Right About Now

conquering the highchair

2008-11-21T20:14:00.001-08:00

walking in the snow

2008-11-21T20:07:00.001-08:00

Fall 2008

2008-11-21T16:12:00.001-08:00

More Summer Fun

2008-08-01T18:13:00.001-07:00

conquering the fork

2008-08-01T17:51:00.001-07:00

Summer 2008

2008-07-22T17:23:00.001-07:00

Vacation in Kitty Hawk

2008-07-17T11:19:00.000-07:00

We just returned from Kitty Hawk, NC and had the most wonderful time! Mike's (Blondee) uncle, Jack, rented a place and invited his daughter, Pam, her husband, Scott and their 2 sons, Lucas, 9 and Jake, 4. Uncle Jack's fiance, Sherry, was also there.

There is so much to do in the Outer Banks. We visited the Wright Brothers Memorial, went to the beach, hung out at the pool, and the boys went offshore on a fishing trip. But the best part was hanging out with Jack's family. We had not seen Pam and Scott in 10 years (pre-kids, Noah was 4 months old). I am sorry we missed so many years together. I feel like, especially with Pam, that I have made a friend for life. We stayed up way too late every night chatting and laughing. Noah and Lucas became big buddies (which Uncle Jack has been saying would happen) and Scott and Mike were even dressing alike. Jake and Ella were also adorable.

I was so sad to leave yesterday morning. Scott and Pam live in Conneticut so there is a lot of distance between us. Our goal, though, is to plan more summer visits together.

So, thanks, Uncle Jack for getting us all together. I feel so blessed to be a part of your family and I look forward to many more times together.

New pics from CBDC

2008-07-06T19:29:00.000-07:00

Added new pics from Camp Beaver Dam Creek 2008. These are Ava's and included in this slideshow are pics from the New Zion 4th of July Parade. You can fast forward to some great shots of CBDC or just enjoy the whole show.
I have also added music to my blog. You may turn the volume down or just appreciate me for the romantic hippie that I am. I love ya'll!!

http://s318.photobucket.com/albums/mm434/redheadava/?albumview=slideshow

Camp Beaver Dam Creek update

2008-07-01T16:49:00.000-07:00

Well our 3rd annual Camp Beaver Dam Creek has ended. The last of the guests left Monday evening and my house is clean with most of the laundry done. I still have a few sheets on the clothes line.

Camp was a huge success!! Everyday Blondee took a group to the river. There was also trout fishing in the creeks, a most exciting Rubber Ducky race (Luanne won $150 !!), a few obnoxious political comments (Lu, Ted and Auggie can't help themselves), late night dinners, evening haircuts by the hot tub and just hanging out together! Perhaps the biggest challenge for all campers was the dreaded dilemma of "Can this go in the compost pile??"

One of the personal highlights for me was the awesome and beautiful babysitters I had for 5 days. Ella is now very spoiled and she truly enjoyed all the attention. Thank you so much.

Gwyn has emailed some pictures and I will add a link at the end of this post.

I love all my Beaver Dam Creek campers so much!! I wish I could see you all more often. I am looking forward to Thanksgiving in Garden City and The Pup and Caroline's graduation in May in Cocoa Beach!!

http://www.msnusers.com:80/CBDC3

Baby B is Here!!

2008-06-21T16:42:00.000-07:00

Jenny had her baby!!! A beautiful 7 pound 4 ounces baby girl, born at 11:23 AM, named Georgia Shea Brown!! She had a very successful homebirth and Daddy Chris says it was one of the most amazing experiences he has ever been a part of. The Brown family is doing well and I am so happy for them all. Grace is loving her baby sister.

High Country Mommies

2008-06-16T18:25:00.000-07:00

Back in September, Ella and I went to this amazing baby shower for Noah's 2nd grade teacher. It was a Blessing Way baby shower and it inspired me in so many ways. Of course if you've read my post about Jenny's baby shower you have some idea of what the Blessing Way was about. This is where I got so many ideas about Jenny's shower. It was also here that I realized I needed to start cloth diapering Ella. And it was here that I met this really cool mama, online name Rada, that told me about a small local online group of moms in the High Country. So I went home that evening feeling very inspired on many levels.

I think it has been a struggle for me, Noah and Blondee to meet new people since we moved to Watauga County in Jan. 06. Noah has met his friends through school and Blondee has met some guys at work (which is good considering Blondee didn't get a local job until last June). I just really want our family to surround ourselves with great people,..like we always have.

