Get To It!

Well, it has been WAY TOO LONG since I have posted anything! My I mean really, where did 2010 go? As you can see from my blog, it's just disappeared and seems to have never happened! Ok, it did happen, but it sure did go by in such a hurry that I am still reeling from it all. It truly was a fantastic year that had so many milestones, anniversaries, accomplishments and fun!

As it always goes with the month of January, I have set new goals for the year throughout all aspects of my life for myself, the family and life in general. Our little nook here on the web is one of them - I am going to try my best to keep this updated on a regular basis and share some of the things that go on in our lives, write out some personal ponderings once in a while and of course, add the treasured videos and photos.

I pray that everyone had a blessed Christmas and holiday season and that you are all doing well. We have so much to be thankful for even when it may seem so hard to find anything at all. My daily saying to myself is now "Hey, you're alive! Something is going right today already!" So, let's recap a few of the things that happened in 2010 as we set out for another jet-paced year in 2011.

Not totally in chronological order, that would just hurt my head!
* Rang in 2010 in Dallas, TX with Yvonne, Reagan and the kids
* Grayson turned 7 years old!
* Had the greatest gift redeemed from the holidays - our floors got refinished in the house. We got to move everything OUT of the house, live in a camper for over a month, and move it all back in on beautiful, shiny floors!
* The kids got to experience their first sustantial amount of snow (while living in a camper!) and play for 2 days in the white stuff.
* Construction was completed on our chicken coop.
* Grayson moved up to the Machine Pitch Division in baseball, and Aisley finished her last year in T-Ball.
* Grayson received his first award at the South Carolina Association of Christian Schools Fine Arts Competition.
* Aisley graduated from Kindergarten and had a great year learning!
* Grayson's team made it to the play-offs in baseball; got to the Championship game and finshed 2nd in the division!
* I went on my first trip ever away from the kids AND Chad for Women of Faith conference for 3 days (I did drive back for the Championship Game though). They survived and Chad did a great job being taxi driver, caretaker and daddy!
* Spent our usual extended trip for the summer in Dallas with all my family.
* Grayson learned how to really swing a golf club and is now very excited about learning a new sport.
* Aisley continued to amaze us with her swimming like a mermaid skills in the pool throughout the summer.
* Aisley turned 6 years old.
* Chad and I went on our first trip ever together WITHOUT THE KIDS on a 4 day cruise to the Bahamas with great friends. I SURVIVED being away from my babies with flying colors and they did great for their first time without Mommy and Daddy.
* Grayson started 2nd grade and Aisley started 1st grade.
* I aged yet another year and have now started to get a really lovely amount of gray hair!
* Chad finished the major part of construction on our multi-level, ridiculously high tree-house!
* The kids started taking piano lessons and continue to amaze me with their natural gift of music skills.
* We took a family trip to northern South Carolina and attended our first college football game to see our Clemson Tigers!
* I completed my decision to have Lap-Band surgery to finally get rid of the excess fluff and start leading a healthier lifestyle. It was a choice I made after a couple years of research, soul searching and countless failed attempts to lose weight on my own. It was the greatest decision I made all year!
* We had a very successful year with Music & Memories as Chad worked at a frantic pace as always and continued to provide in such a great way for our little family.
* For the first time EVER, we had the joy of having family in our home for the Christmas holiday! It was such a wonderful time having Chad's mom, sister and son for Christmas. My mother, sister and neice also came out shortly after Christmas and got to ring in the New Year with us. So many memories were created, and although it was a bit tiring at times, I wouldn't trade it for anything!

So, that's just a bit of all the going's on that happened throughout the year. Whew! My fingers are numb just typing it all, and my brain is in overload remembering it all and recalling the millions of other things that happened. It was such a beautiful year, and we are truly blessed!

It's So Late, But Time For a Couple Videos

Ok, so I have seen so many people with videos on You Tube... and it came to me sometime last week that I needed to make videos of the kids for my Popo. This is my darling grandpa that turned 80 this past Tuesday. The kids LOVE their Popo, and unfortunately with all the grandparents they have and the miles between them, we never get to see or spend enough time with them. But this is their GREAT-GRANDPA! How many children get the joy of growing up, knowing, and spending time with their great-grandparents in this day and age? Not many, and it is something we truly treasure! Grayson and Aisley are fortunate enough to still have their great-grandpa Popo (and his lovely wife), and great-grandma, Lily (with her husband). Both of which are on my mother's side that live in Dallas. Plus, the have great-grandpa Jack in Illinois which is the dad of Chad's step-mom. Totally awesome!

