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...