California Pizza Kitchen

This sweet boy just melts my heart! I can't believe my little man is SEVEN!!!!

I love the look on Jackson's face. He LOVES his brother so much. He is always looking for ways to make Harrison happy and to make those around him feel special! Sometimes he uses too much force...but he means well and LOVES people!

Our good bud Aidan!

Addison loves being in a highchair! That means that food is on it's way! :) This girl LOVES to eat!

When Anthony is out of town, I'm always looking for things to do to make the week pass a little faster. :) We had gotten our coupon for a free birthday meal in the mail from California Pizza Kitchen and it was the perfect solution to a boring dinner at home! Andrea, Aidan, and Riley joined us and we had a great time. The Birthday Sundaes were the perfect ending to a yummy dinner!

Business trip to Knoxville...well, for one of us.

Mommom got Harrison a cookie cake to celebrate his upcoming Birthday. He was THRILLED!

Party hats too!

Anthony had to work in Knoxville a couple of weeks ago (March 12-15). Whenever he has to get over there, we do everything we can to tag along so we can visit with my Grandmother...better known as Mommom. It was a GREAT visit with her. The kids look so forward to seeing her and she spoils them rotten while they are there. :) She knew Harrison's birthday was coming up the following week and she wanted to make sure he felt extra special. The day we left we had a little party to celebrate with a yummy cookie cake she picked up. Harrison was so excited! We sure love to celebrate in the Williams' family! You don't have to twist our arms! :)

I worried that if Anthony ever left Continental that we wouldn't be able to get over to see Mommom as often as we like to. God moved us to Raleigh so it became a much more manageable drive. THEN he directed Anthony to take a new job headquartered in Knoxville TN! Perfect! I love that both of my Grandmothers and I are still close, they are living, and also healthy! What a blessing for my children to have relationships with their Great-Grandmothers!!! We are very blessed!

exploring a new park

Heather introduced us to a new park a couple of weeks ago. It's SO close to us and I can't believe we didn't know it was there. We love it and I know we'll be back often...if it will ever stop raining! :) I love this little guy. Anthony pushed Addison in her little car while Jackson climbed trees and loaded his truck with pine cones. Isn't is cute how he left a spot for his drink! :) He's growing up so much...a lot less battles between us and a lot more fun. I'm loving that too!

Addison's new ride

Addison has a new favorite place to be when we're outside...her new car. My neighbor Kristine has one of these cute cars and I knew Addison would love having one of her own. Found one on Craig's List and now whenever we're outside she's riding in her little car. The boys love to push her and I think she'll be quite the dare devil. She's bound to be...they get her going quite fast and it doesn't scare her a bit. Scares me a little but not her, she likes to ride fast! :) We took her little car with us to the park a couple weeks ago and she loved it. It's much better than being in the stroller!

will blog again

i know it's been a while since i blogged.

i have a lot to catch up on. everyday life stuff, Harrison's birthday, my 1/2 Marathon (WHICH WAS GREAT!), the scariest moment of my life when Addison almost choked to death, my sprained knee, etc...

as you can see i've been a little busy around here!

maybe i can get some of my stuff up tonight while i prop up my knee and ice it.

just wanted to let you all know i'm still here and i'll be back soon :)

changed my photo at the top so you could see i DID finish and i DID get my medal and the whole experience was AWESOME!!! i can't wait to get it all posted! my goal time was 2:30:00 or less (signed up thinking i'd be finishing around 2:45:00) but actually finished FASTER than i anticipated! 2:24:56!!! 10:45 pace! WOO HOO!!!

i'll be back...

last run didn't go as planned

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so you all know that i'm getting ready for my big race on Sunday, right? today was my last run before the race. 3 miles. easy run. except for the fact that i did a face plant on the sidewalk. i seriously look like i've been beaten up!

i must have looked a sight as i came crashing down. my feet caught on the sidewalk, both knees hit the ground at the same time, then my hands, then my right shoulder, and then my face. i think i actually skid my face on the sidewalk because there isn't really a cut...it's just one enormous scrape.

my face has been pounding all day. all i can think about is the race. i'm so thankful nothing is broken or sprained. DO YOU KNOW HOW DEVASTATED I WOULD HAVE BEEN TO HAVE TRAINED SO LONG AND HARD AND BEEN OUT OF THE RACE!!!!

this was not what i pictured i would look like in my AFTER race photos that i so proudly wanted to display. don't worry, i'll still proudly display them. this is a big accomplishment for me...boo boo's and all. :)

my YMCA friends were SO great in coming to my aid. two kind men stopped their cars and helped me make it back to the YMCA. my neighbor Kristine followed me home in the car to make sure i was OK. my neighbor Todd had Jackson over for the afternoon so i could rest and ice my face. i've had numerous phone calls of loving support. a dinner with Heather and Kelly to take my mind of my boo boo's. AND...Anthony is on his way home to take care of me once again. i was so blessed by the love of so many today!

i pulled myself together. harrison was expecting me at snack with cupcakes in hand. it's his 7th birthday tomorrow and were leaving early for VA. we were taking them in a day early and i couldn't let my little man down. so, with aching face and scraped up knees i rushed as fast as i could to make it to his class in time...of all days for me to fall!!!

