Karley, Jonathan, Hannah and Maddie went to see Santa on December 21st at Northlake Mall. This was taken pre-Santa in the snow globe.

Remember Yesterday, Dream Tomorrow, Live Today

For the first time in my adult life (that I can remember), I'm not stressing out about the Christmas holiday. Traditionally I like Thanksgiving better. It's just more relaxed. But this year, I'm really enjoying the Christmas season. Perhaps it's because I started preparing early. At our house, Christmas was in full swing before the end of Thanksgiving weekend so there has been time for many magical moments. Karley has been dominating the up-keep of the advent calendar, much to Justin's dismay. I think he would like to touch it every now and again. Our 'Elf on a Shelf' has been moving about and reporting back to Santa for quite a while now, so that has been exciting. The tree was up and decorated early, the garland was hung and we have just been enjoying ourselves. What a blessing! Karley even visited Santa this year...twice. The first time was with her new cousin Bowman (so Bowman wouldn't be scared, of course...talk about the blind leading the blind) and the second time was with my sister's children.


As I look back, this has been a tough year in alot of ways. Our extended family has been through sickness and our immediate family has suffered through injuries. My children learned first hand about death as we lost our beloved 'Mawmaw'. I have had friends suffer through job loss, tramatic injury, cancer, etc. I even lost a boss turned co-worker that I had worked with for 12 years.


This has also been an exciting year. Andy and Justin learned alot about competition this year and about losing gracefully. We camped, we raced and we got hurt. But we made alot of memories and had a lot of fun. We made new friends. This year also brought us new family as we welcomed our niece, Bowman, to our world.


This has surely been a year we will never forget. It brought us more tears than we would have hoped, but it also brought us alot of laughter. As we celebrate the birth of Christ and begin to say goodbye to 2009, we remember. We remember the baby in the manger who went on to die on the cross. We remember that when we lift up prayers of thanksgiving or prayers of desperation, they are heard. We remember that when we say goodbye, it is not forever.

We are also thankful. We are thankful for those who have gone before us, and for the ways they changed our lives. We are thankful for those who were spared. We are thankful that, even though we sometimes suffer, we are never given more than we can handle. We are thankful for good friends and loving family, for food on our tables and a place to call home. We are thankful for a loving God who knows what we need, even when we do not.

As this year comes to an end, most of all we are hopeful. We are hopeful that 2010 will be a better year than the one before. We hope for peace and prosperity, for health and happiness. We hope that we can be content with what we are given. We hope for lots of hugs and laughter, for new memories and blessings from above.

As I think of the new year, I think of the reminder that hangs upon my family room wall...the one that captivates Karley as her little 8 yr old mind tries to process it's meaning.

"Remember Yesterday, Dream Tomorrow, Live Today"

As you begin a new year, may your memories bring you joy and your dreams bring you hope. But most of all remember to 'live' each day, for that's how new memories are made.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Shaniya Davis...5 yrs old

Rest In Peace Shaniya Davis...

I don't hardly feel like I have the words for this. What a precious little girl. All I can think about when I look at that little face is that she probably trusted her mother implicitly, just as all our children do. In a perfect world, your parents are the ones you can trust the most...the ones who always have your best interest at heart...the ones who would die for you if need be. This is just another reminder that we don't live in a perfect world and that there is evil around every turn. As a mother who has given birth to two children, I just can't imagine how you make the decision to give up a five year old for prostitution. How does your sense of right and wrong get that far off track? Drugs...maybe? I just can't wrap my mind around it. I would die for my children, kill for my children if necessary...and that mother handed her baby to the devil and said take her. I can't imagine what Shaniya's family is going through. I'm sure anytime a child dies it is a horrible, horrible experience but this is just...unspeakable. May God give them the strength to get through this one day at a time...and may Shaniya find peace with the angels in heaven.

Political Correctness Gone To Far?

About the Fort Hood Shooter:

http://www.cnn.com/2009/CRIME/11/13/fort.hood.hasan/

I read this article and it seemed like so many people knew something was wrong with the situation. It made me wonder why nothing was ever done. Maybe we now live in society where, even when we know something is wrong, we can't do anything because we risk being accused of...well...any number of things. I know there is racism and prejudice in the world today and it is flat out wrong. However, if someone is engaging in questionable, terrorist related activities, we should be able to question them no matter what the color of their skin, their religious preference or their country of origin. Just my 2 cents...

