Grandma Rocket {our van}

Today we woke up, ate our breakfast, got dressed and drove to Anderson to get Grandma Rocket!!  After one week at the Honda repair shop she was ready!  She was at Ray's Garage for 6 (SIX) weeks and they barely did any work on the van.  Ray's didn't charge us for the "work" they did but it cost us more than we expected (or wanted) at the Honda dealership.  After six weeks I didn't care - I just wanted to get my van back.

It was so weird driving the van again.  I've spent 4 of the last 7 weeks driving my Dad's Chevy truck.  It was an adjustment for sure!  Hannah was very excited to be back in her seat - away from my right elbow and Samuel's left leg.  I was happy to have space, AC, and a cd player again.  Sammy was happy because we were all happy.  But mainly, we're all thrilled to have our trusty, spacious Grandma Rocket back...

As soon as we got home we rushed through lunch and ran back outside -{like we were afraid the van had disappeared in the hour we were inside!}  We gave Grandma a spa treatment ... vacuumed the inside, cleaned every where we could reach and then I steam cleaned the carpet.  She was in need of it for sure.  She smelled musty from not being used for 7 weeks and there was also a lingering scent of oil (from the car parts that were thrown in the back when she was towed to the Honda place.)

After we cleaned the van we headed to my parents for supper.  After we ate my Dad took the kids fishing and then for a ride on the tractor.  They both agreed that today was perfect ... 

 {Hannah & Samuel took turns wearing her totally cool heart glasses}

 {Hannah actually hugged the van! / How fast can we all get inside?}

{Samuel is looking to see if Papa has the tractor ready. / Hannah & Samuel return from fishing.

Sammy goes first on the tractor / then it's Hannah's turn.

*Samuel was actually afraid to get on the tractor @ first but then they each took a second turn!}

Just a side note:  we don't personify anything else around our house.  Hannah named the van Grandma Rocket and Bobby's car is Rocket.  G'ma Rocket is obviously special to us - we got her when Hannah was about 8 months old, we drove her when we brought Sam home from the hospital, and she's taken us to FL, IN, and even to NH!  She's been good to us :-)

April Ponderings

I loved the book 'The Lovely Bones' by Alice Sebold

(though I don't agree with her depiction of heaven)

I absolutely hated the movie.

Peter Jackson focused too much on the "heaven" scenes.

I expected it to be so much better.

 

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I'm excited that warm weather is moving in.
I don't want the sweltering summer temps -
but I like spring.
The fresh sweet smelling air that's still a tad bit cool
but warm enough to play outside.
Park weather...
Open window weather...

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  On days that it's actually been warm the kids have played outside all day.

They both have a little farmer's tan.
It's too cute.

 

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The other day I took the kids to the park
(even though it was really chilly)
and then to Burger King.
I'd forgotten how good their burgers are.
And Hannah & Samuel actually ate their chicken tenders and apple fries.
Not the healthiest place to eat... but delicious.

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We still don't have the van back.
Though we have moved it from Ray's to the Honda dealership in Anderson.
Bobby spent one Fri. at Ray's helping the mechanics work on the van.
Until they told him he was in their way.
Then their was a verbal confrontation and Bobby made the decision to have the van moved.
It's going to cost us triple what we had saved to pay Ray's!
We've filed a complaint with the Better Business Bureau and we're looking into other options.
Finally an Honest Mechanic"...
I want to rip that sign down every time I see it.

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Tri-County Tech is offering culinary classes!
Can you believe it?
I want to sign up for a few.
Especially the 'Pastries & Desserts' class.
And 'Cake Making' + 'Cake Decorating'.
I think it would be awesome to make a wedding cake and decorate it.
Do you know how much wedding cakes sell for?!

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And last (but not least) I finished 'Anna Karenina'!!
I started in November of last year and finally finished it this month.
Some parts were really slow and boring & I actually put it down a few times.
But I made it through.
It was very well written and easy to understand (I feared 'ye old English but it wasn't like that at all.)
The only beef I have with Tolstoy is that he digresses. A lot.
If you can get past that and keep your characters straight you're good to go.
Who's up for borrowing it?

 

welcome ....

to the newest members of the Clark Clan.  Ellie & Milo.

 

These little kittens are so cute and cuddly.  They've taken right up with Hannah & Samuel.  They follow the kids everywhere they go.  We haven't had any problems with the eating or using their "potty" (with the exception of Ellie peeing in my shoe.  once.) 

a sleepover

The kids were so cute today.  I couldn't resist taking their pictures and sharing them with you guys!

Hannah can now dial my parents  # without any help.  My mom had told Hannah that she could sleepover tonight.  Hannah's calling to see if Granny is ready for her.  (Don't you just love her outfit?!)

