It's a Full Moon- and I'm freezing!

So, I must have PMS or something b/c I wearing a coat and socks in 80 degree weather. Oh, and I'm eating cookies as I type this blog.

Hey Sunday I played backup chords on the keyboard for P&W! I was a little nervous, but I had fun! It was really neat getting to play w/ Austin. We had practice together last Thursday night. I was really nervous-since this was the first time I've played with the band. During one of the songs I glanced back over my shoulder to look at Austin and saw that he was playing his bass with his EYES CLOSED! - and the sound that was coming out of his bass was nothing short than amazing. I thought, "Geez, here I am with my eyes glued to my music, hands shaking- and you've got your eyes closed!" I love him! He's so talented!! :) But, Sunday went well.. I look forward to playing again in the future.

Reagan is starting preschool next Tuesday. The countdown has begun- for both of us! She is really looking forward to seeing her friends again. Today we went to "War-Mark" as she calls it and got her a pink Barbie backpack. I mean, come on, did I honestly think there would be another choice? Two words- Pink and Barbie. If any of you out there are wondering about Christmas gifts - again, Pink and Barbie.... I was folding the girls clothes the other night and Austin looked at me and said, "Good Lord! There's just sooo much pink in this house!" I had to laugh! :)

A funny story on Reagan- She has a t-shirt we got her this Italian restaurant in Blowing Rock called "Pssghetti's." The picture on the shirt is of a kid eating spaghetti and getting it all over his face. The caption below the pic says, "I'm a pssghetti head!" This is not one of Reagan's favorite t-shirts. She thinks it's a boy shirt b/c of the colors. You know, it doesn't have pink on it...Anyway, she wore it to bed the other night b/c it's all she had clean at the time. I was behind on laundry. The next morning she woke up, looked at me and said very loudly, "I'm Not a Pssghetti Head!!!" She repeated this several times. She asked if she could put on a different shirt. I said, "sure." So, she went into her room and came out wearing a...... yep, you guessed it, a pink shirt!!

Cara Grace is crawling with ease now. And pulling up on everything in sight! She'll be walking before we know it... I'm not encouraging this behavior!! :) She has a funny crawl. Her knees never touch the ground. But, she gets around pretty quickly this way. I think this strange crawling is due to the fact that we have all wood floors in our house. She also is starting to make different sounds and talking some. She can say uh-oh, bye-bye, da da, and me (her word for mama.) It's so cute. She makes this sound like she's got something stuck in her throat or kind of like a low growl. My dad said she looks like Smeagal (sp?) off Lord of the Rings. - With her funny sound and her weird crawl. Too funny!!

Well, I started school last week. I had my first math class Monday. I am trying to get a head start on my homework.. Austin is a great tutor! Except for tonight. He was trying to read a book and I kept interrupting him saying, "I'm confused, I don't get it..." Slowly but surely I'm "getting it."

That's all for now. New pics to be posted soon!!! Hope you all have a blessed week!

Just Plain Busy- But Happy!

This weekend we had a baby shower for my sister at my mom's new house! She is having a little girl in October. Her name will be Mackenzie Beth Wrenn. My sister looks so great- she hasn't gained a lot of weight with this baby. Unlike me- hee, hee! I think I would've felt a lot better at the end of my pregnancy if I hadn't been as big as a whale! Oh well... such is life I suppose. She was blessed at the shower and received many nice gifts. Katie (Beth's daughter) helped me pick out the babies' gift. I bought the aquarium bathtub on her registry and a big, pink bib that said -"I am NOT a girl!!"-Katie insisted. I really bought that for Chris. He wanted a boy so bad. But, hey, you get what you get! :)

Last Friday our church had it's annual Kid's Fest. We give away over 1,500 bookbags to the children of the community- stuffed with school supplies. Reagan had a blast! There were tons of inflatable games, free haircuts, and a really cool petting zoo. The animals were not very happy however. I think they were all hot and tired of being handled. Reagan enjoyed the rabbits the most. She played on the inflatables until dark and it was time to deflate them. I got to play on them as well. It was so much fun. I think there were about 4,000 people there in all. What a fun time! We are really enjoying our church more and more everyday. I know this is where God wants us to be! I talked w/ our praise and worship pastor and he asked me if I would be interested in playing the keyboard. I would be playing some backup chords and possibly some rhythm as well. I am very excited about this opportunity. It will be so great to be able to play with Austin on the p&w team. It is a big committment, but I would like to give it a try.

This Thursday starts my Fall elem. ed. classes- again. I will be taking Math and Music. This works out really well b/c music will be easy and something I enjoy. Math on the other hand- well, it's just yucky. But, I'll get through it.

