Kelly in NC

Iknow. I know. 2 scrapbook pages in one weekend? That is thanks to Pop Pop for inviting Grayson to visit the local drag strip celebration this weekend. That gave me the entire afternoon to clean my house, update my blog layout, and scrapbook. This page is from the baby shower we had for Jill last weekend.

It was created using the free Promise Kit from Shabby Princess. I also cannot take credit for the layout. I mimiced the layout that I saw here byGayle Smith

I got this new free blog theme from The Citizen of Mars. It took a bit of work- but I think it was worth it. Maybe one day I can figure out how to make my own custom page! This will have to do the mean time. Let me know if you have any problem!

This weekend was absolutley beautiful! The weather was amazing and I tried to stay outside as much as I could. On Saturday, Grayson and I went out to play…or at least Grayson played. I sat in the shade and read “Breaking Dawn” (which by the way I finished tonight. It was just as good as all the others in the series!). As Grayson moved from object to object in my yard, he finally became facinated with our Ornamental Japanese Maple Tree. At first, he was just reaching up to hang onto the limbs; lifting his feet; saying “Look Mommy- I Monkey!” Not long after that he started walking around the tree, inspecting all of the branches. I knew what was coming next, so I ran inside for the video camera. Sure enough, when I returned he began to test standing on the bottom limb of the tree. Within 5 minutes he figured out how to climb up to the second branch. All the time exclaiming “I climbing tree Mommy!” and “CHEESE!” because he saw the camera. Once in the tree, he quickly jumped out and started the whole process again.
It is funny how proud I felt watching my little boy climb his first tree. You would have thought that he was going to the Olympics or Won the National Spelling Bee with how often I’ve told the story in the last few days. Grayson is so much fun at this age and I am constantly surprised at how quickly he learns. I try to catch each new “feat” he accomplishes- and celebrate each one before they rapidly pass away.
I did capture video of his first tree climb and will try to post it sometime soon. I have alot going on in the next few days-so it may not get posted until after the weekend.

I saw this on a blog somewhere while searching for scrapbooking freebies. Wish I remembered where I saw it- as I’d give that person a shout out…but since I can’t remember- Oh well.

This Week:
Highs: There are a few. 1) This was the best 1st week of school that I have ever experienced. Perhaps it is because my school hired a third Guidance Counselor to help reduce my case load- maybe it’s because the grade level of kids who gave me headaches for the past 5 years- are finally NOT my responsibility anymore. Who knows…and to be honest who cares! Whatever the reason- I am very pleased with this school year already. 2) Sometimes I take my husband and Grayson for granted. This weekend I was reminded just how lucky I am to have them in my life. I love when something happens to remind me to count my blessings! 3) It was tax free weekend which = shopping!!!
Lows: Just one. I discoverd some rather upsetting news on Saturday. I would rather not get into it right now- but I am sure that I will blog about it sometime soon. The positive side of this low was my #2 above. See? There always is a silver lining!
Etc: I completed another scrapbook page this evening. Now that I am back at work it takes me an entire week to get a 2 page layout finished. Wish I had started scrapbooking a bit earlier this summer! Anyhow, the pages I finished are featured below. These are the pages created from our trip to the NC Zoo in April.

Papers/Embelishments- Simply Sweet Designs Just Dirt Kit.
Layout Template: Lisa Minor

Grayson-
You are now 2 and ¼ years old. You weigh slightly less than 30 pounds and your back molars are finally beginning to peek through. Your allergies returned with the blooming plants, as well as the heat rash that arrived with the rising temperatures.
You have reached a number of psychological and emotional milestones in the past three months. You talk more than ever before- and mostly in sentences now. Your favorite phrases are “no way!” and “boozsh” (a sound effect that Pop-Pop taught you). You can and do repeat everything you hear which means that Daddy is finally learning to alter his vocabulary. On the occasions that he makes a mistake- you kindly remind him by saying “Watch you mouf Daddy.” You can name most types of trucks-but love heavy machinery the most. When in the car you spend your time identifying transportation, pointing out bridges and antennas, and looking for colors. You can identify your colors well- with black being the most difficult one for you. You have learned the shapes: circle, oval, heart, rectangle, diamond, and triangle. You refuse to believe that a square is not a rectangle- so we are still working on that shape.
You have become much more independent. We officially said good bye to the paci at bed time and the amount of time you spend in time out has lessened dramatically. You finally figured out the importance of listening to Mommy and Daddy and will now obey versus sitting by yourself for two minutes. You insist on putting your sandals on by yourself and you like to pick out which shirt you wear each day. Of course you prefer all shirts with truck and tractors on them. You choose your breakfast in the mornings and help with its preparations. You continue to love all fruits- with watermelon being your favorite lately. It’s hard to believe- but you will actually choose fruit over eating cookies and cake!
You have also shown improvement at school. You are one of the oldest kids in your class and you have definitely assumed the leader role. Your teachers say that you always sit at the head of the table and you love to join in the activities. You even received the Gold Star Award in you class-which is given to kids when they have had an exceptional week. With the development of your language you have gotten much better at sharing- or at least telling your friends who’s turn it is! We have even seen your sharing skills here at home. I often watch you in amusement as you bring Ozzy your favorite Back-hoe Loader and books, leaving them between his two paws.
Your physical skills have also continued to advance in the past three months. You have found great fun in walking backwards and have figured out how to kick a ball. You can manage the stairs- both up and down- by yourself, although you are not allowed on the stairs without supervision. You can do a somersault and actually prefer to do them in the nude after bath. Not exactly a photo opportunity, but still lots of fun!
You took your first swimming lessons this summer- which were not completely successful. You spent most of the time in the pool with a death grip around my neck shouting “no mommy” or “hold me mommy”. After forcing you to let go of my neck you did jump in a few times and if I distracted you well enough I could even dunk your head under the water. I was surprised with your reaction to the lessons since you love visiting the Waddell’s pool next door. I do not know if it was being surrounded by unfamiliar people or if the water was too cold- but I can honestly say that you did not like swimming lessons. Maybe next year.
I will say that one thing that you did enjoy this summer was your visit up to Ohio in June. You were able to stay at your cousin Riley’s house and the two of you were quickly best friends. Your personalities are very similar. You both have a wild, mischievous side and you both enjoy looking for bugs and playing with trucks. If only the two of you lived closer.
This summer was also the first time that Daddy and I left you for more than two nights. While we went on a “parents only” trip for six days, you reveled in the company of your Nagy. She cooked all your favorite meals, fed you your first ice cream cone, and even taught you a few new songs. To be honest you really didn’t miss us too much- thanks to your wonderful Nagy. There is a cute story about your reaction once we got home. (Check it out here.)
Well, this summer has passed in a flash. I am not sure where the last three months have gone. We have filled the last 90+ days with your first outing to a zoo, a trip to the mountains, a visit to Ohio, quality time with your grandparents- MiMi, Nagy, & Pop Pop, and your first 4th of July parade. I have enjoyed this summer break more than any break before…and all because of you. You are so fun at this age and I love to be around you. I love to secretly watch you play with your toys- making dinner for your Pooh bear or telling your Brown Bear to go to sleep. I love how you try to sing Ba Ba Black Sheep (your very first song) and I am constantly amazed at how alert you are- seeing tractors that I would never notice. You are sweet and kind and loud and boisterous. You are full of energy and filled with love. You can be rambunctious one minute and sweet and cuddly this next. You are my pride and joy. Grayson, you are the most amazing child and I honestly do love you more and more each day.
Love,
Mommy
(You retired Mama this month too.)

