Talking Money....

Post from Aunt KAW:

Andrew never ceases to amaze me with his way of thinking.  Last night, he wanted me to lay down with him until Mommy got home.  We were just chatting about things, and somehow the subject of money came up.  He jumps up and shows me the little Mater case he put all his piggy bank money in.  Then Andrew jumps out of bed, and starts looking for a marker in his nightstand so he can write his name on the container.  I told him we can wait until the morning and use a different marker or sticker.  When he did not look relieved, I asked him what was wrong.  He said, "You always say how you don't have much money, and I am worried that it will be gone in the morning.  But I do know how to find you in case it is missing."  I was speechless at first, and then reassured Andrew I would not take his money, and it was safe.  Another classic Andrew moment...maybe he has a career option as a loan shark.

PDS end the year program - May 25, 2010

On Tuesday, May 25 the 3 and 4 year old classes at the Presbyterian Day School presented their end of the year program. It was darling! Since the flood, PDS finished out the remaining three weeks of the school year at Longhollow Baptist Church. It was very gracious and kind of Longhollow to open their doors to the children and teachers. The program consisted of fun songs about numbers, ABC's, colors (Andrew was yellow!), and some other demonstrations of the knowledge they have gained this year as well as how much fun they have had. Yesterday (Thursday) was Andrew's last day of school. We just love the teachers (he is pictured with his teachers Kristen Patafio and Joan Sabo) and will miss them this summer. A couple video clips are below; Katie Ann and I think Andrew has some moves like Stevie Wonder!

Andrew will start a summer camp (Tuesday and Thursday 9am-2pm) at the Church at Indian Lake next week. Two other boys from our neighborhood that are his buddies are going to the camp too.

On a funny side note, Thom gave the boys their baths on Monday night. It tends to get a little (okay more than a little) chaotic during bathtime. He handed me a baby and said, "Here's Patrick." I didn't check and put who I thought was Patrick in pajamas with more blue, put him in Patrick's crib (the one on the right), etc. I thought it was a little odd that Patrick (or the baby in Patrick's crib) woke up in the middle of the night as James usually does that. On Tuesday morning, we were all in a hurry to get to the program. I fed and dressed the little guys quickly - putting who I thought was James in green and who I thought was Patrick in blue. At the program, I thought it was interesting that Patrick was being so much more adventuresome and willing to go to other people. After feeding them lunch, Katie Ann called me (I was picking Andrew up at school) and said, "They were switched!" Yep, James and Patrick were switched for about 15 hours - wrong clothes, wrong pacifiers, wrong cribs, wrong spots in the stroller. Their hairlines are a little bit different, but when we're really confused, we have to check the scar on James' upper left arm. No parental awards for us this week!

Here is a link to all the photos from Tuesday - enjoy!

Sand Art - May 24, 2010

Aunt KAW tends to be much craftier than I am and Monday was no exception. She and Andrew made special sand art cars! They had a great time and are both very proud of their work! Andrew said, "We now have centerpieces for the table Mommy!" James and Patrick had to hang out in their pack n play as they were getting in the sand. Andrew made sure to tickle them -- check out the giggles on the video!

After the sand art, we had a special lunch at Pie in the Sky Pizza in midtown. Andrew had spaghetti and meatballs. There was some parsley on his meatball. He said, "What's this?" KAW replied, "That's parsley; it's a spice." Andrew said very matter-of-factly, "I don't roll that way."

Later in the day, Andrew decided to rest in the hammock while Thom grilled. Andrew decided he needed some shade so he took his umbrella from his picnic table. Industrious little kid!  Here's a link to all the photos from Monday!

Fun Day Outside!

It is a gorgeous day in Tennessee today; low 70s and just perfect. We had a lot of fun playing outside. James is more adventuresome (tends to be like his big brother Andrew) and Patrick just likes to take it all in sometimes. Patrick got up at 4:00 AM this morning and decided he was up for the day; he can be a party animal at times too. Andrew continues to be a wonderful big brother and loves to help and push his brothers on the swings. Enjoy these photos and two videos. Also, here's a link to the entire album.

So blessed...

