Sophia's First Day of Kindergarten

This morning Sophia began her elementary school journey!!! They start kindergarten off slow for them with two 'staggered' days - which means she goes with half her class from 8:30 to 1:00 today and Wednesday and then starts full days on Thursday. For Sophia though, this was it! This was the first day . . . the day she had been waiting for since graduating preschool last May . . . the day she asked every day during the summer for . . . it was her first day of school! I drove her there (she wanted to ride the bus) and she was smiling when I left her! This is our neighbor friend - she is not in Sophia's class but she does have two friends in her class with her.This is the sweet teacher that is blessed with Sophia for the next nine months! And here she is when I left her . . . smiling and playing with her Play Doh!

First Day of School and ByeBye Daddy!

Last Thursday was the boys' first day of school. We now officially have a SENIOR in high school and a sixth grader in middle school. Yikes! Sophia went for Kindergarten assesment on Thursday and will begin school full time in two weeks. She is very excited to get going! So once we are in full swing we will have a child in every school this year! On Thursday, we also put Daddy on a plane to go to India for work for a little over two weeks. While Sophia might be looking sad and pitiful in this picture, it is not because she was that sad over Daddy leaving . . . she had fallen asleep in the car on the way to the airport and would have preferred I left her that way instead of having to take a picture. We have been able to talk to Daddy every day via Skype. We talk to him before we go to bed and as he is getting up since he is 10 and a half hours ahead of us.

Before and After and the Last Summer Night

Yesterday was the BIG day . . . haircut day! Originally, it was just going to be big for Dawson, but right before we left Sophia decided she needed to make a drastic change for her first year of school. Gracie had a bit of a trim to just to make it a little even. She still can't say she has a hair style but we are working on it.

BEFORE

AFTERBEFOREAFTERBEFORE (YIKES)AFTER (YAY!)

And to complete the day and celebrate our Last Summer Night (of 2009), we hit the county fair. It was one of the nights where you paid for a stamp for unlimited rides. And unlimited Dawson and Gracie did! It had rained a bit before we got there so I think that kept a lot of folks from coming out so they had their choice of ride with no wait. Dawson ran from one "high thrill" ride to the next hardly stopping in between. Some rides he would get on and would ride two or three times before getting off. Grace did the same thing with anything she could get on. She sat on the carousel for 4 times at one point. She loves her some horsies! Sophia had a rough night of it at first. She loves her some rides and was excited to get going. She jumped on the first ride that her brother would go on with her and that was exciting looking . . . the Pirate Ship. It is one of those back and forth swinging ships that leaves your stomach in your throat at the top. Not a good first choice for Sophia. I went on with her and she spent the whole ride buried in my shirt crying. It took almost the whole night to convince her to just get on the carousel. Then she would ride a few kiddie rides with Gracie, but nothing else. In the end, we all had great fun. And ended the night with our favorite treats . . . funnel cake and turkey legs! At 11:00pm! Woo hoo!

Jon and Emily

Saturday we attended the wedding of Jon and Emily! To say it was beautiful is really an understatement. The ceremony took place at a lovely little place north of Nashville. The ceremony was outdoors with a reception after inside. We had a great time with great friends as we watched this sweet amazing young couple exchange their personal vows, cut their cake, and dance their first dance.

We have known Jon since he was in high school. He would lead worship in our home during youth gatherings on Sunday nights. I went on a mission trip with a "boy" Jon and watched him turn into the man of God he is today! I have seen Jon turn around and pour into other youth in our church, including my son. I met Emily about a year ago, she has such a sweet sweet spirit about her that just draws you in! They are wonderful together.

And while I watched Jon exchange vows with Emily, I felt a little old yet it reminded me why I serve in youth. My desire is not only to see each of my four children have the very special God given love that Jon and Emily share, but also to see the youth in my community save themselves for that one special person that God has already chosen for them. The look in Jon and Emily's eyes and the love in their voices seems to be so rare anymore. Their love is a true genuine God given deep into your soul kind of love. I want that "Jon and Emily Love" for everyone - call me mushy - call me sappy - but that is what my prayer is for each young person I come into contact with - that they might know God so that they would follow him and wait for that special person He already has chosen for them.
Many blessings to you Jon and Emily! We love you both dearly!

All About Me Week

Wednesday I celebrated an anniversary of my 29th birthday. However, since occasionally I like to make things all about me, I decided that the last week has basically been my birthday celebration. And as I look back, man, do I know how to celebrate my anniversary!
Last Thursday, the hubby and I joined up with some of our 'rowdy friends' to listen to Billy Reasons and check out some NASCAR haulers at the Wildhorse in downtown Nashville.(see Mel's Karaoke Confessions for full pics and details). We had a great time of acting like crazed fans of both Billy and Nascar. The night ended with the six of us having full pit and garage passes to the Truck Race on Saturday.

Saturday was a day of fun at the race track. Yes, I am a crazed redneck NASCAR lovin' girl! The six of us spent the day walking around the pits and the garages of the track. In my mind, my pass said "Do whatever you want!". We had great fun hanging out with Stacy Compton, Tom Buzze, and the entire #60 truck crew. They were a blast! The highlight of my day came when the rear tire changer put "the gun" in my hands right before the race and let me make THE NOISE. My favorite Nascar noise is the sound of the guns when the tire changers are warming them up right before pit stops. I am told I do a pretty good impression of the noise. I was kind of weary on asking if I could touch "the gun". The tire changer was really taking care of it - cleaning it up and getting it all prepped for the race. My friend Bob went and asked him if I could hold the gun, and he said YES! So here I am holding the gun . . . after the picture was taken I was able to pull the trigger and OH MY did that thing have some power. I'm just saying! (no comments on how strange I am to be so excited about the gun . .. really I already know it is strange but it is SO COOL). Jeff and I in front of Stacy Compton's truck before the race. Red Leader and Team Black with Billy (and the Billy sticker) . . . this is our famous person picture of the day . . . start requesting Crank the Hank by Billy Reasons on your fav country radio station soon! A fun picture of Billy (and the Billy sticker) . . .

