Birthday Fun!

Thank you to everyone for all the Birthday wishes!! I had a very good birthday this year without the breakdown like last year! :)

It was a full weeks worth of celebrations! I had gifts/shopping in South Carolina, some fun at work, a fantastic meal from my hubby, and a great night out with friends.

Too bad birthdays are only once a year! Ha!!

Easter 2008

So Easter '08 was a full weekend. Despite all the sickness, and the driving, we had a really good time. AND we got to hang out with the coolest 10 month old in the US!

This stomach virus that's been going around seemed to have little sympathy for our mini vacation. Lacey had Thursday, Greg got it on Friday. Saturday seemed to go well but then on Sunday morning, Dad didn't make it through church before he had it. Poor guy, they were suppose to leave to head back to TN but that wasn't even an option till Monday morning. By Tuesday, Jonathan's Dad, Chris had it.

At that point, we decided to make a run for it! But, like I said, the sickness didn't stop us from having a good time.

Hunter got to play in the pool, have his picture made with the Easter Bunny, and spend the day with his favorite Aunt! He also got this really cool duck that sings the Chicken Dance... no thanks to his Mimi. : )

This trip was also Maggie's first trip to the beach! She actually did really well considering she's not much a fan of the water. The wind was obviously blowing so we thought kite flying might be fun but we weren't very good at it.

Hunter LOVES Maggie and since he can crawl at the speed of light, he was right on her heels all weekend! They would play together and he would just cackle! It was so cute but this is by far my FAVORITE picture!

Monday, we spent the day in Georgetown antique shopping. I wish I had pictures of this day 'cause it was definitely a highlight. A very cute little town on the water... but don't get hungry mid-afternoon 'cause nothing is open till 5pm.

All in all, it was a good trip. We got to spend time with the fam and relax so we can't complain.

Good Friday to you!!!!

Whooo hoooo!!! The weekend is just a few short hours away! And its a long weekend for us!
We are ready to head to the beach for weekend to see everyone! Maggie has her bags packed and though she is super excited about Mimi, Papa O, Lacey, and Maw & Paw Parris; she isn't as trilled about Hunter or Tiger being there.

Not sure if I'll be able to make any posts while we are gone but I will definitely have some pics on my nephew to post when I get back.

Before we leave, I wanted to leave you one additional story about my morning thus far:

So I come into work this morning early. I get to Hampton and everyone is in a tizzy. Most of them look like they have been up all night so I’m thinking “was there some party or something I wasn’t invited to?” Amber looks at me and says “Walt can tell you” and walks away.

Evidently, Walt got a call at 2am that the lady in 101 said there was water falling from the light fixture in her room and woke her up. When they went upstairs and knocked on the door of room 201 there was no answer. Worried, the new night auditor opened the door and immediately heard the bath tub running.

Jeremy ran into the bath room and found a man in the tub. He tried to wake him but he didn’t respond. Panicked, he called 911.

At this point, the Female police officers, EMS, our Chief Engineer and his assistant, the night auditor and the security guard are all in the room standing in water with the naked Jap on the couch.

This guy took a late night flight from Japan, had a number of beers on the plane and decided to take bath once he got to the hotel. HE PASSED OUT IN THE TUB WITH THE WATER RUNNING. There were 2 inches of water standing in his room (a suite I might add).

They guy is fine but is having to pay over $1500 in room damages/repairs. Happy Friday!!!!

