Savannah and Tybee Island

We enjoyed a wonderful trip to Savannah and Tybee Island this past week with my parents and my niece and nephew, Morgan and Garet. We stayed at an awesome hotel right in the heart of the historic district on Bay Street, took the Oglethorpe Trolley tour and the Sorrel-Weed haunted tour, hung out and shopped on River Street, and ate fantastic food at The Cotton Exchange and The Pirate's House. On Tybee Island we climbed the 178 stairs to the top of Georgia's oldest lighthouse, enjoyed a ride on a Dolphin Boat tour, and ate the BEST, fresh seafood at The Crab Shack.

The kids at the top of the lighthouse


the view of the Atlantic Ocean


The Tybee Island lighthouse


Captain Mike's Dolphin Boat Tour
















Dinner at The Pirate's House - A portion of this haunted restaurant is the oldest standing structure in Georgia. After our dinner, a "pirate" gave us a tour around the restaurant to give the history of the place. It was really pretty cool. There is a tunnel underneath that was used to shanghai young sailors many years ago. Once they woke from their druken stupor, they could either become pirates or swim five miles in shark infested waters.






After our trolley tour, we went out sight seeing on foot to Forsyth Fountain and the many squares that make Savannah famous. A part of our tour included about a thirty minute torrential downpour. We ended up having so much fun in the rain and had the park to ourselves as a reward for our persistence.






Soaked to the bone...I do have clothes on. It's just strapless.




At the end of our trolley tour, we went shopping at Paris Market. The kids had so much fun in the basement of the shop looking at fun antiques like hundred year old bicycles (and playing with a few too). Wonder who wore this hat? Laurel or Hardy perhaps?






Some of the sights on our trolley tour...
The Catholic Cathedral of St. John-Baptist


The Waving Girl










The Sorrel-Weed haunted tour...the only scary part was how much our tour guide has spent in the tanning bed. YIKES!


River Street at Sunset
Mimi and Poppy




The kids on a VERY steep staircase leading from River Street to Bay Street










Garet and Sophie cooling off in the misters at the River Street Market


Morgan and Reagan doing the same




Mimi and Poppy are smitten to have all four grandchildren with them.




The kids loved watching the container ships and tug boats come down the Savannah River.

A Busy May

May has now become the new December. We have been so busy! Below are a few highlights of our month.

Sophie at her gymnastics awards banquet


Here she's sitting with her pals from her team.


This picture was taken at Reagan's end of season soccer party. The girls in the picture have been the core group who have played together for the last five seasons. Behind them are the coaches. Reagan received a plaque for "Best Defensive Player" for the season.


Fourth grade awards day...Reagan ended up with some fantastic awards including all A Honor Roll for the year, Accelerated Reader met goal all four nine weeks, and a writing award.


Reagan had a wonderful school year with her surrogate grandma, Randi. She ended up crying on the way home from school the last day. She said she didn't want fourth grade to end.


Sophie had her awards day on the same day as well. She is pictured here with her second grade teacher, Mrs. Scheu.


Sophie with her two best buds, Rebecca and Margaret


Mimi came to show her support of the girls, of course! Grandma also came to support the girls.


I'm a VERY proud momma!


Sophie had an amazing awards day as well. She came away with many awards including all A Honor Roll for the entire year, Accelerated Reader awards, and an award that I am especially proud of. She made the greatest gains of all the students in her class on the STAR reading test. She began the year at a 2nd grade reading level and finished at a 6th grade reading level.


The 2nd grade awards ceremony began with all classes singing the school song which is to the tune of "You're a Grand Old Flag". Sophie made a recording of the song with Ms. Julia, her piano teacher, and it was played on the sound system for the children to sing along to. What an honor!


Memorial Day weekend Reagan joined a rival soccer team for the Rec Riot Tournament. The Cowgirls had an amazing weekend ending up in the championship game on Sunday. Unfortunately, they weren't able to pull it out, but it was great fun watching them slosh through the mud and muck.


Reagan and Coach Mini


Finally, pictures from Memorial Day...The Kings joined us for a lunch time cookout. Here are pictures of their cutie pies and ours.

Piano Recital

Saturday, May 16th, the girls had their Spring Piano Recital. They have both worked so hard this year with Ms. Julia, and it showed. Sophie played "Horse Sense" solo and "You're a Grand Old Flag" as a duet with Ms. Julia. Reagan played "Chim-Chim-Cheree" solo and "My Heart Will Go On" and "Music Box Dancer" as a duet. It was amazing to watch their very different styles of playing. Sophie, though she didn't hit every note with perfection, moved her entire upper body in rhythm with her music. She was feeling every note she played and never once looked at her hands on the keys. Reagan on the other hand hit every note with absolute perfection but sat stoicly on the bench with her eyes glued on the keys. Obviously, I wouldn't argue that either method was anything but perfect! On a special note, Reagan learned "Music Box Dancer" in dedication to my mom. That song has always been my mom's favorite, and she constantly badgers the girls to "one day" learn it. Well, that day came much sooner than she expected. Julia found an easier version of the fast paced, difficult piece and played it as a duet with Reagan. We kept it a secret until the moment she played it. Needless to say, my mom was sobbing.





Grandma, Maw Maw Daisy, Romeo, Mimi and Poppy


The refreshments


The girls were eagerly awaiting Ms. Scheu's arrival prior to the start of the recital. She is the classroom teacher of three of the girls who performed - Sophie, Rebecca, and Sarah. She was also Reagan's second grade teacher.
In addition, a sweet friend that I teach with came to watch the performance as well. Thanks Peg!
(This picture cracks me up! It's a stick up!)


The performers...Maxy had not arrived yet.


Reagan and Ms. Julia


Sophie and Ms. Julia


Staci, Staci's mom, Ms. Scheu, Julia, and Laurel

Mother's Day Fun

Saturday, we enjoyed spending time with Romeo's mom and my mom. Then on Sunday, Romeo, the girls and I packed up a picnic basket and headed for the park. It was such a nice day to be out there. The clouds kept it cool enough to be enjoyable. The girls played for hours on the playground while Rome and I "people watched", relaxed, and swang. Such a pleasant day! I'm so thankful for the blessing of my beautiful family.

Soccer Action

Our spring has been filled with two things: rain and soccer. Reagan's spring season got off to a slow start because of all the rain-outs, but now we're packing in the games, most of the time two per week. Her team has had another successful season together. We've gained and lost two or three girls over the last six seasons, but for the most part her team has held steady with a core group of girls who have learned to work well together. As always, it's been a pleasure to watch them. Reagan has shown so much improvement. I love to see her aggression now. She'll actually get in a foot fight to win control of the ball now. She plays with such integrity too. I love that she gives it 110% each week-win or lose!


Defending her goal


Getting the girls lined up to help her protect the goal from a corner kick


Playing at fullback- She's a GREAT defensive player.


at fullback again





I love this action shot. I caught her off the ground.