Aaron and Jake just left with Papa Harmon to go to Virginia and watch Sara, our oldest niece, graduate from high school!!!!! How can it be that she has grown up so fast?!!!! Mike (Aaron's big bro.) and Terri (his awesome wife), you guys are old. :) J/K. I have to work tomorrow so I couldn't go. So this is how Aaron has felt all these years we left him behind to work, while we went and partied. I am blessed with a wonderful husband! Thanks Aaron for being awesome. While they are gone I am actually looking forward to tackling the pantry and linen closets that have become black holes.
I LOVE SUMMER VACATION! If I had my way Jake would just never go back to school. Its really just gets in the way of all the fun we could be having. But I guess you gotta do...
What are our plans for summer? Not much! Just fun. Next week should be a ball (sarcasm)...The Bi-Lo schedule was laying out and I peeked at it to see what hours I would be working next week...With Aaron into his summer semester (one class @ 8-9:30 am) and Jake home, I have to modify my work schedule and can't go into work until 10:30. That just happens to be perfect timing for....U-Scan. 11am-7pm...8 torturous hours...Running a cash register is SOOO fun! I really do love it. The sounds, the buttons, seeing how fast I can scan, talking all day...etc. But I am not a fan of the U-Scan (I know you all know this already...). I try SO hard to keep a positive attitude, but it is soooooooooooo hard. One of the other cashiers, who also runs U-Scan, says when people step up to the U-Scan it is like they "turn on their stupid". Truer words have never been spoken. That mixed with the attitudes make it a real bummer....I have 35 hours of U-Scan next week (or that is what it looks like. I am crossing my fingers that it isn't all U-Scan.)...Aaron reminded me this was a blessing and I grudgingly agreed. Thank you Heavenly Father for answering some of our prayers. You must not have heard the one about letting someone break into Bi-Lo and steal or demolish (whichever one works better for you) the U-Scan machines. Just kidding (kind of) I didn't pray for that. And I am sooo happy to have a job and work with nice people. I am thankful to be given so many hours because there are tons of cashiers at work who only get 5 hours a week. I am thankful I swear. And I know Heavenly Father is soooo looking out for my family. I am blessed and thankful...I am blessed and thankful...I am gearing myself up for staying positive at U-Scan. Pray for me...Seriously. I know there are worse things I could be doing (example-cleaning public restrooms..), I am just hoping if I tell enough people and you all are praying for me too, I will be able to not go crazy...Or more crazy. I also know this too shall pass...
Friday, June 11, 2010
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
It's Official...There Are 2 Math Nerds In Our House...
..And I am not one of them. Jake got a letter home from school on Monday saying he has qualified for AIG placement in math. As I read it to Jake he got all concerned and asked if that meant he was dumb...Um, no dude it means the opposite. You are a smarty pants. I just got back from a meeting discussing how Jake will be in AIG (Academically and Intellectually Gifted) for math. Aaron is a math major (crazy right?), and Jake is a math genius. I hate math. I mean I really hate math. But in this house being a nerd is a good thing. It means you are smart...Maybe it will rub off on me a little because in math-they lost me after fractions! They also want Jake to take a test over the summer because to qualify in reading there are 2 scores that are important. In one of them you have to have a 93% and Jake had a 95%. On the other part you have to have a 90% and Jake had a 89%. They feel like he should be in the reading program too but legally they can't put him in the class if he doesn't test high enough. So, we will have him take the test this summer and see what happens. I am so excited to know they are finally seeing that Jake needs to be challenged and I am SO excited about the awesome AIG teachers. They seem SOOO GREAT! I AM SO PROUD OF MY NERDS!
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
Our first trip back up the mountain.
(This is a LONG post with TONS of pictures...I know this comes as know surprise. Just remember this isn't just my blog it is our families "story" so this is one of those posts for me to capture the memory and hold on, because it will never happen again. It may totally bore you-just a warning! Also keep in mind I just write as I go, read it once, and post so don't be surprised if it makes no sense...)
