Mommy, why are we at the zoo, not the firestation?

Make a Smilebox photobook

Today we woke up excited about our field trip on fire safety at the Hoover fire station. We all got up, dressed and ready to go to learn about firemen. We got there 20 minutes early (NOT SURE HOW THAT HAPPENED). We sat in the car awaiting the others in our homeschool group to arrive. Around 5 til 10am, Mommy realized that no one else had shown up yet. So, I called Daddy and had him look it up on the calender. Sure enough we were 1 WEEK AND 20 MINUTES EARLY!!(Someone needs to remember that once in my life I was early, really early!) Imagine that. Im unsure why I had it in my brain that today was fire safety day. Who knows how a Mommy's brain works at all anyway?
So, we decided to head to the zoo. It was a beautiful day. We were out, dressed and ready to not do sit down school anyhow. This was the day the Lord had made!
It was perfect zoo weather. There was NO ONE at the zoo. The animals were craving attention and showed off for us all! We had an incredible time. Probably one of the best we've ever had! The tiger tried to kiss us through the glass. The sleeping zebra's made a mad dash away when we accidentally made a little noise. We saw a llama spit at a little boy who was petting him. We saw a pile of monkey's sleeping on top of each other. We got up close and personal with a peacock, that we later learned was named Sam. We had a private train ride where we saw a 19 year old Crane that we learned was from Japan. We also honked at the gorilla and woke him up from his slumber. We saw woodpeckers and tree's with faces! It was a glorious day to bask in the glory of God's creation. Thank you Lord for sending us to the zoo today and showing us how wonderful and awesome you are!

Here is the video of the tiger, up close and personal!

Bed Time Shenanigans

The other night as I was lying down with Chesney in her bed for bedtime, she decided to get up and play. She went to the foot of the bed and got the these four items. A baby doll, a Dora the explorer doll and a purple stuffed monkey. She also retrieved a small pink doll blanket. She laid them all down on a pillow beside me and covered them with the blanket. I asked "are you their Mommy like Mommy is to you, Cade and Britton". She replied "Yes the baby doll is Cade, the Dora doll is me and the purple monkey is Britton". At which I laughed at the thought of the monkey being Britton, which in turn caused her to start giggling, which created a vicious cycle of her saying that the monkey is Britton and making me laugh even harder each time. Needless to say it took a little longer to get to sleep that night with all the shenanigans going on at bedtime. I love your sense of humor Chesney! Just don't tell Britton I thought it was funny that he was the monkey. Love, Daddy

A tribute to Gram

I've been thinking alot about Mom lately. I just thought maybe I should begin to blog about her, Gram, and about Daddy's Mom, Meemaw. I know none of you ever really new either one of these very special women, but I desire you to hear Mommy and Daddy talk about them so much that you feel as if you knew them. So, today I wanted to tell you a little about Gram. She is Mommy's Mommy. She raised Mommy as a single Mom. She was a very hard worker and loved children. When I was growing up it was just me and Mom. We loved to shop together. We talked on the phone about 50 times a day. She was one of those women that was wonderful at everything she did. She loved to cook. She was an excellent cook. My favorite things that she made me growing up were home made macaroni and cheese, cornbeef and cabbage, banana pudding, and ginger tea cakes. She wanted me to love to cook so bad, but I didn't. She begged me to cook with her all of my life, but I wouldn't. Once I married Daddy and moved off to North Carolina I was regretting that I had not cooked with her all of those times she wanted me to. But, I began cooking and she began teaching me. I must have called her 1000 times in my first year of marriage to ask her how to make this, or how to make that. Thankfully, I learned a few good tricks from her before she passed away. One of the other things that she loved to do is sew. She used to sew as a teenager. She made all kind of clothes for herself and for me when I was a child. When she died I very much regretted that I had not learned to sew from her. So, I decided to learn to cook better and learn to sew. I was so intimidated by sewing. Im not sure why, it just made me all scared. One day Mrs. Melinda told me she was going to our friends house to learn how to make a pillow case dress. She begged me to come. Although I had this new goal to learn how to sew. I went kicking and screaming, as I normally do when Im learning or doing something new. I went to Leigh's house with a pillow case in hand and left 2 hrs. later with a dress for Chesney. I was so proud. I couldn't believe that I had sewn a dress in 2 hrs. It was such a HUGE accomplishment to me. That was 2 years ago. Now, Mrs. Melinda is teaching me how to smock a dress. When I sew it makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside. I know Gram would be so proud of me making clothing for my kids. So, here is a picture of my latest creations for Chesney, a tribute to Gram:


Soon I will write to you about Meemaw. I hope to post good memories of both of these special women, so you will grow up knowing how wonderful they were.
Love, Mommy

Special Cade moments

Cade you are 14 months old now. You are really beginning to show us your little personality. You love your brother and sister. You love them chasing you around the house. You still love throwing balls. This week you discovered how to put a cap on a pen. You spent a good 30 minutes putting the cap on and off of a pen. You just giggled every time you did it successfully. Then you discovered the pen cap could also go on the end of the pen. Here is a picture of the object that captured your attention for such a long time:





You have decided to be a part of the Best chore crew. You love sweeping. Any broom, any size will do. This activity will also keep you entertained for a good half hour.




Mommy and Daddy pulled out the old Thomas the train collection. This collection is a keepsake that will be passed down in our family. My Mom, Gram, bought these trains for her nephews. One by one, track by track she saved and purchased this set for Devon, Hunter and Justin. They are a good bit older than you. When you were almost 3 she collected them all and brought them over to our home for Britton. This was just a couple of weeks before she left us to be with Jesus. Britton played and played, and played with these trains and tracks for years. Tonight, Mommy built you a track. You immediately began pushing the train cars around on the track. You loved making the train go under the bridge or down the hills. You would just sit and push one train back and forth under the bridge over and over again. Then you would just giggle and do it all over again. It is so fun to watch you learn and explore. You are such a precious, sweet child. We are so thankful the Lord blessed us with you my son. I love you! Mommy

Im off to save the day Mom!!

Some thoughts from Chesney today:

Mom! Mom! I need that fly swatter thingy! Mommy say's, "Why do you need this Chesney?" She says, " Um, because there are some ants outside Mom, and I need to get them!" I reply, "Oh, okay, go get those ants Chesney." She then replies, " Mom Im off to save the day!" She runs off with Britton's big baseball helmet and a pink fly swatter in hand. What precious days!!! Go save the day my sweet daughter. We all need to be saved from those retched ants!

Our little time manager

Britton, you love to plan, know the plan, remind us of the plan etc....
Starting in Janurary, Mommy began reorganizing the school schedule, our family meals, snacks, budget, everything. I guess because all of my life I've heard that, " they say you should organize in January." (hehe) Today, we started a new fresh very structured school schedule. Lots of new charts. Britton you love going to the meal chart to see what we will be having for lunch, dinner and snack times. You even told me today that we should make a chart for what show we should get to watch each day! You love to rise early and you start chatting the moment you wake up. Talk, talk, talk, talk and talk. If you were in school, I'd praobably be getting lots of letters from your teacher about you talking too much! The Lord knows Im not a morning person and he gave me you. I beleive this is His way of making me a better person. I love you my son!!!
Mommy :)

The Favorite Spot

So, the Lord has blessed us with this new very spacious home, and this is where the three of you reside most of the day. Under the desk in the kitchen. This space is
all of about, 5 square feet. The perfect place for a special fort for three!

They say....

You know growing up I often heard the phrase: "You know they say that _____"! Who is "they" anyway? However, Mommy is proud to announce that, " They say if you can get your children to love reading then they'll really be smart." (or something of that nature) I'm unsure about what "they say", but I say, I couldn't be more proud! Today during nap time I tip-toed up the stairs to sneak a peak at you guys. And a tear of joy rolled down my face as I saw both Britton and Chesney really reading and loving it!! I thought to myself, we did it!! Our kids are learning to LOVE reading. Thank you Lord!! Praying, praying, praying and reading,reading, reading, and then reading some more really works!

A conversation with Chesney

Mommy say's, " Chesney why did you come to our room in the middle of the night?" Chesney replies, " Well Mom, I was thinking... in my head.... about ...Chicken little. You know... that movie kind of scares me, a little. And.... I couldn't member... while I was in bed thinking about it in my head (she points to her head)... that chicken little was just a story and not real. So,... I was scared... and so I needed to come sleep with you."

I love you my dear daughter. 3 going on 20 to quick for Mommy!!!