Please stop taking pictures so we can leave!

I see you Sammy!!

This is one of my favorite pictures of Samuel.  He's got Mystery and he's ready to go to Granny's.

I better finish up and head to bed.  No kids to interrupt my beauty sleep ... what am I waiting for! 

A Birthday Dinner

Yesterday my sister and I threw a "birthday dinner" for Mama's birthday.  We waited until the day after her actual b-day because she & Daddy went to church Wednesday evening and they had a little party for her there.

We had so much fun last night.  A lot happened but I was so busy eating, laughing, and getting a pedicure of my own that I didn't take very many pictures.

Here's what I did manage to get...

and Mama... 

while Hannah 

 

The menu consisted of:  a whole chicken sprinkled with lemon pepper and cooked all day in the crock
                        pot, pasta salad (two different kinds), lemonade, and Strawberry Cheesecake cupcakes.

Guests included: Joan, Emily (though I didn't manage to get a picture of her), Grandma Sechrist,
                           Bonnie, me and the kiddos

Presents Received: a beautiful scarf and pin, candles, candles and more candles!

** The last two pictures are so funny and sweet.  Hannah sneaks another cupcake (her third).  And I had to make the last picture black & white b/c I could not edit out the red eyes!  I think it's cuter in b&w...

Happy Birthday Mama!

Today is my Mama's 55th birthday!  

So to "celebrate" she & I, along with the kiddos, went to the Steak House for a delicious lunch.  Then we headed over to Head Lee Nursery because she loves plants and gardening.  This is crazy but that was my first trip to Head Lee and I loved it!!  I could have spent all day there looking at the flowers and taking pictures.  If I had the money I would have stocked up on flowers and pots as well as some decorations!  But I digress, we spent about an hour or so there (due to the fact that Samuel lost my keys in the green house and we had to spend quite a bit of time hunting for them!)  Now Mama's at home resting and then she & my Dad are going to church this evening.  

My sister and I have planned a girls night for her tomorrow evening.  We're going to cook supper and then do manicures/pedicures.  We've invited a few of her friends & family and it's going to be all girls!!  Sounds like it's going to be a lot of fun!!

(I want one of those Owl Rock decorations - top right.  And Samuel is holding the "pagonias" we ended up buying - bottom right.)

Flowers

Bobby bought me these beautiful flowers yesterday and I just had to share them with you too.  Plus I wanted to brag about my unbelievably sweet and thoughtful husband!

4.8.2010

...Look at your life then...
and look at it now...
1 handsome, super intelligent, sexy husband
1 home (that we've lived in together for 9 years)
2 jobs (currently)
2 very beautiful children
1 faithful dog
3 vehicles (1 that's been kidnapped by the garage, 1 that barely cranks, and 1 that
smells like Captain D's)
1 garden that is sprouting home grown vegetables
9 years of marriage (filled with our fair share of ups and downs but more ups than downs)
1 very happy, loved, blessed, devoted wife

(Sounds like a recipe for a happy marriage!!)

Bobby you are the best! I'm sorry this is belated but "Happy Birthday!!"

don't you agree?

...just click on the image to see a larger version...

Simply Sammy

Sammy loves when Bobby does "to the sky" when he puts Sam to bed. Mommy is too short to do this...

• I can't believe Samuel is two years old! Where has the time gone?! He's so little though ... he can still wear his 18 month shorts from last summer but wears 24 month shirts.
  
• We've been babysitting an 11 month old baby boy and Sammy is somewhat jealous. He says, "My Mommy!" But he secretly likes Paden if he can make him laugh.
• He'll eat just about anything but Pimento Cheese (yuck!) and vegetables. Although he did eat a piece of broccoli the other night. So unlike his big sister.
• I have discovered that he loves lemonade. I made some recently and Sammy & I were the only two who drank it.
  
• When we went out to eat with Bobby & his department last week, Sammy yelled at the waitress, "I want CHEESEBURGER!" For someone so quiet he can be rather loud & demanding when it comes to something he wants.
• I'm tired of hearing Sammy say, "MINE!" The training has already begun...
• Sammy is really affectionate though. He willingly gives me hugs & kisses. And when I was leaving the room after tucking them into bed he yelled, "Lub you!" And he certainly loves Hannah. If she's not around he constantly asks, "Where Hannah go?"
• He's also become a little parrot. He'll repeat just about anything you say. Like last night when Bobby muttered, "Unbelievable!" and a little voice next to him said, "Unbelebable!"
  
• He can count to 10 with no help.
• He finally knows his colors and his favorite is orange.
• He is potty trained :-)
• He loves watching sports with Bobby & will yell "Go Tigers!" no matter who's playing.
• He also loves the toy guns Papa/Bobby bought for him. Not to mention the bow & arrow from Bobby. Our new favorite game consists of me sitting on the couch and shooting the arrows at the front door (trying to make them stick). Sammy retrieves them for me and we do it over again. I used his new interest in the b&a to introduce him to Disney's 'Robin Hood' (my all time favorite Disney movie!)
  
