Merry Christmas

What a December! I don't think I've ever been so busy.

She spent last weekend with my parents and enjoyed her first Winston Salem snow. She had a GREAT time which is why I'm glad I bought snow gear for Christmas. I'm hoping to take her tubing at some point so she will be set to enjoy it all.

We are having brunch with Santa this weekend, going to see the lights in McAdenville and to the Billy Graham Library for their Christmas celebration. Next weekend we are having 6 or 7 girls over to decorate Christmas cookies and maybe cupcakes. Of course, I will be posting a few pictures for your viewing pleasure.

All of my shopping is done (I think) and now I just have to help Santa wrap a few things. No gift assembly in my Christmas Eve future. YES!!!!

We spent our 1st Thanksgiving together in Atlanta and had a great time. We went to the GA Aquarium for the first time. What an awesome place.

I hope that everyone has a great Christmas. If you have any fun traditions that you and your family have created throughout the years, please share them with me.

We have been very busy lately and from what I can tell, we will only get busier in the next few weeks.

We went to see MegaMinds this weekend and let me just say it should have been called MegaFlop in my opinion. Journey (the child who NEVER naps) asked me if she could go to sleep during the movie. She and several children around us kept asking if it was almost over and trust me, I couldn't wait until the answer to that question was yes!

We went to Old Salem this weekend and of course, I snapped a few pictures! She had a great time playing with Ella and we finished the evening at Mayberry's so you know she was a happy girl!

Journey and I went Christmas shopping on Saturday. This trip was for her to buy gifts for those on her shopping list. I explained that this wasn't a trip for her - that it was better to give than to receive. She was excited at first but we need a little more work for that concept to be embraced. She did a great job selecting items though. She can't wait to wrap them so this should be fun.

Nana bought us two beautiful Christmas night lights that are now up in our living room. I'm sure Christmas decorations will start making their way out of storage soon.

We'll be on our way to Atlanta soon and we are looking forward to spending some time with family. We'll be making a stop at the Atlanta Aquarium which will be a lot of fun!

I'm sure I'll post something again before Thanksgiving but if not....HaPpY ThAnKsGiViNg!!!!

Happy Halloween & Fall

Journey and I had a fun October! I thought I'd share a video so you could see some of our activities.

We went to Trunk or Treat on Saturday at Fairview UMC and had a great time.

My Dorothy and Toto were exhausted but everyone had fun!

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Fun @ the Fair - Take Two

Yes, we went to the fair again this past Saturday! It was VERY crowded but fun so we can't complain. She had fun playing with Rebekah and Sarah.

She had a great weekend. She was able to spend the night with Nana and Papa and they always have fun together. They baked cookies, she ate ice cream and pancakes for dinner. I'm shocked she wanted to come home. :-)

She asked me last night if I'd ever been to Disney and said she'd like to go there next. Oh my, I think that will be a little more expensive than two trips to the fair. :-)

Make an on-line slide show at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Fun @ the Fair

We had a great time at the fair this weekend. The whole family was able to go together.

We went to the park on Sunday and she had a lot of fun. Overall, we had a fantastic weekend.

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

She lost her 1st tooth

I guess the title of this entry says it all! She lost her 1st tooth at school yesterday and she said that she didn't even cry. Here's hoping they all go as smoothly.

She left a washcloth out for the tooth fairy b/c it was raining last night. The tooth fairy left her a nice note thanking her for the clean tooth and the washcloth.

She doesn't have a bad gap b/c her new tooth is already coming in. She's still very proud of it though.

We went to Columbia this weekend to visit Shannon, Jerry, Karli and Sara and had a great time. This was our first road trip (without Nana and Papa) and although she protested going without them, we had an easy trip just the same. DVD players for the car are an awesome thing. When I was a child all I had to entertain myself was a book and arguing over the "line" in the backseat that Kelly was not allowed to cross. :-)

Fishing with Jerry

Holding her bait

Playing with Karli and Sara

Hero Day!

Today is Hero Day at Journey's school. The first time I heard about it, it was called Character Day so she wanted to go as a Princess which was fine. Then I found out it was actually Hero Day. How was I going to convince her to go as something other than a Princess? Well, it was much easier than I thought it would be. I told her that she could go as a soldier and that Papa was a soldier and he would LOVE it if she was one too. Plus, she got a new belt and tights which didn't hurt.

