A little at a time.

Jamie and Lynn built their porch this weekend, and got their garage doors yesterday. Today Lynn was building the retaining wall down by the lower driveway.

It is time for spring sports!

Rebecca has made the Junior Varsity softball team and is currently their third baseman. This is very new to her, she has not played softball before. The coach was very impressed with her speed and running endurance. In the first game she was the only one to score. The second game was against Science Hill in Johnson City - needless to say no one scored on that game. She is coming around with fundraiser stuff for everyone to buy.

Dinner Out night

Last weekend we decided to use the Smokey Bones gift cards we received for Christmas. The food and service were really good (most had the ribs as you can see). We didn't know however that at 8pm on Friday nights they have a DJ come in with really loud music. (not old peoples music) Fortunately we were finished eating and on our way out at that point. Everyone had a good time and can't wait to go back.

Grandbabies, you have to love them!!!

Tonight was a Cassidy night. Any one with a three year old understands that when they are in the house they are the center of attention. She came over to get her Zhu Zhu dress (a Zhu Zhu is a small mechanical hamster that is all the rage right now). After dressing up Zhu Zhu like a princess, then it was cooking with the play kitchen for everyone. Spaghetti for dinner and play dough with Matthew after dinner. Now that she has learned to coil the playdough, we made lots of snails of every color and design out of it.

Biltmore

Saturday the weather finally cleared up! We headed out for some family time at Biltmore, the largest home in America. It is over in Asheville, NC and was built in 1894 by the Vanderbuilts. The top picture is the house itself. Imagine having 43 bathrooms. The library was incredible. When you walk in there is a beautiful solarium with a fountain. It has tapastries from the 1500's and amazing furniture.

The lion we are standing in front of is on either side of the front steps. The "tree" Rebecca is standing by is actually a grape vine that they have trained to grow this way. They have a winery on side so there are tons of vines. Jennifer is standing on a sundial that is in the garden.

It took a while to go though the house, several hours but it was great. Jennie especally enjoyed the trip through. The boys enjoyed going to the farm section.

On the way home the adventure continued, we blew out a tire just north of JC and had to call Christopher to rescue us. He and Devin came and piled us all in the car and took us home. OUR HERO!! 

How much more snow can we possibly get? We counted it up and we have had school exactly 15 days since Christmas vacation. At first the kids thought it was cool, but now it's getting to be irritating. Algebra II and Chemistry are hard enough with out missing most of the classes. If the schools are not closed for snow, they have been closed for heating problems. 

Jamie and Lynn had the sheet-rock put in their house this week. It is really starting to come together now. Lynn has cut the trees that will be made into the wood floors and has taken the wood to the millers. Anyone have some spare garage doors? That is what is next on the list of things to do. They are trying to get to a certain point to get Obama's tax credit. The bottom picture is the view out of the back door of the house by the kitchen where the back deck will be. The pond you see has ducks in it during the spring and summer months.

The top picture is their living room, front door and windows. The cathedral ceiling still has to be done. The picture was actually taken from the kitchen area where the kitchen island will be. The second picture is the hallway with the bathroom, two bedrooms, laundry room in it.

The retaining wall in front by the driveway is marked but is waiting for cooperative weather before they put it in. 

They are hoping to have the wedding in the side yard with the reception in the back yard in the summer of 2011. They have planted hundreds of tulips and gladiolas so far to bring color into the yard in the spring.

Jamies broken ankle

Jamie asked for new shoes for her birthday. What she received what not exactly what she bargained for. She stepped off a ramp and broke her ankle. Now she has this "fashionable" shoe to wear for the next few weeks. Walking in the snow and mud in crutches along with teaching is sssooo much fun right now. It is a simple break, the bones were still in the right place, she says the muscles and tendons hurt the most.