Thrice Blessed

Our beautiful gifts from God...hard to believe that just over four years ago, we didn't know if we were going to be able to have children...what an abundance of blessings!

Brusha, Brusha, Brusha

Zachy went to the dentist yesterday and was such a big boy! He was so good, he did everything they asked of him without a whimper or a cry. He was so sweet getting his teeth cleaned, flossed and scraped! He did so well with the x-ray too and got a Spiderman sticker. He got a new Power Ranger toothbrush, his own tube of toothpaste and some fun prizes too. Now he is all about brushing his teeth, which is awesome! What a difference a year makes! Last year, he saw a different dentist and it was awful. Not only was the dentist unfriendly, but poor Zach was still suffering from enlarged tonsils and adenoids so he couldn't breathe which didn't make it any easier. Now that he is a year older, tonsil and adenoid free and has a new, friendly dentist, it was a dream visit! Now...if only Ava's first ever dentist appointment will go as well next week...

Speaking of "Blueberries for Sal"...

Here is Zach "reading" a portion of the book. It's amazing how well he remembers the story. Much of what he is saying is word-for-word... he's a genious!

Book of the Week

The kids have really been enjoying the book "Blueberries for Sal" by Robert McCloskey. They love it so much in fact, I read it twice in the span of 30 minutes today....and its not the shortest of children's books! Both Ava and Zach can even recite some of the book back to me and can fill in some of the words when I am reading to them.

Classic kid line...

Jen was at the grocery store last night with Ava doing some shopping. At one point, a man walked down the aisle and reached across the buggy to get something. He had a ponytail... so of course Ava promptly blurts out "Hey, boys aren't supposed to have ponytails, only girls!". Classic.

Monday Memories

October 2006-Ava at 13 months with her one tiny curl in the back of her head, feeding cheerios to her hungry brother!

Corrie Crow Brooks 1922-2008

Sadly, my (Jen's) last living grandparent died on Tuesday, February 12th. My Granny was 85 and full of spunk. A single mom, she raised my dad and my aunt on a waitresses' income and did a darn good job. She always worked hard and I think that is why, even with poor health due to smoking, she was independent and able to get around pretty good on her own til the end. My brother and I have lots of memories of her when we were kids...spending time with her in her old Buckhead apartment playing dressup and hospital, the ottoman was the ambulance and cheese puffs were the medicine...walking to Lenox Mall and Granny always buying us toys even though I am sure money was tight...walking down Peachtree Rd collecting cans off the ground so she could turn them in for change...her taking out her false teeth to scare us when we were kids (we loved it!)...she tirelessly played games with us and let us make a mess of her apartment.
It warms my heart to know that in the past year and a half, she got to know Zach and Ava and they got to know her. About every other month, I would take the kids up to Gainesville, where she lived with my aunt, for a visit and she really enjoyed it...and the kids did too. Everytime I talked to her, she would ask how her babies were doing and talk to them on the phone. Sadly though, she really wanted to see Renee but never got the chance. I talked to her a week before she passed away, when she was in the hospital, and she was hoping she would be able to get home soon so I could bring the baby to see her. But, she never got out of the hospital.
I haven't told the kids yet about her passing because it makes me too sad but I know I have to tell them soon. They keep asking about her, wanting to know when we can go visit her again.
We will miss our Granny. She was born and raised in Atlanta and had such a rich knowledge of the history of this city. Working as a waitress in Buckhead in the 1940's and 50's, she met everyday people and some well known Atlantans, but they were all the same to her. She also played baseball for the Lorelei Ladies (think "A League of Their Own") and they wanted her to turn pro but she wanted to focus on raising my aunt instead. She made the newspaper a few times as well, most memorably on August 4th, 1948, the day after she gave birth to my dad in a police car on the way to the hospital! It was never a dull moment with my Granny!
Thankfully, we have our memories and pictures to remember her!

Flashback Flicks

December 2005 - This was Ava's first successful rollover. Please ignore the nauseatingly sweet adult voices in the background...

Growing so fast!

It's amazing how much Renee has grown right before our eyes...she will be 3 months old in a couple of weeks! Pretty soon, she will start performing all sorts of tricks! We are enjoying her sweet smiles now and her cooing...and we are anxiously awaiting the sound of her first laugh!

Jeff training update

On Saturday, I went out to Kennesaw mountain and ran the entire trail loop... from the visitor center, out to Kolb farm, and back... 16 miles (I did it in 2 hours, 18 minutes). It was pretty tough, and my legs are feeling pretty sore today. But each time I go on a long run, I know it's going to make the race in March easier.

If you've never been on the trails around Kennesaw mountain, I highly recommend it. They are really nice trails through some beautiful scenery. I ran right by two deer on Saturday morning and they just stood their and watched me... I could have reached out and touched them... but I was too tired.

Here is a link to a map of the trails: trail map

Monday Memories

This was taken on the annual Holton family trip to Dillard, GA back in October 2003. Jeff and I loved cruising around on his first motorcycle. This was about one month before we found out we were expecting our first baby!! I can't believe this was over four years ago!

Flashback Flicks

November, 2004 - This is when we first realized Zach was going to be an entertainer...

Monday Memories

Here are some pictures of Ava from February 2006 when she was five months old. Our little monkey has grown so much, she is such a big girl now! It's hard to remember her bald head but she still has the same beautiful, blue eyes!