Hayden's Birthday Party!

Well, I still can't believe that my baby is 3, but on to better things. Sunday we celebrated Hayden's b-day with a Blue's Clue's party. We had another huge turnout....thank goodness it was warm weather outside, that way we all had room to move around. Craig made potato soup, chili, potato skins, chicken tenders, hot dogs and chips. Hayden decided that he wanted a Blue's Clues party which really surprised me because he isn't really into Blue's Clues. After we all stuffed our face Hayden opened ALL his presents, cause he didn't want to wait till after cake.
He had a Blue's Clues cake with chocolate and vanilla ice cream.


The only problem was that when we all started singing "Happy Birthday" he got embarrassed and climbed out of the chair and ran to his bedroom. I went in to get him and this is what I found. Poor guy was so tired!
The kids, including Big Kids, enjoyed roasting marshmallows in the fire pit. Emma was our guest singer with her guitar!

Hayden present from us was a motorcycle...so here is Landon testing it out for him, while he was napping!
I think he is telling Riley to go faster!

I want to thank everybody who came out to celebrate Hayden's b-day! I love all our friends, and I am so glad that we all so close....it make even kids parties fun for us all! Sorry I didn't have my camera out to take pictures, but I did give Adrienne my camera to catch a few....sometime I would rather enjoy the fun at the moment than worrying about catching it on camera.

Please Pray for Baby Harper

So many prays are needed for this little baby anf family. Please click on the link below to read Kelly's blog.

Happy 3rd Birthday Hayden!

WOW!!! My baby is 3....where has all the time gone?

Look at how much he has changed!



Still....ALL SMILES!!!!

This is our life now!

I was sent this video from a very close friend of our who has been affected by this Mudslide. Even thought it hasn't "directly" effected us...it has impacted our life on a daily routine. We hear the helicopter flying over at all hours of the night. We have to take a different route to go to Kingston now. We are faced with the scare of what this is going to do to us health wise. Keep in mind that we are also faced with the fact that we grow crops on our farm, yes 97 acres of farming, that is in danger of not being grown because of the liability our "Bean Company" may not want to encounter in the future. So what are we left to do with our farm......something we would not have had to think about if it wasn't for TVA. The most important fact that upsets me is that Swan Pond, which I was born, raised and lived all my life...will NEVER be the same again. All the beautiful landmark are gone and can't be replace or rebuild.

This montage was created by Molly Tillyer. (Thank you for letting me share this)

Make an on-line slideshow at www.OneTrueMedia.com

TVA coal ash disaster on December 22, 2008. A TVA coal ash containment "pond" collapsed in Harriman, TN spilling a reported 1 BILLION gallons of toxic waste into an unsuspecting residential neighborhood. This is the largest toxic coal ash spill in United States history.

My parents, my sister, friends and family, they've all been devasted.

I made this video for my parents, their neighbors and their attorney to show what life was like on the river before the TVA disaster and after. What was once a beautiful oasis is now a disgusting toxic ashtray.

I emailed the video to my parents on Monday night. Then, I went upstairs to watch a little tv and went to bed. By the time I woke the next morning, the video I had e-mailed to my parents had been viewed over 700 times. I had 84 e-mails in my inbox and a message from Erin Brockovich.

That's the power of the internet, baby.

What I read and hear from TVA officials is discouraging. The aftermath of this disaster is significant and long-reaching. It's apparent that some of the folks at TVA just don't 'get it.'

The water is not "okay" and the disaster wasn't just "bad luck" and, no, the EPA is not getting readings of high arsenic levels due to the measurements they use. In fact, the EPA is getting readings of high arsenic levels because there's arsenic. At high levels. In the water.

The people of this community need solutions, not rhetoric. They need action, not action plans with no deadline. And, obviously, TVA needs oversight, not deference.

If you share my outrage, please share this video.

News footage came from Knoxnews, Chloe White of Knoxnews, and NBC. Photos were provided by local residents. Music in the video is the beautiful "Like a Star" by Corinne Bailey Rae and "Unstoppable" by E.S. Posthumus.

If you have additional photos or documentation concerning the TVA breach, please contact me. I am working on another video and welcome inside information! If you wish to remain anonymous, I can work with that.


Here is here second video she has created:

Make video montages at www.OneTrueMedia.com

TVA coal ash disaster set to Billy Joel's 'Honesty' - I don't think a better song exists. Billy Joel is such an incredible poet, isn't he? LOVE him!

I have 10 pages of notes I tried to condense into 4 minutes for this video. The notes only took me to the beginning of January. I could have made a full hour.

Still need photos for montage journal 3 so please send them in!

If anyone has any pictures that you would like to send to her, just email me and I will send you her email.

Riley got a "real" haircut!!

Well, the time has finally came for Momma and Daddy to let go of those blonde curls. Not by choice, but the fact is that Riley has finally lost most of his curls. Plus, he keeps on cutting his hair.

Now introducing the Mr. Riley Jakob!

He wasn't cooperating with the camera very well, but he is being his true silly self. Tell us what you think!

Christmas 2008

Well, I finally have the time to sit down and post some Christmas pictures. Sorry it has taken so long, I know that you guys have been asking me about them. So here they are.

We all have another wonderful Christmas. I must admit, we actually tried to reduce what we bought the boys since they get SO much from everybody, but it's a lot easier said than done. We started our holiday with our traditional Christmas Eve at Mom & Dad's.

The boys just didn't want to wait any longer to open presents!
Riley in Tyler's new paintball gear.
Hayden and Skyler fighting over Riley's drum set. They fight over everything.
Brandy is coming in to solve the situation.
Then we made is home about midnight to get ready for our family traditions on Christmas morning. The milk and cookies that they boys left for Santa.
Looks like Santa was really hungry.
It appears that these two little boys were very good this year, wouldn't you say so!

They were so excited....It was so funny because Riley looked at Craig and said..."Dad, he really did come, didn't he!" He told us that for days, I guess he may have been worried that he was on the naughty list...hehe!

He was so excited over all his stockin' stuffers!

He finally got his "green notebook"

Hayden was working on Riley's truck with his new Handy Mandy tools!

After the boys opened all their presents from us, then Craig and I opened our presents. Once again I was spoiled, I got a new Wii, Northface jacket and two new pairs of Nike's, along with several gifts. Craig then prepared us a wonderfully yummy breakfast. The boys were so excited about their new riding toys, they just couldn't wait to get outside to ride them. So we got dressed and let them ride. They rode until the batteries died. While we waited on Mom to finish the massive feast she was preparing, we tested out the Wii. So after we stuffed ourselves, we went home and was lazy the rest of the day.

Friday morning we got up and headed to Virginia for our Christmas with the Hurley's. The boy did really well for most of the trip. We made it home just in time for Christmas dinner. Once we finished eating we opened presents. The boys were in such a hurry to open presents, I didn't get a chance to get the camera out.

We all enjoyed our weekend of relaxation. We headed back home Sunday night.

The boys got soooo many presents, that everyday is like Christmas all over again. They will find a toy still unopened and get all excited.

I must admit this has been the best Christmas yet. Both boys enjoyed it so much. They are actually at a perfect age, last year Hayden was just really overwhelmed with everything, but this year he actually understood Santa and all the presents. I know that it will get better every year.