To the mountains we go...

David and I were hoping for a getaway for just a day or two and decided on TN. We found a great log cabin with a game room, two master bedrooms, jacuzzi tubs, a hot tub outside and all in a great location in the mountains. The Townsends were in, babies had sitters, and we were packed! We really had a great time. We took our time getting there with a nice dinner and ice cream on the way. We had a delicious breakfast made by Brad the next morning, watched movies, ate yummy snacks, and just enjoyed our time. We took pictures of course and made the guys take one together. They were so happy to do it and posed so nice. haha!

Brooke turns 5 at Sweet and Sassy!

This was our first experience at Sweet and Sassy. What a fun birthday party to be a part of! Emily Caroline's friend, Brooke Bullock, turned five this week! She had a dazzling party with dress up, make up, nails, and more! Emily Caroline loved it. She acted so shy coming out in her dress. She looked so beautiful and really had a great time.

Snow day!

We have been quite blessed to have snow almost every year since we have been back in AL. Some way each year we get to at least have a little. Today was one of those days. EC and Parker get so excited about it until they have to actually go out in it and then it's a different story. This time it wasn't too bad or too cold so they lasted for a little while. They liked riding their F150 around the driveway, but then the wind sent us inside. Hali sure loved it! She ate it, ran in it, etc. What a fun day!

Parker vacuuming

Parker loves to "help" vacuum. Sometimes he will go get his play vacuum when we are vacuuming and walks beside or behind us to do what we do. He loves his AL football outfit. Today he was sporting his gear while vacuuming. He is just a sweetheart!

An awesome message

I have truly felt a thirst for the word in the last few months. It gets so busy around Christmas and it's so easy to lose perspective and get caught up in everday life. We have recently changed churches and are thrilled at what we've experienced at our new church. This past Sunday, the pastor gave such an incredible message. He described something that I thought I would try to say again. He explained that if you took a large empty pickle jar and filled it with large rocks the size of your fist there would still be space in the jar. You could then take gravel and fill in those spots around the larger rocks, but it still wouldn't be full. Next, you could take sand and shake the jar and make it fill up the spaces left, but even then it wouldn't be full. In the end you could take water, and slowly it would fill up the jar in every crevase and space. The jar is now full.

If you tried to do this process of filling up the jar in any other order you would not be able to put it all in the jar. For example, if you did the sand or the water first, it wouldn't work. There is a certain order that makes it all fit. It gives you a perspective on priorities. Life is filled with things we must do....things that are important to us and to the ones we love.

"Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom." Psalm 90:12

There is a certain way we should spend our days. "Your success is found in your daily agenda. Don't do it ALL day, just do it every day." What a great way to think about this new year. Our pastor challenged everyone to a higher level of wisdom and growth this year. We are to think of five things to do everyday. Things that bring us joy, but things that are vital to our life and daily walk with God.

Being a Christian isn't about religion. It is about a relationship and as soon as everyone realizes this and takes part, their lives will change. It won't be about a "resolution" for the new year. It will be about joy and a life changed. Only God can make you a new person. We can try to do it alone, but we will never find that true joy that only God can give. "I came so you can have real and eternal life, a better life than you ever dreamed of." John 10:10 Message

God's power is so much bigger than we can even imagine or try to explain. "I pray that you'll begin to understand how incredibly great His power is to help those who believe Him. It's the same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead." Ephesians 1:19-20 LB

This isn't my message. It's really just a repeat of what I heard yesterday. I want so much to be the woman God created me to be...to turn over a new life...to walk in the good way and find rest in my soul. Jeremiah 6:16

Happy New Year

It has been such an amazing year. I can hardly believe how fast time is going by. We had such a busy spring and summer. I hope to one day sit down and be able to post about each month at least with pictures. But until then, I'll post a few pics from the last few weeks. Our Christmas was special and went by way too fast as usual. We really enjoyed spending time with our family. We are really excited about the upcoming game this week as well! Roll Tide!

Beach Trips 2007-Present

2009 2007

2008

2009

It is amazing how quickly time passes by. You know it, but sometimes a picture can truly make you see it. In 2007, Parker was about 8 weeks old and EC was 2 when we went to Seacrest beach with Nana, Papa, Uncle J, Aunt BB, Aunt Sue, and of course the dog, Catie. Leslie was there too for a few days. In 2008, PT was 1 and EC was 3. Mama Jayne joined us and we stayed in a house named "Chocolate Sundae" in Seacrest Beach Resort again. In 2009, I along with three other families and 8 children under age 5 went and stayed in Panama City Beach at a house directly on the beach. What an incredibly busy, but fun time! I knew we probably weren't going back to Seacrest this year so I had to take a minute to get a picture in this same spot in Rosemary Beach on the "green" as they call it. We took the kids to ride their bikes and play on the "green". There wasn't much time to get photos. The kids were not into photography. They wanted to PLAY of course!