Let's see, so then Sunday, we had a class picnic with our Connect Group at church. It really was about spending some time with some friends . . . but I can pretend it was all about me. Here is my girls enjoying their time at my . . . er . . . I mean the class picnic.

Monday and Tuesday were just the same ole same ole pretty much. Work and hanging out with the hubby and kids. My sweet friend Lynn had surgery on Tuesday and it was successful! A big Praise God there as she is home resting and relaxing from that now!

Wednesday was the ACTUAL anniversary day! I went through my normal daily routine pretty much. I went and visited Lynn in the hospital at lunch. I went to WNL at church with MY youth that night. And a few of my sweet girls surprised me with flowers, balloons, and a big poster. And then a loud Happy Birthday song to me from the whole gang. Who says teenagers aren't the best? I love me some teenagers! This is Bekah (and the back of Peyton's head) . . . she was one of the angels! And this is me and Britney (or Mitney as Gracie calls her). They are some of the most amazing and loving girls ever. Actually I am pretty well surrounded by great teens every WNL. Don't underestimate the power of todays youth! They are awesome!

After WNL, Jeff and the girls surprised me with a mint chocolate pie and some gifts. The girls got me a really cute card that Sophia filled in with why I was so great, and Jeff got me a beautiful necklace! I am a blessed woman! (side note: the boys are in NE with grandparents so they are not being rude - they just haven't been around for two weeks! But they come back tonight!!! YAY!)

Thursday night (because what is a party week without after parties) . . . my in-laws came over for dinner and cake. They brought me my first ever cake with my picture on it. Of course Sophia wants desperately to eat my face. Hmmm . . . not sure about that.

I also scored me my favorite strawberry cake from Becky. YUMMO! So now my house is full of sweet eats! Nothing like celebrating my birthday anniversary by gaining some pounds with my year! Hee hee!
And now I am off to enjoy a lunch with the sustahood (minus Lynn who is still in recovery at home)! We will be dining on some Olive Garden breadsticks, soup and salad . . . but mostly bread!
And then tonight my final present to end my week of celebration will be seeing my sweet boys get off that plane! Woo hoo! I will have my family back! (and don't tell Dawson but his homecoming celebration includes a homecoming haircut!)

Dawson Turned 11 and Grace needs to go

In my previous post, I missed mentioning that on July 16 Dawson turned 11. We did various things for his birthday. We ate out (alot). We went shopping for Legos and KNex. We had a friend sleep over. We had family over for cake. The celebrating basically started on Thursday and ended on Sunday. Here is a picture of Hairboy . . . er Dawson with his cake and one of his gifts . . .

And then for the Grace news . . . Friday night, Jeff, Grace, and I made a visit to the ER at Vanderbilt. Grace had taken a fall on Wednesday, and started talking about belly pain on Friday. She was screaming like a crazed person. We took her to the urgent care here in town. Due to the possibility that the fall could have injured her organs, they suggested we take her to the ER to be looked at. After a little (interpret how you like . . . we were in an ER) wait, we got to go back to our hallway bed to be observed by Dr Doogie Howser of Vandy. The Boy Wonder did some blood work, and read the results to say that Grace was having an issue with her pancreas. At about midnight, Grace had a CT scan and an xray to see what was going on. The results came back and they could see nothing wrong with any of her organs so they kept us overnight IN THE E.R. for observation. The three of us had a lovely time sleeping in a cozy E.R. room . . . oh let's be real no one gets sleep in the hospital. We slept off and on when they weren't taking vitals, or resetting her IV, or taking blood, or playing really loud music . . . oh sigh! The next morning the Dr (a professor with the university) and one of the med students came to talk to us about Grace. It appears that Dr Doogie had read Gracie's results from the computer . . . . the computer had flagged Grace's levels when comparing them to an ADULT . . . when looked at against a standard 2 year old Grace was good. Looking back at the CT scan - they found that Grace was . . . are you ready for this . . . just full of poop! Oh yes, we slept in the ER for constipation. So now we have to monitor Grace's BM patterns and be sure she goes every day. Doesn't that sound like fun? But I suppose this is worth it . . .

Glimpses of our life

Yes it has been FOREVER since I have blogged. Much has been going on since I last wrote.
We went on vacation to North Carolina/Tennessee. We spent a few days at a family reunion, we stayed in a cabin, we went fishing, we went to Dollywood, and we saw the Witt's in Johnson City. We had a blast.
Brandon had surgery upon our return. When he was five he had a cyst in his jaw that required the removal of some permanent teeth as well as took half of his jawbone. Now that he is all grown up - it is time to look at implants back there. Before we can do implants, we have to grow some jawbone. Surgery one involved putting in a device that over about 10 days we will grow 1 cm of jawbone. He will have another surgery to remove the device. And then a final one to do the implants. Craziness! But once everything is said and done - he will have a perfect set of teeth in his mouth with no braces!
Sophia had a tooth pulled (again)! That is always a good time!
Gracie is starting to enjoy sitting on the big girl pottie! We only get results about 1 every 10 times but this morning was one of those times! YAY!
Dawson attended Hornets Camp to learn all about middle school. Yikes - this year I will have a senior in high school, a 6th grader in middle school, and a kindergartner in elementary. Crazy!
Enjoy some photos of vacation . . .