GymDogs 2010

4 years ago for Valentine's Day Rando surprised me with tickets to see the University of Georgia's gymnastics team compete. He had no idea how expensive this gift would end up being. 4 years later we are season ticket holders and hope to add the kids next year to our season tickets. We love it (and yes I said we)! It is amazing how athletic and incredible these ladies are. They have won 5 straight National Championships and even though this is a rebuilding year we have posted the 2nd highest score in NCAA this year!

Before the season started we got to go to a Meet and Greet with the team. We took mom and dad with us because they are always so good to take us to fun things. A few years ago we took dad to a meet kicking and screaming and now he wants season tickets too! We also met my "second parents" Hank and Debbie at the Meet and Greet. It was fun to get to talk to the girls and get a behind the scenes perspective from the new coach. Afterwards we enjoyed a steak dinner with mom and dad and The Maxwells!

Most meets we are using as date nights, but on February 5th we decided to take the kids to their first meet. I was nervous about this b/c having 2 we do not have any extra hands when we go out just the 4 of us! They were exceptional! They both loved watching the people around them and the girls perform. During the floor routines they danced to some of the music. Avery who usually is not our waver waved at Hairy Dawg. Hairy came over and held Avery for a picture.

We are looking forward to many more years of making memories while enjoying some good gymnastics and cheering on the Bulldogs!

Babies' First Christmas

As a kid you think Christmas could not get any better. Well, it does! What a joy to see Christmas through the eyes of your kids! They do not understand the true meaning yet of course, but I pray that one day they will understand that we give gifts and bless others because we have been given the greatest gift of all - Jesus. He truly is what Christmas is ALL about.

The kids loved Christmas. They actually opened many of their presents and played with the toys. Of course there was some eating of paper and playing with boxes as well. We were blessed to get to spend time with both sides of our family and lots of friends! I can't wait until next year when the kids understand a little more!

Been a long time so I will back all the way up: November 09

During the month of November the kids found a new love: Hockey! Dad was given box seats for the Gladiators and we enjoyed a great night with family and friends! The box was perfect for the kids because there was plenty of space for them to crawl around and play. Ryleigh's eyes were glued to the ice though. We may have a future hockey player on our hands!

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving! We spent some time at Rando's parents (mammaw and pappaw) and then rode over to Alabama so the kids could meet the rest of Rando's family. It was a great time to catch up! Of course the kids got spoiled and we ate some good food. We drove home late that night.

On Friday, the kids got to meet my Aunt Mae (actually she is my dad's aunt and my great-aunt). She has always been like a grandmother to us. Her son Ernie and his wife were there as well.

On Saturday, we enjoyed the GA/GA Tech game with some great college/20's students at church! Of course we enjoyed the outcome as well!

We closed out November with pictures with Santa. The kids did great! Avery got tired of Santa fast and Ryleigh stared him down trying to figure out what the deal was with the beard!

Weekend Getaway - Oct. 9-12

Back in August I surprised Rando with tickets to the GA/TN game. Included in the gift was a cabin in the mountains, use of my mom's convertible, and other bulldog stuff. It worked out that the Friday before the game ended up being a furlough day for me so we got to leave earlier to enjoy some time shopping in Athens and then riding through the mountains.

At the game we got to see Rando's Aunt Debbie and my brother and sister (of course we see the 2 of them a lot but it was still fun to hang out with them). Dana and Adam actually got to sit with us. We would have liked to have seen a bulldog win, but we still had a great time!

The cabin was incredible! It was nice to relax and spend time just the 2 of us. We love our kids, but we also know it is vitally important that we keep our relationship strong! We ate lots of good food and did some shopping. We also got in a game of putt-putt. On the way home we made sure to stop and eat at the Dillard House. Thank you mom and dad for watching the kids so we could enjoy this time!

Halloween 09

Before I share about our Halloween I have to boast about my dad! Thursday at about 11:30 am he left Athens, GA on a bicycle (not a motorcycle) on a mission to ride to Jacksonville, FL! Several other HBC staff members joined numerous UGA Baptist Collegiate Ministries' students for the 2009 Ride for Christ - all proceeds going to send college students on the mission field this summer! Friday night dad pulled up to the Jacksonville City Limits still on his bike to a crowd of college students cheering him on! He rode 300 miles in 29 hours and 30 min. He was the only one to ride the whole 300 miles! This is a HUGE accomplishment! We are very proud of him! Of course Rando made sure we knew that he and Chip Cranford went 400 miles (in the support van).

