The Simmons Family

A Rite of Passage

2008-09-29T10:37:00.004-04:00

Keith took Charley to his first Clemson football game this weekend, and I think we have created a monster. Of course, that is just what we need around here is someone else who is addicted to football. Oh well, I suppose Keith will have a little partner in crime now. As I was reviewing the pictures this morning and trying to decide which pictures to post on the blog, Charley was looking over my shoulder begging to go to another football game. Something tells me it won't take much to twist dad's arm...

My First Day of School

2008-09-23T20:07:00.001-04:00

Today was my first day of volunteering in Morgan's class at Laurel Hill. Whew--boy did the time fly. I was assigned to work with 6 kids who needed some extra help learning about their letters and what sounds they make. Spending ONE hour with SIX kindergarteners was about all I could take. Don't get me wrong, it was fun, and I really enjoyed it, but I was at my limit! I have a whole new appreciation for her teachers who spend eight hours a day with 25 5 year olds. Nonetheless, I'll be returning on a weekly basis.

I am also happy to report that Morgan invited me to lunch, AND I got to sit right next to her at the lunch table with all of her friends. It was such a great time!

Buster's Sermon

2008-09-22T12:47:00.000-04:00

Here's a link to Buster's sermon from Sunday on spiritual warfare. It was a good one, and I'm sure some of you will appreciate him referring to the Dallas Cowboys at "America's Team"! Have a great week!

http://www.ecbconline.com/clientimages/32443/sermons/defyingthedevil.mp3

Watch out Pre-School, Here Comes Charley

2008-09-16T14:49:00.000-04:00

I hope his teachers are ready!

Charley had a great first day of pre-school. I did have to bribe him with lemonade from Sonic to get him out of the car, but after that we were home free. He is loving it!

That's My Boy!

2008-09-16T14:39:00.000-04:00

Mmmmm....cupcakes taste GOOD! My friend Dana took this picture of Charley at her son Griffin's birthday party. He is eating that cupcake and licking every last bit of it! Is he his mother's son or what?!

"No, Mom, you don't get it"

2008-08-27T19:22:00.000-04:00

Well, little Ms. Independent strikes again.

Ever since Morgan was 3 years old, and I found out I could meet her in the school cafeteria for lunch at her elementary school, I've been planning to meet her there. I mean, what mom doesn't want to figure out what kind of kids her child is hanging out with...and that can't start too early, right?

So I told Morgan my plan, and asked if she wanted to sit with me at the designated "Visitors Table" where you can eat with your mom and one other friend, or if she just wanted to invite her cool mom to sit right at the table with all her friends. To that she replied, "No mom, you don't get it. I want you to sit at the visitor's table, and I'll stay at the table with all my friends".

If this is 5, I'm not going to be able to handle 15!

Our Baby Girl Goes to Kindergarten

2008-08-26T14:36:00.000-04:00

I always used to laugh when people told me that time goes by so fast with your kids. I remember when Morgan was six weeks old, I went to Target for a few things (you know, the important staples of diapers, wipes, and formula) and an older lady said "Oh, she is so precious. They grow up so fast!". The only response I could muster after 6 weeks of sleep deprivation was "Yeah, that's what the tell me"...it felt like the longest six weeks of my life!! But, this past Tuesday, when I walked her to the doorway of her kindergarten class (because that's as far as my daughter would allow me to go), it really DID feel like we just brought her home from the hospital not too long ago! After a full two minutes of waiting in the doorway for her to come back for her good-bye kiss, I finally had to resort to walking in the class and planting one on her cheek!

The first words out of her mouth after her first day were "Mom, I really like kindergarten, but I want to ride the bus and buy my lunch". Good news on one hand, because that saves me about an hour and a half of my time, but sad because she wants me to do less and less. I hate to think what first grade is going to be like, much less high school and (gasp) college!!

Gymnastics Recital

2008-08-26T14:26:00.000-04:00

I asked Morgan what she wanted to do this summer, and offered up gymnastics, ballet, cooking camp, or a few other camps offered at the pre-school up the street. The only thing the child wanted to do this summer was gymnastics, and she loved it! This was her third summer with the same teacher, Miss. Jan. Morgan had so much fun, she decided she wanted to continue with the class for the school year, so we signed her up to go every Tuesday. Her teacher is allowing her to attend the 6-10 year old age group even though she is only 5, so we will see how that goes.

Here's a picture of Morgan with Miss. Jan at her end of summer recital.

OMG--She's Updated her Blog!!!

2008-08-26T14:06:00.001-04:00

Yes, I set the very ambitious goal of updating my blog every 3 months...so here goes.

Way back on the 4th of July, we met at a friend of Morgan's (Tirzah) for a parade followed by popsicles. Here are some pics of the kids.

Incidentally, this was also the day we decided to join the new millenium and purchase an ipod. So if you know of a website where I can download music for free (and it's LEGAL), let me know. We're still using iTunes at the moment.

