I remember Derrick Lee Grayson

My sisters started this on face book and I can not figure out how to respond to it. This is a picture of him with his wife who is now on a mission in Germany. As many of you know, my baby brother, Derrick passed away in 2005 in a car accident. Sometimes it feels like it was yesterday and sometimes it seems like so long ago. The love that I have for my little brother, can not be expressed in words. I will miss him every day. He brought light and goodness to every one he met. Not to mention lots of laughs. I will never forget the look on his face when he I showed up to his work with a birthday cake for him. I will never forget how he took me out on a "date" when we were both single.  He always knew how to show up at my house right before dinner. He loved my kids and he always made me proud. I miss you Derrick!!! 

Like Mother, Like Daughter, Like Father

Mary Rose  and I made cookies yesterday, She loves to cook like me. Later that day I found her "playing checkers" She was actually sorting them all according to color. In this picture she had already put most of them away. I am pretty sure this is something Chad would have done as a child! Maybe she will cook and be freakishly smart! You never can tell. Emma and I went to a pump it up party. It was really cracking me up how fast the slide went.  I tried to take a picture of it, My camera isn't that fast.  love to you all, Dawn

Wiggly Brains

I picked Mary Rose up from pre school today and I asked her if she had a good day. This is what she said," Mommy, there were two kids today that made me mad. They were crying all day and they made my brains wiggly and I thought they were going to fall out, but they stayed in." Don't you just love it when they make you laugh out loud!!! Abigail is having better days. She had science today where they did an experiment with raisins and soda. Next time they get to make fire. A little nerve racking!! Love to you all, Dawn

Back to School

The girls headed off to school Monday. I miss them. Emma loves it! Abby doesn't, and Mary Rose is not so sure. One out of three isn't bad right??? Emma lost her front tooth and could not look any cuter! We are putting our house back together. Now that the girls are back in school, I went back to the gym. I got really sick and dizzy and had to leave in the middle of the class. Am I a wimp or what!!! I so need to exercise more. It put my body in shock!!! I think I give all new meaning to the word couch potato!! I am trying again tomorrow. I will not give up!! Love to you all, Dawn

floors

Laura wanted to see some pictures of the new floors. In the super hero picture , you can see the girls standing on what used to be our entryway and in the wrestling picture,you can also catch a glimpse of what used to be our gross pink carpet. The first picture shows our entryway now. It is a pretty dramatic change. Our floor guy said he was going to keep a sample of the pink carpet and use it as an example of something you should never have and if you do, it is definitely time for a change. 

remodeling, georgia, and six fags

Whew!! What a summer it has been!! Our remodeling is finished and everything turned out so great!! The bathrooms are now very pretty and I especially love our master bath. The new floors are a definite improvement from the pink carpet and gross brown carpet. We had to move out during the process. During that time, we visited my dear friend Tracy and her daughters. We both met at Stone Mountain. Our daughters hit it off right away and became  fast friends. I told Tracy she shouldn't be surprised. We have been friends for over 20 years. It was bound to carry over to our girls!! We had a great time, but we both decided we need to meet in the fall next time. It was HOT!! We took a cable car up to the top of a mountain, we played mini golf, we went to a petting zoo, rode a train, swung on ropes, met Larry the Cucumber and Bob the tomato( Mary Rose's favorite part) and had lots of fun just hanging out! Miss you already Tracy, Madison, Reagan and Emerson!!! Chad and I took the girls to six flags. Also very HOT!!! and CROWDED. The girls didn't seem to notice and had a great time at the water park, while Mary Rose and I braved the very crowded zoo. I decided that the memphis Zoo was better, but we still had fun. I had so much fun hanging out with my girls this summer. I am really going to miss them when they go off to school this Monday. We have grown closer and as they get older, I can catch small glimpses of the young women they will become. I am one lucky mom!! love to you all! Dawn