Thomas

Our little town doesn't have much, but once a year we get on the map with a two week visit from Thomas the Tank Engine. The museum really is great and they have several fun outings throughout the year. However, Thomas and Sir Topham really know how to bring in the crowds.

One fun part is that the train tracks run through our neighborhood {but not close to our house!} by the pool, so every year we go down there and wave to Thomas and his passengers... multiple times. Steven took Elle and Grady for a ride last Friday. Mom, Reese and I went down to the pool so we could wave to them as they passed. For some reason, he felt the need to hold them up by their waists to get a picture.

Then, we met them at the museum to play with trains, get tattoos, dance to some live music, jump in an inflatable bouncer, browse the merchandise and take pictures without paying for the professional ones. Because I'm sure this dad (in the lower left corner) is regretting paying for this picture.

As always, Reese was just along for the ride. And happy to be there.

Still Catching Up

I didn't even know Elle could swing all by herself until last weekend. Dad and Sandi have just the right size swing set for solo swinging. She spent a lot of time out there swinging, and swinging, and swinging.

She got a new bicycle. She picked the one with the most shiny, sparkly decor and accessories. I'll admit, it's hard to resist streamers from the handle bars.

Grady has developed a new obsession. And I mean OBSESSION. He got the movie for Easter and has asked every day since, at least 45 times a day, to watch it. Specifically "tractor tipping". He and Elle think it is hilarious. They have so much fun playing "Cars" together. It's fun to see him so excited about something not involving a dress, tiara or tutu.

And this is all Reese wants to do.

Because those teeth still have not come through. But you can see white just beneath his gums. He is also standing without holding on to anything and has attempted a step or two!

We had a really wonderful weekend and enjoyed the beautiful weather. Steven and I went out to dinner with friends Friday night {and laughed really hard and had really great conversation} while the kids enjoyed a night in with my Mom. We did some much needed yard work Saturday afternoon and spent a good portion of today at Oak Mountain eating, playing, singing, hanging out and just being outside. Elle and Grady even rode a horse for the first time! We had the camera and Steven started trying to snap pictures. He couldn't get it to work and then we realized the memory card was not in there?! Oh well... we'll be better prepared next time. Hope everyone had a great weekend!

Catch Up

We have had a way more busier than usual week but it's been lots of fun too. It started last Thursday with dental check-ups for Elle and Grady. It was Grady's first time and he did great! Of course, he and Elle went back there together so I'm sure big sister helped ease any fears he might have had. I'm a little more concerned about his teeth from his thumb-sucking, but the dentist assured me I didn't have anything to worry about... yet. They take a picture of the patient at the first visit. He looks a little crazed. Maybe it was the flavored toothpaste. He also wore his dress-up policeman jacket to the check-up.

That afternoon, we drove to Dothan to spend an extended Easter weekend with family and friends. We stopped on the way for a quick visit on the patio with my Grandmother. And the kids cleaned up all the pollen on the patio with their clothes, hands and feet.

It always seems like there is never enough time in the short visits to see all the people and do all the things we want to do. We did manage to have some great time with friends without kids as well as lots of time for the kids to play with friends' children, and their cousins. I have no pictures to document, but it was the first time all four kids (my brother, me and my two step-brothers), our spouses, and all eight grandchildren have been together. After church Sunday morning, everybody came over to Dad and Sandi's for lunch, egg hunting, and candy eating. I didn't get a single picture of our immediate family together either. This was the best I could do.

We came home Sunday night and my mom got in around midnight. She's been here for the week (her Spring Break) and we've had a week consisting of doctor's appointments, eye doctor appointments, McWane Center, and we are going to see Thomas the Train in less than two hours! I also had some kind of "death" virus on Tuesday and was literally unable to get out of the bed all day. There were a few rounds of vomiting involved. Thankfully, since mom was here, the kids were taken care of and Steven came home for lunch and a little earlier than usual at the end of the day. That's all I have for now. Much more to write about and more pictures to share...

Pieces

For the third in line, he sure gets a lot of love and attention. But he definitely doesn't get the face time on blog posts like the other two got. This is Reese's {two week late} 9 month post. He had a check up last Wednesday. Unfortunately, some vaccines were recalled and the office did not have the ones he needed so we had to go back today just for shots. Nice.

