Best Buddies...

Above is a picture of Pap holding my dad, Danny....probably taken around 1957. Too cute! Below is a picture of Pap and Parker....it just don't get any better than this! Warms my heart!

Potty Training anyone?

How can it be that all my babies are growing up so fast?  This little precious boy is ready to head to the next step....one more step away from being my baby boy!  Yikes! 

Parker just came walking into me in the study diaperless and wondering what he should do?  Of course I quickly found the diaper that he had removed on his own and found a little surprise, and then on the potty I found another surprise, and he very quickly got a clean diaper from his Mama.  I couldn't help but chuckle and of course I praised him for wanting to go to the potty....but tried to explain that you only take the diaper off if Mama knows you are doing it. 

I guess it is time to start the potty training.  Any suggestions for boys?  It makes me nervous...and I have put it off so long because I guess I just don't want him to grow up yet.  But I know .... it IS time! 

Here is the even more funny part of the story from above....all morning the kids have been watching episodes of Jon and Kate plus 8.  Parker had been sitting watching an episode on Kate potty training the kids.....and when I missed him.....guess where I found him?  Who says kids don't pay attention?  He definitely was and he AIN'T no dummy!  :)

We're back! Life will get back to "normal"....right?

So, we finally got back home last night. Our plane landed in B'ham safely and we began the trip home. We had a FABULOUS time! We had such great FAMILY time! We tried not to worry about work, internet, phones, bills, whatever....and just tried to have fun and relax! We had a few obstacles....but what family vacation wouldn't have obstacles?

We are tired, but in a good way! Today, I have several things I could be doing....but I decided that since I have only two days left with the girls for Fall Break....who cares! We need to spend time together! I want to spend time with them....after reading my good friend Telah's blog this morning.....I had a few tears and re-focused a little.

Here are a few pictures for your viewing pleasure. Of course, there is much more to share a little later. Enjoy!

On the airplane....and the kids are just excited to be on the airplane for the first time. They keep asking....how are we going to get to school this morning? This is at about 6:45am....notice it is still dark outside.

The girls just opened their gifts and found out we are going to Disney World. More of that story later...

Had these shirts made for them to wear on the trip down to Disney.

Finally! We have arrived!

More later!

Wordless Wednesday....'nuff said!

No schedule today. Picture overload and Goal #5.

Our day has been a lot of things...but on a schedule is not one of those things!  :)

For whatever reason, all three of my children have snotty noses and a slight cough.  Now, I might expect my school age girls to catch a little bug during the beginning of the school year.  Why is it that my 2 year old is the worst one and running fever today?  :)   Poor little man!  I hate it when he feels bad...because when he does sometimes there is no consoling him...no matter what you try to do to help.

So, I scratched trying the new schedule...and just tried to take it one hour at a time. 

As for #5...I am working on it and still have a lot to learn.  But as of right now, I am REALLY enjoying a new little toy we got a few days ago. 

We finally took the plunge and decided to purchase this little number:

Of course, whenever I get a free second or two...I start snapping.  I have pretty much been shooting in automatic mode and have a lot to learn about everything with this camera!  However, even with a rookie like me...I think I got some pretty good shots over the last day or so and thought I would share them.  So be prepared to see a ton of pictures of my kiddos!  

 

I think this picture about says it all!  :)

Just buzzing around like busy little bees...our normal weekend routine

How cute is this?  Couldn't resist getting a picture of my little man!

Rain, Rain Go Away...

We pulled in the driveway from school....and as soon as we got out of the van...this is what happened.  Guess what?  I just let them go and have fun...because one of the goals I have set for myself (which you will see in a post really soon) is to let go and just have more fun with the kids....stop worrying about laundry, making beds, cleaning the house, and just all together being too caught up in things to enjoy the simple precious moments with them!

As you can see...I definitely need to work on my photography skills...but in my defense...it is hard to hit three moving targets just right every time!

Thursday Thirteen

I read several different blogs and I have seen something similar to this done each week.  I thought to myself what an easy way to highlight some things that are going on with our family and share a few pictures.   So, here it goes....the first installation of Thursday Thirteen!  These are very random...but you get the idea.

 

1. I finally got a picture of Kennedy with her banjo!  Her Gram and Pap had this made for her the last time we were up there!  And she gets teased about it all the time....but a girl can't go to Alabama without a banjo on her knee.....can she?  (I will post more about the banjo at a later date....very cute story)
2. Mallory is officially out of school!  Yesterday was award's day and I am so proud of her!  She received A Honor roll award for maintaining an "A" average in every subject all year long!  Go Mallory!
3. Shane and Gaga (his dad) are out installing a new water heater as I type this.  Ours sprung a leak and it was finally time to upgrade.
4. I have 27 items listed on my "To Do List"....oh and sure....I am gonna to get them all accomplished by bedtime tonight.  :)
5. My brother is getting married next Saturday and I can hardly believe that he is finally going to tie the knot! 
6. Our soccer season (for two kiddos) is over until fall and Kennedy's dance recital will be June 13th and then we will take a break from that also until fall.
7. We are going to Poughkeepsie, NY in less than a month and we are so excited about it....now I just hope that I can get everything accomplished by time to leave. 
8. Finally have my hummingbird feeders hanging and my flowers all done out front.  LOVE this time of the year!  I will try to remember to take a picture and share.  The flowers are beautiful right now.
9. Kennedy will start kindergarten in a little over two months!  Wow!  Where has the time gone?
10. We are going to visit with family next week and I can't wait!  My parents and my sister are flying in for the wedding and that is going to be a lot of fun!  Britt (my sister) has never even seen my two younger kiddos and my parents have not seen Parker since he was about 6 months old.....so it should be a BLAST!  Plus we will get to spend time with my Gram and Pap! 
11. Kennedy got a shiner under her eye a few days ago and it is starting to heal....but boy does she look like she got in a fight!  (she didn't get in a fight, but ran into the back of one of her little buddies)   I felt so bad for her when it happened, but she has been pretty tough about it all.
12. Shane had to "blow away" my laptop a few days ago and start from scratch to repair some things....so I have been doing a little make-over and re-installing some software.....and editing my blog a little.  Have added a few new things.
13. Parker should be about ready to get up from his nap....however, I am trying to savor the quiet for a little while longer.

