Chattanooga trip

We took our 2nd annual trip to Chattanooga to see our favorite little blue engine. This year the whole family went. Baylor spent the whole day saying 'choo-choo'...'we ride choo-choo?'
There are always plenty of trains to play with. Christian wasn't into getting a tattoo this year and neither was Baylor. They both loved the little mini golf set up they had. Below you can see Christian having a try
And this is what Baylor did the entire time. We told her to hit her ball to the hole and she said 'okay' and promptly picked up her ball, carried it to the end and dropped it in the hole:)

More Chattanooga

The jumpy house is always lots of fun. I love this smile on Christian
The next day was rainy. We were all prepared with our umbrellas and rain boots
Both kids were excited to see the penquins at the Aquarium, but Baylor wouldn't get anywhere near this pretend one
but she had no problem posing with the sea horses...go figure

More pics

Yummy slushie!!! aren't they cute trying to share?
My little bear loves to pose for the camera...when she's in the mood that is

Above the kids check out some really big jelly fish and below is our one family picture of the weekend

Mim came to visit

We did not tell the kids that she was coming so Christian was so surprised to see her in the car when I picked him up from school. We went next door to the purple cow for a treat:) That night Mim got to pick where to eat b/c there isn't much to choose from in her small town. We went to California Pizza Kitchen (yummy) and we sang happy birthday to Jeffy while we were there...here the kids enjoy some of his birthday sundae
Another Mim pick...what better breakfast could you choose
waiting on our yummy pancakes
Then what sister trip is complete without a silly picture. Mom took us shopping and dad watched the kids (Thank you both) Mim and I found these matching dresses and tried them on...I actually bought mine, but she didn't. We decided the last time we had matching dresses was about 20 years ago!!!

BON JOVI!!!

Last night my husband took me to see my all time favorite band:) This may be a little known fact to some of you, but I love Jon and the boys!!! This was my 4th concert and I don't plan on it being my last. Jeff gave me the tickets for Christmas and we have been slowly counting the days ever since. Let me tell you that you definitely get your money's worth at their show. He played for over 2 hours and rocked the whole entire time...from the time the lights went down there was not a dull moment. LeAnn Rimes and Big n Rich made apperances too they totally rocked. You know it has to be something REALLY good to keep me up after 11pm...10pm is normally stretching it:) I leaned over to Jeff at one point and told him I was having fun and he gave me a big smile and said "I can tell". Thank you honey for letting me rock the night away and you were most definitely 'born to be my man'

Life Group

Our life group decided to spend the evening at the park on Sunday...with 1/2 of south Nashville!! It was quite crowded but we still had fun Us girls hung around, talked and watched the kiddos play while (after their turn of watching the kids) the boys played a little basketball
This was one of the last pics of Avery with her hot pink cast...she had it removed the next day. The story gave me the willies, but it's off and she is back to her fun lovin' two armed self:)
Fenley loved the swing
Luke and Christian had fun climbing all over everything in sight
We all feel really blessed to be together...God has something in store and we are just waiting to see what it is

Happy Birthday Jeff

To my sweet husband...

Hope this day has brought you smiles and you know how much you are loved. The world has been made better these past 33 years. You have a compassionate heart and a desire to help others that I admire. You give your all to you family and make us feel so special. You work hard at work and still find the energy to help me with the kids or around the house...I can't put into words how much that is appreciated! You deserve so much thanks and lovin' for just being you:)

Happy Birthday Baby

0:)

GL Reunion

Saturday ended with the 41st reunion of my social club at Lipscomb. I pledged Gamma Lambda during my second semester at school. My best friend was in my pledge class and I even ended up in Europe with one of my pledge sisters the following semester. My time at Lipscomb was made better because of the girls I met through this club. Older and younger girls came together and had something to bond with There were about 40 women there for the reunion...small, but still a fun time. Danford (who has gotten married, but will always be Danford to me) worked really hard and made an enjoyable evening for everyone. What I find funny is there are quite a few GL girls at Otter Creek. Some I already knew about and a couple others I didn't. Some of us were already friends before we ever made the connection:) To top off the evening we even had two of the founding ladies with us.
Renae, me, Sydney, Debbie and Paula...in different pledge classes but as our motto says "A friend is not always a sister, but a sister is always a friend"
Me and Renae...she'll become a Mrs. in just 10 weeks:)

Hailey's Heroes

This is my good friend Hailey and her sweet husband Jeremy. Several months ago she was diagnosed with MS. She has two precious children and tons of family and friends that love her dearly. To say this has totally changed her life would be an understatement. She's never quite sure how she is going to feel and she is still adjusting to her medications--which include injections. Saturday was the Nashville area MS walk and several of her family and friends went to support her. Hailey's sister called the team Hailey's Heroes and I guess that is fitting since we are all trying to do whatever we can to help her in this fight that is only beginning. The Laytons, The Browns




Next year we plan on getting more organized and really raising some funds...even with only two days notice we raised about $1000...we also want to team shirts

The Van

Meet "Carrie" the caravan...that is what my husband has named our new car. We spent the better part of three days trying to get her in our hands and here she is Christian and Baylor LOVE all the buttons. We are trying to teach them which ones are theirs and which ones ONLY Mommy and Daddy push. There is so much to learn...below you can see Christian trying out the DVD with his wireless headphones
So I do enjoy having new wheels even if they do belong to a van...it'll just take some getting used to. If you can't tell she is black and the seats are a light gray. She has automatic EVERYTHING that will either be a blessing or a curse:)

Ode to my Explorer

Dear sweet car~

You have been so good to me over the years. I had wanted you for so long...the day my dad bought you was so much fun!! He called me at school and told me to meet him on Thompson Lane. I could hardly believe it was true, but he was there to help buy you:)

Almost every trip I have taken since 2000 has been in you. You made many trips to Kentucky, Georgia and Florida with a few other states here or there. When I was a teacher you drove me to and from Madison daily. When I went on to become a Nanny you drove those 3 sweet girls everywhere they needed to go. It was you that brought our first little bundle home from the hospital and even though Baylor did not take her first ride in you she has made many others. You have driven a few friends around here or there, but there just isn't enough room inside you. We can't all be inside with either set of grandparents or Aunts/Uncles b/c we just need more space. With Christian starting Kindergarten there needs to be room for carpooling.