I realized today as I was scrapbooking my trip to Punta Cana that I never really gave any details about the trip. I wrote a bit about leaving Grayson, but almost nothing about the trip itself. Well for starters- you should probably read my review on Trip Advisor (click here). That pretty well sums up the resort.
Now for the real details. Tim and I had a great time. The weather was amazing for the most part. It only rained one evening- of course right in the middle of our horse back riding tour- and I mean a down-pour! Which was kind of fun- except that I ruined both my digital camera and my brand new HD video camera. I absolutely wanted to cry. Luckily I had an underwater camera with us on the trip-so I did get a few more photos with it. The quality of those photos did leave something to be desired though. Anyhow, the beach was the best part of the resort. We would sit under a tiki hut in our lounge chairs for hours, enjoying the breeze and doing exactly what we went there to do- RELAX! Then in the afternoons we would head to the pools. We received a couples massage on one day which included a treatment in the spa. The only other event worth mentioning would be the Double Cuervo Margaritas Tim enjoyed on our second day at the resort. When they finally hit him- they hit him hard. He ended up using our inroom jacuzzi tub when the Cuervo made a reappearance and then slept for 4.5 hours. Whew! I guess it’s hard to have self control when the drinks are already paid for! Anyhow, here are the pages I created from our trip:

So it just dawned on me 5 days ago that my summer was already nearing an end. I am not sure where the time flew so quickly, but for me- school will begin again on Tuesday. *Sigh.* Of course when I get my break in October- I won’t be as sad that I went back so much earlier than the rest of my teaching friends.
Anyhow, I wish that I had caught the scrapbooking bug at the begining of my break. If I had, then I would probably be up to date on my albums. Oh well. So without further procrastination…here’s the newest page:
The Family BBQ from May. When 7 family members from Ohio all came down to NC (for different reasons) it just seemed natural for Tim’s parents to host a get-together…and not just any get-together. This one was extra special because they made “Greasy Bread”- a hungarian apetizer! Yumm!!!

This page was created using a free template from DIP Diva’s and a free paper/embellishment kit from Shabby Princess.

On May 17, we helped celebrate Leah’s 3rd birthday by joining in on her luau. Here’s today’s scrapbook page with those photos. Whew, I’m on a roll!

Page created using the same paper, embellishments, templates I purchased yesterday.

Back in June, I posted photos from the weekend when my neighbor’s were away and gave us access to their pool. Here are the scrapbook pages I created from that weekend.

I finally broke down and “purchased” scrapbooking paper, templates, and supplies. These pages were created using materials I purchased from Scrapbook-Elements.com. I figured the $6 I spent was worth the hours I spent on the other pages looking for freebies.

Below are the pages I created for Memorial Day weekend. Tim was awesome and planned the entire weekend away at Wilson Creek, NC.

These pages were created using free paper and embellishments from Tempus Fugit. I used a free template from Simply Sweet Designs for pg1 and a free template from Trish Designs for pg 2.

Yes, I am going back in time. With the blur of the past month, there have been a number of events that I just couldn’t find the time to blog about. Luckily for you, I am back into scrapbooking and I just finished my layouts for my friend Carri’s Bachelorette Party. Yes, it was back in June. Sorry for the delay- but this summer really has been pure caos.

Anyhow, on June 21, I helped celebrate Carri’s final days of “singlehood” with a trip down to Jacksonville Beach. Her sister Becky did a great job of organizing the entire weekend -from the hotel right on the beach to the custom CD she made for all the guests. My favortie part of the entire weekend was when “Jerry Clueless” surprised Carri at dinner with a singing telegram and magic show. I had been threatening a stripper for months- so while Carri was definitley surprised, I think she was also releaved that I didn’t get her back for the slimey exotic dancer she hired for my “last night out”. Anyhow, here are the pages I created commemorating her Bachelorette party. I created them using a free template from SimplySweetDesigns and using free embellishments and free paper from Kawouette Designs.

You can check out all the photos from that weekend by clicking here.

This past weekend, I was honored to take part in my best friend’s, Carri, wedding. I can’t explain how excited I was to be a part of her day. See Carri has been my best friend since my sophomore year of college. We were/are alike in so many ways and once we bonded over a roommate from hell- we were inseperable. Well, maybe not literally. In the twelve years since we’ve been friends, we have only lived near each other for 6 of them. But the distance between our homes didn’t keep our friendship from growing. When she finally moved to NC two and half years ago, I secretly hoped that I would be able to convince her to stay forever. Little did I know that she would meet Dave and that my hopes would come true.

So congratulations Carri and Dave on your wedding. I am so glad that you found each other. And Dave, now it looks as if I owe you for keeping Carri here in NC. I couldn’t pick out a better match for my best friend. You are considerate and thoughful and you make her happier that I have ever seen her. I look forward to raising our families together and all the memories we will create. Congratulations and thank you for making me a part of your special day!

