Gimmie a Break

Our poor Reagan just can't catch a break! Just about a week ago, she was getting a fever from teething and wasn't a happy camper at all. Then last night she woke up about 11 PM and was hot, sick, wheezing and not feeling good. Early this morning we were up at at the doctor's office for a walk-in appointment. Once again, our favorite doc and nurse (Doc McAllister and Nurse Leigh) came thru for us right away! They tested Reagan and found out she has (1) RSV and (2) Bronchiolitis. We spent the first year of her life hoping that she wouldn't get RSV because it's bad in babies, much less preemies. Thankfully, she's 16 months now and can better fight the virus. We came home with some meds that are also breathing treatments every 4 hours or so. She's the smallest of the family and seems to be taking most of the hits around here this coming up cold season. Here's hoping she's feeling back to her normal snuggly self soon!

The Wade Family (Sept 2011)

This year, Providence Baptist Church has decided that instead of just an address directory, we needed a pictorial directory...so that means it was family picture time! Since the times the photographers would be coming to the church didn't work for us, we invited our favorite photographer (who happens to be one of our favorite friends too - score!) to our house and in about 2 mins, she took our picture and we were done! It's very rare we get a good family picture and so far this year we are three for three (Easter, beach, fall) and it's unbelievable that we have all looking, all smiling (somewhat - ha) and no one blinking! So...without further ado - introducing the Wade family!

Angie's Angels

Tonight we celebrated Angie's (Eric's mother) 64th birthday. Since one of her all time favorite restaurants is the Old Mill in Dothan, we headed there to celebrate with steak, shrimp, chicken and even pasta. The girls loved our waitress who got us some food ASAP and kept those bellies full! After dinner it was time for cake and presents and she got some great ones! Happy Birthday, Angie...and many more!

T.G.I. F. (Thank God It's Family time!)

Another day, another play date! At least that's what our daughters' worlds seem to be all about these days...and we wouldn't have it any other way! They love their friends - especially those that are also their cousins. Today, the Bryant family came to visit and it was, as always, a wonderful time. Whitney and Khloe headed upstairs to play with Abby's toys while the twins napped and I got lots of great snuggle time in with the little man (Ethan)....who isn't exactly so little anymore but is all about the focus, the movement, everything! We love the Bryants!

(From left to right: Blaire, Khloe, Ethan, Abby, Whitney and Reagan...love love love!)

Old McDonald Had A Farm...

As you know, Abby attends Miss Eloise Preschool and Kindergarten in Enterprise, Alabama. She absolutely loves the school, the students and the teachers (Ms. Ramona and Ms. Meloni). However, now there is something else she loves...the field trips! Today was the September field trip for the class. It was to the New Brockton Farm Center where Auburn University hosted a bunch of information regarding farm animals, planting food, etc. Most of the fun was all around the animals of the event...horses, cows, calves, goats, bunnies, pigs, chicks, etc. I can't even begin to tell you how much fun it was for the children to run around checking everything out. Abby had a blast! And, Blaire and Reagan did too! They were able to join Abby and her classmates today and really had fun! We happened to call Nana (Eric's mom, Angie) earlier this morning to ask if she wanted to ride out there with us...and thank goodness she did because as much fun as the event was, it was a mad house! She kept watch over the twins while I went with Abby and her friends. All in all, it was a successful event and Abby's still talking about it...and I'm sure the Auburn volunteers are still talking about how some woman brought her babies into the event wearing "BAMA" shirts, ha ha!

Third "Thursday"

Every month, on the third Thursday, we get together to have dinner with Eric's brother, Aaron, and his wife, Jenifer. With all of our busy schedules, it is sometimes hard to get together on exactly the third Thursday of the month...so this month's third Thursday, happened to actually fall on the third Monday of September! And it was also the month for Aaron and Jenifer to host the meal. When we got over to their home, we hung out waiting on the food and checked out the Halloween decorations - and you just thought it was Walmart that decorated early, ha! The girls loved the pumpkins! And we loved the meal as well...mexican lasagna, salad and cornbread. Topped off by the dessert we brought - cherry pie and vanilla ice cream - the meal was wonderful. Until the next third Thursday!

