{Never Forget}

It's amazing how an event can define your lifetime. I could never understand how my parents could remember exactly where they were when Kennedy was shot. But now I remember exactly where I was when the first plane hit the Twin Towers, on September 11, 2001, sitting in the hallway of my high school during our 'break'.  I remember exactly who came through the doors saying a plane hit the Towers and thinking what a horrible accident. I remember sitting in English class when the second plane hit. We were finally allowed to watch the news in my history class, and for the first time in my life I remember being afraid. Our great nation was under attack. I learned 'war' is a nasty, terrible, but necessary word, and the word 'fear' was a part of daily life.

In the midst of this tragedy, you started to hear other words, hope and healing. People put aside their differences and began to rebuild broken lives and our broken country. Eleven years later, it still hurts to watch the footage, but it reminds us of what a strong resilient country we are.

Today, tell a fireman, policeman and soldier thank you.  They're missing supper with their families so you can eat with yours. Offer a helping hand.  Be proud to be an American. 

{Bubbles}

{This and That}

My sweet, sweet little baby girl is growing up and coming out of her shell right before my eyes.  Today she did something I never thought she'd do, and it made my heart so happy.  She went to Aunt Tina's house.  I'm sure some of you are rolling your eyes and saying, "Oh, that is SUCH a HUGE deal..."

 

A little background on this monumental event.  Tina is my boss and is practically family.  Tina is the aunt to Kaylee, who is AK's age, her brother Troy, the twins, David and Braxton, all in 1st grade, and THEIR sister, Alexis who's in 9th grade.  Bear with me, I like for everyone to be introduced.  Also, please note that Ava Kate would cry and turn away every time Tina would look in her direction.  Tina has been very patient and hasn't taken any offense to Ava Kate's cold shoulder.   

 

Ava Kate has slowly but surely been coming around to her Aunt Tina in the last month or so.  Today Tina and Alexis came to pick up Kaylee and the boys, and Ava Kate just ran up to Alexis and hugged her around her legs like she's known her forever (I think today was the first day they've really been around each other).  We got everyone packed up, ready to go and walked them to the door.  Then, Ava Kate starts fussing after them, so Tina asks her if she wants to go to her house and play with Kaylee.  She nods her head and reaches out for Alexis (!!!!).  They all head to the van.  Now, AK has done this a few times, then realizes I'm not there and starts crying, so they come back.  Not today.  Not only do they get IN the van, they DRIVE OFF.  I'm at the door of the nursery with my chin on the floor.  Surely Tina's going to turn around and bring her back crying and screaming.  NO!  They keep driving down to her house.  Tina did say she had to run to the high school to pick up Lane (her not so baby boy) and Alexis would keep Ava Kate and Kaylee at her house til she got back.  I picked my chin up and was thinking Oh.  My.  Word.  This is going to be a disaster. 

 

A few minutes pass and my phone rings.  Here it is.  Tina's bringing her back crying.  NO!!  She tells me Ava Kate and Kaylee are playing fine, happy as clams.  NO TEARS!  I'm am so happy I could do a little dance around the daycare.  The next hour til close passes without another phone call.  Ok, ok, ok.  I maybe asked Will (Tina's oldest son who was working with me) to call and check on things.  All is well!  I get our things together and head down to Tina's house and find her on the floor next to Tina reading books. 

 

It certainly puts my mind and heart to ease knowing that my little girl is with people who love her and who she (FINALLY) loves too. 

 

And, as if this day couldn't get any better, we had the MOST delicious supper ever.  Portobella mushroom pizzas.  As in, portobella mushrooms instead of pizza crust.  I may be using the term 'we enjoyed it' loosely.  Chad said it was good but the real thing is better.  Humph.  Here's the recipe I followed.  I used sausage, and no olives, but I'm sure you can use whatever pizza toppings you like.  I made two using spaghetti sauce and two using pesto sause.  Pesto > spaghetti.  I also added Parmesan cheese.  Yummm. 

{About Town}

This is how our shopping trips start out. Quiet and peaceful. Ava Kate being a peach, sitting in the buggy like she's supposed to.

 

 

This is how they end up. 

 

 

I'm not quite sure how Chad and Ava Kate came up with this game.  A little girl can only sit for so long...

 



{Third Time's a Charm?}

Sheesh.  My last post was in October of last year, and here it is already August.  I hope I can get this ol' blog going one more time. 

 

We've had some pretty big changes in the Weaver household.  The first being we moved, and the second being we have a TODDLER.  The third being we survived a move with a toddler?  Chad and I were beyond blessed to be given the opportunity to live on the beautiful Lake Murray.  In June, we packed up 1010 Main Street headed to Chapin to call this our home:

 

 

Even though we parted with the address, I just can't part with the blog name.

 

And on to the reason I don't have time to blog I started blogging in the first place!  Ava Kate is officially a toddler.  I was looking at my last post and trying to remember her being that small!  And still!  Gone are the days of perching her on hay bales.  I spent the first year of her life teaching her to walk and talk, and now I'll be spending the next 17 teaching her to sit still and be quiet!  She is almost 18 months old now, which I think is a hilarious age.  I'm probably a little biased in saying this, but she's the cutest thing in the world. 

 

 

She takes in everything she sees.  We maybe made the mistake of letting her watch the Olympics.  Between the swimming, diving and gymnastics, she's learned some pretty fancy moves.  We see a lot of this:

 

 

Another fancy move - jumping off of things.  If you hear "Twooo, BUMP!" (translate: one, two, three JUMP) you better dive and catch her.  She got her very first black eye from not sticking one of her landings. 

 

 

Judging from this picture, it knocked her a little cray cray.  She also does floor routines where she runs back and forth, stops, dances a little jig, bends over to touch the floor and sticks one of her legs in the air.  Seriously, all of this from the Olympics.  She does do quieter activities, like read.  She loves to read, especially about animals.  We always have a thousand books strewn out across the house, but she's looked at all of them. 

 

I'll leave you with this, just because it cracks me up...get it?  Snort.

 

 

{Going to the Punkin Patch}

Ava Kate has been talking about going to a pumpkin patch (because she's never been to one in her whole life), so we packed up and went to Georgia for a weekend mountain getaway!  Fun was had by all and here are a few pictures.

Forget all  those 'baby' milestones, Seeber's learning how to drive.

A punkin with some punkins

Ava Kate LOVED the animals! 

I'm trying really hard Ava Kate is trying really hard to convince her daddy to let her have some chickens.  I think we might have him...maybe.  

{93 years young}

My Memaw turned 93 on August 27!  Memaw still lives by herself,drives,and can pretty much run circles around all of us.  She's sweet, sassy and stubborn as a goat, and oh my, do we love her!  And she loves us too!  She beams when she talks about her grandchildren, great grandchildren, and,wait for it, her great great grandbaby!  I love to see her with Ava Kate.  The other day we went to visit her and she was dancing and cuttin' the fool to get Ava Kate to smile and laugh.  I don't think I can put into words how happy I am for Memaw to get to love and hold her great great grandchild.   Memaw is the most wonderful woman I know, and I strive everyday to be like her.  Happy birthday,Memaw!  We love you to the moon and back!