That Sept. evening after the baby shower, I got on my computer and "googled" High Country Mommies. I found it and realized that it was a forum where local moms can talk to one another about basically anything, meet for playdates, and even have a Moms Night Out. We can talk about things to do in the area, potty training, politics,...you name it. Wow! I fell right in. High Country Mommies has been an addictive (in a good way) forum for me.

And I have met some really cool mamas,..which was my goal. Right now about 9 of us have been getting together making reusable pads for young African women. Check out the link http://www.goods4girls/. That is powerful!! And as of today, I am Watauga County co-moderator. which basically means I will plan two events a month, such as, a picnic at Valle Crucis Park or a trip to Grandfather Mountain.

I am so thankful for that day I was invited to Jess's baby shower. Not to mention she is the greatest school teacher I have ever known, she opened up a new little world for me and my family. So thanks, Jess, for baby showers, cloth diapering and High Country Mommies.

Happy Father's Day, Blondee

2008-06-14T19:07:00.000-07:00

In honor of Noah and Ella's daddy I want to wish my wonderful husband a Happy Father's Day. He is SUCH a good daddy!! He takes great care of our Baby Ella. Even as he's watching a Clint Eastwood movie and all the drama of that is unfolding,...I can hear him stop and read to Ella,.."Little Nutbrown Hare, who was going to bed, held on tight to Big Nutbrown Hare's very long ears...." because Ella has given her Daddy a book to read. And no matter what is taking place in the movie, Blondee will stop to read to her if she brings a book to him. And it sounds so funny if you are listening from the other room. Violence and gunshots,.. and then,,..."I love you as high as I can reach,..".
Yes,..he's a good Daddy.
Now if I ask Noah about his dad he just says,.."Dad has so many good qualities its hard for me to remember." But Noah taught Blondee how to be a Dad years ago. One of my most favorite pictures is of Blondee and Noah, who was maybe 4 months old, and they are lying in our black iron bed in Bucksport. Blondee is reading Moby Dick to him,..out loud, of course. So funny because I doubt Noah understood any of it,..but that was my man being a good dad. Reading and sharing.

Cloth Diapering

2008-06-14T13:59:00.000-07:00

We started using cloth diapers with Ella when she was 8 months old. I am so happy we made this decision and I must say the diapers of today are not "your mama's " cloth diapers. They come in adorable patterns, no pins, easy to use. And washing is a breeze. We just keep Ella's diaper pail by the washer. There is no need to soak the diapers so this seriously cuts down on the smell. We wash every 2 or 3 days with an enviromentally friendly detergent and hang them on the clothesline to dry. I have tried several kinds of cloth diapers and I still have a hard time choosing my favorite:

BumGenius http://www.bumgenius.com/
MotherEase http://www.mother-ease.com/
Fuzzi Bunz http://www.fuzzibunz.com/

I am really proud that when Ella is older I can tell her how many trees she saved by choosing cloth diapers.

Baby B

2008-06-11T13:23:00.000-07:00

My gorgeous friend, Jenny, has a baby due on June 25th. So, in my opinion, Baby B could arrive anytime. I just came back from Folly Beach and am proud to say I gave her the greatest baby shower ever. Blondee stayed home with Ella (such a good daddy) and Noah and I took a road trip to SC.
About 25 strong, beautiful women gathered at Jenny's home. We began by introducing ourselves and explained how we met Jenny. As each of us spoke, we would string a bead that we picked out, forming a necklace for her to hold and keep to remind her of her circle of friends and family, especially during labor.
Then we presented Jenny with a receiving blanket and each woman held it, reading a poem she brought or wrote, and blessing the baby blanket. Her 6-year old daughter, Grace wrote the sweetest poem for her Momma. Jenny will wrap her brand new baby in the blanket we blessed.
We all made bracelets out yarn of to wear for the remainder of Jenny's pregnancy. We started a phone chain so all of us women will know when Baby B is born and we can then remove our bracelets. It was time to open gifts and Jenny got lots of good stuff, including hand-painted onesies and BumGenius cloth diapers(a personal recommendation).
Moira, a stunning Brazilian women and Jenny's BF surfcamp business partner, brought some body paints and the women took turns painting Jenny's pregnant belly. Moira is also a very talented artist so Jenny's belly was truly a work of art.
Jenny, Chris and Grace are now patiently waiting for their precious arrival. She is having a homebirth and I so admire Jenny's strength and passion.

