Puzzle Pieces

These days you simply never know what is going to come out of Addison's mouth. Sometimes her phrases are hilarious, sometimes they make me realize "ooh, I shouldn't say that around her anymore," and sometimes they stop me dead in my tracks and melt my heart.

Tonight we had been playing with her puzzles and had picked all of the pieces up and were headed upstairs to bed. When I picked her up and put her on my hip, she looked at me and said the sweetest thing. In her tired little voice she said, "Look Mommy! We fit together like a puzzle piece!"

Yes, sweetie we do....a perfect puzzle if you ask me.

I love her heart!

Southern Gal Tips for a Big City Trip...

I have to say that overall, I think I did pretty well for a "southern gal" as I navigated my way around Chicago last week. However, I did learn a few key points while I was there and just in case any of you have plans of making a trip up there soon...here's a few pointers for you that you will definitely thank me for (or at least get a good laugh out of right now).

1). Taxi drivers don't understand that in Atlanta, we don't walk to our destination, even if it is only "4 blocks that way" and they don't like to take you anywhere if that's how far you want to go...so save yourself the trouble of tracking one down. One morning...after 3 taxi's had refused to take me to the office because "it was only 4 blocks that way," I completely lost it and (nicely) explained to the next taxi driver that I was not from here, I had blisters ALL over my poor toes and YES, I understood that my destination was simply "4 blocks that way," but if he would take me there, I would tip him whatever the amount of my taxi ride was. I'm not sure if it was the sound of desperation in my voice or the offering of the tip, but that guy took me to the office! Magic, huh??

2). Speaking of hailing a taxi...it's not the easiest thing to do and once you get one...you better get in it...QUICK! Yes, I actually had a guy (yes...a man) jump in front of me when I turned my back for one quick moment to gather my things. No worries, I absolutely did not mumble things under my breath and I absolutely maintained my Southern Ladylike composure. :)

3). Take a pair of flip flops! No one wears heels until they actually get to where they are going and until then, they wear flips flops and carry their "nice" shoes in their bag. Believe me...my "nice" shoes wish I'd have known this prior to my trip up there. While we are on the shoe note...make sure you do not walk over the sewer grates that are everywhere on the sidewalks. Your heel WILL fit down in it and you WILL break it off if you're not careful.

4). This lesson surprised me the most...Southern people truly are friendlier..to EVERYONE. I was told on two separate occasions that, "I must not be from here" while riding in a taxi. I thought surely that they were referring to my southern accent but was surprised when they both replied that I was "too friendly." What??? All I did was ask them if they were having a good day and that was being "too friendly?" Isn't it natural if you are riding in a car (with a COMPLETE stranger AND you are a GIRL and you are ALONE) to attempt to make conversation with them in hopes that they truly take you where you want to go and don't think they can take advantage of you since you CLEARLY have NO clue where you are going? (Obviously, I have watched too many DateLine Specials and 20/20 episodes) But I did feel sorry for the taxi drivers after they said that. How boring to drive people around all day and not talk to them. No fun!

Most of all I learned that it's fun to visit a big city...but it's even better to come home. Me, myself and my feet couldn't have been happier to be back! (And the two loves I had waiting for me were icing on the cake!)

Trip to the Windy City

I spent the week last week in Chicago for work (my company is based there) and got to sneak in a few "tourist" sites while I was there. I stayed at a super cute hotel that was very modern and trendy and the complete opposite of anything Duke and I would ever stay in when we travel together so that was fun. I ate WAY too much pizza although it was quite good and I have to say I will think twice before ordering Pizza Hut or Domino's again. :)

Speaking of food...we ate at a wonderful steak restaurant called Gibson's and if you ever get to visit Chicago...you MUST eat here. It was SO good and so was the people watching! Fun times! All of the walls were lined with signatures from famous people that visit there often so that was fun to look at as well. Unfortunately, Brad Pitt choose not to eat there that night. :(

I made it down to Michigan Avenue (dangerous since Duke wasn't with me to be my voice of reason) a few times and it was nice to have time to walk around and see things. Downtown Chicago has some beautiful buildings and the weather was great. They were filming Transformers 3 outside one of the nearby hotels so I walked over there but wasn't able to see much. They had the concrete all torn up and were obviously shooting a scene that involved guns and police cars but other than that...I couldn't tell much. Sorry I'm not able to provide any "spoilers" for you guys. :)

Speaking of "spoilers," I feel certain that I saw at least a dozen of the future American Idol contestants preforming on the sidewalks. I can't promise if they will make it into the show or simply make the preview show where they show all of the "good" hopefuls...but I feel certain I will see at least 3 of them this year. Just call me Chicago's newest "talent scout." :)

The first night in town, some of us went up to the top of The Sears Tower (now called the Willis Tower) and it was beautiful.

