Third Day of K3...

so by this point some of you are thinking - good laaaawd jen shut up already!

But I can't help it! Today for the first time, Chris got to see his big girl get up for school and be happy about it and brush her own teeth and potty by herself and undress/dress herself and be willing to put on socks and shoes and get her hair done. Then march downstairs to happily eat what we give her and talk about school and then grab her back pack and sling it over her shoulders and dashing on her sunglasses.

We are both stunned at this transformation - and realizing as our dearest friends have told us - if you blink, you may miss your kids growing up. So, we're here eyes wide open trying not to blink at all --- watching our little lady.

Happy Anniversary to my friends!

Hope you two have a great day! We miss you and wish we could at least grab a Starbucks together. So, to the LT and his bride - salute!

Second day of K3

Went just as well as the first. Emma Grace was up on her own by 6:45 am, ready to go. So, we did. They only come apart we had was over a "do-rag." Mommy slipped a scarf over her hair so that my greasy mop wasn't showing and Emmy ran to get her Dora do-rag. She sobbed when I told her she couldn't wear it to school...not that I wouldn't have let her wear a do-rag, if she wanted, but the dress code one-does not allow do-rags and two-does not allow clothing with cartoon characters on it. She recovered and was smiles by the time we needed to go out the door at 8:15 am. She just grabs her back-pack and of we go. OT is cashed out on the floor right now - so I'm alone - PTL and Tammy Faye. I'm having a treat and then I'll give him his bottle when he awakes...hey, I might even get to read...wouldn't that be nice?

First Day of K3

It went exceptionally well. Mommy had more trouble than EG. I got up at 6:40ish and EG and Ollie popped right out of bed while I still had one eye yet to open. We got dressed and ready, had breakfast (even if it was a poptart for EG and pears for OT), and were out the door by 8:15. Getting to school was easy because everyone is so courteous down here --- so far --- in the way outs away from Hotlanta itself. Mommy had her first troubles trying to read the carline map - yes, that's what I said, a carline map. So, I missed the last driveway being confused by the madness of it all and had to cut a U-ie on a downtown city street -- oh well. We got there early for our designated drop off and mommy didn't realize that you could line up even if it wasn't your "turn" to drop off yet. Again, oh well. I managed not to hit any teachers with car duty and/or small children --- kudos for me! We pulled up and Emma Grace just got right out and went with a perfect stranger into school with her shiny new back pack over both her shoulders. She was a big girl.

Then mommy and Ollie got to go to the Paulding county courthouse - again - to try and get Georgia titles for our cars...oh what fun...imagine those of you from York county...driving to York with 10 times more woods and pastures to get to the courthouse in the city of York, SC and then you've got the drive I had this morning - all in all - an hour round trip - I must really love Chris Whisonant...

So, we got to go pick up sissy at 11:45 and whew, that carline was as confusing, though I did not miss the driveway this time - but the carline shifted - ieieieieie - I am from York, people, Keep It Simple! Emma Grace just hopped right up in the car and talked and asked for her Veggie Tales praise and worship Cd as if today were any other day. She was magnificent. Kids are so resilient, aren't they? Again, she is playing with the boys over the girls, which makes me laugh because I was a tomboy for the most part and was the same way for some of my schooling. When I asked her did she play with any little girls today...she said no mommy, there are no little girls in my class, just big boys and big girls...pardon me!!!

All in all, it was a great day --- why no pics, you ask...ask Chris some time where the camera is for his daughter's first day of school...hopefully, the disposable camera I had was decent and after being forced to actually have film developed again, I'll post some pics from today.

Beautiful Babies!

We've just been hanging out today after a brief trip out to the mall and Red Lobster.
So, we shot some pics of the kiddos. Wanna see more?
I uploaded some photos to Facebook. You can check them out at: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=9506&l=f7acc&id=760093361

K3 Orientation

On Monday, Emma Grace officially begins K3!
She'll be in Mrs. Baker's class 3 days a week from morning until noon.
She is soooo excited and is ready to go to school.

Emma Grace, Ollie and I headed to Orientation this morning and OT had to spend a lot of time in momma's lap -- of course, he didn't mind. I was sweating like a bandit and my arms still hurt, but I held him, nonetheless.

We had Emma's schedule set up so that daddy could take her on his way to work and mommy and Ollie could pick her up at lunch time...
But, daddy gets to go to NYC for her first few days of school and so mommy and Ollie will be taking her and picking her up until daddy can resume life as usual.

