Sorry For The Delay

I realize I haven't finished posting last week's vacation pics...sorry, I know some of you are waiting for those Mohawk pics! I also owe you some from Kyleigh's first dental visit and my first optometry appt, all of which took place Wednesday (yes, I still have 'firsts', too!). Sorry for the delay, but we're busy this week with these appts as well as packing for an unexpected trip. Well, actually 2 trips.

I want to tell you about Chris's Grandma Smith. She loved Jesus. She loved people. She loved me as her own, and I felt it. Grandma Smith once let me in on a little secret--Chris was her favorite of all the grandkids! And boy was she excited when she found out we were beginning a family of our own! She was in her 80’s, and lived her life as a Jesus Freak for as long as she could remember! She’s the first person that brought Chris to church as a young boy, shared Bible stories with him, lived her life loving, giving to, and serving others. While Chris did not accept Christ as his Savior and Lord over his life until college, it was Grandma Smith who planted a seed many years earlier, and I personally am so grateful that she did! Oh, and before she married Chris's Grandpa Smith, she was Ora McCoy...of the fueding families, the Hatfields & Mccoys---SeRiOuSlY! I kid you not! She was Chris's maternal grandmother, and when Chris's mom did not stick around to raise him or his sister, his Grandmother played an instrumental part in caring for her grandkids in their childhood. She was the glue holding all the family together really, as she organized the annual reunions (we meet hundreds of people when we attend, it's a huge event!).

Chris's Grandma passed away on Monday evening, so we'll be attending her visitation on Saturday and funeral service/ burial on Sunday. Then Chris is due to arrive in Chattanooga on Monday evening for a corporate meeting--that's trip #2.

Since we're all going to Ohio together, he'd be on the road super long to return to BG, drop off the kids and me, then drive onward to Chattanooga...but fortunately Chris's supervisor has approved us all to stay at the hotel together in Chattanooga (the company pays for the room, so we asked permission). So glad that worked out! So on Monday we'll drive from Ohio to Chattanooga, likely arriving late in the evening. When Chris gets up to go to meetings Tuesday, the kids and I will check out of our room and start checking out Chattanooga for the day! Yay! I'm certain we'll have fun, it's a great city. That evening we'll head back to BG, arriving very late. Fortunately, Chris is scheduled off work Wednesday, so I hope he'll recuperate before heading back to work for another 6-7 straight days. *Sigh*

We're going to celebrate the life and legacy of the coolest grandmother ever, & we wish you a beautiful weekend, too!

Vacay Photos, Day 3

2-17-09:

I started the day in a grumpy mood 'cuz I burned my hand (see the two blisters that formed immediately?) Burnt off my fingerprints, and my hand was on fire for hours--I had to take an ice pack with me for the day! So after a slow-starting morning, we checked out some parts of my parents' city, then visited my mom at work to see her new building/office (very nice!).






































Later we had dinner at Red Robin w/ a large group, including my dear friend of 13 yrs Nicole, her mom, her two kids, and their little friend--Winter (they were having a slumber party)! Kyleigh was so excited to see Winter again after meeting her the night before, and copied everything that sweet girl did! (Check this out: Nicole and I both married guys named Chris, and named our girls Ryleigh & Kyleigh! Good stuff!)

But the best part of the evening was yet to come...keep reading for that!










See the little boy, Coleson, in the red jacket? He's 3 months YOUNGER than Kyleigh...yeah, that's how tiny our kiddo is!
Ok, but in all fairness his dad's like 6 1/2 ft tall!

Ok, the best part of the day: Chris & I went on a date! Like a REAL no-kids-with-us date! After dinner we brushed the kids' teeth and tucked them into bed, and my parents gave us a gift card to a GORGEOUS movie theater and sent us on our way (see the pic I took earlier that day, at night it's magical!). It was so nice to get out alone, especially to a theater 'cuz that just doesn't happen in our world! And it was most enjoyable because it was guilt-free--the kids were asleep, so no tasks or extra burdens to leave my parents to take care of. Many thanks go out to Kyleigh & Josiah's Grandma & Grandpa...you guys rock!

Vacay Photos, Day 2

2-16-09:
Family time w/ my parents and baby sis, grocery store errands, hangin' out, etc.

(Chris even managed a nap 'til all the girls woke him!)

Then dinner w/ the Lones Family. Eric and Carrie used to lead my youth group when I was a teen, now Eric pastors a church in their hometown and they have 5 fabulous kids! I'm so thankful we've been friends for soooo many years! All their kids were very generous with our little ones, and Kyleigh made fast-friends with big girl Winter. We enjoyed our meal and conversation with longtime friends.
