Time Well Wasted

I can never be happy in the present. I spend a great deal of time in the land of 'if only'. If only I could work 4 days instead of 5. If only the phone would stop ringing, the leaves were all raked or my kids would just keep their room clean. Generally, my weekends are SO busy. We just finished softball season and dirt bike racing season. Normally I spend Friday (and Monday for that matter) thinking 'if only I had a weekend with nothing to do'. If that ever happened, I could get my house clean and the laundry done, the groceries bought and be ready for Monday morning. The problem is, I pretty much had that this weekend. The only thing we really had planned was our softball bowling party. One would think that I could have gotten alot done around the house. But no! Oh, I went to the grocery story, but I didn't have a plan so I now have a pantry of random stuff that may or may not make a meal. I managed to clean the kitchen and fold the huge pile of clothes that had gathered during the last week. Other than that...nothing! The trash is still in the garage, the leaves are still on the yard, and no, the family room floor has not be vacuumed. I sit here on Sunday night and wonder what I did with the time. Not what I planned...that's obvious.

Let's see....
I watched 2 movies with my kids.
I made rice krispie treats with Karley.
I spent time sitting and talking with Jason and Bailey.
I played Tetris with Karley on the computer.
I helped Justin shop for a new cellphone.
I cooked Sunday lunch.
I spent time doing nothing. :-)

They say us mothers will have plenty of time to clean and organize the house when our children are grown and gone. I know it's true...but it is hard to remember when you trip walking to the kitchen to get a drink. This weekend, when I lamented about Justin getting his learners permit, a good friend offered advice. He said 'Just enjoy every minute while they are still here.' That friend is a new empty nester. He also pointed out that we could be just 3 years from being grandparents. God, I hope not. In three years Justin better be settling in nicely at college. But...point taken. I only have a little more than 2 good years with my first born. Wow! Talk about perspective. I realized before I know it he will be driving, which will certainly take him away from me. And then before I know it, he will be gone. I know, as much as I hate to admit it, Karley is right behind him. This weekend I realized that the one thing that is more important than time well spent...is time well wasted. I know my kids will remember that way more than they remember how often the house was clean or dirty.

I'm Alive

Our song for the week, for now we know that "breathing in and out's a blessing, can't you see" and sometimes it is enough to be "alive and well".

Kenny Chesney and Dave Matthews--"I'm Alive"

http://www.cmt.com/videos/kenny-chesney/437632/im-alive-with-dave-matthews.jhtml?id=504765

Bowman Wilkes

Is this kid cute or what! She kinda looks like her dad, but not enough to be a bad thing! :-)

These are her 3 month pictures in the leaves!! She is even better in person. Karley can actually carry on a conversation with her. I am clueless what they say, but the talk back and forth for quite a while.

Praying for Luke

While I do not know this young man, he is a friend of a friend. Please keep him and his family in your prayers. I can't even try to think about what this must be like.

http://http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/lukemitchell2009/journal

Thankfulness...

Romans 5:3-4
Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.

This text was pointed out today by a friend of my sister. It was posted in reference to the suffering my family has endured over the past week and the thankfulness that came of it. My cousin Amy came close to death last Saturday night and is still in the hospital ICU. Today she is doing better and for that we are thankful. After much waiting and praying by a lot of people...some that don't even know her...those prayers were answered. If you ask anyone in my family, we will tell you that we were given a miracle this week.

I became aware of several things throughout this ordeal. One is that I have a tremendous amount of faith...faith that I can draw on when others need me. Hopefully, if the crisis is ever mine, I can manage to find strength in that faith as well. That is sometimes so much harder.

I am also now aware that sometimes it takes suffering to make us thankful. We are now thankful for things that didn't really cross our mind last week. We are thankful for our healthy children, for our faith, and for the tremendous medical care to which we have access. We are thankful for the little moments in life that make it worth living. We are thankful for friends and family that rally around us when we need them. We are thankful for those who call friends to pray, cook food, sit with us as we cry and share their strength when ours is depleted. We also know that somewhere, there is someone fighting a battle without these same benefits.

