~ Simply Family ~

Yada, Yada, Yada

2012-01-27T08:35:00.000-06:00

Last weekend, Joe and I went down to southern Alabama to work on our house that we are preparing to put on the market. Holly had come home for the weekend to watch over the homestead and the siblings... so Joe and I were actually making a "weekend" out of the trip.

We arrived Saturday evening - went and checked on the house before checking into the hotel. It was Saturday - about 9pm by the time we were ready to "paint" the town... or basically just get a bite to eat and go to bed. ; )

We drove around Enterprise for a while... knowing that it was bad when the number one restaurant listed on Urban Spo@n for the area was an ice cream parlor. Yikes! Anyway, we had decided - based on the time - that we would go somewhere, sit at the bar and have a drink and some snacks.

We passed one place that looked pretty nice on the outside... lots of cars... well lit... and when I go@gled it, it had half decent reviews. So... in we went. Now, I HATE walking into a place that I have never been. Just not comfortable with that. You would think I would be fine, as many times as I have moved and with my ~~age~~ experience. But nope... I detest walking into a place - especially when everyone turns to look at who is walking in. Needless to say, everyone that turned to look at Joe and I as we strolled into this establishment had a median age of about 21.2 years and they all appeared to have been there since happy hour. The smoke was such that I quickly wondered why the firemen were not knocking us down as we were walking in - wow.... I forgot all about this "scene".

We did saunter up to the nearest chair at the bar; however, after what was the longest 18 seconds of my life, I told Joe that I just could not do it. It hurt my ears... my lungs were shriveling so quickly, I could feel them begging for clean air. Now... walking in was painful... walking out a few seconds later was easy! Joe and I laughed all the way to the car. It was the first time that my age truly smacked me in the face.... and in a good way.

We opted for pizza and turning in early.

I write all of that as a lead in to last night.

Joe and I had purchased tickets months ago for Jerry S@infeld. We bought them the morning they went on sale... I am picky and like to sit on the isle. Anyway, I am glad we bought them early as the show sold out pretty quickly.

So for the second weekend in a row, we had a big date night planned. ; )

We had a great dinner - we even caught the early bird specials at a really nice Italian place up the road. Then we headed to the Theater for the show.... This time we fit right in... the average age of the folks in the audience was more our speed... about mid 50's! And how thankful am I for smoke-free venues???VERY!!! How life changes in a few short years....@ 20 to be exact!

Tom P@pa opened for Seinfeld and did a great job warming up the crowd. His entire segment was on marriage and children... which obviously hit home with his audience. He was so funny.

Then came Jerry. Ninety minutes of hilarity followed. And what is so great about him - and Tom as well - is that the show was pretty much G rated and still side-splitting-ly funny!

Bottom line - It was a great evening! (and I am getting old! Jerry turns 58 soon ....)

Dream Team

2012-01-14T10:29:00.000-06:00

Even though it is Saturday morning, the girls were up and dressed early this morning as they had a basketball game. Mom wasn't so "up and at 'em" - I sent them off with dad and a big hug and good wishes for a great game.

About an hour later I heard them giggling at the back door. I opened it and could tell by their smiles that we had "won" the game. The Dream Team is a tiny team and it is not often that we have a victory to celebrate after our games... we often suffer defeat.

Seeing the girls smiles, I offered my girls a hearty congratulations before they had spoke a word. "No mom, we lost - 24 to 4", Abby quickly replied, the grin never leaving her face. To which I replied, "Why so happy"? Both of the girls in unison excitedly answered me, "Jewel made a basket"!

Jewel has not made a basket all season. She is our tallest player, but hard as she tried, the basket had remained elusive. Joe has been working very hard with her at practice and during warm up time before each game reminding her to bend her knees and keep positive.

Today all the hard work on Jewel's part paid off and she added 2 points to the Dream Team final score!
I am told that the crowd went crazy!

The Dream Team might be small and might not win too many games... but they understand what is truly important when playing sports - the meaning of the word Team!

If Only...

2012-01-11T21:37:00.001-06:00

In Abby's eyes, we are superheroes. If only...

Number 14 - Roll Tide!!!

2012-01-10T06:15:00.002-06:00

I thought I understood the mentality of fans - I did grow up in the land of "Gueaux Tigers" and "Who Dat". But... I seriously did not "get it" until I moved to Alabama. "Roll Tide" (and "War Eagle" to be completely honest) are spoken as often as "Hello" in this great state.

Joey was recently stocking the shelves at our local grocery when he looked up and greeted a customer (decked out in crimson and white) with a hearty "Roll Tide" - at which time the customer made a point to report his "good service" to management and he earned a free sandwich! ; )

Bottom Line... Roll Tide Roll... or for the next 364 days, Rule Tide Rule!

Sad Day...

2012-01-08T11:06:00.000-06:00

Two of my "Babies" will be on the road, returning to college today. Sad sad sad for me.... excitement for them! How many days until next Christmas Break??? ; ]

Awwwww ; )

2012-01-02T23:33:00.002-06:00

I wonder...

2012-01-02T09:16:00.000-06:00

.... What the New Year will bring our way?

"It is more blessed to give than to receive."

2011-12-29T11:00:00.001-06:00

I absolutely loved this Christmas! Surrounded by family... the moments are even more cherished once they start going their own ways.

What made me most thankful and full of joy....

Usually, I will talk to the kids about what they want to "get" for each other and then I go from there ~ wrap and place all the gifts under the tree. This year... everyone insisted on doing their own gifting for everyone. Even the littles personally picked out each gift, wrapped them with care, and placed them under the tree after skillfully studying available locations. It was such a joy to watch how excited they each were to share with each other! "Getting" is always fun... but it is truly a blessing to "give"!

Hope everyone had a Merry Christmas!

I've Been a Mother for 20 Years

2011-12-18T20:01:00.000-06:00

20 years ago in a small hospital in the middle of Bangkok, Thailand, Joey was born at 7:59 am. I became a mother for the first time. Motherhood started as a great adventure and has remained so for the past 20 years!

Joey (and Holly) are home for the holidays and the house is overflowing once again. The house is decorated and full of life - music and fussing over the television... short order cook service expected in the kitchen... tons of dirty dishes and extra laundry....

I love this time of year for so many reasons... but birthdays make it extra special at the Judge Home!

Happy Birthday Joey!

Joey's 1st Birthday in front of the Christmas Tree.

Joey's 20th Birthday in front of the Christmas Tree... he cooperated better when he was 1!!! ; )

E - I - G - H - T

2011-12-14T20:05:00.000-06:00

Someone has been counting down the days forever!

It is easy to see that we are still going strong on the whole St@r Wars thing.... ; ) Abby had a great day...
Student of the day at school. Chick Fil@ for lunch with a special cupcake surprise, her choice for dinner - Cr@cker Barrel, and then a great party at home. Joey and Holly are in the middle of finals week so they were not here; however, they both Tweeted about Abby's birthday and that was pretty thrilling for Miss Abby!

Now I wonder if she will start tomorrow... only 364 days until she is nine???? hahahaha!

Never Doubt the Lillster!

2011-12-14T19:52:00.000-06:00

She said she could... a few of us doubted her...

I am glad that I didn't "bet" against her! ; ) I would have an "after" photo of a neat little pile of very clean bones... but my camera battery went kaput!

Mom.... Run!

2011-12-10T08:27:00.000-06:00

That is how Abby woke me up this morning. I was rushed out of bed and down the stairs much like a (sleepy) lamb herded by a very talented sheepdog.

Giggling, Abby excitedly stopped in front of the refrigerator telling me i was not going to believe what I would see.

I opened the fridge to find this:

The girls had asked our trusty elf, Elvis, to show us a little magic last night. Well, he did! We woke up to green milk! What an interesting cup of coffee I had this morning with frothed green milk! : )

The girls loved the green themed breakfast! They were also glad that Elvis choose to bring a scarf back from the North Pole to wear while he was in the fridge! That led to an interesting conversation over breakfast about elves' closets. What is in the closets? Lots and lots of little red elf uniforms or do they have jeans and sweaters... maybe a Hawaiian shirt for the summer? Hmmmmm... I guess we will always wonder about this! ; )

It "Clicked"!

2011-12-06T09:04:00.000-06:00

I have 5 children. Of the 5, 3 "learned" how to read. It was evident on a daily basis that their reading skills were improving and they gradually "learned" to read. 2 did not learn how to read, it simply "clicked" all of the sudden. They went to sleep one night struggling with putting all the rules and phonics together and simply woke up reading. Seriously, all I can say for the 2 is something "clicked" while they slept.

