Basketball and Birthday Parties and Catching Up

WOW- It has been a while. We are still here and very busy.

Audrey has been playing basketball. The 1st game the camera battery died, then the next game I forgot the camera, the next game Audrey had a meltdown so finally 2 weeks ago we got some pictures. I'm not sure how many people are suppose to be on her team but 3 weeks ago there was Audrey and one other girl (CJ) and 2 weeks ago there was a little boy Brayden there as well. CJ's grandfather has been serving as their coach and I have to tell you he is GREAT with the kids. They all listen to him and follow his directions well. She has 3 more games to go. Some pictures are below. We signed her up for t-ball which starts in April so more to come in that sport.

We also attended a birthday party for Addie at Pump It Up last week. This place is AWESOME for parties. They staff does everything for you and the parents really get to enjoy the party too. We are thinking about this for Audrey's birthday in August. We are attending another one next Saturday for Carson's birthday. Audrey had a lot of fun at Addie's party and I'm sure she'll love Carson's party too. She was super tired when we finished too! A few pictures from Addie's party is enclosed.

Last Thursday I took Audrey to a tumbling class to try it. She enjoyed it. They took turns with the girls doing forward and back rolls. They are learning cartwheels and got to jump on the trampoline too. She went right out with the class and didn't come back until the class was over and she said she wanted to go back next week so we'll be doing that on Thursdays now. I didn't get any pictures because it was dim in the gym and they were way across the gym from my seat. Maybe soon I'll get some pictures of that.

We started a good behavior sticker chart for Audrey. It seems to have helped stop some of the fits she was throwing everytime we told her no (I know, I know she's spoiled and it's my fault but we are trying to break her). So far this month she only didn't get any stickers one day and had 1 day were she only got 1 sticker instead of 2. We still have a few fits occasionally but they don't last as long or happen as often. We are now trying to get her to poop on the potty. She has been potty trained as far as peeing for a few months ago but we can't get her to do anything else on potty so I'm open to suggestions! We are searching for preschools for next year for her too. Our church (where she goes to Mother's Day Out -MDO) is hoping to have a preschool next year but they are still working on the license so we are searching for a backup plan just in case. We are also looking for summer activities. MDO is having a one day a week during the summer session but that leaves 4 other days open.

Between Audrey's busy social schedule, our work, my planning for the April 4th TN Zeta Day that I'm chairwoman of, other ZTA functions and other normal activies such as cleaning house we are staying very busy.

Hope everyone is doing well. I promise to post sooner!

Christmas and New Years Update

I know, I know... you think being off for 2 weeks I could blog about our holiday a little earlier but it just didn't happen. Anyway- we had a fabulous holiday. I was off for 2 weeks which made going back on Monday awful but I'm surviving the week and I got my assignments for 2009 today so watch out IT here come the auditors : ) We enjoyed dinner at my Mom and Dad's house for Christmas Eve and Christmas dinner with Mom, Dad, Jay, Jamie, Clara, Carly and us. Saylor, Heidi, Maison, Ellie & Katie arrived the day after Christmas which is when we decided to actually exchange gifts. Everyone got way too much stuff but mostly the girls.

On Christmas morning Audrey got a ton of gifts from Santa Claus. Her favorite was probably the princess kitchen that she asked Santa for a week before Christmas when I'm pretty sure Santa was done with his list but he found room for one more on the sleigh for her. Her eyes got so big and ran straight to the kitchen so I'm sure Santa was beaming that he found room in the sleigh. She got plenty of other gifts too. A hot wheels table with lots of hot wheels, a small trampoline, puzzle, piano w/ microphone, princess horse and many other things. From my Mom & Dad she got a big/tall doll house that she loves. Many other things but I can't remember them all right now.

Then on Saturday we took all the girls bowling. It was the first time Clara, Maison and Audrey went bowling. Ellie & Katie have been before. They put the bumper pads up and had a rack for the girls to put the ball on and push it down the lane. The girls did great- almost better than the adults. Audrey scored an 86. The girls scores are below (I stole the score card picture from Heidi- THANKS Heidi!) We had a lot of fun. See a few pictures below. Carly joined us too but she didn't bowl but she did great when we passed her around as we took turns bowling.

