Big News!

First off - I am a new auntie again!! Larryn had her baby this morning at 9:55. Mary Ellis Thompson, 9lb., 21 1/4 in. - what a big girl! AND she has red hair! Love it! It was a long night for Lar and she struggled to have Mary Ellis naturally and all by herself, buuuut...it wasn't meant to be and she had a c section this a.m. The docs were a little worried about Lar, her blood pressure had gone up and they were and still are worried about preeclampsia, so they are keeping an eye on her... All the best to my new niece out in Iowa! And her parents, of course : ) And good driving to Dad, Becca, Jay, and Livie and William as they head out today... And a good flight to Mom whenever she heads back...

Second - Matt and I are ENGAGED! He proposed to me last Tuesday, 7/8. What a surprise! The ring is beautiful and I am so happy! : ) No date set, yet...

Feeling Beachy!

The beach was wonderful! I still can't believe it's over and I'm home : ( We missed Larryn and Isaac, but were full to bursting even without their added numbers - we will have to rent a mansion next year! What with the addition of 2 little ones and all : ) I think we all missed Holden, but enjoyed Surfside...not too busy, which we like, but still lots to do - hey, it's Myrtle Beach! Plenty of sun, sand, and water. We really enjoyed having a pool, b/c some days you just don't want to do the beach. The little ones definitely loved the pool - Livie jumped right in with those swimmies (and probably would have even without them). Perrin started walking - shaky, but getting there. William jabbered the entire time - who knows what he's saying? It's cute, whatever it is! Sallie and Matt came with us, of course, and on Tuesday Sam showed up! Mom and Dad decided to return Upstate for a funeral and they brought him back with them. So, there were 15 of us, I believe? Three being under the age of 2...a bit hectic, at times, but we're used to that! So, all I can say is...when are we going back????

Suppertime - kind of crazy at times

Mom and Dad

The "big kids" got to go out while Nana & Papa babysat!

All the boys (minus Sam) by the pool - we need sun!

Willie hanging out

Matt, William, and Me

Coaxing Livie into her swimmies

She's a great swimmer!

Livie and Becca - we loved the pool

Perrin and Eliza headed to the beach

Cutesie-pie loved the beach!

Camille and Sallie, our bathing beauties

Nana and Perrin

Matt and Livie playing - they dug up a crab!

Sweet girl - not so into the beach, especially the ocean

William waking up from an ocean-side nap

Perrin and Camille taking a break in the air-conditioning!

The theatre, the theatre, what happened to the theatre?

We went to the movies last weekend. One man tripped coming up the stairs and almost face-planted in the theatre. We tried not to laugh but couldn't help giggling quietly as soon as his back was to us. Another couple brought their 3 year-old, who didn't seem too keen on watching the movie or being quiet. What did he care of Captain James T. Kirk and the Enterprise? The family who sat behind us huffed and puffed their way to the top - I thought I might have to call the paramedics, but they managed to gulp down their popcorn and sodas so I'm assuming they were okay. At least no one sat directly behind or in front of us. I hate it when people do that, especially when 3/4 of the seats are empty. Teenagers at the theatre are a given. Teens "hang out" at the movies like it's the mall or an arcade - I guess they find interesting things to do, like standing against the lobby wall slurping their drinks and watching other movie-goers. Or standing in bunches outside, smoking cigarettes and swearing because they think it's cool. One couple was having a row as we walked in - well, she was standing with her arms crossed while he was gesturing into her ear going "What the **** did I do this time?" Ahhh...young love. One thing most teens do NOT do at the movies is actually shut up and watch the movie they have convinced their parents to drop them off to see. Very annoying for those of us who are paying out our wazoo to do just that. I used to get embarrassed when my mother or father would say something to people displaying their stupidity in public places - now I embarrass my boyfriend by doing the same. I am appalled on a daily basis by the utter rudeness of people and sometimes I just have to say something. I feel these people should be grateful I don't smack the **** out of them.

School's out for summer!

Relief...I thought this semester would never end. And while I appreciate all I have learned, I also appreciate it ending. I thought for sure I bombed my final, but I did WAY better than expected..."A's" in both classes! That brings my GPA to a 3.83...pretty impressive for someone only taking 2 classes a semester : ) Now I get to look forward to Anna's wedding (!) and leaving directly after for the BEACH!!! Very, very excited about that...and this time, I get to stay for the entire week! Matt and I are both going, which makes it that much better...

Photo Story Project

Here is my Photo Story project* created for the collaboration assignment. I collaborated on a health unit for K-5 - Healthy Habits for Teeth and Body.

I did not include credits in the Photo Story, so I am including credits here (in order of when the images appear in the video):

1. http://betterkidcare.psu.edu/AngelUnits/OneHour/Eating/ChildFoodPyramidSm.gif

2. http://healthyfoodguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/01/healthy_food_guides1.jpg

3. http://www.impactlab.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/10/exercise1.jpg

4. http://www.nacdnet.org/education/clipart/BrushingTeeth.jpg

5. http://www.sbceo.org/~impact2/TeachnetArchives/tnetarchive/jessica/Books/poster.jpg

6. http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3200/2480199202_3def2116b0.jpg?v=1210406041

7. http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_zsHHFKZalNg/SIqf_iwOu3I/AAAAAAAAAPQ/f8iNuCS7cQ8/%20s320/Rishi%2BBike%2Blow.jpg

8. http://youngestofone.typepad.com/main/files/teeth.jpg

* This is only an example and not an actual project.

On the horizon...

It's that time of year. Winter's leaving, Spring's arriving, school is dragging, sick season is here...and the economy is falling ever faster. It's easy to ignore the bad times when you haven't been hit by them, but it is becoming increasingly harder as more and more people discover what others already know - this is affecting us all. Our hospital announced yesterday it is downsizing and suddenly many of us face futures that are not so secure. I am not afraid to admit that I am worried; however, I am not worrying. I have school to worry over : ) - I don't need work, either! You know, what's done is done and what will be will be, and I can only hope and pray. It is in God's hands, He knows what is best, He is in control, and my job now is to show up for work on time, do my best while I'm here, and keep my fingers crossed!

Love to you all in these hard times that seem to only be getting harder...
We will make it...

Cutesies...

I knew Livie would be cute on the trip (and at all other times). She loves watching Barney (I know, I know - Barney is STILL around), but what she enjoys watching are the song and dance routines. Apparently there is one song, "This Old Man" - y'all know the one, "This old man, he played one..." - that the Barney kids perform with the help of a huge mat-like keyboard laid out on the floor. They dance up and down the keyboard, acting like they are playing the song with their feet. So, if you are ever around Liv and want her to perform, all you have to do is start singing "This old man, he played one..." and she will, on cue, start hopping around 'cause she's acting like she's playing that keyboard! TOO cute, I must say...you gotta see her do it, it's way better than reading about it...