Hello long lost blog. So much has been happening...nothing exciting, just the whirlwind of life.

So, a little catch up.

Fall is the most hectic time of the year for me. Between school starting back and 3 birthdays back to back, then Halloween, then Thanksgiving, then Christmas. No wonder my head is spinning. Add to that the economy and then pflttt! swamped I tell ya.


Well, here's a quick synopsis.

August:

Rena started Kindergarten. She loves is. I'm not a big fan. There will be a whole, independent post about that one day. I take her to school everyday and the bus brings her home. I wasn't going to let her ride the bus to start with, but the closer the beginning of school got, the more brave she got. I figured I'd let her do it if she wanted too. Why hold her back?

We went back to NC for our Family Reunion. It's the first one we've done in a really long time. I planned it and was pretty much in charge of it. My Aunt and my Dad helped out some too. It was alot of fun seeing everyone, but if we do it again, I want to enjoy it more. It was hard to just relax because I wanted it to go well for everyone. It did!

September:

The twins start preschool AND the have their 4th birthday all in the same week. They LOVE their preschool and so do I. The only go 2 days a week which gives me a little break. They would love to go everyday.

The volunteer bug evidently bit me hard. I am the co-president of the preschool parent association. It was lots of work to start with, but I think (well, I hope) it's going well. I love the other mother that is doing it with me. We've got a ying-yang thing going on.

The twins' birthday party was a water party. To hell with the water restrictions, it was all taps open for this. We had a baby pool, a slip n slide and just a regular old sprinkler. The cake was a cool little mermaid. They loved it. I was going to do water balloons too, but completely forgot! Oh well, maybe that's how we'll celebrate the first day of summer!

Next up was Rena's birthday. I did a camping party for her and made a cute little 'tent' cake. We had hamburgers and hotdogs, roasted marshmallows and beaded necklaces. It ran way over, but it was fun.


Then it was time for Halloween. A cold wet rainy Halloween. But we got our candy and we were happy.

November:

This year we decided to go to the Outer Bank for Thanksgiving. Grandmom and Grandpop's house. Blair was furloughed and then had vacation, so it worked out great. Unfortunately they had just had a big Nor'easter, so the beach was a bit of a mess. But quite honestly, I'm happy any time I'm near the ocean. It was a great week.

December:

Christmas. Need I say more. Of course you couple Christmas + small children + 'economic downturn' and it leads to a VERY stressful month.

As you can see, my Christmas pictures ended up at the top of this post. I'll fix it later. Right now, I've gotta get to girls off to preschool. You'll notice there aren't any other pictures. I lost alot of them in the big computer crash of the Fall of 09. Dammit. Luckily I have some on snapfish and some on facebook, so they're not gone forever. I'll try to get them over here later too.

So, There you go, see how busy I am! I'll be back and hopefully make a little more sense later.

Blogging before blogging was cool

In preparation for our recent family reunion, I asked people to bring pictures if they had any. I know that Shannon scanned some in for us. They are really old and grainy. I'll continue to look for pictures on my end too. If you have some you would like to post here, let me know and I will give you authorship for this blog, or you can mail or email them to me and I will post them.

So, that's Jim Bob and Rena in the picture above. I don't have a date for that picture.

I don't know if many of you know it or not, but Granny (Rena) used to write little articles for The Enterprise in Wallace. Aunt Devilla made some copies for me and I thought I would share them on here. I hope you enjoy this slice of life from the early '60's as much as I do. Unfortunately, the dates have been deleted from the article, so we can only guess as to the true date.

MY TRIP TO RALEIGH...

by Mrs. Rena Williams

Wallace, N. C.

I arrived home recently from my trip to Raleigh. I was gone a week but it was nice to get back home again, where I can see the sun rise and get a drink of water that doesn't taste like it has quinine in it. I always like a drink of water when I get up in the morning but I don't like bitter water. I know why people in Raleigh drink so much coffee - the water is so bad they have to flavor it up with something and coffee is about the only thing they can use and stay on their jobs.

