Home for Christmas

It is getting really close to the most amazing day of the year! My kids are sooo excited they can hardly sleep. And I admit it...me too! I have had so much fun watching them pick out presents for daddy, and each other and their cousins Cole and Hannah Rae. Of course they have lists that are a mile long and want everything they see in commercials, but they are also enjoying the act of giving too and that really warms my heart. It just shows how much they really love each other...that's hard to see sometimes when they are fighting and fussing all day long, but they really do!

Eliott sang his precious little heart out in his pre-school Christmas program. He was a statue last year, but what a difference one year can make! He sang every word and did every motion. I guess this year he actually liked the songs.

Now school is out and we are loving our time together as a family---Jeff is even off work. We have been shopping together and wrapping presents and painting gingerbread houses and people (...and Millie painted herself!). I am truly having so much fun this year. Tomorrow we will be baking cookies for Santa and getting ready for the visit and opening one present before bed. I can't wait!

My little artists!

I am so glad that we are in our own house enjoying this time without the stress of packing and traveling to another state. This year we finally have the chance to make our own traditions. I just hope Santa actually knows where we live since this is the first time he has had to deliver our presents here (who am I kidding...he's magic!). Being home for Christmas is great. We might just have to make a habit of it!

Let's catch up

Let's face it when your computer is totally contaminated with viruses it takes more than 24 hours to get it right again! I am not sure it is really right, but at least I can blog with out 500,000,000 pop ups. (that might be a slight exageration)

Since I haven't made a real post in months there is sooo much to catch up on and I have the pictures to prove it.

We raised almost $1,000 for ALS research right after my last blog. Our friends (and favorite babysitters of all time) Mr. David and Ms KiKi walked with us and we had a blast. Chloe and Millie were proud to walk for Uncle Bill even though they actually rode most of the time!

and Jeff was very excited about all the free stuff!

How many Vitamin Waters did you get?!!

Then of course there was Halloween.... Chloe was a Wake Forest cheerleader, Eliott was Spider Man and Millie was a precious little lady bug (can you see that little face in there?). We got way more candy than we need, but seem to be putting a pretty good dent in the candy bag.

During the week of Halloween (and Chloe's 7th birthday--WOW!) Jeff was in Vietnam visiting family. Eliott was very impressed with Daddy's picture on the motorcycle. Jeff had so much fun riding it that he decided he wanted one to ride around Winston Salem...please do not let there be a big sale on motorcycles the day after Christmas!

In November we were able to go home to Chattanooga for Thanksgiving and had the great pleasure of stopping in Huntsville, Alabama to see the Scales We were only there for about 1 hour, but it took all of our strength to drag Eliott out of there! They all had such a blast playing with Gabe and Ansley and I loved seeing my friends--even if it was too short.

We were actually on the way to see my 95 year old Grandmother (Great Gransie). We got to spend several hours with her and my children would have made any mother proud! What better test of manners and behavior that a retirement home. They were so polite and quiet and did what I told them...It was like a dream and in the dream I had someone elses children! :) But of course they were back to their old ways as soon as we hit the road! It is good to know that when it is neccesary they do actually know how to behave VERY well. I know my grandmother loved the visit and we did too! She looks amazing for 95--doesn't she?!

After Thanksgiving we headed to Charleston, SC just in time to be at the Mall by midnight. I am not sure how I agreed to that after a 7 hour drive, but I did get a few new things to show for it. And of course, two weeks later I am still tired from it. I think my age is finally catching up with me! We had a great visit with Jeff's family and ate so much yummy food. And we finally got Mrs. Trinhs secret family recipe for Pho. Somehow I doubt my will taste just like hers, but I am certainly going to give it a shot!

Now it is December and we are fighting the lines at Toys-R-Us and the mall to get all the things our children want and really don't need by the 25th. Our secret basement closet hiding place it overflowing and I think I am almost done...and it's only December 10th! Can this be true!?!?!?

We met the Hirst family at their pre-school yesterday to take pictures with Santa and let me tell you...this was Santa...He was the best one I have ever seen! Millie was a little bit scared, but at least she didn't cry.

And I think we actually got a Christmas card picture of the whole family! That was quite a challenge, but KL was willing to take it on! Thankgoodness for friends.

And with that I leave you with these sweet little friends. It just doesn't get much cuter than that!

Don't worry, I don't plan on making it a habit of blogging once every 2 months---it really just takes too long!

just one more day!!!

Ok...I know I am on the blogger bad list, but it's really not my fault! I am having computer whoas and can't seem to get it fixed. Give me 24 hours and I will be back in the swing of things. And just to tide you over I am attaching a beautiful photo for your viewing pleasure.

