The Ganns

Asheboro Zoo

2008-09-30T20:26:00.000-07:00

The kids had a teacher workday today so we decided to get out of the house and enjoy the zoo. Our North Carolina zoo is in Asheboro (http://www.nczoo.org/), which is about an hour and a half from our house. It's quite a drive but it is well worth it. The zoo is so nice. It is set on 500 wooded acres and all of the exhibits are natural habitats. It is also at the foothills of the Uwharrie Mountains so the scenery is beautiful. The zoo wasn't crowded at all and it was a nice day. The kids had a great time and we even got to see the gorilla feeding!

Erin's Birthday Party

2008-09-27T14:21:00.000-07:00

Erin the birthday girl!

James and Lilly had a birthday party to go to today. It was our friend Erin's 5th birthday. The kids made crafts, ate cake and ice cream, and played outside. They had a great time at the party. Lilly especially loved the fairy theme!

Spaghetti Dinner

2008-09-25T14:18:00.000-07:00

We had a spaghetti dinner tonight at Lilly's school. It was nice to not have to worry about what was for dinner one night and not have to clean up the dishes! Everyone enjoyed it, as seen by Lilly's picture above!

Sweden

2008-09-22T14:12:00.000-07:00

Swedish Flag

Todd left for Sweden again this morning. He will be gone for a week. It's bound to be a long week with little sleep! I will be driving Trevor to school everyday, which means leaving the house by 6:30 AM. I am already dreading it!

Wedding

2008-09-21T23:05:00.000-07:00

A friend of Todd's, Anthony, got married today. The wedding was an evening wedding at the Daniel Stowe Botanical Gardens (http://www.dsbg.org/index.php). The gardens are beautiful and they also have an Orchid Conservatory with thousands and thousands of butterflies. Dinner, drinks, dessert, and dancing followed the wedding. We had a nice time and enjoyed some time with each other.

Are you ready for some football?

2008-09-20T14:00:00.000-07:00

James has always loved football and wanted to do everything that Trevor does. He is finally old enough to play a little football, although it is only flag! He has been excited since we signed up and today was his first practice. I hope he understands the concepts of the flags!!

Fall Ball

2008-09-08T19:06:00.000-07:00

This time of year not only brings new school years, season changes, and cooler weather. It's also time for some fall ball. Trevor's fall baseball games started this week and we were excited to begin a new season.

Blues, Brews, and BBQ

2008-09-06T22:50:00.000-07:00

There is an annual event in Charlotte called Blues, Brews, and BBQ. It is held in uptown and several blocks are closed off during the event. There is a BBQ cook-off, lots of vendors, pig races, and musical performances. The event starts Friday at lunchtime and ends on Sunday afternoon. We decided to check it out and see what it was all about. The streets were pretty crowded, so there wasn't much running around for the kids. They did enjoy watching the pig races. James and Lilly really got a laugh out of that. The bands sounded good and the food was excellent. How can you go wrong with blues, brews, and bbq??

And the picture is actually really disgusting. This pig head was sitting out on one of the smokers! The kids were not interested in taking a look at it!

Nana's Makeup

2008-09-06T18:42:00.000-07:00

Lilly loves to get into Nana's bathroom and go through all of her makeup. She pretends she is putting her contacts in and says that she's "putting her eyes on". She always gets into the lipstick and says that she's "putting her lips on". This morning, she came down stairs looking like this! You just can't help but love her!

Lilly's Haircut

2008-09-05T18:58:00.000-07:00

Before

After

I took Lilly today to get her hair trimmed. This was only the second time that she has been to get a hair cut. Her hair is so thin and fine that it just looks messy all of the time. I didn't get much cut, but it looks alot better!

Trevor's Birthday Celebration

2008-09-02T22:44:00.000-07:00

Trevor's favorite "nice" restaurant is The Melting Pot (http://www.meltingpot.com/). The Melting Pot is a fondue restaurant where you cook your food at your table and have a variety of foods, sauces, dippers, etc. to choose from. We started out with a cheese fondue, followed by a salad. Next came the main course of shrimp, salmon, steak, and chicken with all the veggies you could ask for. If that wasn't enough, we had the chocolate fondue to wrap it up. They even put a candle in the plate of food that you dipped in the chocolate (which consisted of cheesecake, strawberries, bananas, brownies....etc!) The dinner was quite long, a little over 2 hours, but the kids enjoyed every minute of it. This was James and Lilly's first experience with fondue. They did very well considering it took us so long. This was Trevor's night and he had a great one. Although dinner was great, he couldn't wait to get back home to open his gifts.

Happy Birthday, Trevor!

2008-09-02T18:38:00.000-07:00

Trevor and I at Henry's Fork River

Last Chance, Idaho

picture taken July 2007

Twelve years ago today, I gave birth to my first born son. I cannot believe that he is twelve years old. Where does time go? I couldn't be more proud of my son and all that he has become. He is strong, brave, smart, active, caring, sensitive, athletic, loving, and beautiful. I can remember when he was a newborn, the first time I saw him. He has touched my heart in a way that no one else can.

Good-Bye Grandma

2008-09-02T18:34:00.000-07:00

Grandma left this morning going back home. Mom dropped her off at the bus stop and she was on her way. We had such a great time during her visit. It was so nice to have her in my home and be a part of our day to day lives. My Grandma is very special to me and we share a strong bond and many memories that will last us a lifetime. I feel very lucky to have her in my life and can't wait until she can come for another visit!

Old Salem

2008-09-01T18:19:00.000-07:00

This was the last full day of Grandma's visit and I wanted to make the most out of it. We have been talking about going to Old Salem (http://www.oldsalem.com/) but we've never gotten around to it. Grandma visited there a while back (about 10 plus years) and said that she would love to go again. Old Salem is located in Winston-Salem and it is about an hour from our house. We packed up the car and left on our journey. We ate lunch at the Village Tavern and had their house speciality, the chicken pie. After lunch, we walked through the town and toured the houses and museums. We finally made our way to the bakery where we stopped for a treat (of course!). The kids were so good the entire day. Trevor is quite interested in the history and enjoyed it the most. James and Lilly really could have cared less, but they have a good time anywhere they go! We had a wonderful time. The weather was perfect, the crowds were small, and the smiles were big. This is a day that we will all cherish for a long, long time.

Boating with Grandma

2008-08-31T12:39:00.000-07:00

This morning we woke up and decided to take Grandma on the boat for a grand tour of Lake Norman. It was forecasted to be a beautiful day and we wanted to take full advantage of it. I wasn't sure how Grandma would feel about going boating or if she would even want to try it. Sometimes it is a little unnerving being on the boat for hours on end with 3 kids! She was game, so we decided to go for it! What a wonderful time we had. She was able to get a tour of the lake, see the kids swim and jump off of the boat, watch Todd and Trevor wakeboard, and witness me driving the boat (scary, I know!). I made us lunch to take in the cooler and while the kids took a swim break, we all ate lunch. We had tons of laughs and smiles and she had a great time experiencing all of these things with our family. Our day was perfect!

Lazy 5 Ranch

2008-08-30T15:00:00.000-07:00

After a vote this morning on what to do, the Lazy 5 Ranch won out. The Lazy 5 is a kid favorite and we can never go wrong going there! Grandma Phipps was very interested in watching the animals, but she didn't want any part of feeding them. In fact, she wouldn't even roll her window down...at all! She had a good time and we all had a lot of laughs. After our drive through the safari, we stopped by the snack bar for some cold water while we watched the kids play on the playground.

Billy Graham Library

2008-08-29T14:53:00.000-07:00

Billy Graham's homeplace

The Billy Graham Library

Grandma eating lunch at the
Dairy Bar

Grandma and I dropped James off at school this morning and then we headed over to the Billy Graham Library (http://www.billygraham.org/BGlibrary_Index.ASP). The Billy Graham Library invites visitors to follow a flowing exhibit that chronicles Billy Graham’s journey from being a farm boy from North Carolina to a well known public figure that preached and ministered in arenas in the world’s largest cities. After our interactive tour, we stopped by the Dairy Bar for a chicken salad sandwich and some sweet tea. We finished just in time to pick James up from school. After we left James' school, we made our way over to Trevor's school to pick him up. Once we got back home, the kids were ready to do something (of course). James and Lilly suggested that we go to the pool. So, the pool it was. Grandma enjoys the pool just about as much as we do. She was delighted to go to the pool with us. She enjoyed watching the kids swim around like little fish. She said that they remind her of me when I was little. A love for the water! What a nice day. It was good to spend one on one time with my Grandma!

