The Acree's

Thanksgiving and Black Friday

2009-12-02T16:04:00.003-05:00

So I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving and is now ready for Christmas, because ready or not it is coming and almost here!

We had a great Thanksgiving! We spent the day with family at my aunt and uncle's house in Callahan. We ate and ate and ate some more! As every year I am thankful for what God has given and done for us, this year I was even more thankful than years past because Jesus Christ gave us the special gift of a sweet and oh so beautiful baby girl. It is amazing how a baby can change your view on a holiday. Thank you Jesus for giving us a healthy, beautiful, and loving little girl!

Some of you who know me know that I hardly go to the movies. The reason, I hate paying $10 for a ticket and then dropping $20 to $30 for popcorn and drink! It's a rip off! Anyways, I had the great idea of going and seeing "The Blind Side". I have wanted to see this movie ever since I saw the previews for it. Well we found out that it was showing at 5:30 p.m. on Thanksgiving and decided we'd go! Well leaving Callahan at 4:30 p.m. and knowing the movie starts in an hour and knowing that you have to run home and turn the dogs, isn't the best idea...time really isn't on your side! Well we get home, rush to turn the dogs out and make it to the theater to find out that the movie is SOLD OUT! How disappointed was I?!?! First of all remember that I HARDLY EVER go to the movies and the ONE day I decide I want to go, it is sold out! Hmmm...maybe reason number TWO why I do not go to the movies! Needless to say, Alan and I have yet to see it! Maybe we will just now wait and buy it when it comes out on DVD!

Since we didn't make it to the movies, we were able to put up our Christmas tree! Since the movie was sold out I asked Alan if he would be willing to get the tree down from the attic so I could decorate it! This year he was extremely excited about decorating the tree because he didn't have to help! I didn't have two huge storage boxes of ornaments to place on the tree! Last year we down sized to a "pencil tree" so we even bought new ornaments, the names of Jesus ornaments, they are beautiful! So with a smaller tree comes fewer ornaments, and Alan figured he could play with Clara while I decorated the tree!

As if decorating a tree isn't enough to wear you out, Maddison called me and told me that she was going shopping on Black Friday. She also wanted to know if I would go with her! I went and the only reason I went was to people watch! So at 4:30 a.m. on Friday I headed to mom and dad's and picked her up! Our destinations, Target (with a million other people) and Kohl's (to get a Kitchen Aide mixer). We had a great time at Target, running in to a million people we knew and haven't seen in years! After we bought Target out of toys and things for Clara for Christmas we headed to Kohl's. The most exciting thing about Kohl's, finding money on the ground in the parking lot while loading the car with our purchases! It was amazing! Maddison was even shocked when I said here let's split the money! So was it worth getting up early and going shopping?!?! HECK YEAH!

As with all holidays, they come and go to quickly! We are so excited for Christmas to get here as it is our first as a family of 3 and most importantly to celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! So enjoy the Christmas season as it will come and go in the blink of an eye.

Football update: (what post would be complete without it!) Please pray for the players, coaches, and fans as they travel to Freeport, FL this Friday. If we win this game we go to the state championship! Please pray hard!!!

We have a crawler! Watch Out!

2009-11-25T10:17:00.004-05:00

Just like the other posts, we have still been on the go....we are trying to do our best to slow things down, but it seems like something just keeps coming up, baby showers, bridal showers, dinner here, dinner there, we need to go here and get this, it's old!!!!!

As you can tell, we have a crawler on hand! Clara has been crawling for about a month now. It took her a little while and to be honest, I thought she was going to skip that stage and go straight to walking! She also continues to pull up on things and is now trying to stand up on her own! It is so cute, when she is trying to stand up, it almost seems like she is going to do a hand-stand! Do we have a future gymnast on hand?

Going back a few weeks, Halloween has come and gone...little bit was a pumpkin! She was the cutest pumpkin in the patch!

Clara also wants nothing to do with "baby food" anymore. She solely wants to be eating whatever we are eating! It is so funny to watch her eat because when she "figures" out that she is eating baby food, she immediately starts to spit and then won't eat anything else! Can we say she has that Acree temper! But so far, she has tried spaghetti, green beans, vegetable soup, mac-n-cheese, meatloaf, cracker barrel biscuits, and many other things! I don't think there isn't anything she doesn't like! As many of you mom's already know and for those who don't, Gerber has these "finger" foods that help teach babies how to eat solid foods by eventually dissolving. Well, Clara loves the yogurt bites and these puffs, she loves those things and it is so much fun to watch her pick it up and put it in her mouth. By watching her, I think she is going to take after her papa and be a lefty, 99% of the time, she eats and picks things up with her left hand, and when she does use her right hand, her left hand is guiding her right one!

