More Thomas pics

a motorized playset
playing with the engines and tables
Thomas--the really useful engine
Our cool conducter--Christian thought he was funny

Thomas the Tank Engine rolling along...

Getting a tattoo--check out that smile








Christian and Percy














If you currently have or have had a little boy in the past 10 years you know that is the beginning to the Thomas theme. This and other train related things have been important in our house over the past couple of years. Christian LOVES trains. We have taken him to "Day out with Thomas" in Nashville the past two years, but it just isn't in the best part of town (the scenery leaves plenty to be desired). So we decided to change it up this year and went to Chattanooga instead. We left Baylor home with KayKay, Tex and Mim (Thanks guys) and took off just the three of us. I felt like we all needed some quality time together and she could have cared less about seeing Thomas anyway. WE HAD A BLAST!! Partly because for once we weren't so harried trying to get there and "fitting" it into our schedule--this event was our schedule. The Nashville one is usually in late August so the weather was much more enjoyable too. Having only Christian with us we could totally focus on him and what he wanted out of the experience. I just loved it. The camera only begins to show you the joy I saw in my child this weekend. He loved everything he saw and loved every minute of having us all to himself. (don't worry Baylor, we still missed you) The depot still has a working train that we were able to watch and some old cars you could see. TONS of Thomas activities, Sir Topham Hat to meet AND of course our 25 minute train ride pulled by the little blue engine himself!! Christian worked up a thirst with all that fun so Daddy treated him to a red slush puppie and some popcorn...to say my little boy was in his version of heaven is an understatement.

I loved seeing him smile and doing what he loved. I know now why some parents spend thousands of dollars on different activities just to see that smile. I am so happy we were able to give this weekend to him and ourselves. It is so easy to get wrapped up in life and not enjoy it. I want to enjoy my children while they are little because I KNOW they will grow up so fast. I can still see Christian taking his first steps and now he is growing into my big boy. Baylor you are so close to running after him. As mim says "I just can't stand it"

It's official...

our sweet little princess is getting tubes! We went to the ENT yesterday and she had double ear infections...that makes 8 or 9 since December!! My girl is in a constant state of getting, having or just finishing an infection AND we have spent more $$ on antibiotics than I would care to add up. Dr. Cate was very personable. He played with Baylor and tried to make her feel comfortable with him before he did any "doctor stuff". That made me feel at ease too:) We will schedule it sometime soon and I'll let you know how it goes...my biggest prayer request is just about her 'going under'. Everyone says how quick the procedure is, but I hate the thought of her having any kind of surgery:( I told a friend yesterday that I'm suppossed to protect her and keep her safe...she replied "that is exactly what you are doing, making her feel better is protecting her" (Thanks Sarah). God has his protective hand over her at all times and I just hope my nerves don't go too crazy:) I have faith that my girl will be better and can get on with her life after this little procedure. The doctor said we can expect her language development to really take off once she can hear--poor thing has listened to nothing, but muffled sounds these past few months.

Walking update: though we are far from walking everywhere we go, she takes a few more confident steps everyday

Isn't this picture funny? She decided she wanted A LOT of bows in her hair this morning. She just kept handing them to me, so I just kept putting them in. Is this our first try at dress up?!?

Lingerie, Birthday and Walking

From the title you can see we had an eventful weekend!! On Friday I threw a Lingerie party for my sister...nothing too crazy, but we had fun. She turned several shades of pink and I was glad some people tried to embarass her a little.

On Sunday was Jeff's birthday!! We celebrated with lunch at Macaroni Grille with my family and dinner at Casa Fiesta with some friends that evening. (The weekend before we went out by ourselves b/c Nana and Papa were nice enough to offer babysitting as part of his present.) Jeff had to wear a big Sombrero, we sang and ate some very yummy chocolate cake. I love my hubby so much and wanted him to feel special on 'his day'...Happy Birthday Jeff!!

When we returned from dinner our sweet girl FINALLY decided to walk!!! We have been trying at this forever it feels like and finally have hope that she may waddle down the aisle in June. Jeff posted a great video below so make sure to check it out.