I can't say I enjoyed my trip to Raleigh because my son stopped outside of the town limits and picked up two men who said they were trying to get to Greensboro. By the time they got in the car and shut the door, I felt like I was in a beer joint. The odor they had was so strong it almost made me dizzy. I wanted to open a window but it was too cold. I almost had a "crink" in my neck by the time I got to Raleigh from trying to look both backwards and forwards. I felt like I had to see what they might do and I wanted to see where I was going - and that was hard to do at the same time.

We got to my son's house about four o'clock and was his wife tired! She had been house cleaning and washing and trying to please their two-and-a-half-year-old son, who had been sick and wanted her to do everthying for him and wouldn't let her do anything else. I tried to be helpful and give her a hand, but I soon got out for the way, beause he wouldn't even let me look at him straight.

I used to have a remedy that would cure such spells but you can't use it now days for it will make the child nervous and it is so much better to be nervous yourself. He is a sweet child when he is well.

I didn't get lonesome for music or noise while I was in Raleigh as they have a TV, hi-fi radio and a boy - and if one wasn't running, the other was!

Another thing, you don't have to wear sun glasses to keep the light out of your eyes because the blinds are always pulled. If people used green shades like they used to they would sleep themselves to death, for they wouldn't know day from night. I really had to blink my eyes for three mornings up there for when I peeped out, there was a snow on the ground.

My son brought his movie camera home Christmas and took pictures of all the family and grandchildren opening their presents and I didn't have any idea everyone was moving around so much. It looked like you had thrown a brick in a wasps nest. Children were running this way and that way. I had often wondered what I would look like to myself, if I could see myself walking or sitting around, and now I know - terrible! But we did enjoy the movies even though they were more like comedies than anything else.

I enjoyed my visit and I didn't have anything to do but sit around and think about the day I would go home and thus I got to thinking that sometimes people go up there and don't come back home, so that makes me even happier that I am back home.

When I was up there over a year ago, I came home with the coffee habit and now I almost have the coffee nerves!

On to Grandmom's house. Ok, there's a Grandpa too, but he doesn't get referenced in the travel lingo.

Grandma's house is a pretty laid back place where we get to hang out with Grandmom, Grandpop and the dogs. And if that wasn't great enough, it's walking distance to the beach. Rachel actually managed to stay awake...at least for a little while.

Believe it or not, this is all 3 girls. Sound asleep. On the beach. And me, without anything to read.

Grandmom and Riley enjoyed some together time.

Rachel in her normal 'day at the beach' pose.

The water at Grandmom's is a little cooler that it is farther south. I won't go in at all.

A new form of catching waves.

We had some rain while we were at Grandmom's. Rena took full advantage of it by riding her bike through it....again and again and again.

Grandmom also hooked us up with some cool tickets to see Charlotte's Web down in Manteo. A live, outdoor play. Very cool.

See. There is a Grandpop. And he read us stories.

Rena was not deterred by cold water. Not at all.

Luckily Daddy's blood has a few Northern drops in it, so he doesn't mind the cold water so much.

Pure beach joy!

This one. Well, she's got attitude.

This is one of those picture that I wish I could reach into and adjust the subjects. If Rena was just a little further to the right, this picture would be perfect. But if there's one thing I've learned about THESE subjects, it's that they are not at all cooperative. I still like this picture. and I love the subjects!

This one! She cracks me up too.

On to Wilmington

The next stop on the vacation tour '09 was to my brother's house where we were able to settle in for the week. Ok, settle in is probably a misnomer. We hit the ground running with 3 boat trips and a couple of runs to Topsail Island where my best friend and her family were staying. I don't even remember the order of events, so I'll just comment on the pictures. Vacation's supposed to be one big blur, isn't it?

Riley and Rena enjoyed playing in the driveway, practicing their art skills with sidewalk chalk. I was mighty impressed that Rena wrote dog and cat all by herself. When I asked her what A-N-E-R spelled she looked at me funny and said, 'Rena'. Ah! How did I miss that?

This was a sandbar that had formed in the marsh near an inlet. HUGE sandbar. We came here twice. What a great place to hang out for the day. Of course, you have to be outta there by high tide! But in the mean time, there were lots of sand dollars to find sand to play with and water to splash around in.

