iPod

I got an iPod today! I have 130 songs and 9 pictures on it already, and still have 3 GB of space left. Why did I wait so long to get one?!

A Weekend Away

My MOPS group held our annual retreat this past weekend. We got a cabin in Wears Valley that was really nice. Other than me not being able to find the restaurant in Townsend, the weekend was perfect. We had dinner on Friday night, headed up to the cabin to get settled and have devotions, and then stayed up until 2 am talking and laughing. On Saturday we shopped at the outlets after breakfast and then enjoyed a relaxing afternoon on our own. I took a bath and read a book (I can't remember the last time I did that and it was great!). We cooked dinner and ate as a group, had a devotional time, and started chatting again. I gave up and went to bed around midnight. When I got home yesterday I was sleepy, but unbelievably refreshed after a weekend without having to meet anyone's needs but my own.

Cold

Andrew all bundled up
Crazy hat hair
Evie trying to play golf in mittens

We have been staying home this week since there is a flu outbreak and the kids couldn't get flu shots due to their egg allergy. We were starting to go stir crazy, so when Daddy came home yesterday we bundled up the kids and headed into the backyard. We eventually had to take their mittens off. You just can't play very well with mittens.

Happy Birthday Phil!

Phil with his favorite ice cream cake
Evie helping open presents
Andrew used a fork for the first time and loved the cake
Evie just wanted the sprinkles

Phil turned 29 today! We celebrated with Hardee's biscuits in our Sunday School class, cake with his parents, and dinner at Wasabi. Evie enjoyed helping him open his presents and both the kids loved having birthday cake!

UT game

The Power T for the team to run through
Laura, Jeremiah, and Phil
Phil and Janet

Laura and Jeremiah came down to go to a UT men's basketball game with us for Phil's birthday. We got a little cold walking near the river and we learned the hard way that you have to make reservations if you want to eat at Calhoun's on gameday, but we had such a good time! UT pulled out a win, but they really need to reconsider trying for 3 pointers. They were 4 for 17 on 3 pointers for the night. The final score was 64-61 over South Carolina.

A Beautiful Spring Day in January!

It was so nice and sunny today, the kids got to play outside.

Andrew hitting the tree with his golf club...it's a bigger target than his golf ball!
Evie and Andrew enjoying having two swings

Evie's haircut

After the disaster of a knot that had to be cut out of her hair this week, Evie had a real haircut this morning. She loved it!

West Towne Play Area

Andrew riding the caterpillar
Evie at the top of the slide

The kids have found a new favorite play area for the winter. We have been to the mall three times this week!

PE

Phil passed his PE Exam!!! He is now a Professional Engineer. I know I say this a lot, but I am so proud of him!

ORNL

Phil started his new job today at Oak Ridge National Labratory. His technical first day was New Year's, so that worked out nice to start a new job and get your first day off. He gets to work a better schedule and he will have another week of vacation, so we will get to see him a lot more. Working at the Lab is a wonderful opportunity, and we are all so proud of him!

Outback Bowl

The kids (all three of them!) enjoyed putting on their game day gear to watch the game. Evie had so much fun! She yelled, "Go defense" through the whole first half. It wasn't so much fun when UT lost though.

Happy New Year

We had our Sunday School class over for breakfast yesterday and our teacher shared a thought for the new year. He asked what we thought the shepards and wise men did after seeing angels and visiting the Christ child. The Bible doesn't say, but we have to assume they went back to their everyday tasks, but as changed people. That is what we have been called to do also. The festivities and parties are over now and we have to get back to our day to day lives. However we are to take Christ with us in everything we do. Matthew 5:13-16:
You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? ... You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hid... Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

May God bless you in 2007!