Grandparents!

The boys spent this week doing fun things with their Grandparents. Tuesday and Wednesday they camped with MeMaw and Papa at Mile Creek Park in the motor home. This vehicle (the motor home) completely fascinates both of them. They are amazed that there is a small shower, toilet & refrigerator inside something that Papa drives. They swam, rode bikes, grilled hamburgers and simply enjoyed relaxing with family. They especially enjoyed a thunderstorm that rolled in just after they bathed. I asked Nate "What did you do when the storm came?" and he replied, "I was naked!"

Thursday and Friday they went with my parents (John Daddy and DeeDee) to ride the Great Smokey Mountain Railroad from Dillsboro to Bryson City. Then spent Friday morning at Santa's Land - a place they really thought was wonderful fun! Can you imagine, a small rollercoaster with reindeer antlers, Christmas music in the background and a visit with Santa - all in blazing 90 degree summer heat! They loved it (the boys I mean, I'm not so sure about DeeDee and JohnDaddy).

Grandparents are such a gift. I am so thankful that my children have 4 grandparents that love them with all their hearts and take time to teach them about life, about love, and about their heritage. Bryan and I have 3 grandmothers between us still living and we cherish each moment we spend with them.

I look forward to meeting my own grandchildren one day...

Chattanooga Fun!

The boys and I joined Bryan on a trip to Chattanooga, TN this week. While Bryan was in classes learning about heat exchangers, Nate, Henry and I explored the city! While I was getting them to sleep tonight, I wanted to know what their favorite thing about our 5 day adventure was. I recapped all the fun things we'd done like exploring Ruby Falls,

playing in an interactive water fountain at the park,

visiting the Children's Creative Discovery Museum and

visiting the Aquarium. After a unanimous vote they decided that their favorite part of the trip by far was riding the elevator at the Marriott to our 5th floor room.

Guess that saying is true:

4 tickets to ride carousel at Coolidge Park - $3.00

4 tickets to Aquarium - $50

Riding the elevator at the hotel & enjoying every minute of it - priceless!

Things Joy learned while on a 9 day vacation in Myrtle Beach:
1 - When you get to the beach, just get wet and then lay down in the sand. Then all the pressure to not get sandy is gone & you can just enjoy building sand castles.
2 - Getting stung by a jelly fish or a man of war isn't that bad, when you 4 years old and your dad tells you how tough you are.
3 - Going to see an IMAX movie IS something you can do everyday, if you want to.
4 - Spending 9 days at the beach means you get to catch the tail end of Black Biker Week and the beginning of Senior Week.
5 - Nate and Henry will NOT participate in Senior Week, or ever go to the beach without parental guidance.
6 - Eating Ultimate California Pizza for 5 meals in 1 week is a good thing. YUM!
and 7 - 9 days isn't enough when you're having a blast with your family and getting tan at the same time.

Cleaning house

The boys helped me clean house Wednesday. I vacuumed while they mopped. They really did a fantastic job. It took the floors about 4 hours to dry, I thought I might need a shop vac to get up so much water! They loved it.

Quick post

Just sitting here thinking what I want to post, and I just want to say a big "thank you" to the main man in my life - Jesus. I have been so blessed. Much more than I deserve. Mostly to know that I have the opportunity spend eternity with these people that I love so much. I am overflowing with love for my children and my husband, and my extended family. There is no happiness like knowing the ones you love will be with you in heaven.

Nate and Henry have this fascination with smoking. They pretend they are smoking cigarettes with straws and french fries. If we see someone smoking, they stare in complete awe, I see it in their eyes how they are glamorizing smoking. Tonight, laying down, I had a long talk with Nate about the dangers of smoking, what it means to be addicted, and about what your lungs look like after you've smoked for years. I could tell that I was finally getting through to him. He turned to me and said, "Mommy, I not like smoking cigarettes, I just like smoking cigars."

Mother's Day

What a great Mother's Day it's been! I have spent the day with Bryan and the boys and we've had a great time. We haven't done anything that different than any other Sunday and I guess that's what I'm thankful for. That every Sunday is spent with my family just hanging out, going to church and eating. I am so glad that Bryan enjoys spending what little free time he has right now with us. Nate is crazy about Bryan right now. In fact, I think he's a little disappointed when he knows he's stuck with me all day. Bryan (and that is what Nate calls him, not Dad) is the coolest in Nate's opinion. And I do hope that they grow up to be just like their Dad one day.

Girlie Girl

I'm a girlie girl. I love makeup, to talk on the phone, I don't like fishing or bugs. I don't really like any sports and I love to shop. When I found out I was pregnant with Nate, I wanted him to be a girl. When I found out I was pregnant with Henry, I really wanted him to be a girl. Obviously, I got 2 boys. Now, I see how "way beyond anything I could plan," God's plan is. I have 3 amazing boys/men in my life (this includes Bryan). I couldn't be happier. God knew just what He was doing when he gave me these people. Because, in the end, they are all I can take with me. And, I wouldn't want anything to be any different.

