One Year on Creekside

After living in a one room carriage house for 3.5 years, Rowdy and I relocated to our house on Creekside a year ago today. What an exciting time we have had! This has been such a blessing to live here during this time of being homebound. We have seen all sorts of creatures - from foxes, to turtles, some kind of crazy noise making crane, hawks, neighborhood dogs, beautiful birds (cardinals & hummingbirds are my favs), Cypress Cat, raccoons, deer, armadillo, and possum. Nights are incredible out here too. There is a full moon tonight and it is gorgeous - we sit in the living room with all the lights off on these kind of nights and call it "The Planetarium". The stars are amazing and endless on the moonless evenings. The porches have been a major plus for me - we had not had a place to "knock the paste off" the face and legs since we have been married. I could sit out there all day - too bad it has rained the majority of the last year....

This week we will recount some memories:

1. Youth Group Parties - We have had 2 really fun youth group shindigs "The Un-Prom" (for those of us too young or too old for Prom) - where we saw Phillip climb over the railing and Emily school everyone in darts - the Christmas Party - where we had the "You'll Shoot Your Eye Out" Shooting Gallery, Let Santa Sit on Your Lap, The Moth Christmas Storytelling Hour, and Silent Night charades. Good times.

2. Waking Up in Dollywood - We decided to move VERY quickly (like 3 days) and with the help of our friends and my mom we got it all done in about one day. We all went to bed exhausted and woke up the next morning to find a surprise SNOW. Because of all of the trees - it really looked like we were in Gatlinburg- it was a magical morning! Rowdy woke Mom and I up pronouncing that we were in Dollywood.

3. Hammock - Rowdy was not very patient trying to feel for Wilson when I was pregnant. But, if we sat in the hammock together he felt lots of kicking and moving! So, we decided we were going to let the baby pick his/her name. We thought Wilson had picked out a girl's name for himself...but apparently he was just kicking to let us know he was a boy...

The Pool

It takes a lot for me to get motivated to put a bathing suit on my pasty self in February... but I did it ... twice. Wilson & I have been a little bored with our surroundings, so I got inspired to take him to our indoor pool at the Y. And I wanted to buy him a little bathing suit. They are beyond adorable. The first time, we all three went and he showed ZERO expression - nothing. And this baby smiles at everything. So, I tried again by myself last Saturday, and we hit the jackpot!! Here's why it was so great:

1. W is way into playing by himself - he likes for me to be there, but he doesn't want to play with me very much. This was a great way for us to interact in a play setting instead of something functional. And he let me hold him tightly the whole time... I am getting less snuggling these days.

2. He LOVED watching the other children (and flirting with the lifeguards)- I hadn't pictured that - but he sat in my arms for 15 minutes and just laughed, smiled, and looked. They also have a lot of things that shoot water in the kids section of our pool - he liked seeing all of that action too!

3. Balls/Floats - He loved swimming together to capture a ball and then holding it for a little while before he let go again. They also had a fabulous float he could sit up in while I toted him around to various parts of the pool. He enjoyed traveling around and seemed to kick a lot under the water. The big surprise is that he did not splash his hands at all. Maybe next time?

This was an awesome way to break up the winter blahs and get us out of the house doing something active! We will go back soon! I'll try to post a picture sometime when I can manage a baby, camera, and water....

Ford County

Now that Wilson is actually "sleeping like a baby" - I get to read again - woo hoo! Due to the vast amount of sickness in the household in January - I had February Resolutions instead of New Year's ones. This year I am trying to read a spiritual book in between my normal books in my everyday reading.

I read Stepping Heavenward first by Elizabeth Prentiss - it's a fictional book that portrays a journal of a Christian woman in the 1800s and how her spiritual life changes from her 16th birthday until her 40s. I really enjoyed it and would recommend it to women with children especially.

My second book of the year was Ford County by John Grisham. I started reading Grisham in high school and read everything he writes. I love the fun lawyer/mystery/thriller books, but tolerate the rest. I understand that he wants to write something else - I just don't enjoy it as much. Ford County was no different. The short stories concept about a county is Mississippi is neat, but I was not attached to any of the characters & found most of the stories too dark for my taste. If I had to pick one, I guess Casino was my favorite. I'll just wait for the next lawyering book I guess....

Flight of the Conchords, Season 1

I have watched so much television in the past 8 months. Does it have to do with the fact that have an eight month old? Definitely. Between feeding someone who eats a lot, being too tired to do much else, and being more homebound these days.... tv has become a big past time in our home. Especially with me.

