Christmas Eve with FAMILY!

We celebrated Christmas Eve with Mom, Dad, Jeff, Teagan, Jett, Teagan's sister; Tina and boyfriend Tucker and Teagan's Dad, Walt. We had a wonderful time and so enjoyed watching Jett playing with his trains. It really took us back to when Zane loved trains, we dug out some old home movies which made us laugh and cry! I cannot believe how time flies! We enjoyed a huge meal and opened many gifts and had fun just visiting! Doug and the kids (and Blitz) are ending Christmas Eve with our new watching the Polar Express 3D...We hope you have a VERY Merry CHRISTmas and remember the reason for the sesaon!

NEW ADDITION TO THE FAMILY....

Doug and I have talked about a new pet for a while now but it has always been hard for us because we had the perfect pet. We still really miss Bean and had a hard time thinking we could find another pet to fit in as he did! The kids had really started asking for a dog more and more. Well after much debating, I wanted another lab and couldn't really picture us with anything other than a lab. Doug on the other hand wanted an indoor small dog, so we were really on opposite ends of thinking what was right for the family. Well, I had heard of a dog called a labradoodle and decided to look into it. It seemed like that was the perfect choice, part lab and part poodle so I started looking at them online. Long story short we found a woman (Kathy) in Anderson County that had several to choose from and had one that was smaller than the average labradoodle, she was 10 months old and already housetrained. We went to meet her and the kids fell in love with all of them! After a few days Doug and I decided we were ready to get her. We were going out of town 5 days after we met her so Kathy said she would keep her till we came back in town. So for the SURPRISE...Kathy delivered the dog to us and we walked her into the kitchen to show the kids. They were THRILLED to say the least. We had talked about a name after we met her and I thought we should name her after a reindeer and we all agreed it would be a "B" name. Doug didn't want a people name for her and so I asked about Blitzen. Natalie liked it but the boys didn't UNTIL Doug said Blitz, then Zane says that is perfect because it is a football play!!! So depending on who you ask, she is either named after a reindeer or a football play. She has really fit right in with us. She is a bit timid but opening up and immediately bonded with Natalie. Natalie has really taken on most of the responsibility and loves it. Blitz sleeps through the night and no accidents so far!

Visit with the Rector Family!

We decided to drive by our old house in Chattanooga. This really stirs so many different feelings. My Z was born in Chattanooga and brought home to that house. I can remember wanting to move "back home" so bad but then meeting the most wonderful friends and by the time we left, I was SAD to leave. I miss the Rectors and the Jenkins so bad still to this day!! Love you guys! On the way to the beach, we had extra time and Doug wanted to drive by, just happen to see Sheila at home and ended up having a quick little visit and seeing the kids together was funny!! Sad but funny, I know that if we still lived there, our kids would be such dear friends.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY KAYCI...SHE IS ONE!!!!

We prayed for Kayci long before she was born. A few weeks after she was born we found out she had craniosynostosis and we prayed for a very detailed and extensive surgery and here she is today and 3 months after her surgery that was such a breeze. It is really hard for me to believe she is ONE!!! Happy Birthday Kayci, we love you!!!

Spring Break 2009 in the mountains

For Spring Break 2009 we headed to the Smokey Mountains with Granny and Pap. We stayed at the Riverstone Resort which we highly recommend. We spent time relaxing, swimming, putt-putting, enjoying Cades Cove where we saw over 100 dear and several turkeys. I've posted a slide show with captions to capture our trip. Our only tragedy was while we were driving through the mountains and found a picture perfect waterfall and we all got out to look. There was a wall that you could sit or prop on to see the river below. Si began this adventure thinking he was going to go fishing so he brought his favorite rod along on this trip and just happened to bring it along on this day. As we got out of the car he brought his rod and immediately got it tangled up and hooked in Doug's jacket. We take care of that and sent him on down the wall a ways and he starts casting into the river very frustrated that his line would not reach the water. His idea of making it work was to throw harder and he threw too hard and CAST THE WHOLE ROD into the river. I screamed because I knew the tears were coming...other tourists however I'm sure thought it was a child that went over the wall by the looks on their faces! Don't let anyone tell you that I'm dramatic that is Natalie!!! Anyway, that helped put it in perspective that it was just a rod that went over and not a child!! You can certainly tell which pictures I took just after this because of Si's sad face. We continued on without any major issues and had a wonderful Spring Break and we are sad that it is over!!

Catching up with FRIENDS from long ago!!!

Through facebook I have met up with friend from long ago!! It has been so fun catching up with everyone! We enjoyed this day so much and letting our kids meet each other. Thanks Debbie, Pam and Stacie...let's do it again!! Sarah and Kellie had fun looking at our "ancient" yearbooks and had lots of questions!

BRUSTER'S JAMMIE NIGHT with GRANDMA & GRANDPA

The kids are familiar with this but as Grandma was standing in front of Bruster's could not believe she was in the middle of town in a robe!!!

"Mommy, can I play with this sword"?

The question sounded so innocent and I thought how sweet for him to ask permission!! As I walk around the corner only a few minutes later I realize that his sword was one that he was making from a LARGE piece of styrofoam!! It took us hours to clean up and I made him help. In the end he looked at me with THOSE eyes and said "I don't think I should have "dude" that, Mommy". How could I be upset even after cleaning for hours......

Kayci Lynn's Dedication

Our friends Gary and Angie had their new baby Kayci Fleenor dedicated and we began a 31 day of prayer for her. She will be having surgery on March 19th, please visit her website and pray for her!! www.caringbridge.org/visit/kaycilynnfleenor

HAPPY VALENTINE FLU.....

