HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!

Quinlynne turned the big 4 so you know it was time to PAR-TAY!!

AND I just happened to take a picture or two!

WELCOME TO YOUR CRAZY FAMILY, PAISLEY ROSE!

I mentioned awhile back that my cousin Kris is now a father. The baby was nameless for a bit and just remained nicknamed baby Nug until they decided to name her Paisley Rose. She is so cute. She looks just like her daddy....poor thing!! just kidding! Anyway I promised pictures and here they are.......

I think he may like her!!!

A hat to cover the hat head from many hours in labor or should I say waiting!

So alert!


This is when she said my name! How sweet!

Isaiah loves babies and was very excited plus he doesn't like me taking pics of everyone but him!

Proud Pops!

This is my Uncle Russell and his newest granddaughter.

my Uncle Russell with his son Kris and Paisley

My cousin Cassie (Kris' sister) and Starr with the baby

Time to get cleaned up and she was not happy but her cry was so so so tiny and cute! I told her she would definitely need to work on a louder cry so she'll wake Mommy and Daddy. Aren't I helpful!!

It came time to wash her hair and like any girl getting her hair washed she instantly calmed right down!

Awwww isn't she cute!!

Then Brandon brought up his and Cassie's daughter Reagan soooo I had to take pics of her too!!

Reagan and her Uncle Kris

HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY BABY!!

Isaiah turned four a week ago today and he shared a birthday party with his two cousins, Nehemiah and Noah. We had it at the park where we always have his birthday. There was confusion on the cake and at the VERY last minute Shan offered to make a train cake. WE LOVE HER! In honor of the train cake and Isaiah excitement, he decided he needed to wear his "train man" costume to the party.

How cute is he!!The park has a splash pad; however, we did NOT have swimwear with us because we were told the water would DEFINITELY NOT be ON that weekend!

Little did that idiot lady who made our reservation know b/c the water was on and apparently the 50 some people there had advanced warning. NICE! So I called as many people as I could at the last minute to tell them to bring swimsuits.

NOW where in the world were my children ~ in the creek!

Heaven forbid they join the masses of kids in the clean water on the splash pad......NO.....that would mean they would have to pass up a chance for tadpoles, frogs, crawdads, fish and other nature things like DIRT!!!

Later Zay went to the splash pad but I think he was just trying to steal a birthday kiss from Quinlynne!! (Yes Shan I stole a pic or two!!)

THE CAKE

ISN'T IT COOL!!!

WE LOVED IT!

It was really really good too!

THANK YOU SHAN ~ WE LOVE YOU!!

My Mom had been giving bad weather forecasts all week.

Wednesday she said, "You know there is a 30% chance of rain Saturday?!?"

Thursday she said, "You know there is a 40% chance of rain Saturday?!?"

Friday she said, "You know there is a 50% chance of rain tomorrow?!?!"

I said, "Ok negative Nelly that is it I am calling everyone to say if it is raining they are to come to your house...keep it up!!"

So the party started, the kids played while the adults talked then at 4 o'clock an hour into the party I notice the sky is turning black. I rounded up the kids to do cake and presents before the rain came. It got chilly, windy and started to rain. The cake was a hit!

The other birthday boys

my nephews Nehemiah and Noah

The presents were opened so quickly that I didn't even know what he got until after we were home but THANK YOU everyone!!

Apparently in a hurry to make her awesome cake, Shan was unable to go buy a birthday bag.......

Too funny!!

Now what do kids at a birthday party do in the rain?

They play in it!

At first we tried to stop them but gave up and let them play!!

My niece Majesty

We went home and made birthday pizza!

What is that you ask.....


.....homemade pizza with candles that wouldn't stay put!!

MY DEAREST ISAIAH,

To my dearest Isaiah the son who keeps me on my toes,

Today to your dismay you turned four years old. You planned on going straight from three to five ever since you turned three. I have had quite the time explaining that this won't work and I thought maybe you understood me finally this morning. We'll see! I still think tomorrow you will be back to being five!