Anyways, for the past 2 weeks, we have been battling an ear infection. We have been to the doctor's office twice. Hopefully we won't have to go back until her 9 month check up.

An update on Trinity's football team!!!! We have made it into the playoffs and won our first game, which means we keep playing, which means PRACTICE ON THANKSGIVING!!! You may wonder why in the world are they practicing on Thanksgiving? Because we have a game on Black Friday! So, say a prayer on Friday for the Conqueror's are they face one of their toughest team yet this season!

Well, I hope everyone has a wonderful, family-filled Thanksgiving!

We're back...take 2!

2009-10-20T11:24:00.002-04:00

Ok ... so I know Clara told you that I would stay on top of this blogging thing, and she didn't lie ... I just kept putting it off! We are always just go ... go ... going. We are like the energizer bunny, but a family.
But anyways, all of the election stuff is over, thank God! We should be getting back to being a "normal" family, if you want to call us that!

You may be wondering what we have been up to the past MONTH! Well I will try to remember it all ...

Friday night football games are still going on! And I would like to report that we are still UNDEFEATED!! Although, please say a prayer for us as we head to Tallahassee this weekend to play North Florida Christian who is also undefeated!

Clara has stayed with her first two real babysitters one Friday night as we headed to the Trinity and Nease Football game ... she stayed with the Belton's who loved on her like she is used to being loved on! And the Saturday after that, she stayed with the Moses'...Clara's stay there wasn't as pleasant as the week before, beings she was cutting a tooth! Needless to say, we all managed! We are so blessed to have sweet friends that will love on Clara and take great care of her!

As I just stated, Clara now has TWO teeth! She has her two bottom teeth! They came in about a week apart and as they came in, she was a little fussy, but nothing major, she was still her chipper little self!

With Clara having teeth now, she loves to gnaw on her sippy cup spouts and the straws in her sippy cups .... yes you heard me right ... Clara is drinking out of sippy cups and drinking out of straws! She is such a big girl ... anyways ... back to gnawing ... we went out and bought her teething biscuits! She loves to chew on them and the dogs love them too ... she has a tendency to drop them on the floor, now making them puppy treats!

A couple of Sunday's ago, we were getting ready for church and I looked in Clara's crib and she was standing up! She pulled herself up and was just a smiling at us when we walked in on her! You can tell that she was excited about her accomplishment! But mommy and daddy were a little nervous! So nervous that we decided it was time to lower her crib! (Papa and Nae Nae helped us lower it!)

We all know that after the pulling up, comes the walking part, well, Clara loves to walk with you! She will hold your fingers and walk right along with you!

With Clara now wanting to walk and not sit still, I figured it was time to put some shoes on this girl ... she has never worn a pair of shoes in her life ... so last Friday night, Alan and me decided it was time to put some shoes of her tinee tiny little feet! We went to stride right at the mall and bought her some Keds Tennis Shoes! They are soo cute!! But when we put those shoes on her, she didn't know what to think! It was so cute watching her try to walk with shoes on her feet! Needless to say, she has gotten the hang of it!

Finally .... yesterday, the 19th, was Clara's 8 month birthday! I cannot believe that she is already 8 months! I say this every time, but time has flown by! We celebrated her birthday at the grand ole Callahan Fair! We rode out to the fair with Nae Nae and Papa and met daddy (he came from football practice), Clara's Great Grandparents (papa and granny), Great Aunt and Uncle (Sybil and Billy), her second cousins (Blake and Dusty, and her third cousin (Harlyn) out there! We had a good time ... and Clara played her first fair game and won a prize, the Duck Game ... it's the game where you pick 3 ducks out of a "pond" and you get a prize! Clara won a little piggy! It was a great fair night as it was a little on the chilly side! We bundled Clara up in 3 layers and even put on her beanie hat! She was so cute!

Well, that's all for now ... I will do my best to keep up with the blogging!! Have a great Tuesday!

We're BACK!

2009-09-21T20:59:00.013-04:00

Sorry for the long break in between posts...we have been extremely busy....here is what we have been up to the past couple of weeks...

