Snips, Snails, and Ladybug Tales

Live Well, Laugh Often, Love Much

2012-02-21T20:11:00.002-05:00

Pretty in Pink...Saturday was Aunt Sarah's funeral services. Lovely is the most appropriate word to describe it. Mom and I made sure that everything reflected her. Even the pall bearers wore pink in their ties in honor of her. Just like Shelby in Steel Magnolias, pink was Aunt Sarah's signature color!

Butterflies, pink roses, and tea...All of these things were included in the memory board I put together in honor of this wonderful, caring, and funny lady who has always been a part of my life. Oh, how she will be missed!

After a beautiful day on Saturday (which fit right into Aunt Sarah's services), we really had a rainy, cold day on Sunday. To beat the blues, we headed to the annual Home and Garden show at the Knox Convention Center.

Okay, I am totally smitten with these fairy gardens. Tori and I will hopefully be putting one together soon!

The kids favorite garden is the one with the train set up. I think they could have watched them all day!

Tori wanted to take this balloon tree home!

The "tablescapes" were a new addition. I really liked this garden-themed one.

And this fairy/princess one was a little girl's dream!

On to Valentine's Day...Chris was able to attend Tori's party at preschool. She had loads of fun, lots of sweet treats, and a huge bag of cards and treasures from the day.

The night before, we finished her treat bags to take to her friends. This year we had to do Valentines...Toy Story/Disney Princess ones and treat bags with cute ballpoint pens, a snack sized Kit Kat and the flower lollies that we made on Saturday. Thankfully, I had the non-edible stuff in stock from clearance sales last year.

The kids had a great Valentine's Day evening at home...We had a great dinner with chicken casserole, dumplings, veggies, and their favorite dinner rolls. These name drawings came from a vendor on Shaman Island just down from the White Swan hotel in Guangzhou, China. Yep, I forgot to have these framed for our Forever Family Day in January, so I kept them as a surprise for Valentine's Day. They thought they were really cool!


Enjoying one more surprise gift...a mermaid Loopsy for Tori and NFL mechanical pencils for JJ (They were beyond thrilled.)

We had a great time with our friends on the Saturday before Valentine's Day. Tori and I created this banner with a copy of a Robert Barrett Browning love letter to Elizabeth Barrett Browning printed on pink paper with lace trim at the top and cut out metallic hearts. Thanks, Heather for the inspiration!

Cupcakes!

While the youngest three prepared Valentines for their friends at school, the older three played video games and laughed at silly animal voice-overs on YouTube.

We had lots of broken crayons, so they were combined to make crayon hearts. A tip...Soak the crayons in warm water to remove the paper wrapping. Be sure to dry well before placing in mold.

These are two of the heart boxes I designed to give away as Valentines.

I helped Tori make the heart flower lollies for her classmates. This was a modified version of the one they feature on the familyfun.com site.

This is what happens when the kids are off playing well together and three crafty moms are left to play themselves.

Three amigos!

I don't think it has settled in that Aunt Sarah is gone. The kids are handling it okay, but they have been asking lots of questions. Really this is the first time they have dealt with someone dying with whom they are close. I am trying to remember the good times that we had with her. She would want us to continue to live, love, and certainly to laugh! Please continue to keep our family, especially my mom in your prayers.

I know that some of these pictures are a little dated, but I wanted to share them with you. Also, this is my way of keeping my pictures in order along with a bit of journaling, so that when I finally get to scrap book, it won't be so daunting.

Until next time,
Cindy

If Pink Roses Grow in Heaven . . .

2012-02-15T20:14:00.000-05:00

If pink roses grow in Heaven
Lord, please pick a bunch for me.
Place them in my Aunt Sarah's arms
and tell her they're from me.

Tell her that I love her and will miss her,
and when she turns to smile,
place a kiss upon her cheek
and hold her for awhile.

Because remembering her will be easy,
I'll do it every day,
but there's an ache within my heart
that will never go away.

We will miss you so much Aunt Sarah, but now you are at peace. The world will miss your kindness, generosity, love, and your sense of humor. I know that you are up in Heaven right now celebrating with your mother and Donnie. We love you!

You've Got Mail!

2012-02-08T19:38:00.000-05:00

Something we have enjoyed this month is sending each other "heart" mail. Our "heart" mail is just a little note to a family member to tell them something heart-felt like "I love you" or "I am proud of you."

Each evening we choose a name and send that person mail. Tori has loved being the postmistress and making sure to watch those mailbox flags go up to inform you that, "You've got mail."

Our mail station is under our new official V-day tree.

Our mantels are decked out and ready for the holiday devoted to hearts, yummy chocolate, and flowers.

A dear friend gave me this heart last year made of different patterned fabric pieces and adorned with pearl strands. The picture doesn't do it justice.


Thanks to Kim K, now I have a new obsession in crafting! This was a left-over heart candy box from last year, decorated with a little folded fabric, scrapbook paper, a cherry blossom sticker, a vintage image from a children's book (again thanks to Kim), a drink umbrella, and touches of glitter. This one is going out to our favorite West Coast girl, who I have lovingly named Lil' Miss R. (It will be on its way tomorrow with the rest of your package!) Kim, you have created a monster! :)

Well, our V-day crafting session is set for high noon on Saturday. Believe me, the wheels are turning and the organizing and planning is well under way...
Hope your Thursday is the best!

Saying Goodbye to the Year of the Dragon

2012-02-05T19:13:00.000-05:00

Yesterday afternoon marked our last CNY celebration with the FCC group in our area. The organizers always make sure we have a great meal, a dragon dance, and "fireworks" with bubble wrap.

A craft room is always a favorite with all the kids. This year T wanted to make the ornament craft to add to our tree next year.

Last Saturday, the Jones family came to celebrate with a Chinese dinner and chocolate cake. (My crew requested my chocolate cake instead of a traditional desert.)

With the ideas from some of my blog buddies, Tori and I made place cards with her thumbprints and some newspaper that I had kept from our journey four years ago. (Some of our treasures had been wrapped in it for protection, and I am so glad I had kept some of it.)

One of my talented and thoughtful students made some origami dragons for Tori and Jonathan.


The boys favorite event that evening was the sparklers.

The holidays have come and gone, the kid's birthdays, and now CNY...Life has been one big celebration in our household. Tori asked recently, "Mom, what are we going to celebrate next?" I am so glad that Valentine's Day is just around the corner. Since I was a little girl, I have always loved paper crafts, especially those that involve hearts, lace, glitter, and decorative paper. My goal this week is to get my crafting supplies organized in the cabinet that used to house our cookbooks. It now has a new home beside my scrap book cabinet. This weekend the kids and I are hosting a Valentine's making extravaganza using some of the great ideas from Family Fun. Yep, I have a lot of organizing to do to get ready, but I am actually looking forward to it. Crafting and thinking about crafting always gives me a sense of calm during my crazy/busy days. Check back soon for our next post on celebrating V-day.

Have an extra special week...

She's Five!

2012-01-26T21:43:00.000-05:00

Tori and I spent yesterday evening making a special La La Loopsy banner. We are quite proud of it. It was made with things we had on hand and with the help of Google images.

And look what the Loopsy gang prepared for Tori...Their own surprise birthday banner to wish their favorite playmate a happy one! She loved the little story I made up. Then she told me, "Mom you know you're really silly!"

Kim C. really did an outstanding job, and Tori was very pleased. (Her cakes taste heavenly, too!)

Opening gifts from grandparents...Need I say more!

A special card from her big brother...With a DS game he purchased himself.

She is just a little more than two Disney dolls high.

A priceless reaction...My dad and mom have been collecting Victorian doll house furniture for several years. Hopefully, after my dad has his last eye surgery, he can get back to finishing the house. He has already recruited me to paste the wallpaper. (Yep, Kim K. I can hardly wait.)

Money and Lite Sprites are a great combo.

Yep, they spoil both the kids...But Chris and I can't say anything because our grandparents spoiled us rotten, too!

Let's Go to the Movies and Celebrate the Number 5!

2012-01-25T12:45:00.000-05:00

Her birthday announcement on the inside marquee

The butterfly craft was a hit. They enjoyed munching on chips and fruit (Tori's favs) while they crafted away!

Then came "popcorn" cupcakes...Just cut mini marshmallows sprayed with a bit of yellow food coloring.

And the "Happy Birthday" song...Her shyness comes to play at this moment, and she is pointing to her Dad in embarrassment. For a little social butterfly most of the time, she does have her shy moments, too.

Addison getting her fill of the yummy icing

Presents! This year she wanted to get right to the "stuff" without reading the cards! We want to thank everyone for all the nice and generous gifts.

A tour of the film room...Now that everything is digital, there is no button to push to start the movie. But, the girls enjoyed looking down at the theater and the rush of wind that blows your hair when the window is opened.


The movie of choice for the birthday girl? Well, with only one to pick from, it was Beauty and the Beast in 3D. I will have to admit even though we have seen it countless times at home, there is something about seeing it on the big screen and with the 3D features is makes it even more grand.

Check back tomorrow evening. It's T's real birthday with lots of surprises for her in store. My kids are just growing up way to fast, but I so do love celebrating their birthdays with them!

Happy Year of the Dragon

2012-01-24T21:06:00.000-05:00

At P.F. Chang celebrating Forever Family Day and CNY on Sunday...By the way, starting yesterday and lasting the 15 days of CNY, P.F. Chang is giving out red envelopes with discounts and free appetizers and deserts.

Tori with Mom's help prepared goodies to take to her preschool class. We sent a dragon craft, DVD and educational packet from Panda Express, white chocolate covered fortune cookies sprinkled in red and gold, red envelopes with gold chocolate coins, and a dragon made from mini cupcakes. Sunday night was spent getting the majority of this ready. Mom was exhausted with all the food prep by the end. I am so glad I had the foresight to send the craft and educational packet ahead of time! (Her shirt was a gift from some dear friends last year for Christmas. I just adore it!)

Lovin' the sprinkle duty!

There were several posts from other blogs (Thanks, Kim for sharing the dragon head site) and other places on the Web that had ideas for dragon cakes. Some were just down-right amazing!!! Tori loves those mini cupcakes with her "Easy Bake Oven," so I took a couple of ideas and made our custom cake. Tori enjoyed coloring the dragon head, and especially enjoyed placing the red and yellow M&Ms. If we decide to do this for Kindergarten next year (maybe I can attend next year to help out), we will do a bit more prep work and add feet and a tail. Tori's teachers were thrilled and the kids were so excited about the cake and all the treats. (And Tori was so proud of her hard work!)

Our celebrating for CNY is far from over! This weekend and next we have a celebration here at home with the Jones family and one with our FCC group. But before that we have a birthday to celebrate! Check back soon for Tori's birthday movie party that was held on Saturday. The birthday girl turns the fab 5 officially on Thursday.

Have a blessed Wednesday!

Four Years Forever a Family

2012-01-23T22:50:00.000-05:00

(Fall 2011) Forever Family Day, January 21

A forever family story...Once there was a couple who met at college. The woman a first-year student, and the man was a second year student...They met as Student Ambassadors at RSCC. After dating over five years while he finished his second year at law school, they married on June 12, 1993. Both began their careers. She began teaching high school English, while he found his calling as a legal studies professor at the local community college were they first met.