Grandma Phipps

2008-08-28T22:42:00.000-07:00

Grandma Phipps

Niagara On The Lake,

Ontario, Canada

Photo taken 8/2007

I have always been close to my Grandma, but as time goes on and I get older, that bond grows stronger and stronger. I enjoy spending time with my Grandma and she is one of the most amazing people that I know. Last year, we spent our birthdays together in Canada, but this year we weren't so lucky. Grandma has only been to my house once and when she was here, we were flying out for our trip and she didn't have time to see our community and spend quality time with my children. I decided to buy her a ticket to Charlotte this year for her birthday and have her spend some time in our home. Grandma Phipps arrived in Charlotte this evening and is spending the long weekend with us. She said that she would rather ride the bus than fly, so Greyhound it was! We actually had to go to Trevor's school for Open House tonight, so Mom, James, and Lilly were here welcoming committee and taxi home this evening. I am so glad that she took me up on my offer to visit. She is use to living alone in a quiet house, going to bed early, waking up early, and just doing things at her leisure. Staying in our home with 6 other people and 2 dogs is going to be way out of her norm. I just hope that after spending 5 days with us, she doesn't regret it! :)

James' First Day of School

2008-08-28T14:20:00.000-07:00

Today was James' first day of school. I could tell that he was a little nervous when I dropped him off but he didn't put up a fuss. I, on the other hand, was a bit teary eyed on the way back to the car. I couldn't help myself. James and I have such a strong, strong bond that is deeper than words can ever express. I know that all mothers feel a bond with their children, and I do with my other two. But the bond that I have with James is just different. I don't want to say that it is deeper or more special than my other children, because it is not. The only thing that I can say with it's regards are that it is just different. When I returned to the school to pick him up, he had just eaten lunch. His teacher said that he had a great day and adjusted well to the classroom setting. I could tell that he was happy to see me. He had a huge grin on his face! When we got in the car, he wouldn't stop talking. His mind was working overtime to tell me about every detail of his day. He told me all about the classroom, class rules, and going to lunch. Lunch is a big thing for him. He remembers going to eat lunch with Trevor when he was in Torrence Creek. His cafeteria is similar and he really thinks that he's something! It is such a relief to see him excited about going to school. I am looking forward to this school year with him and watching him grow.

School decision

2008-08-26T13:29:00.000-07:00

Our decision to move Trevor to the new Military Academy was a well thought out process and was planned a while in advance. It was not a whim or on the fly decision that we made. Since moving to North Carolina, Trevor has been in the public schools. Before living here, he was always in private Montessori and I knew that he was getting a well-balanced, advanced education and was being exposed to things and opportunities that would help him exceed in life. We have not been pleased with the education (or lack thereof) that he has been getting since moving to Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools. In particular, we weren't really happy with his school last year (Bradley Middle School) from the time that he began there. I am always looking for alternative education that is the right choice for my children, rather than just assume that they are going to get the education that they need and deserve from our local public school. With that said, I have been on a mission for the last year. Searching magnet schools, charter schools, and private school options that are available to us. In doing so, I came across the Military and Global Leadership Academy and began my research.

Of course, I have had some doubts along the way. Am I doing the right thing? Is this going to benefit Trevor? Is this the right school for him? How will he adjust to changing schools (again)? Do I expect too much from public schools? (NO!) What about the friends he already has? Is he really going to get a better education? What kind of person will he become? What kind of influence will the school have on him?

Trust me, I could go on and on and on about my doubts. But as a parent, we have to gather and analyze all of the information that we possibly can. In doing so, we find answers to some of our questions. And then, make a decision as to what we feel is best for our child.

After researching the school, I found that my mission and goals for Trevor go right along with the goals and mission of the school. I looked at graduation rates, success rates, and scholarship information for programs like these across the states. Overwhelmingly, the students who were in these programs were granted college scholarships, had a 98% graduation rate, and went on to become successful, productive members of our society. A big part of my decision came from the fact that this school teaches leadership and character development. Any school can offer honors classes and advance placement. And of course, I want Trevor to be part of that and I am proud of the fact that he is in honors classes. But it takes a special person to be a leader. I want Trevor to know what the qualities of a leader are and to recognize those qualities within himself. In addition to the rigorous coursework, he has mandatory community service projects that he must complete (30 hours minimum) in order to pass. We need to instill in our children that they must be compassionate and help others that are not as fortunate as we are.

The school itself is a brand new facility. The building is big, brand new, and very nice. It has state of the art technology with flat screen computers in every class. The library is massive with amazing books. The student population is small. It will never have more than 600 students (100 per grade level) so that means no overcrowding that comes standard in our neighborhood public schools. (Our local high school has over 3,000 students!) The school has a diverse student population which will benefit Trevor in his future endeavors. There is bus transportation available, but the school is in Charlotte and it starts at 7:15. With that said, (a HUGE drawback!) the bus stop at our house is 5:20 AM. Yes, 5:20 AM. That is just ridiculous. Todd works about 5 mins from the school. So, he has been taking Trevor to school in the mornings and then going to work. I have been picking him up at 2:15. With the school being new, it is in the process of starting the PTA. I have volunteered my hours, skills, and time and hope to help the school get off to a great start.

So, there you have a update on why we chose The Military and Global Leadership Academy. Is it the right choice? Only time will tell. Of course, we still have our doubts. But as a parent, you always do. I know in my heart and in my mind, that we made this decision to the best of our ability. I really feel that we have done the right the thing and I believe that Trevor will see the benefits of this program.

Trevor's First Day of School

2008-08-25T13:13:00.000-07:00

Today has been a long awaited day for Trevor. This school year brings new and exciting changes and challanges for him. He will be attending a new school (once again!). This year, he is going to The Military and Global Leadership Academy in Charlotte.

The Military and Global Leadership Academy is a new school that is opening this year. The following is a brief description taken from their website (http://pages.cms.k12.nc.us/mgla/):

The school is grades 6-10. The academy will grow a grade a year, graduating its first senior class in 2011. The new Military & Global Leadership Academy will offer rigorous advanced placement and honors classes to prepare students for college. Students also will be provided with structure to foster positive attitudes, teamwork, responsibility and sound decision making.
The school will also focus on character education, international studies and technology. Because of its challenging academic and leadership standards, the school is not a boot camp and is not recommended for students with discipline problems.

The academy will provide:
A foundation of academic rigor and challenge
Development of students’ problem-solving, creative and critical thinking skills
Enhancement of geography, politics and economics to gain global perspective
Community service component
Mental and physical wellness
Effective communication skills
Enhancement of responsibilities of citizenship and government
Exploration of military and national organizations that support a democratic society

Special features:
Uniform school
Drill and ceremony
Community service
Academic competitions
Intramural sports
Parades, color guards, ceremonies
Code of conduct
Grading requirements
Small school - 100 students per grade level

BBQ, Beer, and Friends

2008-08-23T23:57:00.000-07:00

After our long day at Greyson, we headed over to our neighbors house for an evening filled with fun and celebration. One of our friends, Brent, recently graduated from Wake Forest with his Masters in Business Administration. In celebration of a long two years and a job well done, his wife, Paige, planned a graduation party. For the party, she hired a chef to come over a smoke a whole pig. It was a family event with lots of friends and kids. We ate BBQ, drank cold beer, played cornhole, and had lots of laughs. The kids ran around and played and just wore themselves out. It was a fun way to end our fun day!

Skate Competition

2008-08-23T23:10:00.000-07:00

Trevor ices his elbow

after his big bust!

The Gann Clan

Our favorite band.....
punk rock, of course!

There was a skate competition today at the local outdoor skatepark. We have an outdoor park, Greyson, through the Charlotte Mecklenburg Parks and Recreation Department (http://www.charmeck.org/Departments/Park+and+Rec/Parks/Skate+Parks/Grayson+Skatepark.htm). Throughout the year, Greyson host several skate competitions and events. This weekend, it was home to Battle Slam Jam (http://www.battleslamjam.com/). In addition to the skate competition, there was a battle of the bands, lots of vendors and freebies, and Fuel TV was there to film it all. Trevor participated in a skate competition here last summer but the event was rained out before it was over and the winners were chosen from those who had already skated. He has been excited and anxious awaiting this event for a few weeks. He and Todd went to Greyson 3 times this week to practice!

