Our quick trip to Florida!!!

This past weekend, our family took a trip to see our newest member! Little baby Erin was born on Feb. 26. It was good to be able to go down and see her as a newborn. The next time we will be able to see her will be in July and she will have changed so much. James and Anna enjoyed holding her. They could move her around so easily which made me- and I am sure it made her mama very nervous!!! Sorry Leslie, I was trying to keep a close eye on them!!! We left Friday afternoon and returned home Sunday evening. We had a nice time and it was good to see everyone. I can't believe that Thanksgiving was the last time we had seen everyone!!! Time is just flying by these days!

So Excited!!!

Finally, something exciting coming out of the mailbox! Yesterday, right beore leaving for church, I checked the mail. A lot of times, I even forget to check the mail because it is pretty uneventful for me...sometimes even painful!!! You know, those big bills!!! Anyway, yesterday was different. When I saw this, I didn't even know I had been waiting on it, but I had!!! The catalog for the 2008 season of the Fox Theater in Atlanta. I was so happy that I stuck it right in my diaper bag so I could more closely examine it. I don't know when I thought I would have time to closely look at everything in this wonderful little booklet, on the drive there, or at church, but it was a good idea at the time. Well, when I arrived home, I actually had time to look at it. I AM SO EXCITED!!!!! Les Miserables, Mama Mia, Tarzan and several more are on the playlist for the season. The only thing I have to do now is decide which ones I simply can't miss being there to see. There is one problem....there are also several shows at Shakespeare I also simply will not be able to pass up. I guess the matter of $$$ is also a problem. Oh well, I am so excited anyway!!!!!

Trip to Mel's

Wow, it has been a while! This past weekend, James, Anna, and I took a trip down to Mel and Ryan's house. Mel and I were going to take a shopping trip down to Destin so I could buy the kids' summer wardrobe. We arrived Friday afternoon and were so busy that I didn't even have time to get my camera out except to document Rose's first time in her bumbo seat. She loved it! She is absolutely precious. She reminds me so much of Anna at that age. We had such a wonderful time down there. Mel, Rose, Anna, and I shopped all day Saturday. We couldn't have asked for a more beautiful day. We shopped, ate and talked...a perfect day! Ryan and ALL 5 BOYS (their 4 plus James) had a great time at their new house, playing in the creek, having tickle fights, and hot dogs on the bonfire at night...because the girls did not arrive home until 9:00! Thanks Ryan!!! It was great to be able to spend some time with the boys this weekend. They are all sweethearts!!! I had much success at shopping, thanks to all of Mel's help. Hopefully, we can make this an annual or even a bi-annual tradition! I had a great time,Mel. I love you!!!

I was sadly mistaken!

Well, I was too quick to come to the conclusion that my family had escaped...narrowly escaped..but escaped just the same. Escaped what you say? You know, this horrible flu, or virus, or bronchitis, or whatever is ailing absolutely everyone around us! I was wrong. I woke up Sunday morning not feeling 'quite right' and by Sunday night, I was miserable. Of course, Brian preached out of town Sunday morning and Sunday night. We all went with him and it was going to be a great day. We spent the afternoon with the most precious family. There were so many of them that I still haven't figured out who went with whom. They were all so sweet. They made us lunch and took us in like we were part of them! It was a very nice day, except for the coughing, aching, fever and chills! Thankfully, I was able to keep medicated all day and didn't feel my worst until late Sunday night. (I sure hope I didn't unknowingly pass this stuff on to them!) I was out of it all day Monday and Anna started her fever on Monday night. Thankfully, we are both feeling much better now. I am just waiting on the boys to get it now. I feel so bad for James. He has literally been counting down the days until this Friday. We were going to go to a youth rally where we used to live. James little best friend lives there and he barely gets to see him. For the past month it has been,"18 more days...", "17 more days".... Well, now we can't go. I feel so sorry for him. He isn't even sick and he probably feels like he is being punished. He is devastated!!! He did perk up a little when I mentioned possibly getting him a new DS game!!! Part of me wants them to just get it and get it over with. But the other, more sensible side, knows how horrible it is and is praying that they don't get it at all. Surely, this is the end of it. Surely, it has gone through everyone in this city by now!!!
On the bright side, this gives us the excuse to sit and watch movies all day. As a matter of fact, the kids are watching one of my all time favorites right now. I need to go....Anne Shirley just broke her slate on Gilbert Blythe's head! Serves him right for calling her 'Carrots'!!!

Happy Valentine's Day!

I always tell myself that Valentine's Day is just a holiday which is made up in order to get everyone to spend more money. But, in reality, I get just as mushy as everyone else! I was so excited to see the handwritten letter stuck to the bathroom mirror when I got up this morning. This meant more to me than anything I could have ever gotten.....it truly IS the thought that counts. This letter took me back to the days when I would get a note in the campus mail from him. I can't believe this is our ninth Valentine's Day together! I never thought that I could really be so entirely happy! It is crazy to think back on EVERYTHING that has happend in our life together so far!!! I love you, Brian!!!

Finished Product!

I think it turned out pretty cute! I painted the bookshelf, the bed, the mirror, and of course, the walls. The wavy line was so time consuming, but it turned out great! Brian did a great job as usual on the moulding. He was able to use his Christmas presents, the mitre saw and nail gun with compressor. I just love home projects. Next up....the upstairs bathroom!!!

Scary!

Wow! What is with the plague that is sweeping over the city! Last week, church looked almost bare and I couldn't go to work this week because they are all sick. I heard a lady at the gym say that there were 17 kids from her son's fourth grade class out sick yesterday. I have to get on a little soapbox for just a minute. If your kids are sick....don't take them to church, don't send them to school and don't even take them to Target with you for, 'just a minute'!!! This is how it keeps spreading!!! I just don't see how moms don't 'get' that this is how their child got sick in the first place. The only place you should be taking them is to the doctor!!! When your child is sick...life does not go on as normal. Cancel plans, make some changes in your schedule. However, if your child is sick...I do hope that they get feeling better very soon. It is just scary how contagious this thing is. Very thankfully, we have not gotten sick....yet!