Here are the scrapbook pages a created from the photos from the wedding:

These pages were created using a Freebie from Digital Gator.
You can check all the photos from the weekend by clicking here.

It’s funny how when you tell people that you are scheduled for oral surgery, they always decide to tell you their personal horror story of wisdom teeth removal. As if telling me how you had abseces, how you were in so much pain that you had to go back to the surgeon, how much you bled, the details of your nasty, pussy jaw, or how large your faced swelled up would make me feel somehow better about my own impending torture. There is a reason why I had put off the surgery for 7 years. I was not looking forward to my own horror story.

But after yearly suggestions from many different dentists to remove them BEFORE they caused me pain, this last year I finally received a “sign” that it was time. My employer picked up new dental coverage that did not require a one year waiting period. When this was announced last school year, it was as if devine intervention was sent to me. So I picked up the insurance and put off the surgery for the past 10 months. As the end of of my yearly policy approached I realized that I need to stop being a chicken and schedule the surgery.

So, yesterday I had all four of my wisdom teeth removed. My top two were easy to pull as they have been fully errupted for years. The bottom two on the other hand were impacted- with both of them turned sideways facing my other molars. These were a little more difficult to irradicate. The surgery went well- expecially since I was knocked out. When I came to, I was not in pain and my entire mouth was numb. It took 3 hours for the local anesthic to wear off and I am happy to report that as of yet, I do not have my own horror story to report. My jaw on the right side is only slightly swollen and I haven’t needed the hydrocodone as often as it was prescribed. The bleeding ceased by four hours after the surgery and I can talk normally. I am still applying ice and heat packs to reduce the stiffness I have in my jaw- but otherwise- I am doing much better than I expected.

So at the risk of jinxing myslef- I am sending out a tentative “Ha Ha” to all of you who tried to scare me with your own stories.
Now for the rest of you, start sending wishful prayers my way that my healing continues to go smoothly!

Last week, Tim and I went on our very first “Parents Only” vacation. I say first- because I hope that there will be more in the future! I can’t begin to tell you how wonderful it was to have my spouse just to myself. Since Grayson’s birth, we have only BOTH been away from him on 3 nights…and those were not consecutive. So to leave for 6 fulls days was something of a challenge, to say the least. Tim’s mom, who is called Nagy (pronounced “Nudgie” which is short of Grandmother in Hungarian) agreed to stay at our house and do the baby sitting. I can’t begin to tell you how lucky we are to have Nagy and Pop-Pop living so close to us now. Without them, I would not have been brave enough to leave for so long. And to leave the country at that….

It’s funny how I spent more time getting things ready for Grayson than I actually spent packing for my own trip. I made countless trips to the grocery store to make sure I had all of his favorite goodies. I wrote out a three page note on his schedule, where to find food, nap times, bed time routine, etc. I stocked the freezer full of meals from “Dinner Done”. We prepared a Will, cleaned the house, stocked up on more than enough diapers, wipes, etc. I printed out maps to Grayson’s daycare, wrote directions to his pediatrician. I pretty much tried to think of everything. Not that Nagy couldn’t have figured it out, but more because it set my mind at ease.

Anyhow, as expected, Grayson did very well in our absence. He ate like a horse, took great naps, and even started sleeping until 8 am again (since taking away the paci- he had been getting up at 6:45). Nagy is called the Baby Whisperer for a reason. She LOVES little ones and they, like-wise, LOVE her. I think spending 6 days together served as some bonding time for the two of them. Grayson has asked for her everyday since.

Tim and I were not sure what to expect from Grayson upon our return. By the time we got back from our vacation, Grayson was already in bed. So we had to wait for the morning to discover his reaction. When he woke up, he shouted out “Daddy” which is a bit unusual. He always shouted “Ma Ma” before. Anyhow, Tim and I raced upstairs as fast as possible. When we walked in the room- he seemed like his normal self. Bouncing in the crib, naming items around the room. Didn’t seem to notice that we had been missing for 6 days! However once we took him out of the crib, he proceeded to throw a tantrum. “No diaper change, mommy.” “No jammies on!”, “No powder!” “No shirt!” “No pants!” “no, no, no!” I pretty much put up with a major “No!” tantrum for about 30 minutes. It was almost as if he rememberd that we had left and wanted to let us know how mad he was at us! After the 30 minutes of two-year-old hell, he was back to hugs and kisses, tickling and laughing.

But the best thing happened tonight. After Daddy finished reading him a book before bed, Grayson sat on my lap in the rocking chair for our nightly songs. I asked him what song he wanted to hear- “ABCs” -and as I sang he laid his head down on my chest, facing me. (He usually just sits in my lap, with his back to my chest.) Anyhow as I got to the third line of the song “E,F,G”, Grayson sat up and planted a wet kiss on my lips. As I continued singing, he put his head back down. About three lines later ” L,M,N,O,P”, he sits up and repeats the kiss. And he does it again at the end of the song. I hug him and ask what song he wants to hear next. “Ba Ba Sheep” So I start singing and what do you know- he does the cute kiss thing all the way through that song too! And again for our final song “The wheels on the TRUCK go round and round.” (FYI-we sing truck instead of bus because Grayson prefers trucks.) When I finished the truck song he sat up again and this time puts his arms around my neck and says in the softest, sweetest voice: “my mommy.” I tear up and say “Yes, I am Grayson’s mommy.” He plants another kiss on my lips and again says “my mommy”.

I couldn’t have said it any better. Yes, Grayson I am your mommy and I missed you too. Just ask Daddy.

I got this from Crabby Mama. Love it! You highlight what you have done. Now you guys do it! Leave a blog comment so I can come read yours.