I remember the day you were born like it was yesterday. I will probably say this with each birthday letter I write you since I am told the birth of children is something I will never forget. I say that so much and it sounds cliche but it is very true. I went in for a scheduled c-section EARLY in the morning but other emergencies arose and we didn't get to see you until that afternoon. THE second I saw you I said, "Wow you look just like your Daddy!" We were all excited to see you. Elijah was a little upset since he wanted you to be green but he loved you regardless of your unmartian like looks.

I remember everything about you!

I remember.......

• the colic that began when you were two weeks old which the mere thought of makes my stomach turn and wonder how I made it through!
• praying I could find a pacifier that you would take for those hours of crying
• you NEVER EVER taking a pacifier (a nightmare for a mother of a baby with colic)
• you sleeping in your bouncer until you were four months old because it was the only place you would actually SLEEP!
• the joy when you finally slept through the night at just a little past four months
• you being such a happy baby after the colic was finally over
• the turmoil when you stopped breathing at the pediatrician's office and they had to do CPR
• RSV at nine months which TOTALLY RUINED YOU SLEEPING through the night for A VERY LONG TIME!
• you getting teeth at 4 months then biting the pediatrician when he didn't believe me and stuck his finger in your mouth
• telling people I didn't think you could hear then listening to them rationalize my fears
• your first word being uh-oh not mommy :(
• 10 ear infections in eleven months
• 3 surgeries in two years that you were a little trooper for
• your frustration when trying to fit in a cake pan even though I insisted you wouldn't fit.
• grabbing the camera to capture your face when you finally sat inside the cake pan then wondered why
• you hiding in the refrigerator
• the first time you REALLY heard things
• you pooping on your closet floor because you didn't want to poop in the big potty
• pneumonia when I was told you weren't sick but persisted until I got my answer THREE MONTHS later
• each and every birthday and each and every pivotal moment

I am so proud of you! I started tearing up the other day when we were outside and you heard the train choo choo from MILES AWAY! You thought I was sad and wanted to see the train. It is odd that those tiny moments still get to me! You were playing and said, "I hear a choo choo train Mommy!" All I could say to you was "Me too baby!" while I was screaming inside "THANK YOU GOD THAT HE CAN HEAR!" quietly amazed at how much you have changed through the years. I was so glad you could hear something so far away when just a little over two years prior I stood a foot behind you and you couldn't hear me scream your name. You handled your ear infections, medications, then finally ENT appts, surgeries and hearing tests like a champ! YOU probably won't remember any of that drama but I WILL!

I joke about you being Daddy's twin b/c you two are alike in every way possible. So much so that sometimes it freaks me out! I say you are ornery and bullheaded and you are BUT you are also the one to run in from playing outside JUST to give me a "tiss" (kiss). You are the one to say "I wuv you Mommy don't let the bugs in the bed!" (his version of don't let the bed bugs bite) You are the one who thinks I am your "best mommy ever"! You are the one who constantly has to be reassured that you are a good boy and a big helper! You are the one who always says, "Daddy I am glad you came home" when all he did was walk in the door from work. You are the one who says, "I wuv you buncha bunches!" You are the one who makes me smile and tear up at the same time thinking you are the last baby so I need to savor every moment!

I love you from your curly hair to your signature Zay crooked smile to those chubby little feet with Daddy's toes!

I LOVE YOU BABY BOY WITH ALL MY HEART!

I LOVE YOU TO THE MOON AND BACK!

I LOVE YOU MORE THAN ALL THE STARS IN THE SKY!

I LOVE YOU MORE THAN YOU CAN EVER IMAGINE AND THEN SOME!

With all my love,

Mommy

LET'S PARTY!

Yesterday Elijah finally got to have his "friends" Birthday party! He feared all week that none of his friends would get to attend. I planned on sending the invitations to school with him on Tuesday BUT as you all know they were out of school Tuesday, Wednesday AND Thursday so we prayed SUPER DUPER hard that they would go back to school on Friday so Mommy would not lose her mind so he could hand out his invitations at the last minute. I'm sure all the Mom's think I am a serious procrastinator since this happened last year also. I could NOT help that they didn't have school due to an ice storm. I called all the kids I had phone numbers for but I still lacked about 6 kids. Elijah was so nervous. Lord only knows how badly I needed them to go back swiftly!!

