Hi-Ho, Hi-Ho.....

It's off to Disney we go.
We'll walk all day,
and play and play.
Hi-Ho, Hi-Ho, Hi-Ho

We are leaving tomorrow for a week of fun at Walt Disney World. The kids are excited. I am excited. Wade will get excited, he has to....it's contagious. Can't help it. When your kids are giddy, you end up giddy as well. It is a long awaited and long needed vacation. Don't worry, I am taking my camera and will have tons of pictures to share.

Thanks to all who have given me Disney advice (Erin and Barbara) and a HUGE thank you goes to Kim who is taking care of Emma for us while we are gone.

I feel the "magic" all the way up here!!!!

And Time Goes On......

......Whether we are in GA or in MN.



Funny, I was surprised that children had grown, ladies' hair cuts had changed (or not because they were perfect the way they were), people's houses had different colors or arrangements, just that people and life had gone on after we left GA.



Please don't misunderstand me. I am NOT saying that "life" should only go on when I am around. That isn't it at all. I just had never given it much thought that life would look different having been gone from GA for 3 1/2 months. I was too consumed with my life and making sure our family survived it, to think about time passing by and the changes it brings.



Where I have been searching to find comfort in anything familiar here. Back "home" the familiar things kept plugging along. School started. Kids gleefully played with friends seldom seen over the summer. Soccer started. AWANAs started. Our "life" (the people and places that made up the routine we were used to) went on without us.



I have tried to keep things as "normal" (said very loosely) for the kids as I can. Maddie goes to school, though not the same school and not the same friends. Sam goes to "school", though only one day a week and not the same school or friends. Maddie is in soccer. We are not impressed with the program, but then again what could compare to the programs at NFBC. Though these routines are to keep things "normal", they are no where close to what we are used to. I can't tell if it makes things easier or just brings out all that is different here even more. But, it makes the kids happy. That is all the matters in the end.



AWANA is what is going to keep my sane. I know it sounds crazy. The sheer fact that the Club follows the same routine, no matter where you are, is very comforting to me and the kids. Maddie still wears the same vest she wore in GA. She still memorizes verses. Still sees Cubbie. For those of you who are wondering, according to Maddie Cubbie looks fatter here in MN. Maybe he is able to hibernate longer in the winter here :) She was ecstatic the night Cubbie came out for the first time. Something familiar, even if it is a bear puppet, can make things so much easier.

Not only AWANA, but I guess my bible study falls into the keeping me sane category. The format is much different. All the women's bible studies meet for a praise and worship time before breaking off into small groups. It is really a calming peaceful time to relax and focus on the Lord.

I am in the Beth Moore study. This is my 4th Beth Moore study. I almost cried when the video started and there was Beth......just the same as if I were sitting beside Becky, like I have been for the last couple of bible studies. This time, I was about a continent away and sitting beside a new friend, Kim. But it was familiar and comforting all the same. Finally something I knew about and knew the format of. I was on ground that I knew the lay of. If you have ever had the privilege to do a Beth Moore study, you will know what I am talking about. If not, I highly recommend them. She is such a woman after God's heart and funny to boot.



It is still an emotional struggle for me. It has gotten ten of hundreds time better now that we are in a house and starting to get settled (you can still find me behind some box or surrounded by paper), but it still isn't "home".



The kids and I (and Wade....don't mean to not include him in the whole friend thing...but those of you who know him, know that I am a more social creature than him) are starting to make friends. I still yearn for a familiar and friendly conversation while waiting to pick up or drop off Maddie at school. I still yearn for the inside jokes and history that I shared with all my friends back "home". I still yearn to fit in and not be an outsider. But I know that all that will take time...lots of time. Years to be exact.

So, if you have an extra second during your prayer time. Give a shout out to the Lord concerning us. We are blessed to be where we are, but homesick all the same. While the homesickness gets less everyday, that just reminds us that time goes on. Life goes on.....and we aren't apart of the "life" we loved in GA anymore. My kids will not grow up with the friends they have known since birth. And that breaks my heart.

We're up and running....

Hello all-

Missed me?? I've missed you!

Wondering where I have been?

You can find me surrounded by boxes. Boxes and paper. Paper and boxes. No matter how you say it, it consumes me and the house. Oh, you know you wanted to see just how bad it is to move cross country. Well, here you have it folks....and that is only a small, teeny tiny, itsy, bitsy pile of boxes and paper. We had a floor to ceiling pile, but the kids thought it was fall time and ran through it like piles of leaves.

