Extreme Makeover: Home Edition

There has been a ton of excitement in Tallahassee this week. Extreme Makeover: Home Edition selected one of our local families to give a new home to. The Kadzis Family has several special needs children that were adopted from China, and the Dad has terminal brain cancer. I don't personally know the family, but they have been on everyone's minds and hearts this week. I have never in my life heard so many different people pretend to know exactly what was going on with when what was happening, but I was finally able to pin down the best time to be at the site today. Mom and I got up and out to the site at 8:45 this morning. The family arrived at 2:30 this afternoon. My feet and legs have never hurt so bad in my life. Once I got in my spot this morning, I had to stay there or I would lose it!

At one point, there were crew members coming around collecting gift cards and get well cards from the spectators. I could not believe how many people had brought gift cards or get well cards to this family that they didn't even know! I can't count on one hand how many times I got chills today from the outpour of love that I felt from the wonderful people of Tallahassee. Someone handed up a folder of gift cards and get well cards that was at least 6 inches thick just from my little section of people!

The Production Crew started filming us all this morning around 11:15. For the next 2 hours, they had us cheer, chant, and scream. "Move that Bus" happened over several takes, and I'm pretty sure that I made it into SEVERAL different shots. Now, all they have to do is to pick my video clip.

This was an AWESOME experience! I am SO happy for the Kadzis family, and I wish them the very best!

They knocked the house down Saturday night. This picture was taken Sunday afternoon.

This is our church's parking lot. We were the volunteer's central command! There are about 15 dumpsters there that are what remain of the Kadzis' old house! Rachel and I went over on Sunday. This is one of the tractor's wheels that were bigger than Rachel! She was excited to be there!

Mom and I went over really early this morning.

They were putting the finishing touches on the house! In the crowd, the producers passed around a piece of "artwork" to put into the house. It was the thumb prints of nearly all of the spectators! My thumbprint is on there twice!

The Production Crew getting prepared to video us. I have a pretty solid chance of being on T.V.

There were SOOOOO many people there to cheer for the family when they finally arrived! The test run with the Limo (that would have the family later in the day)

Me - waiting for the family to arrive at their new house.

Ty Pennington - Host Paige Hemmis - Designer "Move That Bus"

The finished product - 3800 Sq. Feet The family going inside to see their new house

I'm pretty sure that this episode will air on April 26th, so keep an eye out for me!

My friend, Stephanie, lives around the corner from here, let me park at her house, and she got me some awesome shots of the house in the making. I will post them as soon as I get them. Thanks, Steph!!

Flying "N903FC"

Joey took me and Patti flying today! We flew over Wakulla Springs and down to the Gulf Coast. It was extremely windy until we hit 2000 feet, so sometimes, it felt like we were flying sideways. Joey did a great job of easing our nerves. He's a really good pilot! (Have I talked you up enough, Joey? Will you take my flying again and again?) But really, he rocks!

We had a great time, and topped it off with some really good Mexican food! Yum!

I included a video of the landing for anyone interested. It reminds me of The Blair Witch Project videography because of all of the wind, but you'll get the idea!

Joey

Me & Patti (very windy) - I had to hold Patti's hair down
Me (Aren't I just adorable!)
I have NOOOO idea what these do.

Wakulla Springs - This is where we spend a lot of time in the summer swimming.

Upclose and personalHere's the airport and in the background, you can see Downtown TallahasseeSt. George's Island

Patti

Joey & Patti

Pretty view

Flightline, FBO (Where Joey works)

Controlled burning - is it really?

Joey had a real smooth landing despite all of the wind! I didn't notice it until I saw the video, and I don't know if she realized that she did it, but you can see Patti clapping once we landed! What's wrong, Patti? Nervous?

Where's Sam?

This is how I found Sammy this morning when I left for work! I can't tell you how much this melted my heart in the wee hours of the morning! He's such a special little boy!!!

Pink? My Eye!!!

Don't ask me! I have no idea how this has happened. Yes! I know this is absolutely disgusting, but I must share nonetheless! I have pink eye in both of my eyes! No one that I know, including the chitins, have pink eye, but here I sit, squinting out of my better eye, to share with you all my innermost secrets!

Because I am nursing, I cannot take your normal antibiotic! No! That'd be WAAAYYY too simple! No, I have to smear a wonderful cream on the inside of my eyeball 6 times a day for 7 days! Ewwww.....I know.

On the bright side? I was able to get in and out of the Doctor's Office in under 25 minutes, as usual! I LOVE my Doctor!

If I had not explained this picture, you'd probably think that I was scared and intoxicated!

Corley Cleanup Day

Our backyard has not been maintained since we moved in to our house nearly 7 years ago. We really haven't had any reason to have a backyard that we used really, but now that Susie is gone, and Riley has joined us, I wanted to give him somewhere to run. Also, we've been wanting to let the kids have somewhere to play, so we decided that it was time to tackle the jungle that we have been dreading also known as our back yard.

It took us nearly all day on Saturday to even get this far, and we have SOOO much more work to do, but we are pleased with the results. Joey, Beth, and Grammy also came over to give us a hand! Beth and Joey had entirely too much fun with the chainsaw!

We had a blast conquering our backyard this weekend, but there is so much more to get under control.

An Overdue Visit!

Barry & Cathy stopped by to visit us yesterday! It's always SO nice to see them. Barry performed the marriage ceremony for me and Rusty nearly 6 years ago! It's hard to believe that it's been that long. I've known these two for what seems like forever, and they will never know just how special they are to me! We had an amazing time yesterday, and I can't wait until the next time we get to see them!

Love you guys!