Monday, December 15, 2008

Introducing.......Jake!!!!









I know....some are thinking I have lost my mind. Just when I thought I couldn't put any more on my plate, or have any more responsibilities....I get a puppy for the girls!!!!
But, I can honestly say, I think it's been good for the girls. Lily and Anna are so good with Jake and so gentle. We had Duke and Annabell already when they were born, with Jake, they get to watch him grow and have responsibility in caring for him. Lily actually takes him outside to go potty (with me prompting her to do so, but she does it). Lily came with me to the breeder and got to see Jake's mommy and daddy, and the brother and sister he was leaving behind. I have never seen so many dachshunds in my life!!!
I have really missed Duke and Annabell, but I didn't want a puppy in the house I was renting. Now that I own my home, I felt it was time and I really wanted the girls to have him before Christmas. Lily came up with the name, with a little help from me. Jake Delhomme is our quarterback for the Carolina Panthers (which are having a killer season by the way), and Jake Long is the defensive tackle for the Miami Dolphins (Dales team)...so with that.....Jake it is!!!!! Will keep you all posted, but I did forget about the puppy stage, potty training and that sad puppy cry!!! He loves to sleep with us, I put him with Lily first and she actually falls asleep faster now. Then when I go to bed, I take him in with me. Lily is a rough sleeper and Jake is just too little to handle himself in her bed. Right now he only weighs 2.2 pounds. we've had him at the vet and he is in excellent health....yay for us!!!!
.....and the wonder of it all






Here comes Christmas!!!!!





























It's Christmas time!!!!! The girls have been havin a blast gettn ready for Santa, Lily was very into decorating the tree, where each ornament went and how many lights had to be on the tree. Was too cute to watch her, and she was so proud when we were all done. This year I had one of Lily's friends over to decorate sugar cookies. A favorite tradition of mine growing up. Lily and Anna helped roll out and cut the cookies the night before. Lily and her friend Cayleigh decorated the cookies the next day, while Anna slept. No way I could do that with Anna up, she'd want to lick all the frosting and eat all the cookies!!!!
Also some random recent photos of Lily and Anna with their Godmommy Katrina and their Grammy during her visit here for Thanksgiving. Lily and Anna are growing up so fast. It's hard not being with them every day, but overall, I think the girls and I are doing great and adjusting to our new life and new traditions.
This Christmas will be very hard for me due to the girls being with Ken on Christmas Eve. Can not even imagine not having them here waking up Christmas morning so eager to see what Santa has left. Lily's Gaga cheared me up a little with giving me "the Elf on the Shelf". Lily's aunt Mimi bought the last one at the "Buttercup" and passed it down to me. If you dont know what it is....a small red little elf that appears in your home during the holidays. He magically disappears every night to report to Santa how the children's behavior has been and if they have been "naughty or nice"....he then magically appears again some place different the next day... Anyway, Lily is so into this and has named the elf Nick. I love this age and how they truly believe in all the magic of Christmas. Every morning she is here with me she runs around trying to find Nick and where he landed when he "flew" back from the North Pole. A great family tradition and one you can get I think through Amazon (The Elf on the Shelf).
.....and the wonder of it all







Thanksgiving in Lenoir.....
















Lily, Anna, Grammy, Dale and myself all traveled to Lenoir, NC to spend Thanksgiving with the Pendergrafts (Ken's sister Katy and her family). It was one of the most beautiful days, all the cousins and uncles were outside throwing the football to one another. I can honestly say that I had an emotional moment watching from the backyard. It was almost something you see in a movie and walk away knowing how much everyone truly loved eachother and were thankful for all the good things they have in their life.
I for one, was sure thankful for my beautiful little girls, having my mother in for a great visit, and most of all still feeling a part of the girl's family, even though Ken and I are not together, I love his family and had hoped I would maintain some kind of connection with them. Charles and Katy have been wonderful and I will be forever grateful for them opening their home to me and my new life to continue to be involved and love Lily and Anna.
Some of these photos capture the day; me and the girls, Lily with her cousin Sara and Lily with her Grammy and Gaga.
Great day and one I know I will remember for some time.
......and the wonder of it all












Monday, November 3, 2008

Happy Birthday Dew Dew and Gaga!!!











