Aunt Mel is Fun...

Aunt Melanie was here this weekend and the kids got to stay home with her on Friday...they had a blast. Here are some pictures of the crazy kids playing outside...

Yes, Abby is not wearing a shirt...I was mortified...I mean, I know we live in the south--but come on, reallllyyyy??? No shirt!!! Oh goodness...

The kids are so funny...I love this picture of Hayden

Grandpa Jim came on Saturday and we got to go eat at my favorite place, Wild Horse Saloon...it was so good!!

Here are some pics...

Wow...a real stock car!!! In the restaurant...is that crazy or what?! (Abby's phrase)

Aunt Melanie with the kids...He just looks like he's crying--that look is a little scarey...I know, silly Grandpa Jim...but Abby is wrapped around his little pinky, that's for sure. Both the kids, really...but Abby is just cuddly and calls him her best friend...she knows how to play it.

Can you tell Hayden gets his rhythm from me?? Poor kid, doesn't have a prayer if he's looking for groove.

Abby doesn't have groove either...but she doesn't care. She gives it her all!

Plans that go awry...

Abby got a Big Wheel for an early birthday present from her Grandpa Jim when he was here last weekend...it's a great gift that she absolutely loves. It's perfect for her...she loves riding her trike, but is too big for it and she's too scared to ride the big girl bike we got her last year...so the Big Wheel is a great compromise.

Well, you know how these kind of toys come with stickers your supposed to put on the trike? I don't like putting the stickers on because then they get worn and look tacky after it's been outside for a few days. Hayden asked if he could put the stickers on (he helped put it together) and much to his disappointment I said no...we were going to leave them off.

Abby woke up from her nap and Grandpa Jim gave her the gift and she was so excited...but let me tell you...I think she was more excited when she found the stickers that go on they Big Wheel that I thought I had gotten rid of!!!

Here's the work of art from our almost 5 year old...

Abby is riding with Hugsie...her newest Bear Friend...and Hayden racing her on foot. By the way Hayden learned how to ride his bike this week without any training wheels--we're so excited. I am going to get him on video and put it on the blog in the next couple of days.

Please pray...

Please check out the link 'Bring the Rain' I have listed on our blog...and pray for this family. You will get all of the information there...but to quickly brief you they found out that their nephew who was 2 months old was found not breathing around 9:00pm last night...they were unable to revive him.

You will see that this family had lost their own baby daughter just 7 weeks ago...I think you will be amazed as I am at the faith they portray and I can only hope that I would respond in such a manner should our family be faced with situations like the ones they have had to endure.

Please pray and ask others to pray as well...I don't know this family, but I feel compelled to send this out.

Lessons from the Wii...

I learned a few things yesterday abotu the wii...playing does help in learning tennis terminology. I know what it means when Deuce is called or Advantage front...etc. I know tennis is scored in increments of 15-30-40-deuce...win...etc.

What else did I learn??? That just because you've reached pro status on the wii does not mean you can play worth a lick on the court!!! :) James told me he didn't know what to expect from me and I still think he was a bit shocked at how horribly uncordinated I am. You would think, of course, after almost 9 years of marriage he would have picked up on that, but it seems to elude him time after time. Luckily for me, I'm a bit stubborn and I won't give up...I am going to learn to play tennis if it kills me. I have never played a sport in my life...I am going to get this...I would be happy with just getting good enough to keep up in a game with Hayden. That's my goal!

:) Well, just remember that for all you wii players...just because you're an all star on the game doesn't mean squat!

Just some thoughts...

I'm sure most of you have heard about the tragic accident that took the life of Steven Curtis Chapman's 5 year old little girl this past week...it's heartbreaking to me.

We're not supposed to question God...but these circumstances make it hard not to ask why?? And I think most of us do...if we're honest...especially if it were one of our children, we would wonder...and although we know God can work all things to His good...it's hard to see the whole picture.

It's sad that it takes situations like these to be a wake up call and remind us that life is precious. We get so wrapped up in the day to day grind and lose sight that tomorrow is not a guarantee. We love all of you very much and if we forget to tell you how important you are in our lives, we apologize...

What a Girl Wants...

This is one of my favorite Mother's Day gifts...it's what every Mother wants--a helping child


It's a ticket book full of all kinds of "chores" that if I give the ticket I will have no complaints from my child to do whatever it says...YEAAAAHHHH!!!!

#1 I will help Mom by clean the bathroom

#2 I will help mom by clean me room
#3 I will help mom by tack the gdijs (Translation: I will help mom by taking the garbage) So cute!!!

#4 I will help mom by wosh the dishs.

I LOVE IT...

Mother's Day

I think so far this has been my favorite Mother's Day...it's the first year the kids were really into what was going on which was a lot of fun! I have my first piece of clay art from Hayden...he made a little bowl in art class and painted it...I love it. It's now my special paperclip holder at work and I must say I have had quite a few compliments on the handiwork of my talented child. :) Okay, just a little biased...I know!! He also helped write a poem with his kindergarten class...and made a butterfly. Very crafty...my little dude!

Abby made me a box and put all of her love inside...which I also brought to work, she had very clear instructions though to make sure that NO ONE OPENED THE BOX! (Make sure, Mom...was said several times) She went on to explain that all of the love would then go away...BY ALL MEANS...NO ONE OPEN THE BOX!!!!! I also got a few paintings and works of art...we call them abstract, I'm sure there is meaning behind the scribbles and one day we will decipher it.

Of course, I also got some other cool gifts t00...Hayden got me a kit to make my own sterling silver jewelry pieces. I also got a hanging flower plant (Abby told me "Feel the flowers...they're real!!) and a movie (PS I love you--which I cried thru the entire movie at the theater...James kept laughing at me, oh and then I laughed and snorted...the whole theater wast laughing at me then) :) But it's such a great movie...if you haven't seen it I highly recommend it.

We did have a little bit of a damper on the whole day though...Abby has strep throat (yes, again!) and we have a referral to an Ear, Nose and Throat Dr. Looks like the tonsils are going to have to come out...bummer. Luckily, we were able to go out to eat (Black Eyed Pea--my favorite restaurant)...before it really set in and turned her into a whiny helpless child. I think God uses these experiences to remind us of what being a mother is all about. :)

I hope all of you mothers out there had a great day! We sure are blessed to have our kids...I can't remember what life was like before and I sure wouldn't trade it for anything in the world.