Life at the Dial's

21 questions. Part two

2011-12-30T15:26:00.001-05:00

December 30 2011

21 questions to ask your kids
[UPDATE: See also, 22 questions to ask your kids from the end of 2010.]

Copy this note, ask your kid the questions and write them down exactly how they respond. Tag me back if you haven't done this; I'd love to hear the answers.

What is something Daddy always says. I love you

2. What makes Daddy happy?
By not being bad and bein nice

3. What makes Daddy sad? When I'm being mean

4. How does Daddy make you laugh?
By being funny

5. What was Daddy like as a child? He was mean and grumpy

6. How old is Daddy?
31

7. How tall is Daddy?
31 inchs maybe

8. What is Daddy's favorite thing to do?
Play games with me

9. What does Daddy do when you're not around? He watches tv his favorite things

10. If Daddy becomes famous, what will it be for?
By being my daddy

11. What is Daddy really good at?
Being my daddy

12. What is Daddy not very good at?
Playing trouble because he doesn't put it in right space sometimes

13. What does Daddy do for his job?
He makes money for everything in our house

14. What is Daddy's favorite food?
Steak

15. What makes you proud of Daddy?
By playing operation

16. If Daddy were a cartoon character, who would she be?
Grumpy from snow white

17. What do you and Daddy do together?
We play out side

18. How are you and Daddy the same?
We act the same when I am grumpy

19. How are you and Daddy different?
We don't have the same color eyes

20. How do you know Daddy loves you?
Bc he says it a lot to me

21. Where is Daddy's favorite place to go?
He likes to stay here at home

21 questions

2011-12-30T15:15:00.001-05:00

December 30 2011

21 questions to ask your kids
[UPDATE: See also, 22 questions to ask your kids from the end of 2010.]

Copy this note, ask your kid the questions and write them down exactly how they respond. Tag me back if you haven't done this; I'd love to hear the answers.

What is something Mommy always says. I love you

2. What makes Mommy happy?
Ryleigh. When I am happy and I am not being men's

3. What makes Mommy sad? When I don't behave

4. How does Mommy make you laugh?
By being silly

5. What was Mommy like as a child?
I think she was nice or bad

6. How old is Mommy?
28

7. How tall is Mommy?
8 feet tall

8. What is Mommy's favorite thing to do?
Play and lay on the couch and watch tv and go to sleep and read .

9. What does Mommy do when you're not around?
Lay on the couch.

10. If Mommy becomes famous, what will it be for?
Cause she sings a lot

11. What is Mommy really good at?
Cooking and laying in the couch and watching tv and reading

12. What is Mommy not very good at?doing flips splits and putting up the tree and painting

13. What does Mommy do for her job?
She scans books and she goes to dr smith

14. What is Mommy's favorite food?
Pizza

15. What makes you proud of Mommy?
Helping me pick up and playin with me and helpin me cook and do back flips

16. If Mommy were a cartoon character, who would she be?
Widget in wow wow wuvbsy

17. What do you and Mommy do together?
We play cook and read together .

18. How are you and Mommy the same?
Bc w both have blond hair and sometimes the same socks

19. How are you and Mommy different?
Bc we dont have the same color eyes an momma is taller. And she has longer bangs

20. How do you know Mommy loves you?
Bc she always sys it

21. Where is Mommy's favorite place to go?
To go shopping and to get me stuff

Miss Christmas emerald city

2011-10-16T13:07:00.001-04:00

November 5. She is so happy to have her dress fitted!!!

First day

2011-08-27T12:19:00.001-04:00

Wow! Ryleigh is in k4 ( that is what trinity calls prek)

She absolutely loves school! She has Ms Stephens for a teacher and adores her! She has already made some good friends.

Nutcracker

2011-08-27T12:16:00.003-04:00

GeoTagged, [N32.55191, E82.91332]

Trying to do this from my phone as we wait for my car to have oil change!

It's nutcracker time again!!!! Tryouts were this morning and our part will be posted on Wednesday!

April & May

2011-05-27T13:03:00.008-04:00

We are now out of school! WHOO HOO! This is my first summer off in two (or three) years. I forget how many! I walked out of the doors on Tuesday with a skip in my step!

I just looked back at the blog and it appears I need to start in March! So Lets back up a little

March!

March is St Patricks Month in Dublin! We had a lot of fun!

We had Dance Parent Day,

Lunch with Lucky.

Super Saturday

and the St Patricks Pageant! Ryleigh did excellent in the pageant! And although we are a little bias we do believe she should have placed!

April

Wow! These have been a few busy (and trying) months. April was a busy month. too!!

Ryleigh and JB enjoyed some time fishing! Ryleigh held the fish (s) even!!! We took her to the Duke's to fish, they caught SEVERAL!!!

We went to several easter egg hunts! One at Church, One at Kathleens and One at school!

Here we are Easter Morning before church!

Easter was a hard holiday for us, and we decided just to stay at home. We found out in March that we were expecting a baby! However, April 19, @ 8 weeks and 4 days I had a miscarriage. We had to put it in Gods hands as we will never understand the reason why.

Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding proverbs 3:5

This difficult time brought JB and I even closer together. Ryleigh will often say now her baby is in heaven with Jesus. We have awesome family and friends who helped us and prayed for us and brought us through it all! Everyday we get a little bit stronger!!!! And we are truely blessed! :)

April also is the vidalia onion festival!!!

This picture is of John Gavin and Ryleigh.

May

May was just as busy!

We had our dance recital pictures,

and Muffins with Mom

Then Ryleigh's end of the Year Program and Party!

Wow! This was an emotional day. Ryleigh is really growing up! This was the LAST program she will have at FBC First Learning Center. In August, she will start K4 at Trinity Christian School.

FLC has been such a blessing for us! Ryleigh has been loved and cared for by the best people we could ask for! She went Monday, Wednesday and Friday and Pa picked her up at lunch time. Her favorite thing to do at school was to sing the Friday song!!! She has learned so much. Her favorite friends from school were: Caroline Darcy & Jaden and Jacob.

Her favorite person at school (and maybe in the WORLD!!!) is Ms. Shellene. She has got Ryleigh out of the car the past two years, and this year she was her teacher! (along with Ms. Ryan).

Well School is out and summer has begun! Let's hit the pool!!!!!!

Save the date

2011-03-17T21:38:00.001-04:00

Save the Date!

Recital

June 4

10 am (i think)

February

2011-02-27T14:45:00.001-05:00

February

Well lets start with the end of January :)

Here is Ryleigh's Party at school. She didnt want to take cupcakes, she wanted Chicken Minis! :)

Ryleigh's Birthday Party at Bojos!

Here are some pics.... any one take a guess at what kind of party we had.... Justin Bieber but of course!

Here is a pic of Nana's Babies minus the Manning girls :)

A trip to American Girl to spend the night in the American Girl Everything Pink Suite is what Barbie decided we needed for our birthday. Ryleigh loved it.

Started with Dessert at the Bistro
Then Sarah had an appointment for a new Hair do!Then off to the hotel to check in! Ryleigh and Sarah had their own checkin location, they had their own AG credit cards and had to decide on a time to have their room service delivered that night. We also had breakfast buffet the next morning before our trip to the pool for a quick swim before heading back to DUblin, Sarah however slept during the pool time, she was exhausted and didn't think she needed to go swimming.

Room Service Milk and Cookies (PS THE COOKIES WERE TEACAKES... YUM!)

Matching Robes

We also had our Pee Wee club at church perform on Wednesday night. Ryleigh decided she needed to dance instead of just sing.

Dance at the Nursing Home

They danced at the nursing home, to an Elvis song. after dancing, she passed out Valentine's to the residents.

okay the videos are NOT UPLOADING! so go to phanfare to view those :)

January

2011-01-14T13:36:00.004-05:00

My goal for this year is to update more! I know I know, why set a goal that is just about impossible.... well I can at least try!

Ryleigh started the year with a bang, she went and visited for a day at Trinity's k-4 (prek) program. She loved it and asked if she could go there now, on the days she was not going to FirstLearning Center... haha.

She has decided she wants a Justin Bieber Birthday party. She went to Cake Art and told them "exactly" what to put on the cake.
I quote..
"I Love Justin Bieber" and "Ryleigh's Fourth Birthday Bash" :)
(what can I say.... shes my child! lol.) She also told them she wanted a little Justin Bieber boy on top. Hopefully they will live up to her expectations.

