TOMORROW!

Well tomorrow is the day of extraction. Creighton gave me the hCG shot last night (in my upper-right-cheek-area). I'm a teensy bit sore there today. I couldn't sleep on my back all night. It's only 3:00pm and I wish the day would hurry up and be over. It has been nice to not have to take any shots today. I don't have any today or tomorrow. Then we start a whole new round of shots on Wednesday.

Friday is the really big day. Transfer! Then we wait 12 days. So we won't know for sure if it took until the pregnancy test on the 30th. Pray really hard for us, OK? We want this to happen. I'm 32 for Pete's sake!

I am really sad to hear the news about Maria and Tyler, but since there is a Target and a Wal-Mart right outside the base in Why-oh-why-oh-why-oh-me-Wyoming, I find this acceptable and approve of the move. Hehehehe!

Good luck Rozzie with keepin' that kid in until Stephen gets home. I know he'll wait for his Daddy to be there!

Love you all!

PS - found out who the new RS Pres. is and she's super cool. I'm gonna have fun working with her. :)

No News is Good News.... I guess

At least that is what they say (who is THEY by the way?). Anyhoo.... I don't know if all of you know and this is probably a real CRAPPY way to break the news, but Tyler has been in for a reassignment to Wyoming, yes folks that is not a typo WYOMING. The great state of ..... well RODEOS? I guess. Well, we haven't heard anything yet, so I guess that is good. I don't know. We are having real mixed emotions about the whole thing. I think we are both excited to venture out and try life on our own, but then again it sure is nice to have dependable babysitters at the touch of a button (Ros, you know what I mean). I do know that Heavenly Father will send us wherever we are needed. We do love Charleston, but we have both found ourselves getting very frustrated here, not only with Tyler's job, but with our ward. We know the church is true, but buddy these people in Charleston can sure drive you BONKERS!!!! We won't know anything about Wyoming for at least another week. Just keep us in your prayers and know that we will miss you all, if we go. Oh, I forgot to mention the tiny ity bity bit about when we would actually need to be there, (if you have a weak stomach you may want to stop reading now) we would have to be there in Decemeber. So for now Christmas is in the air. We love you all.

Love,
The Franklin Family

Fasting for KT and Creighton

Hello Family,

I will also send this out on email...I know we don't all check the BLOG (shame shame). I know we are all aware that this is going on, but I wanted to suggest that we all fast and/or pray for KT and Creighton this Sunday. It looks like things are a go for this weekend. Even if for same reason they don't happen this weekend, it might be a good idea to fast and pray that they will be able to happen soon and successfully! I have talked with KT about this (fasting) before, but didn't mention it recently. However, I feel sure they would not object to prayers on their behalf! There is power in numbers! So, this Sunday, let's all fast & pray for KT and Creighton and success in the invitro procedure!

Love,
Rosalind

Calm Before the Storm

Hello all! I have been feeling fabulous the past three days. I am pretty sure this is the calm before the storm. I am still a little tired, but I seem to be sleeping better and feeling better than I have in over a month. Full moon on August 9th...so maybe! If I don't have the baby this week, then I will just have to wait for the date the doc scheduled, because as most of you know, Stephen HAS to go to G'ville Aug 14-16 for work. So, thank goodness for mom and dad...they will come and "baby-sit" me and the girls! Anyway, hope you are all well. KT, you need to tell those ovaries to knock it off and behave! :) Love to you all!

Ain't No Misbehavin'

Welcome to another edition of “Katie’s Misbehaving Ovaries.” Today we will be delving into why they think it’s a good idea to form huge cysts and what Dr. Miller has to do to drain them.

Yes, folks, that’s right….last week I had a cyst aspirated off of my right ovary. 32cc’s of fluid removed. It was a successful procedure and we are moving forward with this round of in vitro drugs.

We started Gonal-F and Repronex on Saturday (the 5th). I go in for blood work tomorrow at 8:15am, so we’ll see how things are looking then. I just don’t see any difference or feel any different than last time so I’m keeping an optimistic outlook but if it’s not good news I won’t get too upset. So if y’all aren’t busy tomorrow around 8:15 pray for me to get good results, ok.

In other news….our entire RS Presidency is getting released except for me. Well, I guess technically I’m getting released and recalled into the same calling. I don’t know who the new president is, but I’m sure it will be fun to get to know someone else. I’m just sad that Susan and I only got to work together for nine months. :)

JCL and I went to the temple on Saturday and it was great. We barely made it to the 3:00 session and it was almost empty so it was nice that it wasn’t crowded. We stopped afterward and got a burger at one of our favorite places in Cola and then we headed home. All in all, it was a great day!

Better run…..as Chris Hawton likes to say “work hollers!”

Shoot 'em up Tex....

A few random thoughts from Katie:

Started shots last Friday. 10 units (5 mg) of Lupron. I've mostly been giving them to myself as cranky pants is usually still asleep when I'm doing this. I am scheduled for blood work and a baseline ultrasound tomorrow. That should be fun. Geez I need a bikini wax before this show gets on the road....and when I say show I mean SHOW! You girls know what I mean......

Went to ElliottDavis last week for a baby shower for a friend of mine that still works there. It was so nice to see everyone again and it felt good to be there. I really miss working there.

I'm throwing a bridal shower for a girl in my ward on Thursday. Luckily it won't be at my house. It's going to be at another girl's house. And it's at 7 on a Thursday so we're just doing cake an punch. Nothing exciting! She's marrying a boy from Gaffney. He is Dana Duncan's brother, Curtis. I was friends with Dana when we lived in Gaffney.

Our friends Aimee and Ken Perry moved on Saturday. They moved to Massachusetts. I am very sad. I miss them so much already. I don't have their phone number or anything so I don't even know if they got there ok. I'm hoping Aimee will call this week to give me an update.

Hope y'all have a good week. Only 2 more weeks until it Bowen-Time! Right? TTYL!

Did you know?

Did you know if you get oil based paint on your hands and face that petroleum jelly will take it off? Ask me how I know...

Stephen painted trim work and the door in the nursery last night. However, Kate and Clair were sleeping in there. So, before bed he told them not to touch the door or this one section of trim because the paint was wet. (Like waving a red flag in front of a bull.) Anyway, I put the kids down. Stephen went into our bathroom and closed (and locked) the door. My dad went to bed (in Clair's bed) and Emily and I went down to the basement to load some song on her I-pod. About 20 minutes later I hear crying/screaming. I run up the stairs and my dad has Clair by the arm and she has paint all over her face and hands. My first thought (because she is screaming like a maniac) is that she caused the door to fall on her. Then I realized she must have just been touching the door. I went and got Stephen and he blew a gasket! He got the petroleum jelly to clean her up. I said to her, "Clair, why did you touch the door when Daddy said not to?" She said, "Well, actually I touch it free (3) times." My dad said he heard someone go into the bathroom and turn on the water. When it stayed on for a while he went in to check on what was going on. He thought she got into toothpaste. But then he realized even her hands under the water were still white and he knew it was paint. He was trying to bring her to me, when she freaked out, and started crying. She wanted to get back into the bathroom to wash her hands. Paint was all over her pillow case, all over her PJ's, in her hair, on her hands and face (even in her nose a little), all over the knob to turn on the water, on the sink counter top, and on her step stool. Thank goodness for petroleum jelly and paper towels! We dd manage to get it all cleaned up. Needless to say, her dad spanked her. But...

just so you all know, petroleum jelly will take off oil based paint!

IVF and other News

Just a quick update to let everyone know what’s going on in Creighton and Katie-land. We’re...well...I'm back on the b.c. pill for the next two weeks. I start another round of shots on the 28th-ish of this month. We’ve been surfing other fertility pharmacies to see if we can find one that is cheaper than the one we initially ordered from. If any of you have IVF friends, ask them what pharmacy they used, for me. I’d love to know. We have to place the order this Thursday.

In other news, Rebecca Dunlap is moving here this weekend. We’re helping her Saturday afternoon. I’m excited for her. She’s starting a new chapter in her life and I think it’s going to be a great move for her.

My good friend Aimee and her family are moving back to Massachusetts. I’m very sad about this. She has become such a good friend to me. I am really going to miss her. Her hubby left three weeks ago. We went to dinner with them the night before he left. He hugged me and Creighton and said, “thanks so much for your friendship.” He’s not a member….and I know he feels pressured sometimes by other members. When we first started hanging around with them we decided we weren’t going to ever bring it up. We were just going to be his friend and hope that fellowship would do the trick. Aimee called him on Sunday morning last week, and she asked him if he was going to go to church and he said, “I’m just getting ready to head out the door.” It’s a small step and I’m not saying that we had anything to do with it, but it’s a huge deal to Aimee. I’m really going to miss them.

Well, I’m off to the gym for a nice rockin’ time of Step II. Hopefully I won’t die of cardiac arrest since I’m so out of shape!!!

TJ says KATE

Okay, so not really but he was close. Today, Tyler had TJ in his lap and was showing him a picture of Kate (the one he loves to take off of the end table) and Tyler was pointing and saying, "Kate" and finally out of nowhere TJ says his own version, "Tate". We tried to get him to do it again, but NO LUCK! I just wanted to share with everyone how sweet it is to hear him speak.

Love to you all!
Maria

Kids say the funniest things!

A few nights ago, Kate was saying the family prayer and she said (really slow and drawn out),
"Thank thee for ... Daddy ... Mommy ... Clair ... and especially for me."
I about choked trying not to laugh.

Then yesterday I was talking with Clair and I said to her, "You sure are pretty, who made you so pretty?" She got this disgusted look on her face like she was insulted I even had to ask and said, "My Mimi and Papa made me pretty!" (I was looking for Heavenly Father maybe!)

Our Fourth!

I hope you all enjoyed the 4th of July! We had a pretty good day!

We actually started the party on Monday night! We invited Duncan and his family over for FHE and the fireworks in Kennesaw. We also invited some firends of our from Church that don't have kids. He had to work until 8:00, so she came over and had dinner and joined us in the FHE with the Hammonds. Then we went and watched fireworks and ate cookies and brownies. Kate kept her ears covered with her hands, but only got upset right at the beginning. They weren't that loud, but now she just lets her imagination get away with her! (Not very rational, but at least she didn't cause a big scene.) Clair did ok...she sat in my lap and would shake if it was a little loud, but once Kate settled down, Clair was fine. They didn't get into the bed until really late that night.