Trinity Football Games! This is daddy, mommy and me at the first home game...we won! I had a great time people watching and I really loved listening and watching the band and cheerleaders! Mommy tells me that I was the cutest thing there!

One lady at the game said that she could see me being the coach's daughter from Remember the Titans....running up and down the sideline pulling her hair and yelling at the players and refs! I haven't seen that movie yet, but I am sure that when I get old enough, I will watch it with daddy!

Here is what I love doing now that I am 7 months old:

I love spending time with Nae Nae,

papa,

and my "big" granny and papa!

I am also learning to ride in my pedal cars....papa and nae nae have bought me about 30 of them! Papa says that I can play with any of them that I want, but nae nae says that they are only to look at...she needs to talk to papa and listen to him! Their most recent purchase is a pedal air plane! I can't wait to fly away in it!!

Nae Nae and Matt Matt bought my a walker a couple of weeks ago....when I first started, the only thing I could do was go backwards, now...2 weeks later, I am running after the dogs and chasing them! I am having so much fun!

I had my first trip to the Publix where I was able to sit in the cart all by my self! I had the best time! Everyone knew I was in there because I was singing, talking, and screaming!

I am even holding my own bottle now! I am such a big girl!

Not only am I holding my own bottle, I am sitting up all by myself, with out any help...I can sit up from when I am laying flat on my back...I also am cutting TWO teeth! I love to drink out of a cup, like a big girl, I even can drink out of a straw! I am learning to clap and wave bye-bye. I am a typical Dorminey, because there isn't a food that I have tried that I didn't like. I weigh 16 lbs and 9 oz and am 26 inches long.

This past Thursday, daddy spent a night away in Miami with his football team...they played against Miami-Dade Christian and they WON! It was a great trip, he had a great time!

This past Saturday was the Tennessee Vols vs the Florida Gators....you know who I am pulling for...I'll give you a hint....There ain't nothin' greater than a GATOR! Daddy went with Nae Nae and Matt Matt down to the game...I was scared he would get picked on, but us Gators are good sports and were very nice to him! I am excited to say that the GATORS WON! Even though mommy didn't get to go to the game, she was excited to spend the day with me...after we cleaned the house, we went and kept papa company at his house and watched the game with him...I am not sure who he was pulling for, but I think it was the same team I was pulling for..I have a way with him! :o)

This is daddy, mommy, and me at breakfast before the game on Saturday. Matt Matt made my onesie...it says...My QB is hotter then your QB....QB meaning quarterback...talking about Timmy Tebow!

Mommy wants me to pass the word on that she will try to keep the blog updated on a regular basis. I will try and remind her to do so! As for now, it's way past my bedtime, so....so long, farewell, and good night!

Sick as a dog!

2009-09-03T21:07:00.003-04:00

It all started Friday morning when my alarm went off. I woke up with a sore throat, but thought it would get better as the day went wrong...boy was I wrong. Thankfully I have a wonderful boss who let my team have a half day. So I proceeded to go on with the plans I had planned on Friday...go order Clara's 6 month pictures and head to Alan's football game at Ed White. While at Ed White I started feeling blah, but stuck it out since it was Alan's first football game. To be honest, I really didn't think too much of it. Saturday I woke and could hardly move...my body ached so bad...so bad that I couldn't even drive myself to the doctor....my mom had to do the honors! Diagnosis: Upper Respiratory Infection. Drug: Z-Pack

Monday came around and I was still feeling horrible. Alan made another doctor's appointment, this time with my real doctor. When I arrived at the front desk I was handed a mask and told to go straight to room 5. I guess they thought I was contagious or something! Diagnosis on Monday: The Flu with a possibility of it being the Swine Flu. Ahh......

Well, it was already bad enough because I wasn't able to be around Clara and hadn't been around her since I left for work on Friday and I was told not to be around her until Friday. How do you tell that to a mom who has a 6 month old? But I knew deep down inside that it was for the best of both of us.

Moving on...I get a text from Maddison on Wednesday saying that she had Clara, but mom and dad were on their way to the ER. Dad was in so much pain, and thought that it may be caused by a kidney stone. Well, in less than 5 hours he became Dr. Dorminey. He was spot on. He was given a shot with pain medicine and told to go home. As of today, he is feeling better.