Have a great day and come back soon. :)

fun at the Dixie Classic Fair

Yes...I am alive and well in Winston Salem. But I will say a lot has happened since my last blog--some good, and some not so good. I can't believe it has been a whole month.

Here's a picture of my brother, Bill and his family about a year ago. We were celebrating Susan's birthday--it was a great day! For those of you that know about Bill's struggle with ALS, he lived an amazing life and died on September 14th. It is hard to know you will never see someone here again, but good to know that he is in a much better place and not suffering any more. Bill really set a great example for me. It will be easier for me not to complain about the little things that I want to gripe about sometimes because I saw him laugh through his pain and make everyone else laugh as well! KL and I just talked about this today...why is it so easy to complain sometimes when we are really so very blessed in so many ways? I don't know...but I am definitely going to work on focusing on the good---that really shouldn't be that hard! My family and I are walking this weekend in the local walk to raise money for ALS research. We are walking in Bill's memory...check out our team page at:

http://web.alsa.org/site/TR/Walks/NorthCarolinaWalk?pg=team&fr_id=2531&team_id=56540

I hope that works?!?

Doesn't this look like fun!!! We went to the Dixie Classic Fair this weekend, and although I am a fair snob (I think they are all kinda gross and dirty and the people who work are all kinda gross as well!) we really had a great time. We went during the day this year instead of at night so it wasn't as crowded. The kids had a great time--of course. They rode a million rides and had a blast! Is there really anything better than the fair when your a kid? I don't think so, and these picture are proof.

Chloe's favorite favorite ride was the slide and Eliott liked the paddle boats best. Jeff and I just loved watching their faces when they rode everything. Poor Millie really wanted to ride, but she was really too small. But there's always next year.

It's good to be blogging again. Hopefully I will be back before November. :)

we have a new pet!

Today we finally had our first Kids for Christ Worship service! It was great. My kids loved it. They said their favorite part was the puppet show--even though they knew it was mommy doing the puppet. I told them that was a secret and they couldn't tell the other kids--but I'm afraid they already know.

After church Jeff had to fly out of the country which led to an amazing display of tears from Eliott. He really loves playing with daddy. I am actually not sure who was more sad...daddy or Eliott! But after nap E was happy again because he said he had a new pet! He found a fly (apparently NOT flying) and put it in his hermit crab house (hermit crab died last week so there was a vacancy) and excitedly told me he had a new pet fly!

look closely...there's a fly in there!

I tried to explain that flies are not really pets and that it was probably already dead---which explains why it was so easy to catch! Eliott insisted that it wasn't dead because it's feet were wiggling when he put it in the crab house. He was so excited about it he actually forgot to be sad about Daddy being gone...at least until bed time.

Millie starts her first day of preschool tomorrow morning. I will be sure to post some pictures of that. Here she is having a little ice cream last night. I think she likes it...what do you think?

Ten on Tuesday

Ok...here goes.

1. This is my first 10 on Tuesday.

2. Eliott met his preschool teacher today and didn't want to leave. The class is going to be so much fun! He has a great teacher and a class full of friends. He starts tomorrow (yeah for me!)

3. Eliott had his first soccer practice tonight--he is such a little athlete! He told me he was probably going to win a trophy--he is so full of self confidence...I love that!

4. Chloe had yet another fabulous day in the first grade--her first art class and would you believe all they did was go over the RULES!?!?! boo hiss!!! She didn't complain about it at all, but I must say I was a bit disappointed---bring on the paper, crayons, glue, watercolors, clay and glitter!

5. Chloe does have a new friend that I hear about everyday...Reagan. She is new this year and Chloe loves her. I am glad she has found a good friend---friends are important. (maybe even more important than art class!)

6. Millie turned 2 (about a week ago) and we just had her party-here are some of her little friends...they are so cute!


7. In the past few weeks (and especially today) Millie has been a living example of the "terrible twos". Wow...I really hope she is teething or something because she is quite the little monster! But just look at that sweet picture again...precious! She really is sweet most of the time. It's just when she is "terrible" it's really terrible! I am sure it is just a stage and I probably have a parenting book in my room that can tell me exactly what I need to do to work through this one...right Mandy? Perhaps I should read it.


8. Good grief...are we not to 10 yet?!


9. Jeff is MIA tonight and single parenting is not fun... especially when you have a 2 year old going through a stage or teething.


10. Time for bed and wouldn't you know it...Millie is crying. Duty calls...

like the new look?