So, it's really late, but I wanted to post a video of them singing Happy Birthday to Popo. It took some coaxing, and a little bit of me reminding them of what to say, but they did great. Now that I figured out how to do this, I'm sure there will be many more to come in the coming weeks. Grayson is reading so well now, and I want to show everyone! I've just got to get him past feeling silly reading to a camera... Enjoy!

It's Been a Whirlwind!

Where has the time gone? I mean really, my last post was in October, and that seems like just yesterday! The McMeen family has been incredibly and overwhelmingly busy these past couple months, and the chaos will continue through Christmas.

I guess I should give a really quick re-cap of November since it went by in a flash! We of course stayed busy with school, church and home activities. The yard work seems to never end with Chad, so he kept quite busy out there clearing out more of the woods and cutting up the limb that fell off our huge oak tree. We still have a huge couple of chunks to be cut up, but enough firewood for not to get us through half the winter! Thanksgiving was one that we won't soon forget, and it all started with the kids having their first school program. It was absolutely adorable, and they both did great. Aisley's class sang a cute song about Mr. Turkey, and Grayson's class recited Psalm 100 as well as a story about an Indian in the woods (I really can't remember it because my heart was pounding with nerves, and so full of pride with the two of them!). It was a fabulous program from all the grade levels in their school, and Chad was actually able to attend and enjoy it as well-finally something the man gets to see not on a computer or the camera! We were invited by a dear church friend to have Thanksgiving festivities at her amazing home with her family. Thursday's meal was a huge spread of shrimp, crab legs, oysters and all the fixin's that go along with a traditional Lowcountry Boil-we were stuffed! The traditional turkey meal with EVERYTHING, and I do mean everything to go along with it was back at her house on Saturday. Chad was able to take family photos for her and her extended family that had traveled from all over for the holiday. The pictures were amazing, and we were actually able to have our first picture as a family taken in over 4 years. It was a blessed and fun Thanksgiving that could only have been made better with us being able to spend it with our own families (one of these days, I know it will happen!)

So, now we'll speed up and through December where it has been one busy day after the next! We are excited to be getting ready to spend Christmas in Illinois with Chad's family for the first time ever!! In almost nine years of he and I being together, we have never spent the holidays in Illinois, and I am really looking forward to it. We're praying for snow, and Aisley is more than any of us since the child has it in her head that Christmas absolutely must have snow to go with it! I have no idea why, but she's been obsessed with this notion since the summer......please, Santa, bring the child some snow! It's going to be a really long drive, and not a lot of time there due to school starting back up (oh, I miss the carefree days of no school!), but it will be great to see everyone for a while. We'll be there for about 8 days, and returning on New Year's Eve to beat the holiday traffic back and start getting the kids back on a schedule that will be totally non-existent while on vacation. Oh, yeah, and I will have to probably get back on track, too.

So, the last day of school is this Friday, the 19th and it will be one heck of a last day! Chad has the day off, so we'll be taking the kids to school together. They have a school-wide chapel service at 8:30-9:00, then I'll be taking about 5 kids to a restaurant in town from Grayson's class for their Christmas banquet. As soon as I throw the kids and Chad out of the van, I'll be rushing back to Aisley's class at the school for her party at 9:30. I can't believe I have to pick between the two!!! Chad will just be taking tons of pictures for me, since this is Aisley's first class party and I don't want to miss that either. I'm also getting ready for my first Children's Choir Concert at the church. I'm the director (another of my many talents) and this is my first time ever doing this, so it's been a time for me to learn and also have fun with many of our church children. It's going to be a really short program, but I know all the kids will do great. I will be more nervous than any of them, I'm sure!

God willing that I get through the kids choir concert and the class parties, then we will have a crazy Saturday and Sunday! The office party for Chad and the Marines (and spouses, etc.) will be at our house this year. We will be having them over for a nice dinner, and gift exchange that always proves to be fun! After that party is dwindling down, we've decided to have an open house....yes, an open house that everyone we know in this wonderful town have been so patiently waiting for! We've invited our entire church congregation, all our surrounding neighbors and more - well over 100 people! Have we completely lost our minds? Yes, ladies and gentlemen, I think we truly have this time. Now we know not everyone will make it, but I really have only heard from about 4 of those that say they won't be able to attend. EVERYONE is looking forward to it and can't wait to come. AAAAAHHHHH! I have no idea where they are all going to squeeze into, so we're praying this ridiculous South Carolina weather holds out and that the warm spell continues through Saturday evening to let them spill out onto the screen and front porch.