Thankful

You know life isn't always easy and it doesn't always go as planned but I think I have learned more the in the last six months than I had in 25 years.
At the end of October I got a call about my grandmother, Mamaw Orr. I went back to Knoxville and sat with my Dad in an ICCU waiting room for days only getting to see her every 3 hours. I stood, holding her hand, when the doctors told us it wouldn't be much longer and that we should start making arrangements.
A few days later I walked down the aisle and married the amazing man that God had created just for me.
On November 20th, I woke up to a phone call that two of my very best friends were in a tragic car accident. "Cody didn't make it" was all I heard before everything became a blur. I spent the next two days in another ICCU waiting room surrounded by so many, from different areas of the country, all praying/pleading with God to bring Trey through this time.
On Thanksgiving Day, Trey also went home to be with the lord. Standing in the waiting room and hearing the news my body went numb. I couldn't cry anymore and the pain I was feeling consumed me.
As I sat down to dinner with my family, giving thanks for all we had, I prayed harder then I have ever prayed before. The Bible says to "rejoice in all things" but that isn't the easiest thing to do when you don't understand why. I thanked him anyway.
I thanked him for healing my grandmother and for the time I have with her. I thanked him for taking Cody instantly so that he never had to suffer. And I thanked him for the people he brought together through Trey and the lives that would be saved by his organs.
I've heard stories before about those who said they have "felt" Gods loving arms around them but always thought it was a figure of speech. I'm here to tell you its not. When I prayed that prayer I was shivering all over and then, like nothing I've ever felt before, a warmth came over me like the biggest bear hug you've ever had.
It was then I began to understand. Not why he took my friends away, but that he has a plan that I will never be able to comprehend. But, if I trust him and praise him, he'll give me the comfort I need and will help me through.
I have so many things to be thankful for and God answers prayers everyday. Mamaw Orr is now a regular at the 5th Sunday Night Singing playing the piano at church for hours on end. Five families, now have their loved ones returned to them through Treys organ donation. FIVE!
Today, Tracy had her surgery and came through with flying colors! The best possible outcome doctors could hope for and that is definitely something to be thankful for.
Please remember, Thanksgiving isn't just a holiday that comes around once a year. Thank God for the blessings in your life each and every day. You just might get a bear hug of your own.

Had to Share

I got these tickets to the Predators Game tonight and have been looking for some people to go. I sent a text message to one particular person who will remain unnamed due to the number of readers who know him/her.
The message really caught be off guard but I had to share! It reads:

"I would love to but i am in destine till

Saturday on spring break. FYI i am wearing

only a giant Ziploc bag covered

in duck tape."

~Anonymous

You are free to make your guesses. :-)

Earplugs Recommended

As promised, here are the videos of Emily singing on Rock Band... Viewer assumes all risks.

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-8161350504827594161&hl=en

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-7466102737063412447&hl=en

Our trip to Loudon this weekend had some great moments. First and foremost, the drive in had its own excitement. We called to talk to Jackson to see how his 5th birthday was, he asked to talk to me and wouldn't tell Jonathan anything!!! Haha! I LOVED IT!


Saturday morning we had breakfast with Papaw Tommy & Mamaw Lois. I had hoped to see the boys but obviously I picked the wrong weekend 'cause everyone was out of town.



Since it was such a yucky day outside, we decided to have a basketball party at the house with some yummy soups. The UT game was a heart breaker but we had a some great company which makes everything better.


Rockin' Out


My parents have this group of friends we call "The River Gang" which is made up of 6 families. Of all the children, I'm the oldest. And since I use to babysit most of the them, I call them "my kids".




Of all "my kids", one has always been very quite and reserved... or at least in the past. Saturday night that all changed. Miss Emily Keaton blew my mind this weekend during a little session of Rock Band. To put it into words would not do justice. I've tried to upload the video for you to see for yourself but I guess it was just too painful for the computer to process! For now, just take my word for it.





Birthday Surprise

So my birthday isn't for another week or so but my dad was so excited about the "gift" he got for me I got it early. I had told him before that to remember my size OR my favorite color is green... well I got something green...

Luckily, it fits Jonathan perfectly!!!!

Sick Bay

My plans for Loudon were almost set to the side again but everything is still on track for now.

Lacey's husband Greg had been really sick this past weekend and yesterday they had Lacey in the ER with a major upper respiratory infection. Worried about little Hunter, I called the office, told them I would seem them next week and was looking for the first flight out and a hotel room. I had my bags packed and in the car ready to kidnap him and take him to a healthier place. I even found us a hotel with an indoor pool so we could play in the water on our little vacation together! I couldn't bare the thought of him getting sick and plus I really think he needs to see his Aunt Niki. (Doubt his non-existant Aunt Mallory would have done that.)

