Snow Fall in Late Fall

Its the first Saturday in December and this morning we woke up and everything was covered in white. Winter doesn't offically begin till Dec. 21st, so this snowy forcast was to my suprise! The weather had a light dusting in the forcast with maybe 1 to 2 inches "possible" here, but we all know, that usually means a flurry or a dusting at the most. The snow kept falling and falling. Around 9 am there was a good 3 inches at our house! On the patio furniture, I measure 2.6 inches. That's exciting! I LOVE the snow. Zack on the other hand...HATES it. He was stationed in Rapid City, South Dakota, so at least 5 inches of snow was on the ground everyday in the winter. We just never get snow here. When we lived in Clinton last year, it snowed about 2 inches the one and only time it came down last winter. Zoie was excited when I told her there was snow on the ground. She couldn't wait till we finished breakfast and headed out the door to play. Being outside for a good hour in 32 degree weather sure did make her nose run and cheeks very red fast. She loved picking up the snow and throwing it the most. Of course she had to take a second every now and then to pick some up and try a little taste of the fluffy white stuff. "Ice Ice...ummmm" she said. The girl loves Ice. She gets that from me and her nana. We enjoyed running around and playing in the snow. It was just a great way to spend a Saturday morning. By the late afternoon, the sun came and all the snow was gone. We definitly had fun while it lasted. Maybe Santa can bring this forcast with him on Christmas Eve. That would be WONDERFUL!

Fantastic Fall

This fall brought new and exciting things for the James family. Zack began coaching and I started back to school. I decided to only take 2 classes this fall semester. I figured it would be a good starting out point for me and the course schedule worked well with everything else we had going on.

Zoie started her Pre-school in July and by the end of August came around she had fallen in love with her teachers and friends at school. I used to walk her into school and as soon as I opened the door she started screaming, but now, she walks in herself, hugs her friends and gives Mrs. Christy a big hug and says "bye Mommy, uv you!" It is the sweetest thing. Not the fact that she just wants be gone, but knowing she is happy and adjusted well and feels comfortable at school makes me very happy. I pick her up from a long day at school, she runs up to me and shouts "Mommy!" and that is the best moment of the day for me! This fall we turned her "nursery" or baby room with the crib moved to the toddler bed and complelty changed her room into her "big-girl" room she says. She even picked out the purple paint for her walls. Went from a toddler bed to her own twin bed. She has the cutiest comforter set and me and her daddy worked hard on just making her room a fairy princess palace! She is our little princess! As far as her settling into her new room and bed. Well that is still an issue. She LOVES to play and is a very independent child. I guess after playing with her friends at school, she comes home and plays all evening in her room...alone. Occasionaly she will ask me or her daddy to come in and play or just to watch something on TV, but just being in her room she is very happy! She is learning more words, doing very well counting and the ABC's. She is the funniest little girl. She laughes and lauhes and laughts. Thinks everything is funny! I guess she gets that after me. She is just growing into this sweet little girl. Its amazing how fast they really do grow up. She is evening playing differently now. You can catch her sitting her animals or whatever on her bed and her talking to them, or playing pretend with all kinds of toys. Its really cute to watch. The girl loves music and loves to dance. We are putting her in tumbling next year. I feel that children, espcially toddlers shouldnt start constructive programs till they are at least 3, maybe 4. Potty trained, that would be the age. A 1 or 2 year old really doesn't have a place taking full floor gymnastics or karate. I mean...come on. I took baton and dance starting at the age of 3 so I feel that would be a good number for her as well. We are on a different phase with bedtime too. It went from getting out of her toddler bed at 2 in the morning to coming in our room. That ended real fast! Then to the phase of wanting to be held, or rubbed or sung too for about an hour before she wanted to go asleep. Then onto wanting to take the "drive" around the subdivision to be able to fall asleep. That is her daddy's fault! And now, the most recent, the phase of "the couch". She will not go to her bed until she is asleep on the couch first. And it has to be the right side of the couch, with her pink blanket, with monkey or mickey, they change everynight and her feet sticking out of the blanker. Very strange kid. But then we put her in her bed after she falls asleep. But then...she wakes up around 2 or 3 in the morning and where do we find her in the morning...on the couch...asleep! I want this phase to pass....soon! Potty Training!!! Oh man! We did great starting this fall with potty traning. At school she went several times a day, at home she went a couple of times a day. But that started to change. She now likes to take her diaper off and just stand there and pee. Or sit on the toilet and not pee or poop at all. She tells us when she has to go, but then sits and does nothing and as soon as she gets off the toilet she will stand there and pee all over herself. We even had the incident of #2 in the BATH! That was a fun evening!