1. Touched an iceberg
2. Slept under the stars
3. Been a part of a hockey fight
4. Changed a baby’s diaper
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Swam with wild dolphins
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a tarantula
10. Said “I love you” and meant it
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Stayed up all night long and watched the sun rise
15. Seen the Northern Lights
16. Gone to a huge sports game
17. Walked the stairs to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown and eaten your own vegetables
19. Looked up at the night sky through a telescope
20. Had an uncontrollable giggling fit at the worst possible moment
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Bet on a winning horse
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Taken an ice cold bath
28. Had a meaningful conversation with a beggar
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Ridden a roller coaster
31. Hit a home run
32. Danced like a fool and not cared who was looking
33. Adopted an accent for fun (often!)
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Felt very happy about your life, even for just a moment
36. Loved your job 90% of the time
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Watched wild whales
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Gone on a midnight walk on the beach
41. Gone sky diving
42. Visited Ireland
43. Ever bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited India
45. Bench-pressed your own weight
46. Milked a cow
47. Alphabatized your personal files
48. Ever worn a superhero costume
49. Sung karaoke
50. Lounged around in bed all day
51. Gone scuba diving
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Done something you should regret, but don’t
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Been in a movie
60. Gone without food for 3 days
61. Made cookies from scratch
62. Won first prize in a costume contest
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Been in a combat zone
65. Spoken more than one language fluently
66. Gotten into a fight while attempting to defend someone
67. Bounced a check
68. Read - and understood - your credit report
69. Recently bought and played with a favorite childhood toy
70. Found out something significant that your ancestors did
71. Called or written your Congress person
72. Picked up and moved to another city to just start over
73. Walked the Golden Gate Bridge
74. Helped an animal give birth
75. Been fired or laid off from a job
76. Won money
77. Broken a bone
78. Ridden a motorcycle
79. Driven any land vehicle at a speed of greater than 100 mph
80. Hiked to the bottom of the Grand Canyon
81. Slept through an entire flight: takeoff, flight, and landing
82. Taken a canoe trip that lasted more than 2 days
83. Eaten sushi
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read The Bible cover to cover
86. Changed someone’s mind about something you care deeply about
87. Gotten someone fired for their actions
88. Gone back to school
89. Changed your name
90. Caught a fly in the air with your bare hands
91. Eaten fried green tomatoes
92. Read The Iliad
93. Taught yourself an art from scratch
94. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
95. Apologized to someone years after inflicting the hurt
96. Communicated with someone without sharing a common spoken language
97. Been elected to public office
98. Thought to yourself that you’re living your dream
99. Had to put someone you love into hospice care
100. Sold your own artwork to someone who didn’t know you
101. Had a booth at a street fair
102. Dyed your hair
103. Been a DJ
104. Rocked a baby to sleep
105. Ever dropped a cat from a high place to see if it really lands on all four
106. Raked your carpet
107. Brought out the best in people
108. Brought out the worst in people
109. Worn a mood ring
110. Ridden a horse
111. Carved an animal from a piece of wood or bar of soap
112. Cooked a dish where four people asked for the recipe
113. Buried a child
114. Gone to a Broadway (or equivalent to your country) play
115. Been inside the pyramids
116. Shot a basketball into a basket
117. Danced at a disco
118. Played in a band
119. Shot a bird
120. Gone to an arboretum
121. Tutored someone
122. Ridden a train
123. Brought an old fad back into style
124. Eaten caviar
125. Let a salesman talk you into something you didn’t need
126. Ridden a giraffe or elephant
127. Published a book
128. Pieced a quilt
129. Lived in an historic place
130. Acted in a play or performed on a stage
131. Asked for a raise
132. Made a hole-in-one
133. Gone deep sea fishing
134. Gone roller skating
135. Run a marathon
136. Learned to surf
137. Invented something
138. Flown first class
139. Spent the night in a 5-star luxury suite
140. Flown in a helicopter
141. Visited Africa
142. Sang a solo
143. Gone spelunking
144. Learned how to take a compliment
145. Written a love-story
146. Seen Michelangelo’s David
147. Had your portrait painted
148. Written a fan letter
149. Spent the night in something haunted
150. Owned a St. Bernard or Great Dane
151. Ran away
152. Learned to juggle
153. Been a boss
154. Sat on a jury
155. Lied about your weight
156. Gone on a diet
157. Found an arrowhead or a gold nugget
158. Written a poem
159. Carried your lunch in a lunchbox
160. Gotten food poisoning
161. Gone on a service, humanitarian or religious mission
162. Hiked the Grand Canyon
163. Sat on a park bench and fed the ducks
164. Gone to the opera
165. Gotten a letter from someone famous
166. Worn knickers
167. Ridden in a limousine
169. Can hula or waltz
170. Read a half dozen Nancy Drew or Hardy Boys books
171. Been stuck in an elevator
172. Had a revelatory dream
173. Thought you might crash in an airplane
174. Had a song dedicated to you on the radio or at a concert
175. Saved someone’s life
176. Eaten raw whale
177. Know how to tat, smock or do needlepoint
178. Laughed till your side hurt
179. Straddled the equator
180. Taken a photograph of something other than people that is worth framing
181. Gone to a Shakespeare Festival
182. Sent a message in a bottle
183. Spent the night in a hotel
184. Been a cashier
185. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
186. Joined a union
187. Donated blood or plasma
188. Built a campfire
189. Kept a blog
190. Had hives
191. Worn custom made shoes or boots
192. Made a PowerPoint presentation
193. Taken a Hunter’s Safety Course
194. Served at a soup kitchen
195. Conquered the Rubik’s cube
196. Know CPR
197. Ridden in or owned a convertible
198. Found a long lost friend
199. Helped solve a crime
200. Responded to a NJP newsletter

~So far I have read finished two books since I started my summer break. I am currently reading “Wicked” suggested by my little sis Jennifer. It has caught my attention (finally)- but it is not my most favorite read…as of yet. I am only half way through it. Anyone out there have any reading suggestions? My favortie authors are James Patterson and Nicholas Sparks. I enjoyed the Twilight series by Stephanie Meyers. I prefer books that catch my attention quickly and make me “feel” something or see something from a new perspective.
~I am on the hunt for a new camcorder. I was considering getting a high def camera- but discoverd that I would have to get a new computer too in order to do all of my editing. Anyone out there own a High Def camcorder? I need some advice.
~Grayson has done very well without the paci. I mean- the paci is still in his crib- he just has no interest in it now that the tip has been removed. I am so thankful. I must say that I think he has done so well without because of preschool. He hasn’t had a paci there for almost a year. Thank you wonderful teachers!