We rode an elevator up to the top (103 stories) and this was the view at the top...

Pretty impressive, huh?

Recently they added this "sky deck" to one side of the building and it is literally a piece of super thick glass (I'm sure there is a more technical term for it, but you get the point) that allows you to walk out a few feet and look down with a clear view (since all you are standing on is glass). I was feeling adventurous so I ventured out onto it and this was the view, some 1,300 feet in the air.....

It really is breathtaking and just might cure anyone's fear of heights...

This photo was taken from another window of the tower...I was hoping Duke and Addison would be able to see how it truly is a ledge. Can you see the bottom??

This is what it looks like if you were able to see the top of the building from the ground...

We were up there while the sun was going down and it was absolutely gorgeous...



The view was so pretty once the sun went down...

It was crazy to me that you can not see the top of this building from the street...


Overall it was a great trip and it was fun to be a "tourist" for a week. Thanks Chicago for a fun trip!

Circle Circle Dot Dot....

How long has it been since you've played Cootie? The best part of playing this game with Addison is learning which bug represents each of us at the end!

This particular afternoon, Duke was the blue one, she was the pink one, I was the green one and Uncle Brent was the red one. Fun times!

Family Night for Camp Kidzu....

We had a wonderful evening at Camp Kidzu Family Night and the kids loved showing their family and friends what they had learned throughout the week.

Here are some fun pictures from our evening...

Addison and her "buddy" on stage...Tennyson. I LOVE the grin on his face! How sweet is he???

So thankful that so many parents came out to support their children! Addison was so proud to have her Daddy, Na Na, Pop Pop, Aunt Bridget, Uncle Derek and Cousin Jake there to watch her!



What a great way to end a wonderful week!

Last Day of Camp Kidzu

We had such a WONDERFUL night at Family Night for Camp Kidzu and all of the kids loved showing their parents what they had been learning all week.

I haven't downloaded any of the pictures I took last night but here's a cute video of Addison performing one of the songs she learned....



I'll post some photos from last night soon...we had such a wonderful week and I am still singing all of the camp songs in my head!

Camp Kidzu - Day Four

Addison had another fun filled day at Camp Kidzu this morning. She is enjoying making lots of fun crafts like this one...

And eating lots of fun yummy snacks like this with her friends...

However, her FAVORITE part of the entire week as been the dancing and singing on the STAGE!

Girlfriend is quite the performer up there....


We are having a Family Night tomorrow night and all of the kids get to preform the songs they have been learning each day for their parents. Duke and I can't wait! Stay tuned...I'm sure I will have some cute photos to share!

Happy Thursday!

Camp Kidzu Day THREE - God is full of SURPRISES!

We had another wonderful day at Camp Kidzu and filled it with more special memories and great friends. Addison was so excited to go back this morning and wear her "camp shirt" (as she has called it all week).

It has been neat to watch Addison blossom this week and explore on her own. Typically, I am with her on Sunday mornings since I teach her pre-school class each Sunday but I am not with her class this week so it's been neat to stand back and watch her participate without Mommy right by her. She is quite the little performer and says that "the singing and dancing parts" of camp are her favorite.

Here is a photo of Addison and her sweet friend Haley that is in her class. Haley and Addison have been been best buddies this week and it's been so sweet to watch them walk to worship holding hands....Awwww!

Today the kiddos talked about how God protected Paul from a poisonous snake when his ship washed up on an island. How cute are these snacks that they got to eat??? The water is blue Jello. The waves are Cool Whip. A Vanilla Wafer is the island and the gummy worm is the snake. Yum!

As you can see...the snacks were a HUGE hit!


We are having a wonderful week with our friends!

And I feel so blessed that I am able to share in this special week with Addison and make such fun memories with her!

Addison dancing at Camp Kidzu

This video is so dark but I thought it was too cute not to share. You can see the "outline" of Addison and get an idea of how much fun she is having this week.

Camp Kidzu....Day 2

We had another wonderful day at Camp Kidzu. It is so neat to see all of these children growing in their relationships with each other and God. Our theme for the week is High Seas Expeditions and all of the children have LOVED Pirate Jake!


Nicole and some of our Kidzu kids leading the children in one of their daily worship songs...

Our Bible Point today was that God's word is comforting so the children got to wear their P.J.'s...and they all looked ADORABLE!

Addison choose to wear her butterfly P.J.'s today...I love the back of them!

I LOVE this photo of Addison worshiping and singing this morning...

Me and my sweet girl in our P.J.'s!

We are having a great week and can't wait to go back tomorrow!

Camp Kidzu!

We are at Camp Kidzu (our church's version of Vacation Bible School) this week!

Addison had a wonderful first day and it dawned on me as I was getting her ready that this was her "first day of camp!" All of a sudden she looked so big to me and like so many moments likely, I realized she is growing up.

