Yucko Yuk!

Let me just preface this entire article by saying "I HATE SICKNESS!"....of any kind.
As much as I love the fall with it's changing colors, and Christmas, with all the fun it brings, I hate the cold weather. I told Aaron just yesterday that I could live in a tropical climate all year round. I mean, I could handle Christmas palm trees, and substitute the coconuts for ornamnets! It seems like every year, it never fails, we all get some sort of, what I have labled, yucko yuk! This past week, Kenzie started acting a little puny, and my first reaction was that she had gotten the dreaded flu that was going around our school. However, as the night went on, she became more and more conjested ,and a wheeze sound that accompanied her breathing. So after two trips to the doctor, and harassing the on call doctor, she was determinded to have RSV. And that hence the term...YUCKO YUK, because that is EXACTLY what it was! YUK! So the entire week was spent with that little orange bulb syringe attached to her red little nose, and a humidifier going constantly! Just when I thought it couldnt get worse, I came down with the sniffles, that I am certain was a mild type of flu. However, who has time to go to the doctor when you have sick babies!? :( So I prescribed myself Dayquil and naps when they napped. A few days after that, I got a call from the school saying, "we are pretty certain Kylie has strep throat" (well, in so many words) So, off we go. Me and my sniffling, sneezing self, and Kenzie, the human accordian, to get Kylie and go to the doctor. I must stop to interject, that at this point, we were in the running for a permanent plaque on the waiting room chairs, and our very own parking place! Anyway, yep, you guessed it, she tested positive so we came home with the bubble gum medicine on the top shelf in the fridge.
In all the yucko yuckness that was going on in my home, I hadn't really been paying much attention to my skin issue. Until one night I was chilling out in my chair and realized that I had been clawing at my leg most of the day! So I took a peak at my leg, only to realize that my rash was coming back quickly! ugh. So I am patiently waiting on my shots to get here, so I can hopefully get this back under control. Because the Lord knows that I cannot handle this all over again.
Having said all that, I am HAPPY to report that we are all on the mend,(except my skin) headed to church tonight(fingers crossed).Kenzie still has a little cough, but she is draining clear and is back to her happy self. So we will be getting out of this house!!!! YaY!!!!!

Goals for 2011

With every year that comes, I decide to sit down and make out a list of things that I would like to see accomplished. I compile a list of anything and everything, even down to the superfluous things that come to mind. So I want to share some of the more greater-valued items on my list.
First, at the risk of sounding super-spiritual, I want to know that all the Sunday school lessons, and nightly devotions are getting into the heart of my 4 year old, Kylie. While I still think it is too early for her to understand what it means to be saved, I want to hear her begin to discuss it and ask questions, so I know that she is becoming "heavenly minded". Now to some, this may seem a little early, and presumptuous, but as a mother, if my babies don't end up in Heaven with me, then I am a failure. It won't matter how much money I saved, or how many coupons I used, or how good I was at crafts and time management. If I lose my girls to the world, then I have lost everything. And it seems as if the world (devil), is getting to our children alot earlier then when I was younger. So, I want the Lord to be preparing her heart at a young age. So THAT is number 1!
Secondly, I want to be more content with what I have and what the Lord has blessed me with. Sometimes I find myself constantly changing things, and trying to keep up with the latest home makeovers, and fashion, etc. But I want to take a break from that and concentrate on things that are really important. I see so many people (me included), chase all the latest money-making gimmicks and try to be the "thriftiest" person in the world, when it just takes so much time and energy from their families. So, my word for the year is CONTENTMENT. Now, that is not to say there is anything wrong with wanting to be fashionable and thrifty, but moderation is the key.
And last, but DEFINITELY not least, I want to make sure that the loved ones in my life know that I love them. And not just my family either; but also my friends.
Recently, a guy in our Sunday school class and another man/son duo from our church, went out on a casual fishing trip, and never returned. The coast guard searched for 6 days to find them but never found even a trace. I replayed the last conversation that I had with him in my mind, and tried to remember if I even appeared TRULY interested in what he was saying, or was I in a hurry to get somewhere and shrugged him off? Thankfully,the Sunday before he left,we had a brief, but normal, lighthearted conversation and had to cut it off to get into the choir loft. But I thought to myself, how often to we put off those that we love, or act disinterested in them because we are tired, or just ready to go? How many times do we not pick up the phone when a friend calls, because we are afraid they will ask a favor, or we just don't have the time for them? And on a more personal basis, how many times has Aaron walked out the door for work, that I haven't told him I loved him? wow, to sit and think about this blows my mind at how careless I am with the relationships the Lord has allowed in my life. This year, I have resolved to make sure, not a day goes by that my family doesn't hear me tell them I love them.
These are my (serious) goals for 2011. I have a board that has mini-close pins on it, (that my husband....ahem...WHICH I LOVE DEARLY), is supposed to have up by this weekend, to which I am going to display these so I can be reminded every day. I cannot wait to see what God has in store for the Pendergraft family. I know there will be hard times and trials, but I am also certain that we are in for a few blessings as well.