Lilli was one of my two that simply "clicked". I will admit I was a bit scared watching Daniel struggle many years ago. It had all come so easy and "on schedule" for Joey and Holly. But with that experience, watching Lilli over the last few years did not cause me concern. I knew what would happen one morning. I trusted and reassured her that it would happen. And as with Daniel, when it "clicked", there was no looking back!

Lilli can read anything now! And her comprehension skills are amazing! It was worth the wait!

Her current favorite:

I Forget Sometimes...

2011-12-06T07:14:00.001-06:00

Borrowed from a friend's blog...

A Few Statistics from Searching the Internet:

Absolute Poverty: More than 1 billion people live in absolute poverty. This includes 700 million people living in slums, 500 million people on the verge of starvation, 93 million beggars, and 200 million children exploited for labor.

Minimal Wages: Half the world’s population—3 billion people—live on less than 2 dollars a day. About 1.2 billion people live on less than a dollar a day.

Hungry: More than 800 million people go to bed hungry every day.

Orphans: 500 million of the world’s children are orphans.

Sick: 1.5 billion of the world’s people have no access to medical care. 

Homeless: 55 million of the world’s people live in caves.

No Food: 1.5 billion of the world’s people do not have enough money to buy food. 

Uneducated: 121 million children around the world are totally outside of the educational system.  Only 6.7 percent of the population has a college degree.

Oppressed: Oppressive governments deny religious freedom to 2.2 billion people worldwide. 

Enslaved: More than 27 million of the world’s people are slaves. 

Shackled Minds: 3 billion of the world’s people are denied the freedom to teach ideas. 

No Gatherings: 3 billion of the world’s people are denied the freedom to assemble. 

Disabled: Around the world, 88.3 million people are at least partially blind, 538 million people are at least partially deaf, 11.6 million are dumb (deaf mutes), and 150 million people are severely mentally disadvantaged.

Dying: Globally each year, 2.5 million die of AIDS, 1.5 million people die in manmade disasters, 1 million people die in war, 975,000 people are murdered, 500,000 people commit suicide, 25,000 people die of pollution, 21,000 people die in earthquakes, and 12,000 die in floods. 

Imprisoned: Around the world, there are 4.5 million political prisoners, 1.2 million prisoners due to religious faith, and 1 million prisoners of conscience.

Urban Slums: In the past century, the number of urban slum dwellers has increased from 20 million to 700 million. 

AIDS: Almost 3 million people died of AIDS in 2006.

I Always Did Like the Number 14...

2011-12-05T06:18:00.000-06:00

My children are very happy this morning as the official announcement was made at 7:15 last night:

January 9, 2012 - Roll Tide! Championship Number 14 !!!

I Am Thankful

2011-11-24T10:18:00.000-06:00

... for so many things!

I am especially thankful for my family... that includes the little artists that were responsible for the above artwork!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Holly Polly Just Makes Me Smile

2011-11-15T08:15:00.000-06:00

Holly has decorated... and has proven that you are never to old for a little construction paper and glue!

Her Inst@gram pics:

How Did I Get Here?

2011-11-06T09:52:00.000-06:00

2 years ago I would have never sat down to watch a college football game. Don't get me wrong - I enjoyed the games tremendously when I was a student... but besides cheering for the Saints and keeping an eye on Nascar, I really was uninterested in any sports other than those that my children participated in.

That has all changed. How did I get here? How did I become such a huge Bama Fan? Guess it is all about the kids!

So I guess it is understandable that today will be kind of a sad day. We were all so ready for a great game last night - number 1 vs number 2. And... we were convinced that those numbers should be reversed! It was not to be. It was a great game... but the final score was not so great!

Hopefully, we will get our chance for redemption in the BCS National Championship in a few months!

Joey was up at 4am! He was on both Sportscenter and College GameDay. Love your sign Joey!

Abby and Lilli are huge fans as well!

My Baby is 9 Months Old

2011-11-04T13:50:00.001-05:00

Today, I am a great aunt again- for the 3rd time! My niece, Lacey, just gave birth to a beautiful little 7lb 15 oz baby girl named Myla.

I wonder if I am the only one who sees a picture of a new baby and maybe just maybe wishes that there was a tiny little baby in my home....

Well... that is not going to happen until I have grand-babies..... so .... I will celebrate the baby in my life... who happened to turn 9 months old today. That would be Tucker....

I might be biased... but is this not the cutest face that you have ever seen?

I was hoping for an "old fashioned" 10lb Yorkie.... we have about a month left to grow and we are weighing in at 7lbs .... so close! It is so hard to find a healthy big Yorkie these days.... I am afraid, the Judge family would break a teeny little guy!

I am thinking we should have named him Scruffy instead of Tucker. He visits the groomer and within minutes of returning home he has found a mound of old leaves and dirt to roll around in....

I think he knows he is a handsome little man!

It is funny that the "experts" don't recommend these little guys as a pet for families.... I have to disagree. This little man is perfect ...

Ok.... that was a fun photo shoot with my puppy.... but seriously.... it did not help. I so love babies!

Welcome little one - I wish I was there to steal you away from your granny for just a second or two and rock you and sing you a lullaby!

Candy - Smandy!

2011-11-04T09:32:00.000-05:00

Yes... Candy - Smandy.... my littles have barely given their sugary treasure a second thought. Halloween for them is all about the costumes!

This year, the winning choices were:

Abby's Choice.... Khaat Qiyn (I know... google it! ) ; )

I understand the Jedi "stop".... but the Chinese Herroine "stop"... hmmmmmm.... guess this is how she stopped the Huns! : )
Also notice that the light s@ber has been so much fun to play with that it had to be taped up to make it to the holiday!

You think Fa Mulan... She will set you straight... she is actually Hua Mulan...the historical Chinese Heroine that Disn@y based Fa Mulan on. ; )

It was a fun evening. Over the past few years, Abby and Llli have made it about a block or two before "pooping out" and asking to return home for hot chocolate and a comfy spot in front of the fire. This year Joe and the girls decided to team up with some new neighbors that have 3 boys (that Abby and Lilli absolutely adore) and hit the sidewalks of our neighborhood. It is funny that they hung in there for about 2 hours of fun this year.... they would never "quit" in front of their new friends.

As for Daniel... he had a rough night. ; ) He accompanied 5 of his female friends from school as they went door to door in our neighborhood. How nice of him to sacrifice his time to protect these sweet young ladies. hahahaha!

Sunday in Alabama

2011-10-24T15:22:00.000-05:00

At Talladega - hoping for a Gordon or Earnhardt Jr. victory.

Hand - Me - Downs

2011-10-13T15:28:00.000-05:00

When the girls went out to catch the bus this morning, it was cool and raining. It was the perfect opportunity to break out the raincoats. They were pretty excited... as their raincoats are not just any old raincoats... they are hand-me-downs!

Many years ago, I placed an order for 3 little raincoats from L@nds End. Daniel was starting kindergarten, Holly was getting ready for second grade, and Joey all set for third grade. We were living in Jakarta at the time and they were the perfect little coats for the very wet tropical weather. Daniel had the pleasure of wearing all 3 of the jackets as he grew... Abby and Lilli will do the same.
They have all grown out of Daniel's little red one... but Holly's blue one and Joey's orange one are just perfect!

The funny thing is that even though it was many years ago... I would swear that it was yesterday. I blinked and my littles above grew into my bigs. I guess when Abby and Lilli outgrow the cute little coats, I will tuck them away for my grandchildren to wear one day.... better not blink or that will be tomorrow!

"Farms are So Cool"

2011-10-11T09:35:00.001-05:00

First we visited a local apple orchard....

Yummy apple straight from the tree!

Abby opted for a fresh apple cider slushy.... even yummier!

Next stop... a local pumpkin farm... where we did everything EXCEPT pick a pumpkin. ; )

Finding golden treasure!

Abby's expression says it all... she is growing up... she only "agreed" to ride to "protect" Lilli.

YAY! What a fun day!

HUGE Black Culvert = HUGE Fun

2011-10-11T09:04:00.000-05:00

Bounce

2011-10-11T08:51:00.000-05:00

A Little Drive to Lynchburg

2011-10-11T08:44:00.001-05:00

Funny story... when we were walking around the J@ck D@niels Museum, Lilli looked around and quietly asked, "Why is everyone dressed like pirates"?... after Joe and I stopped laughing, we told her they were not pirates - they were bikers! hahaha!

