New Marketing Materials

We just ordered and received some new marketing materials for Will's Center. Here is the T-shirt design. (I would have included Will's face, but he was crossing his eyes again.)

Goodbye Maple Tree (and 11 others)

1 chainsaw rental for 4 hours: $45
1 bag of ice for Will's swollen ankle: $1
2 bottles of calamine lotion for Ani's bug bites: $8
1 box of Kleenex for Evan's "goodbye Maple tree" tears: $1.50
Having TWELVE dead tees cut down, cut up, and hidden in the way-back: PRICELESS!


Evan had a hard time today. He sobbed that he never said goodbye to the maple in the front yard, he remembered hunting for Easter eggs around its base, and he wondered if he could visit it somewhere after we cut it up. Poor little guy; he didnt understand that it has been dead for some time now, other than the suckers on the trunk. Will gave him a sliver of the base, so that seemed to help. The other 11 trees (that are now gone!) were in the backyard. Draught conditions the last three years did a number on our trees, including some formerly-pretty dogwoods.

I told Will that this project was exactly what I had in mind to feel like we accomplished something on the long weekend. He is glad we will be out of town for the 4th.

March to the Sea?

You know you are becoming a Georgian when your kids start engaging in anti-Sherman propaganda.

New Camera

I'm loving my new camera, although I need a PhD in Art & Photography to know how to use all the features. I haven't had time to sit down and read the manual yet, so these pictures are a result of goofing around with the settings. (the link is to random shots of camping in the backyard, plants in our yard, and slip-n-slide riding.)

When the kids gave up their "B's" (see previous post), they each got to choose a toy at WalMart. Alex chose some plastic animals and Evan chose a Slip-n-Slide. Unfortunately, it has been too cold for water-play since the purchase, but Evan insisted on using his new gift yesterday. Above are two pictures of the icy-cold kids in the backyard. They had fun despite the temperature.

Disney Pictures

We have over 1,500 pictures (literally) of a fabulous week in Florida! Nana, Gramps, the four of us, Will's sister Megan, Greg and Tanner all met in Orlando for 6 days of fun, including three days of park hopping! We even found time to dine with Characters twice! It was a wonderful vacation -- one we will never forget.

It was near impossible to narrow down all the shots to a select few, but I tried! Here are some favorites. Click on the links below to see slideshows.

Disney Day 1: Sunday May 10 (Mother's Day) arrival at Saratoga Springs Resort and Spa
Dinner at Captain's Grill





Day 2: Epcot and Hollywood Studios








Day 3: Breakfast with Chef Mickey, (at one point, Mickey proposed to Susan/Nana!), afternoon swimming and Downtown Disney






Day 4: Magic Kingdom (where we wore our yellow Celebrate shirts!)







Day 5: Animal Kingdom and Epcot, plus in Norway (Epcot), we ate dinner with Princesses











Day 6: Downtown Disney and departure.

What a WONDERFUL trip!
Thank you again, Dan and Susan!
(more pictures are forthcoming - it takes a while to load each slideshow)

Bye-Bye B!

May 17th 2009 was remarkable not just because it was my Grampa's 85th Birthday (yay!) and my cousin Erinn's college graduation ... no.... this day will go down in Jordan Family history for yet another reason: It was the day that Evan and Alex gave up their respective "B's," aka pacifiers.

We told the boys that after we returned from Disney World, the Bs were going away. We planned a B-party, complete with presents and cake with sprinkles. Then there was a ceremonial goodbye to each B. As the kids took their last drags on the deteriorating plastic plugs, I choked back tears. As much as I hated the Bs and all the germs they carried, their departure symbolizes something I am not ready to admit: the boys are growing up.

Eighty Five

Happy 85th Birthday, Grampa!

We love you!
(here are messages from across the country!)

New York

Mothers Day Tea w/ Evan

This morning, Evan's class presented a poem and a magnificent art project to each of the moms. Evan's art portfolio is spiral bound and includes a project/picture from each month of the year. I got teary eyed when he gave it to me; it is totally awesome. The cover even has a silhouette of him. (Evan doesn't always try his best when it comes to art projects. It is clear that he worked very hard on this portfolio!) more pictures here.