Laurel Hill Primary School

2008-06-19T17:25:00.001-04:00

Morgan attended a summer enrichment camp at her new school last week. She had a GREAT time and really enjoyed herself. We found out the first day that her friend Tirzah from her pre-school and Sunday school had the same teacher, so she at least knew one person in her class.

She got to make a book about ladybugs, did math activities using dice, and got to have a popsicle for a snack the last day.

You'll have to check out the school's website: http://laurelhill.ccsdschools.com/home.aspx

I think it's top notch--even if it is in South Carolina and our schools are ranked 49th in the nation!

"Morgan, now that you've graduated from pre-school, what will you do?"

2008-05-30T16:26:00.001-04:00

I'm going to Disney World!!

The Orlando Science Center

2008-05-30T15:24:00.000-04:00

If you ever decide to visit Orlando and want to see something else besides Disney, this is a great place to go! They have several kid friendly exhibits for all ages from a dinosaur exhibit to the toddler zone. If we lived there, I'd definitely invest in an annual pass!

Morgan Graduates from Pre-School

2008-05-30T15:11:00.000-04:00

Here are some pictures from Morgan's Pre-School Graduation. In order to get her out of her usual tank top, skirt, and flip flops, I had to bribe her with a cupcake and bring her a change of clothes to wear after the ceremony was over. I tell you, she drives a hard bargain.

Muffins with Mom

2008-05-02T18:55:00.000-04:00

Morgan's pre-school class had an early Mother's Day celebration on Wednesday. As part of the festivities, the children each presented their mom with a page entitled "My Mom" on which the teachers asked each child a question and recorded their response. Here's Morgan's:

My Mom

My mom's name is: Alice.

That one was pretty good. A lot of the kids just responded with "Mommy" so I was glad she actually new my name.

My mom cooks the best: spaghetti.

I must say I feel a bit like a gourmet cook after reading this response, as I read "macaroni and cheese" on most of the others.

This is how she makes it: She starts boiling the water. Then she adds the noodles. Next is the meat.

See--that's way more difficult than mac & cheese.

My mom and I like to: play tag.

My mom's favorite clothes to wear are: dresses.

Not that I have many occasions to wear them.

My mom is beautiful because: she likes me.

Oh, how sweet is that.

And my personal favorite:

My mom always says: "Honey, go play with your brother."

Oh, out of the mouths of babes--that one is SO true!!

Happy Easter!

2008-03-23T18:35:00.001-04:00

Hapy 5th Birthday, Morgan!

2008-03-23T18:26:00.000-04:00

Here are some pictures from Morgan's birthday party. We had it at one of her favorite hang-outs "Ready, Set, Jump". Good thing, because 19 of her friends decided to come help her celebrate the big day, and there's no way we could have pulled that off at the house.

A Fig Leaf Will Not Do...

2008-03-02T16:26:00.000-05:00

Here's a link to our pastor's sermon from today, based on 2 Peter 1.

http://www.ecbconline.com/clientimages/32443/sermons/thefoundationofperseveringjoy.mp3

WARNING: THERE'S A VIRUS ON THIS BLOG!!

2008-02-21T08:04:00.000-05:00

Well, if bad things truly do happen in threes, our family should be safe for awhile. This weekend we replaced a water pipe that had a hole in it; paid an exhorbitant amount to have a creepy repairman come out and clean some lint out of our dryer vent on the side of the house; and then had to pay for additional "spyware" to remove a virus off our computer. So if you're wondering what the comment is on the day of the Oyster Roast post on here, DON'T look at it--you'll probably get the virus, too (unless of course you've already had your 3 bad occurences and you're willing to risk it!)

The Wedding of Q and U

2008-02-17T18:26:00.000-05:00

Charley and I were invited to Morgan's Valentine Party at school on Friday. They had a wedding ceremony for the letters Q and U, because everytime you see the letter Q it's followed by U.

All the girls had veils (tissue paper) with the letter Q, and the boys wore top hats and bow ties with the letter U. They exchanged a candy ring, and then were invited to give a hug to their friends and family.

I would have taken pictures at the actual ceremony, but Charley thought that would be a great time to grab mom's camera and take some pictures of himself. I figured it was easier for him to keep the silly camera rather than try to take it back and cause a scene...I'm just thankful I was able to get the shots I got!!

Boone Hall Annual Oyster Roast

2008-02-17T18:17:00.001-05:00

Here are some pictures from the Annual Boone Hall Oyster Roast they hold here in Mount Pleasant. Unfortunately, I was stuck at home with a stomach bug, and Keith had to take the kids...or maybe not so unfortunate, since I don't eat oysters, and I'm not one for crowds.

Keith ended up having to take the next day off from work to help me with the kids because I was so sick--that's the first time he's ever done that!! I think he actually enjoyed the pre-school carpool and spending time with the kids, though.

Charley's Official Birthday Pictures--TOUCHDOWN!