Update

Cara Grace has officially starting crawling and starting to pull up on things this week. She is getting better at it everyday! She crawls with one leg straight out, it's cute to watch! :) She is very inquisitive and wants to explore everything-including any small morsels on the floor. And of course they go straight to her mouth. It's been a while since Reagan was that age. I'm having to re-baby proof our house. I've forgotten how much babies get into once they're on the go.

Today she was crawling in the kitchen and discovered the a/c vent. She was bent over the vent licking it and trying to put it in her mouth! I had to laugh! Cara Grace is a very happy baby and she loves to eat. She is not picky when it comes to her baby food. She will eat pretty much anything I give her. She is however, very interested in family dinner time. We put her in her high chair so she socialize with the family at dinner time. Tonight she was intently watching me eat a piece of cantaloupe. She was begging to eat it. So, I gave her the whole piece on her highchair tray to see what she would do. She picked it up and licked it and tried to bite it. I took it away from her b/c I was afraid she'd get a big chunk off in her mouth. Well, she didn't like that one bit. (side note- she has quite the temper and it can get up very fast!) So, was all had a good laugh!

Reagan is doing great. She is getting into Barbie and plays princess dress up a lot. She's our mini Diva. She is very excited for preschool to start back. (so am I-ha, ha!) This year she gets to take a lunch box and a backpack to school. For those of you who don't have kids- this is a VERY big deal. We are going to take Reagan to Wal-Mart sometime soon so she can pick out her lunch box and backpack.

Austin is still working away at Clark Tire. Summers are very busy for him and he is looking forward to when things will slow down a bit. He is doing a great job! Profits for Clark Tire are up 40% from last yr.- that is sooo great! :) He is playing the bass for our church. We are going to a district conference this weekend and he'll be playing for that as well. We are looking forward to that!

So, things here are busy as usual... but good! I will taking 3 classes this fall. I only have 4 semesters and then my student teaching! I will have to get back into the swing of things with class and all the studying....which means probably no tv or movies for a while. Oh well, it'll probably be a much needed break!

Hilton Head Island

We got a chance to go the HHI for a few days a couple of weeks ago. It was sooo relaxing! We didn't even get out of the bed each morning until 10 or 11 a.m. It was awesome! My favorite thing was riding bikes. We rented bikes and rode them all over the Island. And of course I liked visiting Starbuck's! Which I did on a daily basis! :) I love HHI because of all the trees. It has so many of them. And the beach is just tucked in behind all the trees. It's great! We also got to go to the movies twice. What a treat! We went on a date every night! I love Hilton Head!!!

Summer Fun

We got the chance over the 4th to get away in a mtn. cabin! It was wonderful! The weather was very nice, only 70 degrees. It was a nice break from the heat. And it was actually a little chilly at night-wow! I didn't get very many pics, as you can see.

Cara Grace is eating more and more "big people" food and baby food. She really likes everything I feed her. Which is a big change from Reagan. Reagan wouldn't eat any veggies or anything greeen. She is not crawling yet-but she is scooting backwards on the floor. This morning she scooted across the kitchen-backward and got stuck under one of our kitchen chairs! It was really funny! She also does not like being confined or held a lot. She wants to be on the go and exploring.

This week at our church we are having VBS. Reagan is having a blast! She gets to go every night this week. She loves hanging out w/ other kids her age and is making new friends.

This is for you Em!

I just realized I've been running errands all day with a big size medium sticker (M) on my chest.... Remember when you were out here Emily?- the tank top incident? Ha, Ha! I definately feel like a dumb blonde or Minne Pearl off Hee Haw! Good Times!

Weird Stuff

Why do strange things always happen to me? I was walking to get into the bed tonight and hit my toe really hard on the foot of our bed. I heard a "pop" and a "crack!" I bent my toe nail all the way back on my little toe. Just thought you all would like to know this! Hey, by the way... leave comments. I feeling a little lonely here. No one's posted a comment lately...anybody out there???

Pool Pics

Went swimming with the girls today. We had a great time! Cara Grace loves the water! (after she gets used to it) We went with my mom, sister, and Kamie & Eli. Eli loves the water too! He took right to it. He's such an easy going little guy... We bought Reagan a vest to wear in the water, but she was afraid to float on her own. We let go of her in the water to show her that it's o.k. and the vest would hold her up. She had a panic attack and screamed! We'll keep trying. A lady at the pool had an oversized baby pool with her. Reagan really enjoyed playing in it. I think she felt more safer there. Cara Grace is cutting her front teeth. She has four teeth and two on the way. The front teeth have been a little tough for her. She's been fussy with them this week. She is loving her baby food. Especially sweet peas- they are her favorite. Who would've thought! Reagan didn't like any baby food that was green!