We had two "Ice" Days so our first week back to school in Wilco was a short one, we get MLK day on Monday, I can get used to these short weeks. :)

While we were at BoJos signing up for her birthday party we stayed to play for a little while and Ryleigh decided she wanted to do Gymnastics as well as dance. So since she has been asking randomly to do this we took the leap and registered her. She now goes to Gymnastics on Wed and Dance on Thurs. I will have ot post the pic from my phone later.

Here is a video of her swinging on the rope at BoJos. She has NEVER done this before and had always been scared. This day she did it four times before we made her leave! UHHH VIDEO WONT UPLOAD I WILL TRY AGAIN TONIGHT. Regardless its on phanfare. go take a look!

Playing Catchup!

2011-01-14T13:02:00.011-05:00

November!
What a busy month. Practice practice practice! We are living, sleeping and eating nutcracker right now I think! :) Halee had her birthday party and she tried to find a place JUST LIKE BOJOs!!!!

The month of November also means its time to see Santa and the pink pig! This was the ffirst year that Ryleigh did SPEAK to Santa! He even reminded her she needed to be sleeping in HER bed and not at the foot of mine..... yea still not happening..... Ryleigh enjoyed the pink pig the most however! She loves Priscilla! After the trip to Lenox and Phipps we rode to the American Girl store and Sarah got her hair done!

The next weekend was Ryleigh's pageant. She happened to see a girl trying on a pageant dress at Garden Gate when we ran in for some shoes and she decided she was going to do that too. She did a fantastic job, and looked so grown up! If they (they being the Pageant gods) did not move a five year old down to the three year old group, Ryleigh would have recieved a trophy. Her group was also the only one that did not have a second place... umm

this girl in blue was the five year old who won!

JB and I also went on a crusie over thanksgiving! We left out of Jacksonville and went to Key West and Nassau! THe weather was sooooo perfect. We laid around and did just about nothing the entire trip... and that made it WONDERFUL!WHAT FUN… the weather was perfect.

December

She did great in her Christmas program at school. They sang a few songs and had a dessert party. Momma and Jeff came down and surprised her by coming to watch and eat dessert.

Just being Ryleigh!

Practice practice practice and more practice. But boy! What a show! The nutcracker was fantabulous! Ryleigh is already asking when we are going to start back….. I however, am not ready!

Ryleigh and I at the Sunday show, I was a back stage worker.

This is what everyone felt like by the time the Sunday show came around!

Our beautiful Cherub!

Where I found her, she did this by her self in the dressing room while she was waiting for her call. everyone was EXAUSTED!

We have the fastest little angel anywhere!

Are we alive??? March thru October

2010-11-01T13:43:00.005-04:00

Yes, Its been a while since I have updated.... March.... eek!

Let's see if I can count down the months.....

March

At the end of March we did the Miss. Emerald City pageant... Ryleigh enjoyed it ... but thats about all I can say about that! :) We had a lot of fun at the St. Patricks Day festival even though those Thugs ended up fighting. Ryleigh will still tell you about those "bad boys" who the police came and got!

April

April was Spring break, and we went to Myrtle Beach... We had a LOT OF FUN staying at the Dunes resort. They had an indoor water park. We also had a pretty nice balcony. We are already discussing going back next year. We went to a Cirque Show and Ryleigh did not enjoy it at first... but towards the end she did..... (and Its now October and she still talks about it). She also liked Senor Frogs..... yall know I couldnt visit a town with one of those with out going! :)

May
May was the winding down of school.... This year has FLOWN By...... Summer School is starting up for me.... BOO....:( but so do the Downtown First Friday Concerts.... We anticipated these to be a lot of fun, and we were right! By the end of the summer, we only missed .... One (i think). We enjoyed hanging out with friends and just playing around. Ryleigh's performance for her school was a lot of fun. (INSERT PICS). She is not excited about not going to school during the summer, and wants to know when she gets to go back!

June
The Dance recital is HERE!!! We had a lot of fun watching ryleigh perform for her Dance Recital. The theme was 80's Prom.... She danced to I just called to say I love you. (INSERT VIDEO).

July

Due to the oil spill in the gulf, we changed our reservations to Fernandina Beach and Amelia Island.... We love the gulf but this quiet little town had lots todo!

Ryleigh also liked showing off her swimming skills (INSERT VIDEO). We went on a carriage ride, and loved going to the Jacksonville Zoo. Ryleighs spots ended up coming back so we went home early, but Ryleigh was okay with it... she missed her Brinkley!

She is really enjoying the Wizard of Oz movie and already requested to be Dorothy for Halloween.

We ended the month with me starting a NEW JOB!! as a Media Specialist at the middle and high schools :) very excited about this. and celebrating Stephanie turning 30 by a weekend at Lake Oconee with friends who are family!

August
August boy! the summer flew by!

August was spent pretty much getting used to going back to school. We surprised JB with a 30th birthday party at Amanda's aunt Nitas house. That was fun! We did a hawaiian theme and Ryleigh even dressed for the part!

We went here and there but nothing too exciting! Ryleigh started school in Mid August, and LOVES LOVES LOVES her teacher Ms. Shellene. She helped her in the mornings last year and when I got the phone call saying Shellene was her teacher, I am not sure who was more excited :) I taught Shellene's youngest daughter at Trinity. INSERT SCHOOL PIC

September
September started out with a Birthday party over Labor day weekend .... and a 5K walk for the Promise of Hope the next weekend! JB and I walked (Ryleigh rode in her stroller and was "exhausted" after the race) :)

JB was out of town a lot of the month of September with training for work. One activity he missed was Donuts with Dad at Ryleigh's school. So Jeff came and filled in for the day. Momma and Jeff came and spent the night, then Jeff went to school with Ryleigh. They ended up even being in the paper! Ryleigh was excited cause she said she was the 'only one with a Pop there'.

October
October has been a busy month..... JB and I went to Savannah with some friends to celebrate their 30th Birthday! I think we are going back for New Year's! We all had a lot of fun! We started Nutcracker Practice. Ryleigh is really enjoying dancing with the BIG girls. She has practice twice a weekend every other weekend. So it is really time consuming but OH SO worth it to see the light in her eyes when she gets home and shows us what she has learned. She is also having to R~U~S~H to Sunday night church activities after nutcracker. She is exhausted by the time Monday gets here, and SO ARE WE!

She went to the Benton House Nursing home - which we had to discuss is not a place where Nurses live -- and sang with her choir a few of the songs they are learning.... I am hoping to attach the video.

At the fall festival at her school she won a Blue's Clue's pumpkin that Miss Kim's class made this year.

We went to visit Nanny and Bobo over Fall Break.... Coye, Colton, Ashton, Brynn, and Ryleigh had a tea party with nanny and they enjoyed pumpkin cookies.

Friday we went and took family pics with Vance at the hospital.... I will see if i can post a few.

She was Dorothy for Halloween, we went downtown to the merchants and trick or treated and then came back to our neighborhood and had supper with The Hesters and Bennett's before heading out to trick or treat again. Ryleigh did not want to go to church Sunday night to trick or treat because she said " I HAVE ENOUGH CANDY!"... me being the best parent ever... did not make her :)

I will try to attach the pictures and video tonight.

just an update

2010-03-09T21:46:00.003-05:00

Just a quick post…

Trying to keep up here. We had a good weekend. The St Patrick’s Festival activities are in full swing in Dublin. This weekend we went to the Hot Air Balloons and Lunch with lucky. We did the balloons at the VA on Friday – to which Ryleigh told us, I am going in one of those tomorrow, the pink one. Our answer… we will see. Well Saturday came and we went to the balloon glow. She didn’t want to go in the hot air balloons then. Although I did make her go touch the basket and take a pic. She walked away and said, “I didn’t get in there”…. Go figure… YOU WERE SCREAMING!

Sunday we went to church and Ryleigh got to go up to the big kid class, and go to big church then children’s church. She did a good job walking down the aisle by herself even though I went and sat on the front pew until she left the sanctuary. I cannot believe that my little girl is no longer in the nursery :(

We have the pageant this weekend. Practice was today. She did A FANTASITC job and came out proclaiming I LOVE PAGEANTS… lord help us! She went in the theater all by herself and is the first one in her group. We are considering this a good thing, doesn’t have to wait too long get up there and get over it! She really wanted to wear her dress today to the practice, and it was difficult to explain that we will on Saturday.