After years of what the medical professionals call "infertility," the couple was blessed with a healthy, beautiful baby boy. Born three days before Christmas, the couple brought him home to an excited group of grandparents on Christmas Day.

As he grew, the couple faced losing their first furry baby, a poodle mix named Sophie. She was a stray who found them and lived with her family for five years of love, happiness and comfort until late summer of 2002. There remains to this day a place in the hearts of those who loved her.

But, God had other plans for this little boy and his parents...In 2004, God put it in the hearts of the couple a plan for adoption. Domestic adoption was in the works in early 2005, but their hearts were turned toward international adoption, specifically China. In March 2005, the paper chase began. Finally, with everything completed their paper work along with their hearts, was filed in China on November 5, 2005. With the promise of a six to eight month wait the family of three waited to see a picture of their daughter and sister.

Eight months turned to 23 months of waiting for that precious picture. As each month passed with no referral, the couple felt a pain in their hearts. The young boy, thinking his sister would never come, came to the point of no longer asking when she would arrive. In the mean time, June 2007 rolled around and with it came a five-pound mini doxy named Perci. For awhile this new addition occupied their time and energies.

Then in the early fall of 2007, word came that our time to see our daughter would approach very soon. The paper pregnancy was about over!

On November 5, 2007 a file with a picture of a precious baby girl was delivered to Bethany. The family anxiously awaited to see their beautiful daughter. With tears of joy, they gathered around the home laptop to see the newest family member who was almost 10 months old. With great love for this little girl who they had yet to hold, they shared her picture with family and friends, planned their overseas adventure, packed their bags, and headed on a plane to China on January 16, 2008.

With unsure eyes, this almost one-year old was placed in the couple's arms on January 21, 2008. It didn't take anytime at all for this little pixie full of sweetness and spice to latch on to her mom and dad who birthed her in their hearts. Now, the family was complete. . . Almost

In October 2010, an unexpected visit to a pet store revealed a white poodle to the family of five. With the sweet eyes and shy demeanor of their beloved Sophie I, the family decided to take her home to be a member of the family and a furry sister to Perci. This little bundle of white fur became Sophie II.

Forever grateful is this forever family. Grateful to God that he planned this family to live together in joy and love despite the pains that life can bring.

Thank you, forever friends and extended family for all your love and support. This forever family...Chris, Cindy, Jonathan, Tori, Perci, and Sophie forever love you!

Crafty Little Hands

2012-01-19T20:13:00.002-05:00


Testing out the butterfly finger puppet for her birthday party on Saturday...

And a trial run for her CNY craft to share with her friends at preschool on Monday, the mark of the CNY celebration. The template and instructions can be found here. By the way, Nick Jr. will feature a CNY celebration with Kai Lan on Monday from 5 to 7 EST.

I think that these will be a hit! The kit can be found at Hobby Lobby and includes everything you will need for 24 butterflies.

After a pretty crummy day at school, I was ready to come home and do some crafting with my little helper. That always lightens my mood!

J.J. is doing very well after his surgery yesterday. He came home with no post op stent so that was an answered prayer. With so much make-up work that would cloud his weekend, he really wants to go back to school tomorrow. Kids these days can't even relax and recover for fear of missing too much school. It is ridiculous!

I hope that your Friday brings lots of good things....

Twas the Night Before Surgery...

2012-01-17T20:57:00.000-05:00

His finished project for math

And JJ is hard at work on projects due at the end of the week, studying for a test, and the usual homework load. What is really on his mind right now is not polygons, Greek column orders, science or essays. It is his second surgery on tap for tomorrow morning. Since the stone is still around, they are going to remove it and the stent. Hopefully, everything will go smoothly and they won't need to insert a post op stent. It is funny to be saying this, but I am so glad that I have dealt with this several times myself. Jonathan is confident in the fact that his old Mom has experience in this department, and I can tell him exactly what will happen and how much it may or may not hurt. He is still very nervous, though. Last time he was so sick, he really wasn't aware of too much going on. Please be in prayer for him in the morning. Thanks so much!

Getting Ready for the Year of the Dragon

2012-01-15T22:49:00.000-05:00

Earlier this month, Tori and I went with Mamaw Teina (and Big Paw) to her ladies mission circle in the mountain community of Briceville. As Mamaw is the coordinator for the once-a-month event, she choose CNY as January's theme. Tori and I were the special guests that day, too.

Over the holidays, Tori helped me make table decorations. We chose to make peat pot baskets with a Mary Engelbreit graphic mod podged and glittered. (Thanks once again, Kim!)

Tori is a great helper!

The ladies at Briceville know my dad as "Eddie Spaghetti" because of his "famous" sauce!

"Mrs. Jeannie" is one wonderful lady and talented cook. As you can guess, she is in charge of the food for each month, and what a Chinese feast she prepared that day! She is also loved a great deal by Perci and Sophie, as she is our furry babe sitter when we vacation with Paw Lowell.

I have collected so many Asian ornaments over the years that now we must keep the big Christmas tree up. (And you know that really hurts my feelings :) And I am proud to say that Tori is becoming quite the little tree decorator. She loves to help and is very careful handling all our ornaments.

The dragon at the top of the tree...I kept him in my stash because I knew we would eventually need him!

Last year at preschool, Tori colored this dragon for CNY. Her teachers laminated it for us.

This was in the collection of ornaments that Steven from Glitterville sent Tori from his Asian collection. His motto is "Make everyday a holiday!" You know you don't have to tell me twice!

I found these little shoes at an antique store downtown the year Tori came home.

Butterflies, dragons, and paper decor from China highlight the mantel this year.

A sneak peak of my crafting space...The walls turned out even better that I had anticipated. This shelf was a purchase from a dear neighbor who was clearing out her antiques. The dresses are Tori's, the stocking is from Steven, and the gorgeous tea set is from Aunt Audrey who bid on and won this at her hospital's annual charity auction.

The Dept. 56 pieces are a Christmas present from my wonderful family.


These Asian dolls are a find from the antique mall in Rockwood.

I hope that this post finds you getting ready for a day off tomorrow. We are blessed that we have had a four-day weekend due to a "snow day" on Friday.

Unfortunately, we are spending tomorrow morning with appointments. JJ is going back to the doctor in the morning to do his post op appointment. We aren't sure if the kidney stone is gone, so we don't really know what to expect. Please pray that everything will go smoothly!

On a better note, Tori is getting excited about her birthday party this Saturday. In fact, we have a weekend full of celebrating to do because our Forever Family day is next Sunday, too. Four years as a family and a soon-to-be five year old...Time is flying by way too fast!

May tomorrow brings many good things your way! Until next post,
Cindy

A Joyful End to 2011

2012-01-06T23:28:00.003-05:00

New Year's Day photo by the church Christmas tree...

New Year's Eve was a low-key friend affair. The boys spent their evening playing video games and hanging out in J's room.

The younger three...Well, the moms had craft projects planned for the evening.

I went to Target after Christmas and picked up these cute snowflake ornaments. I thought that they might bring a good snow omen to our area. What do you know? It worked because we got a snow day on January 3, our scheduled day back.

The crafters hard at work!

Jewel brought the supplies to make these cute mouse cookies. Simply take a cherry with a stem, dip in melted chocolate, place on a chocolate graham cracker, add a Hershey's kiss for the face, almond slivers for the ears, and finally add some eyes. Just too, too cute!

Hayden shows off one of his creations.

I was excited about my decor. Last year I purchased quite a bit at 90% off at Pier One and Party City. This year after Christmas, I found the pretty bell garland at one of our great antique malls in Rockwood. It's reproduction vintage, but I got it for a steal.

Speaking of decor, one of my blogger buds created the most beautiful woodland tree. I wanted something for the winter months, so I hit Pier One and some other shops after Christmas to copy her idea. It's not as pretty as hers, but it will do. Thanks Heather for the inspiration!

Two of my favorite finds were the swan and lovely nest of glass eggs.

At Kohls in our area, they had their decor at 70% off plus I had some "Kohl's cash" to spend. I had to have the pink tree so that Tori and I could start our "sweets" tree for next year. I am going to use it for Valentine's Day, too. I just love to find other uses for my Christmas decor.

Pancakes...Almost a every Saturday morning event or special days off at our house with Dad as the chef. I was thrilled to find this ornament as a tribute this precious time that the kids and their dad share.


Eating her pancakes while watching "my shows"

JJ and I come out after shopping to find Dad wearing her headband...These two are crazy and silly together! A side note about JJ...He really likes to help me shop for Christmas ornaments, and he has excellent taste, too. It thrills my soul that he likes to share in this with his old mom.

When we go to Rockwood, there is always a stop for a treat at the soda shop.

After Christmas M and J, T and J went back and forth between houses on a few afternoons. Here the girls made some dog treats for their furry babes. They had a blast through the whole process.

Sophie stayed right there in the kitchen the whole time as if she knew we were baking for her.


Another day, we tested out Tori's (and mom's) cupcake maker. She thinks that this is an Easy Bake oven. After reading the comments on the product and talking to others who had bought one, I knew that we didn't want any part of it. It kind of made me sad because I had one when I was little, and I loved it. I don't remember any of the problems out of my older model that evidently plague the newer one. Anyway, she loves it, and it bakes mini cupcakes in about five minutes. The girls loved decorating them with the fairy picks and sprinkles. Easy peasy and they were happy!

So what does our January have in store? Well, starting on the 21st, Tori is having a movie party in honor of her 5th birthday on the 26th. The 22nd brings our 4th Forever Family Day. Finally, on the 23rd, we begin our celebrations in honor of Chinese New Year. Lots of good times are in store. Please pray that JJ and Chris continue to heal and remain comfortable in the next few weeks!

Have a great weekend!

Let's Pray That This Is Not a Sign of 2012

2012-01-05T20:58:00.000-05:00

Yes, this a room sign at Children's Hospital. This time Jonathan had the honor of staying overnight. The reason for his stay...a kidney stone. Yep, a kidney stone...His pediatric urologist said that they are becoming much too common for children (and adults) in East Tennessee. He is doing much better after they placed a stint to relieve the pressure, swelling, and pain. As we had a snow day on Tuesday, he only missed one day of school. (That was a God-send.) He will go back in two weeks to see if they can remove the stone as the urologist said that it was a bit more delicate situation with children. Please say a prayer for him to remain comfortable in the next two weeks. (No embellishment here...He was an model patient. Through all the unpleasant exams, IV, needles and blood work, scans and X-rays...he was a real trooper. Chris and I were so proud of his maturity through this whole ordeal.)

Speaking of Chris, since New Year's Eve he has been dealing with lower back pain. He went to a orthopedic specialist today and they discovered a crack in a lower vertebra that probably happened years ago. No surgery at this time, but it is something he will have to deal with until it gets worse. Please say a prayer for him, too. This is one of the worst times in the semester for him to be dealing with pain and the aggravation.

Tori and I are okay at this time. I don't think we could handle anything else! Just like the title says above, I hope that this is not a sign of what 2012 will be like in the Whaley household.

I must get our fans caught up with our after Christmas days and fun New Years, so check back soon!
Until then, I hope that your 2012 is going great so far,
Cindy

Celebrating Christmas, Part Three

2011-12-28T21:52:00.002-05:00

Happy Birthday Jesus!

Both kids were quite under the weather Christmas morning. JJ was getting a cold and Tori was suffering from a lingering eye infection (another effect from pneumonia). So, church service was out. The kids didn't even open presents from Santa and Paw Lowell until around 11:00. So, we knew that they weren't feeling well at all!

