Ready or NOT here she comes!

Monday, June 10

With all the money she raised with cookie sales, Kate is going to girl scout day camp.  This her and a few of the girls from the troop about to load up on the bus!

Can you see the hand in the bus window?  This is NOT a sweet picture of her reaching for me....

She is trying to hide her face from me!!!!  She clearly has no attachment issues!  

She arrived back in one piece!  I believe her words were "I loved it!  It was AWESOME!"  All this despite the fact that she cannot participate in any of the water activities.  

Love this girl!  Cannot believe she is growing so fast...day camp today, college tomorrow....

NON-STOP!!!

Saturday, June 1

We were sad to say good bye to Aunt Amy...

BUT before we did we threw in one last hoo-rah:

The World of Coco-Cola in Atlanta!!!

Anyone who know Aunt A, knows she loves her some COKE.  Kate and Blake both talk more about the World of Coca-Cola than anything else in Atlanta!  I'm pretty sure it's just the fact that they get to drink as much pop as they want at the end of the "tour!"

What could be better, butterflies in baby blue?!?

So many picture ops!

Kate got to hold the torch from the 1996 summer Olympics that were held in Atlanta!  SO COOL. 

Taste testing time!

Monday, June 3

After laying low on Sunday, we finally got Blake out and did a few things around town.  Of course we had to stop by the famous clock tower!

It was really a beautiful day!

Next enjoying some Mellow Mushroom...FINALLY got to sit in the slug bug booth!  The kids were so stoked about that...you just got to go on for lupper!  

 Tuesday, June 4

We went AWOL!  It was are only day to have promising good weather so we headed to Chattanooga for the TN Aquarium and IMAX.

Lolly waited so patiently for a sting ray to come by!  This is the kids favorite part of the aquarium I think.  I love this place!  Went ahead and did another family membership this year!

BUTTERFLIES!!!

We even did the IMAX Flight of the Butterfly!

A lot of walking, but low key for this guy!

I love the sea turtle!  He is just so cool!

Looking for the dwarf sea horses...didn't find all 20!

Happened upon feeding time!  So neat...

After another lupper, we headed to the Cupcake Kitchen.  We found this place last year with Papaw and knew Lolly would love it! YUMMO!

For the ride home we did the auto tour of the Chickamauga Battlefields!  So neat...we found the "castle" and climbed it!  Even Lolly made it up!

A view from the top!

Proof she did all 136 steps...Kate counted!!!

Wednesday, June 5

Kept it low key again.  Lolly still battling a cold and the kids had "cooking" classes at the Library.  Something fun to do with friends!

Kate and M for a pizza class.

Blake and H for a brownie class.

In between classes we head found the Roman gnome and ate lunch at Jefferson's where the kids left their mark with one dollar bills!

Thursday, June 6

Matching day!  Lolly bought these sweet outfits for the kids.  They match their cousins....maybe we will be able to get together before any of them grow out of them!  lol

Blake had a Wii "playdate" with a buddy and his sweet momma offered to keep Kate too, so mom and I could have some one on one time!  We spent it at the clinic!  Glad to get mom the meds she needed before getting back on the plane though.  We did manage to squeeze in a lunch at Panera before she could take the meds.

We received a call from the library that Blake's name had been drawn for the weekly prize!  Too excited to wait until Monday to get it, we headed back into town!

Met up with Daddy at 333 on Broad for dinner.  First night to serve upstairs...we had it all to ourselves which included the stage!  Kate was loving that!  She danced for us...I'll have to find the video of that!  Finished off the night with a trip to the fountain and HoneyMoon Bakery.

Friday, June 7

Found us back in the clinic again...this time with Kate:

I was concerned, but Lolly was extremely concerned.  So I did the wise thing and listened to my mother!  ;o)  We left Lolly and Blake at the nail place...she was waiting for a pedicure and B was reading...safer there than at the clinic.

Diagnosis:  Staph Infection!  She was a trooper; though I will say it was worse than when she broke her arm!!!  All bandaged up and antibiotics to pick up we were on our way....two hours later we found Lolly still waiting for her pedicure.  YIKES!  

Needless to say, she skipped the pedi.  After running a few errands, visiting Mark's work and eating my favorite taco salad we headed home...

It was an eventful visit to say the least!  Thanks again, Lolly for coming to help and just hanging out with us!  Check out Lolly's facebook for more photos and her take on our adventures!  :o)

And the day came...

