Incomplete Timeline

So obviously I have neglected the blog in almost a year's time...but we're still here. Since my last post, a lot has happened...some good and some bad.

Back in December, I ventured off to Dallas, TX. for 2 weeks for job training with AT&T, where I am now working. It was rough being away from the girls....at least the first few days, but then I trusted the fact that I knew they were in good hands with their Daddy at home. In retrospect, it wasn't so bad...free money to eat with, free room and board....it was a mini vacation!!

To kick off summer...our next exciting event was my mother's wedding at the end of May!! The wedding was beautiful, yet simple....and it was nice to see my mom so happy!! So, it is with open hearts, that we welcome Mike into your family!!

This summer has really been a blur....with work and vacations! It seems like the girls have been gone a lot...Katie spending time with her Dad and family...Aeris making random trips to Stuttgart, where she spent most of her time fishing and swimming with her Granny & Poppa. Mid- July, the 4 of us spent a week in Branson. I had hit my 6 month mark and blew through my vacation time....but it was sooo worth it!! We had a blast swimming, seeing attractions, and having some good ol' family time. Our favorite hot spot was the Butterfly Museum. we made 2 trips....one day time showing and another at night. If you've never been, I highly recommend this place!! The girls loved it...and I, myself, could have spent hours there!! There's a neat rope maze, a movie on butterflies, the girls got their faces painted, and of course...the butterfly room. We went around noon, when the butterflies are the most active....and within minutes we were surrounded by the MOST BEAUTIFUL butterflies I've ever seen!! They are magical little creatures covered in the brightest colors!! We weren't there 5 minutes and one planted itself on my foot. It seemed to be content...and I suppose the lotion I had put on that morning before made him my new best friend! After that, the butterflies made their rounds with each of us....and Aeris was quite jealous that none were landing on her...although one finally found its way to her little hands! She was so excited! And just like that....it was gone! The night show was a totally different experience, but it ended up being my favorite thing we did together! Everything under the sun glowed in the dark!! There were girls there dressed up as fairies and danced around in their neon tutus and glow-in-the-dark hoola hoops. One man had positioned himself in a corner with a chameleon puppet...who instantly became Aeris's best friend!! It didn't seem like she could get enough of him. every 5 minutes she begged to go back to talk to him....and I imagine by the end of the night, the poor guy had his fill of Aeris!! He was  a great sport and did an amazing job entertaining her while we were there!! Again....highly recommended especially for kids!! During the week, we ventured off to a huge outlet mall (and if you like to shop...there's plenty of it!). I thought I had died and gone to heaven when I found the Coach store, but my wallet shriveled up at the prices! Katie found a backpack she wanted and as kindly as I could possibly explain....I told her she wasn't getting it! When you can buy a family of four shoes new shoes for the same price....there's no way i was dishing our money for a new purse...or a backpack! Good thing she likes The Children's Place...they have cute backpacks there for a fraction of the price ($20-30 to be exact)! We defused the situation with free fudge samples and a trip to the Disney Store (the cure-all for everything in my book)! Besides the mall....and not a big highlight for the week, we also went to the Hollywood Wax Museum (where Steven married Johnny Depp...and yes...you read that correctly...dress and all!), the Dinosaur Museum (which was lame but had a great haunted house), and we found an exhibit called "Our Body: The Universe Within" where you could explore every inch of the human body...LITERALLY! I wasn't too enthusiastic about it at first, but a great learning experience for all of us! There were real bodies inside that had been preserved and displayed everything from the circulatory system to the reproductive system.....AND there was a section that was dedicated to pregnancy, in utero development, and infancy. The actually had 3 small babies that died due to conditions such as SIDS....and although ti was heartbreaking to see, it was still amazing to see. So I guess we got our "learn" on while on vacation...but we had fun! In fact...I was enjoyed our vacation so much, that I had a serious thought about NOT going back to work, moving to Branson (or somewhere nearby), and working at the Butterfly Museum!! Let's just say...I can't wait to go back!! Next time, we'll have to plan ahead and be sure to go to Silver Dollar City and White Water....2 places we didn't visit! I know...I know....how can you go to Branson without going there? Right?