I am proud to say that the kitchen and kid's rooms are done. For the most part. Notice my "Home Sweet Home" cross stitch? It adorns my breakfast nook. It has hung above my mantle for 7 years, through our first apartment and 2 houses. However, since I have a two story living room.....my "Home Sweet Home" looks lost on the two story wall. So, it looks over us as we eat...as a family....at our home. Fitting, I think.

No, I didn't cross stitch it. My mom did. It looked over my family, as I was growing up, from over our mantle. I can't part with it. Don't care if it matches my "decor" or not.....where I go, it goes.

Oh, the stories I could tell about the move. The good, the bad, the ugly, the funny and the tearful. However, my time is limited...I can hear those boxes calling out to me. So I will leave you with only one story....

Those of you who know me, know that "Big Bertha" is the way I travel with kids. And no, "Big Bertha" isn't my minivan....she's my double stroller. If you have more than one kid, you know how important a stroller that can accommodate more than one kid at a time is. I have discovered, recently, that not only is "Big Bertha" great for carrying kids, she is can carry a TON of clothes, etc when moving.

Simply load up Bertha till you can barely push her, stroll down the hallway, down the elevator and out to the van. Simple? Seems so.

Until....

I had a HUGE load on ol' Bertha. Complete with extra wide under bed storage box full of clothes, Pyrex cookware, clothes on hangers, an air mattress, and dirty clothes. Yep all that on ol' Bertha.

I made it out the apartment door, with some finagling. The under bed storage was almost too wide to fit, but I made it. Slow and steady down the hall I went. On the elevator. Down the elevator. Next hurdle was going out the basement door to the parking garage.

Upon first look....I wasn't sure Bertha would fit. So, I held the elevator door with my foot while opening the basement door to see how wide it would actually go.

Can you see where this is going? I can hear you now shouting, "No, don't let your foot slip!" Because you are smart enough and not sleep deprived....you know that if my foot slipped, the elevator door would close....and goodbye Bertha.

Well, it slipped.

I heard the little ding of the elevator door closing, as I turned around.

And, goodbye Bertha. Goodbye HUGE load of stuff....including dirty clothes.

Sigh.

I pushed the elevator button to call it back and waited.

Ding, Ding, Ding, Ding, Ding...

Yep, it went all the way up to the fifth floor.

Ding, Ding...

Yep, went back down two more floors.

Ding, Ding, Ding....

I could only imagine who was on the elevator and what they were thinking as they rode...alone...with Bertha.

Open elevator door.

There stood two HUGE men and Bertha.

"So, glad you found my stroller" was the lame comment I made. Really, what could I have said??

Out, came the two NOT impressed men. In, I went to reclaim Bertha and her load. Out, came both Bertha and I. I didn't think it was worth exploring the width of the door without her. And you know what? Bertha and her load fit through the door just fine. All that for nothing. Oh well, yet another lesson learned in apartment life....make sure you only have clean clothes on your double stroller before you abandon it in the elevator shaft.

29

Today I turned 29. Funny it doesn't feel any different than 28. It didn't actually occur to me until mid-morning (thanks for the lovely serenade, Becky...I think you could make it on Broadway) that it was my birthday. Somewhere in life, the "magic" fades from birthdays.

The kids and Wade had the apartment decorated when I arrived from GA on Sunday. It was very sweet of them. We knew this was going to be a CRAZY week with painting the house and the movers arriving tomorrow. So, today is trucking along like any other day.

What? You mean you don't usually load up your double stroller with house hold items and push it down 5 levels, to load it in a minivan, on a normal day?? Or stand precarious balanced, just trying to reach that one last spot that needs paint, while your 2 children play chase around the ladder? Well, me neither....so I guess this day hasn't really been like any other :)

Birthdays have proven lonely in MN. I didn't get to go out to lunch and split my chicken parm sandwich with Becky this year.....nope, no sweet tea for me.

Next year. Next year I will have lunch with a someone (anyone, taking applications no experience needed....just kidding) on my birthday. That's a good goal.....meet ladies to have lunch with occasionally by next year. I have 365 days to put myself out there and meet new people.....

Seriously, I have a lot to be thankful for this birthday. We are moving into our new house (thankful but challenging) and will finally have a place of our own. Maddie starts Cubbies tonight. Life moves on......whether we are in MN or GA......

