Saturday, December 24, 2011

Merry Christmas!

IMG_2355 by The Joys of Motherhood
IMG_2355, a photo by The Joys of Motherhood on Flickr.

So, Christmas is about traditions, right? Normally the answer to this question is easy...this year is different.

Last Christmas Eve, we waited for John to get off of work and tried to head to Princeton, but it was snowing and sleeting. By the time we got to the Evansville Airport, we decided it was too nasty to go, so we turned around and waited for morning. When the trip is short, quick change of plans is no big deal.

This year, our trip is (relatively) easy, but takes a bit more planning. Months of hemming and hawing about what to do finally came down to spending Christmas Eve in TN, waking here Christmas morning and opening gifts. Then, we head to IN for one night, only to come back so John can be at work on the 27th. I'm glad we are so close to have this option, but I wish we could stay longer.

On the 28th we are having company which will both surprise and THRILL the kids AND US!!

Traditions change with time, but the reason for the season stays the same. Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!!!

Saturday, November 19, 2011

Thanksgiving break

Rebecca has said, and I agree, that she has never seen a state that likes to go to school less than Tennessee. We have a lot of breaks during the year, similar to a year round calendar, without being a year round school system. We got out of school yesterday at 12:30 p.m., and will go back on Nov. 28. A week off at Thanksgiving is a long time, but we will be heading to Indiana and doing lots of visiting, so that will be very nice.

I feel like I need to post what I am thankful for, though I am sure I will miss more than a few things: I am thankful for John. He's funny and loving and a great dad. For the kids, all three of them make me laugh and smile daily. They make me remember to slow down, and sometimes cause me to. I am thankful for my parents and in laws. They have helped in more ways than they will ever know. For all of my friends, near and far. For (don't laugh) free long distance. Helps me feel closer to everyone. For a roof over my head, food on my plate and heat in my house. I am also thankful we found a church we really like with truly nice people. For a vehicle I don't worry too much about. And I am thankful for my health.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Wednesday, November 09, 2011

I cannot believe how fast the end of the year is coming! We have Thanksgiving, JACK'S 5TH BIRTHDAY!!!, and then Christmas. Wow. In a year with a major move and a new baby, time flies even faster I think!

Trying to figure out where to put our Christmas tree is proving tricky and the fact that Jack wants us to decorate RIGHT NOW is not putting any less pressure on us! Wonder if he's buying into the early commercialization of Christmas...

Choir practices, Girl Scouts and running club, on top of PTO are making a full schedule! Not to mention each of the big kids have a church Christmas program and one at school! I love it! I do. I just wish we didn't have to rush.

Wednesday, November 02, 2011

Halloween!

  by The Joys of Motherhood
, a photo by The Joys of Motherhood on Flickr.

We had a great party at Lauren's school on Halloween and then got to go trick or treating that night. The kids got a TON of candy and Kate got a nap. It was gorgeous weather!

More later...

Thursday, October 20, 2011

Fall break

Who gets a week long fall break? FSSD, that's who! So the launch of the iPhone perfectly aligned with Jenna's birthday party, so John did not get to go to Indiana with us. I packed up the kids and headed to Indiana. Friday night, we spent at Mother and Dad's house, got up Saturday morning and went to Rebecca and Bryan's house to let the kids play and visit. After that, we went to get Malee to head to Evansville for Cici's Pizza for lunch and going shopping at Sam's Club. When we got back in town, we went to Aunt Marie's house for a small family gathering for her 98th birthday. It's always good to see family, but it does make me miss granddad, especially when I see Uncle Norman. (as a side note, I originally typed his name as Normal, which makes me laugh because I know no normal Carnahans). We spent Saturday night at Chuck and Malee's house and then Sunday was PARTY DAY!
It's hard to believe Jenna is 4 already! We played, ate and watched gifts be opened and enjoyed. Then Daisie and Daphne got to come over and play for a while. Kate enjoyed a nap outside with Dusti holding her until they had to head home. From there, we headed to Jill's parents house to play with her kids for a couple of hours, then on to Janelle's house to play there too!
Finally on Monday, we headed back to the land of Dixie. It was good to be home. We missed John and I think he missed us, too. We played around and went out enjoyed ourselves since John was able to take some time off on Wed., Thurs and will again on Friday.
I'm glad for a week of fall break. Next break? A week off at Thanksgiving. Lots of breaks, but we'll make the best of all of them!!
More later...

Saturday, October 08, 2011

Fall

This is some wonderful weather we are having. Beautiful, blue skies, around 80 degrees. Makes me want to take a walk at night, but without a sitter to watch the kids and not wanting to carry sleepy kids home, we don't walk at night.

Kate is growing like a weed, Lauren and Jack are, too. Hard to believe he'll soon be 5 yrs. old. I enjoy seeing them be older siblings to Kate. Jack LOVES to make her laugh and giggle. His favorite pass time is giving "zerberts" on my arm. Lauren is reading more, on her own, with no prompting from me. She is working hard in her intervention program to get up to speed on reading. Math is certainly her strong suit! Don't know how or where she got that, but I'm thankful she did!

Kate is now up to 8 teeth and started crawling a couple of days ago. TOO FAST!

More later...

Saturday, September 17, 2011

She loved it!

The lock in was a success. She had fun, met nice kids, ate pizza and had a scavenger hunt that ended with ice cream, watch "The Brady Family (Bunch)" movie and learned about her bible. SUCCESS!!

Today after pick up, we went to the Franklin Farmer's Market where I spotted two celebrities. Not super star struck, but definitely star excited. I played it cool and didn't attack them or take their picture or anything, but I did want to...They deserve to have family shopping/normal time, right? Right.

Off to dinner with friends thanks to Living Social. Maybe we will see more celebrities? I know the Judds have been known to eat there.

More later...

Friday, September 16, 2011

First church lock in

Tonight is Lauren's first church lock in. All of the 3rd graders at our church were presented a bible last Sunday and tonight they will learn how to use them. I think it is a terrific idea! A bible can be a confusing tool to use, especially at first! She is very excited!! I volunteered to take a dozen cookies, so after school drop off this morning, Jack and Kate and I will be going to Sam's to get some cookies. Wonder if he'll try to get me to buy some for our house as well...bet I know.

Thursday, September 15, 2011


So...

A few things have happened since December....

Dec. 17: Found out we had to move to TN
Dec. 18: I was admitted to St. Mary's for stomach flu/sever dehydration/rapid heartbeat and put in ICU for baby and heart monitoring
Dec. 19: Released from the hospital, told the kids we were moving. It was not pretty.
Dec. 30-31: Spent time in TN to find a place to live.
Jan. 6: Talked to the relo company
Jan. 11: Moving semi arrived, pulled down the power line, kids were out of school for snow, so they were there for the packing both days
Jan. 14: Met the truck in TN for unloading
Jan. 17: John started his new job, we stayed in IN to finish the pg./deliver etc.
Feb. 10: KATHERINE ALLISON was born
Feb. 24: The entire family leaves for TN
Feb. 28: Lauren starts her new school, Johnson Elementary

We do lots of fun things...summer comes and goes (far to quickly) and here we are. Lauren in 3rd grade, Jack in PreK, and Kate 7 mo. old.

I'll try to be better about posting...we'll see.