OUR VALENTINE WEEKEND GETAWAY!!! We have a photo to capture the fun we had......WARNING!! May be too hot for children!


Okay, so Thursday my Mom is over and we are taking Nat to Cracker Barrel for lunch and then to an eye exam. Si has had a bit of a cough for a couple of days but now feels warm. We go on to the eye appointment and I call and schedule him an appointment just to be on the safe side because DOUG AND I ARE GOING AWAY!!! Anyway, we get Si to the doctor and he has a fever of 102.4 and a cough, okay so tell me he has a virus and send me on my way to the mountains. My pediatrician comes in and says "Oh, I'm so sorry Simon has the FLU!!!!" WHAT...the FLU?????????? No way, well he will be well by Saturday, right?? Okay, so get him home dose him up with all kinds of stuff and by Friday at lunch he is a happy camper...doesn't seem ill at all. Yeah, mountains, here we come!!! Natalie stays the night with my Mom and Dad on Friday night and will meet us at the game on Saturday morning. Fast forward to Saturday morning...by the way Si is fine!! Zane wakes up ready for his game but has a fever of 103.4 and can't even hardly get up!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Okay, it has to be a virus and we're not leaving till 1:00 so surely they can give him some medicine and quickly. His appointment was 9:15, Doug takes him in. I call my Mom and Dad and tell them to take Natalie on to cheer because Zane is going to the doctor. Dad says okay, but Natalie doesn't seem like she feels well. Okay, I'm a very optimistic person and I'm thinking okay let's buy a gallon of tylenol and throw everyone in the bed and we will be on our way. Doug calls, Zane did not have the flu BUT he is still pretty sick...oh wait that's my Dad beeping in. Dad says that Natalie is sick and says she can't cheer. Click back over and tell Doug we will meet and trade children and he can take Natalie to the doctor...appointment 11:15. So it is STILL 2 hours before we leave so maybe 2 gallons of tylenol and some aspirin for Mom and Dad since they are keeping the kids. Natalie did not have the flu either BUT she is sick with a high fever also!!! Okay, it's 12:45 and I'm a LITTLE worried now...and Mom did you just say you don't feel so well??? Mom is fine she says. So you guessed it our Valentine weekend was so HOT because of all the fevers in our house!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Our weekend was spent taking temperatures, giving medicines, and logging about 2,000 hours on the Wii. I was so disappointed and so was Doug, however I feel that GOD wanted us to spend time with our children this Valentine's and who are we to argue?? Turns out we had a WONDERFUL time just being lazy, playing the Wii, drinking sprite, eating popcorn, cinnamon toast and strawberries together as a FAMILY. The kids actually got over it pretty quick and everyone seems good EXCEPT my Mom, turns out she was not so fine and I took her to the doctor yesterday and she has the FLU!!!!!!!!!!!!! Not the most romantic Valentine's day but one we will never forget:) I'll post a couple of pictures just so you can have a visual of our Valentine's weekend...

FINALLY SOME LONG AWAITED SNOW!!!! On Monday Doug went by and picked up the kids from school (it let out at 12:30) and I had the snowsuits waiting. They stayed out almost all day long except for lunch and hot cocoa breaks!! The snow was not good for sledding until that evening about 7:30 so we headed out and had a BLAST!!! I am so thankful that nobody ended up in the creek after a few close calls...we came back in around 9:15. No school on Tuesday so we headed out early and played in it till most of the snow in the yard was gone:(. School is out again today I guess because of the cold weather...okay I know if you are from the north and reading this you are laughing but that's just what we do!! Anyway, having another fun but LAZY day today.

CRAZY HAIR NIGHT!!!

Fun with friends.....

Everyone had a friend over today and had tons of FUN!!!

UP TO DATE!!

Okay I have added New Year's Eve to our blog so I'm up to date on the major things! However, I'm behind putting the tree away. I "pulled the plug" as my family calls it on our downstairs tree the Sunday after Christmas. Doug decided it was a little sad and too soon so I plugged it back in and agreed we would take it down the following week! Well, as I was taking the ornaments off the other day, I had several off and in the ornament box and left the room for a while. When I came back all of the ornaments were "BACK ON THE TREE!!!" Doug wasn't home so I went to the next suspect...Si. I asked him what he was doing and he said "I'm helping you Mommy" I told him I was taking the ornaments off the tree and he responded with "I know but you were almost done and I thought you needed more to take off!!!" so with that story we left the 3 lower branches dragging to the floor with the ones he added back on just because he is so sweet!! (Well, he was that day anyway!!)

Oh yeah, I'm an official Facebook person now!! I had a few friends telling me I should join, I signed up and now I'm connected to several friends that I have not talked to in years!! It has been so much fun catching up!!

NEW YEAR'S EVE PARTIES....

We went out for New Year's Eve this year since Si is a bit older and decided we would see how long the kids would last. Well our first stop was at the Beck's for a FARKEL party!! If you haven't played this...check it out, just simple fun if you have a good score keeper. I have yet decided if we did, I was ahead for most of the whole game and in the end somehow managed to roll Wade a win!!! Anyway, tons of fun with friends and the kids were still up for the next party!! We went on to the Viscardis' home where we rang in the New Year...believe it or not the kids were still going strong at midnight, it was us about to fall over!! Check out the slide to see us ring in the New Year with wonderful friends....