She is so independent that it sometimes scares me. I know how independent I am and I think she is double. It is I can do it myself. She really enjoys playing with others and does not meet a stranger.

Her favorite thing is to now tell you her address and most of her phone number. She will tell you she is three, and when she is “7,8” she is going on a cruise like Halee Rae. (she knows Halee just went on a cruise with Mickey Mouse, Momma is going in April on Spring break and JB and I are going in Nov, but she is still too young to cruise). She is eagerly waiting the beach trip over spring break to Myrtle Beach – it is a condo like Splash in PCB and knows we are going to the beach again in July. She is beginning to understand time lines, which I think is very smart for a three year old. Her concepts of days….. and what order they come in – We go to school on Monday and Wed, Dance on Monday and sleep late on Sat).

Well that’s all for now… I will post pics of the pageant this weekend. :)

Shes Growing Up....

2010-02-20T23:28:00.003-05:00

Wow! Its been a while. This little girl is growing up so fast before my eyes! Since our last post we have had Christmas, Snow Mountain, a birthday, dance and several other activities.

Lets start with Christmas! Wow what a great time we had this year. Ryleigh really enjoyed the Christmas season and the lights. She loved buying a blank cake from Kroger and decorating for Jesus’ birthday and singing happy birthday. She loved making Santa cookies – he even came and visited our house. She got more presents and goodies to even name! I also enjoyed my time out of school just being around her.

A few days after Christmas we went to snow mountain. Wow! Now I even had fun, she hasn’t ever seen snow outside of hopping in the car last March in Covington on our way back home that Sunday it snowed. She played and played and played…. I have never seen and been around that much snow so it was very cool….

Ryleigh also went to the dentist and visited Dr. Leonard. She did an EXCELLENT job... So proud of her!

Fast Forward…. .her birthday…. She had a party at school and brought cupcakes and milk…. Her real party was at BoJo’s jumping place…. She loved it … We got to see lots of family and friends we do not get to see very often. She had an Alice in Wonderland Cake with Alice on Top….Its very hard to believe that this little girl is “three now mommy”. She has started sleeping in her bed and putting herself to sleep again.. My bad from last summer just enjoying laying with her and I would fall asleep before she did. Opps :)

We went to Covington for the Cirucs last weekend and got a WHOLE LOT OF SNOW! Although we missed the snow in Dublin … yup snow in middle ga…. We had fun in Ctown with Rory and Jared playing on the golf course. So we made the later circus at 3 instead of 11 because of ice on the roads. .. We met Halee Rae the Harpers there and had a lot of fun!

Presidents Day we had Parent Day at dance. Ryleigh loves Mondays because that is dance day. This day she got to get her Daddy involved and teach him the dance for Over the Rainbow (see munchkin note below). He loved dancing with her.

Today she danced at a nursing home in Dublin that we were originally suppose to miss as it was scheduled for the same day as the circus…. But due to snow was rescheduled. Ryleigh did a good job although she was a little scared at first. She ended up handing out valendtines to all the residents and even meeting the only Munchkin from the Wizard of Oz still alive…. Mr. Carl.

Now lets talk about her for a little bit!

At three years old Ryleigh ---

Is learning to spell her name and trys to write it

Likes to do her ‘ABCD’s’ and tell you what each letter is for…

A is alli b is Barbie and Brinkley c is cody Chloe and CANDY d is for Daddy and Dial “that’s me” I is for ice cream J is for Jessica and JB and Jared K is for Kathy P is for Pop Q is for Queen ‘like me and Kathy’’ and quarter R is Ryleigh BETH!!!!

She also knows several of her sounds for the letters

LOVES LOVES LOVES to sing and dance… some fave songs are Deep and Wide and on the other spectrum Fergie ‘the girl’ – The Black Eye Peas and Carrie Underwood… I do not know how many times we have watched the Carrie Christmas Special.

Ryleigh is learning her numbers and recognizes most of the time 1-5. She likes to count aloud to about 11 or 12.

She likes to dress up in any kind of princess attire that can be found.

She loves to play outside

The Nail Salon is a fave stop of hers in town – along with Chick Fil A and McDonalds to play.

Her favorite food meal now is Chicken Nuggets French Fries and Cheese Sticks.

That’s pretty much sums up our little girl.

I will try to post some pics tomorrow.

November and December

2009-12-12T17:21:00.003-05:00

November was a busy month!

We went to see Santa and The Pink Pig .

The next weekend we met some family at the Rock Ranch.

JB and I had our 5^th anniversary, to which I celebrated in the bed sick as a dog, the three days prior to Disney world. Then we spent the week of Thanksgiving at Walt Disney World. We called the Wilderness Lodge home for the week. We had a GREAT time. Ryleigh loved each and every minute of it.

We then came home and the next weekend she had a dance program and was in the Dublin Christmas Parade. Each parade we watched at WDW she said, Im going to do this next week. Ryleigh did a FANTASTIC job dancing to Jingle bell Rock and Frosty the Snowman. I will try to get the video posted soon. Then she went to see the Rockettes with Barbie, Dannette and Addie. She really enjoyed watching those girls dance like she does.

We have been to a whirlwind of birthday parties the past few weeks as well. She has decided she wants a Alice in Wonderland party. We think we will do this at Bojos this year – more later. We are getting ready for Christmas. Ryleigh loves to look at Christmas lights, and doesn’t know if she like the Blinking lights or the baby Jesus the best…. Lol…. She is in the Christmas Play at school on Monday night –she is a sheep. She is patiently waiting on Santa to arrive because she claims she has been ‘good’. On other topics, I graduated yesterday at Ga Southern WHOO HOO!

October!

2009-11-01T08:04:00.006-05:00

Well its been a while. We have been so busy! I have been working steadily on school stuff. I am so excited I will be finished with my reading endorsement in two weeks and will graduate with my masters on Dec 11!!! J

The month of October has been jam packed, and November and December will be the same!

Ryleigh had her pictures taken at school, not the best pictures she has ever taken!

Ryleigh and Momma went to Alabama to visit everyone for a few days during Momma’s fall break. I went to Covington on my fall break to do some practicum hours. Ryleigh had her fall festival at school,

a field trip to a corn maze and pumpkin patch, and a pumpkin party at school. She set up her Christmas tree in the play room… I mean everyone needs a Christmas tree in October! She did a fantastic job at the block party dancing with Fancy Dancer!

See video below! And Trick or treating was lots of fun with Nathan and Nicholas!

We are counting down the days to go to Disney but first we must;

1 – go see Thomas the train today – this was a last min thing we bought tickets for, 2- go get pics with Santa and ride the pig next weekend. Ryleigh is alos going to the Wiggles next Sunday. The next weekend we are meeting the Harpers at the Roc Ranch… Then its almost Disney time!! J Like I said… a busy few months!

Carving the pumpkin!

JB Took pics of Ryleigh on his John Deere Tractor, Ryleigh would not change and put on an outfit, she said she was already dressed!

Mickey Mail -- Ryleigh's Disney mail came
One of her Christmas Pics JB took Yesterday

Okay I cant get the video to load... go to phanfare... its there dial.phanfare.com

Catch Up.

2009-09-14T14:02:00.004-04:00

Well I feel like I haven’t blogged in forever! I am at home today with Ryleigh. She has been running a fever since Saturday… no flu though…. We went to doctor today and we basically just have crud…. Yuck!

Ryleigh is getting sooo big! She acts so grown. Its funny to watch her!

Ryleigh is loving school, loving dance. She is having to miss both today because she is sick. I hoped she would not realize it but on the way home from the doctor she asked if she was going to school now….lol.

At Orientation!

Ryleighs first day--- Saying Cheeeese

We were suppose to go to the zoo the last weekend of August but ended up at Dauset Trails instead. Here are some pictures from there.

Ryleigh had planned on getting a Princess motorcycle from Barbie and Pop for Christmas but called them one random Thursday and decided she wanted it now…. Here are some photos of it. She has had it about 3 weeks and is finally riding it. Too cute. I need to find some pics of me on my motorcycle…. I had one too… although it was blue… umm I may look for that today.

