List of Things You Might Not Know: Part 2

YEAH! We made it home safely. I have over 300 pictures from the week, so bear with me as I do a day at a time! We are definitely still adjusting to the time change as some of you may notice in the hours I posted comments last night. I was up unitl 2:30am, which translates to 11:30pm AZ time!! This house didn't wake up until 11:00am today!! Can't wait to catch up with everyone tomorrow at Church. We won't be hard to miss-the ones still half asleep becasue as I am preparing to do WORD at 9:30 it really will still translate 6:30am to my AZ body!!

Well, I wanted to get some thoughts in this morning (I guess it really is afternooon!), so here goes some more of my list...

5. I love movies! Although we did not watch a lot of TV growing up, I developed a love for movies. Black and white, silent, comedy, thriller/mystery, romance, I love it all. I am not a huge fan of horror movies and sci-fi flicks but have sat through some. My first "theater" movie was my sophomore year of college when Father of the Bride Part 1 came out!! Even then, my Dad had a hard time allowing us to go to the movies. Growing up, none of my friends went to the movies, so I didn't know I was missing anything and didn't think anything of it. One of my favorite things to do still now is to go to the Library, where movies are free, and look through old ones I may not have seen. I've done this with Audrey Hepburn movies and Shirley Temple movies. What's better over the holidays or on vacation days to rent the Anne of Green Gables saga or Gone with the Wind or The Blue and the Gray or any other sweeping epic miniseries??!!!! My next feat is to go through all of the movies that won the Oscar for Best Picture and watch those. Anyone got an absolute favorite to share? And by the way, who cares if I've seen it before! I've watched some movies more than a dozen times. Trevor knows this well as I can guess a movie based on some lines, the music, or a cast of characters!

6. Yes, I was a "band geek". I loved Marching Band in High School. Although playing my flute got old after a while, I loved the marching, the formations, the thrill of competition, watching bigger bands compete with the "sound" they could make that would fill the whole stadium, sitting with your comrads in matching sweatshirts, and giggling and hugging and squealing with pride when our was called to win a trophy!! I loved even more the leadership of being a Drum Major. I loved making music selections, helping with formations, passing on the excitement to a younger generation, leading the band onto the field to perform, making up our unique salute, adn our shining gold gloves!! Even now, as Trevor and I try to make it to some shows and competitions each year, I get choked up and cry at the excitment of it all!! What great years those were in my life. Too bad I gave it all up for a boy in college. Looking back I would have enjoyed my marching band years at Liberty had I stuck with it!! One of those minor regrets!

Saturday: Flight Zone

We all love to fly and it's funny to me that Grayson is 3 1/2 adn already a seasoned flyer. We love everything abouyt flying: driving to the airport, dropping off our baggage, going through security, buying a snack/coffee to kill time at the double-your-price convenience store, watching the planes take-off and land through the big windows, watching the plane pull up, watching the people exit the flight, getting to pre-board and find a good seat, buckling up, clearing for take-off, the pressure o your chest as the jet hurtles forward, the lift-off, the view from the windows as we leave the ground, the seatbelt sign going off so we can relax a little, the kind attendants who bring snacks and drinks, more views from the plane, using the airplane bathroom, keeping busy while in flight, seatbelts on and the anticipation of landing, more great views, the hard landing as the wheels touch-down, gathering your bags from overhead, trying to get out into the aisle with all the other people whoa re ready to exit, saying good-bye to the attendants and pilot, and having a big smile as you leave the walkway and enter into the airport.

A huge thanks to Dave who dropped us off at the airport so we didn't have to leave our car and spend a night's dinner money on parking! He dropped us curbside at Norfolk airport and our travels began. It took 40 minutes, and we were in Baltimore. Trevor loved it because he was able to watch out the window and see the cities and it's landmarks as we passed over. We flew very low. We switched planes, and headed to Detroit. Due to preboard because Grayon is 3, we were able to get on the plane and find the front seat available. SO what if we didn't have tray tables for our snacks! Trevor had lots of leg-room and lots of additional space for Grayson to roam while in the air. We love Southwest! Our attendants on the plane were all male, which was a new experience for me. They were great with Grayson. They talked to him and really catered to him. When we deplaned in Detroit, we didn't need to switch flights, so we chilled out and got some energy out by running the aisles!!


Grayson got the biggest treat of all. We spoke to the pilot as they were preparing the plane for the next flight. They allowed Grayson to go right into the cockpit! And not just that, but they let him sit in the pilot's seat. They showed him what some knobs and switches did and even let Grayson press, twist, push, and pull some of the buttons, knobs, etc. What a highlight that he, and Trevor, will never forget!!!





The flight to Phoenix was a long one-4 hours. Even though it was time to go to sleep our time, the sun was still shining adn Grayson was not convinced that it was night time. Three hours into the flight, he finally gave up the fight and fell alseep. By that time it was 7:00 AZ time!! Not too bad. Trevor's parents picked us up at the airport. We proceeded to pick up Trevor's 2 sisters who flew in together from Lynchburg. After getting to the resort, it didn't take long for us to all crash, knowing that Grayson would be awake somehwere around 6am AZ time!!