The next morning, 4th of July, I got up early and ran to the store. I had to get a few things for games for the kids for our ward breakfast. (LONG STORY!) Anyway, it was HOT as where the devil lives and we hung around and got all sweaty for about 2 or 3 hours and then went home. I was totally spent so I took a nap, and Stephen slept on the couch while the girls watched a movie. When I got up it was 2:00 and no one had lunch or anything. I made sandwiches and then we put the girls down and Stephen and I watched Germany in a heart wrenching lost to Italy! It was a real heart breaker...but hey, not everyone can win! After the game Stephen painted the ceiling in the nursery and I took down tape. It is really coming together and will look SO cute. (Today I am taping up for the trim work and taping up for the dark blue stripes on the walls.) I can't wait for you to all see it! Then we cooked hot dogs and ate dinner and then we bathed the girls and we all went to bed.

So, that is our 4th in a nutshell. Hope you all enjoyed your 4th. We wish we could have been with family, but there is always next year!

KT, hope you had a wonderful birthday!

Oh Kate!

So, about two weeks ago, Kate notices a school bus driving by. She asks why the school buses are still going by when school is out for the summer. I told her that some kids don't do well in school and so they have to go to summer school to get extra help.

Fast forward two weeks...this afternoon we are eating lunch when the school bus goes by. Kate says, "There goes the school bus. I wish I hadn't done so well in preschool so I could be going to summer school. Although, I mostly like the playing part."

I about fell over laughing. Where do these thoughts come from? Like preschool was a pass or fail situation? Too funny!

What a Lucky Kid

TJ sure is lucky to have such a great family and so many great friends. He had a SUPER 1st birthday. I wish that Stephen and Roz and the girls could have been here, but we really want her to WAIT and have that baby. Ya know!!! :) Anyhoo..... I did want to say THANK YOU, to everyone who helped out. You guys are the best. Mom, KT, Jessica, and even Roz all helped me either here or talking me through it on the phone (thanks Roz). I love you all.

Thanks dad, for helping Tyler so much. I love you all.

Maria

She's growing up too fast...

Hello All...I tired to post some pics today on the BLOG, but it wouldn't let me. However, it would let me post on the Call BLOG. Go and figure. (Normally I can't post pictures at all!) Anyway, I want you guys to see the funny picture I got of Clair...she got caught playing in my make up bag. Check out the Call Blog so you can see them!

http://www.callcorner.blogspot.com/

Love you all!

Father's Day

Hope you all had a great Father's Day. We had a pretty good one...except that Clemson lost their baseball game. They can't lose anymore or they will be sent home. :( We were all pretty sad about it. I am hopeful they can rebound and move on. It wasn't the way Stephen wanted his Father's Day to end, I am sure. But he did a good job of letting it go!

We did have a wonderful dinner. Stephen grilled steaks and we had baked sweet pots (with butter, brown sugar, and cinnamon) and a tossed mixed greens salad with hard rolls. It was SOOOOO yummy! Clair didn't much care for the sweet pots which is sad considering how much she liked them as a baby. She kept saying, "There is hair in my mouth!" They are a bit fibery! Kate loved it all. She kept saying, "this is the best stake ever dad!" or "This is the best sweet potato ever mom." Then for dessert we had some of my yummy homemade peach ice cream. It was all fantastic! Stephen bought these HUGE steaks, so it looks like we will get to enjoy this meal again as we had left overs! You should see the sweet potato Stephen bought...it was the size of a football! :) Lucky for me he couldn't finish it all! It did take almost two hours to cook! Crazy boy...that's what I get for sending him into store while I waited in the car with girls. I can't complain, he did a great job picking out the steaks...even though they were rather large too!

Hope you all had an enjoyable Fathers Day! Wish we could be there next weekend so we could all be together! Our thoughts will be with you!

Good News.....Moving Forward

Just a quick post to say........good news! I had my baseline ultrasound today and my first blood work up. I passed and everything looks good. We are officially moving forward (see previous post for more detailed info. LOL!) See ya'!

Glucola!

I don't mean to make you all jealous...but I got to drink Glucola today! Orange flavored! Yes, it was time for my glucose test. Hopefully I pass it and don't have to do the three hour one. (Last time, with Clair, I failed the one hour test by ONE stinking point and I had to do the three hour test which I easily passed.) Anyway, I also got my finger pricked, and I also got my RH factor shot (since I am O+ and Stephen is A-). That dog hurts like the dirty devil himself! Anyway, so I am feeling a bit like a pin cushion today! Oh well, it is all for Bowen and therefore worth it! Anyway, just wanted to give a little update post.

Not much else going on. Kate got an invitation last night to a birthday party...for a friend at church, Cory. She is SO excited, but little Clair is heart broken she was not invited. So, Stephen told her he would take her on a date. So, she is happy about that, but gets a little sad every time Kate talks about the party (which as I am sure you can imagine, is constantly!) Saturday night can't come fast enough for Kate. It is a pirate party and she even wants to dress like a pirate! I told her that is not required! Crazy girl.

Well, we hope you all have a great week. Call and chat!

Lupron, Baby Aspirin, and shots to the Belly

We had our injection class yesterday. That was fun! Can I just say that in vitro is a Yuppie thing if I've ever seen it! One of the other couples in the class could have been our twins....our skinny twins.

Tomorrow is a big day. Our first day of injections. Creighton has to give me a 10 unit (0.5 mg) shot of Lupron in my belly ("right on the fat pad" as Noreen - our instructor- put it) and 81mg of baby aspirin. (Did I buy the big kid kind? The Bayer "swallow me whole"? No, I bought the "kid chew me up" kind! I need some laughs in this!) So the shots go in my tummy, right on the fat pad. I laughed out loud and said "I got plenty of that!" And we do that for four days, then discontinue my birth control pills but continue the Lupron and baby aspirin. Then on the 10th of June we start anti-biotics for me and Creighton (2x's a day each), 5 units of Lupron in the morning, 2 vials of Repronex in the morning, one vial of Gonal F in the evening, and baby aspirin, and prenatal vitamins, and extra folic acid, and some other junk to lower my Prolactin level since evidently my body wants to produce milk like nobody's business (see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prolactin#Variance_in_levels for more information)!

Then on the 10th we get re-evaluated on meds, etc. So really this won't be hard b/c I only have nine days to keep track of. Then we get re-eval'd and it will probably change.

Some time around the 18th (but could be as late at the 22nd) we'll start looking at extraction. Outpatient...have to take the day off. No perfume, hair products, deodorant, etc. Even Creighton can't wear any of that stuff. Then about three days later we do transfer, outpatient, no perfume, hair products, deodorant, etc. Even Creighton....we're gonna be stinky!

Then we wait.............................................12 days! This will be the longest two weeks of our lives. Just so you know.

Well....I know no one asked, but there's the update on the next month of our lives. Oh and this is all (fantastically so) right in the middle of the World Cup! Actually it works out well for JCL b/c he'll have two days to sit at home with me and he can just watch soccer! LOL!

Random Thought Transistion: We had a fantabulous visit w/ Stephen and Rosalind and the l'il chicas for Memorial Day. We ate way too much food and the girls we a lot of fun! I enjoyed seeing big ol' Rozzie's belly. That kid is gonna drop right outta her! The girls were a lot of fun. Clair seemed really taken w/ Creighton. I guess they all go through that phase. LOL! We scored a great hotel in Buckhead while we were there. It was the Doubletree and we got it for $50 a night!!!!! Gotta love Priceline.

Well......we're off to Chucktown for the rest of our vacation. We'll be there through Saturday. Hope all is well w/ y'all.....keep in touch.

Talented Jessica

So, the other day I was sitting at the table with Kate doing some school work. (She will do it for hours!) She asked if I knew how to make the color purple. I said, "No, how?" and she told me you need to mix red and blue. Then she showed me with her markers she was using. I told her I was impressed she knew that and she said, "My Aunt Jessica taught me that. You know mom, she is so talented!" I agreed. Then Kate said, "She can draw Mickey Mouse & Mortimer Mouse, she can play the piano really well, and sing and be an actress. She has SO many talents and all I am good at is helping." I told her, she already has many talents and that if she wanted to have as many talents as Jessica she needs to work really hard. I told her Aunt Jessica has been working her whole life to develop her talents and that is what she would have to do. If she wanted to have a talent as a ballet dancer, she would have to work really hard at ballet, etc. Obviously, she thinks Jessica is the greatest...don't we all! Love you Jessica! Thanks for being a good role model and for giving me that teaching moment!

We're back!

Hello Family!We are home.

We got home around 7:00ish Sunday night. On the other side of Atlanta, Clair informed us she had to go poop. I asked her if she could hold it because we'd be home in about 15 minutes. She said, she could. To be honest I really didn't think she'd go. We had stopped several times on her request to go to the bathroom and then she didn't go. I think she was just wanting out of her car seat. Anyway, so we got home and she was still clean. So Stephen and I started to unload the van and the girls were playing in the yard. I was getting a bag and noticed Clair standing over to the side. She had her going poop face on and she looked up at me and said in a strained voice, "Auhhhhh, poop!" I about fell over laughing! I guess she did have to go! Too bad she didn't tell me so I could have taken her to the potty!

I sent out pics today to everyone. Hope I didn't over load anyone's mail box. We had lots of fun and we really loved being with Brooklyn (AKA Texas Tornado...as Em nick-named her!) She is so cute and her laugh is way too darling. The girls already miss her. While I was looking through pics to send, Kate commented on one of all three girls together. She said, "Oh isn't that picture so cute. You know what makes it so cute?" "What", I said. She responded, "Brooklyn, because Brooklyn is in the picture it is cute!" We really did have fun hanging out with Brit and Brooklyn during the day.