A mom diagnosed with twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS) just contacted me for support/information; she got my name from someone. I think I've blocked a lot of that time from my mind; it was tough to describe our experience. But then I think of my two beautiful babies, James and Patrick, and how they really are a miracle. We are SO blessed. I just love my family.   http://www.fetalcarecenter.org/conditions/ttts/surgery-ttts.htm 

Allie and Jake

Bill shared some cute pictures of our niece Allie and new nephew Jake when they were visiting this weekend.  Allie had 50's day at her childcare.

Fun weekend with Gamma and Pop Pop Golden

Gamma and Pop Pop Golden visited us this weekend. It was their first time to see the boys in action on their new swingset! We enjoyed dinner at Red Robin on Friday night. Gamma and Pop Pop loved watching Andrew swim on Saturday morning and watching Thom play tennis as well.

On Saturday afternoon, Gamma Pop Pop, Thom, and Andrew went to the Frist Center for the Visual Arts in Nashville. (I stayed home with James and Patrick who weren't feeling 100%.) Andrew absolutely loved the Frist Center, especially all the hands on art activities for kids. Thom and Andrew were able to "animate" their own movie and Thom recorded it on his blackberry. Thom also took some other photos at the Frist on his blackberry (for all those photos, click here).

After the Frist, they went to get popsicles at Las Paletas. Andrew loved his strawberry popsicle! James enjoyed some fun time with Daddy and Gamma too!

Adventure Science Center - May 12, 2010

We recently purchased a family membership to the Adventure Science Center, a hands-on science center for kids in Nashville. Katie Ann and I took the boys on Wednesday. It was a really fun, engaging experience! Andrew loved the Adventure Tower and KAW was especially fond of BodyQuest, an exhibit which shows a day in the life of your body. KAW loved teaching Andrew about different body parts (she learned a LOT during Anatomy and Physiology!) James and Patrick loved playing with the trains in the preschool area. Andrew even set up an "obstacle course" for James in the preschool area -- check out the video below. Enjoy these pics and here's a link to the entire album. And don't forget - Patrick has a blue paci and James has a green paci. They're wearing their bodysuits that say, "My Auntie is the Best."

Fun weekend at Nana and Papaw's April 30-May 3, 2010

We all went to Nana and Papaw Williams' the weekend of May 1-2. We had a fabulous time! This is a brief video clip that Aunt KAW took on her camera. We all went to Fort Wayne on Saturday. Katie Ann, Mom, and I went to the Vera Bradley warehouse sale. Thom and the boys spent the day with Brian Yochim and his boys. Thom and Brian successfully managed five boys, ages 4 and under. Then we all met up at the University of Saint Francis commencement reception so the boys could see some of the people and nuns with whom Papaw works.

Thom flew from Indianapolis to Cleveland on Sunday. We had originally planned to return to TN on Sunday. Fortunately, KAW took one of her finals early so her next final was on Tuesday. With the flooding in TN, we wouldn't have been able to return on Sunday. Even driving back on Monday was difficult with many closed highways and roads.

Here's a link to the entire album.

Brian, holding Eli, James in front, Patrick by the other couch, Hayden standing

Mother's Day

I had a wonderful Mother's Day weekend!  On Saturday, May 8 all three boys had swimming lessons in the morning.  Then we went to Nashville to watch Thom play tennis (he's playing in two leagues currently).  After that, we had lunch at Pie in the Sky in the midtown area.  Andrew was especially excited because he was able to sit on a stool and watch them make the pizza dough!  He was even more excited when the kind cook gave him some dough to eat/play with.  Later on Saturday, we enjoyed celebrating Drew Surio's First Communion with a party at the Surio's.

On Sunday morning, Thom and the boys served me breakfast in bed - a very special treat!  James climbed up next to me and kept stuffing cinnamon streusel muffins in his mouth.  (Wish we had pictures of that!)

Thom had to fly to Kansas later that morning.  I was planing to take Andrew, James, and Patrick to the Nashville Zoo.  Katie Ann got off work earlier than expected so she was able to join us too!  We had a great afternoon at the Zoo -- the weather was perfect.  The meerkat exhibit is one of our favorites.  Andrew was able to ask some zookeepers questions too -- we learned that there are 12 meerkats - a mommy, a daddy, "Uncle Chocolate" and 9 kids.  The daddy was actually the tiniest one!