We like nothing more than getting together with our favorite people to celebrate their birthdays!!! We had dinner with Dew Dew and his mother a few weeks ago. Great dinner and fun time for the kiddos. Lily always loves to be with her Dew Dew. He has done a great job fixing up his house, along with the help of his mother!!!! Lily got to play with her bud Taliah and Anna got to chase around Dew Dew's cats...."here kitty kitty".
Lily and I then had dinner with Gaga this past Thursday night for her birthday. Lily thought she was so special because we left Anna at home (in good hands with Dale of course). She loves her Gaga and even picked out her birthday gifts....a black t-shirt that says "BOO", some earrings (that I'm sure will turn Gaga's ears green), and a sweet photo of Lily and Anna. Was a great dinner at Manzetti's with one of Gaga's oldest friends (from elementary school) and a close friend from the Y. Was nice to see Gaga and celebrate another year....has been a hard one for Gaga, but she continues to amaze us all and stomp on through!
Overall, Lily and Anna seem to be doing well. Now and then Lily has a tough time with school, getting up at 6am is hard for anyone. Ken and I went to her parent teacher conference today and she appears to be on track. Just a couple areas that he and I need to focus on....and making sure she gets to school on time. Mommy and Daddy got into a little trouble with her tardies....oops!! She amazes me though everyday, how much she has learned in just a few months....
As for Anna...I could have 10 of her. She is just a bundle of love and smiles. Not too much bothers her, she is just so easy. She loves people and saying hello to just about everyone. Hav to keep an eye on her with the little boys though.
Have to take them both in this week for their flu shot...a check up for Anna. She has been fighting this cold, cough thing now for weeks if not months. Lily has also had some stomach issues off and on. Patty would have a tough time with Lily puking....but took her to the docs last week. May be a little of both a stomach thing and a "all in her head" thing. She seems to be getting along when it comes to the split between Ken and I, but I'm keeping an eye on her and listening to when she needs to talk......overall, were hanging in their and loving eachother as much as possible.....and then some!
.......and the wonder of it all!




"My little trick-or-treaters"








Happy Halloween!!! Lily was so excited this year to be a High School Musical Chearleader and trick or treat!! Actually, after seeing her cousin Emma chear a few weeks ago, she started telling people she was dressing up as "her cousin Emma"....too cute. Have to say that it was a tough night for me because we really didn't get to trick or treat together Friday night. It was Ken's weekend and we made plans for him to pick up the girls about 6:15. I thought that I would have enough time to get to a few houses, but no one was really home yet and after a few doors we quickly realized it wasn't gonna happen. Sooooo, I was pretty bummed out, but knew that Lily would have fun with her daddy too.
Not too much else to report when it comes to Halloween, but I know that Lily had a blast and as for Anna....hey, more candy to eat....she's a happy girl!!!
....and the wonder of it all.......







Saturday, October 11, 2008

"Falljubilation" Carnival at Lily's School






We spent this Saturday at Lily's school for a really fun "Faljubilation". A cute little carnival the school puts on to raise money for all the programs desperately in need of funding. Lily's cousin Trent and her Gaga came by to say hi and donate their time and a little cash. They raffle off these amazing baskets of a random mix of stuff. Lily was very excited cause she actually won one of the baskets. She was hoping for the Hannah Montana basket, but again, was very happy with her winnings!!! Mom and Dad volunteered some of their time to monitor the Moon Bounce, while their good friend Colleen walked around with Lily. Colleen came to visit us from Atlanta, taking a break from Chiropractic school. Great day overall, beautiful weather and warm fuzzies watching Lily grow up before my eyes as she freely walked around with confidence and hanging out with her friends from her class. Even a photo op with the school mascot, "Stinger"!....
Just another day to remind me of my blessings and the joys of being a mother with two beautiful daughters.
.....and the wonder of it all

Sunday, October 5, 2008

...time with the family in Lenoir!











The girls and I ventured to Lenoir, NC this past weekend to spend some much needed time with the Pendergrafts, Charles, Katy, Emma, Sarah and William. We had a blast attending Emma's friday night football game, which was homecoming night. Blast from the past for me thats for sure. Lily was a little timid in the beginning, but ended up having a ball. The next day Katy and I did some furniture shopping, you can get some amazing things in this area, and at a fraction of the cost! Later in the day we went swimming at Charles and Katy's new house down the street. Was a very cold swim, but I went in like a champ. Lily and Anna didn't last long, but I stuck to my promise and went in anyway!!!
Was a great weekend overall, much needed time with the family that the girls especially needed, as did I. Lily and Anna really took to their Uncle Charles and of course their cousins too.
....and the wonder of it all!!

Things are a changin!!!






So....things have been moving along with the new house, as you can see from the photos, a few more weeks and it should be complete! Lily is so excited and cant wait to paint her room. I just wish she could actually paint it herself....
Time with the girls flys by so fast. Ken and I have finally settled in a normal routine for the girls which has helped Lily, I think. The girls go to Kens on Tuesday and Wednesday nights and then we rotate weekends. So far, things seem to work. Now and then we have some kinks, but overall life has been moving along for me and the girls. When there here with me, we tend to play outside on the trampoline, games (lily's favorite thing to do) and of course we have Movie night on the Friday nights I have them. Enough popcorn and candy to make ya sick, but we love it!!! Last Friday night we watched the new Bratz movie and the Blue Elephant for Anna.
Overall, the girls and I stay pretty busy through out the week, me with work and Lily with school. Lily has been doing great with school and has managed to stay on green for 2 weeks in a row (thats the best color you can get for behavior!)....will keep you posted how things are going!
......and the wonder of it all!

Monday, September 1, 2008

It's Matthews Alive Time!






It's Mathews Alive time!!! Spent the day downtown at the festival with the kiddos! Dales dad was in town and went as well to see the car show. Lily thought he was a goofball, but had a lot of fun and a great day! Very hot outside but we all managed. Of course, Lily had to have her face painted, but refused to go on any rides...."maybe next year mommy when I'm more brave". She was very proud that her school was in the middle of all the festivities and said many times, "look, there's my school!". Anna just cared about the ice cream and corn dogs....more to come with that one!
.............................and the wonder of it all