No such luck. This morning Greg was feeling a little better but had to take Hunter to the doctor... now he has the crud AND an ear infection! Poor little guy. :-(

Lacey does seem to be doing a bit better today herself though so I guess I'll just have to wait to see my nephew next weekend.

Now she's carring a ball & chain

Many of you know my good friend Mauri but I'm not sure if you've seen her blog. You have to check it out! She just got back from her honeymoon and her pictures are fantastic! ...So are the stories! haha!

http://thewoodfolks.blogspot.com

New Trip Planned!!!!

Good News for my Loudon fans... We are FINALLY coming in for the weekend!!!! : )

That's right kids, we are making plans for our long overdue return! We haven't been home for more then 12 hours SINCE CHRISTMAS!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I can't believe its been that long! I think my Papaw Tommy misses me terribly. I hope to see these kids that were born since my last trip in and visit with some friends for a while. Looks like a UT Baseball Game may be in the plans as well for the weekend!

In other news, we made it through last weekends snow storms just fine. We actually got a little over two inches although you couldn't tell it by looking at our yard. This "secret sauce" dad put on the yard from Cliff obviously works 'cause its like a jungle out there!

I have some pictures of our snow ball fight and Maggie in the snow to post but I'll have to find my camera cords in order to do so... I had left the camera card in my computer so the cords are a must. (No idea where they are)

I do have one picture I can post however. Hunter is growing like a weed and I can't wait to see him next weekend!!! Look how BIG he looks!!!

Too Sweet!

Been Awhile

So, its been a while since our last update... Last weekend I had planed to go to Loudon if at all possible but that didn't work out for me. I missed Kelly's Bridal Shower, Goob's Going Away Party, and Breakfast with my Papaw Tommy. I also missed getting to see two little boys that I've been wanting to see since their birth! At this rate, they'll be in school before I get back!

March has always been the absolute busiest time of the year for me every year and this one is no different. My color coded calendar looks like a three year old had a hold of it! I had hoped that with the extra help I would be able to get a way a bit. No such luck.

Last week, not only were both hotels in oversold situations, but our executive housekeeper of 7 years walked out, we had to terminate a night auditor for stealing money, another front desk agent at Baymont quite because I told her she couldn't take off for Spring Break when she turned in her request one week prior and we had posted a sign up a month before, we have another agent already off for spring break, our laundry lady quit, and two other front desk agents and our weekend breakfast host turned in notices. AAAAAHHHHH!!!!

Then, on Monday, Sandra turned in her notice as well. For those who don't know, Sandra is the GM over both of our Murfreesboro hotels who I have worked with and has been my mentor for the last 6 years. This, I think, is the hardest pill to swallow. She has always taught me to learn everything that I can because the more experience/knowledge you have the more valuable you are to this or any company. Although I hate not seeing her in the office each day, I know that this is the best move for her professionally and understand and support her completely.
The good news is, she isn't going far! She is taking the GM position for the Double Tree Hotel here in Murfreesboro which is a full service property. She is still less then 5 minutes away and I've already scheduled my lunch dates with her each week for our gossip hour.

On a brighter note, Mauri & Justin got married this week!!! They left for Jamaica last weekend and will be returning to the real world and our cold weather sometime this weekend. They had a small, private ceremony and I can't wait to see all the pictures when they get back!

Our Fence Party had to be postponed due to weather (and the fact that the supplies wouldn't be here in time). It has yet to be re-scheduled so please e-mail or call us with your availability and we'll try to work around the help we can get!

And, last but definitely not least, Hunter took his first steps last night!!! Lacey, of course, called very excited and said that she got them on film - she just doesn't have the software to load the footage online yet. As soon as we get something I'll be sure to post it for all to see.