Vacation is Over!!! So Sad....

First off, I would like to say that I do not think my plan to keep this blog up to date as outlined in the last entry, is going to work. However, we will give it one more try.

Vacation was an absolute blast and everyone had a great time!!

Madi could not for the life of her say, Uncle Jeff and Aunt Heather. It was more like Uncle Jeather, or as PaPa suggested, Uncle Heff and Aunt Jeather. It was funny, Madi said they really needed to get new names so she could get it right.

The girls went parasailing and they also went on the banana boats out to the parasailing boats in the ocean and then rode them back to sand. They said it was fun, only Tori almost broke her nose on their very abrupt stop hitting the sand. Sorry Tori, but it was at the very least entertaining. The girls also went zip lining at Broadway at the Beach over the water. They loved every minute of it.

Jeff, Heather, Cliff and myself did some staying up late and telling old stories from when we were little. We did some late night walking on the beach with some gross jellyfish and I spent some time examining the parking deck below our balcony. It was great. Our families competitive spirit was sparked with our new favorite beach sport, Bocci Ball. Lord knows PaPa was all over that.

Another really cool thing that we noticed this trip was that Madi and Uncle Jeff have the same exact walk/stride. It's really neat to watch them walk side by side.

Another really fun picture I'll upload is one where Tori took out her braids and had the really kinky hair. So I said lets do your hair the way I used to do mine when I was 17. What a hoot!!!! I did her hair and took her out on the balcony and everyone started to die laughing. I opened the door and said tell me who this is? Everyone said, "You!!!" It was really neat and Tori couldn't stop laughing. She kept saying, "Is this really how you used to do your hair?" I was a lot of fun!



It's so cute, they have the same walk and gait!!



Summer time, summer time...

I think I have finally come up with a plan for keeping this blog semi up to date. I will try to post during the very, veryyyy slow summer days at work and then add a picture or two at night. Maybe this will work for awhile anyway?!?!

So our first family vacation with Jeff and Heather and Mom and Dad is coming up at the end of this week. We are all very excited. Madi is already explaining how many hours a day Jeff "has to play" with her. She is also very determined to go to Minnesota this summer by herself to see Uncle Jeff and Aunt Heather. I keep trying to explain that life is not all about Madi's wishes, but we know how that goes sometimes. Tori is excited to spend time with Jeff and Heather as well. I'm sure it will be battle to see who "gets them first".

Cliff will have to work while on the trip, but it won't be like working from home. We should still have plenty of time to relax. It's been about a week and a half since Cliff started with his personal trainer and he needs time away from him to recoup. There have been some days where he hasn't even been able to walk. This guy is really extreme. Hopefully Cliff gets used to this soon or we're gonna have to glue his mouth shut from all his groaning!! (Sorry honey....Luv Ya!!)

Another Day in the Life...

This weekend was Fabulous!!! Cliff, Tori and myself went out to dinner on Friday night and went to see Bridesmaids! The movie was absolutely a riot! Definantely not just a chick flick. Tori tried her hardest to pretend she wasn't finding the crude humor entertaining until, the girls got food posioning. Even she died laughing!!

Saturday the three of us went to the farmers market, one of our favorite things to do together. I made Cliff "haggle" a good price for a maple tree with the seller and we didn't even go back to get it!?!! Oh well!  It was fun anyway.

Madi stayed with Rachel on Friday night and went swimming all afternoon with her on Sunday which is right up her ally.

Sunday night we made a wonderful dinner with all the fresh veggies and fruit from the market. It was a wonderful end to a vey relaxing weekend. If only they could all be this way!


My little Chipper Doodle




My Sweet Old Girl, Cowgirl



A Little Catch Up.....

   So since it's been so long since I've posted, I think we'll do a quick recap in pictures!




Happy Easter!!



Madi's pretty eggs



Caroline and Madi at Bravo in Greensboro





Madi ready for her Spring Social



Rachel and her boyfriend Jake!!

Madi and Rachel ready to dance the night away!!



Jeshua and Madi...what a cute couple.



Good Friends!



Happy Mother's Day




Madi placing Nana's stepping stone from her and Tori.



Happy 17th Birthday!!



Sweet Tori and her Nana!




Beautiful Birthday Cake from Edible Art



Papa being himself after a wonderful dinner at Sullivan's for Tori's 17th!!

Dance Mania has Begun!!

It has been awhile since my last post, I know. Too many things going on at on time to even try to get to the blog. A real brief synopsis would be: 1. Tori withdrew from school, 2. Tori totalled 1 car and wrecked another in less than 6 weeks! 3. Granma had another stroke 4. And last but not least, we found out we owe the equivalent of a new car to the IRS for taxes this year!! 5. Oh, all most forgot, and Tori started her own fund to Ms. Mary - Jude! Yeah!!!!!

This weekend we were in Smithfield for Madi's first competition this year. It was at JCC and we had a beautiful facility to use. It was really nice. This was the CDM competition and Madi's debut of her new solo. I was so nervous for her I could hardley stand it. She was WONDERFUL!!! She got gold this year (one higher than last!!) and let me tell you, that girl was moving it. On Saturday the groups performed and won straight gold for all four dances. Everyone thought they were forsure going to receive a Platinum, and they should have, however Miller Street was there and if the group had a 16, it was gonna get a platinum. Whatever. Our girls rocked it. Rock Star was amazing and Madi popped and locked so hard I thought she threw her back out!! It was a blast.

Way to go Mariah, you really know how to make the girls work it!!

Lions and Tigers ...Oh My!!

On Saturday the girls and I went to the Conservators Center in Mebane for the annual tree toss. What a wonderful time we had! We were so close to the animals, you really get a feel for their power and strength being in such proximity to them. They were wonderful. The sounds heard from their movements was a little unnerving at times. You definitely have a better understanding by the time you leave how small and powerless humans really are in the grand scheme of things.

The girls and I can't wait to go back on a day that isn't quite as muddy!! I would love to adopt one of tigers, however, we'll have to see how Cliff feels about that!!

This free scrapbooking design personalized with Smilebox

Happy 17th Anniversary!!!!

Cliff and I celebrating our 17th anniversary!!! He surprised me with a delivery of 17 roses at work on Friday. What a wonderful husband I have. I couldn't imagine life without him!!



How Beautiful!!



Christmas Morning

Christmas was wonderful this year! Santa was very, very good to the girls and we enjoyed spending the day with Nana and Papa and the four puppies.

Tori was home on break from ECU for a few weeks and it was nice to have everyone together again for more than just the weekend.



Merry Christmas!!





Nana & Papa &Maggie



Chipper & Koty



My precious old girl!!




Me and my babies!!

 Next year however, I am planning to go away for Christmas like we did a few years ago. I am hoping everything works out, and we can go to Disney for Christmas again. Everything just seems so magical there at this time of the year!! Everyone wold love to go again, so hopefully it works out.