Happy Blogiversary!

Happy Birthday to the Wildwebbs.blogspot.com!!! We're celebrating a belated Blog Birthday. It was a year ago in September that we began blogging while on vacation in Orange Beach, AL. It was our very first Webb Family Vacation and it was as close to perfect as we could have imagined. We did little more than play in the sand and play in the pool. We all took long naps and went to bed early. It was a vacation for the kids and it was absolutely perfect. The blog was born from daily emails of our beach pictures. I would email all of our family members our newest pictures and funny stories from the day, sometimes twice a day. The Wild Webbs was born just a few short days after our return home. Here's a trip down memory lane from that first week of blogging. The Wilbourns live only 45 minutes from Orange Beach and were able to stay with us Friday and Saturday night before the girls had to head back to school.

Cooper was an early riser at the beach and we let Kendall and Daddy sleep in a couple of mornings and took some walks on the beach with the seagulls.
Kendall finally got over her fear of walking in the sand and ventured out to the edge of the water by Tuesday.

We simply cannot believe how much this little girl has changed over the last 12 months.
Wednesday afternoon brought the beginnings of a hurricane. Our poor little tent and beach toys couldn't make it near the ocean, so we were in the pool most of the day. When we woke up on Thursday, this is what we saw. I will never forget those waves!!

The waves were coming up to the end of the stairs and knocked over the volleyball net, among other things. Early that day we were still able to walk along the beach, close to the dunes while the water washed up to our ankles. We found several large, beautiful unbroken shells that day! The condo had an indoor pool and that was helpful, but eventually we had to stretch our legs. We visited the adorable Gulf Coast Zoo down the road. While there you get tiny snakes for FREE with your wagon rental (EEEK!!).
We packed up on Friday morning and headed for the safety of the Wilbourn's. Although the ocean was crazy, the weather was perfect more inland. We visited some fountains and got some of our favorite pictures of the week!

I can't believe this pudgy, short-haired little toddler is our little Princess!

Thanks for being a part of our first year!!

The 2nd Greatest Day EVER

There was, of course, our wedding day. Tied for first though, is, naturally, the birth of our two children. The second greatest day of our lives went a little something like this, with a back story. Cooper is a wee bit picky when it comes to food. He basically won't eat anything mixed together. So, no casseroles, no soups. He also won't eat pasta or pizza (gasp! what child doesn't eat pizza?). In addition, he almost always shocks newcomers when we tell them he doesn't even eat hotdogs. They will in turn say, "but every kid loves hotdogs!!!" Not ours. He's a carb guy. Fortunately, for us, that also includes many fruits...strawberries, blueberries, mandarin oranges, and apples of every shape, flavor and size including applesauce. Notice, though, there is not a single vegetable in the mix. He had a brief few days about a year ago that he decided that broccoli were trees and therefore, not a vegetable and could be safely eaten. That ended rather quickly.

Then, one night a couple of weeks ago, Chip and I were eating dinner at the table with the kids. Cooper probably had a peanut butter sandwich, sliced apples, and yogurt on his plate. Between us on the table, Chip and I had a plate of sliced tomatoes and green peppers. While we're all chatting and eating, Cooper simply picks up one of the green peppers and starts knawing at it like a hungry beaver.

Amazingly, he hasn't stopped yet. He loves them. Asks for them even! It truly was a day for the Webb record books.

Proof.

Hiwassee, Georgia Part III

On our second and final day in Hiawassee, we were pretty lazy while cleaning up, packing and nursing Kendall's fever of 102. However, a promise was made to Kali that we would all play tennis, so, a promise is a promise.

They look like they should definitely be a tennis family!

I don't think this is what tennis courts are meant for. At least, I've never actually chased an opponent or my partner while playing!!

Kali was the only official "tennis player" on the courts.

I don't think Chip cared for the paparazzi on the court.

Cooper takes a rest...Not sure it's advisable to rest ON your racquet, but oh well!

Look at that form, Kori!
We made a stop on the way home at the site of the 1996 Olympics on the Ocoee River. They had stopped the water that day, Labor Day. We were hoping to watch all the professionals ride the river!
This was Kendall about an hour before we finished our walk around the river...which we then discovered her fever was back to 102. Poor little girl!
Cooper took a rest towards the end of the trail. The kids were disappointed to not see the rafters and also that we were unable to find a good spot to wade in the water.