My New Mantra............

Every New Beginning.......

My flight leaving ATL for MN....for the last time.

The city of Minneapolis

We closed today on our new house.....it is officially and legally ours!!

Comes from some other beginning's end........

The moving truck packing up the house in GA.

Last look at our house in GA after the movers cleared it out.

Leaving our neighborhood.

Trisha and I having breakfast. We taught together at Stripling. She was such a source of teaching expertise when I started our last beginning. And continues to be a great friend.

This was taken as I was leaving our church. Yes, we may be gone...but it will forever be, our church. This was the church that supported Wade and I through two kids. This was the church that our kids were dedicated in, went to school in, choir in, Praise in the Park in, AWANAs in....they felt so at home in this church. Oh, how we miss the people of NFBC.

Our friends, Teresa and "Lizabee". Maddie and I dearly miss them!

My partners in "crime". Becky and Barbara have been the best friends anyone could ever have. They have stood by me in good times and bad.....and are still standing by me. Meeting another friend that shares as much history as these ladies share with me.....is impossible. Becky said it best very few can say they have known my kids, literally, since birth. But the great thing about friendships like these...the stand that test of time and distance.

Leaving Atlanta on I-85 south......bye bye Atlanta We love and miss you!!

I hate to sound cliche, but this weekend was, "the best of times and the worst of times." I was blessed to be able to go back and say goodbye to "home".

Wade and I arrived in Atlanta, 7 years ago, a week after our wedding. I felt so lost the first few months. Slowly months turned into to years and somewhere along the way, it became home.

I never considered myself southern. Actually, I never thought about it. Until I moved here. Suddenly, being southern is very important to me. The language, accent, and manners define me outside of the comfort of southern states. In someway, this move has helped me define who I am, a strong Christian, sometimes klutzy, southern lady.

During the "goodbye" weekend, as I have started calling it, I rediscovered that home is where the heart is.....or in my case, husband and kids are. I went into my house in GA late on Wednesday night. Instead of being greeted with the calming familiarness that I have craved for months, I was met with the deafening quiet and stale smell of a house without the love of a family in it. It was a monumental moment for me. I stood in the doorway of the house and realized that it wasn't my home anymore. I was a stranger in the house that I had lived, worked, and played in for years.

Still, it was sad for me watch the movers box up all our belongings and load them on a huge truck. Though I knew we weren't moving back....I still hadn't come to terms with the fact that my beloved Georgia wasn't my home anymore. I am so glad that I didn't take the kids with me. I was emotional enough and I haven't had to sleep on the floor for months on end like Maddie. I think it would have been devastating for the kids to see their GA house, only to watch it be packed up.

Before I locked up our GA house on Friday, for the last time, I took on last tour. Memories of friends, laughter, and stories whispered like ghosts around me while the creaking wood floor echoed in the empty house. I am so blessed to have called GA home. I am so blessed to have the friendships and memories to carry with me.

Then, it hit me....my kids would never remember it. They are too young to remember the place they were born. So I decided to take one last drive and take pictures of the places that I felt were important to them.

First on the list, NBFC. Though, I didn't plan it, the sign outside the church said "Prayer Changes Everyone." And isn't that true. Prayer is not only a way to communicate our love and devotion to our Lord Jesus Christ, but it gives a sense of peace that nothing else can. No one can say they have truly prayed and not be changed.

Then, I drove by the school that I taught at before "my early retirement" as we like to say. Or in other words, before kids. I also drove around to parks and places that had meaning to our family.

I spent the rest of the time catching up with old friends. I didn't get a chance to see everyone....and if I didn't please don't hold it against me. Doesn't mean you weren't an important part of our lives and not important to us...just means I am only human with a limited amount of time.

So, dear Georgia...we say goodbye once more. Though we don't have an actual set time to come back for a visit...I am sure that we will not be able to stay away. Once more....till next time.

Toddler Tuesday

Today was Toddler Tuesday at Mall of America. BabyTalk Magazine puts on the "biggest playgroup" all over the USA. Today it was in my neck of the woods. We had a blast with Kim and her boys. We participated in Kindermusik classes, celebrated Cabbage Patch's 25 birthday (doesn't that make you feel old?), listened to kiddie concerts, and of course, met Dora.