I must say that I'm a little sad and jealous that Chris gets to go to NYC. A little sad because he will miss Emmy going to big school for the first time...and she won't get to have her daddy take her on her first day, either. A little jealous because I've never been to NYC and would jump at the chance, if I thought there were any way possible to go and have the kids in their normal routine. He's gonna get to go to a Yankees/Red Sox game, so you know he's gonna be in heaven. I really must say we will miss him and Oh, how I wish I got to go too!!!

We'll post first day of school pics for everybody -- xpecially daddy!

Happy Birthday, Grandma Jane!

Pa David and Grandma Jane visited this weekend and so,
we had a birthday party/lunch for Grandma Jane.
We hope you enjoyed it, as we did.

With Much Love,
Jen and the kids

Ollie, Ollie, Ollie...

Okay, so we all realize that OT is a big ol' boy.
Soooo, I thought we might try some of those little Gerber snack things
THAT are supposed to melt in your baby's mouth...

Ollie really didn't care for this...

There was a gagging incident, then
sissy found the whole thing hilarious!!!

Just thought we'd share!

My Best Friend's Wedding Part 2

Okay, so I never did Part 2...
I guess I just can't believe it or haven't absorbed it all yet.

Aim's rehearsal dinner was at The Station in Rock Hill without shrimp and grits on the menu as my best friend is still at heart a true Yankee from New York. It was great! As I sat at a table with the other 3 bridesmaids that went to high school with Amy, I just kept looking at these women and seeing the girls we used to be. I can remember the craziness that they all "did" as high schoolers, that we all "did." And I just smiled...it was just so nice to look at these familiar faces, after moving away from home and all things familiar and to see them to celebrate the last of our bunch getting married...my childhood best friend of 2o-some odd years marrying her new best friend...her gift from God...her missing half. It was great and by the end of the food and laughter and strolls down memory lane and jokes about Amy and music, Aim stood next to each of us and told the crowd who we were and how long she'd known us and what she loved about the memories of our pasts together since our presents and futures are scattered across the map. And I was last, and I had to choke back tears because Aim and I were not the kind of girls that cry. And I heard her say this is my best friend of 21 years and she had to stop not much farther after that because as I said we are girls that do not cry...but now we are women, and on occasion, we spring a leak...

So, Chris and I left the rehearsal dinner in Pa's Porsche with the top down and I did feel like a teenager again --- then we had matron of honor duties to complete that kept us up until 1 am, but it was great, it was Amy's wedding --- and Amy has had a long time of it all - this one blog cannot cover everything she and I have been through together and separated, too. She moved here when we were in first grade from NY and she moved back to NY after her dad had been laid off a really long time in fifth grade and she moved back to SC in eighth grade and we were inseparable during classes in high school - sometimes known as Jen-Amy - she is the smartest person I know besides Chris (gotta throw him a bone sometime) - then college dragged us apart - me to my high school sweetheart, marriage, college and to my Jesus who I wish to only sit at His feet more than I do --- and her to College of Charleston, to career, to city life --- where our lives were so different, but we made it through with love and I hope grace, too --- and she dated her high school sweetheart again in college and into med school and then pharmacy school was awful and her high school sweetheart became her fiance and then he became the bain of her existence and then he wasn't her fiance - and it tore her from her frame --- and I thought she'd just given up on love --- but the best part is that LOVE never gives up or fails...and love sent Wes to Amy...

The Way of Love

13:1 If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3 If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.

4 Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant 5 or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; 6 it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. 7 Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

8 Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10 but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away. 11 When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways. 12 For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.

13 So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

And we were walking around the day of Aim's wedding, and I just kept thinking how much I loved her as my friend as a girl --- we were 20 when Chris and I got married, and we were girls and we trembled that day as I married my soul mate and she wept that day - it was so big to us, LOVE --- And we had the bridal luncheon and poked fun at Aim one last time - who said she would never get married --- and we went to get our hair done - and we walked out of the salon and I caught a glimpse of Aim and she was stunning, not because we had paid way too much money to have hair and make up done, but because I could see love in her eyes that came from the depths of her soul...from her Creator...it was the most beautiful I'd ever seen her. I could see fear there, too, but I could see love shining under that thin layer of fear.

And we went to the church - and I helped her into her gown and her mom (who had been our girl scout troop leader as girls and was just like my own mom) helped her with her jewelry and I got to touch up her make up and put her veil on and her tiara and I just couldn't believe it, but I could. Love touches our lives in so many unique ways...I felt it on my wedding day, with the birth of my children, with my friends in times of great joy or great sorrow, and I felt it that day as I walked down the aisle preparing the way for my best friend to meet her beloved - and I call it all rich blessing - and can't believe it can be squandered on such a wretch like me as the song says.

