Saturday, September 13, 2008
Goodbye to Mammaw's House
Recently we spent a lot of time cleaning out many years of memories at Mammaw’s house. It will be a year this Monday since Mammaw Higgins passed away. This house has been the family’s home since before I was born. It was especially ‘home’ for me, since we moved a bunch when I was in grade school...but Mammaw’s house was always solid. Growing up, we spent tons of time there, eating Chef Boyardee Pizzas and Mammaw’s delicious pot roast. Pappaw would sing, we would play in the front yard while Mammaw and Mom rocked on the porch, and I would constantly pester a teenage Wendy for attention. Moving all the stuff was a sad time, but also a time full of laughter as we searched through boxes and boxes (and boxes!) of family history. It is a huge blessing that the house sold very quickly...and, get this, the lady who bought it had been looking for a home on that exact street for some time (to be near her daughter and grandchildren). She had driven by Mammaw’s house several times and said that ‘if that house ever comes on the market, I want it’. Well, she got it! It was only ‘on the market’ for one weekend! When we went by on closing day to pick up a couple of last boxes, her children had put a sign on the door reading, ‘Welcome Home Mamaw’! That makes me cry right now. I couldn’t help but stop and thank the Lord for the peace of mind he had given us that this house would see much love in the years to come.
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
Some of the sweet things...
So Caroline is at a very sweet age right now. She is about to turn two, and while we are sometimes experiencing a taste of the ‘terrible twos’, she is also learning more about the world around her and becoming much more aware of other people’s feelings. She loves to give hugs and kisses. If she knows someone is sick, she says their name and says “...sick. Medicine. Doctor. Hug him. Pray him. Call him.” Jonathan said, that’s more thoughtful than many adults!! She likes to pray for all her relatives (and friends) and more recently, for the kids in Haiti every night. She says, ‘Kids...Haiti...sad. Food. Water. Happy.’ Then, we always sing songs at night...right now she is requesting “God’s favorite” (Jesus loves the little children) and “Hail Name” (All Hail the Power of Jesus’ name). Ha! She’s so funny! She also is beginning to tell us that she loves us without any prompting. She’ll just come over and give me a hug and say ‘Luwee Mommy’. That means ‘I love you Mommy’. It’s the best thing in the world!
Here is a recent picture of her when she was a little sick herself.
beth
Here is a recent picture of her when she was a little sick herself.
beth
Sunday, August 31, 2008
Keep it up!
On this day I caught Caroline snug and cozy with her 'Big Pink Gampit (Blanket)' and some of her favorite books. She really enjoys curling up with a good read. Keep it up, girl!
It's Baseball Time in TN! What???
Ok, so, wrong sport to post during the weekend of the first UT football game of the year... Well, anyway, just check out this great picture of Caroline looking on at her second Smokies game. If you haven't been, these games really are a great family event. Good times.
Sunday, August 17, 2008
Disneyworld (3/3)
Disney Studios
Go Wildcats! It’s a High School Musical block party! Caroline is wearing her “I Majored In Vacation” shirt, just like in the movie! One of the performers yelled to Caroline in his microphone...'I like your shirt!'
Back to EPCOT for a special fancy dinner at “Les Chefs de France”. Do you see why I love Disney? Shorts and a t-shirt and upscale dining can go together!!
Just plain cute! Spaceship Earth in the background.
What a nice looking couple on the Mexico ride!
Last day...back at Magic Kingdom
Caroline in Minnie’s house: “Nana, look! I didn’t know Minnie was a quilter too!”
Now that’s what I’m talkin’ about! Some relief from this Florida heat...a splash in Pooh Bear’s fountains!
Beautiful shot from the bridge on Tom Sawyer’s Island.
Back at the hotel...
Disney All-Star Resorts are great. Inexpensive, but kids love them!!! We stayed in the Toy Story building.
Yes, that’s a 3 story Buzz! “Tall Buzz”, as Caroline calls him.
Daddy and Caroline enjoyed a swim on our last night at Disney. What a fantastic week it was! We are so blessed to be able to share these great times together.
I apologize for the many posts all at once! It’s just so hard to get it all in...and these pictures and descriptions only begin to scratch the surface of our trip! Well, we hope you enjoyed a glimpse at our WDW vacation ‘08!
hope you enjoy,
beth
Go Wildcats! It’s a High School Musical block party! Caroline is wearing her “I Majored In Vacation” shirt, just like in the movie! One of the performers yelled to Caroline in his microphone...'I like your shirt!'