Once we got back to my parents' house, the kids slept!

Vacay Photos, Day 1

2-15-09:
We spent the day out in Nashville, walking around at the atrium gardens of the Opryland Hotel (showing our kids how Daddy & Mommy spent their first date!) and walking around Opry Mills Mall.












































Plus Chris threw a company dinner party at Dave & Buster's. The ladies Chris works with played SkiBall with Kyleigh & shared all the tickets they'd won, with which she picked out a fun pink dolphin prize! Aww! From there we left late at night to head to my parents' home, arriving approx. 1 am.

All Good Things Must Come To An End

It's over. Our vacation is officially over. Vacations for us don't have to be elaborate. By nature they are a break from the norm...that's all we hope for and all we expect. We left town Sunday, Feb. 15th, and returned around dinner time on Thursday, Feb. 19th. We spent Thurs. evening thru yesterday evening chillin' at home. I was thankful for this, as I became increasingly sick the past couple days. It was nice to get away, and nice to be recuperating in the comfort of my own home. Chris and I fortunately BOTH got to take naps on Saturday as well as Sunday...2-3 hrs each time! Awesome! I needed that time to rest and feel better, he needed that time to relax before heading back to work. We enjoyed our time with family and friends and wild animals (zoo), and our down-time at home just loving on our kiddos without any schedules, appointments, or distractions. But now it's over. I guess all good things must come to an end. But it sure was great while it lasted!

So many pics...those will be posted soon, I promise!

Eight Is Great!

As I mentioned in my last post, we left town the day after Valentine's Day. Chris got vacation time from the 15th-22nd, and returns to work Monday, Feb. 23rd. We've not had this much time together as a family since Chris took a week off when Josiah was born in June! Speaking of which...

Josiah turned 8 months old last Wednesday!
Eight Is Great!

To celebrate, he got his first-ever haircut. He was desperately needing a trim above the ears, so we went ahead and got him a full haircut. We were visiting my parents for a couple days last week, so on Wednesday Josiah went with his Daddy and his Grandpa to Grandpa's barber shop--and got a MOHAWK! Now, no worries, I didn't freak out, it was my suggestion! All I asked was that my guys would take pics and save a lock of Josiah's baby hair, and they did both, yay!
(*Side note: Chris and I actually intended to give Kyleigh a Mohawk as a baby. Yes, behind our serious professional/parenting exteriors, we each have a wild streak in us! But she was without hair for a long time, and once it started growing out Chris just couldn't bear to cut her little curly ends into a spiky strip! Can you imagine?! LOL)

So anyway, I've not been spending my days online, but rather with my family, so I just wanted to finally give a shout-out to Siah.
Happy 2/3 Birthday to Josiah!

Check for those Mohawk pics along with our
other vacay photos in an upcoming post.

More Valentines--Not Mine

Okay, I told you all about my Valentine, my sweet hubby. Turns out he was also someone else's Valentine this year...Kyleigh's. I predict this is likely to be the trend for many years, as she's quite the Daddy's Girl.

She made him a card, and we took it to him at work last Saturday afternoon. She was so excited to see him, but he was working with some customers so she waited shyly until he saw her. Then she ran to him and reached as high as she could to get the card to him on the other side of the jewelry case! (Oh, Chris is a jeweler, if you're reading this and don't know much about us...that will help make sense of my story!). He was so excited, and many of the customers were commenting on how cute and sweet his girl is. Then he came out from behind the counters and gave Kyleigh 2 carnations (because she's 2 yrs old). She hugged and kissed him, then hugged my leg as ladies in the store sighed, "Awww" (I think she was a little shy or embarrassed). For the rest of the afternoon she kept the flowers with her in the stroller, so proud of her sweetly-scented gift from her Valentine!























What about Josiah, you ask? Well, not to worry, Grandma and Grandpa sent a box full of fun stuff for the kids (plus candy for Mom and Dad!), and Josiah really got into opening everything up! Both kids enjoyed their special gifts, and it was neat to see how JoJo's growing up and participating more in those exciting little activities.
















Oh, and I ended up telling Chris about his gift. I'd already told him I had a gift that would be delayed, and since we were heading out of town the following day he was concerned about it being delivered while we weren't home. It was actually being delivered to a store location for us to pick up later, but he asked so I finally told him. He was grateful, not worried at all that it was delayed, just looking forward to using a new memory card for his pda that would hold his Bible Study info and all the music he loves to load to it! Whoo hoo, I love giving gifts!