Stephen enjoyed Mexico. He gained a new knowledge on a country he had heard lots about but had never been too. It might have softened his heart a little in regards to the whole immigration thing...but not too much. Of course we all agree there is some serious work that has to be done with that issue. Anyway, he was impressed with the service and also how inexpensive things were. However, he said he has no desire to live there. Good, neither do I! :)

We enjoyed having KT and Creighton for a visit on Memorial Day. The girls loved it too. They talked NON-STOP the whole day. Clair was quite taken with Uncle Creighton or as she says, "Treighton". When she got in trouble and I sent her to her room she cried to me, "I want my Uncle Treighton". I said, "He can't help you now!" Then later we went to a store and I said, "Hold my hand in the parking lot." And Clair said, "I want to hold Uncle Treighton's hand." Poor Creighton, he was a good sport...even reading to the girls and playing the pizza game. We miss KT and Creighton. When they left, Stephen said, "Boy, I miss living near them and hanging out." I feel the same way!

Well, I better go. I have some things to do before Stephen gets home.

Love you all!

Haven't posted in a while....

Well it’s been a while since I’ve blogged, so here goes.

I don’t know what to say except that our lives are still so nuts! We had a crazy but fun weekend. I helped throw a baby shower for my Visiting Teacher. She’s so sweet and due any day now. I just love her. She just called me earlier today to see if I could go to lunch on Thursday. Her name is Nicole and her companion is Nicole Tallon (Rice) who I used to play with when I would stay w/ Mimi and Papa. Nicole Tallon just had a baby girl a few weeks ago. Her name is Anna Kate and she is adorable. So both of my VT'ers were preggers!

After the baby shower my friend from Columbia, Dawn, came to visit. We had a blast! We went shopping, which as you all know…for me means rummaging through the big pile of junk that is Marshall’s. I spent a grand total of $5.25. We had fun making fun of the silly fashions that are in style now.....like gouchos. Whomever brought those back into style needs to strung up and SHOT!

Sunday was a great day!! We had two really good youth speakers and a special musical number by the Primary. Then one of the men in our ward gave a great talk about Motherhood. I really enjoyed it.

Today, though, is back to the grind. I’m going to try to hit the gym after work, but we’ll see how that goes. I haven’t been in three weeks!

Wish me luck!

....and a Kate quote too!

The end of last week, Kate started to have some issues going to the bathroom...number 2 to be exact. (Disney World repeat!) She refers to this as "having the poop infection". (Her term not ours!) Anyway, after two days of issues, I got on the internet to look up which cereals and fruits and veggies have the most fiber. So, I am going through this list and asking her, "Do you like this?" or "Do you like that?" Anyway, she asks, "What are you doing?" I told her I was looking at a list of the foods that have lots of fiber to help her with her bathroom problem. She then says (completely serious), "What, are you on the poop web-site?" I honestly doubled over laughing, which I shouldn't have, because now she says it every time I am on the computer. However, it was funny. Anyway, just wanted to share...they both say the funniest things!

Crazy Quotes By Clair

So, yesterday, we were on the phone to family and Clair goes and gets like a MILLION tissues. She had this HUGE wad as big as her head! Kate came running to me and of course had to tattle. I went around and corner and there she was with her cranium sized wad of tissue. I said, "Clair, for the love of Nancy...what are you doing?" She says (in her most calm, plain, everyday, whats the big deal voice) "I have to blow my noes." Then she proceeds to put her tiny little face into that huge wad of tissue and make her mousey little attempt at blowing her noes. I would have lost if laughing if I was so mad about the fact that she just wasted almost an entire box of tissues!

Clair is almost over this one, but she is finally getting the hang of saying the prayer. However, she started saying something about Jesus, but Stephen and I couldn't figure out what it was. Then one day Kate said, "Clair, how come you bless that Jesus will get fixed?" (Kate obviously speaks Clair-ish.) "Clair said, "Because he has holes in his hands and feet." It made me happy to realize that she does pay attention in FHE...since we had several lessons about this before Easter.

Finally, both my girls are totally crazy about George Strait. I have his 50 number one hits in the van and we listen to it all the time...as requested by Kate and Clair. Kate's favs are "Baby Blue" and "Ocean Front Property". Clair loves "Baby Blue" (as well) and "All My Ex's Live in Texas". They both sing at the top of their lungs. While we were at church for the Cinco de Mayo party we weren't allowed to call Cinco de Mayo (long story if you haven't already heard) Clair got on a piano in the room off the kitchen and started playing and singing "Baby Blue". It was too cute.

Anyways, we are looking forward to a short week as we will be camping this weekend for Mothers Day. We are ALL so excited, esp the girls. We have fishing, paddle boating, hiking, playground playing, and bird watching on our list. Tonight for FHE we will be planning food. Kate's main concern is marshmellow to roast! We go on Thursday and will be back Saturday in order to get ready for church. (Pray for nice but cool weather!) The following weekend we will be on our way to Texas. Stephen is going to Monteray, Mexico and the girls and I will stay with my mom and dad. It will be great to see them, esp since they have never seen me full on in the radient beauty of pregnancy...I am being very sarcastic! :) Anyway, we hope you all have a great week! Love to you all!

We're BACK.......

We are back and better than ever.... NOT really! I mean we did have a REALLY great time. We got there Saturday evening and went to Wal-Mart and got groceries, then back to the resort for some much needed Hot Tub time. Then Sunday we drove to New Port Richey and spent the day with Tom and Laura. That turned out to be lots of fun. We took TJ to the park and he had a blast. Then we headed back to Orlando. We got up Monday and got ready for Sea World. It was great. We started our day off with the Dolphin show.... WOW!!!! Then we head out for other shows. TJ slept in the stroller or in our arms and was such a trooper. We stayed until the park closed at 7pm. When we got back to the resort we ate dinner and then went to the park and played. TJ loved it. He slept great every night. Tuesday, Tyler took me to the doctor, I had a REALLY horrid sore throat and I needed antibiotics. I am much better now. When we got back from the doctor we found TJ and the rest of the crew at the pool. TJ loved it. Tyler and I swam and played in the sand with TJ. TJ fell asleep down by the pool. We hung out for about 3o more minutes and then took him back to the room. He slept for another hour and half. We got ready and went back to Sea World. AGAIN another great day. We got home at 7:30. Wednesday was Busch Gardens and that was great as well. TJ really enjoyed the kid play area. We left Busch Gardens about 7:00. TJ stayed awake the whole hour back to Orlando, but crashed hard core that night and slept in until 8:30 the next day. Tyler and I went to the Orlando Temple Thursday morning and that was really cool. I will tell you guys all about it another time. Then we had family pictures made at the resort and went to Sea World then swimming. Friday we packed up and headed out around 9 am. What a great week we had.

We are glad to be home but are planning a return trip in October. Big D and Little D said that want us to come back in OCT. So we will see.

Love to you all

The Tan Franklin Fam

Crazy Week

Well, it has been a pretty crazy week...and it isn't even over!

We started out Sunday with about two and half hours of some pretty crazy contractions. After drinking a ton of water and staying down on my left side, they just kind of went away! The next morning I was VERY sore and called the doctor. They said to take it easy and to lay down in the mid-morning, afternoon, and mid-evening, and to avoid being on my feet for long periods of time. Well, I'll do it! The last thing I want is to be put on bed rest for the next 4 month! So, I've been following their advice and it really has helped. I can tell Bowen is getting stronger because he is kicking like a wild man every time I lay down!

Kate started ballet this week. She only goes once a week, much to her dislike. She wants to go every night! She really enjoyed it! She also has been looking forward to pre-school for today. They had to dress up as a fairy tale person. She had grand ideas and listed every fairy tale princess she could think of. We settled on the Princess and the Pea. She wore her Halloween costume from two Halloweens ago. It still fits pretty well. Then we took a pea off of the pea-pod costume that Clair wore, for her to carry! She looked cute and was so very excited to show everyone. She said, "Mom, I have stage fright, I just don't think I can do this!" I told her she has never had anything CLOSE to stage fright in her entire life! I think she was just excited.

Clair is totally growing up too! She keeps us smiling and laughing with the things she says! She is really into saying the prayer on the food. She thanks and bless the food, and then she always says, "Bless that Jesus will get fixed." Kate said to her one day, "Why do you bless Jesus to get fixed?" And she responded, "Because He has holes in his hands and feet!" "Well, they won't get better!", says Kate. I think it is cute! At least she paid attention enough to know that about Jesus. She also loves to help cook and she has to work on projects when I am helping Kate with her handwriting or with a workbook. Yesterday she was coloring a picture of Eeyore, from Winnie the Pooh. Kate said, "Eeyore is a donkey!" Clair says, "Eeyore is a HONKEY?" I about feel out of my chair laughing. I called Stephen and a couple other people so she could tell them. She cracks me up!

Bowen is getting big. I know because he has really picked up the kicking and moving around. He really like me to lay on the bed, on my back with my head and shoulders propped up. The girls love to talk to my belly and Clair likes to play peek-a-boo. Kate wants to learn how to spell his name and also draws pictures of him! We got paint for the nursery and they both really want to help! (That would be scary!)

Stephens work hasn't been as bad this week. It kind of seems to go in waves. He is going to Mexico in May and still has lots to do to get ready for that trip. He will be the lead auditor, is working on his certification. That would be a great feather to have in his hat! He had to "work from home" yesterday because the green van is leaking coolant again. He is not happy with the shope in Simpsonville that fixed it last time and he even issued a complaint with Chevy....this is a known flaw on their Ventures and yet they still make them the same way! So, that has been the real damper on his week!We hope you are all well! Love and miss you all!

Franklin Family Vacation 2006

We are headed to Florida on Friday! We can't wait. Sun, sand, pool, and Shamu (sp?) watch out here we come.... I know TJ doesn't really understand that we are going on vacation, but I like to think that he is excited too. He has no idea that there is going to be 4 swimming pools, and huge bath tub and his NANNA!!! Wow! What more could a kid ask for. Okay, so Tyler and I are going to take advantage of the vacation with nanna. She has VERY willingly accepted the challenge to keep TJ while Tyler and I go to the Orlando Temple and do a session. I am so excited. That means I will have been to the Atlanta, Columbia, Provo, SLC, DC, and now Orlando Temples. That is 6 temples. I am so happy (yeah, so there is like 100 and something more). I also would like to share with you guys, that Tyler and I went to the Columbia Temple, Saturday so that my friend Diana and her husband and their kids could be sealed. It was the neatest experience. I will say that this experience helped me to really appreciate that Tyler and I are sealed with TJ forever. This sealing opportunity gave Tyler and I a chance to reflect on eternal families and how happy we are to not only be an eternal family but to be part of one. We love you all! Watch the mail for a postcard from our vacation.

