Polar Bear 5K!

One of my New Year's Resolutions is to run the Cooper River Bridge 10K in Charleston this spring! Well... for those who know me well, I am NOT a runner (wish I was)... but I am a goal oriented person... so along came the plan to run the 10K. I've got to run on a regular basis to train for a 10K... so here I am. Well, last Saturday I ran in the Polar Bear 5K with my friend, Leslie (thanks for keeping me going!) We had SO much fun... the race was on a trail vs. pavement, and I loved it. Our time was 38:45... not bad considering it is only my second 5K ever and the first one was before the twins came along. So... we are motivated (Leslie is running the bridge run with me)... and we are running! Many congrats to our friend, Jennifer N., who won an award for our age group (and thanks for cheering us on at the finish line)!

SNOW What Fun!!!

On Tuesday morning, we woke up to SNOW!!! I was actually shocked! They were calling for snow, but since there has not been significant accumulation here in over 10 years, I really didn't think it would amount to much. Well, I was wrong!! We had over 2 inches in our yard! The kids were SO excited... school was cancelled... so we bundled up and headed out after breakfast! Hunter came over... they made a snowman & snow angels. It was still snowing pretty hard when we went outside the first time... Jamie & Jacob were ready to go in after 5 minutes, but the girls played for awhile. Then... we all came in, drank hot chocolate, and Hunter stayed for a play date. Too bad there are not any hills here... that was the one good thing about living on a hill in Raleigh... hope some of you took a ride on the sleds for us!

7:30 AM - CAN WE GO PLAY??? Not yet... let's eat breakfast first!

10:00 - Finally made it outside

(Yes, it took us that long just to eat & bundle up!)

I really never thought we would see this house covered with snow! It was a fun day... as the first snow day always is! Fortunately, the 2nd day... school was only delayed... and now the snow has melted. I will say, after washing load after load after load of laundry generated from bundling up 4 children in multiple layers... I am ready for summer time... no socks... just flip flops & crocs... warmer weather... beach trips... and less laundry!

WORTH THE WAIT!!!

It is official... Jacob is potty trained!!!! We are finally done with diapers... wow, I can think of many things I could buy with the money we will save! Jamie potty trained back in May... and I thought that Jacob would give in to the peer pressure and potty train then, too. Well... he did not... he could have cared less about sitting on the potty or about getting skittles. So we waited until he was ready... and waited... and waited... and waited... all summer, all fall... then over Christmas break... he decided he was ready and honestly, he pretty much trained himself. He was actually the easiest one to train... and I was prepared for him to be the most difficult. SO... it was definitely worth the wait... he was ready... and I was, too!!! YIPPEE!

Friends, Family, & Fun in Raleigh

I was able to take the kids to Raleigh for a long weekend and we were able to catch up with a few friends. We really do miss all of you guys and it is so great when we get to see you... I love how all of us, especially the kids, just jump back into things like we just saw each other yesterday. We cannot wait to see you guys again!!!! James stayed home to study b/c he has started another class towards his MBA. We had a really nice weekend (except for ending up in Urgent Care w/Jaycie having strep... so all 4 kiddos ended up on antibiotics at the same time, go figure!)

The big girls - Jessica, Madison, and Morgan

The middle girls - Hannah, Caroline, Jaycie, and Mackenzie
The baby - Miley
The wild crew (part 1) - Jacob F. & Jamie
The wild crew (part 2) - Jackson & Jacob
BFF's - Jaycie & Emma
They were so excited to have a sleep over!
Sydney LOVES spaghetti!
Nana, Papaw & The Gang
Jessica gives out horse rides... there are always takers!

And they all came tumbling down...

The Latest With Black Jack

Our new puppy, Black Jack, is doing well and growing fast. He got a clean bill of health from the vet. He is a lab mix, probably 10-12 weeks old. The vet guessed he will weigh 70 lbs as an adult... I think she underestimated! Time will tell! He loves to play fetch, steal shoes & mittens, and cuddle up in a lap. When he chases the ball or rope, he slides to get it like he is stealing home base... funny to watch! Jessica adores him! BUT... we are still not sure whether or not we can keep him long term. Jacob has had a lot going on... and over the past 2 weeks he has had a cold and unexplained rash... then an ear infection... started a new antibiotic which we since have found out he is allergic to (hives on top of the rash)... SO Jacob and Black Jack have been separated since the first week we had Black Jack. Hopefully, we are figuring some things out and will be able to reintroduce him to Black Jack this weekend without any complications. If the rash or hives return, then we will have to find a new home for Black Jack. Please say a prayer that everything that has happened has another explanation...

Jessica with Chance & Black Jack

Black Jack and the twins play for the first time!


Jacob has found a new buddy... hopefully a permanent one!

Sweet Black Jack... it took many shots to get this one of him sitting still!

Do these glasses make me look smart??

We enjoyed keeping my sister's dogs (Cody & Dempsy) over Christmas... and were wondering if glasses really do make you look smarter??

Cody - I think he does look smart!Dempsy - I think he looks like an old school teacher!

Jan - There may not be any hope (he he he - we love you!)

Our Last 2008 Christmas Celebration

Nana, Papaw, Aunt Shelly, Uncle Jan, and Sydney came to visit the weekend after New Year's to celebrate Christmas with us! The kids love being with their cousin, Sydney. We exchanged gifts, played, ate, Sydney gave Baron lots of extra love, we celebrated Papaw's 60th birthday, and we ate some more!

