2009 07 01-09

1-Work & Church
2-Work
3
Dewayne worked. I had the day off. Sam, Garrett & I drove to Signal Mtn. to pick up Caleb from camp. When we got back to Cleveland, the boys and I had breakfast at IHOP. Garrett had his first smily face pancake (chocolate chip). Then we went to the used bookstore to find some things for the drive to TX. The boys each got a book, and we got a movie. After that we went to Wal-Mart, then home for lunch and Garrett's nap.

4-Independence Day

We all went to the opening of the new McKay used bookstore in Chattanooga where we found another movie and more books for the drive. After that we went to Sam's. That evening we went to the Stricklands' new house for a cookout. There was a pretty big crowd. It was fun, but we left around 8. Dewayne and the big boys went to get fireworks after we got home. All 4 boys had fun shooting them in the front yard.

5-Anniversary

This was our 12th anniversary. We went to church and relaxed at home the rest of the day.

6-Camp

Dewayne worked, and I worked until about 1, then took Sam to Camp.

7-Work

8-Puddin' Pups

Around 7:30, as we're walking out the door, Dewayne noticed our dog Puddin' had had 2 puppies. Caleb, Garrett, & I hung around the house for a while to see how they were doing and if she would have anymore. Finally the boys and I left, but Dewayne stayed a little longer. Everyone at my work was happy for us. They said if it ever happened again to be sure I was late to work again. They all would have done the same thing. Dewayne left for work after she had two more puppies. I came home for lunch at noon and found a fifth puppy. Right before I needed to go back to work at 12:50, she finally had her sixth puppy. It was quite an exciting day. We also had church that night.

http://s620.photobucket.com/albums/tt282/annsworld/Puddin%20Pups/?albumview=slideshow

9-Pack & Load

I worked, but they didn't have any work for Dewayne, so he and Caleb went and picked up Sam from Camp. Since they weren't going to have any work for Dewayne the next day either, he asked me to see about leaving for TX a day early. My bosses all agreed, and I managed to get enough work done to leave for vacation a day early. We spent the evening finishing our packing and loading the car.

2009 06 30

Last Wednesday (6/24) was Dewayne's birthday. We didn't have to teach at church because the Church of God Tennessee State Offices were holding the annual Camp Meeting at our church. So, we went to Red Robin for dinner. We had never been there before, but we had been talking about trying it because it's the favorite restaurant of the main characters of "Psych" (one of our favorite TV shows). We did some shopping after that.

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Friday (6/26) as soon as I got off work, I picked up the kids and we went to Caleb's best friend's house for his birthday party. Right after the birthday party we went to Camp Meeting at church. We were 45 minutes late and parking and seats were all but gone. Tommy Bates can really draw a crowd. They also had a mass youth choir that night. It was a very full day.

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Saturday (6/27) turned into arts & crafts day. Garrett put "tattoos" (Curious George stamps) all over his arms. Caleb helped Garrett paint. They made this mask. They all really seemed to enjoy it. We also packed for Camp and started packing for TX. Looks like everything will fit in the Pacifica.

Dewayne did another good job with his sermon on Sunday (6/28). Among other things he said, "Just as a baby is born and must grow, Christians who have been born again must grow." The boys all came to service with us. The people at the chapel really enjoy having them there. After church we shoved down some sandwiches and finally went to see "Night at the Museum 2." It was a pretty cute movie. The neat thing was we were the only ones in the theater. We didn't have to worry about bothering anyone. Garrett ended up falling asleep during the movie.

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I took Caleb to Youth Camp yesterday (6/29). He's there until Friday morning. I went to dinner (and premier jewelry show) at a co-worker's home last night. She served a mexican fiesta menu made by her husband's secretary who is from Mexico. It was very good. I had a good time visiting with women from church, too. Some I knew, some I knew of, and some I had never even heard of. I did rather enjoy the one lady who asked me if I go to Lee. I should have said "yes," but I told her I graduated 10 years ago.

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This video from Fathers Day is pretty shaky, but Garrett is pretty cute doing all he can to make it through lunch.

2009 06 22

Last week was a quiet week again. We had church Wednesday (6/17). I led a great discussion in my class Wednesday, but when I tried to start the video, it had no sound. Turns out the whole sound board was dead. So I dismissed everyone early and stayed and talked with some of the class participants until the rest of the classes had ended. Caleb went on a sleepover at his best friend James' house on Friday (6/19). I went to the movies with my sister, her best friend, Cheri and two of Cheri's coworkers, my mom, and 4 other friends (3 of whom go to my church; one from my Couples Sunday School class, one from the Single Adult Ministry, and another who has been an acquaintance for a while who is married, but her husband doesn't come to church). It was certainly a diverse group of ladies. We had a great time, and it was a really good movie. Saturday (6/20) Sam went with Dewayne to help him fix a friend's A/C. We spent the rest of the day catching up on housework. Sunday (6/21) was Fathers Day. I made a bacon quiche for breakfast. We went to Sunday School. I did pretty well considering the emphasis was on fathers. I did have to leave the room during one video. It was too hard not to think of my dad. Dewayne did a great job with his sermon on Sunday. He preached from 1 Tim 2:1-8 which says we must pray for our leaders so we can have peaceful and worshipful lives because God wants everyone to be saved. For lunch I made grilled cheese sandwiches with homemade bread, American cheese, cheddar cheese, and mozzarella cheese. For dinner we had a london broil that I had marinated all night, fried potatoes with vidalia onions (I NEVER make fried potatoes and they were very good), vegetables, and more homemade bread. I think Dewayne liked being spoiled for Fathers Day.

