This wacky Tennessee weather..

So it went from snowy and freezing, to warm and sunny, to another cold snap in the matter of a month. Tennessee weather is notoriously unpredictable!!

Here are some pictures from over the last month that will hopefully make you smile! :) Enjoy!


Jack is not so sure about this thing called snow....


A very nice man, and new friend, Neil came over from Cantrell's heating and air, because as previously mentioned in a past entry our heat is extremely unreliable!! Jack insisted on sitting next to Neil and keeping him company as he figured the numbers on how much we would have to pay to get this little issue repaired!!


Neil let Jack read up on the different options and told him that there would be a quiz. Jack needs to learn how valuable product research is early on..right?


Following that incredibly cold week or two of weather we had some totally gorgeous days worth waiting for! Jack got out and tried to help mow the ridiculous amount of leaves that are still in our yard.


Daddy got in on the leaf clearing action. This is certainly a mountain of leaves.


Jack and Maggie are playing ball.


Look at that dirty heiny!! Sliding up and down the hill in our muddy yard really takes a toll on the pants!


Maggie LOVES anything round that can be thrown...


My sweet, beautiful, mischievous boy!!

Happy Valentine's Day!!

I must admit that Valentine's Day has never been a favorite holiday of mine. I was the perpetual single friend among those I hung out with and I HATED it. I got roses and wishes and gifts from friends and family, but I remained constantly hopeful that at least one Valentine's day would hold the opportunity for an epic romance. I was such the wishful thinker!!

I guess now I prescribe to the belief that every day should be Valentine's day. Not like the chocolates, flowers, etc., but that you tell the people you love that you love them, even if it's just by picking your towel up off the bathroom floor or fixing a dinner you think your family will like. I still don't love V-day, and I probably never will, despite the fact that I am now married with a significant other. I just don't like the crowds and the pressure to find yet another great gift.

I am perfectly happy to say that we went to Sam and Andy's last night, got some ice cream and drove around town for a bit. I got Jason some camping items and we are booking a camping trip for April. He got me the Big Bang Theory first season and a hilarious card - which was perfect. Jack is still too young to know the difference, so I think we can wait one more year for a Valentine for him.

I hope your Valentine weekend is as simple and complete as mine is shaping up to be!

Stupid Old House

Our house creaks like an old house, our house is drafty like an old house, and on the plus side our hardwoods are beautiful....HOWEVER, our house also needs a LOT of TLC!!

Our heat has gone out AGAIN, and our bank account is already in dire straights, so this is just one more financial obstacle we can't afford! Cantrell's heating and air is on their way to repair the issues, but at the same time we are trying to consider if it's worth fixing or potentially just replacing...which = more $$$!!

Luckily Jack is at Nana's which REALLY helps because he can continue his normal routine. Below I've included some pics from the last month...those at least make me smile in all of this confusion!
Think warm, productive thoughts for us!!


Snuggling up with his feet propped by the fire! :)


Playing kitchen with Uncle Jack! Little Jack loves his Uncle Jack!


The boys, Jack and Dawson, at the aquarium!


With the fishies...


Touching a crab


Watching the fish...the boys were too cute!! :)


Enjoying his inauguration cupcake from MagPie's..this was "The Hawaiian" cupcake.

January Doldrums

I find myself in that part of January where I am just ready to usher in a new month! The month has passed rather quickly, but not without it's fair share of sickness and bad weather! Knox county got a "snow day" out of the bad weather, but I am not sure I wouldn't have traded that one day home for higher temperatures these past few weeks. It has been so miserable!

The cold temperatures are really taking a toll on our house, seeing as we have had a pipe burst and our heat repaired - adding to the list of items that will have to be addressed as we continue to live in our home over the next few years!

Jason, Jack and I have also all been sick some time in the past two weeks. At first I had a stomach bug and Jason had some respiratory issues with coughing and such. Jack and I have had some sinus yuckiness we can't seem to shake, as well as a cough. I am so ready for spring!!!