2008-02-17T18:03:00.001-05:00

Charley's Birthday Party

2008-01-23T11:38:00.000-05:00

Here are a few pictures from Charley's birthday party. We had about 20 kids over for cake, ice cream, and some Bob the Builder activities. They had tons of fun and we enjoyed getting them all sugared up and then sending them home!!

Pass the Carrot Souffle, Please

2008-01-23T11:27:00.000-05:00

I've had a couple of requests for the carrot souffle recipe I used for our Thanksgiving dinner--you know, that holiday we had about 2 months ago. So at long last, here it is:

Carrot Souffle (serves 6)

1 16 oz package of baby carrots OR 1 1/2 lbs carrots, sliced (I used the regular carrots--there's just something I don't like about genetically engineered mini carrots)

3 large eggs
1 1/4 cups of sugar
1/2 cup light sour cream
1/4 cup butter, softened
1/4 cup all purpose flour
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp ground cinnamon

Cook carrots in boiling water to cover in a large saucepan 20 to 24 minutes, or until tender. Drain well; cool.

Process carrots and eggs in a food processor (if you're fortunate enough to have one, if you're like me and you don't have one, you'll have to resort to "mashing together with a fork"!!) until smooth, stopping to scrape down sides. Add sugar and remaining ingredients; process (i.e. mash with fork again--boy is your arm getting tired by this point) 30 seconds or until smooth. Pour mixture into a lightly greased 8-inch square baking dish.

Bake at 350 for 55 to 60 minutes, or until set.

You can make all of this the night before, and just toss it in the oven the morning of your feast!

Bon Apetite!

Children's Museum

2007-10-25T19:01:00.000-04:00

We spent Friday morning at the Children's Museum followed by a pizza lunch with dad...doesn't get much better than that!!

Happy Jack's Pumpkin Patch

2007-10-25T18:36:00.000-04:00

Morgan was out of school Friday for Fall Break--whatever that is. I don't really understand why they need a break when they just started school less than 2 months ago. I think that means I'm getting old!! We didn't have a Fall Break--and we liked it!

Anyhow, we used the extra time at home to do a few things around town that we haven't had a chance to do yet. Thursday we stopped by Happy Jack's Pumpkin Patch--thank goodness, because we drive by it on the way to school, and Morgan always asks when we get to go. The kids each picked out a pumpkin to put on the front porch, and then we got to check out the rabbits and head on over to the hayride. The best part of the whole deal was that it had just showered and scared most of the crowds away, so we pretty much had the place to ourselves!

This Ain't My First Rodeo

2007-10-17T19:26:00.000-04:00

Oh, but it is!! We took the kids to the rodeo last weekend up in Moncks Corner. They had a great time at the pre-show festivities: jump castles, pony rides, and their first taste of cotton candy. Unfortunately, the rodeo didn't start until 8, and Charley only lasted until 8:30, so they didn't see too much of the rodeo itself; but the little that they did see was a big hit!!

Still Catching up--Pictures from Alice's B-day

2007-10-17T19:18:00.001-04:00

Keith brought home my favorite kind of cake for my birthday--chocolate with chocolate icing!! I told him not to bother with a gift since I went shopping with the girls two weekends later while he watched the kids. Woo hoo!!

I'm not sure why the kids look so funny in this picture. I think it's the "Dad, hurry up and take the picture so we can get some of this sugar in our system QUICK!!".

Happy Birthday, Dad!

2007-10-16T14:53:00.000-04:00

Here's a little something that was e-mailed to me shortly after my dad passed away that I thought would be great to share on his birthday. I add this to the blog as my daughter watches "Pocahontas" for the 3rd time in the past two days; while all the other girls her age are glued to "Cinderella" and "Snow White"! And this is how I know in my heart of hearts, that his spirit truly lives on.

Years ago, on one of the many opening mornings of hunting season that your Dad and I shared, he revealed something to me that I've never forgotten.

I had dropped him off before dawn so that he could wander back into a particular hammock. He had chosen the spot for his morning hunt on opening day. A mist shrouded, grove of stately live oaks draped with spanish moss on long drooping branches. A beautiful place, where the air was heavy and moist and still. Where the only sound was that of the owl, the whip-poor-will and the drip, drip, drip of heavy dew falling from the trees to the forest floor.

It was a wonderous place, a place that any outdoorsman would love. But a place where, for one reason or another, we seldom saw deer. For that reason, I was puzzled by the his choice. After all, opening morning was the best chance you would have all year to take a buck. Why would he pick a spot where his chances were so poor? And so when I picked him up later in our old jeep, I asked him why he had chosen his spot.

Your dad explained that he chose it because there was a tree in that hammock that he liked. A perfect tree, he said, to sit under and wait for dawn. And, as dawn broke, a perfect tree to lean back against while he began the season by reading aloud his prayer. Until then I wasn't aware of this ritual. I asked him about the prayer. He told me that it wasn't really a prayer to most, it was a letter written by an Indian chief to the President of the United States. But to your Dad the words were significant and embodied much of what he believed. So, he used it as his own special kind of prayer.