Also here halloween coustme came in that I ordered... she is going to be a bee. Although the box it arrived in was just as fun.... she may act grown but you are never too old for a box! :)

Here are just some random pics.... Ryleigh swinging and a few saturday's back at BoJo's jumping....

Stone Mountain

2009-08-13T17:39:00.002-04:00

We went to Stone Mountain with the Sole’s last weekend. Ryleigh, Madeline and Jake had a very LONG but fulfilled day. We were up and at them for a whole 12 HOURS!!!! We rode the ducks, went to the barn, went to the petting zoo, rode up the mountain, watched the laser show, watched a 4-d movie, basically if it was offered… we did it.

Working on the New Computer

2009-08-13T16:34:00.001-04:00

I am testing the new computer. It has a Windows Live writer that updates the blog automatically. Now we will see if it works!

My Fancy Dancer

2009-08-06T21:05:00.003-04:00

Dance has been a lot of fun. Here are some photos.

Ryleigh has been taking dance since the end of June. We had a mini - i dont want to say recital because it was not that -- show on Monday the last class of the summer.

Ryleigh needs to learn some more listening skills although her teacher SWEARS she listens better when we are not there! I do not think the videos will load here as they are too long.... please go to dial.phanfare.com to view!

Kathy thinks Ryleigh may need some one on one lessons :) as if the teacher says stand ... she sits.... if she says sit... Ryleigh stands.... the last part of the 'show' was much better than the first.... although she still has a ways to go! I do keep telling myself, she is the youngest in the 3 year old class being 2 and a half.

She is so proud of herself anytime she is there. While we were watching the video she did the dance beside me... so she does know it and comprehend it... So as long as she's happy.... LET'S DANCE!

Ryleigh, Gilda (her teacher) and Emma Rae

Ryleigh at dance

Stretching

Doing her turn with Ms. Gilda.

Dance!

2009-07-26T18:24:00.000-04:00

We got our dance newsletter for the month.... Recital is june 5, 2010!
Mark your calendars!

Summer's Up :(

2009-07-23T14:59:00.004-04:00

Wow! Its hard to believe that the summer is already up!

I have started back to work – with the grant I had to come back on July 13. SO I had a VERY VERY SHORT Summer. We have gone and done and gone and done all summer.
Ryleigh has started dance and LOVES IT!
I still do not have any pictures to post. I will work on that next week. She also starts Preschool next month. We decided on First Baptist in Dublin just because it came VERY RECOMMENDED! She can not wait until starting school – the first day is the 17th. Orientation will be the 14th. She has a new book bag that Barbie got her and we are now having to use it to take to town with us. She will go half a day for Monday and Wednesday.

Monday on my very last day of summer break, we went to Statesboro to their Waterpark – Splash in the Boro. We went with some friends and she loved it! IT was well worth the drive down there. We are now trying to figure out a day that JB can go back with us. It was not crowded at all and the day was very overcast so you did not get hot! We had a picnic lunch before we entered the park. FUN FUN FUN STUFF!
Well off I am …. I do have a little break from Georgia Southern until Mid August. I did just get an email from JB , he just sent the last payment to them--- WHOOO HOOOO!

Beach Life

2009-07-06T00:23:00.001-04:00

Beach life would have been grand if Barbara didn’t ruin it all at the last minute.
We are back in Dublin, PCB was beautiful except for the two days that it looked like rain… But Ryleigh had fun.

We stayed at Grande Surf Club, it was a very secluded which had its ups and downs. You got to know the people that were there the week. And you never really had to worry about leaving your stuff at the pool etc. No one was even on the beach until Wed or Thurs. so all that was nice.. Some kids ended up showing up that Ryleigh had fun with.

We still wish we would have just gone back to Splash, because Ryleigh had so much fun there last year. I am trying to talk JB into doing a long weekend for Labor day……..

JB and I took her to a place down the road to ride different kid rides. She had a blast every time we took her… yes every time because we went back just about every night. She loved the swings and train. There was also a mini ‘tilt a whirl’ that she liked as long as it was not spinning to fast.

She did not want to stay on the beach too much, she wanted the ‘swimming pool’. So we spent most of the week there. Even with all the sunscreen JB applied to Ryleigh she ended up with a cute little tanline. She will strip naked and say look at my bootie… (I think she got this from coye as the pose is the same…..)

One girl at the pool had an airbrush tattoo of a butterfly on her foot. Well Ryleigh WANTED A BUTTERFLY ON HER FOOT. So we went and got her one… she is too cute with it. Her butterfly got in the pool this afternoon. … not Ryleigh but her butterfly…… I think it lasts a week. I am dreading what is going to happen when the butterfly washes off.

Jared and Will came down on Tuesday night. Ryleigh has talked about Jared, Will and Chris – who stayed a few blocks down the strip – all day today.

Places we ate:
Sunday -- Sharky’s when we arrived for lunch – yummy! We could hardly keep Ryleigh in the restaurant and out of the beach! I don’t remember where we ate for supper……
Monday – Lasagna in the room. This was the first night we did rides at Emerald Falls--- these continued nightly.
Tuesday – Cpt. Anderson’s. … Yummy as always!
Wednesday— Uncle Ernie’s. This might have been Ryleigh’s fav. She wanted it the next several days. We sat outside upstairs so she could listen to the music. She danced with a little girl.
Thursday – Mellow mushroom for lunch. Boar’s head for supper – probably the best meal apart from Cpt. Anderson’s.
Friday – The Shrimp Boat – good but service sucked!
Saturday – Boon Docks – it was very good!

I have one more week until I go back to school! Yuck! Ryleigh wanted to go to Glenda’s in the morning…she packed her bag mid afternoon. So she will tomorrow. I don’t know what we will do the rest of the week……..I’m sure something fun!

Oh yea... Cody turns 16 tomorrow... LOOK OUT EVERYBODY! Happy Birthday Cody.

Catch up

2009-06-29T15:07:00.004-04:00

Well we are at the beach…. Its raining…. Yea. So I am being productive. Posting to the blog!

Well the week of June has been a VERY VERY BUSY month. We had an Early Reading First summer school session from the 1^st to the 25^th. I am so glad that is over with!!!

Ryleigh went to Vacation Bible School at North Poplar Springs Baptist Church. This is not our church but it is Patricia and Robert’s. They actually have VBS for all children’s age levels as opposed to starting at 3 years old. Ryleigh had a blast. They jumped and played and sang Jesus Loves Me. She was in a class with MaKayla from Glenda’s house. MaKayla’s daddy is the youth minister at NPSBC. So she knew someone going in --- this may have helped her nerves.

Ryleigh before the first day of VBS

We had a Pike Family reunion at Nanny’s on Fathers Day. Here are some pics of Ryleigh, Coye, Colton, Ashton and Brynnley.Ryleigh and The Lane's have the same matching Kelly Kids outfits. Brynnley wouldnt let us take her pic but Ashton would sit with Ashleigh.

Ryleigh and Coye

We borrowed the VBS tent from PP's class.

Ryleigh holding colton.

Blowing bubbles outside with Peggy.

Ryleigh also started DANCE CLASS!!! WHOOOO HOOO… I do not have any photos yet. So I will post those later. Ryleigh is going to a summer session of 6 wks. She will not have a real recital at the end of this term, just a short 10 min performance the last day of class for momma and daddy. We peaked through the windows as they have blinds up--- something that JB doesn’t like he wants the mirrors you can see through one way and not the other. Emma Rae is in the class at dance so she has friend here too. We walked in with her that first day and she went up to a little girl --- I think her name is Bailey --- and said ‘ you going to dance class with me?’ ---‘come on lets go’ Ryleigh did not understand that she could not barge in and interrupt the prior class. She learned to wait until the teacher came and said line up… Ryleigh was off…. Never looked back.

We arrived in PCB yesterday. The ride down was pretty uneventful – good considering we rode with a very rambunctious 2 year old name Ryleigh. Hopefully the storm will pass and we will go back out!

Enjoy the pics… not very many!

Just a Random pic of Ryleigh on her Bike!

Potty

2009-05-25T09:42:00.002-04:00

I forgot to add this to the last post.... and it is VERY IMPORTANT!!!