Hallelujah, hallelujah.....they went to school on Friday and all was well with the invitations. Considering the very late notice, we really did have an amazing turnout in fact only two kids did NOT show up! All of the kids had a blast HOWEVER again it was another action filled TERRIBLE picture lighting party SO almost none of the "playing" pics turned out. I think I got about 3 pics in focus with ok lighting and they are of Isaiah and Quinlynne.

We had it at a gymnastics place and they had many trampolines and pits to jump into, a rope wall, a rock wall, many things to climb and play on and then as usual they had to have those huge blow up things that are everywhere on Earth!! They got to play for an hour then it was on to pizza, cake and presents!

And don't forget the many cards that played music....they were a hit!

A good time was had by all and the kids got to burn off some their cabin fever energy they accumulated this past week! Woohoo! And of course, Elijah made out like a bandit so he was happy! Thank you to everyone who came especially considering you didn't have a whole lot of notice....we truly appreciate you all for your friendship and love for our family!!

SURPRISE!!

He prayed for God to send snow on his birthday and God sent him snow. We may of only got a small amount of flurries but he was still very excited!!

I decided to split his parties this year due to the fact that he has so many more friends from football and basketball and our family is very large so it would be too expensive otherwise. So I asked my Mom if I could have a SURPRISE "family" party at her house ON his birthday since I couldn't get reservations for his friend party until the 31st. I didn't want him to have to wait so long to celebrate. After basketball practice on Thursday (his birthday), we went to Meme's where his family awaited. He was surprised after running in for an urgent bathroom run. He came out of the bathroom and when everyone yelled SURPRISE he just smiled and said, "HUH?!" He didn't have a clue although I don't really know why he didn't with all the cars outside.

He is just too handsome for words!

Getting ready to blow his candles out!! Ha!

HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY BABY! ELIJAH IS 7!

HAPPY 7TH BIRTHDAY BABY!

This is another one of my favorite pictures of Elijah. It was taken back in Aug. 2006 in Branson! He looks like such a baby here at the age of 4 1/2. Wow I know I've said it before but time just flies! I know you guys have heard it a million times over but where did the time go because I remember EACH AND EVERY moment of this day 7 yrs. ago like it was yesterday!! Every year I have a hard time around his birthday and I cry every year. I assumed this tradition would subside as he got older but I think it is just getting worse! It seems with each passing year he is closer to not being Mommy's little boy. I just want to bottle him up, let him out on occasion and keep him just the way he is! Ugh.....so a couple of weeks ago Elijah said he knew where he wanted to have his birthday party ~ my parents' front yard! Huh....hello it is January!

He said, "I REALLY REALLY WANT it to SNOW on my birthday! All I want for my birthday Momma is a GIANT snowball fight with my ENTIRE family!"

I said, "Well I can't really MAKE THAT happen but we'll see. It would probably just be ice though baby like your last two birthdays!"

He appears saddened then says, "I am going to wish for it really hard and ask God because HE can make it snow whenever he wants!"

Fast forward to one week later.....

Elijah who was supposed to be in bed comes out at 10:15pm imagine that to get a drink like always because he is OH SO THIRSTY excuses, excuses when he hears the weatherman forecasting flurries and below freezing temps for the 15th.

He begins to dance around singing "I'm getting snow for my birthday! I'm getting snow for my birthday!" Knowing the probability of the weatherman's error and the likelihood of the storm passing early or late I just said, "we'll just have to see!"

Fast forward to one week later.....this morning.....January 15th, 2009.....

I go in to wake Elijah up to get ready for school and low and behold the boy is awake! I instantly think WOW I need to write this down start singing Happy Birthday, take his picture, then lavish him with hugs and kisses when Samson joined in and totally ruined the moment. UGH! I hate dogs that lick! I lay out his clothes then go about the morning, here a picture, there a picture, open ONE gift the morning of their birthday (the rest have to wait until Daddy is home or the party), then go start the car......

........I COULDN'T BELIEVE MY EYES........

SNOW WAS FALLING FROM THE SKY..................

I SCREAMED FOR ELIJAH TO GET HIS COAT ON AND COME OUTSIDE FOR A BIG SURPRISE.......................

