Travel, Travel, Travel

As we left our house Monday evening at 10 in the evening, I had my camera in my purse and was convinced I would take pictures at every given opportunity so that we would be able to remember this fun vacation. As happens with me, I have wonderful intentions. I got no pictures of them snoozing in the car on the 11 hour ride up to Wisconsin and no pictures since we've got here. More on that in a bit.

We arrived Tues morning around 9 and we met up with my sister Karen and her husband bill to go eat. I don't know why, but since I was a child, breakfast food has always been my favorite. I love french toast, pancakes, bacon, sausage, biscuits, etc. My favorite of all breakfast foods would have to be fried potatoes or something along that line. Home fries, hash browns, fried potatoes, u get the gist. Anywho- we got on a funny subject about me and my infatuation with breakfast.

Eggs.

I don't like eggs, but I think the perfect breakfast should include an "over-easy" egg. I have always made them when we do a big breakfast at home, and when we go out to a restaurant, I always order them. But I hardly ever eat them. How weird is that?? To me, the perfect plate of breakfast food includes 2 over-easy eggs. I just don't like them and my OCD will not let me just not order them- that would be too easy. So that's that.

Back to talking about pictures. After breakfast we decided to go meet up with my two brothers, Carl and Wally. I actually remembered to take my camera in that time. But did it ever come out of the purse? Nope. So now 2 good instances for pictures have went by.

Later that afternoon, me and my kids, auntie Karen, and Melissa and her kids all headed to Bay Beach. It is a small amusement park for kids that I remember going to when I was little. The tickets used to be 10 cents but then couple years ago they changed it to 25 cents per ticket. It has rides for adults as well (tilt-a-whirl, scrambler, ferris wheel) and tons of kiddie rides. All for 25 cents a ride. Most of the big ones are 2 tickets- oooohhhhh- so they cost 50 cents. I know, we're big spenders. So, anyway, we are in the park and I go to take pics of the kids on the first ride, only to realize that I left the camera in the car. FUNNY!

The next day, we had plans to go to my brother Carl's house for a bonfire. I thought about my camera many times during the day and made a conscience decision that I'm not going to forget my camera yet AGAIN. So I managed to remember it, put it in my purse, actually brought it with me in one of my many bags that I have to carry because of the 3 kids (purse, diaper bag, food bag, etc.), remembered to take it out of the car and got it out of my purse to start taking pictures. Three pictures in......... my batteries die.

Why?? Why?? Why??

I thought I would share the funny reason why I have no pictures from the first 2 days of our week. I am fully relying on my pals to fill in the blank pages of my vacation scrapbook.

Individual Attitudes

As I was putting my children to bed last night after the meeting (these pics were taken right before we left- and I didn't have a chance to crop or edit them at all- they are just raw pics) I got to wondering about the complexity and difference of children. How is it that three kids from the same parents, same grandparents, reside in the same house, go to the same KH, play in the same yard, have the same daily influences- How can they be so different? I understand everything about DNA and I'm asking the scientific question- I am wondering how three innocent people start out in the same environment, but gather different experiences and become different people in their adult lives. Take my three children- Aidan could not be more different from my girls if he tried. Before I had Gracie- I was for sure that there was a mistake and my two oldest were not related. Aidan is the epitome of laid-back and could not be more happier to just be still. When Morgan attended her first day of kindergarten- it was the quietest day in my house since Morgan had been old enough to formulate words.

I didn't even realize how quiet Aidan was until Morgan was gone. How crazy is that? My mother says it's my fault and I was just like Morgan when I was little. I deny it and say that I was the perfect angelic child, quiet, clean, and the ideal image of peacefulness and tranquility - This is my blog and I'm sticking to it. I still have no idea where Morgan got her love of talking- and no I don't want to hear any long lost stories from when I was little. I said that this is MY blog- I'm telling it like I remember- jaded as that memory may be.
ANYWAY- back to what I was saying. My children- let's focus on their imperfections, not mine. I am still bumfuzled as to how all three of them are still so different. Aidan has a very tender heart and is easily crushed. On the other hand he has a hair-trigger temper and we are currently working on controlling that. Again- I have no idea where he got that.... Everyone in my family is meek and gentle. And his dad has never raised his voice in his 36 yrs of life... HAH! I can blame part of our children's imperfections on him... that's right. I don't have to take all the blame.

Now Gracie is a totally different story- she is definetly her own individual. She has learned to hold her own against the older ones. She can use her lungs to make sure they fully understand that she does not want help with anything. Stubborn, Stubborn!! "I DO IT! LEAVE ME ALONE. I DO IT!!" I don't know where that stubborn quality comes from either. I'm nothing if not flexible. Well......