As you read this please understand that your father very much enjoyed studying the ancients. He was also captivated by the spirituality of those people we might refer to as primitive. He strongly believed that in many ways they were far more spiritually connected than modern man. I do believe that he felt a connection to them.

Keep in mind also that while this "letter/prayer" holds the sense of loss of a people on the fringe, I think it held special meaning for your father for that reason. I think he sometimes felt a kinship and a similar remorse at seeing a world going in a direction he could not favor.

CHIEF SEATTLE’S LETTER

The president in Washington sends word that he wishes to buy our land. But how can you buy or sell the sky? The land? The ideas is strange to us. If we do not own the freshness of the air and the sparkle of the water, how can you buy them?

Every part of the earth is sacred to my people. Every shining pine needle, every sandy shore, every mist in the dark woods, every meadow, every humming insect. All are holy in the memory and experience of my people.

We know the sap which courses through the trees as we know the blood that courses through our veins. We are part of the earth and it is part of us. The perfumed flowers are our sisters. The bear, the deer the great eagle, these are our brothers. The rocky crests, the dew in the meadow, the body heat of the pony, and man all belong to the same family.

The shining water that moves in the streams and rivers is not just water, but the blood of our ancestors. If we sell you our land, you must remember that it is sacred. Each glossy reflection in the clear waters of the lakes tells of events and memories in the life of my people. The water’s murmur is the voice of my father’s father.

The rivers are our brothers. They quench our thirst. They carry our canoes and feed our children. So you must give the rivers the kindness that you would give any brother.

If we sell our land, remember that the air is precious to us, that the air shares its spirit with all the life that it supports. The wind that gave our grandfather his first breath also received his last sigh. The wind also gives our children the spirit of life. So if we sell our land, you must keep it apart and sacred, as a place where man can go to taste the wind that is sweetened by the meadow flowers.

Will you teach your children what we have taught our children? That the earth is our mother? What befalls the earth befalls all the sons of the earth.

This we know: the earth does not belong to man, man belongs to the earth. All things are connected like the blood that unites us all. Man did not weave the web of life, he is merely a strand in it. Whatever he does to the web, he does to himself.
One thing we know: our God is your God. The earth is precious to him and to harm the earth is to heap contempt on its creator.

Your destiny is a mystery to us. What will happen when the buffalo are all slaughtered? The wild horses tamed? What will happen when the secret corners of the forest are heavy with the scent of many men and the view of the ripe hills is blotted with talking wires? Where will the thicket be? Gone! Where will the eagle be? Gone! And what is to say goodbye to the swift pony and then hunt? The end of living and the beginning of survival.

When the last red man has vanished with this wilderness, and his memory is only the shadow of a cloud moving across the prairie, will these shores and forests still be here? Will there be any of the spirit of my people left?

We love this earth as a newborn loves its mother’s heartbeat. So, if we sell you our land, love it as we loved it. Care for it, as we have cared for it. Hold in your mind the memory of the land as it is when you receive it. Preserve the land for all children, and love it, as God loves us.

As we are part of the land, you too are part of the land. This earth is precious to us. It is also precious to you.

One thing we know-there is only one God. No man, be he Red or White man, can be apart. We ARE all brothers after all.

Charley's New "Car"

2007-10-16T07:35:00.000-04:00

This is a testament to the fact that boys will play with anything that has wheels. I pulled out the silverware sorter from the dishwasher the other day to unload everything back into the drawer. I turned around to see Charley pulling out the bottom rack saying "Car! Car!" Either he has a great imagination, or mom really needs to get him out a little more!

Morgan's First Day of School (about 6 weeks ago!!)

2007-10-15T21:16:00.001-04:00

Here are a couple of pictures from Morgan's first day of school. Unfortunately, I did not inherit my grandfather's talent for taking great pictures, but at least it's finally documented!

Morgan's going to school 4 mornings a week from 9am - 12:30 and she is loving it! They get to bake every Monday--yesterday was French toast since they are studying the letter "F". Tuesdays is music and science, Wednesday is chapel day, and Fridays are for show and tell when she has to bring in an item that starts with the letter of the week. In addition to all of that, we also have a reading list: 10 books to read each week, and a word to look for in each book. Her teachers are great, but boy are they keeping us all busy!

Between Morgan's school, Charley's music class on Mondays, and their joint playgroup on Thursdays, we are lucky to make it to Target and the grocery store! Whew, it's been a busy fall, but lots of fun!

Morgan Meets her Teachers

2007-08-29T18:31:00.000-04:00

One more week, and it is Back to School time!! Woo hoo! I think I am going to pull out my cheerleading outfit from high school for this auspicious occasion.