A Sunny Day in September

2011-10-10T22:13:00.000-05:00

Thanks to Bryan and Missy, Kelly and the "Sharp Sisters" for putting together a fun time! As usual - the family was crazy and the food great!

Even Mother Nature Pitched In....

2011-10-10T07:15:00.001-05:00

The cool weather has arrived and with it, fall decorations. Mostly we go for traditional - orange and black - pumpkins, more pumpkins, and {not so scary} witches. We usually stay away from spiders....

Until This year, when Mother Nature helped us decorate....

~ S ~ E ~ V ~ E ~ N ~

2011-09-24T11:49:00.000-05:00

We Love Saturday Mornings In The Fall

2011-09-24T10:21:00.002-05:00

The thermometer read 48 degrees when I took the puppies out this morning at dawn. How exciting!

When everyone finally woke up at 7 - we ate biscuits and gravy and then slipped some shoes on and outside we went to enjoy a little fresh air... in our pajamas!

Neck and Neck in a race around the yard.... I want to meet those people that say Yorkies are not good family pets...
I totally disagree!

Now it's my turn to run with the jump rope...

Lilli stopped dead in her tracks for this treasure and insisted that I get the camera...

Who needs people to have fun....

Wait... I need People.... People...come back... please.... don't go inside... throw the ball....
please...that would be really fun ....for you.... and me... arf.... please....
said the very wet puppy!

Hey Joey....

2011-09-21T15:23:00.000-05:00

Well Chosen Words

2011-09-15T07:43:00.000-05:00

She Can Make Me Smile from Hundreds of Miles Away

2011-09-14T07:19:00.000-05:00

I am ashamed to admit (not really) that I "check on" my two older kids via their twitter accounts on occasion. They think I am delving into every detail of their lives... when to be honest.... I simply know that they are "ok" if they have recently tweeted. I will also admit that the number of tweets that I understand is a very low percentile. That being said, I have been known to call my children out on occasion only to have a "oh/oopps/sorry" moment shortly there after. But mostly, I check and move on... as in ... last tweet 7 minutes ago - good - they are fine.

This morning, Holly made me smile with her "twit pic":

She is in calculus (mostly forced by me to take such a hmmmm "basic" (only in her book) math class). So I had to chuckle at her note book... and how she entertains herself - as we all know calculus is just so darn easy and who would ever have to pay full attention in class?? !!. ; )

Hey Holly..... Rawr! ... and what is dinosaur for I miss you more than words can say???

In Black and White....

2011-09-07T07:51:00.007-05:00

In Black and White - they are so similar....

In full color ~ not so much....

Abby is "muted",
wants to blend in,
thoughtful,
quiet,
cautious.
introverted,
thinks before she speaks,
loves to read,
has a dry and sarcastic sense of humor (like her big brother joey),
asks for permission,
wakes up grumpy,
likes the purple and red popsicles,
likes to color outside the lines,
wants to be good - really good at one thing,
would wear a sweater vest (yes... sweater vest) to school everyday if I let her,
wants a simple "clippie" in her hair everyday,
groans when asked to apply lip balm,
takes her lunch to school everyday (pretty much the same food everyday),
Is perfectly fine being alone,
leads,
prefers inside to outside,
talks about buying a house on our block when she is a grown up,
wants to drive a blue mini cooper when she is 16,
plays with l@ggos and st@r w@rs things,
often pretends to be a storm trooper or knight,
would walk a mile for a donut.

Lilli is "bright" ,
wants to stand out,
blurts out whatever she is thinking,
loud,
adventurous,
giggly,
extroverted,
loves math,
has a silly sense of humor,
asks for forgiveness ; ),
wakes up happy,
likes the orange and green popsicles,
likes to color inside the lines,
wants to try everything - who cares is you are good as long as you are having fun,
would wear a silk or satin dress (the more lace and frills the better) to school everyday if I let her,
wants her hair a new and exciting way every day, preferably with a huge flower , feather and even a little glitter,
pretends lip balm is the most luxurious lipstick ever made and applies with gusto in front of a mirror if possible,
eats at school everyday (loves the variety).
does not like being alone (being with the puppies outside counts as not being alone in her book),
will follow her sister anywhere,
prefers outside to inside - rain, snow, or shine, (this is my mud pie girl)
talks about living everywhere (maybe even China for a while) when she is older,
wants to drive a red (or pink) mini cooper when she is 16,
plays with dolls and stuffed animals,
often pretends to be a princess or fairy,
would walk a mile for a cucumber.

But... they do have one major similarity - they both love like there is no tomorrow!

We are blessed beyond words - every-single-day - by these two very different little girls!

Sue and The Space Girls

2011-09-07T07:26:00.001-05:00

What a wet holiday weekend we had. The grass was happy, but we were not! After an entire day inside, we decided to brave the weather for a little trip down the road to see Sue.

Meet Sue...

Studying all the facts!

Maybe I will find a Sue....

One Big Femur!

... and onto space and Saturn.

"This was a tiny rocket mom".....

"One Day, Holly's footprints are going to be on the moon, just like this - right mom?"

Trying out the moon gloves.

Houston - We DON'T have a problem. ; )

Check.

Just a Few More Updates....

2011-09-02T08:58:00.000-05:00

Shortly after getting Joey and Holly settled, school started for the littles and Daniel. Abby and Lilli were so excited for the first day. I am sure Daniel was a tad bit nervous his first day of High School - but he did not show it. He did; however, show his unhappiness about having to ride the bus this year - he is missing Holly (and her car and school parking permit) already! Next year Daniel... next year!

Always smiling and ready!

So excited about the bus.... and her
new 2nd grader messenger bag!

Daniel looks as he is off to prison instead of
school. Can you say "forced" to pose? haha!

Shortly after school started, Daniel ended up with this:

Basketball season starts in a few months... Right Handed Point Guard??? Hmmmmmm???

Switching It Up a Bit

2011-09-02T08:30:00.002-05:00

Daniel has been sharing a jack-n-jill bathroom with his little sisters for nearly three years. For the girls - great! - for Daniel - not so much! So.... we recently shuffled (and redecorated) bedrooms for Daniel and Abby.

Daniel moved into Holly's old bedroom, which meant I had to strip the funky wallpaper that we "inherited" with the purchase of the home and de-yellow the bedroom and rid it of it's chandelier. I feel bad as these were all the things that Holly had wanted when she was in the room, but we (as in I) never quite got around to it.... Sorry Holly! But Daniel was insistent that he could not live with "old lady" wallpaper in the bathroom and yellow walls and certainly not a chandelier. So.... I finally got busy.... and this is Daniel's room now....

A nice Hawks, Braves inspired room.
We have replaced the chandelier with a modern black and metal ceiling fan also.
Please excuse the photo quality - it was taken with my phone.
I hope it was worth the month that you spent on a mattress on the floor of the sunroom Daniel!

Daniel gave up his twin bed - awwwhhhhh... and will keep Holly's queen size furniture until she moves from the dorm into an apartment. Hopefully that will be a while! : )

Abby also has a new "abode". She moved into Daniel's old room. I have blogged a bit about what she was looking for in room decor - grey, purple, St@r W@rs, and Furman University. So here it is.... again don't mind the picture quality as it was taken with my phone.... I have been lazy to charge my camera... I know, SAD.

Included in Abby's room is a Javanese Bench and a Batik (hanging over her bed) from Yogyakarta.
My camera is now charging... and I will add more photos soon... to show the details.

My family is teasing me as it seems I am on a "gray kick". Daniel's room is a really light crisp cool gray that looks so great with the bright white glossy molding and Abby's is more of a stormy gray. Joe painted her ceiling a really great shade of warm lavender.... it looks amazing (if I don't say so myself).

I keep telling my family that gray is the new beige.... they don't believe me! ; )

Really Joey- Really?

2011-08-12T18:37:00.000-05:00

Holly hasn't been the only one getting ready to depart. Joey finished up work this morning and came home only to change, pack his car, and hit the road.

I asked to get one more "first day of school" picture with him before he left... and this is the best of the 3 dozen or so that Holly snapped.