When it came time for Trevor to compete, I could tell that he was nervous. He did a great job in the first round and landed most all of his tricks. He skated so well that he was selected to move to the finals. During the finals, he was a little more nervous and was not landing as many of his tricks. He was trying a board slide down a handrail and kept missing. Finally, he fell and hurt himself and was not able to finish the final round. He was upset that he got hurt and very disappointed that he could not complete the competition. I explained to him that I was so proud of him for wanting to compete. It takes a lot of nerve and determination to get out there and compete in front of hundreds of people. That to me, is what makes him a winner. Not the fact of if he wins first or second place.

We had a fun day watching the skate competition, listening to bands, and people watching. We can't wait until the next big event at Greyson!

Meet the Teacher

2008-08-21T23:14:00.000-07:00

Trevor and James check out

the classroom

With school beginning next week, James will embark upon a new and exciting adventure. Before I took my job earlier this year, I had applied for James to get into a Montessori school in Charlotte. We knew that we wanted him and Lilly to attend a Montessori school and learn the values and lessons that Montessori has to offer. After I began working at Christian Montessori of Lake Norman, I just assumed that we would have him and Lilly attend there. While Lilly is there this year, Todd and I decided to follow our original plan and have James attend at Highland Mill Montessori School. The school is ages pre-K through 5th grade. It was a long, hard decision on his enrollment this year. There were several reasons for our decision, but the biggest factor was that we just wanted to do the best thing for him. Our decision may not be the easiest logistically, but it's what we thought will be the best in the long run. There is a bus that comes to Huntersville, but I feel that he is just too young and small to ride the bus right now. Although the school is in Charlotte, it is only 16 miles from our house and it takes about 20 minutes to get there.

Tonight we went to James' school where we were able to meet his teacher and visit in his classroom. We have been talking up this night for a while. James is still very skeptical of new environments and it takes him a while to feel comfortable in new situations. He is very shy, quiet, and sensitive and it takes him a while to open up to change. He has been excited all week about the visit and did quite well when we got there. He mingled around the classroom and looked at the work on the shelves, found his cubby, and met his teacher. I am very impressed with his teacher. She has over 7 years of Montessori teaching experience and in addition to her teaching degree, she has all of her Montessori teaching credentials through the American Montessori Society (AMS). The teacher's assistant also has her teaching degree and is attending Montessori training. Overall, he seems very excited and positive about the new school year. This is a big step for him. I am pleased with our choice in school for James and tonight helped ease my concerns. I am looking forward to a wonderful year for him with hopes that he will excel academically and socially.

Grandfather Mountain

2008-08-19T23:33:00.000-07:00

Trevor and James discuss the scenery

while we picnic

James was ready with his

bow and arrows

Trevor stops for a snack of

blackberries while we were hiking

With Lilly back in school and this being the last week of summer for the boys, I wanted to do something special with them. We haven't been to the mountains this summer because we have just been too busy. We love going over there, it is one of my favorite places. I gave Trevor some options of how we could spend the day and let him choose what he would like to do. He picked Linville Caverns and Grandfather Mountain.

We left around 8:30 AM and headed west. It only takes a little less than 2 hours for us to reach the Blue Ridge Mountains. Our first stop was Linville Caverns. The caverns feature a small stream that runs through and there are beautiful rainbow trout that live inside the cave. The walk through the cave was magnificent. We saw many wondrous things such as stalagmites, stalactites, and even a few bats! There is also a 250 feet deep "bottomless lake" that you can walk out over on a metal grate. I actually skipped that part, but Trevor and James were first in line!

After our exciting adventure in the cave, he headed over to Grandfather Mountain for the rest of the afternoon. Upon arrival, we ate our picnic at the overlook area. The background scenery was unbelievable. It is so beautiful up in the sky! After lunch, we hiked over to the main attraction at the mountain, the Mile High Swinging Bridge. We had quite a walk, but it was nice being out in the woods and up in the mountains. There is also a nature habitat that features black bears, bald eagles, deer, and cougars. We made our round through the nature habitat and ended up at an ice cream/fudge shop. Of course, we had to stop for a break and a little snack. After we revived ourselves, we decided that we would do a little more hiking. We hiked along the trail called "The Woods Walk". Trevor and James did more investigating of the woods, trees, rocks, sticks, and insects more than anything. They had to climb every rock that we came to and pick up every stick that lay on the trail. They both had a great time in the great outdoors!

After a long day of visiting with Mother Nature, we headed back home. We stopped for dinner and finally made it back around 9:00 PM. We had a long, full day but nothing could have made it more perfect. I was so happy watching the two of them connect and bond with each other and with myself. It was a day that will be treasured forever!

Back to School

2008-08-18T20:13:00.000-07:00

Today was Lilly's first day of school. She is still attending at Christian Montessori School. She was excited and ready to go this morning. Once we got to school, she marched right on in there like she hadn't missed a beat. Her teacher and classroom are the same as last year so she just feels comfortable there. I peeked in on her throughout the day and she was always busy. She has this school thing down pat! She will be going on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday this year from 8:30-12:00. I will keep those as my working hours as well.

Playdate with Connor

2008-08-17T19:55:00.000-07:00

James had a playdate with Connor this afternoon. Conner is our next door neighbor's grandson. He and James are like two peas in a pod. They each love playing with typical boy stuff (swords, army, etc), they are rough, and they get along well. Most of all, their favorite thing is Star Wars! Although unplanned, we even saw Connor at the movies Friday afternoon when we went to see Clone Wars.

Happy Birthday, Grandma!

2008-08-15T20:31:00.000-07:00

Wanda, Rick, and the 3 munchkins!

picture taken July 4, 2008 on

Lake Jackson

Today is Grandma's (Wanda) birthday. We can't be with her today, but we all wish her happy birthday wishes! Hope you have a wonderful day and enjoy yourself. Relax and do what you want to do.....you deserve it!

Star Wars: The Clone Wars

2008-08-15T18:23:00.000-07:00

Today was a day that my boys have been waiting for all summer. It was the day that the new Star Wars movie "The Clone Wars" came to the theater! All week, they have been counting down the days.

We went to Birkdale and ate lunch at Eez (Asian fusion cuisine) and then stopped by Walgreens to pick up 3 boxes of our favorite candy. We finally made it to the movies and were able to see what all of the fuss is about! The boys loved the movie, of course. It is full of action and lots of Cone troopers, battle droids, and Jedis. As soon as we left, they wanted to know when they could see it again. I am sure that Todd will take them again (he wants to see it, too!). I guess I know one thing that will be on the Christmas list this year!

Oak Island Skate Park

2008-08-13T22:39:00.000-07:00

James and his

"Ryan Sheckler" Plan B

James taking off

Taking a break under
the Palm tree

Todd and James

rest a little

Trevor cooling off

Trevor makes

the gap!

I mentioned in the previous blog that there is a Skate Park at Oak Island so I wanted to post a few pictures from those days. Oak Island is currently Trevor's favorite beach because it has the park. Never mind the fact that it is 100 degrees outside, Trevor wants to skate! Todd skated as a boy/teenager and he loves to take Trevor to the skate park. When they go, he always skates too. Of course, they can't do anything without James wanting to be right in the middle of it. Despite the fact that he was only 3, James got a "real" skateboard for Christmas last year (he and Trevor got one exactly alike!). He will ride it here at the house, but he has never been to a skate park with them. Until Oak Island! He went to the skate park with them every time! He was out on the ramps and Todd would help him ride in the half pipe. I got it all on video! Priceless!

Back from the Beach

2008-08-10T22:09:00.000-07:00

Our House for the week

Family picture taken at the
North Carolina Aquarium

Trevor, James,
and Lilly

Our Ferry from

Southport, NC to Fort Fisher, NC

Lilly and her Daddy

Lilly and Nana

Trevor and James

play with army tanks

in the sand

We made it back from the beach after a wonderful, long, relaxing, fun-filled week! These are some of my favorite pictures that I took while we were there. The kids had a blast playing in the sand, building castles, trying to out run the waves, catching crabs, and just enjoying each other. One day, we rode the ferry to Fort Fisher and visited the North Carolina Aquarium. After the visit to the aquarium, we drove north up the coast through Kure Beach, Carolina Beach, and Wilmington. We rented a house on the ocean and most of our time was spent at the beach. Every morning, the kids would put on their swim suits as soon as they woke up. After breakfast, we headed to the beach until late in the afternoon. We took plenty of water, snacks, and sunscreen so that we were able to last all day out there. The kids were so tired every night that after we had our baths and ate dinner....it was lights out! There is also a skate park on Oak Island. Todd, Trevor, and James went skating 5 or 6 times while we were there.

