ellie_rn's Xanga

Tuesday, July 08, 2008

Tue, 08 Jul 2008 16:36:04 GMT

It is decided. I will no longer be posting updates on Xanga. I've officially made the switch to the world of Google's blogger. Join me? For future updates on the Woolards check out www.thewoolardfamily.blogspot.com

Goodbye xanga.

Gifts for Girls

Mon, 07 Jul 2008 17:19:20 GMT

I love everything in this ETSY shop! I can't even pick a favorite. The prices are really reasonable too. This would make a good Christmas gift o hubby of mine.

Monday, July 07, 2008

Mon, 07 Jul 2008 12:41:12 GMT

Finally....some pictures from camp last week.

A New Neighbor

Fri, 04 Jul 2008 20:56:03 GMT

We live in a duplex. Most of the time it is great! We love it. Other times, not so much. When we moved in there was no one living next door - - for a while. We got used to it. Then, a couple of girls moved in who liked to listen to music and enjoyed watching movies....a little loud. I had to go over several times and ask them to please turn the bass down (I should have just said off!). They were very nice each time. They stayed a little while and then the place was empty again. YEAH FOR US! A few weeks passed and a single guy moved in with his dog. He had weird working hours so we never really saw him or heard him. We loved it. His job recently transferred him to Wilmington and the place next door became vacant again....until this week.

We have a new neighbor. A girl, probably a little older than us, her dog and her cat. I met her parents when they were moving her in, offered them cold drinks if they didn't have anything and gave them directions to Subway for lunch when they asked. Very nice people. They left and then it began....the bass kicking through the wall....oh my. It's so annoying. I don't want to be the annoying neighbor who always knocks and says, "sorry, your music/tv is really loud. We can hear it through the wall that we SHARE." Today though I had had enough and I went a knocking. She was very sweet and apologized and I think she turned it down - for a little while at least. Chris got home, got unpacked, we all went to the bedroom to relax. I'm the only one up now (trying to finish up the laundry before fireworks) and what do I hear when I walk in the living room???? Bass!

My brother was here yesterday and said it sounded like she was playing Guitar Hero. When I went over earlier that theory was proven. I could hear through her open windows when she paused the game. I think she must be addicted because she's been playing ALL DAY LONG! How much Guitar Hero can one person stand in a day?

I came back to the bedroom and got on the computer to look for some decent real estate elsewhere....that's not attached to anyone else! We can't afford to move right now - I'm not sure why I was even looking. I guess I am just frustrated that I can't sit in my own living room (that I'm buying) and enjoy some peace and quiet. If anyone wants to start a New Woolard Family Home Fund that would be great!

Hoping her gaming ends at a reasonable hour.....

Sweet Surprises

Wed, 02 Jul 2008 19:10:09 GMT

This afternoon one of our friends, Becky, stopped by with some goodies for us. Boy was I surprised when she pulled out a pound of ground Starbucks Pike Place Roast! She and her hubby were at Starbucks late one evening recently and the employees gave it out. They ended up with 2 bags and decided to share. She also had a starter bag of Amish Friendship Bread complete with instructions and a couple of already made pieces to taste. I had a little pinch and it is wonderful - - good job Becky!!!

I thought it was sweet of her to think of us. For a moment I was taken back in time. When I think about people doing that kind of stuff for others, I think about small, rural communities where the families take care of one another.

Thanks for your kindness!

The Caramel Girl

Tue, 01 Jul 2008 16:38:52 GMT

This morning after a trip to the bank I ran by Starbucks to grab a cup of coffee. I usually go through the drive-thru because it's a lot of work to get the 2 kids out of the car, fix my coffee while holding onto them and then get back in the car. I learned from my mama how to tell the nice baristas how to fix the coffee to my liking..."2 sugars and enough half and half to make the coffee a caramel color." A pretty good description of the color I like my coffee, I think.