She can walk!

We were beginning to wonder if our little princess would ever take those first steps on her own. Tonight, she let go of our fingers and ventured out on her own. We've been waiting a long time for her to do this, but I've got a feeling we will soon be wanting her to slow down so we can keep up with her.

I think the video shows our excitement.

While I can't say all is perfect in our little world I am feeling a little better. I'm trying a few new things with Christian to try to cut down on the whining and Baylor is just going to have to grow up a bit before I can do anything about hers:) The girl needs some words!!

Anyway...big party for my sister tonight. I hope we get to embarrass her A LOT...

Got about 30 minutes of sleep...maybe 45!! Pray for my patience b/c it is thin when I'm sleepy...already been doing breakfast and our day is off and running:)

Ramblings

This is the second time in a week that I am up at 4am for no reason. When it happened last week I partly blamed my hubby with his snoring, but tonight he is quite so I have no one to blame except my overactive mind. I woke up around 2 and needed to go to the bathroom. By 3:15 I was still awake and tired of tossing so I just got up. I've been thinking about old friends a lot lately and just wrote cards to two of them. I was already thinking about people I haven't kept in touch with and I think all this Virginia stuff has sparked it even more. I wish I was better at keeping up with people after they have moved out of my daily life. I mean it's one thing when aquaitances(sp?) move on and you lose touch, but these two inparticular were very close friends...we would talk and hang out all the time and once they moved we just slowly lost touch. I know kids and life makes things hard, but I just wish I was better at it.
Unfortunately it doesn't only happen with those that move away. I've been saddened for some time now because some friendships that used to be on way simply aren't anymore. I guess the part that really bothers me is that I don't even know why. I try to do little things to keep them alive, but it's just not the same. Now I know that life just changes and people move on--there are some people we have known for years that we lost touch with (even living in the same city and sometimes going to the same church) that we have reconnected with. That is a good thing and I love it. Stuff just goes in circles like that. But this particular friendship puzzles me--things are just different and I don't know why. But just like old friendships seem to fade new ones develop. I enjoy making new friends, but it's hard to let that old 'comfortableness' go.

I know all I can do about anything is pray and tonight is just a time to get stuff out so here it goes: Dear holy God--you are my maker, my strength and my comforter. You are always there and I confess that I probably don't turn to you often enough. Thank you for my blessings--I have so many--my sweet husband and children being at the top of that list. I pray for Jeff as he nears his birthday on Sunday--I hope he realizes how much he is appreciated and loved--Even through our hardships there is no other man in the world I want to share my life with. Good times and bad he is my soul mate and I want to let him know how empty my life would be without him. I pray you help him find peace and contentment--not every little piece of his life might add up to where he wants it to be right now, but you have a plan--help him to be patient and me to be supportive. Lord, help me to be the mother you want me to be to my children--I want to raise them well and most importantly I want to teach them about you. I know I fail on a daily basis to be as patient and in tune with them as I could be. Help me remember to take time to play and enjoy being with them now because they'll be teenagers before I know it. I hear about all the sensless acts of violence in the world and I'm scared--scared for the world they will grow up in--PROTECT MY CHILDREN. I know this is the same prayer of so many parents, but I know you hear it like I am the only one. As they grow I pray your protective arms will cradle them and get them through this crazy life. I want them to be healthy, to serve you (Christian already sings your praises and I don't think I have ever heard anything as sweet) and become good christian adults. I want them to have children that can occassionally drive them crazy, but always give them joy--I selfishly would like Jeff and I to enjoy that too. Please give Jeff and I health and long life to enjoy our children's lives and the lives of their children. God I pray for my family--I am blessed to now have my parents living in the same city--literally down the road. That is AWESOME. I pray that you allow them to enjoy this new home and all the time they will now spend with their grandkids:) Be with my dad (and mom) as he adjusts to his retirement--it can't be easy to switch gears that have been running for 30+ years in the working world. Let him find new things to do and enjoy. There is so much joy to come--my sweet sweet sister is getting married!! Thank you, Lord, for bringing Travis into her life--he is a man after your own heart and we could not ask for more. Bless he and Kim as they begin their life together. Let them always keep you at the center of their realtionship. Give them both a sense of peace as graduation and wedding approach--give them strength and endurance to finish what needs to be finished and a sense of fulfillment of a job well done. Lord protect Travis as he begins his service to our country. I pray your hand will guide every helicopter he flies and mission he takes part in. Keep him safe and return him to Kim every time!! Protect them both wherever their journeys may take them and let them know this home is always open to them upon their return. My children are so blessed to have both sets of their grandparents in their lives--They love all four of them so much. Thank you God for allowing us to have this time with both of our families. Be with Nana and Papa as they serve so many on a daily basis--they bring smiles to so many that may not have gotten one that day. Be with Jeremy as he tries to finish school. Lord be with him as he makes plans for his future--make YOUR plans known to him and let him follow your path.
Friendships are really on my mind lately, God. New, old, those I see every day and those I have lost touch with. Bless my friends and their families. Help us all make time for each other and to be the friends you have called us to be. Allow me to understand that you have plans for everyone of us and we don't always know the hows and the whys.
Lastly, give me rest. I only have an hour or so before people begin to wake in this house. Turn my mind off and bless me with much needed sleep. Give me patience today and let me have fun with my children...Thank you Lord for listening to my heart...Thank you for sending your son...Thank you for being you...I love you Father, AMEN

