Welcome to our home

I realized that I have never invited all of you into our new home. Welcome!! This is the view from our front door of the living room. This is our living room. This is more of the formal living room for the home. We use the upstairs bonus room as our family/playroom. I have enjoyed this room. I love the gas fire place and the view out the window into our backyard. This is a very peaceful place. A good place to read a book and relax while the kids are having a nap/rest-time.

Elijah's Graduation Gift

Elijah has outgrown his little bike, so we decided to get him a bigger bike and graduation was a good occasion to make it special. He loves his new bike!!! He has fallen off once, but got right back on and tried again. We did have to lower the training wheels to get him back on. I hope that we can start raising them and get them off soon. He will have so much more fun without the training wheels!! Sarah climbed on his little bike and started pedaling a few times. Guess it is time to get her going on the bike riding!!

Hi-Ho, Hi-Ho its off to Nana's we go!!!!

Nana, Elijah, Sarah and I are off to Nana's for the next week. Sarah got up from her nap on Tues ate a ton and was back to normal, so we decided to go on with our plans. Daddy will join us later for a few days. We are going to do some updating and repair work for Nana and Angie while we are in GA. The kids will be rotten after Grandma being here for a week, a week at Nana's and we will probably stop by Pop-pop and Karen's on the way home. That is grandparent overload!!!!!

Sick little girl

Sarah decided to spike a high temperature Sunday afternoon. I soon realized that she seemed to have strep throat. I called the doctor and knowing Sarah and how she likes to really go all out when she is sick they went ahead and called in an antibiotic. Her fever is gone today, but she is still not feeling the best. She is sleeping a lot and does not like to eat and drink. We were suppose to go to Nana's on Monday, but are waiting it out to see how she feels, maybe we will try tomorrow. Nana was in Chattanooga and came on to our house to stay until we can go or stay until the weekend if we can not go. Please pray my little princess feels better soon.

Family Moments

Make life so worthwhile. Somedays the world just seems to be an overwhelming place. As a child of God I know that life here is just temporary and God has prepared a wonderful place for me for eternity. Living here on earth is just a stepping stone and I feel God gives us just a glimpse of heaven to help us stay strong and looking upward. Family to me is that piece of heaven. Just look at my beautiful family:

How could I not know that God is here with me. I love when we have those special times together, but I enjoy even more just the day to day life watching my family. Look at these beautiful angels I call children:

They are beautiful!!! I love them so much that words can not explain. How much more our Godly Father loves us. Just look at this picture of sibling love:
There is no doubt that they love each other. I am so thankful for this. I know that no matter what they are there for each other. That makes me feel so much better for the future. I know with a bond this strong as children, they will have a strong bond as they grow older. Thank you Lord for blessing me with such a beautiful family.

Graduation

Yesterday Elijah graduated from preschool. How did that happen? I remember the day we found out we were pregnant, the day he was born, the first time I left him with a non-family member sitter, the first day he went to preschool at 2. How could he be 5 and graduating? He is still my baby. Right. Sure, the baby that no longer lets me kiss him in front of his friends, no longer can call him my sugar bug, does not need my help in dressing....my big boy. What happened to my baby? He has really grown and matured this year. He is alot more independent and outgoing. He knows his letters, colors, numbers, and soooooo much more. I am so proud of the boy he is and the man he is becoming. I pray that he continues to grow and mature, but most of all I pray that he comes to a saving knowledge of God and becomes the man God has planned for him. Here is his graduation picture that showed on the screen and his plans for the future:

New Toys

We have added new toys to the toy shelves!!! Why is it that the kids prefer the box the toys come in to the actual toy? My kids seem to be happier playing on the empty shelves, in the boxes for the toys, or with the toy packages than the toys!! Can you just buy boxes and empty toy packages? I am sure they would have to be cheaper than the toys and require less batteries.

Country Living

The kids out for an afternoon drive.

