SOMEWHERE OVER THE RAINBOW

Some of us at the DMV decided to use the Wizard of Oz for our Halloween theme this year.

1st NINE WEEKS

On October 30th, Brianna participated in Awards Day at her school. In kindergarten, you only receive awards for attendence. Brianna received an award for having Excellent Attendance. Since it is the end of the 1st nine weeks of school, Brianna was given a report card. However, this report card was not graded. Her teacher instead requested conferences to share with the parents the progress of the students. So far this year, Brianna has learned Personal and Social Growth, and has studied Language Arts, Math, Science, and Social Studies. Mrs. Danner expressed this of Brianna: "Brianna is an ideal student. She is so loving and sweet. She has wonderful behavior and always follows the rules. She is a friend to everyone."

I sure hope these kinds of comments continue for the next 12 years!

BRIAN & BRIANNA CARVE THE PUMPKIN

This year, we used a pumpkin carving kit to help make our jackolantern. Brianna picked out a "Jolly Roger". Brianna helped me clean the pumpkin and then Brian did his best to carve it. He did a really good job!

HALLOWEEN HOOPLA 08'

Saturday was Greer's Annual Halloween Hoopla. Brianna had wanted her friend, Kyleigh, from school to come along with us. And it has been so long since Heather and I have done anything with the kids, I had asked if she wanted to come along as well. I think the kids had a pretty good time and they got lots of good candy. I really enjoyed that! I love looking through Brianna's pumpkin to see what kind of candy I can get from her.

Brianna & Kyleigh

Brianna, Carson, & Ella


I LOVE this picture of Ella!

Me & Brianna(Sure wish I'd wore makeup!)

BOO IN THE ZOO

SCARY ZOMBIE PRINCESS

"WHERE'S THE CANDY?"

MACY AS A CUTE, LITTLE KITTEN.

SKY TOP APPLE ORCHARD-OCTOBER 19 2008

Last Sunday me, Brianna, Momma, Daddy and Granny took a ride to Hendersonville NC to Sky Top Apple Orchard. We had never been there, but it looked like it would be fun. It was a beautiful day and though the leaves on the trees had not completely turned yet, the view from the orchard was just awesome. At Sky Top, you can grab a wagon and some baskets and set off to pick your own apples. They have over 20 different kinds. Brianna had fun looking for the apples and giving them a "taste test" before putting them in her basket. In addition to apple picking, they also have a barn with animals, a hayride, a sugarcane maze, and wonderful apple donuts that are just delicious. Maybe next fall, you guys might want to check it out. Click here to find more details.

WE'VE GOT A SICK CHILD TODAY

I've been up with Brianna since 3 o'clock this morning. She has an ear infection and not just your ordinary plain jane ear infection. It's some kind of "fancy/complicated" kind. She's on an antibiotic, so hopefully she'll be feeling better soon. We were planning on going to the apple farm today, but that got put to the side. We may try going tomorrow if Brianna feels up to it. If not, we will just find the time next weekend to go. We both have just been lying around the house today. Brian is working overtime again. I'm sure when he comes home, he will join me and Brianna on the couch.

CRESTVIEW'S ANNUAL BOOK FLOAT PARADE

Brianna participated in the Book Float Parade today at her school. This is an annual event in which each class picks a book and makes a float associated with the book. Mrs. Danner's class chose the book "Dave Goes To School" written by David Shannon. The float was a school house with Dave in it. All the kids walked behind the float carrying their backpacks and pencils. Brianna wouldn't stop waving at all the spectators. When her eye caught me, she blew me a kiss. I am very grateful that I was able to attend this event.

OUR LITTLE ARTIST

SUP'

I have had a busy week. Brian has been working overtime for the past 3 weeks. So when I get off work, I pick Brianna up from Memorial and rush home to get things done around the house. It's bad enough that Brian is going to work when it's still dark outside and getting home when it's dark outside. I don't want him coming into a CRAZY house too. Heck, I even cut the front yard this week. What about the back yard you ask? Well, I've been meaning to get around to that but have yet to get the chance. By the time I do, I will need a bushwhacker to get the job done! Let me tell you what Brianna has been up to. One day this week she informed me that she had another boyfriend. She said that Chandler wasn't her boyfriend anymore since he doesn't go to her school and he never calls her. The new boyfriend's name is Michael Robbins. She went on and on about how cute he was. Then said she wanted to write him a note. The note ended up with a picture of her in a wedding dress and him with a red bow tie. The note said, "Michael, I'm going to marry you." Wonder what Michael's mom thinks about that. Thursday, her school offered breakfast to the kids and their moms. It was nice getting to visit Brianna's cafeteria and having breakfast with her. She really thought it was cool. I guess my next visit will be for lunch. I think I might wait until they serve pizza though. That was always one of my favorites in school. Uncle Chris came down from Tennessee this weekend. I had to work Saturday, so Brianna spent the morning up at Granny's playing with Chris. It's sweet how much she enjoys playing with him. That brings us to today. We have been looking online for a Halloween costume for 2 weeks now, and during that whole time Brianna wanted to be a vampire. Well last night, she sees a zombie that she wants to be. So we headed out today to look for that costume. We went to Halloween Express, NOPE NOT THERE. Then to Party City, NOPE NOT THERE. Then I tried Target, NOPE NOT THERE. I was about to give up when I decided to swing by that costume shop on Pleasantburg Drive in Greenville. And guess what! YEP, IT WAS THERE. Thank God, because I was running out of energy and gas. There will be a couple opportunities in the next 2 weeks for Brianna to wear it, so I'm sure I will be posting a picture.