Really Joey - Really? How old are you? Is that gum sticking out of your mouth supposed to keep me from posting this picture on my blog??? Not a chance! : ) I think maybe I will even open a tw2tter account and twe@t this to all your friends! Are they all grown ups too? ; )

Cleaning Out Her Room

2011-08-12T14:19:00.000-05:00

Holly has been cleaning out her room. And... from the above picture, you can tell that she NEVER EVER throws anything out! It seems she has every single piece of technology (with the exception of her first purple M@c desktop) that she has ever acquired. And... they are all operable and she still uses them all....

Sweet Girl ~ Sweet Thank You

2011-08-12T09:09:00.000-05:00

You prepare for years. It is a goal. For some, it seems like the time will never arrive. For others, it comes way too fast.

For Holly, "it" is in two days. She departs for college.

As I said above, we have been preparing for years. But no matter how prepared we try to be, these last few days seem to be pure chaos. So many things left to check off the list... oil change-check, hair cut-check, immunizations-check... the list goes on and on.

With the very emotional aspect of what is about to happen, I tend to get overwhelmed easily - resulting in quiet tears.

I promise scheduling oil changes doesn't normally bring me to a desperate search for a box of kleenex... but yesterday it did.

I can usually make it through a conversation with the hairdresser without my mascara running.... yesterday, not so much.

Holly knows. She gets it. She always gets it. So yesterday, she drove her freshly serviced car, with her newly coiffed hair blowing out the window (I am sure) and her music a little too loud to a favorite destination of mine - and she picked up a coconut creme cupcake.

When I arrived home after getting her tag renewal, she presented me with the cupcake, a hug, and a thank you.

Now - G!G!s cupcakes are very sweet; however, I have to say the hug and thank you were much much sweeter than that yummy cupcake yesterday!

Scattered Ducklings

2011-08-10T08:26:00.001-05:00

The weather was horrid on Monday. It was pretty much a day to just stay put.

Joey and Holly were sitting around the dinner table for hours, sharing files on their M@c Pros (Holly just received hers in the mail) , talking about college, and laughing at inside jokes. Daniel joined in on his hand-me-down M@c (thank you Holly!) - searching for the perfect used car.
Abby and Lilli were at the end of the table, entertained by their colors and coloring books. I was happily cooking - taking it all in.

I LOVE days like that - with all my "ducklings in a row".

But alas, it is that time....

Summer is drawing to a close. Joe and I moved Joey's things (things like 2 couches, a queen bedroom set, 4 bar stools....) into his first apartment last weekend. He moves in for good this Friday, following his his last shift at the grocery store.

Earlier this week, Daniel had orientation at the High School and tomorrow afternoon, Abby and Lilli and I will head to their school to meet new teachers and their bus driver.

And, on Sunday, Joe and I will follow Holly a few hours down the interstate with a load of brightly colored items to decorate her dorm. She starts an early honors class on Monday.

Next Monday - no matter what the weather - will simply not be the same. My duckings will be scattered and I will be sitting quietly at my dinner table - a few tears dripping into my coffee cup.

A Wonderful Weekend for My Ladies

2011-08-08T13:26:00.000-05:00

When the girls return to school next week, they should be addressed by their new titles, "Lady Abby" and "Lady Lilli", as they were officially Knighted (by a staff member of the Alpharetta M@rriot) this past Saturday. ; )

It was the first event of many during their medieval weekend getaway.

Following the official ceremony, the girls were shown to their royal chamber and given their royal keys and royal attire. Little did the M@rriot know, but these two ladies travel well prepared and had all of their royal clothing already packed.

They changed quickly and we were off to a royal viewing of Mediv@l Times. The show was amazing - dancing Andalusian Stallions, Knights on horseback doing tricks and jousting - and a King and Princess.

It was all so exciting. The food was yummy too - but very messy! No silverware!

Alas, the royal entertainment was over - but that was just fine as there were still a few minutes for the ladies to swim before bedtime! I do believe all 6 and 7 year olds - royal or not - enjoy a good swim!

Sunday morning, we all awoke to a breakfast buffet that really was fit for royalty! Then we made our way a few miles down the road for a fun visit with Uncle Mike, Aunt Courtney, Dillan and Jake!

It was a wonderful "Last Hurrah" for summer 2011!

We loved how the hotel had a special check in for the girls.

Lady Abby

Lady Lilli

Getting Ready for the show.... Great front row seats!

Beautiful Princess Lenore.

All the Knights were so stunning - but we were cheering for the Black and White Knight.

Lady Abby with Lady Abigail - the Falcon Trainer.

The Black and White Knight and Abby in her royal attire. : )

Back in the room after a swim and a bath - acting out all the fun they had seen at the show!

It Almost Didn't Happen...

2011-07-29T07:54:00.000-05:00

Almost. Abby is picky about her clothes you see. The color was fine - brown. The fabric was good - cotton. The problem - ruffles. It was covered in ruffles. It was not going to happen - until - she spied the writing inside...

So there you go.... ruffles - not good! But... ruffles made in Indonesia - AWESOME!!!

Long Time No Blog

2011-07-26T22:18:00.001-05:00

I don't know if I have been too busy or too lazy or just enjoying summer too much to blog. I will claim that it is the later of the three. : ) Here are a few more pics of our summer adventures thus far...

This is always the BEST part of summer!

We might be "rednecks" if we eat chicken-n-dumplins' by the pool... I actually think there is no "might" about this one! : )

The littles have really excelled in the swimming department this summer and are learning to dive as well!

Seriously, I wonder where her love of all things galactic came from....

We have caught our share (and eaten too!) of fish!

We have met up with friends... and had our picture taken so many times that the above pose has become an instant reflex when the camera is held in front of us.

We have thoroughly enjoyed our friends company!

... and ice cream too!

I will also admit to the "too busy".... I have spent so much time lately (and happily so) getting Joey ready for his first apartment and Holly ready to move into her dorm room. And .... the whole shuffling and redecorating of bedrooms here at home. I am happy to report that as of last night, Abby's new grey/purple/St@r W@rs room is now complete! Now to get Holly's old room cleaned out and redone for Daniel ... he is now patiently residing in the sunroom. : ) Then it is on to Joey's room which will need a bit of a redo as most of the furniture is following Joey to his apartment.

As for the "too lazy" option... I have spent more than a few days just relaxing at home! With a "still" new puppy and some pretty hot weather - sticking pretty close to the air-conditioned house is a pretty good option these days! : )

Grant's Farm

2011-06-21T20:42:00.000-05:00

Yet another {great} St. Louis attraction:

Friendly little Clydesdale!

Isn't that cool after seeing the real thing!

What a great group of kiddos!

Elizabeth, Aunty Sandy, Abby and Lilli checking out the animals!

A rare creature... the guinea pig! hahaha!

Moooooooommmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.... Loooooooooooookkkkkkkkkkkkkk!

They don't have Dip N Dots in China or Australia...
Sandy preferred this yummy snack to both Root beer and Dr. Pepper... she figures both of those taste just like medicine!

Such a HOT day... the cool water felt so good... Can we do it again... and again... and again?

Everybody joined in!

Wet... yet so much cooler!

Who needs to see an elephant after the whole Guinea Pig experience??? ; )

City Museum... AMAZING!!!

2011-06-20T19:53:00.001-05:00

Another adventure that our Xi'an Group had was the City Museum in St. Louis.... and what an adventure it was! This has to be the "coolest" place for kids that I have ever been! Seriously... it is made out of junk.... in an old industrial building. How can one man just come up with such a fascinating concept? ... and call me crazy (or a few other things) but, I wonder what his insurance bill is???

Abby and Lilli are sure glad he did!

Aunty Sandy wins the prize for furthest traveled to the Xi'an Reunion.... all the way from China via Sydney!

Where are the pretty primary colors?

This is the slide - from the 10th floor to the 4th floor... Abby and Lilli and Elizabeth jumped right in...
Me... not so much! It was much darker... I lightened up this picture so we could see what it looked like... the girls thought it was awesome... while I was looking for an elevator!

Their favorite was the "skateless" skate park.... all the ramps with none of the wheels! Look at Lilli's expression....she was hard at play!

Abby taking a break for a picture! Her and Lilli loved running and climbing and did it for hours!

TaDa!

I even make industrial look cute!

If I stay on 8 seconds do I win?

Arrghhhhhh!

What is this mom?

Another slide... from the 4th floor to the 1st floor.... those colorful things are old shock absorbers!

Can I go again? Abby and Lilli went up and down this slide at least a dozen times!