Painting the Town

Over a year ago, construction started on our church's new Educational and Office Annex...which meant that the older section of the church was torn down to make room for this new facility. Sadly, the older section contained the Youth Room. In the last year, the youth have moved around to three different Sunday School rooms, used the Fellowship Hall for Wednesday Night Live Bible Study and didn't really have a place to call their own. Until now. We claimed a room - at least that's our story and we're sticking to it! Ha! After talking with the trustees and Sunday School director, we took over one of the rooms in the area over the Fellowship Hall and immediately knew it needed some TLC...as well as a little bit of color! Following through our Sunday School lesson of ministering with time, talent and our abilities, we had a Paint Party so to speak. From 4-6 PM we gathered and had a great time starting to shape the new Youth Room up a bit. There were 4 adults, 2 children and 22 youth coming and going during that time. It was awesome! To see the youth putting their heart into this project was wonderful! I can see God's work in this group and it was wonderful! Although this is only Part One of the "remodel" it's definitely a fun work in progress!

Bowling Buddies

Today was the day...we celebrated Ryan's 8th birthday and it was a BALL....literally, ha ha! After a wonderful morning at Providence, we met up with the Godwin family at Boland Lanes and had a great time wishing Ryan a happy birthday. There was cosmic bowling (so much fun!), bright colored shoes (Abby's favorite - ha!), home made cake (yummy Veda) and lots and lots of fun with friends! Happy Birthday, Ryan...we love you!

Poor baby...

Reagan woke up around 11:30 last night with a fever...she was screaming, crying and just not a happy camper. After changing some PJs, getting some medicine and lots of loving by both Mommy and Daddy, she fell back asleep but was up in the morning with another low grade fever. We'd been watching her for a couple of days now anyway because there were the signs that she may be getting some more teeth. Fortunately, our girls have all gotten teeth without any major teething troubles. But all of a sudden, Reagan was having constipation, lack of appetite, chewing on her fingers (or anything else she could shove in her mouth), constantly tired, etc. The signs were all there. When the fever came, we knew she wasn't going to church today so Eric stayed home with her. She's been very clingy today and we're hoping that this gets knocked out in the next few days.

Fun with friends

After a morning of shopping and running errands, we came home for a relaxing afternoon and ended up getting the best surprise - a visit from the Weed women! Jennifer and Ali stopped by our house this afternoon and we had a wonderful visit! We've known these two lovely ladies ever since Abby's second year at FUMC (1st United Methodist Church) in Enterprise. At FUMC, Ali and Abby would get into almost every - but trouble - and loved playing with each other. Since Abby has changed schools this year, we hadn't seen Ali in a while and loved the idea of an impromptu play day! Thanks ladies for a wonderful afternoon!

“You can discover more about a person in an hour of
play than in a year of conversation.”
PLATO

Cute Cousins

Our girls are very lucky to live in an area where several of their cousins not only live, but are close enough in age to give the girls some really fun family play dates! Today, Katie (Chris and Shannan's littlest one) came over and had an absolute ball playing with all three girls! Katie and Abby, both 4, are too cute for words when they play. Although I completely agree with the statement that a baby's laugh is one of the sweetest sounds you'll ever hear, I also love the sounds of little girls playing house, dressing up dolls and laughing with each other over silly secret "no-adults-can-know" secrets and games. We love love love Katie and can't wait for her to come back next week!

Sweet Sixteen

Today the twins turned 16 months old! We are very fortunate that they are happy and healthy! Their doctor has even remarked on how wonderful their growth is for preemies born so early! Happy 16 month Birthday girls! XOXOXO

Look who's walking

Reagan Nichole
(started walking in August, 2011 -
]this video was taken on 8/12/2011)



Blaire Elizabeth
(started walking in September 2011 -
this video was taken on 9/12/2011)

Never Forget

"Though 10 years have passed, the wounds are still present, the emotions still raw. You have always carried the memory of that day with you, and in its aftermath you have shown a strength and a courage that embodies the character of America."

Leon Panetta, Defense Secretary

At the car wash...

...talkin' about the car wash, girl! This morning was the youth group's annual car wash at Providence. And although I'm sure the youth were just thrilled to be up and at the church by 8:45 AM on a Saturday, the person that was honestly over the moon was Abby. She got to join the "youth group" for the day and that's been a dream of hers now for a while! It's hysterically funny to see her get excited about being a youth member, ha! A couple of hours, a few cars and motorcycles later, the car wash was over and everyone was exhausted...but it was definitely a fun fundraiser and time!

