Weblog
Wednesday, 28 October 2009
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Exciting news!
"Before I formed you in the womb I
knew you, before you were born I set
you apart."
Jeremiah 1:5
I know that most of my Xanga "friends" are also my Facebook "friends". But, I have a few readers who aren't on FB. So, this update is for you. :)
We are expecting Baby #3!!!
Yes, we are so happy and have "seen" the little Miracle inside me twice on the ultrasound screen. All looks well and things are going great. I'm only eight weeks along, early I know, but we had to tell. I mean, who can keep a secret like that when you have 24/7 morning sickness and live in the bathroom or on the sofa while at home. It was so bad this time that I went to see my doctor yesterday and got a prescription for Zofran, a medication to combat nausea. It has helped, although it wears off before I can take another dose. But, it has really made a difference for those several hours, especially first thing in the morning!
So, here he/she is!!!
At 6 weeks, 4 days
The boys are excited, well Jackson is anyway! He loves babies and had been praying that God would have a "baby in Heaven" for our family. :)
Due date: June 10, 2010
"For you created my inmost being; you
knit me together in my mother's womb. I
praise you because I am fearfully and
wonderfully made. Your works are wonderful.
All the days ordained for me were written in
your book before one of them came to be."
Psalms 139:13,14 & 16
Sunday, 11 October 2009
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Life at our house...
Fall is here and the month of October is half way through(well, almost)! It's hard to believe that Thanksgiving is just around the corner and the festivities of Christmas will be close to it's heels. I'm excited for the holidays!!
Kennedy will turn three in December... wow, my baby will be three!! Jackson is looking forward to having him move to the bunk beds and sharing a room with his little brother. I said that we will wait 'till Kennedy's three and maybe a little after. I'm in no hurry to get him out of his crib and the comfort & closeness of the nursery. But, they grow up and babies turn into big boys, at least mine surely have. :)
Kennedy is mostly potty trained. Well, we're still having issues with number "2", if you know what I mean. But, he stays dry all day and sometimes all night, too. I am not stressing at all... he'll get there!! He is still in the evaluation/meeting part of the speech therapy process. I think we have just one more meeting to talk about the help he needs and then he'll start the "real" sessions. He had one session at John Wayland Elementary where he went off with the speech therapist all by himself. I was so proud of him for not clinging to me and wanting to drag me along. He acted like such a big boy as he walked beside her down the long hallway... it was so cute to watch!!! :) I am anxious to get him started and watch(hear) the progress that I know he will make!!
Jackson is loving school!! He comes home with the cutest projects and fun stories to tell. He has learned about Ants, Bears, Camping, and Dinosaurs and goes around the house practicing those letter sounds and points them out in books, etc. I am very happy with the social skills he has acquired as well. He is a bit reserved when it comes to meeting strangers... children & adults. I can see such a change in him as he has broadened his world of friends and has let other adults(besides mom & dad) be in charge. And, yes, this mama has adjusted to(and enjoys) the early mornings, getting breakfast, dressing little boys, and heading out the door at 8:00 a.m. three days a week.
Now... a few pictures from the past several weeks.
Making potato chips with my family.
Kennedy enjoying the fresh chips!
Trying my hand at the frying.
Jackson helping "Grandmom" slice up the spuds.
Cute little Alana... Heidi & Anthony's baby girl.
The bathroom before Jackson and I grabbed the paintbrushes.
He sat on that little stool for 2 hours and had a great time painting.
Our freshly painted and updated bathroom!
Sunday afternoon on Skyline Drive.
A view of part of the Shenandoah Valley.
Looking the other direction into Greene County.
Somebody needs to go to bed. :)
My brother's produce stand in it's Fall splendor.
Autumn bake sale at Montezuma Produce.
Blessings to you this week and always...