Anyway, I've posted of a few pics of her as a soldier. I asked her as she was leaving - what she was going to tell the teacher that she was. She thought for a minute and said a Princess Soldier. I said, sounds good! That's what I call compromise! She did after all have on hot pink tennis shoes.

I found this poem online and thought I'd share.

The Cost of a Soldier

A true soldier is tough indeed

standing tall and strong when there is a need

A soldier also feels sadness, pain and sorrow

Somtimes not looking forward to the trials of tomorrow
When a soldier is wounded in battle

the nerves of his buddies it does rattle

When news reaches friends and family at home

How their worries and minds begin to roam

A wounded soldier feels inadequate at best

stopping him from much needed healing rest

A wounded soldier wonders will he ever be alright

trusting in God that he'll make it through the night.
When a soldier is wounded far beyond repair

the loss and pain felt can not compare

The cost of a solder is set so very high

they assure our freedom will always apply
To stand beside a soldier and walk through his pain

will humble a civilian , no longer to complain

Love, patience, trust and hope is what a soldier needs

to get him through some very treacherous deeds

Dear Lord, please watch over our Military today

as they work to keep our freedom everyday

For the wounded and the families of soldiers lost

Please bless them with abundant love, for we know not the cost.

The cost of a soldier is set very high

our support for them we should never deny.

Denise Girod

Say thank you to your hero today.....Police officers, firemen, soldiers, moms, dads, teachers, etc.

Thanks CSM Brooks aka Daddy aka Papa, we will never forget your sacrifice!

Labor Day Weekend

Well, as you can see by the pictures, we were not that busy Labor Day weekend but I created the video so why not share it. :-)

I will share two funny comments from Miss Thang....

Sunday on the way to church, she said that when she grows up she's going to drive a motorcycle. To that I said, well you will need to have a good job so you can pay for it. She responds, "I'm not going to have a job, I'm just going to ride my motorcycle to McDonald's, Nana and Papa's and then back home". Of course, I told her she would have to have a job but she wasn't buying it. OH KNOW!!!

She puts her dirty dishes in the sink or dishwasher. Well, yesterday morning I told her to put her cereal bowl in the sink. She just started eating cereal so I didn't think to tell her what to do with her leftovers. Anyway, when I got home yesterday I had a nice hard layer of rainbow krispies at the bottom of my sink.

I called her over and told her that when she has leftover cereal she should put it in the trash or just sit the bowl with its contents in the sink. She looked at me and said "Note to self".

I say that all of the time but never to her. I guess she's listening to me.

In a previous post, I said that I let her brush her teeth in the shower and she doesn't whine about it. Well, now she's taking her daily vitamin and any medication in the shower. Soon, I'll have to move the dinner table up there. LOL Hey, whatever works and she thinks it's awesome right now.

Howework is going well but she's a perfectionist and loves her eraser. Glad I'm not like that or we could have a hard time.

Take care.....

Make an on-line slideshow at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Labor Day Weekend

We have been very busy this weekend. We went to SciWorks for a little while on Saturday. She finally convinced me to get in the Jacuzzi on Sunday. Well, she got in and I took pictures of her. Oh well, she had fun. Monday was full of errands and other fun things like that.

Seems like we are getting into a routine now. She likes school and thinks that riding the bus is fun. That will help both of us I think. I must say, I was so happy for the cooler temps this weekend. Neither of us are fond of the heat. Something else that we have in common.

We had our first family pics taken the other day. It was a little warm that day but I'm glad we did it.

Thanks to everyone for your continued prayers and support.

No, I'm just grumpy...

Last night was too funny not to share.

This week is Journey's first full week of school. She's very tired when she gets home and sometimes a little moody. Well, last night she was just outright GRUMPY!

Here's how my night went.....

Kecia - "Oh look Journey, you have a new homework folder"
Journey - " That is MY folder"
Kecia - "Look Journey, right here it says P-A-R-E-N-T so that means we are supposed to share it"
Journey - "Look Mommy, right here on the front it says J-O-U-R-N-E-Y so that means it is mine"

I then bowed my head, closed my eyes and said, "Lord, grant me deaf ears tonight and protect her". LOL

So, as she played with her fork (after she was asked to stop) and dropped it she started complaining that she didn't have a fork to eat with. I told her that she had one it was just on the floor. She said she couldn't reach the kitchen sink to rinse it off. I told her she could reach the bathroom sink and the same water comes out. Her complaint then was - how will I dry it? I said run quickly and you can air dry it. She didn't think I was too funny.