We have gone to the potty every time since Friday... that's all weekend. She still will not poop in the potty :( but she is now going by herself mainly to the big potty.

She has gone 2 nights without wetting her pull up. She also has worn panties all day long throughout the weekend :)

YEA RYLEIGH!!!

Quick Update

2009-05-25T09:32:00.001-04:00

We have finally gotten our house back in order….although tornado Ryleigh comes through every afternoon, sometimes hitting two and three times a day. We have been working (or maybe JB) diligently on the pool, its still cloudy… :( Ryleigh is starting dance (ballet) in three weeks. We signed her up on Friday and she is wearing her leotard and dance shoes constantly. Its so cute. I got to to get a video of it. She wears her leotard but ‘booty dances’…….I have some pictures to upload from our CF Walk last week as well as a few more pictures --- gotta find my camera for that….. Have to ask Miss Priss where it is. I start back to class tomorrow. I have 2 classes this summer and one in the fall with practicum.. WHOO HOO! Well that’s all for now, just a short update.

Pictures from the past few weeks

2009-05-15T09:36:00.004-04:00

Here are some Easter Photos and from the strawberry patch!

Kitchen makeover

Before

After

Strawberry Patch

One of those .....

2009-05-05T22:21:00.000-04:00

Well I have become one of those……. One of those people who do not take the digital photos off the camera. Well I don’t guess its me, technically its JB, since its his camera and all.

We have pictures from Easter (and some video), we have pictures of the Strawberry patch, and maybe several other things.

Fact of the matter is we have both been too busy to sit down and take them off the camera.

For starters, my semester at Ga Southern ended last week, so it was rush time for that. In the middle of that we started ripping out the kitchen and doing (well we didn’t ‘technically’ do it (or maybe the correct word is physically) a complete remodel of it all. It looks really good! We are just finishing that up right as I type this. I can say (something I never in my wildest and scariest dreams thought I would say) I am tierd of eating out. We have eaten out all meals of the day for the past three weeks.

With all of that being said…. I will post photos of everything hopefully this weekend…. Including our new kitchen…..

PS. One thing I did learn during the remodel is Ryleigh may have some of Ma in her! Every time I try to throw “shit” away…by that term I mean items such as old cups from various restaurant kids meals, solo cups that had been used and in the sink, markers with out a point, etc. Well I started calling Ryleigh ‘Ozie’ because she (my grandmother – daddys mom) would wash every single solo cup and throw away silverware…. Why because I may be able to use it….. Everything Ryleigh would take out of the trash she would say “that is my _____” and take it to her play room to store. Lol

Introducing.....Chip and Dale

2009-04-08T21:02:00.002-04:00

Chip and Dale

Introducing…… Chip and Dale!

Chip and Dale are Ryleigh’s new chicks.

Chip is pink. Dale is blue. We got them today. She has sat and talked or held them since we got home. I am worried about bedtime tonight. More Chip and Dale stories to come J

Sleeping Peacefully

Kiss Kiss

Boats, Leprechauns, and Lambs

2009-03-30T13:59:00.008-04:00

Spring Break is finally here! Woo hoo! I have used today to catch up with my Georiga Southern Classes that I have let fall to the way side the past couple of weeks. Now I am starting on laundry.

The past month has been a busy one. Lets see the last post was about the aquarium. What have we done since then?

Well the end of February or was it the beginning of March? We had some snow. Yes it was the beginning of March.

We were sitting in church at FBC Covington when we looked out the window and saw snow. Earlier it was just yucky cold rain. We had time to go eat at Smilies and get to mommas before it really started accumulating. It was so pretty. But we didn’t stay for long once it started because I had a feeling we wouldn’t get any in Dublin (I was right) and we would have school. If we stayed in Covington any longer, we would have became stuck there….. oh and that would have been horrible…. (I say sarcastically).

Ryleigh did not like the "wet" cold snow.

She was happier if someone was holding her!

She was much happier in the house eatting a snow ball.

JB went fishing with his daddy in Brunswick (I think). Allison stayed the night with Ryleigh and I. J Cause we all know I don’t like staying by myself.

The next week I went on a Cruise for Nanny’s 75^th Birthday. We went out of Orlando an
d did a Thurs-Sunday cruise to Nassau. We had a lot of fun. During that time Ryleigh went and spent the night with Daddy and Joan and JB’s parents. On my cruise I even went swimming with the sting rays! It was very cold but very neat! On the cruise were my Grandparents, Aunts – Kathy, Peggy, and Betty, Momma, and Cousin – Ashleigh. 8 Stitts on one boat…and no one died…. Truly a miracle!

Picture of all of us before we boarded.

Standing outside the limo.

In the limo on the way to the boat from the hotel.

At Senor Frogs. Gotta go there in Nassau!

Formal Night....

Me and my stingray.

We went to the St Patricks Festival last Saturday. It was fun. We watched the parade with Nathan – and of course his parents Steven and Melinda. Amanda, Brentley and Dorothy also met us there. We walked around the park for a while also. (more photos to come)

One day last week JB had to go to Savannah for work – I am talking a lot of work here – I got a text saying he was eating crab trap…… and Janna spent the night with me and Ryleigh and kept Ryleigh for me Wednesday since she was on spring break.

This past weekend we went to Eastman and had easter pictures taken with a lamb. They all turned out so good. (I will accept any donations offered to help pay for those photos…haha). I am hoping to have proofs back tomorrow so I will try to post some.

Opps

2009-02-22T13:35:00.004-05:00

So I have let a month go by again!
opps!

I have been so busy. I love my new job - however some late nights are coming with that territory!

My typical week consists of:
Monday- usually leave school as soon as the bell rings as it is one of the only days I can!
Tuesday- arrive at 715, school out at 3, meeting from 3-4. Reading endorsement from 430-930. This is the night I do not arrive home before 945 because the earliest we have gotten out of class is 915. The teachers believe in keeping us there the whole five hours! How barbaric is that???
Wednesday - Leave school around 345 or so
Thursday -- School out at 3, meeting until 415.
Friday-- TGIF!

I am also doing 2 GSU classes this semester that i might add I am behind on but tend to catch up on weekends. Tuesdays are a killer for me not only being gone from the house 630 am -10 pm every Tuesday but it is also hard because I do not get to see Ryleigh from Monday night when I put her to bed until Wednesday when we get home. That being said makes no sense why it tears on me so much because I can let her go to momma's for a few days or on a vacation without her for a week and not be truly upset about it. I think my brain just knows I AM SUPPOSE TO SEE HER DURING THE WEEK!. So when I get home before midnight (okay a little bit stretched) I wil work on my GSU after Ryleigh goes to sleep.

Each and every Wed, I go into work exhausted and tell my boss I think I am going to quit. She tells me to go on to the Pre-K classes and to hush! :) I tell her okay well dont ask me any questions because I barely know my name.

Ryleigh went to spend Tue-Sat with Momma and they went to Alabama. Ryleigh ate at The Galley and Burger King Tue-Fri! haha. I have never seen so many Burger King toys in one car before. She had fun playing with everyone. Kathy took some pictures I will have to get her to upload for me. As they tried to arrange everyone, each time Ryleigh would look at the camera and say 'cheese'. So i guess my child knows what a camera is.... go figure :)She also attended her first "REAL" movie with Momma, Nedra and Dannette (I think). It was Madea goes to Jail. She watched the whole thing and ate her popcorn and sprite. Momma said she would say "movie, laugh" and just go hahahhahahha. Apparently before they got there momma talked up going to a movie and they were going to laugh because it was going to be funny.

The first weekend of the month we went to the GA Aquarium. Ryleigh had a lot of fun! We went when she was about 6 mths old. She loved the whale sharks and the 4-d movie. We also walked over to the park and took some photos. I will have to scan our Aquarium photo -- but here are a few we took.

Ryleigh loved the Whale Sharks. She would point and say "Whale Sharrrk"

I think this is a very neat profile shot! How she is black and the fish are colored.

Jessica, Ryleigh and Deepo.She wouldnt go up by herself while we were inside. However on the way out the door Deepo was standing outside and she went up to him then. Of course, the camera was already up.

Each time I said take a picture with momma -- all day long --- this is what she did. She would go " AHHHHHHHH".

Of course she would take one with Daddy
Just playing somewhere at the GA Aquarium.