Well, now that all my friends are joining me in the land of Blog, I feel the need to post more often. Does it matter that I don't really have anything to say? Apparently not! I am excited about my new look. I have tried many templates and I think I am finally happy with this one. The colors are definitly me and it is not too much...I believe this is the one. At least until next week. Let me know what you think.
I am still mornining the absence of the Scales family, but Bekah is back from her weekend in Vegas and although they say "what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas" she has told me all about her fun girls weekend (I am a little jealous!). But this made me think that maybe it was time to start dreaming about our next escape. When was our weekend away this year? February or March? So it really isn't too soon to start thinking about it.
I told Mandy I would do 10 on Tuesday, but it's almost time for soccer practice so that will have to come later.

I'm back!

I am feeling a little blue and missing my Alabama friends already...but what a great weekend! I love when we all get together and our kids play together and we talk and laugh and laugh some more...just like old times. Like Eliott I have to ask "why did Mr. Cwishtian get a job so faw away?" Thank goodness for cell phones--although it really isn't good enough. I'll just be thankful for the time we have had and the next time we will see each other! (sniff)

I decided it was time for me to return to the land of the bloggers especially since KL is anxiously awaiting my next post! I have been to the beach, (almost) completed our new "children's wing" at church, had friends in from out of town and thrown a 2 year old birthday party all since my last blog. I really should have a lot to say!

The beach trip was great and much needed, I might add! We enjoyed vacationing with family. The kids had so much fun in the ocean and pool and Chloe finally conquered swimming underwater...way to go CoCo! Eliott rode the waves on his boogie board... and drank more than his share of salt water. Jeff took Chloe and Eliott crabbing and came back with about 20 crabs one day and enjoyed a day of golf with uncle Greg. I enjoyed the sanctuary of my back porch swing (probably my favorite place in the whole wide world!) , caught up on all the tabliods provided by aunt Laurie (Who knew Brittany was such a bad mom?! And Brad and Angelina...is it possible that it might not last?!) and got to spend a few hours at the new outlet mall with aunt Joy (much to Jeff's dismay)! We feasted on the Seabrook Island Seafood Buffet and (by the way, I hate buffets!) it was unbelievable...I ate more than anyone should ever eat in one sitting and loved every bite (I will say afterwards I remembered why I hate buffets). We rode our bikes, walked on the beach, played in the sand, splashed in the pool, played with our cousins and friends and had an amazing week!

It was so hard to leave the beach house behind and return to work, school and everyday life...back to reality!

I have to include a picture of Millie and her "cheeeese". She does this face everytime she sees a camera...where in the world does she get this from?!? I'll never know!

pictures at last!

Wow...Isnt' it interesting that I wanted to start a blog---spurred of course by the interest of my highly intelligent 6 year old daughter (and mandy too), but I can't seem to find the time to actually BLOG! When does one find the time? This is of course one of those time I refuse to admit my husband may have been right so I will find a way ...Oh yes, I will find a way to blog! Mandy has informed me that I think too much when I write so it takes me too long. Therefore, my intent hence forth is to write whatever comes to mind and let it go right out there for the whole world to read. Well, I doubt the whole world will actully view it since Mandy and KL are the only ones who even know about my bloggyness. I figured I better go ahead and post one since we are going to the beach this afternoon and I may not be able to post for about a week. My page already has a very sad forsaken look about it. :(

I think I will add a picture to bring a little life to it. Let me share a few from our fun family day at the Lazy 5 Ranch. We had so much fun! The kids actually hand fed a giraffe and zebra among various other interesting creatures. It was about 100 degrees outside and we were so hot. But it really was a great day for all...and we got some great pics when the kids cooperated.

I even made a new (monochromatic) friend!

as if my life isn't exciting enough!

That's right...as if my life isn't exciting enough, I have now started a blog. My husband just informed me that I am way too busy for this. Well, we'll see. I really just wanted to up my "cool" factor a notch or two--I might need more than a blog!
My oldest daughter wanted to start her own blog (should she even know what a blog is!?) and since she isn't old enough---not even close! I told her we would start a family blog and she can add a few things every now and then. She really just wants to post a wish list so everyone in the whole wide world will know what to buy for her... I know, we've created a monster!

This summer has been insane for the TrinhFam...we haven't even had a real vacation yet and school starts in a little less than 2 weeks. Where did the summer go? We are going to the beach next week, so we will get it all in before 1st grade and pre-school begins.

and now a few words from the monster herself:
wish list:

a baby brother

Well, that should be hard to find at Toys-r-us.

If I can find the time in my ever so busy life I will post more tomorrow---maybe even add a picture or two.