We also saw a family of geese waddling by, which was fun.  Andrew and I also ventured into the "Unseen World" an indoor area that houses fish, birds, snakes, iguanas, etc.  This is a stroller-free area so Aunt KAW hung out with James and Patrick outside.  We were just in time for feeding time for the fish.  There are some really big fish -- these fish eat baby rats (eeewwww!!!!), cut up fish, fish food, and grapes.  Andrew thought it was very interesting that they also eat grapes, like we do. 

James and Patrick enjoyed their very first carousel ride too!  Here's a link to the entire album. 

We're okay, but everyone isn't

I posted this earlier today on facebook.

Each time someone checks with how we are after the flood, I get the impression that it's a feeling of "at least it's not us" and "so we don't need to do anything about it." WE ALL NEED TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. My neighborhood seems to be an island, although some of my neighbors whose lots border creeks lost fences, have wet crawlspaces, etc. But that is all SO mild when we look at everything around us. Sumner County, along with three other TN counties, was declared a federal disaster area. However, people seem discouraged (and not expecting much) about FEMA after the response to the April 2006 tornadoes that devastated Sumner County. Andrew and I are prepared to bring cleaning supplies tomorrow night to Hendersonville City Hall for the supply drive sponsored by United Way. I serve on the Board of Directors at his preschool, the Presbyterian Day School, which sits by the lake. The lake crested again yesterday (Tuesday) and water creeped back (again after flooding over the weekend). We have an emergency board meeting tomorrow night to determine what to do. I was there briefly last night dropping off fans and was overwhelmed by the situation. And it's not as bad as so many others.



Today I had my annual exam at my OB-GYN. I passed several Red Cross Disaster Relief vehicles on my way to Baptist Hospital, which was comforting but also saddening. Passing over the Cumberland River, I could see all the trucking businesses that are underwater along the banks and areas.

My OB's nurse is amazing. I just love her. She is a few years younger than me. I got to know her well when I had appointments while pregnant with James and Patrick weekly. She even came to visit me in the hospital. She and her husband have a little girl who is 2. They live in a nice neighborhood behind Opry Mills. On Saturday, they were informed they had 20 minutes to vacate their home -- the water was rising so quickly. They grabbed as many of their daughter's things as they could. Her husband taped the electric cords up high (to prevent their home from blowing up - something I didn't know could happen during flooding but has happened this week across Nashville). They salvaged some clothes for themselves and their 2 cars. Her mother's car was also parked at their home as she is on a cruise (Opry Mills is close to the airport). The water went over her mother's car (a jeep), parked in front of their house. The pipes backed up in the house with sewage and burst. They have lost everything. And they don't have flood insurance (many people in Nashville don't as most were advised they didn't need it).

Her husband works 2 jobs (@ UPS and as a manager at a clothing store at Opry Mills). They took a BOAT into Opry Mills last night (had to get clearance from police) to photograph the damage at the store for his district manager. They took a boat through the mall. Many UPS trucks are underwater and he doesn't think he will be able to keep his job at UPS or Opry Mills. She was just telling me her situation, not asking me for anything. I felt so helpless. I wrote her a check and told her to get groceries, whatever. I wish I had a bigger checkbook. I know that she is just one of so many hardworking, good people that are so impacted by this disaster. She didn't want to accept it but I told her that when she is in a better place, she can pay it forward.



I am saddened by the Nashville landmarks (Opryland Hotel, Grand Ole Opry, Country Music Hall of Fame, LP Field, etc) but am even more saddened by the human loss that is not shown as predominantly on the news. There is a tent city in Nashville where many homeless live. They have evacuated and I just received an email from a friend looking for a big enough boat to go there to rescue the animals that were left behind and are stranded on tops of tents and crates. So many people are trying to help.



This is everyone's responsibility to care for our community and those in need.



Sorry for the rambling. Today just really got to me.



If you don't live locally and want to help, donate to redcross.org.

We have a new nephew!

We are excited to welcome our new nephew, Jacob Christian Golden.  Jake was born this morning at 8:32 AM CDT in Memphis.  He weighed 8 lbs, 3 oz and is 21 inches long.  Susan, Chris, and big sister Allie are doing well!