Kiawah Marathon!

I did it!! 26.2 miles. Finally complete after training for 4 1/2 months. It felt great to complete it. Once I was finished I said that I would never do it again...however, I would love to do it again before I turn 35 and beat my time from this one!

Walter and the kids came and stood in the rain and cold for 5 1/2 hrs. They were at every turn and spectator spot cheering me. I couldn't have done it with out them!

Here is come....across the finish line. I actually finished in 5hrs and 10min chip time!

Us all after the race.

My gift from Walter and the kids when I was done!

Thanksgiving 2010

Thanksgiving was so fun this year. We had parties at the kids school and then traveled to Atlanta to be with W's parents. It was great to get together with family and friends and celebrate all that we have to be thankful for.

The kids brought their own "costumes" to wear for Thanksgiving dinner and they were a huge hit. They even gave all the guest a little lesson on all the fun facts that they had learned in school: pilgrims, food they ate, Indian's, Mayflower and Plymouth Rock. It was great and of course Walter and I were super proud.

A Little Jesus for my pocket

Today has been a day of trials for sure. I just found out that best friend is moving to Japan next year instead of back to the states, the kids were soooooo testing me on the way to school (and on the way home for that matter) and Little W had to sit in the "thinking chair at school (the comment from his teacher was..."we have had to use his name more today than we have all year.") What an exhausting day. Seems minor but with big W out of town it just escalates everything.

Then...this happened this afternoon.

Me: "Walter what do you have in your hand?"

W: "Baby Jesus."

Me: "Why are you carrying around baby Jesus from the nativity set?"

W: Because I love him and want him with me all the time."

I think that just took the icing on the cake and made all the memories of the bad behavior wash away. He is so sweet and has such a sweet heart.

Wouldn't it be great if we could fit Jesus in our pocket and carry him around with us? This really made me refocus and rethink that we need to be more in tune with Christ so that he is with us all the time. What would I do without him? Was me running late this morning Him preventing me from being in the wreck at the front of the neighborhood? What does He do all day that I don't even notice?

I want a little Jesus to put in my pocket and carry with me! Yes he is in my heart, but it would be so cool to have a mini one to have in my pocket to pull out on days like today!!!

My baby Girl is 7!!

Wow......7yrs have gone by so quickly. I cant believe that my sweet precious first born in now 7. She is such a joy. She loves the Lord. has a heart of gold and one of compassion. She is energetic, funny, silly, sassy, can hold a conversation with you like a 30yr old, reading chapter book in 1st grade, loving dance and cheer and makes friends like crazy. She memorizes bible verses in 1-2 days, aces all her spelling test, has lost her 5th tooth the night before her birthday and loves sleepovers with Mommy and Daddy. She is our pride and joy and one very determined little princess. We are so blessed to have her and have enjoyed every minute of the last 7yrs with her. She is such a joy and a pure blessing!!!

Halloween 2010

Halloween was great this year. The kids had a wonderful time and were able to celebrate with our friends and family.

We had friends over Halloween night to trick-or-treat with us. The weather was great and the company was even better.

We even went over to Riverbend Farms this fall! Even Big W had fun!

Walter's first day of 4yr old Pre-K

Walter is ready for 4yr old Pre-K!

Walter is very excited to start school this year. He has 2 great teachers, Miss Kathy and Miss Karen. He is in the 4 day 4's and is very excited about it. He has a friend from last year in his class this year and he gets to see everyone else on the playground. His class does science and goes to the library which he is super excited about it. This is his last year of preschool and he can't wait to be in Kindergarten. Our little guy is getting so big it is hard to believe.

Carolina Panthers Game!

A few weeks ago we took the kids to their first NFL football game. They love the Carolina Panthers and we have cheered for them for years so they were super excited to be able to go. Walter and Ann Elizabeth were dressed in their panther best and away we went. Ann Elizabeth's favorite part was the football shaped donuts and Walter's favorite part was the cheerleaders, of course!!! We all had a great time and it was great to be able to share with them something that big W and I love to do!

Back to School! 1st Grade at CCS!!

Ann Elizabeth's precious teacher Ms. Maye!

At her desk on her first day!

Super excited to join all her friends. Here we go....1st Grade or bust!!!

Ann Elizabeth finally made it to school after missing the first 3 days! She was really excited to go and LOVES everything about 1st grade. She has a great teacher and assistant. She is such a social butterfly that she made friends right away. She misses her old friends from Kindergarten, but she gets to see them on the playground, so that makes up for it.





She also learned to tie her shoes this week. Super exciting for her. She loves to wear her tennis shoes now so that she can put them on by herself and tie them. She is getting so big and we are so proud of her.

Around our house!

I am taking a minute from "catch up posting" to fill in on what has been going on. Whew....what a weekend!
We were so ready for school to start back, just not quite ready for it to start like it has. School started last Wednesday the 19th for Ann Elizabeth. However, she was sick and didn't make the first day of school . She continued to be sick through the weekend and still as of today hasn't been to school yet. We have been to the doctor and hopefully we finally have some answers. We thought the she had mono at first, but now they seem to think that she just has a bad virus with the croup combined. We now how steroids and a z-pack so hopefully she will be on the up and up by tomorrow.
She really wants to get well so that she can go to school and see all of her friends. Hopefully this isn't a sign of whats to come this year!!