• And last of all, some favorites: food-mashes 'tatoes, ice cream-chocolate, book-'Moo, Baa, La La La', movie-'Night at the Museum'
  

Interview with a 4 Year Old...

hard questions. honest answers.

What is your favorite....

color? Pink
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Ice cream? Vanilla & Chocolate
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Movie? Pistachio (the newest Veggie Tales)
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Animal? Lamby (her "snuggle buddy")
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Book? Rainbow Who.
Me: What do you mean Hannah? Winnie-the-Pooh?
Hannah: Oh yeah. Winnie-the-Pooh! I can't talk right today.
I disagree with this answer though. She actually loves all the Berenstein books.
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Food? Rice & vegetables. Make sure you mention corn.
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Person? Jude, Isaiah, Ira
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Thing to do? Play

There you have it folks.... a few of Hannah's favorite things.

Project 365

This is something I've been contemplating for a while.
Project 365 is a challenge to take at least one photo a day for a year.
I had thought about starting at the beginning of 2010 but for some reason decided not to.
So here I am ... it's April and I'm just starting Project 365.
Better late than never right?
I actually started on Bobby's birthday so I have 4 photos in my collection so far.

I think this is going to be fun and challenging. My goal is to capture photos of our every day life - the kids, our pets, our garden, etc. So on April 8 of 2011, we'll see how it turns out. I'll be uploading my Project pictures to Flickr and I'll post the link on my sidebar as well (in case you might be interested in keeping up with my work ;-)

a sign that spring is here...

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I couldn't resist adding a picture of these two handsome fellows...

Easter 2010

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The night before Easter, Hannah, Samuel, Karen & I dyed our Easter eggs. This was an amazing accomplishment considering we had been going non-stop all day.

Easter day we had lunch at my Granny James' house and had an Easter Egg Hunt with my younger cousins.

Easter evening we had a wonderful time of fellowship with our best friends, the Steele's. It was the perfect ending to a crazy weekend!

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Lately I've been uploading my pictures to flickr and photobucket to edit them before posting them to our blog. It's fun to play around and see what I can do with our pictures and I love the results. (The picture of Hannah welcoming Elijah to our Seder & the one of Ira "drinking" Elijah's wine are actually the same photo!)
It's so time consuming though and sometimes I don't get to every photo. So I wanted to add a few that didn't make the cut last time...

Karen & David before the Easter Bunny Run. I love that Karen is all smiling & happy while Dave is yawning!

Our sweet friend Jenny Bradford and her beautiful daughter Mattie. Jenny ran the 1/2 marathon.
I don't know how I missed this photo during editing b/c I had really wanted to put it on the blog.

This is my favorite... all of the guys standing around the grill talking. Never mind that we were starving!

All in a Days Work

Saturday, April 3

6am - wake up (begrudgingly) and get ready for the Easter Bunny Run in Clemson.

7:30am - arrive and get our starting info for the race.

8:06am - The half marathon starts and Bobby & Dave are off!!

8:10am - The 5K starts and Tommy & I are "off"! I'm running along, talking to Tommy, and
the next thing I know ... he's gone! He had stopped running and started walking. I was left
talking to myself!

47 minutes later - I finish my first 5K! No pictures of me yet. Karen was waiting for me at
the finish line and she'll email me my picture soon so I can post it for you guys!

57 minutes later - Tommy straggles in. He finished his first 5K and I'm very proud of him!!

Finally the half marathoners begin to finish....

Bobby comes down the hill and thinks he's about to finish. Sorry bud, you still have to go up another hill and around!

Now you're almost at the finish. Coming down the hill and then...

he finishes!!! 2min & 20sec faster than his last 1/2 marathon!!!

Dave is not too far behind.

And he's done!

Tommy relaxes while we're waiting for the guys to finish.

2pm - I'm showered and fed. I take the kids to the Easter Egg Hunt at Oconee State Park.
And they loved it too. All of the plastic eggs were filled with little trinkets.

4pm - We're back at the State Park for Dave, Karen and Bobby's joint birthday party.

Dave & Karen looking @ the photo album of old pics we gave him for his b-day.

I'm sporting the awesome hat Dave & Karen bought me for my b-day. Hannah is enjoying the finger paints I bought for her.

Karen & Heidi

Dave & Bobby

Who's really cooking?

Hannah fed the geese. But this one was mean (and bigger) than the others. He would flap his wings and run them off - which scared Samuel. So my mom had to hold him the entire time they were by the lake.