Last night, we had the parent orientation, where the parents got to meet the teachers and go through the annual "don't bring any snacks with peanut butter" spiel. Morgan is in Mrs. Weezy and Mrs. Traci's class. This will be Mrs. Weezy's fifth year teaching the four year olds, and her 15th year teaching. Needless to say, I think she is going to be in very good hands. She will have a composition book to write stories in; and they'll be reviewing US geography, charts & graphs, and sight words. They'll bake every Monday, have music once a week, chapel once a week, and of course show and tell. It sounds like fun!

Charley, on the other hand, has another year at home with mom before he can start pre-school. Hopefully with Morgan at school, we'll have more a chance to do some activities centered around him rather than his sister!

T minus 6 days and counting!

Edventure

2007-08-24T20:56:00.000-04:00

Here are some pictures from our trip to the Children's Museum in Columbia, Edventure (http://www.edventure.org/). By far, the kids' favorite display was the fire truck, complete with lights, sirens, and dress up clothes. Morgan also enjoyed broadcasting the news; and walking through Ed, a 2 story size boy that showed the brain and digestive system. Charley, on the other hand, could not get far enough away from the scary giant. He was also not a big fan of the life size cow that moo-ed as we walked by; nor the boy whose teeth you could clean as you pretended to be a dentist. We did find a play area upstairs that he enjoyed that included a tent to camp out in, and a boat to sail on the seas. And of course, bubbles are always a hit with him!

We finished off the day by having a home cooked dinner with friends (which I must admit was the highlight of my day)!

Hilarious E-Bay Auction

2007-08-24T20:47:00.000-04:00

In case I somehow missed e-mailing this to anyone, you must read this hilarious description of an E-Bay auction. It's for a pack of Pokemon cards that mysteriously ended up in the shopping cart of a stay at home mom of six...yes, she took all six to the grocery store. I laughed so hard at this one I cried!

Following the link to the e-bay description is a link to her blog which is equally side splitting. This is why I am stopping at 2 children!!

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayIAAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=130144061675&ru=http%25

http://www.mom2my6pack.blogspot.com/

Our Sanity Vacation

2007-08-17T21:40:00.000-04:00

Keith and I dropped the kids off at Aunt Cristal's house this past weekend, and made the hour and a half trip to The Grove Park Inn (www.groveparkinn.com) in Asheville, NC. A friend of mine asked if we were going for our anniversary or a birthday, and I replied "No, for our sanity". After a long summer filled with staph infections, and trips to the emergency room, we thought we could use a couple of days away...and boy was it ever worth it! If you have never been, I would highly recommend it. The restaurants on property are absolutely amazing, and the spa is world class!

We also took some time to go whitewater rafting on the Nantahala River (www.noc.com), something I've always wanted to do. It was really a lot of fun, and not nearly as scary as I thought it would be, although two people did fall out of our raft during the last five minutes of the ride--thankfully it wasn't me or Keith!

Morgan's Gymnastics Recital

2007-08-17T19:56:00.000-04:00

Here are some pictures from Morgan's gymnastics recital two weeks ago (yes, two weeks ago, but I figured better late than never!). She looks like a natural and really enjoys it. We plan on doing it next summer, too.

I wasn't able to get many shots as I was chasing Charley trying to keep him off the mats! He had a great time after the show on the balance beam. It was a great springboard to body slam the mat at the end.

Enjoy the pictures!

Family Photos

2007-07-31T18:53:00.000-04:00

I got an e-mail from our photographer that her website is not working today. It should be up and running again tomorrow, so be sure to check again for our pictures at http://www.amtportraitphotos.com/. In the meantime, we did snap a few shots when we got home, and I can share those here. Unfortunately, Charley was done with posing for the day, so we didn't get anymore of him. We are also trying to re-schedule another sitting with her, since we were cut short by a thunderstorm.

Hope you enjoy the pictures!

Pictures from Art Camp

2007-07-27T19:20:00.000-04:00

Morgan's First Trip to the Doc in the Box

2007-07-27T19:13:00.000-04:00

It has been such a rough week!
Morgan started to make up her art camp (that she was supposed to be taking last week, but couldn't due to a staph infection) on Wednesday. At about 11:45, the teacher called to tell me Morgan had slammed her pinky finger in a door, and I should come pick her up. After taking one look at it, I called her doctor, who of course, was out of the office. I ran her up to the closest clinic I could find, and they got us right in--maybe because Morgan was screaming her head off, and scaring a few of the other kids in the waiting room! After a few minutes, the doctor told us that he basically needed to re-insert the nail back into her finger. I'll leave out the details, but suffice it to say it was NOT a pretty process! She was a very brave little girl, and we decided a shake from Sonic was in order for the trip home. Other than having a band-aid on her finger for the next ten days, and the fact that her fingernail will fall off in 3-4 weeks, it'll eventually grow back, and all will be well. Whew!
This may be the last art camp we ever sign up for!