For me, I am thankful for the moments in my life that helped grow my faith. The biggest influence was my high school youth leaders. Durand and Vicki, a husband and wife team, were in the midst of crisis when I met them. Durand had just been diagnosed with a cancerous tumor on his brain and they were expecting their second child. Honestly, had it been me, I would have abandoned the group to focus on my family. They did not. They continued, thoughout the whole experience, to be our leaders. During that time, we did not just talk about faith, we witnessed it first hand. We learned about the kind of faith that can carry you through the worst days of your life. I have never forgotten the lessons I learned from them. Many times. when we suffer, we ask God why. While I don't presume to know the reasons for that family's suffering, I do know that a group of sassy high schoolers had their lives forever changed by what they witnessed and learned. I suppose when we suffer, we must remember that there is a purpose. We must 'lean not on our own understanding' and try to find God's purpose.

Yes, suffering does produce perserverance and character and hope. It makes us thankful for what we have, and much less aware of what we don't. And sometimes, if we're lucky, that suffering changes the lives of those who suffer with us.

Amy

My cousin Amy is still in the hospital but is on the road to recovery. She still needs prayers.
To follow her progress:
http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/amylong/journal

Let's Roll...

Friends, today we received the call from drivers ed. Justin will be driving next week. By Thursday, he should be ready for his permit. As this time approaches, I become more and more anxious. He does great driving in the neighborhood, but we rarely pass another car. I have a feeling this will make every struggle I have been through as a parent seem insignificant. Wish us luck!

Adventures From the Drive Thru

It's no secret how I feel about my local McDonalds. However, when my sister wanted to stop there to pick up breakfast for the kids, the only thing I said was 'Be careful...I won't be right'.
I had no idea how true those words were. When we paid, the order seemed right. Somewhere between window one and window two, things went so wrong. It always comes down the the coffee. Her's was supposed to be SFVIC but they had poured a hot coffee. This, my friends, was the beginning of the end. They remade the coffee, handed it out the window, and walked away. When the attendant came back to the window, he said 'Do you need something else?'. That was like lighting the fuse on a stick of dynamite. I thought my sister was going through the drive thru window. They had given us no food because they didn't have an order for SFVIC. All I could do was laugh (hysterically) and explain that 'I told you it wouldn't be right!!!'. I laughed for hours! You wonder how some people find their way to work each morning!

The Value of a $2.99 Salad

Tonight I had my last dinner at a local restaurant that I really like. Midtown Sundries came to Denver a while ago. I was very familiar with their menu from other locations and welcomed them with open arms. Tonight, something happened that ended our relationship. When we ordered, the waitress misunderstood what I wanted to order. Not a biggie. The item she thought I ordered came with a salad. She brought one and I picked at it. When the food arrived, that is when I realized the error. She fixed it and we enjoyed our food. When the check came, she explained that she had removed the incorrect meal and replaced it with the corrected one, which was good she said, because the first one was more expensive by a few dollars. However, she explained, the manager asked that she leave the salad on the check and that I pay for it. I did as asked, because I did eat the salad, after all. The problem I had was that I didn't order the salad and I certainly didn't want to pay for a salad that I didn't want. What happened to customer service? What happened to 'we're sorry you had to wait for your order to be remade because we screwed up'? None of that here. The only thing we heard was 'do you mind paying for the salad that you didn't order'. Deal breaker! Restaurants are a dime a dozen now and I don't need Midtown (even if they do have karaoke nights...which I love!!) They have now joined McDonalds (denver only) on my 'Do Not Eat Here' list. :-(
Managers, take a hint and remember what 'service' is all about. A $2.99 salad cost you meals for a family of 4 over and over and over (not to mention the money put into the bar). Was that a good deal?

Our First Camping Trip

During the month that I failed to post, we went on our first family trip with our camper. It was only one night at Brushy Mtn before the NCHSA race on Oct 4th, but boy did we learn alot. We learned about picking a good spot to set up, about choosing good wood for your campfire, and about the value of a quiet generator. I personally learned that I pack too much AND I am not a fan of making waffles in a camper. It was fun though and I can't wait to do it again...maybe for a longer trip! I think that overnight...one night...it is alot of work. The only other time we have camped was a 2 night trip, where we left early Friday and headed home Sunday afternoon. Perhaps that is the perfect time frame for a weekend trip. I also learned that without other kids around and no tv or video games, my kids will attempt to kill each other just for the shear entertainment value. There is something to be said for lessons learned.

Isn't It Your Job to Get the Order Right?

