Work

I have had the pleasure of working for most likely the worlds best boss since March 2005!!!!!! He and his partners owned the local Dunkin Donut Shops here in Charleston, well in 2007 he sold the stores, stayed on as a small owner and operator.

He has left the company, too many details that cant be posted. This has been and continues to be an extremely stressful time. Cant explain it but it has felt like a loss of a family member.

Not sure what will happened in the future, but I do know that I am stress extremely thin. One person cannot do this job the right way. We have the accountant (Chief Financial Officer) coming down to spend a few days with me this week. Lets hope I get through this week shall we. I have always loved this job, I hope that I find that once again, but I'm not holding my breath.

Another New Location

The company that Paul and I work for opening another location on Monday. Tuesday was the Grand Opening. So here are a few pics!

Lyndsey and Grace

HUM, maybe the rope is not long enough. Paul Ray is on the far right, next to him is my boss, Tom. The mayor of Goose Creek is standing to the right of Perky (coffee cup).

Usually Grace loves the cup (the first time she saw it, PaulPaul was in it)

She loves the van, so I had to get a picture.

It's Offical

As of Monday, I am going back to work. Last week when we went to dinner with Tom and his wife, we were not there long before they asked if I was ready to come back to the office. I must say upfront, I do have the best boss ever, and I am truly blessed. After he mentioned it a few times, I asked if he were serious, and he said yes. I told him I'd come to the office and we would talk. The girl we hired to replace me wasn't working out as well as we had hoped and he was going to have to do something different.

Gracie and I have bonded very well, she is the light of my life, but I have learned over the last four months being home that I'm really not the stay at home soccer mom type person. Now maybe if I didn't need the money and we had lots of it, it might be different. But life being life, I think I'm just made to work. I really miss it.

Gracie will always come first, but for us, I think this is it, maybe we'll have more quality time together now. I know you are wondering what we'll do with her, WELL the great boss that he is, has set up a play room (bigger than my office) I hear it is complete with a doll house (that comes to my waist Paul Ray said) a baby crib, a tv, dvd's, toy box, dolls and who knows what else. His daughter KelliAnn just started high school and thought it was time she let these things go, I think it was so sweet of her. So my little princess will be coming to the office with me at least for the next 3 months, then I'm going to find her a nice daycare/preschool or babysitter close to the office.

I'm really excited, and looking forward to seeing how this goes. He has promised me that if it doesnt work I can go back to working at home.

More Pics

More pictures from the Meeting Street Opening.


These came in yesterday. I think they are cool. Our Halloween tickets for the Magic Kingdom.

Just another day in Grace's life.....

We got up this morning and went and got Ashlee Gail, and then headed to

the Social Security office. Wow, its alot like going to the Highway department. Who makes the system with the numbers, how do you know who is next?????? We were there just a little over an hour. So her SS card is applied for, all I have to do now is the state or re adoption to get her a state birth certificate. Her immunizations will be caught up in Sept. We have our first of two social worker visits in October, things are just falling into place.

From there we headed downtown to the newest Dunkin Donuts, which is on Meeting Street. They had their grand opening today. I got to meet Mayor Joe Riley. This was Gracie's third opening since coming home in April. There will be at least one maybe two more this year. Bonny (my best friend) son, Mikey was Perky today (coffee cup). After the ceremony, we met Bonny at Bubba Gumps for lunch. So all in all, it was a very nice day.

This picture below shows what Gracie loves LOVES to do. I think she needs her own camera. It was funny, she had no problem telling anyone to stand still and point where she wanted them to be.

We made brownies the other night, I'd say she has the hang of what to do with the bowl.

Happy Belated Fourth of July! On Friday, we went next door, my cousin had a HUGE cookout, alot of the family was there. It was the first time most of them have seen Gracie, and she still has alot more to meet. It was a nice HOT afternoon. Chris & Erin came with the boys and hung out until dark. They did fireworks next door, Hunter and Gracie were not impressed so only Christopher enjoyed them.

Oh and the biggest event of the day, My perfect little Princess who hates dirt, was playing in the dirt and going barefoot, yuck (I blame her Uncle Chris who she just adores)

I took Gracie to her first parade on Saturday. It was in our hometown. She seem to enjoy it after she got a pc of candy and a flag.

I still sometimes wonder if I'm dreaming.

It doesn't matter what she is doing, anymore she will yell, take a "pix ore" (to cute) for everything. She had Paulpaul take this one from upstairs.

And this one below, she was checking her water, and was leaning over when she had to have a "pix ore"

Her bangs are slowly starting to grow out.

And then there is this one, if PaulPaul or Brandon are doing laundry, she has to ride up and down the stairs. No flab in the arms around here.

I have discovered if any of the guys in this house fall asleep on the couch, she climbs up and goes to sleep. She wont nap with me, just everyone else.

Brandon went on his first plane ride last week, he's in no hurry to do it again. He did however have a good time. He and Lyndsey went to Nebraska to visit her mom. They were gone for a week. Lyndsey starts her new job on Monday. Good Luck Girl.

PaulPaul's senior pictures (proofs) just came in and they turned out AWESOME. Now I've just got to pay for them, along with his class ring. Ouch

We dropped Paul Ray off at the airport this afternoon, he is headed to Ft Lauderdale, Fl for two weeks, training for work. Gracie and I are headed out on Tuesday to join him for six days (compliments of my dear boss). I'm a little nervous, taking her on an airplane, just she and I. I'm taking all of her adoption paperwork, just in case there are any problems. I hope to take her to the beach. I've got alot to do before we leave.

Keep Penny & Shannon in your prayers, they leave this week to bring home Norah. I believe they get her on Sunday the 13th!

Take Me Out To The Ballgame........

Gracie attended her first sporting event this past Saturday. It was Dunkin Donuts day at the Riverdog stadium. We had box seats (if that is what you call it - a private room with seats out front - as you can tell I'm not that big into baseball) for our employees. It was a nice night. It took Gracie awhile to come around to everyone, but by the end of the night she was running around playing.

Paul Paul was "Perky" for the night and I must say he did an outstanding job. Way to go PaulPaul!

Does he look like he is enjoying two????

Dunkin Donuts Coleman Opening

Getting ready for a big night!

Our newest restaurant opened this past Monday. They closed the restaurant on Wednesday night and had "Friends & Family" night. It turned out really nicely. Gracie fell asleep on the way there and was not in the best of moods.

Perky

aka PaulPaul

The mayor of Mt Pleasant cutting the ribbon Tom (my boss) giving the mayor a basket of goodies.

The mayor getting a hug from Perky.

Gracie leaving me to go with Shannon, she works at the office.

She really wants to get in the jump castle, but just wouldn't do it yet.

Daddy gave Graice her very own donut.

He knows how to please her.

Finally as we were leaving, she climbed up in the jump castle, but that is as far as she would go.

Dunkin Donuts Maingate Grand Opening

Our newest store, Maingate, which is across from the main gate of the Air Force base opened on Monday morning. The MP's turned out bright and early, I'll try and get a picture of that to post. The mayor was suppose to be there but didnt show. We had Perky, the coffee cup, and the Riverdog mascot there.

Gracie kept calling perky, PaulPaul, because he was in the cup on Saturday.