Roll Call

Okay, I'm curious if anyone is/who might be reading this blog...

Leave a comment and let me know who you are--even if you are a friend of a friend of a friend of a brother-in-law's friend, or a high school friend, or someone I see everyday. I'm just curious.

And another thing...

Don't forget to check out the links on the left of this page!

There are some really fun blogs on there along with a few of my favorite things...

like...Southern Tide polos that everyone claims are the softest...I'm waiting for them to come out with girl ones.

like...flower magazine--I know some of you are clicking this one. Keep it up and while you are at it, order a subscription for yourself or someone you love. It's that time of year.

like...Beth Moore's blog--because who doesn't love Beth Moore?

like...Ole Miss Mom's blog--she is the master of coupon clipping and has the cutest family ever.

like...Jennie Harris' blog offering wit and deep thoughts.

...and of course Forsyth Family and Woman Magazines for whom I write and thus you should check out their website...they also have some good giveaways and funny, informative articles too!

Have a restful Sunday!

Harris Teeter Savings

I have finally done it! I have saved a substantial amount of money at the grocery store! I am on my way to stockpiling and saving more!

Harris Teeter has had some amazing deals lately! They usually are pretty good about having Coke products at BOGO free every month or so, and if you watch we can buy 100% Cranberry Juice at BOGO free, too. Before Thanksgiving, they had an online ad with BOGO free 100% juice (Wil can only drink 100% b/c of corn syrup allergy and it is almost $5/thing of it= liquid gold), but in the store it was only the cocktail juice. So I called the manager and she offered to do it at BOGO free since that is what the ad appears to say. So...I bought 8 jugs of it. Only paid about $18 dollars! I would have bought more, but I hated to be obnoxious!

BUT TODAY...oh today!

Here is what I bought in pictures:




Amount without savings/sales: $111.89
Amount Paid: $56.08
Amount Saved: $65.16

I am so excited!!!!

Here is how I saved, in case you are curious. This was using only 1 coupon!
Lysol Spray @ $3.29- $.50 coupon doubled= $2.29
Juicy Juice: Buy 2, get 3 FREE...I paid $7.98 for 5 jugs of Juicy Juice
Perdue Chicken Breasts: Buy 1, Get 2 Free...I paid less than 3 dollars each for 6 packages of chicken.
London Broil: Buy 1, Get 1 Free...I paid about $4 for each (They are normally about $8 - $10)
Broccoli: BOGO Free.
Fresh Express Salad Bags: Buy 1, Get 2 Free...I paid $1.09 for each bag of salad.
I also bought Life, Kashi cereals (Kashi was on sale for $3.29), 2 organic apples (on sale for $1.91), and Oatmeal.

I am sure this was a long and tedious post, but I was so EXCITED. I actually pumped my fists above my head in the air and said "YES!!" when the 20-something cashier boy told me how much I saved.

What we have been up to..

In addition to changing backgrounds on the blog, we have been traveling for Thanksgiving and now studying for finals (Wil) and getting ready to finish up student teaching and final presentations (me). Wiley is still doing the usual. This will be his last week with Millie, who has been babysitting for us since he was 3 months old! It is hard to believe that this chapter in his life is coming to a close.

Here are a few pictures of what we have been up to:

Wiley at Thanksgiving


Brian, me, and Wil before Heritage Ball


Maddie and me before Bal d'Hiver (She's officially "in" society)


The men of Wake Forest

This is what I woke up to...

Snow in November! Wow! There is still a little bit on the ground where it is shady. We even had a 2 hour delay for schools (my school, not Wake).

And this is what I found when I got home:

A snowman who currently resides in our freezer.

i'm just saying...

i don't know a thing about this auto industry bail out thing. i won't pretend that i do. and i don't know if i should want the bail out or not want it. i probably should. but as i listen to the news here are some thoughts and advice to these execs for GM Ford Chrysler, whoever.

Don't show up to D.C. claiming that you are in big financial trouble with your company in your massive private jet on which you were the only passenger. Don't proceed to check in at the waldorf or ritz carlton or whatever the fancy hotel is in DC. It really does not help your case when you won't cut your own salary or heaven forbid, ride 1st class on a commercial flight to a meeting in DC. just some thoughts.