He is growing wonderfully well. He was 20 pounds, 3 ounces and 28 1/2 inches long. His eye is still constantly teary, goopy, and gunky which means we will more than likely be having surgery to open up the blocked duct sometime in June. I was telling a friend of mine today that I've just kind of assumed all along that we'd have to do this. I haven't even really prayed and asked God to heal him. After realizing that, I decided that I will pray. And ask God to heal him. Because He can do that if He wants to. And I'm going to pray, believing that He can... if He wants to.

Reese has mastered crawling. He can pull up on anything and is attempting to stand without holding on to anything. We have to be diligent about closing the door to the playroom upstairs because as soon as he hears the door open, he makes a mad dash to the stairs. Both Elle and Grady do a great job of trying to keep him safe:). He, like his brother, would much rather have your food than baby food. He seems to like most things, although I don't think I have offered him quite the variety the others got. Elle and Grady were drinking at least one "bottle" of formula from a cup by now. Reese, not so much. We're just in the chew-on-it-and-throw-it-on-the-floor stage now. He is trying to wave and sometimes it sounds like he's saying, "Haaay DaDa". He has two bottom teeth and the top four are still on the horizon. It won't be much longer now. Maybe.

He is such a happy baby. He makes me smile. I love to hold him up in the air and watch him kick both legs straight out over and over. I even love wiping his eye with a warm washcloth 5 times a day. He doesn't like it. He made our family complete. Little Reeses pieces.

Something's got to be done about that hair. It's a mix between the joker and Johnny Depp's Madhatter?! Nice ear wings Reese.

The Same Team

Yesterday, Grady and I were in the backyard, having a little mid-morning snack, enjoying the sunshine, and having a deep discussion about the meaning of Easter:

Me: Yes, we do have eggs at Easter, but it's really a celebration of Jesus' death for our sins and that he didn't stay dead but came back to life! And He's alive now!

Grady: No!

Me: Yes, He did. And it's great that He did, because it means that if we believe He died for us, we get to live with Him in heaven.

Grady: No! I not go to heaven.

Me, trying very hard not to laugh: You don't want to be in heaven with me and Daddy?

Grady, standing by the fence with his best pouty face: No!

Today, in continuing our great understanding of the gospel, I was reading an Easter book to Elle and Grady.

Grady: Turn back to the soldiers! {After his request is met, he hurries to put on his knight armor to be a soldier.}

Grady, with sword pointing at my face: I going to fight heaven!

Me: I'm not really sure you want to try and fight heaven.

Grady: I going to fight Jesus!

Me: I really don't think you need to fight Jesus. We want to be on the same team as Jesus.

Needless to say, I think I have a long way to go in my sweet little 2 year old soldier's understanding of the gospel. But I guess sometimes, in some ways, we adults are still trying to "fight" Jesus instead of being on His same team.

Sunday Night Dinner

One of the many great things about Sundays is Steven is usually the one in the kitchen {at least for dinner!}. He likes to cook and experiment but doesn't have a lot of opportunity because of working later nights. He makes up for it on Sundays. Yesterday was no exception. We planned to have chicken salad croissant sandwiches and sweet potato fries. But he gets in there and the food processor comes out and the majority of the pantry items and a whole plethora of spices and the experimenting starts. He got crazy and decided to whip up a little dessert last night too.

"Is this cool whip for something?" he calls, as he digs in the freezer. Then I see him chopping up oranges next to some really old sugar cones on the counter. There is also jello involved.

"What exactly are you making?"
"You know, you have this all the time. The stuff with jello and marshmallows {which are NOT a present item} and fruit."

The kids patiently waited while the "common" dessert chilled in the freezer.

We try to teach the kids to be thankful for whatever food they have and to say nice things and not complain. Elle says, "Well, I like the cone." I tried to hold myself together until I saw Steven laughing too.

Then they tried to feed it to the baby to see if he'd eat it.

He wasn't quite as disappointed.

I will say the dinner was great. Dessert, not so much. But, I am thankful no matter what it is when I get a break from the thinking, planning, cooking and cleaning!

Who's Your Paddy?

Grady, 7 months, March 2008

Reese, 9 months, March 2010