Love to you all

Maria, Tyler, and the BIG man in Chucktown TJ

Air Show 2006

This was TJ's VERY FIRST Air Show. He loves being outside and so we thought heck yeah let's go! So, Oma andOpa came and we packed up the stroller and headed out. I must have been a little generous with the sunscreen because TJ woke up rubbing his eyes and crying . I think it got in his eyes. Oh, well. I learned my lesson. We had a great time and the temperature was wonderful. We ran into a few people we know. That was fun too. As for the rest of our weekend, Tyler is really feeling the change and merge into EQ. I am so very proud of him. He was at church pretty much MOST of the day. We went back last night for and EQ Fireside and it was great. I really felt boosted. The speaker was President Baughman (the singles branch pres). He spoke about the passage in the D&C "Many are called but few are chosen and why are they not chosen" We spoke about being prepared and about having a unrighteous dominion. Anyway it was great. The sad thing was that we had a great fireside great treats at the end an only 15 people total were there. That was including the speaker and his wife. I guess it just frustrates me that people in our ward and I am sure in other wards don't support ward things. That ticks me off. I just wish that more people in our ward and in the church would support activities done at church. SO... this is my challenge to our family for 2006 You need to all support activities that pertain to you. And mom that means you have attend Enrichment. Well I will talk to you all later.

Love you

Maria

Relaxing Weekend at Home

UGH! I just wrote a whole huge post and when I clicked the spell-check button, it erased the entire thing. I'm so ticked!

Anyway, we spent this weekend at home....sleeping. Literally. We slept until noon on Sat. Then I took a nap Sat. afternoon. Then another nap on Sunday afternoon! I must have needed it, because I could totally sleep right now again and it's almost 10pm!

Well....not much exciting happened this weekend. Just the sleeping. Hope you're all doing well. I better run.....Creighton is cooking and he needs his sous-Chef! TTYL!

Up-date on the Girls!

Clair filled up her first potty chart. She had to go eight times and have dry pants each time, before she could get a new game. I finally just asked her (after many unsecsessful bribes) what she'd like and after giving her MANY choices, she said she'd like a new game. Well, it took her two days, but she filled her first chart. Next chart will have 12 spots to fill. So today we went to Wal Mart and she picked the classic, "Cooties". She also said next time she wants "Monkeys in a Barrel". (Good that one is cheap!) So, maybe I found some motivation. We just need to work on getting her to tell me she has to go, not me just taking her every 30 - 45 minutes.

Kate went to the dentist today. She LOVES going to the dentist. He said she has beautiful teeth. It was a mad house. It is the only ped. Dentist in our plan that is not all the way in Atlanta. CRAZY I tell you! But Kate liked it a lot....tons of kids. She immediately found a new friend! They gave her a little goody bag with a t-shirt (fancy), a new toothbrush, and tooth paste. The hygentist said, "oh wait, they didn't put your name one it." She got out her pen and Kate says, "K-A-T-E" (Like the lady couldn't spell Kate! I had to laugh! Clair will go for her fist apt. at age 3 and that is when I will take Kate back for her 6 month apt. By then, little Bowen will be going with us too! Oh scary...three kids! Anyway, Kate did well and was happiest that the hygentist suggested an electric toothbrush for her. (She has issues with plaque along her gum line up front, like her dad I guess.) Anyway, so while at Wal Mart, Kate also picked out a new tooth brush. Of course as soon as we got home she had to use it!

One more funny story...yesterday while the girls were napping I watched "Pride and Prejudice" (my most recent Netflix movie). Clair woke up right at the end. In the closing scene, the leading actress kisses her guys hand. It is all very tender. Clair was sitting in my lap and as soon as she kissed his hand Clair says, "Ewww, gross!" Kind of killed the mood. Then after they kissed for real, I said, "Ohhh!" Clair said "What?" I said, "They love each other!" She kind of looked at me like, who cares, turn on Elmo, he never kisses! Thank goodness it was the end, I might have had a rioting 2 year old on my hands! :)

Spring Break

Hello Folks! We are all doing "pretty good" as Clair says. Kate is having Spring Break this week. (She doesn't like to call it a break...she says it is vacation.) Yesterday we went with our friends to a dollar movie theater to see "Curious George". When we got there we discovered that Tuesday's are only 50 cents! So for $1.50 all three of us saw a movie. It was really pretty cute, a must see for folks who like animation and cute little stories. I was surprised to recognize several voices...Drew Barrymore and Will Ferell. When we got out of the movie I said, "So, Kate what did you think?" She said, "I LOVED it, can we stay and see it again?" "I asked Clair, "Did you like it Clair?" She said, "No, I didn't. It was scary." It was as far from scary as you get, but if Kate says yes than Clair will say no! (Kate is the same way, if Clair wants OJ for breakfast, then Kate wants apple juice!) They are so crazy. I think it was just too long to be still for Clair. Well, she better get used to it, free (air conditioned) summer movies will be my choice of entertainment this HOT summer! :) Today we will practice writing letters (Kate), practice recognizing shapes (Clair), and make blackberry freezer jam (Kate while Clair naps). We will also finish Kate's library book about parrots. Last visit to the library Clair and I made, Kate requested a TON of animal books. They are long and we have to break up reading them into a couple sessions. However, Kate is now an expert on lions, parrots, and peacocks. When they showed a map of India during conference Kate yelled, "Hey, that is where peacocks are from!" She can tell you what it is called when they put their feathers up, about how they keep their babies warm, how they build nests, what the feathery things on their heads are called, and where they came from. She is so smart and if she is interested in something, she remembers the facts...like her dad! However, it is the parrot book that worries me most, now she wants a bird! I say, "HECK NO" They make huge messes and they live a long time. Anyway, I better go...just wanted to give you the Spring Break up-date.

IT'S A BOY!

Yes, we are very excited and Kate isn't "darn mad" so all is well. Our little man looked good. He wasn't nearly as cooperative as the girls were at getting his picture done...hummm....perhaps an idea of things to come. Anyway, we are so excited and we have already decided on what to do with the nursery...planes! Kate says she can't wait for him to teach her how to play football. Clair was only concerned about why I had a band-aid on my finger.

So, world look out for
Stephen Bowen
coming this August to a family near and dear to you! :)

TODAY IS THE DAY!

My apt is at 2:30...any bets on what we are having?

TJ Goes to the Beach

Yes! We finally did it. We took TJ to the beach and he loved it. He was so intrigued by the sound and sight of the ocean. He really wanted to jump right in. We first put his feet in the sand and he loved it. Then we stripped him down to his diaper and let him play in the sand and he was so fascinated. After about 15-20 minutes we decided to go and he cried the whole way off the beach. He was not happy about leaving. This boy is true through and through B-O-Y! I am feeling much better after having my teeth removed. I was so thankful that Tyler's dad was here to help out. What a difference a pair of hands makes. We love you all a ton!

Love

The Franklin Crew

Who dat is? My baby daddy.........

Well.......we have baby money! We closed on the condo refi today. It was pretty painless and we should have the money to pay for the IVF tomorrow. I guess the addage "don't spend it all in one place" doesn't apply here!

We're headed to Chas. this weekend for the Bridge Run! And to visit Maria and her toofless self! LOL!!! PS - We'll be walking the bridge.........I don't run unless I'm being chased........by a rabid dog..............or and axe murderer!

Work is good but so busy I barely have time to think before the day is over. I realized the other day, that it has been six months since I went to work at BG. SIX MONTHS! Already!!! I feel like I just left ElliottDavis.

In other news, Rebecca Dunlap (one of Stephen's old flames) may be moving here. She stayed with us a couple of weekends ago and we had a great time showing her around G-Vegas! I hope she'll make the leap of faith and move, but like Creighton told her, she will be happy wherever she is as long as she is living the gospel.

Well, I'm off to bed since I'm old and it's 10:44 and I can barely keep my eyes open.

TTYL!

Ouch!!!

Okay, so Thursday is the day. I am having four teeth ripped from my living skull. YIKES!! I can't believe it. I am so sick thinking about it but I know that it will go fine. Tyler's dad is here and he will be watching TJ on Thursday while I am ALL drugged up. YES, it sure is nice to have family who are willing to come and help. Thanks for all of your thoughts and prayers on my behalf. For those of you who haven't heard Tyler is now President Franklin. Yes, he is the new EQ. WOW! Can't wait to see you all on Easter. One last thing, Tyler should be sewing on his stripes end of June beginning of July. Talk to you all later.

Love you

Maria

Weird Dream

Hello All...just wanted to share a really weird dream I had last night. So, basically, KT and I were kidnapped. In the dream I knew the guy, but not the girl who was involved in the kidnapping. They gave us something to knock us out to transport us, and they gave me too much so for three days I was out. Then a few days after I came to, the police sent Stephen in for negotiations. Some how Stephen related to me that he was wired and the police were outside. Shortly after Stephen got there, the kidnapper guy pulled out a shot gun and I started yelling, don't shoot my husband! (Mainly so the police would know the guy had a gun and was pointing it at Stephen.) So, then the SWAT team came storming in and we were saved! It was a weird dream, but aren't you all glad that KT and I are ok? :)

Challenge

Hello all! Last night I was thinking how much I enjoyed Pres. Hinkley's challenge to read the B of M. I started wishing he would challenge us again. It really got me reading! Then I remembered that one scripture that goes something like, "It is an unwise and slothful servant who must be commanded in all things." So, I thought, why wait for another challenge...JUST DO IT! So, over the next 20 weeks (counting this week) I will be trying to read the entire B of M. (That takes me to the fist week of August, right before the baby is born.) So, the reason I am posting this on the Blog is two fold...one to let everyone know so they can keep me on my toes...kind of like telling people you are on a diet and then eatting non-diet food and someone saying, "Aren't you on a diet." and thus reminding you that double fudge triple layer cake with two large scoops of real vanilla bean ice cream isn't a diet friendly food! (Man that sounds good!) Anyway, and the second reason is to invite any and all to join with me. One of the best parts about Pres. Hinkley's challenge was the fact that I had so many really great conversations about the scriptures with family members since we were all kind of in the same place at the same time. So, if you'd like to join in, great! My dad made a reading schedule and shared it with my family...and it really helped me stay on course. So, if you'd like to join in and would like a schedule, I made one similar to the one my dad made last time. Let me know, I'll e-mail it to you! Who's with me?