That is why today we have to say goodbye. All of us have enjoyed you--Christian always enjoyed looking for his blue car and now Baylor knows you by sight also. But the time has come for us to part...we will no longer be together, but you will always be remembered. Don't think I have given you up easily...I fought long and hard to get something almost like you, but it wasn't meant to be. Today I will trade you in for a car I said I would never drive, but the powers that be ( that is the one who actually makes the money in the family) had other plans and I have had to relinquish my hopes and dreams...I will always want something similar to my sweet Explorer and will hopefully someday return to my roots.

Goodbye sweet car and take care

Love,
me

They can be so cute

Baylor wanted her brother to read to her yesterday They looked so cute all cuddled up in the chair
Several people have been mentioning how much the kids look alike...sometimes I see it sometimes I don't, but when they are in the same position like this is when I see it that most

You gotta love BRIBERY...as long as a M&M is close by Baylor will take her medicine

I guess it's official that Baylor is a girl

I know you are saying that should be no surprise, but I was surprised this Monday when she suddenly spiked a fever and pointed to her bottom screaming when she peepeed.

She fell asleep on the couch for about 45min at 10:30am...that was my first clue that something wasn't right. I took her temp when she woke up and it was 104' and then the screaming started. She was pointing to her bottom and I thought she probably had some diareha, but it was just warm from where she had recently gone pee. I asked her if it hurt and she said (in her most pittiful voice) "YEAH"

After talking with the nurse, we decided she needed to be seen and that they would need a urine sample NOT AN EASY TASK from an un-potty trained two year old. The nurse suggested that I place saran wrap under the seat and catch it that way. We sat on the potty for TWO hours: reading, singing and sleeping {you read that correctly}. Baylor fell asleep on the potty resting her head on me who was sitting on a small stool in front of her for about 20min:) AND finally the smallest amount of liquid gold was there. We rushed it to the office (she fell asleep again on the way) and they tested it to find that she most definitely had a severe UTI. They said the quickest way to get her better would be an antibiotic shot:( Oh how she screamed!!! We had to wait around the office for 20 min after to make sure she didn't have a reaction. All told we left the doctor an hour and half after we entered. We finally were able to get back to KayKays house (she feel asllep on the way there too) to pick up brother...they had graciously taken him to Karate and brought him home after.


We went back to the doctor this morning to get an oral antibiotic that we will take twice a day for seven days: It took 4 attempts of gagging & spitting to get the first dose in her so we'll see how the rest of the week goes. It finally went down with brother holding her hand and an M&M being popped in as soon as she swallowed. Just rereading this has made me tired so you are a trooper if you read this far...I hope my girl is better soon


We have to eventually go to Vandy for some tests to make sure there are no serious issues with her kidneys/bladder

More time with Nana & Papa

After lunch we walked around the State Park. I love this picture of Jeff walking with his kids on either side...it makes my heart smile It's always hard to get BOTH looking at the camera at the same time
Our self timer shot on the bridge
Papa and Christian
And who should we run into at the play?!?!? Marshall and his Gran (or as we know her Ms. Fisher)!! It was such a surprise and a nice distraction since the show started close to an hour late b/c of electrical trouble!! These two have been in class together since they were 2 and will go onto the Kindergarten in the fall:)

Time with Nana and Papa

We spent Saturday and Sunday in Crossville. Nana heard that The Cumberland County Playhouse was doing a live Peter Pan show. We were a little worried that Baylor would not sit through it but she did great. The show really was good and we all enjoyed spending the weekend together.


Nana got Baylor a sweet little bunny and purse. Baylor carried around her 'Rabit' the rest of the weekend The boys hanging out in the Condo. Nana and Papa are members of Fairfield resorts and we always stay in one when we travel with them:) This one had a tub big enough to swim in!!! we didn't get a chance to try it
Night night Christian. This was when the process started anyway. It was at least an hour before the kids really settled down. They are not used to being in the same room. Nana apparently had a late night party with them around 3 or 4 in the morning...Jeff and I slept right through it all. Thanks Nana and Papa for giving us the big bed:)
Yummy...Nana brought cinnamon rolls for breakfast

Friday Night Dinner

This past Friday my parents had the Greens and Laytons over for dinner. We were all excited about the evening, but it promptly turned it to a downer for one family. Not even 5 minutes after arriving poor Caroline threw up and Mary Ann had to take her home:( Caitlyn begged to stay and Jeff ended up driving her and her daddy home later. Below I tried to get a group shot at dinner...these kids weren't even still while they ate!! They all were way excited to be together and were crazy all night long Paisley and Caitlyn
The men all played a round of golf on the Wii. It was funny to watch them all get into it
I tried to get the kids still on the couch too...it was close
Xander and Tara

We had fun catching up and can't wait til the next time...we missed you Caroline and Mary Ann