Its been a while since I posted. A page called Facebook was invented and most of the postings have been through Facebook. I would like to try and start making updates to your blog for you to view as you get older.
You are now in 4K. Your teachers are Ms. R. Wham and Jackie Evans. You are attending MS Bailey in Clinton. You have did so great with school. There are times when I get you up for school that you give me a hard time with brushing your teeth. However, before we leave for school, you can bet your teeth are brushed!!
I love you more than you know. I will do the best I can to keep this blog updated just for you.

Needed help with the turkey.

This year our family celebrated Thanksgiving on Friday Nov. 26,2010 due to my sister's work schedule. We were invited to her house where everyone prepared a dish. I have been cooking the turkey for the past 5 years now so I will continue cooking the turkey. Now that I have a daughter it is never to early to get her started in the kitchen. ( I am not a great chief , but maybe Bethany will absorb the knack of cooking and be a great cook one day and she can cook the turkey for a Thanksgiving Day.)

However, I am not sure what Bethany got out of being in the kitchen because she went and put on her Sleeping Beauty dress, crown and wand and walla the turkey was done. I am not sure of how to take this.

I can seriously say that I am so thankful to have Bethany in my life. She has blessed me in ways that I did not think was possible. She has made me grow into the person that I did not know existed, She makes me laugh, and she sometimes keeps me in line. I have heard people say that Bethany is lucky to be here with me , but the truth is... I am the lucky one.

I am so lucky to have the family that I have. My mom helps me so much with Bethany. I am so thrilled that Bethany's Nanny and Aunts love her the way they do. For that I am gratefully Thankful. I could say Thank You every day...

The Flower Girl

My cousin Bo and his girlfriend were engaged to be married Nov.20,2010 at the Shady Grove Church in Joanna, SC. I was asked to be a bridesmaid and Bethany was asked to be a flower girl. The colors of the wedding were fall colors of champagne and browns. I had a hard time finding a champagne gown, but I finally found a gown a week before the wedding. The couple spend a few days in North Carolina and Tennessee.

Bethany with another flower girl Emma and her sister Laya. The weather turned out perfect.

Halloween 2010

Well Almost another year has gone by. This time last year Bethany was a little bumble bee and this year she is a pumpkin princess. Time is sure passing fast.
The above picture was taken before we left to go trick or treat.
I decided to take Bethany to the local church in Clinton for a Trick or Trunk. It is so much better instead of door to door. There were people wrapped around the church. I think Bethany had fun looking at the other children in costume and getting candy. I can't believe it... Bethany actually said "trick or treat" and "thank you". She was such the perfect trick or treater.

However, after we finished trick or treating we went back to the car where she was ready to tear into all the candy. I told her to "look and let me take your picture" This is the face she gave me. She did not want to get her picture taken again. All though Bethany loves attention, she hates to get her picture taken. (what a face)

After Trick or treating we went out to eat at the local cafe. Bethany got treats there also. Bethany loves the chicken strips and jelly.

On Oct. 30, we were invited to Kason's birthday party at Ghetti town in Greenville. Bethany and I both had a great time. We ate pizza, pasta, salad and cake. After we ate, we went and rode rides, the big carousal and video games. Bethany liked riding the cars and carousal but her favorite was the Jurassic Park video game. It was a game where the player would shoot dinosaurs. Bethany was a pro at it. I know we played 8 times. After we got burn out on video games we sat back and enjoyed the movie, "How to Train a Dragon" Of course Bethany and I had to eat another piece of pizza. After the games and rides we could collect points to turn in and get a prize when leaving. At the end of the day we had accumulated 1043 points. Bethany turned in the points and got a whistle, small gray rabbit and a princess gift bag of stickers, hair bows, necklace, and bracelets. She did great. I plan on taking her back soon and spending the day shooting dinosaurs.

Happy 3rd Birthday.

A week before Bethany's birthday, My friend Christie, Bethany and I went to Cross Anchor to Musgrove Mills location and took pictures of Bethany in her Snow White and Sleeping Beauty dresses. Musgrove mills has paths in the woods for sight seeing along the Enoree River. It is a beautiful location.
Bethany's favorite dress is Snow White. We walked in the woods for a while. The picture below looks like she is complaining about back pain, but it is a great shot.


We walked along the river where we stopped on a log to cool off and took this picture in her Sleeping Beauty outfit. Although it was hot, we all had a great time.



My sweet little princess.

Bethany's birthday was Friday Sept. 3.

I asked Bethany what kind of party she wanted and she said, "a princess party". So I planned her a party for Sept. 4 at our church fellowship hall. I love her birthday cake. Six princess figures came along with the cake.

