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Eighteen Years Now

Eighteen years ago now, and it's hard to believe, but yes eighteen years ago now that we first saw Maddie's face.  It was that picture, one I just have to look at again.  

Halfway around the world, and we were about to fly over there to meet her for the first time, and that time would come in about two months or so, on such an epic journey.  

Team Edge was a bit early this morning, but Maddie was up and driving over there.  I managed to get my walking in, heading over to the college as Maddie was training on individual and group performances.  I came back to do some reading at the counter as I watched her and the team training, and today we were done a little more quickly than usual:  practice wasn't as long today.

It's Ye-Ye's birthday today, so we spoke with him for a good bit - we got him a few gifts and wished him well as we moved along our day here.  Mom and I were out and getting a few things together, with a stop at the church our first destination, first to deliver a prayer shawl from Israel we have in our collection so it could be used in an illustration at the church tonight.  We also were finishing up the set for "Boot Camp," and it's looking pretty good.

Next, time for some grocery shopping, picking up a bunch of snacks for our big trip.  That was fun - we picked up some pretty neat snacks.  After that, off to Kohl's for some free stuff for Maddie:  Mom used some credits for a top for Maddie for this trip.  

We got home and got ready for the Kentucky Derby!  Glad we didn't miss that, as we almost forgot.  Our yearly tradition continued with Maddie picking Incredibolt to win, Mom picking Commandment, and me picking Further Ado.  It turns out that none of these horses got into the top four, but Maddie's choice was first amongst our picks, with Mom's just behind, and then my choice a bit further down.  The weather up there was perfect, and it was a really exciting race with Golden Tempo crossing the finish line first.  

Mom made those bison/pork hot dogs tonight, and our feature of the night was Braves game, which might have been my favorite of the year so far, with a squirrel on the field, a foul ball into the announcer booth,  and Mauricio Dubón's amazing catch against the back wall that he actually did a face plant on and left his eye make up on the wall.  

What a catch, and what a face plant!  We've got some amazing players on this team.  There were some super homers, and just a lot of great plays tonight.  Go Braves!

We read tonight, and it might be one of my favorite parts of a Discworld book, at least as far as humor goes.  I just think it's hysterical that Commander Vimes goes into a berserker rage in combat while reciting the lines from a kids book, "Where's My Cow?"  It was so funny that I was having a hard time reading it out loud.  Maddie was enjoying it too, and then we all said our prayers - time for some sleep!

Making Adjustments

Off to the chiropractor late this morning, all three of us due for an adjustment here.  Maddie was ready for her back massage first, as always, and of course there was her visit with Doc Williams that always - always - gets her cracking up!

We had a rather routine sort of trip over to Cumming, all of it starting out with the adjustment of course, and then it was time to eat!  Mom had a gift card to Texas Roadhouse, so why not head over there?

Yeah, we were right there with the dancing this time around!  Anyway, Maddie was happy to order a steak, of course.  Mom and Maddie get the six ounce sirloin, while I had a great steak salad.  Maddie doesn't like the chicken here, but has started recently really liking a good piece of steak.

Okay, so after that we went over to Belk to do some shopping for the girls.  Maddie spotted this little combo here hanging up - apparently for a big "Minions" fan:

And one more stop right there:  we went to the Hallmark store there, and we just love that place for a few reasons.  One of them is chocolate!  We always go to the chocolates, these really rich and delicious candies behind the glass, just like in a chocolate shop.  Oh, look at this elaborate card we spotted:

Mom has written on the calendar "Batman Day!"  I had my Batman socks on today, but that was about it - other than the fact that tonight we were watching the baseball bats with the Braves.  But more on that later.  For now, let's talk Christmas ornaments:  yes, we got some.  Why wouldn't we?  They were $1.99 each!  We picked up a few that hadn't sold out yet, including a Sadness ornament from "Inside Out, and some Mandalorian ones too.  We got a few Haunted Mansion ornaments for October, and a funny one we'll use for a white elephant gift exchange.  It was a fun trip.

We got home, rested a bit, and pretty much got out the door for taekwondo after that. 

Maddie was doing well there and having fun - I was working on a Summer Xtreme booklet for later in July, and a few other things too.  I sit there at the desk, reading, updating, and all kinds of things.  There was Team Edge practice afterwards, so things were a little longer tonight.  

But look who's driving to and fro!  Maddie's been driving the car to taekwondo and getting better and better with her skills there.

We got home tonight in time to watch the latest Braves game on BravesVision, and what a game that was.  This was the one where the Rockies were up 6-0, and then 6-2.  And then late in the game, the comeback!  What a game - Dubon got a huge triple with three RBIs, and then Riley tied things up with a sacrifice fly.  Then Michael Harris III came up to bat again, and what a moment that was as he slammed a two-run homer.  Braves win 8-6 with the best comeback yet.

We read tonight, and after that it was time for prayers, and then time for some rest.  

Dance

 

Today was the last chapel service for Free Chapel College this year, and Maddie was there early with the dance team - they had put together a little choreography to go just prior to the service, and it turned out pretty fun!