And with it comes Tim’s “To Do List”. He does this every summer- tells me 100 things that he would like for me to accomplish while I am off for 7 weeks. From repair men to vet appointments- Tim is sure to keep me busy enough to avoid naps and general laziness. But after being married for almost 7 years, I have learned how to accomplish his list and still have time for fun!
Speaking of fun, this past weekend we had a blast. My neighbor went out of town and I quickly volunteerd for pet sitting duty! There’s a perk to this little job…access to a swimming pool! We swam all weekend and got lots of sun. Most of our NC family also joined in the watery recreation- finding time to visit on Saturday or Sunday (or both). Here are some photos I took while splashing away!
I know it sounds strange, but I already feel as if my summer is passing too quickly. Yes, I know that it is only the 2nd day of my break. But my calendar is filling up fast. It doesn’t look as if I will get a trip down to Florida in this year. Between the vacation that Tim and I are going to in the Dominican Republic, swimming lessons for Grayson, a visit from my mom, and my friend Carri’s bachelorette pary and wedding- most weekends are already booked. Did tell you how excited I am to go on vacation with Tim? I cannot wait! Many thanks to my MIL- Mom B and my FIL- GB for agreeing to watch Grayson and Ozzy for us. And thanks to my mom for watching Grayson for us while we are at Carri’s wedding.
Summer is finally here and is flying by!

Has it really been 3 weeks since I made a post? I have really been slacking when it comes to this blog. We have been really busy though- so here’s a run down of out latest activities!
~This past weekend, we went to the NC moutains. Tim was in charge of planning and packing for the trip. It is the first time he has taken on travel responsibilities since we have been married- and he did a GREAT job. The only thing he forgot was Grayson’s wet wipes (and actual outfits that matched- but we were roughing it, right?) He invited his brother Marc and his sister Jill and their families too! We hiked to a waterfall on Saturday and spent the rest of time relaxing by the creek.
~Last week at school was VERY busy for me. I had to plan for 80+ 4th graders to visit our middle school and shadow with a 5th grader. I also had a huge honor breakfast and field trip on Friday. I can’t tell you how happy I was to see Friday arrive. Now that all of those tasks are behind me, I am on “easy street”. ONly 4 more days of work!!!!
~Over Memorial Day weekend, Tim’s best friend Carter and his wife Wendy were in town. We spent most of the weekend visiting with them. We cooked out, drank, and just relaxed. I wish Tim had more 3 day weekend off. I really enjoyed having him around so much!
~Tim’s Grandparents were in town from OH on May 17-22. I wish that they lived closer and that we were able to see them more often. They ate dinner at our house on that Tuesday and I enjoyed hearing Grandpa’s stories about his war with the ground hog who keeps trying to eat the garden. He’s a fiesty one that Grandpa!
~May 17, Renee and I took Ella and Grayson to Leah’s 3rd birthday party. The kids had fun swimming in the pool (Grayson loved the little slide), digging for jewels in the sand box, and of course eating cake and ice cream. I am so glad that Angelle and Mike moved up to NC. I wish we saw each other more often- but am glad that we have the type of friendship that exisits even when visits can not happen often.

So there you have the short and sweet version! I’ll try to post photos of all the activites later this week!

Since we celebrated Grayson’s second birthday with a party earlier this month, Tim & I decided to take Grayson to the NC State Zoo on his actual day of birth. It ended up being a perfect day for visiting the animals. The weather was overcast all day- meaning we didn’t get hot or burned and most of the animals were out and about! Grayson loved the sea lions the best- reaching out to try to grab them through the glass everytime they swam by the window. I enjoyed the gorillas and chimps & Tim was most impressed by the lion when he let out a roar. For those who haven’t visited the NC Zoo- I highly recommend it. It requires lots of walking- but it is well worth the measly $10 admission to visit.
**See our photos from the zoo by clicking on the photo above.

So I just realized, that even though I gave an udate on Grayson two weeks ago, it has been at least three weeks since I have covered the major happenings of my life. So here we go:

Friday, March 28- My new patio was completed! It took them a day longer than we expected to get it finished and lucikly it was finished in time for a party we were throwing over the weekend.

Saturday, March 29- Tim and I co-hosted a couples bridal shower for by BFF- Carri and her fiance Dave. We had about 25 people over to our house and unfortunatley the weather turned cold and wet. We didn’t get to use the new patio as we hoped, but luckily we did have plenty of room inside. I was able to borrow a number of folding chairs and tables giving everyone enough room to eat dinner. The best part of the party was Carri and Dave playing a game of “Almost Newlyweds”. Dave completely over analyized every question while Carri just wrote down the 1st thing that came to her mind! It was too funny…and we learned alot about the two of then!

Monday, March 31- I car-pooled with my friend Anna all the way out to Iron Station for this month’s Girl’s Dinner Club. My very 1st NC friend- Katie- hosted and the food was declicious. I especially loved the coffee she made using a French Press. I think that I am going to have to get one of those things! Has anyone else ever used one?

Tuesday, April 1- I went back to work. I have really started enjoying working alot more lately. Of course I have been trying to figure out why I was in a funk a few months ago. Pretty much my job is exactly the same now as it was then. The only thing I can contribue it to is just the dreary winter weather…
Satuday, April 5-Tim’s parents officially moved to up from Florida. They now live about 15 minutes away from us. We are very excited to have them so near! Welcome to NC Mom Brun and GB!

Sunday April 6- Renee’ and I threw a 2nd birthday party for my neice Ella and for Grayson. Their birthdays are a little less than a month apart and since my Mom (A.K.A. “MiMi”) lives out of town- we decided to combine the two celebrations together. (Thanks Mom for making the trip up here! It meant alot to have you here for the celebration.) The party was originally planned for Saturday- but we changed it at the last minute due to nasty weather. And what a great idea that was! Who can imagine trying to keep 22 kids under a pavillion and out of the rain? Not me- so switching it to Sunday worked out well. After the cake and icecream, the kids were able to run around, play on the playground equipment and have fun. Grayson recieved a number of tractors, trains, and trucks for this birthday and he has played with them everyday since. Tim and I got him a mini-ATV and he would ride everyday if we would let him. (View the photos from the party by clicking on the photo of Ella and Grayson.)
Also on Sunday, My sister-in-law- Jill let out the news that she and her husband Chris are expecting a baby. She’s already 3 months along and is due in October- the same time as my other sister-in law- Kate. That will make 2 more NC babies in the fall! I am so excited to add a few more babies to the mix. I swear that Tim’s family is now growing by leaps in bounds.

