P365-DAY 4:MILK & MICKEY

WE DIDN'T DO MUCH AT ALL TODAY. IT WAS RAINY & NASTY! WE HAD PLANNED TO GO TO THE SPLASH PAD WITH SOME FRIENDS FROM CHURCH BUT JUST AS WE WERE GETTING READY TO LEAVE, THE BOTTOM FELL OUT! IT POURED FOREVER & I'VE NEVER HEARD THUNDER AS LOUD AS I HEARD TODAY. BUT, THAT WAS OKAY BECAUSE I GOT A LOT OF CLEANING DONE! AHNNA LEIGH JUST PLAYED & LOVED ON THE DOGS. SHE LOVES IT WHEN THEY ARE INSIDE & THEY SPENT A LOT OF TIME INSIDE WITH US TODAY. I WAS SO PROUD OF AHNNA LEIGH TODAY! SHE PLAYED NICELY BY HERSELF WHILE I WORKED AROUND THE HOUSE & WAS SUCH A SWEET GIRL!
I CAN'T GET OVER HER SPEACH LATELY! SHE JUST TALKS & TALKS IN COMPLETE COMPLICATED SENTENCES & PARAGRAPHS! SHE JUST LAUNCHED INTO THIS SO MUCH MORE IN THE LAST FEW WEEKS! SHE'S COME SO FAR FROM HER SPEACH THERAPY DAYS. WHEN SHE AGED OUT OF THE SPEACH THERAPY PROGRAM THROUGH THE COUNTY,IN OCTOBER, SHE WAS NOOOOOOO WHERE NEAR WHERE SHE IS NOW. I REALLY HOPE WE CAN GET TOGETHER WITH HER OLD THERAPIST SOON SO SHE CAN SEE HOW WELL SHE IS DOING. SHE WILL BE SO PROUD OF MY BABY GIRL! I KNOW I AM!
LIKE I SAID IT WAS NASTY HERE TODAY SO THE PICTURES ARE SEVERLY LACKING. I JUST GOT 1 FROM TODAY BUT I INCLUDED SOME "OLDIES BUT GOODIES".








WATCHING "MICKEY MOUSE CLUBHOUSE" (HER FAVORITE) WHILE DRINKING SOME MMILK & HOLDING ON TO THESE BALLOONS SOME RANDOM REALTOR HAS LEFT ON OUR DOOR EVERYDAY THIS WEEK!






I TOOK THIS ONE A WHILE BACK. SHE IS WEARING A TUTU DRESS THAT I MADE FOR HER.

SHE ALWAYS HAS TO POSE. IT MAKES GETTING CANDID SHOTS KINDA TOUGH!

THIS WAS HER FIRST TIME PLAYING IN THE WATER THIS SUMMER. SHE WAS EXCITED. CAN YOU TELL?

P365-DAY 3:SWIMMING WITH FRIENDS

TODAY WE WENT SWIMMING WITH EMMA & ERIN! AHNNA LEIGH WAS SO EXCITED! SHE LOVES SWIMMING & SHE LOVES EMMA! THEY BOTH SWAM AROUND & JUMPED IN WHILE WEARING THEIR "PUDDLE JUMPERS". HAVE YOU SEEN THESE THINGS? THEY ARE THE BEST THING EVER! THEY ARE COASTGUARD APPROVED SO THEY CAN BE WORN EVERYWHERE INCLUDING WATERPARKS WHERE FLOATIES AREN'T ALLOWED & WHILE RIDING ON A BOAT. I THINK WHAT I LOVE BEST IS THAT I DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT IT DEFLATING. THE OTHER DAY WHEN I DIDN;T HAVE HER "LADYBUG" WITH US I HAD TO BLOW THE WATER WINGS UP SEVERAL TIMES BECAUSE THEY HAD A LEAK. SHE IS SO MUCH MORE INDEPENDENT IN THE WATER WITH THIS. IF YOU HAVE A LITTLE ONE, YOU SHOULD GET THIS THING!

AFTER SWIMMIMG, WE ATE A LATE LUNCH & WENT HOME TO TAKE A NAP. AFTER NAP IT WAS TIME TO GO TO CHURCH FOR MISSION FRIENDS! THEN, WE MET ZACH AT CRACKER BARRELL FOR SUPER. IT WAS NICE WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THEM BEING OUT OF DUMPLIN'S. SIGH. BUT ANYWAY, LIFE IS NOT THAT EXCITING RIGHT NOW. IT'S THE PICTURES THAT ARE THE INTERESTING PART! ENJOY!

AHNNA LEIGH & EMMA SWIMMING IN THEIR "PUDDLE JUMPERS"

RING AROUND THE ROSEY-POOL STYLE!!

SHE JUST LOVES TO GO SWIMMING!!!!

THIS IS HER FAVORITE POSE LATELY. SHE DOES IT ALL THE TIME.