~Connie Sue & family
Sunday, 20 September 2009
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Photo shoot
Wildwood Park Photo Shoot
I have two picture frames that set on a shelf in my dining room. They hold two photos... one of each of my little boys. But, they are outdated. By a year to be exact!! Now, I know that I have taken enough photos throughout the past year to put a new one in there each month. But, it just didn't happen that way and who orders a 5X7 size photo on a regular basis? Anyway, I thought that Wildwood Park in Bridgewater would be the perfect setting to a frame-worthy photo of my little guys.
Last Sunday evening was the perfect evening for a picnic and photography session in the park. I pre-warned the boys(mainly Jackson) ahead of time that I wanted to get some pictures of them. He is not into this photography thing his mom always does. :) I have a tough time getting a normal face from him. Thankfully Kennedy has recently been setting so cutely while saying, "Cheese, cheese" with the cutest look on his face. So, after some food and fun on the playground we went "hiking" in hopes of catching some impromptu photos as well as a few posed ones. They actually cooperated fairly well and I came home with more than enough pictures to fill my two frames.
So... here they are. Jackson even grabbed the camera to take a few of Bill & I. He loves to do it and almost turns the camera around too quickly as he happily shares with Bill and I the "good one" that's on the little window. :)
Random photos from the month of September... so far!
These two are inseparable!! While his little brother naps in the afternoons, Jackson is outside with his best pal, Checkers. It is so cute to see them play around... boy waving a stick or riding his bike and dog shadowing close behind or licking him for attention!! They will even lie down under a shade tree and rest. I seriously thought they were both asleep the other day... but then they both jumped up to find the next activity or cat to pester. :)
AutumnCharlotte L. Riser
When the trees their summer splendor
Change to raiment red and gold,
When the summer moon turns mellow,
And the nights are getting cold;
When the squirrels hide their acorns,
And the woodchucks disappear;
Then we know that it is autumn,
Loveliest season of the year.
Happy Fall!!! Enjoy the cooler temps and nights that are worthy of warm blankets and cups of hot chocolate. (I know, sounds like Winter... my favorite season and it's on its way my friends!!!) :)
Blessings, Connie Sue & family
Wednesday, 02 September 2009
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Jackson goes to school!
First day for Jackson...
Our little boy is growing up! To be honest, this mom has looked forward to his first day of school since he was born. Maybe the teacher in me is coming out and getting excited about this learning process, experience, journey that we embarked on today. It's true that I never thought that I would send him off at the young age of 4 1/2. But, here we are... parents of a child in school!! :)
He is in Pre-K at Blue Ridge Christian School in Bridgewater. Bill's three youngest siblings attended there as elementary students. We don't know yet if we will continue his education at this particular private school. But, it is very reputable as a Christian school and a Christian-based education is at the top of the list to further our childrens' social, academic, and most importantly spiritual growth. And, since most private schools don't offer transportation... the fact that it is a seven minute drive from home is a wonderful bonus!!!
So when I opened the door to a certain little boy's room this morning at 7:15, he rolled out of bed very excited and with no hesitation for his first day(morning) at school. (His schedule is three mornings a week from 8:30 - 11:20.) I had asked him the evening before what he wanted for breakfast that next morning. He could have asked for pancakes, bacon, an egg sandwich, cold cereal, etc.... you name it and I would have made it for him. But, he wanted a bowl of Quaker apple cinnamon oatmeal and a miniature bagel with cream cheese. "Breakfast of champions"... I mean first time preschoolers!! :)
After a shower(yes, he chose to shower in the morning before school; must get that from his mom), getting dressed in his new striped blue and white shirt, jeans, and shiny white sneakers, and throwing his red backpack across his shoulders like any seasoned scholar would do, we headed out the door. And, yes, we were on time and even little brother Kennedy was dressed, hair combed, Cheerios eaten, and ready to go!!
I still wasn't 100% positive that the rest of the morning would go without a hitch. We had tried to prepare him the past several weeks about school and how we would be leaving him there. He would always ask me, "How long 'till you come pick me up?" He was just making sure that we indeed would come back to bring him home again!!
