And They Just Keep Coming

Oh yes, I still have plenty more where these came from.

One of the fun things they did at the Village was have "Mini Gras" for the kids on Tuesday night. They had a ton of inflatables, beads, a DJ with kid-friendly dance music, face painting, and more. Little John had never been in a bounce house before. He officially LOVES them!

This is how Kailey spent "Mini Gras" and many of our other outings.

I was a little surprised that Little John was brave enough for this huge, inflatable slide.

Another cool place in Sandestin is this great shopping center. This little train does a ride around the center.

We took Little John on this train ride last year and he was so excited to do it again.

We had some serious ice cream. I think mine was chocolate with brownies, chocolate chips, and fudge. Loved it! Poor Kailey really wanted some.

Little John got to choose his flavor and of course chose blue with sprinkles. It was cotton candy flavored. Very sweet. Very blue.

More Vacation

You're going to be completely sick of our vacation pictures by the time I'm done.

Kailey and Mom at the Pirate's Ship playground on Jolee Island, a special place for kids at our resort

Mom & Dad at dinner. We went to dinner early every night, walked in, sat down, ate great food quickly and would be finished by the time the crowds gathered. It was great! They've added several new restaurants in the last year at the Village and there wasn't much waiting going on anywhere.

The view from our seats at the pizza place where we ate.

Kailey was wearing down after her peas.

Little John decided it would be more fun to drink from two cups of water at once.

Mmm. Yummy pizza.

Carissa and Little John at the pizza place

Vacation

I think I'll post these pictures a few at the time. Here's the beginning of the trip. I'll post some more tomorrow.

Kailey and John did great on the long drive to Florida. I think John is watching Curious George on my iPod and Kailey's watching some Baby Faith on the portable DVD. There are times that I love modern technology.

Little John loved the battleship, submarine, tanks, and aircraft we saw at the USS Alabama Park in Mobile, Alabama. I am always overwhelmed when I see something like that and think of all the men who served aboard that ship.

The fam sitting on the big, beach chair at the Village in the resort where we stayed. It's a wonderful little area with restaurants, shops, a playground, hotels, etc. and there are no cars back in it, just pedestrian streets. It is so much fun!

Dad had to get into the action on the playground. I have to admit that although there are no pictures of it, I did the same thing.

The view from our balcony. I love the Sandestin beach, especially when it's right outside my window!

Sweet Surprise

I keep meaning to get the pictures from the trip off of John's laptop but haven't done it yet. I'll get them up soon.

Today a funny thing happened that was such a blessing to this mommy worn out from 24/7 training. We were at Taco Bueno for dinner before heading to Summer Spectacular/VBS (pictures of Kailey in her adorable Daniel onesie will be forthcoming). Our favorite Bueno guy (Tara, you know him) from the Keller Smithfield location was the one taking our order. Little John had his sunglasses on his head just like mine and the guy started telling him how cool they were. He asked if he could borrow LJ's sunglasses and he, much to my surprise, handed them over. The guy pretended to put them on, raved about how cool they were, and then handed them back. He made a big deal to LJ about how cool it was that he would share and that we were teaching him to share. After we sat down he came over to the table with a slush that he had bought for LJ to thank him for sharing his glasses. He asked about Big John's softball shirt and we told him he played with our church. He said that it was no wonder LJ knew how to share and went on his way. I made sure that LJ understood that the man had given him the treat to thank him for sharing because that made him feel special. He took it all in seriously and enjoyed his blue slush immensely. I have been worn out lately with the constant effort to train my strong-willed child, constantly questioning if I am doing the right thing and doing it consistently enough. What a sweet blessing from God to me and to Little John right out of the blue. Now we love our Bueno guy even more. I'm going to come up with some really good way to repay him. And I know that God wants us to eat at Taco Bueno. Sweet. : )

We're Back!

Well, we're home from a wonderful vacation in Sandestin, Florida! We loved every minute of our family time together and enjoyed a special time with my sister, Carissa. With her help, John and I were even able to spend some time on the beach by ourselves! It was fantastic! I'll get some pictures posted tomorrow. Tonight I've been catching up on everyone else's blogs, and now I think I'll go to bed early. But we may go start a movie and just keep enjoying our vacation until John has to go back to work on Monday. : ) It's amazing how refreshing it is to get away from the routine. I didn't cook, do laundry, or do most of the other things I do on a regular basis. The only work I had to take with me was the work I love the most - taking care of my kids and husband. And I even had extra hands for that. I am so grateful for a refreshing start to our summer and ready to settle back in to the life that I love.

