Sorry it has been a while.  I haven't been able to come up with a good blog lately.  Since the last blog we have made a fast trip back to where we are from (which is a 3 1/2 hour trip) for a family reunion.  From leaving our drive-way to pulling back in our drive-way was about 26 hours.  That is a very fast trip for us.  But, we haven't been to the family reunion in 2 years, so we thought we better go.  It was good to see family that we rarely see which included a cousin (actually my dad's 1st cousin) who lives in Africa.  She actually spoke about her mission work in Africa which was amazing.  I wish she had spoken for longer.  Once the reunion was over, we hopped in the car and went to see my grandparent's new place.  Actually, a little over a month ago, the family decided that they needed to go into an assisted living facility.  I think it has been good for them.  So, we went and checked out their new place.  I had told Connor that Gramps and Granny had moved to a new house.  Well, I didn't exactly tell him that other people lived there too.  So, when we pulled up, Connor says "Wow, this house is bigger than their last house.  And, it is bigger than our house!"  So, I had to explain that several families lived there.  It is such a nice place.  I'm glad we were able to get them into this place instead of a nursing home.

Today, Connor and I left Blake at Mother's Day Out at the church and then met other people at the church to head to a pool in a town about 45 minutes away.  It is the city pool there but it has slides and lots of cool stuff.  We had a great time.  About half way there I realized I had forgotten my camera.  I hate that because I was hoping for some great pictures for a future blog.  Oh, well.  I'm planning to go to the neighbor's pool on Thursday.  I'll try to get some great pictures then.

As I was typing this, Blake ran up to me and started saying "Potty, Potty, Potty,"  So, that reminded me of something else I had planned on telling you.  Blake now loves to hang out on the potty.  Nothing has ever happened (except for the one time that I think we just got lucky as I was putting him up there).  But, at least he is interested.  Now when I go in there with him, he won't let me hold on to him.  He pushes away my arms and says "No, no, no!!"  Then he tells me "Sit, sit, sit."  So, I sit on Connor's little stool and just wait patiently as he jabbers.  I'm hoping sometime soon he realizes why he is suppose to sit up there.  I know he is still young, but I'm sure not going to stop him from going and sitting up there.  Who knows.  I might get lucky and get him potty trained sooner than I did Connor.

Blake is also repeating absolutely everything that we say.  As I was reviewing sight words with Connor in the car, Blake repeated everything Connor said.  While I was waiting patiently on the stool earlier in this blog, he pointed to my hair and said "hair".  Same thing with eyes, nose, mouth, ear.  He talks all the time as well as showing his not yet 2 year old little self.  Yes, the Terrible Twos have arrived I do believe.  He even threw one of his little fits at church Sunday night.  One of the workers just asked if he wanted her to rock him (as he was sad that we had left him) and he threw himself down on the ground and  pitched a little fit.  He does this when he doesn't get his way on just about anything.  We can even just look at him and if he doesn't want you to look at him at that very moment...get ready.  He's going to pitch a fit.  I had hoped to get a picture of these fits, but I've not been able to get the camera ready for the action fast enough.  Maybe I can sometime.  Although we don't laugh out loud, they are pretty funny.

Well, must go for now.  My favorite Summer meal is calling my name...grilled salmon, squash and roasted potatoes.  We have this every week now.  Yum, Yum!!!

VBS and Sight Words

Our week as been filled with Vacation Bible School. This was Connor's first experience with VBS (with the exception of going with a friend last Thursday night) as he has been too young to go to our church VBS until this year.  He has LOVED it!!  I think he'll be sad when tomorrow is over.  He brought his friend, Drake, with him yesterday.  He has just loved every part of it.  I'm so thankful he's had the chance to go this year.  Tonight we have Family Night at the church to show off to the parents what we have done this week and eat a little supper. 

