Clark's Version of a Patriot's Pee Pee Dance

Yesterday, my family and my friend and her family attended a horse show fundraiser in Dayton, TN.  It's was scalding hot, and my boys were red as chili peppers as they ran around chasing new friends on their stick horses.  The show was about to start, so we all stood for the National Anthem.  With my hand on my heart and attention on the flag, I took a second to check on my kids.  After all I'm a mother first, and then I'm American.  Well my heart soared as I noticed Clark swaying to the patriotic music.  My first thought was, "Look at him getting into our nation's anthem."  Then my mother radar started going off with all those loud whistles and alarms.  Something is not right here it screamed at me.  I leaned forward and saw it.

Clark was swaying to the music all right.  His head was down as he watching his urine sway to the beat as he peed while fully exposed to the world.  He was enjoying this new found skill of dancing and peeing at the same time.

Completely embarrassed and praying no one saw it, I pulled his pants up midstream.  And whispered as tough as I could while choking back laughter, "You stop that right now.   You go pee pee in the bathroom." 

Clark went home in wet pants unfortunately.  And I went home laughing every time I thought of Clark's first National Anthem experience. 

God Bless America

Summer Vacation 2000+miles in the car and good memories to cherish

We took our summer vacation a little early this year.  Our niece was getting married, so we combined the wedding and a vacation into one trip.

Here are the boys going over the mountains and through the woods to Grandma's house we go.  They are fabulous in the car especially when you give them milkshakes.

We had so much fun with Grandma and PawPaw.  We forget all the rules and go wild on vacation.  Joel learned his favorite word, "cookie" at Grandma's house.  I think they had cookies for breakfast for many of the days on vacation.  And now he asks for cookies everytime he's hungry.

Michael and his family used to go creek walking, but they haven't been in years.  Well we found a creek and had a blast walking in it and splashing.  The boys dug in the sand and rocks and had fun getting wet.

Then we decided to head to the Gulf of Mexico for a mini vacation with Grandma and PawPaw. The boys got to play on the beach.

We stopped at Blowfly Inn and had a yummy seafood dinner!

Here we are rushing to have fun before a big storm comes.  Thunder and lightning ran us off the beach.

Then after the beach, we headed back to Grandma's to play with family.  Clark and Hannah loved playing together and were hilariously silly.  It's amazing how fast they adjust to each other even after six months of being apart. 

When it was time to leave, Clark actually cried and got very blue for a few hours.  Here are the boys on the way home.  Now that we are back, Clark has declared that everything is from Grandma, and Grandma has made all his toys, clothes, and possessions.  He even stops people in the stores to tell them that his grandma makes him things.

It's Been Three Years????

This month marks our third year in Tennessee and our third year in our home that we lovingly refer to as the "Money Pit".  It is a house we thought was a dream house which has turned into something else entirely.

This house has kept us busy with projects.  Most we have done ourselves.   Here's a list of some of the projects we've done.  Unfortunately most have been repairs (in red) not upgrades.  I can say that we have been able to do all this and afford it by God's resources only.   He has provided over and over at the perfect time with the money, energy, and patient children.  Here's what we have been up to for the past three years.

• tile kitchen floor
• replace flooring in bathroom and laundry due to rips
• paint almost every room
•  repair, and replace enormous deck
• cut down and chop up two 150 year old oaks
• replace roof, siding, and gutters
• replace broken patio door
• reseal driveway with blacktop
• repair fireplace after tree fell and broke chimney
• dig up septic tank and repair it
• have new septic lines put in
• replace insulation in basement
• reseal and moisture control the basement
• replace old plumbing
• update and repair electrical wiring and fixtures
• replace three broken ceiling fans
• install more cabinets
• install built in microwave
• put in some plants in front gardens
• and the list could go on and on and on
•  

Here's our most recent repair.  We're down in the crawl space basement working on cleaning, moisture control, and replacing insulation.  FUN! FUN!  (not really)

 It's been hard and challenging and stressful, but I trust God is growing us and challenging us for His Good Purpose.  I eagerly wait to see the fruit of His work.

Happy Father's Day Craft

I don't have the time or money to be crafty, but I can't deny that I am a crafter by heart.  I saw my inspiration the other day on a blog.  I got so excited about making a present for Michael that I couldn't even sleep the night before.  This is a craft the boys helped me by painting on the Mod Podge. It's a medium sized tile and scrapbook paper.  It cost under a $1.00.  I made an extra for my little guy I nanny.

Enough about crafts, and on to the more important topic.  Michael is a great dad.  He always involves his boys in whatever he is doing.  He lets them "help" in his jobs around the house.  He is patient, playful, and loving every second with them.  He desires to teach them so much about life.  He wants to pour out so much of himself to them.  He reminds me of what Jesus said about how our earthly fathers give us so much, and he compares that to our Heavenly Father.  Michael is that father who would give everything to make his children happy and safe.  I am so proud of Michael.   And I am so thankful my children have him as their daddy.