Why?

I know I'm not the only one asking this question today. Why would someone just wake up one morning and decide "I'm going to school today with a gun and I'm going to kill anyone and everyone I can." Just senseless killing...that's all this seems to be. My heart hurts for all those at Virginia Tech and their families. I've prayed and I know God knows a reason...Why?....Why do innocent people have to die?...Why can't you send your kids to school without worrying about them not coming home?...I just don't know

No favorite friday thing today b/c the people I always get the topics from haven't done it...but I do have a favorite picture to share. Christian and Jeff went to get fitted for their tux this past weekend. Christian was so excited to see 'the special suit' I've been telling him about that he decided to strike a pose:)
Is he not the cutest?!?!?

Easter Sunday pics

The Easter bunny brought Christian an Easter train and Baylor her own phone...they were both very excited. Candy and goldfish were in their eggs too


My boys looked so cute in their (not on purpose) matching sweaters

I'm sorry it has taken me all week to post...we have been a little crazy and went w/o internet for two days so please forgive me:) Here's our cute kids and a few of us too...

WOW

Okay I had written a long description about yesterday and somehow erased it!! The short and sweet version is that yesterday was incredible and if you missed it you really missed some good things. Brandon and the worship chorus led us in some great music on Sunday morning. Two families gave some heart wrenching testimonies that were out of this world. God has been doing some amazing things and you felt that yesterday at Otter Creek.

Last night ROCKED!! We had a worship chorus, band and praise team that just led a powerful time of worshiping our risen Lord. They all worked really hard and it showed (my hubby being one of them). Brandon has such a gift of leading others in worship. Our family is lucky to have his family as friends also. We love the Thomas':) You can check out his blog for some pics and other stuff from the weekend.

GOD IS GOOD and I enjoyed celebrating that this weekend

Coloring Eggs with Nana

Nana came over after the hunt to help Christian dye eggs for the first time!! Not too much of a mess and he had fun. How do you explain the concept of the "Magic Crayon" to a three year old. We had a hard time with it...'draw on the egg even though you can't see it and then you'll see it later in the dye'--he looked at us like we were crazy:)

I'm glad he gets to spend time like this with his grandparents. So many years of memories yet to be made...