No Fun in Acworth

Hello all...we are just hanging out at home, in the kitchen over the linoleum, having no fun potty training today! Yes, it WILL happen. Pray for Clair and pray for my sanity!

KT...it was wonderful to see you last week. We still really miss you guys.

Maria...good luck on your book show/going away party! It will totally be awesome!

Jessica...WHERE ARE YOU?

Creighton...congrats on advancing to the second round of the NIT! :) Creighton vs. Miami (Fl) tonight! Oh yeah...USC still in it too!

Tyler...Where's the stripes?

Mom & Dad...we are very excited to see you guys this weekend.

Go Tigers...beat Louisville!

Love to you all!

We are back!

Hello All!
We are back, but not really. Laundry is done, but we are still trying to get our clocks on real world time! I hope you all enjoyed the few pics I sent out. Sorry about not just posting on the blog, but the blog hates me and won't let me post pics! Maybe it's best, I might really be a blog hog if I could freely post the 200 plus pictures we took last week! :) Anyway, just wanted to post for the record, we had a wonderful time. The girls are still talking about it and Kate already has plans for the next visit. Speaking of next visit....Stephen also had so much fun he wants to go back soon...with the WHOLE family! What do you all think? Obviously due to expansions in our family...(Maria don't get any ideas or it will be two or more years before we can do this! :) it might be a while, but keep it in mind. I think it would be a blast! Anyway, like I said, I do have over 200 pics, so if you start to craving more...just let me know and I'll send out another round! Love you all...looking forward to Easter!

Some random thoughts

1. Toofy! I still can't get over Clair's version of Goofy! I saw the pics of the vaca to DW. That looks like y'all had fun!!
2. If you haven't heard Kate's talk yet, call her and get her to recite it for you (READ: Roz whispering it in her ear) it is soooooooooooo cute!
3. This past weekend we went to Aiken and had a great visit w/Mom and Dad and the Lynes'. Mom and I made some cute chair back covers for the dining room chairs. We made 6...7 if you count the one that I made that was toooooooo small. I think once we get the new tablecloth made it will be smashing!
4. I'm excited for Easter, too. It will be nice to see everyone. I counted the number of weekends we'll actually be at home for the spring and let's just say....Simpsonville 1st may think we've gone less active by the end of April. LOL!
5. I im'd with Regina today. She's grad'ing on 5/20. I'm so excited for her and proud of her! Wow what a contrast b/t her and her brother!
6. The teller at our bank took my "STRESSED OUT" doll for ransom....she wants me to bring her donuts as payment.........that might have to wait until Friday!!
7. Ok I think that's all for now.

Bzzagent.Com

Have y'all heard of this? It's great. You can sign up to get lots of free stuff and all you have to do is talk about it to your friends and family. You should try it.

In other news...life is good. Super busy and trying to keep my head above water. I think I say this everytime I'm on this blog. LOL! TTYL!

YOU'RE ALIVE!

I am so happy to see other folks post on this here BLOG. I was thinking about changing the name to Kate's mom blogs as much as Kate talks! I felt like a total BLOG HOG! Go ahead say that one out loud...it is fun! Anyway, I just want to tell everyone hello! We are all doing well and hanging in here...we will soon be in the "Magic Kingdom" not to be confused with J.W. Kingdom Hall....we'll let you all know how things are going. (However, wireless is not free where we are staying and in true cheapness, we will most likely not be on-line but maybe once or twice in the next week! So, look for the rare post or the rare email!) We love you all and Katie...did you ever solve the putrid smelling feces issue with the dork who stinks up the bathroom which in turn stinks up the whole bank lobby? You don't want people to start calling you guys, "Bank Stinkville"! :) Love to you all!

Oh, the sleepless nights... and days

So, here we go again! TEETHING... what a joy. TJ is teething AGAIN! This time I think it is his two front teeth on the top. We have had many sleepless nights again. Ahhhh, the joys of motherhood. I haven't written in like forever, and so I thought I would take a few minutes while TJ is actually resting well and update everyone on the Franklin family situation. Let's see.... Tyler applied for a job in Key West but did not get it, so he is looking again for another place to go. The other night he called me in the back to ask me how I felt about Naples, Italy? I said cool! Whatever! I mean he is the one that has to work there not me. :0) Tyler is dealing with a stinking cold and I am dealing with two young men who can't sleep at night. The other night EVERYONE was up at our house at 2:30am. Tyler couldn't breathe and thought he needed to puke, TJ was screaming and I was just trying to figure out how I missed all of this when I signed up to be a wife and mother. J/K We had a great trip home to Aiken and loved spending time with mom and dad and even CaCa Crash! I am going to run and maybe just maybe I will get my hair actually dried and then have a moment of peace to read my new Mary Higgins Clark book. I love you all!

Love

Maria

PS Jessica how did the sub thing work out for you?

PPS Roz thanks for the American Idol chat!

PPPS KT seriously if you are going to play pranks at work at least do it right!

I finally got five minutes to myself

Well that's not entirely true. I'm on hold right now with Fiserv Support. But it's the same right? I'm just listening to their cheezy on hold music. Which reminds me. I think I've found a royalty free cd that are going to use for hold music at the bank. Now I've got to go buy a cheap Durabrand cd player so Joey (the telecomm guy) can jerry-rig it for us. LOL!

Have I ever told y'all about my little friend at work? Her name is Cameron. Her grandmother (may she rest in peace) was this old southern lady. She didn't say her n's. So when she said Cameron's name it sounded like "Camera." Ok....it's only funny if you hear it!

Yesterday Camera decided she would pretend she was five again and put a "Kick Me" post-it on the back of the head teller (Judy). I (of course) had to assist her with this. But I didn't stick it hard enough and it fell off. All of this unprofessional behaviour occured whilst I was (once again) on hold with Fiserv support.

Let's see.......what else. Oh! I'm throwing a baby shower for an old friend on Saturday. Nicole Tallon...she's from Gaffney. Her name used to be Nicole Rice. Her baby is due in April. Mimi used to set up play dates for me with her when I stayed with them in the summer time. She's in my ward now in Simpsonville. She's also my VT'er. Anyway, you know what JCL and I will be doing on Friday night. Cleaning house. UGH!

We had our bball tourney last weekend. My girls made it to the final round and we lost to Gville 2nd. They are really good, but horrible sports. Not gracious at all! Bobby Gorski tried to get the women's team (which I play on) to play in a tourney at the end of March, but we'd end up playing G'ville 2nd in the final and I can't play the mother of those Gville 2nd girls. I'd probably intentionally foul her and that's just not Christlike. :)

Ok...I'm AUDI A6....ttyl!

Funny Kids

So, while I am e-mailing and stuff the girls were in the other room watching Disney...Little Einsteins, and I head Kate fussing at Clair. Then I heard Kate crying. I guess she was fussing at Clair and so Clair took this play cleaning brush and whapped Kate upside the head with it! I held the laughter in and told them both they needed to be nice to each other. I told Clair hitting is NOT nice. Kate admitted to fussing at Clair and I told them to hug and say sorry...they have been playing nice ever since! Those kids. While we were waiting for Kate to finish pre-school I gave Clair two little candies. When I looked back she still had one in her hand. I asked her if she was going to eat it and she said, "No, it's sissy's!" I told her it was very nice of her to save one for Kate and so I gave her another one for her to eat. I thought that was so sweet...then she come home and whapps her upside the head with this big old hard plastic brush! Oh the humor of it all!

Reaction to Kate's new haircut!

You have all seen the post of Kate's new haircut...well Sunday was the first time folks at church saw it. Several people didn't even recognize her. A kid in primary wanted to know if I dyed her hair. Kate was loving the attention! It was cute! She still loves it and wants to wear if down all the time. She's too darling!

Thank you Neener!

I just would like to thank Jessica for her visit this weekend. I know her free weekends are most likely few and far between so, I am EXTRA glad she chose to come and see us. I also would like to thank her for watching the girls so Stephen and I could go and do something fun without worrying about if the girls were safe, or how much the total babysitting bill would be (I wish I got $7 an hour when I babysat!). Anyway, it was wonderful to go to the Cyclorama (if you all have never been, next time you come we really need to go!), the Varsity for dinner ("What'll you have?"...I'm a real Atlanta girl now!), and IKEA (which was a mad house and had tons of screaming unhappy kids...none of which I am happy to say were mine!) with out our little angels tagging along! I don't think they would have enjoyed any of that, with the exception of the Varsity! Thanks Jessica! You are wonderful! The girls had a total blast with you and the greatest gift of all that you left for us were the tasty easy bake salt lick cookies. :) Kate hasn't stopped talking about how much fun she had and keeps asking when you are coming back. It was also great to hang out Saturday evening...even if you did pull a Charleen and fall asleep in the middle of the movie! :) We were sad to see you go Sunday and we hope you will come back again SOON! We love you Jessica!
PS Sorry about Clair pooping all over you! :) Baptism by dooddy!

Another round!

I finally went to the OB today. I have been feeling rough since about Sunday evening and had a feeling I have another Urinary track infection. Sure enough, peeing the the old cup showed I do have another infection. Lucky me! I feel like totally crap...Excuse my French! So, hopefully this (2n round) of antibiotics will knock this junk out and I will be up and running in no time!
Just wanted to up-date for those that were wondering what the doc said!

Happy Valentine's Day

Hello Family!