I'll go ahead and post some pictures of the rest of the week and come back as I can and do a little write up of all the memories and sights!! Enjoy-it was a fabulous, once in a lifetime (maybe!) trip out West!!

Sunday: Wedding Bells

Trevor's cousin Dawn got married on Sunday in Tucson. She and DeeJay met at a church there and are madly in love and seeking to serve the Lord together for the rest of their days. The wedding was perfect. It was outdoors at 5pm with a reception following under the stars!! The couple were giddy adn never stopped smiling. Oh to be reminded of those first few moments of married life, with all the joy and wonder and a whole lifetime of memories waiting to come!!


We didn't look too shabby either! I think this one might become our new family photo. We had a great time catching up with some extended family.

Monday: Red Rocks

We drove to Sedona on Monday morning after bagels and coffee with family. Sedona is famous for the "red rocks". They look like mountains made out of the red VA clay, or at least the clay seen in Lynchburg! Breathtaking, gorgeous, fascinating! To steal a line from Meg Ryan in 'French Kiss' as she is seeing the sights in Europe "Whoa---Gorgeous---Wish you were here!"

Grayson actually took both of these pictures!!

Tuesday: Lazy Day

After going strong for 3 straight days we needed a day to just relax at the resort. They had an awesome pool, a Kiddie pool, and a waterworks spray park! Grayson had a blast. It didn't take long to feel the hot Phoenix sun! That evening we went to a great Italian place to eat called Maggiano's. Amazing atmosphere, great food, impeccable service, and excellent dessert. It's always fun to find a new restaurant that's not at home!

Grayson had a good time playing "pizza guy" with daddy, delivering "pillow pizzas with macaroni and cheese"! Boy how they giggled-you know the kind that makes everyone else around laugh too!!

Lots of doggie bags this night!

Wed/Thurs: GRAND Canyon

If you've never been, you can't even imagine the enormity of the GRAND canyon! I couldn't even say anything at first but just stare. Speechless! Amazing to think that either 2 things happened. One: the flood created this cavernous, mountainous terrain. OR Two: God threw it together and placed it on the earth to draw people to Him, the master craftsman, molder of mountains, creator of colors, Creator, GOD!

I thought it was neat that the week before we went, Grayson was watching the Disney channel and the show 'Higgleytown Heroes' had an episode where they were visiting the 'Grand Higgly Canyon'. Grayson was sooo excited that he got to see it in person!! He is now calling it by it's real name! He loved climbing all of the rocks, and didn't want to always hold our hands. No fear that the edge was steps away and he could easily plummet off as people do every year (so we heard and read!).

Two days was not even enough to see it all and experience it. Hopefully we will get back out there again, but if not, I am glad to have experienced it once in my lifetime!!

Friday: Reality Check

Homebound we are! We packed bags, did laundry so everything came home clean, had time for another quick dip in the pool, adn got some pictures with a cactus before heading out! Grayson did great as we had a 1-hour delay in leaving AZ, and another 1-hour delay added to our already long layover in Chicago. Too bad we couldn't have gotten out to see some of the City!! At least I can say that I've been there, even if it was just to the airport!!



We met a VA Beach couple and their daughter as we waited for our flight. Grayson and Camille played games and talked. It was a great diversion! We found out that they are the owner/operators of The Melting Pot down at HillTop on Laskin Rd in VB!! It was ironic because Trevor had read an article about them in the newspaper! Such a small world, as my Mom would say!! It was great meeting you Holder family!

Our flight finally arrived home at 12:00am Friday night/Sat morning! Thanks again to Dave adn SUe for dropping our car off! As it turned out, we're glad you didn't decide to just wait for us to call you to come get us!! Grayson had fallen asleep on the plane, and easily transferred to bed. Trevor and I were a little different, our bodies not ready to readjust to VA time! Even as I write this, I should be in bed because it is now Sunday morning and I'm still at the computer-not tired!! It'll take another few days, but then we'll be back to normal routines and waking/sleeping schedules! It was all worth it, even though we swore we would never travel over time zones with a young child again!

See ya' next week

Just so you all don't think I fell off the planet, we fly to Phoenix, AZ for a week's vacation and a wedding! We'll be back with lots of great stories and pictures. Until then...

NEWSFLASH

NEWSFLASH!!

Grayson is now a big boy...

he pooped on the potty for the first time this morning...

it was a random moment...

no urging or asking from Mommy...

he was so proud...

called Daddy and the grandmas...

he got the 5 pieces of bubble gum that he had been promised weeks ago and proceeded to put them all in his mouth...

NO!!! I didn't include a picture to show it...

let's hope it wasn't a fluke!

My list of 8 things you might not know about Jayne: PART 1

I know it's been a while, but it took Katy a long time to come up with hers too. So, here goes the first half...

