Goodbye Georgia

Goodbye dear Georgia and all the friends you hold. Goodbye to the place where both my babies were born and raised. Goodbye to all our church family and friends.

I had planned on writing out a long post expressing how thankful we are to have lived here for 7 years. However, emotions are getting the best of me. Just know that we will always hold Georgia close to our hearts and that we aren't gone for good.....

Till Next Time
We love you all!!
The Sheeks

Last on the List...

Maddie and Elizabeth leaving the Cabbage Patch

Watching a baby being "born". This one was named Marilyn Elizabeth Madeline (Elizabeth and Maddie yelled their names second and third, but the nice lady took them as well)

Maddie was in heaven....a place full of baby dolls!!!

Maddie and Liz-a-bee in front of all the dolls

Going to The Cabbage Patch

....was the Cabbage Patch in Cleveland, GA. Our good friend Teresa and her daughter Elizabeth was able to make the trek up in the GA mountains for a visit. It really is a neat place. Of course, this comes from a huge Cabbage Patch fan herself!! We were able to watch a "baby" being born from mother cabbage. Even the cabbage had to dilate to 10 leaves. Of course we left with a baby name Madeline Beatrice. Finally, our quest for a Cabbage Patch with the name Madeline has ended...it only took 4 years.

Maddie's Spring Concert at NCA

Papa came to see Maddie's concert.

Molly, Maddie, and Riley

Lily, Maddie, and John singing away.

Still singing!!

Hey mom!!


We were so glad that Papa could make the trip from NC to see Maddie's last spring concert at NCA and Preschool. They do such a good job and really put on a "production". The simple feat of getting all those kids in one place amazes me. Then, add the fact that they sing lots of songs complete with movement and I am in awe.

We have loved having Maddie and Sam at NCA. It is with great sorrow that we leave and place our kids in a new preschool in the fall. Thanks for everything NCA and P!!!

Goodbye Jones Bridge Park

Happy Belated Mother's Day...

Ga-Ga, Christa and Maddie at the Mother's Day Tea- NFBC 2008

I know that I am really late (almost a week) in posting this blog of Mother's Day. No, it isn't because my Mother's Day was horrible.....I simply have been too busy this week.

My Mother's Day was celebrated with my two kids (Maddie and Sam), my husband (Wade), my parents (aka Ga-Ga and Granddaddy), and my younger taller brother (Nate). It was bitter sweet because this is probably the last Mother's Day we all spend together for quite sometime. Moving to the Artic North makes spending "minor" holidays together nearly impossible.

As I watched my kids playing with their Grandparents, it made me remember spending time with my Nanny as a child. Nanny lived just a field over from us. I could walk to her house anytime I wanted to. All I had to do was packed up my baby dolls in my backpack and off I went. It was always an adventure to walk to Nanny's. You had to cross the fence, avoid the roaming dogs, and occasional cow (if Mr. Ray had any at the time). But I loved going to my Nanny's. I had her undivided attention. We would cut paper dolls out of the Sears Catalog, sew clothes for my babies, play "Old Maid", or bake cookies.

It is hard to take the kids so far away from my parents and Wade's parents. I had always imagined my kids having the special relationship with their grandparents that I had with mine. Alas, it isn't to be. We go where God opens the doors for us.

And Next on the "List".....

The American Girl Bistro

Bitty Baby and Maddie

Next, on our litany of places to go and see before we leave was the American Girl Store and Bistro at North Point Mall. Maddie has been a doll connoisseur since she as "knee high to a grasshopper". Some kids like cars, bears, or blocks....not my Maddie. She loves baby dolls. I must say, she gets it honest. In most of the snapshots taken of me as a child, I have a doll lovingly tucked under my arm. It only seemed fitting that Maddie and her Bitty Baby get all dressed up to go to dinner with Ga-Ga and Mommy. The Bistro is such a neat place for a little girl. The baby dolls have high chairs and even their own menu. It was as much fun for Ga-Ga and Mommy as it was for Maddie. What wonderful memories we made to tuck tight in our hearts that will move with us!