Back to EPCOT for a special fancy dinner at “Les Chefs de France”. Do you see why I love Disney? Shorts and a t-shirt and upscale dining can go together!!
Just plain cute! Spaceship Earth in the background.
What a nice looking couple on the Mexico ride!
Last day...back at Magic Kingdom
Caroline in Minnie’s house: “Nana, look! I didn’t know Minnie was a quilter too!”
Now that’s what I’m talkin’ about! Some relief from this Florida heat...a splash in Pooh Bear’s fountains!
Beautiful shot from the bridge on Tom Sawyer’s Island.
Back at the hotel...
Disney All-Star Resorts are great. Inexpensive, but kids love them!!! We stayed in the Toy Story building.
Yes, that’s a 3 story Buzz! “Tall Buzz”, as Caroline calls him.
Daddy and Caroline enjoyed a swim on our last night at Disney. What a fantastic week it was! We are so blessed to be able to share these great times together.
I apologize for the many posts all at once! It’s just so hard to get it all in...and these pictures and descriptions only begin to scratch the surface of our trip! Well, we hope you enjoyed a glimpse at our WDW vacation ‘08!
hope you enjoy,
beth
Disneyworld (2/3)
EPCOT
Just FYI, that stands for “Experimental Prototype Community (or city) of Tomorrow”. It was Walt’s vision to have a place where technology was cutting edge, and the world came together to experience each other’s cultures! EPCOT is my personal favorite.
Meeting Daisy was the best. There was nobody around, so Caroline got to hug, laugh, and dance with Daisy as much as she wanted. It was definitely a Disney Dream Come True moment!
Next we met, Mickey, Minnie, Pluto, Chip n’ Dale, and Goofy...all in one stop!! Caroline was not scared at all...she ran up and hugged every one!!
We got awesome seats at the Mexico pavilion restaurant to watch “Illuminations: Reflections of Earth”
Late Night Planning! Since Caroline was in the room with Mommy and Daddy, we had to do our planning for the next day by flashlight. Notice Beth is unwrapping a chocolate to stay awake!
Animal Kingdom
Meeting ‘Pooby’ and friends near the entrance to DinoLand.
The ‘Hontas’ show was Caroline’s favorite at Animal Kingdom. She was especially impressed when Pocahontas carried out a live snake!
Back at Magic Kindom...yeeeaaah!
Caroline takes on the Evil Emperor Zurg in Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin!
one more disney post to come!
beth
Just FYI, that stands for “Experimental Prototype Community (or city) of Tomorrow”. It was Walt’s vision to have a place where technology was cutting edge, and the world came together to experience each other’s cultures! EPCOT is my personal favorite.
Meeting Daisy was the best. There was nobody around, so Caroline got to hug, laugh, and dance with Daisy as much as she wanted. It was definitely a Disney Dream Come True moment!
Next we met, Mickey, Minnie, Pluto, Chip n’ Dale, and Goofy...all in one stop!! Caroline was not scared at all...she ran up and hugged every one!!
We got awesome seats at the Mexico pavilion restaurant to watch “Illuminations: Reflections of Earth”
Late Night Planning! Since Caroline was in the room with Mommy and Daddy, we had to do our planning for the next day by flashlight. Notice Beth is unwrapping a chocolate to stay awake!
Animal Kingdom
Meeting ‘Pooby’ and friends near the entrance to DinoLand.
The ‘Hontas’ show was Caroline’s favorite at Animal Kingdom. She was especially impressed when Pocahontas carried out a live snake!
Back at Magic Kindom...yeeeaaah!
Caroline takes on the Evil Emperor Zurg in Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin!
one more disney post to come!
beth
Disneyworld (1/3)
Alrighty! It’s time for the long anticipated Disneyworld posts! At the end of May, we were so fortunate to tag along as ‘chaperones’ on an eight day Disneyworld trip through Roane County High School (where Pappaw teaches building trades). Thank you Misty and Jason for inviting us! We had such a good time…I can’t even describe it! But I will try anyway…
One of the really fun highlights for us was a special dessert reception at Fantasmic (the nighttime show at Disney’s Hollywood Studios), reserved specifically for groups. While thousands of others waited in a grueling line, we made our way behind the scenes to a special ‘deck’ above all the regular seating. There, we were served all the cookies, brownies, ice cream, punch, etc. that you could eat! We then were able to watch the show from this private viewing area, while continuing to stuff ourselves!! It was so great!
