Happy Easter!

We hope everyone enjoyed a great day! We had beautiful weather here, and were able to visit with family. Here is a quick run down....

It's very difficult to get family photos when you are always the photographer. Here we were experimenting with my new camera.

Not sure why I like this one so much, maybe because you can't really tell Caelyn's hair is butchered!

Caelyn astually picked out the hat. Everyone at church loved it! (They like the story of brother cutting hair almost as much!)

Totally Caelyn.... poor Ray!

Too cute, the kids are almost over this!So sweet!

Yes, Carson climbed the tree to get the egg... with a little help of course.

After hair cut....

Here is the picture after Ms. Linn cut her hair. Better but not perfect. She has definitely gotten

some comments at school.

One more pic!

This is the last picture I have where you can see her hair, it was taken in January... :(

Beautiful baby girl...

I am amazed at what I learn from my kids, daily. I believe they both have taught me something today...

So the story goes like this...

Mommy downstairs cleaning. Kids upstairs, just waking up from napping. Both kids are in Carson's room coloring (completely normal). Carson comes to the top of the stairs to show me a picture he colored and returns to his room. Several minutes later Caelyn is standing at the top of the stairs saying, 'Mommy, look Ray cut my hair!' Both kids are in to this 'just kidding' or 'just joking' So as begin up the stairs my eyes are welling up. Caelyn also become tearful. Carson is now standing with his back against his wall. I pick Caelyn up and run my hands through her hair, clumps are falling out in my hands. When I asked why Carson did this he says, 'It was long'. True, I give him that. We were going Wednesday for haircuts. And he did have about 95% of the hair in the trash can (not on the floor). I also asked Carson why he did not ask me first... he said, 'I didn't know I had to ask'. This from the boy who, honestly, asks permission to use the restroom, every time!

I put Carson on his bed and Caelyn and I walked down stairs so I could cool off. So I then called Chad, who thought I was kidding. I frantically called my hairstylist who will meet us first thing tomorrow. I walked back upstairs to 'talk' to Carson and this is what I found. Now please notice the scissors located in his back pocket! Enough to make my skin crawl!! And I couldn't be mad at him, he was sound asleep. Aparently he is terrified of me.

Hair so gorgeous... so as soon as I calmed down, gave Caelyn lots of love and told her she was beautiful she was better. It was kinda cute though, as she was sobbing she kept saying, 'mommy, I so mad'.

Now, I know all of you are thinking, 'why were they playing with scissors?'. Well it wasn't the huge, very sharp, orange handled ones. It was a pair of 'safety' scissors (maybe the safety was off!). And apparently a huge portion of development for Carson's age is learning to cut all sorts of ways. The both have been doing great. We have had multiple discussions reagarding the right way to carry scissors, and on and on.

So, what my children have taught me today is that I am as much to blame as they are. I am so lucky that Carson didn't do lasting damage, like cutting her ear off. I have also learned that Caelyn is still a beautiful little girl full of personality. Besides, this makes for a great story in a few years. We were also thinking Carson should have his head shaved on Wednesday.

So, not exactly how we wanted Easter pictures, or school pictures (next week). But, we will definitely keep you updated!

No words...

Chad and I attended the funerals for the two fallen firefighters yesterday (Thursday 3/13/08). 4000 people were expected. We arrived nearly 2 hours early and were lucky enough to have a seat in the chapel. Though we wer at the back and couldn't see anything. The moving stories and emotional songs were... difficult. The sanctuary was packed with two rows of standing firefighters on each side of the chapel, not to mention every seat filled. There was an 'overflow' area where about 1800 were seated with a live feed TV. Every minute of this service was so well planned. We did not witness the funeral procesion as we were already seated, but from news accounts there were firefighters and citizens lined along the streets from downtown to Catawba. I can't even begin to tell how emotional this was, more overwhelming were the amount of people. At one point after the service we were all lined up outside as the placed the bodies back on the firetrucks to take them to the grave site. I looked and around and there were firefighters as far as I could see. We saw people from as far away as New York City and Sarasota, FL. Amazing! I took these pictures shortly after the bodies were placed on the truck, on their way to the site... I was standing in the very front..


The next several photos were taken in the procession. This is the line of people after the 100 or so firetrucks. It was about 3 miles from Catawba to the site. The trucks were already at the grave site.
These people were amazing. Their signs were so heart-felt. I unsuccessfully tried to get the photos of the little boy (probably 18 months of so, waving his flag... and the group of elementary school kids standing silently with their hand on their hearts.)

These pictures are from the grave- site. Again, it is impossible to say how amazing this was. So many people and so many firetrucks

This is one of my favorite pictures from yesterday. The men rode from the funeral home to Catawba like this and then from Catawba to the site. If you look closesly under the flag the casket is designed with fire fighter scenes. I got one pictures but is was blurry. The designs were amazing

In the above picture you can see all of the 'white hats'. The Captains and chiefs were these.. This is Chad and fellow Charlotte firefighter Josh. They both work at station 10 on 'b' shift. Surprisingly Josh and his wife were also married at Catawba.






This is Justin's....

Too young to die....

Very sad day...

Tuesday, the two firefighters bodies returned home. There was a 1 hour processional from Charlotte to Salisbury. The city streets, interstates and over passes were crowded with people paying their respect. The procession started 1 1/2 hours late and everybody remained. Absolutely amazing. Carson, Caelyn and I spent the afternoon with a friend, and firefighter with Concord fire department. The kids were initiated with Concord fire helmets and stayed surprisingly tame for the 2 hour event. This photo is Jody Hall, her husband is James. We both joke that Chad and James are 'work wives'. They are inseparable, and both amazing men. James is responsible the rescuing the one surviving firefighter.

We have visited the Main fire station in Salisbury, this is where Chad and I met. We both haven't been there in almost 7 years. The bay was riddled with cards, flower and more food than you can imagine. (People in Salisbury bring food for every event!) Chad's fellow Charlotte firefighters are working at the Salisbury stations all week.

The visitations were today. The funeral tomorrow, at the chapel where Chad and I were married. We are expecting hundreds (no joke) of firetrucks, not to mention firefighters.

Hopefully laying to rest these 2 amazing firefighters will 'help'.

Ready for another very sad day....

Tragic Loss...

As most of you have heard, our small town has suffered tremendous loss. First and foremost, Chad is fine physically. It is always difficult to hear of line of duty deaths, espicially when it is so close to home. Chad's volunteer department was the company responsible for saving the firefighters 'in trouble'. They were successful in saving one life, however, when their lives were in jeopardy they had to leave. The Captain they rescued was transferred to a burn unit where he suffered 2nd and 3rd degree burns. He is expected to be released from the hospital today. Although there is much to be thankful for today, we mourn the loss of 2 incredible firefighter and again, praise the men and women who courageously commit themselves to this profession...

Our thoughts and prayers to Salisbury fire Department and the families of Victor Isler and Justin Monroe...

Creativity...

So call this a poor attempt at education or a balanced meal, but it worked. The kids were quizzed as they were eating their food! Score! Killing 2 birds with one stone!

Oh, Carson has pneumonia... he's been a little pueny but getting better!