After the car wash, we headed home to get ready for a big afternoon at our house. Every year Eric's father, Will, has his birthday right in the middle of football season. And since he'd love nothing more than to just celebrate with some golf, a home cooked meal and Alabama on the television, that's what we all decided to give him this year. And it was a great family get together to celebrate the big 6-5! Happy Birthday, Will...and many more!

And you know the day's not going to pass by without a big ROLL TIDE from our favorite Bama Belles! Congrats on another win....27-11 over the Nittany Lions of Penn State. Roll Tide Roll!

Friday Night Lights

Tonight was the night - the twins' first high school football game experience....and it was awesome! One of the perks of being youth director, is that you get invited to watch youth members play football, cheer, band concerts, school lunches, etc. This afternoon the girls were able to get a great nap (almost 4 hours - wow!) and we knew they were ready for some fun. After sending Abby off to a slumber party, the twins headed out to the Wicksburg High School football game. We teamed up with the Mills and Nowell families and spend the next couple of hours cheering, clapping and having a blast. Blaire and Reagan loved it all! It was a bit unusual that it took Reagan the longest time to warm up to the idea of cheering...she's usually the most social. But it was Blaire that took off tonight - getting super excited to the point she was about to jump out of the stands, ha! I am still not sure what she liked the best - the game, the cheerleaders, the band, the mascot or the company we were around. They really had a great time and are already counting down the days to our big family night out at the Enterprise High School game next month!

Wordless Wednesday

Working Hard

Although Labor Day is generally meant to be a day where we celebrate the economic and social contributions of workers in the work field, it seems to always be a day where we celebrate with a lot of playing and a scrumpdidliumpcious cook out! Since a tropical depression and storm decided to land here in south Alabama this weekend, our Labor Day plans were mostly filled with indoor playing, dancing, arts-and-crafts, and also recovering from some sniffles/coughs/sneezes. We ended the day with an early dinner - steaks on the grill! Here are our two grill masters, hard at "work!" Happy Labor Day to all!

Let the Games Begin!

After nine straight season opener wins, the Tide made it an even ten today when second-ranked Alabama opened the 2011 season with a 48-7 victory over Kent State at Bryant Denny Stadium. The Wade house was all eyes on the television for the win and we enjoyed yelling "Touchdown" several , several times! ROLL TIDE ROLL!

Past, present and future

Past: Eric Wade, Class of 1994
Present: Friday Night Lights
with Abby and her Daddy
Future: Abigail Wade, Class of 2025

Congrats to the EHS Wildcats on their 2nd win of the season...now 2-0 with a 14-0 win over Northview!

S isn't just for September

Who says that you can't continue to have pool party play dates once September comes around? Not us, that's for sure! After picking up Abby from school today, we headed over to the pool and had some fun play time with the Miller family. From swimming to floating to eating watermelon - it was a nice little break from the long week we've all had!

Proud to be an American...or at least a preschooler!

Every morning at school, Abby's class starts out with the class roll, the Pledge of Allegiance and the Star Spangled Banner. Although Abby's known her name and the pledge for some time now, she had never heard the SSB. Three weeks into school she's very proud to show off her singing. As I've told some people, it's not quite stage performance ready but every time I hear it, it brings a smile to my face and I wanted to share. Enjoy...and always remember that the flag was still there - even after the rockets went bling bling!

Thirsty Thursday

Around the south, the season of Fall really just means one thing - football! It's the beginning of the weekend on Thursday night, the high school stands on a Friday night, the college games on a Sunday night, and just when you've watched about enough, there's the spot light Monday night game....and only three days to recoop before it begins again. It's one of the best times of the year! And we're doubly blessed because not only is it a great time, we have some great teams to cheer on: Enterprise High School, University of Alabama and Baylor University. We bleed lots of colors around this house! Tonight we started a new sort of tradition - Thursday Night Football with the Tartan Pines crew at the clubhouse. Although the chances of us actually staying for one of the games is actually slim to none (that's what happens when you have 7:30 and 8 PM bedtimes!), it was fun to get together with some fun people and have dinner.