Fall Update

So sorry we haven't written anything since summer!! We no longer have internet access at home, so it makes it difficult.

We just got back from a weekend trip to Gatlinburg. My whole family went--even my grandparents, so it was a great time to catch up!

Chad and I were so ready for a break. We've been remodeling our master bathroom and we really needed a weekend when we didn't have to wake up early and go to Home Depot!!
We went to Cade's Cove twice while we were gone. The weather was perfect and it was beautiful!!

It was so nice to be able to sleep in and just relax!! We watched a lot of football--which was also nice for a change. We were so happy to see the Tigers win and Carolina lose!! Our Saturdays are usually consumed with electrical, plumbing, installing toilets....etc.!

Work is going well for both of us. Chad may have an opportunity in the near future to travel overseas for work. We'll keep you posted!

I am very thankful to have my team teacher back from maternity leave. We are down to 18 students in our class--which is great! We've had alot of students leave because of the crackdown on illegal immigrants--which is the majority of my class.

I am posting some pics of our bathroom so far because I've had some requests. It doesn't look like we've done alot--but I asure you that we have!!! We tore out our closet so that we could build a separate tub and shower. So, we've had to redo all the plumbing and electrical. We've installed the tub, so our next step is to put drywall up. Then it will look alot better, but I'll keep you posted.

Summer Road Trip and Back to Reality

We made it back from our trip out west---and we had a great time! We started in Las Vegas, NV where we got to walk along the boulevard and see all the huge casinos. We walked in a few of them and really enjoyed watching the fountains at the Bellagio.

However, after a night in Vegas we were ready to move on!

So...we traveled the next day to Sedona, Arizona --stopping along the way at Lake Mead and Hoover Dam.We camped in Oak Creek Canyon-one of America's top 5 most beautiful scenic views--enough said!!

Day 3 we traveled to Flagstaff and then to the Grand Canyon. We were amazed by the Grand Canyon and loved camping at the national park.

We hiked down into the canyon 1.5 miles and saw some great views--it was incredible!!

The next day we traveled to Lake Powell. We rented a kayak and got to weave in and out of canyons and jump off of cliffs. We loved being at the water--it was so refreshing to cool off and take a break from hiking.

After kayaking, we headed 2 hours to Bryce Canyon National Park. It was very unique and we loved it! We got to hike down into the hoodoos (the weird shaped rocks)--which was alot of fun!
From there, we headed to Zion National Park for 2 days. There were several great hiking trails there. The first was hiking through a river down between cliffs that kept getting narrower. At the end of the trail, it gets so narrow, your body can't fit through.

Our favorite trail was the Angels Landing Trail. It was a hike straight up a cliff and the last part of it was an 800 foot drop on one side and a 1200 foot drop on the other side. The trail to hike on was only 3 feet wide. So there was a chain for you to use for support. The view from the top was amazing!! It was a very strenuous trail , but it was very much worth it!

We really had a great time and would love to go back out west soon! There's still so much we want to see!!

For now, we're both back to work. I (Mollie) started school this week. I'm still teaching Kindergarten and I have 17 kids along with my coteacher (who will be having a baby any time now!!). Pray for me as my coteacher leaves for a few months. I will have a substitute, but it just won't be the same.

Chad is staying busy as usual. I guess what's consuming most of his mind now is the fact that we have started remodeling our master bathroom. He completed demolition when we got home and so hopefully, in a few months, we'll have a brand new master bath. It's going to be pretty major so I'll keep you updated.

It's July Already?!!??

Wow! Our summer is going by so quickly!! This past weekend we traveled to Hartsville, SC for Leslie Gardner's wedding. It was so much fun to get to see some of our friends from college that we haven't seen since last summer! I hate that we all live so far apart from one another. Leslie looked beautiful and happy to finally be getting married!!!

She is now Mrs. Leslie Johnson!! To see more pics, click here:

http://picasaweb.google.com/molliehayes/LeslieSWedding?authkey=xeNaXyqGCCE

Chad and I got to stay with Lara and Benson at her parent's house, so that was so much fun catching up with them!!!

After the wedding, we headed to Little River, SC to stay with Chad's parents. They live about 5 minutes from Cherry Grove Beach, so enjoyed being beach bums for a few days and taking Dakota out to swim. Dakota absolutely loved every minute of the beach!! It was so cute watching her and Chad swim together. Dakota adores Chad!!