And so ends a small chapter of Maddie's school history.  She enjoyed it, and is now off in other directions.

She drove with Nana and Ye-Ye today, and they got the car taken care of over at the dealership, and the price was so much more affordable than what we're used to dealing with using our other car here.  But she was driving well there, and then Maddie drove over to taekwondo afterwards.  She had a good night helping with instruction, and then joining the leadership class.

I was reading a good bit, catching up there and on some work for KidPak.  Sort of a crazy day today.  We're getting ready for Boot Camp, but also ready fora  quick trip away. 

The Braves lost today, unable to hold a lead in the eighth inning.  Certain bullpen pitchers just aren't able to get the job done, but that okay because we won the series vs. Detroit, and still remain the only team in baseball to have not lost a single series.  Mom was watching that at home while getting things ready for our trip.

I got the walking in, and tonight we watched a few more episodes of "The Mandalorian," pressing on there in season two, which is pretty epic.  Afterwards, we read of course, getting closer towards the end of "Thud!"  We said our prayers, and sleep came easy tonight for all of us.

Captain Awesome

We dropped over at Camille's place this afternoon, and it might be a while before we see her again, because it's so close to her due date and we wanted to drop by a baby shower gift.  We've been joking that because there's no official "baby shower" this time around, we'd call it a "baby sprinkle."  You can see Bonnie was having a great time running around with Maddie, and when it came time to open the gifts, Bonnie was very excited, as was her mom.

We gave gifts themed to "The Very Hungry Caterpillar!"  There was a cute onesie, and another item, and the book itself.

And so it came to pass that after that, we went to Braselton.  This time we were with Maddie, and as is our custom, we ate first, stopping by a familiar place.

We were at Cracker Barrel again, and that was fun.  We even did some small shopping, or at least looking around in the store afterwards.  I picked up a card for Ye-Ye's birthday, and we all got some candy too.  We didn't pick this up though:

Right after this, we were in the warehouse, busy collecting items for the Boot Camp skits upcoming.  A casting absence means that I'll probably wind up being in the skits again.  That's okay.  We picked up some set decorations and some costuming, and were on our way home for the night.

Today was Maddie's last day of college classes.  Tomorrow is a chapel service, but today was the official last day of classes, and thus that chapter is pretty much over.  It was a short chapter.

Tonight we were getting some things done in the house.  There's still plenty of packing to do, which all of us were doing tonight to one extent of another.  I'm also still trying to get things lined up for some time away from KidPak, of course.  We cooked up the last of the oven-bake pretzels, and I got my steps in watching a documentary on SpaceX and Mars while on the treadmill.  Afterwards, that Braves game:  wow.  We were facing a tough pitcher, and we were pretty much in trouble until the eighth inning.  And then that ninth inning happened, and Matt Olsen crushed a two-run home run to win it for the Braves in a thrilling walk-off at-bat.  Pretty amazing stuff.

We read after that, more from "Thud!"  And after that, time for some sleep!

Walking Towards the Moon

Got another post card as I march along here virtually.  Moving pretty quickly through this walk, I'm already on the moon.  It's been great watching a lot of NASA related programing and movies while doing this march.  And of course, next week we'll be visiting Kennedy Space Center, so it's all about space this month when it comes to keeping fit. 

We woke up this morning to thunder, and even a bit of hail outside, although things settled down soon enough to be just a steady downpour for a good bit in the morning.  We sure need the rain, and are grateful for all the water we can get.  

Maddie was at college today, things winding down for Free Chapel College.  Maddie's just got one more day, and then a service on Thursday.  Then she's all done - hopefully she's enjoyed the year.

We watched the spider episode of "The Mandalorian" tonight, and then the Braves game on BravesVision.  The Braves beat the Tigers tonight, another great win from the team with the most wins in baseball.  Afterwards, it was time to read some more from "Thud!"  We said our prayers soon after that, ready for another good night's rest... until there was a noise out there on the porch... oh, there's our possum friend again.  The possum keeps coming up to visit, I think sniffing around for leftover birdseed or something.  I love how they just waddle around and sure enough, as long as you leave them alone, they'll leave you alone.  Anyway, good night everyone - and goodnight little possum!

Poison Ivy

Goodness, Mom's poison ivy has been annoying.  It's easily been the worst she's ever experienced.  My mother can just reach down and pick up the stuff with her hands and throw it out, but if it just barely touches Mom, it can bring some trouble.  It spreads on the skin and it's just a lot of itching and pain.  So uncomfortable, and we're really praying she's better by the time we take our little trip coming up.

So we've been packing, and getting things done ahead of time for the services at KidPak coming up.  Getting booklets done and getting skits written and graphics done.  Maddie had taekwondo tonight, and I was there "at my office" there while watching the team practice.  While all that was going on, I was finishing up the script, getting graphics done and all kinds of stuff to set up for a small trip away.

We watched "The Mandalorian" some tonight, and afterwards read a bit from "Thud!" again, nearing the end of this mystery.  Everyone's listening in as I read, as this story has captured the imagination.  It's been fun.  We said our prayers after this, and then... time for some sleep!