Come Along and Sing a Song...and Join the Jamboree! M-I-C-K-E-Y M-O-U-S-E!!

We HAD to do it!! The kids had been begging Bill & me to take them back to Disney World. So, when Fall Break came around this year, we threw the kids on a plane and flew off to the Magical Kingdom.

Unfortunately, William came down with a horrible fever and sore throat. He did his best to make the most of his vacation, but he did need to take some afternoon breaks. Poor thing! Anna, Bill and I were very impressed with his perseverance!!

We were all a little surprised by the weather. It was cold! Luckily, we brought jackets and clothes that we could layer. I'm not kidding that we put just about as many layers on us as when we go snow skiing. But once we were all bundled up, we felt pretty good.

The kids definitely like the fast rides now. In fact, they wanted to spend as much time as they could on the Rockin' Roller Coaster, Test Track, Tower of Terror, and Thunder Mountain. Space Mountain was closed, but when it reopens I know it's going to be added to the list.

All in all, we had a fabulous time --and-- we're already looking forward to our next visit to the Magical Kingdom!

Something "Wicked"...

Last year, my Brownie troop went to see "The Wizard of Oz." So, this year we decided to get both sides of the story and go see "Wicked." The girls loved it! We ate dinner at the Hermitage beforehand and then walked over to the performance. So sophisticated!!

Unfortunately, Anna wasn't feeling well that weekend...so we were only able to stay until the intermission. We liked it so much though that we decided we're going to take William and Bill with us when we go back to see the whole thing....maybe in New York?!?

Hospital Visit

A couple of weeks ago my nephew had to make an unplanned stop in the Emergency Room at Vanderbilt Children's Hospital. He was such a trooper! I grabbed this photo of him with his IV. Poor little thing!! He did get a lot of mommy and Aunt JuJu time --and-- we loved getting to have some one-on-one time with him.

(No) Labor Day 2009

So...Bill took the kids to the lake over the Labor Day weekend. Of course, they had a blast...but Daddy Bill didn't take his camera, so I have no photos to post of that adventure.

However, I went to Phoenix to see Misty, Maggie, CeCe and Matt --and-- I DID take my camera! So, I have some fantastic shots of the Hardin Family!

Everyone knows how much I miss Misty. Our daily walks and talks were therapy for me. We would laugh so hard that I would have to look for a bathroom. We shared our struggles with everything from the challenges of motherhood to new recipes to try for dinner that week. Our topics were boundless. I love it that she shoots straight from the hip, will always be honest with me, and has one of the biggest hearts ever.

My calendar is marking off the days until she gets to return to Nashville. Until then, the plan is to visit Phoenix often and to have the families meet in fabulous cities to explore together (San Diego, Bahamas, etc.).

In keeping with that plan, I got to spend Labor Day with them. She planned us some "oh-la-la" relaxing time! I LOVED IT! We went to a gorgeous spa and soaked up some treatments. We drank cucumber water (my favorite!), soaked our legs in the jacuzzi, got massages & pedicures, took in the mountain view poolside, and on and on and on! We were pampered from head to toe! The best part of it all was that we got to have one of our long talks--no interruptions!

My time spent with the family was priceless! Maggie is growing up into such a beautiful little girl. I am constantly impressed with how smart she is and how much she absorbs. The love she gives to everyone reminds me of Misty. She is so gentle and loving to CeCe. She tries to anticipate what her sister needs and have it there for CeCe in case CeCe wants it. (It reminds me of my own sister, Christina. She still does that for me even to this day!)

CeCe is thriving! I was shocked by how big she had grown in the couple of weeks that had passed since I had seen her last. Misty's breast milk must be chalked full of vitamins and super-growing nutrients. I don't know how else to explain it.

Misty and Matt are still one of the best couples I have ever met. They TRULY love each other. I have always said this of them --and-- it rings even truer now with two sweet little girls added to their family. The connection that they have with each other is inspiring.

Okay...now for the photos!

My girls...

I am very blessed to have these three girls pictured beside me in this photo below! Of course, Christina (seated beside me), is my sister and best friend. There has NEVER been a moment in my life that I didn't know that she was in my corner! She is one of the BEST people in the world! She has always shared everything: her love, her spirit, her kindness, her knowledge, her strength, and her friends. Which brings me to Michele and Carol...

Christina and I have known Michele and Carol since we were teenagers. They are two of the wittiest people I know. When our group gets together, we laugh for hours on end. We have been through EVERYTHING together: high school, boyfriends, driver's licenses, SAT's & ACT's, AP courses, football games, college, road trips, graduate programs, more boyfriends, weddings, husbands, childbirth, deaths, illnesses, class reunions, and on and on and on...

I am so thankful that I get to see them on a monthly basis to laugh, to cry and sometimes to laugh until I cry!! Here's to you --MY GIRLS!!

Later that morning...

I took the camera into the school and grabbed some photos of Anna and William in the gym before being dismissed to their classrooms. They were very excited to see their friends. Anna and Lauren have known each other since they were three years old. William and Walker tell everyone that they are cousins since Walker's last name is my maiden name. Who knows?? They do look alike!

Another Brick in the Wall...

The kids, unfortunately, started back to school. I always hate the school year because my babies are taken away from me. It takes me a lot of time to absorb their absence. It's weird...because sometimes they can drive me CRAZY, but I guess it's a crazy that I cherish. I'm jealous of their teachers who get to spend seven hours with them. But...so that I don't permanently damage my children...I have to fake like I think it's great for them and that I support this whole "going to school" thing. Someone once told me that my job as a mother is "to give them wings strong enough to fly away from me." Even though I agree that she was right, I think my job SUCKS!!! I want them to stay with me forever and ever and ever. There...I said it!!