Tweetsie!

We went over to Tweetsie today after Church. Had a really good time since there was hardly anyone there at all! We actually got Creston on the train, but he hated the entire ride and I thought he was going to actually break into tears several times.....he doesn't like the Indians....he thinks that they are tooo loud and too mean.......Needless to say, he and I will not be riding the train anymore when we go to Tweetsie. We will sit on the bench and wait for Daddy and Mackie to go and come back. They loved everything else! The chair lift, the Mouse Mine, the planes & boats! Tweetsie is a really good "Little Kid" Theme Park. If you just want to go visit to see what it's all about, you'll probably get through the entire "ride" part in just a couple-3 hours. If you have little people, you could probably spend 2-4 hours letting them look at and ride everything that is geared to their age range....other than that, it's probably not something that you would want to go back to again and again if you didn't have kids. It is a bit pricey for a day ticket, but if you live close by and have little kids, a Season Pass is a good deal!

Gettin' ready for the train ride!

Daddy's friend and co-worker at the Fire Department (Who also works at Tweetsie!), Travis!

Creston in a not very happy mood!

Daddy & Mackie on the chair lift! Wheeeee!!! (Don't think Mackie is thinking Wheee!!!)

At the top of the chair lift, there's a playground........A Theme park with a playground! AND most of the kids LIKE to stop and play there before heading on up to the other fun rides!)

Creston's Favorite Ride! the Mouse Mine!!!
Whoopee!! The Mouse Mine!

Here is Mr. Demented Horse-Fly thingy........Not sure what Tweetsie was thinking on this one!

Oh! The Planes! (Mackie's FIRST time in these!!!) Had a GREAT time!!!

And the Boats!!! Ding, Ding!!!

Mommy & Creston on the Chair Lift! I make Daddy take Mackie cause I'm afraid that I'll drop him off the thing!
Daddy & Creston in the Cars!

My men in front of the train!

Go west!!

Ride 'em Cowboys!!!

We'll try it again!

We've had several interesting "incidents" involving the boys and the bath-tub, but thought that I'd try sticking them both in there together again! For the most part, it went well! There were several cups of water poured into the floor, but other than that, it was a good time for all!!!

BASEBALL!!!!

Today, Mark had to work, and we had to miss Mark's cousin's Pig-pickin' that they hold annually! Hopefully one of these days, well be able to get down there and pick some pigs with them!

Also today, a Charity Baseball game was held for one of Boone's Policemen. The Fire Department had a team that participated. Mark wasn't able to play since he was on duty, but since the game was just behind Mark's station, we (Mack, Dorothy, the boys, & I) were all able to watch the game with Daddy! It was a really fun day!!!

Odds-n-Ends

Here are a few pictures of some things we did today!

"Daddy SHOOT Crows!!" (Mark is trying to keep the horrible birds out of our garden!)

Nana's Christmas Cactus that blooms any time OTHER than at Christmas-time!

Paw-Paw, Daddy, & the boys feeding the cows!!

Paw-Paw took this on in front of his BEAUTIFUL Rhododendron Bush!

REALLY Pretty this year!

Paw-Paw & his little fellers........and Otis!

My Blog turned 1 and I missed it!!!

I was just reading another SaHM's blog and she did this really neat post when her blog turned 1 and it hit me that I started blogging in April 2008! It's May 27, 2009! I Missed my Blogs Birthday!!!!! I'm so sorry little Blog! I do love you so!

So..................As of 4-23-09, My little Blog is 1 year old!!! Yay!!!!! Can't believe I stuck with something for quite so long....as Mark will tell you, I go through phases....I find something "Neat" to do, get all of the "Stuff" to do it with, then shove it all in a box and slide it in a drawer or under a bed somewhere! This Blog has been a real help to me over the last year. I know I get a little crazy/silly sometimes and oftentimes I provide TMI, but for the most part, it's been a great outlet for me to put our daily lives into print of some form. I am by no means the most interesting thing out there for you all to look at, but, hopefully, my posts about my trials and tribulations and funny moments give you all a reason to think, reflect, and smile!

So! Here's to another year of fun times, silly posts, and deep reflection on MY part!!!!

In our house for 6 years!

We've officially been in our little house for 6 years today!!! Doesn't seem like it's been that long, but it really has been! 6 years ago, it was a rough period in our lives...I had just lost my sister unexpectedly on May 19th, and we were trying so hard to get the house finished and move-in ready. It's been a long road, but we've made it so far!!! There's still PLENTY to do on the house, but with time and the saving of some $ for improvements, it'll all get done!!! YAY!!!!!

New things!

Ok! I've been looking at other Blog sites and have found a few neat and new things to add to my blog here! First of all, I found some really NEAT Stay-at-Home-Mommy sites and have created a new Blog list and added those there for easier viewing for anyone who would like to look at them...they are somewhere in the middle right-hand side of our main blog page!

Second, I found the cute "tickers" that count down important events in your life at http://www.lilypie.com/. I've got Mackie's at the top of the blog (counting down till his second birthday), and Creston's at the bottom of the blog (Counting down to his 5th birthday!)

I think they're pretty nifty!!!

AND...I found an Anniversary Ticker at www.daisypath.com!! Cool!