Evan & Alex have had such wonderful years in school this year. It will be difficult to say goodbye to these exceptional teachers!

Mother My Darling,
Mother My Dear,
I love you
I love you
Each Day of the Year

A glimpse of summer

Mothers Day Tea w/ Alex

Alex's 2K class had a Mother's Day Tea for us this morning. They performed three songs and then we enjoyed cookies, strawberries and lemonade! It was wonderful. I appointed myself group-photographer, so here are all the moms with their respective kids. This is a class of 9 boys and 3 girls! Those poor girls....

(Alex is in the light-green shirt, directly across from the teacher, Ms Moore)

Pictures here.

Happy Birthday, Aunt Emmy!

Happy Birthday, Emmy!

Wish we could be together to celebrate!
Instead, here are many pics of us together over the years.
Can't wait to see you in July!
xoxox
love, your big sis

Brothers

I've been meaning to post this. I love it.
My cousin Sarah took the picture and designed the layout on photoshop. She even dyed the shirts last summer!
Thanks, Sar!

More Strawberries

I joined a few other moms and their kids for a late afternoon trip to Twin Oaks Fun Farm/ Strawberry patch. The place we went today is different than our "usual" farm and it includes a magnificent playground! We will definitely return again before strawberry season is over and I look forward to their fall activities, as well!

Would you look at the size of those strawberries!?

These are a few of my favorite things....

Today was our last MOPS meeting until August. As a special treat (and with our hard-earned consignment sale proceeds), the leadership team treated all present at the meeting to a few of our favorite things. (For those who do not know, Oprah did a show from Macon a few years ago where she surprised the audience with her Favorite Things... new fridge, etc etc). We did not give away anything quite so fabulous, but it was a great morning nonetheless!

Here is a behind-the-scenes picture as we staged bags and bags of chocolate to give away!
My gift was a Starbucks gift card for everyone. :)

MOPS Summit

Pictured: Back L to R: Sarah, Mary, Jennifer, Leigh, Sarah, Ani, Brooke; Front L to R: Jill, Laura, Donna, Rachel, Amanda, Kelly, Dianne

I spent Friday afternoon - Saturday at a MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) Leadership Summit in Savannah. The meeting was well attended by our Macon MOPS leadership team, with 14 of us present. The event was simulcast live from Denver (the location of MOPS international) to over 30+ sites nationwide, with our Savannah site as the largest satellite location in the southeast. The conference was good, but spending time with some really fun friends was even better!

On Friday we ate lunch at Paula Deen's restaurant, had dinner at a Pirate themed seafood place, and spent a lot of time giggling. Saturday was mostly business. All in all, it was super.

(pictured above, lunch at Paula Deen's The Lady & Sons Restaurant in Savannah)

Strawberry Picking

We took our annual trip to Elliott Farms late this afternoon to pick strawberries. We picked (rather, Will picked) about 7 lbs. I took picture and the boys carried the buckets! Amazingly, over 1/2 the strawberries are already gone! Delish. Pictures here.

Evan reads

We are so proud of Evan and his reading. Really, that is an understatement. He surprises us everyday as he reads signs around town. He told us that if he keeps practicing, he will be reading Scooby Doo books next week!

Huge thanks to my friend Angie who introduced us to BOB books. Evan is on book 6 of 12 in the first series.

Head-Shaker

This might be one of those videos that is only funny to me... but I wanted to share nonetheless. There is something hilarious about when Alex brushes his teeth: rather than moving the toothbrush back and forth, he shakes his head. I just love it.

appearance overhaul

Perhaps it is time for an appearance overhaul. It has been bonkers around here for the last two months and neither Will nor I know if we are coming or going; there has been little time for anything other than work. We've been eating out at inexpensive fast-food joints around town, etc. But still... get this: in the last week, I've had two questions asked of me by two totally different people. Last Friday, someone asked me if I was expecting. (I am NOT). Yesterday, someone asked me if I was Alex's Grandma!?

oh my.

Embarrassing as this is to share, I'm hoping that posting it will encourage me back onto the weight watchers wagon. And perhaps it is time for more highlights in my graying hair?

on second thought.... pass the chocolate.