Making the Most of a "Staphy" Situation

2007-07-21T09:04:00.000-04:00

We took Morgan to the doctor Wednesday morning with a suspicious rash, only to find out she had a staph infection. She had to get 2 shots of an antibiotic, and they told us we needed to stay home for the next two days. Trying to make the best of our situation, we spent the days painting, building with blocks, and having a tea party with mom's real china.

She is on the mend, slowly but surely. We went to the doctor twice last week, and have another follow up appointment on Tuesday to make sure everything is clearing up okay, so keep her in your prayers!

Just Trying to Beat the Heat

2007-07-11T15:02:00.000-04:00

With temperatures running at or near 95 and a heat index of 105, we've been trying to fill our days this week with indoor activities. Morgan's friend Angelena came over for a playdate this morning, and then we headed out to the gym this afternoon. Yes, I finally broke down and joined the gym (www.ecofitnessgym.com). They offer all kinds of classes from cardio to pilates to yoga, and the childcare facility is awesome! We've been going at least 3 times a week for the past month, however I am still waiting for my Jennifer Garner body to start showing!!! Good thing I signed up for a year!

Other than that, there's not much else going on. We're gearing up to head to Easley on Friday around noon. Our niece will be turning 12 on Saturday, and we're planning to stop in for a visit with Keith's Papa Harold. Hope everyone has a great weekend, and we'll try and post some Easley photos next week!

Happy Fourth of July

2007-07-04T21:20:00.001-04:00

In the interest of time, I'll let the pictures speak for themselves. Happy Fourth of July!

NASCAR and Carowinds

2007-06-24T16:14:00.001-04:00

The kids and I picked up Keith from work early on Friday so we could head to Charlotte for a little family weekend together. Everything was going fine until Morgan woke up with a fever at 5 am Saturday morning. We sent Keith to the Lowe's Motor Speedway on his own that morning while I tried to nurse her back to health. She seemed okay, so we headed to Carowinds about 1pm. To make a long story short, we were back in the car by 4:30 headed back to our friends' home with one sick child, and another one hot and cranky.

It was sooooo hot, and WAY to crowded with, well, let's just say some very interesting mountain folk. And by the way, I hope the people who work at this place don't honestly believe that they are any kind of competition for Disney. The bathrooms were disgusting, the employees not so great, and the park incredibly dirty. Maybe I have been tainted by my time at Disney, but these folks have a long way to go to make it in the theme park business!

Thank goodness we had some very gracious hosts who were willing to hang out with us while Morgan was on the mend! They were great, but I must say, it's wonderful to be back home.

Readers are Leaders

2007-06-24T16:08:00.000-04:00

I signed Morgan and Charley up for the summer reading program at the library. They get some swell little prizes after reading 10, 20, and 30 hours worth of books. So we decided to drop by our local branch on Friday to pick up their first round of goodies. They each got a medal (which the librarian put around their necks while playing some sort of Olympic anthem), a certificate, and two tickets to a Charleston Battery soccer game.

After the awards ceremony, we played with a few puzzles, and then promptly picked out 5 dvd's to watch on our road trip to Charlotte. I felt so guilty to be checking out only videos when they still have 20 more hours to read before they get their grand prize of a beautiful red t-shirt. Oh well, summer is for other things besides just reading, I suppose.

Vacation Bible School

2007-06-14T16:30:00.000-04:00

Morgan has been attending vacation bible school since Tuesday and despite the fact that she has to get up early (7:45!), she seems to be enjoying herself. I took this picture of Charley while we were waiting to pick her up yesterday. Their theme is "Game Day Central", so they've decorated the church with various sports themed items. We found this Clemson tailgate, and I couldn't resist taking a picture. Of course as soon as I took it, I saw the sign telling us not to climb on the props (oops!).

Morgan is going to do a performance in front of the congregation on Sunday, singing some of the songs she's learned this week, so we'll try to get some good pictures to post!

Easley Comes for a Visit

2007-06-12T19:56:00.000-04:00

Sorry we've been out of touch for awhile. Our summer activities have really taken off!

On Wednesday, my sister-in-law Cristal came for a visit, along with her three kids: Kelsey (11), Hunter (9), and Marley (6). They came bearing gifts from Nana that she got for the kids on a recent trip to Hawaii. Morgan got a shorts outfit and necklace (just like Marley's!!), and Charley got a ukulele that he has been carrying around non-stop. He hasn't quite mastered the word "ukulele" just yet, so it goes by "song".

We all went out to the beach on Thursday. Morgan and her cousins loved it, but Charley on the other hand, has seen better days. He didn't like getting dirty in the sand, and was terrified of the water. Good thing--Keith and I don't really like the beach anyway!

Friday we headed downtown to one of our favorite hang outs--the Children's Museum of the Lowcountry. You can check it out at www.explorecml.org. I was surprised to find that the older kids enjoyed the museum just as much as the younger tikes.

Saturday the boys went out on their own, and the girls went to go see "Surf's Up" at the movies, and then went to Target for some shopping. With 105 degree temps, we figured anything outdoors was pretty much out of the question! All in all, it was a great time and we're all looking forward to getting together again soon!

