Happy New Year

For Christmas this year Brandon and I wanted a nice camera so we could capture the boys in action...we are still playing with it but here's some pictures. Parkes has a strange obsession with coconuts so Santa brought one in his stocking which we took to Happy's house for him to open (years in Aruba has made him an expert). Parkes did not like it though so maybe he'll stop calling people coconuts in the grocery store and I can stop explaining to them why.Brandon hard at work...he's just start another gut and rebuild. And exciting news this Christmas is Brian got engaged to Amy. We are so excited for them and their happiness just shines through them.

Christmas and Birthday

We had an absolutely wonderful Christmas this year. We were really restored in the goodness of people this year and the power of God's love and how He always provides even when we can't see how. We keep Christmas simple this year which was pretty easy since Parkes asked for wood for Chirstmas to make a treehouse. So Santa ended up bringing wood and a field goal for the boys and the neighbors and construction started on the treehouse yesterday. Parkes gave Brandon an Alabama blanket we made. Parkes' favorite gift this year was a stack of brown paper bags (he asks for one evertime we are in Publix so Santa felt it would make a good gift). He's other favorite was his Beginner Bible from my parents...he ran around screaming and jumping after he opened it. Cash's favorite was his crackers...he loves his food. This picture showed up twice and I couldn't get it to delete so you can see his favorite gift again.We made tutus for their cousins, but Cash would of keep one if he could. He would yell "I wear, I wear" everytime he saw it. He loves to say "Cheese!" My brothers and sister with the boys on Christmas afternoon. The boys with their cousins. Brandon and my brother "acting like they like each other".Finally we celebrate the boys birthdays with the family by playing some games and Santa (or my brother) stopped by to say Happy Birthday. Hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas, and if you didn't get a Christmas card from us (which would be everyone that isn't walking distance from our house) it's not from lack of love it's because we haven't left the house to get stamps because we are working on Parkes' potty issues and hopefully will only have one child in diapers starting the new year.

Lights, Camera, Action

So I had a good idea to take a picture of the boys all tangled up in lights while we were putting up the tree and as you can see they didn't think it was that great of an idea. We had a wonderful Thanksgiving celebrating 3 times. We are so thankful for the life we have and the people that have filled it up. This week especially we have really felt such a great outpouring of love and generosity of the people that have entered our life. And now it is Christmas Break...where has the time gone. I am really thankful to get to spend two weeks with the boys and have a break from the regular schedule where I can just enjoy being a mom again without the constant rush. As for the boys, Parkes is getting so old so quick. He'll be 5 at the end of the month and is loving everything to do with books and reading. Every night we must read one chapter of the Magic Tree House series books and one chapter from the Bible before he goes to bed. He loves to list together letters and ask me what they spell and is now very interested in vowels since I told him you can't spell anything without vowels...which has come back to get me since he then list out letters and I say they don't spell anything and he tells me "mom it has a vowel." And Cash is as funny as ever. He talks like crazy, and does not stop until he gets a response which is usually him yelling "bye dadda, bye dadda, bye chis, bye dadda" the whole way to school since they are not in the car to respond to him (chis is chris who does work with Brandon). And he thanks everyone for everything you could imagine...he brings me the remote as he says, "Tank you, tank you" until I take it. And he always thanks me after diaper changes as he also says, "bye bye pee pee." Cash has brought down the Christmas tree this year which brought more tears from Parkes then Cash. It's hard to believe the year is almost over and my boys will be a year older (all three of them). Hope you have a wonderful Christmas!!!

Trick or Treat, Tee Ball and Park

Yes we did trick or treat, I am just slow at getting pictures up...five days working, a husband working late hours and two crazy active boys means not much time to get on the computer. We have been spending all of our free time together as a family to make the most of that time and enjoying the gorgeous weather we've been having. So here's the boys in their get ups. Cash is a cowboy (you might recognize the outfit from Parkes the past 3 years) and Parkes after much struggles with why he couldn't be a cowboy again decide on an old time Alabama football player. Brandon with the boys, not sure exactly what he is...mullet wig, i heart hip hop shirt and straw hat? Part of the trick or treating crew. We had a total of 10 kids this year so it was a little crazy, but they had fun. And Cash enjoyed the candy this year very much...he cried for days afterwards when I put a sandwich in front of him for dinner and just screamed "andy, andy"For the last tee ball game of the fall Parkes' team wore their Halloween costumes. Grammy and Cash watching ParkesPlaying at the park with friends from small group from church. I made the boys take the picture here as you can see in their excitement.

