New find

I was introduced to a great new blog today!

 I can not believe how much I relate to this girl.
Do you ever read about someone or hear stories and think, dang, we would so totally be friends in real life?
This girl is that person.

Check her out.  Jamie .

Not so sweet.

My "sweet" birthday boy from yesterday has not been so sweet today! He and Grace have been arguing and agravating each other all morning.

Don't get me wrong. I still like that they are home because that means sleeping in and having fun times with them!

Here are a few pics from Marcus' birthday dinner last night. I made spaghetti, his favorite. Then made a small cake for him.

Cars from Grandfather and Hermie video from Aunt Kimmie

Typical Marcus and his cars

What a Blessing!

Over ten years ago Jason and I decided we would like to have another child. After one month of throwing out the birth control, I was pregnant with Marcus. We were excited and especially thrilled when we found out we were having a boy, after having Grace already. These last ten years have been a blessing and never boring!

 I had a normal pregnancy and delivery with Marcus. At around three months we knew something was not right as Marcus' muscles were extremely weak and he was like a rag doll. The doctors were concerned about his rapid head growth. Three years later and lots of tests, MRI's, cat scans and a muscle biopsy, Marcus was diagnosed with Bannayan Riley Ruvalcaba syndrome. This has been a whole different world than what we expected with a boy. Marcus is about on a K level overall. He is not active in sports like most boys his age. He is in therapy bi weekly and  has been in therapy up to three times a week at times since he was eleven months.

I cannot imagine Marcus any other way! He is ALWAYS happy and loves everybody! We are so blessed and grateful to have Marcus entrusted to us for his time on earth.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO OUR SWEET MARCUS!!

HE LOVED SNORKELING IN THE BAHAMAS THIS YEAR

WIND BLOWN HAIR

AT THREE YEARS. YOU CAN TELL THE MAIN VISIBLE SYMPTOM, HIS ENLARGED HEAD. HE IS GROWING INTO IT NOW.

MARCUS AND UNCLE TERRY AT TERRY'S WEDDING!

Merry Christmas from the Coles

Here is wishing your family a very Merry Christmas!

Grace crocheting!

Grace is learning to crochet!

a little can be more...

I am seriously considering a post with before and after pictures, of me, without and with make up.

Because OMG….what a difference it makes!

Blooper

I was so excited about getting our Christmas cards this week. I know I waited till the last minute. I don't know why I seem to work better under pressure! The pictures turned out great. They were a…

Sorry, I got distracted by Granny telling Grace her cap (that she is crocheting) looks like a titty. Yes, that is Granny for you.

Back to the point.

I couldn't wait for my cards to arrive this week. Only to open them and find I missspelled San Francisco. I spelled it San Fransisco. I cannot believe I did that! I am trying really hard not to worry about it. I joked around that most of my friends and family are from the South and probably won't even notice! HA! My dear friend Juanita, who is writing a book and gifted in editing, let me know "darling, that is how God keeps us humble." I laughed.

Isn't that the truth!

Long week

It has been a long, but not long enough, week here at the Cole house. My Grandmother passed away last Monday, after a a few long years of liver failure and lung cancer. She was a legend in my eyes. The epitome of class. I will always remember her being the most classiest lady I knew.

With her passing all of her four children (my Father and Uncles and Aunt) and their families gathered around to celebrate her life. Four families ended up including 18 grandchildren and 7 great-grandchildren. We had a lot of people in town this weekend from Israel, Germany and across the state and Atlanta areas. Who knows when we will all be together again, but it was a bittersweet gathering. I truly love my family with all my heart.

I know my Grandmother is so proud of the legacy she left: we certainly are.

Marcus and Grandfather

My mom hearing that Terry and Aunna are pregnant.

Part of family at my Uncle's house

More of family

Aunt, Sister in Law, Sister, myself, and Sister

Little Tori, the 5th addition to my Uncle and Aunt

Beautiful Cousins

Rachel popping….stuff.

My brother and Kimmie embarassing cousin Russ!

Several things.