That is BRAVE Lilli climbing all by herself... on the roof of the 12 story industrial building.... NOT scared at all!

Yet another slide... very straight angle!

Oh yeah!

Oh no....
Not really.... they went up and down this one many times while mom took a break and had a coffee!

I told you it was cool! ...and scary! I should have found this place when I was a much younger mother and my bones and joints cooperated more fully!

I was so slow... compared to my NOT scared and very fast children!

My knight and damsel in distress!

Thanks again Colleen for planning such an amazing day! I am sure everyone had just as much fun as we did!

Magic House

2011-06-20T18:45:00.000-05:00

I took a lot.... more like a ton... of photos at Lilli's recent Xi'an Reunion. I am still trying to make my way through the pictures.

Until I get those all sorted, I will share a handful of photos from the Magic House - a really cool hands on kids' museum in St. Louis. Lilli, Abby, and I had a lovely picnic with all the families and children that were in St. Louis for the reunion at lunchtime on Sunday and then we made our way to South Kirkwood Road for a little more fun!

The girls loved it... and even better - When I asked about a military discount... they had one - free! You can't get better "bang for your buck" than that!

Concentration....

A Future Engineers' Mind at Work....

Ah.... Teamwork! : )

Really Mom... I can touch the tv? You are not worried about fingerprints?

Hello, this is Colonel Lilli, Do you want to speak to General Abby? What happened to being President??? Guess they would rather follow in their Daddy's footsteps!

Abby read from a book of Presidential Speeches... she is such a great reader!

Now if you could only learn how to do that for real... you could save this 4 car family a ton of money!

They did not have anything like this when mommy was little!

Time for a snack!

Even the snack was hands on!

... and delicious!

Water - always fun!

Mom, can I get one of these when I turn 16?

Can we keep him?

Holly's 18th Birthday "Present"

2011-06-20T12:13:00.000-05:00

Since moving so close Nashville( ok... not soooooo close, but close enough) , It has been Holly's desire to attend the Country Music Awards. Well.... it took nearly 3 years, but for her 18th Birthday.... she got just what she wanted! Holly and I attended the 2011 CMT Awards last week.... sweet!

We were entertained by so many singers/groups! I LOVED R@scal Flatts! Holly loved it all! Holly has some varied (seriously varied) musical interests.... she was thrilled when J@son Aldean was joined on stage by Lud@cris! Lucky for her... because I don't think I would have ever taken her to see his concert! But that said... it was one of many great musical moments! And the best part... Holly was in the same building as Justin Beib@r!!!

Hope you had a blast Holly Girl!!!

For My Father and My Children's Father....

2011-06-19T17:56:00.001-05:00

"The greatest gift I ever had
Came from God, and I call him Dad!"
~~Author Unknown.

Like They Were Never Apart...

2011-06-14T11:16:00.001-05:00

During the process of adopting, photos are occasionally received out of the blue. Some of the photos would be sent by families traveling while adopting their children - always mindful that a snapshot (however blurry) of a waiting little one in China was worth more than gold to the family who was also waiting across an ocean! Other photos would come from a sweet expat volunteer that was helping prepare both the little ones and the families. Even others came from the orphanage staff when they were able to get their hands on a camera and find a way to get the photos to the waiting families.

These were all the case while we were in the process of adopting Lilli. The photos were our "connection" - and the photos are still to this day poured over and cherished very much!

It was evident - as we received many photos - that Lilli had an every present companion while in China. Another little girl that was more than just her "best friend"... they were more like sisters - sharing the 4th floor at the orphanage and also moving to a smaller foster home together with just seven other children.

At the time, the British volunteers in Xi'an called the two Cheryl and Susannah. They are now Elizabeth and Lilli. They were always together. In pictures where Lilli was alone - there seemed to always be a frown or a look of fright on her face - when she was with Elizabeth - a certain look of confidence took the place of the sadness.

One of the earliest photos I have from the orphanage - Susannah is far left with the orange poof in her hair and Cheryl is to the right with the orange sleeveless coat on. This photo was taken in early 2006.

When Lilli and Elizabeth were both matched and waiting for their families - now living in the foster home and being cared for by Heidi (far right) and being checked on quite frequently by Aunty Sandy from Australia (blue coat).

Joe and I traveled to China first - and were lucky enough to pretty much "dive into" Lilli's life in China. We visited the orphanage, foster home, and even Lilli's school - all that she shared with Elizabeth. And... we met Elizabeth - and said goodbye to Elizabeth on February 28, 2008. Little hands parting so slowly across the school table....

We now know that this was not goodbye... but see you later!

Fast forward to June 9, 2011 - and this is what happened when they said "Hello" again:

This was within a few seconds of seeing each other... Lilli whispered in my ear, "It is all coming back to me now mom"...

Always!

Remember Elizabeth.... no sad... just happy.... until we see you again!!!

Good Times

2011-06-14T07:26:00.000-05:00

We have had Hair Raisin' good times over the last week! So many escapades.... from Nashville to St. Louis ....I am trying to organize the photos - and then I will post about all of our adventures!

Happy Daniel... Very Happy Daniel

2011-06-05T18:38:00.009-05:00

Daniel's Best .... so far! 4lb 9oz Largemouth.... caught on a cricket!

One of Many....

Best Bluegill from the 17th

The 6th was a good day on the water!

What is that in your right hand Papa? Looks like bait to me! : )

A Keeper!

The picture above is from 3 years ago - the first summer that Daniel joined his Uncle and Papa in a true summer of fishing!

"Double" Catch for Papa and Daniel!

Large Mouth Bass

Uncle Jeff with a 6lb Bowfin... Papa fishin' in the background....

Hitting the Limit Every Single Day!

... and the Force Will Be With Abby

2011-06-03T21:54:00.001-05:00

The latest "find" for Abby's room:

I found the nicest artist (and ( I think) stay at home mom) from Georgia who does digital art and she agreed to do a special order for Abby's room... Abby's love of St@r Wars combined with the perfect colors for her new room. The 4 striped prints will be framed and hung in a row above a big Indonesian bench against one of the walls. Abby calls it her comfy reading spot. The larger solid gray print is much bigger and will be hung separately. These two (below) small guys will be framed and sit on her night stand. : ) She will be surrounded by the force! ; ) ... and they are all so cute that even I think they make the perfect decor for Abby's new room!

If anyone needs a little artwork done... let me know and I will give you the contact information for the artist. And... don't worry about breaking the bank... the price for this "commissioned" art.... pretty darn cheap if you ask me! And the fact that Abby was able to give her input... if she wanted purple stripes or circles... or all purple or all gray... and she picked out all the sayings with the characters. She is so excited about this project... priceless! : )

First "Find" for Abby's New Big Girl Room...

2011-05-29T20:24:00.004-05:00

With one more "kiddo" flying the coupe in the fall, the rest left at home will be shuffling bedrooms.

Daniel will move into Holly's old room where he will have his own bathroom. That leaves Daniel's old room to Abby - and she and Lilli will share the jack-n-jill bathroom. We can not simply "transfer" Abby's twin bed to her new room, because - Holly still needs a place to "live" when she is home! So... Holly will take over Abby's room when she is home for the weekend, holidays and summer (doubt that she will EVER return home for the summer... too many places to travel for her!) ... and Abby will "move back" in with Lilli - who will keep the matching twin beds that have served our family so well for over 10 years now!!! : ) (seems like I had them made - in Jakarta - just yesterday... seriously!)

Anyway... back to the "FIND"...

Abby's idea for decor was simply "St@r W@rs". I am taking that with a "grain of salt" of moving forward with a warm and cozy purple, gray, creme, black (and maybe even a hint of chartreuse) bedroom. We have found an artist in Georgia, that is working on a few prints with D@rth V@der, Yod@, An@kin, etc ... but in a very cute style that will fit in with what is to become Abby's new abode.

Today, we made the trek out to an antique store south of town. I have been watching a few local websites by a few local "moms" that find old furniture and refinish it. The other day, I saw a depression era bed - full size - that was recently redone. It was solid wood - as all the beds were back in the day- and it was finished in a bit of a shabby black color. I fell hard for the picture. But seriously... it was not the first time that I had fallen for the picture, only to find that the actual furniture made me want to get up .... and run!!! : )

Today was different... the bed was perfect! It was just what we have been hoping for. Abby likes the style where the footboard wraps around the mattress a bit. We saw a bed like that a while back in a furniture store and it was by far her favorite.... but too "pristine" for my taste.