With very little time to recover from the huge party that I just know will have to be a success, we will have the normal church activities on Sunday morning. Then Sunday night is the adult choir (which I'm a member of) program. I will be singing a brief solo during it, and CHAD WILL BE SINGING A SOLO!!! You read that right, he will be singing during one of the songs as the Angel Gabriel. There's even a possibility that my Marine husband will be sporting a pair of wings. HAHAHAHA! I've requested that they be pink, but I'm doubt they'll find any in time. We are both quite nervous, but I have had my solo to practice for months now, and he just gained this opportunity a couple weeks ago-he sounds great most of the time when the nerves aren't taking over. So, cross your fingers and help shoo those nerves away for the guy!

Monday, December 22 we will be leaving long before the sun comes up and heading for Illinois. It's going to be a long drive, and I know we will ALL be overly tired, so pray that we have a safe trip, happy kids, a good dog (yes, we are taking one of our dogs that can't be without us) and lots of energy to get us there. As of right now, that's about all we can squeeze into the rest of this month. Can anyone out there top us? Oh, I hope not, for your sake!

We want to wish you all a blessed Christmas and a prosperous New Year. 2008 has been one of many firsts for us, many obstacles, countless blessings and we are so thankful for all that has been sent out way. May all of you have a wonderful holiday, and I will be getting Christmas cards in the mail by Wednesday (just one more thing I forgot to add to my list!)

Happy Holidays,

The McMeen Family

What A Month!

Whhhhooooooeeeeee! It has been one crazy October and we still have 3 more days to go! This blog thing was going to try and be a once a week or so effort, but it looks like we're going to turn it into a once a month, and if any other posts make it in there-then consider those a bonus. We have been so busy with school activities, church, community events and the regular chaos of home life. This remainder of the week will be full steam ahead as Judy finishes up some hand prints orders, gives the house a complete makeover inside and out before her Mama, sister Yvonne, and neice Reagan come to town for a surprise visit (to the kids-I obviously know!), and Chad does the regular work routine and then a wedding to DJ on Saturday.

Everyone is doing well, and we are truly in the Fall Spirit as it is now f-r-e-e-z-i-n-g outside... This morning it was a brisk 37 degrees out when I loaded up the kids in the van. Needless to say, I had to run out there and start it early to get the heat blasting and their blankets ready to snuggle up in. For some reason my children refuse to wear heavy coats, and I just can't seem to find one that I like and doesn't keep me all constricted while I'm driving! Chad of course needs all the help he can get, and we are on the hunt for some pants for that skinny man...not an easy task for his size and height. Me, I'm just going to hope the extra "layers" I have will keep me well insulated for this last season as I continue to try and sssslllloooooooooooowwwlllyyy lose the weight. Did I mention the slowly part?! Oh well, daily and extenuating stresses continue to hamper the super fast plan, so I'll let it be. Anywho, I got the kids to school in their skimpy jackets today and just hope they're not freezing on the playground and that the school doesn't call me in to see why in the heck they don't have warmer coats. They do! They just won't wear them!! I can't really blame them though, the carseats do make it quite uncomfortable, and those fuzzy Dora and Thomas blankets are sure warm and soft for the ride there.

So, the weather is now cooler, and the kids are changing every day. Yesterday was a new expericence and huge laugh with a game they made up. It' called.....are you ready....."Deer Hunter"! No, folks, we have not turned completely rural on you, yet, and the kids haven't shot their first buck. At least not this year. But, the hunting around these parts is INSANE! It's not a hobby or fun thing to do here, it's LIFE!! I was in line at Wal-Mart on Saturday, and in every single checkout line at least 1 out of 4 people was in full Camo gear. I just chuckled, then looked at my precious Aisley-in digital Camo (desert colors though) pants that I had made for Grayson 2 years ago. Bless this child and her having no qualms about wearing her brother's hand-me-downs! She loves them, and that girl can really sport the camo, race car, bulldog patterns like no other princess around.

So, back the game...our pastor, God love him, and we do love that man to bits is an avid hunter and is having one heck of a season. He's been coming to our house at least once a week with dead John Deer's (as Aisley calls them) for us to take pictures of. He doesn't have a digital camera, so we take them for him and then burn them to disk for him to take to Wally World to develop. Aisley was just too curious and had to see one last week, and since then she's quite interested in the Dead John Deer's and hunting. So, they were pretend shooting deer in the yard last night. I was busy scooping out pumpkin guts for 3 pumpkins and they were "hunting". Chad came home, and thought it was fantastic! Needless to say, they got their Halloween gifts early. The final pieces of their costumes-cap guns with holsters. They were ecstatic, and I was happy to see the joy on their faces, but also sad to see that the last big thing besides video games and computers that we had sheltered them from is now a part of the toy stash. I never thought I'd see the day I gave my kids "guns" to play with, but am realizing that the locale in which we live is totally different than the city, and these are tools that our friends use to provide fun and food for the family! So, these will be the only toy guns they will have for a long time, and they look totally fake which is a must. I mean, the blinding silver chrome and platic handles just can't be beat! Hunting is a way of life here, and it's something I'm coming to terms with. A city girl from Dallas, TX is just not used to these things! The only deer I saw growing up was in Bambi or the National Geographic magazines....But, with some good guidance and knowledge, my kids may just one day have their own "Deer Hunter" show on TV and get all the trophy bucks they can handle. Kidding!