We also visited the Disney Water Parks for the first time. We don’t have any pics from those days, but we had an absolute blast! We will definitely be visiting again…particularly Typhoon Lagoon. There Jon, Dad (Pappaw), and I swam with sharks (no, I’m not kidding), and rode the world’s first uphill water coaster…Crush n’ Gusher! That thing was awesome! Caroline loved the huge kiddie area, and there was plenty of shade for her and Mimi in the calm waters! Then, of course, Jon wanted to ride the huge wave that comes every 90 seconds in one of the biggest wave pools in the world. When it comes, you hear this huge thud and then a rush of water, closely followed by loud screaming from everyone in the enormous pool! It was a sight to see. Jon said he had never seen a wave that big, even in San Diego…they even teach surfing lessons there in the mornings before the park opens.
We also had some of the best service ever in WDW. Cast members (that’s what they call all their employees, even the guys who take out the trash) were everywhere asking us if we needed help, and creating special experiences. Mom and Dad had their 36th anniversary while on this trip...they had buttons that said so. We had cast members from near and far yelling ‘Happy Anniversary’ every few seconds! Ok, ok, enough of my Disney fanatic ramblings!!!
So here are Pappaw and Caroline waiting for our flight at the Knoxville Airport. People actually came up and gave a donation at this bear (for Friends of the Smokies) because Caroline was so cute standing next to it. I’m not even kidding you!
The Magic Kingdom
Her first Disneyworld ride...What else, but “The Happiest Cruise that Ever Sailed” - It’s A Small World
Meeting the Princesses was so cool. Caroline’s instant favorite was “Shoopie”, a.k.a. Sleeping Beauty. She let her draw a picture of King Stephan’s castle with her special quill.
The classic shot. Anyone see the Hidden Mickey?
Hint:Check out how Mickey’s ears from the statue look like they are on Caroline!
2 more wdw posts coming...
beth
One of the really fun highlights for us was a special dessert reception at Fantasmic (the nighttime show at Disney’s Hollywood Studios), reserved specifically for groups. While thousands of others waited in a grueling line, we made our way behind the scenes to a special ‘deck’ above all the regular seating. There, we were served all the cookies, brownies, ice cream, punch, etc. that you could eat! We then were able to watch the show from this private viewing area, while continuing to stuff ourselves!! It was so great!
We also visited the Disney Water Parks for the first time. We don’t have any pics from those days, but we had an absolute blast! We will definitely be visiting again…particularly Typhoon Lagoon. There Jon, Dad (Pappaw), and I swam with sharks (no, I’m not kidding), and rode the world’s first uphill water coaster…Crush n’ Gusher! That thing was awesome! Caroline loved the huge kiddie area, and there was plenty of shade for her and Mimi in the calm waters! Then, of course, Jon wanted to ride the huge wave that comes every 90 seconds in one of the biggest wave pools in the world. When it comes, you hear this huge thud and then a rush of water, closely followed by loud screaming from everyone in the enormous pool! It was a sight to see. Jon said he had never seen a wave that big, even in San Diego…they even teach surfing lessons there in the mornings before the park opens.
We also had some of the best service ever in WDW. Cast members (that’s what they call all their employees, even the guys who take out the trash) were everywhere asking us if we needed help, and creating special experiences. Mom and Dad had their 36th anniversary while on this trip...they had buttons that said so. We had cast members from near and far yelling ‘Happy Anniversary’ every few seconds! Ok, ok, enough of my Disney fanatic ramblings!!!
So here are Pappaw and Caroline waiting for our flight at the Knoxville Airport. People actually came up and gave a donation at this bear (for Friends of the Smokies) because Caroline was so cute standing next to it. I’m not even kidding you!
The Magic Kingdom
Her first Disneyworld ride...What else, but “The Happiest Cruise that Ever Sailed” - It’s A Small World
Meeting the Princesses was so cool. Caroline’s instant favorite was “Shoopie”, a.k.a. Sleeping Beauty. She let her draw a picture of King Stephan’s castle with her special quill.
The classic shot. Anyone see the Hidden Mickey?
Hint:Check out how Mickey’s ears from the statue look like they are on Caroline!
2 more wdw posts coming...
beth
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