Happy Valentine's Day from Georgia! We are all doing well and having a pretty good day! Kate had pre-school today and really enjoyed exchanging Valentine cards with her little friends! She also was very excited to "show off" her new hair cut! Clair woke up and had a pretty good night. She had been so sick and coughing up a storm, but after a night with the humidifier and a night with our new waterless humidifier (with a vicks strip) she seems to be doing MUCH better. She hardly coughed at all in the night and today she has only coughed about 5 or 6 times! A BIG IMPROVMENT! Anyway, once home from pre-school, we did a little photo shoot. The first one is Kate in her dress with her new hair cut. Then one of Clair and her new cut! Third is one of the two of them. Then 4 and 5 are seperates again! So, have a great day and remember, we love you!

Rosalind

PS I know I should post these on each familes respective BLOG, but the BLOGS hate me to post pics...so anyone can feel free post them for me!

Long Time No Blog

Hey Kids! Sorry it's been a while since I've posted. Life at the bank hasn't slowed down one iota, but boy are the days flying by. Our website is so close to being done. I've still got loose ends to tie up with programming and setting parameters and stuff but it's nice to see it all come together.

Today marks the 9th anniversary of my and Creighton's first date. On our first date he took me to Villa Europa in Augusta and then we went to see a movie. We got home around midnight or so. Tonight he took me to Saskatoon in Greenville and we came home......it's 9:48 and he's in the bed and I'm on the computer. Oh how the mighty have fallen!

We had our initial visit w/ the IVF specialist today. I really like him. I am starting a round of Depo-Lupren (sp?) which has mixed reviews by patients but docs seem to love it. Wish us luck!

I'm going to post some pics for Roz in my next post since they are dang cute and she is having trauma doing it. Or at least I'm going to try to do it.

I hope y'all are doin' good. We loved hanging out w/ y'all last weekend at Neener and Stephen's birthday dinner. We had a low gas scare on the way home but we made it to Clinton and were able to fuel up.

Oh yeah.........my little b-ball team is (of course) playing in the final tournament in March and they didn't even put us in the first round. We went straight to the second round. That's how good they are! GO SIMSONVILLE 1st YW!!!!!!!

Love you all mucho mucho mucho!

Question???

When Adam and Eve were in the garden and partook of the fruit did they sin or did they transgress? I would be interested in knowing what your thoughts are on this subject. Just click on the "comment" button to leave your thoughts. When I read yours I'll respond with my thoughts.

Which Movie Star Are You?

Hey girls! Ever wonder which movie star you are most like? Don't read ahead please! Well, a team of researchers got together and analyzed the personalities of movie stars. The gathered info has been incorporated into this quiz. There's only 10 questions so it doesn't take long. Answer each question with the choice that most describes you at this point in your life, and then add up the points that correspond with your answers. Don't look ahead or you will ruin the fun! After you find out which movie star you are like, post it in the comments! (Boys I guess you can do it too!) :)

1. Which describes your perfect date?
a) Candlelight dinner for two
b) Amusement Park
c) Rollerblading in the park
d) Rock Concert
e) Have dinner & see a movie
f) Dinner at home with a loved one

2. What is your favorite type of music?
a) Rock and Roll
b) Alternative
c) Soft Rock
d) Classical
e) Christian
f) Jazz

3. What is your favorite type of movie?
a) Comedy
b) Horror
c) Musical
d) Romance
e) Documentary
f) Mystery

4. Which of the following jobs would you choose if you were given only these choices?
a) Waiter/Waitress
b) Sports Player
c) Teacher
d) Policeman
e) Bartender
f) Business person

5. Which would you rather do if you had an hour to waste?
a) Work out
b) Make out
c) Watch TV
d) Listen to the radio
e) Sleep
f) Read

6. Of the following colors, which do you like best?
a) Yellow
b) White
c) Sky blue
d) Teal
e) Gold
f) Red

7. Which one of the following would you like to eat right now?
a) Ice cream
b) Pizza
c) Sushi
d) Pasta
e) Salad
f) Lobster Tail

8. Which is your favorite holiday?
a) Halloween
b) Christmas
c) New Year's
d) Valentine's Day
e) Thanksgiving
f) Fourth of July

9. If you could go to any of the following places, which would it be?
a) Reno
b) Spain
c) Las Vegas
d) Hawaii
e) Hollywood
f) British Columbia

10. Of the following, who would you rather spend time with?
a) Someone who is smart
b) Someone with good looks
c) Someone who is a party animal
d) Someone who has fun all the time
e) Someone who is very emotional
f) Someone who is fun to be with

Now total up your points on each question:
1. a-4 b-2 c-5 d-1 e-3 f-6
2. a-2 b-1 c-4 d-5 e-3 f-6
3. a-2 b-1 c-3 d-4 e-5 f-6
4. a-4 b-5 c-3 d-2 e-1 f-6
5. a-5 b-4 c-2 d-1 e-3 f-6
6. a-1 b-5 c-3 d-2 e-4 f-6
7. a-3 b-2 c-1 d-4 e-5 f-6
8. a-1 b-3 c-2 d-4 e-5 f-6
9. a-4 b-5 c-1 d-4 e-3 f-6
10. a-5 b-2 c-1 d-3 e-4 f-6

NOW, take your total and find out which Movie Star you are:

(10-17 points) You are MADONNA:>>You are wild and crazy and you know it. You know how to have fun, but you may take it to extremes. You know what you are doing though, and are much in control of your own life. People don't always see things your way, but that doesn't mean that you should do away with your beliefs. Try to remember that your wild spirit can lead to hurting yourself and others.

(18-26 points) You are DORIS DAY:>>You are fun, friendly, and popular! You are a real crowd pleaser. You have probably been out on the town your share of times, yet you come home with the values that your mother taught you. Marriage and children are very important to you, but only after you have fun. Don't let the people you please influence you to stray.

(27-34 points) You are DEBBIE REYNOLDS:>>You are cute, and everyone loves you. You are a best friend that no one takes the chance of losing. You never hurt feelings and seldom have your own feelings hurt. Life is a breeze. You are witty, and calm most of the time. Just keep clear of back stabbers, and you are worry-free.

(35-42 points) You are GRACE KELLY:>>You are a lover. Romance, flowers, and wine are all you need to enjoy yourself. You are serious about all commitments and are a family person. You call your Mom every Sunday, and never forget a Birthday. Don't let your passion for romance get confused with the real thing.

(43-50 points) You are KATHERINE HEPBURN:>>You are smart, a real thinker. Every situation is approached with a plan. You are very healthy in mind and body. You don't take crap from anyone. You have only a couple of individuals that you consider "real friends". You teach strong family values . Keep your feet planted in them, but don't overlook a bad situation when it does happen.

(51-60 points) You are ELIZABETH TAYLOR:>>Everyone is in awe of you. You know what you want and how to get it. You have more friends than you know what to do with. Your word is your bond. Everyone knows when you say something it is money in the bank. You attract the opposite sex. Your intelligence overwhelms most. Your memory is the next thing to photographic. Everyone admires you because you are so considerate and lovable. You know how to enjoy life and treat people right.

Post who you are in the comments!

Pictures and Puke...not in that order.

Today has been the day of pictures and puke...First, puke...boy oh boy the morning sickness reared it's ugly head today and I was sick twice this AM. Kate kept yelling at Clair to get out of the bathroom or she would get the "throw up cold" too. Kate wouldn't come near me all morning. I guess her bout with the flu in Texas was enough throwing up for her. I told her it was because I was preg. but I guess she still thinks she might get the "throw-up cold" again!
Despite my horrible morning, I did have an appointment to get the girls pictures done at the Picture People (free pictures...I'm there!) Anyway, the apt was at 11:40, but I still had to go and get them shoes. So, we left around 10:15 and found the almost perfect shoes...I was hoping for red ones but settled for some darling white ones... at payless. Then I stopped and got a little snack from a place which small remain nameless, since I am ashamed taht is what I wanted at 10:30 in the AM. Then we went and got our pictures made. The girls looked SO cute in the darling dresses KT got them for Christmas. Everyone in the mall kept smiling and pointing at them. They really looked cute. The pictures turned out pretty cute, but the ones I liked best had a green background...not my fav. So, I settled for the green background and the really cute picture...look for your in the mail. Anyway, after pictures we met up with our realtor Ms. Connie for lunch. While we were at lunch, Kate said, "Ms. Connie, when you are looking for a house is it really all about, LOCATION< LOCATION< LOCATION!" She had heard that saying on one of her shows this morning. I thought Ms. Connie was going to fall over laughing. She told Kate it is sure was and then also pluged her office saying by telling Kate that "service, service, service" is also important. Kate looked up at me and in a quiet voice said, "What is service." But of course Ms. Connie heard and she laughed. I explained it and then Kate, "And what is location?" She is too funny. Ms. Connie also was asking what the girls wanted the baby to be a boy or girl. Kate said, "It's a boy." Clair said "baby". (She usually says girl or sister, she was playing it safe today!) Then Kate said, "If it is a boy I will be SO happy, but if it is a girl...I will be DANG MAD!" This really got Ms. Connie laughing, because we both expected her to say "But if it is a girl that is ok too." But not Kate. She rarely says the expected.
So, that's our Monday. Puke and pictures...and funny Kate sayings!

January is almost gone....

Wow how does a month go by so fast. I had forgotten about the blog and while I was talking with Maria she mentioned the blog. So for the past few minutes I read all of the entries. Clair is doing great. Her Oma and Opa are really proud of her. They say when the baby becomes potty trained then their getting out of the way for another baby. I guess in this case she really is getting ready for the new arrival. Kate is growing big and she's just to smart. I am excited that she's getting to go to pre-school again this semester. Her dad told me that she was able to write her name and that she was recognizing letters, that is great.

The picture of TJ was just to cute. He did look like a jail bird. He's another smart one....to big for his own good.

I know Katie has been stressed, I've talk with her several times and she really has it all together but others around her keep her stressed plus she has some concerns about their system. But hey, we're talking KATIE here....she is good at faking her way through anything but she won't have to fake anything...Everything will be just fine.

Jessica has started teaching...she has shared some of her experiences with us....they are too funny. Hearing her talk was like listening to Maria!!! Wow what head strong women we have raised!!