After arriving, he excitedly showed Kennedy around his classroom. I almost think that Kennedy would have stayed there if given the chance. Now, that would have caused this mama to cry for sure. :) He happily posed for a few more pictures and after a hug for little brother and a kiss for mama... we were gone and he stayed there with a smile on his face!!!
I'll admit, although I didn't shed a tear from my eyes, there was a *lump and tear* in my heart as I buckled a lone little two year into the car and started for home. Kennedy was quiet the entire seven minutes to the house. Hmm... I wondered what he was thinking all alone in the backseat!!
Nearly three hours later, I buckled an excited Kennedy into his seat and we headed back the seven minute drive to pick up his big brother from school. I was looking forward to getting him, too. I was anxiously waiting to hear how things went and what stories my little 4 1/2 year old had to tell. He had a huge smile on his face as Mrs. Heatwole handed him over to me in the carpool line. I was greeted with a big hug and lots of jabber about animal crackers and peaches for snack, finger painting and how he couldn't bring his picture home today because it had to dry, and how they played outdoors on the "small" play area because the "big" one was for the older children. :)
And now for the traditional "first day of school" pictures...
Friday, 21 August 2009
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Hot August...
I am so ready for Fall!! These past two weeks have been so hot! The other day it was 101* and I decided to wait to get some garden work done after the boys' naps and after it cooled down. Well, at 5:45 in the evening, it was still 95* out there. So much for cooling down! That's when I officially decided that I was ready for Fall with it's much cooler mornings and evenings. :) Winter is really my favorite season, but Fall will definitely do until it arrives. I can deal with the heat if I'm in A/C or if I'm sitting by(or swimming in) a pool.
I'm not complaining and I'll be the first to admit that I am very anxious for warmer weather and outdoor activities when March rolls around. I guess that's the great part about living in a four season zone... we are always ready for what comes next but never satisfied to stay in the current one for too long! ;)
Our August has been full of the usual "end-of-Summer" work and activities. Mowing, gardening, freezing, canning, swimming... all in a weeks work and play. We are happy, healthy, and blessed beyond. The boys and I are still enjoying gathering the harvest from the garden and are still anticipating and watching things grow. I got my watermelon and cantaloupes planted a little late this year. The fruit is clinging to the vine, growing each day, and being eyed and pestered by two little boys who can't wait to bite into their juicy goodness!
Jackson with a "growing" watermelon.
Kennedy with his "pepper" binoculars. :)
Corn day with my boys. We did 2 1/2 bushels that day and I hope to get that much more yet for my freezer. The boys were pretty good helpers... I finally had to "chase" them out of the kitchen or we would have been cutting off corn all week!!
Pool time!!!
Kennedy's content to play at the water's edge and just gets in when "mama" holds him. :)
Jackson had just jumped in... the little fish! He's learned to swim under-water, he still uses arm floaties though. But, he's so proud and wants everyone to "watch" as he goes underwater and "touches the bottom". :)
They were eating lunch on the diving board. I loved how they were all lined up. Kennedy,Jackson, and cousins Antonia(6), and Cheyenne(7)
Making applesauce at Grandmom's.
Kennedy's just practicing here. :) He had to wear an apron like all the rest of us. So cute!!!
Boxes all ready for my freezer!!
Jackson decided to wash the kitchen windows with pool water. Yes, they need to be washed again! But, how could I not let him have some water fun on a hot afternoon? :)
My family held a surprise Open-house for my dad's 60th birthday at the beginning of the month. My sisters, Sil's, and I had fun planning, inviting guests, and decorating the Montezuma Ruritan Hall for the occasion. We decorated with a John Deere theme... what else do you use for a farmer who drives green tractors??? It was fun to have the family all together and we surprised dad(for the most part). :)
Now for some pictures from that fun, Sunday afternoon!
