December already!

Wow, I can't believe it's December already and I missed the entire month of November without posting anything!!!!! I'm counting down the days till we go home, 2 weeks from today, yahoo!!! I miss home so much and so do the girls, we can hardly stand the wait.

November was a busy and bittersweet month for us. We lost Jason's Dad on the 29th to a massive heart attack, he was 74. Jason left yesterday for Montana to meet up with his brother and get all their Dad's arraignments made and taken care of. He will be back Wednesday and then off to work in Florida again. Jason is doing well and has accepted that the time has come for his dad, but I know he wishes that they could have had a closer relationship.

The girls have been keeping me busy with school activities and friends. Lexi started cheer leading for the boys and girls basketball team at Tattnall and she is so cute in her uniform. It brings back so many memories of my cheer days and the friends I made, seems just like yesterday.

I've been enjoying making a lot of new friends here in Macon and feel much better these day about being here. It's not so hard once you meet people that care and you can count on. I still have my moments though... yesterday was our family Christmas gathering back home with Daddy's side of the family and I cried all day wishing we were there. It's funny the things that you miss, sometimes we take them for granted when we're there, but realize how important they are when we're not.

The house is decorated and it looks beautiful, it's been fun having a much bigger house with  more room, I realized I need to get more Christmas decor, but I think I'll wait to do that for next year. Since we're going home in just a few weeks, we won't get to enjoy it that long.

I hope everyone is having a wonderful Christmas season and able to spend time with the ones that matter most. I'm hoping to see a lot of my friends back home soon.

We love and miss you all!!!! Merry Christmas!!!!
Holly

Happy Halloween from the Queen of Hearts and Snow White!!!

Outside Lily's classroom, little elves on the wall, so cute!!!

Jason and I on Thanksgiving, notice the 55lbs. he's lost!!! I think he looks just like his brother Cal now!!!

The girls and I, these were supposed to be family pictures, but Jason had to work.

Helen, Georgia!!!!

This weekend was so nice and relaxing for all of us!!! We were able to join Jason's boss Alan and his wife  Debbie up at their mountain house for the weekend. The house was beautiful and just like a home you would see in the Northwest, since they are from Oregon as well. I get so use to all these Southern homes, I forget the architecture that we have back home and miss it so much!!!

While we were there, we went about 30 minutes North of their home to Helen, Georgia. It is the cutest Swiss Village ever!!! I have never been to Leavenworth, Washington, but I assume it is a lot like that. We shopped, people watched, ate lunch and just took in the scenery and enjoyed the awesome Fall weather here in Georgia....it was about 75 degrees and wonderful!!!!

We stayed with Alan and Debbie till Sunday and then headed back to reality, so Jason could leave this morning for a quick trip to Florida this week and back to school for the girls. It was an great time away and good family-bonding-time for all of us!!!! I can't wait to go back soon.

Our little Family in Helen, Ga.

Lexi and Lily, my little tourists

We stopped on the way back at this beautiful Pottery Store right on the river and had to get a picture of Lex.

Rock Ranch!!!

Friday was a fun day for Lily and I, we went to Rock Ranch in The Rock, Ga. for a field trip!!!! We had a great time with the 2 first grade classes and got to see so many neat things.

Rock Ranch was started by the owner of Chic-fil-a, ....Truett Cathy opened the ranch in 1989 with one simple vision in mind: He always had a passion for agriculture and he wanted to instill that passion, knowledge and the associated work ethic in his children and others. Over the years, that vision has been expanded and is now wholly focused on the purpose of uniting families with the land and each other.

So while there, we were able to learn about, The Pilgrims, Indians, Pioneers and even "Honest" Abe Lincoln!!! It was really a great learning experience, but the kids had fun too....there was a huge 'jumping pillow' (much like a giant trampoline), tunnel slides, and the most darling Tiny Town, with miniature buildings that are all furnished and decorated for the kids to enjoy.

You can also go on the zip line, but thank goodness that was not available for first graders!!! They have a pumpkin patch, corn maze and so many other fun things. All in all, it was a great day. I so enjoy being able to do all this fun 'mom-stuff' with my girls, what a great experience!!!!

Lily and some of her best buddies from class!!!

"Abe Lincoln", telling us all about his life!!!

Lily- Grinding corn, like the Indians

Lily on the Tunnel Slide

Fun in Tiny Town!!!

4 month already and Fall has arrived!!!

Well it's been a whole month since I posted anything, so I thought that I better update....Thank goodness it has FINALLY cooled down here, most days have been 70-80 degrees, but you can feel a bit of that Southern chill in the air.

Mom was here last week for 8 days visiting and it was a lot of fun. Jason had to go to Wyoming, so it was great to have her here with us, we shopped, ate out, did the pumpkin patch and of course she was the Laundry Queen while she was here!!!!

The pumpkin patch was especially fun, they have Cinderella Pumpkin, which everyone calls Georgia Bulldog pumkins and I'm not sure why, cause they don't look like Bulldogs!!!!

