And finally....
This is something I have wanted to say for a long time, I just haven't had the chance-
Pepto Bismal tastes soooooo great now!
When I was younger...it was like drinking chalk. They have done wonders on it's taste. And I a glad!
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Monday, January 18, 2010
To hold me over.....
This is just a quick note to hold me over until I have the time to sufficiently write a blog. I want to give an update on my Grandma's 90th birthday party and our recent trip to Charleston, S.C., but I do not have it in me to do that tonight.
So...until that happens...please enjoy the following picture.
Introducing...my newest blog follower.....
Thanks Dad for getting Grandma set up to read my blog! And thanks Grandma for reading each and every entry! You are by far my cutest follower! I love you!
So...until that happens...please enjoy the following picture.
Introducing...my newest blog follower.....
Thanks Dad for getting Grandma set up to read my blog! And thanks Grandma for reading each and every entry! You are by far my cutest follower! I love you!
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
90 is the new.....?
Today my Grandma celebrates her 90th birthday! I spent approximately 30 minutes trying to reach her by phone this morning, getting a busy signal for so long. When I finally got ahold of her she said "Ohh...people won't stop calling this morning!" Then she laughed and said "If I don't stop answering the phone I may never make it to my swim class at the Y!"
Classic Grandma! And probably the number one reason she is healthy in body and mind....her swim aerobics at the YMCA! She has been going regularly since as long as I can remember, and I guarantee even longer than I have been alive.
Even at 90 years old, she is still absolutely beautiful! Smart and funny to boot! She is such an incredible woman and I am thankful for her presence in my life each and every day. When I think about the patience, wisdom, and understanding it must have taken to not only raise her three children, but be a part of the lives of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, I am overwhelmed. Words would NEVER be enough to say how special she is to me or how much I love her! I just hope I can continue to show her my love! Please enjoy the pictures below!
My grandma recently with her newest great-grandchild, Ryan....
She is excited to meet her 7th great-grandchild expected in July of 2010 (my brother and his wife's baby)
Grandma and I right before my wedding in September 2008
Happy Birthday Grandma! I love you!
Classic Grandma! And probably the number one reason she is healthy in body and mind....her swim aerobics at the YMCA! She has been going regularly since as long as I can remember, and I guarantee even longer than I have been alive.
Even at 90 years old, she is still absolutely beautiful! Smart and funny to boot! She is such an incredible woman and I am thankful for her presence in my life each and every day. When I think about the patience, wisdom, and understanding it must have taken to not only raise her three children, but be a part of the lives of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, I am overwhelmed. Words would NEVER be enough to say how special she is to me or how much I love her! I just hope I can continue to show her my love! Please enjoy the pictures below!
My grandma recently with her newest great-grandchild, Ryan....
She is excited to meet her 7th great-grandchild expected in July of 2010 (my brother and his wife's baby)
Grandma and I right before my wedding in September 2008
Happy Birthday Grandma! I love you!
Thursday, December 31, 2009
We're no choir...
As plans were being made for the activities of Christmas 2009 in IL one of Brandon's cousins suggested we go to the nursing home where Grandma Bice lives and sing Christmas carols for her and her neighbors! I remember thinking this was such a sweet idea. I actually recall thinking....They will be so happy to have us there. Why don't more people do sweet stuff like this? (I was really tooting our own horns....internally, of course)
The Sunday after we arrived in Essex, Brandon, his sister Sara and her husband Brett, his sister Lindsay and her boyfriend Dustin, his cousin Cassie and cousin Amy, and I put on our Santa hats and headed over the the nursing home to light up the hearts of the residents and bring them some holiday cheer.
We didn't practice our carols, who needs practice? These are traditional Christmas songs that most of us have sung since childhood. We were prepared enough, with our optimism alone.
As we were walking into the nursing home another family was walking out. They asked if were were there to join the other "carolers"? What? What other carolers? You mean we were not the only ones to think of this idea? Well....my bubble had deflated....but only a little. I mean, how naive am I to think we were the only ones bringing joy to the hearts of these people? Naive......v.e.r.y. n.a.i.v.e.
As soon as we entered the facility we encountered these "other carolers". You would know them easily by their heavenly voices, organization, and synchronising. So...they are good. Really good. And are they an actual choir? Yes, they must be. But, we have Santa hats.....they did not. HA! Oh my gosh...are they harmonizing? This isn't their first road show....I mean...THEY ARE GOOD!
