Family...

We went to Louisiana a few weekends ago for Alex's 4th birthday. After the pool party, Seth had a cookout for us...crawfish and the works! I'll post those photos a little later. I've got a picture of the crawfish that will make you drool! They were so good...Pictured above: Alex wrapped in his towel, Alex and Elizabeth, my sister and Seth, and Elizabeth, my niece

Here It Comes Again...

Here comes the ice cream truck playing THAT SONG again! Do your ears hang lo, do they wobble to and fro, can you tie 'em in a knot, can you tie 'em in a bow?... What is the name of that song? Please leave a comment and tell me if you know! I've been singing those lyrics for days now...just that one, lonely little verse...now you'll be singing it too...

I've Been Tagged...

Tagged by Emily Tate! Okay, here goes:

Maybe I should - clean my house, or maybe not...get a mohawk (says Shelby)...

I love the smell of - coffee, magnolias, anything spice-y that reminds me of the holidays...

People would say that I- am nosey, although I prefer to say that I'm curious!

I don’t understand why -old fat men wear Speedos on the beach...every time we go to the beach I see at least one old, wrinkly, fat man in a Speedo...it's like driving by a car crash...I can't help but stare...

When I wake up in the morning - I take my TriVita B-12 first thing!

I lost my willpower to - train for a half-marathon...

Life is - a gift...don't waste it on addictions, worries, or wanting to have it all...all of our material possessions and everything of this world will pass away...

My past made me - who I am today, the good and the bad...

I get annoyed when - adults have too much DRAMA going on and feel the need to share it with everyone...

Parties are not a good time to - get caught in a conversation with that one person who wants to tell you their life story...

Dogs are - an essential part of childhood. I remember certain moments in life by the dogs we had at the time...it all started with my dog Boo-Boo...

Cats are - worthless...

Tomorrow is - wide open...it's never too late to be what you might have been!

I have low tolerance for - bratty kids, people who cut me off in traffic, people who have a back car window full of stuffed animals, people who talk too loudly on cell phones while in a waiting room or restaurant when the conversation is pointless... Maybe I should stop there...

I’m totally terrified of - tornadoes, my children drowning even though they both can swim...

I wonder why I thought my life would be -normal... I don't think there is such a thing...what defines normal?

I always knew I would - have girls, still be clumsy and quirky...

Never in my life have I - funneled beer or gotten a tattoo...WHAT?! It's the first thing that came to mind, and it's the truth!

High school was - fun, but I'm glad it's over!

When I’m nervous- I do things way too fast...I have to tell myself to breathe and slow down!

One time at a family gathering - on Christmas Eve at my grandmother's house, her cousin stopped by for the usual holiday visit. He was feeling very reminiscent (had a little too much holiday cheer, if you know what I mean...if you don't know, that means he was drunk)...anyway, he was telling a story about the good ole days, cigarette in hand, while eating pieces of turkey off a tray. As he was telling the story, the ash on the cigarette grew longer and longer. As a bored twelve year old, this was amusing to me. No one else seemed to notice. Then, the tower of ash fell below onto the tray of turkey. He never looked at the turkey, only reaching over to fold a piece and bring it to his mouth. He never knew the long roll of ash was hidden in the piece of turkey he was eating. I watched in amusement as he ate the whole piece, ash and all. I still laugh when I think about it all these years later...

Take my advice - 1.) Take lots of photos of your kiddos while they are young and cute...before teeth start to fall out and they hit that awkward growth spurt...2.) Enjoy where you are in life...it goes by too fast to say, "I'll be happy when...".

Making my bed-is laughable...

I'm almost always - singing a song in my head, talking to myself (internal conversation) or talking to my Heavenly Father...

I’m addicted to - cracked pepper and olive oil Triscuits washed down with a Diet Coke (at first, you thought it said crack, didn't you?), my camera, my MacBook Pro, reading something, even if it's the back of the shampoo bottle...

I want someone to -take a road trip with...a girls only trip with no kids...

My Little Green Friends...

Ever had a surprise like this when you're watering plants? They love my urns...maybe because they're the same color as the creeping jenny!

My Other Kids...

Prissy and Jiggy...I don't think they know they're dogs...

"I Told You So!"...

Have you read the story of the ice cream truck? I posted the pictures, and in the rush of the last few weeks of school, never finished the post. I declare it finished! We are out of school, so I'll be posting more often! Read it below the ice cream photos...it is funny...

my beautiful girl...

"I Told You So!"...

Okay, funny story...I really think it's one of those "you-had-to-be-there" funny stories, but, nonetheless, I'll share it!
Alex was at our house a few weeks ago on a Sunday afternoon. He was on the back porch with the girls when, all of a sudden, he comes running thru the house screaming, "The ice cream truck! The ice cream truck is coming! I hear it! I hear it!"
Poor little man, he thought he heard an ice cream truck...little did he know that in the five years we've lived in this house, I've never seen an ice cream truck come down the street. I tried to break it to him as gently as possible, not wanting to crush his little spirit. After all, I'm the adult, and I know everything, right? How is it that in adulthood we sometimes lose that child-like sense of wonder? You hear music playing? It MUST be the ice cream truck!
Okay, back to the story...as I try to explain to him that there is no way possible it was the ice cream truck, he is assuring me that it is in fact, the ice cream truck. He was so certain, it broke my heart! He ran to the front porch and planted himself on the front steps, declaring that he would sit right there until the truck came by. I told Jordan and Shelby to stay on the steps with him, knowing that eventually, he would lose faith and come inside.
Then I heard it...music...that song...what is it? As the girls fling the front doors open, Alex is excitedly yelling, "I told you so! I TOLD you so!" David and I run to the front door. I look at him and say, "I think I heard it, too...could it really be...?" I look out and see Jordan and Shelby trying to hang on to Alex...it was like watching two girls trying to catch a greased pig! He was determined to break free and run for it! I rush over, pick him up, and we run across the street to the park. All the while, he's saying, "I told you so! OOOH! Get out of the street! He's gonna run over us, Ne-Ne!" I'm laughing so hard, tears are streaming down my face. Barefoot, still in my church clothes, and with Alex on my hip, I'm running toward the truck to flag him down. I point to our street and motion for him to come our way. I look around for David, realizing we're chasing the ice cream truck and have no money! He's one step ahead of me and runs toward the sidewalk, cash in hand.
As the ice cream truck turned down our street, we all stood on the sidewalk, cheering and waving. It must have looked like a parade. As the music played, one by one, each child went to the window to buy ice cream. With camera in hand, laughing and crying, I sat on the grass and watched as Alex smiled the smile of knowing for sure that he heard the ice cream truck...he told us so!