After coming home from paradise, I went to work!  Running around crazy getting the house ready for our guests coming:  my mom, Lolly, and her sister, Aunt Amy, were coming in to help us out.  They came in on Wednesday afternoon, Thursday we showed off a bit our piece of Rome, and then the day came....

Blake was scheduled for surgery on Friday morning.  So thankful Lolly and Aunt A were here to hang with Kate while we were with Blake!

After reading for quite a bit, we were finding other ways to pass the time in the waiting room:

A good shot... he was not showing any anxiety if he had any!

Daddy was playing games on his phone!

All suited up and ready to go.

Now a smile!

I was the chosen one for going back with him!  I'm thinking this could be a new fashion statement. :o)

Too relieved to remember to take any "after" photos.  But the surgery went very well!  The doctor almost scared me when he walked in 45 minutes early, but had wonderful news two fewer incisions than expected!  After enjoying a little bit of time with a delirious child, we were headed home.  

Kate was enjoying being spoiled and pampered with Lolly and Aunt A!  Later the girls headed to the mall and then to open gym while Blake settled in and Daddy caught up on work.

These two were snapping pictures non-stop!  Thank you so much for being here for us!  We love you both SO much.

Getting to know the Girls

So after a crazy morning running around to "end of school" parties I loaded up with some new girlfriends from a Wed. morning Bible Study and headed to the beach!!!

HAPPY FEET!!!

Beautiful dinner views...

So, relaxing after a crazy busy week...

And in preparation for the week(s) to come!

Loved getting to know all the gals.  Cannot wait until our Bible Study starts up again in the fall!  Thanks girls for letting me tag along!  ;o)

Kindergarten Grad and more

May 24,2013

Patience is a virtue; that's what I'm trying to teach all those who read my blog!  ;o)  I'm going to get caught up soon!

I'm a little bummed that Kindergarten graduation wasn't a bigger deal here!  I so remember walking across the stage...pretty sure Blake did too.  But nonetheless it is still a great accomplishment!  Kate finished off her Kindergarten year with huge success!

She had a very sweet class this year.  I enjoyed my time with them.

And some of the very best teachers!  Mrs. M received teacher of the year for the entire county!  We were so proud of them; the class came together and presented them with a spa day...they were a bit surprised!

Kate said that morning: "Mommy, I'm sad this day came; I will miss Mrs. M & Ms. C!"  I agree I enjoyed helping them this year so much.  Looking forward to stopping by to "check in" on them next year!  ;o)

Unfortunately, Blake's end of the year party was at the very same time at a different campus!  Thankful though this was the only conflict of events the entire year.  He loved both his teachers this year!

I credit Mrs. T for his LOVE of reading.  We are already 10 hours into our summer reading program!  Praying that the library can keep up! ;o)

Mr. F was a great one for Blake too!  I'm so grateful for the blessing of our teachers.  We pray every year over their teachers and EVERY year God blesses!  Mr. F is moving up to 5th grade...here's hoping to see him again in a few years!  ;o)

Classroom awards:

Kate received a Dove chocolate bar for the peacemaker award!  She is so sweet to her classmates...wish she was that way at home.

Blake received the Gummy Bear award for being caring and giving out the best hugs... I know this is a shocker to all that know him...lol!

2012-2013 school year DONE!

A Momma's Pride

May 23, 2013 (yes, I'm a little behind)

Since this was our first year at Armuchee Elementary I was sure what to expect for 3rd Grade Honors Day.  As I pulled into the church parking lot, I quickly found out it was a very BIG deal.  Parents were all dressed up and kids too.  I was thinking I was just glad I picked out a polo shirt for Blake!

I sat down with some friends to quickly find out Blake was sitting on the completely opposite side of the church.  After the first awards, I realized they were not walking across the stage to receive awards, but standing at their spot.  I moved quickly and found a perfect spot right across the aisle from him!

I honestly don't remember the order of the awards...

But I was so proud of him, I was just snapping away.

 I wasn't paying much attention to any other names....

Mostly because we do not know a ton of people still.

I just kept taking a picture every time he stood up....

I'm thinking why am I taking a picture of the exact same thing every time....

Even Blake began to tire of standing up so often!  ;o)

But that's not all....

Just a few more times....

He ended the morning with 11 awards in all!

I was SO very proud of him!!!

Afterwards, we took lunch to Kate, our last Thursday lunch date for this school year.