We had a wonderful time this year at the beach. It is nice to spend quality time with the family and create priceless memories. This is what life is all about!

Oak Island

2008-08-02T05:54:00.001-07:00

Trevor and James last year at Oak Island

looking for sea shells

We are leaving for Oak Island, North Carolina this morning. We have rented a house on the ocean for the week. The kids have been looking forward our trip to the beach the entire summer. I hope that James' foot won't hurt him or hold him back while we are there. He is still hobbling along. I'll post some pictures when we return!

Happy Birthday to Me

2008-08-01T22:08:00.000-07:00

I had a wonderful birthday today. It started this morning before I even woke up! I was still in the bed asleep when Todd was leaving for work. On his was out, he woke me up by saying Happy Birthday and giving me a kiss. I spent the day with the kids and packing our stuff for our trip to the beach. This evening, Todd had made dinner reservations for us at one of my favorite restaurants, PF Chang's. We had a fantastic family dinner (the kids were actually good....all 3 of them!) and then came one more surprise. Mom had brought a cookie cake to the restaurant for our dessert. After returning back home, there was even more! There were gifts waiting here for me to open! Todd gave me some clothes from Banana Republic, Trevor had gotten me a heart necklace (it matches a bracelet that Todd gave me for our anniversary), and Mom gave me a single pearl necklace. All of the gifts are special to me! I have to say that spending time with my family is the best gift of all!

Emergency Room Visit

2008-07-31T17:49:00.000-07:00

James and his blue bear

Up close shot of James' foot

It was just a matter of time before it happened again......and today was the day! We are leaving for vacation Saturday, so I was working a full day today to get caught up before we leave. Todd called me around noon and said that he was leaving work to take the boys out on the lake for the afternoon. All was good and they had a wonderful time at the lake. While Todd was pulling the boat out of the water, Trevor and James were messing around by the boat ramps. James had his shoes on and he was jumping around. He jumped off the concrete onto the grass (kicking his shoe off in mid-air) and landed on some broken glass. He sliced the bottom of his foot where the big toe connects to the foot. Todd called to warn me of the accident on his way home and told me to be ready to take him to the hospital. He had wrapped his shirt around it while trying to get it to stop bleeding. When they got home, Todd cleaned it out and we were able to tell that it wasn't that deep. There was something in it though. We decided to not take any chances and go ahead and take him to the hospital.

Once we got to the hospital, James was a little anxious. The nurse and doctor looked at it and took us back to a room. They ordered an x-ray to be sure that there was no glass that was stuck in it. The x-ray came back clean. Since the cut was more wide than it was deep, stitches were not needed. The doctor cleaned it out really well, put some antibiotic medicine on it, and wrapped it in a gauze. He is to keep the wrap on it for a few days.

James did so well. I am so proud of him for his courage. While we were there, he was a little nervous. The nurse gave him a soft, blue bear to hold. Since he was such a good patient and a big boy, he was able to bring his bear home. He is proud of his bear. He said that he is going to sleep with it tonight!

Another day in the Gann house, another stressful injury. Sometimes I feel so saddened by the way my children are always getting hurt. I guess that they are just active children and these things happen. There is nothing that we could have done to prevent this injury. I just hate to see my children in pain and hurting. I would trade places with them and take away the pain if I could.

Playdate with Lillie

2008-07-29T17:44:00.000-07:00

Lilly in her "kini"

Lilly and Lillie enjoy

a snack break

We had another playdate with Lillie today. Since it was so hot, we decided to go to the Aquatics Center for some outdoor fun in the splash pool. We packed us a picnic lunch including some peanut butter sandwiches, goldfish, and blueberries. Trevor and James tagged along...because who doesn't like waterslides and spray fountains? After the pool, Lillie joined us at our house for some more indoor fun. The girls played dress up and cooked in Lilly's little kitchen. After all was said and done, we dropped Lillie off at her house around 6. My Lilly was out like a light before we even pulled out of her neighborhood!

Space Chimps!

2008-07-25T19:49:00.000-07:00

We went to see Space Chimps this morning. The kids have been wanting to see it after seeing the previews on TV. I was a little hesitant, as it didn't look too promising. With a little persuastion, I agreed to take them. To my suprise, it wasn't that bad. There were actually some pretty funny parts. After the movie, we ate lunch at Brixx Birkdale (a local pizza joint). It was nice day of us all being together!

Happy Birthday, James!

2008-07-21T23:29:00.000-07:00

James Richard Gann

July 21, 2004

Four years ago today, my baby boy was born. God knows, I thought Trevor was going to be an only child. I am so thankful and blessed that James was brought to me on July 21, 2004. After he was born, he was very sick and was diagnosed with pyloric stenosis. At five weeks old, he weighed only 5 pounds and under went surgery to correct his condition. His surgery was a huge success and he hasn't had any other problems. I am so grateful that he is a strong, healthy, loving child. It brings me to tears when I think about my love for him (and my others). Happy 4th Birthday, James! May you have many more wonderful years and may they be filled with as much happiness as you bring to me!

Good-bye, Jake and Melanie

2008-07-20T23:19:00.000-07:00

Jake and Melanie left this afternoon. Rick and Wanda gave them a ride back home. They were both excited to see their Mom, but I think that Melanie was missing her. We had a wonderful time while they were here. I am always excited to have the opportunity to open my home and my heart to them. Jake has been coming to visit us every summer since we moved. I really enjoy the time that we share with him, as does Trevor. Before we moved, Jake spent a lot of time with us. Now, we see him several times a year. But, it just isn't enough. I wish that we could see him more. I am thankful that we are only 4 hours away and Jena is willing to let him (and Melanie) come up and visit. I am also grateful to Rick and Wanda that are willing to help out with transportation! I hate to see them go, but I am ready to relax a little. You wouldn't think that 2 more kids would be all that much more work when you already have 3...but let me tell you...it is! Having 5 kids for the past 2 weeks has been a lot of work. I don't know how many loads of laundry I washed, how many clothes that I folded, how much food I have cooked, or how many times I said the words "stop, no, leave her alone, keep your hands to yourself, quit........etc, etc, etc!" I wouldn't trade it for the world! I am looking forward to their next and wondering when I can get it on my calender.

Family Birthday Party

2008-07-19T23:10:00.000-07:00

Rick and Wanda came up this weekend to celebrate James' birthday. They arrived around lunch and were quickly settled in. we went to the pool for a while so James and Lilly could show off their swimming skills. After we had enough of that, we came back and cooked out and had another birthday party for James. He was anxious to open his gifts. After dinner, we let them beat the pinata and once the candy fell, it was a free for all. There was plenty of candy to go around, but you would have thought it was a million dollars the way they were scrapping for it! After all was said and done, we had some cake and sang Happy Birthday to James. He has been waiting forever (since Lilly's birthday) for his birthday to arrive. He has mentioned it almost everyday for months! He was so happy to have us celebrate him!

Girls Day out

2008-07-18T23:06:00.000-07:00

We have had enough of the boys, so this afternoon I took Lilly and Melanie to Toy R Us and Chick-fil-a and we had us a girls day! I needed to go get James' birthday presents and I didn't want him to come with me. Mom suggested that she would take the boys to the Army Navy store and I could take the girls with me. We had a pleasant afternoon, with no bickering between brothers and sisters! And, I was able to get my shopping done!

James' 4th Birthday Party

2008-07-17T22:57:00.000-07:00

Me, Dad, and the Birthday Boy

(even though he isn't looking!)

We had James' 4th birthday party this afternoon at (you guessed it!) Monkey Joe's! His birthday is next week (the 21st), but we wanted to have the party while Jake and Melanie are still here. It turned out great. There were 13 kids that attended so James had plenty of people to run around and play with. He got lots of wonderful presents including a new backpack with a flashlight and a camo sleeping bag, an Indiana Jones whip (it is a soft toy!), some motorcycles with guys riding on them, hot wheels, and a baseball bat and ball. He had a great time hanging out, opening presents, and eating cake!