The Little Gym, and then Ballet

2007-06-04T15:37:00.000-04:00

The kids enjoyed a free demo class at "The Little Gym" this morning. They had such a great time playing on all of the equipment, that Morgan asked when we could come back again as soon as we walked out the door!

We stopped for a quick lunch at Moe's, and then took Morgan to ballet class. Whew! It was a busy day, but it is so great to have healthy kids again so we can get out and about!

Keith Loses...but Tigers Win

2007-06-04T15:06:00.000-04:00

Well, tropical storm Barry didn't manage to slow us down too much this weekend. We got out on Saturday to run a few errands and take the kids out for pizza. Guisseppi's Pizza, which first opened just outside Disney's hotel on Hilton Head Island, recently opened a second restaurant here in Mt. Pleasant, and we couldn't resist giving them a try. It turned out to be a great choice. The food was awesome, and it was a very loud (i.e. kid friendly) place. Afterwards, we hit their game room for some entertainment where I proved that "I still got game"--I beat Keith at the basketball "Hoops" game 31-25!! Regrettably, I have no pictures of the event.

Keith and Morgan traveled to Myrtle Beach after church on Sunday to watch the Tigers play in a regional playoff baseball game. They had a great time watching the game and enjoying the great American baseball fare--hot dogs, popcorn, AND ice cream. Keith did manage to get some pictures of Morgan at the game. For some reason, Morgan was the only one in the entire crowd to remember to bring her baby dolls to the event. Go Tigers!

Modern Art

2007-05-30T19:59:00.000-04:00

Morgan was feeling better today, so we headed down to the Children's Museum for the morning. She made this fine creation in the art room. From the left, and going clock wise, we have a fake flower (for Mom); some sunglasses for the summer; a pink curler because pink is her favorite color; an Altoids box because she loves candy; and a volleyball because she like to play ball with her brother. This was all carefully glued to the "old fashioned" computer paper--I know you remember it, the kind that has the holes along the sides to run through those ancient printers! I suppose we'll have to hang this one on the bulletin board in her room before it mysteriously disappears. Good thing we got a picture of it.

The Stomach Bug Strikes Again!

2007-05-29T16:43:00.000-04:00

At 2 am Monday morning, the stomach bug came back to our household with a vengeance. Morgan came into our room with her teeth chattering, saying she was freezing cold and so thirsty. The next four hours, Keith and I were up cleaning one mess after another, and trying to get her to take some medicine to reduce the fever. Thankfully, Charley slept through the entire ordeal.

She spent all day yesterday on the couch, as all TV rules go out the window when you're sick around here.

I think we may be on the road to recovery today...now we're just hoping that the rest of us have dodged the bug bullet!

Backyard Carnival

2007-05-24T17:52:00.000-04:00

Morgan's friend Brad invited us over for a "Backyard Carnival" this morning. His mom went all out: she had a lemonade stand, a water table, a sprinkler, bubbles, and even a sno cone machine. Here are some pictures of the kids at the festivities: Morgan with her friends Brad (l) and Tirzah (r), Charley trying to figure out how the whole blowing bubbles thing works (maybe if he just looks at it long enough a bubble will come out), and Charley with a beach ball.

Summer is here and we are enjoying it--hope you are too!!

I Scream for Ice Cream

2007-05-20T12:38:00.000-04:00

He won't drink milk, but boy does this kid love some ice cream!
We all went downtown this weekend and hit the Farmer's Market on Marion Square Saturday morning. We split a delicious ham, bacon and cheese omelet with breakfast potatoes that was made to order by one of the local vendors. Afterwards Keith, a man after my own heart, said "All we need now is some good dessert"...and you can never go wrong with ice cream!
And yes, we did get Charley's hair cut that morning, too. So hopefully he won't be mistaken for a girl, again--at least for another month or two.

A Handmade Dress

2007-05-17T07:15:00.000-04:00

Thanks to a tremendous amount of help from my friend Emily (and some entertaining company from Jill and Diane), I managed to finish a dress for Morgan in about 2 hours on Sunday night. The really amazing thing is that Morgan actually liked it enough to wear it to school on Monday, and it didn't fall apart after I washed it! Here are a couple of shots of her wearing it, and a few of Charley with some "bed head". I suppose it's about time for a haircut as he was mistaken for a girl a few days ago!

Happy Mother's Day!

2007-05-14T14:56:00.000-04:00

We enjoyed a nice steak dinner (provided by Keith!) and I got a break from going to the grocery store for the week, as Keith took care of that, too. Woo hoo--you gotta love Mother's Day. Thanks for everything!

Sweatman's Barbecue - Eutawville, SC

2007-05-14T14:44:00.000-04:00

Keith and I decided to load up the kids and take an hour and a half ride to the South Carolina mecca of barbecue: Sweatman's in Eutawville. It was quite an experience. The barbecue was good (not as good as Cecil's in Orlando, we agreed), but the atmosphere was something else. We were by far the youngest people in the joint, and most of the other patrons stared at our children like they hadn't seen kids in years!