So...Here it is:

LOVE IT!!!!!

Here are a few of our inspiration photos... believe me, I will never achieve anything as grand and beautiful as these "looks"... but they are so beautiful to look at!

... and while I am sharing inspiration pictures... when all else is done in our home, I would love to spruce up the master bedroom a bit... I LOVE these two rooms...

Two of Those Moments....

2011-05-27T13:00:00.000-05:00

"Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away"

We had a few of those moments this past week....

Holly worked very hard for her graduation "decorations"!

When I grow up, I most want to be .... just like Holly! My daughter is the most amazing young woman...
I love you (and like you a whole bunch too!) my Holly girl... your self confidence and humor and focus and pure joy of life brings happiness to me each and every day! You are a true blessing!

Class Size - 580! Yikes!!!

BAMA Bound!!!

Ready for the next adventure!

For a second year, I have one graduating from High School and one graduating from Kindergarden!
Way to go Lilli!

I like the way they celebrate after Kindergarden graduation!

... And The Family Grows

2011-05-16T08:50:00.000-05:00

Holly Polly

2011-05-11T07:53:00.000-05:00

We are so proud of Holly and the hard work that she has put into every second of her education thus far! Holly was never happy with an A... that only made her work harder to get an A+. And I think even more telling of her personality is that she rejoices in others' success just as much as she does in her own!

Way to go Holly Polly.... your dad and I are so very proud of your accomplishments and know that you will do amazing things with your talents!

Holly earned both a Presidential Scholarship and an Engineering Scholarship to
The University of Alabama... Roll Tide!!

Holly and her best friend, Jamie, showing off 12 years of hard work!

A girl can change her mind at the last minute... right??? ; )

Happy Mother's Day

2011-05-08T19:55:00.000-05:00

I love the picture below - it is my mother a few years back : ) .... so elegant! I hope you have a grand day today mom!

And the picture above.... my mother's mother - Vernie. A Lady that makes me smile every time I think of her.... she was truly the "Matriarch" of the family... and a wonderful role model for so many that were lucky enough to know her!

Meet Tucker

2011-05-08T19:46:00.002-05:00

In Australia, they call good food - tucker... it is so good you want to eat it all up.... well, our "Tucker" is so cute, you would want to eat him up! And he just loves to tuck his little head in when he is being held and go to sleep.... And... finally, I am completely "tuckered out" taking care of a new puppy! So, although he was named Murphy when he first came home... we could not resist a little change to better match his personality!

He was my birthday/mother's day present from Joe and the kids... what a perfect gift for us all! Thank you so much guys!

This is when we first met him... he was less than 2 lbs. Yikes....

He came home the next week... at 2.3 lbs.

He likes to snuggle with Holly while she is reading...

He is getting bigger... and his face is quickly turning silver.

He now owns a basketball hoodie... seriously??? He will outgrow it soon... and we will not replace it! hahaha... clothes for dogs??? Who would do such a thing???

He still loves reading with Holly!

I like to play in the clippings when the bushed are being trimmed!

Now 3 months old....

... Let Them Celebrate

2011-05-07T21:34:00.000-05:00

The plans had been made long ago.... but in light of the recent storms... every thing was up in the air until the school announced Thursday that Prom was "a go". The kids were all thrilled. Stores from all over the US shipped dresses to the High School for the girls that had lost theirs in the recent storms. Girls from nearby high schools that had already had their proms donated their dresses as well. Tuxes arrived last minute... but they arrived. Flowers - those were hard to come by as so many florists lost their supplies and have not been able to get fresh flowers in. Dinner Reservations had to shift as some places have yet to open. But... to the kids.... these were minor details... they were simply ready to celebrate ... to dance the night away... at their Senior Prom.

Holly has been ready to dance for months now. Her partner in crime... Dennis.... who likes to dance even more than Holly ( both in their c@nverse tennis shoes??? ) , if that is possible! ... can you tell from the photos below that these two are the life of the party??? : )

Joey was all too happy to return to his alma mater to escort his best friend, Sarah. They looked just as amazing as they did last year!

Sheer Terror, Devastation, Shock, and the Resiliency of My Neighbors

2011-05-06T10:44:00.001-05:00

Last Wednesday, we were under Tornado Warnings for 16 hours. The kids, Joe and I spent the majority of that time in an interior closet with helmets on, watching the news on my smart phone. The weatherman counting down the minutes until tornado after tornado was at our doorstep.... over and over again. I was scared.

When Joey phoned from Tuscaloosa, crouched in the bathroom of his dorm at UA, watching a massive storm as it reached for the ground over Bryant-Denny Stadium, It was almost too much for this mother to handle.

Thankfully, our family is safe. We are/were blessed. The windows leaked from the sheer force of the rain and hail, the yard was a mess, shingles strewn about under the odd tree limb or two... But we are fine.

My neighbors - not so much.

My vets office is the single structure standing less than a half mile away... the same storm passed within 2 or 3 football fields of the girls' elementary school. Joe was in line to pick them up after early dismissal - he was rushed inside to huddle with the children while that particular tornado passed by. When they emerged, they did so to destruction in every direction.

The older kids' high school is about 2 miles from our home. They have been taking a quaint little "country" road to and from school for nearly 3 years now. The street was lined with family homes and a small farm. No more. There is not a home standing... in fact, you can't even tell what the rubble once was... the majestic oaks and tall pines that once shaded the homes are all gone... twisted and literally ripped in half by another tornado that stuck mid day.

At the end of that road sat a small church that had stood for more than two centuries. It was one of the oldest churches in Alabama. Today, it is rubble - a single pew is all that remains upright in the church. The steeple in wrapped around a broken utility pole down the road. I have a hundred pictures of Abby and Lilli in front of the Church as they attended preschool and kindergarten within it's safe and caring walls. Two of the wonderful teachers that we loved so much lost their homes - but they rejoice in the fact that their families are intact. I am in awe of these families and their strength.

One of Holly's best friends in now commuting back and forth from Tennessee - till the end of his senior year. His home is now flat. It remained upright long enough to protect his family - caving in only after they were all safe from the storm. We asked him to come stay with us for the last few weeks of school, but he politely declined as he wanted to be there for his mother - to support her and help with his siblings. They are a lucky family - in more ways than one!

I went to UA on Wednesday afternoon to pack Joey up and move him home - all classes and finals have been cancelled at the University. I had seen the storm damage photos of Tuscallossa - had seen all the videos on the We@ther Channel... but was unprepared when I drove down 15th Avenue. Homes, Business, and most importantly, lives that existed one moment - did not exist the next.

But amid all the destruction and shock and sadness, the citizens of Alabama and those from around the US who have rushed to help - they have come out in full force to start the recovery process. Where I would stand and not even know where to begin.... folks have stood and directed countless volunteers. Our community has come so far in a very short week....

God Bless my neighbors and all of those helping in any way they can.

**** Update**** Our Insurance Agent was just here and believes that our home was "wind wrapped" which means that there was great wind pressure put on our roof in a back and forth motion and all the beams in the attic have been twisted and are now not structurally sound. She said that is also what caused our windows and front door to leak - She is sending engineers to our home as soon as possible to decide what needs to be done. I so love our home... I hope they will be able to make it all ok again.

We Will Take Chocolate....

2011-04-23T08:24:00.000-05:00

Funny "Fluff" (or should I say Fluffy???) article I read on F@x News' Website:

Here are 10 reasons to buy a chocolate bunny and not a real bunny this Easter:

  1. If you decide you don’t like the chocolate bunny, you can buy another brand.

2. Real bunnies chew everything. With a chocolate bunny—you’re the only one doing the chewing.

3. Friends are much less likely to have an allergic reaction to your chocolate bunny.

4. A real bunny is much pricier than a chocolate bunny. In fact you can buy a carton of chocolate bunnies for the cost of one real bunny.

5. When you buy a chocolate bunny you don’t need to buy anything else, unlike a real bunny. Well, maybe just some jellybeans.

6. Real bunnies' eyes can see behind them without turning their heads. A chocolate bunnies’ eyes can be bitten off and eaten.

  7. Real bunnies eat and poop at the same time. Sorry, you didn’t really need to know that.

8. Real bunnies can become pregnant again one hour after of giving birth. Fortunately (or unfortunately) chocolate bunnies don’t reproduce.