Fall Walk

We had a fun impromptu weekend. We had no plans at all except Brandon needing to do some work and a tee ball game on Saturday morning. So Grammy and Grandad came and watched Parkes play tee ball. After what seemed like the tee ball game that would not end (every time we thought it was done they just keep playing I guess to make up for all the games that were rained out), we headed home to relax and got an exciting surprise visit from the Essner boys and got so fun catch up time while we heard lots of yelling coming from upstairs where Brandon was watching the Alabama/UT game. Then Sunday after church Brandon had to go do some work so the boys and I headed out for a walk to enjoy the beautiful day and at the end of the walk Parkes best friend from his first school's mom called about meeting at a playground so we just walked on over and some playtime before heading out for small group at a playground for some more playtime for the boys and good conversation for us. So thanks everyone for calling for playtime with my five day work schedule I have not used the phone much at all and usually just go home and do nothing but prepare for the next day so I appreciate y'all keeping me in touch!!!

Church County Fair and Anniversary

Last weekend was a busy one for us with it being the Alabama/Ole Miss games (the only game of the year Brandon and I aren't cheering for the same team), our church's county fair out at Owen Farm and our 6 year anniversary. So Alabama won so Brandon was very excited, and we got to spend our anniversary having fun with our boys and then dinner at Mad Platter alone that night so it was the perfect day. We get complimented quite frequently on our relationship and it's really nice that others can see how we feel and our mutual respect and love for each other. I never knew how much better my life could be until God sent me these three boys.

Pumpkin Pancakes

Cash had his first cooking experience tonight and just like Parkes loved every second of it. With the start of October I pulled out some Pumpkin puree from the freezer and added it and some cinnamon to the pancake batter to make some yummy pancakes. Cash loved to stir (and taste) the batter. Parkes was the old cooking pro (he enjoys watching the food network) telling Cash exactly how he should do it.

Yes we are still here...

just been crazy busy lately. We aren't really people that like to sit still, but been running none stop lately. I've started working 5 days at 2 different school teaching two completely different age groups (2's and Pre-K). It's still busy season for Brandon which is good, but means we rarely see him before 7 (he often goes a couple days without seeing Cash at all). And the boys are adjusting well to be in school 5 days. Parkes I knew would love it, but wasn't sure about Cash. Cash has really come into a big funny personality keeping his teachers and classmates very entertained with his talking and dane moves. And seems are weekends are staying just as busy. So we are doing great just short on time while I get into a good schedule with everything to do at home while working 5 days. It is a little bit of a challenge working as a preschool teacher as if I chose another profession I could squeeze in some kid-free errands instead of trying to take the kids after a long day at school when they are grumpy to go do what I need to do, but I wouldn't have it any other way. I enjoy being able to know exactly how they are doing in school and really see how much they are loved by the whole school not just their teachers plus I get lonely running errands alone and not having the nonstop jabbering (whining). I'll post pictures soon...promise.

Parkes' First Tee Ball Game

This morning Parkes had his first tee ball game. It came about just last night when our neighbors at porch talk asked if he wanted to play with their son. We figured he would since it was with his neighbor and got him geared up and ready to go this morning...he had different thoughts though. He immediately told us he didn't want to play, but just watch (why he's never done any sports/lessons before this). So we told him to just try it and see what he thought when he was done. This is at warm ups...not willing to give in and participate. Then they asked him to run and he figured why not. The coach gave him his spot...still not looking so sure about all this. He enjoyed kicking the dirt around. Batting was definitely more exciting. And running the bases was really exciting that after he made it to home he ran right back to first. (They just play everyone hits each inning and everyone gets to run one base per hit). At the end of the game he was having fun chasing the ball as it was hit so he decided he wanted to keep playing. He did ask his coach several times when they were going to be done so he could get some fruit snacks. So looks like our weekends will be filled with fall ball.