Have a great day everyone!

Happy 4th! Family photos and a few more things...

Good morning!  The sun is shining bright and it is already hot here this morning in Alabama!  My hubby is working today and me and the kids are planning on spending the day out in the pool and having some fun.  I actually have secretly planned to scrapbook this afternoon ..... after I wear the kids out and bring them in for napping and/or watching a movie later this afternoon.  :)

 Old Glory....I love seeing this flag hanging from the front of our house each time I pull in the driveway!  It reminds me of the freedoms I have and of all the men and women that have fought and gave their lives for that freedom!  Pray for and remember OUR soldiers today....both past and present....AND be sure and thank God for this great country and the blessings we receive as a result of being citizens of this great country!

The last few days I have been printing lots of sketches off of some really cool sites that I have familiarized myself with lately....Pencil Lines and Page Maps are probably my two favorite....however, there are a few more that I have found and I will share with you soon. Oh and one that I found on my buddy Leah's blog....Little Book of Sketches....I am quickly growing fond of it!  Check these sites out!

I am working on some birthday gifts for some of the girls friends and some wooden letters and coasters for home decor.  I plan to share my finished projects with you soon!  Also, I have been printing pictures and getting pages together a little this week and really hope to be able to share some new layouts after the weekend is over.

I have gotten so far behind in my scrapping...and it makes me so mad at myself....because I DEFINITELY collect plenty of cool supplies to be able to do all the cool pages....and I have collected and continue to collect many idea book, magazines, and websites that I view and think....I can do that ....

However, I never seem to be able to start or finish a layout....it stresses me and makes me uninterested when I think of how far behind I am....IT IS TOTALLY OVERWHELMING TO ME!!! and the madness has to stop!!!  :)

I am so so tired of not getting any pages done....so, I have come up with a system that seems to be working for me....I will share it with you in the next post....I had to do something so that I would get my tail in gear and preserve all these precious memories that we have made as a family....maybe you can pull something from it and use it in your own scrapbooking.

I have some pictures to share with you today....I mean come on....is it really a post if there are no pictures?  LOL

First, we had our yearly family photo done this past weekend and I was pretty happy with the way turned out...we were supposed to get my mother and father -in -law with us in one of the sittings, but at the last minute they couldn't come....hopefully we can get one with them soon!  We went to Hollis Photography....which we have been going there for some time now....and as always they did a great job!  You can go to the above link and click on the button that says View Your Photographs Now and then our password number is 5678.  Type that in and you can view a slide show of our family photos.  Let me know which one you think is the best....cause I am having a hard time choosing!!!!!

Here are just a few others that I have taken over the last few days that I thought were cute!

Just "Croc" -ing around outside!  Parker finally got his first pair of Crocs and he is trying to figure them out....he will walk in them...but does not seem too sure about them... :)

Some outside fun in the backyard yesterday with the bubbles!

Good morning Sleepy Head!  Took these this morning when I went in to get Parker....he was in there singing and letting me know it is TIME to come and get me Mama!  :)

Have a great day and enjoy the festivities!

More later....

Too may first's to count...and thank you from the bottom of my heart!

Hey everyone!  I have so much to tell you and a bunch of pictures to share with you....a bunch of first's to talk about....

• First time I have had the chance to sit down and update my blog and actually start to get back into a routine here at home in several weeks
• First night in several weeks that I actually feel caught up on housework and laundry
• First day (well actually today is the second day...but I started typing this last night  :)  ) of a new week and the first of many new posts to share with you.....I hope
• First day that we have had rain in a long time...and I hope we get some more tonight.  We had a pretty good shower this afternoon and it really cooled things off and I am so thankful for the rain!  We REALLY needed it!
• Parker finally got his first haircut a few days ago....bye, bye little curls....my little man is growing up to fast!
• Before

 

 

 

 

 

 

 After

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• First time to have one of my children not scream and go into hysterics around a dog....Way to Go Parker!

 

• First ballet recital for Kennedy

• First pool party of the summer

• First time Parker has ever been brave enough to run into the sprinkler (while the water is on) by himself

• First trip to the Kiddie Carnival...however, I am sure that there will be many more to come during the summer!

• First taste of a Cheeto for Parker...it ain't easy being cheesy!

• First look at my finished flower gardens out front....It took us over a month to finally get everything transplanted and mulched and like we want it.....it isn't perfect....but we are pretty happy with it.....now for working in the backyard! 

 

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• First time I have had the chance to really and truly THANK ALL OF YOU from the bottom of my heart for the friendship, kind words, emails, and most of all prayers for my family and for my Gram and Pap over the last few weeks.  I have made so many new friends because of this blog....and many of my "old" friends read my blog....it has just really and truly been a blessing to me to communicate with friends through this medium and know that there are so many people out there thinking about and praying for our family when we were in need!  It sort of becomes like your extended family I guess....I mean I have learned a lot about all of you and your families from reading your blogs....I feel like I have known some of you all my life....and I am sure you have learned a lot about me from my blog, emails, and all our commenting back and forth.    So enough mushy stuff....but just a big THANK YOU!!!!  Love to all of you!