That being said, Rowdy and I finished Season One of The Flight of the Conchords last night. This show is about 2 guys from New Zealand who are trying to make their band big in NYC. The supporting cast of their superfan, Mel, and band manager, Murray, really help round out the show. It's a light, silly show that I have a feeling people either love or hate. We laughed our heads off the first few episodes.... got used to the routine in the middle... and then they may have sucked us back in to Season 2 with the final episode. Here are my top 3 episodes:

1. "Sally" - The Conchords are introduced to us in this episode and give 3 amazing songs to the audience - "I'm Not Crying" being my personal favorite:

I'm not crying
It's just been raining
on my face
And if you think you see some tear tracks down my cheeks
Please. Pleasee, don't tell my mates
I'm not crying
No, I'm not crying
And if I am crying
It's not because of you
It's because I'm thinking about a friend of mine who you don't know who is dying
That's right, dying
These aren't tears of sadness because you're leaving me
I've just been cutting onions
I'm making a lasagna
For one

2. "Mugged" - We are introduced to the rapping alter egos of The Conchords - The Rhymenoceros & Hiphopopotamus. My favorite song is in the episode and I sang it for days following.

Other rappers dis me
Say my rhymes are sissy.
Why? Why? Why?
What?
Why exactly?
What? Why?
Be more constructive with your feedback, please. Why?
Why?

Why, because I rap about reality?
Like me and my grandma drinking a cup of tea?
There ain't no party like my nanna's tea party.
Hey! Ho!

3. "The Third Conchord" - We decided we liked this show, but were done with it - UNTIL the season finale left us wanting more. The band picks up a new member, splits into 2 bands, switches members, and we see our supporting cast leave The Conchords. What is going to happen? Arf. Arf.

Things I Learned from My Dad

Today is my Dad's 64th birthday, so I thought I would honor him by letting you know about some knowledge he has passed on to me...

1. "Just check it out" - I was convinced that when I went to college that I would want to go to a small private Christian school. So, when Dad brought up the possibility of visiting his alma mater, UT - I was not interested. In fact, it was probably the last place I wanted to attend or visit. But, he talked me into going with him on a day trip to Knoxville to just check it out, and I instantly fell in love. It ended up being the perfect place for me to learn a lot about scholastic matters as well as life matters. So, in the end - just check stuff out - you never know. I love being a Vol.

2. "Girls, you are going to learn a lot more than just about the Grand Canyon." - My friend, Kristy, and I decided to see the Grand Canyon following our sophomore year of college. This was our first big trip where we were doing all the arrangements and had no one to meet us at the other end. That was the quote Dad left us with as we started our journey - and we referred to it often on our trip. Sometimes life is just about learning how to do things more than the actual goal. Because we learned a lot. A whole lot. And close to none of it had to do with the Grand Canyon.

3. "Scholars in the days of old didn't go to school to get a major - they went to school to study Greek, Latin, the classics - to learn. Nicole - go to school - take classes you want to take - to learn. Nicole - go to school - the Vols are going to up for a national championship." - This is what was said to me when I freaked out about picking a major and wanted to take a semester off. I went to school - to learn - and took Photojournalism, Historical Controversies, Private and Commercial Recreation, and another interesting class that has slipped my mind. I guess the lesson here is to take the opportunities you are given. I enjoyed the semester, found a major, and got to see Peyton lead us to a SEC championship.

Thanks Dad!

Ok, Ok, I'll just start doing this....

My friend, Casie, and I decided to start blogs recently. I think Julie & Julia may have had something to do with it. We were trying to come up with a theme, but just decided to start and see what we like to write about. You can check hers out at here. I am personally a little nervous about this because I am not a great writer, but being more homebound these days - I need an outlet. So, after procrastinating for a week and a half.... here is my first post...

I had no idea what to name this thing... so I came up with "From the Ewok Village" for 3 reasons:

1) I love ewoks. My personal ewok, Princess Kneesa, will turn 26 on February 22nd. We have been through a lot together. Maybe I will tell the story of how she came to be mine on her birthday.



2) I live in the trees these days, just like the ewok village.



3) Ewoks are awesome - they fight the evil forces, they share with others (like Princess Leia), they capture all sorts of large creatures despite their small stature, and they can throw one heck of a party. I think this exchange from "How I Met Your Mother" says it best:

Ted Mosby: I just met the perfect woman. She's funny, she's beautiful, she loves "Star Wars"...
Marshall Eriksen: Woah woah woah, what's her take on Ewoks?
Ted Mosby: Loves them!
Marshall Eriksen: Oh, good. I don't know why people are so cynical about Ewoks, the Rebellion would have failed without the Ewoks.
Ted Mosby: And get this: She's a marine biologist, she spent a year in Antarctica studying penguins.
Marshall Eriksen: Oh, penguins are cool. Kinda like black-and-white Ewoks. I approve.

I love penguins too - so this quote is awesome in my book.



I am also looking to discuss things in threes. My SS teacher, Jay Benson, gave us some fact about learning best in 3s. Our minds are always looking for more with two points and throw out one if we have four points. So three it is.

Feel free to encourage me in this endeavor by following the blog or responding/commenting...