Here is to a great year for 1st grade and 4yr pre-school. Pics to follow when we actually have the first day!

July 2010-4th of July

Walter has gotten brave this summer and started jumping off the dock!

My sweet dear friend Holly Martin came all the way from Germany to spend a few days with us at the lake (ok...and to spend time with all her other friends).

Happy 4th of July!

All the kids after a fun day at the lake!

Sweet Mitchell took little W out for a ride on the jet ski..and let him drive. Walter loved it!

The 4th of July was great. My great friend Holly Martin and 2 of her 3 kids came to see us while in the states (they live in Germany). We sent the weekend at the lake riding jet skis, swimming and roasting marshmellows. It was such a great time. We haven't seen eachother in a year so it was great to catch up. Our other friends Clint & Lynn and the boys joined us too. The boys fit right in and we all loved every minute of it.

June 2010-AE Dance Recital and Father's Day!

Adult swim at the pool means rest time and snacks for the little man.

Happy Fathers Day Daddy!

The ballerina at work!

She does love to dance!

June was so much fun. We spent almost everyday at the pool and swam all day. The kids really got to be good swimmers over the summer.

Fathers Day was great. The kids and I spent the sat before with my dad and then on Father's Day we had Walter all to ourselves. He loved it.

Ann Elizabeth finished up dance and had her recital at Queens University. She performed a tap and ballet number and did fabulously at both. She LOVES being on stage and performing. I think that tap/jazz/hip hop is by far her favorite, but she still likes ballet too.

Walt Disney World 2010

Ann Elizabeth standing in front on Finding Nemo at Epcot. Walter was being Walter and didn't want to get into the picture.

Walter got picked to go on stage and be a part of the Hoop De Do Review. He was hysterical and loved being in the show. It was a great dinner too at Fort Wilderness.

The kids with Mickey at Chef Mickey's at the Contemporary Resort.

Walter with Cinderella. I think she was his favorite princess.

The kids in the Disney World ears.

The day after K graduation we loaded the kids up in the car and went on a road trip. They had no idea where we were going and really didn't ask. Walter asked a few times and Daddy and I would just say we are going to a hotel with a pool. That seemed to do him just fine. We even stopped about 2 hrs away from Disney at a place that was swarming with Disney souvenirs. They were too excited about the alligator heads to even realize that we purchased the shirts they have on in the picture above. About 7hrs into the trip we hit heavy rain in Jacksonville and little W needed to go to the bathroom. Well....not really being a place to stop we convinced him that if he needed to go he was going to have to use a cup in the car. He thought that was the coolest thing ever.

Once we hit Orlando, we asked AE to start reading the signs and see if she could figure out where we were. She had no clue until we pulled onto Disney property and went under the "Welcome to Walt Disney World" signs. The look on she and W face was priceless. It was a dream come true for them.

We stayed at the Contemporary Resort and were able to take the monorail everywhere. It was great. The kids loved seeing the fireworks every night seeing the Magic Kingdom right beside the hotel.

We did tons of character breakfast and saw every princess and character that they wanted to. It was great!!! Walter said to this day that his favorite ride was Pirates of the Caribbean and AE was prob the roller coaster she and her Daddy rode.

The kids continued to ask throughout the summer when we were going back. Every time we said that we were going on a road trip they would always ask..."are we going back to Disney World". It was the best trip we have taken as a family of 4 and our first real vacation together.

Lots of memories were made...ones we will never forget and many dreams came true...it is a magical place you know!

May 2010-Strawberry picking, Bike fun, Field Day, Mother's Day and the end of Kindergarten!

Walter's 3yr old WEE School class.

We tie-dyed T-shirts at the end of the year. The kids dipped their own shirt in the dye. They loved it and the shirts came out great!

Walter finished up soccer with Champ Sports at Calvary.

He loved it but I think he loved getting the trophy even more! He really enjoyed playing but he thinks that he may want to try something else for next time....like karate! Perfect!!

As the Kindergarten year was wrapping up, we had many exciting events going on. First we had Field Day at the school. The kids loved this. It was just like field day from when I was a kid. Outside games at the school. Sooooo much fun!

Then we attended Ann Elizabeth's first violin concert. She did wonderfully. She practiced very hard and stood up on the stage and played all the songs with perfection. She had the option to only play a few but she played them all!

And of course graduation. What a bitter sweet moment for us. She was thrilled to be graduating Kindergarten. She was over K and ready for 1st grade. She even sang a solo in front of all the K classmates and parents/guest. She loves being on stage. We were so proud! I still can't believe that she is going to 1st grade!!!

During May we also celebrated Mother's Day. We were so thankful that both of our Mom's could be here to celebrate with us. We ate at Gado Gado in Matthews for a great Mother's Day lunch.

Walter's 3yr old class had bike day at school so he was able to bring his bike and ride around the parking lot with all of his friends. He loved it...especially his friend who had the "big wheel" that had lights and sounds. Here is W with his friend Paris.

Picking strawberries was something that we always enjoyed doing when we lived in Charleston so I was super excited to find out that we had a farm with strawberries right around the corner from our house. We went one day after school and thankfully we were able to find some yummy berries!