September Referrals

September referrals are out. They include LIDs July 23-August 9, 2005. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, that's August! Referrals have finally gone into August. First, let me send a congratulations to all of those who have been waiting forever to see their children's faces and now have. That includes 38 families using CCAI as their agency. How exciting!!!
Second, let me just say that with a LID of September 12, we are a mere 34 days away from the cut off date for this month! Now that seems like progress to me. If the CCAA continues to refer 18 days, that would give us our referral in November. That said, I'm not holding my breath. August 24 is a really big LID. Meaning that there are a lot of people logged in on that day. We all know that there has been as little as 5 days referred recently. It really is anybody's guess. But I'm very happy to know that we're finally into August. Congrats again you lucky families.!!
 

Thank You Secret Pal!!!

As this great secret pal exchange comes to an end, our secret pal pulls out all the stops and sends this mother load of gifts.

We love everything. The books are really cool with little stiff spongy critters and things that pop out to reveal some other critter and things underneath...kinda like a puzzle. Tons of scrapbook stickers that I'll be using to create wonderful pages about our girly. That awesome "color wonder" messless finger paint and paper will be a hit around here. And some fall cookie cutters and Wilton sprinkles to decorate the cookies with. Also, the really, really cute good luck ladybug.

We just love all of your thoughtfulness throughout this long, long wait. We have looked forward to your gifts every month. And without fail you have come through with flying colors. We feel so fortunate to have you as our secret pals. We understand that some in our group have not been so fortunate with their secret pal and we are so glad to have you. We can't wait to find out who has been so kind to us next month.
Thank you again!
It was nearly impossible to get these pictures of our great gifts. We still haven't replaced our camera and the old one is crap. Here is an example of what the pics usually look like with the old cyber-shot.

I took 26 pictures to get the two decent ones above. I say decent because If you could see them closely they're pretty much crap too.

Happy Birthday Danielle!!

Another beauty steps into The world of adulthood. Happy birthday to you Daniell! We love you and hope you have a great day today!
 

Back to the OBX

We went back to the OBX last week to celebrate our 9 year wedding anniversary and to take the sting out of our 1 year LID anniversary the day before our wedding anniversary. We traveled all day on the LID anniversary so we really didn't think about it too much. We went to Judy's and spent the night then got up early and were looking at the coast by 8 am. It was sunny and warm and that was the end of the good weather. This picture of the sun is the most sun we saw the rest of the week until, of course, on Sunday when we got up to leave. Most evenings we did catch a sunset right in our back yard. Lack of sun aside, we had a great time. We ferried over to Ocracoke for the first time and went to Manteo. And we enjoyed the heck out of the hot tub and some great food. The mosquitoes were vicious. Mike looks like he has chicken pox. This was our last scheduled vacation for the summer. Now I guess we'll be looking forward to a trip to Clemson for a football game and a couple of camping trips in October. I'd like to say we're looking forward to a referral but who knows when that will happen. We are looking forward to the baby girl's shower also in October, but I feel kind of silly about it since we don't know a thing about miss girl.
 

9 Wonderful Years and Counting

Happy Anniversary to us today!! I am so happy to spend this special day at a special place. We're in the OBX. The weather could be better but a rainy day at the beach is better than any day at work!! I love you my sweet honey...more and more as the days roll by! You are my one and only true love!!!
Sorry for the crappy pic. We still haven't replaced the digital.
 

Stickers

These are the super cute scrapbook stickers. If you're interested don't put you address in the comments as this is a public blog.
 

Congratulations Emily and Jared!!

It was a warm and sunny day at the Lionheart Chateau. The perfect day for a wedding. Emily looked beautiful as always and Jared just as dapper as could be. It was a good time and we love you and we wish you the best.
The old Sony didn't hold up so I don't have any digital pics to share so you'll have to take my word for it. It was a gorgeous wedding!
 

Come In To My Parlor

I broke out the old Sony Cyber-Shot this morning because I am dying without a camera. It actually took some ok pictures of this spider in her web. Emily and Jared's wedding is tomorrow so we'll see if it can keep up with the good pics tomorrow. I'll take the old 35mm Minolta just in case.
For anyone who has been keeping up with the property issue we've been having with our Aunts, it all came to a bitter end yesterday on the Kanawha County Court House steps. Was it ever a show in ignorance and arrogance on behalf of my cousins who by the way, have no part in it at all until their mothers kick the bucket which must be what they were holding out for. Shame shame... If you will recall, we have tried every way possible to settle this nebulous 130 acre land dispute. Including offering to buy their part, sell them our part and having it surveyed and divided and they would not take any of those options. It is useless land undivided, unless of course we would like to build a commune. Apparently the heavy Virginia and Georgia Reds are not very communal(if you think WVnians are red, you should have been there yesterday). If it weren't for the fact that I grew up on that property and it has been in our now defunct extended family for more than 50 years, I would be laughing serious belly laughs at the display and occurrences yesterday. Instead I snigger occasionally and say good by to my, our homeplace. Pretty ironic that within the past month, at least half of my direct family has laid eyes and feet on that piece of land. I would guess that it has been more than 30 years since any of the others have done the same. What means more to you? Good riddance to bad rubbish, I say. And I don't mean the property!
On another front. No news about baby girl. We did go to Target last week and register in the store. That was a ton of fun. It was like shopping without buying a thing. I also went to Toys-R-Us to register. It's really hard to guess at sizes for this girl. Even what season has become anyone's guess. I don't put much stock in rumors but I can't help but check in on the Rumor Queen site occasionally. She has rumors now that referrals will go to August 18. That would really put us close:) Earlier in the month though, the rumor was not even finishing up July:( And so we wait. What's new huh?