Here's hoping General Lee doesn't see his shadow...
...so he isn't scared and does not run back in his hole, er house which would then mean spring is on its way!
Appetizer
If you could take lessons to learn any musical instrument, which would you want to learn?
The Piano.
Soup
Have you ever mistaken a person for someone else?
No, but my sister and I once purposely dressed alike and succeeded in fooling our husbands (to be fair we were out shopping and they saw us from behind).
Salad
On a scale of 1 to 10 with 10 being highest, how well do you keep secrets?
9, I have a hard time keeping secrets from Jason, but other than that my lips are sealed!
Main Course
What's the closest you've ever been to a dangerous animal?
Behind bars and glass at zoo's and aquariums.
Dessert
When was the last time you lost your patience?
When our previous well company was giving us the run-around.
I received a request via e-mail for another Public Service Announcement. I'll try to keep 'em coming as best I can! Here goes nothing...
There has been a lot of news coverage lately about kidnappings/missing persons cases. I can't help but think back to my own childhood and a simple, yet effective system that my parents used. If we were to go anywhere with an adult, whether we knew them or not, they must know "the code". Ours happened to be the title of a television show that was not very well known. Back in the day school systems didn't have a sign-in policy or a list of names of trusted adults who might pick up your child from school. Anyone could waltz in the front office, claim that there was an emergency involving a student's parents, but that they were a relative of the family, and drive off with a child. I don't think this sort of thing is likely to happen today, but of course there are other ways to abduct a child. My parents also knew that just because they were friends with an individual does not mean that they would trust them with their children. In the event of an emergency, or a rare case in which my parents could not be there to take me somewhere, a trusted adult would be told our code. And so if someone were to drive up to me, whether I knew them or not, as I was riding my bike to a friend's house or walking home from the bus stop, and say to me "would you help me find my puppy?" I would simply ask; "what is the code?" This is something I will definitely practice with my child(ren) as well.
You know, I used to really like the names Hillary and Emily. Not anymore. I hardly find it coincidental that on the weekend of the anniversary of the famous Roe v. Wade, the court case which legalized abortion in America, Hillary Clinton announces she will be running for the office of President of the United States. She has been quoted saying "I'm in. And I'm in to win." Abortion is the leading cause of death in America: 1 out of every 3 babies is aborted. Hillary is in favor of keeping this statistic right where it is. I would like to personally tell her "You will not silence my message, you will not mock my God...", and guess what? I'm in to win too. Let's start praying for our country... oh and if you were born after 1973 you're a "survivor" and you should thank your mom for choosing life.
Today I was asked to be a bridesmaid in Beau and Amanda's wedding. (Jason was asked to be a groomsman a few days ago.) This will make 7 weddings I have been in (not including my own) but I never tire of being a maid especially when the bride is so sweet! May 17, 2008 is the big day and so I think I may have to forgo some of my beloved sweet tea, coffee, and coke and embrace H2O so I can fit in a decent sized dress when "the Cosby's" get married...Beau, Jason's cousin is in med school and Amanda, his fiancee is in law school...o how smart their kids will be.
In the spirit of passing along good any good deals/information I come across, I present the first edition of my personal public service announcements. Jason has a friend/co-worker who's wife is a pharmacist. Several years ago during a social event, a woman was asking the pharmacist about hormone replacement therapy. (This may be too much information for any male readers so I apologize in advance.) The woman was menopausal and having all sort of hormone related heath issues. The pharmacist began telling her she definitely needed to be drinking organic milk. Then she began telling all of the women(of all ages) of the group we all should be drinking organic milk. She explained that "regular" milk is made from cows who have been pumped with hormones to get the cows to produce more milk and produce it for longer than they would naturally during the course of their lives. You can see where this goes. The hormones end up in the milk we drink. She said " Have you noticed how young girls develop earlier and earlier these days?" That was enough to convince me so I began buying/drinking organic milk. Immediately I was taken aback at the difference in taste. It was incredible! Organic milk is sweeter and richer- "the way nature intended". It also lasts longer (check the dates next time you are at the grocery store). Now it does cost more, but I truly believe it is worth it. The pharmacist mentioned what happens to girls, but of course having a son has led me to think about how the hormones would affect boys as well. Of course I am no expert on this subject and I definitely encourage you to make the decision that best suits your family. However, if you'd like to learn a little more about the benefits of organic milk you can start here. Oh and since this public service announcement is the MLK edition, you should also know they do make organic milk in all sorts of flavors!
