No news is bad news...

That's right...we didn't win "The Ugliest Chair Contest" The green chair with the Duck tape took the title. I knew the duck tape would seal the deal. It truly is a great invention and I am just mad because I didn't think of it first. Here's the kicker, they didn't call us to let us know we did not win. Neal read it in the paper. Like a knife in the heart. Now every time I look at this ugly ass chair I get pissed off. I didn't think I could dislike that chair anymore than I already did but obviously I was wrong (sighhhhhhhh). This whole thing reminds me waht a sore loser I really am. Oh well. Neal thinks we should enter the chair in "The Ugliest Chair" circuit and travel around the country to enter it in contests. First of all I don't think there is a "circuit" for this type of thing and secondly we would need Amanda and her bus to pull that off.

So I went to court on Tuesday. Talk about uncomfortable. I was sitting about 20 feet away from the guy I was to testify against. Although I was surrounded by the 6 cops who were called to the scene so I felt pretty safe. And let me just tell you that the hour of conversation I listened to between the 6 cops was hysterical. There was a lot of waiting involved so they exchanged stories of the people they pulled over. Good stuff. So we watched them pick the jury and the solicitor tells me that they are going to try and offer him a plea and in that case I wouldn't have to testify. So for 30 minutes I sit there while they are all in a room. When they come out he took the guilty plea. Turns out the guy has two priors for the same thing and they have already lost custody of their two children. So sad. The solicitor told me if had not been for me he would have walked away with a dismissal from lack of evidence. I was the one and only witness so I feel good knowing that my being there got the jerk convicted. Everyone think good thoughts for their children wherever they are...they need them. So that's wraps up Law and Order: Rock Hill.

Beautiful baby girl...

I just can't say how much I love this girl...She warms my heart every time I see or think of her. What a blessing she has been to Neal and I. I am amazed every day that she is ours, forever.
We are having Grace's baptism this weekend. All the family will travel for this special day and our azaleas seemed to have bloomed their gorgeous hot pink just for her. Joy in my heart...that's all I can say. Love to all.

Here's the competition...

Well the Home and Living show started yesterday and I drug everyone I knew in this town, including some friends from Hendersonville that were visiting us, to the show to cast their vote for the Ugliest Chair. So what do you think of the other chairs. Ugly...yes...but not as ugly as mine. I should've thought to add some duck tape for a finishing touch like the green chair did. I considered running out to my car to get some and when no one was looking, slap it on. That's right I keep duck tape in the car...Alas the mother in me came out and decided that wasn't a very honest thing to do. So we'll see who wins. I still can't beleive I entered this contest and am now a finalist. Jeez.
In Grace's world she got a new highchair, which she loves. She looks so small in it! She also went to the Home Show with us and cast her vote for Mommy and Daddy's chair. What a good girl she is. Love to all!

Here's to the chair...

Okay so this ugly ass chair is now one of the three finalists to the "Ugliest Chair Contest". Cheers to that! That's right...I got the call this morning from the local newspaper letting me know my chair was chosen for the final three. I almost peed my pants. This is hysterical!! So I drop the chair off tomorrow and it will be on display all weekend with the two other competitors where people will vote. If I could only put Grace in the chair we would surely secure all the votes! Let's hope people think its hideous and vote for me. Oh and you know I will have an article in the paper if I win. This is my 15 minutes of fame...I'm milking it! Think ugly chair thoughts my way...pictures to follow on Saturday!

I bet you didn't get one of these today...

That's right, I get a subpoena. My big mouth and thoughts that there has to be someone out there to stand up for someone, even if they won't has landed me in court as a witness to a battery. Picture it...a cool November Sunday morning and I am outside sweeping off the front porch. I hear a lot of yelling from across the street only to see my neighbor (whom I don't barely know) push his wife out the door and as she tries to get up he pulls her back in the house by her hair. Then more yelling and then she comes running out holding her 2 year old in her arms as they scream back and forth. By this point I am not the only person outside their home and someone called the police. Well the police ask me for a statement and at this point I should have said I didn't see anything but no...I had to open my big mouth and tell the truth. Well the jerk requested a jury trial and now I am the only witness you will probably send the psycho to jail. This is all a little to Law and Order/Jerry Springer for me. So think about me on March 28 at 9:00 am while I am on the stand. Good lord...

So what do you think?