1. I was born in Oshawa, Ontario, Canada. I grew up in a little "village" called Prince Albert. Yes, a village is just smaller than a town, one blinking red light for traffic, we would have to pick up our mail at the General Store, we walked/biked to school and got to go home for lunch. Awesome way to grow up, about one hour East of Toronto!

2. I don't know where it got started or from whom, but I was a toothpick and a shrimp (that hasn't changed!) growing up. Somehow I was given the nickname "Weiner". Don't laugh and don't dare call me this!!!!! Thankfully when we moved to VA in the 6th grade, the name didn't follow me.

3. I had to get braces much later than most people. I still had not lost my last baby tooth by the age of 16! My permanent tooth had begun to grow back behind. I had braces on my Senior year of high school (yes, that included Sr. Pics!) and went off to Liberty U. with them on.

3 1/2. I am not going to include the fact that I went to LU, as I'm sure most everyone knows this. I moved to Lynchburg so my Dad could go to Seminary at LU and we/they never left. I went through Lynchburg Christian and then to Liberty, graduating in 1996.

4. I hate, Hate, HATE to shop!! Even worse window shopping! Trevor is a big, "Let me show you what I saw today!"--NOT INTERESTED! If I am not in the market for something or don't have some extra money that I can just splurge on "just because" stuff, I don't want to be any where near a mall. The one time I do love to go to the mall with Trevor is Christmas time. It is one of our little traditions: to hit the stores in the middle of the holiday rush because it's part of the season. The sights and smells and traditions of Christmas include shopping!

Okay, tha'll tie me over for now. Part 2 will follow later.

Random

Good thing I'm blogging and always have my camera with me. Grayson and I pulled up to the light at the corner of Kempsville and Battlefield on our way home, and what should pull up beside us? No, not a motorcycle, not a fire truck, not Daddy in the Big Truck, not a friend, but a HUGE TRACTOR??!! I almost had to think about where I was? Am I in the middle of a metropolis, or on a country road? So I grabbed my camera to capture it. I think the tires on it were taller than our car!! Nevertheless, Grayson loved it!!

Small group thoughts

Okay, I caught up with most of your blogs today, but you'll have to give me another day to get into mine. The crazy week is over, but now we're preparing to go to Arizona for a week's vacation/wedding! Talk to you all again soon! Small groups were awesome tonight. I don't know that it was so much the lesson (not sure whether it was Dave, Sue, or the DVD!!!) but the fellowship was great. Here arew some of my thoughts from tonight as I reflect on what a group we are blessed to be a part of...

Heidi, thanks for sharing with me about Grayson and his comment to "allow you to borrow his cup if you want". It melted both our hearts! I enjoy our budding, laidback friendship.

Sue, thanks for always opening your heart and your home to us each week for small group. Thanks for your friendship-I am excited to see how God made our paths cross, and how our friendship is growing. I love our heart-to-hearts under the blazing sun!!

Katy-we missed you tonight, but thanks for the yummy cookies! Have a great morning in Bible study tomorrow. I'll miss it.

Marcia-I don't know where to begin except to say that maybe our Natalie gets her excitable personality from her mama! I better watch it if I'm going to get you in Kid's Thang!

Natalie, it was so great to see you and Kevin and the boys together as a family at small groups tonight! Glad to hear that a lot of kinks are getting worked out that will help your family tremendously in the day to day (Kevin at work, Greyson at school, you at your job)! I'll get you those recipes.

Tiffany, I barely even got a chance to say hello tonight, but I hope that the new job is going well and it will serve it's purpose for you and your family!

Kristen, it was great to have you and your family join us tonight! What a sweet spirit I can sense in you already. Hope to see you all again next Tuesday!

Erica, we missed seeing you and your brood tonight. I am ecstatic that you and the boys are away to see Daddy though. Better late than never!!

Terri, we missed you tonight too! Hope all is well and I'll be talking to you soon!

Feeding the Birds??!!

Don't anyone start giving me a hard time like you did Heidi!! I know it has been over a week since I've posted anything. I won't be able to even catch up until Saturday or maybe the first of next week. We've got something going on every night this week and will have a really busy morning on Sunday.

Here's a little tale to keep you going until then...

Last night I was frantically running around the house getting ready, Grayson ready, dinner ready, and snacks together for small groups, and Trevor wasn't home. Grayson was supposed to be finishing his last bites of dinner as I blow dried the hair. I came back to the table to find his food all over the floor in little pieces!!! When asked what was going on, he sweetly and innocently said, "I'm feeding the birds, Mommy!" Like, duh, how could I have not seen the birds flocking at his feet waiting for a bite of his supper!! Hilarious! Well, as any good Mommy would do, I let out a big sigh and pointed in the direction of the hallway where he could go to find the vacuum claener to clean up the mess that the birds didn't eat. After all of that, we still got out the door on time with snacks in tow.

Cleaning up the mess the "birds" left