I hope you all were able to attend your Stake Conference via the satellite. I really felt that this technique was really great. It was fun to go to church and to hear the speakers from the west directed to just us. And the messages were all so good. I had bits of inspiration while I listened. Dad and I were discussing it on the way home, can you imagine the amount of money that was saved by members and the Church by doing this. Ususally for us we make about 3 trips to the Stake Center in Martinez in the weekend that is scheduled for Stake Conference. This time we made two, but we didn't have to go back over there this mornings plus we got to sleep in.

Well, I just wanted you know that I have read your postings. Keep it up and know that I love you.

Oma

Jailhouse Rock

Last night when TJ woke up from his evening nap we went into his room to find him pulled up against the rails trying to figure out how to escape. He looked just like a jail bird. What is even more hilarious is the fact that he was using his passie to clank against the bars, kind of like the men in jail do with their cups. He is too cute. I hope you will enjoy the picture. We love you all. I am assuming that everyone has Stake Conference this weekend and is getting to listen to the broadcast from Salt Lake. I know mom and dad's stake is participating. What about KT and Stephen? Jessica is the singles ward having Stake Conference with the Columbia Stake. Let me know, what you think. We love you all.

Love

The Fam in Norf Chucktown

PS Roz- I found some forks at Fred's and they were 4 for a dollar. So I bought enough and Tyler bent them for me. We had to bend them a little bit differently because they are cheap forks, but they turned out cute. Thanks for the idea.

PPS I am looking for BUG (cartoonish) themed things for TJ's birthday party!

Posting Pics

I finally found my cables for my camara, but I still can't post pictures on the blog! I will try to send some pics to Stephen to post. However, he is pretty busy, so any one with some free time that wants to post pics for me let me know and I will forward them to you to post. Sorry guys. The blog doesn't like my pictures! :(

Clair the Big Girl....almost!

POTTY TRAINING UPDATE

On Saturday we started the no pants method. My Grandma informed me "That is how the Mesicans do it." Well, the "Mesicans" have something. The first day was a little touch and go, but after that it went better then I thought. By Monday she had no accidents (well, until after dinner and her big reward cake with a candle for having no accidents...after that she peed twice on the floor, but hey, she got her cake. Sound familiar Tyler?) Anyway, the problem seems to be the transition to panties. We took a day off of the no pants method yesterday so she could play downstairs and be like a normal kid. We started back today and it is going really well. I think I will try a day with panties but no pants (or rubber pants) so if she has an accident it is still obvious. I guess Rome wasn't built in a day and Clair, well, obviously she won't be potty trained in a day...week, or month! I am also running out of ideas of things to do in the kitchen to keep her pre-occupied. Poor kid...she is getting kitchen fever!

Tuesday Night In the ATL

I'm back in Atlanta for more training. Of course several things fell apart and I wasn't there to deal with them directly. Trying to "fight fires" over a cell phone is not fun.

We open on Monday and I'm so nervous. I guess I'll know how Mom felt when we were growing up...hearing my name 15 times every minute.

I'm excited to see Jessica's play and to take her to lunch for her birthday. That will be a fun weekend. Creighton and I will be really busy that day. We've got that World Wide leadership broadcast that morning. But I'm sure we'll figure out a way to see it and to see Jessica's play.

Well not much time. Tons to do and deal with....I'll write more later. :)

Frustrated

Well today our family made a trip to the Social Security office to get TJ's SS card. When he was born the hospital said they were applying for one for him and even gave me a copy of the paper that said it had been applied for. SO... here we are 7 months later and NO SS card. We need his # for our taxes, so we went to their office to get the print out of his # and after waiting an hour and a half the lady tells us that TJ was never even issued a #. SO... it will be 6 weeks. Since he was never issued a # that means Trident Hospital didn't do what they said they were going to do, and the interesting thing is that while we were at the SS office two other girls were there with their babies and they had not recieved their babies cards either and guess where their children were born? Yep, Trident. I am ticked. I will be calling them today. I just wanted to let you know our frustrating day. On a good note, TJ has cut his first tooth. Right now it is just a little rough ridge sticking through but WHITE as can be. He is growing up too fast.

Love you all

Maria

PS I hope you all got the birthday email!

Green in Georgia

Hello Family!
I don't know about the rest of you, but I am having a hard time getting back into the swing of things! Anyway, I finally called the doctor and I have an apt. for Friday, Jan 27. So, I should have a due date by then. I am already going to start bugging him about setting a date for the C-section and setting it at least 3 weeks early! I don't know why my babies are so anxious to get here and get going! :)
Other than that, I am doing ok. I feel pretty sick (ie the Title) but have yet to actually hurl! I am sure that is bound to happen!
Stephen is very busy at work. The crap had hit the fan with a few customers and he is having to save GE butt single handily (it seems).
Kate starts pre-school next week and she is SO excited! She woke up this morning with a little runny nose and wanted to spend the day in bed!
Clair is still wetting more pairs of panties than a old women with incontinence. (I am sure that is spelled wrong, but you get the idea!) I am trying very hard to be calm about it. But I've had to do laundry EVERY night this week, just so she has enough panties to pee through the next day! Oh, the joy of it all! This one WILL be potty trained before the new baby comes!
Well, that is the up date on the Bright's in GA. I hope you are all well. We also hope to see you all sometime in the next month. We are VERY excited to come and see JEssica's play! Kate has been carrying around the postcard since the day it came! :)
Love you all!

The Recovery

Tyler is doing so well with his recovery, I can't even believe that he had surgery on Thursday. Thanks, mom and dad for coming down and taking care of TJ. I really appreciated that. Sitting at the hospital for 6 hours would not have been very enjoyable for my active little guy. TJ is loving his walker, it gives him the freedom he wants. Right now TJ and I are exiled to the computer room and living room, trying to be quiet so that Tyler can continue his recovery (mostly so he can sleep off the drugs). I hope everyone will have a wonderful week. Congrats Stephen and Rosalind. We can't wait.

Love ya

Maria (Tyler, and TJ too)

How to get a new brother...

I have to share something with you that Kate told Stephen today. She was snuggling with him and said, "Dad I know how we can get a baby brother. You just need to whisper to mom's belly and then a baby brother will get in there." Too funny! We asked her who told her that and she wouldn't say, which most likely means, she came up with it on her own! Anyway...We'll let you know if that works! :)

Jessica, it has been fun talking with you...keep calling! And remember what I said!

KT, thanks for visiting us last night. As usual, I love your company and wish like crazy we still lived closer.

Maria and Tyler, good luck with the surgery. I hope it goes well. I have heard this is a tough one, so hang in there!

Mom and Dad...drive safe!

Thanks for the QUOTE-- Mom

I am thankful for my ability to choose my attitude. Living in North Chucktown, we have been thrown right into the middle of the ghetto, and we find that people are often looking for a reason to FIGHT. We are frustrated that a small trip to Wal-Mart or A.C. Moore turns into a heated contentious moment. My neighbor, Laura, came over yesterday to return our house key (from over Christmas break) she relayed a story of an incident that happened to her the day before in the Wal-Mart parking lot. She was a witness to a beating (3 black males on1 white male). The fight had started over the three standing in the middle of the lane and the one trying to drive around them. It frustrates me so much that people have lost the sense of community. Even the police officer didn't seem REAL concerned (Laura was shocked). In this crazy, fast paced world it is hard sometimes to keep in mind that we are ALL Heavenly Father's children (even the ones who act the fool). Remember that we were all in the pre-existence together and we all chose to follow Heavenly Father's plan to come to Earth. So that must mean that at one time these people who drive us mad and heat up our tempers were on the same side we were and they too fought against Satan. It just seems they are having a hard time fighting him here. I love you all and I am thankful for your examples.

Love

Maria

I love this statement

Our Actions Determine Our Character"In today's fast-paced world there seems to be a greater tendency for people to act aggressively toward each other. Some are quick to take offense and respond angrily to real or imagined affronts, and we've all experienced or heard reports of road rage or other examples of rude, insensitive behavior."Unfortunately, some of this spills over into our homes, creating friction and tension among family members."It may seem natural to react to a situation by giving back what is given to us. But it doesn't have to be that way. Reflecting on his horrendous wartime experiences, Viktor Frankl recalled: 'We who lived in concentration camps can remember the men who walked through the huts comforting others, giving away their last piece of bread. They may have been few in number, but they offer sufficient proof thateverything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms--to choose one's attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one's own way' (Man's Search for Meaning [1985], 86)."Topics: character, contention( Elder Wayne S. Peterson, "Our Actions Determine Our Character," Ensign, Nov. 2001, 83)

Katie's Monday Post (1/9)

Ok....it's Monday with precisely nine minutes left in the day and here I am posting. It's been popping up on my task list all day...ugh!

Today was so busy. We finally moved into the modular unit today. I was prepared for the worst. I mean a complete melt-down. However, I don't think that it could have gone more smoothly. The phones were up by 10 am and we were all reprogrammed by 3 pm. The network was up by noon. I was so happy with how well things went. I don't even feel bad that I'm in Atlanta tonight for some training and meetings over the next couple of days.

By the way our splash page is up so check it out at www.bankgreenville.com. Keep checking back since we're almost ready to launch the real website.

Oh! Here's the best part about the modular. The sewer isn't hooked up yet. So we have a FABULOUS port-a-potty. It has a vanity which makes it ok. You have to flush the potty with a pump that you step on. Also that's how you get water to wash your hands. No! Not in the same bowl. I can hear Daddy asking the question! We put a ghetto padlock on it to keep the construction workers out of it. Bleck!

In other news. We finally got all the Christmas decorations down. They are living in the spare room upstairs. We're waiting to put them in the attic until we get the pulldown installed.

Last Sunday was my first Sunday as the RS Secretary. It was so much easier than the last ward I was in when I was the secretary. All it did was remind me what an organized ward I grew up in. I'm sure Mom and Dad have stories to tell, but I was once again grateful for growing up in a ward that did things right....99% of the time!!

I better go. It's midnight now and I have a class at 8:30. TTYL!