1) My friend is in NYC visiting her friend this weekend. Did I mention how jealous I am in my last post? HA. It did happen to bring back some great memories. My mother worked for the airlines when I was younger. I think around 5th grade to high school. Living close the Nashville Airport, my father would take us girls on dates via plane. We would leave early Saturday morning and fly to NYC and shop for the day. FAO Schwartz was the best toy store ever. We would spend the day together and fly back that night. Those are some times I will never forget. Also one of the reasons I have seriously considered a job as a flight attendant.

2) I went to the Dermatologist this week. I have had some serious breakout problems. I am 32 years old and this should not be happening. His only explanation was that being in school again and having a big change to full time student has caused higher stress levels. I tried to explain that I don't "feel" stressed. I got antibiotics, lotions, washes and lots of other things. Hopefully this will clear up quickly! It is not fun!

3) I can't wait to order my Christmas cards this week. I am running way behind because I have not had a chance to take some pictures of the kids. I am taking them to two different places today and hope to get some good shots. Then the decision of ordering what card. When I think I know what I want, I change my mind.

4) I watched a video this week about the Christians job to take care of the orphans. I have always been supportive of adoption. I also have never thought much about it, except when I hear others speak of it and I am always excited for them. It is hard to attend church every week and not think about it. Our church is HUGE on adoption. However that may be for you. There are many different ways of helping the orphans. It doesn't mean that I HAVE to adopt. While I would love to, Jason does not feel the same. Because it has been heavy on my heart I am really praying for a mind change of either him or myself. Maybe you can pray for this with me. It is burdensome to have something so heavy on your heart but not be able to do anything about it.

Finally got the tree up! Woo Hoo!
Pics will follow later.

PS. I have been participating in Clemsongirl's Christmas Swap the past couple of  years. She pairs you up with another blogger and you basically send a Christmas package. I got mine in the mail this week from Jen and loved it all. I am not a big fan of dark chocolate, but when paired with nuts and toffee…oh my goodness! Lets just say I bought a scale last night and weighed this morning. It is going to be my new Sunday morning thing. I have got to get control over this food stuff! Thanks so much Jen for everything! I loved it all!

Calgon Take Me Away

I got no pictures today.

HA! Did that make you laugh? I hope so because that is certainly not how I talk…or write!

I have been working a lot this week on a research paper I have due in a couple of weeks. The paper is not so much the problem. Turning in all the notes, in the correct, highlighted form is what is stressing me out. It doesn't help that this is from my only online class; which I am happy to report that I will not have to take next semester. I lucked out and got all my classes on campus and during the kid's school hours.

I am done next week with classes. I am pretty excited to have a break and be able to get some things done around the house, like decorating for Christmas. We haven't done any decorating yet. We haven't even opened the attic to get the boxes down. My dream garage will have shelves lining the walls so I can store all that kind of matter in there. It makes it so much easier to get to.

Life is still hectic and I can't tell you the last time I had a "quiet time." I don't mean just reading my Bible or praying; I mean a real quiet time to just be still.  My friend Angela and I were talking yesterday about her upcoming leisure trip to New York. She is going alone to visit her best friend, for 4 days, alone. Did I mention ALONE,  as in, without her 3 year old and 9 month old. Can you tell I am excited for her? She mentioned one of the things she is most looking forward to is sitting on a plane for two hours with uninterrupted reading. I can totally relate to that. For once I didn't have to wait as long as I usually do at the Dermatologist clinic today. I had my book - that I cannot put down - and I was ready to read. I maybe got three pages read, ugh.

Such is life, right? What do you do to "get away" but not really away. Yes, like the silly commercial used to say, "Calgon take me away."

If only it were true, just for a minute, right?

Shutterfly Christmas

I was looking at this card today and love the idea.

 I typically like letters at Christmas to get caught up on other's lives and fill family and friends in on ours.  I remember my mother and father always made Christmas letters. I loved that each of us kids had our own short paragraph that was all about us! I have tried to do letters the past several years and usually send along a photo in the envelope. I love that this card does both with the letter and the pictures!

I found this card on Shutterfly and thought it was a great idea. I can't wait to take some candid pictures of the kids this next week to create our card!