DISNEY WORLD!!!

I have to admit that in light of the fact that we have had this Disney trip planned since February, Christmas kind've took a backseat this year! (if that's even possible) Anyway, our plans were to leave out on New Year's Eve and head to Florida to be at the Magic Kingdom for the New Years Eve festivities. Papa T and MiMi decided to take us all on this trip, mainly for the kiddies, but we never imagined that we would enjoy it just as much! That night, was CrAzY, to say the least! It was so crowded, but the fireworks show and the parade was AWESOME! I have never seen anything like it! It was definitely worth the chaos! (and if you ask Kylie what her favorite thing was, to this day, she would say the fireworks!)




We stayed from Friday to Friday, so we got alot packed in to those 7 days. We visited all the parks and got to do everything that we had on our list to do. I 100% attribute this to having a plan and sticking to it. About 6 months before we left, I purchased a book called "The Unofficial Guide To Disney". I had to have read it at least 5 times cover to cover. It had a section for each park giving you the rides, restaurants and the best and worst of each park. It was great information. It also provided the map for each park, which allowed me to map out our attack before we even stepped foot in the park. Now, once you get to the park, there are plenty of maps at the gate, but this eliminates having to sit down and try to "get it together" while you have a 4 yr old bouncing around ready to go. I would definitely suggest this to any parent planning a trip to the Mouse! :) Anyway, there were a few highlights from the trip for sure! We took Kylie to the Bibbidy Bobbidy Boutique ,in Cinderella's Castle, which is a children's salon, meant to be themed from the section of the movie when the fairy godmother transformed Cinderella into a princess for the ball. It was worth every penny! She got to decided which princess she wanted to be and what hairstyle she wanted, ect. She got the royal treatment down to the wand, tiara, and shoes she wanted! It was amazing to say the least! They were truly there to make the little girls feel like a princess. I was ready to hop in the chair and become one myself, but Aaron brought me back down to reality! lol!




After the boutique, we enjoyed a really nice dinner at Cinderella's Royal Table. It was in the castle as well. You went right up the spiral staircase in the tower to a restaurant at the very top of the castle. There, you were seated and throughout the dinner they would announce a different princess. One by one, they would make their rounds to every table, talk to every child, and take as many pictures as you would like! Kylie was in princess heaven, to say the least! It was definitely something I will never forget. As I watched her little eyes light up with each announcement of another princess, I just wanted to cry at the thought that she will only be this little, and experience all these special times....ONCE. So I sat back and put away every other thought in my head, and soaked in all the "magic" right along with her. For that night, she was my little, innocent girl that wanted to grow up one day and live in a castle just like Cinderella. :) That is what having a little girl is all about. It makes me look forward to taking Kenzie one day and enjoying the same experiences with her.





We also went to SeaWorld for a day. Other than the Magic Kingdom, that was probably my favorite day. We enjoyed the Shamu and dolphin shows, and the aquarium, and it wasn't as busy as Disney World. So Kylie got to relax and run around without being glued to me and Aaron's hand! She also got to ride as many rides as she wanted without waiting! She even rode her first roller coaster with mommy! We even purchased the outrageously priced, commemorative picture and frame to put in her room. I told Aaron that we would NEVER do that again, but for her very first one, it was worth it. It was a great day!





All in all, this was a fantastic trip! We enjoyed every single second of it!
Bye Bye Disney World! We will see you again soon with another Pendergraft Princess!

The Holidays!!!

We have definitely been busy little Pendergrafts! Hence the fact that I haven't updated my blog in forever! We had wonderful holidays with our family. We spent Thanksgiving with my parents in Gastonia. The whole gang came down! When I say "gang" I'm referring to the Marcum, Brown, and Pendergraft families. :) We had an absolute blast! The older I get the more the holidays center around how much time we get to spend with family. I know, I know...I'm getting old! lol!
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Christmas was also great! Kylie really got into the whole Christmas spirit thing this year! It was alot of fun to watch her enjoy the "magic" of Christmas!We were able to be home with my family and parents. We had a great time together. Then, on Christmas morning after we did our own thing in the morning, we headed to Goldsboro to be with Aaron's family. We are very fortunate to be able to spend Christmas with both families.However, the greatest gift this year ,to me and Aaron, was the fact that kenzie started walking! yay! We had been praying for that for such a long time! So, God just wrapped it up and gave it to us a little early on Christmas eve!