Now outside at the park!

She kept saying Cheese and posing!

I Saved my favorite picture for last! She was not posed JB just happened to catch it!

Happy Birthday Ryleigh

2009-01-30T17:02:00.005-05:00

Morning she was born.
First Birthday Photos

2nd Birthday Party

Happy Birthday dear sweet princess.

I can not believe that its been 2 years since that wonderful COLD day in January that you came into this world. That day (it was actually Jan 29 that we went to the hospital) lasted forever. We never thought we were going to get to go the hospital! We ended up shopping at Macon Mall before they eventually called us. We were actually at Gymboree shopping. We went to the hospital and everyone waited patiently. Me, your daddy, Barbie, Pop, Cody, Nanny, Kathy, Grandmomma Pat and Granddaddy Benson, Grandmomma Joan and Granddaddy Don were all there. Also were Nedra, Kim, and Dannette. Reita and James were there as well for some of the time. Everyone wanted to see you!

You did take your sweet time coming. I guess we should have seen it as a sign of you doing life at your own time. You are that way today, you want it when you want it, and then not five mins earlier or later.

You are head strong, sweet as a button, and have the most precious smile I have ever seen. I did not know I could love something as much as I love you. Even at your worst moments (you know those screaming fits you throw???!?!) you are the light of my life. All you have to do is smile and you melt my heart.

You are growing up so fast. You are going to potty, you are dressing yourself, your vocabulary is growing daily. You love to color and do your puzzles, you are such a smart little girl. You love your doggies -- both of them equally unlike some people who have favorites. You love to play in your kitchen. You want to always get in the pool or play outside. You love to play in my make up and do your hair. Bathtime is and has always been fun and one of your favorite times of the day.

Oh how I love you so!

Ryleigh's 2nd Birthday Party

2009-01-25T10:23:00.004-05:00

Wow! What an adventure! I think it is going to take us a week to recover. When it comes to our daughter, no one can argue how truly blessed we are by having such good and close family and friends. Family and friends who shower our precious child as their very own!

Ryleigh wanted a Mickey Mouse (aka MOUSE) party. Her cake was a Mickey Mouse cake that was absolutely delicious, even though its not what we ordered. A little of a touchy subject…. But it all turned out well.

Allison helped make some of the food and the WONDERFUL Rice Krispie Treats. She even did Mickey Mouse with dipped ears! Thanks a lot Alli. I will give you the credit even if Ryleigh gives it all to Eric! :)

My mom came down Friday night to help us prepare! Thank goodness!

Our menu consisted of: Chicken Salad Croissants, Grill Cheese Sandwiches (for the kidos), Chili, Chips and dip, Cheese Its (I will post recipe because I know several people want it), Rice Krispies and CAKE!

Ryleigh’s actual birthday is not until the 30^th. (I will post that day as an update) so this post is strictly party. All Ryleigh has talked about since before Christmas is a bike. If we see someone on the road or in the neighborhood riding a bike, we hear about it forever. “I want bike.” Well we ‘took a test ride’ at toys r us at Christmas and decided to wait because she just wasn’t ‘big’ enough. I knew she was getting a helmet from someone but did not think it was ‘time’ yet. Well she has had a fit (well not really a fit but went a little crazy) each time we go to walmart and go by the bikes. So we decided at the last minute to get her a tricycle.

After a very long day yesterday and a very long late nap, when she finally woke up she was cuddling with her daddy and said “momma, hehe I got a bike”. That was enough for me to know we did the right thing! J

Well enjoy the photos, More later in the week!

Cheese It Recipe

½ cup of oil

1 T Dill

1 t garlic powder

1 t celery salt

1 pk of ranch dressing mix

Mix all ingredients in a gallon baggie. Add 1 box of cheese its. Shake well, put in fridge for 3 hours. Serve. I think the fridge just helps set the oil. You know it has to be easy for me to make it :)

Update... Okay Its been too long....

2009-01-16T14:03:00.000-05:00

Okay. So its been a while… and yesterday I was called out so here is a post. The last month (has it really been a month since I posted?) has flown by. We have all had our rounds of sicknesses and tests. This may be the reason I am finally getting to post, because I am home sick with a sinus headache….again…. and I am thinking COME ON I am still on the antibiotics (for like 2months straight now) WHY do I have a killing headache? It is feeling a little better – hopefully much better by the time JB and Ryleigh get home.

So Christmas --- Wow! Spending time and seeing family that we do not get to see enough was great. Ryleigh on Christmas morning was so much fun! I am not feeling like posting pictures here so you can go to dial.phanfare.com to see them. Christmas day Momma , Jeff, and Cody came down for lunch (Jared was on Call) later that afternoon JB’s mom and dad came. And a few days later Daddy and Joan came. Ryleigh got so much stuff! I am not sure of her favorite right now, however, we are doing puzzles constantly and vacuuming the floor if we are not doing puzzles.

Christmas night we went to see Christmas Lights in Yonkers (apparently this is a community in the middle of mo where on 247). Well the family has a ‘compound’ that is covered in lights. Story has it that their little boy was very ill (cancer maybe) and wanted to see how many Christmas lights could be put up, well it has grown each year. (See the photos on dial.phanfare.com) Ryleigh was in wonderland at all the LIGHTS!!!

For new years we went to Milledgeville to see some old friends and had a blast. Ryleigh spent the night with The Rogers aka Tricia, Robert, and the boyz. She had lots of fun as well! Apparently they kept her up to all hours of the night partying hard because she slept FOREVER when we picked her up.

Back to school we went, or to the babysitters in her case. IT was a very productive break, however not very restful !We are in full swing for planning her second birthday party. I can not believe she will be 2 soon.

In other news, over the break we booked “Nanny’s Birthday Adventure”. This year we have decided to go on a cruise for her birthday and Bobo decided to join us. We are leaving from Orlando going to Bahamas and back to Orlando from March 12-15. So we are COUNTING down to that – or I guess I am counting down to that. It will be Nanny & Bobo, Momma, Kathy, Peggy, Betty, Jessica and Ashleigh. Should be full of adventure…… all I know is I WILL NOT BE DRIVING….. as this adventure is when I got my speeding ticket last year.

My classes started last Tuesday, as well as my reading endorsement class that I am doing through RESA. I was not ready for my Southern classes to start but know the sooner they start, the sooner I will be finished. I also know that the sooner they start the sooner the celebration for finishing Disney trip will arrive !
Well that’s all for now!
Hopefully I will be a better blogger and not take a month to post next time.

Santa's List...He's checking it twice

2008-12-15T21:47:00.002-05:00

Go check out who made the nice list... ummmmm...

http://family.go.com/santas-list/video/37982-jekadial/

Fall Classes

2008-12-14T15:15:00.001-05:00

Well my fall classes are over. WHOOOO HOOO!!!

I ended up "officially" with 2 A's and 1 B. However, in my book its 3 A's. One teacher counts 92 and below a B. Well I had a 91. So he posted a B, but I count it as an A. So I am going to pat myself on the back :)

Disney On Ice

2008-12-14T10:49:00.008-05:00

MICKEY MOUSE

Wow! The excitement! The squeals! The laughter!

We can NOT wait until Thanksgiving next year where we get to experience the real thing

(we go to Disney next year for the week of Thanksgiving)

I was very hesitant in getting us tickets because I was unsure how Ryleigh would react to watching a performance. I did not want her to be ill and disrupt everyone else around her. I finally decided to bite the bullet. I thought she would enjoy it and we were going to give it a shot.

When researching tickets I found the had what was called “VIP” seats. Didn’t really know what “VIP” meant but hey it was 10 dollars more, might as well get those right? All I could tell from the ticket seating chart, was the VIP were ‘center court’ and first two rows.

The day finally came. We have been talking about it off and on for a few months. Really talking it up big the last week or so. My heart would be broken if she didn’t enjoy it or even worse, was scared of Mickey! We got ready, we went to Macon – first with a pit stop at the hospital to see a friend who had a baby – and we were finally at the Centerplex. (or I think that is what it is called).