While daddy, granddaddy, and Uncle Adam were enjoying (if that is what you want to call it) the GA/FL game Avery and Ryleigh transformed into Mickey and Minnie Mouse. They were precious! Ryleigh didn't like the getting dressed part, but she LOVED the attention later. Avery got tired of his costume after about 30 minutes at the Fall Festival. We just walked around and talked to people. Due to the rain the festival was moved indoors and the petting zoo animals didn't come. That was the only think that my kids could have done, but they enjoyed the people watching instead! They did get to see their friend Raleigh who was also Minnie Mouse.

Mickey and Minnie had fun with mommy, Aunt Dana, and grandma. After the festival we went to see Great Granny and Great Granddaddy Wynn! They gave lots of kisses to Mickey and Minnie!

It was a fun evening. Of course we wish the dawgs had won and that daddy could have seen them in their costumes, but we know he was helping raise money to send out missionaries this summer!

Happy 6 Month B-day: October 3, 2009

Avery and Ryleigh,

I cannot believe you guys are 1/2 a year old! You are so much fun and make every day exciting! I am truly blessed to be your mom!

Ryleigh, our first born:
You have a laugh that is contagious! You want all of the attention and we love to give it to you! You are a beautiful little girl! I love your BIG blue eyes that you get from your Aunt Dana. You are daddy's girl for sure, but you love your time with me too. You don't like to sleep because you are afraid you will miss out on something. I hear that you get that from me :o) You LOVE dogs. Whenever Noodle or Homer are nearby they have your full attention. You enjoy laughing at them and when they let you you enjoy petting them. You know how to get what you want whether it be by batting your long eye lashes or screaming. You are so close to crawling. You get frustrated with not being able to crawl. You still have a love for baseball, but you also like to watch Sid the Science Kid and football (especially the Dawgs). We are looking forward to all you will learn and do in the coming months! We love you so much and are blessed to be called your parents!

Avery, our little man:
Your smile melts my heart! You love to flirt and the girls seem to love you! You are so handsome! You are our laid back child. You love to observe and take things in. I think you get this from your daddy. There is no doubt that you are mommy's boy! You love playing rough and "flying" with daddy too though. You are always reaching out for Noodle and want her to cuddle with you so bad. You are also close to crawling. You are rolling everywhere. Just today you rolled up under my bed so that 1/2 of your body was under the bed and the other 1/2 was out. You are too cute! You love to watch Sid the Science Kid and football. You like cheering on the bulldogs with mommy! We love you so much and are excited about all that you will be learning and doing in the next few months. You are a true blessing to us!

Avery and Ryleigh, we love you both! You are both so different, but yet similar at the same time! You bring so much fun into our lives. Your daddy and I know that we are truly blessed to have such easy and good babies! We love you so much!

Busy Busy Busy

So I have not had a spare second to blog in forever. I really don't have the time now, but I have 2 rollers so during floor time I can't leave the room. I never imagined working with kids would be as hard as it has been! I knew I would be fine emotionally, and I have been in regards to separation from the kids. I never realized how much of a perfectionist I was at work and not being perfect would tear me apart!

I spent the first 3-4 weeks of school trying to figure out how I could quit. I have NEVER wanted to be a stay at home mom, but I was so down about not being able to be the best teacher that I was ready to walk out the door. Don't get me wrong... I love my school, coworkers, administration, and I have great students this year.

I am use to being able to work until 6 or 7 to have everything ready and be on top of things daily. Well, I can't stay past 3:30 most days with an occasional late day of working until 5 or 6. It has been a very hard adjustment for me.

All that being said, I love my children and wouldn't trade them for the world. In fact, after having our 2 flood days I know that I could be a stay at home mom even when I thought I never could be. I know that God has me where I am for a purpose. I just have to learn to balance the kids, work, and time with Rando better!