Hmmm....well...we have Santa hats.
If anyone had asked, I would have told them I am not much of a singer. In fact...I like to say I was kicked out of the children's choir at my church. This is not true, at least not to my knowledge...but I can NOT sing. At all. It's bad. And sad. When Brandon and I first started dating I told him he would probably NEVER hear me sing. Of course, that has changed, and he does hear me...but probably wishes otherwise.
So...needless to say, I was not planning on leading our choir. Cassie and Amy would not arrive for about 15 minutes, so the first few songs only included Brandon, Sara, Brett, Dustin, Lindsay, and I (mostly moving my mouth but with few words coming out). Initially we were not intimidated by the other carolers...we still had our optimism...and dignity. We set ourselves in the front sitting room and prepared to spread our holiday cheer. And here we goooo...
The first song was a Disaster. Please notice the capital "D". I know Brandon can sing, but apparently the mix of him and the family and OH MY GOSH...there goes our dignity. The awkward joining of all our voices and the deflated bubbles of optimism came together all at once to create sounds that resembled nothing anywhere close to lovely carols. Thankfully Brett had copies of all the carols we were to be singing, so we knew which words to sing, even if they were sung off key.
So many people were trying to put their wheelchairs in reverse and change directions to get away from us that collisions were happening all over the hallways. People were falling out of their wheelchairs, knocking eachother over, holding their ears and moving as quickly as they could in the opposite direction. Someone even tried to run through a glass window...just to find relief in other sounds or silence. Fine...none of that actually happened, but it could have....or maybe should have.
We were encouraged by the staff to relocate to an area that was less public and more private....we were led into a small activity room...located in a locked wing of the nursing home. FINE...that didn't actually happen either, but we did relocate, only because they were about to have their Sunday evening church...someone had to pray for us!
Thankfully after a few more awkward songs (at this point we were just going with the flow....we had nothing ELSE to loose) Cassie and Amy showed up and joined in our chorus. With their help, and lead vocals, we did not sound quite as lost. The best part was getting to see Grandma Bice. She knew almost every word to every song. And although she may not have thought we sounded very good, she seemed to enjoy the experience!
In the end...it was a lot of fun. And if nothing else a great laugh for all of the grandchildren. These memories will go right up there with Taylor's baptism and the church's version of "Silent Night" played by the stand in organist. And in the now famous words of that pastor "Let's try that one again!"
Grandma Bice with her grandchildren
The Sunday after we arrived in Essex, Brandon, his sister Sara and her husband Brett, his sister Lindsay and her boyfriend Dustin, his cousin Cassie and cousin Amy, and I put on our Santa hats and headed over the the nursing home to light up the hearts of the residents and bring them some holiday cheer.
We didn't practice our carols, who needs practice? These are traditional Christmas songs that most of us have sung since childhood. We were prepared enough, with our optimism alone.
As we were walking into the nursing home another family was walking out. They asked if were were there to join the other "carolers"? What? What other carolers? You mean we were not the only ones to think of this idea? Well....my bubble had deflated....but only a little. I mean, how naive am I to think we were the only ones bringing joy to the hearts of these people? Naive......v.e.r.y. n.a.i.v.e.
As soon as we entered the facility we encountered these "other carolers". You would know them easily by their heavenly voices, organization, and synchronising. So...they are good. Really good. And are they an actual choir? Yes, they must be. But, we have Santa hats.....they did not. HA! Oh my gosh...are they harmonizing? This isn't their first road show....I mean...THEY ARE GOOD!
Hmmm....well...we have Santa hats.
If anyone had asked, I would have told them I am not much of a singer. In fact...I like to say I was kicked out of the children's choir at my church. This is not true, at least not to my knowledge...but I can NOT sing. At all. It's bad. And sad. When Brandon and I first started dating I told him he would probably NEVER hear me sing. Of course, that has changed, and he does hear me...but probably wishes otherwise.
So...needless to say, I was not planning on leading our choir. Cassie and Amy would not arrive for about 15 minutes, so the first few songs only included Brandon, Sara, Brett, Dustin, Lindsay, and I (mostly moving my mouth but with few words coming out). Initially we were not intimidated by the other carolers...we still had our optimism...and dignity. We set ourselves in the front sitting room and prepared to spread our holiday cheer. And here we goooo...