Rachel contemplating the boat ride.

Rena enjoys the breeze.

My brother looking fit and fab as he approaches the big 5-0.

Miss Riley, always the fashionista.

Rena sorting through her bounty of shells.

A little post beach yogurt break.

Some bubbly fun.

This is how Rachel spent most of her beach days. My brother was worried that she was missing the party. I had to inform him the she is the party.

Soaring high. Seagulls seem to be able to spot small children as an excellant source of food from miles away.

This is the life.

Running with the gulls.

The sisters go exploring.

Next was my favorite island. We anchor on the sound side up in the marsh and then we can hang out there, or traipse across the little island to the ocean. I choose ocean! Great beach, warm water, calm ocean, blue skies. What more could one hope for.

Everyone brings their kids and dogs. Lots of friends show up. At first, I thought that it was cruel for the kids to be burying this dog. Poor dog. Then I realized that the dogs were lining up for their turn!

This was one BIG dog. And he's just a puppy. He wanted to play, but I think his size freaked the other dogs out.

Blair spent a little quality time in the waves with his girls.

I'm trying to feed my 'gluten-free-you-eat-too-much-crap-you-can-eat-that' spouting brother a nutter-butter. Maybe that'll shut him up.

This little boy hit the jackpot. 3 beautiful girls AND cookies!

Cousin Ryan snuggling with Rena.

a little game time on the beach.

This is Riley. But it looks like Rachel to me...since she's the one who's usually asleep.

I took the girls up to Topsail one day to see my friend an her family. She was here from Boston, so it was a perfect opportunity to see each other. Plus, I hadn't met her son. What a fat little cutie he is. I was dissappointed that I didn't get to hold him, but I think he was a little overwhelmed by the sheer number of people around him. We got to hang out on the beach for awhile and catch up. One day, I'll get to go to Boston again, and then I'm gonna give him a big squeeze!

Vacation 2009

So here were are starting our third day of vacation and I'm exhausted already! I would love to say I'm kidding, but I'm not.

It started with the house. I tried to get the house cleaned and everyone packed before we left. The harder I cleaned, the more the girls messed up. Plus it's just a big house with alot of stuff. I swear I don't know how people keep a clean house. I would have to strap the girls in the car and work for hours to get it the way I really want it. Not gonna happen. But hopefully we didn't leave any trash inside (uh,oh, now I'm starting to have doubts) or food laying around to rot and get stinky. Nice thought, huh?

Then I had to make sure the dogs were taken care of. The labs didn't get to go on this trip. It's just not nice to bring 200 pound of dog to someone else's house. Max however, did get to come. My dad and I figured he's about 98 years old and with age come privilege. Max got to come with us as far as my Dad's. Daddy will keep him for me while I'm at my brothers, which makes me happier than leaving him at home and quite honestly, it's easier than taking him to my brothers, where he's not welcomed.

So, house taken care of, then dogs, now it's time to pack. This seems to be a never ending task! How much stuff do we need. Good googly-moogly! Clothes, shoes, toys, sunscreen, lifejackets, bathing suits, food, towels, computer :) phones, cords, bikes...lets just say except for the labs and some pictures, we have no reason to return to Georgia.

So now we're off. We left at 12 after planning to leave at 10. And we got here at 8. That's a long trip, especially with 3 little girls and one old dog. Oh, and we were in 2 vehicles. I drove with the twins and the dog, and Blair drove with Rena.

So once we got here, we ate dinner at my dad's. My brother, his wife and one of their sons met us at Daddy's. Then we checked into a hotel and went to sleep.

the girls love their cousin, Mason.

July 4

This is one of my favorite days for a couple of reasons. One, it's my birthday!

(we're all laughing because I said whoever sings the best gets the biggest piece of cake. My brother misunderstood and thought I meant the loudest, so he won, if I'd really said the loudest.)

Two, I love fireworks. Three, I get to spend it with my family. We usually go the the 4th of July festival in Southport, NC where they have a big parade, festival and fireworks.

