"I'm Gonna Wash That Grey Right out of My Hair"

Funny story!! Last night I took Abbie to basketball practice only to find out it was cancelled. I had to stop at Publix on our way home to pick up a few things. We were looking in the health and beauty isle and I decided I needed to color my hair. I had A LOT of grey hair coming in and I really didn't like it. Abbie was excited and helped me pick out the color. We hurried home and I agreed to let her color my hair. Mind you, I have never colored my hair or had someone else do it, EVER. I was a little nervous. Ok, a lot nervous! We read the directions,she put on the gloves, and away we went. She spread it all over my head and lathered it in. We laughed and had a good time! Then a little panic set in and I thought what if my hair turns orange or green or some other hideous color. I had to sit and panic for 30 minutes! After the 30 minutes was up I locked myself in the bathroom and began the rinse. I looked in the mirror and thought this isn't so bad. It looks a little lighter. It will be good for summer. I dried my hair and it is strawberry blond! Well at least now I can claim Emma! I woke up this morning and thought, it doesn't look so bad. I kinda like it! Abbie and I had fun, quality time together. It was worth every strawberry blond strand!!

Planes, planes, and more planes!!

Noah has an obsession with airplanes. Any kind of airplane! His favorites are the Concorde, The Lilenthal Glider, The Wright Flyer, and TU 144. Some of these I've heard of some I have not. Noah can litterally tell you about each one. He spends hours researching on the computer and has learned how to make paper models of some. He got a model kit of the Wright Flyer for his birthday and he and James had fun putting it together. When you ask Noah what he wants to do when he grown up he says "I want to investigate plane crashes". I somehow thought inventing new proto types or becoming a pilot would be his answer. What is unique about all of the above planes are, they all have crashed. Noah has hundreds of paper airplanes all over my house, and I really do mean hundreds! He spends hours making and creating paper airplanes. It's his favorite thing. I must say he is very creative and some of his designs are pretty amazing. He has also checked books out from the library and I have found him way after bedtime putting planes together by the light of his nightlight. There are so many important people who are thought to have had Aspbergers. Thomas Edison, Albert Einstein, Marie Curie and rumor has it Bill Gates. All of these people were children at one time. I wonder what their mothers had all over their houses?

Dancing and Dribbiling

It is so fun watching my kids do what they love to do. Emma has been dancing now for three years. She catches on very quickly to dance routines and enjoys expressing herself in and outside of dance class. It's hard to believe she was just four when she started pre-ballet. She loves to get all dressed up and twirl around. I have also caught her practicing tap on my hardwood floors. The floors have the "character marks" to prove it. I don't know how long she will continue to dance. There are whispers that she wants to play basketball like her big sister Abbie. We shall see! I'm glad I can always look at the floors and remember my red-headed princess twirling and dancing.




Noah has started Hip Hop this year. He loves to turn up the music and strut around. I can hardly wait to see him in his recital in May. Noah can do Thriller perfectly and often performs for us. We have even see the "crotch grab" from time to time. What a site!! Noah thinks Karate might be in his future. He has played basketball as well. I know he will find his niche.



Abbie has played basketball since she was in 2nd grade. It has been so much fun watching her get better and better every year. She can swish three pointers and steal a basketball from her opponent before you even know what has happened. I love the confidence and pride I see in her when she is out on the court. We are hoping she plays for the WMBA so she can take care of us when we are old!! HA HA!!



I don't know what the future holds for them. I'm sure interests will change and they will find their places in whatever they choose to do. But for now, I will smile and enjoy every minute of their lives!

Fabulous Friday's

Friday nights are very exciting for us from late March until late May. Abbie plays for a travel basketball team and starts weekend games on Fridays. It is so much fun watching Abbie do what she loves best. She is an awesome player and a great team leader. Her team (The North Georgia Heat) hasn't won many games but they play clean and always play hard. We encountered one team this weekend that did not display good sportsmanship. One girl even talked back to our coach and ended up getting a technical foul as she should have. It was dumbfounding to me that her coach nor her parent reprimanded her. I'm so proud of our girls for not reacting and acting the way the other team was acting. Our girls had there hair pulled, were elbowed and pushed down and not once did they retaliate back. It was a good lesson for our girls. There are teams who play that way but that doesn't mean that that is the way we expect our team to play. Treat others the way you want to be treated. Sometimes the "Golden Rule" is hard to follow. Several parents including James and I lingered around until the other coach was coming out of the gym and we voiced our disappointment on how he coached. He walked by mumbling that we were just mad because we lost. Not the case at all! In the end our team played the best even though they lost! I couldn't be More proud!