And we took pictures and we laughed and I kissed her new hubby's sweaty bald head - now that is LOVE! and we left the church and we went to the dairy barn and we smiled and danced and embraced and ate---because Catholic wedding or not, I am still Baptist and can still eat!!! And then the father of the bride made a toast - and then the Best Man - and they called my name and the world rushed in and the tears rushed out before I even got to the front of the room...my childhood best friend who had seen already the best of times and the worst of times was married - we were not girls as we were when I married, we were women and I stood there that day bidding a fond farewell to childhood and embracing womanhood - I had not expected that day to bring so much, but it truly did and to Wes and Amy sharing it with me, I am forever grateful and to my Lord who hides His Word in my heart and gives me a new song each morning I am stunned and awestruck...

And so to Wes and Amy --- God bless and may this life you have together bring much love - in good times and in bad --- and to Wes, you hold part of my heart in your everyday, you hold my best girl, take care...We love you both, though I do not wish to kiss your bald sweaty head ever again...

Top 4 Lists...

Okay, so I give in to peer pressure yet again...

Here's my Top 4 Lists -

4 Jobs I've had...
1 - Mortgage Home Loan Originator/Specialist/Processor
2 - TA for Organic and Gen. chem at Winthrop
3 - Tutor for the Athletic and Chem Depts at Winthrop
4 - MOMMY!

4 Places I've lived...
1 - Acworth, GA
2 - Rock Hill, SC
3 - Spartanburg, SC
4 - New Castle, PA

4 Favorite TV Shows...
1 - Fresh Prince of Bel Air
2 - Hell's Kitchen
3 - What Not to Wear
4 - Doodlebops

4 Favorite Foods...
1 - Anything Starbucks
2 - Anything Chocolate
3 - Anything Chocolate and Starbucks
4 - El Can Cun Mexican

4 Places I'd Rather Be...
1 - Anywhere with Jen Wade =) Preferably Starbucks
2 - First Baptist Church Fort Mill =) We miss you guys.
3 - Anywhere without heat advisories in the triple digits
4 - Disney World

4 Favorite Movies...
1 - White Christmas
2 - Sweet Home Alabama
3 - My Best Friend's Wedding
4 - Grease

4 People that I tag to do this crazy thing...
1 - Chris Whisonant
2 - Ashleigh Newell
3 - Chris Moody
4 - Lottie Moody

Love to all!

Pics of the kids...

Ollie likes to nap with a "lovie" or "binkie" ---
He doesn't really care what it is or what you call it,
as long as he has a little blanket of some sort to
cuddle and rub!!!

He really sleeps so soundly with a lovie.

Just a few minutes after his nap,
he is happy and ready to play again.

And sissy is always ready to play with bruder...

Say cheeeeeeese...

Hope you enjoyed just a few midweek pics of the babies!

So you may ask...

how did you spend your anniversary?

In a 2 bedroom in the NC-hear-the-banjo-music enter from the one bathroom cabin...

With my parents and my two children...

To ride Thomas the Train...

And then ride 4 hours back to Georgia...

In the heat, uphill, barefoot, both ways~!

LOL - It really wasn't horrible. We enjoyed quality time together without crackberries and laptops and phones - ate meals together - and watched Emma Grace's eyes light up when she spotted the life size Thomas engine puffing steam - that we rode all together.

We had fun...and will remember our seventh wedding anniversary for a long time.

On the almost romantic side of things...my mom came back to Georgia with us and watched the kids, so Chris and I went to Home Depot, Garden Ridge, Super Target and a Japanese Steakhouse. Not too shabby! Mom went home this morning...she was great! The kids were good and I am actually accomplishing things today!

7 years...

of wedded bliss. =) If you know me, enjoy that comment. If you don't, maybe some day I can explain the giggle for me in that statement.

Today is our wedding anniversary. We've been hitched for 7 years today - it has been an interesting journey and I can't even imagine walking it along side anyone else, even if we're walking along Georgia byways now instead of Carolina ones.

Happy Anniversary dear-heart!

I'm a Little Gamecock Day...

While we were waiting for daddy and dinner....
I shot a few pics of the kids on the new floor cushions
watching Backyardigans.


Thought you all might enjoy...

I think Ollie will be catching up to sissy soon...