Tomorrow I fly south (kind of like the geese) to pack our home in GA. I am trying to see as many people as I can....if I don't get by to see you, please don't hold it against me. I will be at my house all day Thursday and Friday babysitting the packers. Please feel free to drop by. It is a bittersweet trip. I can't wait to "go home", but then again...I know this will be the last trip for a while. Please keep not only my safe travels in your prayers, but also Grandma's. She is flying here to keep my babies. What a great Grandma to fly to MN to stay in an apartment with two WILD munchkins!!

First Day of School

First Day of School 2008
St Andrew Lutheran Church

The weather warmed up some. The sky was blue and........

Today I took my babies to St. Andrew Lutheran Preschool. I put on a really happy face and played up how wonderful it is going to be. In reality, it was one of the top 5 hardest days, of this adventure, for me.

How I miss the security of NCA. How I miss knowing not only the teachers but the students and parents where my kids are going to school. How I miss familiar faces and places.

It is a different world when you drop your babies off where know one knows them. No one knows that Maddie is shy and sensitive. No one knows that Sam is a ham but tries to be a good kid. No one knows my kid's histories or even their names. No one knows of the friends and life we left behind. I just pray they are loved and taken care of like as much as back home.

It seemed everyone knew someone. All the moms knew each other...all the kids knew each other. And again, the kids and I were outsiders.

True to the course of the adventure, there were many comments on our accents. I had a mother tell Maddie that she didn't need address her as "yes ma'am and no ma'am". In private I reminded Maddie that we always use these manners, whether people around us do or not.

However, Sam had a good day. He went potty for his teachers and according to his take home sheet he was "well behaved and talkative". The teacher told me he was "chatty". He has really grown up since moving here.

Maddie had her meet and greet with her teachers today. She doesn't actually start until Monday, but we are considering this her "first" day as well. She met a little girl in her classroom and they played "ice cream shoppe" together. She also had her school pictures today. Interesting how they do things differently.

After a special lunch at McDonald's, the kids were really excited about their school. Maddie especially is ready to jump in and make friends. Though, she was hoping there would be another Molly, Matt, and Jacob in her class (there isn't) she is ready to begin a new life with new friends.

We miss you Georgia and all the dear friends you hold!!!

"Wip-Tick"

Do you notice the red all over Sam's face? That, my friends would be red marker. Sam found and applied to himself while I was making lunch. My suspicions arose with Maddie hysterically laughing. Upon checking out the situation for myself, this is what I found...

Mommy: Sam, what are you doing?

Sam: (innocently) Me's?

Mommy: Yes, you. Son, what are you doing?

Sam: No, me's no son, Me's SAM.

Mommy: (getting frustrated) Yes, Yes, I know your name. WHAT ARE YOU DOING WITH THE MARKER.

Sam: (holding up the red marker sans lid) Dis marter (this marker)?

Mommy: (saying slowly holding in the frustration) Yes, that marker. Why did you color on your face with the marker?

Sam: Me's no color. (giving a huge smile) Me's puttin' on wip-tick. (I'm not coloring. I'm putting on lipstick).

Well, as long as we are starting Parent's Morning Out with "wip-tick" on our face....might as well be a nice fall shade.

Republican National Convention

Today was a beautiful day in the Twin Cities. Cool. Sunny. Cloudless. Reminds me of football weather back home.

Since it was a beautiful day and since the RNC is here, we decided to venture downtown Minneapolis. Brave? Yes.

We loaded up the ol' bag with sippies, camera, and Diego potty seat (never leave home without it) and off we went. I downsized to the umbrella stroller for today's outing, as I didn't know if the double would fit on the train. Maddie got her walking in.

We took the light rail from the Mall of America (about 10 minutes away) up to the Nicolette Mall station. This is an area that is "pedestrian" (and bus and taxi...but who's counting) only with lots of outdoor entertainment and shopping. Did I mention it was the our first time on the rail here and the kid's first time on any type of public transportation like this?



