We won 4 VIP passes from KIX 96 to see Billy Dean right here in Richmond Hill, GA at JF Gregory Park Saturday July 19. It was a pretty neat show which we planned on attending anyway, but having VIP passes made it all the better. Kriss, her mom, and I went and immediately ran into people we all knew, but still it wasn’t a packed show and I think that’s the way it was intended. The passes got us into a VIP section roped off right in front of the stage and also to go backstage and meet Billy Dean. We walked right around the stage and watched him take pictures, sign autographs, and talk to people, he seemed like a pretty down to earth guy in the few minutes we were back there and listening to him tell funny stories about his life on stage between songs. What else was amazing was he performed for over an hour with no band just him and an acoustic guitar. There were several other people there including local dance band The Rogues, who have been around Savannah for decades, and also country newcomer and Effingham native Hannah Dasher. I think the Richmond Hill Idol winner was there before we got there and also the Mayor Richard Davis was there the whole night and gave Billy the key to the city, although I’m pretty sure I could pick the lock . Read more

We did do a big party for Kellie today and I cooked burgers and dogs on the grill, my neighbor made noodle salad and brought over. We put up the tent to either stay out the sun or rain since it couldn’t make up it’s mind. We almost canceled it though because we thought no one was coming but in the end it all went well and we had lots of family over to enjoy Kellie’s birthday. Marc Jr was here this weekend too and the girls were here so we had a house full as usual already but dad and Lynn came, mom and Granny Tootsie, Hollie and Chad, Granny and Grandaddy, and my neighbor Bruce and his mom (we missed you Lonnie.) Read more

I can’t believe my baby is 5 years old today. Now I know what everyone means when they write those silly cards about how it seems like it was “just yesterday when we brought you home from the hospital.” I just can’t believe how much my baby has grown and what she can do in only five years. She still runs to meet me every day screaming “Daddy!” and grabbing me around my legs if I can’t get bent over fast enough to pick her up for a hug. Watching her turn over, crawl, walk, talk, run, play, write, type, and now swim on her own is amazing, but still every day there is something new that makes you say “wow, I can’t believe she can do that.” She is growing up so fast and part of me wishes she could stay little forever and part of me can’t wait to see what she surprises me with tomorrow.I wish I could post every picture that I ever had of her from birth on and I wish I had everything from all of the websites I had ever written about her, she is the reason I started making a website to begin with.

I’m sure we’ll do a little something for her today, it IS her birthday, but we also have a little party planned this weekend for her with some close family and friends coming to celebrate and cook out. Maybe we’ll even go to the pool and let her show off some in the water.

Mommy and daddy love you so very much! HAPPY BIRTHDAY KELLIE!

I knew it was coming soon but in the past week Kellie has gotten beyond her fear of sticking her face in the water and having floaties on her arm and is now swimming around the shallow end alone. She is using goggles but otherwise she is SWIMMING, and a week before her 5th birthday. I’ve been hearing about it all week since Kriss took the girls to the pool and Alyssa got her to try it but I finally got to see her swim yesterday. Just two weekends ago on a quick Disney trip (trip report in the Disney category above) she was sliding down the water slide by herself with floaties on but doing everything on her own. A water baby just like her dad!