Memorial Day 2011

The story of America's quest for freedom is inscribed on her history in the blood of her patriots. -Randy Vader

So grateful for all those who have served, do serve, and will serve our great nation. Let us never forget their sacrifice!

God Bless America!

Backing Up: Old Timers Day

Dickson hosts Old Timers Day every year on the first Saturday in May since 1959. They have a parade, arts & crafts, food, a pageant (see picture above), a liar's contest (really want to see that next year!), tractor/antique car display, etc. The men were gone for the weekend helping in the relief effort in Alabama, so Mom and I took the kids for some fun. Mason LOVED it and even made a little girl friend who he watched the parade with. Following the parade, I bought some really ridiculous lip gloss from an Avon booth --it was a few bucks and I thought it'd be pretty... too bad it made me look like a hooker-- and we ate some lunch. Enjoy some pictures... and come join us next time :)

Loving our HOME!

I know I know, still no pictures. Part of me wants to just throw some out there, but the bigger part of me restrains and says I need to hold off for a really nice reveal. Not that the house will be done... because, lets face it, I'm not sure when it will be truly done. But, at least most of the way there would be nice! My goal is within the next 4 weeks. Go ahead, hold me to it.

In the meanwhile, we are truly loving being in our home! It is great to say we have a home again and to be making this house our home. I LOVE putting up decorations again and caring about what is on the walls and how it is placed. I just wish there were more hours in the day - specifically naptime and nighttime hours when little hands/feet are not roaming - to get things done. Not that I don't wish I had my kids or anything like that! Just that my progress is

waaaaaaaaay slow with these two little munchkins afoot. Oh well, seasons of life!

On a little sad note, we lost our lone apple tree in the most recent storm! It was LOADED with apples and with the saturated ground and crazy winds it said, "uggg, I give up."

Silver lining: we believe the established plot for a garden will now receive enough sunlight to be a garden! Yay! (the previous owner said he tried growing in the area but it was too shaded).

Oh yeah, and we got a fish!! I have almost always had fish when I could... a fish seems to make a home to me (is that odd?). I told Mason he could name him and gave him some ideas... the fish is blue, after all. I thought he had chosen Super Grover but the next morning when I asked him

what its name was he told me "Fish". Yes, he is a fish, but what is his name? What will you call him? He adamantly replied, his name IS "Fish". Surprise :) Fish is doing quite well and seems to have adapted to his new habitat well. And POOF, our house became a home overnight.

(there is your sneak peak - my kitchen is a fabulous green called "fresh guacamole"... so fresh & fun! I really like it.)

Train or Train?

The other night.......

Matt: Mason, are you going to be potty trained?!? (casually gearing him up for the upcoming adventure)

Mason: Potty train?? What train! A train?? Oooo, potty train!?!

We then tried to explain the difference between a train and being potty trained. Hopefully he ends up being that excited about the real thing. :)

...his train table has been in storage for over 5 months now. We are setting it up for him this weekend. Poor deprived child ;)

Backing Up: Chris & Jess Visit

OK, this is the first of my 'backing up' posts. Unfortunately, I dont even know yet how many I will have... my mind is that gone at the moment. But, hey, lets go with what I've got for now.

Chris & Jess came to visit!!

Matt's brother, Chris, got married in January in California (I think I blogged about that... eh, maybe not. Eh, maybe yes? Uh. Sorry.) and Matt got to go. Sadly, it just wasnt in the cards for all of us to go. Anyway, due to that, we hadn't met our new Sister in Law and Aunt! They came to visit at the end of April and it was great to meet her! We had lots of family time and we adults even got to go out on a double date to the Grand Ol Opry! It was the first time for all four of us and it was fun to be out. It was great to spend time with both of them - the kids ate them up! -and we look forward to seeing them again hopefully soon! Maybe we'll even convince them to move to TN one day :) Love you guys!

9 Months

18.8 lbs, 29 inches, and going, going, going!

Our baby boy...

Lincoln is doing fantastic and is changing by the day. He has sprouted 5 new teeth in the last 3 weeks (brings us to a total of 7 teeth), started walking around furniture in the past week, and finally said "Ma Ma" today. We call him "Sir Squawks- a- lot" or "Squawk-a-mole" because he is very vocal whether he is happy, mad, needs something, etc. It is cute... usually. :) He has started Rice & Oatmeal cereals as well as green beans and has digested them all with ease. Yay! Next up will be peas. Oh, random side note - he LOVES Broccoli. Weird, huh?

He still ADORES Mason - and squeals in delight when they gently "play wrestle". Yes, they're already wrestling. I imagine this is the beginning of a journey. Mason can get him to smile anytime and I love that. They're cute together.

He is so much fun and such a good boy! Oh, and adorable, of course! Happy 9 months baby boy!

Oh my.

I decided to brave dial up for a few minutes and I patiently waited for our blog to load...
Then I gasped.
First, because of the SHAMROCKS. Oh my goodness.
Second, because of the last post date - February 25th! Holy cow!
I don't know who I should be apologizing to... you, my blog, the internetsphere, the part of my personality that really enjoys blogging. Maybe all of them. You get the idea. Sorry!

I called Comcast and set up our appointment for our internet to be set up for next Friday, May 6th. We anticipate, come what may, moving in on May 7th - regardless of how many loose ends we have left to tie (we will just tie them after we move in). Tile began yesterday and finish painting will commence this weekend and carpet is slated to be installed this coming week. The end is in sight!

I look forward to posting before and after pictures and giving you a good, long post on the topic of creating our home!

Neglected blog, soon you will be neglected no longer!

Til then... hope you had a great April!