Dad & Mom with the three birthday cakes we had made for Dad's special day.
Some of our decorations...
I made this collage poster of old(and recent) pictures of Dad. It was so much fun to reminisce as I placed and labeled the photos. Oh... the precious memories of back in the "good 'ole days" of childhood!! Him and mom really enjoyed it and it was a conversation piece the whole afternoon as friends and relatives talked about dad's life!
Dad & Mom(Allen & Eva Showalter)
My family! I'm so happy for this picture and will treasure it always!
The "first" set of three children... Rodney(37), Gloria(36), and Cheryl(34).
The "second" set of three children... Connie Sue(30), Randy(29), and Janessa(22).
All of my brothers and sisters!!
Jackson holding baby Amara(Cheryl's), the newest member of the Showalter family!
We gave dad(and mom) and deep-sea fishing trip as a birthday gift from us children. Plans are to go the end of October. He was very pleased and we are all excited for that experience. I'll admit it though, I'm a little scared and have a bad feeling about getting sick!! =Z
We have enjoyed God's handiwork displayed in three lovely rainbows the past two days. Actually, you could say we had 5 rainbows because two were doubles. The first one was when we were at Dad & Mom's. My mom and I climbed on the shop roof, in the rain, to snap photos of the beautiful bow that arched across the evening sky. :) I wish somehow I could have gotten a picture of us as we struggled to keep our footing on the slippery metal roof. :) Anyway... we captured the rainbow and have some pretty pictures to show for our craziness.
It was the brightest rainbow we had ever seen!!
Bill and the boys in front of the second rainbow.
Meet Checkers... our new 2 year old female black lab! The boys are LOVING her!!
All three of my "boys" with their new pet!
Just a few more photos of a fun evening by the Shenandoah River. A young man from Church was baptized that evening. After a picnic by the river's edge, the boys and some of the youth from church, decided to go wading. How could you say "No" to a 4 1/2 year old who wanted to do as the "big children" did? Jackson was totally soaked and thankfully I had brought along pj's for the late ride home.
Blessings to you as you serve God this weekend and through-out the coming weeks. Take care... Connie Sue & family
Saturday, 01 August 2009
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July happenings...
Where has the past month gone?
The Summer is truly almost over!! I can now say "that" as a mother of a child heading to school next month. Jackson is enrolled in Pre-K at Blue Ridge Christian School. I am very excited and he is looking forward to it as well. He will go just three mornings a week from 8:30-11:20.
He wonders... "Are you taking just me to school?" "Yes", I reply, "Kennedy is not old enough for preschool".
"Are you going to leave me there?" "Yes."
"Are you going to come back and pick me up?", he then asks. "Yes, we'll come get you before lunch time."
He will also go to John Wayland for an "after-school" speech therapy program. He was evaluated when Kennedy was(more about that in a minute) and we have decided to get him some "help" before he gets into Kindergarten and starts learning to read. He just says a few of his consonants incorrectly, which throws off a lot of words and makes it difficult for people around him to understand what he's saying. We were told that it can be easily remedied with a little extra tutoring.
Kennedy, on the other hand, has been "diagnosed" with a speech delay. He is a little over 2 1/2 and has a very limited vocabulary. So, he will start speech therapy soon. We are waiting for a call next week to schedule his first session. In the meantime, we get by with gestures, pointing, and hand signals. It can get frustrating at times for him, Bill, and me as we try to communicate and figure out what he wants. It works best when we just take his hand and ask him to show us what he wants.
He has just started to mimic us, which is a major step in speech development. Today Jackson was doing something that he wasn't supposed to be doing. I admonished him with a "No sir, you are not allowed to....!" Kennedy then said, "No sir, no sir!" I repeated it again to be sure that he really said that, and again he mimicked, "No sir!". I was very proud of him!! :)
He is old enough to get into the public school system, which is state paid. For that we are thankful. Early infant and toddler therapy can cost up to $95.00 per hour(before insurance)!!!