More pics

Cole, Caitlyn, Baylor, Ty, Caroline and Grant making a break for it
Kay-Kay, Tex, Nana, Mim, Daddy, Christian and Baylor talking about the hunt
Baylor wasn't up for posing with sweet Carloine Westerman--No more pictures Mommy!!
That cookie sure looks yummy--my little ham:)

Otter Creek Egg Hunt

My little bunnies just before going to church
Ready, set, GO!!!!
Ty, Caroline and Christian
Baylor and Mim
Our little family



We had a very cold egg hunt at Otter Creek this morning. The news said that Christmas was warmer than Easter--what's wrong with that picture!!! Anyway...everyone huddled up against the cold and set out on a hunt for those brightly colored lawn decorations:) Christian was a little slow at first because he was looking for his name like they did at school--I had to convince him he didn't need to and he finally found his twelve. (They were trying to make it more fair this year and you were only suppossed to hunt for the dozen you brought for each child hunting). After the hunt we all ran back inside for a much warmer 'picnic' lunch.

Baylor mainly watched big brother--it was too cold for me to make her go back out there when it was her age groups turn. Next year Baylor, I promise to let you run to your hearts content!! It's more fun than crawling--We need her to walk down the aisle in less than two months so we are trying are hardest to get her to walk...she refuses!!

Favorite Fridays

What's your favorite Easter tradition?

I guess our tradition has been going to Mam-ma's house. We always had an egg hunt. She lives on a farm and there are plenty of places to hide eggs! There were some years (like this one) when it was so cold and we would try to find a lot real fast just to get back inside. We would normally dye eggs too:) I have two younger cousins and then Kim and I--not too many kids, but we always had fun. Now I've got two kids of my own, Kim is getting married and Ryan will be graduating from high school. Mandy (Ryan's sister) is the youngest and she is in middle school. As you can see, the four of us run the gament as far as age.

Now my mom is "grandma" and we will be going to her house for Easter lunch. We have a big egg hunt at our church tomorrow and Nana (Jeff's mom) is coming over afterwards to dye eggs with Christian. It's his first time so we'll see how that goes. Kay-Kay, Tex, Mim and Nana will all be braving the elements with us tomorrow to hunt eggs. At least we moved the lunch portion of the day inside:)



P.S. If you are in the Nashville area and want to do something special Sunday night come to Otter Creek. The songs they are singing are suppossed to be awesome and you'll catch Jeff in the choir:)

My two favorite bunnies...

HAPPY EASTER EVERYONE!!!!

Miss Dele's Easter Party

The whole class just before the hunt

Miss Dele and Christian--can you see the love?
I found one

Christian and Cole Welch
Lunch Time--check out how animated Christian is talking to Marshall

Today was Christian's class Easter party and Egg Hunt. We were at the Pearman's and they have a great fenced in backyard. We were able to let the kids run crazy...in the cold. The Mommies were all cold. Christian's little ears and nose were red by the time it was all over, but of course he wasn't cold!! All the kids had to search for the eggs with their name on them...we looked everywhere for our "CH's" (that's how he finds stuff with his name) and helped some of our friends find theirs too. It was so cute to hear them shout out a name and tell that person to come get their egg. Dele tries to work with their name recognition...which is pretty impressive since 5 out of 9 kids start with the same letter. The kids shared lunch and yummy cupcakes afterwards. The Mommies and Miss Dele had a much warmer lunch inside that was very yummy (Thanks Anna and Jennifer). Our two dads in attendance opted out of our three salads with rolls for a more manly lunch off site--I think they just were scared to be with all us women:) It was nice to hang out and talk because we have a great group of ladies in that class--I've enjoyed getting to know some of them better and I'm sure we will continue over our years at the Creek. A couple of them have younger siblings that will be with Baylor--so it's nice to already know some faces of her future friends.

They love doing things together

Just a couple of shots showing what they love to do...be with each other. The top shot was from the other morning sharing a bannana. We had just watched daddy leave and waved "bye bye" a hundred times so we needed some fuel.

The bottom shot was tonight while I was making dinner. I've been trying to let Baylor watch some of 'her movies' (baby einstein stuff) because Christian is normally always watching 'his stuff'. They both cozied up in their chairs and I had to capture it. They really do love being together:)