So I entered this chair of ours in the "World's Ugliest Chair Contest". What do think my odds are? If it is chosen as one of the three finalists I will take it to the Home and Garden Show at Winthrop this weekend and visitors to the show will vote for the ugliest chair. The prize is a free custom aphostelery job. I think it could use it, what about you? I will know by this Wednesday if it made it to the finals. I'll let you know!

As far as Grace goes...she is now standing up by herself as of yesterday. Seriously...I am not ready for this! Love to all!

Family, friends and a good cause...

We went to the my parent house this weekend for a long overdue visit. Grace screamed bloody murder most of the way there. Neal had to stop me jumping out the window a couple of times. As you can see here that once we arrived Grace was thrilled. We stuck her in the exersaucer while we unpacked the car. We did so many great things on our visit. Grace had her first bath in a bathtub and as you can see in the picture, she loved it! How do like the mohawk I gave her? She splashed and laughed and so did we.









There was another reason we made the trip to my parents house. Neal's friend, Jerry that he kayaks with was diagnosed with ALS less than a year ago. In this short time he has struggled and has now lost his ability to speak and stand for any length of time. He will probably only live for another few months. So this weekend a group of local kayakers and road bikers organized a benefit to raise money for ALS reasearch called "Jerry's Baddle". There was a kayak race down the Green River and a 26 mile road bike race. They also held a silent auction and a pig picking. So on Saturday Neal paddled and then Grace and I met him at the party. It was a bittersweet reunion of a lot of good people (including Dr. Bob who fleew in from Vermont). People told stories they had experienced with Jerry throughout the years. Jerry and his wife were there and she read a speech that Jerry had writen since he could not speak himself. His words were beautiful and heartfelt. They raised $13,000 for a wonderful cause and Jerry was touched.


On the way home from the party we had to make the stop for boiled peanuts. God I love those things! The man selling them was a little bored with no one to talk to so he did his best to keep us there to chat "mountain talk". It was such a wonderful weekend to be in the mountains but we are glad to be home. Love to all.

And the race is on...

So this morning at 6 am I wake up and go to let Maggie. As I open the door Maggie flies out like a bat out of hell. I assume she is close on the trail of a squirrel but as I look closer I see that it is a cat! It scales the 8 foot privacy fence and up the tree. It was definitely a do or die situation for the cat. As we both stared at it in the tree, Neal thought we should name it. I said we should call it Lucky Bastard, seemed appropriate. After talking to Amanda she gave it the Indian name "Climbs tree quickly", also very appropriate. Meanwhile, you can see the dogs on the other side of the fence lying in wait. They did not move for 6 hours until Lucky Bastard had enough nerve to shimmy the 30 feet down. I don't think we will be seeing in more of the cat who got away...

Lots to talk about...

It was 84 degrees here today. WONDERFUL!!! We packed up the kid and walked by Sub Station, grabbed a sandwich and walked across the street to Winthrop. Normally even I am not crazy enough to venture onto campus if it were not Spring Break. See, I used to get excited about Spring break but it was beacause we were headed to the beach for a week to party with the change we found in the seat cushions on the couch. But now I love spring break beacuse the campus is barren and the neighborhood is peacefully quiet. If that does not show times have changed I don't know what does. Winthrop 's campus really is beautiful since all the work they have done to it. We all laid under a tree (on Ma King's quilt :o) ate lunch and played. Good day...

Here we have a blast from the past. Miss Fran came to visit. And might I add Grace loved her. It was great to catch up with and hear all about the good things in her life. She couldn't believe how much Grace had grown. I hope to see more of Fran in the future. Oh and Fran told me to tell the King's she said hello.

Last night I was supposed to go with Becca and Chaston to a birthday party in Charlotte but Grace had a different plan for me. I put her to sleep at 7 as usual and had planned to leave after that but about 10 minutes after putting her down she awakened with screaming. And then proceed to scream for at least 45 minutes...even with me holding her. I chalked it up to gas since she has a terribly fragile stomach thanks to Mom and Dad (sorry Grace). After I finally got her to sleep I called Becca and their babysitter fell through so....no party. Although by this point I am frazzled and need to get out the house so I visited Becca at her house. Wine and girltalk proceeded...I'll spare you the details. Anyway got to run a new Simpsons is coming on. Love to all!

asda

In case you haven't had enough...

here are some more pictures of the cutest baby in the world. I am pretty sure Grace is attempting to talk. She has started to move her mouth as if she is trying to form a word and has become a lot more vocal with sounds she repeats. It is the funniest thing to listen to her. I am determined to have her say "Mama" first. I have been beating it in her little brain saying it over and over. Although I am sure her first word will be "No" or "me". Only time will tell.