We are finally getting some rain here and there. Our garden is doing well. My tomato plants are loaded down, just not red yet. I can't wait. I love home-grown tomatoes. They are the best!!! Our zucchini and squash are really taking off. I overlooked two zucchini for about a week. Austin noticed them on Sunday. They were huge! I think they were like 2 ft. tall. I've never seen any that big. I didn't realize they could get that size!

Just Funny!

O.K. folks, I am posting a pic from our Hilton Head trip b/c I am still not able to locate our camera. This is very sad....This is going to make for a dull blog.

But, I do have a funny story to tell on my girls! Friday night Austin, the girls, and I went out to dinner at a Mexican restaurant near A's work. The girls and I had been going to doct. appt. and running errands all day. So, we were all a little tired- and a lot hungry! (side note- Reagan seems to always have to do her #2 during dinner time....) So, our food arrived and we were about two bites into it and Reagan announces she has to go poop. Very loudly I might add! So, I tell her to please wait just a minute and I'll take her to the bathroom. So, now all I have on my mind- while trying to eat Mexican Food- is Reagan having to do her business. Not very appetizing! During our meal Cara Grace was sitting in her car seat at our table being a good girl. But, oh, now she was grunting and straining with all her might! Her face was turning red! Austin and I just looked at each other and laughed! How gross!!! So needless to say our meal wasn't so great, but hey kids, you gotta love them! They make your life fun and interesting! Never a dull moment!

Cara Grace thinks it's great fun now to blow and spit food once she gets her mouth full! Today I had pureed carrots all in my hair and all over my clothes. How do you tell a 7 mo. old to stop spitting food? Especially when she is having so much fun! She has started to babble a lot now as well. In the car today she kept saying "Da-da, Da-da!" She is such a happy baby! She is my sunshine!

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More Vacation Pics

I had to put a picture up of the alligator!- This is for you Charmaine! :) Austin's mom had a little confrontation with an alligator near the condo one morning. The alligator was wanting to come out of the water to sun and she was standing too close. So, it growled very loudly at her. All in all we had a great trip. I can't wait to go again!

Hilton Head Island Pics

Uncle Mark is sooo good with the girls. Cara Grace took right to him! And Austin made us breakfast every morning! He's such a good cook! I've needed help since my surgery and Austin has really pick up the slack with the girls and household duties. This morning he tried on my pink house shoes. Unfortunately they were too small. I thought, "Yep, you're a Mr. Mom right now!"

Cara Grace loved sitting under the umbrella at the beach. She liked all the fresh air. She squealed and kicked!

Congrats Mark-O!

Just wanted to say Congratulations to my brother-in-law Mark. He just graduated high school. WAAA-HOO! He's free at last! We were able to meet up with Austin's family in Hilton Head, SC this past week. The weather was wonderful. We had such a great time. It is always so nice to see his family. I wish we could see them more...

It's My Burfday!

I can't believe I'm 31 today...Well, actually I couldn't believe I was 30 last year. Time flies. It seems like it goes by especially fast after you have kids. I don't know why, but it does. Reagan will be 4 soon-WOW!!! I will post b-day pics later today. I just wanted to post these pics that Emily took when I was in AZ last yr. I am soooo excited for their visit in a couple of weeks. Emily, bring your camera if you can. I will pay for the film!

We went up to the mountains to celebrate my birthday this past weekend. It was really cold and windy up there. We took the kids and met up with my sister and her family and my parents. We went to a Japanese steakhouse. (I go there every yr.) And I don't know why I do b/c Reagan is terrified of the cook and "the fire" they make. Cara Grace screamed everytime the cook made the fire! And she screamed when the other tables around us made fire. Oh well, next yr. maybe I'll go to dinner with Austin- alone! We had fun anyway. I was so stuffed, I didn't have room for my cake. But, I suppose that's a good thing!!!

So, tomorrow is the beginning of May and the start of my extremely BUSY month. It's going to be madness, but so much fun! Many things to look forward to in May....

We are possibly going to get a new p&w leader at church. He has been leading worship the past couple of weeks. It has been so wonderful! What a difference one person can make! And yesterday I got a chance to talk with a guy whose organizes missions trips for the church. I am very excited!!! Hopefully we'll get to take a trip next yr. I told him if he ever got a trip together to go to China I would go.... He said that he'd been thinking about that lately. That would be so awesome!! I've wanted to go there for some time now! I hope to be able to go on a trip soon. That would be so great!

I will post some birthday pics later!! Hope you all have a wonderful week! Be Blessed....