Carowinds

2008-07-16T22:38:00.000-07:00

James and his Dad

Me and Lilly

Trevor, James, and Jake
at the waterpark

James, Melanie, and Lilly pose

with Scooby and the gang

James and Melanie

meet Spongebob

Today, we visited the Carowinds Amusement Park (http://www.carowinds.com/). We had a long, fun day of wild rides and water park action! Carowinds is a huge park that is 2 in 1 fun. They have lots of rides (for my Georgia folk...aka Six Flags) and they have a water park (aka White Water) all inside the same park. The boys wore their swim shorts and just put a t-shirt with it and the girls just wore their swim suit under their clothes. Once we got hot (and it didn't take long!), we headed to Bondi Beach where we were swimming in a huge pool with waves just like the ocean! Trevor and Jake tried out every waterslide they had! We spent the morning riding rides then we met at Chick-fil-a for lunch. After lunch, we headed to the water park and spent most of the afternoon there. Around 5, we split up again for more rides. The boys (except James) went straight for the big roller coasters. The girls (and James) went to the "kiddie" section and rode everything there. We stayed from 10:30-8:30. By the time we got home, we were drop dead tired. Lilly didn't even make it that far. She was alseep before we got out of the parking lot. I called and ordered us a pizza for dinner. It arrived about 10 minutes after we got home. We all ate and everyone was out like a light!

Nascar Speedpark

2008-07-15T22:26:00.000-07:00

Riding the Frogger

From the left: Melanie, Lilly, Trevor,

James and Jake

Lilly, Melanie, and James

wait for the ride

Everyone who knows anything about Charlotte, North Carolina, knows that this is Nascar country. Nascar was invented here and has a huge presence in Charlotte and the surrounding suburbs. I, personally, am not a fan of Nascar. However, that didn't stop of from enjoying a day at the Nascar Speedpark amusement center (http://www.nascarspeedpark.com/). We loaded up the car and headed over around noon. They have about 6 race tracks there to ride go-karts, bumper boats, mini-golf, a huge arcade, cafe, and a few amusement rides for the smaller children. Once again, the tokens went in about 15 minuites, but I bought the wristbands for the kids to ride the rides and drive the go-karts. All in all, we stayed there over 7 hours! I was exhausted by the time I made it home! They all had a great time. I can't wait to hit the bed!

****I forgot to mention that James had to wear his dirt bike outift, complete with the Fox racing pants. Once he found out that we were going to ride go-karts, it was on!

Chuck E. Cheese

2008-07-14T17:15:00.000-07:00

We went to Chuck E. Cheese today for a little lunch and lots of fun. Every time the Chuck E. Cheese commercial comes on TV, James and Lilly say "I want to go there!" I have been promising them that we would go, but it is never really high on my priority list. When I was think about things we could do while Jake and Melanie are here, Chuck E. Cheese came up as an option. I'm glad that we went. The kids blew through a hundred tokens in about 15 minutes. I had no idea that they would go so quick! Oh well, at least they all had fun!

A day at the Pool

2008-07-13T17:07:00.000-07:00

Everyday is pool day. No joking, I think that we have been to the pool everyday since Jake and Melanie have been here. My kids always love to go to the pool. It gets us out of the house and into the cool water. James and Lilly swim like little fish. They swim in the pool without their lifejackets on, underwater, like pros. It is awesome!

A day of Boating

2008-07-12T19:40:00.000-07:00

Melanie and James

Jake and Trevor

We took the kids and headed to the lake this morning. I packed us lots of snacks, some sandwiches, and sunscreen and we were prepared to stay for most of the day. The lake was pretty crowded but we got there early enough for Todd and Trevor to get some wakeboarding in. Jake and Melanie tried it, too. Most of the day, the kids swam and rode the tube. It was a beautiful day and nice to be out on the water!

Ice Cream Night!

2008-07-12T19:31:00.000-07:00

Our neighborhood had a swim party for the middle school children tonight. There was swimming, pizza, ice cream, slushies, and games. Trevor and Jake attended the party. We decided to take the others to Brusters for some ice cream. We had a party of our own!

Training wheels off

2008-07-11T18:32:00.000-07:00

With James quickly approaching 4, Todd has been talking about taking his training wheels off of his bike and teaching him to ride without them. Today was the day. He did very well actually riding. He was having a hard time getting started and stopping. He rode up and down the sidewalks for a while and then Todd decided to take him to the school so that he would have a big, open space. He hasn't quite mastered it yet, but will soon!

Camping in the Yard

2008-07-11T18:26:00.000-07:00

Trevor, James, and Jake set up Trevor's tent in the backyard. They say that they are going to camp out there tonight (yeah, right!). The tent is a big hit and all of the kids are playing in it. James, Lilly, and Melanie even ate their afternoon snack out there. They have put the camping chairs around it and set up shop. I looked out there earlier and they were all inside. I didn't know that it could hold so many people!

Ray's Splash Planet

2008-07-10T18:15:00.000-07:00

Ray's Splash Planet is an indoor waterpark in Charlotte that is part of the Mecklenburg County Parks and Recreation Department. I have been wanting to take the kids there, but never seem to make it a priority. With Jake and Melanie here, I am trying to keep us busy. I thought this was perfect opportunity to visit and check it out.

There is a baby pool with lots of fountains, sprinklers, and slides. There is also a regular pool, a big waterslide, a lazy river, and a vortex pool. We stayed there for about 4 hours and the kids just played and played. Everyone had a wonderful time! It was well worth the trip!

http://www.charmeck.org/Departments/Park+and+Rec/Aquatics/Rays+Splash+Planet/Waterpark.htm

Monkey Joe's

2008-07-09T18:09:00.000-07:00

Melanie and Monkey Joe

We headed to Monkey Joe's today for some indoor playtime! It has been so hot outside these past few weeks, so we decided to take a break from the heat. Everyone loves going to Monkey Joe's. The kids can run, bounce, and scream all of their energy away. There was even a special guest there today to meet the kids....it was Monkey Joe himself! Of course, Melanie was the one who wanted to get her picture taken with him. She never misses out on a photo op!!!

Lazy 5 Ranch

2008-07-08T17:03:00.000-07:00

Trevor, James, Melanie, and Jake

Everyone loves the Lazy 5 Ranch! We loaded up and headed to Mooresville, NC to visit the ranch this afternoon. The kids get such a kick out of the animals that come up to the car and eat out of our buckets! There were lots of babies there today including several fawn, piglets, and baby ostrichs.

http://www.lazy5ranch.com

Happy Birthday, Todd!

2008-07-07T16:50:00.000-07:00

Todd around 18-24 months old

Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you

Happy Birthday Dear Todd

Happy Birthday to You!

We love you more than anything!

The ride home........

2008-07-06T23:34:00.000-07:00

The ride home wasn't too bad! Lilly passed out shortly after leaving Rick and Wanda's house. The kids watched Star Wars and Toy Story. By the time those were over, we were home!

Back to North Carolina

2008-07-06T17:31:00.000-07:00

James, Tonya, Lilly, Jake, Grandma Phipps,

and Melanie

We are headed back to North carolina this evening. On our way home, we are carrying more cargo! Jake and Melanie (my nephew and niece) are coming back home with us and will be staying for a couple of weeks. Jake has been visiting us every summer since we moved, so for the past 5 years. Melanie has not ever visited by herself. But, she IS 9 now...and that means she is big enough to start visiting in the summer, too (those are her words!) We have lots of fun stuff planned to do. I am going to keep them busy so they can't fight with one another! Wish me luck, as I will have 5 kids for the next few weeks! We can't wait!

Happy 4th of July!

2008-07-04T19:13:00.000-07:00

We had a great day today! We hung out on the boat and the lake most of the day. Once evening came, we headed down toward the marina and dam. There is a boat parade on the lake just before dark where boats get decorated and there is a contest to which one is the best. We watched the parade until dark and then we watched the fireworks. The lake was lit up! There were fireworks everywhere. It was fun to see everyone competing with each other on who had the best fireworks. The kids had a blast watching all of the fireworks and seeing all of the other boats. They also enjoyed watching the boat parade and all of the excitement that it created!

Happy Birthday, Jeremy!

2008-07-03T07:27:00.000-07:00

Lilly and her Uncle Jeremy

Jeremy, Todd's youngest brother, is having a birthday today! Happy Birthday and Best wishes for the New Year!

We made it!

2008-07-02T19:07:00.000-07:00

We made it to Rick and Wanda's late this afternoon. We were in no hurry, as we stopped in South Carolina at Abbott's Farm to pick up a bushel of peaches, some blackberry jam and loads of explosives! Todd was like a kid in a candy store. He had a couple of fireworks in his hands and was ready to go. On the way to the register to pay, he was picking up items along the way. By the time we actually paid, he had two armful of fireworks! We bought so much stuff that the man actually gave us more fireworks free! We will be setting off explosives all week!

