October and September

Somehow time has gotten away from me (again), so this update will contain October and September's happenings.

***OCTOBER***

Rick's grandfather, Pop, just turned 80 years old, so all of his family and friends gathered at his house to celebrate. You would never know he is 80 years old. Rick must have inherited his endless energy and knowledge to fix just about anything from Pop.

Does this man look 80 to you?

I have to tell a funny story about Pop from several years ago. When Rick and I were living in our first house in TN, Pop came up to visit. Anyone who visited us always wanted to stay in the basement because it was cool and DARK. Pop stayed down there during his visit and came up the next morning saying he had tried to let our cat out into the garage because it would not stop meowing. Rick and I were confused because our cat Splotch was right there with us, and she had slept with us. Pop said he got up out of bed several times calling the cat saying "here kitty kitty" because he figured it wanted to go out.

We finally figured out he had heard our cat CLOCK, which was hanging on the wall down there, meowing EVERY hour all night long! Rick and I laughed so hard once we figured out where the meowing had come from, and the fact Pop had gotten up and called the "cat".

The clock was "de-meowed" that day :)

The Kennedy Clan. Pop has 5 great grandkids. Our three, Caroline and Jack. Rick's cousin Kelly had a little girl (Caroline) in June. Rick's other cousin, Robyn (Kelly's sister), had a little boy (Jack) in August.

DJZ were WILD and not cooperating. Drew is very upset because Rick took the garden hose away from him. A garden hose is almost as good as an extension cord to Drew. The vacuum cleaner is still his top pick!

Jill with Lynn (Rick's cousin). Lynn is getting ready to graduate from nursing school.

Mark, Drew and Zack had a GREAT time blowing into the garden hose. I'll post a video when I get it.

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My brother Tony celebrated his 40th on October 1st. My whole family headed to NC to spend Thursday (the guys and Amy went to the Wake/Clemson game) thru Sunday with him. Tony's wife Tina had a personal chef come to their house Saturday night as his gift. It was yummy! I was just glad "we" (meaning Amy) didn't have to cook!

Tony and his homemade carrot cake.

The girls headed out Saturday and Jill got her first haircut. Basically, we cut off her "baby mullet."

She was actually very good during her haircut!

The final product.

Cousin Emily got a much needed haircut too. Her hair looks really cute!

Drew really needs his "comb over" chopped off, but only girls were allowed on that trip. Rick has since cut Drew's comb over (aka swoop) off.

BTW- my brother John and Princess Sue Boo are EXPECTING! She is due February 5th. They are not finding out the sex, so we are not sure if we'll have a baby prince or princess. It will be grandchild #9 in 2009 for my parents.

Drew making sure the baby does not go hungry.

Cousin Jenny having chocolate chip pancakes with Zack, Drew and Jill at Tony and Tina's.

Uncle John playing the "tick tock" game with Drew.

Jill being tick-tocked.

Zack chilling with Papa John. We asked Zack if he was ready for lunch right after this picture was taken and he shot up out of the chair. That boy loves to eat!

A cousin pile up in the hallway.

With gas prices so high, the kids came up with a new mode of transportation.

Drew can be very lazy. If he can do something laying down, he will!

The kids imitating daddy while he stretches. There is a video at the bottom of this post of them doing abs with him. Rick will be sneaking protein powder in their pancakes soon!

The kids and I came back to SC to stay with Gran Marf and Papa John for the week. Rick took my dad's truck back to TN and then drove it back to SC the following Friday for Pop's birthday party on Sunday.

Aunt Meg kept the kids while I went to get a pedicure. When I came back, I found them on bean bags taking their naps! Sadly, this only lasted about 30 minutes!

Aunt Amy shows up at Gran Marf and Papa John's EVERY afternoon when I am in town to bathe my children. For me, this is a HUGE treat because I normally give the kids a bath every day before Rick gets home from work. It's nice to get a break from giving baths! Thank you Aunt Amy....I expect this tradition to continue for many YEARS!

Jill and my parents dog, Gracie, bonding.

You can lure my kids in with chips any time...... although I don't think Jenny was trying to lure them.

***SEPTEMBER***

The kids and I signed up for Gymbugs. It's basically a gym class to help them get used to following directions. My friend, Rochelle, is in the class too with her daughter Elisabeth. Rochelle helps me so much with the kids as far as getting them in and out. My kids have not grasped the idea of holding hands, much less following directions. We normally take the kids to Chick-fil-a afterwards for lunch and to play.

My friend Amanda was going to be at The Grove Park Inn for a work conference and asked if I wanted to join her Thursday night. I'd never been, so I jumped at the opportunity to go. My parents met me half way in Asheville, NC and took the kids to SC with them. Amanda and I had a great time. We went to "The Spa" for facials and then checked out ALL the pools, saunas and hot tubs. We split a bottle of wine and sat outside till it got dark.

Sadly, this is the only picture I have from our getaway. A picture of our room service that arrived at 10:30 pm. Amanda had to work her conference Friday morning, but I got to sleep in.

Jill with Papa John.

I went out to lunch with my sisters (and BIL Steve) and Meg received an e-mail from my Mom on her blackberry with this picture. Drew taking a nap!

A new game invented by Drew. Ring around the chair.

The kids heading up to go "night night" at Gran Marf and Papa John's.

The boys

Drew, Jill and Zack with Mama (who just turned 85!)

Drew relaxing with his sippy cup

Drew relaxing....again. He must get the lazy gene from me!

Zack taking Super Bear for a spin

Kissing daddy through the rails

We had a "fitting" for our Halloween costumes.

Zack the skunk

If Zack had his way, he would go as a red blob!



Drew the skunk

Jill the ladybug

Zack, Jill and Drew watching a moo-vie

We have fish now! We started out with 4, but are down to 2.

Drew and Jill sharing popcorn. Zack was sleeping. That kid takes some great naps.

The deck is finally complete. We also had someone come out and regrade the back yard. We have to wait till Spring to re-sod it though.

I never thought I'd be one of those people with plastic toys all over their yard (or in my case, their deck)!

Rick had to totally rework the sprinkler system.

Drew, Jill and Zack all know their letters, numbers and colors. Zack is obsessed with showing you his flashcards again and again. Here he is showing them to Gran Marf.



The kids working out with daddy.

As the kids would say, "all done"!