Well, this year, we weren't really into the whole parade thing. Rachel and Riley complained and whined so much while I was trying to watch the parade, that I finally took them and left and let Rena and her daddy enjoy the rest of it. We ate a little festival food...seriously? $4.00 for a hotdog?...drank a little lemonade, made a quick run through the arts and crafts festival and then headed back to my dad's - Grandaddy's. We swam in the pool for a very short while, ate plums from his plum tree,

my brother and his family came over, we all ate dinner and then my family headed back down to the waterfront for the fireworks display. I actually tried to talk the girls out of going because I was seriously tired by this point, but I'm so glad we went. I really do love sitting on the bow of my Dad's boat watching the fireworks over the ocean. Then, we had a very short, but very long drive back to the hotel. Traffic is a nightmare and it's really hard to believe all those people were down there watching the fireworks too!

Today's agenda? Heading up the beach to my brother's and out on the boat for a little sand and water time.

Hopefully I'll be able to upload some pictures to share soon.

Hope you all had a nice relaxing 4th.

Preschool Graduation

Rena was in the 4 year old program at Preschool this year. And since they are the oldest, they get to graduate. How sweet is this. I love our Preschool! They did it in the chapel, at night. It was a special event for the children...and one of the stepping stones of childhood. (sniff, sniffl..I'm tearing up just thinking about it!) This was only our second year there, but we made good friends and had a great time. I'm really excited that Rachel and Riley will have been there for the whole time by the time they graduate.

The classes performed handbells for us.

Rena wants to be a tennis girl when she grows up. :)

The sisters enjoy some post-graduation cake.

Rena was really proud of herself...and I'm proud of her too.

Just Another Manic Monday

Mondays this past year turned out to be a rather stressful day for me. I would get Rena ready for school, drop the twins off at my neighbor's house, pick her son up and take Rena and her son to preschool. Then, I'd head back home, pick up the twins and try to get things accomplished like laundry and dishes. Before I would know it, it would be time to feed Rachel and Riley and get out the door again to take Riley to ballet. Another friend picked Rena up at preschool and brought her to ballet since Riley's class started at 1 and Rena's school got out at 1. It's hard to be in 2 places at one time! And since I always had at least 2 kids waiting with me, I needed to pack things for them to do. Poor Rachel had to hang out and wait for an hour and a half. (Of course, she could have been in ballet.) I did have some fun in that hour and a half wait. I met a new friend, who's daughter was in the class with Rena, and I got to spend time with my friend from preschool. We didn't solve the world's problems, but we did have fun discussing our own, while my children entertained themselves, and sometime us.

The stress of those hectic Modays was all worth it when it came down to recital time. Last year, Rena was in the recital by herself, but this year, I had 2 little ballerina's in there. And it was great! Both girls did such a fantastic job. Their teacher did such a fantastic job! It was a little hectic...like on dress rehearsal day when it dawned on me that we were supposed to START rehearsal at 12:30, not BE THERE at 12:30. I was a little frantic then. But the big day went off without a hitch.

Rena's the second from the left.

Riley's the one on the right.

The big ballerina's are always a hit and have rock-star appeal for the little girls. My girls were so excited to have their picture taken with her.

It wasn't completely without it's own drama, though. Riley realized that the other ballerina's were getting flowers...and she wasn't...and she wanted flower! In true diva fashion, she was demanding flowers. And, she deserved them. She really did. So I frantically borrowed money from anyone willing to share, and sent Blair after some flowers. They were happy. And so was I!

driving me crazy

I have other posts in the works, talking about all the wonderful things we did at the end of May. It's no wonder I'm behind on posting when things like this pop up.

The other night as I was laying in bed, I began to realize that the air conditioner was still running. So I asked hubby what it was set on. 71. Too low for my taste, he knew, so he raised it without question. The next day, on my way back from the mailbox, this is what I spotted.

Jeez a lou!

Then, today, after chasing the dog around the house and prying inappropriate things out of his mouth for a half hour, I decided to save my sanity and just put them all outside, even though it's raining. Little did I know that there will be no salvation for my sanity.