Off the Ship

Hello Friends!

Just a quick note to let you know that we're alive and have survived our cruise! We had a blast and have taken way more pictures than I'm sure you'll ever want to see!

We got off the cruise boat this morning at 8AM in Seward, AK. Spent a lovely day there, and met some great Christians who treated us like family :) This evening we rode the train up to Anchorage. It was a 4 hour ride, but BEAUTIFUL! We saw bear cubs and Dall Sheep climbing the cliffside. We're at a hotel tonight and are heading up to see the big mountain in Denali tomorrow.

California, here we come on Wed!

Continued prayers for our safety are appreciated!!

Leg 1 of Our Alaskan Journey--SEATTLE

Zac with his Build-a-Bear named "Ow-Boom!"
Will was NOT impressed by the gum wall in Seattle ;)
Everybody needs a Bell dress for a 10PM dance par-tay!
This boy needed a haircut! He refused the mullet, so I went with the Mohawk!
Don't we look like honeymooners?? Nope--1 year'ers!
Hey!

The 1st leg of our journey began on Thursday night with us staying over at the Craig's house in Birmingham. They were gracious hosts, and gave us a yummy breakfast and lovely drive to the airport in a GIGANTIC thunderstorm! I was not very sad to leave that weather! I was feeling a little sick, and got some medicine--so hopefully--PRAYERFULLY I stay healthy on the cruise ship :)

We're in Seattle now--well Monroe, to be exact. We're staying with Erica's family and having a blast! Last night we went to a show in Seattle called "Theater Sports" which is a lot like "Whose Line Is It Anway?" Will won the "Grand Prize" for best suggestion for a skit! (It had to do with a "bad date" he once went on.--no I was not the date-eee!) He won two free tickets to the show and SQUIRREL UNDERPANTS! Just what we needed...

Things we've done while in Seattle:

-Looked at the gum wall!

-shaved a head

-had a bedtime kid dance party to the Chipmunks

-watched a remote control boat race

-took Zac to his 1st friends Birthday party

Tonight I gave Josiah a nice mohawk, much to his dismay and am now trying to figure out how to "re-pack" all of the stuff that has climbed out of our suitcases in just two days!

We board out cruise tomorrow! We're pumped!!

It's Time

After gazing over the pics from this past weekend, reading Proverbs and looking at the scale--I've realized that it's time to stop being a sluggard! I know I'm not "fat" but I can definitely do better!

I've started exercising again and eating right! I actually enjoy it when I do it, it's just so hard to get started!

Today while washing my car in the nasty Southern humidity and heat...and also while on my too-fast paced walk I noticed a few things:

1. The birch trees in Alabama don't have as white of trunks as the ones in CA do. I wondered why?

2. Home-owners copy each other when it comes to landscaping.

3. The red fire ants are baaaack!!!

4. Two cops live in our neighborhood.

5. Before holding my hand over my head (water bottle in tow) I should make sure the lid is securely on.

6. Spilling water all over myself when I'm burning hot, ain't that bad!

7. Packing for a 2 1/2 week vacation is a daunting task....off I go!

Graduation Weekend!

This weekend we had a fabulous time up in BG. We stayed at Becca and Daniel Broyles house. They were awesome hosts! Not only did they leave towels, soap, shampoo, conditioner and razors on the bed...but also CANDY! (not that I needed it!) Becca cooked dinner for my whole crazy family on Friday night. It was very very yummy! Thanks Broyles!

Drake graduated with is Elementary Education degree and is leaving BG in a few days to work at a YMCA camp on an island off of Washington state. Fun.Fun!

Getting to see Elliot--Todd and Bonnie's son made me want a baby even more! He's so so cute, Will agreed! Jude is super cute too of course, but there's just something about a baby falling asleep in your arms...

Noah and Will took me, Hailey and Matt out to shoot some skeet. My record was 100% 1for1 :) I'm not a big fan of shotguns kicking into my shoulder blade :( Hailey was a great shot too!

Subbing

Since moving out here, I haven't gotten a full-time job, but I do substitute sometimes. This week I've subbed three times! This morning I was running late, and my dear Mr. C quickly made a hotdog for me to eat on the run....

I guess that would seem weird if I was going in at 7:30 like usual..haha...nope! Today I went in at 11, so it was lunch.

We leave at 6AM for Bowling Green. I can't believe we're going so early!! Think it'll happen??

Looking into buying tix to fly out for Morro Bay in August. Just can't stand the thought of missing that event:) We're taking donations...you wanna see us...throw money towards the hotdog, por favor!

Spring Cleaning

Real men clean bathrooms!

We're expecting company tomorrow night. My lovely husband, Mr. Childress was more than willing to help me get ready!

I subbed two days this week, and hadn't gotten around to my housework! Perhaps I'm turning into my Mom, but I did say "I have 3 jobs, can you choose one? Sweep, mop, guest bathroom..." Can you believe it? He chose bathroom

S-C-O-R-E!!

Now we're dying of cleaning fumes, but no complaints here!

We're expecting Mr. Childress's bud Charlie Nowlin to come through D-town and stay with us tomorrow. I asked Mr. C if I should wash the sheets in the guest room...they've been slept on once. He QUICKLY assured me that Charlie will be mightily surprised just by there being sheets on the bed! I guess that wasn't a prerequisite to having company in his "bachelor-days..."

In other big news, Will's truck hit 150,000 miles recently. Hopefully driving and taking pictures of your odometer isn't illegal in Alabama...I'm sure it's not. Everything is ok here. When babies are born, they give them their 1st very own shotgun. (don't worry-it's not loaded.)

Peace out.

Lovely Flowers!

I think I've discovered my green thumb! Out back we have flower seeds planted, as well as basil. I got the seeds from the dollar aisle at Target. Can't go wrong with that section. Will's been gone to Atlanta for a few days, so I've been working out in the yard. I love planting flowers and watching them bloom. Watering them is even enjoyable to me! All of these things are true blessings from God.

Our lovely little doggie chewed up his bed last night. Maybe he's sending us a message of how he feels about sleeping in the backyard. I thought it was funny/cute how he jumped up in view of the camera as I took the picture of his MESS! Just wish he could clean it up on his own...

This weekend we're going up to Bowling Green to see cousin Drake graduate from WKU. I'm very proud of him! It reminds me of 2007 when we saw Seth graduate :) It was the first quasi-date that Will and I had. We didn't actually start dating for another year, but that's where it all started for us! Now we're coming up on being married for 11 months!