So, between Jackson's schooling and Kennedy's therapy sessions, I will be kept busy this Fall & Winter. I am very thankful that we live close to both schools and won't have to spend a lot of time on the road.
Now for some photos to finish out the post... :)
Bridgewater Antique Car and Tractor parade... a highlight of every Summer!
Enjoying ice cream cones on a hot day!
Loving on Shadow... the poor cat doesn't have a chance sometimes. :)
New car... room for several more in there. ;)
Date night for my hubby's birthday at Red Lobster. This is my new "Favorite place to eat"!!! Those coconut shrimp and snow crab legs are divine!!
Celebrating 31 years of Bill's life... July 23, 2009!!
Have a blessed month!!
~Connie Sue & family
Sunday, 26 July 2009
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Vacation Finale
Final pictures from our vacation...
The last two days were filled with more fun in the sun, lazy hours by the pool, yummy dinners grilled on the deck, and family volleyball games in the sand!
We rented a pontoon boat one day and had an enjoyable ride, along with a picnic eaten at an abandoned dock. Bill had some business back home to take care of that day, so our boat pictures are without him. We did take a ride after dark that evening and the boys were glad to have "dad" along for that voyage. I was so happy the boys loved the boat and very impressed that they were not bothered by the confines of their life vests for several hours straight!
Kennedy had fun with Uncle Justin!
Final photo shoot on going home day....
And... one more picture of the whole gang at the lake this year!! Bill's cousin, Chris, was also there the whole week. I'm not sure where he was when this picture was taken. His Grandmother Julia use to go, but because of health issues and older age, she hasn't gone along the last couple of years. We do miss her when we are there!!!!!
(Most) of the Billy Rhodes family!!!
Thanks for stopping by and hope you enjoyed following along with our week at Smith Mountain Lake. Have a great week! Blessings, Connie Sue & family
Thursday, 23 July 2009
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Happy Birthday, Bill!
Celebrating Bill's life of 31 years!
Happy Birthday to him!!!
Friday, 17 July 2009
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SML ~ Day 2
Day 2!
Sunday~ We awoke that first morning at the lake to cloudy skies and rain. Some of us went to a local Christian church and the rest stayed at the condo and read Bible stories to the children. We also watched a Noah's Ark video that Grandma had brought along for the little ones to watch.
Since it rained nearly all day and was damp and cool the rest of the day... we just stayed indoors, played games, watched movies, took naps, etc. We did go to the indoor pool and hot tub for a while. The children enjoyed being able to swim even though it was raining outdoors.
Later in the afternoon, Jackson talked me into taking him out on the water for a jet ski ride. :)
Thankfully we didn't get wet or we would have been very cold!!
Doing some indoor fishing on a rainy day.
Day 3!
Monday~ Today dawned a cloudy morning, but the rain was gone. As the clouds broke and the sun started shining through, the boys(and I) wanted to head to the pool. So, we dressed for the water and headed off to the pool. It's a short drive from our condo or a perfect distance for a bike ride and/or hike. We chose the latter. Jackson strapped on his helmet, hopped on his bike, and Kennedy took Daddy's hand... off we were.
Jackson's newest adventure this year was jumping off the diving board! He was so pleased with himself and honestly, I was surprised at his bravery. :)
I love sailboats... there's just something peaceful about them.
Daddy and Kennedy spending a relaxing evening on the dock.
...more to come!
Sunday, 12 July 2009
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SML ~ 2009
Smith Mountain Lake ~ 2009
Day 1
Saturday, July 4: We had counted down the days all week, and the day had finally arrived! The Rhodes family was headed to the lake for our yearly family vacation. Jackson and Kennedy awoke that morning happy to announce that today was "the day". We had also been packing all week and the pile in the corner of the living room was ready to be transferred to the back of the truck. After last minute packing and checking the lists twice or maybe three or four times, we were ready to go! Off to the lake......