You can go here (www.shutterfly.com)  to shop for all kinds of photo gifts for any occasion. I also got a cute birthday invitation in the mail this week from Shutterfly!

If you are looking now for some great Christmas cards…go here.

For calendar gifts, another great gift idea for family, go here.

Thanks Shutterfly for giving lots of choices, great quality and the newest styles!

Shutterfly Deal!

I am not one for spending lots of money on Christmas cards.

Don't get me wrong, I love receiving and preparing our own family's cards, but I do not spend lots of money on them. Honestly, I usually buy them after Christmas for the next year and pay very little because they are on clearance!

Shutterfly has an awesome deal going on for bloggers. Go here and see about how you can receive 50 free cards! I have heard they are the better quality cards, not just the cheap, glossy ones, which I have done before too!

Here are some of my favorites!

I love this letter idea!

All the things...

I think of during the day (to write about) when I don't have time to blog.

I think I am seriously going to start making notes on my phone to remind me….you do that right?

Yum.

I like dill pickles. Buy I LOVE bread and butter pickles!

Don't laugh...

 but my brother and his new wife just had their two month anniversary. I say don't laugh because when you are no longer newlyweds, it's easy to chuckle about such a short amount of time. Unless of course you are married to a romantic who still insist on flowers, sweet notes and celebrating weeks and months of being together. If you are married to one of these, don't comment. HA!

Marcus and Aunt Aunna

The clan. Marcus was too hot for his suit coat.

Terry thought he would surprise Aunna with something sweet and inexpensive, as they are moving in a couple of weeks and we all know the cost involved with Uhauls, deposits and so on. He, with a little help of myself, came up with the idea to have Grace and Marcus dress up and wait on them in the dining room with a candlelit dinner. 

I cooked one of Terry's favorite, gnocchi soup that he loves so much and Aunna's favorite, brownies.  

I think we pulled it off fine. The kids seemed to enjoy it. 

Reminiscing

I am trying to get some emotions out this morning. You know, crying.

My Grandmother is not doing so well. I am not so sad that my Grandmother is leaving this earth, I am more sad that a whole part of my life is ending.  ETA: I just realized while rereading that this part sounded really crude. I said the above because my Grandparents were married for 55+ years when my Grandfather died. She wanted nothing more than to join him in heaven. She had a very hard grieving time. Hope that clarifies the above!

Many of us have wonderful childhood memories. Some might have not so wonderful memories. Mine were mostly wonderful, up to my senior year in high school when I became a different person. Not that I don't have good memories, I have some great memories. I also have some not so great. Think, too much alcohol, amongst other things, cop cars and getting kicked out of the house. Yeah, some not so great decisions that I made. I also know I am the only person in the world that has made bad decisions right? NOT. It is all a part of learning. I still laugh when I hear adults try and tell younger kids to just "take my word, learn from my experience." HA…it's so comical now because teens and young adults really do know it all! Yeah right. 

Back to the point. I have awesome memories of my Grandmother and Grandfathers place. They lived next door for most of my school years. They had a nice big place with a pool, tennis courts, stables and horses, and of course, Mod, the donkey.  My Grandfather often took me to work up the street at McDonalds when I turned 15. My Grandmother took each of us girls shopping every Easter for a new dress. Every Christmas all the kids, their four children, their spouses and the grandkids would gather at their house on Christmas Eve. My Grandfather usually made something, whether it be a shelf, a bench or a small chair to hold the porcelan  doll all of us girls got one year. And when I say all of us girls, I mean the seven or eight Granddaughters then, now it is 12 I think. My Grandmother usually had us all something to go on the shelves, benches, etc. 

It was hard this morning to hear that she is not doing well, as in I hope she makes it till we go visit next week, in Atlanta. 

My Grandfather passed away almost ten years ago. We lived in California at the time and I was 38 weeks pregnant with Marcus. Obviously I was not traveling to Tennessee in that shape. I don't think I fully absorbed the grieving like the rest of the family because I was not there. My Grandfather had a stroke while at the podium preaching his own mothers funeral. It was bittersweet because all of this children and other family was right there. He passed immediately. 