Katy and i were talking today about how rough this week has been for me. Anthony's been in Dallas all week and the week has been full of "unexpected surprises". it seems like when he's gone the whole world comes crashing down. i've had a lot on my mind and a lot to pray about but it's kept me focused on who sustains me. God has been faithful to me this week and i've been constantly reminded all week to come to Him with all my needs, fears, and worries. so, while i'm glad the week is coming to an end and i'm super-de-duper excited that my man will be home any minute...i'm thankful for being drawn to Him this week!!! though it's been tough i can look over my last few days and see the good in them.

i'll keep you posted on the race!

Sunday, 7 AM, say a little prayer for me if you think about it as i hit the road running... :)

friday at the pool

We spent the morning at the indoor kiddie pool at the YMCA. SO FUN! Jackson and Addison LOVE it. I'm trying to make it our 'Friday' thing. I am so thankful to Anthony that we can be members of the YMCA. It is such a blessing for our family! He doesn't get to go and have all the fun we do because he is working so much but the fact that he provides it for us means so much to me. I'm there Tuesday-Thursday running and then we try to hit the pool on Friday's. The staff is GREAT and I know my children are being loved on by childcare workers/life guards that truly enjoy working with children. What a blessing!

Here are a few pix from our trip to the pool last week with Mimi and Papa! The only bummer...Harrison was at school. :(



Kristine, Taylor, and Jack were able to play too.


Addison LOVED being in the pool!

not my best look! :) she loved playing with the water! I need a new suit BAD but don't want to buy one yet. mine looks ridiculous! got a little bit more to loose and then Land's End...here I come! :)




Jackson had SO much fun jumping off the slide to Papa!


Isn't her suit CUTE! My mom got it for her!




Our family LOVES the pool! Can't wait 'till the outdoor and neighborhood pools open! I know we'll be in one of them possible every day of the week! :)

visiting with mom, nanny, and granddaddy

Mom, Nanny and Granddaddy came to visit us last week. It was SO nice to have them here. It's been a while and I had really been missing my family. What a wonderful visit we had together. Nanny brought a cake to celebrate our Anniversary. It was SO delicious! It's like wedding cake. Incredible! I ate WAY more than my share and felt quick gross for most of the week. Every time I would pass it I would eat a sliver. Good thing I don't have cake around the house very often. I would not be losing very much weight! :)



Jackson was a hoot for most of their visit, as he always is. First thing he did while we were all catching up in the living room was eat a few flowers and poke his fingers in the icing of the cake. He just couldn't help himself I guess. I made him apologize to Nanny and he did..."me so sorry Nanny, but it weally weally yummy Nanny."

Truly the way to this boys heart is through food. He asked my mom where Papaw was (my dad). She said that Papaw had to work so he couldn't come this time. His response..."but me want pop-tarts, my mommy NEVER buy me pop-tarts." This is true, I don't buy him pop-tarts. Then the next morning he was talking to Nanny and asked if she would buy him some oranges because his mommy NEVER buys him oranges. Not true...I buy oranges often. Last, he asked Nanny, "do you know Golden Coral?" She said, "you mean the restaurant Golden Coral?" He said, "Yes, me lub Golden Coral. My mommy NEVER take me to Golden Coral." Nanny then asked him how he knew about Golden Coral if his mommy never takes him. He said, "my Mimi and Papa take me." This is true. :) Clearly...FOOD was on his brain as it is EVERY second of the day. He is going through a growth spurt. I am not kidding, after about 20 minutes after breakfast he's already asking for a snack. I don't know what I'm going to do with him!


It was SO great to see and hang out with my mom.

Jackson and Granddaddy enjoyed hanging out together. They watched Dumbo and played games and chased each other around. I wish Harrison hadn't been in school. I didn't even get any pictures of him with everyone. I know Nanny probably has some on her camera.



I gave Nanny and Mom a tutorial in making hair bows. We had a lot of fun and mom took some pretty bows home to Emma, Baylee and Savannah. I hear that Emma has been wearing hers non-stop. :)


Nanny made this beautiful shawl for Addison. Addison has gotten so many compliments on it. She's making her an Easter bonnet that we'll get to see when we go in a couple weeks for my race. It is so special to have these items made by her great grandmother! What treasures!

She's working on her wave. She's almost got it down! :)

and this girl poses for the camera. She's taking after her brother Harrison who learned very on to smile for the camera. Jackson is another story. I'd say 50% of his pictures he's not even looking at the camera! :)



They tried to sneak her home with them. First Granddaddy's pocket and then in his jacket. I caught them in the act! :)

It was a GREAT visit! I LOVE having my family here to visit. I can't wait until the next time!

she's everywhere

she's going everywhere and getting into everything! she 'helped' me in the dishwasher tonight. this stage doesn't stress me out like i remember with the boys. i guess i'm finally learning how to have FUN with it! :) too bad it took me this long!

she is SO CUTE!