A full truck bed. I tried to pack light, but you know how that goes. :)
Belted in and ready to go! The boys traveled so well... between naps to take up almost an hour of travel time and their kangaroo backpacks filled with "goodies" to occupy the remainder of the trip.
We have about a 2- 2 1/2 hour drive to the lake. The boys fell asleep pretty quickly since it was about nap time 'till we got left. After they awoke, we stopped at Mc. Donald's for a mid-afternoon "snack". It didn't take us long to reach the lake with excitement building as we caught glimpses of the water. Squeals of delight came from the back seat as we crossed the bridge and saw boats and jet skis on the lake.
We were pulling the two jet skis that Bill's parents own, so we had to make a stop at the nearby boat ramp before heading to the condo. The boys got out and enjoyed sticking their toes in the water while waiting for Aunt Julie & Uncle Casey to unload the jet skis.
Next we went to the condo... shared by the whole family... and found a room not taken to claim as our own for the week. We unpacked and I set up the pack-n-play in one corner for Kennedy and made Jackson a "nest" with his sleeping bag in another. :) The room was also furnished with twin beds which we shoved together to make into a full-size bed for us. Try sleeping on a crack all week... not too comfortable!!
We had the basement room, which has no windows. So, we never really knew if it was night or day while down there. It worked out pretty well in the mornings, though. The boys slept in later than usual because the room was dark until we turned on the lights. I did like that part. :) It was also the coolest place in the house and if you know me.... then you know I was happy. I'll admit though, it did get a little chilly 'till morning time and I made sure the boys stayed well-covered all night.
The first day was the fourth, so we grilled burgers and dogs for dinner. After eating we took a bike ride with the children and waited for nightfall and the firework display that lights up the sky over the waters of the lake. We sat on the grassy hill in front of our condo and had a perfect view of the hundreds of boats as they came from all over the lake and gathered in front of where the fireworks would later be. As it grew darker, the boats with their little red and green lights lit up the lake. I have no pictures of all the boats, so you'll just have to imagine hundreds of lights bobbing on the waters of the lake.
Soon it was dark enough for fireworks. By this time the children were getting a little restless and impatient. So, we were happy to relax and enjoy the show!
Bill and I celebrating another Fourth at the lake.
Daddy and a very happy Kennedy!
Jackson relaxing on the blanket while waiting for the fireworks to start.
Kennedy had fun gathering up empty mugs and trying to catch the last swallows of remaining coffee. Yes, "they" were drinking coffee on a hot, July evening!!!!
Don't you love his patriotic pajamas? :)
The "Grand Finale"!!!
And... so ended the first day of vacation! Stay tuned for more... although it may be several days. I have a lot of catch-up work to do around here this week. Although we need the rain, the fact that it was dry last week did keep the weeds from taking over my garden. But, I still need to get out there to hoe the corn rows and tie up the tomatoes. So, I will return to fill you in on more of our time spent at the lake at a later date and time. :)
Have a blessed Monday!!! ~Connie Sue & family
Pulse
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"If God is for us, who can be against us?"
billandconnier
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- Name: Connie Sue
- Country: United States
- State: Virginia
- Metro: Charlottesville
- Birthday: 2/19/1979
- Gender: Female
- Member Since: 1/15/2008
About Me
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I am first and foremost a Christian. Without Jesus in my life, I wouldn't be where I am today! He has blessed me so much! I have a loving husband who is also a wonderful dad to our two boys. We've been married for 5 years.(May 22, 2004) Our firstborn is William "Jackson" III. He was named after his dad and Bill's late Grandfather. His birth date is March 17, 2005. He is very independent, loves to ride bike, and following his dad. He is his little brother's protector. Kennedy Michael was given to us 21 months later. His birth date is December 15, 2006. He is a smiley, happy boy who loves his tractors, runs for dad to get him when he comes home from work, and adores his big brother.
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