Home and Recovering!

Taylor did great today! She had 3 teeth extracted, one tooth pulled, and chains placed around 2 other teeth. She had 2 teeth that were horizontal that were unable to come down without help. Her surgeon made a hole for her teeth to come down! Her orthodontist will guide the teeth down over time. She was a trooper. She has a mouth full of stitches. Her pain medicine seems to be working. Hopefully, she will get some sleep tonight.

She isn't able to smile! She's camped out in our room.

Well, Tommy had his hands full today. When Taylor got out of surgery, while she was in recovery, I fainted! I have been known to do this a time or two (more like 20 times) Poor guy. I was sitting on one of those doctor's chairs with wheels and went down face first. Right on my forehead. I almost took the curtain down with me. The chair went flying out in the hall. They had to call the doctor out of surgery to check on me! How embarrassing. Tommy had to try to pick me up. It is a wonder I didn't throw his back out. They checked my very, very low blood pressure 4 times before I could leave. I had to beg to go home. the worst part was....I fainted again on the ride home 15 minutes later! I need to stick to my day jobs. Preschool Director/ Cater/ Cake Designer ~I could never be a nurse!

My Little Fish!

I took the girls to Kim's for a dip in the pool, yesterday. They had so much fun. Carrie, Harrison, and Hannah came too. Miss Dot was there, also. Michaela had so much fun swimming and spinning around everyone.

Raegan loved wearing the swimmer's vest. She was able to keep up with the big kids. The goggles she had on were as big as her face.

She is all smiles!

Camp Overlook

Taylor had a great time at camp. Tommy drove her down on Sunday and we picked her up on Friday evening. As soon as Tommy and Taylor left on Sunday, Raegan broke down and cried for her. She cried last year, too. 

After the closing ceremony, Taylor took us down "Suicide Hill." I went to Camp Overlook when I was Taylor's age and I remember walking down this hill. Very steep and very uneven!  It wasn't as bad a I remember now that I am "years" older.

Taylor did a lot of hiking last week. She went swimming in the lake. They performed lots of skits and played lots of games. They had devotional time,too.  She stayed in the ark this year. It looks just like an ark verses a traditional cabin. She knew everyone in the ark with the exception of one. 

She was exhausted! She is looking forward to going back next year. Raegan is even considering going when she gets a little older. I am thankful she had a wonderful time and is back home.

"The oven is always on."

I have been busy, busy, busy! The markets are doing really well, too. Here are some of the latest cakes I have done. The top one was a joint celebration. Father's Day and a Birthday. 

This one was for one of Raegan's friend She had a pool party!

This was for a baptism! 

There is no place like the south....

Savannah was beautiful! We had a wonderful time.  The sun was bright and beaming everyday! We squeezed as much in as we could while we where there. We took trolley tours, carriage tours, and ghost tours. This is the fountain in Forsyth Park!  It was gorgeous nestled under the magnolia trees and the live oaks. It is huge. It is a must see in Savannah! 

We rode over to Tybee Island. It was a pretty little beach. Carrie loves lighthouses. She has been to many of them already. She wants to see them all on the East Coast. I hear Maine has 22! We might be going north next year! I hear Maine is beautiful, too. We all loved watching her get excited when she mentally checked one off her list. We loved that we could experience that with her.

 We took the Paula Deen tour which included lunch at Uncle Bubba's. Bubba is her brother. Paula and Bubba are co-owners of that restaurant. We walked in and there he was. I have read all of Paula's books and watched all of her shows. He has been on some of them. She raised him when their parents died. He is so sweet. I wanted to get in the kitchen and explore. We talked to him for a longtime. Carrie bought Raegan and autographed apron from his store. He put her name on it. I got one, too. He wrote Happy Birthday on mine. I told him I didn't want my age on it. He looked me right in the eyes and said "28"  Man he is my favorite now! The food was great. 

Paula Deen's restaurant has 3 levels. I was so impressed. They say the average wait is 2 hours for a table. People were lined up 2 blocks down the street. It was crazy. We were able to make reservations  because we took her tour. The food was very southern! Her fried chicken was really good and her veggies were like my Great Grandma Snow made. I was hoping to see the Deen Family. They weren't on the clock. We did some shopping in her store. I bought some cookbooks and more aprons. I wanted it all!!

Here is her sign! I think Magnolia Girls would look good mounted on the side of a building like that, too! One day. All in God's timing!

 This church was highly recommended by many of our tour guides. Pictures didn't do it justice. The stain glass windows are incredible. We only had 5 minutes before they closed the doors for the day. I really wish I had more time to spend there.

The first time I went to Charleston was 3 years ago was with my Aunt Shiela. I fell in love with Charleston then. The homes and the architecture stole my heart. I love the side porches and the gardens around the houses. Here are a few of my favorite houses..

Look at the porch on this one. Obama gave a speech here while campaigning. 

Second favorite..the wrought iron! A father built these 3 homes for his 3 daughters. How cute. Can you imagine our girls living next to each other? Times have changed. Notice how they covered all of the beautiful brick up with stucco. I learned that little tidbit on my trip, too!

Poogan's Porch is a famous restaurant that many celebrities visit when they come into town. It is in Charleston. It served the best meal I have EVER eaten! It has been on the history channel and travel channel for America's Most Haunted Cities. It is the 3rd Most Haunted Restaurant in America. We had a lot of fun there.