http://s224.photobucket.com/albums/dd283/abjennings/?action=view&current=1b91568b.pbr

Here is a link to the poem that I read,..for those of you who know Jenny,..this was so appropriate:
http://www.mothering.com/sections/poems/singing-down.html

New job

2008-06-10T19:22:00.000-07:00

I have a new job, beginning the end of July. I am going to be in charge of Wednesday night dinners at Bethel Baptist Church, which is about a mile up the road from us. It is actually right across the street from Noah's school, Bethel Elementary. I will be in charge of planning and preparing Wed. night dinner for about 75 people.
I am really excited about this opportunity. I can make some extra money so Blondee won't roll his eyes whenever I buy Ella a new dress, Noah and Ella can go to work with me, and I can prepare fabulous dinners and be the center of attention for a few hours a week. And I really appreciate the church and pastor's generosity.
This may cut in to my traveling time for a bit. Our plans are still to come to Garden City for a week or so during Thanksgiving. And we really need to be in Cocoa Beach in May for The Pup's graduation.
I hope someone reads this stuff.

Noah's Homeschool Curriculum

2008-06-10T19:10:00.000-07:00

So, I'm homeschooling Noah this coming August for 5th grade. He will continue to go to Bethel Elementary to see Mrs. V for reading and spelling. Mrs. V and I will work together on Noah's writing and I'll take care of all of the other subjects. So,... here's what we're doing:

Abeka Math 5
Oak Meadow US History and English
Oak Meadow Science
Shurley Grammer Language Arts
Rosetta Stone Spanish

3rd Annual Camp Beaver Dam Creek

2008-06-10T18:15:00.000-07:00

It's time for our 3rd annual Camp Beaver Dam Creek,..Wednesday June 25th-Sunday June 29th. Get ready for rubber ducky races, (please read the rule sheet that was sent to all campers), tubing down the river, flyfishing, hanging out by the campfire,..not to mention hanging out with friends we haven't seen in a while!! Please RSVP if you haven't done so already. Those attending, so far:

Auggie, Linda, Lauren, the Pup, Caroline (arriving Wednesday evening)
They are currently at Judy's in Savannah hanging out in the pool and shooting pool. Tim has graced them with his company and I am soooo jealous. I wish I could beam myself there (Tim probably knows how I can do that as much Star Trek as he watches)
Jamie and Ryan ( not sure about their arrival)
Reetsie (Luanne and Darby are picking her up from the airport Thurs. AM,..be here Thurs afternoon)
Red and The Girls (hmm,...haven't heard)
Gwen and Jared (will be here Thurs. afternoon with Ava and her 2 children Mary Jude, 12 and Steven, 11.
Lu and Darby (Thurs. afternoon)
JC and Carol (Thurs. evening)
Chip (not gonna make it)
Conrad (seriously working on it)
Butch(will be here Friday - Sunday)
Ted and Whitney (they "say" Saturday,..but I'm gonna work on that too)
Ava, Mary Jude and Steven (be here with Gwen on Thurs. late afternoon)
Don't Forget Your Rubber Duckies!!!!

This week also happens to correlate with this year's Great American Backyard Campout on Saturday, June 28th and our camp is registered.

http://www.nwf.org/backyardcampout/

On Thursday we will be having the Mix, Meet and Mingle Reception which will start after all guests have arrived.

Friday morning, after a healthy breakfast of Luanne's Famous Stuffed French Toast, Blondee will be taking everyone for a tubing adventure down the Watauga River!! That evening we will have a Mountain Barbeque Chicken Dinner. Get some good rest that night because you'll need to get your mojo working for the big contest Saturday evening.

Wake up refreshed Saturday morning after a hearty breakfast of Heuvos Ranchos. The afternoon is do-as-you-please,..and I'm sure Blondee can arrange big plans. Before dinner we'll have our CBDC Rubber Ducky Race!!! Remember the rules,... $3 per duck, maximum of 5 ducks,..only 1 duck under 3" per person,..no motorized duckies. Please bring your own duckies or check with management to be sure we have yours from last year. Good Luck Everyone!!!
That evening we'll have a hearty dinner or Grilled Ribeyes with all the trimmings.

Looking forward to seeing everybody and continue to check-in. Love you all so much.

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