I can't believe we moved a way from Fletcher (right outside of Asheville) 8 months ago and this is the first visit we have made back up the mountain. I have to apologize to those of you we didn't get to see. It was such a quick trip and we didn't give a lot of notice we were coming. Next time we will give more of a heads up and see a bunch more of you! The main point of the trip was to let Jake see his class again since he missed his last day of school there when we moved. Because Glen Marlow is the best school in the history of the world they let him eat lunch and stay the rest of the school day. It was a day filled with such mixed emotions...As soon as I walked through the doors I didn't want to leave ever again. One of my good friends Tracey Shaw (the mom of one of Jake's best buddies since 1st grade-Cade) met us there for lunch too so it was so great to see her. She was going to a concert that night so she made a special trip to school to see me. I was so glad to see her and chat. She is amazing. She just finished up chemo and radiation the beginning of the year for breast cancer...But any way I am making what is going to be a long post even longer! It was like we never left! All the kids were so excited to see Jake. Mrs. King the principal met us in the office as we were signing in and we were so excited to see her. (I forgot to take pictures of so many people...) She tried to talk us into moving back...And just to prove that Marlow is the best school ever, she is the Principal of the year for the state of NC. I got to see my old PTO buddies and it was just like the old times. They were all busy, like I used to be. As we were walking into the cafeteria we walked past the Guidance Counselor and she said "Hey Jake...JAKE!!!" She said it was just like we never left...Even the janitor was happy to see me and said hi. (I was at the school A LOT). If felt like home, but it's not anymore.
We spent the morning at the park by the library with Bella and Stephanie. Bella is the little girl I babysat from the time she was 8 weeks old or so until she was just over 2 when we moved. It was the park I used to take her to story time at...She has grown so much and we have really missed her and Stephanie. Stephanie used to pick Bella up take her AND Jake to the park while they waited for Matt (Bella's dad, they aren't together any more, they split their time with Bella) to come and get Bella for the night. They are awesome and we were so happy to see them again. When we left Bella was just starting to say little sentences, now she is a chatter box. It felt like home, but it wasn't. We even drove by our old house and saw that it looks the same besides the fact that the new owners added a statue of the Virgin Mary to the landscape...Nice. We got to see our awesome "across the street neighbors" (Nena-the mom of Cody and Mia. Cody was another one of Jakes's good buddies) that we also miss. They said the new owners of our house kept to themselves and that they missed us a lot.
After lunch, while Jake was at school, I went to visit Carla Silver another great friend (She lives in the next neighborhood over from our old one. We used to get together and walk the dogs, go to the pool, grocery shop...etc!) for a little while before I went back to school to go through the car rider line.
The car rider line was a place I spent tons of time with Cheryl (we were room mom's together in 1st grade. She is one of the crazy ladies that I went to the New Kids on the Block concerts with. Need I say more?), and we met there again. We both were in different cars than usual and were texting back in forth to figure out where we each were. Turns out we were parked diagonal of each other. It was so fun to do it all again and chat in line like we always used to do. It was awesome, but not quit the same.
After school we went over to Fletcher Park and let the kids play while we chatted. It was fun to hang out again and watch the kiddos play like we never left. Cade's dad brought him and his sister to the park to play too and they had a blast. Kim Garner brought her kiddo's over and it was so great to catch up with them too. I missed the chats we all used to have. I am so glad we got to visit and relive some of our memories with our friends at places we love. We used to take Emily to that park and let her swim in the river. We met lots of friends there to play. We even used to have a walking group from church meet once a week. Good memories of a wonderful place and wonderful friends...That I am going to do a better job of keeping in touch with!
Our last stop of the way back down the Mountain was to our favorite pizza place. It used to be called Bellafulla and it was the best pizza ever. Right as we were closing on our house back in November it changed owners and became My Three Son's Pizza or something like that. We had it once with the new owners and at that point they hadn't changed it much. So, we couldn't leave with out getting some and bringing it home to Aaron. It was an interesting experience. It was still delicious but it wasn't the same. As we were driving down the mountain eating our old favorite pizza we realized we missed what it used to taste like. It was one of those "Aha" moments for me. It made me realize the mountains are still awesome-but it isn't the same. And that isn't a bad thing. It just isn't home any more. I loved the time we had in Fletcher (don't get me wrong it wasn't perfect. Moving away makes you miss the good things and forget about the hard things) and the friends we made there we will always remember, miss, and keep in touch with. But it wasn't the same. It made me realize that we are right where we are supposed to be. To us the weather is better in the mountains, the views are better there, the schools are better there. I could go on and on, but that is not where we are supposed to be right now. Eating pizza reminded me of that. It reminded me that the Lord is mindful of my family and that we are on the path we are supposed to be on. It reminded me that life goes on and that we do too. Part of me would move back in a second, but I know it wouldn't be the same because that isn't part of the plan for our family now. We are learning and growing in our new home. We are making new memories and friends. We will never forget our time in Fletcher and it is awesome to go back and visit, but it isn't the same...and it isn't supposed to be. Isn't is funny how the Lord works. It took a trip up the mountain and pizza to remind me that life goes on and home is where ever your family is. As long as you are trying to follow the path that Heavenly Father hopes you will he drops little reminders to make the journey easier. I had a blast and I am excited to visit again, but I don't need to get the pizza next time. It just isn't the same. :)
Heading up the mountain!
