Kids having fun!!!

Kennedy and her blanket

Our favorite furry friend....

It was a sad day on Tuesday, March 6 - we lost our favorite furry friend, Audrey.  She had just celebrated her ninth birthday in February.  She had been sick for awhile and sadly left us to chase butterflies in Kitty Heaven.  Her little liver decided to stop working.  The boys were in school when she passed away and have had a hard couple of days trying to wrap their minds around the fact that she is gone.  The Vet made an imprint of her paw in clay for the kids and they decided they wanted to frame it.  I thought it was a great idea also.  Then Drew and Bry decided a good way to say goodbye would be to let balloons fly into the sky.  So that is what we did.  We all have our moments during the day when our eyes fill up with tears - we know it will get easier - but for now we just miss our furry friend.  She was such an important part of all our lives.  xoxox 

 Our memory frame of Audrey....

 Kennedy looks like she is praying in the picture....she loved her "kitchy".

 Our balloons for Audrey.

 Our friends helped us say goodbye...

 Letting the balloons go!



This and That Photos

 Bryan had "Donuts for Dads" Day at school.  Chad was in California but was able to "attend" via Skype on my iphone!  (I love technology!!)  Bryan ate an extra donut just for Daddy!!

 The kids at Home Depot...they built a race car!  Look closely at Kennedy - she is PROUD of her car! 

Bryan changing his first diaper!  These two have such a special bond!  xoxo

 Our Valentine's Day treats we made for the boy's teachers and friends!  They were YUMMY!!

 Tyler made me a special card in school - he is getting so good at writing his letters!!  Love him!!

 Kennedy showing off her Valentine's Day dress - BEAUTIFUL girl!

 Drew lost another tooth - he has so many missing that he can't eat corn on the cob!!  LOL!!!

Little Ms. Thang thinking she is hiding from Mommy.  Look at her "I am so innocent" face!  She isn't suppose to be in Mommy's bathroom OR playing with my make up bag!  She LOVES lipgloss already and she isn't even two!  We are in T-R-O-U-B-L-E!

Organizing

With a move across country come a lot of organzing!  Organizing the kids, the cars, the house (we have a lot of stuff), and life!  The kids are settling into the routine of  "Daddy comes home every few Fridays and leaves Monday morning".  I won't say it's not hard - on all of us.  Chad always has tears coming down his cheeks Sunday night when he tucks the kids into bed.  Then on Monday morning when I get home from the airport - bright and early - while the kids are getting ready for school I have to answer all their questions of "Why is Daddy gone?".   I try to keep the kids busy the weeks that Chad is gone - it is pretty easy.  Soccer practice, soccer games, school, birthday parties, playing in the 'hood with all their friends, movies and a lot of Dance Party 3 on the wii. 

The relocation company has been wonderful to work with.  They are very helpful in every aspect of the move - helping to sell our house, transport our cars to LA, packing up the house in June and unpacking when the truck gets to LA...ect!  I really like the "packing up the house" part.  Yes, I am going to sit back (with a beer in hand) in my lawn chair outside while the kids play and watch through the windows as 5 people pack my house.  Ahhhhh!!  It will almost feel like a spa day.  Well not quite...which reminds me I need to make an appointment for a little relaxation!!

Chad's truck has already been transported to LA.  He picked it up this past Monday.  He said he put $75 in his tank and still got only 3/4 worth of gas.  Yes, LA gas prices are steep!!  It is only (and I say only lightly) $4.36 in Georgia. 

The kids are starting to get more excited about their move.  They keep talking about the beach, Disney Land, hiking and (hopefully) a pool in their own backyard.  We have decided to rent our house out it Georgia - we would lose way to much if we sold now.  We are also going to rent in California for the first year or two.  Chad is in "charge" of finding us a house in California.  (Good luck Chippy!!) 

We are heading to San Destin for Spring Break in April - our last trip to the Gulf of Mexico for awhile.  We are going with our great friends as a last "hurrah".  After Spring Break school will fly by - the kids are done with school May 25th - then it is off to Cali.  We are hoping to be out there before Kennedy's 2nd birthday which is on June 18th.

Tyler started Pre - K in January

Drew looks handsome in his new glasses....

Kennedy is 18 Months - wow time flies~

A Promotion for Chad and a California Move for the Family

Yep, you read that correctly....we are moving to California!!  Breathe in, breathe out, breathe in, breathe out.  That is what I keep telling myself. 

First off - CONGRATULATIONS to the best man in the World - Chad!!!!  He has worked with Core-Mark Intl. for eleven years.  Eleven years ago he started as a vacation relief sale person....today he is the Division President of the LA division for Core-Mark!!!!  We are so proud of you - hard work and dedication pays off - finally!
Chad is already in LA working and living...the "bachelor" life.  As bachelor as you can get with a wife and four kids back home in Georgia.  The kids and I decided to stay put until June.  We love where we live - our friends, neighborhood and school!  We decided to let the kids finish the school year and then we will move to our new home in California.  It is another dot on the map that we will be laying down roots.  When Chad has a free moment - hopefully weekends - he will go house hunting.  Bryan, Tyler and Drew have requested a pool - so it better have a pool in the backyard.  We are looking in the Southern part of Orange County to live.  Chad will be able to take the metro train to work - save on gas and be able to work on the train.  The boys think that sound pretty good. 
We are so sad to leave Georgia and our amazing friends that we love so much.  But, we are also excited about our new adventure  on the West Coast!  It will be nice to be so close to Montana again!  We have a rare neighborhood that will be so hard to duplicate anywhere else.  We will cherish our MANY memories of Georgia and the people that have a special place in our hearts.  We hope y'all come to visit us in California to help us make new memories.  (and I will never stop saying y'all - it is in my Southern - Northwest - Canadian - West Coast Blood) 

Our elf, Dorm

We adopted Dorm in 2007.  He is a special little elf.  Every year he makes his appearance on Thanksgiving night.  He stays until Christmas Eve when he leaves our house to go back to the North Pole for a VACATION.  Between Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve, Dorm watches over the kids to make sure they are being NICE.  Every evening after we all have gone to bed he flies away to tell Santa how the kids were - Good or Bad!  He then flies back to our home and is in a different spot every morning.  The kids LOVE to wake up EARLY to see where and what Dorm has been up too!  As you can tell from the pictures, Dorm was very hilarious this year!  He colored pictures out of the kids' coloring books, roasted a marshmellow and made a mess out of our kitchen!  On his last night the Adults caught him drinking out of Mommy's wine glass - thank gosh the kids didn't see that!  We love our Elf!