Other than that, we're all doing good. The kids got their first report cards yesterday and all came back pretty good. Grayson needs improvement on phonics and number recognition, but is doing SPLENDID in writing, bible, and socialization. He apparently is a bit of a class cut-up, and has gotten reprimanded a few times, but after a good talk tonight we hope to curb that and get him back on track! Aisley is doing great for her first time in a learning environment and besides being a bit of a talker-mainly with the boys-she is doing well. Her handwriting is improving, and my walls do show the progress. It's so nice to hear them arguing over which letters are which and who said it first, etc.! They don't have class Halloween parties, but we will be taking goodies for all their friends, and I am going to attempt to make a Pumpkin Cake for the festivities we'll be having at home. With the family coming in, we are going to have so much fun with Reagan and getting to take all 3 kids trick-or-treating! It should be really cute to see the Cowboy, Cowgirl and Cinderella walking down the street....Guess which one's mine are? Pa-pow-pow!

Let's Try This Out!

Well, our old family website that we had from way back finally expired and hadn't been updated in quite a while. So, this is a new thing to try and it looks like it just might work for our needs! This is called "blogging", repeat after me "b-l-o-g-g-i-n-g". Very good! For those of us that think that word is silly and sounds completely stupid, let's just call it our new online "journal". I will try to update this more frequently than the old website, and of course there will be plenty of pictures to look at on here, too! Once a week or so seems definitely do-able in my book to keep our friends and family up to speed on the happenings here in South Carolina. Some weeks will be just a little blurb, others will be a little book.... So, feel free to pass this link on to friends and family that you think may have some interest in our little lives.

Most everyone knows that Grayson and Aisley are now in school and are doing great! They are going to a wonderful little private Christian school about 23 miles from the house, and we LOVE it. The teachers, staff and everyone there has been wonderful and it is very evident that we are getting our money's worth! Grayson is in Kindergarten and has started to learn how to write in cursive----yes, cursive! He's doing absolutely fabulous with it, and brings home on average 3 to 5 "Writing Awards" every week. This boy has better cursive writing than Chad and I both, which is pretty darn crazy. Each week he learns a new Bible verse that starts with a different letter of the alphabet. We are now on the letter 'F' week and his memory is amazing. By the end of the school year he will know a different verse for each letter of the alphabet, writing in cursive, and we hope reading small things on his own.

Aisley is in Pre-Kindergarten (K-4) and is doing fantastic! Considering that the child has never been in a structured program for more than 3 weeks in her entire life, she is thriving. Every day I pick her up from school she is all smiles and gives me a full report of that day's happenings. She is making lots of friends, some of which she is no longer allowed to sit by since they tend to be a bit too chatty. Hey, at least she's making friends and is already becoming a Southern Socialite! She is learning how to write in print to get the basics down, and is doing really well. Our walls, furniture, books and just about anything else that can stand still long enough for a Crayon to touch it will witness to that! Each week or so she also has a small Bible verse to learn and she is also doing great with the memorization. She gets out of her class 2 1/2 hours before Grayson does, so she attends the after-school daycare program until he gets out to save me the added drive and gas money. It's working out great, and did I mention that we love this school?!

So, that's the quick summary of the past month or so with the happenings of the kids and school. They had pictures taken a couple weeks ago, so I'm sure they'll be coming home with the proofs soon. I can't wait to see them! Grayson had just lost his first tooth the night before (or maybe his 2nd...it's all a blur) so we told him to smile really big. And of course, this is Aisley's first time to get a school picture so I know it will be adorable. In the next post I'll give some fun details of our town's Shrimp Festival that was last week, and an update on our business ventures that seem to be taking off! For now, it's time to figure out what's for dinner, make sure the kids are picking the 100's of cars they have scattered everywhere, and make sure our 2 kittens are still alive and that Aisley isn't squeezing them to death. Yes, that's right, 2 kittens! Curse those people that leave poor innocent animals on the side of the road for suckers like me to save!!! They are on our screen porch for now until they get bigger, then we'll let them outside to have around the house and hopefully kill some of the snakes and mice around the property. Even though Chad says he can "take care" of them, I refuse to let these babies get killed at the hands of my cave-man husband! The kids are of course loving playing with them, and they are quite entertaining to watch, so they'll be here for a while I suppose....stay tuned....