Jake and Bella climbing.
I love this picture...Look at the way she is looking at Jake. So sweet...
Playing in the sand.
Jake swinging...
And jumping off the swing.
Bella pushing Jake on the swing.
Bella still doesn't like to have her picture taken so you have to catch her quick.
Jake and Bella catching bugs.
We had a fun game of toss Bobo.
Bella in the sand box.
Jake swinging high.
Jake, Stephanie, Bella, and Bobo (Jake gave Bella his beloved Bobo stuffed animal-the first one he ever named, when we moved) playing in the sand.
Jake and Mrs. Scannell. Jake's 2nd grade assistant teacher.
Jake and Cody. Our old neighbor and buddy.
Jake, Cameron (one of his best bud's since 1st grade), and other kiddos in his old class.
Jake and Kaili. The were in 1st grade together and the beginning of 3rd grade. (This is one of Cheryl's daughters.)
Jake and Cade
Jake with his old class.
Cheryl in the car rider line.
Jake and Kaili in the car rider line...Memories...
Two goof balls sticking their heads out of Cheryl's sun roof.
Me, Jake, Kaili, Cheryl, and Kaci.
Jake with Kim, Olivia, Madeline, and Clark Garner.
Cade and Jake climbing trees at the park and finding a comfortable spot...or that is what they said...How is that comfortable?
Jake agreed it was comfortable...Ok...I will take your word for it.
Jake with his pizza.
Going back down the mountain...
Jake hanging out on the way home.
I can't believe we moved a way from Fletcher (right outside of Asheville) 8 months ago and this is the first visit we have made back up the mountain. I have to apologize to those of you we didn't get to see. It was such a quick trip and we didn't give a lot of notice we were coming. Next time we will give more of a heads up and see a bunch more of you! The main point of the trip was to let Jake see his class again since he missed his last day of school there when we moved. Because Glen Marlow is the best school in the history of the world they let him eat lunch and stay the rest of the school day. It was a day filled with such mixed emotions...As soon as I walked through the doors I didn't want to leave ever again. One of my good friends Tracey Shaw (the mom of one of Jake's best buddies since 1st grade-Cade) met us there for lunch too so it was so great to see her. She was going to a concert that night so she made a special trip to school to see me. I was so glad to see her and chat. She is amazing. She just finished up chemo and radiation the beginning of the year for breast cancer...But any way I am making what is going to be a long post even longer! It was like we never left! All the kids were so excited to see Jake. Mrs. King the principal met us in the office as we were signing in and we were so excited to see her. (I forgot to take pictures of so many people...) She tried to talk us into moving back...And just to prove that Marlow is the best school ever, she is the Principal of the year for the state of NC. I got to see my old PTO buddies and it was just like the old times. They were all busy, like I used to be. As we were walking into the cafeteria we walked past the Guidance Counselor and she said "Hey Jake...JAKE!!!" She said it was just like we never left...Even the janitor was happy to see me and said hi. (I was at the school A LOT). If felt like home, but it's not anymore.
We spent the morning at the park by the library with Bella and Stephanie. Bella is the little girl I babysat from the time she was 8 weeks old or so until she was just over 2 when we moved. It was the park I used to take her to story time at...She has grown so much and we have really missed her and Stephanie. Stephanie used to pick Bella up take her AND Jake to the park while they waited for Matt (Bella's dad, they aren't together any more, they split their time with Bella) to come and get Bella for the night. They are awesome and we were so happy to see them again. When we left Bella was just starting to say little sentences, now she is a chatter box. It felt like home, but it wasn't. We even drove by our old house and saw that it looks the same besides the fact that the new owners added a statue of the Virgin Mary to the landscape...Nice. We got to see our awesome "across the street neighbors" (Nena-the mom of Cody and Mia. Cody was another one of Jakes's good buddies) that we also miss. They said the new owners of our house kept to themselves and that they missed us a lot.