So to the shower we went. Guess what I heard....(Insert whining sound) I don't want to take a shower. She gave up on that one pretty quickly and got in. She loves to take a shower but doesn't like getting in and out and then brushing her teeth. My solution last night - let her brush her teeth in the shower. So if you come for a visit and your shower is minty fresh - you know why.

Then off to read a book, our devotional book, prayers and bed. The book was new so she loved it. The devotional was PERFECT for our evening. It was referring to the things that you say and do are evidence of what is in your heart. I asked her if she knew what that meant and she didn't so I explained it. I told her that when she says mean or rude things that it is a sign of what's in her heart. She said, well sometimes there must be mean in my heart. I said it happens to everyone but that we should try to be kind. I told her I'd pray for her and she said good and I'll pray for you. Oh my...guess I better step up my game!

Hey, no meltdowns just grumpy.

This morning was great and I thanked her for it. She said, I told you I wasn't going to be grumpy when I got up. That you did my girl....That you did....

So, I hope my evening made you chuckle.

1st Day of School

Well, we made it happily through the first day of school. When I asked her if she was ready to go back tomorrow she said "Don't You Know It!" I will take that as a good sign.

She liked after school care as well. She's eaten like crazy since we got home. She went upstairs to change clothes so she could ride her Princess Truck for a little while. She told Sophie that she could go to school with her sometime if she wanted to. Awww how sweet but I better start checking her bookbag just in case.

Who has time to write anything more than this. I have so much to do. I know, welcome to the "hood".

Make an on-line slide show at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Hilton Head & a few extras

We had a great time enjoying our first trip to the beach. My parents were able to go and they played all day every day while I was working. Oh well, someone has to do it.

We were locked out of our room one evening and while we were trying to figure things out, her main question was "What about my shoes?". Oh know, I'm in trouble!

She started school today. She did fine, I was a wreck! LOL I'll post more about that later.

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Hilton Head Here We Come

Journey has not been to the beach before so this should be a lot of fun. My parents are going with us and we are all looking forward to it. I'll be working for part of the trip but I'll be able to enjoy some leisure time with them.

I think I've created a monster though. When I was packing her clothes, she asked if she could take all of her shoes. I told her we would only take a few and she said that should couldn't know now which shoes she would want to wear! OH NO! Check out her RUBY SHOES! Thanks "Aunt" Jackie!

Journey and I have had a fun week. She stayed with Julie Monday and Tuesday and in her words, "Julie is cool!".

We went to the park Sunday and she was fine for about 10 minutes then had to let me know that she doesn't like to be hot. We kept walking and then she told me she was getting weak from the heat. We were able to safely make it to the shade and all was well with the world.

Although she wanted to wear a dress to the park, she still enjoyed some play time on the equipment.

I'm sure I'll have some fun pictures to post next week. Have a great weekend!

Journey is Home - Let's Celebrate! at OneTrueMedia.com

Journey and I had a very busy weekend! We were so happy to welcome friends and family into our home to celebrate our new beginning and then we celebrated again at my office on Monday.

I am overwhelmed by all of the love and support and thank you all from the bottom of my heart!

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

What a big day!!

Miss Journey met her new doctor today. She is a very healthy young princess. Poor thing had to get five shots but once she started breathing again she calmed down quickly. She was treated to McDonald's and I suffered through it! :-)

Then she had to go to the dentist. This was her 1st visit to the dentist so I had no idea what to expect. She did great!

Her legs are sore tonight but otherwise she seems okay.

Nana and Papa came over for dinner. Well, they came over to mow, paint a bookcase, steam clean carpet and eat dinner. Nana and Papa rock!

Summer Days

What a difference a weekend makes! We had a great time with some new friends (Mackenzie and Saleen)!

Thanks Nana and Papa for letting everyone stay with you all afternoon on Saturday!

Make video montages at www.OneTrueMedia.com

What Happened to Peace, Love and Smile?

Yesterday was all smiles! What a difference a day makes.

Last night, she asked if she could take her shower this morning. Well, we've not done that before so I told her that it would have to be a short shower and that she had to promise to have a good attitude about it. She agreed and went to bed.