I broke up with the Denver McDonalds today. :-( Goodbye my beloved Sugar Free Vanilla Iced Coffee. I will miss you.
If you have ever heard of the straw that broke the camel's back, that was what today was like. For the 150th time (at least) McD's got my order wrong. My SFVIC turned out to be Hazelnut. I pulled forward, took the drink inside and politely explained how it happened and asked if it could be remade. The cashier explained the she needed my receipt. SERIOUSLY???? I am one car length from the drive thru and my cup is slam full. In the words of my friend Gene...WTFD??? In a rather loud voice I expressed my displease at todays situation and the fact that I could come to this location every single day and every single day the order would be wrong! I know this to be true because I have tested it. What?...the kids WERE eating sausage biscuits for breakfast! Once I brought the receipt in, she remade the coffee...lucky me. She then offered me the receipt back. REALLY? For what...in case I get back out there and the food is wrong too? Don't mock...crazier things have happened!!
After hearing the story, my sweet husband pointed out that, perhaps, I should just stop going there. Point taken. If I'm to have my precious SFVIC, I will have to get it from another location. Look out Mt. Island...here I come!

More Mawmaw thoughts...

Below is what my cousin Danny wrote and read at Mawmaw's funeral:

MawMaw Kidd

Fannie, mother, momma, Aunt Fannie or Frizz is what my grandfather called her. I’m just going to refer to her as Mawmaw. Mawmaw has a wonderful spirit. She always greeted you with a smile and she loved to laugh. She could make you laugh without trying. Anyone that stepped on to her front porch was greeted the same way. She would say come on in and let me get you some tea, you want something to eat. She loved all people regardless of color, nationality or whether you were from the north or the south and she was always happy to have visitors. Mawmaw wasn’t afraid or intimidated by hard work. She loved to use her hands. She never had a license so she took the bus down Beatties Ford to Trade St. to work at the five and dime. She was a hard working farmer’s wife and she milked many a cows. She was an incredible seamstress and made clothes and pillows and crafts for family and friends and she won a lot of ribbons at the county fair for sewing or canned goods. She even won a singer sewing machine. She had a green thumb and could grow anything. Once she grew a tangerine tree from a seed and it was loaded with fruit on her back porch. She rooted boxwoods, had rows of magnolias for anybody that needed one. She had a big garden that she canned and cooked from and she could run a Merry Tiller as good as any man and better than most. She was an amazing cook. Uncle Frank would pick her up for Sunday school and church and she would still have Sunday lunch ready for 10 when we got there. We have many of her recipes but they never taste as good as hers. She helped raise her grandchildren, me and Donna and Annette and Erin and was like a mother and grandmother to many more. She loved her family. Her in-laws weren’t like in-laws, they were sisters and brothers. Mawmaw was a good Christian woman; she loved her Lord and she loved to read her Bible. She loved this Church and her friends here. Another important thing about MawMaw’s was her ability to see something positive in any circumstance, even in death or tragedy. Her glass was always half full, not half empty. She had several sayings or phrases that we’ll always remember, especially since she repeated them so often the last couple of years, and I mean often. One that has stuck in my head is, “that’s one good thing”. When someone died she said, “at least they didn’t suffer, that’s one good thing” or “at least they aren’t suffering anymore, that’s one good thing”. Another of her sayings lately was “Are you ok?” She said it over and over, but that speaks volumes. She wanted to be sure we were ok. Yes MawMaw, we’re ok because we know that you’re ok now, with Jesus and with Pawpaw and with all your friends and family that have been waiting for you. We’re ok because of all you taught us and your unconditional love and the legacy you left. We’re ok because we love the Lord and we’ll meet you there one day. We’re ok because you are in heaven now, and that sure is “One very good thing”! Thank you Mawmaw, and Thank you Jesus!