After lunch, while Jake was at school, I went to visit Carla Silver another great friend (She lives in the next neighborhood over from our old one. We used to get together and walk the dogs, go to the pool, grocery shop...etc!) for a little while before I went back to school to go through the car rider line.
The car rider line was a place I spent tons of time with Cheryl (we were room mom's together in 1st grade. She is one of the crazy ladies that I went to the New Kids on the Block concerts with. Need I say more?), and we met there again. We both were in different cars than usual and were texting back in forth to figure out where we each were. Turns out we were parked diagonal of each other. It was so fun to do it all again and chat in line like we always used to do. It was awesome, but not quit the same.
After school we went over to Fletcher Park and let the kids play while we chatted. It was fun to hang out again and watch the kiddos play like we never left. Cade's dad brought him and his sister to the park to play too and they had a blast. Kim Garner brought her kiddo's over and it was so great to catch up with them too. I missed the chats we all used to have. I am so glad we got to visit and relive some of our memories with our friends at places we love. We used to take Emily to that park and let her swim in the river. We met lots of friends there to play. We even used to have a walking group from church meet once a week. Good memories of a wonderful place and wonderful friends...That I am going to do a better job of keeping in touch with!
Our last stop of the way back down the Mountain was to our favorite pizza place. It used to be called Bellafulla and it was the best pizza ever. Right as we were closing on our house back in November it changed owners and became My Three Son's Pizza or something like that. We had it once with the new owners and at that point they hadn't changed it much. So, we couldn't leave with out getting some and bringing it home to Aaron. It was an interesting experience. It was still delicious but it wasn't the same. As we were driving down the mountain eating our old favorite pizza we realized we missed what it used to taste like. It was one of those "Aha" moments for me. It made me realize the mountains are still awesome-but it isn't the same. And that isn't a bad thing. It just isn't home any more. I loved the time we had in Fletcher (don't get me wrong it wasn't perfect. Moving away makes you miss the good things and forget about the hard things) and the friends we made there we will always remember, miss, and keep in touch with. But it wasn't the same. It made me realize that we are right where we are supposed to be. To us the weather is better in the mountains, the views are better there, the schools are better there. I could go on and on, but that is not where we are supposed to be right now. Eating pizza reminded me of that. It reminded me that the Lord is mindful of my family and that we are on the path we are supposed to be on. It reminded me that life goes on and that we do too. Part of me would move back in a second, but I know it wouldn't be the same because that isn't part of the plan for our family now. We are learning and growing in our new home. We are making new memories and friends. We will never forget our time in Fletcher and it is awesome to go back and visit, but it isn't the same...and it isn't supposed to be. Isn't is funny how the Lord works. It took a trip up the mountain and pizza to remind me that life goes on and home is where ever your family is. As long as you are trying to follow the path that Heavenly Father hopes you will he drops little reminders to make the journey easier. I had a blast and I am excited to visit again, but I don't need to get the pizza next time. It just isn't the same. :)
Heading up the mountain!
Jake and Bella climbing.
I love this picture...Look at the way she is looking at Jake. So sweet...
Playing in the sand.
Jake swinging...
And jumping off the swing.
Bella pushing Jake on the swing.
Bella still doesn't like to have her picture taken so you have to catch her quick.
Jake and Bella catching bugs.
We had a fun game of toss Bobo.
Bella in the sand box.
Jake swinging high.
Jake, Stephanie, Bella, and Bobo (Jake gave Bella his beloved Bobo stuffed animal-the first one he ever named, when we moved) playing in the sand.
Jake and Mrs. Scannell. Jake's 2nd grade assistant teacher.
Jake and Cody. Our old neighbor and buddy.
Jake, Cameron (one of his best bud's since 1st grade), and other kiddos in his old class.
Jake and Kaili. The were in 1st grade together and the beginning of 3rd grade. (This is one of Cheryl's daughters.)
Jake and Cade
Jake with his old class.
Cheryl in the car rider line.
Jake and Kaili in the car rider line...Memories...
Two goof balls sticking their heads out of Cheryl's sun roof.
Me, Jake, Kaili, Cheryl, and Kaci.
Jake with Kim, Olivia, Madeline, and Clark Garner.
Cade and Jake climbing trees at the park and finding a comfortable spot...or that is what they said...How is that comfortable?
Jake agreed it was comfortable...Ok...I will take your word for it.