Dinner Time ..Food and Fun

We love to play Dinner Time Games. It's a great way to laugh and spend time together. Who can make the biggest milk mustache, pass around a favorite saying, and I spy are a few favorites. Sometimes there are arguments, but mostly there is
smiles and laughs. We are celebrating because Emma is done with the GCRCT. Abbie and Noah still have a couple of days left. This has been somewhat of a stressful time for the kids. I will be so happy when everyone is done with testing. Laughing is a great stress reliever and makes you feel so good! I'm thankful that we can all come together at the end of the day and enjoy each others joys and struggles. I say, "a family who laughs together, stays together"!!

Lighten up! Laughter is good medicine- it's a great
"shock absorber" for life's bumps. Don't miss out on the continual
feast of a cheerful heart. A happy heart makes your face cheerful.
Proverbs 17:22; 15:13-15

Camping in the great outdoors....The Backyard

Santa brought us a tent for Christmas and this was a perfect week to try it out. James set it up in the backyard so we could see how big it actually is before we took it out into the real outdoors. It's huge and the kids were so excited to jump in and check it out. Emma and Noah were a little bummed as they wouldn't get to sleep in it tonight. They are sleeping at Grandma and Grandpa's house. Abbie and her cousin Avery were they first to try it out! James and I decided to wait until we got some air mattresses and for the night time temperature to be in the 50's. James and I lay in bed listening to two giggly 12 year old girls. We did have to got out and give a couple warnings to lower their voices and music. They had a great time! I thought for sure I would find them on the couch when I came downstairs this morning, but they made it the whole night. I can't wait to take it out and camp for real. I can envision lots of memories to come!!!

Sprinklers and Spring Cleaning

It's that time of year again...Spring Cleaning!! I certainly enjoy the after affects but certainly not the job itself. I have the kids all lined up, trash bags in hand and boxes for Goodwill. Noah's room is first this morning. Noah loves "things" and I know this will be hard for him. "Noah how about this Get Well card you got last year when you got stitches in you head? Can we throw it out?" "Mommy that is a great memory!" "Really, Noah?" "You want to remember getting hurt?" "Mommy , that card is from great- grandma Hicks. She died right after she sent it to me." I hadn't even bothered looking who it was from. He took his precious memory and carefully put it in his desk drawer with all of his other "treasures". He had lots of other memories and treasures that he couldn't part with and that was fine. They were his and we found a Home and place for everything. He had a lot he threw away too. In the end his closet and room looked fabulous! Emma's room next!! "Just get rid of it all mom!" "If I haven't played with it in a year , I'm not keeping it!" "Really, I say!!" A girl after my own heart and the words to prove it!! "Besides, you said we could play in the sprinkler today!" "Lets hurry mommy!!!" Speedy quick we got through her room! While they were eating lunch I began to go through Emma's closet to take out all the things that didn't fit her any more. I had found the mother load earlier(Abbie's old size 7/8's) and needed to make room. I pulled out dresses and remember my beautiful red head and brunette wearing them. I don't think it's hit me as hard before getting rid of things that both my girls have worn. In my mind I could see each precious girl in church with those dresses on or special occasions they had worn them for. It was a great trip down memory lane!! Lunch was over and it was sprinkler time!! We still had a lot more to do but I decided a break would be good. Abbie's room would be next, but she is at a friends house so it would have to wait. I knew she wouldn't want to miss out on the fun of cleaning her room and closet!! She will be so excited:)!! I tackled the laundry room next. Got rid of little hangers that no longer fit "big-kid" clothes. I organized and cleaned. It feels good to clean out the clutter and old. I still have a lot to do but it feels good already!! James won't be missing out on the fun either!! He gets to do the garage! He too will be so excited! Spring is here!! The warmth outside is a great reminder that summer is right around the corner!! I better hurry up!! Time flies when you are having fun!