After football season Zack started back up the Performance Training Systems-athletic traning program in Clinton. He started the program with 5 atheletes. I am very proud of him. After walking all day doing a manual labor job, he goes straight to his other job...PTS. He works those boys out too. It is a great opportunity for him and definitly for the community. There are some wonderful athletes in Anderson County that has wanted additional athletic traning for some time and Zack is very pleased to be the one that started it back up. Since last year he has lost over 80 pounds. He is in excellent shape and showing these kids with hard work and dedication....your will to want to be better and change will go along ways! He definitly has helped and motivated me. Since April 1st I have lost 52 pounds. In 8 months I managed to get down below what I weighed when me and Zack got married. Although the number is lower, my weight is still carried differenlty now. I have this huge saging gut from pregnancy I cannot manage to get off. But I know it will take some time. I love working out with Zack too. It is nice to have your best friend, your husband, to push you, to motivate you and to help you along a very hard, tough, and struggling and I must say ugly path. Seeing me very fat and miserable and unhappy was not pleasing to me. And me being unhappy about myself had an affect on the entire family. And trust me it does. No enery, no will power, no enthusiasm, no ability to go run and play with your daughter and being out of breath in 10 minutes or wanting to sit and do nothing, isn't happy family. I do have to say I have slacked a few months out of the 8. Especially during the summer and when fall started. With school and football, more hours in the evening taking care of Zoie alone...makes it a little difficult to manage the work out and devoted diet that I need. But I am getting back on track. I've hit a few goals. Managed to complete a huge workout, running more miles, hit 50 pounds lost and dropped a coupld of dress sizes. My goal is to have lost 82 pounds by next April. I would love to push that too 100 pounds lost in a year, but I will be happy with 82. That would put me at a number I haven't seen in a LONG, LONG time! School has been rough too, but very interesting. I'm enrolled in the Medical Transcription program at Roane State. Taking 2 classes per semester will put me graduating in about 2 years or maybe less. This will give me a wonderful job at home, making great money and just being able to raise a family, be at home, take care of our children and work all in one! This fall '09 semester I am taking A&P and Term 1. Although I have completed Medic school and nursing school, this is definitly a different aspect to the medical field. It's very interesting and exciting, but not easy. I have a great job. I work with two awesome ladies and my boss isnt too bad either. I couldn't ask for a better job right now managing school. God really does put you where you are supposed to be. He has this huge plan for our lives, we just have to stand still and let him move. Everything takes time and in the end it will be worth it after all! This fall has been fantastic. We are a very blessed family.

Snap shots of Fall 2009

Foothills Fall Festibal and Maple Lane Farms

Zoie's 1st Pre-School Pictures

Halloween 2009 - Super Girl!


Thanksgiving 2009

The Start of Our Football Family!

Clear Eye's...Full Hearts...Can't Lose!



Fall 2009 was a wonderful and special time for us! Zack was asked to start coaching at Clinton Middle School early summer. Since May, he was at the football field everyday. Summer practices till the late hours of the night. Zack has wanted to be a football coach in his hometown for many years. Working with middle school athletes was a blessing and started our Football family out with a bang! During summer practices, Zack was asked to come to Clinton High School to help out with the defensive line. His first priority was to the middle school were he was the assistant coach and coaching defensive line. He fell in love with working with the middle school atheletes. At Clinton High, he began helping coach the defensive line and defensive stats. He loved it! Being part of his Alma-Matar and just stepping out on the field on Friday Nights was his dream! Our routine for the fall was very simple. Me=Work, Zoie, School and House work! Zack=Work, Football, Zoie! That was everyday. Practice everday. Church on Wednesday. Game on Thursday. Game on Friday. Vols on Saturday and Church on Sunday. This fall was very busy. I also was enrolled to start college part time in September and with football gearing up, and the season opener was near. At first, getting use to the fact that my husband was a football coach and that meaning he would not be home till late...every night. Sundays were church, coach's meetings and watching film. Leaving Saturday, devoted to our "Family Day". Which on Saturday...its the VOLS. So yes...our fall is FOOTBALL! And we wouldn't have it any other way! The Hawks had a wonderful season. They went to the second round TMSAA playoffs this season. Ending their season with a wonderful 9-2 record. Very proud of the Hawks! Towards the end of the Hawks season, Zack started to work with the High school full time. Which meant, longer hours for him, and me! The Dragons had a terrific year! They had an UNDEFETED regular season, played some incredible teams and ended their season on a tough, but very exciting nail-biter against Anderson County in the 2nd round TSSAA play-offs with a record 11-1. That's awesome! Way to go Dragons! I have to say, Zoie loves football. She sings Rocky Top and even does the "Wooo!" Everytime she see's a football field or lights or even the Power T, she say's FOOTBALL! I knew one day my husband would be a coach. This is his dream. Even though he isn't teaching right now, he is full filling his dream. He works a full time job and goes straight to practice. He is such a good man, he deserves this beyond all means! He works hard for his family! I am so happy that I am a football wife. I have really enjoyed the beginning of our football family! Come to think...I knew this was going to happen. I mean, he proposed to me at a football field which happened to be the place of our first day..a football game. This was all meant to be I guess. God has truely blessed Zack, and us as a family. And of course....I can not wait till next football season!!!!