With my Grandmother preparing to meet him, it will be closure to the old family times we had. For a while I have known it would never be like that, but now I feel like Christmas won't be the same without everyone joining around where she is. I am sure a lot of you can relate. I am a realist and know that this is life. It happens. But I also think grieving is inevitable and important to go through too. 

I have been a little emotional with the holidays approaching and this will be the first Christmas ever without my while family doing something around that time. We usually draw names and get together within the month. I might just have to try and plan something. My parents are not coming home this year since they were just here for my brothers wedding. They live overseas. 

I am determined to make the best of it with my children and family that is here. I love the holidays and while it won't be the same, it will still be great!

My Grandmother with cousin and my brother last Christmas.

Ooh Rah!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY USMC!

Somebody won't be going to class...

I love school. I really do.

Marcus has been on the toilet three times this morning. I shouldn't have to go into much more detail than that and the fact that I have had to change his pants once! EWE, I know, but most of you have kids and understand. I obviously can't send him to school, which means I miss class too.

I remember when the kids were young I used to cherish the moments they were home sick. I hated that they didn't feel good but loved the personal time we got, to cuddle and spend together. While my kids are bigger now, I will get a little cuddle time if I can!

Mostly, all this means is that I have no excuse for not getting caught up on the laundry! BOO!  and YEAH I guess.

School Uniforms?

I had to turn in a working bibliography for my English class. This paper was due tonight but I won't tell you how long I have known about it. I always say, if I turn it in early, I may find something else I want to add! I usually do several drafts and get it all together at the last minute.

My paper is arguing school uniforms. I AM ALL FOR SCHOOL UNIFORMS. I was shocked at all of the arguments against uniforms. I was surprised because I have never spoken with one who is not for uniforms. Granted, I have not done a lot of interviewing! Mostly my friends and other acquaintances have agreed that they would support uniforms in their local schools.

Several of you have worked in school or have children who attend schools with uniforms. I want to know what you think? Am I a loner on this issue? Or do you agree?

A new stage

We have totally entered a new phase of life with our daughter. I remember playing sports like it was yesterday. I played basketball in middle school and quit after one year. I could have been a great player. I hated practice and I never got to play so I gave up too quick. Unfortunately, my father allowed me to quit. I went on to watch my best friend start in high school and I kept the books. Speaking of, who knew you could get a scholarship for that? Crazy huh? I didn't, but heard recently they award that. 

Grace is playing basketball. She has practice till 5 everyday (M-F). Her games are twice weekly. Today she played at 4:15, with the JV team. The JV boys played after JV girls. Then the actual middle school teams play. So…after all is said and done we sat at this school from 4:15 to 7pm. WOW! I was not ready for this. I do know that there is no way I could do this with a little child. Marcus hates it enough as it is! I have learned to bring plenty for him to do. I have actually downloaded some games on my phone that he loves. I usually end up glancing at the screen and sometimes he has switched to taking pictures. People would probably sue if they knew how many pictures Marcus has taken of random people! I stop him when he does, but he just loves to take pictures! 

So what a stage of life this is. Hours at the gym and carpooling. I have learned to pack lots of snacks. After several play games I have learned to pack more than enough because you would not believe the parents that send no snacks or money with their children. Don't get me started on that though. That's another post in itself. 

Oh the joys of middle schoolers…and their parents!

BIG MISTAKE

   I am not an idiot when it comes to computers. I tend to google everything and have answered lots of questions on my own. I added a different gmail account, to start an email I will hopefully keep forever. I realize we might not always have comcast, so I thought it important to have a gmail account. I already had another gmail account that I forgot about my blog being attached to. I do not ever use the sign in (that gmail username) because my blog is under my current comcast email. Anyhow, while deleting my other gmail account (that I never use) I deleted my blog.

  I am not that upset to be honest. I wanted a change and didn't really like the odd name I had for it. Well, here we go again! The only thing I am a little upset about is that I have been using that blog since we lived in N.C. I know I had a lot of our life in words there. Once again, my fault for not backing up. I will learn!

   Make note of the change, FOLLOW ME,  and let's get this going!