The first quarter has ended for the girls at TSA and they both did amazing with their grades, I'm so proud of them and how well they've been adjusting to life here, I wish it was that easy for me!!!! Lexi went this past week to Camp with the 6th grade classes and had a blast. She even went on a zip line and climbed a huge rock wall, I could NEVER do a zip line I'm way too scared of heights. I think this was a great bonding experience for all of the kids and teachers, they also did a lot of Bible study while they were there and I think Lexi is really enjoying that part of school, it makes me happy. Lily is just finishing up cheerleading this next week and I'm pretty happy about that too, it's been rather hard getting a bunch of 1st graders to pay attention and cheer for an hour straight.

We also have a great park just up the street from our house and the girls love it there, it's so nice to be able to go there this time of year and let them run around.

We're looking forward to heading to the "mountains" (they aren't really mountains, but that what people call it!) next weekend with Jason's boss and wife, they recently built a new weekend home up there and we're going to go visit. There is a town up there a lot like Levenworth, Wa, so I'm looking forward to walking around and checking it out, it will be great to get a way for a few days.

We're also excited to head home the middle of December to spead the holidays with family and friends, I can't wait just to step off the plane and feel like I'm home!!! In January my friend Mandi will hopefully be coming for a long weekend visit and in February my best friend Tarisa is coming and bringing my sweet nephews with her, I'm sooooo excited to see them and show them all around Macon. The girls are so excited to see them as well and I know Jason will be too.

Well, I think that's all for now, hope y'all are doing well.

Love and hugs-
Holly

3 months already!

Hi All and happy weekend to you.....

It's been a long crazy week without Jason here, but thank goodness he will be home tonight!!! I cannot believe yesterday was 3 months since moving here, time flies so fast and each day I ache for home even more. Today was a tough morning, I'm not sure why, but some days I just wake up anxious and sad. I thought writing my feelings down might help.

I do like it here and love most all of the people I've met. I'm so thankful for the great school the kids attend and all the new friends they are making. Lily is actually going to the movies with her new BFF today!!!

One of the things I'm really grateful for here is that we've finally started to go to church regularly. With the kids going to a Christian based school and living in the South, where everyone goes to church, it just seemed right. I wish we would have done this along time ago. It's been so helpful and makes me feel refreshed every Sunday when we go. I know I've found myself praying a lot more since moving here and it just feels right!

This past week was Homecoming for the Tattnall (Kids school) and we had so much going on. The best thing was no uniforms this week, just theme days and they were so proud to sport their Oregon Beavers and Ducks shirts for college day. Lexi even has a boy in her class that is a HUGE Ducks fan, so that was fun for her. We also has practice or games every night, Lexi's team continues to shine and she's getting more playing time as we go. The Tattnall Trojans won the game last night and the beautiful queen was crowned, it was fun and I even hung out with some of my new Mom friends, so that was really fun.

Less than 3 weeks and Mom will be back for a visit and I'm hoping to have one of my dear friend's, Mandi visit in October as well, that will be wonderful!!!! I also was realizing this week that I need to start Christmas shopping soon, only 3 more months till the big day and Lily's birthday is 3 months from today, a 7 year old....wow!!!!

Anyway, I will leave you all with a quote I need to listen to....

We gain strength, and courage, and confidence by each experience in which we really stop to look fear in the face... we must do that which we think we cannot.
Eleanor Roosevelt

Have a great weekend y'all!
Holly

Love this pic of Mama and her girls!!! :)

Well another week has gone by and it was a crazy busy one for the Ball family.....I'm not so sure I'm happy that it's Monday already though!!!!

Yesterday was a bit sad, being 9/11 and all the television coverage, brings back so many sad memories and seems just like yesterday. I can only imagine how the families that lost loved ones that day felt. I remember Jason's brother worked at the Pentagon at that time and being so worried about him, thank goodness he was safe that day.

Jason left for a week in Alabama today, so it is just the girls and I again.....we will be busy though. Lily has started cheerleader and I'm 'coaching' the squad, so we've got practice this week and it HOMECOMING week at Tattnall, so that should be fun!!!! The kids don't have to wear their uniforms this week, but can dress up in a theme dress for each day of the week, today was camo day and tomorrow is college team day, so we will be spoting our Oregon Ducks attire!!!!! Also, we'll be there Friday night cheering on the Trojan's to VICTORY!!!!!

Lexi had a few games this past week and her team won!!!! They are a great group of girls and she's not playing a lot, but learning more and more each day. Since she's a 6th grader, she is the low man on the totem pole and will play more in the coming years. She's doing great though and I'm so proud of her!!!

I helped out this past weekend for a Jay's Hope princess event and it was so much fun!!!! What a great cause and seeing all the little ones there was so wonderful. I'm still working on sponsorships for their upcoming walk and it's been a bit tough, with the economy still down it's harder to get people to donate, but I'm still trying!!!!

