:(

(pictured: Nannie, baby AJ, me and my mom)

Tonight my sweet Nannie went home to be with the Lord. She was just 1 month short of being 95. I wish many of you could have known her. She was a permanent fixture in my house growing up and a source of many funny stories and many, many, many life lesson learned. Death is bittersweet. I know that now she knows all again in heaven. AJ said it best when she said, " Its okay Mommy, she is still alive up there". Out of the mouths of Babes. So, I carry on. I carry on with her in my heart and with every imprint of how she lived as a guide. Please pray for safe travels of many family members coming home this weekend.

Halloween pics

Make a Smilebox greeting

Go cheeleader!!!

AJ got to pick out new toys after our trip to Nashville to see the eye dcotor because she had done so good. She picked out a "new purple cheer leader" as she would say and some play make up. She already has 2 other cheerleading outfits so this one adds to the collection. Now she cheers for the purples. She's such a hoot!

She Can SEEEE!!!

( this is the only picture she would let me take- spaghetti-o face and all)
Well as some of you may know we have been seriously concerned about our little AJ this past week. I 'll try to make this brief, but feel I need to give you some sort of explanation so you can appreciate my concern.

Last Wednesday I took AJ to the bathroom and when she looked up at me, her eyes were crossed. I didn't think much about it but she did it again later that night. I mentioned it to Weston and he said well lets just keep an eye on it. So, by Saturday she was doing it fairly consistently. I could only think all the worst that things that go through your mind. All I could think about was my cousin who lost her battle with cancer that was discovered through an eye exam after some blurred vision and headaches. I called the pediatrician's office and they said that she need to see a pediatric ophthalmologist. So, I waited for the call for an appointment. Really the call could not come soon enough. Finally I got a call on Wednesday afternoon at 4:00 pm and said that the specialist could see her on Thursday morning (yesterday) at 9:30. Talk about notice. She said it normally takes like 3 months to get in, but they were able to get her worked in. Relief!! Soon we would know what the problem was.

We got everyone squared away at grandparents and off we were to Vanderbuilts' eye clinic to see Dr. Morrison. (who by the way I highly recommend). My fears were somewhat eased when we walked in and saw some other children her age that had the similar problem and they seemed fine and so did their parents. So why couldn't I have remained calm the week prior to now. Anyway, we saw the Doctor and found out that she desperately needed glasses. She has severe farsightedness. She could barely see anything at all in her right eye. So the problem corrects itself in 60% of cases after wearing glasses only. Then you move onto patches or a blurring drop and then onto surgery if needed. We hope that the glasses will be the fix. So after several hours of looking for very small glasses we found some and were able to get them yesterday. YAY, now she can see!!

I know that she's mine, but she really does look pretty darn cute in her new pink specs!!

Anyone ready to be baptized?

If you decide that you would like to become a christian, Rev. Ansley Jane can do the job of baptizing you. She has really enjoyed baptizing people lately. She watched a girl named Joy get baptized at Church a couple of weeks ago and has really been fascinated with her since. She has begun "dunking" everyone. We even have a little Church of Christ humor thrown in about how all of who ever's body not going completely under. It is funny to hear her say the standard," in the name of the father and the son and the holy ghost"... then she will squeeze your nose so hard that it hurts and throw you back. The trouble is you have to get up by yourself.

AJ baptizing her dad
again
and going all the way back with him
here she is dressed up like Mother Mary with her blue bobby.

Chicago Trip - Day 2

The first part of Friday was spent at the Field Museum. It was fascinating. They had everything a kid could ever want to see. Tucker really had a great time seeing the mummies and was actually really concerned about how they all died. He worried about it all weekend after that. I tried to give him a really good lesson on diseases and how they used to kill mass amounts of people but I think I was talking over his head.

The second part of the day and night was spent Going to See Cory Hart play in Milwaukee. It took us 4 hours to get from Chicago to Milwaukee. It should on be like 45 minutes but the Highways there are horrific. We think Scottsville road is bad...we've got nothing on them.
Tucker got to see Cory play and really enjoyed the ball field. They had several games in the stadium for kids to participate in . Tucker got to take batting practice and swung with his left hand and didn't even come close to hitting the ball.

Field museum
Brewer Stadium
Brewer Stadium again
1/2 family shot

field museum
underground exhibit
man eating tiger that some movie was made about
mummies
Sue the largest T-Rex dug up to date

Chicago Trip- Day One

I thought I would never figure out how to download pictures off of our new camera. BUT I did, only 3 months later. I said along time ago that I would share some highlights from our trip to Chicago. So here you go...

DAY ONE

Thursday: Arrival to the Windy City just during evening rush hour.

On the way there in the car, Tucker managed to get 4 out of 7 Truckers to honk at him. He was a bit timid at first but he finally got the hang of and really enjoyed the car ride after that.

We got to the hotel and Went to see the FABULOUS indoor pool. Well maybe not so fabulous. It was only 4 feet by 4 feet by 4 feet. But Tucker liked it regardless.

