Memorial Day 2006

I wanted to put up a quick post regarding Memorial Day. I know most of us enjoyed this "unofficial start of summer" by either going to the shore, attending a family or church picnic (or both!), maybe even went to a parade...But how many of us stopped to think that if it weren't for the members of the armed forces who paid the ultimate price many years ago (and some more recently...)We wouldn't be able to enjoy these simple freedoms, simple pleasures that we take for granted. Many people go through this life living in our great country (some even criticizing it); however, how many would be willing to lay down their lives so that others may reap the benefits of their sacrifice. Many of these men never had the chance to get married, to bounce their own child (or grandchild) on their knee, never even made it home...

I think that it is important this Memorial Day that we take the time to remember and to thank a Vet, if we have the opportunity!

The Inside Update - Part 2

Just a quick update on Baby...I had my 16 week check up last week...Everything is going very well. I feel great, just a little tired (but what mother of three children isn't tired, right?) We heard the baby's heartbeat again...I have been feeling little flutters of movement from time to time...In just a few weeks we'll be halfway finished with the pregnancy and we'll hopefully get to find out our baby's gender...If you have any guesses, thoughts, feelings on whether its a boy or a girl & you want it to go on record (ha,ha)...Leave me a comment with what you think...

We have no preference either way...Just a healthy baby, of course...But I do have a theory that I will share...When I was pregnant with Becky, I had a really easy first trimester...no getting sick...just very tired...little bouts of nausea...With both Matthew and Jake I was more nauseous and actually got sick more during both of their pregnancies...This pregnancy is very similar to that of Becky's...Hmmmm...does this mean it's another girl - OR - just a coincidence...You'll have to tune in to the next Inside Update to find out...

V-A-C-A-T-I-O-N

Long Time...No Post...Well, we were away on vacation last week - We drove 10 hours down to TN to stay in a beautiful cabin for the week in the smoky mountains. We took Dan's mom with us on our vacation this year. We had a nice time. We went to Dollywood one day and had a great time. We went on a hike in the national park where we saw a waterfall & the kids turned over rocks to look for salamanders. We also enjoyed relaxing in the hot tub on the porch of our cabin. We had some meals in the cabin (Dan made some delicious steaks & ribs on the grill) and some out in town. We enjoyed lunch one day at Bennett's B-B-Q restaurant & an awesome dinner at Huck Finn's Catfish Restaurant where they served the unlimited "vittles" aka side dishes homestyle and they includes pickles & onions, hush puppies, coleslaw, and white beans...YUM!

We also went to the NASCAR Cafe, played mini-golf (yes, it's true, Becky beat me!), won some tickets in the arcade and the kids had a blast picking out their prizes - Matthew got a Scrat stuffed animal (the creature from Ice Age 2). Jake got new sneakers and loved his new found freedom of walking everywhere!

Jake Exploring Nature around the Cabin...

The kids at the NASCAR Cafe...

Us Outside of the Cabin...What a View!
Becky, Matthew & Sylvia...