From Paw Lowell an X-box and Barbie mustang...

Tori and her loot...Hey, I love her toys because I get to play with them, too!

The furry babes get some extra special Christmas attention

After Christmas lunch at our house with Chris's dad and my parents, we rested up a few hours and then headed to Mamaw Sandy and Paw Estel's house for dinner and more present opening. All of us are blessed beyond measure!!!

Quickly becoming one of Tori's favs...La La Loopsy mini dolls

Our fun times continue....Check back to see what is going on at our house after Christmas!

Celebrating Christmas, Part Two

2011-12-28T21:28:00.001-05:00

A tradition continued...Introducing the Whaley family gingerbread house

They both are very focused when it comes to this Christmas task.

Christmas Eve...Always begins with lunch, gifts, and family time at Mamaw Teina and Big Paw's

This year was a Michael Jackson tribute with decorated black fedoras and dancing to "Thriller." Thanks Aunt Audrey for the great craft time!

Uncle Tee-Tee had a big surprise that took them outside for a treasure hunt. They all dug in a container full of bird seed to uncover their maps which promised more treasure hunts and more goodies during our family beach trip scheduled for May 2012. He even had the big kids (my brothers and I) on a hunt, too. Yep, my uncle spoils us just a bit.

Celebrating Christmas Eve with Chris's extended family....

Tori loves her great Aunt Angie!

Chris's grandmother is a card. Sometimes it is hard for her to get around, but her mind and wit is sharper than any fifth grader!

Tori could hardly wait to get home and leave the "Reindeer Magic" for Rudolph and crew. She loved that story this year as well as the Hallmark Jingle one.

Of course, we couldn't leave out Santa. Sorry Santa, but Mama Elf didn't have time to make homemade cookies before Christmas. We will just have to catch you next time!

Okay fans...Part three coming soon!

Celebrating Christmas, Part One

2011-12-28T20:57:00.000-05:00

At the 41st Hanging of the Greens at Trenton Street Church

JJ had his middle school band Christmas concert the last week of school. He and his fellow band mates did an outstanding job! Bravo to the beginning band members!!!

Tori was still battling pneumonia the last week of her school. Chris took her for the Christmas party since she was fever-free. She was one sick little puppy for a few days!

The Sunday before Christmas, we attended the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra's Christmas celebration. We took Little Granny (Chris's grandmother) with us, and we all enjoyed the performance and the great Christmas tunes.

Lil' Miss Grumpy with Santa who made the show...She still was battling the aftermath of the pneumonia.

Instead of giving gifts, my sister-in-laws and I opted to do lunch and the Chipmunks movie with the cousins before Christmas weekend.

(December 22) Our now twelve-year-old...He celebrated that night with his family and best bud. The cake theme this year was Mario. Kim did another outstanding job. He was so pleased with his cake! And gifts...well, he was showered and blessed with them. Thank you everyone!

Mamaw's birthday was the next day...We took her to the tea room in Sweetwater. This year she had both her girls there along with some of her best friends. Because it was so close to the water plant, my Uncle Terry came as an extra special guest.

A little impromptu photo shoot at the tea room...It is certainly a lovely place for one!

Check back for part two....I didn't want to overwhelm our readers with too many pictures at once!

The Semester Can't End Soon Enough!

2011-12-14T11:39:00.000-05:00

Here's the picture I deleted from the last post...All Mamaw's turkey's at Thanksgiving!

At the soda fountain during Rockwood's home tour...Thanks Mamaw and Paw for going with us!

Cornstalk Heights own cookie lady, Tracie. She is known far and wide for her cookie spread for our Christmas home tour.

I took the boys to Fort Southwest Point's Christmas tour. Boy was it dark and the wind from the lake really cut us into!

The best part of the tour was all the reenactors that participate.

A bit of old with the new...He was taking pictures of all the buildings and artifacts with his DS.

Cookie making time...Thanks to Mia and Joseph spending the night the weekend Chris was gone, and his wonderful administrative assistant, Cathy, who sent us the jar of cookie mix, we had lots to keep us busy.

Cathy, those were some darn good cookies! I think that we inhaled them by the next day. Thank you so much...It was so sweet of you to send it!

Mamaw and ice cream...Can't get any better than that!!!

Wow. After the day we all put in yesterday, I think we are all due a little break. Tori is sick with pneumonia; JJ had a dentist appointment to remove his last baby tooth in order to prep for braces; I am at my wits end trying to finish up my school stuff; Chris is working like mad to prepare to leave his office behind for awhile; and JJ, Chris, and I are studying 6th grade math, science, social studies, and language arts to prepare for second nine-weeks tests (Yep, Chris and I feel like we are back in school, but we didn't have this much in 6th grade!). Plus not to mention all the preparation to take snacks and presents to our work places and schools. Can't we just pretend it's all done and begin to enjoy our holidays? Whew!

I already feel so behind anyway with all the holiday tasks. Christmas cards done...nope; shopping done...nope; decorating complete...nope; kitchen completely finished....nope; holiday baking...Are you kidding? That's a big Nada!!! I am really trying not to stress. I just wish that I could shake off this cold that has me dragging a bit at this point. Let's just pray that it doesn't turn into something worse.

As you can see above, there are just random shots of the kids here and there. Chris has been traveling to meetings and conferences lately, so at different points in the past two weeks, we were in survival mode. His longest trip was to Orlando, and the kids and I so wanted to join him with the warmer weather and the proximity to Disney. But, too many responsibilities kept us here to hold down the fort at home.

Don't get me wrong, we have been enjoying the Christmas season. There have been several things close to home that have really sparked our Christmas spirit. And we have several things on our schedule for this weekend and next week. Concerts, Christmas parties, birthday celebrations are just a few things we have to look forward to.

I have one special request to make of my blog friends once again. Would you remember my Aunt Sarah? She has taken yet again another fall. Confusion and dementia are unfortunately taking over, and her body is frail from almost 93 years of time and toil. She never wanted to be this way, and my mom and I never wanted this for her, either. Thanks a bunch for your time and friendship!

Have a special December evening filled with lots of happy moments!

Reminising November

2011-12-02T11:30:00.003-05:00

Okay, so I am learning to navigate the new blogger update. I really meant for this to be the last pic, but it is what it is. The girls had just as much fun as the boys at Wilderness for JJ's birthday celebration.

The crew plus a crazy dad adds up to lots of fun for a 12th birthday present. Yep, he will be 12 on December 22!

Just wanted to mark this milestone...These are "big" girl jeans, if you consider a 4T slim "big" girl. Hey, it took my mom finding this brand new pair of Arizona Jeans for a whole dollar at a yard sale. These are normally $36. Not only was this a find, but we realized that they fit! Since then I have purchased her another pair, and with coupons and discounts, I only paid about $6 and those have really cute pink embroidery with rhinestones.

Thanksgiving celebrations at the Grandparents...T and Emmie

Makin' some turkeys at Mamaw Teina and Big Paw's

Okay, at this point, I accidently deleted the photo I took of Mamaw with their annual Thanksgiving craft they make for her. It's late, so look for it in my next post!

Tori...Making one of many holiday wish lists on her DS.

Thanksgiving weekend always marks the Fantasy of Trees. The kids always have lots of fun with lots of crafty activities and fun things to do all surrounded by the beauty and splendor of Christmas trees and other Christmas decor.

Nail painting is always a must!

Every year the only thing that I require them to do in the craft area is the thumbprint ornament for the year. I have a small tree at home that is devoted to these ornaments.

J loved this year's theme...Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree

The Whaley and Jones clans braved the cool temps last night and attended the town's annual Christmas parade.

Guess you thought I would never be back! Well, I am like a "bad" penny : )

It has been a whirlwind November and the beginning of December is bringing the same kind of swirling, whirling, "blink and it's the next day" kind of breezes. We have braved Wilderness in the Smokies with seven kids in tow, Christmas shopping (Black Friday...are you kidding? That is certainly NOT my thing.) and decorating (still working on that, too), the Thanksgiving holiday, and tons of chaos at work and at school. Speaking of my work, I received that dreaded evaluation...not what I had hoped, but at least I am in the boat with the majority of my co-workers. Looking back, it was ridiculous of me to spend that much time on one lesson plan. But, on the other hand, the State should have prepared all of us for this HUGE transition.

I am always reminded that after Thanksgiving, it is that time of the year that our family lives for weekends and our winter break (Not that we don't do this during the whole year, but at Christmas time, we love all the celebration, activity and fun that the holidays bring.) This year, Tori is especially excited about all the fanfare and fun. She has really gotten into the Santa Christmas list thing, decorating, and watching all of the festive shows that come on multiple times. (You all know, the ones featuring Rudolph, Santa, and Frosty where as kids we waited what seemed like forever to see it ONE time every year. Kids these days just have it too easy!!!)

Sorry it's been so long...I would like to say that I hope to get better about keeping up, but other things just seem to always get in the way. Please say that you love me despite my shortcomings when it comes to blogging!

Have a happy weekend celebrating Christmas with those that you love,
Cindy

A Quick Hello!

2011-11-20T19:31:00.006-05:00

Just in case you are wondering...I am still here. Last week and the week before have been just to darn busy. I have spent two long weeks preparing ONE lesson for a 50-minute Junior English class tomorrow afternoon. This is number two out of four evaluations I will have this school year. It has been an all-too stressful experience. I have been joking that it may be time to hang up my 18-year career as an educator. Now I am thinking about it seriously, and I think that there are many who feel this way.

Anyway, we only have two days this week, so you can be sure I will be playing catch-up. Please say a prayer for me between 12:10 and 1:10 (EST). I need as many prayers as I can get!!!

I knew I could count on you!

Please know that I am keeping up with your blogs as much as possible. Sorry if I haven't left a comment...I promise to make it up to you this week.

To Our Veterans and Their Families...

2011-11-10T19:32:00.007-05:00

Thank you Grandpa Ingram for your service to our country...I miss you and think of you so often...

For all those who have left home to serve our country and for those who have and are waiting for them to come home...

Hello world
Hope you're listening
Forgive me if I’m young
For speaking out of turn
There’s someone I’ve been missing
I think that they could be
The better half of me
They’re in the wrong place trying to make it right
But I’m tired of justifying
So I say to you...

Come home
Come home
Cause I’ve been waiting for you
For so long, so long
And right now there's a war between the vanities
But all I see is you and me
The fight for you is all I’ve ever known
So come home...

I get lost in the beauty
Of everything I see
The world ain’t as half as bad
As they paint it to be
When all the sons, all the daughters
Stopped to take it in
Then hopefully the hate subsides and the love can begin
It might start now
But maybe I’m just dreaming out loud
But until then

Come home
Come home
Cause I’ve been waiting for you
For so long, so long
And right now there's a war between the vanities
But all I see is you and me
The fight for you is all I’ve ever known
So come home...

Everything I can’t be
Is everything you should be
And that’s why I need you here

Everything I can’t be
Is everything you should be
And that’s why I need you here
So hear this now

Come home
Come home
Cause I’ve been waiting for you
For so long, so long
And right now there's a war between the vanities
But all I see is you and me
The fight for you is all I’ve ever known,
Ever known

Come home...
Come home...