Georgia Bound

2008-07-01T19:29:00.000-07:00

We are leaving in the morning and going to Todd's parents for the week to spend the 4th of July. We haven't all been home together since Thanksgiving, so it will be nice to visit as a family. Todd's parents live on Lake Jackson and we are taking our boat with us. We are looking forward to a little R&R and doing nothing but visiting with family, swimming, and boating for a few days!

"Brother, will you.........

2008-06-28T19:30:00.000-07:00

take me with you everywhere you go and let me build forts with you and teach me all about the outdoors??????"

James has been up under Trevor every waking second since Trevor returned from his trip to Florida. Every morning when James wakes up, the first thing that he says is "Where's Trevor?" He is so afraid that is going to miss something or that Trevor's going to go somewhere without him!

Trevor has always been an outdoors boy. He lives outside from the time he wakes until it's time for bed. Whether he is skateboarding, going to the woods, building forts, or cutting the grass. He doesn't care what it is....as long as he is outside!

This past week, the boys have been going to the woods and building a fort. Trevor is teaching James all about digging holes, chopping down briars, and picking wild blackberries. I went down to their fort the other day and the picture above is what I found. Again, I must say....they really are two peas in a pod! When James is with Trevor, he couldn't be happier. I know that Trevor feels the same. Tonight, Trevor laid down with James and James was already asleep. I heard Trevor whisper "I love you, James" before he closed his eyes!

Blueberries

2008-06-27T19:19:00.000-07:00

Trevor and James enjoy the summer's

first fresh berries!

Some friends of ours, Keith and Mandy, had planted some blueberry bushes in their yard. When we visited them, the kids thought that was the coolest thing. They wouldn't leave them alone and kept picking off all the berries and eating them. I fell in love with the idea of having fresh blueberries in our yard in the summertime. Last summer, I planted some blueberry bushes. They did pretty well and produced some fruit. This year is an entirely different story. The bushes have done wonderful and there are blueberries for everyone! They are finally getting ripe enough to eat. It has been a struggle keeping James and (especially) Lilly from picking the green berries. Everytime we go outside, they run over to the bushes to see how many are blue today and ready to eat! It's fun watching the kids get excited about planting, gardening, and eating what we grow! They are learning so much about our environment and having a blast doing it!

Two Peas in a Pod

2008-06-25T19:15:00.000-07:00

This afternoon, Todd left work a little early and we went to the lake for some summertime fun! On the way home, I turned around to check on the kids and this is how I found James and Trevor. They were watching a DVD (Toy Story, I think) and both were sucking on their fingers. This picture was totally unscripted and natural. How far do genes and DNA go???????

Greyson Skate Park

2008-06-23T23:53:00.000-07:00

Trevor ices his elbow

after a big spill!

The Gann Clan

One our favorite bands
(Check out the mohawk!)

Through the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Parks and Recreation, we have an outdoor skate park in Charlotte that is called Greyson (http://www.charmeck.org/Departments/Park+and+Rec/Parks/Skate+Parks/Home.htm). Throughout the year, Greyson will host skate competitions that bring people from all over the Southeast to compete for prizes, sponsorships, and even money! There was a competition today, The Battle Slam Jam (http://www.battleslamjam.com/). The skatepark was packed. There were cars for miles. In addition to skate competitions, there were vendor booths with free give-aways (like Red Bull, water, stickers, etc), a battle of the bands, food, and just overall fun to be had!

Last Summer, Trevor entered one other skate competition at Greyson. That event was rained out before it could be completed and the winners were picked based on who had already skated. This was a big day for Trevor and he was excited. He has been waiting for this day for weeks. He and Todd went to Greyson for some practice runs three times this week! When it came time for him to skate, he did a great job. He landed most of his tricks in the first round and was picked to moved up for the second round of skating. During the second round, I think that he was a little bit more nervous. He wasn't landing as many tricks and even had a few big busts. Finally, he tried some sort of board slide on a rail and took a spill. He laid there for a minute before he got up. I thought that he was hurt....bad. Luckily, he was wearing all of his pads, but it was bad enough that he had to come out of the competition. I could tell that he was upset. I told him that I was so proud of him for getting out there and trying. It takes a lot of courage to be that brave and to just put yourself out there like that. We stayed and watched the rest of the competitions and had fun people watching and listening to the bands.

Playdate with Lillie

2008-06-23T19:04:00.000-07:00

This afternoon, Lilly had a playdate with Lillie. We packed a cooler with sandwiches, snacks, and drinks, and went to the Huntersville Aquatics Center. Trevor and James came along, too. The kids love going to the outdoor splash pool with all of the fountains and waterslides. We played for about 3 hours and that was all that we could take. It has been so hot and sunny here this entire summer. I hate keeping the babies out for more than a couple of hours, even if we are at the pool. I don't want them to get sun burns, dehydrated, or exhausted. We had a great time with Lillie and look forward to another playdate soon!

A Day at the Lake

2008-06-22T18:54:00.000-07:00

Trevor, James, Jacob,

Lilly, & Nana

Today was such a beautiful day that we decided to spend it at the lake. We loaded up the boat, packed a cooler full of snacks and drinks, and hit it. Trevor's buddy, Jacob, tagged along with us. We even got Nana to go! Trevor, Jacob, and James rode the tube for a while. After getting beat to death by Todd's fast driving, they decided to take a break from the tube and swim for a little. We stayed out there most of the day. It's so relaxing on the water. I enjoy watching the joy that the children have playing and swimming. We share so many laughs and smiles. These are the memories that we will always have!

Happy Birthday, Braden

2008-06-21T18:47:00.000-07:00

This afternoon, we went to a birthday party for Braden. She is one of James' friends from school. The kids played on a waterslide, rode bikes and scooters, ate hot dogs and cupcakes, and made ice cream sundaes. They had a blast celebrating with all of their friends!

Welcome Home, Trevor

2008-06-18T18:35:00.000-07:00

Today was the day that my (big) baby came home! He has been gone now for two weeks. Time has really gone by fast, although I missed him very much. Trevor is such a great kid. He's so helpful with the babies, minds well, and just doesn't give me any problems in general. I can't believe that he is big enough to go away without me! He flew home from Orlando by himself. He said that everything was good and he wasn't nervous. Trevor is well traveled and has flown dozens of times. He has just never flown without me or Todd. He took his i-pod and a book. Of course, he made a stop at the airport for beef jerky, candy, and a coke!

Todd picked him up from the airport and then we took him out to dinner at his favorite restaurant (Outback). James, Lilly, and I had baked a cake for him and we decorated the house with a "Welcome Home" banner and some balloons. I wanted to make a big production out of his return so he would know how much we missed him. He had the biggest smile on his face when he got home. Of course, the first person that he gave a hug to was James! I think that I was last!He had brought souvenirs for us all and James and Lilly were eager to get into theirs.

Needless to say, today was a wonderful day. I am glad to have all of my babies back in the nest!

Added Bonus

2008-06-16T18:25:00.000-07:00

James, Jake,

Tonya, Grandma Phipps,

Lilly, & Melanie

As an added bonus this weekend, I did get to visit with my Grandma Phipps and my Dad. They both stopped by (at different times) to spend some time with me and assist in different tasks. They both came bearing food, which is always good! Todd spent the weekend at his Mom and Dad's. In addition to his parents, he was able to spend time with both his brothers and our niece and nephew. On their way home, he brought them by to see me. I miss seeing Jake and Melanie. Todd knew that I would want to give them a big hug. And he was right! I am thankful that James and Lilly got to spend quality time with their grandparents, uncles, and cousins. I just wish there were more times like those!

SOLD!

2008-06-15T18:01:00.000-07:00

This weekend was bittersweet. Ever since we left Georgia 5 years ago, Mom has been devastated. First, we moved to Pennsylvania. It was such a long distance that we only saw her five or six times a year. Within a couple of years, we moved back South and settled in North Carolina. I think that we have found the place that we are going to be for a while. Mom had a health scare a few years ago and we decided that it was time for us to be closer (in distance). She put a for sale sign in her yard, but that was about the extent of it. Earlier this year, she found a job up here and has been staying with us for the past few months. She finally put her house with a realtor in March and the closing was Friday. It's sold! As I said, this is bittersweet. I know that Mom built her house with the intention of staying there forever and she really hates to leave it. On the other hand, life is too short not to be with the ones you love. Hopefully, Mom will get settled in North Carolina and learn to call it home!

Almost Sold

2008-06-12T18:22:00.000-07:00

This weekend, we are going down to Georgia. Mom's house is scheduled to close on Friday and I am going to help her pack it up. Todd and the kids are coming down also, but they will be spending the weekend with his family. I know that there is a lot of work to be done. I wonder if I'm up to the task!?!

