Back From Vacay

We are back from our vacation. Which means, sadly, soon work and school will be starting back. Oh how I wish I could hang on to summer forever. There is just nothing better.....

Here are a few pictures. We first went to Atlanta to run the Peachtree. Which was great - I was able to run the entire thing without stopping, and Edgar only had to stop a few times. Considering the man hasn't run since March, that is unbelievable!!! We then went to Nashville for a few days. Edgar fell in love with the town. Then we came back to Ga to spend a few days with my folks in Blueridge. They are trying to find a house up that way - just a vacation place for when they retire, so they wanted us to visit the town. It was very, very fun.

The kids are glad to be home. Jacks has come down with a little something, so he is beside himself with feeling ill. Which makes the days oh so fun. Poor Addison she doesn't understand why we can't go to the pool each day. One day next week she and I are going to paint pottery together! I can't wait!

I took her shopping with me Sunday and I bought a purse. She found one she liked and asked if she could get it. I told her if she really wanted it, we could go home and get money out of her piggy bank and come back and get it. She then told me, "that's ok, Mommy. I don't need it". Oh my! I am raising a little diva....... She was all about the purse if I was buying, but when she has to fork over her own money she doesn't "need" it.....

Have a good week!

Happy 4th of July!

We all leave tomorrow for our vacation! I could not be more excited! It will be a much anticipated trip. We are first going to Atlanta - to see Edgar's family. It has been way too long. Edgar and I are also running in the Peachtree, it should be interesting. I have been getting up at 5:30am every morning to meet Karen and Maggie to run, and Edgar hasn't run since the Tybee race.

We are then going to head to Nashville to visit some of my family. I am very excited - I haven't been there since I was in college. Edgar has never been. It will be a great trip. On the way home we are stopping in Blue Ridge for a few days. My parents are looking to buy a home there, and we want to see what the fuss is all about. They have rented a house for the week and we are going to invade for a few days.

We got great news the other day - my dad went in for his cancer screening and they only found one place that they had to send off to be tested! It was such a blessing! My mom is beside herself, and my dad too. Sometimes I just feel like God blesses us in such wonderful ways. This father's day I thought about how lucky I am to have such a wonderful father. I feel so blessed and I try to live every day without taking it for granted.

The pictures are from when the Arata's came down for a visit recently. I took the girls to have their toes done - which is Addison and my favorite thing to do and to the pool!

Happy Birthday Addison & Beach With the Woods'

What a month, and it is not even over!!

We went to the beach for a week with the Woods'. It was great - not our "real" vacation, as Edgar worked through much of it. But it was a nice kick off to the summer. The kids had a good time. We played a lot on the beach, and when they weren't down there, Robbie had bought a water slide for the 4 of them to play in. We feel so blessed to have such great friends.

After that was Addison's 3rd birthday! I literally cannot believe that my dear sweet princess is 3. I don't want it to be true sometimes, the time just goes so fast!! She had a great time at her pool party and everytime we have been back since she talks about the next time she has a party there..... She is adorable. I am truly blessed to have two wonderful, beautiful, healthy children and a wonderfully adorable and sweet husband. Every night I thank God for this awesome life that I am not worthy of..... Enjoy the pics!

Update

Well, summer has officially begun! We are so excited! The kids are done with Nonny's for the next 2 1/2 months and I am done with everything resembling work! These last few weeks have been crazy. Next week we have a beach house with Karen & Robbie and their kids, so all four of us are excited about that. Today we went to the pool with them and planned out our week, it is fun just to think of having no where to be, or go besides the beach! I can't wait!!

Next Friday is Addison's 3rd birthday. It is very sad. She is just growing up so quickly. Next year she will go to school three days a week from 9-12. Seeing her with a little book bag will be the saddest thing ever :-) It truly is just amazing how quickly time passes. There are so many things I want to remember about each of them right now.

Here are a few pictures a month or two in the making. There is one recent one of Jack and Add, one of Edgar and I and our friends Carmen and Troy who came to visit from Texas, and one of me and some ladies from the firm at the South Magazine release party. Happy Summer to you all!!

Much to Thank the Good Lord For....

We went to a neighborhood party tonight..... It was a lot of fun. A band played.... The kids danced.... And as I was watching my two children dance and laugh in the cool air, I was also watching a disabled child.... My uncle who passed away gave his life to working with the retarded.... They have so much to offer. I can't even count the times we went with one of his dearest friends, Skipper to Six Flags.... Skipper and I would ride the Mine Train over and over.... He could never understand why each time we had to get out and get back in line again. Those memories are in the fore-front of my mind..... I need to devote more time to working with the less fortunate, and getting my kids to do the same.

Tonight as we lay down to sleep, we have so much to be thankful for. We are so blessed in so many ways, watching the innocence of three children dance together in the evening air is another one of His great blessings......................

First beach trip

This weekend we went on our first trip to the beach for the summer. It was so fun, although a little chilly, Addison got in the water anyway! She is a mess. It was also my grandfather's 90th birthday and the Arata's were down, so it was a fun weekend.

We are home today, Addison isn't feeling too well. She and I were snuggling on the couch earlier and I just felt so thankful. There was a time when I first had her that I was distant from her. I really struggled the first year of her life, and I often pray she will never remember those times. I am so thankful that today I am such a better mother, more attentive and selfless. I would give an arm and a leg to be with my babies and make them happy, and there was a time when that just wasn't the case. I was too worried about work or going to the gym.

Enjoy our summery pictures, we are all waiting on warmer weather!!

Easter

What an exciting Easter we had this year! The kids (well, Addison mostly) loved it! We were in Athens for Easter, and attended the Athens Egg Drop. This is where a helicopter flies over a field and drops 20,000 eggs. We just knew that we would get plenty! When we arrived, we were in shock over how many people where there. All of the eggs were literally gone in 10 seconds, and Addison got none! Thank goodness her sweet cousin showed her that some where under the stroller - so she did get a few! It was so fun, we can't wait to go back next year!

The Easter Bunny came to both the Arata's house in Athens and my mom's house. It was so fun for Addison. My birthday this year was very uneventful - we are saving everything up for next year. 30 will be hard on me I think - it marks a whole different part of your life.

The school year will be coming to an end soon and we are so looking forward to a summer spent by the pool. The kids won't be going to Nonny's during the summer, so she will really miss them.

I have written two articles for the new Savannah Magazine, "Something Blue" so please email me if you would like a copy of the April edition. Once you get the first one you can subscribe and have it sent to you directly - it is free for this first year. I am so excited about it and hope I become a regular contributor!

Enjoy the pictures and the Spring weather!