Clinton Middle School - Hawks

Clinton High School - Dragons

Summer 2009

Summer 2009 Re-Cap
For my family, when Football season begins in August, Summer really starts to whin down. Although August is the hottest month of the year, it is pretty much dedicated to football! So the hot, wet, summer activies, trips and outings are history. For me, Summer is alot of fun. Filled with being at the park, at the pool, playing in the sprinklers, washing the car, and mowing the yard on a 95 degree day. And for my husband, its not "fun" to him. I love summer, as long as it revolves around water and being able to cool off...fast! Zoie loves the summer. This year it was alot of fun with her. She loved swimming at Papaws pool. Playing with her cousin Harley and friend Jade. Zoie also feel in love with the "water-hose". You couldn't mow, wash your car or even water plants without getting her wet and playing out in the yard with the hose. Which is ok with me cause I love it too! The summer started off in May with a bang when we moved into our new house! We moved to a cute little new home in Knoxville. We are just so happy here and are very thankful to call this our new home! 1 week after moving in, was our first trip to Ohio as a family for James Memorial Day Golf Tourney. Which was a long, long trip in an RV with your father in law, your brother in law, nephew, husband and little toddler! But the weekend was a blast. Spending time with Zack's family is always fun! We got to visit the Air Force Museam which was a huge hit with the family! June was spent pretty much at the pool or taking Zoie to her favorite water spot! She loved running through the water sprinklers. This girl is a water log. We also had a lot of firsts.....we also took Zoie to the Zoo for the very first time. She loved it. She is a big animal lover. But I do think that the Gorillas and the Elephants were her favorite! Zoie got to attend her very first VBS this June too! It was so great watching her learn about Jesus and watching her sing her songs. To this day, she dances and sings to the VBS music. She is addicted to it! July was also spent pretty much at the pool as well. Cookouts, hanging out with family and friends on the weekends on a hot summer night is one of my favorite Summer loves. The 1st weekend in August is the James Family Reunion. That was alot of fun this year with Zoie being a toddler. She has alot of cousins to play with and hanging out with a bunch of Ohio "Yankee's", ha-ha is seriously a blast. They are great, we always have so much fun this entire weekend! August has started and already in gear for football. With practices, scrimmages, games about to start, we are excited to see how this 1st season of being a Football Coaching family turns out! This summer has been a blast! Zoie has done really well swimming and has fallen in love with water! She started Pre-School too! Overall the James 2009 Summer has been wonderful and truely blessed. We are now looking foward to what God has in order for the Fabelous Fall!
GO HAWKS, GO DRAGONS, and of course....GO VOLS!!!!!!!



Here are so snap shots of the summer


Our house on a foggy morning

Zoie playing at the park

Taking a water break running with Mommy & Daddy

Softball at the James Family Reunion

Zoie playing with some of her cousins at the Family Reunion

Always loves playing at Papaws

Zoie playing with her Cousin Braxton on the 4th of July

Having fun at Kentucky Splash

Hanging out with Froggy the Float

Learning how to ride my new bike with Daddy

Loves being outside

Sprinklers oh Sprinklers

At the Water Pad

Splashing around with Daddy

Helping paint the new house

First trip to the Zoo

The Gorillas where her favorite!

The Air-Force Museam in Ohio!

(Hunny, Ellsworth-AFB right in front of you!)

Hanging out with Cousin Jonathan....Trip to Ohio!