Half-way Point

2008-06-11T20:24:00.000-07:00

Stuart Beach, Florida

Today marks Trevor's half way mark. He has been gone a week and he will be home in a week. I sure do miss him. I was worried that he wouldn't call me while he was gone but he has managed to call several times a day, every day. I must admit, he is a Mama's boy. They are actually staying in Stuart Beach, Florida. It is close to Port St. Lucie and Fort Lauderdale. He says that he is having lots of fun. Josh's Dad took them to the skatepark the other day. They are just going to the beach and pool everyday. He said that they rode the trolley yesterday and that today there were 10 foot waves. That may be a bit of an exageration....but I'm sure that they looked 10 feet to him!

Fireflies or Lightening Bugs?

2008-06-08T20:20:00.000-07:00

Fireflies or Lightening Bugs? What ever you call them, they sure are fun to catch! James and Lilly have a bug house and tonight they were catching bugs to put in there. Nana actually caught a lightening bug and we all got to watch him light up for a while. We eventually let him go and I'm happy to say that he survived! No harm done!

Splash Pool

2008-06-08T20:06:00.000-07:00

Nanny and Lilly

play in the water

James does a "ball cannon"

It has been so hot here this entire week. I think that it has been about 99 degrees every....single....day! I know that we have broken high temp records a few days this week. It is just ridiculous! On that note, we headed over to the Huntersville Family Fitness and Aquatics Center (where we are members) to play in the Splash Pool today. We made it over there around noon and took some lunch for the kids. They have a huge outdoor family fun pool which features several water slides and spray fountains. A large portion of the pool is only 3 feet deep, so the kids have plenty of place to run and play in the water. James enjoyed dragging Nana under when she wasn't paying attention! He also calls his cannon balls...."ball cannons"!!

Saturday with Nana

2008-06-07T19:58:00.000-07:00

Since the (Big) boys went off and left us this weekend, we decided to get out of the house and have some fun! This morning, we went to Birkdale and saw Kung Fu Panda. James and Lilly actually sat through the entire movie. The fact that we had a big bag of popcorn, gummies, Reese's Pieces, and coke probably made all the difference. The movie is very cute and both kids kept their eyes glued to the screen the entire time. James even let out a few laughs. He cracks me up! After the movie, we went over to the fountains and let them play in the water for a while. Once they were worn out, we hit Gymboree for some clothes (who can resist shopping!) and then treated them to ice cream at Cold Stone Creamery. We had a blast just hanging out with Nana all day.

Weekend Fishing Trip

2008-06-06T19:30:00.000-07:00

Todd left for a weekend fly fishing trip this afternoon. He is taking his drift boat and driving to Etowah, Tennessee for some trout fishing. He is meeting Greg there. Hopefully, he'll catch some fish. But the saying goes: A Bad Day Fishing is Better Than A Good Day At Work!

This picture of Todd was actually taken last summer on the Madison River in Montana. I had to post it because besides having our children, I think this was one of Todd's proudest moments!!

Goodbye Josh.....and Trevor

2008-06-05T19:19:00.000-07:00

Trevor, James, Lilly, and Josh

before leaving on the big trip

Today was Josh's last day in North Carolina. He and his family have packed up and are moving back to Florida. I don't think that reality has set in for Trevor yet. He is going to be heartbroken once he realizes that Josh is really gone.

But for now, he is having a ball. Josh and his family have invited Trevor to go to Florida with them for a few weeks. They will be spending their summer at the beach until they move into their new house in August. Trevor is so excited to be going away with them. He has never been away from home or away from Todd and I for very long. I am eager to see how he does. He will be flying home by himself. I am a bit nervous about that because he is flying with a stop in Atlanta, where he will have to change planes. Trevor is quite a seasoned traveler for his young age. He has flown a good bit in the past, just never by himself. I am sure that he will be fine, that's just the mother in me that is worrying!

Baseball Party

2008-06-04T19:08:00.000-07:00

James' baseball season is over and the time has come to reward him for a job well done. He is always admiring Trevor's many trophies and loves to hold them and look at them. His baseball coach gave them a certificate after their last practice, but I wanted to do something special for him. There is a trophy shop down the street and I decided to stop by and see what they had to offer. I was so surprised. They had hundreds of trophies and could make anything that I wanted. I ordered James a trophy and the rest is history!!!!!

I decided to throw him a little party in celebration of his completion of baseball season. We had typical baseball fare for dinner (hot dogs, chips, baked beans) and cupcakes for dessert that were decorated to look like baseballs. I had balloons made up and even a baseball balloon. We all ate dinner and dessert and then I presented him with his big trophy. The smile on his face was so big! He was so excited to get his trophy! He is so proud of himself, as he should be. He couldn't wait to put it on his dresser (just like Trevor!!!). I wouldn't trade a million dollars for the look on his face when he first saw his trophy! It was a great joy to see him so happy and proud!

Growing Berries

2008-06-04T18:57:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite things to do is garden. I know that I must have gotten my green thumb and my love for planting and gardening from my Granny. As a child, I remember all of the times that I helped her in the garden picking beans, planting tomatoes, and watering her flowers and vegetables. Gardening is such a relaxing pleasure for me. I absolutely love to plant, water, and watch them grow! We have several gardening projects going on right now, one of which is some strawberry plants. Today, our first berry was ready. Of course, Miss Priss was the one to eat it! She made it look so delicious!

Playdate with Alexa

2008-06-03T18:51:00.000-07:00

It has been so hot lately that we just can't stay out of the pool. This afternoon, Alexa (our neighbor and friend) , joined Lilly for a playdate. The girls played in the pool, played on the swingset, and had some snacks. Lilly is about 6 weeks older than Alexa, so they are the perfect age for each other. They play very well together. After Alexa went home, Lilly kept asking for her the rest of the day!

Playoff Time!

2008-06-02T18:45:00.000-07:00

Trevor's big playoff game was tonight. Although they had a disappointing loss (it was actually painful to watch!), James and Lilly had a great time. They always take a few dollars with them so they can buy some treat at the "session" stand. Tonight, they shared some shaved ice and bubble gum! As for Trevor's game, you can't win them all. There is always next season!

Rockin' Rib Festival

2008-06-01T23:13:00.000-07:00

Lilly eats some grilled corn

James on the EuroBungy

Lilly on the EuroBungy

Every year, the Rockin' Rib Festival is held and there is a rib cook off, a rodeo, inflateable bounce houses for the kids, an RV show, and local vendors that set up shop. The festival benefits the Dove House Children's Advocacy Center, which serves child victims of sexual abuse, and their non-offending family members (http://www.dovehouse.us/). We have been once in the past and it was a good time. With the boys out of town, we didn't want to sit home all day. Nana and I decided to hit the local festival and enjoy the great weather outside and try some ribs from the cook off. James and Lilly tried the "EuroBungy". You get in a harness and you are strapped in and there are these big bungy cords (like huge rubber bands) and you jump on a trampoline. You go soooooo high. They both wanted to try it, but I was afraid that they wouldn't like it or that they would get scared. Was I wrong! They both loved it. After it was over, they both kept asking to do it again!

Happy Birthday, Lillie!

2008-05-31T21:01:00.000-07:00

Lilly, Lillie, and James

Lilly's friend, Lillie, had her 3rd birthday party today. After the boys left for Fayetteville, James, Lilly, and I headed to Lillie's for some birthday party fun! While we were there, the kids played with the watertable, played in the sandbox, helped Lillie open her gifts, and of course, ate cake and ice cream!

Roadtrip for the Boys

2008-05-31T20:51:00.000-07:00

Today after Trevor's game, Todd took him and Josh for a roadtrip to Fayetteville, NC. There is a skatepark there, Mega Skate Plaza, that the boys have been wanting to skate. This skatepark has been featured in all of the skate magazines and television shows. Josh is moving next weekend and their time together is growing shorter and shorter. As a treat, Todd had promised to take them there one weekend. This seemed like a perfect weekend.

They packed up and headed out around 2. The drive is about 2 and a half hours from our house. I can't wait to hear how the trip goes. I know that this is a trip that they won't forget any time soon. I am glad that Todd is such a great father. He enjoys spending time with Trevor and hanging out.

Playoff Time

2008-05-31T12:18:00.000-07:00

I always love this time of the year! Trevor has been playing baseball for the past 8 weeks and now the time has come for the playoffs! His team has not done so well this year, however, the playoffs are a tournament based on where your team finished. As long as you win, you keep going. We had the first playoff game this morning and we won! Our next game is Monday night. It's all or nothing from this point on............Go Team!