I'd like to wish my sweet nephews Marcus and Michael a very happy birthday this week!!!! I'm sad we're not there to celebrate with them this year....I can't believe they are 10 and 7 already, time flies!!!!!

Till next time, take care!!!!
Holly

Good week and fun with mom and dad!!!

Well, we had a great week!!!! Mom and Dad arrived last Friday and left today for home. I kept telling myself that I wasn't going to cry, but of course I did. I think each time it gets a bit harder to say goodbye.

I do really like it here in Georgia, it's just SOOOO hard not having any family or friends here. I have made a few friends, but nothing will ever be like my friends back home. I'm trying to stay positive and happy, because sometimes it is easy to just let emoitions take over and then I'm a wreck all the time.

Anyway, back to mom and dad's visit.....it was great. They really enjoyed it here and the weather was great everyday. Most days were just me, mom and dad, while the girls were at school and Jason was working, so that was good bonding time for me. I needed that time with them. We went to the World of Coca Cola last weekend in Atlanta and that was really fun and interesting, it's amazing how long Coke has been around and how much it changes each year. We also got to sample tons of different Coke products from around the world and some were really good and some were horrible!!!! But needless to say, we were on a sugar high for hours afterward!!!!

We also showed them around Macon, took them to the kids school, went to Lexi's softball game, hung out at the pool, and just had a great time!!!! It looks like mom will be coming back sometime in October, since Jason will be working out of town for a few weeks, so that will be wonderful.

It was pretty hard for Lexi today when they left, she has always been so close to my parents. It breaks my heart to see her sad, but she will see them soon. Also, she is doing great in school and making lots of new sweet friends and having a great time with softball. She is on a great team, the girls are all really good and she is learning a lot!!!!

Lily continues to be positive always and makes new friends easily. That makes me a happy Mama!!! She also started cheerleading last week and I am her squad's leader, so that has been fun, nothing like 8 little first graders trying to learn cheers. I will post some pics of their first game next week.

Jason is doing well too and has a 4 day weekend, so we are looking forward to spending some family time together.

That's about it for now, I'll update some more this week. I hope y'all are doing well, love and hugs!!!!

Holly

Our House in Macon...

The girls an I in Savannah

Savannah with Mom and the family

Lily and I at the American Girl Store, Atlanta

Welcome to the Ball Family BLOG!

Well, I've been thinking about starting a blog for awhile now, some of my friends have them and it's a great way to keep up with what's going on with them. So, I've decided to start one!!!! I figure, it will be great for my friends and family to see updates from us, now that we are living in Georgia and so far away.

Anyway, so here goes my first post.....
We arrived in Georgia just 2 months ago now and I can't believe how fast time flies when your having fun, and sometimes when you're not!!!! It's been very hard to adjust to everything, I don't think people actually think about all they have to do when they move across the country.....new doctors, new streets to navigate, new grocery stores, new schools, new friends, etc. One day I was at my NEW grocery store shopping and broke into tears, because I just didn't know where anything was, it wasn't home!!! Now, things are getting easier everyday, but I still miss Oregon like crazy some days. I also miss Mom and Dad more than anything, but they will be visiting in just 6 more days, yahoo!!!!

The girls started at their new school last week, Tattnall Square Academy, and really seem to be loving it. Lexi is in the 6th grade and is learning to navigate to new classrooms, dress down for gym everyday, and meet new friends. Lily is in the 1st grade and has really jumped right in, I think it is much easier for her being that she is so young and everyone seems to be her new-best friend!

Lexi also had missed softball tryouts, which took place in May and we were very disappointed, but I decided to call the head coach and ask if there was anything we could do. Luckily, he told me to have her come to a practice and try out, she did great and they put her on the team. I'm hoping this will also help her make some more friends and stay active doing something she LOVES.

Jason has been enjoying his new job a lot!!!! He's had to adjust to working with many new people and in the hottest heat he has ever felt, some days are upwards of 110 degrees. He's doing great though, and I am so proud of him and his hard work. He's started traveling a bit lately, so I'm getting used to going at it on my own again with the kids, but not working is a plus when you are running kids from here to there.

I decided last week that I needed to get out there and find something I was passionate about and meet some new people, so I asked around and several people told me about Jay's HOPE. JH is a local organization here in Macon founded by the parents of a young boy that lost his battle to cancer. They have started this non profit to spread awareness of childhood cancer, support families and help with children's quality of life. I decided that this is what I needed to do, so I set up an appointment and had a great meeting. I've decided to join the committee for the annual Trek or Treat Walk that takes place around Halloween and I'm going to work on sponsorships. They have a small goal of just $22,000 for the entire walk, so I'm hoping with my American Cancer Society background, I can really get out there and make them some money. I'll keep you all posted on that.

Well, I think that is all for now, I'm feeling pretty good about this whole blogging thing!!! I'm not sure if anyone will actually be reading what I write, but at least I can look back and remember all that's going on in the South!!!!

Talk to y'all soon!
Holly