This weekend is going to be warmest this year. It is going to be in the lower 80's. Does it get any better than that. Grace has a play date on Saturday at the park. Now I know what you are thinking she is too young to date but I figure, get her used to boys early that way she is ahead of the game when it comes to the famous dumbass things they inevietably (sp) do. Okay sorry Neal, not all men, but most of them.

I took Grace to visit all the people I used to work with at Muzak yesterday. She was a hit! Except Grace flirted the whole time with a guy named Mark. In Grace's defense he really is the best looking guy in the department. At least she has good taste. Yep...trouble. Love to all!



I think Grace is trying to say "mama" in this picture. Don't you?!

Three years ago today...

we were prepaing for the best wedding to ever hit Greenville, SC. And what a day it was! Since today is Neal and I's third anniversary I thought a look back was appropriate. It's hard to believe it has been 3 years already. Neal and I laid in bed this morning, closed our eyes and we were back on the plane to Aruba (I wish!). Neal and I are going out to eat tonight. We are having SUSHI!!! I haven't had any since before I was pregnant. And you better believe I am having some sake to wash that yummy fish down. Love to all!







This is the view from the Hyatt in Aruba where we stayed. Oh memories...




Neal and I taking in the sunset with some hor'doreves (sp?) and wine...

Big girl...

So we went to the park today and decided Grace was a big girl now and could sit in the swing by herself. For some reason this was a big step for me. As I sat her in the swing and pulled back I got a flash of her first day of school as I drop her off, her first prom, and her wedding day. I almost didn't want to let go of the swing knowing this will be one of many firsts. Some parts of me want her to stay just like this forever. Reluctantly I let go of the swing and when I did a burst of laughter came from her. She is such a joy and I thank all of you for sharing that joy with us. Love to all!

Walk the Line...

This one goes out to Johhny and June. Neal and I watched "Walk the Line" last night and though I have always had great respect for Johnny as a musician after watching the movie I have great respect for Johnny as a man. He loved June so much and did from the minute he saw her. And from that point he spent the next ten years trying to convince June that he was the man for her. It goes to show that true love really is out there even if it takes years to find. After June passed away it was only 4 months later that Johnny passed. He was quoted as saying, "Now that June is gone I have nothing left to do except go and be with her in heaven." So here's to you Johnny for living and loving....




Speaking of great men...Grace spent the day with one, her daddy. Neal took Grace sown to Landsford Canal State Park for the afternoon and gave Mom a much needed break. As you can see from the pictures Grace is such a nature girl. Love to all!

Ma King comes bearing gifts...

Well Sally came to visit and not empty handed might I add. She came bearing gifts. A BEAUTIFUL quilt she made for Grace (see in the picture where she crawling around on her new treasure!) and the famous Apple Pie that is so good it will make you slap your momma! Neal was very happy to finally sample the pie he had heard so much about from Amanda and I. You see when Amanda was visiting in December Joe brought a slice to us here in Rock Hill and Amanda and I inhaled it before we ever got home. Never trust us with pie!
Sally and I had a nice lunch and had a chance to catch up. I got to here funny stories from the farm and she caught me up with all her children. Which she is so proud of by the way!







As you can see in this picture Miss Grace is in love with Ma King. She crawled right over to her and into her lap. Sally you are a natural and Grace and I cannot wait until we come and visit the farm. On a side note I am eating a slice of pie right now and it is SOOOOOOOOO good...















Now here we have Grace eating her first solid food. And what is it do you ask? PIE!!! I figured why not, start her early right? She gobbled it right up and ever time Neal and I have a slice Grace reaches right for it. We have created a monster, a pie eating monster that is.



And sadly Sally had to leave us today to feed the animals back at the farm. As Neal, Sally and I are standing in the doorway we were talking about Joe's upcoming surgery and his recovery time. Neal says to Sally, "Well it all floats downstream," then Sally says "Yeah I know Neal and I am standing at the bottom polishing all the turds as they float past me." I love you Sally King!

Revenge is sweet...

even it lasts for 10 minutes. I was beating Neal in frisbee golf for the first time but that was quickly stomped out by Neal winning by more than four throws. Oh well...at least the weather is great. We took Grace on the swings for the first time and she LOVED it! As you can see from the pictures. Tomorrow promises to be 75 degrees so Neal and I have decided to take Grace out in the canoe for the first time. Don't worry...there will be pictures to follow. Love to all!