Hey Eli, we miss you!

We know that you are having fun in Spain, but we sure do miss you!

(Oh, yeah, your Wake RUF t-shirt came in a few weeks ago...)

Halloween...a little late

Sorry, these pictures are pretty poor quality. It was dark and I was using my phone. Regardless, he sure is a cute lion!

it finally happened....

*if queasy, you are forewarned...read at your own risk...

we've heard horror stories.

in wil and david's case...funny stories. (not in tanya's case)

in our case. it was quick.

wiley is bathing happily. I am talking to wil. we are all in the bathroom. all of a sudden wil looks over at wiley in the tub and there it is.

that's right. he pooped in the tub or pool (ahem, brooke).

(if at this point you are getting sick, get over it. someday you too will have a child poop in the tub.)


we quickly retrieve wiley, wil takes him to our bathroom to clean him up, and i am left with the poopy tub. surprisingly enough, i would say it was handled calmly and without any fuss. i won't go into detail but with the help of a cup and clorox the tub is cleaned up. i do have a strategy and should anyone need it, i will share, but i will not force my friends who are just studying for finals at this point in their lives to read how to clean your toddler's poop out of the tub.

you can thank me later.

so, there it is.

(by the way, tanya (or anyone who knows wil's gag reflex, ahem, brian), you will be pleased to hear that throwing up did not follow this pooping incident.)

(and apologies to the younger sibs, its okay, you are in good company)

Camera Charger Come Back!!

I had such cute pictures to share from my fall break in the Ham. But sadly, the camera battery charger has been lost in the shuffle. And the battery is dead. When it returns, I will have new pictures.

Student Teaching continues with a newfound admiration for working moms and the teachers that put up with me and my classmates all those years. We are doing a class pool to see how much weight the Student teacher will gain while she is in their classroom. It is a good way to integrate the math concept of estimation. haha just kidding. but seriously. We have snack everyday. And on birthdays, we have cake or cookies or something delicious. And this week--we had a mom send in carrot CAKE on the day she was supposed to send in vegetables. I think she was being a little liberal in her interpretation of what is a vegetable. Nevertheless, I ate a piece of that wonderful cake with cream cheese icing on it. And then I brought the 2 leftover pieces home for the boys. and I may or may not have stolen a bite.

Wiley is a hoot. He tried to shake his finger at us tonight to say "no no." we nipped that one in the bud. but it sure was hard to not laugh. he also pulled his poopy diaper off yesterday morning before Wil got him out of bed. He played with the poop and got it all over his bed until Millie came and discovered the poopy mess. oh, and today, he had a terrible temper tantrum when leaving the Children's Museum...I wasn't there, but that is the rumor...

and according to Wiley he saw an elephant at target this evening. he explained that it was over by the pumpkins.

marinate on that.

Pumpkins

While Wiley is screaming in his bed, not wanting to nap, I will post these pictures to remind myself that at times he can be sweet. and creative, too. enjoy.


While he painted his pumpkin, I decided to paint our other one in a college football theme...with all the teams our family cheers for.

Wil's Birthday

Here are a few pictures from Wil's birthday. We had a lot of fun not only as a family, but with Taylor, Liz, Andrew, and of course Wake friends. Taylor and Liz got to experience a Wake football game (they say that they are taking Wake's first down cheer back to Bryant-Denny) and Andrew surprised us coming down on Friday. Here are a few pictures from the weekend.



Wiley tries on his Daddy's birthday gift:

Things that Wiley is Thankful for...

When Wiley and I were saying our prayers tonight, he had some interesting things to share with Jesus...Some nights I will say something and he repeats it. We usually start with Dear Jesus, Thank you for today. I am thankful for...

Well, tonight here is a run down of what he was thankful for, in as close to the actual order as I can remember.

Tot Lot
Poop
Dad
...and he continues to list his grandparents, aunts, uncles.

Yes. He was thankful for poop. After being thankful for the tot lot.