Yesterday afternoon Connor decided he wanted to start learning some sight words.  When he registered for kindergarten, they sent us home with 4 ziplock bags containing different games and activities to work with our children over the summer.  We had done 3 of the bags, but I had been putting off the sight words bag.  But, yesterday he insisted on working on those.  So, I picked out the easiest ones that were in there...I, a, the, on, to, and go.  He worked and worked on those and then took a nap.  He was so afraid that he'd forget them when he took his nap.  But, this afternoon after I got Blake down for a nap, we got the 6 words out again, and he still remembered all of them.  For some reason the and go make him have to stop and think longer.  But, he still gets them.  So, we decided to add 3 more for today.  So he now knows see, cat and we.  Before he went to bed for a nap, we did them several times over and over and he now knows all 9 of them.

He always insists on a book before he takes a nap.  So, I went and got an easy book out of Blake's room.  I traced each word as I read it and paused when we got to one of the 9 words he had learned to let him have a chance to say it.  And, he did recognize almost all of them!!  He is so super proud of himself and so eager to learn more words.  I think there are only 5 more weeks before schools starts.  Guess I should start stocking up on Kleenex for myself!  I'm going to be a mess on that first day!

Remembering the Week

Not a whole lot has gone on this past week.  Monday was the start day for my Boot Camp that I signed up for at the Y.  The personal trainer is doing a 6 week Boot Camp.  I missed the first week because we were on vacation.  Monday was pretty tough for me.  I was so sore for about 3 days.  We did every kind of push up possible and tons of other arm workouts plus some different stations both inside and out.  Wednesday was even harder.  We sprinted on some hills.  I thought I was going to die.  This is just no hill...it is almost straight up!  We did that FOREVER and then threw around medicine balls, ran with medicine balls and did more sprints on a different, much less steep hill.  Friday was the hottest.  We did different sprint circuits and such outside.  We were all sweating so much.  I could hardly see several times because I kept getting sweat in my eyes and they were BURNING!!!!  But, I survived, minus the quad that I hurt in the warm up.  Thankfully it is so much better today.  I was really worried that I had torn my quad with the severe pain I was in.  Chris had told me, though, that he'd modify my workout if I was still in pain tomorrow.  But, I don't think that will be necessary.

Connor and I went to the neighbor's house to their pool on Tuesday while Blake was at Mother's Day Out.  We are planning on making this a weekly tradition until he heads off to school in about 6 weeks.  Thursday Connor had a friend over.  He and Drake play so well together.  They never fussed or anything.  Bless their hearts, though.  They were tortured by Blake until I could finally get him to sleep.  Aaron said he knew what Blake was going through.  He remembered being the little guy at home with his siblings having friends over and feeling left out.  I even caught Blake laying in front of Connor's bedroom door, begging to be let in.  So pitiful.  But, that was the only way Connor and Drake could play in peace.  That night, Drake and his mom came and picked up Connor for Vacation Bible School.  This was Connor's first experience with VBS.  He's always been too young to go.  He had such a great time.  Our VBS starts this week and he can hardly wait.  We went by LifeWay Saturday to purchase him the official VBS shirt for the year. 

Friday night we went to watch the much anticipated Toy Story 3.  I have been so excited about this movie since we saw the first preview during the movie Up last Summer.  It was so good!!!  Connor and I just love Toy Story so much. 

Sometime during the week, Connor told me he wanted to get Aaron a new Bible for Father's Day.  How sweet!  So, Saturday afternoon we went to LifeWay to checkout what they had.  They had the most perfect Bible for Aaron.  It is called something like Bible for the Busy Daddy.  It is just a smaller (in size) Bible with 52 little devotions scattered around in it.  Aaron really racked up on the gifts this year.  Connor made him a card in VBS, he and Blake made foot print cards at the Y last week with a cute little poem attached to it,  Connor made him a homemade card Saturday night and then Connor made him another picture in Sunday School yesterday morning.

So, that was a glimpse into our week.  VBS is all this week, so it should be fun-filled as well. 

Beach Fun!!!

So, we left a week ago Saturday to head for Asheville, NC.  We decided this year to cut the trip in half for the kids.  So, Nana, Grandaddy, Susie, Joy, and my bunch all crashed at a hotel in Asheville last Saturday night.  We let the kids play in the pool that night.  This was Blake's first pool trip since the last beach trip last year.   So, we were all anxious to see how he did.  Well, it appears I have yet another water baby on my hands! 