The first song was a Disaster. Please notice the capital "D". I know Brandon can sing, but apparently the mix of him and the family and OH MY GOSH...there goes our dignity. The awkward joining of all our voices and the deflated bubbles of optimism came together all at once to create sounds that resembled nothing anywhere close to lovely carols. Thankfully Brett had copies of all the carols we were to be singing, so we knew which words to sing, even if they were sung off key.
So many people were trying to put their wheelchairs in reverse and change directions to get away from us that collisions were happening all over the hallways. People were falling out of their wheelchairs, knocking eachother over, holding their ears and moving as quickly as they could in the opposite direction. Someone even tried to run through a glass window...just to find relief in other sounds or silence. Fine...none of that actually happened, but it could have....or maybe should have.
We were encouraged by the staff to relocate to an area that was less public and more private....we were led into a small activity room...located in a locked wing of the nursing home. FINE...that didn't actually happen either, but we did relocate, only because they were about to have their Sunday evening church...someone had to pray for us!
Thankfully after a few more awkward songs (at this point we were just going with the flow....we had nothing ELSE to loose) Cassie and Amy showed up and joined in our chorus. With their help, and lead vocals, we did not sound quite as lost. The best part was getting to see Grandma Bice. She knew almost every word to every song. And although she may not have thought we sounded very good, she seemed to enjoy the experience!
In the end...it was a lot of fun. And if nothing else a great laugh for all of the grandchildren. These memories will go right up there with Taylor's baptism and the church's version of "Silent Night" played by the stand in organist. And in the now famous words of that pastor "Let's try that one again!"
Grandma Bice with her grandchildren
Thursday, December 24, 2009
Christmas eve....
Today is Christmas Eve day! We are blessed with a gorgeous 50 degree day in Knoxville. Brandon and I drove, really Brandon did all the driving, from Chicago to Knoxville yesterday. We left a day earlier than originally planned, but a potential weather hazard was looming and we decided driving and ice were not a combination we wanted to include in our holidays this year.
Glad to be home, in our own beds, but sad to have to leave the family we don't get to see often enough. This year the Bice family has had many blessings. Brandon and I finally got the opportunity to meet new nephew Evan, and cousins Ryan and Cara. It is amazing how family can change from one year to another.
Pictures will be posted within a day or two....I promise.
I have found I am not as Christmas-y this year....just not quite gotten into the full mood. Even though we have done all the things we normally do, and even enjoyed beautiful snow in Chicago, it just hasn't quite hit me this year. That is, until today. As I walked through the Food City grocery store. And saw their Santa Claus. He was not very convincing, to me, of course. But...the kids shopping with their parents were so excited.
Now don't get me wrong....I understand that Christmas is not about Santa Claus and gifts and reindeer. But, for children...there is something magical about Christmas. And I forgot how fun it was to have that magical feeling....even if it was a fake beard and wig hung over a young man with black hair and stubble showing. I found that little bit of magic at the grocery store. In aisle 4...right in front of the canned meats.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Love to all,
Lauren and Brandon
Glad to be home, in our own beds, but sad to have to leave the family we don't get to see often enough. This year the Bice family has had many blessings. Brandon and I finally got the opportunity to meet new nephew Evan, and cousins Ryan and Cara. It is amazing how family can change from one year to another.
Pictures will be posted within a day or two....I promise.
I have found I am not as Christmas-y this year....just not quite gotten into the full mood. Even though we have done all the things we normally do, and even enjoyed beautiful snow in Chicago, it just hasn't quite hit me this year. That is, until today. As I walked through the Food City grocery store. And saw their Santa Claus. He was not very convincing, to me, of course. But...the kids shopping with their parents were so excited.
Now don't get me wrong....I understand that Christmas is not about Santa Claus and gifts and reindeer. But, for children...there is something magical about Christmas. And I forgot how fun it was to have that magical feeling....even if it was a fake beard and wig hung over a young man with black hair and stubble showing. I found that little bit of magic at the grocery store. In aisle 4...right in front of the canned meats.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Love to all,
Lauren and Brandon
Friday, December 18, 2009
I knew I was happy.....
Apparently Tennessee is the 4th Happiest State in the US! I can not disagree with that, especially since I have never lived in another state. But...I will tell you that I am very happy!
How could these things not make you happy?!
If you have ever been in Knoxville during the fall....you will know that during the right season, nothing makes a Tennesseean happier than....
