spanish

We are having more technical difficulties with our phone line and internet. Hopefully it will be fixed soon! 

Today we dropped Anna Claire off with my mother-in-law for the rest of the week. She was SO excited and Lizzie thought she was excited about having 3 days at home without "sister" but quickly changed her mind when we drove away. It even made me a little sad! I  told Russ I may cry the first day of kindergarten after all! 

Anyways, we met them a Chick Fil A and Lizzie told me that chicken fingers was Spanish for chicken nuggets! So funny! Also her favorite foods are: pizza, hot dogs, chicken fingers and chicken nuggets. So healthy!

Pudding anyone?

I think Lizzie got more pudding on her face and clothes than in her mouth!

Music to my ears...

The time has finally arrived! My girls sat down and watched the Sound of Music yesterday - not in its entirety at one time! What a great movie for them to enjoy. I remember watching it as a little girl and wanting to be Gretel. Of course I was delighted when Anna Claire said both she and Lizzie wanted to be the 5 year old girl. Even at the pool today Lizzie got down on the steps and sang "the sun has gone to bed and so must I." Then she laid her little head down and pretended Lisel came to pick her up - my heart melted!

My moment was soon ruined when Anna Claire said, "That's not what Rachel did." I thought - who's Rachel??? Then I said, " Her name is Gretel!" Since then they call themselves "Retel." We will be working on that...

I'm still elated because it's finally time for "Mary Poppins" and "Meet Me in St. Louis" and any other wonderful old movie I can find! Especially musicals!!!

you might be a redneck if...

... your family meets annually at an event called MeatFest!

Another MeatFest has come and gone and it was so fun!!! "What is MeatFest?" you might be asking ... several years ago my brother-in-law started calling his visits to my grandmother and aunt's house MeatFest because of all the meat they would cook for 4-5 people. We made it an annual event for the whole family 2 years ago. Everyone would come and get together midway through the year. However - it keeps escalating - each year gets bigger and bigger. Last year mom made monogrammed t-shirts for everyone. This year it went to a whole new level: 2 grills, 3 smokers (one homemade), matching t-shirts, 2 inflatable water slides, 1 inflatable pool, tractor rides, hay climbing in the barn, tree climbing, and a new play structure built by my uncle. There was SOOO much meat: hamburgers, hot dogs, Boston butt, ribs, pork chops... and lots of vegetables and desserts! Next year we're hoping for a zip line from my aunt's house down to the creek - then we'll start charging admission.

It's great fun and the weather was absolutely wonderful!

Bryson City, NC

I am so happy to

have Internet again...

We drove up last Saturday to meet my brother and his family in North Carolina. We had such a fun visit! Sunday we drove to Clingmon's Dome and climbed to the top - fortunately it was so thick with clouds I was not scared to go to the top. I don't heights!
Sunday afternoon we rented inter tubes to float down Deep Creek. My brother wanted us to get in above the small waterfall so we could ride down it. Anna Claire and I got in our inter tube and set off for the waterfalls - unfortunately we ended upside down in the middle! It was scary and I knew Anna Claire the Drama Queen would not deal well with this turn of events! I didn't blame her for screaming because it was scary but I hated to ruin every other person's trip down the creek! We got back in the water BELOW the waterfall and rode down to where we parked our car. We did not fall out anymore but Anna Claire screamed and screamed and screamed!!! She said, "Get me out of here!" and " I want to ride with Daddy or Uncle Bubbie" (that's my brother) then she yelled, "I just want to ride with a boy!!!" So did I! We survived but she may have Post Traumatic Stress Disorder from the whole ordeal. I'm afraid one day when she's on a youth trip and the youth minister wants to take them tubing Anna Claire will freak out! Poor Girl!

Monday was better! We went on a real train ride through the Smokey Mountains! Everyone had a great time.

Tuesday we drove home through Atlanta and stopped by the American Girl Store. Anna Claire got a Molly McIntire doll and she was SOOOO excited!

It was a great trip!

technical difficulties

I apologize for the lack of posts lately! We had some bad storms last week and have had no internet or phone service since Monday!  Hopefully it will come back soon!  I have many funny stories and pictures from our trip to North Carolina and MeatFest 2009!!!

Lizzie

In the past Lizzie has refused to wear pigtails so today when she asked for them I was delighted. There is not much cuter to me than a little girl with pigtails in her hair!

She looked absolutely adorable and I wanted a picture to remember. The picture is an excellent description of Lizzie's personality - instead of a smile she stuck out her tongue!!!

Today I called her "the Grumpy who Stole Lizzie!"

Lake fun

We went with some friends to their lake house Thursday night and had a great time! The girls thought the lake was wonderful. Lizzie's favorite part was "tinkling in the lake." We paddled a canoe, rode a four wheeler, fished and swam. A great start to our long weekend!