Enough already...well not quite. Maddison called me Wednesday around lunch and told me that something just wasn't right with Clara, she wasn't her normal bubbly self. So I called her doctor and was told to have her in the office at 4:00. Her diagnosis: Pink Eye AND a left Ear Infection. Needless to say mom spent Wednesday at the ER and pediatrician's office. But, I am so thankful that we live here near my parents. It helps me knowing that she is in the best of hands, being taken care of, and most importantly loved when she isn't with Alan or myself.

So I want to send the BIGGEST THANK YOU to my Dad, Mom, and Maddison for letting Clara spend the past 6 nights with you and for taking care of her when she wasn't feeling her best. We love you!

Just call 'em coach!

2009-09-01T13:36:00.006-04:00

For the past several weeks, Alan has been helping out with Trinity Christian Academy's football team! Trinity is a local private Christian school here in Jacksonville. They always have an amazing football team...they have won several state titles. Hopefully they will win one this year! We are keeping our fingers crossed!

Anyways, Alan is having a blast getting to know the boys and other coaches. He is learning a lot, but most importantly, having fun. He is able to help out with both, the JV and Varsity teams.

So needless to say, on Friday nights, the Acree's will be at football games! It's Football Friday's for the Acree's!

Here are a few pics of their preseason football game:

My Baby is Growing Up!

2009-08-19T12:49:00.004-04:00

I can't believe it...Clara is 6 months old already....where has the time gone? The past 6 months have been a whirlwind...but yet the best 6 months of my LIFE! It is so much fun watching her grow and change each and every day. Here a a few of the things you are doing/love at 6 months:

Sitting up all by yourself
Drinking juice out of a sippy cup
Eating real food (baby food that it!)
Drink 6 oz of milk
Laughing ALOT
Smiling all the TIME
Swimming
Pedicures with Nae Nae and mommy
Tasting ice cream!

Loves bath time

Loves giggling and laughing with poppy and nae nae!

We are having so much fun with you! Clara Renee, we love you to the moon and back!!

Chicken....Yummy!

2009-08-18T21:54:00.002-04:00

Tonight, after I got off work, I meet Maddison and Clara at the St. John's Town Center to go to Babies R Us to get Clara some sippy cups and sippy cup handles for her bottles. Well, while there, we went down the food aisle to get a couple of things for Clara to eat at dinner...well a couple of things turned into about 5--12 packs of baby food...and in those packs of food is MEAT! Yes, Clara is able to eat meat now that she is 6 months old...I was so excited! Something new for her to try! After leaving Babies R Us, we meet mom and dad at Cracker Barrel and gave Clara her first taste of chicken with corn and squash...and you know what? She LOVED it!

Here is a picture of her with her first jar of stage 2 food with meat!!

Our 2009 Summer Vacation

2009-08-13T21:40:00.005-04:00

On Wednesday, August 5 we packed up my mom and dad's expedition and headed to Orlando for a much needed and well deserved relaxing vacation! And yes we had to take my parents car because of all of Clara's things!

We couldn't get to Orlando quick enough, we were ready for a change of scenery and a few days where there was no alarm clock, no running around to do, or bed time needed, and I think Clara enjoyed not really having a bed time, beings she was up past 11 each night of vacation! When we got to our hotel, we immediately checked in and changed into our bathing suits and hit the pool! After our relaxing afternoon at the pool, we went to dinner at the Crab House and yes we tore up some crab legs! They were so yummy!

After dinner, we went to Downtown Disney just to walk around and walk off all the food we just ate! Downtown Disney has a Ghirardelli Chocolate shop where you can buy any type of chocolate they make as well as an ice creamshop...every time we go to Orlando Alan and I always say we are going there and we are going to get a hot fudge sundae, but never do...this trip wasn't any different, we walked in the store and walked right out! Good for us, but depressing later on because we really really want to try one! But there will always be a next time...like in November with the family!

Anyways, Thursday and Friday was really no different than Wednesday...we woke up...went and ate breakfast at this place called First Watch, it is delicious and then came back and swam. We would then take a little break so Clara could tap a nap and get rested and be ready to go back to the pool in the afternoon! We have a little fish in our family! After our afternoon swim, we would go back and get ready for dinner and a night of shopping! Needless to say, Clara racked up and got some very cute things to wear!