One of the waitresses was kind enough to show us around back, where the cook was preparing the barbecue over a wood fire pit. They are only open 2 days a week, and go through 20 hogs. Unbelievable! We were glad to try it--so we can say we've been there, but probably won't go again any time soon.

http://porkandwhiskey.wordpress.com/2006/09/02/sweatmans-bbq-holly-hill-sc/

Muffins for Mom

2007-05-11T07:16:00.000-04:00

Charley and I had the privilege of joining Morgan at her pre-school this morning for "Muffins with Mom" where we, of course, had some muffins, the kids had some juice, and I loaded up on some more caffeine. Afterwards,the kids presented us with bookmarks that had their picture on it, and a cute flower they somehow made out of a coffee filter. I really admire the creativity of their teachers. Anyhow, it got me to thinking about how much our lives have changed since having children, and it reminded me of the story below. I think it really sums it all up. I hope you all enjoy it...and Happy Mother's Day (a little early) to all you moms out there.

Being a Mom

We are sitting at lunch one day when my friend casually mentions that she and her husband are thinking of starting a family. "We're taking a survey", she says half-joking. "Do you think I should have a baby?" "It will change your life " I say, carefully keeping my tone neutral. "I know" she says "no more sleeping in on weekends, no more spontaneous vacations."

But that is not what I meant at all. I look at my friend trying to decide what to tell her. I want to tell her that the physical wounds of child bearing will heal, but becoming a mother will leave her with an emotional wound so raw that she will forever be vulnerable. I want my friend to know that every day decisions will no longer be routine. That a five year old boy's desire to go to the men's room rather than the women's at McDonald's will become a major dilemma. That right there, in the midst of clattering trays and screaming children, issues of independence and gender identity will be weighed against the prospect that a child molester may be lurking in that restroom. That however decisive she may be at the office, she will second guess herself constantly as a mother.

That her life, now so important, will be of less value to her once she has a child. That she would give herself up in a moment to save her offspring, but will also begin to hope for more years, not to accomplish her own dreams, but to watch her child accomplish theirs.

My friend's relationship with her husband will change, but not in the way she thinks. I wish she could understand how much more you can love a man who is careful to powder the baby or who never hesitates to play with his child. I think she should know that she will fall in love with him again for reasons she would now find very unromantic. I want to describe to my friend the exhilaration of seeing your child learn to ride a bike. I want to capture for her the belly laugh of a baby who is touching the soft fur of a dog or cat for the first time. I want her to taste the joy that is so real it actually hurts. "You'll never regret it" I finally say.

Hoppy Easter

2007-05-10T20:40:00.000-04:00

Happy (very belated) Easter!

We took these shots at the kids' Easter Egg Hunt on the Isle of Palms. It was FREEZING cold, and there were hundreds of kids. Charley was terrified of the Easter Bunny, and wouldn't get anywhere near him. Morgan,on the other hand, was merely a girl on a mission for some jelly beans. We had fun, but were glad to get back to our much warmer home.

Thanks to Nana for the Easter baskets, and thanks to the Easter Bunny for the treats, especially Charley's cool blue sunglasses and yummy candy!

Sullivan's Island Park Day

2007-05-10T20:21:00.000-04:00

Here are a few pictures of the kids at the park the other day. We spent the morning flying kites on the water next to Fort Moultrie, where our ancestors were held captive by union soldiers during the War of Northern Aggression. You can e-mail my brother for all the details, or to order his book, at wsmorganv@aol.com.

Afterwards, we stopped by the park on Sullivan's Island for a picnic lunch and a little more play time. Incidentally, Reese Witherspoon, who starred in "Walk the Line" with Joaquin Pheonix, recently purchased a home on the island. I am still trying to figure out where it is, as her youngest is Morgan's age, and I'm sure we could all be great friends. Maybe we could even meet at this very park!

A Morning at the Children's Museum

2007-05-10T20:08:00.000-04:00

Morgan didn't have school today, and we figured the parks would probably still be a little messy with all the rain we had from sub tropical storm Andrea. So, we decided to meet some friends downtown for a little indoor fun at the Children's Museum. Here are some shots of the kids from a previous visit: Morgan and Charley "painting" with water on the chalkboard, and Charley learning about velocity while playing with golf balls.

Morgan's Church Choir Debut

2007-05-10T19:05:00.000-04:00

As many of you may already know, Morgan has been attending church choir on Wednesday nights. They ended the year with a great performance for the parents on May 2nd with a "P.J. (Prayers to Jesus) Party" theme.

In case you can't pick her right out, Morgan is on the far right in the red shirt, with her mouth wide open belting out some tunes. Needless to say, she doesn't exactly suffer from stage fright! We have no idea where she gets that from :-).