I'm still Around....!!

I promise I haven't dropped off the face of the Earth... Life has just been. . well, BUSY!

April was super busy! Easter was amazing as always- my favorite holiday (as a Christian and because chris and I got engaged over Easter weekend in 2000). The kids REALLY enjoyed Easter, hunting eggs, playing outside- it was alot of fun!!

Chris and I completed our 2nd 5K (we both finished 2nd for our age groups! I also had a huge international Poultry Disease conference I helped out with, and that pretty much took all my time! We had 380 participants almost 40 speakers, staff and guests and 23 countries represented! It was quite amazing!!!

Here's the 'group' photo.....

May started off with me basically trying to recover from the conference, and jumped basically right into spring! Kaylee had her end of the year Gymnastics show- it was quite awesome! here's the link to her beam routine! http://www.facebook.com/p.php?i=4941125&k=6VA4X3RQTY5O5D1GPKU4SSUVWRJJ4&oid=1199638930845

Mother's Day was also amazing. I was treated to breakfast in bed, where my 4 yr old joined me for a while and gave me lots of love. I also recieved a WONDERFUL gift certificate to the local spa, and I can't WAIT to use it!!

I am constantly amazed at how much fun being a mother is! Yes, its ALOT of work, ALOT of self-sacrifice but it is SO rewarding! For instance, last night Kaylee said "mom, can we pray for my boo-boo?" Now to me, this is so rewarding- knowing that my almost 4 year old KNOWS to pray to God when something is wrong- is awesome! After all the praying, fasting and longing to be a mother, I am still SO thankful God chose me to have children. :)

Tommorow we head out for family vacation at Myrtle Beach, SC. I can't wait! This will be the first time we've taken the kids somewhere other than Edisto Island, and the first time Michael can really enjoy and participate in the Beach activities. I can't wait!

This was our family picture at the beach last summer..

. can't wait to post the new one in a week or so!!!!

Here are a few recent photos that are super cute! I promise not to be so long between blogs from here on out!!

We did it! Our first 5K!

Well- we did it! We made it through our first 5K!
Yesterday Chris and I participated in "Run Dahlonega", our first 5K event.

We have been training since the begining of the year to run the Peachtree road race in July, and decided that before then we would take part in a few 5K races locally. Yesterday was our first!

We woke up early to get ready, check in was at 9am and the race started at 10am. Chris's sister Lisa went with us to watch the kiddos for us while we ran. It was a beautiful day outside and the weather was perfect for a good run! Kaylee and Aunt Lisa and little Michael stood on the side lines and cheered for us as we went by. It was so cute to hear and see our kids waving for us as we would run by!

We finished in 45m 28sec. .. not too bad for our first race- and we didn't finish last! ha ha

We ran all but about 6 mintues of the race. . which we thought was pretty good!

Over all, we finished feeling so proud of how far we have come since January (when we thought it was hard to run for 1 1/2 mintues!). Our next 5K is in Gainesville April 24th. We are hoping to completly run that one- with no walking breaks!

Here are a few pictures from our day!

Ready to run!

Almost to the finish line!
We did it!

Save Georgia 4-H

My heart is heavy today as I read how

the University System of Georgia plans to reduce the 2010 budget.

If you haven't read what's going on- here is the link in the athens banner herald.


One of the biggest cuts involves my beloved Georgia 4-H program. I just can't imagine not having summer camp, or DPA or all the other wonderful 4-H get togethers at Rock Eagle.

I'm asking my fellow blog readers to contact their local representatives and tell them your experiences in Ga. 4-H and how much it impacted your lives.
Here are some numbers to call:

House Committe Chairman Brooks Coleman 404-656-9210

Senate Committe Chairman Dan Weber- 404-463-2260

Gov. Perdue's office-404-656-1776

Rep. Tommy Benton: 706.367.5891

Sen. Ralph Hudgens: (404) 656-4700

I know that I will be spending some time doing this today.
After all 4-H did for me, its the least I can do.

Update 12:30 noon: I've already called most of these listed above- 2 of them had no idea about 4-H getting cut!! Make those calls!!!!!

Save Georgia 4-H!!!!!

5 more days!!!

Chris and I will run our first 5K this coming Saturday in Dahlonega. We are so excited!
As I type this I have my jogging clothes on, just waiting for Kaylee to wake up from her nap so that we can get outside and go for a jog!
I'm really loving jogging again. Its been since college for me, but its really fun and I love having my whole family to do it with. I'll have to take a pic and post of my kids in the jogging stroller :)

Kaylee's First Circus

This afternoon Daddy and Kaylee went to the circus- The Ringling Brothers Circus in Atlanta.

Wow, did they have a good time! All Kaylee has talked about this evening is the Elephants, the Clowns, the tigers and dancers. Daddy bought her a circus elephant and she is curled up with it in her bed as I type. She really enjoyed it alot! (Daddy did too!!)

Here are a few pictures from their exciting afternoon!

From snow to spring?!

Who would have known last weekend when it looked like this outside. . . .

that in one week it would look like this?!

We have greatly enjoyed the first few days of *spring* 'like' weather! Here are some pictures of the kids enjoying the sunshine the other day. Granted, it still required a coat outside, it was WONDERFUL! Michael has really gotten into his toddler slide, and is enjoying climbing on it!

Get outside and enjoy the sunshine while you can

Happy Valentines!

I hope everyone has had a wonderful Valentines surrounded by those you love!
Our Valentines here has been quite fun and exciting!
Friday I spent driving all morning making different Mary kay deliveries, but also taking the kids to visit their Aunt Sally and meme to give them their valentines cards and goodies-
Then Friday evening, we got almost 4.5 inches of snow over the weekend- that made it alot of fun! Chris and I almost cancelled our plans to go out Friday night to Atlanta for dinner, but decided to go ahead with it anyways.
The kids stayed with the grandparents and we headed out- snow and all.
It wasn't too bad untill about 9pm when we were heading back home and the craziness of slick roads started traffic delays on I-85, but we got home safe and sound!
Chris took me out to Buckhead to a place called Chops Lobster bar- it was REALLY good food! I'm a huge seafood lover, and they had some AWESOME seafood!

Saturday we went to pick up the kids who had been playing in the snow most of the morning over at the grandparents, we came home and had fun with them making valentines cakes and goodies.
Sunday we exchanged 'valentines' (mostly candy of course) with the kids and so today has been alot of fun- and ALOT of sugar (kisses and the food sugar! ha ha)

Overall, I've been surrounded all wekeend with all the people I love and it has been wonderful! I'm so blessed to have so many great 'loves' in my life, but there are 2 that could never compare- Jesus- my first love- who's love could never be explained in words, and of course the man of my life- Chris, whom I love with my whole heart as well, and couldn't imagine a day without him in my life.

I love you honey!