Kali(Spell) Fort

We are insane and we know it.  BUT, we got another dog.  She is a German Shorthaired Pointer and is SOOOOO cute.  Our two favorite places on our trip out west were Kalispell, MT and Jackson, WY.  Obviously, we have a Jackson (although he was named that long before we went to Jackson), but Kalispell, MT was another awesome spot.  It could be because Andrea & BJ (and now Lily) live there but it was really a great town.  SO, we decided to name this little girl KALI.  Her full name is Kali-Spell Fort but from here on out, she'll just be Kali.  She is energetic, precious and sweet as can be.  So far, Jackson & Maddie are having fun with her!  

Up In Flames

Myrtle Beach was on fire for a few days and yesterday, as we were driving back into town from Atlanta, we couldn't SEE any fire or smoke but we sure could smell it.  It was awful!  The fire burned around 20,000 acres and many homes.  Our gymnasts and staff who live in Barefoot Resort all faired relatively well.  Some of them told us their stories today and it is a blessing that they have anything left!  Tori, our boys coach and his wife Candace got out of their house when they couldn't see anything but black smoke and fire creeping up to their house.  There are 6 houses on their cul-de-sac and 4 of them are completely GONE.  Tori's truck is completely burnt, their air conditioner unit burned as well as some of their siding.  The fire did not penetrate into the house so all of their stuff is fine.  The other families did have a smokey smell in their house and one family in particular got out as one side of their house was burning.  That side was the only part that burned before it jumped somewhere else.  The damage was erratic and I'm so thankful that our families did not lose all......unfortunately, some local families did.  Keep our town in your thoughts......everything on the beach is normal.  Jackson, Maddie & I walked on the beach today and it was as beautiful as I've ever seen it!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0JCckSQKloM

This video (above) was taken from the Marina Inn at Grande Dunes.....CRAZY!

Tori's neighbor

Tori's Truck....they said it was 4 feet to the left of this when they left.

The side of Tori & Candace's house

A friend of a friend's house ......this page was found in the rubble along with diamond earrings, an amethyst, etc.

 

Busy Bee & A possible new addition

Planes, Trains, Automobiles & Gymnastics.  Story of my life right now.  We compete from December to May and although April is MUCH closer to the END of the season, it feels like we travel way more than in the beginning.  I just got back from Nashville, TN where we had Level 9 & 10 Regionals.  We had a good time....flew in Thursday and flew home Monday.  The girls did well, but no one qualified to Nationals.  We were disappointed by that, but we will move on and work harder for next year.  We did have girls place on several events and considering it was the best kids in the 8 southeast states, we were proud of that.  While in Nashville I got to see Em, Greg & Nate the Great as well as Justin & Ryan Harris.   We ate dinner with the Harris boys (or met them out) every night we were there and I thank both of them for toting us around anytime we needed it.  When Greg & Em picked me up for breakfast they took me to this GREAT and popular place called The Pancake Pantry.  We saw Taylor Swift and Nate thoroughly entertained me while I got to catch up with Em & Greg. 

 That night Louie, Ryan and myself went to Macaroni Grill where Justin was working.  Ryan also works there but had the night off.  We ate TONS of great food on the employee discount and went to Dave & Busters to grab a drink with Emily (Justin's girlfriend....not Em Givens).  Saturday we were in the gym most of the day but we did go downtown for a very short while that night to celebrate Justin's B-day (the big 2-9).  We couldn't stay out long b/c we had an 8am session the next day but the crowd celebrated like it was 1999 without us.  The stories we heard the next day were classic but I'll leave that your imagination to save face.  Sunday we had two more sessions at the gym.  While Justin recovered, Ryan came to the meet to watch our last girl, Hannah.  He stayed for the most of the meet (which I was very grateful for) and then he took us to Chili's where Justin & Emily were waiting on us.  We had a nice dinner and got dropped off back at the hotel to catch an early flight out the next day.  It was so wonderful to see all the Nashville dwellers......old friends really are the best friends. 

 I'm recovering from that trip and will leave on Thursday heading to Atlanta for the weekend.  We have level 7 & 8 Regionals in Atlanta and hopefully our girls will do AWESOME.  The following week, we will head to Panama City Beach, FL for Prep Opt Regionals.  The week after that, David & I are going to Wichita, KS for David Glover & Ashley Shroyer's wedding.  SO excited about that but the 10k is a bad idea.....but it will be fun.....I think.  So, yes, busy bees I (we) are, BUT.....

On to the POSSIBLE new addition.  No, I'm not preggo.  We went today to look at puppies!  A friend of David has German Shorthairs for sale and they are PRECIOUS.  Seriously, so cute.  They are VERY well fed (borderline chunky bellies) but so attentive, un-afraid and just plain cute.  We haven't decided for sure if we are getting one (or two) but I'm all for it.  They are 7-weeks old so it will be some hard work for the next little while, but that is okay.  They are great.  Now, I'm sure most of you think we are crazy but David really does have a good set up out at the farm so what's one (or two) more dogs??  :)  

Birthday Weekend!

My birthday weekend was busy but fun!  We started out on Friday by heading to Lake Waccamaw for the monthly Supper Club.  Sarah & Coke Gray hosted us at the Gray Cottage on Lake Waccamaw.  Its a beautiful old house big enough for the Gray Family (which is huge) so it was easy to entertain and feed the 13 of us.  It was great seeing everyone and catching up on life.  Saturday, David and I went out to the farm (after a brief stop into the gym....funny how on my days off, I still want to go in).  We played with the dogs and I went for a bike ride around the farm with Jackson & Maddie.  They ran more than they had in a LONG time so they were pretty pooped when we got back to the pack-house.  David wanted to "work" with Reba & Hank on hunting, obeying verbal commands, etc and he needed my help.  So we took them out (one at a time) and David released some quail from a recall pen he has out in the woods.  Both Reba & Hank pointed one good time.  David shot his pistol to give them the sounds they would normally hear and Reba did well.  Hank must be a little gun shy b/c he went crazy!  BUT, they both did pretty good.  They have a lot to learn but they have the attention span of a toddler, so we couldn't do it very long.  After the farm, we came back to the house and got ready for an early dinner at Collector's Cafe in Myrtle Beach.  It is a great restaurant and where went before getting engaged.   We were there at 6pm and there was literally ONE other person in the entire place.  We wanted to be finished in time to watch the Carolina game.  We left Collector's and went to Todd's house to watch the game.  Todd was way more entertaining than the game but the Heels won and that is all that matters.  Sunday, I woke up and met Louie & Laura to head to Columbia for the Prep Opt State Meet (last one!).  The girls did AWESOME and won first as a team.  We had 5 girls in the all around title and many individual event titles.  Even more impressive was the Regional Team.  This year, at the state meet, the top six in each level (regardless of age) will go on to Regionals and represent SC.  We had 4 in the top  6!  We also have a 9 year old who is the 2nd alternate (she was 8th).  It was awesome! So that summed up my birthday weekend.  We got home really late from Columbia (like 2am) and we had to work Monday afternoon but we are so proud of the girls.  I got sick Monday night (but managed to stay up and watch B-ball.....Go Heels!) and Monkey made me a cheesecake that we shared among those at the gym.  I stayed on the couch ALL DAY Tuesday, never got out of my pajamas and slept. My back hurts now from laying on the couch so long, but it did me a world of good.  I feel better today (although I can't really breathe).  Anyways, thanks for the birthday cards, thoughts, calls, texts, emails, messages, etc.  I felt so loved!