Today, Addison learned about Peter and how God frees him from prison. After camp, when I asked her what she learned she replied, "About a guy named Peter." After a few more questions from me, she told me that Peter was sent to jail. When I asked her why Peter was sent to jail, she replied, "For saying bad words like hate." Oh well! At least she got some of the story right and I know she was listening. I did however use that moment to reinforce the fact that we do not use the word "hate"...a word that she has learned from somewhere and Duke and I are extremely ready for her to forget.

Stay tuned for some fun pictures (and I'm sure stories) as we enjoy this week with our friends!

Happy Father's Day Daddy!

My daddy was my hero
For my very youngest years;
Daddy kept me safe and happy,
And he chased away my fears.
I watched in awe and wonder
At each manly thing he did;
Oh, I looked up to my daddy,
When I was a little kid.

My dad was still my hero,
As the years passed, one by one.
He taught important lessons,
And he took some time for fun.
He was my firm foundation;
On my dad I did depend;
He was always there for me,
My dad, my guide, my friend.

My father is my hero,
Now that I am fully grown.
I love him and respect him,
The best man I've ever known.
I knew when I would marry
That my husband had to be
A great man, just like my father,
Dad, my hero you'll always be.

Thank you Daddy for being you! I love you so much!

Missy

Happy Father's Day...a little late

So we celebrated a big holiday a few weeks ago and even though I am late blogging about it...we had a special day with the awesome men in our life.

The weekend started out crazy...and ended crazy. I had gone to Chicago for work and was supposed to get home Friday at 5 pm but because of bad weather, wasn't able to get home until 7pm Saturday. Needless to say, that messed up my plans for planning something for Duke and I was bummed about that. Not to mention that I had no make-up, clothes, shoes, hair dryer, curling iron, etc. until Monday so I wasn't a happy wife to be around....which means he deserved a WONDERFUL Father's Day even more! Let's just say that I DID NOT earn any points in the Wife of the Year department this year!

Thank you Duke for loving me even though I am far from perfect. Thank you for loving me and all of my grumpy moods when Delta looses my luggage. Thank you for having dinner cooked and ready for me (with flowers waiting) when I finally got home Saturday evening. Thank you for NOT being mad at me when I didn't eat a single bite of that dinner because I was too tired (and if I am super honest...too grumpy). Thank you for letting ME sleep in on Father's Day. Thank you for loving Addison the way that you do and showing her what true love looks like. Thank you for being silly with me and for playing princess with Addison. I fall in love with you again and again when I watch you with Addison.

I love you!

Bahamas Trip with Friends!

Last summer we started planning a couples trip with our dearest friends, Jessica and Kris Jones, and Mr. James Murphy. Well...lets be honest, "We" didn't start planning this trip...Jess and I started planning the trip and a few weeks ago we finally got to go on it! We have always talked about taking a "big" trip together but ever since the kiddos have come along, trying to find time to take vacations that didn't include the kids seemed next to impossible. I think we all knew if we never pulled the trigger and booked the trip...years down the road, we'd all be sitting in our rocking chairs still talking about taking a trip! :)

This summer marks the 5 year wedding anniversary of both Duke and I and Kris and Jessica so that seemed like as good of an excuse as any to hit the road, or in this case...the ocean!!! So a few weeks ago, we left early Friday morning and headed to the Bahamas!!! It was soooo beautiful and we had such a great time doing absolutely nothing! Truly, we did NOTHING!!! We did however eat like kings (and queens), drink lots of fun girly drinks (Okay...the guys drank "men" drinks), bake in the sun, laugh our heads off and make some amazing memories.

Here are some of our pictures from the trip:

First night on the boat, so excited to be on vacation and still pale! :)

The islands of Nassau:

The beautiful island of CoCo Cay...we truly thought about missing the boat back and just staying here...

On the boat on the way over to CoCo Cay...

Jess and I enjoying being lazy...

The guys enjoying being well....themselves...

Two of the awesome people we went on this trip with...Kris and Jessica Jones...Happy 5 years guys! (Just a small note...Kris and Duke were roommates when him and I started dating so we have come SO far with these two! Believe me when I say, SOOOO far! Right Jess?)

The other awesome couple we went with...James and Liz! We are all so thrilled that James has found such a wonderful person as Liz and we all ADORE her!

All dressed up for The Captain's Dinner...

Our last night at dinner with our awesome wait staff....

Our anniversary buddies...

Thank goodness for awesome girlfriends!



My handsome hubby...and realizing we took a lot of pictures this night since I am in the same outfit in half of our photos!

And what do you do when you know you're never going to see any of these 2,000 people again??? You SING of course with your best girlfriends!

We had such a great time and are so thankful to have been blessed with so many things including wonderful friends over the past 5 years!