Babies

This picture just makes me smile. Kailey looks like she has her baby doll in one of those Baby Bjorn carriers, but it's actually the harness on her stroller. So funny! She has shown a love for baby dolls from her earliest responses to anything. She kisses them, smiles at them, coos at them. She is her mother's daughter, already loving babies! I was always a doll girl and would take care of my "babies" endlessly. Sometimes I would feel much guilt when I forgot to put them to bed or feed them or get them out of bed in the morning. Fortunately the babies I have now don't really give me the opportunity to forget those basic things. I have occasionally realized that my child is still in his pajamas and it's closer to afternoon, but hey, I think he'll survive that one. For me, taking care of child who needs everything from feeding to snuggles to transportation everywhere they go, to their first thoughts and ideas about God and life, fills some kind of big place in my heart. I've always enjoyed taking care of my siblings and other people's children and now with my own it's even better. There's just nothing quite like loving on kids!

Reunion

Whew! It's been a busy week. We're trying to get off for a last minute trip to the beach and have a lot to do to get ready. Sorry the blogging is suffering in the meantime. I'll get back to it more regularly soon.

We had a reunion this past Sunday with the group of homeschoolers we graduated with 10 years ago. We look like surprisingly normal people, don't we? I was the baby of the group, graduating at 16, and ten years later we are people in our mid to late twenties, married, with kids running around! It is hard to believe. John and I both loved our childhood and the relationships we had. It is wonderful to take time to look back on those great memories. We are still regularly in touch with several of our graduating group of twenty. They are the friends we grew up with, went on field trips with, spent the night with, played sports with, took classes with, and the list could go on and on. We love these guys! Now some of them are bringing their kids to our kids' birthday parties, one of them is John's boss, and, of course, John and I are married. When I pulled our yearbook out it was funny because I had written in John's that we should go skydiving together some day. We were thrill ride buddies at that point. Little did we know that we would be taking the ultimate plunge together four years later! It was a fun day! We think we should make it a yearly thing!

Left to right: Josh (John's boss), Jonathan (my adopted brother growing up), Chad (John's former co-worker who just returned from Iraq and he and his wife are now expecting their first child), me, John, Jamie (John's sister), Christin (she's going to have a spread in Woman's World's June issue because she recently lost 102 lbs. Go Christin!), Rebekah (one of my dearest and closest friends growing up and a wonderful nurse), and Chris (one of two brothers who graduated with us and were good friends of ours)

The Girls

It's A Guy Thing

Lately Little John has been identifying more and more with his dad. If you ask him, he's a big boy (pronounced beeg bOY with an emphasis on the oy). Mommy and Kailey are girls and if he sees something pink or girly, that's a "Mommy" or "Kailey" thing. Blue, manly things are "Daddy" or "John" things. If Daddy gets up to go out of the room, Little John will switch to his deeper voice and tell me, "We're going, Mom." I love to see this natural progression as he realizes that he is a little man and wants to grow up to be like Dad. I remember reading James Dobson's book, Bringing Up Boys, and him talking about the importance of this time in a boy's life. I am incredibly grateful for a husband who makes this so easy for our son. A husband who is here and involved in a daily way that makes Little John understand what men do. He already knows so many things that his daddy has taught him. For instance that we treat ladies gently and with special treatment (I love that one). John makes it clear that his sister already falls into that category and will be treated accordingly. He also knows that Daddy works hard for us every day and plays "going to work" often with his little briefcase. He also knows that Daddy always gives me kisses and whenever he sees someone kissing he says, "Aww. That's cute. Like Mommy and Daddy." He'll never "leave for work" when he's playing without giving me a big kiss. He is so proud when you point out that he has done anything the way his dad does it. I am praying so hard that he will even now also be desiring to be just like his heavenly Father. That Little John's desire to imitate Him will be even stronger and more of a driving force in his life. I know that through my husband's unconditional love and the security of his authority that it will be easier for my son to see God as a loving, strong Father who wants what's best for His child. What a blessing these amazing dads are for our boys!

Growing Fast

Kailey continues to amaze me with her desire to move through new skills rapidly. I keep forgetting that she can get around and she'll just show up next to me. It's a little hard to get used to! Yesterday I pulled out a play table and she decided it looked like fun so she pulled up and stood there playing with it. And since that was apparently not enough, today she started holding on and walking around the table as she played. I keep telling her she's only six months but that isn't sinking in. The last picture cracks me up because it looks like she's totally bored with how easy it is to stand there without holding on. It looks like she's saying, "(yawn) No hands? Piece of cake."

My Babies' Grandparents

How blessed are my kids?!!!