All of my girls wanted their hair done like "Baby Sydney's hair"

New Year's In a Nutshell...

I have gotten a little behind on my blog... as the past few weeks have been interesting for us. So... better late that never, here are some pictures from New Years! Hunter came over for a sleepover with Jacob the night before New Year's Eve. They had a blast... the first friend sleepover for both of them. The girls had a sleepover together in Jessica's room... Jamie felt like such a big girl!

On New Year's Eve... we headed over to the park with a few friends to celebrate an early New Year's with a "balloon drop" at noon... the kids had fun, except Jamie b/c her balloon got dirty, she was tired, and life just wasn't going her way at that moment. Along with my kids... Hunter and Reagan (trying to hide from my camera!) are in this group of pictures...

After dinner, Hunter and his mom & dad joined us for a parade thru the neighborhood. Mom & Jim came to celebrate with us, also! After our parade, we headed to Hunter's house to break the pinata! I think the pinata may have to be a New Year's tradition for us now... the kids had a blast and Jacob was happy to exchange all of his candy for skittles at home. The twins went to bed at their usual time, but Jessica & Jaycie made it until midnight for the first time while we watched the ball drop and toasted in the New Year! (James got in a nap until 11:55 pm...) HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

And The Name Is...

Drum Roll Please....

Black Jack!

Jessica came up with this name last night and when she said it we all liked it. We had a few runner ups we were thinking about today, before we made our final decision... "Finley" was my choice because the Wolfpack plays at Carter-Finley Stadium, "Bojangle" had been thrown around b/c I cannot resist their fries... but the kids didn't really like it, Jamie kept calling him "Mackie"... not sure where that came from & Jessica also came up with "Oreo"... but we all really liked Black Jack! Besides, we figured he has been dealt a really lucky hand this time around ;) It is suiting him well. I will post more pictures when I have more time!

The Puppies Have Homes!

Great news... all three puppies have homes! The first puppy... the leader of the pack... found a new home last night... thanks to Craigslist! Three girls (20-ish) took him home and were arguing over who would get to hold him on the drive... they said they were naming him Travis and he was going to be an indoor dog. I visualize some spoiling. Jessica had tears and more tears. I reminded her that we were not supposed to get attached and she admitted... "Mom, I got attached the first second I saw them." No surprise there...

The next puppy to go to a new home was the little runt... the black & tan puppy. When Jessica got off the bus today, she came running home and asked if the puppies were still here. I told her that someone was coming to pick one up this evening... she started to cry. She stayed outside with them all afternoon, even doing her homework with the puppies at her feet. The good news is that it is a friend James works with... this made Jessica very happy b/c she knows we will get updates! He came by tonight with his son to take the puppy home. They said they were naming him Chance...

The last puppy... the chunky monkey... is ours to KEEP! The girls convinced us to keep him... he is wonderful with the children... and is absolutely adorable (although he is in the garage crying right now b/c he misses his brothers). We talked a lot about our decision and I told Jessica that my head new we didn't need a puppy, but my heart wanted to keep him... my heart won out. She asked me last night if I was sure my heart didn't want to keep both puppies that were left... good try, Jess. So... the puppy is supposed to be an outdoor dog... Jessica asked me tonight if my heart really wanted him to come inside... I just replied that my head was in control again ;) The kids are excited... Jacob is a little rough with him, but he tolerates it well. Baron, our 12 year old boxer, is tolerating him well, too. We do have to keep them separated b/c the puppy gets up under Baron's feet and this has caused Baron to fall. When they are together, we are present... the puppy wants to play and lick Baron... Baron's expression seems to say "Seriously?????"

So... we are now trying to decide on a name... any suggestions??? Thinking about staying away from the "J's"...

Puppies... Puppies... Puppies

WE NEED HOMES!!!!
FREE PUPPIES!!!

Puppy 1... the leader of the pack...

Puppy 2... the chunky monkey...

Puppy 3... the sweet little runt...

We are looking for homes for these abandoned puppies. I was at the Farmer's Market today w/my mom... and the place was empty. We only saw 4 other people there... and 2 of them worked there. Anyway, we went to walk into the coffee shop and this little puppy came running up to us (I saw the other 2 hiding in the breezeway). I went in to ask the lady behind the counter whose puppies they were and she said they had been abandoned behind the store in a box that morning. We walked thru the breezeway to the back and the 2 other puppies had gone back in their box. They were cold & hungry and I couldn't leave them there... so we piled them in the truck and brought them home. The kids were ELATED... James was, well... tolerant. We have set up the large crate we used to keep Baron in and they are in the garage. They are ADORABLE & SWEET... and IN NEED OF HOMES!!! We cannot keep them b/c Baron is so old that a puppy would probably do him in... and the twins are still young enough that having a puppy would probably do me in. At first, the kids wanted to name them and we came up w/some silly names we were calling them but we have decided NOT to name them b/c we don't want the kids to get too attached (it may be too late for our animal lover, Jessica, as I know tears will be shed when they leave). So, we are calling them Puppy 1, Puppy 2, and Puppy 3... in the order we found them. We will see how that goes... ha, ha, ha. Anyway... IF YOU OR SOMEONE YOU KNOW WOULD LIKE A NEW PUPPY, LET US KNOW!!!!!!