Pretty, Pretty Princess

Today Sarah went to a princess tea birthday party for Kennedy. She had a ball. All of the kids were soooo cute in their princess dresses. Kennedy was such a beautiful princess and seemed to really have a great time. Sarah thought the tea cups were really fun to play with. They played musical chairs and although she did not understand the game she really loved the music!! She danced and had the best time listening to the princess music. She especially like the pretty crowns they wore. She actually left it on the entire time and halfway home. I was totally amazed that she left it on. This is the girl that will not leave a hairbow alone!!! Elijah, Doug and Grandma went to the Renissance Festival for pirate's day. Grandma took some pictures and as soon as we get them developed and I can scan them I will post them to show their fun!!!

Sarah, where are you? S-A-R-A-H!!!

Yep, Sarah got away from me at church the other day and I could not find her. I was hysterical by the time she was found. I was talking to another mom and she was standing right by me playing, then I looked down and she was gone. She did not make a sound. Of course I am imagining the worse case senerio. I could she her with her head in the toliet, falling down the stairs or wondering out into the parking lot(of course Mrs. Karen stays at the door as parents drop off kids and makes sure no kids get out without the proper parent). I was frantic. I don't think I have ever been so upset. I was crying by the time we found her. At least we were at church where everyone knows and loves Sarah and would bring her back to me safe and secure. She had wondered down the hall and was in one of the rooms playing. The teacher in the room was trying to find me to see what was going on. I am so thankful that we were at church and not at a store. It has really made me rethink her safety. Elijah knows his full name, address, phone number and our names, but Sarah not being verbal could not give this information. She has a safety necklace with this info on it, that I need to update with the new address and make sure she is wearing it at all times. She also is now a proud owner of a puppy dog "leash" backpack that will be attached to her and me at all times.

"Mommy come quick...

you've got to see this." This is really not the way I want to be awakened of a morning, but not really the worse way to be awakened, but what followed was one of the worse ways to be bolted out of the bed. "Cogsworth(the dog) is swimming in his fence." WHAT?!?!?!?! That means water would be close, really close to our house. OUR NEW HOUSE!!!! Yep, with all of the rain that we have received, our pond overflowed. So not good. We had a river in our side and back yard within 10-15 feet of our house. We have flood insurance, but I would really like to never use it. The dog was literally up to his neck in water. We rescued him in time and he got to spend the day in the garage recovering from his trauma. We unclogged the drainage system and the water receded. I did not think to grab the camera until the water had gone down considerably, but here are a few of the shots I captured.
Little fish, little fish this is not the pond. We were able to rescue this and another little fellow and put them back in the pond.
Little goose, little goose, this is also not the pond. They were in a bigger puddle bathing, but moved when I came out with the camera.
Yep, that's the pond barely within it's banks!! Praise the Lord we stayed dry and the rain has stopped for now. Praying that the rain holds off a little longer!!! So, how was your weekend?

Happy Birthday

Sarah has learned to sing Happy Birthday, well sort of. She can only sing to people with the name Kennedy, but since we know several it might work. Friday was my sister's birthday and we called and sang to her and then Friday night we went to Kennedy's birthday party from church. On Sunday out of the blue Sarah started singing "appy erthday to you, enidy" Over and over. It took me a bit, but I finally figured out she is sing "Happy Birthday to you, Kennedy". She is still sing it today!! A little off on the actual wordage, but her version is sooooo cute with the little dance she does with it. I will try to get some video upload for you to enjoy if my internet will let me!!!!

Sick Days

So what does mommy do when she needs to call in sick? Make daddy stay home and play mommy. I am just under the weather. I have a sinus infection and I think I am just beyond tired. I slept in, took a couple of naps, and did no childcare. Wonder how often I can call in sick?

No more AFO's for Sarah

We got the great news today that Sarah no longer has to wear her foot support braces(AFO's)! HIP, HIP, HOORAY!!!!!! We are going to have arch supports made, but no more above the ankle supports!!! Sarah is loving to walk around barefooted or with sandals. She has really gotten into the whole dressing thing. She loves to wear dresses and sandals. She no longer wants to wear tennis shoes. I think we have a diva on our hands!!!