Sunday morning we just took our time getting up and out since we were only 4 hours away and couldn't check into the house until 3 or 4.  Once we got to Isle of Palms we had to stop at Waves to buy Aaron a new hat.  He lost his favorite hat (just a tan hat that said Isle of Palms on it) on Splash Mountain at Disney World last year.  Picture this, going down Splash Mountain video taping the ride when your camera gets wacked with a hat as it flies off Aaron.  Alan got to experience that.  Pretty funny video.  But, I digress.  Thankfully, he was able to find the exact hat.  So, all is well in the world again. 

We left Nana, Susie and Joy to do the grocery shopping while Aaron, Blake, Connor, Grandaddy and myself went to get us checked into the house.  They were still cleaning it so we decided to just go get ice cream and wait for the call.  Once we finally got in and all unpacked, Tish and Alan had arrived so off for Japanese food for supper.  This has turned into an annual trip for the family.  We all had a great time.  Heard Blake say "Hot, Hot" tons while the chef would light the grill or food up.  Then off to the beach after supper.  Here are a couple of pictures from the first night.

Our schedule at the beach is pretty much the same every day, every time we go...breakfast, beach, pool, lunch, nap for kids, supper, and back to the pool.  While the kids nap, the adults do whatever...nap too, read, go back to the pool or beach...you get the picture.  Joy and I rented bikes on Monday.  We rode on the beach as far as we could in packed sand and then went out into the neighborhoods to finish up our hour rental.  Alan made gumbo for all of us for supper on Monday night.  We just all hung out Monday night and went to the pool after supper.

Tuesday we had the normal schedule.  After the kids were down for naps, I headed back out to the pool for a little while.  When I came back to the house, Tish, Alan, Aaron and myself got ready and headed into Charleston for a visit to the Apple Store and then supper.  We ended up at Hyman's Seafood for supper.  Glad we got there super early.  Boy was it crowded when we left.  It was some great food.  Aaron and Alan enjoyed a ton of grab legs.  Well, actually more like a pound and a half each.

Wednesday we decided to venture out to a water park.  Aaron, Connor and I left right after breakfast.  Joy and Susie left after lunch to meet us.  We all had such a great time.  Connor enjoyed his introduction to Dippin' Dots.   Here are a couple of pictures from the water park.

Connor's first experience with a waterslide

Underwater pictures in the wave pool

Aaron and Connor having the big bucket drop water on them.

First experience with Dippin' Dots.  A huge success!

On Thursday, we just hung out at the beach and pool as normal.  After lunch, Aaron and I went into Charleston for supper.  This time we went to our usual Noisy Oyster.  As always, the food was spectacular.  When we got home we went out to the pool with the kids again.

Connor and Blake riding a boogie board

Having to copy-cat Grandaddy.

Blake's favorite time on the beach...snack time

Friday, same old, same old.  Family picture time after supper. 

Saturday, we headed to the beach and hung out there until lunch.  Once Blake was asleep, Connor and I went back out to the pool together.  What fun!!  And, then of course, back to the pool that evening as well.

We got up early on Sunday to head back home.  We so love going to the beach and all hanging out together.  We all get along so well and look forward to the trip each and every time.  Here are a few more random shots that make my heart smile!

Mr. Pibb, Please

Okay, a disclaimer here at the very beginning.  We do not keep any kinds of "cokes" (I'm using this term to mean any kind of carbonated drink) at our house.  Blake is not ever given his own coke to drink.  Being that he is a moocher, sometimes he finds a sucker to let him have a drink of their coke.  And, I dare say that has been less than half a dozen times during his lifetime.  I try to limit Connor's cokes to Sprite and only at certain restaurants.  So, it doesn't even happen very often to Connor.  Okay, so now that that is off my chest and the grandparents (and the dietician that I love! ) don't think I fill my kids with cokes all the time I will proceed with my story.

