original places, but they went on opening day to all of them.
• So far Rick's died so many times trying to save Tad's character I've lost count - it's been over 15 times, at least. It's now been 30 minutes to find this game and 50 minutes of Rick trying to save Tad out of "jail" so he can play too.
• We informed Sarah-Grace she will begin calling any cousins that are our age (or close to it) "aunt" and "uncle" because it's what we did when we were little and it's respectful. When we informed her of this last week she became hysterical and started saying how much she loved her cousins and why wasn't Rick going to be in our family anymore. We calmed her down and explained what we meant and that Rick was still in our family. She's compromised by calling him Uncle Cousin Rick.
• Charlotte was shopping with Jeannie & I last week for a shirt for Julie. The one we picked was a long sleeve button up shirt. Charlotte looked at it and said "that's cute, daddy's shirt". Jeannie said no, not daddy's and she replied, "Rick's?". We thought that was so funny.
• We love having Rick around and hope someday soon Kelly will join us too!!

Update to God is Good Post

Hey, I added some more pictures to "God is Good" post for my family, specifically Tori. Thanks!

Grace-erosity

I just wanted to write a post of Sarah-Grace's sweet, generous spirit. Last week her teacher's must have been talking to the children and "teasing" them about all their candy from Halloween because on Wednesday she came home saying that neither of her teacher's had candy since grown ups can't trick or treat. She really empathized with them and was concerned about this. So Thursday morning after her breakfast as I was getting ready I noticed she was busy running around the kitchen. I asked her what she was doing and she explained she was making goody bags for her teachers. I didn't say anything I just watched her. She carefully chose all the best chocolate candy bars from her bucket and then found 2 matching spider rings (one from her bucket and one from Charlotte's) and placed them in 2 baggies. She asked if it was OK that she gave Charlotte's ring away since Charlotte probably wouldn't wear it and I said that was fine. I just thought this was so sweet and generous of her. It was completley unprompted by anyone but herself.

Then today we were at the mall in the play area (which was INSANE by the way since there was no school). Sarah-Grace gasped when she saw that every single book in the book area had been thrown on the floor. She played for a few minutes then ran over and started recruiting other children to help put the books back on the shelf. They got about half way done before they lost interest (including Sarah-Grace) and then they all ran off playing another game. About 10 minutes later the cleaning lady from the mall came in and began picking up the books. Sarah-Grace noticed this woman and quietly came up behind her and began picking up books and putting them on the shelf behind the woman. My heart just swelled. There is no other charater trait that I would rather my children exhibit or possess than generosity. Not only did she notice this woman and begin helping her - she didn't do it to get attention (which if you have a four year old that's also an older sibling this is QUITE common). I love Sarah-Grace's nuturing spirit and her compassion and I love the way she empathizes with everyone around her. Her teachers noticed this was she was one and it still never ceases to amaze me. I just wanted to write these little random acts of kindness to remember them.

God is Good

FINALLY!! After years of searching we have found a house!! The past few years have been, well, let's just say challenging. We have wanted to move for a long time now, but apparently God had some lessons to teach us. Lessons we've hopefully learned from through 1 lawsuit, 2 different jobs, and a ton of unexpected hospital bills. We (OK mostly me...but Courtney(our realtor) agrees Tad is picky too!) went from a long list of "must haves" in a new house, to pairing this list back, to abandoning this list all together and just desperately trying to find something we could afford that would fit us and most of our stuff in it. God really brought us to a new place of learning to be appreciative of everything we have and thankful for whatever we could find (and afford). And once we reached that point - God brought to a house with everything Tad and I ever said we wanted (and things that we didn't even ever say out loud that we would like to have). Just more proof (like we even need it) that God truely does dream bigger that we ever could.
The house is 10 years old, and needs a little work. But, we feel its well worth it. Even if every square inch is faux painted (I'm not kidding, even the ceilings are painted, no joke). We aren't scheduled to close until January, which will give us some time to sell our house and time for me to research how to deal with plastered AND glazed walls. If you have any suggestions I would love to hear them. Here are some pictures below for you to see. Oh, and I would like to give a shout out to Josh Brown's prayers, there's no telling what will happen when he gets his prayer on.

OK, I can't stop laughing that I just wrote "get your prayer on", that has to be in some video with rapping and dancing christians. Josh, I'll give you $10 if you can find it.

The Front of the House

The "Foyer"

The Den (and what's currently the office, but soon to be a playroom off of the den)

The Kitchen, yes the heavens opened up and sang to me when I walked in...

even though it has peach plastered walls!!

The Keeping Room, YEAH!!!

(This only matters to you if you've known me since 1997 (which Courtney has) when I first discovered keeping rooms and lusted (I'm not kidding) for one ever since).

The Master Bedroom

Basement (1 of the 2 rooms)