Let me give my explanation for Wiley's train of thought...Today, he and Wil went to the Tot Lot (playground). Shortly after arriving, Wiley pooped. He is somewhat starting to potty train, so is very aware of tee-tee and poo-poo. Wil and Wiley have to come home to change the diaper before picking me up at school. It was all he could talk about in the car when I got him. So, poop is obviously on his mind, and of course something to be thankful for.

Observation (maybe you caught this):
Things Wiley is thankful for include poop and tot lot. Things Wiley does not say he is thankful for include Mom. Hah!

Fall Happenings...

Playing at Fall Conference

Investigating Corn

Eating the corn!

Matching with Miss Maddie...If only Miss Eli was at Wake too, we could all be matching!


We sure have had fun so far!

Brad Paisley

I'm not really into music. But here is one fellow I can get excited about. Not to mention that Wil loves this guy too. Supposedly he is one of the best guitarists in country music, which is pretty sweet. I think that what Wil and I like so much about him is his lyrics. Country tends to be a little bit hokey, but these lyrics are flat out funny.

A sampling...
"I'm Gonna Miss Her"

Well I love her
But I love to fish
I spend all day out on this lake
And hell is all I catch
But today she met me at the door
Said I would have to choose
If I hit that fishin' hole today
She'd be packin' all her things
And she'd be gone by noon

Well I'm gonna miss her
When I get home
Right now I'm on this lakeshore
And I'm sittin' in the sun
I'm sure it'll hit me
When I walk through that door tonight
Yea I'm gonna miss her
Oh, lookie there, I've got a bite, Alright

Ticks
'Cause I'd like to see you out in the moonlight
I'd like to kiss you way back in the sticks
I'd like to walk you through a field of wildflowers
And I'd like to check you for ticks.

I'm Still a Guy (Wil's favorite song...I think it might be his mantra)

When you see a deer
You see Bambi
And I see antlers up on the wall
When you see a lake
You think picnics
And I see a large mouth up under that log
You’re probably thinkin' that you’re gonna change me
In some ways well, maybe you might
Scrub me down, dress me up
Oh, but no matter what
Remember, I’m still a guy

I was watching the CMT station yesterday and saw him sing this with Hank Jr. Maybe that is why I'm all hyped up on Brad Paisley today. Or maybe it is because last year his wife (Kimberly Williams Paisley a.k.a. the daughter on Father of the Bride) was announcing an award at the CMAs and when talking about the Ticks tour with maybe Carrie Underwood or Julianne Hough (some good-lookin' blonde) referred to the tour as the "You'd Better Not Check Her for Ticks" Tour. Clever lady.

Want More Brad Paisley...you know you do: http://bradpaisley.musiccitynetworks.com

Coupons

I've tried to "steal" from CVS with Extra Care Bucks and coupons. I call that attempt unsuccessful. I walked away from CVS with 2 ECBs and $30 worth of stuff...granted I was buying diapers.

But now I think I have found something I can do: Coupons for the grocery store.

I buy the paper from one of the guys at 5 points in Winston, which helps those guys out b/c they always seem like they have a ton of papers to sell, and I rarely see anyone stop. I sadly do not read the paper, but skip right to the coupons. Hey, you can't do it all...I pull out the SmartSource-like things, and any other stores I think might have stuff I would need (Target etc). Then pull out the scissors. I am trying to only clip coupons for things I know I will use/eat. I have quite a few for cleaning products and upon trying the clean the apartment this weekend, realized that I need to use those b/c we don't have a lot of cleaning supplies! I hear the dollar store has good deals + coupons...ahh.

Harris Teeter will double any coupon up to 99 cents. Which I think is good because a lot of coupons are 40 cents or 55 cents off something which doesn't seem like anything. Last week, all three of us shopped at HT, equipped with a list and corresponding coupons. Savings for that day? $10

It may not seem like much, but it sure sounds better than $2 ECBs.

Just a little update on the little man...

A Few Wiley-isms....

-when asked a question: "Umm,let's seeeee"

-when Daddy hugs Mommy: "Stop it, STOP IT, STOOOP ITTT! GO COOK! [pointing at kitchen]" (all this is directed at Wil, mind you)

-when someone does something he is not liking: grrr [low,throat growl]preceding the inevitable pounce attack.