You know I could be a size smaller if I quit drinking my calories-i.e. drink water instead of sweet tea and coffee, and diet instead of regular coke. I just can't stomach artificial sweeteners...Do I want to try to get down to my pre-pregnancy size? Would it be smart to do that before having more children? When (God willing) we have another child, I am going to have to take night showers. I just love a good morning shower, but I don't see how that will be possible. I should just be thankful we have enough water to take a shower and for the invention of indoor plumbing...
Deep Thoughts
By Andrea D.
Meet Laura aka Esmerelda-one of my all time greatest friends. We met 10 years ago (I feel old now) as freshmen at North Georgia College and State University and Senior Military College of Georgia (try saying that three times fast). She kept me sane when I had a roommate from hell. She was always on my side and could (and still can) make me burst out laughing during some awful times with her amazing sense of humor. She always believed in me and that is something you can't put a price on in a friend. She is one of the smartest people I know which motivates me in ways she could never imagine. Laura is independent not in a way that is condesending, or refuses people's help if they offer. But independent in a good way in that if she doesn't know the answer to something she will search and read, and read and search until she finds it. She doesn't depend on other people to do things for her. That's her dog Buster in the picture. Laura has been volunteering at the Athens Canine Rescue for awhile now, most recently holding the position of adoption coordinator. She had to give up her position because she will be moving to Asheville, NC soon, but will continue her animal resuce work once she is settled. She is one great dog trainer, and I know a lot of families out there are very grateful she worked with their dogs. Yesterday we met up and she took David and I to a park to feed ducks (dang, I wish I had taken pictures of that). David loved it and did not want to leave. I am trying to get as much Laura time in now before she has to go. I will miss living so close to you Laura, and selfishly I want you to stay, but I know you are off to bigger and better things. Just don't get so busy you forget about me, okay?
David's vocabulary is expanding everyday. Here are a few more words he has added to his dictionary:
Back
Balloon
Bird
Boom
Bye
Cake
Charlie
Cheese
Choo Choo
Duck
Oh Boy
Shoes
Tractor
Tree
David still refuses to say mama. When I ask him to say it he either gives me a blank stare, shakes his head no, or says "da da". Since he learned to say our dog's name before mine, everyday I eat a slice of humble pie.
Jason and David enjoying buttermilk pie
Lara, Ben, and Drew
Ben finds the playground
Drew shows Ben where to stand
A baseball is headed your way Ben...
Swing batter batter swing!
My mom and her girls
"Hey, I wanna play too!"
Today we had our family celebration for Jason's birthday. We met at our favorite restaurant-The Yesterday Cafe. We enjoyed a southern home cooked meal complete with country fried steak, squash casserole, and buttermilk pie. Ben finished his meal first and went outside to play at the park across the street. Once we all finished my Dad got out this cool baseball pitching machine toy he bought for Ben. At one point Ben hit a perfect line drive and Drew yelled out "I'm gonna be rich!" David enjoyed putting the plastic balls in the machine and then grabbed a bat to prove he could play too. Once the batteries went dead to the toy we moved the party to our house where David promptly went down for his nap. Ben, however, got to "drive" Uncle Jason's truck to our neighborhood park to play with Charlie in the river! He came back in the house yelling "I missed a tree!"... I don't even want to know. After Drew, Lara, and Ben left we ate dinner at the house with my parents. It just so happened that one of Jason's customers mailed us a smoked turkey that we received today- and it was delicious. All in all I would say it was a pretty fun filled day.
Its hard to believe that it was ten years ago when we celebrated your 19th birthday with a surprise party (which I barely pulled off due to your frequent hunting trips this time of year). "My oh my, look how the time flies" Today, as we celebrate your 29th birthday, I am reminded of all that you are and all that you mean to me. You are the calm to my worry, the spontaneous to my schedule, and the most unselfish person I know. You have given me the best gift I ever could have asked for-unconditional love. And so I present to you what you would consider the best birthday gift of all ...
A present from Katie and Joe
A rare moment-the two of them playing together
My favorite "Cup of Joe"-I like it sweet
Funny Face David
Joe's toon watching position
As promised, those are the pics from our visit with Katie and Joe yesterday. Once we found Joe's play room David was immediately intrigued with this cool basketball toy and much to our surprise Katie had already bought David one...that was so sweet-really Katie, you shouldn't have! I finally got to meet Lenny-he is a lot smaller in person! Katie and I tried our best to carry on a conversation while supervising the kids (David and Joe had a hard time trying to play together and so our time together was cut short). David upset Joe by closing the doors to the TV cabinet which prevented him from watching his shows, and Joe couldn't understand why David wouldn't respond to him talking and sharing his toys. We needed someone else to join our play date who has two boys around the same age...what do you say Becky?
Oma playing referee
The finger hold
Presents for the birthday boy
Daisy soaking up the attention
Uncle Jason playing bristle blocks with nephew Ben