("Come Home" performed by Faith Hill)

Making It All Ours

2011-11-09T18:10:00.013-05:00

Ta-Da! Okay, I just couldn't wait to show you the kitchen totally finished, but we have come a loooong way since early September. There is still painting to be done, outlet covers to be purchased and placed, door facings, base board and other bits of trim to be selected, stained, and placed, and Cindy's decorative touches to adorn this needed renovation. But we are far enough along for this to be a fully functioning kitchen.

The last of the containers were emptied on Monday night...Yes, I was careful to not over do it this time!

I shed a few tears as I placed Grandma Barger's Old Country Roses setting in its new home. This cabinet set was designed just for them.

This little Christmas tree was a purchase from Le Jardin Tea Room. I knew it would highlight the quartz counter tops and tile back splash.

A feature that I loved with this cabinet company was the spice drawers. We have one on each side of the range. This one holds all of our baking spices and decorating items. Tori loves it! (And the kids both love the fact that they each have their own little pull-out shelf in another cabinet to hold their favorite snacks.)

We had to hide a pipe. (It would have been way too much trouble and money to move it.) So our Lowe's kitchen designer added an appliance garage. It IS AWESOME!

The closed door view. By the way, our Lowe's guy was awesome, too. He really knew his stuff and was always on top of things.

What can I say...Chris and I love having ceiling fans. This one doesn't put out much light, but the new can lights take care of the necessary lighting issues. The medallion...Well, I was quite proud of my painting job. The darker color will also be the wall color.

The refrigerator rocks and so does all the extra pantry cabinets!

Love those pull-outs, too

The kitchen hasn't been the only thing going on in construction news at the Whaley household.
Check back soon to see what this is all about...

Making it all ours...The reason for this title is that I really feel that now this house is all about us. It is so much different than when we first moved in in July of 1996. Maybe it's time for a tour of the whole thing, especially since Christmas is around the corner. We will see...

A Spot O' Tea, Disney on Ice, and a Night of Spooks...Oh, My!

2011-11-08T20:06:00.020-05:00

At the Michael Dunn Center Thursday night before Halloween. (Chris is a board member for this organization. They also fund the Henry Center which is Tori's school.) Tori was getting a cold at this point, and she missed her preschool Halloween party the next day, so I am glad I got this shot of her. I think it is a good picture of the trio, too.

At Disney on Ice (Nov. 3rd) with her "Daddy-0" and her "Paw-ee" (Paw Lowell) Chris said that she took all of it in while gorging on popcorn (probably her favorite snack right now). In fact right at this moment she is telling her dad that she needs a popcorn fix.

A night of Despicable Me...Dad as Gru and Tori as Agnes hitting the neighborhood candy trail on Halloween (I did find the fortitude to take some pictures.)

The trick or treat guys and gals together again

Halloween afternoon the whole clan of Barger cousins brought their kids to Uncle Tee-Tee's house to be spoiled by him with lots of treats. He made a "dashing" Jack Sparrow.

Getting ready for the fun...JJ agreed to wear a cape with his flashing teeth.

Who needs to go trick-or-treating when the grandparents (my parents and Chris's dad included) bring bags full of surprises?

Saturday, October 29 marked Mia's sixth birthday party at Le Jardin Tea Room in Sweetwater. Happy Birthday, Mia! Thank you Jewel for the lovely party!!! The girls had a sweet time with lots of goodies to eat, makeovers, and pretend play in a beautifully decorated room. All the adults enjoyed a little shopping time, too. Thanks Mamaw Teina for going with us...We can hardly wait to celebrate your birthday there in December!

I loved this Cinderella tea pot in which the girls were served their tea.

The hostesses were extremely nice and patient with the little ladies as they fluttered about the room. Tori was hesitant about the whole make over thing, but she finally agreed to some blush and lip gloss.

Well, as I have looked back to last week and Halloween weekend, it wasn't a total waste. I can now sympathize with those who suffer from chronic back problems...I literally felt your pain. As of today, I can say that I am back to my old self, thank goodness. Thank you for your thoughts and prayers!

Up next...The almost finished kitchen reveal!!! Check back soon!

Just To Let You Know...

2011-11-06T13:52:00.002-05:00

Hello out there. Just wanted you to know that I hope to have a couple of posts up soon and check up on my blog friends. Since last Sunday, I have been recovering from a back injury. (Yes, I have been overdoing it with the kitchen project.) Let's just say that I did such a good job injuring myself that I have missed a week of work, and sadly much precious family time. (Halloween was a blur; Disney on Ice for me was a bust; and the Roane Gala event Chris and I were to attend happened without us.) I am feeling better, but sitting is still uncomfortable.

Hopefully, I will be able to manage to go back to work tomorrow. Please keep me in your prayers!

It's the Great Pumpkin Party, Charlie Brown!

2011-10-27T19:42:00.013-04:00

Sunday was the fourth annual Pumpkin Party in the Park. These neighborhood friends had a blast!

I thought I would share this easy-peasy cheap craft: Take clean empty mini syrup bottles (Ours came from Cracker Barrel) and fill it with a mixture of sidewalk chalk and table salt. To make the colored salt, simply take a paper plate, pour out a bit of salt, then take a colored peace of chalk and mix in. Make different colors, then layer them in the bottles.

Tori and Hello Kitty

JJ and Mario

As I was punching out the pattern on these and then carving out the design, the kids came and checked out my progress. I think they were a little disappointed that they didn't look like the picture. I really tried my best, and in the back of my mind I thought about the line from Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory when Verruca's father said to her, "Verruca, sweetheart, I'm not a magician!" Yep, I am certainly not a magical master pumpkin carver!!!

Some of the treats I made for the party...Witch's fingers (string cheese and almonds with a touch of cream cheese) and her broomsticks (fruit roll-ups and pretzel sticks).

The first cupcakes ever made in my new oven! I found the cupcake kit at Marshall's. Hey, we have made much progress this week...We have counter tops and a functioning sink (dishwasher, too!)

Happy Friday before Halloween Monday!

The Rocket Boys and the Boo-ti-ful Girls

2011-10-24T18:35:00.019-04:00

The rocket boys get some help in order to construct their disk rockets. This gentleman was awesome with J and J, and we appreciate all that this organization does for kids at events like this.

Setting up the launch...

Five, four, three

two, one...Blast off!

Rocketry is hard work, and they needed a treat...They give this funnel cake a four-thumbs up!

We stopped by the O.S. depot on the way home. If it weren't for my Grandma Rose Ingram (my dad's mother), this depot would have never been moved and renovated to a museum and town library.

The boo-ti-ful girls having a spooky fun time...

Saturday was a perfect day. The weather was perfect, and we took full advantage of it. Despite all that needs to be done here at home, the kids and I couldn't resist visiting a new-to-us festival and heading to the zoo for some spooky fun.

Saturday morning, the two J boys and I took off to the other end of our county to visit the Oliver Springs October Sky festival. In 1997, Hollywood came to Roane, Morgan, and Knox Counties to film most of the scenes from Homer Hickam's autobiographical novel called Rocket Boys. (The director changed the title of the film to October Sky....It was to appeal to the female audience and it's an anagram of the original title.) If you haven't seen the movie, let me give you the heads up. It features a young Jake Gyllenhal who plays the future NASA space shuttle designer and trainer Hickam. (Hickam was a "coal kid" from the mountains Coalwood, West Virginia, who with some other boys with the same goal, refused to make a future for themselves in coal mining.) At that time, I had many students from Central High in Wartburg who were extras in the film, including our next door neighbor and another neighbor one street over from us. Heck, one of my first cousins is in the opening football game scene. It was certainly a big deal in this area, and it was a huge buzz of conversation with most everyone. One evening, Chris and I even drove over to watch them film the scene where Homer finds out that his dad had been involved in the coal mine collapse. Coalwood hosts the real festival with Hickam and the other rocket boys always in attendance, but Oliver Springs still celebrates the event every year to raise funds for their museum under construction. This year we finally had the opportunity to check it out, and I am so glad that we did.

Later that afternoon, Tori, Mia, Addison, my mom, and I took the opportunity to attend the Knoxville Zoo's annual "Boo at the Zoo." The girls had a blast pointing out their favorite characters and getting treats at the stations as we walked around the path. It is a pretty good hike, and the girls were more than ready to eat supper by the end. Before we went home, they all inhaled big bowls of buttered pasta and cheese at one of my favorite Italian restaurants, Bravo! The girls wanted me to thank Mamaw Teina once again for the neat owl, raccoon, and tiger purses she bought them and for the great dinner!

If you think we had a busy Saturday, this was nothing compared to Sunday. The Cornstalk Heights Mom Crew was at it again with our fourth annual pumpkin party at the park. Check back soon for those highlights...

Until then, have a great week! Only six days until the ghosts come out to play! Moo-hah-hah!

Fall Break in the Smoky Mountains

2011-10-21T21:52:00.002-04:00

Make your own scrapbook design

Craft Time!

2011-10-21T12:35:00.015-04:00

I swore to myself that this would be a glitter less craft session, but I couldn't resist just adding a bit.

Thanks Kim K. for getting me addicted to these peat pot creations!

One thing I adore about this particular project is that you can just use things you have on hand, although I did buy the cool owl feathers at Wal-Mart.

I just think these banners are so attractive and festive! I am so glad that I had the opportunity to put one together today.

Some of my "toys" put all together...

My tribute to the Oz gang...

These little plastic figurines were a find this past summer. I paid a whole quarter for them at a yard sale!

These were a Christmas present when I was about seven or eight. Some of the shoes are missing, but they are in good shape.

Finally I decided to put everything else aside and just craft this morning (besides throwing some laundry in). My mom tells me that she is the happiest just when she has a little time for herself to do what she wants. I know that I get refueled when I can just have time to putt around the house, and do little projects here and there. With Tori at preschool this morning and JJ having his own time, I found one of my happy places.

I enjoy the fall and all the pretty colors and fun it brings. I am not at all a fan of the dark and macabre of Halloween, but I love the vintage and playful side of it. It is a time that I can bring out my toys (old and new) and just enjoy putting things all together. Even thought it is not the prettiest, my tribute to The Wizard of Oz and Wicked is my favorite. I have always loved the story of Dorothy, Toto, the Wicked Witch, and the whole crew, and I can't believe that my loved toys from a Christmas long ago has made it to my adulthood. Thanks mom for saving them for me!

Check back later as I should have our mini-fall retreat to the mountains up and ready to view!

Happy Fall Friday!

No Brothers Allowed!!!

2011-10-21T10:01:00.002-04:00

While the glue gun is getting warmed up (Yes, I am finally taking time to finish some craft projects.), I thought I would share this quick funny. JJ has always liked to hang signs on his bedroom door. Of course in the usual big brother fashion, there have been "No sisters allowed" signs posted through the years. So, the other night, Tori asked her dad to help her spell some words so that she could make a sign for her bedroom door. I don't think anything really sparked Tori's fire, but I think she thought it was time for revenge. So, she created it, marked her spot, and taped it all on her own. JJ thought it was uncalled for...I say girls rule and boys drool in this case! You go Tori!!!

Fall Family Fun at Oaks Farm

2011-10-20T22:11:00.012-04:00

Riding the hay wagon to the pumpkin patch

The kids really enjoyed the afternoon with lots to do like riding these "tractors" on the dirt course and picking out their pumpkins in their huge field.

Their favorite activities were by far the slides made of huge pipes and the inflatable pillow.