Date Night

I had a date with my hubby last night. We went to 356, a yummy/romantic sushi bar in Clemson. You know what's so exciting, I have more fun with him and I love him more now then when we first were married. If things keep getting better year after year, I will surely burst with happiness by the time we're in our 70s. We've been married 8 years this year. I am so glad that I don't look back at high school or college and think "those were the good ole days..." because to me, these days are the best.

A Rebellion

Today is an excellent day for my children to rebel. I have almost completely lost my voice due to a bad cold, and I just had my eyes dialated at the eye doctor. So, I can't see or speak. Hopefully my vision will return before they (Nate & Henry) burn the house down. Someone should check on us soon!

I ran my second race today! A 5K with my friend Tara. We didn't win any prizes, although we really wanted to win a door prize because they were giving away stuffed llamas. Here is a picture of me and Tara, and her sister Kristen in October when I ran a 10K. I forgot the camera today, so I don't have any pictures. Thanks Tara for running with me.

Easter Eggs

It's the day after Easter, and you have a refrigerator full of beautifully decorated eggs. What do you do? You make Egg Salad! Yum! Now for those of you who are egg salad fans, my recipe is quite simple: chopped up boiled eggs, salt&pepper, and mayo. (If any of you have a better recipe please pass along.) For those of you who have never tried egg salad, well, don't knock it till you've tried it. NO, I don't like mayo either. Be sure to toast your bread when you make your sandwich. Enjoy!

He Lives!

"He Lives" is one of my most favorite hymns and of course we sang it Sunday morning! What a fantastic Easter it was. Easter is one of my favorite holidays because all the pressure of gift giving isn't there, it's just a great celebration! We spent the day with family (like we do on most holidays) and it reminds me and Bryan of how blessed we are to have a big family that live close enough to get together frequently.

Cool Costumes!

Check us out! Here we are dressed up as a bible family for a play at church today. Nate loved being in it & Henry had a hard time understanding what was happening to Jesus. Tim (the guy in charge) did a great job with a lot of kids & adults who weren't sure what they were doing! I played Mary, somehow I am sure that she didn't have short extra light blonde hair.

Crocs

Check out my new crocs! I love how comfortable crocs are, yet hate how they look. However, these are so cute & comfortable. They are also coming out with wedges this spring! Yippee!

Yikes!

Well, I haven't blogged in a long time. I've been in a rut, a coma, hybernating through winter. Now the sun is shining & I'm ready to blog again. I think my moods are directly related to the seasons, spring, summer and even fall are great. Christmas is my favorite. But, those first months of the new year are so BORING. Anyway, Bryan is snoozing and I am missing 24, so I'll be blogging more very soon!

Thanksgiving 2006

9pm on Thanksgiving Day. We've driven from my Nana's house for lunch to Bryan's Grandma's for late lunch then back to my Granny's for dinner and finally home. 3 Thanksgiving feasts with family that I love. No, I'm not complaining about being tired & busy & overscheduled. I am so thankful that loved ones are near & still want to gather even though my family brings chaos & messes to each home. And, can I just say how thankful I am for my husband. Bryan is amazing. I am constantly surprised at his parenting - he's really good with the boys. And a great husband too. I am so blessed. I won't go into all the other stuff that I'm feeling thankful for right now, like my country and my church, my brothers & their wives & parents, and for friends, like the ones who drive 10 hours to spend time with us (Thanks Robin & JD). I'll just end with "I'm thankful for Thanksgiving" because we all need a day to reflect on what God has blessed us with. Now, back to my leftover potato salad.

It's a bird, it's a plane, no it's Nate & Henry dressed as Batman & Superman! They did a fine job of watching over the neighborhood last night, and still managed to gather a few pounds of candy! Please note their costumes, created by Joy, a mere 6-7 hours of frustrating needlework.

Sometimes people ask, "now, what is it you do?" and of course I answer, "I stay home with my boys." Being a stay-at-home mom.... Why don't I feel like I'm doing enough? Why do I feel like I need to be doing more? Why do I feel like I need to explain that I flew with Delta before I had Nate & I am planning on going back to work selling real estate one day. Being a stay-at-home mom doesn't impress anyone. Why do we women feel like we have to impress by balancing careers, marriages, families and still stay in perfect shape, cook dinner every night, have great skin & wear cool clothes? I've been struggling with this the past few weeks and I've decided that I don't have to do all that. I really think that the media (TV, magazines, etc) give us an unrealistic ideal to try to live up to. So, I've decided that my priorities should be 1- my relationship with Christ, 2- my husband and 3-my children. Now, just trying to implement this is the next step. And besides, look at these 2 boys. They are a gift from God. I don't think I'm wasting any time devoting the next 20 years to them.

Preschool

My boys started preschool last week. 3 days a week, 3 hours each day. When I dropped them off this morning, they were both crying hysterically. I'm talking, the kind of crying that has snot all over your face & you're snubbing, they kind in a mother's bad dream. It takes every ounce of strength I have to walk out the door. I call a few minutes later and they're okay. So, I'm sure they have fun once mommy is gone. In fact, Henry walked out of school on Friday wearing a macaroni necklace. Anytime noodles end up around your neck, you've gotta be having fun!