All in all- I guess they are a perfect combination of our best and worst qualities. I wouldn't want them any other way. Well.......... Totally kidding. They keep me on my toes and these past 8 yrs have been an adventure and I know the next 20 will be the same. To go back to the begining- It does amaze me that they are so different. We can truly see Jehovah's marvelous qualities in the complexity of a childs mind and personality.

Sunday Afternoons

There is something so relaxing about Sunday afternoons. I think it's programmed into us from the time we're little. Sunday morning's should be spent at the KH, get some lunch, and then depending on your age and mood- you should engage in some form of activity that is relaxing. When I was a teenager, it was a sin to be still, so we had to still go somewhere and do something- but it was usually more relaxing than the regular rigamarole that we did for the rest of the week. After I got married and both me and Michael worked full-time, we usually spent Sundays with our friends, going to movies or just chillin and hanging out. After we had children, Sunday afternoons have been spent taking naps and playing with the kids. After everybody gets up- we usually go somewhere or have a family over for supper.

For me, Sunday is not so much about taking a nap, but rather about the time I get to myself when everyone else IS taking a nap. Because Michael has been working 2nd shift for a couple of mths now- I don't have 5 seconds to myself because the kids are home from school and they don't all nap. But on Sundays- the kids are quiet for a couple of continuous moments.

I started this post on a lazy Sunday afternoon- but then everybody got up and my peace was over. So now, 2 wks later- I'm finishing it up and posting it. Hope you enjoy my thoughts on our family day. Happy "whatever-day-is-your-favorite" day to you.

My babies

Since we've done nothing exciting in the past couple days- I thought I would write about some of my older pictures of the kids before I started this site.

Most of them are self-explainatory. Just my beautiful babies and their smiles.





Gracie is famous for her big cheesy grins. If you go to take her picture-
she turns into a big ham.

The next picture shows how big of a drooler she was when she was cutting teeth. It took about 6 mths for the first four to come in- and this is what she looked like the entire time.


Aidan went thru an obsession with his cowboy hat for a couple weeks. He thought

it was the neatest thing EVER. I'm ok with the fact that the phase passed.

Gracie was infatuated with a little boy in our kingdom hall (who had the cutest freckles) and when he would come to our house- she was next to him all the time!!

Morgan has always been very protective of her as well. She's another "little momma". When Gracie gets hurt or needs something- Morgan is right there for her. Gracie likes to play with Bubbie, but when she's hurt- she goes straight for Morgan.

I've always felt that Morgan had an amazing freeness about her. She's a wonderful child. She loves to talk, loves to read, and for the most part- she is always smilling or laughing. She loves to have a good time and when she's playing- her happiness shines!! Lord knows that me and her bump heads alot- and she's not even a teenager yet. But when it comes right down to it, she is the most tender-hearted person I know.

All of my children have their unique personalities- the girls are more outgoing than Aidan. He is laid back and a little shy. I guess as they get older they will change even more. I look forward to watching them as they grow and hope the best for them as they turn into adults with their own lives. I think all mom's have dreams and hopes for their children, I'm sure dad's do too. I pray that my children stay close to Jehovah and make sure that he is a part of their life forever. That is my biggest worry as they grow. As far as the rest, I'm sure

that they will grow to be amazing people.

"A sister is a gift to the heart, a friend to the spirt, a golden thread to the meaning of life"- Isadora James

I think of my dear sister Terry many times a day- and for the most part these are happy memories and lots of smiles. Every now and then, for a half of a second, I forget and go to call her. Its usually for the silliest things- news about the kids, a silly laugh, or just to chat. When that second passes and I remember, the sadness that washes over me seems to be harsher than ever. As I was sitting at my desk tonight, I was watching a show where a character lost a dear friend and the sadness overwhelmed me. So I went on a mission to capture different things around my house that have her touch so that I could smile when I thought of her. I know that many will cry- and that's ok because she is a person worth crying over. But as you look thru these pictures, remember your good times with her and you will be able to smile too.

For anyone that was with her while she was sick or read her website- you have to remember this next little guy. Who can't smile at that pic? He made her laugh many times... and most times just listening to her funny statements as she would drift off to bunny land, we would laugh right along with her.



This next pic is of a handwriten note that I came across about 4 mths after she had passed. I found it in my box of old bills and some mail that had been set in there. She had sent this about a year before she got sick- just a little note with some pics. But now it is one of my most treasured items. Seeing her handwriting can take your breath. Be prepared.


Anyone who knew Terry knew how much she loved the ocean and anything that had to do with water. She bought me a bathroom set when I got married and it had all of these water scenes in them. This one is a soap dish that has turtles coming out of the base- whole set is beautiful.


Then there are the many blankets that terry made for my kids. She could sew like nobody i know. I wish that I had half her talent. I'm not even really good at sewing buttons back on.


