A Day with Friends

Can you find the bean?




Galen and Chenoa invited our family over for the holiday. Phil and Stephenie were also there, so Ethan was thrilled to get to play with his cousin, Blake. Galen was out in the field working until lunch, so we all went out to take a ride and "help" plant some beans. Eating, napping (the little ones), running, four-wheeling, cornhole, and more eating was on the agenda - and it was a blast!

Stompin' Ground

The twins: Lauren and Lindsay and their brother, Paul (I babysat them)

Micah (a school/church friend)

Amy and Morgan (Amy held Mommy when she was this little)

The teachers who taught while I was in school

Susanne, Megan, Morgan, and Myself

Marla, her daughter, and you know who

Visiting with "Papaw and Grandma" Sankey


Ethan and Addi (Bryce's girl)

Reese (Bryce's boy)

At the playground...the KIDS playing :-)

We took a mini vacation to Bedford. (where I grew up) Twins that I had babysat for during highschool just graduated this year and had an open house. It just so happened that while I was in town I was able to attend Awards Night at my "old" school. So many people I was able to see and speak to while there. Since we were "down that way", we asked Bryce (my best bud growing up) and his family to meet us to eat...then we found a playground for the kids to play at so we could visit some more. Great weekend!

This Life...Is Going Somewhere

AWARDS BANQUET

Another school year has come and gone...This life, is a canvas on fire,
Burn bright, live your deepest desires,
For the time here on this side of Heaven
You'll fly like sparks in the night -
This life, it's a gift from the One who gives life
To every daughter and son
Take the time, here on this side of Heaven to find the road that goes on and on.....
You can see the back of her hair in the mirror

Mom and Dad got her a watch for the special event



Her version of trying to hold her eyes open so she wouldn't blink (inherited trait, unfortunately)

Some of the decor for the evening - Mom made autograph books for the students. She was also in charge of the whole thing.



So work like your worth more than money,
Love like you've never been hurt,
And dance like you dance when no one is watching!

I love you, Emily!
You're beautiful - inside and out - allover! Big Sis

Graduation

Shawn's cousin, Ivan, graduated on Saturday -

Got my picture taken with two good-lookin' dudes
Yikes! Like father like son?
Jodi gettin' a little "Morgan fix"
I love these next few pictures~
Scott (who is principal of our school, Shawn's brother, etc) tried to climb this - all while in his suit and tie minus his socks and shoes! I report that he did make it close to the top while holding a rope. Definitely a highlight of the day!

Our Outing Adventure

A friend of ours works at Starbucks and a new drink was "coming out" last Tuesday so I got the kids ready and we went to try this tasty new drink. Mmm....
Then we grabbed lunch at McDonald's and took it to the park nearby. Shawn was able to meet us there so that was extra fun. Then he took Ethan with him to work the rest of the day and Landon, Morgan and myself were the only ones left. Made for a much easier shoe searching shopping day! Landon loves shoes...he quickly kicked his shoes off and was hurriedly taking shoes off the rack.

Uno Tooth-O

one month
3 months (this is the blanket I made for her before she was born)

Note: The picture quality is bad because I took a picture of the picture :-)

Morgan is now 3 1/2 months. She has grown so much....yada yada yada....I know every mother says the exact same thing so I will try not to be boring and bragging.
Morgan is grinning freely. She lights up when she hears her daddy's voice and the grin just gets bigger and better. She now has started to laugh. Belly laughs. The boys and I were laughing right along with her last night.
Today I discovered she has a tooth coming in! ...And that is all I am going to say about that!

Batman...Good or Evil?

My mother has this little ritual: One of the days she comes in and works for Shawn she will finish and then take one of my boys home with her. The boys are on a rotation schedule. Ethan understands if he doesn't get to go on his "off" week, but poor Landon, he boo-hoos. Anyway, this is an extremely huge help to me since it lightens my load. (Thanks, mom!)
Last week it was Ethan's turn. While at Mawmaw's house, Mawmaw mentioned that she needed to go to the grocery store. Ethan pipes up, "Does that mean I need to buy a toy?" Well, of course! That is what Grandma's are best at - spoiling their grandkids, right?
This week's toy was batman masks. He wore it all through the store which meant receiving tons of attention from other curious onlookers. One lady commented (after she burst out laughing) "He crossed his eyes at me!" He was definitely enjoying himself.
Later, Mawmaw said that she told Ethan that batman helped people. Ethan said, "But I want to be a bad guy."
_____

Ethan: "My daddy is a great big man!"
_____

Trying to teach Ethan his home address, etc. -
Me: Where do you live?
Ethan: Heaven? (where did he come up with this?)
Me: (taking his answer a little farther) How do you get to Heaven?
Ethan: Really fast?!
Update on this: Ethan is doing much better. Wants to still answer Heaven for some unknown reason, but with help, knows where he lives. :-)

A Glimpse...

Make a Smilebox photobook

Proverbs 31

"Her children rise up and call her...."

..."Mommy, mommy! Help. Shoes!"
..."Mommy, mommy! I don't want to wear these shorts. I want to wear my "down" pants."
..."Mommy, mommy! I had it first!"
..."Mommy, mommy! I don't wanna go to bed!"

Well, as you can see, my children are not at the age for any showering of praise (aka blessed)that I might wish would be vocalized, but they do give me wonderful kisses, hugs, and cuddles. I am extremely blessed to have such charming children. (Charming, yes. I would say this is not the case every moment of every day, but today, right now - charming.)

"She riseth early while it is yet dark..."

Laughter could be heard from my husband after this verse was read by the congregaion this morning. Yes, I did say laughter was heard! (At least I heard him and a couple of people around him.)
I do not fulfill this part of the wife/mother in the Bible. I "ariseth" when it is "yeteth" very "brighteth" "outsideth"!!!! My father did clarify that I did rise while yet dark to feed Morgan. But my husband was quick to clarify back - But she goes back to sleep! Aren't men grand?

Have you said this before?

If you are a parent, you will be furiously nodding your head and yelling, "Yes, Yes, Yes!" as you watch and listen....take a minute and go to this link and listen to a lady sing a song for mother's to the tune of William Tell Overture!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=anSpBUxsgAU

Have a Happy Mother's Day!!!

Children's Museum

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Last Friday evening, Shawn and I corralled the kids together and buckled them into the van so we could meet some friends at our local Children's Museum. It was free admission, and they also had special projects for the kids to do as well. Landon was able to get a flower which was planted in a small pot that he painted...he even tried to paint the stem a different color. :-)
Ethan enjoyed "eating" the food in the "grocery store" and then wandered into the "kitchen" and began cutting, baking, and eating food there, as well. So many things to do! Ethan fished while Landon hid in the boat, Ethan climbed around in the "Human Ant hole" while Landon relaxed on the pig, and they both enjoyed the slide. Morgan was easy to keep an eye on - for I carried her around the whole hour we were there. She was an angel....
We bustled the kids together to a couple more stops. We made it home again hours later, bellies full from supper and a heart full of memories.