We hated to see our vacation come to an end, but as always, all good and fun things must come to an end! It truly was one of the most relaxing vacations I have been on and really enjoyed. We can't wait to hit the Animal Kingdom with Nae Nae, Poppy, and Aunt Matt Matt in November!

Little Bit loving the pool!

Relaxing in the pool!

Clara and me at Tiffany's!

A new fan!

2009-08-06T08:09:00.008-04:00

A couple of Fridays ago, I was telling Alan how I wanted to Scott's Shaved Ice and out of the blue, my mom said that she had been wanting one too...which is a huge shock because she really doesn't have a sweet tooth.First, let me start by saying that if you have never had a Scott's Shaved Ice, you must stop what you are doing right now and get in your car and head to the corner of Loretto Rd and San Jose Blvd.

So that particular Friday night, probably around 8:45, I called mom and dad to see if they wanted to meet us up there for a snow cone. Surprisingly they meet us up there...but wait, you know I am starting to see a trend with them...they will meet us almost anywhere at any time if Clara is with us! I think that going and getting a snow cone is just one of their excuses to see Clara!!!! :o)

So we pull up and then mom and dad follow...we go to get out of the car and a young man walks over to my car and proceeds to tell us that they are finished for the evening and they wouldn't make 4 more shaved ice's....IT WAS 9:00 P.M. on a FRIDAY and they were closing...how crazy is that? OK talk about down in the dumps...I think the 4 of us were down.

But being down didn't last long...Thankfully there is a Krispy Kreme right down the street! and boy oh boy those donuts are soo yummy! So needless to say, Clara didn't get her Scott's Shaved Ice, but she did make her first appearance at Krispy Kreme and I think she liked it! Here is the proof:

....still going....

2009-08-04T08:14:00.003-04:00

Our weekend is still not over! Sunday was another busy day... As always, church is our priority... but this Sunday morning was a special one! It was our time to bring breakfast! And that means...it is time for a stop at the Donut Shoppe in Arlington....if you can't go to Krispy Kreme, you go to the Donut Shoppe... this place is so good, we go out of our way to go there!
So Sunday morning, we enjoyed donuts and Sunday school..you get the best of both worlds!
After church, we were going to go home because we had to go out to Callahan for a graduation party...my cousin, Betsey, graduated from UNF on Friday with her Criminal Justice degree! Yeah....go Bets! But one the way home....mom called and said to meet them at Olive Garden...ok...we were up for that! So we get there and order our food...the server brings out our soup and salad...and poor Alan is eating his soup and pulls out of his mouth a piece of plastic...how gross is that....I have always heard that most things at Olive Garden is frozen...they just heat it up....and that proved to me that a majority of their food is.
So we survive Olive Garden and head home to get ready to go to good ole Callahan...Clara was so excited to go because she knew that she was going to get to go swimming! Clara is a little crab when she's in the pool...she absolutely loves the water! (You will see why she's a crab in a little bit!) But on the way there, it just kept getting darker and darker and then the bottom fell out...so needless to say, we didn't even get to put our feet in the water! But we still had a good time out there celebrating with Betsey and everyone!

It's always non-stop....

2009-08-04T07:46:00.005-04:00

So I was so anxious to get off of work on Friday because I knew what a crazy and hectic weekend was going to be upon us! We had so much to do...I can't remember the last time we stayed in on a Friday night and didn't go ANYWHERE! And I must say, it was wonderful...So Saturday we were having a going away party for our good friends Josh and Rebecca Hewiett....they are the ones moving to Birmingham, AL and it was also our good friend Ben's birthday on Saturday....So Friday night I made him an actual cupcake cake...it is an over sized cupcake pan....and very very cute! Anyways...back to Saturday....we (Clara) woke up very early (6:00 a.m.) so we decided to hit the trail running beings we had a busy day...Alan started his day off by going to our Sunday school class men's Bible study that morning, when he got home, my mom called and asked if we wanted to meet dad and her for breakfast...so we did and just had a glass of tea with them. After breakfast, Clara, mom and myself ran to Wal-mart to get a few things for the party...afterward....we (mom, Clara and myself) went and got a pedicure and manicure! The nail techs love it when we bring Clara with us, because they love to paint her toenails...Clara has to be pampered too! So after we left the nail place, mom and I had a few other errands to run before we could go back to the party barn to get ready for the party...