Unfortuately Audrey got sick Saturday night and threw up twice. We don't know what it was but she didn't really eat for about 2 days after that and she was better. Now I'm sure she's growing because she won't stop eating and seems to be tired a little earlier than normal lately and her shirts are getting to short for her. The spring consignment sale can't come soon enough.

New Years came and went. We didn't do anything special. Actually Scott had to work New Years Eve so I was home alone with a sleeping Audrey to ring in the new year. Welcome 2009!!!! I really love a new year- it brings new hope to the areas of my life that I feel have gotten me down over the last year.

I have great faith that 2009 will be a great year for everyone (including you Laura)

Christmas Photos

Audrey is still very afraid of Santa so you won't see any pictures with Santa this year. I did get some pictures this morning before church in her Christmas dress. We had to take pictures with the dog, her doll to get to the good ones. We never got a great one with Audrey and Scott but I'll share anyway. I just wanted to share. A couple are being used for our Christmas pictures this year.

I am almost done shopping but not quite finished yet. Mom and I hit a few stores after church this afternoon (totally unplanned shopping) but we got a lot of great deals for Mom to get really close to being done. Only 9 shopping days left!

Christmas Parade in Soddy Daisy

We went to the Soddy Daisy Christmas Parade today. Audrey enjoyed it. It was very cold but not too bad with all the clothes we had on. Audrey still does not like the loud cars or sirens but otherwise we enjoyed everything. We got a ton of candy. Here's a few pictures for you to enjoy.

Girls Playing and Winter Party

Mom and Dad have been partying all weekend. They had a Christmas party for Mom's school Friday night and Sunday School party Saturday night. Since they couldn't join us of our normal dinner on Friday Jay, Jamie, Scott and I took the girls to the mall for a quick dinner and to let them play on the playground. They had a great time, even Carly! I got some pictures of the girls at the playground.

Then on Saturday night I took Audrey to the winter party for kids at work. Scott was at my brother's house to watch the SEC championship game and he had to go to work. Every year the company I work for holds a Winter Festival/Party that is for the kids. They take Santa pictures for free (but I couldn't even get Audrey in the same room with him much less a pictures) and have other activities. I think it is great that they do that for us! They do it at Easter too. This year our facilities are being renovated so they rented out the a nearby Children's Museum for us. They had a place to do cards for the soldiers, cookie decorating, story-time with Ms. Claus and other activities and pizza- all for free!. The kids could also enjoy the normal activities of the museum. Audrey decorated a cookie, played in the dinosaur sand, play in the music rooms, drew on a place mat that is sent with Meals on Wheels and listened to a story from Ms Claus. Some pictures are below. She was playing the toddler room too and she was the tallest child in there. It is a room for 4 and under and I think some parents thought we shouldn't be there but she's only 3!!!

Hope all your holiday parties are going well too! I hope to get Audrey to the Soddy Daisy Christmas Party tomorrow.

New Neighbors

The house next door to us has been for sale for several months now. In this economy we never expected it to sale. Today Scott saw a home inspection truck parked out front. Later when he returned from errands and was outside getting the mail, the new neighbors came over to introduce themselves. They close in about 2 weeks (Scott thinks) and the best part.... They have a 3-year old daughter named Zoe! We are VERY excited to have a playmate for Audrey right next door. Zoe was with them and she and Audrey took off playing immediately while the adults were introducing themselves. I think they will be very happy together : )

Need a good laugh- Join us for Friday Dinner

If you ever need a good laugh you should seriously consider joining us for dinner. Every Friday, after we have all survived the week, me, scott, audrey, my parents, jay, jamie and their 2 girls all meet for dinner somewhere. The girls are so funny when we get together. They act like they haven't seen each other in weeks or months. Last night at dinner Mimi was holding Carly while the rest of us finished dinner. Audrey climbed up in the booth beside Mimi and was looking at Carly. She then looks at Mimi and says "Why does Jamie have 2 babies?". I died laughing. I don't even know how Mimi answered that question because I was laughing so hard.

Right after Carly was born as we were getting dressed one morning, Audrey said "Mommy- I like Carly". I said me too. She said "I want a Carly". And I thought pressure to have another one was only coming from adults!