Rest In Peace Mawmaw

Today I lost my Grandma. Fannie Elizabeth Christenbury Kidd lived a long full life. She spent 92 years on this earth . She found the love of her life, raised two daughters and 4 grandchildren. She lived to see 7 great grandchildren and 1 great, great grandchild. We are all better people because of her. She taught us about love, forgiveness, hard work and Jesus. She taught us how to grow everything from flowers to vegetables to farm animals. She taught us how to cook, clean, can and freeze the harvest from the garden. She taught us about generosity, the ten commandments and the golden rule. She taught us about tolerance and aging. She taught us about blessings and prayer and what it means to love someone even though you dont always agree with them. She lead by example, and walked by faith. Today I lost a mentor. Not a mentor at work or in the church, but a mentor in life. My grandparents were among the most important people in my life. My parents raised me, but my grandparents taught me many of the life lessons I still hold dear. I listened to them more, watched them more....believed them more. My grandfather died more than 10 years ago. I have always missed him, but I think I miss him more now than when he first passed. There is so much I would like to show and tell him....so many things I would like to ask him. I know that down the road I will think the same thing about my Mawmaw. I can't imagine holidays without her...I have never had one. I can't imagine her house not being 'her house'. That was the house I grew up in. Not really, but pretty much. My earliest memories are in that house with her. So many of my childhood memories are on that land. I can't imagine it all being gone. I can't imagine her being gone...

Spend the night, softball, and school shopping

Last night Taylor spent the night with Karley. It went well...better than I expected. The only issue was that they had ball practice this morning at 8am and they didn't go to sleep until around 1am. Oh to be young again! They did well though. Andy and I were up at 6am. He is racing in Cowpens tomorrow and camping there tonight. The kids and I stayed home to prepare for the start of school on Tuesday. Anyway, he had to load the truck, hook up the camper and be ready to roll out to practice at 7:30. No small task, but it happened. :-)

Practice went well, but only about 6 girls showed up. I have no clue where most of the others were. After practice, Andy and Boog headed to SC with their bikes and campers The kids and I went shopping. Justin got new shoes and a couple of new outfits and Karley got a new book bag and a few new tshirts and a pair of shorts. We stopped at the grocery store, cleaned up the garage, made dinner and currently Karley has crashed on the couch. She was worn slap out!!



I have realized that I don't know how to relax anymore. I am sitting in my favorite chair with my feet up. One child is asleep and the other is occupied. All I can think is that I am missing the fun in Cowpens. :-) How sad is that? Andy just called to say how awesome it is and that he can't wait for us to camp as a family. The funny thing is that I feel the same way. I never thought I would embrace camping but now I think I might just fall in love with it. Only time will tell.

Hopefully tomorrow will be a beautiful day, the race will go well and all will come home safe. I can finish the laundry, tidy the house and get ready for Monday.

Ouch...

Ankle is aching. Elevate ankle, ankle feels better but then back hurts because elevating your foot in an office setting is difficult if you still want to type. :-(

Karley is having Taylor to spend the night tonight. Have mercy on me...please.

Bowman Elizabeth Wilkes

Jason and Bailey with baby Bowman, born in July.

Beach-July 2009

The kids at the beach in July. I think this may be the only time they touched each other without fighting. I guess that is the nature of the beast. Check out that no effort 14 yr old 6 pack.

'OMG, I can't go to sleep'

Just a little quick history on Karley. When she was younger, she had horrible sleep issues. Like many children, she could not learn to sleep through the night. Even at age 4, she would still wander into our room in the middle of the night and sleep in the floor by our bed. She also could not get herself to sleep without ALOT of help from me. When she went to kindergarten, I grew a pair, saw the light, and fixed it. She learned to go to sleep in her bed, with no mommy, and no tv. Somehow, that morphed into watching tv which only stresses me out if there is no TV. But I digress...if she stays on schedule, I take her up at 8pm, tuck her in, turn on Hannah Montana, or Wizards of Waverly Place or whatever Disney is showing that night, kiss her good night and walk downstairs. 75% of the time, I never hear from her again. Probably about 20% of the time, she will need a drink of water or something that would involve me. But, a mere 5% of the time, she has issues. And when this girl has issues, look out! Last night, she could not go to sleep. Since I have trouble climbing the stairs with my bum leg, Andy has been doing most of the bedtime duty, which is what I call 'Deviating from Routine'. Not a good situation. He does it just like me but it is abnormal for her and throws her so far out of whack she can't recover. Last night there was yelling and screaming about how she 'could not lay upstairs alone' and how she 'could not go to sleep'. 9:30 rolls around and she is still awake. OMG! Andy is at his whits end. Finally, I see her downstairs using the bathroom (and yes, she does have a bathroom upstairs...). I convince her to go up and lay down for 15 mins with her eyes closed. I will check on her after that when I go to bed and if she is still awake, she can sleep downstairs. Poof...15 mins later she's asleep. You have to play mind games with this child because she completely psychs herself out. Oh how I wish that babies came with an owners manual.

