husband/wife getaway ?????

Well, doesn't this look like a place we could all spend a few days at? I would never pay for a stay here, but if my husband won a trip.... I guess he could drag me there. It is called the Terranea resort and it is in So. Cal. Jeffrey won the Summit Award at his work for the 3rd time. Previously we went to resorts in FL and Arizona. We had just gotten home with Will 2 years ago when we went to the winning trip to FL, so we took Will and the girls to FL with us. We were the only parents there who took their kids along for the trip. Yes, I was looked at rather weird for bringing my kids, but it was either that or I wouldn't go. Who would leave their recently adopted little one for a few days/ Since it was in FL, Jeffrey's mom was able to come and watch the kiddos during the awards ceremony so that worked out well. This time, Jeffrey kinda wants a little getaway with just the wifey, so after humming and hawing, I guess I will accompany him to get treated like a queen for a few days. I'll hate every minute of it though and miss my kiddos. I worry how Will will do, but his Auntie from FL with her two girls and Gramma from FL are going to fly up to take care of the brood while we are gone. We cant forget we have a dog that needs a couple walks a day and a cat that needs shots twice a day, so them coming to our home is a great help. I struggle with doing things like this because I feel money like what his company puts out for this should go towards helping those who need help.... like Ethiopian orphans, instead of paying for me to be pampered. Have to get over this or my husband is going to commit me to the looney bin. We leave in May, so I have a while to prepare Will for it.

Take a good look at my baby's front teeth. Soon there will be an open space there with room for 2 new teeth to grow in! My baby! Pretty soon his clothes won't fit on the little hangers anymore and that is when I will really lose it! Spring has hit NC and we are enjoying all the time we can outside. A lot of the trees in our yard are flowering trees so of course I have to throw my kids up in them and take their pics. The previous owners of the house planted bulbs that I was not aware of, so it has been a pleasant surprise watching so many of them come out and up from the ground! Will and I check out their progress in growing every day. Yep, soon you will be seeing pics of him with tulips and daffodils all around!

“People are often unreasonable and self-centered. Forgive them anyway.

If you are kind, people may accuse you of ulterior motives. Be kind anyway.

If you are honest, people may cheat you. Be honest anyway.

If you find happiness, people may be jealous. Be happy anyway.

The good you do today may be forgotten tomorrow. Do good anyway.

Give the world the best you have and it may never be enough. Give your best anyway.

For you see, in the end, it is between you and God. It was never between you and them anyway.”

- Mother Teresa

We got away for a little one night getaway to Greenville, SC this weekend. It was nice to stay in a hotel, let the kids swim, sit in a hot tub and visit with Jeffrey's sister who was in Greenville visiting her friends. We went to a beautiful park that had great landscaping and a beautiful waterfall and river running through it. Always nice to get away from the routine. This weekend Will has soccer, Jack is running a 5K and playing tennis for our subdivision team. The team started playing matches last weekend. Permits for the deck/screenroom are being applied for and we hope construction starts on that by the end of the month. Thats about all that is going on with the Googins household!!

Let the deck demo begin!!!!

The kids knocked the railing boards off. They can't wait to get the thumbs up to continue the demo. We have to have the HOA approve the new deck/screenroom so we are waiting for that before we destroy the old deck!
The deck will extend out to the left where the screen room will close in from the right of the outside door to the space between the window and edge of the house. Should be a fun home improvement. At least the dust and mess is outside!
Mr. "Big Hair" I think it is time for the summer shave!!!
Even got a little help from our neighbor Elle:)
Once Jaymie got the sledge hammer in her hands, there was no stopping her!
My Handy Manny!!!!

When we were house hunting in Mooresville last year, I really loved all the screen rooms on many of the houses we looked at. Unfortunately the house we felt was a perfect fit for us didn't have a sunroom. So... the demo begins. We have had 5 bids on replacing the deck with a composite board and adding on to it to build a screen room. We hope to add a fireplace as we want to convert our inside one to gas instead of propane,and our current fireplace backs up to the screen room, so we plan to but back to back fireboxes so we can enjoy the fire in the screen room to0. Those who know me well, know I am a total pyro, so this is pretty exciting for me!! The kids quickly moved in on the action when they saw me starting to demo the deck. They pretty much took over. I'll post some before/after/during pictures as the room gets built. I'm going to hit the flea markets to find the "perfect mantel" for above the outdoor fireplace.