And I think that about does it for the Hiawassee posts. The rest of that week you all already know about...Kendall's fever stuck around all week and she had her second positive step test in as many weeks. Hopefully that is well behind her.

It's Time

This is the "slogan" of the 2009 Tennessee Football season. A couple of weeks ago, we had the first game of the season and, with a 63-7 victory over Western Kentucky, it's safe to say it got off to a fine start. It was a hot day on the east side of Neyland Stadium, with the sun blaring down, attempting to find eggs to fry on all the bald heads and bare knees. However hot, it was fun. And there were lots of fireworks today!
Cooper got to come with us and after about 5 minutes there we were afraid we would regret our decision to bring him along and power through naptime. Turns out, all he needed was some $5 popcorn, a $4 bottle of water and a $4 frozen lemonade. Those three things combined along with a couple of breaks from the sun made for a super-fun 3rd quarter.

The most fun Cooper had all day was hearing "his" name over the loudspeaker. Not only is there a player with the last name Cooper on the UT team, but that day there was a often used receiver for the opposing team as well who also returned kick-offs (which happened only a few times). In addition to the excitement of hearing his name, we also made a big deal out of #10 who, a few years ago, was the quarterback at UT and whose jersey Cooper still wears. Cooper proudly exclaimed "THAT'S ME!" whenever we heard "Cooper" over the loudspeaker. My other favorite part was when Grandad brought out his binoculors for Coop to use. At one point he looked down at the field through the binoculars and said "I was there! I was right down there with all the football players!"

The game was a noon game, which meant we powered through "rest time" and this is what happened about 10 minutes into the carride home!!

Hiawassee, Georgia Part II

We're very excited to announce the arrival of the latest addition to our family. It's a 1lb, 3ounce, bundle of joy that the stork delivered today (via FedEx) and just so happens to get along splendidly with my Toshiba laptop. Whew! Oooooh sweet little Power Cord, I have sooooo missed you. Welcome home!!!!

After a long, hot day in Helen, we lounged around the "cabin" the rest of the evening on Sunday playing off our sugar high from the gigantic ice cream cones. Our kids loved exploring the small yard with gigantic views, the firepit and gravel driveway which was apparently perfect for practing your football.
Oh, and I guess the gravel driveway and firepit area are also great for the golf game (although, the golf clubs may disagree, ouch!).

Those of you that know the relationship between Phillip and I will appreciate this photo. I can't even explain how it happened, but it SO describes, via a picture, our relationship to a tee!

The "cabin." Yes, I know. It's very much not a cabin.

Try To Keep Up...

Why, hello there! Have we met?

It has been quite some time since we've had a serious blog post and I'm having to feel my way around the blog again. In addition to illness, we have had yet another Toshiba laptop power cord to go KUH-put (I am not a fan, sorry). That particular laptop has my Photoshop on it in addition to Quickbooks for the office. So, take away my online banking, payroll and my photo editing capabilities and you will find one very unhappy girl!

In the coming days, you will see posts from the past couple of weeks. Here is a preview of just a few things...

Labor Day weekend we drove about 2 1/2 hours to Hiwassee, GA to spend time with the Alabama crew.

We left Kendall at home during UT's first game of the season, but that didn't dampen her Tennessee spirit!

We had the opportunity to visit the 1996 Olympic site on the Ocoee River!

And what's a warm, summer's day without the park and ice cream with friends?

Among these, we'll also be posting about our Big Blog Birthday, a zoo day with Daddy, and maybe just a few more things! We've missed you, loyal blog readers!!

Hiawassee, Georgia Part I

It would be fun to look back over 12 years and see at least a dozen versions of this picture. Sweet Kori loves her Uncle Chip! Vovo and Eddie from the back porch of the "Hiwassee House." We told the kids it was a cabin, simply b/c we could not figure out how to explain that Kori and Kali had a different house, but still had their other one. Such concepts are better learned when you're older than 2, I think.