Memorial Day

2008-05-26T20:44:00.000-07:00

I just wanted to take a minute today to say "Thank You" to all of the men and women who have served and are serving our country. I am proud to be an American and we would not be where we are today without all of the hard work that our service men do for us. I know that we are in a difficult time today and it breaks my heart each and every time that I see another fallen solider. I am praying that this time will come to an end sooner rather than later. One life lost is too many. However, these tough times are a reality. I salute all the men and women who serve in our armed forces. Thank You.

Grandma and Papa

2008-05-24T21:01:00.000-07:00

Grandma and Papa came for a visit with us this weekend. They are headed to Missouri for a week to see Grandma Betty after they leave our house. Papa and Todd are going to the New River in Virginia tomorrow for some small-mouth bass fishing. Todd has been so excited all week. He's been getting his boat ready, his stuff together, and making flies. He is like a little kid. I am glad that he and his Dad can spend some quality time together. They don't often get to spend time alone. I know that Todd enjoys his Dad's company and cherishes every moment that he has together with him.

As for the kids, they love when Grandma and Papa visit. I couldn't hardly get them in the bed tonight. Lilly was worried that they weren't going to be here tomorrow. After assuring her that Grandma would be here in the morning when she woke up, she finally passed out. I am hoping that everyone will sleep a little late in the morning!

Happy Birthday, Owen

2008-05-24T20:23:00.001-07:00

This afternoon, we went to Owen's birthday party. Owen is one of James' friends from school. His party was at Holbrooks Park. The children played on the playground, ate cupcakes, and hit the pinata. James has never seen a pinata before and had no idea what it was. He was so excited once he realized that he could hit it as hard as he could and candy came out of it. He was hilarious when he was hitting it. He had a serious look on his face and he was smacking it as hard as he could. He got in 3 huge hits and finally Diego's legs fell off. James looked as if he was suprised that he had knocked his legs off.When the pinata finally broke, you should have seen the look on his face......... you would have thought that it was a million dollars!

Luau at school

2008-05-23T20:10:00.000-07:00

James and his buddy, Nicholas

Lilly in the tunnel

Today was James' last day of school. We had a luau party complete with leis and tons of food. They opened the outdoor pools and fountains and the children were able to play and swim all afternoon.

It was a happy but dreaded for me. I am so proud of James for adjusting so well this year. This was his first time being away from me for any amount of time. At the beginning of the year, it was a little difficult for him. It was probably harder for me than for him, if the truth be known. Over the past year, I have seen him grow and become more confident. He enjoys going to school and being with all of the other children. He has made some good play mates and definately has his favorite buddies. There are several of his classmates that live in our neighborhood. We will be seeing them throughout the summer at the pool and having them over for playdates.

I look upon today as one of many milestones for James. My baby is becoming a little boy more and more each day. However, no matter how big he gets....he will always be a mama's boy!

Baking Cookies

2008-05-22T20:57:00.000-07:00

James' last day of school is tomorrow. We signed up to bring cookies to the party. We spent several hours baking cookies this afternoon. Once it was all said and done, we baked 9 dozen cookies! Of course, we tasted a few along the way!

School Pictures

2008-05-21T20:20:00.000-07:00

James had his school pictures made on April 30th. They were taken outside on their playground. I absolutely love the one of him in the tunnel.

Bathing Beauty

2008-05-17T20:18:00.000-07:00

Lilly loves to be the beauty queen that she is! Tonight after her bath, this is how she came walking in the family room!

Family Fun Day

2008-05-16T19:54:00.000-07:00

We had Family Fun Day at the montessori school today. I picked Trevor up from school so that he could go with us. My friend (Shelly) and her daughters (Grace and Addison) went with us also. There were several inflatable bouncy things, tunnels, a basketball game, pony rides, spin art, ice cream, cotton candy, pizza, chick-fil-a, snocones, popcorn..........I could go on and on! The kids had a blast running around and playing for a few hours. At the end of the day, they were worn out!

Happy Birthday, Zachary!

2008-05-15T15:37:00.000-07:00

Zachary, the birthday boy!

James and Jackson

(Another) One of James' friends from school, Zachary, had his birthday party today at Monkey Joe's. The kids ran around and played on all of the inflatables. After a hour and a half or so, we ate some pizza, cake and ice cream. There were lots of children from James' class there.

Monkey Joe's is always a hit with the kids!

Latta Plantation

2008-05-15T15:20:00.000-07:00

This morning we woke up and decided to visit Latta Plantation Nature Preserve. There is an equestrian center where you can ride, feed, and visit the horses. James and Lilly have been wanting to ride the ponies. Once we got there, James wasn't much on riding. He was ready to go to the lake and play. Lilly loved riding the ponies. She didn't want to get off. We bought a couple of bags of treats and fed the horses that were in the stables.

After visiting for the horses for a while, we headed over to the lake. We had a picnic lunch and they kids played in the water. We saw lots of wildlife while we were there including squirrels, frogs, fish, and even a snake! It was a beautiful day and we enjoyed every minute of it!

Sad Moments

2008-05-14T20:38:00.000-07:00

Trevor had a hard day today. He came home from school quite upset and told me that one of his friend's father had been killed in a car accident this morning on his way to work. Trevor was in class with him when they came and pulled him out to deliver the news. Trevor said that he sits by the door and that he couldn't hear what they were telling him, but that he could see the look on his face when he heard the news. Trevor said that he keeps remembering that look over and over in his head. He thought long and hard about his friend all day and night. He and Todd are very close and I think that he kept thinking about that over and over. I am certain that he can not even comprehend the extent of what has just happened to his friend. He had a hard time going to sleep tonight. Trevor wears his heart on his sleeve. He is so tender hearted and sensitive.

I explained to him why it is so important to tell the people that you love, you love them. Show the people that you love, you love them. I explained the importance of sharing your feelings, thoughts, and moments with each other. But above all, I explained how life is so precious that we can never take for granted one second that we have with each other and the ones we love.

Lilly and Lillie

2008-05-13T13:12:00.000-07:00

Lilly has a friend in her class at school. Her name is Lillie. Lillie is Lilly's best little buddy at school. They do everything together. This morning when we showed up for class, they were wearing the same outfit. One of the teachers took a picture of them reading together! She said that they were too cute and just couldn't pass it up!

Happy Mother's Day

2008-05-11T11:27:00.000-07:00

We had a Happy Mother's Day here in the Gann house. We stayed at home most of the day (the weather was terrible!) We enjoyed spending time together and each other's company.

I am so fortunate and lucky to have my Mother here with me. A mother's love is something that nothing else can compare to. I am thankful for the bond that my Mom and I share. As I get older, the bond grows stronger and I understand some of the "whys" of things that have happened in the past. I know that my Mom loves me and my children more than anything else in the world. I hope that she knows we feel the same!

Happy Birthday, Lance and Myles!

2008-05-10T16:06:00.000-07:00

We went to Lance and Myles birthday party this afternoon. They are two of James' friends from school. Yes, they are twins. The party was at "Fun 2 B Fit". It is a gym where they have programs for children such as gymnastics, rock climbing, cheerleading, tumbling, etc. It was a great party and James had a really good time. They got to jump on the trampoline, climb the wall, swing from ropes, and eat pizza and cake (of course!).

Muffins for Mom

2008-05-09T12:49:00.000-07:00

This morning at James' school was muffins for Moms. The Moms were to come to class with our children and they had a special breakfast for us of muffins, fruit, juice and coffee. James was so excited. The children had been working on a gift for us all week. We ate muffins and had some juice and James couldn't wait to give me my present. He had made me a set of 6 notecards that he had hand painted on the cover of each one. Everyone knows that I love to write notes and send cards, but these are some notecards that I will NEVER use! They are so precious and special to me. I will treasure them forever!! James was so proud of his work and had the biggest smile on his face. This is what being a mother is all about!

Swim Suit

2008-05-06T19:56:00.000-07:00

Lilly has been on a swim suit kick now for about a month. All she wants to wear is her swim suits. Every morning when she wakes up, she immediately puts her swim suit on. It's a fight to get her out of it and put actual clothes on. I had gone shopping a few days ago and found her a new swim suit. Today, I showed it to her. It was about 10 seconds flat that she had her clothes off and trying to put her "kini" (bikini is what she means) on. She looked so cute that I just had to take a picture of her!