Prayer Time

MK has been teaching Maddox how to say prayers. Today her snacktime prayer was, "Dear God, we know we have to obey you and please help us to obey our mothers and our fathers when they are on the phone. Amen."

Going back a bit.....Ryan and I met in 1995. We have differing tales on how we met but that is about all we disagree on. We dated for one year. We were engaged for one year. In January, 1998, we married and we are enjoying our happily ever after. Together. With our children. However, before there were children, there were adventures even still. Six months into our marriage, we were transferred to Turlock, California. Being that I had visited southern California many times during my childhood, I was all about living in California. I pictured my pool, the neighborhood park, the bike rides through the park, a short drive to the beach - oh, my picture of our life in California was perfect, only, we were moving to northern California. No longer had we stepped off our plane in Sacramento did I wreck our rental car into a non-English speaking gentleman as I tried desperately to navigate through a town I knew nothing about. The next morning we awoke and instead of smelling the salty sea, we got a whiff of the cows in the pasture. Definitely not my perfect California. Alas, Ryan and I made the best of it. We prayed hard. After visiting the northern California sites we wanted to see, ie, San Francisco and Yosemite National Park, we departed California for a new start - Ryan left his job and luckily found a new one in Georgia just six weeks later. We were young, no children, and it was a good decision. We moved to Georgia in September 1998. Ryan loved his job and was set on a fast track to the top. Only, the top meant moving every other year or so. Our first move came on Colin's first birthday. I will never forget the day that I took C to his one year check-up with our pediatrician in Georgia, then whisked him away to the photographer for a one year session, then drove to Columbia to be with my parents for a night or two and then off we went to a snow-packed Boston. We arrived in the evening, circled the airport several times due to the snowy weather, landed and then drove to our new abode. Early the next morning, we were greeted by our neighbors and wouldn't you know, they were from the south, South Carolina to be exact. Small world. We were thrilled to have a southern-accented man living next door to us! We lived just outside of Boston for almost a year and a half. During this time, we grew very close to our neighbors. After all, they drank sweet tea and said "y'all" with just the right drawl. Every night during my pregnancy with Pryce, they would call over and take my order for a blizzard from Dairy Queen. The night Pryce was born, Nancy came over to stay with Colin when I went into labor at midnight. Just a month later, we moved to Florida. Now, ten years later, we still see Nancy and Marion at least once a year during their visits to South Carolina. Nancy and Marion always remember our children and their birthdays as well as send them books and other school notes throughout the year! We are so happy to have them in our lives!

July 4th, 2011

Happy 4th of July from.....

the North Carolina mountains!

What a great weekend we had celebrating this holiday in the NC mountains with my parents. On our drive in, we were greeted by the famous Elk population that has become very popular in these parts.

We are so lucky to have G-Mom and G-Dad who afford us the luxury of vacationing at their beach home at our beloved Seabrook throughout the year.

On the flipside of this lucky coin is my parent's mountain cabin in North Carolina. Though we do love our times at Seabrook, we also love our time in the mountains with my parents.

Upon arrival, we felt the crisp, cool air and the relaxing began for all of us, except for my parents, who did their share of playing with our children. I was able to read THREE whole magazines, take a nap, play with a new tech purchase, ride the ATVs, went shopping, all while the children were occupied - oh, it was soooo nice!

The boys were all about two things - riding the ATVs and riding the ATVs :) Though we did scoot away to go tubing, watch fireworks and explore a local town, the boys had ATV riding on their minds the entire time! At the ages of 9 and 11, they are all about a good ride. As I rode with Colin, the future popped in front of me - I couldn't help but tell him to "make sure you do this" or "now, think before you do this - what is the safest option?" I am quite positive he was ready for me to get off!

The guys before their first ride of the weekend.....

and this was the view I saw of them for the majority of our mountain time....

And then there was this.....thankfully, no one was hurt!

Meanwhile, in MK land, she was all about riding the ATVs this year as well. She made sure to get her turn.

And, Maddox, she took to Pop and they spent most of her awake hours together.

One afternoon, we went tubing with the three older kiddos. The three of them had a blast going down again and again and again.....

Nightfall came and we ventured down the mountain into the valley for our annual shopping and fireworks display event. Every year we go down early, get a great place to view the fireworks, shop, eat ice cream and then play games while we wait patiently for the fireworks to begin. This year, for the first time in our July 4th fireworks viewing history, we were able to all join together to view the show. In years past, we have always had at least one kiddo who took shelter in the car from the noise. This year, not so. This year, everyone, including Maddox, sat and cheered together as the beautiful display of lights was presented.

We awoke early on departure day and took one last ATV ride before packing up. Following our ride, I was holding Maddox just taking in the scenery on top of the mountain. I looked down and a foot away from me was a Copperhead snake all coiled up! EEEEK! I do not do snakes and as I squealed and ran, Maddox looked at me as if I had lost my mind completely. Ryan, my dad, and a fellow mountain neighbor came to the rescue, each armed with some sort of weapon. After a few shots were fired, Colin came in with his own ammunition, a BB gun, to finish the 3 foot long snake off. EWWWW! I shiver typing of him! That was our cue to leave.....the Elk greeted us and the snake made us welcome our goodbye!

**On a Maddox note, I could not help but think of where we were this time last year. As we drove out of town to begin our journey to NC last year for the 4th, we stopped by the post office to mail in our I800A application. Maddox was a dream for us last year and, this year, as I looked at her taking in the mountain house, playing with my parents, laughing and just enjoying life, I thanked God for the reality that she is in our lives today.