Of course we hit the easiest of the corn mazes, but JJ was a good guide and Tori was a good assistant.

I can't believe that this was about two weeks ago! Between work, school, and other responsibilities our days just fly by...We blink and it is time to start the day all over again. I am glad to say that we are all currently on our fall break, and it came at such a good time for all of us. (It is unbelievable all the stress we have been under since the beginning of the school year, and the kitchen project has added to the chaos.)

The first half of our break, we have been on a fall adventure with Mamaw Sandy and Paw Estel to Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge, and so the last half we are spending time here at home. We are tackling some projects around the house, but we have some fun things ahead, too. There are way too many things to do in this area at this time of the year, and we would hate to miss out on all the fall fun.

I am so happy to report that we are coming to a close on our major kitchen redo. The counter tops are set to be installed on Wednesday, and our great contractor will come on Thursday to lay the tile for the back splash. Paint and trim work will be all that remains. In between these stages, I will be working to unpack the remaining boxes of kitchen items and finally get things organized. What a ride this has been; I am so glad that this journey is just about over!

Decorating and crafting has been shoved to the bottom of my list, but I have done a few things. I hope to have a couple of more posts up by tomorrow highlighting our trip and featuring some crafts and decor for the season (AND catch up with my favorite blog buds and their adventures).

I hope that everyone has a fun fall Friday!

Grow 'Em Big and Grow 'Em Orange

2011-10-05T18:44:00.015-04:00

Well, maybe not Tori so much...But, like the rest of us Vols, her blood does run orange! Last week, her preschool class dressed in their orange to post a picture on Derek Dooley and the team's Facebook page.

Hey, even Perci and Sophie have orange flowing through their veins...

From head to toenails!

J and J had a rowing good time at the church picnic held at the beautiful Roane County Park on Sunday afternoon.

Tori loves those ducks...She made sure that everyone "played nice" as she threw them some food.

Chris had to stay close by so that they wouldn't nibble her, too!

Finally, some nice progress in the kitchen...We are at stage three and four with the cabinets in and the new appliances delivered and installed (except for the dishwasher and microwave). Stage five is in progress...The counter tops are on order, so it is another two-week wait.

Meanwhile my craft supplies for this season lay forlorn on the dining room table.

I just love this time of the year...cool mornings, warm afternoons, colors changing, fall decorations, Honey crisp apples, outdoor fun, UT football...just to name a few of my favorite things that remind me of a beautiful season. The fall weather has just been perfect this week!

The last two weekends have been spent in the kitchen getting things semi-organized as much as I can. (Remember those pile of boxes in the dining room? We are down to less that half! Hooray!) Our new fridge is the bomb! No more getting on my knees to put away food or shifting things around to find what I need. (Our old one was quite small!) Hopefully, the counter tops will be in sometime during Fall Break.

Speaking of that, we are counting down the days...seven left to be exact. Oh, JJ and I are more than ready. His homework is getting to be too much (and I mean literally...try about two/three hours a night...not to mention the fact I teach all day/Chris works all day and then we come home to teach our son)! AND I am just about over all these new teacher requirements. The teachers at my school feel like we are being told how to teach. Very stressful...So exhausted!

We have a big weekend planned so check back! Hope you are enjoying some great fall days, too.

Going Nuts!

2011-09-19T13:56:00.014-04:00

Tori helps make the acorns...

What you will need, and the result of putting all the pieces together with chocolate icing...

Phase two...Roughing in

Phase two complete with ceramic tile floor...

These decorative tile will also be on the back splash.

The reason for my insanity...

That's it in a nutshell, pardon the pun. Our house has been turned upside down, and it takes twice as long to get anything done! My house usually has some kind of order to it, although it may not be the cleanest house on the block. The criminal in question that has caused me to be batty, nutty, and just plain bonkers is our kitchen renovation. I am pleased to report that the messy part is done, and tomorrow the cabinets will finally emerge from their boxes to adorn my kitchen!

My mother came by today to see the progress, and she noted that I have a pretty decent temporary kitchen. Yes, I am blessed that I do have a utility sink in our little laundry room and the kid's playroom can house the fridge. Jonathan's air hockey table is serving as our prep area and non-perishable food storage source. I have used my mother's and mother-in-law's kitchens; our wonderful neighbors (the Jones family) has sent food and invited us over; and our crock pot has seen more use lately. Yes, when I analyze the eating situation, it hasn't been that bad. What is killing me is the dust, the pile of boxes here and there, and the fact I can't start my fall decorating until we get past this weekend.

Out of the need to be creative, to match my nutty frame of mind, and to celebrate the flurry of the fall season, Tori and I decided to try the edible acorns featured in the latest edition of Family Fun. She really enjoyed helping with these, and for little ones, it is an ideal craft. Her preschool class had a fit over them, and her teachers are planning on using this for a next year snack time mini-project.

Hopefully, after Thursday, I can report some significant changes in our chaotic household!

Until then, enjoy watching the world change into its autumnal splendor...

2011 Mid-Autumn Moon Festival

2011-09-13T20:31:00.001-04:00

Make a digital scrapbook

We Will Never Forget...

2011-09-11T15:25:00.005-04:00

For those who died on that tragic day in the majestic Twin Towers, at the fortress of the Pentagon, and on the tranquil field in Pennsylvania...We will not forget.

For those who gave up their lives to save others...We will not forget.

For those who struggled and searched day by day, and then clean up the aftermath of that horrendous day...We will not forget.

For the families and friends who lost loved ones...We will not forget.

For the all the children of 9/11...We will not forget.

For the men and women who have sacrificed and fought on two foreign war fronts in the past years, and who have given their lives in the name of freedom and democracy...We will not forget.

America...We will Never Forget!!!

Good Bye Summer 2011!!!

2011-09-05T16:43:00.016-04:00

Yesterday, we spent the day with M and J for the second annual Splash Country "back to school, goodbye summer" bash. It rained off and on, but it didn't stop the four amigos! They ended a great time eating at The Blue Moose stuffing themselves with chicken, mac and cheese, and peanut butter ice cream pie!

After cleaning up the demolition mess from the kitchen and organizing a make-shift kitchen the in the playroom, we headed to Mamaw and Paw's for an afternoon swim.

Remember the plastic bubble kits of the 70s? The kids and I found these at our local discount store. I remember these fondly as a kid, but this one seemed to work much better than the ones I remembered. Anyway, while I worked in Mamaw's kitchen to prepare some food for this week so we wouldn't have to live off sandwiches, the kids passed the time making all kinds of semi-permanent bubbles.

A Friday night out with the girls...Tori and Addison both needed shoes, so Audrey and I took the girls and headed for a little shopping spree. While we shopped, Tori and I took Addison to Build A Bear, so that Addison could pick out her birthday present from us. I can't believe she will be two next weekend!

Tori helps to stuff Addison's new friend.

Check out those shoes! Tori was so excited to see these Sketcher-like sneakers. She has been wanting a pair like these for awhile, now. So, with buy one, get one half, Mom caved in and had her fitted for these.

On Friday morning, Paw and Paw demolition came in and gutted the kitchen. I came to check on them during my break, and this is what I saw. Anytime I see my dad doing stuff like this, I am always reminded of how strong he is. With one to two blows with the mallet each time, he had the cabinet panels down in no time!

We are at stage two of the the process...Tim will start stage three tomorrow!

It has only been three days, but I think I am handling it well without a kitchen so far. The plan for the next two weeks is to get all the prep work done before the cabinet guys come in to unpack and place the cabinets. After that, the appliances will be placed and the counter tops will be measured and ordered. There is a two week wait period for that. So hopefully, we will be back in a nice, new kitchen by our fall break in the middle of October.

Right now we are feeling the effects of the tropical storm from the Gulf, and it has literally rained all day and will continue to rain until sometime tomorrow. We really did need the rain, but I don't think we need this much! My prayers are still going out to our East Coast neighbors and their continuous battle to manage and clean up after Irene.

Hope you all had a great Labor Day weekend!

Let's Just Blow Bubbles and Other News

2011-08-28T16:57:00.017-04:00

Sometimes...
let's just blow bubbles,
For no good reason,
let's just blow bubbles.
Laugh a little, watch them disappear,
not even wonder where.
Smile and touch the rainbow colors
watch them float in air.
No reason why--
no goals--no structure.

Sometimes...
let's just
blow bubbles...

Anytime Tori plays with bubbles, I always think of one of my favorite "Mom" poems. This was one evening when the temps were down and the light breeze welcomed us to play outside. Dad got out the chalk, too, and boy did they have a time with that!

August 9...JJ's first day of 6th grade and middle school!

It all began with the royal summons last week from her preschool...

Princess Tori being officially presented at preschool

Lots of fun that day...A tattoo station, sponge painting station, royal snacks station, and nail painting station!

She is now a royal preschooler!

One last evening with the slip and slide at our park. .. Jonathan and Joseph begged for one last go, and the dad's obliged yesterday evening. Thanks to the dads and Paw Lowell for setting it up and taking it down one last time this year!

The kitchen renovation is in full swing...A quick before shot

I spent yesterday cleaning out cabinets and organizing things into storage containers and boxes. My dad and father-in-law are coming on Friday to do the removal stage.

Meanwhile, the cabinets are taking up the whole dining room.

Just to give you a small preview of what is to come!

Sorry it has been awhile...We are finally in the swing of school (and already looking forward to fall break). The state has new teacher requirements, so it has been a unique start this year for me. JJ is doing a great job tackling a new routine as a middle school student. Tori loves her teachers this year, and enjoys her two days of preschool. The semester has just started back up at RSCC, so Chris has been working extra hours to get everything done. All-in-all things are going just fine...We love it when the weekends come around to get caught up with some rest and enjoy some down time.

I hope that everyone has a good week ahead...Just keep thinking about our long weekend coming up! Hooray for our Labor Day weekend!

Make a Movie Date With the Girls!

2011-08-14T14:50:00.005-04:00

First, if you have time, you need to read the novel. I read it on the way to Orlando and couldn't put it down. When I found out that a movie version was coming out in August, my friend and fellow teacher made a movie date for the week it was released. It's been a long, long time that I have anticipated the release of a movie. Anyway, Friday night we headed to an area theater and was met with a "Sold Out," so we tried another theater. Just in the nick of time, we got our tickets and found seats. We heard later the second theater faced sold out showings, too.

Why am I so excited about this book? Well, I read that one critique said that this was almost as great as To Kill a Mockingbird. Being an English teacher who thinks that Harper Lee wrote one of the greatest American novels ever, I though to myself, "Yeah, right!" After reading this book and falling in love with the characters like Aibileen, Skeeter, and Minnie, I kind of ate those words. Of course the theme of prejudice abounds (I mean really who cares if someone with tan skin uses the same toilets as everyone else. The unbelievable irony of this is that they let these same wonderful, courageous ladies hug and kiss AND RAISE their children.) Which brings me to a sub-theme between Mae Mobley and Elizabeth. How could you reject your child just because she doesn't live up to your expectations? Yes, I know this was just a character, but I have witnessed this so many times as a teacher. It makes me so angry; I could just lose my sanity. On a different note, there are many funny moments, too. Minnie is a scream, and the result of the "toilet initiative" and the chocolate pie brought down the house in roaring laughter!