For more beach pics, click here:
http://picasaweb.google.com/molliehayes/BeachJuly4?authkey=wbRPKU5X9_0

Now, we're back home--back to reality. I'm finished teaching summer school, so I have the rest of July to relax and do some babysitting. Chad is back to work until the end of July. We'll be leaving July 24 for our vacation out west. We're super excited!! We'll be flying into Vegas and then driving to Sedona, Arizona, to the Grand Canyon, to Glen Canyon, to Bryce National Park, UT, to Zion National Park, UT, and then back to Vegas. It will be a very busy road trip---but I'm sure we'll enjoy every minute of it!! We're sad we can't take Dakota with us, though. I'll have to update you with pictures as soon as we get back. Let us know if any of you world travelers have some suggestions for "must-sees" while we're on our trip!

"Leftovers" at Chick-Fil-A

Okay, so I'm going to try to at least do monthly highlights --so here we go!!! Yesterday we made it to our second Chick-Fil-A Grand Opening!! For those of you who don't know, for every grand opening, Chick Fil-A gives away 52 free #1 value meals to the FIRST 100 people. But... you have to camp out and be a part of all the fun!! So, why not? Free food and free night of entertainment!!!


So... we do all we can to rush and make it on the "first 100" list. Unfortunately, when we arrived at 12:15 (noon!!), I was number 105. I was with a friend, Johanna, who was 104. So... the deal is, they will take up to 115 and hope that people will break rules or drop out. You are not allowed to leave the grounds once signed in, so when they do role call (every few hours), you must be there or you're disqualified!!! The remaining 15 people on the day of the opening, are told they will be able to participate in a raffle where they give a way about 5 more 52 free meals. Hence the name "Leftovers"--that was the name of our group! So, we decided to take the risk and stay. Poor Chad....he was number 115---last but not least!!!


So we set up our tent and put on our dancing shoes for a full night of fun--for free!!! They had a christian band for a few hours, then a D.j. with games and dancing!!, then they showed a movie on a large screen. It's so much fun hanging out... but you have to be prepared for very little sleep. And that is exactly what happened!!! The little kids decided to stay up all night playing 4 square and running around making LOTs of noise--but, oh well, the price you pay!!


It was all worth it in the morning! We wake up, pack up our tents, and get in line for our final role call to see if anyone is missing and we might have a chance of being bumped up into the first 100 (sorry Chad--fat chance!!). Unfortunately, all were there, but FORTUNATELY.. they announced that "It is my pleasure to tell you that ALL of you here today will recieve the 52 meals!!!" Yayayayayaya!! No raffle!! No waiting around!!! It was all worth it--we were so relieved!! And sweet Chad brought up the rear and was given a large, stuffed Chick Fil A Cow--the only one given away that day!!! Dakota has a new playmate!! We had a great time and I would strongly encourage you to..... EAT MOR CHIKIN!!!!!!

To view more pics:

http://picasaweb.google.com/molliehayes/ChickFilA?authkey=wFqdClSKhIk

first time for everything

Okay, so this is our first blog entry!! I know, we're a little behind, and I'm not even sure how good I'll be about keeping it updated, but I will give it a try!!
To catch you up a little...
Chad and I are now happily settled in Marietta, Georgia. We bought a house in an older, historic area 2 years ago and it has kept us EXTREMELY busy!! However, we have learned more than we ever thought we would know (ex.how to install a new bathtub and toilet, plumbing, electric, tile, refinish floors, etc.) and Chad continues to amaze me in his ability to work so hard on something and not give up!! I usually end up being his sidekick and just handing him the tools he needs, but I think he does actually appreciate my input every now and then.

We have a church family in Woodstock, which we joined a year ago and we absolutely love the expository Bible teaching, intense studies of Biblical doctrine, and fellowship with others our age!!!! God has taught us so much and we are so thankful for ALL the blessings He has given to us!!

Chad is still working for an engineering firm as a landscape architect and seems to enjoy it most days. I am teaching Kindergarten at an elementary school in Smyrna. I absolutely love it--I am team teaching (yes-me, another teacher, and a parapro in one room!!!--unbelievable!!) and I have to say that teaming makes all the difference in the world!!! Our class is mostly Hispanic children and they are precious!

Last year, we got our first family dog!! She's a golden retriever named Dakota and she has been such a joy!!! She has kept us very active and we just love to laugh at how much personality she has. She's 80 lbs (1year!!) and spoiled rotten!!

So..back to the remodeling because I've had lots of requests for pictures. So far, we have refinished all the floors, totally gutted and remodeled the kitchen, painted all rooms, totally gutted and remodeled the guest bathroom, landscaped the front yard, built a fence for the back yard, and tiled a fireplace. Our next project is to put a new floor in our sunroom--hopefully this summer, and totally gut and remodel the master bathroom--hopefully this fall/winter. Then in the spring of next year, we will paint the outside of the house. I'll try my best to keep this updated!!

kitchen- before (hideous wallpaper!) kitchen--after--we removed a wall to put an island

guest bathroom--before guest bathroom- after