Weekend Wrap Up

It has been a busy past two weeks for us. Two weeks ago, I was busy with doing home visits on all my kids. We had to go out and visit the homes and bring each child their report card. So that tied up all my free time after school. Then, last weekend we went to the mountains. Which we greatly enjoyed. This week, even though it was a 4 day week, it was busy. This coming week will be a busy week for Kevin. The first set of two chicken houses will go out of chickens tomorrow night, and the fun clean-out process will begin. It will be six weeks before chickens go back into those houses. The other two houses will be pulled closer to Thanksgiving time. This weekend, my parents came down on Saturday. My mom worked very hard in my house cleaning and cooking. She cooked two great meals with left-overs, my favorite! But she really did a lot of cleaning, I can't use cleaning products due to the strong smells, and so things had not gotten done since the last time they were here. I can straighten up things and clean some, but not a whole lot. My dad also did his part in cleaning too. Kevin and I both really appreciated all there help. We asked them to come back next weekend, but we know they can't. My mom said that she would love to help more, but with living 3 hours away, that is hard to do. However, we are so grateful for the help we got. Now,hopefully we can keep things clean since they are now clean. Katelyn brought Hunter by today to see my mom and dad. He is now a month old. Today was his first day wearing some "big" boy clothes. He is starting to out grow some of his newborn clothes. Now that it's almost evening, the house is all clean, meals cooked, school work done, it's time to enjoy what little hours are left before bed time. So, let the weekend finally begin. We do have this Tuesday off due to Election Day, so that will be nice to just work tomorrow, have a day off, and then work 3 days and be off again. My plan is to go out and do some more Christmas shopping Tuesday morning and then take the kitten to the vet Tuesday afternoon. Last Monday, I was able to get Christmas presents for all my nieces and nephews so that was a lot to mark off my list. Hopefully, I will have success again this Tuesday. I was 18 weeks as of yesterday and I am beginning my 5th month. I am starting to show a little bit, at least that's what people at school and family tell me. I can't wait until Nov. 11th when we get to go back to the doctor and find out what it will be. I can't believe it is already the last day of October. When I wake up tomorrow it will be November 1st. Time has gone by so fast this school year. But I am so glad. Its been tough lately at school. But it's getting exciting as it gets closer towards the holiday season. I just love the cooler weather, getting to snuggle up by a fire, wearing warm sweaters, the smells in the air and around places, the holiday music ( and yes I admit, I have already been listening to Christmas music-it just makes me smile and feel at peace and happy). I am so tired of this hot and muggy weather and this back and forth buisness. I want it to stay cold and I so want to see snow again this coming year. I don't know if that will happen, but it was a blast and so pretty last year. Even if we don't get as much, maybe we will get a little. That is always my Christmas wish. Well, I'll post again Tuesday, once I know if our kitten will stay a girl or become a boy, it's so hard to tell on cats.

Hunter and his "favorite" Aunt Jill.

Meet Roxy

Last week, Mrs. Katie (Kevin's mom) had a mama cat that had 4 kittens under her back porch. My niece Kayla got one kitten and last Monday, I brought home the other kitten. We have had a trial week seeing how Abby and the kitten would get along. The first day I brought it home, Abby licked it to death and tried to pick it up and carry it around, but I wouldn't allow her to do that. For the most part, Abby and the kitten are getting along fine, so we decided to keep it. We think the kitten is a girl, so her name is Roxy. I am taking the kitten to the vet this coming Tuesday and if Roxy turns out to be a boy, then his name will be Rocky. (I will let you know). The kitten is use to it's new home and loves to run and play in the den and kitchen. We keep the doors shut to the other rooms. It has taken over Abby's cage (which I know Abby is glad of that) and sleeps in there during the night and stays in their on our porch during the day. The kitten is just precious and we all have gotten attached to it. It will hide and try to jump out at Abby and wants to play with her. Sometimes Abby will pay it attention and sometimes she gets a little too rough. However, there are still some things that Abby is willing to share with her, like her toys (which I don't blame her) and she doesn't like it when we hold the kitten. All and all I have been very proud of Abby for her adjusting to this little one. Kevin and I thought this might give Abby someone to play with and a chance for her to get use to "someone" new coming into her house. After all, in a few months, she will have another change.

This was the first day the kitten came home.


As you can see, the kitten looks wet and it is...due to Abby constantly licking it.


It had a lot of fun playing on Kevin's sleeping bag.