There are so many funny, sad, poignant, and frustrating moments. (I would love to have slapped some sense into Hilly Holbrook many times!) The emotions of the reader and viewer run wild, so have a tissue handy! I know that in our theater Friday night, the audience was laughing, cheering, crying, and clapping. (By the way, the soundtrack is awesome, too.) Make a date with the gals soon and be swept away to a 1960s Jackson, Mississippi.

J.J. and Tori's Seaside Sanctuary

2011-08-13T19:18:00.012-04:00

Yes, right now I would give anything to be at the beach. School is in full swing, and oh, how I wish for the lazy, free days of summer! However, when my longing becomes too great, I can visit our seaside sanctuary upstairs in the kid's bathroom. Because it is no secret that they have a special connection to the beach, I decided during the bathroom renovation last winter they needed the beach to be a daily escape and a place to unwind. Right away, I knew that their haven was going to be a beach theme with a bit of a vintage feel, too. (Notice that Tori has to have her mermaids in her tub!)

One of my favorite things is the vanity with the double sinks.

My Great-Granny McCartt's washstand can be found in the corner of the open closet with the kid's year-round beach tree.

I found these towels for a steal at Home Goods...one of my favorite discount stores. The seaside children plaque came from Victorian Trading Company. . .one of my favorite catalogs.

I have had these frames since last February (found on clearance at a department store). Last year at Hilton Head we had a professional photographer take pictures of my whole extended family. These are the three best of us as family and of the kids together.

Now you can say you have seen THE tub. If you remember this is that tub we had such a hard time getting one that wasn't damaged by the Lowe's warehouses. Yep, in this case, the third one was the charm!

Red Door Antiquities is my favorite local antique store, and it's just down on main street! The shelf and sign came from there. The sand castle was a Myrtle Beach find and the jar of shells and seahorse were Hilton Head treasures.

I had this little book even before we bought our house. (When I was in high school, every Tuesday, several friends and I would walk to have lunch at our friend Chip's house just a block down from our house now. Even then, my dream was to have one of these beautiful Victorian era homes. I passed this house many times and never imagined it would be mine one day!) The little sailor boy is one of my latest finds from Victorian Trading Company.

Bringing the beach home with us...These are bottles of sand of our two favorite beach areas, Hilton Head and Myrtle Beach, S.C. Myrtle Beach is really commercial, and the kids love all the excitement. Our favorite though is Hilton Head Island with their emphasis on historical and environmental preservation.

Thanks for taking the tour with me. Check back soon this week as our kitchen cabinets will be delivered on Thursday. Let the great kitchen renovation begin!!!

Fit for a Princess

2011-08-04T18:05:00.007-04:00

This pink Dutch doll quilt was made by my Great-Grandma Daisy for me when I was little.

Pottery Barn is one of my favorite catalogs in which to flip through and try to replicate some of their designs. At the beginning of the summer, one of their catalogs included a beautiful canopy for a little girl's room. Not at all liking the price tag that came with it, I decided to make Tori one of her own, but much cheaper. On one of my expeditions out to the antique stores in our area, I found the antique white "mosquito" canopy. It is in perfect condition...smells of lavender and has no holes! I couldn't believe the price...10 bucks! To make it more "princess-like," I purchased some shimmery rose pink tulle and ribbon. Then, I used some scrap booking materials to complete the dreamy look.

Tori has enjoyed playing, reading and sleeping under her billowy canopy. I arranged it so that it could be tied back when she is sleeping, so that she wouldn't get tangled up in it. The decorative features are held on by velcro so that it could be changed easily. This is something I have really enjoyed putting together for her, and I loved the fact that it was a fraction of the cost of the PB canopy.

Check back soon to see our completed beach bathroom!

Hot Fun in the Summertime!

2011-07-30T19:40:00.020-04:00

We started out our week at Dollywood and Splash Country with cousin Emmie. These three always have the best time together. You can bet that a giggle-fest occurs many times throughout the day!

It was much too hot to stay at Dollywood for long, so Emmie and JJ rode the new Barnstormer ride while Tori and I sought refuge in the play area nearby with spray fans. Tori was very happy to meet up with Strawberry Shortcake, too. A big "Thank you" to Mamaw Sandy and Paw Estel for the season passes they buy for both families every year.

Just had to share...JJ can be a #1 big brother when he wants to be!

Ahhh...Cool relief from the heat was found at Splash Country! Although we had a small storm while we were there, it brought even more relief from the oppressive heat and humidity.Emmie is such a help with Tori.

Lovin' it!

Wednesday was the last library event and awards day. "Quackers" from Cumberland County Library came to entertain. The girls loved it...the boys, not so much.

Award-winning summer readers!

It took us all summer to get there, but we finally went to the Roane County Park splash pad with the Jones and Harvey clans on Thursday. Of course, they had a ball!

Today was more fun at Roane County park at the Harriman Utility Board annual family picnic. (Chris joined the board this year.) JJ and Tori loved the water slides they rented for the kids. Then, later in the afternoon, Mamaw Teina hosted a back-to-school pool party for cousins and friends. Another great time...and Mamaw even had a treat bag for each of them with some school supplies! Thanks Mamaw Teina (and Big Paw, too!)

It was a great week indeed! The kids and I packed in fun with some home-time, too. Next week is JJ's last full week of summer break, and I start back on Thursday. Hopefully, I can give you a update on our kitchen redo and my craft/scrap booking space on our upstairs landing. I have also been working on the decor in the kid's beach bathroom. Have a great Sunday!

A Splashing Good Time at the Park

2011-07-26T21:20:00.010-04:00

This is the only decent pic of the boys...They were just a blur when I viewed the photos I took of them in action.

The girls in action!!!

Piled up on bean bags, blankets, sleeping bags watching Despicable Me... One family even had their own minon in tow!

"It's sooo fluffy!!!"

As you can imagine, the kids in our neighborhood look for the evening (last Friday) when the black plastic slide goes down on the hillside and the movie screen goes up in the gazebo at our park. It's just a great time to settle down for a few hours and visit with our neighbors. Our other annual neighborhood event is our pumpkin party scheduled for the Sunday before Halloween. You can bet that Shelia, Jewel, and I are already scheming and planning! It's never too early to start preparations for Halloween...Right, Kim K.?

An Asian Tea

2011-07-26T14:46:00.003-04:00

Personalize your own scrapbooking design

It all started with a magazine that my sister-in-law, Audrey, sent our way. That's all it took for Jewel and I to run with it and create this little girl party. Thanks Jewel for willing to host our yearly teas at your lovely home; Mamaw Teina for the Asian purse favors; and our wonderful neighbor, Shelia for sharing her Asian treasures and making us a coconut cream pie! As for next year, the wheels are already in motion for a possible mermaid or Hawaiian-themed tea. Certainly stay tuned for that one!

A Bit of Middle Tennessee History Trip

2011-07-24T17:14:00.015-04:00

Earlier last week, we traveled with Chris to Murfreesboro and Nashville. While he conferenced during the day, the kids and I had a chance to see some sights. On Wednesday, when he finished for the day, we stopped by the Stones River National Battlefield to visit the preserved two-mile fields where about 23,500 Union and Confederate soldiers died in a three-day battle in late December of 1862. This battle is said to have provided the turning point in the Civil War for everything else that followed like Sherman's March to the Sea and the impending victory for the Union. Chris, JJ and I were really impressed with the visitor's center and the care that our nation has taken to preserve this site were so many died. It's really one of those hidden gems that we take for granted...Chris and I both went to MTSU, only about five miles from campus and never visited it while we attended the university. We are so impressed, in fact, that we are going to try to attend one of their fall reenactments and take the Paws with us. It was really hot that afternoon, so we would like to take some of the trails to the sites when it is a bit cooler, too.

In honor of our Michigan friends...the Kenwards and Drzicks.

Chris (1991) and I (1992) are proud graduates (B.S. degrees)of this great State Board of Regents university. The kids are posing by the old main entrance of the campus. Since we have graduated from MTSU, the enrollment has grown from about 13,000 to well over 25,000 students. Because of all the new buildings and areas, we hardly recognized it!

While dad was busy on Thursday morning, the kids and I headed to Centennial Park to see the world's only complete full-scale replica of the Parthenon. Tennessee celebrated it's 100th birthday in 1897, and this has been the centerpiece of this urban park since that time.

Inside, the re-creation of the 42-foot statue Athena is the focus of the Parthenon just as it was in ancient Greece. JJ really wanted to see this because we really like Percy Jackson and the Lightening Thief. As the story goes, Percy and his companions must travel to Nashville to the Parthenon to retrieve one of the underworld stones from Athena's crown.

Sightseeing makes us very hungry! So, we asked the Parthenon gift shop lady where we should go for lunch. She suggested Elliston Place Soda Shop. Not realizing we were helping to make a little Nashville history, we settled in to wait a few minutes for them to switch to their lunch menu. A few moments later, a camera crew from their local news came in to do a story on the fact that this 1931 icon came up with the necessary funds to stay open. Within 20 minutes, people were lining up in the heat out the door and around the sidewalk to wait for one of their fantastic malts or burgers.

JJ enjoying his vanilla coke. And Tori, well, let's just say that she filled up on the chocolate malt!

Just had to share this one...Murfreesboro has some great shopping areas, so of course we had to go look around a bit. The kids found a really nice toy store. Tori loved "shopping" with a buggy cart just her size. (And no, she only got to purchase ONE small item!)

Thankfully, our travel is done for the summer. With only about two weeks left before school starts again, I have lots to do here at home! This weekend the kids have had a blast with some neighborhood activities, so check back soon for that...

Our Nicktastic Vacation, Part 7...Last Moments of Fun

2011-07-20T10:48:00.019-04:00

Surviving the heat at Universal Studios...We arrived early so that we could call it a day when the heat became unbearable.

Tori's request of the day was to see the characters from Hop. She enjoyed seeing the chicks and the Pink Berets, but she really wanted to see E.B. As soon as they came out, she went right up to this chick and gave him a hug. Then she asked the lady with them, "Is E.B. coming, too?" The lady told her that E.B. was back at home preparing for Easter. She was disappointed in that bit of news, but was happy when the Pink Berets came out soon after.

We rode some of the rides that morning, but around lunchtime it became apparent that the day was going to be a real scorcher. So we headed to the kids' water attractions for a cooler experience.

JJ posed his sis in these pics...I was really surprised that she complied with his directions. Here she is showing you "Whew, it's hot out here!" Both kids put in a request for these to be posted on their blog. Request granted!

Her model pose with a bit of attitude...Love the hip action!

Tori took this pic with a bit of dad's help.

We did take a break despite the heat for little pirate mini golf. The lady working that evening was extremely nice. One neat thing they did here was give all the kids a goodie bag with pirate gear and coupons for other attractions.
(She is playing some serious putt-putt here.)

JJ is always a happy camper with mini golf!

What a great trip...But it wasn't much on rest and relaxation. Chris and I have decided that sometime in the fall, we are going to escape for a long weekend. Thanks for following us during our Nicktastic Vacation! Check back soon, as we have been on another short trip (Chris had a conference in Nashville.); Tori and I have been hostesses for our annual summer tea (with an Asian theme this year); and we had our summer bash at our neighborhood park, too.

Our Nicktastic Vacation, Part 6...Havin' the "Slime" of Their Lives!

2011-07-19T21:59:00.011-04:00

JJ and Dad are officially united by slime!