9. A real bunny doesn’t like it when you trim its toenails. Chocolate bunnies don’t usually mind.

10. You can bite off a chocolate bunny’s ears. Not a good idea with a real bunny… Random Fact: Apparently 76% of people bite off the ears first….

Her Medical File From China Said....

2011-04-22T07:26:00.001-05:00

... that she had the Chicken Pox when she was 2. As per medical guidance, she had the Varicella Vaccine at 3.5 - shortly after we met. So why did she go to bed Wednesday night happy and healthy, yet wake up Thursday morning looking like she had rolled around in a tub of red confetti? As of last night, we were still trying to cover all the new marks with our good friend, Cal@dryl. We also made the mad dash to the pharmacy for a few boxes of oatmeal bath powder. Ben@dryl... no problem... it is a staple in our home!

These are pink... but not necessarily what Lilli wanted for Easter! : ) Hopefully today we will see fewer new bumps and we can consider this a somewhat of a mild case....

Joey - my oldest who is going on 20 - had the Chicken Pox twice - the second time around (at age 5), was so bad, he had actual pox on his little eyeballs. It was quite scary.... but he recovered with no problems. Hopefully it will be the same for Miss Lilli...

Until then, I guess I need to practice the phase "Stop Scratching".....

Daddy's Golf Partner

2011-04-15T06:18:00.001-05:00

Will she be the next Nancy Lopez? Beth Daniels?

We think so... but more importantly, she KNOWS so.

A Few Spring Break Pictures

2011-04-13T07:22:00.001-05:00

Joe could not leave work this week as his students are preparing for graduation, so we decided to find a little fun in the area... D!sney Live, lots of golf, Chattanooga this weekend and lots of fun in the back yard enjoying the wonderful warm weather. (Picture quality not that great as they were all taken with my phone... but really, I still remember when phones did nothing by make and receive calls... heck, I remember when phones were stuck to the wall and had rotary dials... so I am impressed! : )

April 1995 - April 2011 ~ Goodbye Sweet Jake

2011-04-11T11:20:00.001-05:00

Holly's Next 14 Days

2011-04-07T17:27:00.000-05:00

Abby's Cousin is Releasing an Album...

2011-03-26T12:57:00.001-05:00

Actually - he is all the kids' cousin (or nephew for Joe and I ) but he has a very special place in Abby's heart... she really thinks, "he is the most awesome cool guitar player in the world... with the most amazing guitar collection EVER!" (her words exactly)

I agree!

Spring, Sunshine and Sleeveless Shirts - YAY!

2011-03-21T19:00:00.001-05:00

So Funny!

2011-03-21T08:04:00.000-05:00

Watch this... and make sure you watch the whole thing... down to the last second... hilarious!!!

The Big Apple

2011-03-19T18:05:00.001-05:00

Holly had a grand trip! She came home with a "grown up" souvenir and no money left in her wallet! HA!

Now That is What You Call Tuckered Out!

2011-03-18T22:24:00.001-05:00

Guess this is what happens after a fun day in the wonderful warm weather!

Under the Moonlight

2011-03-18T21:47:00.001-05:00

The "Super Moon" as it made it's way above the horizon late this afternoon.

My Holly plans to visit - the moon - one day. I tell her that her plans to be an astronaut are amazing...I fully support her career path...however, she need not ask me to visit her office! : )

"Super" is right!

The girls wanted to eat dinner under the moon....

My Driveway in Spring

2011-03-16T18:01:00.003-05:00

Even the bees are busy!

My neighbor has the most glorious cherry trees planted on her fence line that borders my driveway... oh how I love these beautiful blooms. The girls have already figured out that with the cherry blossoms comes warm weather and tons of fun playing on the driveway!

They want to follow in Holly's (tennis) footsteps...

Another Holly Adventure...

2011-03-16T09:40:00.000-05:00

Home For Spring Break

2011-03-13T14:42:00.008-05:00

Joey is home for spring break. For fun, I dug out his first grade journal... which brought many chuckles as he read it this morning!

Maybe Joey should receive a few of $$ from Ch@arlie Sheen's t-shirt sales with the above slogan... seems Joey (who was more mature in 1st grade than C.S.) came up with the slogan first!

Joey's loves when he was little: dinosaurs and more dinosaurs and pokemon.

Time sure does fly!

Thoughtful

2011-03-13T14:39:00.004-05:00

Found this on my nightstand when I went to bed last night...

GEAUX Teal Tigers!!!

2011-03-08T22:53:00.008-06:00

We call her "Bird Dog" now! In her own words, "I go after the basketball like Jordan (our dog) goes after a bunny in the back yard". YEP... she is right! Amazing little defensive player!
... and on the offensive side of things, we have Ms. Abby... following in Daniel's footsteps (and wearing the same ; ) shoes too) .... the point guard... the ball handler! She asked me today how high the college hoops are and how big the college court is. I told her... and her reply, "I'm ready Mom!" .... she even scored a buzzer beater shot for the game win last week.... YAY!!! Abby girl!!!

"Bird Dog" is a pretty good back up point guard also!

It was a great final game for this season of Judge Family Basketball!

All Decked Out in Purple

2011-03-08T22:47:00.005-06:00

Abby was off to enjoy a Furman Basketball game with dad, Danny, and Joey recently. What did she have to keep her warm.... dad's Furman Swim Team Jacket from... hehemmmm, just a few years back! : )

I HIGHLY Recommend....

2011-03-05T13:56:00.003-06:00

WOW! Who knew I would enjoy this movie SOOOOOOO much??? All of the awards it has won were well deserved.

Seems Like Yesterday, Seems Like Forever Ago....

2011-02-24T17:06:00.010-06:00

3 years ago today, we met Lilli AnHui in Xian, China. She was a scared yet very very brave teeny tiny 3 and 1/2 year old little girl.

We had a crazy, busy, fun, stressful, amazing, difficult, blessed 2 week stay in China.

Lilli's third year "home" was filled with a lot of fun experiences and even more smiles.....

We love you so very much Lilli girl!!!

Father~Daughter~Daughter Dance

2011-02-18T18:17:00.002-06:00

Don't Know Exactly How I Feel About This....

2011-02-17T17:01:00.003-06:00

This picture was taken shortly after the Auburn Homecoming victory at Toomer's Corner. Those stately oaks are over 130 years old. They are tradition at Auburn... they are a proud symbol ... and they are where all types of victories are celebrated.

This morning, a 62 year old "wacko" man who claims to be a University of Alabama fan, was arrested for poisoning the trees. He poured a dose of chemicals about 65 times what would be necessary to kill the trees. It is sad. He is crazy. He should be arrested, convicted, fined - made to pay for the chemical clean-up, locked up, etc etc. His bond was set at fifty thousand dollars.

Speculation is that he will get at least a ten year prison sentence for what he did. The radio is a buzz with folks talking about this... it is in the newspaper and on all the major news sites. On the local news internet site, there are hundreds and hundreds of comments.

Why I don't know how I feel about this... just last week I was reading a story in the local news about a man beating his wife to death. He was arrested. There seems to be significant proof - evidence to convict the man in what the facts led me to believe was a brutal murder. His bail was set at twenty five thousand dollars. I have not heard another word about the story... and I did not hear a single person talk about this sad event. There were zero comments on the story.

Several years ago, I followed a story about a woman convicted of killing her three year old daughter. She received a ten year sentence. I am sure she will be up for parole after just a few years.

My question- are trees more valuable than humans? Why is bail set so high for potentially destroying a tree and so low for killing a human? Why is the sentence for killing a tree and killing a child the same? I don't understand. This does not seem like any justice to me.

Where Did Frosty Go?

2011-02-17T16:44:00.004-06:00

...Hard for us to remember that exactly one week ago, we were having a "snow day". Schools were closed... the roads were a dangerous mess... Joe's office was unreachable. And... here we are today with a sunny mild day with a temperature nearing seventy degrees. Outside was a must when the girls came home from school.

... a little bicycle practice!

... and of course the basketballs came out!

Lilli - so aggressively went after a rebound, she found herself in the bushes!

Introducing {the} Bob!

2011-02-17T16:25:00.002-06:00

"NO MORE KNOTS!!! ... Well... that .... and the way it feels when I move my head side to side really fast!", Lilli says when I ask her what she likes most about her new "bob".

