2007
Jan – We had a light snow (Elise’s first!), and hurried out to enjoy it before it melted. Celebrated James’ 31st birthday.
Jan – We had a light snow (Elise’s first!), and hurried out to enjoy it before it melted. Celebrated James’ 31st birthday.
Feb – Leah had her first ballet recital, dancing to L-O-V-E by Nat King Cole. Shortly thereafter, we agreed gymnastics is more her style, at least for now.
Mar – After toying with the idea for some time and trying out the most unfriendly pair of shelter cats, we brought home two tabby kittens as friends for Sox and Gandalf (yeah right). Just under a year old, this brother and sister were (and are) the most friendly and playful cats we’ve ever met. Leah named them Poppy and Pete after a pair of foxes in one of her favorite movies.
Apr – Elise celebrated her 1st birthday right before Easter. She daintily poked at her cake with a spoon, then declared she was ready to move on to presents. Later that month, Elise became the youngest visitor to the farm in at least 20 years. It got very cold that night, and unfortunately, the heater in the camper went out so we froze our tails off.
May – I helped throw a baby shower for my friend Kate who was expecting triplets (see July). No fertility drugs, no family history, and she had a daughter who was a year old. My mother’s parents (Leah and Elise’s “Mimi and Dee”) celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary. The whole family came in for a formal portrait and fancy dinner to celebrate this diamond anniversary. 
June – Still in party mode, I was a hostess for my long-time friend Kristen’s baby shower in Birmingham. What a belly! Celebrated Father's Day.
July – July was the month for babies. Among my close friends, there was one on the 16th, three on the 20th (Fish Fry day!), and one on the 31st , for which I had the honor of being present.
Aug – After March’s early warm spell and April’s brutal killing frost, my garden still managed to put on a decent show in late Summer. Installed in 2004, it is starting to really fill in, and remains a work in progress. We found a house we liked and had a contract contingent on the sale of our house. We lost the contract but kept the house up for sale.
Sept – We were all glad when it was time to go back to school. Leah started Pre-K at our church’s excellent preschool program. She has an amazing teacher and lots of friends, both old and new.
Oct – We celebrated Leah’s 5th birthday with a party at My Gym that has yet to be topped. The next weekend we took a family trip to Chattanooga to see the Tennessee Aquarium. We also did the children’s museum and Coolidge Park. Although it was a whirlwind trip, we all look forward to going back. For Halloween, Leah dressed up as Snow White (she’s very big into princesses), and Elise was a monkey (true to her personality, plus she’s a big Curious George fan). Daniel was in town, so he got to experience one of the most fun nights of the year for our neighborhood.
Nov –I hit the big 3-0 with little drama. James and I had a double date with some friends and went to dinner and the symphony. Our playgroup celebrated a “month of thanks,” engaging the kids in a different service project every week as a way of giving thanks for our many blessings. They visited with residents at a nursing home in their Halloween costumes and delivered pumpkin centerpieces, planted 500 bulbs at the church, bagged food at the animal shelter and made cat toys, and collected almost 100 pairs of shoes for Soles4Soles. It’s hard to say if the children or the moms enjoyed it more! We took another trip to the farm, this time only as a day trip. Leah loved being an explorer and collecting neat rocks, leaves, cow bones, and turkey feathers, and Elise spent her time pointing and squealing at the cows. It’s great having kids who are easily entertained!
Dec – After the sad passing of my parents’ border collie, Charlie, they adopted a border collie/collie mix whom they have named Rose. Though she’s the size of Lassie and as docile as can be, Rose is still a one-year-old puppy on the inside. The girls love her and she loves them. Now that Leah and Elise are older, we were able to introduce them to some of the fun pre-Christmas events going on in Nashville. My Dad came with us to “A Walk Through Bethlehem,” presented by a local church. There were real animals and costumed characters. Leah made a rag doll, bread, an oil lamp and a wool bracelet. We saw olives and grapes pressed, and tasted nuts and honey in the marketplace. In sharp contrast to the portrayal of Biblical times, we spent an evening exploring the Opryland Hotel and admiring all the decorations there. The girls especially loved the dancing waters show. We visited Huntsville to have Christmas with James’ family. The girls loved being with their cousins! Christmas Eve was the children’s worship service at church where they pick a costume and help tell the Christmas story. Leah was an angel (for the 4th year in a row), and Elise shunned her cow costume, preferring to watch from the sidelines and then from the altar rail. Christmas day was relaxed and easy with lots of playing, sleeping, and eating.
2008
Jan – It’s been bitterly cold outside for weeks, so we haven’t been out much. Daniel and Allison came for a visit and brought their Papillion, Chewy (Elise calls him “choo-choo”), whom everyone adores. We decided to take our house off the market for several reasons and are happy to be living in our own home again.
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