VA - Part 1

Thursday night, Friday and Friday night we stayed in Richmond with some college friends. I didn't take ANY pictures!! Bummer because her kids are adorable and Chase had so much fun playing with them.
Sonja, Brandon, Micah and Braden - Thank you so much for letting us stay with you. We miss you guys so much and always have such a nice time when we are all together. I hope we get to see you soon!!
We left Richmond Saturday morning and headed to Lynchburg to see my family. My Nannie and Papa live in Lynchburg and my brother drove up from GA for the weekend. The main reason we were all together was to celebrate my Papa's 80th birthday! I was also there to see my nephew who I hadn't seen since he was born in September (9/9/09).

{Chase in the car - He was so good the entire trip. Thanks buddy!!}

{Chase and his Papa on the lawn mower. My Papa's "thing" is cutting grass. Every grandchild and now great grandchild has ridden on his lawn mowers. I remember it was always the highlight of our family trips to visit Nannie and Papa. The first thing Chase did was run into the backyard and get on the tractor with Papa. He LOVED it!!}

{Gabe and Nannie. I'm not sure how to rotate my picture - ugh!}

Papa's party to follow.

VA in Poloroid Pictures

We're back! Here is a brief post of some awesome pictures I took with my brother's iphone. Gabe is amazing! I hated to leave him... He is such a good baby and super cute too! We had a nice visit with friends and family but are very glad to be home. We hit hella traffic in DC yesterday driving home. What normally takes around 5 hours took 8! Chase was a trooper though and did great considering he was in his car seat for an entire day!! More pics and a detailed post to come later today or first thing tomorrow. Just in case, Happy Turkey Day! I hope everyone has as much to be thankful for as I do! :)

The Carroll Family

Are words even needed??

Um, Yeah

Remember this opening scene from the movie Office Space? This is what my daily commute has been like lately. Thank God today is my Friday!! We leave for VA tonight and I can. not. wait!! Sleeping in, relaxing, drinking, spending time with friends and family and - best of all - seeing Baby Gabe!!! I told my SIL she better not expect to hold, feed or change her son for the next few days. This weekend could make or break my "baby fever". It's been sticking around longer than usual. Hummmm.... :)

More to be Thankful For...

This little boy. He's 2.5 going on 25. Doesn't he look huge?? This is is professional Christmas picture. I will post more later.

Venting...

Sorry to be Debbie Downer today. I'm a little anxious and stressed. I have alot to do before leaving for VA tomorrow night. I know I can get it done, I just need to stop worrying about it. Also, I have a pimple the size of a grape fruit on my chin. What the?!?! I thought pimples stopped after high school. Annoying. I feel like people are staring at it when they talk to me. Of course I can't leave it alone, so now it's a red, swollen, flaky mess. It picked the worst time to rear it's ugly head because when I'm in VA someone always has something to say about 1) my weight or 2) the pimple on my face. It's awesome. Totally reassuring.

J Crew what the what!? Why are you so expensive? I love you so much but I refuse to pay for your clothes. Back in the day you were so affordable. Word on the street is that high school kids in Atlanta are buying your clothes now. High School kids? Really? What about the "real" people who don't have rich parents?

I will try and focus on the positive the rest of the day - I get to see Gabe in 2 days, I get to celebrate my Papa's 80th birthday, my son is somewhat healthy, my husband is wonderful and loving his new job, I have food to eat tonight and a roof over my head. Thank you Lord for all you have given our family.

Yes? No?

I want a pair of fingerless gloves. These are cute from Gap. American Eagle also has them, but I'm WAY too old to shop there. I'm pretty sure you have to be under 16 or a mom that wants to be 16. You know who I'm taking about.
We have a crazy week ahead of us. Tonight Rob and I are both getting our hair cut. Tomorrow is a play date with Chloe and Thursday we leave for the VA - first Richmond to see college friends and then Lynchburg to see family and more college friends. I finally get to meet Gabe! I can hardly wait. I will take lots and lots of pics. I hope I don't blind him.

Flats

These shoes may or may not be on their way to my house. Sorry babe. It was too good of a sale to pass up.

Love ya.

First Gift

Your first Christmas gift will only cost $10 this year!

Unsafe water and lack of basic sanitation cause 80%
of all sickness and disease, and kill more people every
year than all forms of violence, including war.

$10 will provide one person in Africa clean water for 10 years!!

Donate here:
http://water4christmas.com/index.html

(information from Ashley Ann's site and Joy's Hope Blog)

Chase 2.7

2 years and 7 months ago Chase was born. It was Friday the 13th. Who knows why 13 is supposed to be an unlucky number, but it's not for us - even if I don't believe in luck. The biggest blessing of my life was given to me on Friday, April 13th.

Chase - You are getting so big! You talk non stop and we have actual conversations about your day, your dog and sometimes Handy Manny. You still don't eat well, but you are growing and drink alot of milk so I guess we are ok. You still love your Daddy more than anyone else in the entire world. I think you could spend all day watching TV with him or reading books. Your favorite book is Where the Wild Things Are. You have a big portion of it memorized. Funny. You love school and tell me when I pick you up that you "no scare Remi anymore" which is good because we asked you to stop and you did. Thanks buddy.
We have alot going on the next few months. You are going to meet your new cousin Gabe next week. I think you are excited (mommy is!!). Christmas is coming and you know that it's Jesus' birthday and that you are going to ask Santa for a Rescue Pack. The other night I asked you who made you so smart and you said "God"... :)
Happy 2.7 birthday bud! I love you so much! Thank you for being such an amazing kid!