-when given a flashlight: "Open up your mouth"

-when being talked to and he agrees with what is being said: "mm uh-huh"

-when he is scolded or disciplined: "go night, night...I want to go night night."

-when he eats something yummy: "mmm,zat good."

-when he says he loves you: "i ove you"

precious boy...

Beautiful Mess

Here I am...Back with reliable internet and a house full of suitcases, bags, and other random holders of our stuff from the summer.

Wil and I drove from the lake today in our cars, Wiley and I had quite an adventure with him screaming for about 20 minutes straight. I just tried to ignore it, knowing he was exhausted and would fall asleep soon. Wil and I both gave one another a pumped fist as we pulled into the driveway!

We are so glad to be back, but it is also really hitting me that this is going to be a really different, but great, year. I immediately looked for my friend Michal's car in the parking lot, forgetting that she doesn't live here anymore, and then I realized too that there are new people and new cars here and I don't really like change. And then I realized that we are seniors, that the next time that we are moving such a large load of stuff out of the apartment will be for good--and that there will be a moving truck with movers to lift instead of Wil and me (I hope). And that we would know where our next stop in life will be. And that is really exciting, but weird to me.

So for right now, I am going to continue to pray about the future and for God's plan to be done and not mine. I'm going to just enjoy this year, this month, this week, this day and all that comes with each of those.

And on this day I will enjoy unpacking gobs of stuff that we have accumulated...and keep Wiley out of the cabinets that he has rediscovered.

PS: Anyone interested in our orange chair? I'm ready to simplify and sell that thing. I'll post pics later.

Welcome August!

I can't believe that it is already August! And that I haven't posted in SO long! Here are a few brief updates to get everyone back to where we are on August 3.

- Wiley has hit the terrible twos. Bad. Don't be surprised if you ask how Wiley is and I reply "awful."

- The trip to Jackson Hole, Wyoming was amazing. So beautiful. It is so different out west when there is not snow on the ground. Not to mention that we saw buffalo/bison really close (maybe a little too close for comfort)(and see first picture, look behind Brooke and me, there's a buffalo!), sadly no bears or moose or elk. We did see prong-horned antelope and mule deer. Brooke and I had fun getting to know Lucy's fellow staff members too. We saw Old Faithful at Yellowstone, had a picnic there, a la Yogi Bear, rode horses, fly fished (I caught a great big spruce), and rested.

- Wiley may or may not have strep throat again. THis would be a recurrence of the strep that we discovered after we were called to pick him up from school because he had a 102 degree fever, a mere hour or so before we needed to leave for the airport, for Jackson Hole. Luckily, Dr. Bill made an emergency house call, confirmed strep, sent Wiley and T to the office and me (sobbing all the way) to the airport. W got a penicillin shot that failed to take effect, and was later called in antibiotics. It took him a good four days to get over it. So currently, perhaps I can blame the awful behavior on a possible sore throat? We'll check tomorrow and see if our low dose antibiotic is working.

- Wiley has finished school at Canterbury. I was so sad. They gave him a sweet card with all the classmates' handprints on it with their name. The teachers also wrote him sweet notes on the inside. It meant so much to me, and Wiley thinks it is pretty cool too. We put our name on the waiting list for Fall 2009 just in case we were to end up in B'ham...you just never know and if we are I want him back with Canterbury.

-I have finished my work at flower magazine, BCC teaching tennis, and Table-Matters. I am excited about the upcoming week to spend with Wiley just hanging out. I have a few things to do before leaving B'ham, including moving out of the apartment we've been in all summer.

-I will be student teaching at Clemmons Elementary in the 2nd grade! I am excited, and can't believe that student teaching is finally here! I will meet the parents at Open House on 8/20.

-Wil is currently in Bermuda, doing a mini-internship/following people around where they work. I joke with him about coming back with a job, and not just a tan. :-)

-On Friday, we will begin our trek back to Winston-Salem. We'll start out the trip with a great roadtrip with "Miss Emmy and Mr. Heaf" where we will pick up Wil in ATL. The final destination is Bald Head Island, which according to local legend is a little bit of heaven...not to mention that Cole, Raymond, and Digger the Dog will be there! After BHI, the Coopers will go to Lake Cherokee, drop Wiley off with Baba and Big Dean, and head off to Los Angeles...the land of fruits and nuts...Am I allowed to say that? We'll see a taping of 24 (Jack Bauer, please don't get any DUIs b/w now and then), explore LA/stalk movie stars. I plan on getting on a tour of famous people's homes. Then, back to ATL, back to Lake Cherokee, get child, drive to W-S. All with car loaded down like a gypsy.