All right, that's all time will allow for today. Hope you all have a great week.

3RD ANNUAL TRIP TO DAN NICHOLAS PARK

Brian was supposed to have went with us. This is one of his and Brianna's favorite place. But the week before we left, he found out he had to work. So to keep from cancelling the trip altogether, I called my Momma to see if she wanted to take a ride up to Salisbury NC. We left Friday afternoon and arrived at the park around 3:00. We stayed long enough to enjoy the Gem Mine, riding on the Carousel, and taking a train ride around the park. We then took a walk down to the lake where we enjoyed an icecream treat and fed the ducks. After leaving the park we went to check in at our hotel and as soon as we got in the door, Brianna wanted to play in the pool. I obliged of course. After dinner, we made another trip to the pool and when we woke up the next morning, me made another trip. Don't you all know how AWFUL it is to have to put on a wet swimsuit? Regardless, Brianna had a blast. After breakfast Saturday, we headed back out to Dan Nicholas Park to enjoy another day of fun. They were having an Autumn Jubilee Festival so Brianna got to enjoy having her face painted and painting a pumpkin. We also visited the snake aquarium(one of Brianna's favorite), took a walk through the petting zoo, enjoyed looking at their wildlife exhibit, and taking a quick ride on the paddle boats. I say quick because
1.)My legs were getting very tired and 2.)Brianna was getting hot. Although there was enough to keep us all entertained, I must say everyone's favorite part was the Gem Mine. Brianna loved getting the bucket of sand and sifting through it to fine her treasures. Even my mother got a kick out of it. My favorite park was knowing that although Brianna was missing her dad, I made sure she kept a smile on her face the whole time. Afterall, that was what Brian and I had intended. To learn more about Dan Nicholas Park click here.

ANOTHER FUNNY STORY

This morning, Brianna wanted to have a try at tying her shoes. The conversation went like this:

"Mommy, I've got to tell you something. I made one loop and another one. I found the hole and I put one of the loops thru it. And suddenly, to my surprise, I had tied my shoe!!

I really don't know where she gets this stuff.
Hope ya'l got a kick out of it.

FUNNY TEETH

JUMPING ROPE

Brianna had P.E yesterday at school. She came home to tell me all about jumping rope. She said, "Mommy, I jumped rope today and I was awesome!" I said, "That's great Brianna." She replied, "Yeah, I was THE BOMB!"

THE LAST NIGHT IN THE HOUSE THAT RUTH BUILT:For Brian

The "old" Yankee Stadium saw it's last game Sunday night. It was a night that my husband will not forget. We both spent the evening watching the pregame show in which they paid tribute to the Stadium and to all the players, past and present, that donned the pin striped uniform. We are very fortunate that we got to attend games here.

Monument Park at Yankee Stadium

CARSON'S 6TH BIRTHDAY

Carson had his party at the YMCA today. I was a little apprehensive about the whole idea. I was so scared that Brianna wouldn't want to get in the water without me. But guess what! That little booger ain't scared of nothing!!!! After a few minutes of getting used to the idea, she jumped right in (with a life preserver of course). Boy was I excited, I really didn't want to have to put a bathing suit on. You all know how it is, your figure isn't as cute as it was when you were 18. Anyway, Brianna had a blast and Carson seemed to enjoy playing with all his friends and opening his presents. Thanks Heather!

TYING SHOES

Brianna is learning to tie her shoes. I haven't forced the issue on her. The only thing that I've done is supplied her with a Scholastic book that shows you ways to tie. She occasionally picks up the book and fiddles with it, until she gets mad and aggravated. Then she throws it down. This behavior reminds me of when I was her age, I did the exact same thing. Anyway, so this morning she asked me could she have her book so she could practice tying. After about 5 minutes she said, "Look, I did it!" She was just so very proud of her self. She said, "I knew I could do it." I did too. It just had to be at her own pace. But she hasn't mastered this new craft completely. She untied it to try again and wasn't as lucky that time. Regardless, it is good to see that if she sets her mind to doing something, she will get it done.

HELLO MY BLOGGING FRIENDS

I know it has been awhile. I have just been way too busy. We have been working really hard on getting Brianna's bedroom finished. I just got done. Thank goodness! Now we can finally move all her things back into the room and I can get my bedroom clean. The only thing that we have left to do is to put trim up around the windows. Lets see, what else has been going on? Well, I've been reading a book. Sherry gave it to me to read this week. I told her I didn't have time to read, but she said to make the time. She said that once I started to read it, the story would draw me in and I wouldn't want to put it down. She was right. The name of the book is Twilight by Stephenie Meyer. It is the 1st book in a series of 4 and they are making a movie based on the book. I can't wait to start on the 2nd book now. I took Brianna today to see about signing up for Girl Scouts. I was under the impression that I would go and sign her up for a troop and that was that. WRONG!! There is no troop, that is what we were there for. Needless to say, troop leaders are needed. I just don't know if I'm up for that type of dedication. Maybe co-leader...who knows. I guess we will just have to see. Brianna is very excited about it though. That's it. That's all I have to write about at this point in time. Hope you all are taking care!