Jake with his pizza.
Going back down the mountain...
Jake hanging out on the way home.
Jake's Plant Science Project
Jake had to do a project that proved plants need water to grow. We...I mean "He" tracked two plants for 12 days (we would have tracked them longer but that is all it took to prove the point). One we watered and the other we didn't. Turns out we (I mean "I"...) watered it too much and it died before the one we weren't watering did...So, we also researched and explained why watering a plant too much is worse than not watering it at all. Check out the HUGE poster we (that is right we. It was a lot of work so I am taking my credit!) made:
Friday, June 4, 2010
This post is for Nee (Grammie) and Papa G.
Nee and Papa here are just a few of the TONS of pictures we took over the weekend. Expect to get them in the mail soon...Along with Jake's Upward b-ball DVD, mail, pictures colored by Jake and letters, and anything else that we need to send you...School is out in 3 DAYS so we will be able to get it all done. For now enjoy pictures of the 9 people who love and adore you!
I can't remember why they were grumpy...It may have been because we told them they couldn't change out of their church clothes until we took some pictures. I couldn't resist the face Sam. You will look back in 20 years and laugh. :)
Jake was grumpy too but managed a smile in time for me to take the picture.
Waiting to see if we were going to actually take a picture. Ben was tired, we were all ready to eat and Aaron hadn't gone to church because of his headache so postponed the pictures and took them the next day before our race.
But I did get a few:
Tina taking a picture of me taking a picture. :)
On Saturday night Aaron got a really bad headache. I think it was a migraine. He ended up throwing up so hard that he burst blood vessels around his eyes and even on his forehead. I think his face was even a little swollen poor guy...I of course had to document it all with a picture.
Ben 10 (In honor of one of Jake's favorite TV shows. Ben is 17 months) loved this Jeep all weekend. (Jake's assistant teacher in the 2nd grade gave it to him for his birthday. She was awesome and she LOVED Jake)
Sam the Man. (He is 2 1/2 months younger than Jake)
Anika Bananika (11 1/2)
Saku Badaku (6)
Playing in Jake's room. (There isn't an individual picture of Jake because it was fuzzy and I didn't realize it until later...And the names I typed above are the nicknames I call the kiddos)
They spent tons of time on your swing. Who knew so many games could be invited on that swing!
This is the best one I got... :)
Eating dinner. This was going to be the big boys table but they convinced Anika to sit with them too.
Ignore how messy the kitchen is...It was right after dinner and we hadn't done the dishes yet.
And a few more because that just wasn't enough already!
We miss you so much and wish you were here! But we are glad you are where you are! We love you and are so proud of all your efforts to serve the Lord and Missionaries on your mission.
I can't remember why they were grumpy...It may have been because we told them they couldn't change out of their church clothes until we took some pictures. I couldn't resist the face Sam. You will look back in 20 years and laugh. :)
Jake was grumpy too but managed a smile in time for me to take the picture.
Waiting to see if we were going to actually take a picture. Ben was tired, we were all ready to eat and Aaron hadn't gone to church because of his headache so postponed the pictures and took them the next day before our race.
But I did get a few:
Tina taking a picture of me taking a picture. :)
On Saturday night Aaron got a really bad headache. I think it was a migraine. He ended up throwing up so hard that he burst blood vessels around his eyes and even on his forehead. I think his face was even a little swollen poor guy...I of course had to document it all with a picture.
Ben 10 (In honor of one of Jake's favorite TV shows. Ben is 17 months) loved this Jeep all weekend. (Jake's assistant teacher in the 2nd grade gave it to him for his birthday. She was awesome and she LOVED Jake)
Sam the Man. (He is 2 1/2 months younger than Jake)
Anika Bananika (11 1/2)
Saku Badaku (6)
Playing in Jake's room. (There isn't an individual picture of Jake because it was fuzzy and I didn't realize it until later...And the names I typed above are the nicknames I call the kiddos)
They spent tons of time on your swing. Who knew so many games could be invited on that swing!
This is the best one I got... :)
Eating dinner. This was going to be the big boys table but they convinced Anika to sit with them too.
Ignore how messy the kitchen is...It was right after dinner and we hadn't done the dishes yet.
And a few more because that just wasn't enough already!
We miss you so much and wish you were here! But we are glad you are where you are! We love you and are so proud of all your efforts to serve the Lord and Missionaries on your mission.
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