Remember that cute little banner Jordan and Shelby made me for Mother's Day? Well, this is what happened after the banner was finished...a paint fight...





If you look closely, you can see the black paint up Jordan's nose...
David's solution...hose 'em down!

Best Fruit Salad Ever...

Ingredients
2 and 1/2 pounds seedless grapes
8 ounces sour cream
8 ounces cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup granulated sugar


TOPPING INGREDIENTS
1 cup brown sugar, packed, to taste
1 cup crushed pecan, to taste

Directions:
Wash and stem grapes.
Set aside.
Mix sour cream, cream cheese, and white sugar by hand until blended.
Stir grapes into mixture, and pour in large serving bowl.
For topping: Combine brown sugar, and crushed pecans.
Sprinkle over top of grapes to cover completely.
Chill overnight.

If you're having a Mother's Day lunch, this is yummy! It has fruit, so...that makes it healthy, right?

Mo-Mo's Day...

I love my girls...I guess we're going to celebrate Mother's Day all weekend long...if so, that's just fine by me! Shelby made an amazing flower card...it touched my heart...she asked me why I didn't cry tears of joy, so I told her I almost did! She replied, "Well, I want you to!" She's so funny. Did you read the last part? I'm a gift from God? Sometimes I feel so unworthy, inadequate as a mother...then, I remember that every day is a new day! If I screw up, my children forgive me. God does, too. I love the fact that I'm clever, provide marvelous clothes, and a splendid home. Most importantly, she knows that I care and I'm there for her when she's scared. I am humbled that she says I'm a gift from God. It does make me want to cry tears of joy, and thank God for His goodness. Silly girl, she closed the letter with, "You(r) #1 daughter, Shelby"...Jordan made the cutest banner and hung it on the back fence. Happy "Mo-Mo's" Day...she always calls me Mo-Mo...I love it! By the way, later on, I did cry. It was mixed emotions of, "Father, I AM so unworthy, and so humbled that you love me, and that you have blessed me beyond measure. My children are blessings from God above and I thank Him everyday. Jordan and Shelby, you Are so amazing! Okay, I've got to go and pull myself together now!

Amazing...

Jenny made a heart-touching Mother's Day cd with the kids at school this week...it was a cd of each child reading his or her own hand-written letter of "I Love My Mom Because...". The background music was this song...Amazing, by Janelle. As the music plays and the children read a letter of love, a slideshow of beautifully colored pictures of mom and child play. What an amazingly appropriate song for Mother's Day! Read the lyrics, listen to the song on the media player over to the right. This part, You came from Heaven shining
Breath of God still fresh on you, will make you cry thinking about the birth of your own child!

The morning cold and raining
Dark before the dawn could come
How long in twilight waiting
Longing for the rising sun
Oh, Oh
You came like crashing thunder
Breaking through these walls of stone
You came with wide eyed wonder
Into all this great unknown
Hush now don’t you be afraid
I promise you I’ll always stay
I’ll never be that far away
I’m right here with you

You’re so amazing
You shine like the stars
You’re so amazing
The beauty you are
You came blazing
Right into my heart
You’re so amazing
You are, You are

You came from Heaven shining
Breath of God still fresh on you
The beating heart inside me
Crumbled at this one so new
Oh, Oh
No matter where, how far you wander
For a thousand years or longer
I will always be there for you
Right here with you
I hope your tears are few and fast
I hope your dreams come true at last
I hope you find love that goes on and on and on and on and on
I hope you wish on every star
I hope you never fall too far
I hope this world can see how wonderful you are

Amazing, Janelle

Every Man...

I'm the man with all I've ever wanted
All the toys and playing games
I am the one who pours your coffee, corner booth each Saturday
I am your daughter's favorite teacher
I am the leader of the band
I sit behind you in the bleachers
I am every man

I'm the coach of every winning team and still a loser in my mind
I am the soldier in the airport facing giants one more time
I am the woman shamed and haunted by the cry of unborn life
I'm every broken man, nervous child, lonely wife

Is there hope for every man
A solid place where we can stand
In this dry and weary land
Is there hope for every man
Is there love that never dies
Is there peace in troubled times
Someone help me understand
Is there hope for every man

Seems there's just so many roads to travel, it's hard to tell where they will lead
My life is scarred and my dreams unraveled
Now I'm scared to take the leap
If I could find someone to follow who knows my pain and feels the weight
The uncertainty of my tomorrow, the guilt and pain of yesterday

There is hope for every man
A solid place where we can stand
In this dry and weary land
There is hope for every man
There is Love that never dies
There is peace in troubled times
Will we help them understand?
Jesus is hope for every man

-Every Man, Casting Crowns