Well, I think that covers it all. After two very busy weekend, I am looking forward to just relaxing for the next two day!

~3.5 days in Florida
~3 total hours in flight
~Two 3 hour drives to and from Daytona
~ 1 Wedding
~1 Rehersal Dinner
~1 Jewish Naming Ceremony
~9 hours of missed sleep at night
~4.5 hours missed from afternoon nap
~4 Blow-Outs with 2 resluting in clothing change
~1 trip to the park resulting an a green and blue bruise on the forehead the size of a golf ball
~1 very cranky child by Sunday
Sum of all parts:
1 exahuasted mommy!

I am so glad to be home!

I could go into lots of detail about my weekend- but the truth is that I just don’t have the time. We had a great time visiting all of our family and friends- but I must admit that I am glad to be back home. The weekend and all the festivities were difficult on Grayson and I think that it has taken us the last two days to get him caught up on his sleep.
So here’s a link to the photos if you are interested! Click Here!

Thanks to my friend Katie- I have a new blog post…another questionaire about ME! For those of you (aka NaeNae) who have been searching for something to update you blog with- then play along!
1. WHAT TIME DID YOU GET UP THIS MORNING? 6:20
2. DIAMONDS OR PEARLS? Diamonds

3. WHAT IS THE LAST FILM THAT YOU SAW AT THE CINEMA? I can’t remember…and this is a shame because I LOVE going to the movies. The last one I can remember is maybe the last Harry Potter movie. Has it really been that long? Also- is anyone else really annoyed at how expensive it is to go to the movies?!?

4. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE TV SHOW? ??? Lost

5. WHAT DO YOU USUALLY HAVE FOR BREAKFAST? Coffee with 2 splinda and creamer
6. WHAT IS YOUR MIDDLE NAME? Kelly

7. WHAT FOOD DO YOU DISLIKE? Liver

8. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CD? I guess it would be Dixie Chicks- Fly

9. WHAT KIND OF CAR DO YOU DRIVE? Honda CRV

10. FAVORITE SANDWICH? BLT

11. WHAT CHARACTERISTIC DO YOU DESPISE? People who are rude!

12. FAVORITE ITEM OF CLOTHING? pajamas
13. IF YOU COULD GO ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD ON VACATION, WHERE WOULD YOU GO? I want to go to Greece- but Tim says not this year….

14. WHAT COLOR IS YOUR BATHROOM? the walls are taupe with all the accents (towels, etc.) a gray blue color
15. FAVORITE HOLIDAY? Christmas.

16. WHERE WOULD YOU RETIRE TO? Ican’t think that far away yet.

17. WHAT WAS YOUR MOST MEMORABLE BIRTHDAY? Graysons of course! His birhtyda changed my entire life and I will never forget a minute!

18. FAVORITE SPORT TO WATCH? College football, Nascar, and UFC…who would have guessed the last two?

19. FURTHEST PLACE YOU ARE SENDING THIS? on the web, who knows!

20. FAVORITE SAYING? Lately I’ve been enjoying saying “CRAP” is that a saying??? If not CRAP! HA! LOVE IT

21 ARE YOU A MORNING OR NIGHT PERSON? mid-day

22. WHAT IS YOUR SHOE SIZE? 8.5
23. PETS? Ozzy our black lab

24. WHAT DID YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU WERE LITTLE? a teacher

25. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CANDY? I love dark chocolate!

26. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE FLOWER? I love the dafodills that are blooming right now!

27. WHAT IS A DAY ON THE CALENDER YOU ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO? March 14-going to Florida

28. WHAT WAS THE LAST THING YOU ATE? Popcorn while watching lost

29. IF YOU WERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE? Yellow?

30. FAVORITE SOFT DRINK? diet cherry coke or diet mountian dew code red
31. FAVORITE RESTAURANT? Firebirds
32. SIBLINGS? 2- Renee and Jennifer
33. WHAT WAS YOUR FAVORITE TOY AS A CHILD? cabbage patch kids and leggos
34. SUMMER OR WINTER? Summer

35. HUGS OR KISSES? hugs

36. COFFEE OR TEA? coffee for a warm beverage, SWEET tea for something cold

37. CHOCOLATE OR VANILLA? Chocolate

38. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED? Last week when I found out a recent prognosis for a parent at my school with lung cancer.
39. WHAT IS UNDER YOUR BED? Finally nothing! I have plenty of closet space in my new house!

40. WHO IS THE FRIEND THAT YOU HAVE HAD THE LONGEST? Renee’-she’s been around since before I was born!
41. WHAT DID YOU DO LAST NIGHT? Ate dinner with Tim, Grayson, and GB. Then designe a business card for Tim and started editing a movie for my school.
42. FAVORITE SMELL? fresh cut grass
43. WHAT ARE YOU AFRAID OF? Dying before I am able to acomplish all my life goals.
44. SALTY OR SWEET? BOTH
45. HOW MANY KEYS ON YOUR RING? 2 - car and house
46. HOW MANY YEARS AT YOUR CURRENT JOB? 4.5
47. FAVORITE DAY OF THE WEEK? Sunday
48. HOW MANY TOWNS HAVE YOU LIVED IN? 5
49. DO YOU MAKE FRIENDS EASILY? I don’t think that i have a problem making friends…but I am picky!

So there you have it! Who else is going to participate!