-Did I mention that our DVD player in the car doesn't work, and the drive to BHI is about 9 hours?

That's all for now. That was ridiculously long.

flower magazine

Because I am on a roll with blog posts and don't want to think about leaving...

Check out www.flowermag.com (you can click the link on the left). I have been interning at the magazine this summer and am constantly amazed with the magazine itself and the people involved with it. Margot Shaw, the editor, is so passionate not only about the magazine but about life in general--it is kind of contagious. Melissa Brown and Callie Aldridge have also been so wonderful and kind--to watch their creativity at work is really fun!

And if you really love the website, go ahead and order a subscription--you won't be disappointed!

Travel

So this afternoon I am heading out west to visit a friend at a ranch in Jackson Hole with my parents and sister. The boys will be fending for themselves for about a week. Sadly, Wil couldn't go and Wiley is a little bit young for a ranch. I always get nervous and anxious before leaving, so here I am distracting myself by updating the blog. I still have to clean up the apartment and finish packing. agh!

On another note, Wiley was bit yesterday at school. At first I thought the teacher meant that Wiley had bitten another child (We had had a scare a week ago when a bite notice was put in our cubby but was for another child) and I was absolutely horrified and embarrassed. Then they let me know that in fact Wiley was the "victim." Was it bad that I was relieved? He'll recover from a bite, but teaching him not to bite could be a real problem and challenge.

We also have hit with full force, the terrible twos. We have had baby fits over buckling in the car seat, getting dressed, and just about anything that he does not want to do. So any advice on getting through the twos would be much appreciated!!
Here is a picture of Wiley appearing to be a sweet swaddled baby, but in reality throwing a babyfit b/c it was bath time...(notice how big he has gotten! He is so heavy!)

4th of July 2

Because the fish that Wil and Wiley caught was cut out...

4th of July

We had a great time at the Lake with Baba, Big Dean, Aunt B, Gena, Charlie and two new puppies! Don't worry, they aren't ours. Brooke and her boyfriend saved them near the lake, Brooke's is the fluffy, blond, golden-retriever-like one with short stumpy legs. We tubed (Wiley, included...slowly) and skiied (Brooke got up on two and I got up on one!) and just enjoyed hanging out. Wiley loved being on his beach, too! Here are some pictures from the holiday.

smartphone...is it smart?

So for school I am supposed to have a smartphone that has windows mobile. At first I was way excited...what a great excuse to have a really cool phone. Now I am a little hesitant. I love emails, I love blogs, and I have to admit I do enjoy facebooking. But with this phone it will be at my fingertips. I guess I feel like I am signing my life away--you know the phrase a "crackberry"? Well I just don't want this smartphone thing to be a "crackberry."

But also, if anyone reads this out there and has any strong opinions about the Treo 750 or the Tilt I would appreciate it...I have until late July till I sell my soul. And no, I can't use an iPhone or blackberry or blackjack. I would sell my soul to the iPhone. Not really, but they are pretty cool.

And I leave you with a picture of my son without a mullet. Sadly there are not many pictures that are appropriate for a blog from our lake trip...we were trying to dry out a diaper rash which means that we were running a baby nudist colony for a day or so. But coming soon...Wiley goes on a sea-doo and tubing...wild child!

Mullet?

You decide...Actually, I already did...it was heading that way, so off to get a haircut we went. And I bribed him. With candy. I'm not ashamed.

A day in the life of taking a 2 year old to school...

So, I supposed that I should update friends on what is going on here in B'ham since we are all scattered to the wind this summer...