So far behind & such a large behind...

from all the yummy holiday food! Two very bad problems here! Here is an up-date on our holiday travels! (Most likely more than you really want to know...but I'm up for some sharing!)

Our trip to Texas went well. It was very fun and kind of restful. We got to do some fun things, but we really spent a lot of time just hanging about the house, which isn't really like my family. I guess we are all getting old. We did venture out a few times for dinner. We went to the AMAZING San Antonio temple as a family. It was so nice to be there with all of us...minus the kids of course! It was really a great experience. Then, one day we drove to Buda, Texas and went to this really cool sporting goods store called Cabellas. It was awesome. They had all these stuffed animals set up in museum like exhibits. The girls really enjoyed it. They we ate lunch there and then we went to Joels house for a night of games. We got more games then we had time to play, but we did try!

Speaking of what we got...as usual, Santa was good to us. The girls LOVED their Jack-in-the boxes! They still laugh like mad folk everytime the character pops up! You would think after a million times it wouldn't be amusing anymore...but no...I guess that's why that toy is a classic! They also totally enjoyed their box of dress up clothes and wigs. (Well, we all kind of got into the wigs!) Anyway, I have some really cute pictures, and will post them ASAP. Stephen got lots of tools, some clothes, a few movies, several gift cards, and a subscription to the German Liahona. I got more clothes than I know what to do with, and I also got a few books, a new over the range microwave, and a CD player for my kitchen (and other coool nick-nacks)! It was a great Christmas. It was a great week.

My dad got sick in the middle of the week with the stomach flu. Kate got it a few days later...New Years Eve. So our New Years was spent holding a puke bucket under Kate's chin. It was not the most fun New Years, but the poor kid was real sick. About 8:30 PM she jumped up and said, "I feel so much better." and from then on she was better. She did complain about sore legs and back, but I am sure she was sore from all the throwing up!

We left on Sunday the 1st. That night we stoped in LA. It was a rough night for Clair and she tossed and turned in the bed next to me all night. The following morning we got up and started the end of our trip. All was well until we got to the west side of Atlanta, and then I started to feel really sick. I basicly willed myself to not throw up. Once we got home, I brought in two laods of stuff before I started puking and I didn't stop for about 18 hours! Stephen got sick around 10:00 PM and around 2:00 AM Clair came stumbling into our room covered in vomit...head to toe, shaking like a leaf...poor girl! It looked like a puke bomb went off in her bed...it was all over the post of the bed and even on the wall next to her bed. I had to give her a shower, wash her hair three times, wash her clothes, strip her bed, wash all her blankets, clean the bed off, clean the walls, (throw away her pillow) and do all this while making tips to the bathroom so I too could be sick! It was not a fun evening. We put Clair in the bed with us. Luckily she only throw up one more time and then slept like a LOG the rest of the night. However, Stephen & I didn't sleep at all. Up and down, we both took turns trying to get comfortable on the floor, or next to Clair, or all of us in the bed at once. It was a nightmare. When Kate woke up the next morning, she aksed if I was feeling better, and I said no, Daddy is sick now and Clair too. Kate ran into her room and started to cry because she said it was all her fault that we were sick! Poor kid! We told her not to worry that sometimes there is nothing you can do.

Anyway, we are doing better. We are still a litttle sore, and still a little tired, but we are much better. Now to unpack and get this house in order! A womens job is NEVER done! We hope you are all well. We look forward to seeing you all again.

Love you all!

My What A Big Boy You Have!

TJ is really growing. Yesterday, Jan.3rd, was his 6 month check up. The doctor says he is doing great. In fact he said that we don't have to come back until his 12 month check up (unless he is sick). I was shocked. He said that they don't like to keep bringing the babies back in when they are doing fine, because it only increases the chance of them picking up something from someone else. So we are cool with that. We just hope he doesn't get sick. TJ now weighs 16.5 lbs and is 26.5 inches long. He is so big. After the checkup, he had his shots. He had to have three, two were just regular immunization shots and the third was 1/2 a flu shot, I have to take him back in 6 weeks to get the other 1/2. He was a champ (not like his mom). He only cried with the initial stick and then he was fine. I was so proud of him, I wish I could be that brave. I am getting better though, I mean hey I had an epidural! YEAH, that is a HUGE needle! Okay, so here on the homefront, we have the Smith/Jenkins clan coming in this weekend for a Christmas visit. We are excited, but I am a little stressed. I really want my house to be ship shape when they get here. I started in the kitchen today, and let me just say that between the laundry and TJ, I didn't exactly get EVERYTHING done that I wanted to get done today. Oh, well there is always tomorrow. Well I hate to drag this out forever. I just wanted to touch basis with you guys. Tyler goes in on Monday for his pre-op appointment and then Thursday is his surgery. Thank goodness mom and dad are coming to watch TJ. Please think of Tyler on Thursday and me too, I am really scared and anxious about the whole procedure. We love you all. Take care!

Love,
Maria, Tyler, and the BIG little man TJ

Question of the Week

Granola Bar Boxes

Maria needs snacks for all the students going on a field trip. She bought 9 boxes of granola bars containing a total of 88 bars. She wanted variety, so she purchased 3 different flavors, which happened to come from 3 different companies. The almond chunky granola bars were packaged 8 to a box, the chewy chocolate chip bars came 10 to a box, and the super special raisin nut package contained 12 per box. She bought the most boxes of almond chunky but had the most raisin nut bars.

How many boxes of each flavor did she buy?

View Comments to see the answer.

Katie's Monday Post...on Tuesday..again (1/3)

Well this has been a fun week and weekend. Creighton left work early on Friday and we had our friend Shannon over to watch movies. Though we didn't watch them, we just talked and ate leftover Christmas pies.

Shannon and I went to the Outlet Mall in Gaffney on Saturday. That was her first shopping trip to the mall. We had fun! I was in search of a new black blazer but found (instead) two pairs of pants, two tops, and some other various and sundry items at the GAP. Eeeeeeeeek! Creighton said that he should have reported our card stolen when I was out of sight! LOL!

We also went to Sushi Wasabi for dinner on Saturday night. It's a great sushi place in Downtown Greenville. It's pretty cheap and so yummy! We had a great time.

Saturday night was a rocking good married people's New Year's! When we got home from Sushi Wasabi, Creighton proceeded to play Warcraft and I watched some stuff I had TiVo'ed. Then at about 5 minutes 'til midnight, I broke out the champagne flutes and we had a "sparkling grape juice" toast at midnight. I took pictures, but didn't post them because....let's face it....that's just kind of sad. Really, though, we had a great time just hanging out and being together.

Creighton was sick on Sunday so he slept most of the day. Must have been all the rambunctious partying on Saturday night.

Monday was a very fun day. I got the New Year off to the right start by attending a 9:30 am Step & Sculpt class. I'm pretty sure the instructor was trying to kill me....personally. At one point, I thought, "I can't breathe, I'm light-headed, my face is so red I look like someone just told a dirty joke....I should just put up my step and go home." But I stuck it out and she even ended 5 minutes early. I did not complain.

Then we proceeded to undo all the good I had just done by having "lunch" at IHOP! LOL! I only ate half of the omelet....does it still count if you don't eat all of it? LOL!!!! Later, that day at Sam's, (I've been watching too many movies) I dropped some coin on new tires for the Acura. Boy did it need them! Who knew tires could make such a difference?

Seriously, I'm sooooooooooo back on the WW-train today. So far today I've had 3 points. That's really good considering I had a car battery crisis this morning. UGH!

Speaking of....a very nice young gentleman named Efrae helped me get the car started this morning.

He said, "You have children?"
Me, "Oh no. Not yet. Soon, though we hope."
Then proceeded to ask me "You're single?"
I'm like, "Um, no, I'm married. Are you married?"
Efrae, "Oh no, I single. I been here in America, single, for two year. I think all American women are so beautiful."
Katie, "Wow, yeah, I never thought about that before. I think my friend Jose's sister is really pretty and she is from Spain. But they live near the Mediterranean so they're all tan and stuff all the time. Do you like the beach?"
Efrae, "You are beautiful American woman."
Katie, "Well, thank you. I appreciate that. I think my husband thinks so, too." [Thinking: Did I mention that he could squish your scrawny butt in two seconds?], "Well, thanks for your help? Can I pay you?"
Efrae, "Oh no you don't pay..."
[Shaking hands]
Efrae, "Friends?"
Katie, "Yes. Friends" [Thinking: Please God, don't let him strangle me with the jumper cables and stuff me in the storm drain behind the garage.]

Ok, well, obviously I made it to work. But if you don't hear from me in a couple of days, send a search party and check the storm drain first!!!!!!!!!

Christmas in the Keys and New Years in Charleston

WOW~ We had a great trip to the Keys and it sure was a lot of fun to be with Tyler's family. Neil, Anna, Tyler, and I always have such a great time together. Remind me to tell you all the "Pork and Peaches" story sometime (KT knows what I am talking about). It makes me laugh just typing it. Although the Keys were gorgeous, we were very ready to get home. Our trip was long but not too bad. TJ was a real trooper. I am proud of him and Tyler, bless his soul, did MOST of the driving. I always just KICKED into the driveway. I will say one of the best parts of our vacation was the fact that Tyler and I got to spend so much time together. That was fun. We even got back in town to have a few more days together before he had to be back at work (he returns to work tomorrow). We are still working on TJ's sleeping schedule, it took a hit with all the sleeping in the car. He is growing more and more everyday. For the New Year we went over to the Murray's (Angela and Lewis). Bryson, Wendi, Bailey, Carrie, and Radge (her "friend") were also there. We had a blast. I will say this was the first time I really got to talk with and got to know Wendi. She is really a sweet girl and a wonderful mother to Bailey. We rang in the New Year and then fought the fog home. It was a fun LATE night, we haven't seen a late night by choice in a LONG time. I sure am glad friends and family are so near right now. Tyler and I often talk about leaving Charleston and heading overseas. I know it will be fun, but I will miss everyone. Okay, I have attached a picture of us and The Franklin clan at the Southernmost Point of the Continental US. That was a great day! I love you all! HAPPY NEW YEAR and good luck with your resolutions!


Love,

The Franklins