I started this post 2 days ago and then somehow clicked the wrong button and lost everything. I was so frustrated, I just walked away from the computer…so anyhow, I will try again!
~For Valentine’s day Tim went out of his way to make the day special. He brought home dinner, a bottle of wine, flowers…the whole 9 yards. We had a really nice time just the two of us (after Grayson went to bed). I usually hate Valentine’s day- but this year absolutely LOVED it! Yeah for Tim!
~Last Saturday Carri and her fiance Dave came over for dinner. It was nice hanging out with the two of them. It seems like it had been while since only the four of us got together. We broiled Mahi-Mahi (after unresolved issues with our grill), ate corn on the cob and salads, and hung out, enjoying the company.
~ Last Sunday, we went over to GB’s house (my FIL) to watch the Daytona Race. I had a hoot chasing all the kids around the house and tickling them until my fingers almost fell off. Even then, they kept asking for more- especially Kellynn. Writing the word “kids” to describe Grayson, Jack, and Ella almost breaks my heart. They truely are turning into kids now. Expressing thier wants and needs, running around in circles, coloring at the table. I just can’t believe how big they have gotten
Not to worry though. Apparently we will have a new baby joining the NC crowd in October. On Sunday Kate and Marc finally let us know that we would be expecting another nephew/niece. (We had actually heard a few days before via the rumor mill- but weren’t officially told until Sunday.) So congrats to Kate and Marc and congrats to us… I can’t wait to have another baby in the family!
Also at GB’s, Tim and his siblings presented GB and Mom B (via speaker phone) with their retirement gift. All the kids went in together and purchased them a vacation at the Aventura Spa Palace in Playa del Carmen. Tim and I went there in 2005 and have highly recommended it to anyone and everyone who would listen. Jill and Chris went for their honeymoon and Marc and Kate went in October. Everyone has loved it. GB and Mom B were both ecstatic and have called numerous times since last Sunday to thank us for the gift.
~For the past two weeks, I have been working on organizing a career fair for our middle school students. On Friday, all of my work paid off and the career day ran smoothly. There were over 25 careers represented and I think that the kids enjoyed themselves. Now this week, I will have to work on moving my office. A new building was finally finished at school and I get to move. Have a ever mentioned on this blog how much I dread moving? Luckily my new office is really nice- so I am not complaining too much. I just wish that I had someone to move all of my stuff for me!
~On Friday night, I went to PF Changs to celebrate Carri’s birthday. I listened to the waiter when selecting my meal (the sea bass) and really think that I was “up-sold” for no real purpose. The waiter claimed that the sea bass was the best seafood on the menu…my opinion- it was ok- but definitely not an original dish. I felt like I could have ordered it from anywhere…so for those who love PF Chang’s- skip the pricey sea bass. It really isn’t worth the extra cash. Now don’t take all of this to mean that I did not enjoy my evening. I really did. The food was great and the cake that Dave & Emily bought for Carri was delicious. So Happy Birthday Carri! (And thank you Tim for volunteering to watch Grayson when we couldn’t find a baby sitter.)
~On Saturday, Grayson slept in until 9:50- at which time I finally woke him up. Then he took a 3 hour nap in the afternoon. He must be going through a growth spurt. He ate like a horse for both lunch and diner and I swear he feels heavier than before. It’s amazing how much he changes from week to week. He has learned how to hop foward (like a bunny) and is putting short (2 and 3 word ) sentences together. He wants so much to be independent and it is funny when he struggles to accomplish something- but refuses to ask for help. Oh man, what am I in for? I am seeing glimpses of the terrible twos and am scared to death of what awaits me in a few months…Somebody say some prayers for me!

Well, I guess that’s the recap of the past week and half. Hopefully my next post won’t take so long!

~Forgive me if this post doesn’t make alot of sense. I only got 5 hours of sleep last night. For some unknown reason Grayson decided to get up at 12:45 last night. He was wide awake and refused to go back to sleep until 4 am. No temp, no sickness- just wide awake and full of energy. For over an 1.5 I tried making him cry it out, then I finally put him in bed with me. That didn’t work either. For the next 1.5 hours I was tortured with his little fingers being poked into my eyes, him constantly sitting up, repositioning himself, trying to get out of bed, calling my name, etc, etc. At 3:45, just as I was about to throw in the towel and make Tim go on duty, he finally fell asleep. Whew! Needless to say, I am exhausted today!
~My mom came up from Florida this weekend to celebrate my niece Kellynn’s 6th birthday. After the birthday party, we went back to Kevin and Renee’s house for dinner and the race. I had so much fun watching Ella and Grayson run around the house, playing with each other. It’s funny to hear them talking to each other and mimicing each other. When did they get so big???
~I’m over my rut at work! I think that I was just suffering from those February blues (that Dena mentioned) as well as a VERY busy week. Maybe a little stress?? Last week ended on a good note and I here by declare my funk long gone!
~I am SOOOO glad that Lost is back on! It is my favorite show- although I must admit that I am dismayed to hear that there are only 4 episodes filmed. At least the writter’s strike is almost over. Maybe it will not effect this season…I NEED Lost!!!
~I have become addicted (no pun intended) to the new reality show- Celebrity Rehab. Is anyone else watching this? It’s on VH1 on Thursdays. (I DVR it and catch up on the weekends.) Dr. Drew is treating a number of celebrities for addictions. Perhaps it’s by back ground in counseling- or my curiosity about famous people- but I really like watching this show.

The number of flavors of Baskin Robbins ice cream.
The atomic number of gallium.
The number of days in the months January, March, May, July, August, October and December.
The car number of NASCAR driver Jeff Burton.
Turkish slang for masturbation (”otuzbir”). Whoops!!!

See there are all kinds of great things about the number 31….

including the number of candles on my birthday cake this year!

My NC Family was kind enough to celebrate my special day with dinner at Cantina (a yummy upscale Mexican restaurant). After a number of margaritas and a plate of delicious fajitas, th festivities then continued at Carri and Dave’s house-where Renee’ was also able to join us! My S-I-L Jill made a appropriately named “Better Than Sex” cake that was to die for-(thank you so much Jill). Thank you to everyone who called, sent a card/ gift, and otherwise went out of their way to make me feel loved and appreciated on my birthday. I feel so lucky to have you all in my life!

Click on the photo above to see the other photos that were taken on my birthday.