We get in and through the field of sells booths. Finally to the actual arena for lack of a better word. I see rows of seats, on the ice…. Actually on the ice. I look at JB and say I think those are our seats. He said no way. Well we talked to one of the people who points you to your seats and he pointed us that way! Ryleigh was getting more excited by the minute. Mickey was everywhere. She even pointed out “rella” as we were coming in. I didn’t even know she knew who Cinda’rella’ was. Chance would have it we ran in to some friends coming in, Ryleigh’s babysitters daughter who is in kindergarten, Big RyLeigh. She ended up sitting five seats down from us.

Even with our seats on the ice, which one of the workers told us was 14 degrees, it wasn’t too cold. I brought our coats and gloves and had Ryleigh in tights and pants, but never got cold. I guess the padding they had on top really worked!

We could not have had a better view. Everything happened right in front of us. I determined when we got there, I was really glad I spent the extra 10 to get the VIP seats. Ryleigh did wonderful during the show, only getting upset for about 5 mins right after intermission when she had to sit back down, but then Mickey came back out and all she could say was ‘mo’ ‘mo’ ‘mo’.

Here are a few pics. We have a few more on my camera. We will get those off tonight!

Ryleigh and I in our seats

The VERY IMPORTANT light wand, it has "Rella" on top.

The center stage.

Ryleigh and Big Ryleigh

Pluto

Alice

The Monkey and their "hineys". Ryleigh thought it was hilarious that they had hineys!
Mickey and Minnie - Ryleigh has now started to differentiate between the two, they are now Minnie and Mickey, not just Mouse.

Ryleigh - happy at the show!

Off Visiting

2008-12-07T10:59:00.004-05:00

Ryleigh is off visiting her Grandma Pat and Granddad Benson for the night (or two) so I have so much planned to do. Yea, planned is the right word.

The reason I am out of bed at 11 am (on the dot) is to take some medicine. I am sick as a dog! Why do I keep getting the sinus crud. One whole side up my head is clogged. Needless to say, I am glad Ryleigh isn't here because all I want to do is sleep.

Our goal for today is to get the Tree from the local Tree seller. First we have to clean the den and move Ryleigh's table (as it is in the tree location). We want to get the tree up with lights before Ryleigh's return tomorrow afternoon. First I thought it was cruel and unusual punishment to do the tree without her, after a little thinking I believe it would be just that to me by waiting on her. So I compromised and said we will put the lights on without her as this is the most tedious job -- and her help wouldn't be quite that might i say 'helpful'. Then tomorrow when she gets home she can put the ornaments on.

So lets see how much we get done today. I am off to sleep a little more :(

The Weekend with the Harpers

2008-12-02T21:06:00.006-05:00

Me, My Aunt Kathleen, Ryleigh, My Cousin Katrina

So we had it planned, planned for months (several months) we had a schedule, a detailed, very detailed schedule. Remind me to never plan and schedule again…. You just get your hopes up!

Our second annual (and incidentally Ryleigh’s second Christmas) outing with the Harpers was this past weekend. We had planned on doing Christmas at Stone Mountain. The whole nine yards. Katrina had a detailed (did I mention very detailed) schedule planned for us so we did not miss anything we wanted to do. It rained. It rained and It rained some more.

So after some quick (in order to stay dry) thinking we decided to go to Lenox, see the Pink Pig and Santa and just enjoy time together. We met Jared at Bass Pro in Macon (because if anyone knows what the GA map looks like its easier (faster etc) for him to meet us in Macon from Covington instead of going straight to McDonough) and headed on out.

Once there, and after everyone finished moaning about the rain and not being able to go to Stone Mountain we headed to Lenox.

First item at hand, Priscilla (as she used to be called), The Pink Pig. For those of you who do not know. The Pink Pig is an Atlanta landmark (at least at Christmas). Way back when (according to the people we were with –haha) it on top of Rich’s Downtown, and part of it was even outside for a few secs to go around the Tree. It debuted in 1953. I remember it from the Festival of Trees and Cody riding it. Anyway you can view more at pink pig…. Back to the adventure!

Ryleigh rode the Pig….and wanted to again. I should have listened to Katrina who said ‘doesn’t she want to go twice’ while we were buying tickets…. Truth be known. We were with a ‘closet pink pig addict’ Well wait a min, a ‘closet addict’ hides the addiction… Katrina is just a Pink Pig Addict. She wanted to ride twice.

Ryleigh and I at the Pink Pig in ATL

Jared sporting his new Vera Bradley BookBag

After buying a few Pink Pig memorabilia, we headed off to Santa. Oh were we excited. Ryleigh was too (really I swear)! That is until we got to be the next up. Then we broke down. I think the photos say enough. Now she looks at them and says “ho ho – Ryleigh cry”. Go figure….

Ryleigh Before Santa

Afterward, we shopped, (window mostly) and ate supper then It was time for Dessert. Cookie Factory of course. Low and behold, guess what Ms. Ryleigh wanted and avidly told the person she wanted… the Santa cookie.

Well we had fun, that is all that matters! Hope you enjoy the pictures. And if you are around Lenox…. Go RIDE THE PIG!

This is the 'actual' ordered photo

Santa tried HARD!

Thanksgiving at the Dials

2008-11-28T12:59:00.002-05:00

We had a wonderful thanksgiving yesterday. JB was on call so we stayed in Dublin. We ate a FABULOUS lunch at Cracker Barrel. Apparently we were not the only ones with this idea. My parents and Cody came down for the day, and Reita and James also came to visit. Lunch was Very Good and some of us even had a few leftovers :)

Afterward, we just came to the house and hung out, read the sale papers about things we would not get up the next morning to go shopping for, etc.

After Momma, Jeff and Cody left -- Ryleigh did not want them to go -- Allison and Eric brought over some of their leftovers. They called it Meals on Wheels. haha. After partaking in their leftovers for supper (and some very yummy desserts) we watched Jeff Durham's Christmas special. Very funny if I might add.

Today (Friday) Ryleigh and I slept late as JB had to get up to go work. We have hung around the house, I have even had a chance to work on some of my last minute school work. Tomorrow we will be going to Stone Mountain with the Harper side of our family. We cant wait to see all the lights!

More later!

Happy Anniversery!

2008-11-19T22:31:00.005-05:00

TWO POST IN ONE!

November 20, 2004

A day that change my life.I married my best friend.

Wow! So much has happened in the past four years. Some days it feels like yesterday, others like an eternity --- hey I am just being truthful – but everyday I wake up I realize how blessed I am to have a magnificent husband. He loves me unconditionally, through good times and bad. He takes care of me when I am sick (and we all know I am pitiful when I am sick), he sighs when I spend too much money on clothes, or Ryleigh, or whatever. He is encouraging when I have a bad day and pops my bubble when my head gets too big.

We together, have made the perfect life for us. We have a wonderful, beautiful, healthy daughter. Who has taught us - both of us - how humble we can be, what real true endless love is. Who has made us realize that we can do nothing on a Friday night but sit in the floor and play with logos and have the best time ever!

We can do our ‘own’ thing without feeling that one is leaving the other behind. We can pick up each others slack when we are giving our all.

It’s hard to imagine, we have been together (well off and on, but together) since we were 16 years old. AP American History, 11^th grade. That’s a long time.

We have only been married four years. But I want four more, and then some J haha.

Here are some of our wedding pictures. Enjoy!

Callaway Gardens

We went to Callaway gardens this past weekend to see the lights and to celebrate our upcoming anniversary. We have in the past gone on a “trip” on odd number years. Since this is an ‘even’ year – we did a mini trip. We did the Fantasy of Lights at Callaway. We had a BLAST. It was cold, but fun! We also did the Birds of Prey and butterfly exhibits.

PS.

My new job is GREAT! I love it. Maybe more on it later!

Busy Week Ahead

2008-11-09T20:45:00.001-05:00

First off, I really enjoyed the first week of my new job. We have yet to 'implement' the program, so it’s doing this and that right now. This coming week is going to be a busy week. We have a lot going on. Ryleigh is going to Covington Tue-Fri to visit with Nanny, Bobo, and Kathy. Next weekend we are going to see the lights and leaves at Callaway Gardens. We had planned on going to Babyland General but are bumping that a few weeks in hopes of seeing some of the leaves changing at Callaway (and also seeing the lights before it gets too cold!). I am a little apprehensive about seeing Christmas Lights before thanksgiving, but I think that just means we can decorate for Christmas even sooner  I love Christmas decorations. I just do not like putting them up and taking them down… ummmm I wonder if we can talk someone (or pay someone) into coming and decorating while we are gone… yea right in my dreams……

I am also going to the antique fair in town with a friend from Trinity – yes some people there still like me, LOL, just kidding. No I do not ‘like’ antiques but this fair has lots more than that + it has good food!

