Gatlinburg get away

We went to Gatlinburg this past week. We had a lot of fun. We went to Cades Cove and saw all the homes of the early settlers and took pictures. The kids had a blast seeing all the turkeys and deer. We didn't get to see any bears, but Christopher and I almost got bit by a snake. We walked right up on him and I jerked Christopher backwards away from it. It about gave me a heart attack. It raised up like it was getting ready to strike, but we got away and it went back into the woods. That was all of the woods business for me. I told Barry I wasn't walking back into the woods any more that day. Luckily that was the last one in the woods. Also for all those scrapbookers I found a big scrapbook clearance center and bought lots of stuff. Yes I can find scrapbook stores anywhere I go.

Locks of Love

As most of you have seen, Mary got her long hair cut off this past Friday. She decided she wanted to get it cut and donate it to Locks of Love. Her hair is so thick that they had to seperate it into two ponytails instead of one. She gave between 10 and 11 inches. Maybe two girls will get her hair. The lady said she has good hair and it will be great. She looks older to me with the short hair, but I think it is so cute. She says she wants to let it grow again and give again. So here we go again with the growing out hair. At least it is all one length, a little easier to take care of.

YES!!!!! She is done.

Well second grade is finally over, now on to third we go. I never thought that just because you have a child in school that you would be going back to those grades as well. School sure is getting harder for these young ones than it was when I was their age. It seems like they are being taught things we weren't taught until at least 5th or 6 th grade. I am so glad for they summer. Mary needs a break and so do I. She had her awards day yesturday and she got the award for most determined. She will finish the year with an overall a and 2 b's or 2 a's and a b. I am not sure yet since we have not gotten her report card yet. We have also been told to work on multiplication for te summer so they will be ahead or at least not have as hard a time next year, since this is what they will be working on in 3 rd grade. I don't remember doing times tables in the 3rd grade, do you? They are really being pushed hard these days and not given much time to master the concept before moving on to something new. Those of you who do not have children or they are not in school yet, watch out you will be going back to school as well. Good luck.

Well also we are Gatlinburg bound. We are leaving Sunday after our team meeting. I cannot wait. We will be back sometime on Thursday. I will post more then. Have a good week.

Mother's Day and a little news

We just went to church for Mary Elizabeth to do her Sunshine Girls Mother's Day project. The girls did great and they will hand out the items to the mothers tomorrow. It is very sweet....I really mean it is sweet. Happy Mother's Day to all of you mothers out there and also to those of you who are expecting... Belinda and Teale. Hope you all have a great day.
I also wanted to let you all know that I went to my orthopaedic doctor las week and he said I need surgery. So on June 24th I will be having surgery on my elbow...the same arm that a broke almost five years ago and had to have surgery. This surgery has nothing to do with my plate and 6 screws, but it just so happens it is the same arm. I have a pinched nerve in my funny bone... not so funny. This has been happening for about 6 months or more and it causes my pinky and ring finger on my left hand all the way up to my elbow to go numb...you know that tingly dead feeling you get sometimes. Well I won't be able to use it for about 1-2 weeks after the surgery. That is going to be tough with two children at home. But we have to do what the doctor says...I guess. Since he also said if I let it go then over a long period of time I could completely lose the use of those two fingers permenantly. So surgery here I come.....yeah!
Hoep everyone has a great week and see most of you at church tomorrow.

Does this fit the Arby's commercial or not

I thought this picture was funny. Matt Kenseth the Nascar driver came to Altec where Barry works the other day and gave them sandwiches. He also gave them these cute little headbands. Barry brought them home to the children. He put one on Maggie and she actually let it stay on.

Botanical Gardens Field Trip - Mary

Mary had her final fieldtrip for 2nd grade yesterday. We went to the Birmingham Botanical Gardens. It was alot of fun and a wonderful day. The weather was perfect and the children were great. When we got there aroung 9:30am we went on a scavenger hunt. I had control of 5 of the children for the scavenger hunt. All the children were split up into small groups to look for about 40 different things throughout the gardens. We found all of our items . We had an hour to find it before we had to meet back a the meeting point to do the second part of the day. At 10:30am we met with two ladies from the gardens to learn the science and animal part of the gardens. The did a little story telling part and then sent the children in small groups on a little area of the gardens to find items they had placed in the park for the children to find that went along with what they told the children. Then we met back with them a few minutes later to talk about what we found and draw a picture of our favorite thing we found. Mary loved this. Then we all had a picnic and explored the gardens for another hou or two. After the picnic I treid to get Mary to leave and go to Brookwood Village for some girl time, but she didn't want to. But altogether the day was great and we had a wonderful time.

Lads to Leaders awards at church

Every year our congregation as its own little awards ceremony after we return home from Lads to Leaders. Last night after evening worship services we had our version of the awards. We recognized all the young people who participated in the event in Nashville whether they placed or not. They are all winners no matter if they got a trophy or not. Christopher went up and he wanted to either speak or lead a song or something. We are not really sure since he stood there and then finally he went to where they wanted him for pictures. He is definitely going to be our clown, but he is also going to be good at whatever he decides to do. I think he is going to have a really outgoing personality. I hope he does, because I never have had one. I am more of a reserved type. He's more like his daddy, they both will pretty much talk to a stump when they want to. Mary Elizabeth got her certificates for Songs of Praise and Bible reading. She also got a medal for Good Samaritan and a ribbon for knowing the books of the Bible. SHe is more like me. I hope she learns to come out of her shell and becomes more outgoing like her daddy and brother. I know from experience it is no fun to be reserved. It may keep you out of more trouble, but you don't make friends or meet people too easily. So for her I hope she becomes more like Barry. We had a lot of fun ith the kids at the awards and look forward to it every year.