...........ELIJAH CAME OUTSIDE JUST LOOKING INTO THE SKY THEN SPINNING IN CIRCLES WITH HIS ARMS STRETCHED OPEN WIDE SCREAMING THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!!!

It was such a sight to see and I DIDN'T HAVE MY CAMERA. It looked like something out of a Christmas movie HOWEVER in the movie it is snowing pretty heavily versus our minute flurries that fell this morning. I couldn't help myself as we left for school just driving, thinking and listening to Elijah tell Daddy on the phone that he is still 6 and won't be 7 until 6:50 tonight AND the tears just started flowing.

WHEN did all of this happen?

WHERE did the time go?

Is he still MY boy or did the athletic side of him start to making him closer to his daddy?

It is flying by and I am going to MISS something or forget so many of my favorite moments. PLUS I was just so happy he got snow, no matter how little because THAT was the ONE thing I couldn't get him short of calling the Fun Valley crew to bring me a snow making machine!

So much has happened this year let's see......

We went to Atlanta with many crazy stops along the way! We went to the Lorraine Motel where Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated and the National Civil Rights Museum in Memphis. Elijah was so excited to see the "King's" memorial. Elijah was born on Martin Luther King's Birthday ~ Jan. 15th ~ and he thinks it is so cool that he shares his birthday with a "king"!

(Note to self: Quit trying to explain to him that MLK isn't an actual King ~ he'll understand one day! Most people do not understand that MLK's bday is the 15th and MLK Day is celebrated the third Monday of January so you will always be explaining this fact! The National Civil Rights Museum is not fun for a three year old! Do not leave car running unattended with children in it and crackheads surrounding it! Do not stop in North Little Rock and Memphis is a dirty town! Remember all of this when planning the next trip to Atlanta!)

Elijah played another season of Upwards Basketball

(Note to self: Next time get on a team where the coach will actually SHOW UP for more than two games!)

Elijah played another season of Upwards Soccer

(Note to self: Do not wear high heels to optional soccer clinics that require PARENT PARTICIPATION or ask that next time they inform you prior to the clinic that you will be running and kicking!)

He learned how to ride his bike without the training wheels!

(Note to self: Ask neighbors to move all cars parked along the street before teaching Isaiah this skill! Children will ride directly into parked cars when they don't understand the brakes and are scared to turn!)

Elijah finished kindergarten.

(Note to self: Doing scrapbook of his class for the teacher was greatly appreciated but hard work. Remember this later! Start at the beginning of the year....oops)

I chaperoned the Kindergarten Zoo field trip.

(Note to self: reread Zoo post BEFORE Isaiah starts kindergarten!)

We took a small road trip to OKC ~ saw the Capitol, went to the Omniplex and the OKC Zoo.

Elijah took 2 levels of swimming lessons.

(Note to self: the sight of your son almost drowning is absolutely terrifying!)

He only had croup three times this year and they were uneventful!! Woohoo for finally outgrowing croup.

(Note to self: do not continue to talk about croup or both of the boys will be struck with it at 2am tomorrow!)

Elijah started to take showers instead of baths.

(Note to self: this definitely made bath time easier so just get over it when Isaiah no longer wants to take a bubble bath ~ just shut up and take your own bubble bath)

Elijah got "protected" aka drafted after only one drill at the football combine

(Note to self: it is still OK to believe he got his running skills from his momma!!!)

We took two trips to Branson. We ALL love Branson especially Elijah!

(Note to self: Do NOT recommend visiting the fish hatchery to anyone with an easily triggered gag reflex like yourself! Fish hatcheries are educational but stinky! Sometimes things are FREE for a reason!)

Elijah started 1st grade

(Note to self: NO you are NOT old! People just call you ma'am to be polite I guess!)

Elijah started tackle football this year and I couldn't possibly have imagined all that him and his team would do. HE MADE ME SO PROUD! I never knew just how determined, athletic, rough, tough, fast, dependable, focused.....wow I could go on forever........he could be! His team won the Conference Championship and got trophies half their size!

(Note to self: THAT sound....you know the one that sounds like bones breaking....is just helmets and pads hitting together but as a MOTHER you will probably still cringe each and every time you hear it!)

He started his first year of city Basketball

(Note to self: We got suckered into starting a new team and coaching! Learn how to say No! This could be interesting!)