So...this morning I pulled to the drive-thru and give my order - I'd like a grande Pike Place with 2 sugars and enough half and half to make it a caramel color. The words hardly out of my mouth, I heard one of the baristas in the back say, "it's the caramel girl." My reply, a laugh and a "I heard that!" I pulled up to the window and the guy says, "I'm not sure what color caramel you want today; how about a light toffee caramel?" That's fine I reply, secretly thinking, "what color is toffee caramel?!!!" I grabbed my cup and headed for the road. The coffee was good and fixed perfectly. Thanks Starbucks!

Now...after reading this story you might think I go to Starbucks often. I don't, just every now and then, but I always order the same thing, the same way. I guess I'm a memorable customer. Makes me feel special.

Back at Home

Tue, 01 Jul 2008 14:21:06 GMT

Silas and I got back home tonight. We are both pooped! I was only at camp for a day and a half (not to mention, I didn't have any "official" camp responsibilities) and I feel like I've been there for a week. Today was a fun day....but it was very long.

Up at 7ish and in the shower. Chris up soon after and out and about to do "dean" stuff. Silas woke up a little later and we took our time getting out. We played a little outside before breakfast where our little one put down 2 pancakes AND a bowl of fruit loops. I guess he was hungry. After breakfast it was more playing outside. We joined the group - a humongous group of middle school kids - for some singing and then....you guessed it...back outside to play some more.

I was able to get Silas down for a nap this morning so we could enjoy some pool time this afternoon. He slept about an hour and was ready for lunch and more playing. The camp is a great place for him to just run and be a boy. He even got to sit on the camp's tractor and pretend to drive it. I got so many great pictures but I'll just put a few up.

I'm just kidding....the computer won't cooperate and I'm too tired to do a whole lot of work. I'll post pictures later.

Week #2

Mon, 30 Jun 2008 01:38:12 GMT

Chris started week #2 of camp today. This week is different from last because - 1...He's the Dean this week - in charge of the goings on. 2...Silas and I rode with him and are staying through tomorrow evening.

Silas had a blast playing at the camp this afternoon. He ran around like he was one of the big kids! His favorite was probably playing with the basketball, football, soccer ball and Frisbees. He did great considering he only got about a 20 minute nap this afternoon. He even joined the big kids in the cafeteria for supper and ate his share (and mine) of cinnamon apple sauce with a few French fries thrown in here and there. I tried to get him to go for the pizza but he wasn't interested.

He and I decided to call it a night around 8:30. After a quick shower he was asleep within a couple of minutes. I've been catching up on emails and reading some of my favorite blogs (mostly other moms of little ones who I've never met but think they have great ideas on crafts, family life, cooking and random musings).

At the camp they have a huge dirt/rock/shark tooth pile that the younger kids love to play in. It's fun to find the sharks teeth! Silas is no different....last week when we came to visit he found the pile and the bucket of shovels and went to work. I took this picture last week on one of our visits and wanted to post it beside the one that was taken last year (only a few days earlier) just to compare how much growing has taken place.

6/25/2008

6/21/2008

Growing Up

Mon, 30 Jun 2008 01:20:09 GMT

Today after church I took our little guy to play on the playground while Chris was getting together some last minute things for camp. Silas loved playing on the "big kid" jungle gym and wasn't scared or timid in climbing and sliding at all. Watching him play and have a good time made me a very happy mama but it also made me very nervous. I had visions of him running too fast and falling off of the top of the jungle gym, through the bars (that are spaced too far apart in my opinion); or falling head first down the slide because he was so excited to get down it that he didn't stop to sit before going down. I wanted him to slow down and hold my hand when he was climbing up the high parts or let me help him get ready to slide down the big slide - - and he let me, sort of.

I had a "my little boy is growing up too fast" moment right there in the middle of the playground. I almost shed a tear....almost.

Everyday he does something new that his daddy and I are amazed at. He learns so quickly and is very interested in his surroundings. It's fun to teach him and watch him grow but it's sad to know that we've left his baby days.

This Morning's Conversation

Fri, 27 Jun 2008 11:31:37 GMT

Me: "Silas, do you know who's coming home today?"

Silas: "ohm, tris"

Me: "Who?"

Silas: "tris"

Me: "You mean, daddy?"

Silas: "Yes" (with a big grin on his face)