Multiplication Graduation

The 3rd grade has Multiplication Graduation each year- it is one of the highlights of the year and a very big deal. They take tests- solving 650 multiplication facts and then an overall math tournament test. Kalie received 3rd place in the facts tests (she only missed two out of 650) and won 2nd place in the math tournament. Everyone in the class passed the multiplication tests and were all awarded a "license to multiply." WAY TO GO KALIE and ALL THE STUDENTS IN 3rd GRADE!!receiving her award from Ms. Murphy
Class picture
Other than the lisense, this was the second highlight of the ceremony. Mrs. Cheri's punch! Kalie has talked about this punch for almost a year- and she has been so excited knowing it was going to be served!!

Happy Birthday Jonah

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JONAH!isn't this great oh him blowing out those candles!?!
some of the cousins playing in the sandbox (not sure where Kalie and Maddie are)

We got home from our trip just in time to celebrate Jonah's (our nephew) birthday.

Need to Brag on my Husband

Okay, Drew doesn't know I am doing this, but there are times when special recognition is due. This is one of those times. Drew just completed the most difficult semester he has had- and that is saying alot since he has been in school 10 of the 12 years we have been married- ha! Anyway, he took double the hours allowed for PhD students- receiving special permission from the dean. My husband completed the work with a 4.0 average- his lowest grade being one 96!!! For the last 6 weeks, I have watched him stay glued to this desk chair until 2-3 am every single night- not starting his studying until the girls are in bed. He has done such a tremendous job this semester balancing everything in his life. Even more, two of his projects were to produce articles ready for publication in a counseling journal. Drew's professor not only told him that his projects were publishable material but that he should only submit to the highest quality journals in his field. So, we are looking forward to seeing his name in print one day soon! Now, there are only 4 semesters left until he begins writing his dissertation. And yes, I am already working on ideas for a party no one could ever forget- so if you have ideas, send them! ha! Anyway, thanks for letting me brag on him for a few minutes. It is well deserved.

One Year Gotcha Day for Kate

On April 19, 2005, a little girl was found at an orphanage gate in Nanning, Guangxi China. The pictures of her are below. .......Almost a year later, on April 17, 2006, that little girl officially became Kate Elizabeth LiXin Jamieson- a forever part of our family...... (this picture was taken a few days later)
And now, April 17, 2007, she is a Jamieson through and through. Her mischievious grin, heart-felt laugh and hilarious personality make days... as Drew likes to say... "comical." Kate, we love you with our whole hearts and cannot imagine life without you. You were created for us and us for you. Since the beginning of time God knew we would all be a family! We are so thankful for your life.

Spring Break in Charleston

At 3 pm on Sunday, Drew completed the worst semester ever to put it nicely. After screaming, we got in the car and drove half way to Charleston and spent the night. The next morning, we got up and headed on into town. This week turned out to be quite the adventure. I have posted lots of pictures and will tell the story along the way.

When we got there, our room was not ready so we walked around for the afternoon. Then, we went back to our "hotel" which was an historic inn that we had been so excited about finding- well long story short, they tried to double charge us and did not uphold the package we had found on the internet. Drew was very nice as she handed us her phone book and said she hoped we found something. So, off we went with luggage in tow. The visitor center was extremly helpful and put us at the Ansonborough Inn- an old refurbished cotton warehouse. Our room was 2 1/2 stories- the kitchenette area, the master area was a few stairs above that and then a loft for the girls. Our girls went nuts- especially Kalie. The room was less expensive and so much better- God handed us a blessing and we were so excited! So, if you ever go to Charleston, DO NOT stay at the Fulton Lane Inn (there are 5 inns in this grouping and I can't recommend any of them because of what happened.) I can highly recommend the Ansonborough and assured them that we would let everyone know of the excellent service and accomodations they provided. Here are the girls having a picnic under the stairs in our room! We rode the carriage. Karlee had been so excited about seeing the horses. You can tell in this photo that she is not "secure" about being here yet. This was our first vacation since all of the therapy started with Karlee. We had done several things to help prepare her for this. Before we left, she said she was excited about going and asked- now we will all stay a family right? And I said yes! And she said- and no one is going to come and take me some place else? So, this was hard for her and over all she did well. When I asked her why she didn't smile in this picture, she replied, "I still have a little mad in my heart..." That's her version of insecurity.



We celebrated with ice cream of course several times.

Kalie took this picture and it is one of my favorites of Drew and me.
Kate's one year gotcha day celebration (more on this in next post)- we had Thai food. Kate wanted noodles and this was the closest we could find!

