Proud Parent

Well Maddie had her Christmas concert at her school this week and the Kindergarten & 1st graders did a wonderful job. I was so proud of the children they all put so muchh into their performance...especially the blond on the right of Maddie (Anna Lynn) and the girl to her right Arianna both in Maddie's class. I had to watch it several times because I got such a kick out of the two of them. Maddie's music teacher Mr. Spence did an awesome job. As a parent it really makes you feel good to see one of your child's teachers love his job that much. He added so much to the performance with his energy. I was totally impressed. I tried to capture that but due to lighting it wasn't possible. I have to apologize for the herky jerky footage. We had to stay seated and so I had to raise my arm with the camera to even get Maddie in the picture. Unfortunately my upper body strength is not good. You will have to pause the music to hear the video. The kids sang a bunch of songs from around the world and they were soooo cute!

Maddie's first recital

movie 2

Thanksgiving in CTOWN

ST. AUGUSTINE FLORIDA

WE WENT TO ST AUGUSTINE TO MEET UP WITH MY PARENTS, ALLAN, GLETA, BOGEY,AUNT NELLIE AND UNCLE KEN. AS ALWAYS IT WAS A VERY GOOD TIME. WE GOT TO SHARE SOME LAUGHS AND EAT SOME REALLY GOOD CHOWDER AT THE CHOWDER FESTIVAL. WE MISSED THE ART CRAWL BUT WE STARTED A NEW CLUB CALLED "THE FRIENDSHIP CLUB". WE WILL BE ACCEPTING NEW MEMBERS, HOWEVER YOU CAN'T BE A SERIAL KILLER AND YOU CAN'T BE A SMELLY ONION ONCE WE GET TO KNOW YOU. MRS. GLETA IS PRESIDENT BECAUSE SHE SHOULD BE. WE PROVED ONCE AGAIN THAT ALL YOU NEED FOR A PARTY IS GOOD FRIENDS AND SOME GREAT TUNES. EVEN THOUGH MADDIE WAS THE ONLY KID, SHE ENJOYED HAVING SOME QUALITY TIME WITH HER NONA AND PAPA. WE MISSED THE OTHER FAMILY MEMBERS WHO COULD NOT BE THERE AND WISHED THEY COULD. NOW WE ARE ALL REALLY READY TO COME HOME FOR THANKSGIVING.

ST. AUGUSTINE FLORIDA

Daisy, TROUP 568

Maddie is a Daisy, troup 568! Tonight they had their ceremony. All the girls got their medal and a daisy then took their place around the daisy on the floor and said their pledge. It was very sweet. October 31 was Juliette (Daisy) Gordon Low's birthday (the woman who started girl scouts). So they had cake to celebrate. I am going to try to get Maddie singing the "Make new friends but keep the old" song and add it to our blog, it is too precious.

I'm just Sayin'

Squalls and all! The kids braved through the wind and the rain and they triumphed with bags full of candy. Maddie's costume in case your wondering was a BRATZ cat.

Some random stuff

The Picture of Matt watching the Georgia/Florida game was too funny. All throughout the game Matt would say "come on Georgia" and of course our dog Georgia thought he was talking to her. He was totally clueless because he was so into the game. Poor thing was so confused.

Matt took some really cool pictures of the sunrise the other morning. These are his contribution to our blog

Angie's Top 10 List

In the blog world, a lot of people will get deep and philosophical. I try to make our blog more light hearted and merely a way to document our good times. Since we have moved here I have had A LOT of time on my hands so I have been doin' some thinkin'. I have had a few moments lately that just brought a smile (or laugh) and I thought I would share them. It's the little things... (these are in no paticular order)

#10 I make Maddie a lunch that she takes to school but when she gets home she wants another lunch, not a snack, a lunch. One day I made her campbells chicken n stars and she says "mmm takes my mouth on magical journey", now there's something to think about next time your sick and need some soup.

#9 my personal time had almost become an addiction with this moveto Florida. It got a little out of hand I am embarrased to say since this website is for kids. Anyway, over Summer you could play all day and late at night and it was something to do in the hotel room. When I let Maddie play she gets the most joys out of the littlest things. One day on the "Wheel of Wow" I believe, she landed on $100 in kinz cash and screams "woo hoo lets get to spending" just made me think...what a great thing to be a kid and get that excited over fake money.

#8 Every night after I make supper Maddie yells out "lets hear it for the chef" and makes me say a speech. It is so silly but I know at least once a day someone appreciates me and my speech usually involves something I am thankful for.

#7 What can I say, I am an Oprah fan. She makes me laugh, she makes me cry, she's informative and funny. I love her show, her website, her magazine. She is just great!

#6 Totally dorky, but this follows Oprah for sure, I really get in to self help books my faves are "How to win friends and influence people"(teaches you to listen more talk less and pay attention), "The power of now" (teaches you to take action today & not place blame or make excuses for your past or future), "Strengths Finder 2.0" (teaches you to use what you have) & "The secret" (teaches you to have a goal and work to get it). Working in the real estate business can wear you down, you have to deal with a ton of rejection and books like these can really help you dig in and better your attitude about life and things that go along with it.

#5 Catalogs & my "drive alive at five" calls, these two because they are just about equal in frequency and small highlights of my day. There is nothing like checking the mail and getting a good catalog. I may not be able to buy anything but it's still nice to look. And when everything else is bills and junk it's a nice alternative. In the same respect, a few times a week at almost exactly 5:11 or so I get a call on my cell phone. It's just a short conversation usually but most days it's just enough, a nice pick me up!

#4 Thursday night tv: Survivor, Grey's Anatomy, The Office, My Name is Earl, Big Shots...so many shows so little time. Thanks DVR!!! (I am slowly becoming addicted to Chef Ramsey- Kitchen Nightmares too and there is a BBC version that is even better)

#3 these pictures of Georgia's Halloween costume crack me up

#2 A few weeks ago in church the preacher gave a wonderful sermon. Oprah calls these "a ha"moments and I had one. There are times when things happen at just the right moment and fit like the last puzzle piece to make it all come together. This will probably only make sense to me but at that moment I just knew what he was talking about his words just got me deep down. Anyway...

#1 Maddie calls this a "cinnamon bun" and she's totally serious when she says it. Matt and I crack up behind her back because we don't want her to stop. She'll realize soon enough.

OUR PUNKIN'

I've noticed that our photo sessions start out really well and then you can see the progression as interest fades...

IT'S THAT TIME!!!

The church we have been going to had a Fall Carnival. Hard to believe when it's 90 degrees outside but the atmosphere was there. Maddie had her first time at the bunjee jump trampoline which looked like a blast. I was almost tempted to give it a try. They also had a local gymnastics group that allowed audience participation. It's a good thing Maddie takes ballet is all I'll say about that one. She must have been suspended in air for a good 2 minutes and managed to take down the spotters glasses in her dismount of a roll. She just kept getting back in line for her turn to do the same roll, meanwhile the other kids were doing roundoff back handsprings. Bless her heart she tries!

ICE SKATING BIRTHDAY PARTY

Our neighbor's daughter had an ice skating birthday party and the kids loved it. I was very rusty. Matt sat this one out and took pictures. Before Maddie got the hang of it we were both leaning on her support rail. As she got braver she would ask me to let go and I'm not gonna lie, I was scared for my life. I must be getting old!

(l to r Baylee, Brianna, Gracie & Maddie)

Tiny Dancer