BB11 was good. Goodbye Lydia! You should have been a little nicer and not called Jordan all those names. You don't have to be nice, just nicer than the other people.

Truck is ready...thank goodness!

Ankle is feeling some better, though a little achy this morning.

TGIF!!!

Books I Read at the Beach...Part III

Sunset Beach

by Trip Purcell

Find a beach, plop a chair in the sand and dig in your toes for a charming, whimsical and irresistible love story about a woman, a man, a spirit and a place...Sunset Beach. Another good Carolina coast romantic read.

Books I Read at the Beach...Part II

Fool Me Once

by T. Lynn Ocean

After reading the first book by this author, I was thrilled to find another one on the book shelf. This book tells the story of a woman who believed in the idea that marriage is forever and you should do anything to make it work...and how that theory can sometimes be a little flawed. Also set in SC low country.

Books I Read at the Beach

This was the book I chose first this summer and it was a great read. Work takes a city girl from Atlanta to a SC beach town to try to 'revitalize' it. She ends up finding much more than she bargained for. It is a story of romance with a little mystery thrown in for good measure. I love books with local settings so this was a super fun book for a Carolina girl to read.

Dead trucks, washed dirt bikes and softball practice

Sunday night after the race, Justin commented that he thought he would pressure wash the bike on Monday. It sounds like a little thing, but in a mother's eyes, it was a 14 yr old taking a tiny step towards responsibility. Not only did he wash the bike, but he also repaired the broken plastic and reassembled it as well. Not a bad little victory for a Monday.

This week I have been to my regular Dr and an orthopedist for my hurt ankle. I fell Sunday at the track in Denver. I apparently have a possible fractured fibula and torn ligaments in my ankle. All that really means is PAIN. I am now walking in a really attractive (NOT!) boot that is knee high. Yuck!! Dr. Kutner says 4 wks in the boot and I should be doing much better. Good because we race again in mid-September and momma gots to go to the race!!

Andy woke up Wednesday morning to a broken down truck. "The Beast", as I call it, sounded like a puttering boat motor. After $125 for a tow to the dealership, we found that it was some fuel injector something or other. Love the diesel warranty...$100 deductible and the rest is covered. :-) It could always be worse! Like $200 for the third new door handle. Thieves...stay away!!

Wednesday also brought us softball practice. This was Karley's second of the season since we spent last week at the beach. It rained, but all the girls wanted to play in the rain anyway. Ashley and another girl (I can't remember names yet) both got hit with balls and went away in tears. Note to self...bring ice packs to practice! Karley tried pitching to a batter for the first time. She did ok...better than I would have expected. I don't see a star pitcher yet, but I think she is good enough to pitch in an 8u game and get by.

Today is a ho-hum sort of day. Andy and I rode to work together since he has no vehicle. That was nice...a few extra minutes of uninterrupted conversation. I will have to pick him up on the way home as well. Boss man didn't show up for work today. He said he is feeling yucky and stayed home. Y&R was decent, lunch was good, and my desk still looks like a toxic waste dump. Big Brother comes on tonight and I am all over that. Good bye Lydia!

In the beginning...

I am starting this blog to chronical the life of my family. There are so many things I want to remember about our life that I forget because I dont have time to write it down. I would love to journal but I prefer typing to writing. I love taking pictures of the things we do, but just don't have time to scrapbook right now. Maybe, if I can blog about it all, one day I can take the blog and match it with the pictures to create the scrapbook memories I so desire. However, for today, I am to busy living life.

I will attempt to bring our story current as a place to start. Andy and I have been married 15 years and we have two wonderful kids. Justin is turning 15 soon and about to begin his 10th grade year in high school and Karley is 8 and is entering 3rd grade. We also have a super protective white boxer named Layla who is 4 yrs old. She has been with us since 2005 when we moved into our current house.

Justin and Andy both became dirt bike owners last Christmas (2008). Andy began racing hare scrambles shortly thereafter and Justin raced his first race this past Sunday (08/16/09). He placed 19th. Justin has played alot of sports in his short life, but I think his love will be his dirt bike.

Karley is our ball player. She has played one season of basketball (winter of 08/09) and is beginning her 3rd season of softball (fall 08/spring and fall 09). Andy is coaching her team this year.

This summer, we bought our first camper. We will use it to camp at some of the races, but hopefully other places as well.

That pretty much brings our story up to date. However, there is always something going on in the Wilkes house.