Brady Bunch 2008 Tennessee Vacation

Instead of typing a long blog entry about our vacation, I thought I would make a slideshow. Sam has done it before so we put this together last night. I picked the music to match the mountain theme. Plus, it's just good music to listen to.

I do want to tell you about the Jr. Ranger program. We all had to complete a booklet with activities--looking for leaves in the park, picking up litter, answering questions, and attending a ranger led program. We all had a great time doing it. The kids got Jr. Ranger badges and Sam and I got patches for being "NOT SO JR. Rangers".

This is probably better for you. You know I have a tendency to go on and on and on and on and on and on. I hope you enjoy our trip down memory lane.

Till next time....GOD IS LOVE

Home Sweet Home

Once again we are all home together. Since school has been out we have not been home together all at once. Between switching kids out at my parents, kids and I staying at my parents, then the entire family just returned Saturday evening from visiting my in laws in Tennessee and my parents in NC. I think everyone is glad to be back home.

I don't want too tell to much about our trip to Tennessee until we get our pictures download and I can add some of the most beautiful pictures ever. This trip was the greatest gift anyone could have given our family. With the luck we have had this summer we needed some family time together. What a wonderful place to spend it. I have so much I want to tell you but I want to show the pictures too. We downloaded them to Sam's parents' computer and for some reason half of them didn't stay on our memory card. So Mom is sending us a copy of all the pics. Be sure to check back in for full details later.

Our original plans were to come home Wednesday after picking up Gracie from my mama's. But our sweet baby Gracie had an accident while at Grandma's and needed a couple of stitches and an overnight stay at the vet. Mama and Pop were walking her by the creek one day while we were gone and all of sudden they noticed her bleeding on her leg. Of course Mama was so upset that Gracie got hurt while in her care, she was crying when she called me. Gracie is my little Baby. She is spoiled rotten. She sleeps with me and her daddy, sometimes in between us if she wants a belly rub. Good news is she will be fine. They gave her some pain killers and an antibiotic and she came home the next day. Thursday we decided to do some school shopping for the kids. That lasted all day and no one was up to the drive home. Plus my sister in law called and said she was coming up with my niece and her little boy for the weekend. So the new plan was to leave Friday afternoon after a short visit with them. Well they didn't get there till 4:00 and after a visit and looking at the clock no one was up for a drive so another night at my parents. Saturday morning got up early, had some breakfast, went for a haircut and off we were. Back home finally. The kids finally stopped asking when we were going home. They knew we had to be back Sunday to take Sage home so they figured it was no use asking, just enjoy grandma's.

We had to stop at the store and I told the girls they could have a Hannah Montana Party since the concert was coming on t.v. We stopped at Wally World to get something for dinner that night and the girls were allowed to get two snacks a piece. OMG you would have thought we were throwing a party somewhere in Hollywood. They were so excited, they even helped unload the van and took showers without fussing. The party basically consisted of popcorn, licorice, Little Debbie snack cakes, skittles, whoppers, and of course cheddar rice cakes. Plus they got to eat in their room. I went back to take a look in the room and there were 3 girls with 3D glasses on, singing with licorice hanging out their mouths. I think that was a perfect end to a great week. Plus I got to sleep in my own bed that night too. THANK GOD for king size beds.

Don't forget to check back to read all the details of The Brady Family Vacation. Gotta tell you about our junior rangers, our not so junior rangers, bears, deers, mountains, Dollywood, swimming, car breaking down, flying dumbo, water ride, there is so much more to tell........ Till next time God is Love (I think that might be my new ending...........thanks Rev. Run)

Still Alive and Kicking

Yes I am still alive and kicking. It has been a while since I wrote. We went away for the 4th of July weekend and just returned home yesterday. Sam of course came back after the holiday but the kids and I stayed for some R&R.

Steven picked up a little job at a local auction while staying with my parents. He went back home with my parents after Father's Day. Every weekend they attend an auction and Steven asked Mr. Gene (the auctioneer) if he could help out since he seemed to be shorthanded on men that day. He has been helping out every weekend since. All he really does is hold up items to be auctioned and then help people take their buys to their cars after the auction is over. One Saturday he made 30 dollars with Mr. Gene and then another 29 dollars from tips that customers gave him for helping to load their cars. While Sam and I were up there we stopped in to see him at work and OMG everyone bragged on Steven. What a wonderful, respectful young man we had. I was wondering if they had the right Steven. I don't know how many people told us what a wonderful boy we had. I was like, are you talking about my Steven???? The one who can't stand his sister and doesn't like to do chores? But when I pointed to my Steven everyone said that's the boy. Why is it that children are always polite and well behaved around others? Get them home and it's a whole new world for them.