Bethany eating her birthday cake. I hated to cut it. She looks like she is enjoying the cake.

We had Sandwiches, chips, cake and ice cream.

Bethany also wore one of her favorite princess short sets.

Bethany wanted the big blue flowers that was on the cake. She is showing that she is eating the flower. She has icing around her mouth. She is too funny!!

Bethany trying to be funny again.

I rented an inflatable bouncer for the kids to enjoy. Bethany got on it once but she did not want to get back on it when more kids started jumping.

I thought this was a great picture of Bethany trying to blow up a balloon.

We all had a great time at Bethany's birthday party.

A trip to Cherokee, NC

What a wonderful time we had in Cherokee at the Trout Derby. Every year, Our church youth goes to the Trout Derby. It is for children and teens. There are games and lots of prizes that are given away. Most of the people that attend camp under the stars, but of course Bethany and I stayed in a cabin in the woods. It was great! I also took advantage of the stay. I took Bethany to Santa Land. My parents took me there when I was a small child. It tickles me to be able to share my childhood experiences with my daughter.We visited Cherokee for 4 days. One night Bethany, Nanny and I went out for pizza. One of Bethany's favorite dish.

Saturday morning we spent the day at Santa Land. There is games, rides for all ages, food, feeding zoo and activities for everyone. This is me and Bethany posing on Santa's sleigh.

In Santa Land there is multiple places to walk in and look at. There is this small church that I though was adorable. I have a wonderful picture of Bethany and her nanny praying. **Priceless** I hope they thanked God for all the blessings that has been poured upon us. Bethany enjoyed feeding the deers, bears and fish. One of Bethany's favorite thing was riding the train through Santa Land. We had to ride it 6 times. Which was fine with me. It gave me the chance to cool down and enjoy the ride. Another favorite activity was getting on a paddle boat and feeding the fish. It looked like millions of fish swimming up to the boat to be feed. We stayed on the water 1.5 hrs. That was my favorite part also.

Santa's House.

( I forgot to change the date on the photo. It was 8/7/10) I can't believe that Bethany sat on Santa's lap. Look close at Bethany's eyes... she is numb. She wasn't sure about Santa. She did tell him that she was a good girl. (Of course she will say "yes") She really has been a great kid. Santa told Bethany that she would have a great Christmas this year. I also made a video of Bethany talking with Santa. It is so sweet.

We went walking one evening and came upon this water hole on the street. It was the perfect place to take a cool down. The water rushes and at times the water squirts out of the holes in the ground which is Bethany's favorite part. This is a picture of Bethany taking a rest.

Enjoying the cool water by crawling under the bridge.

There was a total of 31 people that attended the Derby. We all had a wonderful time and looking forward to doing it again next year.

July 4 2010

This is Bethany's second time celebrating Independence Day.Every year a friend of the family puts on a big bar-b-q for the community. Everyone enjoys great food, music and reunion. Bethany did not care much for the bar-b-q but she ate strawberry cake and watermelon. In the above picture is Bethany with her Aunt Faye ( blue chair) and Aunt Linda ( flag chair). Everyone has her so spoiled. I don't know what is going on but Bet does not look happy. The date on the picture is wrong. This picture was taken on Saturday 7-3-10. I forgot to set my camera to the real date.

This is Bet hugged up to her Aunt Brenda. ( she has so many nannys and aunts) Aunt Brenda adores Bet. Aunt Brenda has been involved in the adoption since day 1 . Aunt Brenda was always excited when I received pictures and updates from Guatemala. She went twice with me to Charlotte for fingerprinting, got up at 4am and headed to Charlotte to take me and my sister to the airport to bring Bet home. She was also there when we arrived back home with Bethany. Aunt Brenda is still there in Bet's everyday life and Bethany and I love Brenda to the ends of the earth. Thanks Brenda for supporting the adoption and sharing your love to Bethany.

Sunday was actually July 4. Bethany and I got up and dressed for church. Bethany was so cute in her American Flag dress and bows. I asked Bethany to pose for me and this is her pose. ( the date on the picture is backwards. I don't know why I can't get it right)

When we arrived at church, her Aunt Linda gave Bethany some bling.. bling.. ( as they both call it) Red and blue necklaces. It went great with her flag dress. This is Bethany at church walking back to the pew from taking her money to the plate.

Later that evening we went to Newberry High School football field to celebrate July 4. There were jumper toys for the kids, food and fireworks. Bethany is not afraid of the fireworks. She said she liked the fireworks and colors. In this picture Bethany is trying to choke her nanny. ( she plays rough) *laugh*

When we were going in the gate at the school the local fire dept. was giving the children hats, which Bethany loved. She just may be a fire fighter one day. So cute!