Preparing to be slimed in their official slime garb

Ready to be the targets in their own special slime time

The host of Slime Time asks if they are really ready...

And then he does a pre-slime coat before the sliminator dumps its cargo from above!

Yuck!

They cleaned them up before they came out, but slime was still lurking in ears, between toes...well, you get the idea! A shower was the first order of business after this experience!

Slime karate...

Dad trying share his slime bounty with the host...

JJ was his only (un)willing recipient!

Tori thought that this whole thing was "Yuck," and I agree, but it was entertaining! Tori, Paw, and I sat in the audience and cheered them on, being the big chickens that we are. This is a moment that I don't think Jonathan will ever forget. And Chris, well, he should receive a "Good Dad" reward for this one, don't you think?

Thanks for following our Nick adventures. I have one more vacation post before we get back to reality. Please check back soon!

Our Nicktastic Vacation, Part 5...Life at the Nick Resort

2011-07-14T22:42:00.018-04:00

The Lagoon Buddies

Sometimes JJ can be found here...

or here...or just swimmin' around the Oasis pool

Tori can be found at the slides just her size or just skipping around the splash pads.

Character breakfasts are always fun, delicious, and hosted by some favorite Nick friends.

Nick likes to cater to little girls. (Notice the eel green shiny polish she chose! It really is quite pretty, so mom purchased a bottle for future beauty times at home.)

Nick at night...The arcade was a popular place for the Whaley duo plus a Paw.

We spent today at Universal and called it a day in the early afternoon because of the intense heat. Check back soon...You won't want to miss the very special slime-fest post featuring JJ and Dad!

Our Nicktastic Vacation, Part 4...A Place Where Dreams Come True!

2011-07-13T12:07:00.020-04:00

Dreams can come true...We were all in awe of the castle fireworks show!

Starting out the day in Animal Kingdom...

With our character friends

And real ones alike...(All I could think of when we saw the lion on the safari ride was "And the lion sleeps tonight...")

Meeting up with a long-necked friend on the "Savannah"

And we couldn't leave out the feathered friends!

JJ was able to ride the Mt. Everest roller coaster three times! Hey, he even got old Mom on it one time!

While JJ enjoyed the thrill rides, Tori found some fun things to do that was in the shade and a bit cooler than walking around...

She learned what her name looks like in Thai and Arabic.In "Africa," she learned a new game and became quite good at it. The lady was extremely nice and very patient.

Later in the evening, after a cool-off time and a rest, we hopped on over to the Magic Kingdom. A downpour met us at the front gate. But with rain in the magical land of Disney, there is always a rainbow!

Taking a ride on the Cinderella carousel...

Waiting on the Electrical Parade...

Watching the fireworks before leaving all that magic...

The heat is almost unbearable, but we are making it okay. Days like this require lots of water and shade! Today we stayed at Nick and enjoyed what it had to offer. Check back later for that post!

Our Nicktastic Vacation, Part 3...A Princess Tea at the Grand Floridian

2011-07-11T22:16:00.012-04:00

Tori with Princess Aurora...The very special guest at the tea

Her very own announcement card...

After being announced and crowned (which she took off as soon as she was seated) by the hostess, Rose Petal, she walked on a path of real rose petals to our table. (She really thought that was neat!)

Tea is served...featuring fruit, turkey and jam sandwiches, and cheese (all her favs) Notice we each had our own tea pots...Tori's had a "special" Rose Petal tea (apple juice). Mom munched on adult fare, which was awesome! Later they served a heavenly strawberry cake!

Aurora brought Tori a special rose with no thorns...Disney doesn't miss a beat!

A special moment with Rose Petal...There were only eight little princess in attendance, so they got lots of special attention! Tori liked her My Disney Princess doll that each little girl received to play with at the tea and keep. She also was given a princess charm bracelet and scrapbook package. Again, Disney really focuses on detail!

One last pose of Princess Victoria at the spectacular Grand Floridian

We are off to the Disney parks tomorrow...Check back soon for that post and some pics of the kids having fun at the Nick resort.

Our Nicktastic Vacation, Part 2...Universal's Islands of Adventure

2011-07-11T16:16:00.019-04:00

Getting ready to start the day...It was hot, but not unbearable because of the overcast sky.JJ and Dad's first ride of the day...The Incredible Hulk

One of the few rides outside the Seuss area that Tori was tall enough to ride. She became a little miffed at the whole idea as the day wore on. She is a bit of a dare-devil, and she doesn't like being so small. One of these days, baby girl, they won't be able to tell you "no!"

So, in Jurassic Park, Tori climbed and played on the splash pads while Dad and JJ rode the bigger people rides.

Making her own fun!

JJ was getting concerned that his sis was being left out of the fun. He was relieved when we finally arrived at Seuss Landing and even rode all those "kid" rides, too.

On the Caro-Seussical...

Riding the "Red Fish, Blue Fish" ride

Welcome to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter...JJ sporting a Butter beer mustache (tastes like butterscotch with a shortbread frothy topping) We sampled it while waiting in line for the 4-D ride. Just a small warning for those with fragile stomachs...The ride and butter beer don't mix well. I learned that the hard way and felt queasy for the rest of the afternoon.

His favorite part of the book series is the Hogwarts Express...Well, that and the chocolate frogs. Tori was fascinated with the train, too.

JJ and Dad taking time to put on their thinking caps...

Check back soon for our rest day Monday!

Our Nicktastic Vacation, Part 1...We are here!

2011-07-11T08:39:00.005-04:00

Saturday...Our day of arrival at the Nick Resort

Their request was granted...A Sponge bob room with bunk beds

Tori welcomes you to the land of Bikini Bottom in her room for the week

This Dora was okay, but she really wants to meet the "real" one!

We are having a blast! Thankfully we traveled most of the day on Friday, stayed in Valdosta, GA overnight, and then arrived in Orlando around noon on Saturday. The kids enjoyed cooling off in the resort pools and water slides for the afternoon while mom organized us for the week. The evening was spent with Pizza Hut take-out and a special viewing in our suite of the Fairly Odd Parents movie premier, Grow Up Timmy Turner. Yesterday, we visited Universal's Islands of Adventure (aka. Harry Potter World), so that will be our next post. Check back soon and have a Nicktastic day of your very own!

Festival on the Fourth

2011-07-06T19:49:00.012-04:00

Not the best picture...But it was hard to get them to be still when we arrived at Volunteer Landing. They were ready to eat and then get wet!

Having a picnic supper by the Tennessee River

The girls had a ball feeding the ducks left-over breadWaterfall fun

"Baby, you're a firework...

"...let your colors burst!"

JJ being a ham and a half...

I am ashamed to say this, but this was Tori's first view of a professional fireworks display. She loved it.

The Whaley and Jones clans had a great 4th afternoon (after the huge storm that rolled through earlier in the day). It ended up being a perfect evening with lower humidity and slight breeze. We started our outing at Volunteer Landing with a picnic supper, and the kids really enjoyed the fountains and waterfall there. (No crowds!) Then, we headed to World's Fair Park for the Festival on the Fourth. (Crowds!) There, the kids had a go at that fountain, ate all kinds of snacks, and enjoyed the fireworks display as the Knoxville Symphony played patriotic tunes. We all had such a great time, so we are going to try to make this an annual event or at least attempt it next year.

It's so great to be an American!!! Sounds like everyone had a great weekend...

Fourth Fun...Happy Independence Day!!!

2011-07-04T12:08:00.009-04:00

This...

leads to this...

and finally this!!!

A Sunday evening swim before the firework display...

To make "sparkle tye-dye cupcakes"
You will need white-iced cupcakes, blue and red decorator's gel (Wilton's sparkle gel is great for this...found at Wal-Mart.), and toothpicks. (I used my cake tester as my tool. Tori used toothpicks.)

Make circles with your gel. Martha even said they didn't have to be perfect!

Take your toothpick or other tool and lightly make pie-shaped cuts in your circles of color. I did all kinds of designs with different techniques with more or less gel in different patterns.

The result...Cute 4th cupcakes! Thanks Martha!!!

We hope that your 4th is full of lots of fun and safe moments!

Too Busy to Let the Grass Grow Under Our Feet

2011-07-01T19:53:00.013-04:00

Growing up means learning new things...JJ is learning to mow the yard this summer.

Summer photo on the Park Vista bear...

Eating by the riverside at the Peddler restaurant in Gatlinburg

Enjoying the Park Vista pool area...

It is a great set-up for a hotel of this size.

Now you know why we call it the Smoky Mountains...

Getting ready for middle school golf...At his first lesson this week at Emory Golf Course with Sam his instructor.

This morning when Chris dropped her off at preschool, we found out that Tori is ready to move up to the other class. We are sad that we had to say goodbye to Mrs. Aileen. She is an awesome teacher, and we so appreciate everything she did this year for Tori.

Since getting back from NYC, I have been spending lots of my time getting things in order to start the kitchen renovation. All of the plans have been completed and finalized, cabinets are ready to be ordered, and our contractor is lined up. Our neighbor and friend has been such a help with appliances and made that process easier. But, the kitchen is only half of the "Great Construction Project." I have waited to make any mention of the other half because we were waiting to see if it would be possible. The kids have wanted one of their own for a long time, and if at all within his capability, Chris was going to see it through. What is it? Well, the the Hillbillies called it their "cement pond." Yep, we are taking the plunge (ha!) and building a pool. Let's just say that I am glad I have the time right now to devote to all the preparation. Because we live in a historic area and in a city, we have all the zoning and inspectors to deal with, in addition to the pool person and fencing company. We hope to have the pool in ASAP, and the kitchen completed by at least October. It's going to be chaos from here on until completion. I just hope my patience and nerves can handle this!!!

The kids have been busy with their usual summer activities...reading, swimming, spending time with friends, and playing outside when the weather cooperates. I was so glad last week that Chris could take a couple of days off to go with me to my education conference in Gatlinburg. The three of them had a blast while I was experiencing one of the most boring I have ever attended. I know that it just wasn't me because the other teachers who were in attendance were making the same comments. Speaking of school, I received the word while I was there that my principal will be moving to the Central Office. So this fall, we will have some new leadership. Let's just say that I am a bit nervous about this. Who knows who we will get...I know from years of experience that a good/bad principal can really make your life as a teacher great/horrible. Please say a prayer that we will get a good one; I am too old and been at this game too long to put up with too much nonsense!!!

What does July have in store? Well, we have a busy 4th weekend...I am in the kitchen on Sunday making cupcakes. I really hope that Martha's cookie decoration tip works on cupcakes! We are taking a trip to Orlando...Nick hotel, Universal, and Disney. And we will be meeting up with one of Tori's Xuwen sisters later in the month. Of course, the "Great Construction Project" will be on-going, too.

I hope that you have a restful or exciting weekend ahead. Whatever you have planned, please have the best time ever and be safe!

Celebrating Our Dad (and Husband)

2011-06-28T16:08:00.004-04:00

Celebrating Dad's Day on the road home...

Tori made Dad a bunch of crafty things at preschool.

As we were traveling home from NYC, Chris didn't have much of a Father's Day celebration. So the kids and I wanted to take a moment to tell him just how much we appreciate and love him:

Jonathan says, "Happy Dad's Day...Thanks for all the great times we have together. I love you very much!"

Tori says, "I wuv you, Dad. You make me happy!"