2009 06 15

Things certainly changed pace in June. I started the Bible study on Esther at church June 3. I'm really enjoying studying and leading it. The boys went to Mega Sports camp from 9 am - noon every morning last week (June 8-12). Our church partnered with 8 others in the community to provide a free VBS-type camp. They had professional sports stars there giving demonstrations and speeches. The kids got to play a different sport every day. My sister took them and picked them up for me. They stayed with her after it on Thursday, June 11 for a sleepover. We took Garrett to see the surgeon at Shriner's on Friday, June 12. Garrett was very excited about going to "Tucky." The doctor said Garrett doesn't need therapy. We just need to encourage him to use his right hand. He goes back in 6 months for x-rays and a visit. He did get sick on the way there, though. He finally got to feeling better Saturday evening.

2009 05 21 Video

Dewayne hung Sam's old swing from the boys' clubhouse. His brothers are very loving AND protective.

2009 06 01

Last Wednesday (5/27) Dewayne and the big boys went to church. It started storming while Garrett and I were at home. He informed me "It's not thundering' it's lightnering." Later in the evening, he very politely and matter-of-factly told me, "Mama, you're getting me angry." I never did figure out what I had done to get him angry.

Thursday (5/28) we had to find Garrett some new sandals to wear to water day at the daycare the next day. He has already destroyed the ones we got him earlier this spring. So we went to dinner at Stevie B's. It's the same concept as CiCi's but way better. The boys had coupons for free meals for completing the school year. We enjoyed it. We ended up buying $5.00 flip flops at Walmart because we couldn't find anything else at all. Garrett had a great time at water day on Friday (5/29) though.

Saturday (5/30) we finally took Garrett to play putt-putt (mintianure golf--Garrett's pronunciation) for his birthday. It was a lot of fun. Dewayne won of course, but Garrett is still talking about it. Sam got 2 hole-in-one's. We got lunch at Taco Bell on the way home. Saturday afternoon we went to see "Up" in 3-D. It was a great movie. Bruce and Trey came, too. It was Garrett and Trey's first time at the movies together. Neither one kept their glasses on, but the conversations they had were so cute (and so loud!). After that I went to Girls Night Out. Some of my friends and I went to dinner in Cleveland, then shopping in Chattanooga. It was a long, busy, fun day.

I brought Garrett with me to service Sunday morning(5/31). Of course they all loved that. He fell asleep during the singing. Dewayne preached a very good sermon.

I had to have the filling replaced today that the hygenist knocked out. Even though the dentist explained several good reasons why it happened and it may happen again, they didn't charge me. That was a big blessing.

2009 Memorial Day Camping Trip

This was a hornet's way of saying "Welcome to Chilhowee." It got me the first night there--never saw it coming.


I got off work on Friday at noon. The boys and I loaded up. James (Caleb's best friend) got to the house around 1:00. We picked up Garrett from his nap around 2:00 and headed to Chilhowee. The boys and I set up a little, went swimming, and made dinner. Our usual Friday night camping meal is Chicken Quesadillas (or Cheesaquillas, as Garrett says). That way we don't have to have a fire the first night. (Dewayne came up after work and got us set up the rest of the way.) Saturday night we had BBQ Chicken, Baked potatoes with all the fixins and corn on the cob--all cooked in the fire pit. Sunday night we had Bratwurst and ranch style beans. Saturday for lunch we had chili cheese dogs, and Sunday we had grilled cheese sandwiches--again all on the fire. Breakfast menus were: Sat--Bacon, Eggs, Toast; Sun--Sausage/Egg/Cheese Burritos; Mon--Pancakes and Bacon. We also made popcorn and s'mores on the fire. Due to all the rain, swimming was cold the whole weekend, but Benton Falls was full, so it was a lot nicer than usual. Garrett hiked most of the way there and back, with some shoulder rides from his daddy. It's nearly 3 miles round trip. Sam was 3 when he went for the first time. Garrett loved everything about camping. It rained on us every night. The second night it rained pretty hard, so he stayed in our tent. The 1st and last nights he was in his own tent all by himself all night long. I say that's pretty good for a 3-year-old. You can see by the pictures that Dewayne does a great job of keeping us dry. Not a drop of rain got in our tents. Dewayne stopped and took pictures on the way down the mountain from Chilhowee. It really is a beautiful place.

http://s620.photobucket.com/albums/tt282/annsworld/2009%20Awards/2009%20Memorial%20Day/?albumview=slideshow

Awards Day Pix FINALLY

http://s620.photobucket.com/albums/tt282/annsworld/2009%20Awards/?albumview=slideshow