New Wheels

So I worked very hard all day on Friday at the hospital. I didn't even each lunch until about 3:00pm because I just couldn't get a break. People treat the emergency room like it's a doctor's office....grrrr! I guess I shouldn't complain too much...job security. So the point of this story is to say that after a long hard day at work, I walk outside the ER for Mark to pick me up (because we only have one car) and what do I see...my husband driving an Altima! He had gone that day to Fayetteville and bought a car for us. I love this car. It is perfect for us. So here are some pictures for your enjoyment.

We drove to Manchester and Mark took me out to eat at O'Charley's, one of my favorite resaurants! I know, you all are jelous of the wonderful husband that I have. He is great!

Also, another cool thing that happened this week is that Clint and Sara had their baby girl, Morgan Faith Howard. Pictures will come soon! Welcome baby Morgan!

Seattle, Washington!

Hello from Fort Lewis (Seattle) Washington! Mom and I are visiting Ryan, Gloria, and little Elayna. We got here on Wednesday evening after a long plane ride. There was a medical emergency on our flight over. Thankgoodness there happen to be the two best nurses in the whole world on that plane. No kidding, this guy passed out after taking some pain medicine. When the stewardess asked for any medical personal to go up to the front of the plane, Mom and I happen to be the first ones up there. All ended well and the guy was examined by EMS after the flight. We then met Glo in the airport (with a huge smile) pushing Elayna in her stroller. I fell in love instantly with this precious baby girl. She is such a good baby. Gloria acts like a natural, like Elayna has been here forever. They are both very calm, content and so happy. Thursday we went downtown Seattle to the "Pike-Place Market." We had a lot of fun. It reminded me of Europe a lot. Plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables and fish (which stunk really bad). Today Glo went to work for a few hours and Mom and I got to watch Elayna. So here are some pictures for your viewing pleasure! More to come later.

This is in World Market...

we had to go to the back of the store to feed Elayna!

We had to climb this hill pushing Elayna and mom needed help.

Elayna's first tub bath!

Lotioning up! She was looking right at me!

Weekend adventures...

This weekend was very interesting to say the least. A few months ago we had planned to go to Matt and Lori's for the Dennis Reis naturalhorsemanship clinic in Cookeville. Matt received a lot of free tickets (yeah!) , so Mark, mom, Rachel, and I all decided to go. (Dad came and stayed Friday night too!) Friday afternoon when Mark got in from work we loaded up our Lumina and headed to Cookeville. As some of you know, we have been having some trouble with our car over-heating. Most of the time, we can just cool down the engine and put some more coolant in and we go on our way. Well this time I guess the car had enough. We had to stop every 15miles or so to cool the car down, and could only go 40mph the entire way there. Finally, about 10miles outside of Cookeville our car totally died. I thank the good Lord for great family. Matt and Lori came to our rescue. Since both of us have very good family genes of 'rednecks,' Matt and Mark did the most logical thing with the car and towed it, with a ROPE, back to their house. After talking with mechanics on the phone, (no place was available since it was the weekend) and having Dad,Matt, and Mark colaborate on what could be wrong, we decided the car was pretty much not worth fixing. Needless to say we stayed the whole weekend as planned and went to the horse clinic which was awesome. There weren't a lot of people there so we were able to get good seats. At the end, Mark was able to talk one-on-one with Dennis about 'horse stuff.' Dennis was very friendly and is one of the best if you ask us.
Sunday evening Matt and Lori, again, were very nice and took us back home to Tullahoma. So the search is on for a car now. The timing is not exactly what we imagined it should be, but I guess nothing ever is.
So, thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you, to Matt and Lori for your wonderfulness throughout the ENTIRE weekend. We appreciate not only your kindness, but your willingness to spend your time, money, and give up your house for us. We love you so much!

Save the trees!

I am by no means what people would call a "tree hugger." Not that I have anything against "tree huggers," but just to set the record straight before I continue this blog...I am not a tree hugger. With that said, I can also say that I do like trees ( I do realize that being a 'tree-hugger' has to do with much more than trees). At the end of last week Mark and I realized that two huge trees that are across the street from our appartments had been stripped of their limbs. They were naked. We had a short discussion on how we did not appreciate seeing these once beautiful trees, we would play catch under, naked...not to mention I'm sure the trees themselves were even more unappreciative of their nakedness.
So this morning when I woke up I saw that both trees were now being chopped down altogether, you can imagin my disgust. I just want to say on record to anyone who will listen that I very much disagree with the decision to chop down these two once beautiful trees. I just cannot see how they were hurting anything. In fact, I would argue that BOTH trees were providing some wonderful shade for those of us who live around them. There was NO part of either tree that was dying or dead. So my question is...WHY! They were harming no one, and I can't see how they were even in the way. So the next time you all are thinking of cutting down trees...think first. Don't just start chopping away.

Update

Alright, so I know it has been forever since I wrote anything. We have been so busy over the past few weeks, which is no excuse I know, but the internet has been down most of that time so I think that's a pretty good excuse.

So what is going on with us...well here's a good summary!

A few weekends go I stayed with Joel and Andrea because Mark went to Chicago with his best friend from high school who is getting married next month. I'm a baby and don't like to stay alone, so I invited myself to Joel and Andrea's for the weekend. In exchange for free room and board for 2 nights, I 'babysat' Aiden and 'let' Joel and Andi go on a date. I secretly am positive I had more fun with Aiden than they did on their date.

The weekend after that, Mark and I went camping with Matt and Lori. That of course was really fun. It was cold enough at night and in the early morning to have a camp fire but still warm enough in the day to hike in shorts and a tee shirt. It was perfect weather! Pics are below.

Mark and Matthew swinging.

The hammock actually broke after a while.

We had to use this cable to climb down these rocks.

It was pretty steep.

This past weekend Mark and I (and Rachel) suprised our parents by going home for mom's birthday. We had a great weekend and were very impressed by our ability to keep our suprise arrival a secret!

And to end, I have to say that I am very excited to be going out to Washington State next week to visit Gloria, Ryan and Elayna with mom. I went shopping this weekend and bought a few things for the new baby...because I know she needs clothes for the long winter ahead.