Yes, we had a photo shoot! Can you tell? :-)

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Happy 4th!

We had a very busy 4th! A family reunion that I didn't know about until the day before (not sure if I should be offended LOL) then spent the weekend with my aunt/uncle. We had fun and loved the fun 4th pictures! Enjoy!

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My Weekend!

As this video shows - we had a very busy and fun weekend. It has been a long time since my last update so I thought a video was in order.

I didn't have this on the video but I worked in the nursery Sunday. 8 babies under age 1 and 2 adults. Michelle Duggar I am not so let's just say I was glad to see that 1 1/2 hours come and go! :-)

We are gearing up for a fun and busy summer. You may even see more videos - who knows.

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Happy Early Birthday

Nana and Papa really surprised her last week! For an early birthday gift, she came home to a new play set! She's already enjoyed it with friends and I'm sure she'll love it for years to come.

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Tubing Anyone?

Happy New Year! We had a great Christmas together and ended the year with a tubing trip with my Sunday School class. What a great day!

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Where have we been?

It has been a long time since my last post. May was our 1st anniversary and now we are ready to celebrate our 2nd Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas! That is hard to believe. It will be hard to catch you up on everything up but I'll do my best.

June - She went with me to Pinehurst for the our annual meeting for the first time. I think she enjoyed it but we were not there very long. We left Pinehurst and headed for Charleston where she met more family members. She probably wonders when/if she'll ever meet everyone. :-) We celebrated Father's Day and graduations this month! She wrapped up Kindergarten and started the summer off right!

July - Swimming, swimming and more swimming! I think she'd stay in the water all of the time if given the chance. We went to see Beauty and Beast at the Childrens' Theater in WS. She was so into it! We'll go back again for sure. She met more family and fell in love with Cousin Emily! We went to the beach with Kyle and Kelsey and had a wonderful time! They love her and trust me, she LOVES them!

August - The big news this month is SUMMER is over and back to school she goes! 1st grade - look out! She also lost a lot of teeth over the summer but we are able to somehow get a picture of the toothfairy in action this time. Basically, the summer consisted of playdates, trips, swimming and fun! Just like it should be huh?

September - School is going well. Once we were able to address the excess talking that is! :-) She loves her teacher and has made several new friends. The summer was full of swimming and fun and September was the month of birthday parties. She met more family members (some I had never met) and enjoyed showing off for them when she could!

October - Well, since I am now caught up, I'll say October is going to be very busy as well. We went to the fair this weekend and we are going to see Disney on Ice next weekend. Halloween will be here soon and we've already decorated one pumpkin. The first of a few I'm sure!

I'll do better (or try to anyway) and keep the blog updated.

And Then There Were Two!

It has been a while since my last post so I thought I'd take a minute to check in.

We have been very busy and rather than trying to remember everything, I thought I'd share this video. I will warn you that it is almost an hour but it covers our entire first year together. :-) I think you can fast forward. The first few minutes includes notes that I received after I emailed everyone of the courts decision to place her with me.

Thanks to everyone for all of their support, love and prayers during this amazing year! I couldn't have done it without you!

God Bless....

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One More Tooth Bites (no pun intended) the Dust!

I pulled tooth #4. She did her best to pull it but couldn't so when I offered to do it, she said sure! It couldn't have been any easier. She thought the tooth fairy would bring her $10 this time. I told her that would weigh too much to which she replied, a $10 bill weighs the same as a $1 bill. I couldn't argue with that but just told her that the "TF" only carries ones. Who knew the "stories" I'd have to make up. :-)

We have a fun skating party to go to this weekend and thank goodness she'll be the only one on wheels. Can you imagine me trying to skate. Walking is hard enough!

We have been enjoying our beautiful spring weather and Daylight Savings Time hasn't messed up her sleeping schedule. She now uses a mask and trust me, if I forget to give it to her as part of our nightly routine, she let's me know!

More to come later......

Just checking in

It has been a while since my last post. It is funny how busy things get and before you know it, a month has gone by.

Journey and I have been doing great lately. We have a good routine going and can handle when that routine changes a little which is great for both of us. She's enjoying school and has started learning her 1st grade words now. She's very proud of the fact that she's able to read now and soon I won't be able to spell things to keep them a secret. :-)

Our biggest news lately is that she is now "toothless". The dentist pulled her two front teeth and she's VERY proud. She looks in every reflection possible and has the biggest grin.

She has a birthday party next week to attend that she's looking forward to. Her birthday is next month and trust me, she has big plans to celebrate it all month. :-)

Tae Kwon Do

Last night, Journey (AKA Kung Fu Panda) took her first Tae Kwon Do class. She had a great time and is looking forward to her next class on Friday.

When we talked about signing up, here's how the conversation went:

Me - Are you excited about taking TKD?
J - Yes BUT you know I will be a little shy AND (head tilted) I will need hand sanitizer.
M - Duly Noted!

I mean really, how else can I respond to that. Trust me, she used her fair share of sanitizer last night. Too funny!

Thank goodness the "master" (I would like to be called that at work LOL) mentioned that you don't use what you learn in class on people, pets or toys. Here's hoping she heard that or I'll have to sign Sophie up for TKD. She could be Kung Fu Puppy!

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Wacky Dress Day

We've had a busy month but not as busy as December (thank goodness). As you can see from the video, today was Wacky Dress Day at school and she was VERY excited about her outfit. The only potential problem is if the other kids in her class didn't dress up, I will be in BIG trouble. Trust me, I saved the note announcing the event although she can't read.

We have a fun weekend planned. We are going to Victory Junction Gang Camp on Saturday for a function. I think she will really enjoy that.

She is truly a planner after my own heart. The other day, she asked me when it would be Christmas again. I said, 11 months and she said, okay - so I don't need to have my list together yet. I told her I thought she had some time.

Right now, she obsessed with her birthday which is in April. She tells me she's going to invite every girl she knows. Oh my, that could be an expensive not to mention loud party!

Our 1st Christmas

We had a great time together and stayed VERY busy. I enjoyed the beginning of some wonderful tradtions. Thanks Jackie for posting a great idea on my last blog. I bought her first ornament this year of course I need to catch her up but for now, we have started that tradition.

I hope you all have a Happy New Year!

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!

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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. :-)

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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.

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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.....

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