Having said all of that....
This makes me a little unhappy....
http://www.sphere.com/nation/article/tennessee-toddler-found-drunk-wearing-stolen-dress/19285857
But, in the end...Tennessee is a happy state! It's beautiful regardless of the season, the people are kind and things sometimes go at their own pace....but its what makes us happy!
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
I haven't really had an opportunity to blog since last week. I fried my work computer(although I am sure it wasn't my fault)....I think I shocked it to death(with love)...and I have been without internet and network connections during the day for almost a week. I did not realize how much I loved being connected to the world each day. It's like I am living in a hole, in the dark, with sunglasses and a mask on or living in the 80's (aaaahhhhhh)! The good news.....I am all caught up on all my non-computer related tasks (mostly). Such as- .......? The bad news....my computer still hasn't been picked up by the repair company, so who knows how long it will be before I get it back. Thankfully....my home computer has internet connections!
So...what's new?
I had a thought yesterday...randomly-
Is Carrot Top on steroids? See picture below...
What's up with him? That's just freaky!
If I never heard another word about Tiger Woods I would be happy. I think what he has done to his wife is just awful....and my heart hurts for her. But none of this, NONE OF IT, is any business of the publics. And yes yes, by being a celebrity he puts himself in the position to constantly be in the eye of the public, he's a role model and all, but give this family a break. What a mess.
The media can be a menace.
Something I took for granted- Knowing the channels on a tv. Yeah, I know...shallow yet simple. I have lived in Knoxville basically my entire life. The only time I would get confused on channels was when the network would change them. Brandon, coming from Chicago and only living in Knoxville for 4 years barely knew any channels. I was his crutch. Him- "Honey, what channel is Lifetime Movie Network" (kidding of course....but I would know it). It used to bother me a little bit, because instead of learning the channels on his own, he would ask me. How lame is that that I was even a little bit bothered by that? I would say "Husband, you need to figure them out on your own. I can't always tell you your channels". What? Why not? We had the little guide box on the screen, so it's not like I was wanting him to pull the info out of thin air (my attempt to sound like it wasn't kind of critchy of me). Recently we switched our cable provider. Now the only channels I have memorized (in two weeks) 280- The Learning Channel and 247- TBS. How sad is that? It's harsh to walk that mile in the other shoes.
It's rained for what feels like a month straight and our backyard looks like a lake. Because of this...our dogs are not able to go outside and run around. And because of this they are driving me nuts. Is this what it's like to have kids on a rainy day?
Critchy- a word Brandon uses. A combination of Crabby and Bitchy. He uses it lovingly and I generally laugh if he uses it, because it's funny.
So...what's new?
I had a thought yesterday...randomly-
Is Carrot Top on steroids? See picture below...
What's up with him? That's just freaky!
If I never heard another word about Tiger Woods I would be happy. I think what he has done to his wife is just awful....and my heart hurts for her. But none of this, NONE OF IT, is any business of the publics. And yes yes, by being a celebrity he puts himself in the position to constantly be in the eye of the public, he's a role model and all, but give this family a break. What a mess.
The media can be a menace.
Something I took for granted- Knowing the channels on a tv. Yeah, I know...shallow yet simple. I have lived in Knoxville basically my entire life. The only time I would get confused on channels was when the network would change them. Brandon, coming from Chicago and only living in Knoxville for 4 years barely knew any channels. I was his crutch. Him- "Honey, what channel is Lifetime Movie Network" (kidding of course....but I would know it). It used to bother me a little bit, because instead of learning the channels on his own, he would ask me. How lame is that that I was even a little bit bothered by that? I would say "Husband, you need to figure them out on your own. I can't always tell you your channels". What? Why not? We had the little guide box on the screen, so it's not like I was wanting him to pull the info out of thin air (my attempt to sound like it wasn't kind of critchy of me). Recently we switched our cable provider. Now the only channels I have memorized (in two weeks) 280- The Learning Channel and 247- TBS. How sad is that? It's harsh to walk that mile in the other shoes.
It's rained for what feels like a month straight and our backyard looks like a lake. Because of this...our dogs are not able to go outside and run around. And because of this they are driving me nuts. Is this what it's like to have kids on a rainy day?
Critchy- a word Brandon uses. A combination of Crabby and Bitchy. He uses it lovingly and I generally laugh if he uses it, because it's funny.
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