I didn't actually say the words "kid cone" but I certainly implied it when I asked for a chocolate cone for "him" and pointed to Coop. Then I said "a strawberry cone for her" and pointed to Kendall. I mean, is it my fault that I assumed that even the 17 year old behind the window would know I wouldn't want THIS size cone for my kiddos? They enjoyed every bit of it though, in case you hadn't guessed. And for the record, mine, somehow, was half this size.
Too cute. Kali was Coop's babysitter while walking through Helen, Georgia. Poor Helen, she really tried hard to grow up and be just like Gatlinburg, but she didn't quite make it.

Ahhhh, Aunt Kawha and Uncle Flip

Kendall had the best seat in the house...Vovo's lap in the wheelchair being pushed by Phillip all through Helen. How do we sign up for that?!

A Mother's Wish

Strep, Strep, go away.

Don't come back any other day.

All my children want to play,

Even "Dora" gets old after 4 straight days

(and their mommies want to work again someday).

We will be back to blogging again soon (I hope). Kendall once again has Strep. So, it's Strep Throat: 4, Summer and Kendall: 0 in this fight. We will fight like crazy to make sure there isn't a round 5.

Keep your prayers coming and your fingers crossed that whatever magic potion Chip and Cooper have been sipping, it keeps them from getting this awful illness that has brought sore throats, body aches, high fever and as of today, vomiting. When we do finally start blogging again, we'll have posts from the VOLS big win last weekend, Cooper's "Cooper" moments, a trip to Hiwassee, GA to see Kara's Clan and much more. Till then...here's hoping you are all healthy and happy in spite of this summer illness garbage.

"Do we look like tourists, or what?"

We've taken a slight blogging hiatus and we send many apologies to those that care! Last week found Kendall and I with a serious case of Strep and it took most of the week to feel better. Only to find another Sunday night with a sore throat for me. The doctor okayed me with "simple" blisters on my throat on Monday but by today I was back at the doctor's office. For those that don't know, most of the schools in the county are closed for the flu and since the kids aren't in school, I'm fairly certain they were ALL at my doctor's office today. Eeeew!!!! I still have Strep and am starting my 12th day of antibiotics. UGH.

However, before the sore throat came back last weekend, we took a day trip to Gatlinburg. We woke up to rain and cancelled tennis matches and golf outings. So we decided to head to the aquarium until the rain stopped. We ate lunch, shopped, bought rock candy and fudge, took pictures on the streets of Gatlinburg and played putt-putt. After lunch and on our way to buy the candy, I had my camera around my neck, Chip had a backpack on and the kids were giddy with excitement of a place they've never really gotten to explore before. It was at this point I turned to Chip and said "Do we look like tourists right now, or what?"

You can't have a blog post about the aquarium without this shot. The fish in the background always crack me up...like they're posing for the the photo, too.
Daddy and Kendall in the aquarium "sunset"
A cute pose infront of "The Village" fountain
My cutie-pa-tootie
The kids got stuffed animals at the aquarium gift shop (whoever thought of the exit-thru-gift-shop idea is a financial genius, but definitely not a parent). However, neither animal was something we saw while at this particular aquarium! Kendall gives her pink dolphin a BIG kiss. Cooper's blue snake kept him warm in the Hard Rock Cafe during lunch where he mostly wore it around his neck like a true boa.
Cooper wouldn't pose at the restaurant entrance, but Kendall sure would! Kendall and the candy store! While Cooper and Daddy were visiting the facilities, Kendall was making a "popping noise" with her rock candy by sticking it in her mouth and then quickly pulling it out. Of course, it went flying across the courtyard towards a nice elderly couple and their dog. We bought another one. Naturally. Cooper seriously eating his candy. He was done with his in about 1 minute flat, while Kendall's still sits on our kitchen counter.I assume this requires no words, simply a point back in the direction of the title of this blog. I love this picture. It looks like Cooper is encouraging both Daddy and Kendall with their golf game. I think probably what he's really saying though is "HURRY UP, so I can hit!!!!!"To polish off our day as tourists, the kids played in the arcade. With our big ticket winnings we got a plastic back scratcher, a plastic bracelet, a bouncy ball and a sticker. Woohoo!

Sorry! The problem with being on blogger hiatus is that you usually get a super-long blog to follow!