I found a piece of ribbon for it to play with.


Then the kitten got sleepy.



It likes to curl up on the couch in the pillows and take a nap.

Bryson City, NC

When Kevin and I found out that I was pregnant, we decided that we needed to plan a weekend getaway, just the two of us before the baby comes and while I feel good. Last January we went snow skiing, we knew that was out this year. We also knew that we couldn't take a spring trip since I'm due in the spring, so a fall trip was decided. We chose the weekend of Oct. 22nd-24th. We decided on Bryson City, NC to go visit the mountains and ride the train. The last time I went there, it was 14 years ago with my parents, my uncle Keith, and my aunt Felicia. Which funny thing, Felicia was pregnant with my cousin Emily at the time.

Friday, October 22nd: We pulled out of our driveway at 6:00 am. (We had a 5 hour drive and Kevin wanted to start early to get it over with and that way we could have most of the day to walk around, not spend it driving). Kevin was surprised at how easily I got up that morning, but I told him it was because I knew I was going to school. (I had taken the day off). About 10:00 am we realized that we were going to be getting to Bryson City way too early. We couldn't check in until 3:00 that afternoon. We needed something to do to take up some time, so we decided to detour through Maggie Valley and go to Cherokee. It had been a long time since either of us had been to Cherokee. It didn't seem like much had changed. We went into some shops, but after the first two shops, you saw the same things over and over. We decided to get lunch from Backyard Burger and took our lunch down near the river. There were many geese and ducks in the river. It was fun to watch them, because they really looked like they were enjoying themselves. They would twist and turn down the river. After we finished our lunch we walked along the river for a little while. Then I saw something that I was not expecting. I heard all this noise and looked up and what do I see coming across the bridge to the park to eat lunch, a group of about 40-50 school kids. I was was like oh no, I thought I left that far behind me. They looked to be about 3rd grade age and were eating lunch on their field trip. So, that was kind of funny. We left Cherokee and headed to Bryson City about a 10 minute drive. We checked in to a very nice room. I took a nap and Kevin watched some TV and napped too. We at dinner at the Fryemont Inn. We sat by the fire place and enjoyed a dinner of bread, vegetable soup, salad for me, fruit for Kevin, lemon herb chicken for me, steak for Kevin, and mac 'n' cheese, Lima beans, cinnamon apples and to top it off for desert hot fudge cake with ice cream and whipped cream for me and a cookie pie with ice cream and whipped cream for Kevin. We really enjoyed our dinner! So delicious and so much food! Then we found were to go for the train to ride the next morning and headed back to our room.

Cherokee, NC

Saturday, October 23rd: We got up at 7:00 am to eat breakfast at 7:30. We were going to ride the train and the train was pulling out at 9:00, so we had to eat and get downtown which took all of 2 minutes, but we had to pick up our tickets. Anyway, we had another delicious meal; scrambled eggs, sausage, hash brown casserole (that tasted like my aunt Ann's), biscuit, and juice. Kevin dropped me off at the depot and went to park. It took a few minutes to find the correct line I had to be in to pick up the tickets. Then I waited and waited on Kevin. They told me they would board the train at 8:45. It had been long enough I thought for Kevin to park and get back to me. I was starting to get worried. Finally, I see Kevin coming. He had to pay to park and I had all the money with me, so he had to go to the bank to get some cash. We got on the train and started our journey to through the Nantahala Gorge on the Great Smoky Mountain Railroad. (http://www.gsmr.com/). It was 34 degrees that morning and we were thankful that we had an inside car. I know those that rode in the open air car, were very cold. The sights were very beautiful with the fall colors in the leaves. We stopped half way through our ride for lunch. Kevin and I had pre-ordered a meal ticket through the train, so we each got a hamburger (which you fix yourselves) a large drink, large bag of chips, and a cookie. We took a lunch and found a nice, quiet spot by the river looking at a waterfall. It was so peacefully. After our hour lunch break, we boarded the train and headed back. By this time it was warmer out and so we rode on one of the outside cars. You can take better pictures and see a lot more on the outside cars. We both really enjoyed our ride. When we returned we visited the train museum-they gave you free passes for ordering train tickets, then we headed back to our room. Where I took a nap and Kevin watched a football game. We went downtown for dinner. We first walked around and went in a few shops, then ate at a local place called "Jimmy's Mac" for dinner. Kevin had steak and fresh mountain trout and I had a baked potato. For some reason as soon as we sat down, I nausea feeling and knew I couldn't eat much. Kevin said the trout was the best he had ever had. Then we went into one more shop and headed back to our room.