I have one big assignment due on Tuesday and a test to take on Wednesday. I am going to visit Sherry and get her to help me with my test. I am going to bribe her with supper that night. She is at home recovering from surgery. I may even bring enough food for Cousin It. ……

Well gotta go get ready for desperate housewives. I’ll post some pictures of our adventures next week!

Tomorrow is a new day....

2008-11-02T20:58:00.007-05:00

So tomorrow... November 3, I start my new job . Lots of thoughts are going through my mind right now; I need to be going to bed. I have to start getting up an hour earlier so I need to go to sleep. But it’s a desperate housewives night... so I have to watch it. To take my mind off of tomorrow, I have been going through some old photos of Ryleigh (this could take a lot of time, a really really long time) [haha here's a plug... if you have lots of time on your hands and would like to look at a few no several thousands of photos, feel free to go visit our site at Phanfare and take a look!] So I have decided to include a sideshow of her first 1 and half years. Its hard to believe that in January she will be two. My baby girl is growing up.

Oh yea on a side note -- potty training -- she went to potty 5 or 6 times before lunch. One time was poopy! YEA RYLEIGH! She did this without us prompting her. She would either come tell me potty or go to her potty and pull her PJ's off. --- we skipped church this am.

Hope you enjoy the slideshow. The first year is in Black and White because they were already in a folder from last year’s birthday card that I made.

Quick Update

2008-10-28T00:26:00.003-04:00

So its after midnight. I am up with Ryleigh. She has had a bad stomach virus since Saturday Am. JB took her to the doctor this am, shes not dehydrated (THANK GOD!) yet this afternoon we had to call the doctor back and are going in the morning for a stool sample (maybe too much info but hey this is my 'baby' book). Her poor bottom is completely raw. She sits in her chair and says 'hurt' and cries crocodile tears. Yet at the same time she wants me to turn on "melmo" and she does the Chicken Dance... Which brings me to the reason of this post. I just updated my facebook. This is the paragraph I included.... I wanted to add it here to make it more permanent. Is this blog more permanent?

From Facebook:

I have a wonderful life and I do not realize it enough. My loving and caring husband JB, my princess daughter Ryleigh Eliza'beth', my two fur babies, my family and friends. I wake up every day and see how blessed I am.

Seeing the world through my daughter’s eyes is the most exciting experience in the world! She makes me laugh, she makes me cry and the most fun I have had in a long time is dancing with her and Elmo doing the Chicken dance and having her fall down in a full blown stomach laugh.....Wow, I love my life.

Weekend of Adventure

2008-10-26T20:49:00.013-04:00

So normally on the weekends... we do one of two things.... 1) we do nothing or 2) we go, we do, we don’t stop! This weekend was the latter of the two :)

This photo is for JB... he says I am always on my phone.....

Friday night we stayed at home because we knew what Saturday and Sunday was going to bring! Saturday we got up and laid in our PJs for most of the morning. Then we got up, got ready and went to the block party at our church. What fun!

Ryleigh had cotton candy and popcorn….. two of her faves (yes I know she shouldn’t have popcorn, but this is something she discovered at a TCS ball game. Now loves the stuff… so I choose my battles and just watch her carefully).

She also played the duck game (the one where you pick a duck and get a prize). CANDY.. YEA!:)

Then her and her daddy decorated a cookie. YUMMY. She did not understand why she only got 1. I am fairly certain they would have let her do another but we would not.

Then we went home for a quick nap to go to yet another fall festival. The second time we went to Poplar Springs North. This is the church that Mr. Robert is a pastor at and where McKayla (our friend from Glenda’s) dad is the youth pastor, where Glenda and Pa (our babysitters) and The Mathews (a friend from the VA) all attend. She had lot of fun there. We (Ryleigh and I) went down the blow up slide one time and didn’t like it too much; I think there is a {very bad} photo of that floating around somewhere. We also found a ‘booth’ where you throw bean bags and get NERDS! This might be the best thing since sliced bread… or in the World of Ryleigh...The Wiggles. JB kept trying to get her off the NERDS by hiding them. Well she would just take off through the pasture and get anther box. After the third time, I told the very nice man running the booth to please not give her anymore!

After the fall festival, we were invited over to the Mathews to watch the UFC fight. JB normally goes by himself as it is always a late night and we (both Ryleigh and I) are normally in bed before he returns. Well we decided to go with him. Ryleigh and Carter played a little bit. Carter builds a fort, Ryleigh tore it down, Carter built a wall, Ryleigh tore it down; do you see a pattern? The funniest things was watching Carter, who is about 6mths older than Ryleigh, try to explain his frustration. “That thing is tearing up my wall”!!!!

Today we woke up late (after arriving home after midnight) and missed church. We planned on going to Kackleberry Farms with the Overstreet’s. Boy did the girls have fun. They had jumping pillows, pig races, donkeys, goats, sheep, a cow train, a Corn “sand” box, corn cannon and lots more I am sure I am forgetting.

Well off to prepare for tomorrow, it begins my first day of my last week at Trinity. Definitely a bittersweet moment. I think its going to be a difficult week as I really love the students (and some of the faculty… hahhahahah) there. I had several parents want to know this weekend about the rumor they had heard. Although sad, I am really excited about starting this new chapter in my life! I am sure it will be full of adventures…..(be nice Allison and Sherry)!

I’ll post some Halloween Pics later in the week!

Today is a new day

2008-10-21T18:23:00.001-04:00

Well okay, I am going to do another update. First things first. I am going to break the suspense about what I couldn’t talk about any further in the last post.

I have accreted a job in the Wilkinson County school system. I will be an intervention teacher for Pre-k. I will be helping the below level students with reading. I will be starting there on November 3rd. I am very excited about the position. I went to a training (the week of my last post) and left the training daily really excited and felt that my time was being used in a good way. I think being able to see the student actually increase their test scores, as a direct result of me helping them will be very rewarding.

I have been a little apprehensive about leaving a private CHRISTIAN school going out into the ‘real’ world. But really seem to like the people I will be working with. No they are not Allison or Sherry or Patricia (tee hee), but I think I will really enjoy it. Plus REAL friends will still talk to me after I leave Trinity!

I told my students today that my last day will be Oct 31. My seniors are already trying to figure out how to have a ‘party’. …. Of course in my honor, because they would never try to scheme a party up just for nothing!

Last week I attended the COMO conference in Athens. This is a media specialist conference. One requirement for one of my classes is that I ‘experience’ a conference. I had so much fun! My favorite part was sitting on the panel discussion of the media specialist of the year. There are some VERY interesting stuff going on in our state! I went with Kim and Mary – they were gracious enough to let me be their roommate! The sad part was we all love facebook so much. We sat in our hotel room in Athens on a Thursday night all on facebook messaging each other….. sad…..

Friday and Saturday was the 10 year high school reunion of Eastside’s First Graduating Class. When Jeff asked why we were going to the Oaks on Sat and I informed him for our 10 year reunion. He determined we were wrong. It had not been ten years; if it had I was getting old. I simply reminded him, if I am old…. What are you????

Friday night we did not go to the game because of rain. Apparently a lot of people did not go to the game. They are going to try to reschedule that part! (THANKS FOR ALLYOU DO IDA!)

Saturday was a lot of fun. I am really glad we decided to go. We got to see a lot of people whom I haven’t seen in a long time. Catch up and laugh at what we have done in the past and talk about what was going on in our lives now.
We sat at a table with Kim and Sam, Candace and Mike, Stephanie and Bobby and us. Matthew joined us after he returned from Athens and the UGA homecoming game. It was like old times.

Oh yea, I almost forgot. We ventured over to Ozone, after the Oaks. This is the old skating rink…. Wow…. We didn’t stay long… and boy this verified…. We are getting old! 
We determined that in January (thanks to Stephanie) we will have a night out in ….Somewhere…. Location to be determined. But this does give us something in the near future to look forward too….. As well as an approachable goal.

Well back to work now!
If I had any photos, I would post. Stephanie, I am counting on a few you took!