Mother's Day Post (Finished Late)

Sometimes I think I know the most incredible moms in the world. Young moms and old ones, moms with grown children and moms at heart who are waiting for God to send them children, moms of a few and moms of a crew, and I see so much to admire and love. Just a few years ago most of us were daughters and wives celebrating our moms and grandmothers on this special day. Today we are moms being celebrated. Of course today will always be first about my own mother. Words cannot express the gratitude I feel for her and everything she gave to me. She was a mom who laid down her life for the calling God gave her to raise her family. I have never heard her question anything she has had to sacrifice in order to be the full-on mom she has always been. She has been my mother, teacher, coach, friend, counselor, comforter, driver, encourager, and the list goes on and on. I would not be the woman I am or the wife and mother I am without God's work through her. My mother-in-law has also been every one of these things for my husband and now for me. I couldn't possibly express how I feel about the way she raised her son! He knows how to treat a woman and I think much of the credit for that goes to her!

Next this holiday is about my grandmothers. I have two amazing ones of my own, one incredible woman I adopted years ago as my other grandmother, and I have had the rare opportunity of knowing and loving both of my husband's grandmothers as well! My grandmothers are the "bake-your-favorite-cake-and-leave-out-the-nuts-because-you-don't-like-them" kind of grandmothers. The kind who never play favorites but treat us all as equally special, the kind that think you are the smartest, best grandchildren anyone ever had. My grandmothers can make a friend anywhere, talk to anyone, and I am always extremely proud to introduce them to anyone, anywhere as being "mine." My "adopted" grandmother is a woman of God who has blessed countless girls with her talents and wisdom. Any time I sew or use any of the creative abilities she taught me, I think of how much of her is woven into who I am today.

I have admired so many of my friends' moms growing up. Moms of a dozen children, moms who successfully run households on the most limited of budgets, moms left to raise families alone, moms who have educated multiple children from preschool to high school, moms who have battled exhausting illnesses in their families, and again I could go on and on.

I think one thought that is new to me this Mother's Day is how it now makes me think of my own friends. I think of Shelly and her courage to follow God to new places as a mom, places she never thought she would go, facing illness and change with a faith that is astounding. I think of Christine truly giving part of her life to be a mom as she survives a physical, emotional, and spiritual battle to bring babies into the world. I think of Julia and her quiet, strong, loving, consistent discipline that I think of so often when disciplining my own child. I think of my Brittany and her mother heart being mostly here with Kyndall but with a little piece already moved on to Heaven with Benjamin. I think of Chesley and her open heart, always ready to learn, always striving to find ways to be a better mom, fully engaged at all times in loving and raising her son. I think of Katelyn and how she has been asked to have so much patience in this journey of motherhood when everyone around her seems to be in a different place. My list could go on and on and on. If you're not on here and you're a mom, I promise I have something about you that makes me feel the same way! Do I not know the most incredible moms ever? So, Happy Belated Mother's Day to the best moms in the world! I am humbled and blessed to be your friend.

Wrestling Cousins

Little John and his cousin, Caden, had their first wrestling match the other day. It made me laugh! They both like to roughhouse with their daddies so I guess it only seemed natural to go at it with each other. It was very good-natured and pretty funny to watch!

My Little Man Is Three!

Saturday was Little John's third birthday. How can that be when it feels like he was born yesterday? I know this gets said all the time by mothers everywhere, but I can't believe he can already be that old! There's something a little hard about this birthday because I feel he's moved from a toddler to a boy. However, just as I would never want to wish time away, I also don't want to waste any energy wishing it back. I absolutely love this stage of his life, watching him learn, grow, and change. Now we have conversations and discover things together. Who wouldn't want to be here? He is one of the loves of my life - his personality, the way he says and does things, the way he loves people, his intense interest in his activities, his enthusiasm for life. God knows what he's doing when he matches up parents and children, doesn't He?

Three years ago I sat awake most of the night on May 18th because I knew I was being induced the next morning. I was excited, a little nervous about the unknowns of having a baby, and just lying there with that feeling that something huge and life changing was about to happen. Very similar to the day I got married. I have always struggled with change. I loved my life, my childhood, my relationships, and wanted things to continue the way they were. One thing the Lord has taught me is that His changes come with a little sadness, some adjustment, and MUCH JOY! I can't thank Him enough for the changes that Little John brought to our lives. He is my treasure!

Here are a few pictures from the birthday bash. He chose a sports theme, and we had a lot of fun with it! His sweet friends and family were wonderful to come celebrate with him. I am deeply grateful for the many people who love my son along with me!

Tickle Fights & Peas

Splash Day

Mother's Day was splash day '07 at the Scroggins pool. It was so much fun to hit the water on a beautiful, hot day! We had a blast! Little John is going to be great at the pool this year. He still has all of his cautiousness but none of the fear he had before. He was careful to stay shallow or have on his floating device but loved playing in the water. That is definitely one big plus about his personality. Kailey thought splashing in the water was big fun!

Grandpa & Kailey

Flying through the air - he loves having a big, strong daddy!

John & Kyndall

He loved the water turning the gears on this toy

Sweet toes!