P365-DAY 2: DANCE RECITALS & HAIR CUTS

WELL, I HAVE SUCCESSFULLY MADE IT THROUGH 2 WHOLE DAYS OF P365! SWEET! ANYWAY, I'VE INCLUDED SOME PICTURES FROM AHNNA LEIGH'S FIRST DANCE RECITAL WHICH WAS JUNE 20TH. SHE WAS TOO CUTE! SHE "DANCED" & WAVED AT EVERYBODY. WHEN IT WAS TIME TO WALK OFF THE STAGE WAVING, SHE DID IT PERFECTLY. BUT! WHEN EVERYBODY STARTED CLAPPING, SHE TURNED AROUND & CAME BACK & JUST STOOD THERE! IT WAS LIKE SHE WAS SAYING, "WELL, IF YA'LL ARE CLAPPIN' WHY WOULD I WANNA LEAVE?!" IT WAS TO ADORABLE IF I DO SAY SO MYSELF.
AHNNA LEIGH WITH ROE ROE (ZOE) & DOODLE (CAMDEN) ELMORE. SOME OF HER FAVORITE PEOPLE!

THE BEGINNING OF THE DANCE. SHE DOES THIS POSE ALL. THE. TIME.

TODAY WAS NOT VERY EXCITING. WE WENT TO SAM'S WITH MY MAMAW, MAMA, & MY SISTER, ERIN. LIKE I SAID, NOT VERY EXCITING. WE CAME HOME FROM THERE & TOOK A NAP THEN HUNG OUT AT HOME WITH ZACH. IT WAS REALLY NICE & RELAXING.

THE HIGH POINT OF THE DAY WAS AHNNA LEIGH'S HAIRCUT! WE REALLY WANT TO LET IT GROW LONG BUT IT JUST BREAKS OFF SOOOOO EASILY! IT MIGHT HAVE SOMETHING TO DO WITH HER PULLING THE HAIR TIES, CLIPS & BOWS OUT WITHOUT LETTING ME HELP. IT CAN DO SOME DAMAGE. ANYWAY, SHE HAD SOME MAJOR SPLIT ENDS & BREAKAGE NOT TO MENTION THE NEW GROWTH SHE'S GOT GOIN ON. I TOOK HER TO KIDS SUPER SALON & WAS VERY IMPRESSED! THE LADY WHO CUT HER HAIR DID AN AWESOME JOB & I THINK IT'S THE BEST IT'S EVER LOOKED. IT'S MUCH HEALTHIER & LOOKS SO MUCH THICKER. I LOVE IT. CAN YOU TELL? HA HA!

THE BACK OF HER PRETTY LITTLE HED! ISN'T IT SO SHINY & PRETTY?!

ANOTHER PRETTY VIEW OF MY PRETTY GIRL!!!!

PROBABLY MY FAVORITE PICTURE OF THE DAY. SHE'S SUCH A DADDYS GIRL.

P365-LET'S SEE HOW THIS GOES

WELL, HAVING BEEN INSPIRED BY OTHER BLOGS THAT I READ I HAVE DECIDED TO ATTEMPT P365. FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT IS, I'LL EXPLAIN. I WILL POST AT LEAST ONE PICTURE EVERYDAY. OF COURSE, THEY WILL MOST LIKELY BE OF AHNNA LEIGH SINCE NOBODY WANTS TO SEE ME & ZACH. WE ARE NO WHERE NEAR AS CUTE! HA! I'M GETTING A LATE START DUE TO THE FACT THAT OUR COMPUTER BIT THE DUST & WE ARE JUST NOW GETTING ONE THAT WORKS & INTERNET ACCESS.
ANYWAY, PLEASE COMMENT!I'D LOVE TO KNOW WHAT PEOPLE THINK OF MY PICTURES BUT MAINLY I WANT FRIENDS AND FAMILY WHO DON'T SEE US ON A REGULAR BASIS TO BE ABLE TO SEE AHNNA LEIGH AND HOW MUCH SHE'S GROWING & CHANGING! PLEASE EXCUSE TODAY'S PICTURE. IT'S PRETTY BAD BECAUSE I TOOK IT WITH MY PHONE. I'M NOT YET IN THE HABIT OF TAKING MY CAMERA WITH ME WHEREVER WE GO TO CATCH OUR DAILY LIVES SO THE PHONE WAS ALL I HAD. THIS WAS TAKEN AT CONCORD MILLS ON THE JEFF GORDAN CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL PLAYGROUND. AHNNA LEIGH ALWAYS WANTS TO PLAY WHEN WE GO TO THE MALL& WE GO THERE FREQUENTLY FOR ME TO WALK LAPS & TO LET HER RIDE THE CAROUSEL. (SHE HAS A FREQUENT RIDER CARD! IT'S VERY HANDY!) IT WAS PRETTY CLOUDY WITH A GOOD CHANCE OF RAIN TODAY SO SWIMMING WAS NOT A GOOD IDEA & NEITHER WAS GOING TO THE PARK. SO, TO THE INDOOR PLAYGROUND WE WENT!
AHNNA LEIGH GOT A PRIZE TODAY FOR NOT HAVING ANY ACCIDENTS THE LAST COUPLE OF DAYS! SO, I DECIDED TO KILL 2 BIRDS WITH 1 STONE! INSTEAD OF GETTING MORE LITTLEST PET SHOPS (WHICH SHE ABSOLUTELY LOVES, BY THE WAY) I TOLD HER I'D GET HER A GAME THAT WOULD NOT ONLY SERVE AS HER "NO ACCIDENTS" PRIZE BUT ALSO AS ENTERTAINMENT FOR THE CAR RIDE TO THE BEACH NEXT WEEK! WE GOT A LEAPFROG, TEXT & LEARN! I HAVE TO SAY THAT I THINK THIS IS A REALLY COOL TOY! IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE LIKE A PDA. SHE CAN "TEXT" BACK & FORTH WITH SCOUT THE COMPUTERIZED DOG ON THE SCREEN, PLAY GAMES THAT REQUIRE HER TO RECOGNIZE LETTERS & SHAPES, PUSH THE LETTER BUTTONS TO HEAR THE SOUNDS THEY MAKE & WORDS THAT START WITH THEM, & LISTEN TO DIFFERENT STYLES OF MUSIC INCLUDING ROCK'N'ROLL, SALSA, & "SILLY"! SHE HAS TO USE THE ARROW BUTTONS TO GET TO THE GAMES SHE WANTS SO IT ALSO WORKS ON DIRECTIONS LIKE UP, DOWN, LEFT, & RIGHT. SHE'S GONNA LEARN SOOOO MUCH! SHE PICKS UP ON EVERYTHING SO FAST SO I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE WHAT ALL SHE LEARNS FROM HER "VIDEO GAME".
WELL, THAT'S IT FOR TODAY! TIME TO PUT LOTS OF MUSIC ON THE IPOD FOR THE BEACH TRIP!

