Miss them already

Mom frying up some cubed steak for supper - it was delicious!!



Poppa and Hunter



We just got done enjoying a five day visit from my Mom and Dad (Nana and Poppa). They are on their way home right now and I already miss them. Of course we stay in touch with phone calls and emails, but it is not the same as actually being together and having them share in our daily life. Although I am very happy for them and the successful lives they have in Georgia now, I miss that day to day contact. I miss the meals shared, shopping trips, having them come to the kids' events, giving them baths, reading books, etc., etc..... We did all that while they were here and it was great for all of us - I just wish it didn't have to end. We are grateful that at least we don't live any further away than we do. I know some of you reading this can totally relate to what I'm talking about. For those of you who are fortunate enough to have your parents/grandparents living close enough to share your daily lives, please don't take that for granted. It is such a blessing. I am thankful that we have Gus's parents so close and the kids love their Mimi and Poppa Kornegay very much. I just want my parents close, too!! We're looking forward to our next opportunity to get together. Until then.... We love you Nana and Poppa Harper!!

I'm Drowning!

Literally. Drowning. In a ocean of laundry! I normally average about ten loads per week (more if I change sheets), but since the stomach virus plague has hit my house on Friday, I've lost count. Meagan started on Friday morning at 4:30 and since then everyone has fallen victim except ME. I am hoping and praying that I don't get it because who will take care of me and keep up with all the laundry!! You know Moms don't get "sick days". The good news is that is seems pretty short lived. Meagan seems to be better by now. Gus's started on Saturday and ruined his fishing trip and men's fellowship with the church. He is feeling a bit better by now, too. Hunter started this morning while the girls and I were at church. He was so sweet, cute, and pitiful when I got up from a nap this afternoon. He was in his diaper and so cuddly. He's sleeping now and hopefully he'll be okay tomorrow. Tonight I was catching up on the TV I've DVR'd the past few days and folding laundry (what else?) when Avery succumbed to the illness. Let me just say that pizza throw up has got to be some of the worst stuff I've EVER smelled and you can bet that in my 10+ years as a nurse in a hospital that I have smelled some dang rank smells!! You can take that one to the bank! Anyway, so now the throw up sheets, etc. have moved to the front of the laundry line since I can't stand to have those things stinking up the place for any length of time.

The only GOOD thing about all of this could possibly be the timing. What I mean by that is my parents are coming down next weekend for a visit and I'm sure glad we're sick now instead of then. We cherish the time we get together and I don't want any sickness getting in the way of some good old fashioned spoiling from Nana and Papa. Hey, I'm trying to be positive here! Hope all of you are well - don't come near our house and maybe you'll be saved!

Extreme Blog Makeover

So, you might have noticed my blog looks a little different these days. Many thanks to my sister, Lisa for helping me figure out some of this stuff and make over my blog. I really never liked the plain pink background, but it was just something to get me started. Anyway, I am enjoying the blog thing and I'm surprised that I've stuck with it for this long really. I love checking out everyone else's blogs, too. I know it's not the same as connecting in person or with a phone call, but it's the next best thing. Happy blogging!

Obsessive Cullen Disorder (OCD)

I know this post will extremely interest some, and for others - totally bore. So, for you fellow Edward lovers out there, this one's for you. The rest of you can just check back another day! Just wanted to give my favorite book/movie/soundtrack/author a little love today. I started reading the Twilight series in November and finished with Breaking Dawn in January. I have seen the movie twice and am listening to the soundtrack as I type this. Oh, I have also read Midnight Sun and have the movie on pre order from Amazon. Am I "obsessed"? Maybe a little. But here's why : I am completely in awe of the author Stephenie Meyer and her talent. I love her ability to write such a detailed, descriptive account of something completely fictional to the point that it seems so real. I am not a huge reader, but her books changed that for me. The only thing I would change is adding more detail of the honeymoon and the nights at the cottage - you know you all were thinking that, TOO! Of course, the whole forbidden love theme is very engaging. Especially that the awesome, hot, perfect guy falls head over heels for the average girl. That always strikes a cord! Anyway, to you all you other Twilight fans out there - anytime you want to talk/obsess over anything related to Edward, etc. , I'm your girl! (I'm sure Gus would enjoy the break!)

Baby, It's COLD outside!

Well, I know to many of you fellow Floridians, you can relate to my title! For those of you friends and family further north, you are probably thinking - "yeah, right". But trust me, for us down here, 25 degrees while we were waiting for Avery's bus was pretty bad!
Now, maybe some of you are thinking, "Man, Janet must be really bored/boring to be blogging about the weather!" However, when I started this blog, I didn't just want to write about what my family or I did every day, but rather my feelings, thoughts, etc. So, what all this cold weather makes me think about is how thankful I am to be so blessed that I could feed my family a nice warm supper of soup and cornbread last night. How blessed I was to give my children warm baths, put them in cozy pajamas, and tuck them into their comfy beds last night. I also have a new appreciation/understanding for the way my Dad used to tell us to put on socks/pants to warm up instead of turning up the heat when I was a kid. Plus, I actually like this break from the heat! You know down here we can wear shorts about 10 months of the year and I actually enjoy putting on a cozy sweatshirt and jeans every now and then! Oh, and one more thing to be thankful for the cold - my husband is like a human electric blanket at night! Stay Warm and Cuddle Up everyone!

Busy week

Sorry I haven't posted anything in a while, but this week has been a blur! My best friend, Hannah, gave birth to her beautiful twins John and Whitney on Monday night and it has been non-stop since then. The babies are in Orlando right now due to difficulty with their breathing, but they are making progress and should be down there about a week or so. I was able to go there yesterday and it was wonderful to get to see them up close and touch them. Although I've been a nurse for 10 years, I've never been in a NICU and it's amazing. It gave me a new appreciation for my healthy children. Please keep Wes, Hannah, big sister Addie, John and Whitney in your prayers! For more up to date info you can check out Hannah's blog at hannahmcclain.blogspot.com. I don't know how to do the "link" thing, so you 'll just have to type it in for yourself!

My sweet Meagan

Just wanted to share a sweet moment that occurred between Meagan and me this afternoon. I was sitting beside her while she ate her lunch after getting home from preschool. I had to "encourage" her to taste some of the organic apple I had cut up for her and when she did, her face lit up and she said, "Gimme five, Momma! This apple is delicious! I love you!" WOW - guess I'll be buying organic apples all the time! It's worth a few dollars extra for that kind of reaction, don't ya think?