Christmas Festivities

This marked our 4th year celebrating Christmas in this house. Again a personal record. Next year William may have to use a ladder to put the star onto the tree.

Pappy dressed as Santa for pictures with the kids.

William was a shepherd in my parents Christmas play at their church in Montgomery.

The main thing he asked Santa for was gold. He got several gold nuggets on Christmas morning. He also got a Lego Star Wars ship, some light sabers, art supplies and a solar system kit for his new room theme - pictures coming soon!

Status Update

I almost have the blog caught up with our lives (only about 2 months behind now). Jud has gotten his insurance licenses. He can now sell personal insurance as well as commercial insurance. He is working as an independent broker for several different companies. A member of his Kiwanis group has given him office space and is showing him the ropes. He has enjoyed his time so far and has been able to call on several of his old customers (from 7 years as a Commercial Loan Officer).

I am teaching in two different preschools as a substitute teacher. I have been in every class from infants through kindergarten. I really enjoy the teaching and the children - and the hours can't be beat!

Free Time

Not working 16 hours a day/ 7 days a week has freed up significant amounts of time in our lives. The profit we made off the deli has allowed us to take some time off of working and enjoy spending time doing things as a family. We really learned where our priorities are in life. William and Jud made a bird house out of some scrap wood we had in the back yard.

Jud and I also got a really nice dining room table from my sorority (the chapter moved into a new dorm and sold all their old stuff). It was painted a horrible yellow color and was in terrible condition, but we stripped and refinished it and it is absolutely beautiful now.

BEFORE:

DURING:
AND AFTER:

Jud joins the SAR

Jud joined the Sons of the American Revolution this month. My dad has been an active member the past several years and was very excited to have Jud join the brotherhood.

My dad travels around the Southeast dressing in his Revolutionary War uniform and teaching school children and other groups about the life and times of a Revolutionary War soldier.

Millers and Goldens at the lake

The Golden cousins all came to the lake to celebrate Jess's engagement. William doesn't get to see his cousins on that side of the family very often. Benjamin is between William and Jackson in age and Sebastian is Hayden's age. They have so much fun together!

Miller Beach Trip

Also in September we took our annual Miller Family Beach Trip to Gulf Shores. The house we stayed in was amazing - right on a very private beach with a swimming pool. The cousins had a great time and it was a lot of fun...

The boys also got to drive bumper boats for the first time...

...and go-karts.

We also took our yearly trip to LuLu's for lunch and spent ample time lounging on the beach.

It may have been about the most perfect trip the Miller family has taken together. We are already looking forward to next year!

Chewacla Hike

In September we took a family hike to Chewacla. We got to go on a hike through the woods and walk along the rocks below the waterfall. After seeing our second snake in the water, we decided to be better safe than sorry and called it a day (turns out the snakes were harmless, but still).

Slacker Update

Well, after a quick peek at all my friends' blogs, I see that everyone has been a big slacker the past month or two - so I don't feel too bad. I will work on pictures the next day or two, but for now, here is a picture-less status update:

William loves kindergarten. We sold the deli. I am substitute teaching at a small preschool.

That about covers it. What? You want more than that? Ok.

If you hadn't heard - Yes, we sold the deli. The hours were brutal and we were able to find a buyer who was willing to give us our asking price. Sure, it may have been nice to line up another job, but really when the right offer comes along, you have to jump on it.

Not having to be there every waking minute has freed us up to do other things. We got to go to the beach for almost a full week (pictures to come...) and have gotten several things done around the house. I have substitute taught about 3 days every week for the past 4 weeks at Harvest Preschool (where William went the past few years) and have absolutely loved it. Last spring I offered to teach full time, but had to withdraw that offer when we got so busy. I have been very fortunate that the director there is a good friend and welcomed me back in. I am the only sub for the school (only 5 classes - it is a small school) so I have been used fairly regularly (especially with flu running so rampant in Auburn lately).