Kim's favorite is pineapple's. Pineapples are the sign for hospitality. They are everywhere in the south. We also learned that the lady of the house would decorate her home with fresh pineapples when a guest was coming. They put them on the mantles, in the guest rooms, on tables, on the porches.. When she was ready for the guest to leave, she had all of the pineapple's removed. If you noticed the pineapples where gone...it was time for you to move on. No need for confrontation. 

Kim, Becca, Carrie, and I had a wonderful birthday. We love our tradition we have started. Becca is picking next year's getaway. We had so much fun laughing and giggling...we have stories to tell , but we were all thrilled to be home to our families. 

The best place to be is home!

Happy Birthday, Erica/Mommy!

Happy Birthday Erica/Mommy! Love - Tommy, Taylor, Raegan, Michaela

A Day With Friends!

Taylor is in a basketball camp this week. After getting her settled I went and picked up Raegan's friends, Huntley and Gracie. Michaela and Raegan were so happy to have a play date. We started at the park first. It was perfect. The weather was just right and it wasn't crowded at all. 

Well, the day was topped off when Michaela looked up and saw her very best friend, Harrison, coming off the bike trail with his Mommy an yelled " Harrison!!" It belonged in a movie. He had on a bright red outfit and a shiny red bike helmet. She ran to him as fast as her flip flops could carry her, arms wide out...."Harrison!" Then they spent at least an hour in the sand box. 

We enjoyed the park for almost 2 hours! I couldn't believe how fast time flew. I ran into some of my old students, which was was a huge treat. I brought the girls home for lunch and to hang out. Raegan went swimming with Huntley and Gracie yesterday evening. She was invited to sleepover. She is becoming our social butterfly. 

Go Red Sox!

Taylor had a great season! You could really see how much she is improving and much more confident she has become. Her coaches were awesome. One of them was my soccer coach when I was 4! So weird!

Coach Carl took the girls out for ice cream after the last game.

We thought our season was over and we got a phone call a few days later asking if Taylor could be a "fill-in player" with the Marlins. She was thrilled to play with them. It was really cool because it was a variety of players from 3 teams on 1.

We ended our day with closing ceremonies. Taylor received a trophy for a great season and was announced as a part of the ALL -STAR TEAM! Taylor will have practice for the next 2 weeks before their first game. Softball continues.....

Happy Birthday, Uncle David!

We want to wish you Happy Birthday. Wishing you a year full of happiness, good health, and blessings! 

Quotes from your nieces: 

Raegan ~ Uncle David is "so, so  smart!  He is big and strong, too. I like the car he gave me. Raegan said "You have a nice wife, too!" (I swear she said that , not me.)

Michaela thinks you are going to have a Mickey Mouse Birthday Cake! 

Michaela's Promotion

Michaela learned so much this year. She made so many friends. She adored her teachers, too. Tommy and I are so blessed to have Miss Dot and Miss Kim be apart of our children's learning experience. They are the best! 

Her class sang "The Itsy Bitsy Spider!"

They also sang "I'm In The Lord's Army!"

"The sun came out".....

They sang "My God Is So Big."  Michaela is flexing her muscles (like her Daddy). Our child  sang the loudest!!

Boo and Michaela 

Each child received a promotion certificate and a trophy. It has her named engraved on it. She is so proud of it! 

We ended our ceremony with our balloon benediction. We said a prayer, and released 2 balloons to heaven. One with a label attached with what the child wanted to be when they grew up and the other had a wish for the child from the parent. So sweet! 

Harvue Farm

We took the preschool on a field trip, to Harvue Farms. It is a fully operating dairy farm. We had around 36 children and around 45 adults. We had a great turnout. The children had a chance to pet a calf and we learned about how they got their "ears pierced." The children were very patient about waiting for the calves to come up to them.

Michaela loves animals just like her big sister, Taylor. She showed no fear around the cows today. We went into the milk house and learned all about the milking process. The children all received goodie bags and ice cream sandwiches. 

Michaela has had a great year. She has 2 days left of preschool before our summer break. I know she is really going to really miss all of her friends. Because of her late birthday she will repeat the 3 year old class again next year. This will allow her to be with the children that she will go to kindergarten with. I know she will be a great leader in her class next year.

Taylor's Confirmation

Taylor chose our good friend, Carrie to be her mentor. Carrie has known Taylor since she was born and has been very active in her life ever since. She spent many hours with her going over lessons, prayers, and life lessons. They preformed community service together and attended other worship services.   Carrie has helped Taylor plant her feet. Taylor is so blessed to be surrounded by so many spiritual leaders in her family and her church. I pray that she will always want to to put God first. Yes, we all slip and fall and know one is perfect!  My rear gets bruised from all the times I have messed up, but Taylor has watched her Mom get back up, and dust herself off. She will always be surrounded by unconditional love. Just like Christ offers us. Unconditional love. My girls are not perfect, but they are loved beyond comprehension. In God's eyes....they are perfect....just as he created. I just love watching their gifts and talents shine through. 

I made sure she had a new dress. She couldn't understand why she had to get all dressed up. She looked beautiful. I can't believe how fast she is growing up.

We had 8 confirmed at church. Jack and Jay presented each new member with a red carnation, a certificate, and a new Bible.

We also celebrated Homecoming at our church. Several of our past pastor's attended. Pastor Sandy came all the way from Texas for the big event. She remembers Taylor very well. Granny adores her.

Pastor Lee is instrumental for my family. We love him. Taylor was surronded by her family and many spiritual leaders. We reaffirmed her baptism and we all layed hands her while she was blessed. She told me that evening that she felt like a true Christian now. No doubts...It was a beautiful day. There is nothing more beautiful than knowing you belong to God.