~Yesterday, my pregnant sister-in-law, Amy was hospitalized because she had already dialted to 4 cm. She is only 30 weeks pregnant, so there is concern about the baby being born too early. So far, she has spent a little over 24 hours in the hospital and she is being giving medications to stop the early labor. Things seem to be going ok- she hasn’t dialted any further. I guess tomorrow, they will make decisions about what to do. At this point it’s a game of “wait and see”. Best case scenario- labor stops and she will be on a bed rest for a while. Worst case scenario- the baby comes early. Of course at 30 weeks- the baby should be ok- except for some possible breathing issues and being under weight. We are all crossing our fingers that the labor will stop and that the baby will stay put inside Amy for at least a few more weeks. I will admit that I can’t wait to meet my new niece or nephew- but I know that it will be best for all of them if the new one can wait a few more weeks before entering the world. My heart and prayers go out to Joe and Amy as I know that they are worried sick and scared to death.
~Onto a happier note- Tim’s parents officially moved to NC this week. Thier moving truck arrived on Thursday and already they invited us over (last night) for dinner. Have I written about how happy I am that they are moving here???? I love Tim’s parents and enjoy spending time with them. They will now live only 15 minutes from our house and I couldn’t be more ecstatic. Welcome to NC Mom B and GB!!!
~ My winter vacation is almost over…and man have I enjoyed it. I have read 3 books, gotten back into scrapbooking, continued work on my house, and have spent an incredible amount of time with my family. There is a part of me that wishes I didn’t have to return to work- but at least I will be at a workshop on Monday and Tuesday. That should make the transition back into the working world a bit easier.
~Last, but not least, Grayson began running a 102.4 temperture tonight before bed. I gave him Motrin and the temp is down. Not sure what the problem is- since he just finshed antibiotics and he acted like an angel today. One of the tubes feel out of his a ear about a month ago and I am worried that he is going to get ear infections again. Looks like we might be headed back to the doctor tomorrow. Thank god for weekend hours!

*Tim and I took Grayson to the mall to see Santa today. We got there as soon as they opened and avoided all the long lines! Grayson didn’t seem to mind Santa- but he wasn’t too sure of him either. Once Grayson got a good look at him, that was when he finally looked back to me and Tim with a look that said, “You had better get me now, before I start to scream.” We got a few photos and avoided any melt downs!
*After spending three weeks looking for office furniture, we finally bit the bullet and purchased a set. We purchased an executives desk for Tim and I have an enitre wall unit to house all of the hobbies and crafts that I get busy working on.
*Speaking of crafts, I am considering switching to digital scrapbooking. Anyone else out there made the switch? My biggest questions are: What program do you use? How do you print your pages/scrapbooks? I am so sick of all the clutter that comes with scrapbooking. And going digital seems like it would be less time consuming too. Any suggestions out there?
* I have finally put up my Christmas Tree. I am only 2 weeks late, but hey- at least it’s up. It’ll be interesting to see how long it takes before Grayson attacks my tree. Maybe he’ll do better than I expect?
* I have completed all of my Christmas cards. I sealed all the envelopes and have placed them in the mailbox for pickup. I am ahead of schedule on those this year!
I started my Christmas shopping this weekend with Renee’. This is a bit later than I usually start, but I am hoping to get alot more done later this week. I bought a few things on-line this year and liked it so much that I hope to do most of next year’s shopping that way!
* I am totally addicted to Craig’s List. I love to search it everyday. Looking for furniture, toys for Grayson… Anyone else addicted?
*Last, but not least, this week Grayson has begun telling us when he has gone #2. He will walk up to us, grab his butt and say “poop”. Too funny.

Thanks to my friend Katie- I have a new Meme…or at least one that I have never completed before. Check it out and if you feel like playing along, be sure to leave a comment! Don’t be a scrooge!

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? I love to wrap and am very particular about creasing the paper and where tape goes!

2. Real tree or artificial? Fake for the past three years- just becuase of convinience. I am considering making a different choice for next year though. My friend Carri got me thinking about a real tree and then I thought that since I live in NC, it would be a cool family tradition to go to the mountains and cut down our tree each year.

3. When do you put up the tree? The weekend after Thanksgiving- or at least that is what I usually do. This year, with the move and all, I have put up my fake tree- but haven’t yet decorated it. so sad!

4. When do you take the tree down? The weekend after New Years. Isn’t it bad luck to do it before then?

5. Do you like eggnog? I did a long time ago. It has been a while since I tried it last. Maybe I’ll give it another try this season.

6. Favorite gift received as a child? I loved all my cabbage patch dolls!

7. Do you have a nativity scene? Yes, A small one given to me by my mom. I’ve yet to unpack all my decorations yet though.

8. Hardest person to buy for? my dad

9. Easiest person to buy for? Grayson! He’s too young to ask for anything and is happy with anything that is new!

10. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? Hmmmm in an effort to save the feelings of some of my bloggers, I decide to not answer this question! Lord knows I’ve hurt enough feelings through this blog this month!

11. Mail or email Christmas cards? mail - I’ve ordered them and am waiting their arrival

12. Favorite Christmas movie? How the Grinch Stole Christmas
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> 13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? Usually, sometime after thanksgiving. Like everything else to do with the holidays this year- I’m a bit behind!

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? Yes!

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? all those christmas cookies!

16. Clear lights or colored on the tree? I use white and red only!

17. Favorite Christmas song? I have a few- Chestnuts Roasting on an Openfire, Jingle Bells, Walking in a Winter Wonderland (although that one isn’t really a Christmas song!)

18. Travel for Christmas or stay at home? Stay home. Howelse will Santa find Grayson!

19. Can you name all of Santa’s reindeer? yes

20. Angel on the tree top or star? Angel

21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? Some on each.

22. Most annoying thing about this time of year? All those people shopping! It has never bothered me much in the past, but this year I am dreading going to the mall. Unbelievable!

23. What I love most about Christmas? spending time with my family, creating my own family traditions, all the food, and the general happy spirit of everyone (except for those shopping!)

So there you have it! Hope you all have a Merry Christmas. Doing this meme has made me realize that I have GOT to get busy! Christmas is going to be here before I know it!

I am thankful for…
~a husband who is my best friend and so much more
~my baby boy who taught me new depths of love
~2 sisters that I love being around and who constantly keep me in check
~my mom who goes out of her way to prove her love
~my dad who tries not to judge and is always there to pick me up
~my in-laws who have made me feel like a part of their family since the first day I met them
~my best friend who moved to NC and made my world complete
~my sister-in-law and her husband who love my dog almost as much as I do and will go out of their way to help us out when we are in a bind
~my dog who loves me unconditionally
~my Maw-Maw who makes me realize that everyday is a precious gift
I have so many things to be thankful for this holiday. It seems that the older I get, the more I am able to see all the blessings in my life. I feel so lucky for my family and friends. I am thankful for my health and that those around me are also well.

Just wanted to throw out there they my younger sister, Jennifer has started her own blog. Check it out and leave a comment letting her know I sent you that way. We all know how rewarding it is to know that people are reading what you write!