Perhaps the most exciting part of this summer is that Wiley is in school (I prefer the word 'school' to 'daycare'). As I was driving to my school, UAB, this morning, I was thinking about how Wiley is doing in school. Then I thought about the application process. For those of you who haven't done this yet, in my eyes it is almost as exciting and nerve-racking as applying to college. Yes, I'm probably being a bit dramatic, but I tell you--when I got the call that we were #1 on the waitlist, That was a good day. And then when I got the call that we had gotten in--well, that called for a celebratory dinner along with a whole list of phone calls to be made to family and friends so that they too could partake in the excitement and relief that is getting into daycare, I mean, school.

And so you might ask, how is Wiley doing in school? Well, each morning we get dressed, eat breakfast, have a happy little get out of the house routine. And each morning we cry about going to school. The difference has been that we no longer cry when we see the church (where he goes to school) but that we cry when mommy picks up the pen to sign in. I mean, we all have our morning routines. I enjoy my tea when I get home from taking him and Wiley perhaps just prefers a little cry to start off his day.

And not to worry, Mrs. Sha'nique and Mrs. Mildred and Mrs. Melissa are all ready to take on the Wiley-man and his morning routine, and assure me that he is fine and will stop crying five minutes after I leave. (Which I wonder if this is true or not...I mean, would they really say, Yes Mrs Cooper, your child cried for approximately 36 minutes before he would calm down.--that would be traumatic.) 5 minutes I can deal with. After all, it is our first time in school.

Maybe the best part is picking him up, when the other children run to him and say your mom is here and he runs to the door or gate and keeps saying Mama, Mama...like "I knew you would show up."

His favorite attempt at an exit strategy would be listing off the names of possible people he could go see instead of going to school. This usually begins at the top of the hill where you first see the church.
"Go see Daddy? Go see Baba? Go see Big Dean? Go see T? Go see Aunt B? Go see Pop? Go see Uncle G? Go see Aunt Sissy? Go see Uncle Dada? Go see Emy?" Accompanied in between with my replies as to why we cannot go see the aforementioned friend or family member. I think it is pretty clever. I think he hopes that I will see his clear line of thinking and why it would be better to go play with Emy as opposed to going to school--unfortunately, none of those friends are under the age of 10. And fortunately all the children at school (in his class) are 2.

That is right. Wiley B. is hanging out with children his own age. Children that are not stressed about MCATS and LSATS and GRES, who do not worry about if their major will actually be useful, who are not freaking out because they are in the real world or will be graduating in a year, who cannot buy alcohol, who cannot write 5 research papers in a week, etc. etc.

I know, I know what you are thinking. Well, of course he is crying--suddenly you throw him in with people that are his age, who do not hold him and pamper him and think he is the cutest thing ever (which he is)...he is one of however-many 2 year olds. My, what a change, for this little college baby!

Home

Wiley has started "preschool"/daycare at Canterbury. He has done well given that it is his first time in childcare that is not at his house. But that is not the point of this post...

We are coming back to the apartment here in B'ham to go for a walk. Wiley keeps asking for apple juice (repeatedly, of course) and I keep saying (repeatedly, of course) that we don't have apple juice in the car and he will have to wait till we get home.

And then, the thought struck me that in a couple/few years, Wiley will understand the word home. And then I pictured him saying,"Mommy, this is not home. Home is at Wake Forest." It made me think about our somewhat transient lifestyle and where my home really is.

The other week when I took Wiley to the dentist to check on a tooth he had bumped and had been bothering him I had to fill out the usual paperwork. When the line for address came, I paused. "What is my home address...should I put my parent's house, or our apartment in Winston?" This happens a lot. I often put my parent's address for important documents since we claim Alabama residency still, but that is not where I live. Wil puts his parent's address when he fills out the address line in forms. My husband and I don't even put down the same address sometimes! How bizarre!

So, I'm still thinking about this. The fact that I'm not sure where I should hang my hat, so to speak. The fact that I hang it in W-S mid August- mid December and again from mid January to the beginning of May. In December I hang it at 2 houses. In the summer I hang it at another apartment.

I always tell Wil, I just can't wait to have my own front porch. I can't wait to not have to walk down 3 flights of stairs to go play outside. I don't care if I actually have a front porch, but it would be nice. I think I just would really like to not have to hesitate when I am filling out forms that have the dreaded line of "address." And you know they all have those!