After Mother's Day Out today, Connor, Blake and I made a quick trip to Sam's.  We only needed three things, so the trip should be in and out.  The kids were great, so we stopped by the snack bar and got a Mr. Pibb and a pretzel for ALL OF US to SHARE.  Have you ever gotten a drink from Sam's???  They are HUGE and cheap as dirt.  I mean, I got this ginormous drink (that I'd never be able to drink all of) and a pretzel for less than $2!  You can't beat that.  Anyways, we get to the car, I let Blake have a drink of the Mr. Pibb, take a few sips for myself and hand it off to Connor to hold on the way home.  Being the very sweet big brother that he is, he stretches his poor little arms as much as he can to let Blake have sips.  This goes on for about 1/2 the trip home.  Okay, the trip from Sam's to my house lasts about 5-7 minutes depending on the lights. 

Then, Blake steals the Mr. Pibb right out of Connor's poor arms that Connor has stretched out like Inspector Gadget trying to be sweet and now Blake will NOT give it back.  We get home and I'm ready for a few more sips of OUR Mr. Pibb.  WHAT?!?!?!  YOU'VE GOT TO BE KIDDING!!!  Blake has completely finished off this Mr. Pibb!!!!!  SERIOUSLY???  SERIOUSLY!!!  I have never been able to drink the entire drink.  Now, my poor little 19 month old who thought he was dying of thirst has completely finished off OUR Mr. Pibb.  Lesson learned.  Don't let Connor share the drink with Blake because it might get stolen and never returned.  Guess Blake couldn't believe how great a drink could taste.

To the Beach and Back

Sorry I haven't blogged in FOREVER.  But, we've been on vacation.  I'm working on a couple of blogs from our trip...beach stuff and then a water park blog.  We had tons of fun but we were all worn out when we got home.  Back to the real world.  Check back soon and hopefully I'll have something up here about our vacation.

Our Anniversary

Today is our 9th Wedding Anniversary.  I just can't believe it has been 9 years.  We had the most perfect wedding.  It was definitely my dream wedding.  I planned and planned.  And, everything went PERFECT!  We got married at Opryland Hotel in the Delta Pavilion at 1:30 on June 2, 2001.  Here a few pictures from the day.

Saying the vows (Bro. Don and Amy also pictured)

The entire party with Alan and Aaron C. acting silly.

The best picture of Rick with his boys.

Sneaking a kiss while waiting for our food.

Cutting the cake.  It was like the cake decorators and my wedding coordinator could see what I had pictured in my mind for this cake and table to look like.  Perfect!!!

Leaving in the midst of bubbles!!

Our limo ride out to eat with friends.

Since we had had our wedding there we were able to get a Jr. Suite to stay in.  Aaron's mom went to get us checked in before the wedding even happened just so we didn't have to worry with that part.  She stayed gone for what seemed like forever.  When she got back she told us they had upgraded us to a Presidential Suite!  I about hit the floor!!  If you have ever been in the Opryland Hotel and inside the gardens, if you look up to the very top floor and see those HUGE windows...well, we had 2 of those windows in our suite.  We had a dining room table that would sit 12 people, full kitchen, 3 bathrooms, living room, giant bedroom.  We went to close the curtains and couldn't figure that out.  Well, come to find out it was electrical.  You push some button and they open and close for you.  It was the most beautiful room ever.  We've been married so long that good digital cameras weren't even around, so I don't have any pictures to show you.  All I have are hard copies (and no scanner).  The only sad part about that room was that we weren't there very long to get to enjoy it for very long.  We had to leave the hotel by 6:00 am to catch our flight for our honeymoon.

We have had the best 9 years and can't wait for many more to come.  God has truly blessed up with a great marriage and 2 beautiful children.  We are so blessed.

A Rare Find

What you may or may not know about Blake is that he is NOT a cuddler.  Never has been.  So, when he decides he wants to cuddle, we eat up every second of it.  So, check out what rare find I found tonight.  What else could a boy want?

2 rabbits -- CHECK
1 blanket -- CHECK
Daddy -- CHECK

It didn't last long.  Once he was done, he was done.  He climbed down and wanted to go to bed.  He'll let you know he's ready for bed by waving and saying "Night, night".  A sweet moment that made Aaron's heart smile!