Both Aidan and Morgan have cross-stiched signs from Terry showing different things about their birth. Date, birth weight, height and all of the details. Gracie was only about 9 mths when she got sick and she kept talking about how she wanted to make one for her- but she never got the chance. So extremely talented!!!!!!!

The next one is Morgan's cross-stitch.

This is a the crib set she made for Gracie. She made all of my kids' bedding. Complete bedding sets. Amazing details with all three.

I took the diaper stacker she made for Aidan's set- and used on Gracie's changing table as well.

Here is a picture of the last time the three of us girls got together before she got sick. That smile was always on her face!! What an amazing girl.

Even though I miss her more than my heart can handle someitmes- the only thing that can comfort any of us is knowledge from Jehovah that "soon death will be no more" and that we have the hope of seeing her again.

Love to all

Jody

Waterpark Day

Today was waterpark day. Acording to my kids- it IS the ONLY day of the week. At least the only fun day of the week. Not really!! They love going in service and spending time with friends, but to a 7 yr old and a 5 yr old, there is nothing better than being in the water when it's 7 billion degrees outside. Can't say that I don't like it- I like going swimming in pools and lakes better cause there is usually not so many people, but around here- if you want to swim somewhere else other than a pool or waterpark- you have to be prepared for snakes. And i'm not. So........

This next picture is where Morgan spends all her time at- The Slides!! This is the 1st year that she has got to go on the "big kid" slides- so now she is all about it.

The next two pictures are where Aidan and Gracie spend all their time. Aidan likes to go back and forth from the kiddie play area to the shallow swimming pool. He says sometimes that he doesn't want to play "with the babies", so he goes off to the shallow pool- "cause he's a big kid".

But- when gracie asks really nicely, "Peasssseee Bubbie, Pease go on slide with me", he can't help it and gives in and plays on the baby slides.


After a couple of hours- they come dragging back to the chairs dying of starvation!! So then it's officially snack time!!

A couple hours is all poor gracie can take. By the end- she is wiped!! This face is usually something you will see- a poor pittiful sad and tired face. Then it's time to go, and yes, she will fall asleep in the car despite my best attempts to keep her awake the 5 minute ride home.

Train Ride

O-K. This post is for my dad. I have tried many times to remember to show him the pics from our train ride and today I realized that it would probably just be easier to put them on here. For anybody who has ever met my dad- you have to know that he loves trains.

That's not saying that everyone else cannot look at the pictures- just realize that there is not alot else to this post other than the train ride.

The kids loved being on the train. Gracie got tired of sitting still- but when does

gracie want to sit still?

We sat on the top part of the first car- shown in the picture below- and we got to see all the scenery between Paragould and Marmaduke. Now let me tell you- it was a good thing that the special thing was being on the train- because there was nothing special about the scenery.

All-in-all it was a very fun day. Maybe next time PaPa can go with us :)

NO MOMMA- I'M NOT TIRED

No, Mom, I'm not tired. I promise I will be good if you just let me stay up.

Please, Mom. Please Don't make me go to bed. I promise I'll be good.

I'm not tired- not even a little bit

Can I watch t.v.? Can I lay in your bed? Can I read a book?
But I don't want to put my head down on the pillow- I'M NOT TIRED!!

I....... am ......... not............ (silence)

May 2010- The Fair

What is it about kids and the fair? I remember being a kid and wanting to go to the azalea festival. Didn't matter if it cost our parents $100 for 10 mins- we thought we had to go.

Now I am experencing that joy with my own kids. Gracie is not quite old enough to try and persuade me- but when the fair comes to town- the older two are all about going and spending tons of cash for their 10 mins.

I guess that's part of it though. It was hot and humid and their faces showed it. But they didn't care. They went from one ride to the other- and had a blast. Don't you wish that you had their energy and enthusiasm for life? Sometimes I wish that I could invent a machine that would give you a childs energy but still have the experience that you have gained thru your life. That would be amazing. GENIUS!!
The smile on their faces is why it's ok to dish out that amount of money. The practical side of me says, "That's ridiculous. Who spends money on junk like this?" Then I see their grins and just go with it. Who needs a house, car, or food? Just go dump all of your money into a carnival. Ok, enough of being sinical- It was a blast.

Going back a cpl weeks to the assembly

These pics were taken about 3 wks ago at our assembly.

Michael loves to take us out to places that he used to go before he was tied down to a wife and three kids (totally kidding).

Anywho- he used to run around Memphis alot and knows all the good places to eat and go have fun. One that he introduced the kids to was "Spaghetti Warehouse". We went there for supper and let me tell you- it was so good!!

While we were there they had a balloon guy walking around and he made different animals for the kids. He was AWESOME. He worked for tips- so we obliged- but he was well worth it. Very entertaining.