She hopped up in the chair at the beauty salon (are they still called that or am I being old fashioned???) last week and had 10 inches neatly clipped. Lilli has not stopped swinging her little head for 8 days now! : )

For those of you considering a big cut in the future... We decided to donate her "unattached pony tail" to P@ntene Beautiful Lengths. Seems like a very well run project in conjunction with the American Cancer Society.

... "And One" More

2011-02-15T08:59:00.004-06:00

I don't really know that much about the sport of basketball. I played in high school (being 6 feet tall I was only asked : ) to rebound)... I cheer for the New Orleans Hornets, and now can be found yelling "Roll Tide" at my television during the occasional televised University of Alabama game... and finally and most important, I have watched my five kids (yes, Lilli is playing this year! YEAH!!!) for about 15 years now.

One thing I do know - for certain - ... Daniel can "handle" a basketball.

The season is winding down... they are now in tournament play. Last night (yes... Joe and I cancelled our dinner reservations and happily spent a romantic ??? valentine's evening at the gym) - Daniel's team was victorious, which means they get to move on... one more game! Great job Nuggets!

Covering Her Bases

2011-02-12T10:11:00.004-06:00

Yesterday after school, the littles and I headed for a very specific store in the mall.... Build @ Bear. They had been counting down to this day for quite a while! They were not above begging... and I recently told them that as soon as Build @ Bear sent a coupon to my email address we would head that way! So... about a week ago... Abby raced into the kitchen to tell me she had checked my email and I indeed had the much anticipated coupon! YEAH!

So, off we went. It is always fun to slowly "case" the bear wall to select a new friend. Then comes the really fun part of stuffing that new friend with fluff and a very special heart. But then.... there is the hard part... narrowing the hundred choices of clothing down to that perfect outfit (that fits into mom's budget for the day!!!).

For those of you that understand the dynamics of the college situation in the great state of Alabama.... you will understand why Abby's choices yesterday were "shocking" to say the least... and maybe even down right "offensive" to some! HAHAHA! The girl is just trying to cover her bases... with big brother at Bama and big sister now seriously considering Auburn... this is what Abby created....

I think he is quite cute!

Lilli on the other hand subscribes to the old adage - "stick to the weather, and don't talk politics or religion" - and made a typical - but very cute - girleeee bear that she name Berry!

Not a single person would be offended by her choices.... well, maybe the fact that mom would not shell out the 6$ for bear underwear was offensive to Lilli!

But in the end... the only thing that really matters is the fact that Berry Bear and Crimson Roll Tide Aubbie are BFF (the littles have learned this term now and use it all the time... I think it is hilarious) - just like their owners!

Lilli's (2nd) Favorite Song - Karaoke Style

2011-02-09T20:51:00.004-06:00

First.... a reminder to scroll to the bottom of the page and stop the music player before you try to watch these.

Second... the quality is not great... I recorded with my phone and then bluetooth-ed them to my computer. As you can tell... I was holding the phone the "wrong" way and have no clue how to make these straight... and... I promise, I was holding the phone the same exact way when recording the few seconds of Abby... and it came out horizontal???? I so don't understand.

Anyway... still worth watching sideways! : )

1) The first video is Lilli singing about a minute of her 2nd favorite song... Gott@ Go My Own Way from High School Music@l 2.... her favorite is Defying Gr@vity... I will have to figure out how to hold the phone correctly and make a video of that one for later.

2) "Out-take" with Daniel making Lilli giggle sooooooooooo much!

3) The "Musical Director" Abby at the control panel for the background music! : )

Enjoy!

Sad Day

2011-01-27T16:42:00.003-06:00

Today we had to say goodbye to Milli. Milli, who we thought has a stubborn hair-ball; in-fact, was battling FIP. She was such a sweet sweet kitty and we will miss her terribly. We were so lucky to have her in our lives - even for such a short 2 years.

Lilli's Journal

2011-01-20T08:34:00.001-06:00

A small sampling from Lilli's 2010 Journal.....

Holiday's Biggest Hit

2011-01-18T20:03:00.006-06:00

Once the snow melts and Spring is in the air, I think the girls' new bikes will race to the number one position in the "favorite gifts category" for this holiday season. Until then, the biggest hit at our home is the map of "Abby's World".

A cool world map with a bit of personal whimsy added for fun, this gift will eventually make its way to a frame shop to be readied for the wall when Abby moves into her own room next fall... until then, it is simply fun to watch her and Lilli pour over the details while it is laid out on the kitchen table.

I am thinking a map of "Lilli Land" will definitely be our next foray into cartography!

If anyone is interested, the map came from Kidlandia... easily found with a quick google search!

Just a Hairball???

2011-01-16T13:24:00.004-06:00

This is what our Milli normally looks like... plump and shinny with big beautiful expressive green eyes... and always willing to partake in a little rattle ball chasing ... just a great cat!

We rescued Milli from a shelter group about 2 years ago and since then we have learned what it means to have a "medium" haired cat... the "special" food and constant hairball meds... and brushing that beautiful fur whenever she will sit still (mostly by force). All seemed to work pretty good until a few months ago. Milli started to have a few medical issues... off to the vet we went. New food... new meds... and a little carpet steamer. It got better... but not perfect. Her food was switched again... this time to sensitive stomach food... still not perfect.

Today, we woke up to a very sick Milli - woke up on a Sunday - which meant Joe had to head to the "Kitty Emergency Room" with Ms. Milli. After handing over all our money (seriously, I have decided that I need to go back to school and become an emergency vet...) Milli was diagnosed. Thankfully - she is clear of all the nasty stuff.. no feline leukemia or feline aids, no parasites, worms, cancer etc... thankfully. After a cat scan on our cat, Milli was diagnosed with a massive hairball in her tummy that she is having trouble "passing". It has caused an infection - fever and all.

Our sick Milli is so tired after her visit to the ER. They gave her a shot, sent home 2 prescriptions and advice for yet another food switch. Poor Milli... hopefully she will be up chasing her balls very very soon!

Greetings From The "Deep" South....

2011-01-10T08:26:00.008-06:00

Knee Deep in snow that is!!! It seems like our Christmas snow just melted... and now "POW".... what local meteorologists are calling the second biggest snow on record for our neck of the woods!

As for Joey... we miss him this morning; however, we woke him up so fast yesterday morning and sent him down the road so fast, his head was spinning ! We wanted him safe and sound back at the University before all this weather "hit"... and he made it just in the nick of time.

Please don't "judge" our winter : ) clothing... we are from Alabama... we (as in Daniel!) are not prepared!
Joe surprised me with a new lens for my camera for Christmas... and I am enjoying being able to get some great photos of my bird friends!

Jordan was loving the snow too!

Again... "Southern Sleds"... cardboard, plastic storage box top, and Abby's old Aussie car seat without the cover...

This was Holly and Daniel outside around midnight last night... just when all the fun started!

My snow angel... stuck in the snow!

These two are always so full of joy!

Below is one of the girls school ruler stuck in the snow in our driveway.... nearly 12 inches!

So much fun and sooooooo Beautiful!!! But...OK... now I am ready for summer!

Happy New Year!

2010-12-31T20:21:00.006-06:00

May 2011 bring everyone health, love, peace, prosperity, and happiness.

We Had Ourselves a Merry (and White) Little Christmas!

2010-12-26T10:03:00.010-06:00

The girls ended Christmas Eve by enthusiastically putting out some reindeer food for Rudolf and his buddies.... Christmas Eve was a beautiful day full of sunshine with a high temp near 50 degrees....

Less than 10 hours later, this is what we woke up to:

In my 29 plus years... all my dreaming of a White Christmas... it finally happened! It was peaceful and beautiful!!!

Inside our house.... it was not so peaceful... with 5 kids and 4 adults tearing into gifts! The girls' big presents.... new big girl bikes!

We had a wonderful and white Christmas... a yummy dinner... and fun in the snow... see Donice in the snow in her PJs... : )

Hope everyone had a blessed Christmas also!

False Advertising!!!

2010-12-22T20:59:00.003-06:00

This is what we thought we bought.... looks great doesn't it? We were so excited to dive into making this most beautiful - really perfect - holiday gingerbread house. We followed the directions to a "T"....

This is our final product.... not quite the same... But... it was just as fun making this gingerbread "puddle" ! And when it collapsed.... there were some great giggles!

Gingerbread House Kit - $8.00

Gingerbread Mess - $Priceless : )

Another Happy Birthday!

2010-12-22T20:53:00.001-06:00

Joey turned 19 this week! We were most happy that he was home for the holidays and could celebrate with friends and family!