Elijah remained his sweet, loving, intelligent, funny, caring, generous, determined, eager and spunky self and I love him more and more with each day! I wonder if HE will ever truly understand how much I love him, how proud I am of him and how much he has changed MY life! His random acts of kindness and his smile just warm my heart. The sound of him REALLY laughing makes me smile even if he is in another room. Watching him with his little brother and listening to their late night bedtime conversations is something I want to remember before all I hear is fighting! His charity and concern for others even those he does not know makes me proud and think perhaps I am doing something right! People tell me I am lucky to have two well-behaved, good-looking boys and I always think ~ if they only knew ~ talking about the well-behaved portion of the comment BUT I am lucky! I am so lucky, blessed, proud, happy and honored to be the Mother of my boys and no matter what age they are

THEY WILL ALWAYS BE MY BOYS!

(Note to self: Yes they will always be your babies but do not alienate their spouse once they are married and do NOT under any circumstances act like the Mom's off the reality show Momma's Boys!)

A THOUSAND WORDS THURSDAY

JUNE '08 ~ Some people only take "look at the camera and smile" pictures but some of my most favorite pictures are of children staring off in wonder with no clue you are taking a picture. This sweet, handsome, playful boy turns 7 today and I am saddened with each day that he is one step closer to not being my little boy. I still call him "baby" and he is fine with that as long as it is only ME calling him baby. I told him he will always be my baby! Wow how time flies! (I will write more about all that later in a separate post!)

This picture was taken at the OKC Zoo in June of last year. Elijah loves all things dealing with nature. He loves to learn about wildlife and spends plenty of time watching Animal Planet, National Geographic and TLC. His favorites are gorillas, cheetahs and rhinos but he loves all animals. He was in awe just starring at this big 'ol male gorilla while I took pictures and wondered if the gorilla could break through the glass separating him from my little boy. In the beginning, the gorilla was SO close to the glass and sat SO still that he almost looked fake but rest assured he was real (imagine that - in a zoo!). He sat there quite awhile until the gorilla suddenly moved and scared the crap out of me!

To see more A Thousand Words Thursday posts hop on over to:

HAPPY 3RD BIRTHDAY BABY!

My little boy turns 3 today!





I could go on and on about how crazy it is but well wait maybe I will a little! It is just crazy to me it literally feels like I just brought his little chicken leg butt home. I love everything about this boy even his attitude which at times I hate but he wouldn't be "him" without it. He's had his troubles starting off with his droopy eye and crooked smile caused by them pinching some nerve during my c-section but they told me it would go away. The eye returned to normal but he was left with his ornery little crooked mouth that's only detectable when he smiles, laughs or cries! But again he wouldn't be Isaiah without that ornery crooked "I didn't do nutting momma!" smile! He had to have a circumcision revision at about a year and a half but without it I don't think he would have found his beloved little toy! He he! After a long eleven months with ten ear infections and dozens of antibiotics we were told he was almost deaf and the doctors warned us he might have permanent hearing loss BUT he had tubes put in his ears and his adenoids taken out and passed his first hearing test 6 months after the surgery. You can not comprehend my joy when the fear of permanent hearing loss was erased and I knew my little boy would be okay. He may need some speech later on but I am perfectly fine with that. His speech just keeps getting better and better and the times I wish he would just stop talking I have to think at least he is able to hear and talk. He is adorable, handsome, ornery, stubborn, loud, sneaky, hot-tempered, bad but hilarious and he is my little boy. I pray there aren't as many complications in his future although I know there will be so I must pray for the best result to those complications. He loves music, dancing, and he LOVES cars. He is so much like his daddy it freaks me out at times. He is a true mini-me for my husband! They are funny together and he is his daddy's boy! I just can't believe he is three and I am frightened yet excited for the changes ahead! Sometimes I wish my boys weren't so darn handsome....it is hard having such cute kids...hey I am in NO way biased....they are going to be heart breakers and I pity any scandalous girls who will enter their lives b/c they will have to deal with me! Ha! I will literally beat them off with a stick or bat or whatever is handy! lol Quit laughing you all know you would do the same for your kids! Happy Birthday Baby Momma loves you!

At his birthday party