Randomness...

Sometimes I look at my Picasa camera roll and realize I have these random photos I've snapped of our "life."  They don't fit neatly into a properly titled blog post, yet they are memories of everyday life with my little people.  Cute pictures, of cute kids, doing cute things.  Hence, random cuteness...

 Feeding Lady while Granddaddy and Sisty are out of town.

The cuteness of this picture was short lived.  It lasted right up until Dr. Fowler walked into the exam room for her 3 month post-op check.  I held her squirmy, squealing head still just long enough for him to determine that YES the tubes were still in her ears!  More so than the fact that we paid $2500 for those bless-ed tubes, is the fact that we don't have to see that terrifying (yet very nice) man wearing the head light again anytime soon.  I don't think either of them could've stood it.

We took Trace to his first high school football game.  It was homecoming at CCS, and while the team is pretty pitiful, :(  Trace had a absolute ball running and play.  He never saw a play of the game.
Not. even. one.

"Oh, you mean I'm not supposed to be playing on the laptop???"  I've said before, when she does finally say her name, it's gonna come out "No Ma'am" because that's how she's most often addressed.

"Well, since I've already plucked off the control, shift and enter key, I'll just finish up this email and be done." 

We had the Dishmon's over to watch the UT game, and while we were enthralled in learning to make caramel apples for Trace's fall party at school (which I totally nixed by the way) someone had a hard time keeping her pants on...

Kids these days.  They'll do anything to get attention.

Daddy didn't think it was all that cute.

If you can't go to the ocean, bring the ocean to the tub...

Tinker toys at the Creative Discovery Museum...

Another football game at the Coffelts with all the kiddos.  GBO!!

Not one of my finer moments as a mother.  But as I was trying to pack for Disney, Keatyn was getting things out of the suitcase at a quicker rate than I was putting them in.  She finally grew bored of that and crawled into the tub.  Next thing I knew the water was on and she was soaked, but she entertained herself for 30 whole minutes while I finished packing. 

Sometimes it's totally worth the clean up!

I absolutely adore these two!!  Keatyn is so crazy about her Nanny (and I think the feeling is mutual.) 

You probably can't tell from the picture, but the fact that she only has one pigtail and no glitter on the toes of her Princess shoes tells the story of my life and adequately explains her personality.  MY HANDS ARE FULL!!

But full of random, and wonderful cuteness :)

For the Girls II

So I seriously, SERIOUSLY dropped the ball on the Susan G. Komen walk this year.  Planning our extravaganza to meet Mickey was just all I could handle at one time.  Yes, I got continuous emails about the walk, yet that didn't seem to jog my daily memory to send an email, create a team, make t-shirts or register.

A week or so before the walk, my Aunt Gail texted me to ask if we were walking "For the Girls" this year.  Yes, of course we are!!  We will always walk For the Girls!!! 

 Dad lost a very close friend and colleague this summer and walked proudly in memory of Marie and in honor of my amazing Mama, both of my grandmothers and countless others! 

So, our little team commenced with our left over sign from last year and our t-shirts bearing the year 2011. But, we were there!

Next year, I vow to do better and to grow our team and the support for this amazing cause!

FIGHT LIKE A GIRL!!!

Needy female???

Someone really misses Trace when he's at school all day.

Like a typical male, he just wants a few minutes of solitude in front of the boob tube when he gets home from a grueling day of Kindergarten.  But Keatyn has other plans for him. (Notice the remote, that was once in his hand, now in the floor.)

Can't you just hear it...

"Talk to me!"

"Look at me!"

"Paaayyy atttttteeeeention to ME!"

Who knew it started this early???

And then... sweet victory!!

Son, you will get through adulthood much easier, if you just accept this little fact about women now, and learn to embrace it.

See... having a sister can teach you many valuable life lessons. (At least that's what I always told my brother.)

First and Finest

This summer, the Beta Beta chapter opened the new sorority house on campus.  Our old house was bought by UTC and will eventually be torn down (I think) to become a parking lot for the new library.  It's so sad to think of all the hours I spent in that house and all the memories made there.  But the new house is absolutely BEAUTIFUL and a few of us got to go down for a sneak peek!

My sorority was such a HUGE part of my college years.  I was very active and honestly, most of my best friends to this day are my sorority sisters.  I don't know what my life would be like without them.

 Since I graduated, I've not really been active in the alumni chapter and I regret it.  Life just gets busy.  I was teaching, getting my masters, then married Jimmy and had babies.  It just seemed to fall by the way side.  Jimmy, not having been in a fraternity, was always supportive if I ever wanted to do something sorority related, but just didn't "get it."  But I would love to get more involved one of these days when life slows down ;)

I'll admit, I secretly hope that my little legacy will become an ADPi and may actually live in that house.  Of course, I'll have to invest in steel bars for the windows and a security guard (it's not in my favorite part of town) but I would love to share that with her one day! 

Day 6- Disney (Homeward Bound)

Well, eventually all the magic must come to an end.  Although, not all the magic ended, because look who slept all the way from Orlando to Atlanta!!!
Thank you again, Benedryl.

And while I realize this is a horrifically unflattering picture of me (and it appears I may be nursing my child on an airplane. I assure you, I am not)  I wasn't about to budge that baby an inch to reposition my top, thus showing everyone on board just how flat chested one can become after breastfeeding 2 children.

It was worth it kids.  And you're welcome.