This was taken at a house that one of my great x5 grandgather's lived in. It was really cool seeing this.

Kalie is sitting in the pew booth where George Washington sat at church when he visited Charleston. This was St. Michael's Episcapal Church and absolutely gorgeous!
Karlee loves frogs so we had to get her picture!
Our family at Fort Sumpter. This was at one of the cannon holes.
This picture is hilarious to me and my sisters because when we went to New York, we had a moment with shower caps (I promised to not give details) so I had to take this picture of our girls! They thought these were too funny!

Kate's favorite thing in the world is to be NAKED!!! she gets so excited and says Neh neh!!!!
Yes, after the semester we have had and even though we are on vacation, we still have moments of temporary insanity....
We took these at a Plantation. I loved these wild flowers. Okay- all you Patrick Swayze fans- this was the oak lined avenue and plantation where North and South was filmed years ago. Patrick Swayze rode on this actual road! ha! Drew and I are being silly sharing a kiss.
We went to the beach for a little while but it was too cold to stay long!On our way home, we stopped at Stone Mountain and rode to the top. Kalie got to help "drive" the tram.We are at the top- this view was fabulous!Drew acting like he was going to fly off.We ended our week with Drew attending a conference in Birmingham. We met some friends (the Dethero's) who were also coming through Birmingham on their way home from vacation, for dinner and had a great time! It was a fun week. I always think it takes a couple of days to just slow down enough to really relax and realize you are away- is anyone else like that? Karlee ended up doing well and we all had a great time together.

Re-Blogging Easter Weekend

We began the weekend with an egg hunt at Grandmothers. This was Kate's first since we were in China getting her last Easter! She caught on quickly!
We dyed eggs at our house too. I will always believe that dying eggs create some of the funniest memories- were there any eggs not cracked???? ha!And yes, our Saturday pancake tradition Easter style- Drew had bunnies, eggs and crosses!

Easter morning...

Karlee and Kate were most excited about the gum
Kalie looked beautiful in her Easter dress
As well as Karlee in hers....
and Kate modeling hers. And yes, I did finishe before Sunday morning! ha!
Our Family (please excuse the bad lighting)
Sunday afternoon, we ate at my parents' for lunch and another egg hunt. We can be serious but there are times......

Emma and Karlee looking for more eggs
Lily says forget the egg hunt- just give me the candy!

The Easter holiday is truly one of my favorites. In the midst of all the fun in egg hunts and pretty dresses, one thought remains. To me, Easter Sunday represents the MOST important day EVER!!! The grave is empty! And because of that we all have that friend walking with us every step of the way, the healer fixing every wound we have, and the HOPE we need to live life abundantly. What love- what grace- WOW- you know what stands out to me - on the cross, there the people were being so cruel to him. And He looks around and says, Dad forgive them- they don't know what they are doing. (lori paraphrase). Never once did he condemn, judge, or ridicule- He simply LOVED and His grace abound!! I love the chorus of an old song : "He's Alive Jesus is alive. Death has lost the victory and the grave has been denied. The lamb of God is risen, He's Alive. He's Alive. He's the Alpha and Omega. The first and last is He...... HE IS ALIVE!!

15 Years Ago Today...

a new chapter in the lives of Drew and Lori was started, that is still being written today! Lori and I had our very first date on April 11, 1992. I was just a smitten little kid then. Now, I'm all grown up, so I guess I'm a smitten grown up. And, we're still going out!

Lori, I stand in awe of where our relationship has come in 15 years and the many amazing things we that we have been through together. I am so thankful to God. You are the love of my life and thanks for going out with me!

-Drew

Happy Birthday Katie!

Katie and Kalie have been close close friends since kindergarten!! Katie's birthday was so fun! They had make-up done, decorated boxes and did the neatest thing with cookie dough- it was a coldstone creamery gone cookie dough- Katie's mom who is a fabulous cook by the way had made several kinds of dough and then had about 15 toppings. The girls added whatever they wanted to their cookie dough and then mixed up and baked their cookies! What fun! HAPPY BIRTHDAY KATIE!!these girls are crazy! kalie adding in lots of chocolate to her cookie dough!
annie, anne holland, natalie, ruth, mary geer, KATIE, jacy, kalie and eloise- what great girls!!

Weekend Fun

this past weekend we enjoyed the beautiful weather before it turned cool again. we had fun on the trampoline. the girls love for drew and me to jump so they pop like popcorn. i also had some fun getting some fun shots of kalie- she is usually at school when we are playing!

family pile on daddy!
looking for someone....