Behind

I am extremely behind on blogging. I've been so busy lately. My babies are growing up WAY TOO FAST! Everyone around me is busy as well. I don't get to see my parents or siblings enough. They are too busy! Why does everyone stay too busy to be with family? I don't know either, but I miss mine. My siblings, parents, and David's family too! Enough complaining! I should be adding posts to update everyone on our busyness, but it's late and my clean, soft sheets are calling my name. Night, night....

Being a mommy

I absolutely ADORE being a mommy. It's never even Mother's Day when you realize it. I wish there was a way to know how much your parents love you before you are a parent. It really isn't possible, but it is something I tell younger people often. I love my children so much and they are only little for so long. It saddens me a lot lately how quickly they are growing up. It's funny because David and I often have the "baby #3" conversation. We love our life and our two so far and everything seems to fit so perfectly, but then I get that little itch and wonder if and when it will go away for good. God only knows that I suppose.
Anyway, I recently heard the song "It Won't Be Like This for Long" by Darius Rucker (the past lead singer from Hootie and the Blowfish). The lyrics are so true, and of course tears poured down my cheeks as I listened. My babies are so precious. I can get so caught up in where we live, what they need, etc. and it is crazy! It makes me crazy! pause.....
I had to pause to watch my little ones perform. Emily Caroline has taught Parker the end of her tap dance from her recital. Hilarious! Here is the link from their practice at dance. He's not on there, but it shows what I am talking about. He does the end when they say, "You gotta problem with that?" and then they fold their arms. http://www.youtube.com/watchv=Y3mJfUnLOp4 Too funny!
He loves watching her. She is fascinated by the fact that she just taught him something. Little does she know she teaches him things everyday!

Here are some pics on Mother's Day this year. Not sure what I was thinking to plan to be at church by 8am in Vestavia, have lunch with my mom at Cracker Barrel, dinner with David's mom at our house, and have the house perfect for us to have pictures taken of the house at 8am Monday morning for the house to go on the market. We did it and it was a special day.

Thomas the Train Petting zoo and trains

Parker LOVES the train table. I would love to get him one for the house someday with a wooden train for it. Mama Jayne has one that David played with at her house and he sits for hours playing with it.

This train station also had a petting zoo. There was a beautiful calf and enormous pig. I felt like there should be a spider web above it that said "Some Pig." She had a buttermilk bath that morning I am for sure! The kids enjoyed feeding the animals. It is funny looking back at these pictures as I see a "boy way" and a "girl way" of feeding. Think she takes after her mommy?????

Thomas the Train

We love going to see Thomas the train. We don't actually ride Thomas because it costs about $18 and you go forward and then backward and then it's over. We ride the little train which is just as good for my two! The weather was a bit chilly, but that didn't stop our playgroup from enjoying the fun of the big slide, train ride, tatoos, balloon figures, and petting zoo!

I wish I had the after picture of EC when she dropped her shoe off of the train. It fell off and we got a second ride to go retrieve it (shhhh, our playgroup stayed on as well). She was so upset, but we found it and all was okay!

Boys and their fun

At this age for boys the theme seems to be balls , cars/trucks, and of course just playing outside to find a new adventure. Parker LOVES to play with balls and being outside is where he wants to be. This tire swing was fun for he and his buddy, Carter, at Halle's birthday party on this gorgeous Saturday. Of course, Jamie and I dream of them growing up to be best friends and roommates in college. I suppose we'll accept just being buddies and playing together right now.

Playground fun at Halle's 2nd birthday party

I am LOVING park birthday parties. The kids love it and if the weather is nice you can hardly beat it. This was a new park for us in Cahaba Heights. My sweet little EC enjoyed smiling for a picture while she was swinging on the monkey bars. Halle was in her basket of goodies taking a quick pose for me. And of course, sliding is always a favorite at the park.

Dalton's Birthday Party

Dalton was getting some coaching from daddy before each hit like he was already a major leaguer! You can tell Whit was having fun with his mommy in the jumpy thing. Also, trying to get the kids to sit still to take a group shot after they played for over an hour jumping and running around was quite interesting. Dalton and Emily Caroline weren't too interested in the group pic as much as they were into playing together.

Playing with Daddies at Jump Zone for Dalton's birthday party

There is nothing like sliding down an ENORMOUS slide with yo' daddy! We had a blast as always at Dalton's third birthday party at Jump Zone. I think the dads had just as much fun sliding as the kids. You can see Carter, Parker T, and Polly Kate with their dads. Parker loved the little slides they have too! So much fun!