It was a perfect day for our outdoor outing. We made it safe and sound downtown....and realized it was more than cool (as the weather man had predicted) it was down right nippy. Sam and I were sporting jeans and jackets. Maddie looked adorable in her jean skirt, long sleeve shirt, and sweater. However, she was freezing. So first stop downtown....Target to find her long pants. Then the adventure started again!!!
Oh look, it's Mary Tyler Moore!! In front of Macy's nonetheless!
Maddie found the "purfect" pair of sunglasses today. Since I wear my sunglasses ALL THE TIME, I couldn't deny her the "purfect" pair. Here she is sporting them with the RNC sign. We took this on the way back to the train, heading home. Sam was tired and refused to pose with her. We drew quite the delegate crowd with several of the delegates joining in the cause to get Sam in the picture. This, of course, was answered with his normal arms crossed, mad faced "No". Oh well. Maybe next time.

When asked who she wanted to win the Presidency (by the same Delegate)..

Maddie: What a president?
Mommy: The president is the leader of our country and makes really important decisions about our country and how to keep it safe.
Maddie: Like a king?
Mommy: No, mommies and daddies (yes I realize Uncle Nate and others can vote as well, but for her sake mommies and daddies means adults) vote and choose the president.
Maddie: Well, I want you to vote for Prince Charming, Mommy.
Delegate: Sometimes being young and handsome doesn't mean you are qualified to be the President.

(I of course, understood the joke...Maddie was completely confused but acted very grown up and just flashed one of her big smiles)

Toddler Tuesday

Today we went to the Mall of America (so fondly referred to as MOA by locals) for Toddler Tuesday. On Tuesdays, they have activities at the mall geared at the kids ages. Might I add that these activities are free. So, we braved the crowds from the Republican Convention....or what we thought would be crowds and went with Kim and her boys. However, it wasn't crowded at all. Probably due to the fact that public school started today.

The activity today was with the Aquarium. Yes, I know....we went to the aquarium this weekend....but today we were able to touch sharks and stingrays. Maddie and Sam weren't really into the whole touch thing...but they loved watching Mommy do it. Aren't you proud of me!! I stuck my hand in a tank with sharks and stingrays all the while having a smile on my face (for the kids benefit of course). In case you are curious, sharks feel like sandpaper and stingrays are really slimy.

Maddie and Colin were chosen to be part of the show. Maddie was the shark puppet that got to try and find other sea life to eat. Doesn't that just sound fun. She played the part like a pro.

Colin got to wear his part on his head. Way to go Maddie and Colin for being so brave in front of all those people!!

Labor Day Weekend- Sunday and Monday

On Sunday, we took the Grands and Uncle Nate to Grace Church. Then, we went to the Mall of America. There, Nate and I rode a roller coaster (not a big one, mind you). Mom and I rode the Ferris Wheel. We took the kids to the Aquarium, once they arrived after nap time. However, I forgot my camera (everyone gasp at once).....hard to believe that I went anyone without my camera.

-----------------------------

Monday morning, the kids I took everyone to the town of Wayzata. It has a quaint little downtown area with a boardwalk on Lake Minnetonka. I couldn't have everyone fly in from NC and not see one of the ten thousand lakes that are here:)

We were sad to see the Harrell's fly out on Monday afternoon. It is a long time between now and Christmas (when we go to NC to see them). Thank you so much for making trek up here to see us!!! We love you, Granddaddy, Ga-Ga, and Uncle Nate!

Labor Day Weekend- Saturday

We hope everyone had a great Labor Day Weekend...we did!! Granddaddy, Ga-Ga, and Uncle Nate flew in on Friday to spend the long weekend in MN. We tried to cram in everything we love about MN into one weekend....okay so there isn't all THAT much that we LOVE, but we are trying. And it still made for a busy weekend.





Can anyone guess where we went first? Yep, you guessed it....we went to the Nature Center. True to Maddie's word, she wanted to see how many frogs Granddaddy could catch. Don't worry Ms. Kim...your title as the "bestest" frog catcher is still intact. Even with Ga-Ga, Granddaddy, Wade, and Maddie were all trying to catch frogs....we didn't catch a single one....





Hum...Looks like someone caught something.....







Aren't you just dying to know what everyone is looking at????





A live Crawfish/Crayfish...That's kind of the like the whole potato, po-ta-toe question isn't it? Though Granddaddy failed to catch frogs, he redeemed himself with catching not only one of these lovely critters...but two!

After, our trip to the Nature Center and a visit to the new house we still had time for a fashion show and a lesson in pool.

The kids made time to take Granddaddy, Ga-Ga and Uncle Nate to "Chutes and Ladders". Ga-Ga and Uncle Nate couldn't be convinced to go up with Maddie.....but Granddaddy's arm could be twisted!