Hadley in her first concert

One night after church on a Wednesday night, we were hanging out with the youth. I love doing that. You are never quite sure where your child is because a different 15 year old girl has her about every 10 minutes. And then, some boys invite her to play.... the drums....

You can take the Girl outta the Honkey Tonk but you can't take the Honkey Tonk, outta the girl...

The title of this blog is also the title of one of Brooks and Dunn's songs. And for me, it's true. Not that I hang out in Honkey Tonks, but I am a country girl at heart and that will never change, no matter where I live!

Of course, it's October, so that means one thing. I must get to my beloved TN! While Chad was roasting in the 90's, I was relaxing in the 70's in TN, enjoying the change of seasons, leaves and most importantly, wardrobe....

While in TN we kept it simple. Family togetherness. My family and then Chad's family. Hadley's notable favorite things: riding Grandaddy's tractor, riding in Grandaddy's truck, playing hide and go seek outside and of course, Kathryn, Kathryn, Kathryn!!!

While at the Keck's house. More of the same: playing with cousins. That is one thing that is so regrettable to me, living so far from family. I loved growing up near my cousins, who were my main playmates besides my sisters. Fun times. Analayne and Hadley loved playing together. Chuck E. Cheese together, sleepover together, really anything, as long as they were together!

Shepherd just goes along, loving it all. He is a handful: mostly in a good way. Boys are so different. They are rough, loud, rough, loud, well, you get the picture!

Rocky Top, you'll always be... Home Sweet Home to Me!

Candace's Playdate

Hadley invited her bust bud, Michelle over last week. I think I had a better time than they did!

Does that tell me something about my own social life? I think it does. I might need to get out a little more....

Enjoy the show!

This Just In: Mothers Gone Wild as School Starts!

Yes, that should be the headline for today's news. Forget the Obama speech to our schoolchildren. I have bigger news: Parent's Morning Out at Sarasota Baptist as well as Preschools across the nation began today! Know what that means? Swarms of mothers are boosting the economy at Starbucks and Panera from near and far. Notice I specifically left out McDonald's and Taco Bell...

Yesterday, Chad jokingly told me, "well, you can do that tomorrow, you do, after all, have 3 hours to do what you want to do." Since he said it and maybe even believed it a little, I did just that. I relaxed at Panera with 3 friends and then even got to catch up with our pastor's wife who stopped in. Objective #1 complete: relax, laugh, eat, without chasing anyone all over the place. Objective #2: Leave establishment clean. Noone wiping their mouth or any other body part on my shirt or pants. Objective #3: Start changing the world. Well, we didn't quite get that one done, but there is always next Tuesday... right?

An hour left. Couldn't possibly go home. Wandered up and down the aisles at Walmart. No cart, no visit to the fishtanks, no walking down the toy aisles. Got to actually go down the kitchen aisle without worrying about an open flesh wound from the curiousity of the knife section. Good times.

You see, it doesn't take much for most moms. A little "me" time is a great thing. I believe in it, I need it, I am a better mom for it.

Now, on to the kids. Well, they had the best time. Great day. I can really enjoy myself in part because I know my children are so well taken care of. The teachers: Excellent! The facility: carefully managed! The doors: locked! Thank goodness!

Enjoy these pictures of the kids and the moms that are having fun, too.

My name is Candace Keck and I approve this message....

Keeping up... is hard to do!

I am a lame blogger. When Hadley was little, and in the hospital, I was faithful. When we were expecting Shepherd's adoption, I was faithful, when we were in China, I was faithful. Now that I have Hadley trying to convince me at this moment that she has "nothing special to wear to bed", Shepherd always begging for a snack and now, with our neice Kathryn being here for the summer, always busy with fun things for her to do, I don't write. Hey, I barely bathe.

I know, I know, I should write more. I will forget all these cute things they do. I will not remember the way Kathryn is dragging the kids around in a laundry basket with a sign on the back stating, "Just Married". I know! It's just so hard. Laundry, bathing the dog and trying to keep the meals coming always seems to get in the way. Does anyone else feel this way???

So here is an update on our family!

Enjoy!

Hadley has just finished her 2nd year of preschool, which she loved. She has also just turned 5 in May. For those faithful prayer warriors that prayed so hard, check this girl out! Hadley is loving to draw, swim and do anything with her daddy. She is our special princess and we are crazy about her!

Shepherd just turned 2 on April 30th. He is a joy, and, a bit of a showoff! It is almost a year that we adopted Shep. June 16th is our Gotcha Day. What a blessing he is. Check him out, you will se that he loves life!

Also, Kathryn is here. She is a fantastic 10 year old. She is beautiful inside and out. Sharp minded, kind, and loads of fun. I have decided that 10 might be the perfect age!

Chad - My adorable hubby just became a Doctor! In May, Chad graduated from Mid Western Theological Seminary with a Doctorate of Educational Ministries. We are so proud!

So, here we are! Everyone is doing great and I am enjoying the summer... hope you are too!

Christmas 2008!

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Special Delivery!

On 9/11, our church delivered cookies to all the fire stations in Sarasota, here are some pics from that day!

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