Well, let's just say the promise was forgotten around 6:30 am! She had a huge meltdown over getting out of the shower. She refused to get dressed so I had to dress her. I'll just say, after 10 minutes of kicking and screaming I was ready to send Missy Girl to daycare in a towel.

After a 5-minute time out, she regained her senses and got ready. As we were leaving, she asked if she could check on her plants. I said that she couldn't because we were running late and asked if she knew why we were running late. She said it was because she had a bad attitude.

I agreed with her and then asked, "What do you think my answer will be the next time you ask to take your shower in the morning?". She replied, "I'm guessing no." I'm just glad I was in the front seat so she couldn't see me laughing.

I was telling my mom about it and she said that she wanted to take Journey to Kelsey's volleyball scrimmage on Friday and that I should go out to dinner with a friend for some "me" time. I quickly said, well if you want her to spend the night I'm okay with that too.

She was fine with that so "ME" time here I come. Hey, don't judge me! LOL

Oh the joys of mommyhood! All you mom's are probably laughing and saying "Welcome to the Hood"!

Thanks again for your prayers....I sure do need them! LOL

Well, she's officially enrolled in school. She's going to be a Panda (school mascot). When I told her I was going to enroll her today, she said "Oh no, I can't write my ABC's yet". I of course told her she better get busy and she said "You Got That Right!".



Her shirt today said Peace, Love and Smile so this is her interpretation of her shirt. So, Peace Out!

Ballantyne 2010 at OneTrueMedia.com

Make photo slide shows at www.OneTrueMedia.com

We had a great time at Ballantyne. This was our first overnight trip so I wasn't sure what to expect. She went to bed much later but seemed to do okay with it. She's been very tired this week but I think she's just about caught up on her sleep. It is hard to put her to bed any earlier without buying black out shades for the windows. :-)

July 9th was the big day that I was given legal custody of Miss Journey. I will be signing her up for school tomorrow. How exciting? I think she will like it although the first few days of her getting comfortable with a new environment should be interesting for sure!

My Fun 4th! at OneTrueMedia.com

We had a great 4th of July weekend. Journey met a lot of new people and spent time with family and friends.

Make an on-line slideshow at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Happy 4th of July

Journey and I don't have anything major planned for the weekend yet it seems like every minute is full. She's going to the Lazy 5 Ranch today with her daycare and she was really excited about that. She said she wanted to pet the animals. I don't know if she thinks they will all be like Sophie or what b/c at Tweetsie she thought the animals were "gross" and wouldn't feed them at all. Which meant I had to feed them and all I can say is GROSS! Like mother like daughter huh?

She's had a busy week. She stayed with Ella on Monday and her mom (Pam) took them to SciWorks in Winston, Chick-fil-a and then swimming. Tuesday she stayed with Alaina and her mom (Melissa) took them to the park, Chick-fil-a and made several crafts with them. She is so adaptable and makes friends easily. Again, just like her mom!

I'm sure I'll take a few pictures over the weekend. We are going swimming with Rebekah and Sarah on Sunday and having a cookout. On Monday, we are meeting Delphia and Jackie at Village Tavern to remember our dear Tammy. She's never met Delphia so I know that will be fun.

Meeting Miss Jackie for the first time was a blast!

She's already told me (many many times) that she doesn't like fireworks so I'm thinking we won't go see any fireworks displays. I try to avoid meltdowns whenever possible.

Butterfly Boogie

On June 19th, Journey, Alaina, Melissa and I enjoyed the Butterfly Boogie at Carolina Lily. We had a great time. The girls were able to make several butterfly crafts and had great stories read to them about the life of a butterfly. The best part of the day was the beautiful butterfly cupcakes. I know you are wondering and no, I didn't decorate them. I taught them how but I took a break this time. :-)

Journey isn't a big fan of the heat (a girl after my own heart) so thank goodness it was in the shade and ended around 12:30. We finished off the day with a trip to McDonald's. How awesome is that?

We've made it two whole months!

How funny that our 2-month "anniversary occurs right before Independence Day! Yes, my freedom seems gone sometimes but who cares? LOL I would like to know though - where did my free time go?

We've had a great two months of bonding, fun, laughter, exlporation, adventures and introductions.

She's been able to meet a lot of people in two short months and has made a lot of friends. Thanks to everyone for keeping us in your prayers and of course for all of your support.