That is us in a nutshell. Sorry I have been a slacker!

Patricia

Bus Ride

Car line was painful, so William got to try to bus (coming home) the second week of school. 

His best friend (our next door neighbor) also rides that bus, so he had a great time. 

First Day of School

William started Kindergarten last week! He loves his teacher, Mrs Gilmore. Everyone who knows her says she is phenomenal, so we are really excited.

Our Deli

Here it is!

Momma Goldberg's is OPEN

We opened for business on July 22, 2009. My friend Heather Lee was made sure to be the first person in the door so she could give us our first dollar! We open at 10:00- which is too early for lunch, so she just got a cookie, but she did come back later that day for lunch. 

Some of my sorority girls came by also! 

Jud's parents came in for lunch. Mine had come in a few days before for employee training because they had to go to Pennsylvania the week of our opening.

Here is our finished restaurant!

Limanad Stand

William and Mark had their first venture into entrepreneur-ism. Each cup of lemonade was "Fifty Dollars", but I managed to talk them down to two quarters.

...and 5 minutes later. Longer attention spans may be required before their next attempt. 

Momma G's Update

Starting with the first question I get from everyone: YES, WE WILL HAVE THE GOOD ICE ! Momma Goldberg's shaved ice is almost as well known as their signature "Momma's Love" sandwich. 

The center of the restaurant features a half wall with a raised bench on either side of it. Accompanying the raised bench will be three high-top tables (on each side) and raised chairs.

In addition to the fountain drinks, there will also be bottled beverages. The silver rectangle beside the beverage fridge is where the beer taps will be mounted. On tap we will have Miller Light, Coors Light, Bud Light, Yuengling (sp?), and two others that I don't remember. Unfortunately the beer permit will not be issued prior to opening day. It may take another month to get - but we WILL have it by the first football game. 

Because of the lack of plumbing in the floor, the soda machine drains up. Fancy pumps shoot the melted ice and drink overflow up through pipes which are hidden behind this wooden case.

Each side of the restaurant has three built in booths and a large HD flat screen TV.

I spent the morning cleaning the bathrooms. The contractors were supposed to have all their work done in the back kitchen area so I could start cleaning and organizing back there, but they weren't done, so it may be tomorrow before I can get in there and get it started. 

The Garden

This year's "crop" doesn't seem to be as big as it was by this point last year, but the plants are pretty and the peppers and tomatoes that are coming off of them are large and taste great, so  am not going to complain.

William planted bell peppers. There are quite a few that look like they may be ready soon, so we will be having stuffed peppers for dinner sometime this week. 

I have my standard tomato plant. I have tried two in the same pot and it was too crowded, so I dropped down to one. I may do two again next year, in different pots.

Jud grows peppers. Last year we did seranos. This year we have jalapenos and banana peppers.

And this is the final product! I have made three large batches of salsa the past week and a half. It is so good we go through it pretty quickly. Come on over and try some. Bring chips.

Momma G's Progress

No new pictures, but wanted to put in an update. The walls are all finished and painted and the TVs were mounted last night. The floors should go in at the end of this week and as soon as they do all the equipment and booths can be installed. All the big stuff should be done the beginning of next week - by July 1. That will just leave getting in the food and getting all the employees trained. We are still thinking around July 15 for the opening, although any little thing can hold up everything else at this point. 

Making it Official

The sign went on the front of the building today and Jud has started hiring employees.

The original target opening date was July 15, the contractor and Momma G's people think if they push it, it could open as early as the first of July. We are thinking maybe around the 8th?

5th Birthday!

Mom (Nana) made a tank cake complete with fruit roll up tracks, tootsie roll guns and soldier driving.

We borrowed the slide again from the next door neighbor. It is so much fun!

Jay, Jackson, Nate, Mark, Parker (face blocked), and William

Front view of the soldier cake and Parker, Jackson and William

Time for presents. Mark gave William cool talking Planet Heroes.