That night we ate diner at Giodorno's deep dish pizza. While we waited we went to the 4 story GAP and the Lego store. Those pictures are below. Tucker was in heaven! He absolutely loved it and wanted to go back like 500 more times in the next 2 days. Luckily it was right by our hotel.

All of the statues below are actually made out of Lego's. It was really neat and I too can see why Tuck loved it so much.

Tucker the Photographer

The console of the mini van
Tucker up close
Making funny faces
somewhat sideview of Trapper

Trapper doing who knows what...
Tuckers Lego creations
more legos
A Hershey's cupcake while in Chicago
Mom and Dad at a Brewers game

Tucker has recently decided that he may be a photographer. I will include some of his masterpieces here. If you need a family portrait I am sure he would love to come and take a few snapshots for you. Just give him a call at 555-foto.

Kindergarten here we come...

Last night we went to Potter Gray's burger bash. Tucker had a complete blast. Part of me wanted him to be timid and really "need" me. But no luck. He was having so much fun meeting and greeting. I know he will have no problem adjusting to being one of "Ferstl's Friends" ( that's what his teacher calls them). Please pray for the easy transition for him as he starts his new school journey. Tomorrow is the BIG DAY. He is soooo excited that it is finally here.

I' ve been tagged...

A-Available or Single: married
B-Beach or Lake: Beach- no lake!!
C-Cake or Pie? Cake
D-Drink of Choice: water
E-Essential Item you use everyday-my minivan
F-Favorite Color: blue
G-Gummy bears or Worms: Worms
H-Hometown: Bowling Green,Ky
I-Indulgence: ice cream
J-January or February: neither I hate cold weather, and I like longer days!
K-Kids & Names: Tucker, Ansley Jane and Trapper
L-Life is Incomplete without: WESTON, He's my best friend.
M-Marriage Date: June 17
N-Number of Siblings-1 brother
O-Oranges or Apples: Oranges.
P-Phobias: lakes, streams anything with murky water
Q-Fave Quote: my Nannie used to say " I'll be back in a jiffy" and it always made me laugh
R-Reasons to smile: I have a God who loves me unconditionally
S-Season: Fall
T-Tag 3 or 4 people - no thanks
U-Unknown fact about me: I am fascinated with the human body and how it works
V-Vegetable you don't like: hominy
w- worst habit- biting my nails
X-rays: Right pinky, dental and ultrasounds, MRI and CT of head
Y-Your favorite food: I like pasta
Z-Zodiac sign: Aries

Easy Recipe Thursday

Poor Man's Chicken
4-6 boneless chicken beast
1 can cream of chicken soup
1/2 cup white cooking wine
1 package of herb stuffing
4-6 pieces of Swiss cheese
fresh mushrooms - sliced (optional)
several pats of butter

Place chicken in a baking dish. Place slice of cheese on top of that. Cover that with the sliced mushrooms. Mix the soup and wine together and pour over the chicken, cheese and shrooms. Top that with the herb stuffing and place a few pats of butter on top. Bake at 350 for 45 min.

so many changes

I think he might be one for the ladies!! :)
He likes to dress up in all of his toys, not just one thing at a time.

Well, I must say it has been a while. So much has gone on since Tucker and Trappers' birthday. Old Nannie is no longer with us. She found a new home at Britthaven at the end of May. She developed a light case of Pneumonia and had to be admitted to the hospital and then transferred to rehab. Since people with Alzheimer's do not adapt well, we thought it a good time to go ahead and allow her to transition. SOOO, I have had to go back to work. I am now through my first full week at Wendy's Corporation as the benefits administrator. I really enjoy the people I work with and it has been a real answered prayer that I would find a christian home away from home and I feel like I have. A big fat THANKS to Faye Martin who gave me the heads up on the position.



We have had one fatality -- Peter the bunny. He will be missed. I am sure that Billy is lonely.



Our House is FOR SALE if anyone knows anyone who might be interested you can send them our way. We are selling it by ourselves right now and hope to move somewhere in the Briarwood area so we will be close to Tucker's new school.



Weston and I took Tucker to Chicago a few weeks ago. It was a great little trip. We went to the science museum and to two Brewers games in Milwaukee. I will have to post on that separately some other timeb/c I have pictures that can be shared ( as soon as I figure out how to do that on the new camera I got while in Chicago).



Weston go to take a day trip to Texas and pick up our new Minivan. It was a great deal and we have been looking for a long time for another vehicle so here it is!! I am excited about that.



Hopefully, I will get back into the swing of posting now that things seems to be settled.

T5 T1

Well only a month late here are some pictures from Tuckers 5th birthday, And Trappers 1st. It was a "huntin" party. However there was not much huntin going on. We had planned for a paintball gun to allow the kids to shoot at a target of a deer and then they were going to walk back into the woods and look for wildlife, but it rained and x-treeme sports wouldn't allow the gun off the premises. So, we made do with a wagon ride and pizza. The highlight of the day was Tuck's new puppy, Katie( named after Katie Jennings at church). Enjoy the pics.

This is where we gave him his stuffed puppy first and then he got the real one.