Our train ride on the Great Smoky Mountain Railroad

Sunday, October 24th: We slept a little bit later this morning, we ate breakfast at 8:00 instead of 7:30. Once again we had another delicious meal of a Belgian waffle with bananas, pecans, whipped cream and bacon. Which Kevin ended up having two waffles, with juice and I had hot chocolate this morning. We said good-bye and checked out of our place. Saturday night, the last shop we went in, the lady told us about a waterfall to go see. So, after we checked out we went to find this waterfall. We found the pull off for the waterfall and you had to do a little hiking. It wasn't too bad of a hike, but due to this little one I'm now carrying I did have to stop some along the way. The waterfall was very pretty and we had it all to ourselves. We were glad the lady had told us about it. After spending a few minutes enjoying the beauty, we headed back down. It was pretty walking through the woods. The leaves were falling all around us and it was like you were in a snow globe. Once we got back to the car, we headed out of town and back down the mountains home.

Trail to the Juney Whank Falls

Kevin and I had an absolutely wonderful time. The weather was perfect, the views were awesome, we enjoyed getting away and spending some time together, just us. It was a very stress-free and relaxing weekend. We both said that so far this was the most enjoying weekend away that we have had. Our other trips had been nice and fun, but this was just so relaxing and peaceful. For those of you that have never been to Bryson City, you need to take the time to go. Those of you that have kids, they would love the train. They do a pumpkin patch trip with Snoopy and the Peanuts gain through October. They also do a Polar Express train ride November through December, where the kids wear their pjs, and it's like the book and movie and at the end, they get to meet Santa. If you want to visit in the summer, you can tube or go white water rafting down the Nantahala river.

Here is a slideshow of some more pictures from our weekend

Make your own picture slideshow

Congratulations, Tim and Amanda!

My cousin Tim, proposed to his girlfriend, Amanda, last Friday, October 8th. Tim and Amanda have been together coming up on five years I think. They had gone to the beach for the weekend and Tim proposed on the beach and of course Amanda said yes. They haven't set a date yet, but it could be around this time next year. However, the location will be at the beach. They haven't decided which beach and I don't know if it will be like at a resort or actually on the beach. Amanda loves the beach and has always wanted to get married on the beach. She has talked about it since I got engaged and probably even before that. We wish them all the best! (The only picture I had of both of them was from our wedding).

15 Week Check Up

Yesterday, I had my 15 week check up. I was in and out of the doctor's office in like 10 minutes. They checked the basic stuff and we got to listen to the heart beat. It was 158, which the doctor said between 120 and 160 was good. I've heard that the faster the heart beat, means it could be a girl. I go back in 4 weeks, November 11th for my next appointment. They will do an ultrasound then and hopefully the baby will corporate and we will get to find out if we are having a girl or a boy. I am feeling pretty good these days. I still can get tired easily if I do too much and I can bring on the nausea if I wait too late to eat or eat the wrong thing. However, things are going pretty well. I'm excited about the next visit, not so much that we will get to find out what we are having,but to get to see the baby again. It was very reassuring to hear that heart beat yesterday. I'm over the first trimester symptoms, I'm not really showing yet, it's too early to feel the baby move, so I'm almost feeling normal. Wondering if there really is a baby in their after all? Knowing there is, but you understand what I'm saying.


15 weeks and 1 day: Sunday, October 10, 2010

Hunter

This afternoon, Kevin and I went over to visit our new nephew, Hunter. We both got to hold him and see the completed nursery. He was awake at first, but then fell asleep. He has changed from when we saw him in the hospital. He is still as cute as can be. He is doing very well and so is mom and dad. So far, he has been sleeping great through the night and has been a great baby. I know Katelyn and Ryan feel they have been very blessed with a very precious gift.

Here are a few pictures from today.

Hunter and his "Super" Uncle Kevin. There's no point in trying to fight Kevin on who will hold the baby first. He always wins. He got to hold him twice and really didn't like sharing with me.

Kevin couldn't even let me and Hunter have a picture just the two of us.

Hunter's room has a firefighting theme as you can tell. Ryan is a firefighter and works in Charleston and then volunteers around here. So once they found out it was a boy, there was no more deciding on how the nursery would be decorated. I only hope he likes firefighting just like his dad!

This little guy has so many clothes!