So as I am thinking this, I realize how ungrateful I am being. Here I am, driving a really nice car down a beautiful road, with a healthy boy in a really safe carseat in the back who has just come from a wonderful childcare center at the church I grew up in. I'm coming "home" to an amazing apartment that a gracious family is letting us stay in for the summer (saving my sanity, at the same time!) that is in a safe neighborhood. Moreover, I have listed in my head and here FOUR places that I could call "home." Four. Four places to hang my hat. What about those families, those mothers who don't know where they will hang their hat tonight? What about those who call a homeless shelter "home?"

I am so lucky, so blessed, to have these four places to call "home." I know that my feelings about having a permanent address are real, that they are okay to feel, and that anyone with a family, particularly the mom, has those feelings--the need to settle, to nest. But at the same time, I want to remember to thank the Lord that I have a home, no matter how temporary it may be. I know that I need to remind myself to be at peace in the place I am in right now, to be thankful for what has been given--because I certainly did or do anything to deserve any of it.

So, until the day that I have my own front porch, I will hesitate at the address line, but from now on, I hope that when I hesitate I will thank the gracious Lord that I have four places, four shelters, four safe places, that I can call "home."

Sleeping Late

Home for a couple days before we are off to our next destination, Wil and I were quite tired from our past two trips, but more recently the beach. But apparently Wiley was too. And he should be since he woke up at 6:30 am each day--which is totally not normal for him.

He woke up early this morning too, but I let him talk and play. Finally, Wil got him, changed him, and brought him downstairs to play with us--anything to get a few more minutes of rest. So, we play for probably 30-45 minutes with Wiley in bed, climbing all over us. And then, something magical happened. We always try to get him to lay down with us, hoping he'll go to sleep, and for some reason today--he did!

I said, "Wiley let's go back to sleep with mommy and daddy...lay down your head on mommy's pillow." And he did. I start falling asleep and next thing i know he is asleep too! And didn't wake up till 10 am!!! Amazing! How wonderful to sleep in with the little one. Although while he was sleeping I woke up and all I could think about was his nap schedule is going to be so messed up....ahh oh, well. It was worth it, I think!

Absence makes the heart grow fonder?

Sadly, I have not had a chance to post much of anything---We've been out of town quite a bit and really, I'm not sure anything blog-worthy has happened. Maybe this makes you hope for a post even more?

The sailing trip around St. Martin, Anguilla, and St. Barths was amazing. Such a relaxing trip.

The return home to Wiley was even better. More hair, more curls, and more words! He is going to be so much fun this summer! We had our first Dentist appointment to check on a tooth that Wiley had fallen hard on when chasing his Daddy around the kitchen. It is wiggly, or "mobile" as the Dentist put it. ("Mobile"? I thought the word was loose, or wiggly?)And hopefully will stop being mobile if we keep him from biting hard foods. Wiley was fabulous but proceeded to be difficult in Zoes as he decided to rearrange all the "birthday cakes." I am pleased to announce that when Wiley eats he says "No boo boo" meaning "my mobile tooth is not causing me pain."

We are heading to the beach soon and taking him--I can't wait to see his reactions to the ocean, sand, the pool etc! It will be so fun to experience this with him for the first time! I forsee him being skeptical of the ocean. Skeptical then loving the pool. Then probably getting sand everywhere.

I wish there were more...Hopefully I can add a picture or two from the trip.

Shoutout to all of our Wake friends---my goodness do we miss you all!!! Eli and I walked today and it was so refreshing and fun. I can't believe some of our friends have graduate--yall are so old--and moving on with their lives from Wake.

Ah--the Wiley-man awakens---I'm off!

Birthday Pictures!

Here are a few pictures for our friends and family who weren't able to be here! We missed you all! I wish I could put a video on here, but I don't have the right cords to connect it. We had a birthday party at Davis Field on campus. Wiley had so many friends there, and he had a wonderful time playing in the grass with everyone. He did a lot of somersaults out there, too! He loved his animal cake, too! Wil and I are continually overwhelmed and thankful for our wonderful Wake Forest family. And Wiley just adores playing and being with you all. Happy Birthday Wiley-man!









We hope that you all enjoy the pictures!!