Reunion

As most everyone knows, we went to the Holcomb Family reunion over Labor Day weekend. Poor Jennifer had to stay home due to work and school. She was heartbroken and lamenting the sorrows of being an "adult". The trip in itself was exciting. After dealing with kids and luggage, husband wanting to get on the road, daughter not wanting us to leave, and dog whinning wanting to go with us, we finally pulled out of the driveway and into adventure. The first day was really noneventful. We took our time and stopped along the way for everyone to stretch out. Day 2 was more exciting. As we come out of a mountain tunnel in VA---Virginia's State finest was waiting for Jim on the other side. He didn't see the speed limit signs and was nabbed!!! We finally make to our Inn in WV only to find out we have no cell phone coverage and no internet. This would have been fine and dandy if we hadn't left Jennifer at home. She was in a panic when she found out she couldn't reach Mommy. We finally told her to call Rachel, who was staying with John and Sandy, and relay messages and she would be fine. Reunion was wonderful and we loved seeing everyone again. Had lots of fun. Lots of late nights and early mornings, but it was worth it. I don't think I've laughed as much in a long time. On our way to check out Monday morning, I noticed my sister-in-law Kim sitting in the lobby of the Inn. I asked what she was up to and to my surprise she was surfing the internet!!!!!! They neglected to tell us that they had wireless in the lobby. Of course it didn't reach our 3rd story walk-up room. Well, we left John and Sandy's Monday evening after having a great time with everyone all day. First, we leave the wrong way, turn around and head in the right direction. about 20 minutes down the road I remember I left my purse sitting on their porch. Wouldn't have given it much thought but it had my license, Kindle and of course it is a COACH!!!! So, we turn around and go back, grab my purse then leave again. Another 20 minutes down the road, Rachel remembers she left her makeup bag with her medication in it...so....we turn around again. Finally after everyone has all their possessions together, we leave 2 lane mountain roads and hit interstate!!!! We stop for the night and crash. Up the next day and at it again. We wanted to take our time and ride the Blue Ridge Parkway part of the way home. When the kids found out that it was more mountain roads and no amusement parks, they begged out of it. We stop for the last night, unload the car into our hotel room and head out to dinner. This is only after we swap rooms to adjoining rooms and leave the room with smoking TV behind. After a nice dinner and shopping at Cracker Barrel, we head back to the hotel only to find our key cards don't work. After 3 trips down to the desk, and still no entry, the clerk comes up with the master key, and a computer box to unlock the door...of course it doesn't work. We have to wait for the maintenance guy to show up, of course it's a holiday weekend and 3 HOURS later, he shows up, finally gets the door opened and tell us the lock is broken....DURH!!!!! Jim says he doesn't care, he's not opening it again until we leave!!! After a few hours of sleep, we decide straight home is our new destination. I've never been so happy to see a house under construction in my life. It may be messy and unfinished, but it's home and mine. I think this gave us the motivation we needed to get moving on finishing it again.

She's 17

OK - I know I'm behind on posting, but give me a break!!! Blog posting is way down on the list of priorities. Anyway, Rachel is officially 17. She almost cried when she saw her "Winnie-the-Pooh" cake. She thought for sure that mom would consider her "too old" for that but....SURPRISE!!!! She forgot she has the mom who still wears her bear slippers and watches Looney Tunes...who am I to say she's too old for anything??? She also got her new cell phone, oreos, and Mountain Dew which prompted Screams of joy. And for all who know Rachel, those screams can be excruciating. But she was a happy girl and that's all that matters.

Update

Been busy. New floors are in upstairs, this weekend it's time for baseboards and window trim. Then I get to paint...oh what joy. Friends and family finally convinced me to join facebook, so I have been having a ball with that. Talked to people I haven't seen in years!!!! Today I'm busy cleaning so I can become Jim's slave for the weekend. "Hold this, I need some more tea, hand me my nail gun, etc, etc, etc...." Oh well, it's worth it.

Not much to tell. Work on the house and being a mom keeps me busy. Will post more later.

Update

Christopher with B'day Cake!!!!

Jake & Christopher

Eating cookies from Grandma!!!!

Too much happening at home to blog about it. Let's start with the kids...Jake and Emily are working hard in school. Emily is spending all of her free time on the computer. She has fallen in love with web and movie designing. Jake is helping Dad put down new floors upstairs (slowly) and working with a new electronics kit that I bought for him. Who would have thought that would be his "thing". Rachel is busy trying to do school, physical therapy for her back (scoliosis), and being the typical teenager trying to stay on the road and at the mall every waking hour. Jenny is working and getting herself ready for her first year of college.

We took a trip to Ozark, AL this weekend for Christopher's first birthday. Visited with family and relaxed. Glad to be back home. Now it's time to begin working again. Have installed new wood floor in Jake's room and will do Rachel's this weekend. Hopefully it won't be long before they will be able to move back into their rooms and give me the downstairs back. Still a lot of work to be done and hopefully we can get most of it done in the next 3 weeks before it's time for me to become a football widow.

Getting Nowhere Fast

Jim is traveling this week, which should leave plenty of time for me to work on the house. Or so it would seem. Jake's room and the upstairs hallway, stairwell, and the living room has been touched up from the repairs. All of this was done before Jim left with him painting the stairwell and upstairs hallway. So, why can't I get any further??? Seems that I start doing something, get called away and never get back to the task at hand. My parents are visiting this weekend, so I at least have to have a path made. I will be glad when all of this is over, if it ever is. I am to the point now, that if something is in my way and I don't know what it is or can't find a place to put it, it goes in the garbage. Hope nobody is missing anything important. I suppose if it was important, they wouldn't leave it lying around, would they? NO, not my husband and kids. They alway put away their things. Wonder whose leaving all this stuff around?

WOW!! Busy Life Lately

As everyone knows, we have been remodeling/restoring our house (still). FINALLY, the plasterer is finished. Now the real work begins. New paint, lights, moldings, doors, etc..... Off to Lowe's this morning for supplies and then I put on my paint clothes which I will probably be wearing for the next month or so.

Had a great 4th of July weekend. We went to Ft. Pierce and drove my in-laws crazy again for the weekend (except for Jenny, she had to work). Kate and Sara picked on Jim all weekend. It was fun watching siblings in action, especially when they stole his snuggly blankie and held it for ransom. For those who don't know, Jim has a special blankie he travels with and wraps up in when he is at home watching TV. His sisters took it from him and then took pictures of it in different places like the Travelocity garden gnome. They finally gave it back as he was packing the Suburban to come home.

Came home Sunday and crashed. Jim didn't work Monday morning so we slept in. Got up around 10:30 and was informed that Jon had been there and had b'fast with Jenny earlier that morning. It's wonderful having grown children. They just come and go, and we sleep through it.

Enough for now...Lowe's is waiting. The pic is Karaoke on the 4th. A wonderful trio!!!