On a positive note, we continue to enjoy Jack's growing vocabulary. He never fails to entertain us! His birthday is coming in a few months and I can't believe he will be TWO!! Where is the time going??

Love to all and YAY for February!! ;)

Happy 2009!

Wow! We are already into 2009 and I can't say I have any complaints so far! :) School has started back and overall it was a fairly pleasant week as school week go. Next week is a five day week and the week after that includes the MLK holiday, which means it will be another four day week - fabulous!! :)

Jack has finally started talking! He is coming up with all kinds of words including; mama, dada, nana, bath, bubble, dog, ball, diet coke, elmo, more, please and of course his animal noises. He makes noises for all kinds of animals from a sheep to an elephant to a dog - he is WAY too cute!

He can also show you his body parts from his hair to his hiney. My favorite one is his nose...when you ask him where he nose is he says, "no," (short for nose) and points his finger up his nostril, basically picking his nose. Well of course mommy, daddy and nana have all laughed at this so that just encouraged a habit! He thinks it's hilarious!

We, or maybe I should say Jason, are finally taking down the Christmas decorations. I just hate doing that and I don't know why. It's hard letting go of the holiday season, but at the same time it's a bit depressing to continue to look at my garland and bows when I know we aren't celebrating anymore. You'd think I would just suck it up and put it all away...but oh well!

My new addiction is the Sudoku on Jason's itouch. I put on the twilight soundtrack and just play forever....or as long as I can get him to lend it to me, which isn't always very long! :)

I hope your new year has begun as simply and uneventfully as mine, because I am assuming that's a good omen for the entire year! Happy 2009!!

Christmas Festivities!

Below I am including some of the Christmas day pictures. I feel like we ran a marathon. We started out at home with our stockings and gifts and then moved on to mom's house. We opened gifts there for a bit, and then went to Jane and Cliff's (Connie's sister and brother-in-law's) for breakfast. It was incredibly tasty and as usual it was fun to see family. Jack got a huge kick out of a gift for Kaylynn, a Cookie/Elmo ball that shakes when you squeeze it. He thought it was the best thing ever and he and Aunt Courtney had a fabulous time giggling over it. Finally we returned to mom's for a late lunch with Uncle Allen and Aunt Judy. (And FINALLY a nap for Jack!!)

The best part of the day was when Jason received his ipod touch. He didn't expect it, which in itself is a miracle, because if you know me then you know I can be read like a book. I managed to keep it a secret and hide it in the bottom of his stocking - the last place you would expect to find a gift like that. He pulled it out of the toe of his stocking and it took him a moment to figure out what the heck it was, and when he did...there are just no words! He was thrilled and I was even more excited that he had gotten something he really loved and that I was able to surprise him! Christmas held lots of fun, excitement and time together, which as everyone knows, is the best gift of all! :)


Mommy and Jack opening his stocking


Playing with the kitchen that Santa brought. It was funny, it took him a few minutes to warm up to the idea. I think he was a bit suspicious at first and came to sit in my lap and open his stocking before he would walk over to it, but he finally did and my living room hasn't been the same since. There is fake food, bowls, spoons, etc. constantly scattered from wall to wall.


Jason a bit confused about the strange, unexpected item in his stocking.


Thrilled! :)


Jack really got good at unwrapping gifts. He always removed the bow and tag first, and then found the right spot to start ripping - he was a natural. :)


Sweet baby Isaac


I think we were all feeling like a nap at this point in the morning....


Jack and Aunt Courtney with the wiggle ball


Jack and Uncle Allen got in trouble for throwing empty plastic bottles back and forth across the kitchen at mom's! Because....of course...we don't throw things in the house..... :) HA!


Cheers! Merry Christmas! :)

Merry Christmas!

Here's a family self portrait taken before heading out to church! We were all dressed up and couldn't miss a great photo opp!Luckily today we got a tripod and remote so from now on family portraits won't be so difficult!

Here is Jack playing with the magnadoodle that Auntie Deidra and Uncle Jason got him. He loves it! :)


I will post Christmas day photos as soon as they are uploaded! I hope you and yours had a wonderfully blessed holiday!!