Maddie and Mommy

Maddie, Ga-Ga, and Bitty Baby

Maddie's Last Muffins with Mom

Ms. Nicole, Maddie and Ms. Cindy

NCA and Preschool, the preschool Maddie and Sam attend, have a great mother's day event. It's called, Muffins with Mom (of course there is the counterpart to that, Donuts with Dad earlier in the year). This is a morning that you get to go in and spend time in the classroom. They usually provide a light breakfast and you can enjoy all the art around the room. This year, the kids answered questions about their moms (i.e. How old is she, How much does she weigh, etc). Then the moms got to try and figure out which questionnaire was answered about them. This year, I was 40 years old and weighed in at a mighty 70 lbs. I also apparently enjoy cleaning the floors for fun! It is really interesting to see what your kids notice about you.

We have been really blessed that both of our children had the opportunity to be apart of this school. They have grown so much...not only socially and physically, but also spiritually. It has been a pleasure to be considered part of the wonderful NCA community and we will truly miss it.

Molly and Maddie, NCA&P 2008

Matt and Maddie, NCA&P 2008

Start of the "Lasts"

Maddie had her last day of gymnastics in Georgia yesterday. Her confidence and coordination have greatly improved since she started with Ema two years ago. We hope that we can find another program that is as rewarding at the one at the YMCA!!

Whirlwind Weekend

Ashtyn Rector

Ayden and Maddie

Christa, Caroline and Courtney at Finale


Caroline and Andy at "Singing Beach," MA

Christa and Caroline in Gloucester, MA

Monument to the Fishermen lost at sea

Monument to the Fishermen's Wives

Caroline and Christa at the Clam Box, YUM!!




What a whirlwind!! I am sure that the jumble of pictures you just looked at completely confused you, they did me and I experienced the "Whirlwind Weekend" myself.

Let me explain all that has happened. The kids and I drove to NC on Wednesday so that my parents could keep them while I went to Boston, MA. This was my yearly trip to see my childhood best friend, Caroline Hon. Oh, the stories I could tell on "O-Line". However, since this is the World Wide Web, I will refrain. Let's just say that when the two of us get together there is bound to be tons of laughs, shopping, eating, and lots of walking ("It's just around the corner"). I really look forward to this trip because I get to relax and be a person for a few days instead of a mom....very important. Plus the company in Boston is great!!!

While I was in Boston, Caroline and I were able to see our other friend from school, Courtney. I hadn't talked to her in about 10 years. It was great to catch up with her. It was like old times, we all saw a movie, ate great food, and got all decked out in beautiful dresses from Filene's (another story for another time)!

Also, Caroline, Andy and I drove up to the North Shore. I had never been there and even though it was raining it was beautiful. I have never understood why people would want to vacation on the Northeast coast, when the great Myrtle Beach is just a few states down. Now I know!! We went to eat at the Clam Box (great clams...didn't even think I would like 'em) and drove to Gloucester (town that the movie The Perfect Storm is about) and saw the monuments to all the fisherman lost at sea and their wives. It is a very touching scene with monuments looking out over the sea where the lost fishermen will forever rest. We also stopped at the "Singing Beach". Apparently the rain caused the beach to stop singing, but it was wonderful to smell the salty air and hear the waves .....ahhh, I love the ocean. This was my last look at the Atlantic before I move.

I flew back to NC on Sunday and my wonderful parents (without whom this trip wouldn't have happened.....thanks mom and daddy) met me at the airport with the kids. The munchkins and I drove back to GA in anticipation of our friends, The Rectors, visit. Erin, Rob, Ayden, and Ashtyn lived in the Atlanta area before moving to Houston, TX via Florida. Maddie and Sam think the world of Ayden and Ashtyn. Wade and I enjoy the company of Rob and Erin as well.

To top off the weekend our house went on the market on Friday. So far, four people have been by to look at it. I just hope that someone falls in love with it like we did. Seeing the For Sale sign in the yard really brought home the fact that we moving. Now, this isn't news to me....I have known it for a while, but selling the house makes it feel final. And that, is very sad.