Ready for some Football

Well I don't have any pics of the boys so I'll post this picture of Brandon excited for the first Alabama game. He and a friend went down to hear some big alabama guy who did something big in a big game (see how well I listen) talk a couple weeks ago. We are busy with training and the start of school next week and another job offer to teach Parkes' class the two days I'm off at another preschool so we will all be going to preschool 5 days a week at two different schools....hopefully I will keep it all straight.

Girl's Night Out

This weekend we had the boys went to the grandparents and Brandon headed to Alabama while I enjoyed some girl time to celebrate a baby shower and bachlorette party (not the same person). We had lots of fun at the Big Bang piano bar. Now headed back to school this week for training and for the boys to get some much needed energy out.

Confussed Fan!

Cash doesn't know what team to cheer for so he wears the Ole Miss shirt and Bear Bryant hat. I am working hard with him on the Hotty Toddy chant and hoping to have it ready for the Ole Miss/Alabama game. He had his 18 month doctor's appointment and he measured in at 29 lbs 10 oz, 29 3/4" and 48 1/2 cm head. The doctor talked to me about growth hormones because he is still below the growth curve, but I have opted out of even going further with discussions on it as of now (she said if he starts to plateau then we will have to discuss it more, but she is fine with my decision as she comes from a short family too). My thoughts are we are short, our kids will be short, everyone in our family is short it's hard to get away from it and if there's no other reason for the discussions then his height then we feel he will have the self confidence to succeed in life if the need changes then just his overall height we will discuss it further and go from there. So needless to say he is great and has hit all the marks he is suppose to at 18 months. He's starting to really get his own voice and definitely is not afraid of letting it be heard (usually while we are out at a store). I have had to start time out with him...the problem though is he enjoys it. Here's Parkes and Cash on the time out rug. Parkes was sent there and Cash happily followed and sat down. I might need to come up with a new game plan. We had another important doctor's appointment this week for Parkes. If you read this then you are family and friends and know we have struggled with the bathroom with Parkes for about a year and a half now. It has definitely been the hardest challenge of parenthood for us so far definitely surpassing 4 and a half months of Cash being colicky and not sleeping (I'm know there will be harder challenges to come and we are so blessed that these are our only problems). We've got some hard and slow work ahead of us to help him, but the doctor did know what his issues were and doesn't want to jump right into invasive measures to scare him more then needs to so hopefully we will get some progress this weekend and get to then start towards fixing the problem after that.

"But Mom Sweatpants are so Cool"

While it is 90 degrees outside this is the response Parkes gives me when I ask him to go get dressed and he comes out wearing this. He went to the grocery in this because somethings aren't worth fighting over and he was going to be the hot one not me.

Camping with Neighbors

This past weekend we enjoyed the last big outing of the summer by going "camping" (we did have a cabin with kitchen and bath...nothing fancy, but no tent). We went to the same place we went in February, but there was a lot more to do in the much warmer weather. So the boys enjoyed swimming at the "beach" and digging in the sand. Here are the boys minus Cash watching the sunset behind the trees. They were eagerly awaiting for the sun to set so they could pull out the marshmallows and start making s'mores. Parkes was not so thrilled about having to get so close to the fire to roast his marshmallow so I ended up doing his roasting. Then the next day we headed out to the piers to go fishing. This is how Cash fished. Parkes was more concerned that Cash was going to fall in the lake then wanting to hold his fishing pole.Here's all the boys afterwords with no fish to show from the outing, but they still had fun. These five boys are going to get into all kinds of trouble growing up next door to each other. They have become more like brothers this summer spending almost every evening together. Next we hit the pool and had fun splashing around...it was a tad bit cold for me though. Then we walked over to the putt putt course where they had a serious game playing with clubs that were way to big and not even putters. After a quick lunch it was off to the track to ride bikes. Then a very happening ice cream social And back for more bike riding where Parkes took his training wheels off, but do to his crazy steering issues the training wheels have gone back on. He is a little too concerned trying to see what everyone else is doing then focus on actually steering the bike so he spent the majority of the time riding down through the grass with his head turned back yelling, "Hap what are you doing?" "How's Sonny riding without traing wheels?". I'm a little concerned about when he turns 16. But we did get a picture that shows him riding and his crazy steering. We've got a few weeks off until school starts back so we are going to take it easy and hopefully I will be able to utilize nap/quiet times to get a few more projects around the house done.