A Very Sad Day in History

My heart grieves as I watch the news this week. There were so many thoughts that ran through my head yesterday while watching the memorial service held at Virginia Tech. How could someone do such a thing? What if that were my child? I had to stop and thank God for my salvation and for the Holy Spirit. I praise Him and thank Him for His protection and guidance upon my life and my loved ones. Life is so precious... We never know when it is our "time." And we never know when it is someone else's "time." If we as Christians ever feel compelled by the Holy Spirit to share God's love with someone- then we should do it!!! What are we afraid of? Humiliation or rejection? But on the other side, what do we have to gain? A soul! I'm sure the 32 people that were murdered on the campus of Virginia Tech didn't wake up Monday morning and think, "My life is going to end today..." "Today someone is going to come into my dorm room or classroom and shoot me point blank."

The point is no one ever promised us permanent safety and security in this world. We are not promised tomorrow. Our safety and security is found in the Lord. He alone is our refuge. Ps. 18:2 says, "The Lord is my rock, and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge. He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold."
Ps. 27:5 states, "For in the day of trouble He will hide me safe in his dwelling; He will hide me in the shelter of his tabernacle and set me high upon a rock."

It is my hope that some of the people killed in this awful display of evil knew the Lord. But, what if they didn't? Were they ever approached by a Christian with the choice of accepting Christ? With all this said, let us make the most of every opportunity we have with others to share the love of Christ and His message of salvation.

I'm Bored...

I went to a website called meez.com and made a "me!" Well, it doesn't really look that much like me, but it was fun! So, as you can see, these are all my favorite things- coffee and shopping! Check it out if you're ever bored. Me, I did this at 6:30a.m. while drinking my coffee and trying to wake up!

Good Times

My good friend Kamie has a little boy named Eli that is 10 or 11 weeks younger than Cara Grace. We think they are going to date and get married one day! Ha, Ha! But hey, you never know...:) Anyway, we try and get together about once or twice a week. Here are some pics we took a couple weeks ago of our little darlings! We were cracking up while taking the pictures. Cara Grace kept trying to grab Eli. Maybe she wanted to put him in her mouth. She is teething! Right now she wants to put everything in her mouth! - and chew on it. It is so fun to watch the two babies together. Kamie is such a great friend- I'm glad the Lord allowed our paths to cross. Love ya girl! Oh, and I am sporting Mac makeup in the pic of me and the babies. Kamie gave me a "Mac Makeover." Well, sort of.

Easter Pics

We had such a fun time with family yesterday! We all went to church together and came back to our house for a big Easter lunch. After lunch, we had an Easter Egg hunt in our yard. First, the adults hid the eggs for the kids and then they hid them for us... Reagan had a blast looking for eggs. She'd say, "Oh! Look! Here's one!"- everytime she picked up an egg. The kids got a little more creative with their egg hiding. We had a hard time finding some of them. Probably because they were hidden in strange places- window ledges, cars, ect. But, I found the most eggs in the adult hunt. My "prize" was a spanking. Wow... I didn't get any pics of the girls in their Easter dresses. But, we did go and get professional pics made. They will be here on the 2oth. They got their pics made with a little lamb. It was very fun and cute! Oh, and for those of you that don't know, my sister is pregnant again! Her baby is due at the end of October. She will get an ultrasound on May 4th to find out the gender... I can't wait. They want a boy really bad, we'll see...

Cara Grace

I always seem to blog about Reagan. I guess she "is doing more" than Cara Grace right now. But, my little baby is doing so well. She gives me joy everyday! She has such a happy temperment. Well, as long as she is comfortable and at home. She loves to be at home! And she loves her mommy of course! She is very happy and content. Sunday I fed her some oatmeal cereal for the first time. I am in no hurry to start baby food. She is perfectly happy with her bottle and doesn't seem overly hungry. But, I thought we should probably start introducing a little cereal. So, of course more food ended up on her than in her mouth. Reagan wanted to help feed her so badly. I told her she could when Cara Grace got used to eating from a spoon. I think she enjoyed her first experience with cereal. She was trembling and flapping her arms the whole time I was feeding her. And everytime the spoon got close to her mouth, she would try and grab it! It was funny...Then she got impatient with the whole thing and wanted her bottle.

Tomorrow we go for her four mo. check-up. Which is very late. She turned 5 mo. on Sunday. She will be getting three shots. I hate that! I am curious to see how much she will weigh. She hasn't been weighed in about 2 mo. or so. She is now is 6-9 mo. clothes- she's a big girl! And she is drinking 6-7 oz. of formula every four hours. Most nights she doesn't get up to eat. It just depends on when her last feeding was. But, here lately she's been sleeping all night!

She has rolled from her back to her belly- but no belly to back yet. She is very aware of dangling toys and wants to grab them. Her bouncy seat has a toy bar that you can hook on to the sides so the toys will hang down in front to her. Now when I put the toy bar on, she immediately reaches for them! And she likes to grab handfuls of Reagan's hair whenever she can. Reagan doesn't like this very much though!

So, that is my little update on Cara Grace!