HAPPY BIRTHDAY BEN!!!

Today is Ben's 25th Birthday!! We are sad to not be able to spend it with him but will celebrate when he gets home!  Thanks to the camel express....he didnt recieve his birthday package on time so I gave in and told him about his gift. 2 tickets to the GA vs GA Tech game Thanksgiving weekend!! He was excited and is looking forward to it.
Kelly was kind enough to send some memories of Ben's first year.  Aww baby, you are soo cute :) We love and miss you baby. Happy Birthday! See you soon! Only 67 days!!!

Cabinets are in!!!

I was able to get all the girls out to the lot yesterday. They are so excited. It is easier for them to understand when they see actual rooms being complete.  78 Days Baby!!! I love you! See you soon!

Tara and the babies

So excited about the cabinets!! They look great!

The girls were super excited!!

Bathroom vanity, there is a split vanity, one for Ben and I both in the master bath.

Ben: A letter from Grand Dad

Hey Baby,
Getting letters to you is not an easy task. Grand Dad emailed me today and asked me to post this to the blog. They are very excited about being here for your home coming. We are in the 70's baby!! Stay safe. I love you and so does everyone back here and we cant wait to all be there when you get off the bus!

Dear G. Son: We received your letter from your Mom yesterday. I was long awaited and so happy to have gotten. I can appreciate some of the stress you are under but you have a greaqt little lady and bunches of friends and relatives (who are also your friends) waiting for your return home.



When you are faced with giving or taking life be aware it is God's master plan that placed you in that moment. You had already been forgiven before the deed was done. I like to think you saved some child back here from a life of drug addiction.


Anyway, as grandma ed would say, You are coming home. We will barely have the pool ready by th time you get here. Seems we will all be in NC to greet you. I just can't wait.


I am thankful you have found this great lady. May God guide your lives together.


Love G. Dad.April 15, 2010

Happy Birthday Brinnly!!

Brinnly turned 5 on April 8th. Ben was on the Geraldo at Large New show and was able to wish her a "live" Happy Birthday a few days prior. We are trying to find the footage for Brinnly. It is special and something she can always keep.
She is obviously growing so fast. We are looking forward to a busy summer and being able to spend lots of time with her. Here are some pics from her party and also pics of her opening the Easter package that we sent.

5 going on 15 :)

Always excited about getting packages!

The cutest "bunny" ever :)

Letters to Ben from Grand Dad

Ben, this is for you from Grand Dad.  This is a story about his oldest brother. 

“The great “A” Model Ford trek.”







It started in Habersham at Clayton and went to Ellijay , Ga.






By: Grand dad Chris Gardner






We had just passed through the Toccoa Falls gorge and the foothills of the Great Smokey Mts. And the Blue Ridges of Georgia . Clayton , Ga. , near the Dillard house would be our starting point. Over one-hundred miles of so called road lay westward before us. It was about ten years after the last stone had been laid by the CCC and the WPA. They had arisen from the Roosevelt program to bring us out of the depression. These workmen had done a great job with small bridges. In some respects the Indian Trails and wagon paths had improved, but just enough to let you know you were headed west.














Ed, I and two of his friends set out one beautiful day to register our attempt to conquer this vastly undeveloped area of North Georgia . I am seventy-seven now, and I fondly remember the paved, the graveled and the muddy roads than snaked west. The only gas that could be bought was in small towns or from farmers who stocked for their tractors.














Our two Model “A” Fords were stocked with many spare parts, like gas and supplies. We especially brought extra water pumps; the most replaced part on the model “A”. We were unaware of the rains that had fallen the previous weeks.














It was just after the war. No affordable cars were available. The Model “A” became the car to restore and own. It was easily repaired and all areas of the engine were accessible. The water pump stood right up front at the radiator. Luckily we brought with us over one-hundred feet of rope. We needed it. We forded about 15 streams and encountered the most mud I had ever seen. We once had to employ a farmer to pull both cars free with his mule team. He and most of those great old mountaineers thought we were strange, crazy but funny. We were helped on our way with smile, best wishes and a handshake. You cannot beat these kinds of people. I do not know the sum of miles on our trip because the roads were much more crooked then but, we had spent the night over, sleeping in our cars. The sounds I heard that night still haunt me when I lie down to sleep.














We made the trip. Over one-hundred miles and a boatload of memories were acquired. Mine was the love of those hills and its people. I returned to witness to them while in Junior College not far away.








My brother Ed and his friends were so very intrepid. They would do anything that was a descent challenge, on a dare. All over Stone Mountain was their favorite place to romp. We found, what we called “Little Stone Mountain” or Pig Mountain as some called it. Today it is Panola Mountain State Park and is a delight to visit and was much closer to our home near Lakewood Heights in Atlanta , Ga.


Sometime I would get so tired; I wished I had stayed behind but when I heard the toot of the old Model “A” I was always ready to go again. Ah, maybe I will go fishing at Jackson Lake next time, with my Uncle Brooke. He was Bass Champion.

New House Update!!

The house is looking absolutely amazing! I can not believe how fast it is getting done. We are still scheduled to close at the end of May and very excited to see it come together. It has been absolutely beautiful here in North Carolina. Warm nights, grilling out and  really missing Ben :( We are almost there baby! 84 days!!
Here are the latest pics!

Maddy was super excited to see how much was done!

The drystack that we chose is perfect!  " Our perfect :) "

The fireplace wall in our 2 story living room. With a wall like that we will definitely need a bigger tv!

 This is the 2nd story rec room. This will be the girls' TV area and they will have their own couch and seating area here. Ahhh, no more Noggin fights! LOL

Maddyson's room!

Happy Easter!!

Well the weather here in North Carolina was absolutely BEAUTIFUL for Easter day. We had a relaxing morning and then made a big Easter dinner with Jackie, Marc and Brennon. It was also Brennon's first birthday!! Happy Birthday Brennon!!
We definitely missed Ben and Brinnly and made them Easter eggs too!
We are on a countdown and time is finally starting to move a little faster. We have alot planned for the next couple of months. Here are a few pics from our Easter Day.
Stay strong baby! We are almost done!

Coloring Easter eggs with the girls the night before.

                                                                        The girls made an Easter egg for Brinnly :)

Savannah closely examining her egg.

Kadence was happy with any egg just as long as she could find one! LOL