That's it for now!!! Better go do something else for awhile and let my eyes rest! I LOVE finding new things!!!!!

Memorial Day

Today is a special day for all Veterans and for families of Veterans. It's a day we honor their service to our country. In my family, my Father and both Grandfathers served our country in the armed services. I just wanted to post their pictures here and remember them today. (I also have several Uncles, Great Uncles, and MANY cousins who have also served or who are now serving!)

My Daddy, Ernest Warren Bishop ~ Army (WWII)

My Grandfather, Hillard Garland Sheppard ~ Army (WWII)

My Grandfather, Eugene Chalmer Bishop ~ Army (WWI) Thank you ALL so much for serving our country so well!!!

A Good Day!

Today was a pretty good day...we were up and down last night with Mack...I guess due to the excitement of our big day yesterday, but all in all, I slept pretty well. Had a slight headache this morning, so the boys and I slept a little longer & then met Nana and Paw-Paw at Church for Preaching. Elk Valley is still without a preacher, so they've been getting different ones to come each weekend. Preacher Gragg was there again today. I really like him. He tells it like it is. That's becoming a rare thing anymore. People are becoming more and more afraid to voice their religous opinions due to being "Politically Incorrect". We all have beliefs about things one way or the other...some are just more able to share their views these days while others fear being persecuted. That's a real shame...

There are good ways and better ways to share our beliefs with others. I had a talk with my friend yesterday about how I feel that maybe I should work on being more open about my faith to others. Usually when talking to people, I try really hard to let my actions speak for my beliefs instead of witnessing openly about my personal relationship with God. I will mention praying for someone, or mention going to church as a "open door" in case someone wants to get further into a religous discussion, but I've usually not pushed it too much. I've been in situations in the past where "Christian" people have acted and carried on in completely horrific manners in the "Name of the Lord", and I suppose that those situations have molded me as to what I feel comfortable doing and not doing. I love to talk about my faith, but when faced with someone who likes to "debate" anything religous to death, I fall short, get red-faced, want to crawl into a hole and die, and pretty much hate life until the conversation is over. I need to pray about that.

So.................I've decided that I will pray about this and ask God to help me make an effort to witness more often...I may still do it in my "sneak-up-on-you" manner, but that has worked best for me in the past. I want to make an active effort to live a better life and to be a better witness to those around me. I've always tried to be up-beat and positive about things, but life has a way of bogging you down with all the ins and outs it sends your way. I WANT people to see that there is something different about me...that GOD lives in my heart and life...I WANT people to want what I have (Spiritually). I WANT to help other people find their peace with God and their lives somehow...that's a BIG ORDER, but it's one that I believe we Christians should strive to fill...it's our job to live our lives for HIM on a daily basis...not just on Sundays when we are sitting in those church pews.

Life IS hard, but if we remember that there is always a better way of living it with God's help, then we can strive to make each day more for HIM ad less for US and in the process, spread a little love and friendship along the way! God Bless you all during this upcoming week and may each one of you have a GREAT Memorial Day tomorrow!!!

A Trip to the ZOO!!! ~ 2009

This post is going to have LOTS of pictures! Get READY!!!

Today, we went with our friends, the Isaacs Family, to the Asheboro Zoo in North Carolina! Everyone else except for me and a few of the boys had been before! It was truly amazing! More than I expected to find!

This is a pic. while we waited in line to get into the Zoo! TONS of people!!!

See the tons of people?????
You can enter on the American or African side. We entered into Africa!!! (They were also having an Orchid show!)

Here's all of our little monkeys!!!

The following picture makes me laugh because what Mark did not get into this picture to Creston's left was another little boy and his Father??? who decided that they too needed to be photographed with our children! The little boy squished up next to Creston and the Daddy got behind the little boy and smiled too! I had to laugh! I wish Mark would have gotten them in this one! Toooo funny!!!

Our little fearless fellers' ridin' the great bronze cat!

Our guys were running around and around this tree.....then another kid joined in...then another, ect.

Mackie, Daddy, and their Gorilla friend!

Mark was instructing the boys on the fine art of Hopscotch! (Mark is the blurry one!)

My Men!

A passer-by took this one of us........no.........I am not pregnant..........not sure why I put my hand there..........no clue...............remember.......NOT PREGNANT!!!! :o) (Just fluffy in the middle!!)

Daniel, Dennis, Paulette, & Joshua Isaacs

Creston scratching his head about this one!!!

Our Carousel Ride!!!

The three smarter ones trying to figure out where we are and how we can get to where we want to go!!! (The FIRST of the Maps!)

Here, our men are viewing a NC Map to try to figure out how to get our Van to go towards the house! (The SECOND of the Maps!!)

And, yes........people, once again, a Map is viewed to make sure we are going the correct direction!!! (Third and final Map viewing!!!) This truly was a thing to see!!! I applaud them for actually using the thing!!!! Good Job, Guys!!!!!

A GREAT day was had by all!!! I REALLY Liked this Zoo! I hope that we can go back again on a day that isn't quite so crowded!! It really is worth the $!!! Thanks Paulette & Dennis for letting us go with you guys!!!

I made a Smile-Box for all of the Animal Pictures that Mark took! I think that he did a pretty good job with the camera!!!

Make a Smilebox scrapbook