So 4th of July was great. We did the fireworks by the lake which was great. Then my sister and her family arrived the next day. My nephew Preston who I love to death was my little heart when he was born. In fact I nicknamed him Pookie which absolutely drove my brother in law insane and he told me if I didn't give his little sister a nickname he would name her after me. Of course Maggie Darlene never got a nickname from me. So anyway every time I see Pookie my heart melts when he calls me Aunt Dar Dar, I always hold him like a baby and tell him when he is 89 I will still call him Pookie and hold him like a baby. Pookie will be 8 on Friday (Happy Birthday Pookie)and I held him like a baby, but this time he said Aunt Dar Dar when I am 89 I think I better hold you like a baby. Yes I laughed and cried at the same time. Even though he is a young boy he understands how happy it makes me to call him Pookie and hold him like a baby. I love you Pookie.

Okay it's crazy I know but we are off and running again this weekend. This time to Tennessee to see my in-laws. The entire family will be leaving on Saturday morning and returning Tuesday. We are looking forward to spending some time with them and checking out Dad's new Ranger job. Dad was telling us about the Junior Ranger program--the kids can do hikes and activities and programs then get sworn in as actual "Junior Rangers" by a real Ranger (hopefully Grandaddy can do it for them) and get a certificate and a badge. We think it sounds really cool and we're looking forward to doing it with him. Their R.V. park has a pool too. I am sure the kids will want to go. Sounds like a lot of family fun for all.

Sam has really been stressed over finding a job. Every day searching, sending out resumes only to turn up nothing is starting to get the best of him. When all else fails, Family and God are the only thing we know. So we are going to God's Country as they called the beautiful Smoky Mountains to be with our family. Keep your finger crossed and say a little prayer for us that a job comes through for Sam.

Until next time, God is love (Taking from Run's House. I love his little messages at the end of the show).

Family and Good Food

Sunday was a wonderful day for our family. Sunday morning service was very good. It was one of the services you just left feeling totally blessed and ready to face whatever the world has in store for you. The girls got to stay after church for Girls Club. They really enjoyed it so much. When we returned they all had made new friends. Sage even picked up a new nickname. The drummer Brad and his wife Lynn are the youth leaders and Brad couldn't remember Sage's name but he did remember it was a spice, so he called her Paprika. The pastor and his wife couldn't believe how limber Sage was with her spilts and tumbles. He mentioned it several times during the evening service about how talented she was. She just thought it was cool to her name on microphone. Jewel and Jessica were so excited they got prayer mothers. Prayer mothers are someone who encourages our young to stay strong and do what is right. Needless to say we are excited about our next Girls Club meeting.

So while the girl were at Girls Club, Sam and I decided to use some of my birthday gift from my wonderful in-laws and go to lunch at Chili's. Thanks Mom and Dad! We enjoyed our lunch date very much. After lunch I didn't want to go back home. I wanted to be near the girls in case they needed us for anything. Of course I drilled the twins before church to make sure they knew all three phone numbers and to make sure they stayed together and kept an eye on Sage. Back to me and Sam: we decided to ride to Marietta and walk around the square, look in some shops, and sit in the park. Then we took the long route back to church but were still early so we stopped in the Wendy's nearby and shared a Frosty and talked. It's wonderful when you can talk without having to say don't do that, or sit down, please eat. That's right, Sam was very well-behaved.

Then I got that phone call a parent never wants to get. You're out, your kids are at church in a safe environment and they call..... only to say mom we are having a great time. Immediately I begin to breathe again then I listened for about ten mintues to hear everything that had went on during that day. Remind you we were only five mintues from the church but they had to tell everything. Then when we arrived five mintues later we heard everything again, again, and again. Three girls telling the same story about what all happened during the day. The youth group is a very active group. They are always planning outings with the children and sliding in a lesson with fun keeps them interested in church.

Last night the in-laws were in town for the day so we went over and spent some time before dinner with Mom, Mia, and Jackson while everyone else was working or at the Dr. Then off to Jason's Deli, where I had never been before. I love this Brady Family when we go out to dinner, because everyone shares little bites of their food with everyone else. I had the salad bar, plus part of Mom's BLT, a bite of Sam's meatball sub, a bite of Jewel's cheese pizza, a bite of Jessica's pepperoni pizza, a bite of Sage's turkey & cheese wrap. Bill wouldn't share his Reuben, but then again I didn't ask because I had everyone else's food on my plate already. The food was excellent and the family bonding time was great. Thanks, Dad, for a wonderful dinner. Can't remember if I actually thanked him or not. Then back to Bill's for a little chatting and lots of family group hugs and lots of I love you's.

Now the in-laws are back in Tennesse and I am heading to see my parents tomorrow for the holidays and then staying some next week to do some work around the yard for her. Probably will be shoveling rocks all next week. But that's okay because Pop will cook great meals and we will get to spend quality time with my parents. Only thing missing will be Sam who will be heading back to Atlanta Sunday evening. I'll miss you, baby!

Happy 4th of July everybody!