Papaw did the honors, yet again, of hauling us all to the airport, saving us a ton of travel time and numerous bus changes and stops.  He even brought our luggage home in their car the next day and saved us $50 in baggage fees.  I came home with NO dirty clothes, for a magical 24 hours... it was divine!

(But again, the magic has to end.  To the tune of 6 loads of laundry.)

Our flight home was SO much better than the trip down.  No storms, everything was on time, plenty of time to eat lunch in the Atlanta airport, potty and get to our gate.  We even landed in Chattanooga about 15 minutes before we were scheduled.  Perfection!!  AND without luggage we simply walked off the plane, found our car (that Uncle Andy and Aunt Kadi so sweetly dropped off that morning) and were on our way home sweet home!

I learned a little trick when traveling with a toddler.  The airlines claim it's helpful to let parents with "infants in arms" board first.  However, I learned after our first leg of the flight going down, that just means you are wrestling with your precious "infant in arms" in a confined, very hot airplane for an extra 25 minutes while the rest of the plane boards.  So I let my little bundle of energy joy run like a wild banchee around the airport until the last possible second and then boarded. I'll take my chances with the overhead bins being full and having to put my carry-ons under my seat.  Much less stressful for all.

I don't think I've every been prouder of this guy.  He was such a sweet and gracious little traveler.  While we heard other kids melting down all around us (especially when we circled above Orlando for hours) his behavior and manners impressed me so much.  I'd take him to Disney World any day!  He certainly earned his wings...

And Sassy did too.  Thanks to a couple doses of Benadryl, a few boxes of raisins, several baggies of Goldfish, a couple snack bags of M&Ms ... etc... etc...

It was a fantastic trip!  Again, I repeat.

WE COULD NOT HAVE DONE THIS WITHOUT THE GRANDPARENTS... THANK YOU!!!

When we go back, it will probably be without strollers and nap times and that will make it a little easier, but I wouldn't change a thing about our first adventure.  And I'm so grateful we got to share it with Sisty, Granddaddy, Nana and Papaw!  We love you so much!!

Till next time Mickey...   :)

Day 5- Disney (Hollywood Studios and 50's Primetime Cafe

Last day...

 We spent our final day in Hollywood Studios.

I had been told by all my Disney going friends to go straight to Toy Story Mania in the very back and get a fast pass.  So the minute we arrived, I drug everyone along while I meandered my way through this park I'd never been in to find THE ride.

It was 10:00 when we got there, the ride already had a 75 minute wait and the fast passes were for 5:30 that night!  WHAT???  No way was this group going to make it til 5:30, and no way were these parent's going to wait in line for an hour and 15 minutes.

Lucky for us, Trace had no idea what he was missing, had heard nothing about it, and didn't seem to be bothered at all that we walked away, defeated.  (I realize I won't always have that luxury)  We took advantage of the fact that he was completely distracted by one of the 20 gift shops outside the ride and moved on to Plan B.  I was much more disappointed than he was. :(

This lady did his Spiderman face in less than 5 minutes.  It looked amazing and stayed on all day.

Onto the rides...
Mom and dad took Keatyn to see Beauty and the Beast, which they said was unbelievable, while Jimmy, Trace and I hit Rock-n Roller Coaster and Tower of Terror. 

I was seriously impressed with my boy's guts.  He was willing to ride anything once, even when we warned him about how loud and fast they might be.  Since we'd never been there either, we could only go on the "reputations" that proceeded these rides.  A little scary, when you're putting your baby on them.

Aerosmith's Rock-n-Roller Coaster

He was pumped!

That was the first ride where I couldn't look at his face and see if he was OK.  I was a nervous wreck the whole time that he was terrified and forever scarred.  It was SO fast and SOOOO loud.  I just kept squeezing his leg, trying to comfort him.  But when it stopped, I realized I was holding on to his leg to comfort myself, all I heard was him laughing.  Then I saw this picture...

He loved it!

Then on to Tower of Terror.  Notice where his fingers were... ha!  I'm certain that's where they would have been in Rock-n-Roller Coaster too, if the G-force had allowed his little arms to move.

After those two big ones, we rode Star Wars and Jimmy and I nearly lost our lunch.  We had just come off the fastest roller coasters in the park and I about puked in the 3-D simulator.  But luckily... the force was with me. :)

For lunch, we ate at the 50's Prime Time Cafe.  It's a throwback to the 1950's where the waiters actually fuss at you for putting your elbows on the tables and it's good ole fashion cooking like fried chicken and meatloaf.  I thought my parents would love it!

But they slept through the whole thing...  :)

Missing Ginger...

A PB&J milkshake to share...

After a HUGE meal, they brought out 2 of these.  Again... gotta love the free meal plan!

I asked Trace after lunch if he wanted to stay and do Disney Jr. Live and a few other things I'd been told to see OR go back to the hotel and swim.  Pool it was.  I tried not to think about all the money we had spent on park passes, in order to go back and swim (like we could be doing in Chattanooga FOR FREE.)  But by this point, everyone was tired!  So we called it a day. 

Disney was officially over.  Some of us were relieved...

We hit the beloved pirate pool for the last time.

A little sibling love...

Oh, my heart!

That night, Trace wanted to go back to Nana and Papaw's hotel and spend the night, so we headed to Shutters again to eat.  Our last free meal... we made it a good one!

Keatyn's plate.

A little (could have used 3) treat for mommy...

That night, they curled up in the bed and watched some of the Auburn game before falling asleep.

Heading home tomorrow.  Bye-bye Mickey!