April

Posted July 1st, 2009 by Mom | Comments (0)

We returned Sam on Monday evening after he snapped/bit at the boys one too many times.

Our new pride and joy is April.  She was originally named Beth Anne.  We (I) didn’t like it and renamed her April.  We picked her birthdate of April 1, as it is:

1.  easy to remember

2.  really close to the exact date, if not the exact date of her birth.

J playing Wii

Posted July 1st, 2009 by Mom | Comments (0)

Last night the boys took turns playing Mario Cart on the Wii with B.  It was J’s first turn at playing a REAL video game, as opposed to the Leapster.  There were tons of laughter as J kept going off the course, sometimes by accident and sometimes on purpose!

Girls Weekend to Nashville

Posted July 1st, 2009 by Mom | Comments (0)

Jessica, Laura and I spent the weekend in Nashville.  It was a great trip.  There are many inside jokes that will be shared between us in the coming years.

Sea Salts

Chicka, Chicka

Ah Chooooo!

We stopped at the Casey Jones Rail Road Museum and Restaurant for lunch.  They have an amazing buffet - fruit, veggies, meats, fish, etc.  After lunch we strolled through the shops situated in the same parking lot as the restaurant.  We saw this poster person (can’t think of the word right now!) and had to have a group shot with Marilyn.

Upon arriving in Nashville, we checked into the hotel.  We were given warm chocolate chip cookies with our room keys.  Yum!

For dinner Saturday evening, we ate at the Aquarium restaurant. While we were waiting for out table to be ready, we browsed Barnes and Noble Bookstore.  Laura and Jessica had mentioned that they learned about the birds and the bees from a specific book that compares making love to “sneezing.”  (Really, it does say this!)

The Aquarium restaurant was 5 out of 5 stars in my opinion.  I’m not sure what I ate for dinner, but it was great!  It was some kind of fish fillet with fresh steamed vegetables and seasoned rice.  We ordered - and split between us - 3 desserts!  They were incredible!!!  Key Lime Pie, Cheesecake with a dark chocolate shell and raspberry sorbet, and Creme Brulee - each with a sugar cookie on top in the shape of a fish, after all we were at a restaurant called The Aquarium.

After a long and luxurious dinner we strolled the Opry Mills Mall.  We shopped at Bath and Body Works - something (we commented while there) that we could do at home, but also realized that shopping sans kids is really neat!  We also found a cart that sold Dead Sea Salts.  Chicka, chicka!  Seriously, the salts are really good and I would highly recommend them.

Finally we made it back to the hotel (after no less than 2 u-turns) after an interesting trip to Walgreens - none of us had ever been risque enough to look at all the “special products for couples” before and didn’t mind going as a group to check things out, plus we weren’t in OUR town for anyone to possibly stumble upon us!  While we were talking about the products, a male clerk came through the aisle changing shelf leaflet.  I’m not sure who was more embarrassed by him - him or us!

We stayed up until 3 am talking.  Life is really good and lots of fun chatting with the gals!

Sunday lunch was at the Rain Forest Cafe.  I had never eaten there before.  It was quite the experience!  Every half hour or so the lights would flicker and it would “thunder” and have rain noises.

Do Not Be Afraid

Posted June 22nd, 2009 by Mom | Comments (0)

C’s kindergarten Sunday School class has memory verses each month.  There are 3 levels to attain and C made it to level 3 yesterday.  (This is a VERY big deal, as my parents teach a 4th GRADE class and only 2 kids have made it to level 2!)

C’s memory verse was Joshua 1:6  “Be strong and courageous.”

C went up to Mr. Powell to say his memory verse and C said, “Joshua 1:6  Be strong and not scared.”

I thought this was precious.  I worked with C on this verse and asked him if he knew what the word courageous meant and he didn’t.  I explained it to him and it stuck.  I’m glad.  It is good that C is hiding God’s word in his heart and also understanding it.  Sweet boy!

Jill’s Birthday Cake

Posted June 22nd, 2009 by Mom | Comments (0)

For the past 4 years Jill and I have made each other birthday desserts.  She has made fudge pie for me and chocolate/peanut butter pie and a yummy chocolate chip pie this year.  Her birthday is today and this is her birthday cake from me.  Happy Birthday, my dear friend!  Enjoy!!

Sam’s Cubicle

Posted June 22nd, 2009 by Mom | Comments (0)

You’ve heard of people working in cubicles.  Well, Sam has his own, too!  He likes to stay under the built in desk in our kitchen.  It is out of the way, so he won’t get stepped on and he can see almost the entire kitchen from his hide-a-way.

Jared took this picture.

Also, just a little update on Sam - he likes, no let me change that - Sam LOVES cat food.  And FISH food…  How do I know this?  Early this morning the boys and I went to Walmart.  We didn’t have time to put away our purchases before heading to swimming lessons, so I unloaded the car and left the bags on the kitchen floor.  When we got home, the fish food was scattered ALL OVER the living room and the cat food paper bag was ripped open with cat food all over the kitchen floor.  Sorry, Tara.  Yes, you have leftover food that Sam didn’t have room in his fat stomach for.  Lesson learned for me!  I will put groceries away immediately upon arriving home.  Ugh!  Lessons are hard to learn sometimes!