So you may wonder why I just told you about our morning/early afternoon....remember...Clara was with us the ENTIRE time...every step, every toe and finger nail painted, etc....she DIDN'T cry once! She is absolutely the best baby anyone can ever ask for! I am so thankful that God blessed us with such a happy baby!

We finally get to the party barn to start getting the food ready....and yes...we had to chop and cut up everything for the coleslaw, we had to make the bake beans from scratch (it's moms secret recipe), they do not come from a bbq restaurant, and the garlic bread was even partially homemade! So as you can tell, we had our work cut out for us that afternoon!

No matter how hard we worked, it is worth it when everyone gets to have such great and yummy bbq for dinner! and it was especially worth every minute we put into it for our friends Becca and Josh! In the end, I think everyone had a great time... and to update you...Clara never cried...not once....if we keep her fed and changed she's an angel! and Saturday was one of her angel days!

Clara getting her first pedicure!

3 Years Already?

2009-07-29T22:56:00.000-04:00

Wow! I can't believe how fast time has flown...I can't believe that Alan and I celebrated our 3rd anniversary today. It has been an amazing 3 years and yet it seems just like we met in North Carolina yesterday.

For our anniversary Alan took me to Maggiano's at the Town Center. It was so yummy! First we had Calamari for our appetizer, then I had Rigatoni "D" and Alan had Spaghetti and Meat Sauce, then for the finale, we had this HUGE piece of Chocolate Cake. I know you are asking yourself if the 2 of us actually ate all of that food?! The answer... No Way Jose! We had a lot of everything left over! Dinner for another night!

To catch some of you up, here is the short version of how we met: Alan and I met in 2001 at a FCA golf camp in Pine Needles, NC. Alan was a camp golf instructor and I was a camp counselor (yes we get picked on quite a bit!). But after camp was over I thought we would never see each other again, boy was I wrong! We did the long distant relationship for 2 years...you really get to know someone and you lose a ton of sleep when you spend about 2 to 3 hours a night on the phone with them! But anyways...before I knew it, Alan was packing his bags and dad and I were heading up to Knoxville to move him down here! It was one of the best decision he has ever made!!!! :o) and almost 5 years to the date we met, we said "I Do"!

The past 3 years have been the best year's of my life!

Alan & me after our tummy's were stuffed!

The Last Supper!

2009-07-28T18:49:00.003-04:00

Tonight we went to dinner with some great friends (Spencer and Emily and Josh and Becca) of ours to one of my all time favorite restaurants, Barbara Jeans. There is something about that place that I just love...I am not sure if it is the location, on the intercoastal waterway or if it the food...thinking about it, I think it's both! The location is absolutely beautiful...I love being able to sit outside and overlook the water...but to be honest, what I really love is their caesar salad with a crab cake on top. I know that sounds weird, but you have to try it to know what I am talking about. Oh yeah and I almost forgot...they have the BEST bread...Their pumpkin bread is my favorite...Just give me a glass of sweet tea and a few slices of their pumpkin bread and butter, and I am set...forget about the caesar salad and crab cake!

Anyways, we always have the best time when we get together...to bad we are losing Josh and Becca! They are moving to Birmingham, Alabama so that Josh can attend UAB to get his MHA and MBA. What a trader! If Gainesville knew about this...there would be a huge problem! We are sure going to miss them very much, but we are going to love making out frequent visits to B-ham!

The three amigo's being sneaky!

Me, Becca, and Emily

The clan!

Alan & Me, Josh & Becca, and Spencer & Emily

Broke Down and Gave In!

2009-07-28T17:38:00.001-04:00

Ok! So I have been debating on whether or not to start a blog... The reason being, I write all day long at work and how I do that, I am not sure because writing, grammar, etc, just isn't my thing. So the last thing I want to come home and do, well is blog! Well...the other night, Alan and myself we out with some AWESOME friends at dinner and us girls got to talking about blogging...(both of them have blogs) how it is a great way to keep up with other people, especially those who are moving away (and yes you know who I am talking about)! On the ride home, I got to thinking about another friend of mine who also has a blog and she uses it to keep memories of her little girl such as: how tall she is, what foods she likes/dislikes, what her favorite things to do are, etc... you get the point. So I thought it would be a great way to keep all of the memories of our new family, especially Clara! I also heard that people are taking their blogs and having them made into books so they can cherish the memories (atleast the good ones!) for a life time... So needless to say...my friends Emily and Becca convinced me....and I gave in....and now...The Acree's now have a blog!