BOY AM I BEHIND!!!!

WOW, DO I HAVE A LOT TO CATCH UP ON! SO MUCH HAS HAPPENED SINCE I WROTE LAST! FIRST, ZACH LOST HIS JOB AT THE BEGINNING OF OCTOBER AFTER 9 YEARS AT UPS. THAT WAS A REAL SHOCK! THAT WAS ON MON, OCTOBER 6TH. ON SATURDAY, OCTOBER 11TH WE HAD AHNNA LEIGH'S 3RD BIRTHDAY PARTY. A WEEK AFTER THAT WE LEFT FOR DISNEY WORLD. WE HAD BEEN PLANNING THE TRIP WITH FRIENDS FOR OVER A YEAR OR WE PROBABLY WOULD HAVE CANCELLED, BUT EVERYTHING WORKED OUT AND WE WERE ABLE TO GO. GOD HAS BLESSED US AND TAKEN CARE OF US THROUGH THIS TRIAL SO WE REALLY CAN'T COMPLAIN. WE ARE MUCH BETTER OFF THAN MANY OTHERS PEOPLE WHO HAVE LOST JOBS AND ALL OF OUR NEEDS AND CHRISTMAS PLANS ARE COVERED SO PRAISE THE LORD! WE'VE ALSO HAD THANKSGIVING, GOTTEN A CHRISTMAS TREE, & DECORATED IT! AHNNA LEIGH IS GOING TO BE SOOOOOO MUCH FUN THIS YEAR! SHE REALLY GETS IT! (THE PRESENTS AND THE TREES ANYWAY!) SHE ALWAYS GETS EXCITED AND SAYS, "YAY CHURCH!" SO SHE SHOULD GET THE FACT THAT CHRISTMAS IS JESUS'S BIRTHDAY! PICS FROM ALL THESE BIG EVENTS ARE SOON TO FOLLOW!

SHE IS SOOOOOO CUTE!

2 WEEKENDS AGO WE WENT T THE MOUNTAINS WITH ZACH'S FAMILY. AHNNA LEIGH WENT HIKING WITH US (IN THE BACKPACK OF COURSE), WENT SWIMMING & PLAYED A LOT!!!! SHE GOT REALLY ATTACHED TO ZACH'S COUSIN TRAVIS & HIS GIRLFREIND ELIZABETH. I'LL POST SOME PICTURES SOON, BUT RIGHT NOW I'M JUST GONNA POST THIS VIDEO CLIP! SHE HAS SUCH A BELLY LAUGH! ENJOY!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IerM-T5IRdA

PRESCHOOL,ETC

WELL, AHNNA LEIGH STARTED PRESCHOOL LAST TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2ND! SHE IS SUCH A BIG GIRL! SHE DID VERY VERY WELL! I COULDN'T HAVE ASKED FOR A BETTER EXPERIENCE. SHE DIDN'T EVEN NOTICE THAT I LEFT! I COULDN'T HELP BUT NOTICE THAT I WAS SHARING A MILESTONE WITH MY DAUGHTER JUST 1 DAU AFTER THE US & VIETNAM'S BILATERAL AGREEMENT EXPIRED. PLEAS PRAY THAT THIS SITUATION WILL BE RESOLVED & THAT ALL OF THE FAMILIES LEFT WITHOUT REFERRALS WILL BE ABLE TO BRING THEIR CHILDREN HOME SOONER RATHER THAN LATER. ANYWAY, ENJOY THE PICTURES!