Cindy says, "Thank you for your unconditional love and for the way you care for us. I appreciate all the sacrifices you make for our family and for all those times you make us feel special. I am very proud of you!!!"

Happy belated Father's Day to all!

PS--Perci is back to her usual cute self!

A Perci Scare

2011-06-27T21:38:00.005-04:00

A happier moment last week when we picked up the furry sisters from Mrs. Jeannie's and Mr. Ron's cabin in the woods...They love to be country pooches for awhile when we go on trips. We are so thankful that Jeannie, Ron, and their granddaughter are okay after their auto accident. They are extremely wonderful people who make the world a better place!!!

I really don't want to think about the outcome, if our vet had not had state of the art monitoring equipment during surgical procedures. But, to make a long story short, Perci did not have her surgery today on her leg. Her little body couldn't handle being put under with the normal procedure, so both her heart rate and temperature dropped too low too quickly. They can take other measures if and when we want to try this again. We are going to wait awhile and see how she does. She is still really out of it, even at this hour. The kids are worried that all she is doing is sleeping, and Sophie is worried so much that she paces in front of her and gently licks her on the ear occasionally. Dr. S. said that she would sleep much of the day/night, but she should be more spry and awake by in the morning. All I know is that anesthetic really did a number on her, and I feel to blame for putting her through all this.

Yep, I can't help it. Even if she is of the four-legged variety, she is one of my babies! Please say a prayer that she recovers by tomorrow and that we can make the right decision for her in the future.

I hope that tomorrow is a better day for all of us...
Cindy

Our Big Apple Adventure, June 15-19

2011-06-26T14:57:00.024-04:00

Day one...After a very uncomfy overnight bus trip, our first stop was the Millennium Theater in Lancaster Co., PA to see Joseph.

We ate supper at the Amish home located by this lovely Amish farm...Notice that there are no electrical poles! It was a beautiful area, but I don't think I could give up my modern-day conveniences.

Day two...Taking the ferry to Ellis and Liberty Islands
JJ had an awesome time despite the long days of touring and the late nights.

He and Mamaw Teina were buddies through the whole trip!

Ellis Island registration floor...My dad, JJ and I represent the current three generations of descendants who came to America by way of this check in point to become free Americans.

The baggage room...What you see when you first arrive at the memorial and museum at Ellis Island.

JJ and "Lovely Lady Liberty with her book of recipes..." (My ode to School House Rock)

Ending day two with Wicked on Broadway!!! (I was beside myself with happiness!)

Well, almost ending the day...We made a quick stop on the way back to the hotel at Hershey World.

JJ and his big bucket of Kisses. We will be eating these until Christmas!!!

Day three...The Today show and our shout-out to Tori back home with her Mamaw Sandy and Paw Estel. We didn't get on T.V. because of the large crowd gathered for the concert series. Kenny Chesney was there, so that's why we all were dressed in orange, for our hometown boy.

JJ could have spent his whole vacation here.

And I could have spent mine here...all three stories of an American Girl fan's dream world!

An evening with the Blue Man Group...What an unusual and awesome show!!!

Ending the day atop the Empire State Building...

Day four...Starting the day with a movie locations tour (at Washington Arch Park)

A stop in Harlem at Ladder 14 Station to see the Freedom Engine that the people of East Tennessee donated in 2002 after the 9-11 attacks. . . This is most of our travel group, by the way.

An afternoon with my parents at Serendipity 3 (and a little shopping at the cute boutiques and Bloomingdale's close by). Just look at those massive and heavenly desserts...my frozen hot chocolate was divine!

We met my cousin John and his family for dinner at a wonderful Italian restaurant before heading to see Phantom of the Opera. My mom was thrilled to finally see it!

Day five...Heading home, but not before stopping in Hershey, PA for a glimpse into the world of Hershey chocolates.

This was our quick, but enjoyable trip to NYC. JJ liked visiting and would like to go back, but he said he preferred ET more. Chris and I also got our fill of city life for awhile. But there is something vibrant and magical about NYC that keeps us going back again and again. We look forward to the next time because Tori will be old enough to enjoy what NYC has to offer.

Check back soon for a couple more catch-up posts.

Hope you are having an enjoyable and restful Sunday!

You Know Summer is in Full Swing When...

2011-06-13T22:30:00.010-04:00

Chuck E Cheeses is the main destination for the day, and the only decision to make is what kind of treat you want after playing all those cool games.

It is time to eat creative VBS snacks.

You spend five evenings enjoying VBS activities.

You spend part of the VBS evening doing neat crafts with puffy stickers.

You are able to spend VBS time with your best friend. (It was so great that the theme this year was "The Big Apple Adventure" because we are leaving for NYC this week!)

Dad gets up early on Saturday to make Mickey pancakes just for you!

The Potting Shed

2011-06-11T10:15:00.010-04:00

Before I get back to the kids in the next blogs, I thought I would take some time to share one of my favorite things about our home. My potting/storage house was designed by my dad and built by him, my father in laws, and even my Grandpa Ingram. This was one of the first major constructions we did shortly after buying our c1892 home. There was an old shed in the back at first and all my dad had to do to raze it was to give it one big push! Lots of the materials came from a "railroad salvage" store in Knoxville, including the windows. My father-in-law designed the gingerbread trim...it's a smaller version of the trim on our front porch.

Shortly after its completion, we had to convince the property assessor that this was not a small house! (My dad thinks on a large scale!) In fact, for several years, we would find a bagged telephone book on the door handle as if they thought someone lived here! This dutch door leads to the potting room. There is storage space in the back that covers the length of the porch and potting room.

One of my favorite wreaths I have made. It's about seven years old, but it still looks pretty good!

Another design-by-dad...My potting bench.

Besides my bench (that is so precious to me) this is the other fav thing in my room. A very talented lady in Spring City had a shop where she sold her creations. She has since closed it and moved on. I am so glad that I made the purchase of this shelf long ago!

I love birds and birdhouses...This is where I store and display the majority of my collection. The crackle effect painting was done by myself and Paw Lowell (before he was Paw Lowell!) Jonathan was not even born when this was started and completed. (So you see where I spent my time and energies before the kids came along.)

A favorite view...This is from the swing looking onto our back porch. I always plant petunias of some sort in my planters in memory of my Grandma Ingram. My grandfather was gifted in farming, agriculture, and horticulture. In fact, he was a high school ag/shop teacher until he retired in the 1970s. After retirement, he and my grandmother opened a greenhouse business. I spent many Saturdays as a teen helping out during growing and planting season. My grandma was in charge of the flowers, and she always had to have petunias when they placed their seed order every year.

A view out the dutch door...I knew in my heart that we would have kids one day. So I had this spot picked out long ago to house a fort/play set. Hopefully, one of these days, Tori and I will have a "little" playhouse (with my dad designing it, one never knows) to be seen out this door, too. (I have approached him with my playhouse plans a few weeks ago...)

Have a good weekend in your favorite place!

The Secret is in the Sauce...

2011-06-07T15:40:00.004-04:00

The origin of this spaghetti sauce...My paternal grandmother and grandfather (Rose and Austin) who met during WWII. She was a beautiful Brooklyn Italian girl who was visiting her sister in California and met her handsome soldier who came from the farms of Sweetwater, Tennessee.

My dad has spent years and years perfecting this sauce. My brother Tony and I had a "cooking school" with my dad one Saturday morning over seven years ago to learn to make this sauce. He makes wonderful meatballs, too. But I haven't mastered that one yet. When people are invited to a spaghetti dinner at my parent's house, they know that they have hit the jack pot. My mom and dad even give out sauce as gifts at Christmas.

Just as a warning to you...I never measure with exact measuring devices (except the sugar). My dad taught us to use our hands, so I am giving you approximate amounts.

Makes enough for dinner and several meals after. This freezes well in plastic containers.

You will need the following: (including a big soup/sauce pot!)

1 6 lb. can of crushed tomatoes (We find ours at Sam's Club, but I am sure they will have it at Costco, too.)
3 lbs. of ground beef
2 cans (larger sized, 16 oz.) of tomato paste, use only one if you desire less thickness
3/4 cup of sugar
3 tbs. parsley flakes
5 tbs. garlic powder
4 tbs. oregano
about 3-4 cups water...I use the crushed tomato can as my measuring device, fill it about 1/3
salt and pepper to taste

First brown ground beef with parsley flakes and 3 tbs. of garlic powder. A tip as you brown: We like bigger chucks of meat in our sauce. So divide meat carefully. Drain. (My dad swears that you should brown your meat in the same pot you will cook from because it makes it more flavorful. I use my big frying pan and then the pot. I really can't tell any difference, but don't tell him that!!!)

Add all other ingredients together (including the last 2 tbs. of garlic powder) and stir well before adding meat. Let simmer for about 30 minutes, then place on low for about 2 hours. The sauce gets better as it ages. So the second time you serve, it will be more flavorful.

You can use this of course on any pasta or use it as the sauce for lasagna.

Today's blog is in honor of my dad and in memory of two special grandparents whom I miss very much.

Happy eating!

How To Beat the Heat...

2011-06-05T16:30:00.012-04:00

Run through the sprinklers with Paw...

Go swimming lots...
(Tori has progressed to swimming all over the pool this year, including the deep end!)

Celebrate a sixth birthday...Happy Birthday Drake!

Help Mom plant and water flowers all over the yard. (The above pic was taken in my potting shed. I plan to blog about it later.)

In fact, watering plants lots and lots due to the extreme heat!

Make lots of spaghetti sauce to eat now and freeze for later...A family recipe I will share with you soon.

And finally, read lots in your parent's bed. Isn't that the best place in the house? (By the way, JJ and I are reading the Harry Potter series this summer to get ready to visit Harry Potter World at Universal Studios in July.)

I know that you have seen it on the daily forecasts, and maybe you are experiencing it too. (If so, you have my condolences.) We are in a very hot/dry weather pattern that usually doesn't happen around here until much later in the summer!!! What happened to our mild June days? I really despise this hot weather, and I hope that we have some relief soon!!!

Aside from the heat, we have had a great first week off. Well except for a couple of things...The first day, the kids and I really just chilled, played some, and rested. After that, we have been doing the appointment thing...JJ will have braces by Christmas (What a gift!?! He has one more tooth to lose...And he really isn't too excited about the whole ordeal he has in front of him.), and our little doxy, Perci will have to have surgery this summer to repair her left hind leg (Something we have been watching grow progressively worse since we adopted her...Our vet said that it is time, so she will be in major recovery for two weeks ("Cone of shame" type) and then four weeks of "therapy." (And guess who will be her P.T.? You guessed it...Moi!) You go in for a well-check and shots, and you come out with a estimate of an expensive major surgery for your furry babe. Dr. Susan has assured us that she will be so much better and lose the extra two pounds she has gained because of the pain that leads to her inactivity. I want her better...and the kids are really sad about all of this.

That didn't really sound like a good first week off...Thanks for listening to all of that. No, really, despite those two things and the heat, it really has been a good one. As far as the next two weeks, the kids have VBS starting tonight, and next week is vacation #1 to NYC. Projects abound in this household...cleaning, organizing, getting ready for the major kitchen re-do, and a major outside project (You'll have to wait on this reveal later!). Life is always interesting and busy around here!

As I type this, there is a thunderstorm brewing...Hopefully with a reprieve from the heat! Have a great Sunday evening. And I hope to catch up with my blog friends while the kids are gone to VBS!!!
Cindy