3rd Annual Fall Trip

Lori and I have started a fall tradition. We go on a scenic drive stopping at Aunt Sue's in Pumpkintown.

This year we went Wahalla, I love the name of that town. Our first stop was Stumphouse Tunnel which was way cool. I learned a lot about the tunnel, the town and how to save a historical landmark.
















Annley wasn't too sure about being in the tunnel so Lori carried her. Parker on the other hand loved every minute.


Our next stop was Issaqueena Falls.










Then Pumpkintown















Then Pumpkin Town


- Posted from my iPad

And They're Off

"Congratulations today is your day.
You're off to great places.
You're off and away."
- Dr. Suess

Those of you who know me are aware of my philosophy that I only run if something is chasing me or if I am playing a sport.

A few months ago, Tyler decided he would train for a half marathon. He likes to run. When he made this announcement I was 100% supportive.

Besides it's not like I was ever planning to run a half marathon.

A couple of months later Tyler mentioned that there would also be a 5k the morning of the half marathon. A few days later I decided that there was a chance that I could be ready to attempt a 5k in two months.

A few weeks after that, Tyler, offered to take me running with him on one of his short runs.

We got a last minute sitter and off we went.

Every now and then, Tyler being the thoughtful guy that he is would ask how I was feeling and offer me advice. He wouldn't tell me how far we'd gone only that he had a stopping point in mind.

Eventually we got to the stopping point and turned around to go back. When we finished, he announced that we had run 4.1 miles. I was shocked and very happy. This was the day I knew a 5k was possible.

Today was the big day.

Tyler, ran his half marathon in 1:59:12. Way to go Cuteness!!!

I ran my 5k in 33:40.


- Posted from my iPad

Choc-o-late

Do you ever have those days where you can not get motivated to do anything or really even care what your children do?

I recently had one of those days. All I wanted to do was stay in my pjs and read. I did just that for the first time in since Annley was born.

I basically let Annley eat whatever she wanted including 5 or 6 chocolate medallions. She also had lots of cookies. Tyler and I let her eat junk food but I NEVER let Annley have more than one or two cookies or more than one or two pieces of candy a day so she was thrilled.

Bedtime rolled around and I tried unsuccessfully to get Annley to bed several times. Tyler was not home to help and I for some reason was very tired so I talked Annley into crawling into my bed to cuddle. This was not a quiet cuddle as it was full of endless chatter. I fell asleep.

I woke up when Tyler walked into the bedroom and whispered "What are you doing?"
I pointed at Annley and at that moment she popped up and endless chatter continued.

It was 10 o'clock. Tyler tried to put her to bed.
Annley- "Its not time for bed daddy. I'm not tired. Let's have lunch. We can have spaghetti and cookies. Do you want to come downstairs with me daddy?..."

This was all said in less than three seconds.

Tyler and I looked at each other and laughed wondering why our child who is almost always in bed before 8 o'clock was still awake and talking so much and so fast.

I thought back over our day and that's when I realized what I had done.
Never in the near future will my child have more than one piece of chocolate or more than a couple of cookies at a time after lunch.

We finally got Annley to bed at 11 o'clock. This was after she made her way downstairs to chatter at Nana and help narrate the movie Nana was watching.

Annley was up by 6 o'clock the morning.


- Posted from my iPad

Georgia National Fair

Something about going to the fair screams HEY IT'S FALL!
This fall is the first time in 4 years I've been able to go. This year we went with my parents and took the kids.

There are a few things one must do and certain things one must eat to have the ultimate fair experience.

First, check out the livestock arena, this was one of Annley's favorite stops. She was able to see and pet large flop eared rabbits and she even got to pet a calf.

Second, ride the Ferris Wheel. Annley was not sure about this ride. She looked scared for the majority of the ride until we started picking out landmarks for her to find.

Third, play one game run by toothless carnies. We skipped this activity this year.

The best part is the food. Roasted corn, funnel cake, grilled chicken and fried Oreos.

Annley's favorite part of the fair was the giant slide. She got to slide down it twice and cried when it was time to move on.

The time came for us to leave. We were almost to the parking lot when I realized that I left my keys in the last chair I sat in. This was not good. It was nine o'clock and I had children who were pretending not to be sleepy.

My dad checked with the lost and found twice with no luck.

I finally went myself to talk to the lady at the lost and found. I left my name, number and a detailed description of my keys and keyring.

The lady at the lost and found desk let me know it would probably be a couple of days before my keys turned up if no one turned them in.

I called Tyler to relay that information and he got on the phone to arrange for a locksmith to meet us.

My dad and I made it half way back to my mom and Tyler when my phone rang. It was the lost and found desk. Someone had just turned in my keys.

The whole lost keys situation lasted about forty minutes which was long enough.

I am so grateful for answered prayers and for whoever it was that found my keys and took them to the lost and found.

Seeing Double Two Years Later

There are times when Parker looks a lot like Annley did when she was his age. It always catches me by surprise when he has an "Annley moment". Maybe that is because my siblings and I have ever really looked like one another.

These pictures are of Parker and Annley at 6 months.
























- Posted from my iPad

Like a Fairy

Last weekend we drove to Asheville to have family pictures taken by a
friend of ours.

Unfortunately, there weren't any bathrooms at the chosen
location. Not good when you have a toddler who has been stuck in a car
for well over an hour.

Annley, announced that she had to go potty so Tyler and I weighed our
options and decided the tall grass might be best.

I asked Annley if she wanted to go potty in the grass. Her answer,
"NO, I need to potty in the toilet."

While trying to explain that there was no toilet for her to use an
idea popped in head.

"Annley, do you want to be a fairy?"

"Oh yes!"

"Annley, did you know that fairies potty outside in the grass? So if
you want to be a fairy you are going to have to potty in the grass."

"Okay, Daddy, you take me."

A little later Annley yelled out "I need to go potty like a fairy."

And she did.

Our friend invited us back to her house for dinner and cookies, which
were delicious.

I asked Annley if she needed to go potty and told her she could use
the big girl potty. She said "No, I need to potty like a fairy."

We now find ourselves hoping we will not find her outside "being a fairy".

IT Is...

The IT is a CAR!!!
Well, a Honda Odyssey. It was hands down the BEST surprise ever.

A few weeks ago Tyler called me from work and asked me to meet him for lunch in Greenville at 12:30. I got his message asking me to meet him about an hour before I was to meet him.

I was a little irritated because of the short notice. I had just gotten in from taking the kids for a jog. This meant there would be no time for a shower so I'd have and that I would have to ask Tyler's mom at the last minute to keep Annley .

An hour later I met Tyler for lunch. He seemed excited and more animated than usual. We hadn't even ordered yet when Tyler announced that he had bought me a van.

I was very excited, especially when he told me it was the one I picked out.
He and my brother had taken it for a test drive the previous weekend.

I love finally having a car again. It's so nice to be able to do the normal mundane things like grocery shopping whenever I want and without having to ask to borrow someone else's car.

We named our van Phoebe. She is loved by the whole family.



- Posted from my iPad