Family water volleyball

Learning Fun

Last night I was reading with Little John before bed. He picked five books to read including a little, simple book about cars that was a few short words on four or five pages. He and I have been working on our phonics and he's beginning to sound out words a few at the time now. He decided that he wanted to "read" the book himself and I showed him the word "car" and sounded it out for him. He finished "reading" and was telling me what color all the cars were in the book. He closed the book and looked at the cover, told me the car was red, then looked at the title for a second. You could literally see the little light bulb go on in his head as it hit him and he recognized the word. He said, "Car!" Of course, I made a big deal out of it and told him how excited I was that he could read that word. The look on his face was priceless. Pride, excitement, discovery all in that one expression. Those are the moments that make motherhood the most joyous job in the world to me. I love helping him to see all that it's possible to learn and to be a part of his delight in doing it. This hasn't been an easy week, but I think I'll keep my job. . . for a long, long time.

First Foods

No, I haven't fallen off the face of the earth. I think my friends are wondering where I am. Right now I'm buried somewhere between Mother's Day, family birthdays, Little John's birthday party, a 10 year graduation reunion at my house, teething, and everything that goes with all of that. I'll come to the surface eventually and get back to my regular behavior. I have a post I started writing for Mother's Day and didn't get to finish. I'll do that as soon as I don't have to eat and sleep in the precious few moments that my teether's not crying.

In the meantime, here are some pictures of Kailey having her first bites of cereal after turning six months on Sunday. She was a natural from the first bite. I think she's just decided to feed herself from the beginning. It fits with her life motto, "That's what Brother does!"

Star Time & Scheduling

I found out today that we will be calling off Star Time for the summer, and at least until after construction is finished on the area we're using. Saturday will be our last service for a while because we'll be out on the 19th for Little John's birthday. We will be praying about a new time and/or date that will allow more people to be a part of this family worship time. It's a little sad to take a break because we've been pouring time and energy into this service and I have been thrilled to watch it get better and better. However, we've pretty much been doing it for the kids of the people who are working. A little hard to justify 10 or more people putting 5+ hours a week into something when the audience dwindles lower and lower. It's so interesting how our lives are at such a pace that it is extremely difficult to fit one more thing into them. I know if John and I weren't involved in this ministry we would find it hard to be there each week. I wonder what our schedules should look like? What is it that God wants us to fit in and what does He desire for us to leave out? When is leaving something out of our schedule selfish and when is it a necessary priority? This week I think I will do some reevaluating as I ask God to show me what He has for us in these now free hours every week and in all the other hours that seem to be flying so quickly.

I've Got To Remember This Line

Today I was sitting on the couch with Kailey who decided to be extremely fussy today. I had all these grand plans of housework, laundry, dinner, a nap, and they all went flying out the window. Oh well. Anyway, I was trying to appease the little princess when Little John walked in with about 8 cookies. Very good, organic, more healthful cookies, by the way. He walked in with these cookies like he really thought he was going to be allowed to eat all of them. When I said, "Excuse me, but I don't think so," instead of trying his usual, "You want one, Mommy?" (which too often probably works), he went with a new tactic and said, "But it's almost my birthday!" Nice. It is exactly 12 days until his birthday. I am so using that come the first of July.

Strangest Sleepers

I'm telling you, my kids fall asleep in the strangest places.

She's Got Skills

Kailey's loving some newfound skills like crawling, pulling up, and sitting up! Look out, Mom! Little John's not sure what he thinks about her getting into what he's doing!

Little Studs

Garrett and Little John at Southlake Town Center during the Arts Festival. Of course they wouldn't look at the camera because they were far more interested in the squalling child next to us. (Yes, John, that is what you look like when you act that way.) Even though they're not looking, they're still two of the cutest boys ever! I'm pretty sure this is a pair who are going to love hanging out for years to come.

Roller Hockey?!

Okay, I never really thought I would say this but my husband is out playing roller hockey with Dwight tonight. I'm not sure if I feel like the wife of an adult man or the mother of a junior high boy. : ) He was so excited about his new skates being delivered today and reminded me three or four times to listen for the Fedex truck and not to miss the doorbell in case the delivery guy wouldn't leave them on the porch. It was actually kind of cute. I think Little John was jealous because Daddy got new skates and was going to play with his friend at bedtime. Man, adults have fun! Little John informed me the other day that Daddy went to work to play games with Josh (his boss). That's his view of a man's job, I guess. Go to work to play, come home and play with the kids, go play with your friends at bedtime. Not too shabby. Hmm, why does that so different than my life? : ) Seriously, our daddy works very hard for us and deserves a fun break! I will say this, Tara, I think after a few times of the guys heading off to play after the kids go to bed, we need to meet for dessert or a movie. You in?