Destin 2009

I took Jack and Jace to Destin, FL this summer with my friend Kristin and her daughter Lexie. Her in-laws own a condo so we stayed for free! Thanks Kristin's in-laws!! Anyways, here are a few pics of our trip!

House

Cody and I moved to Little Rock in the summer of 2002 after I graduated from OBU. We lived in an apartment for less than a year, all the while trying to figure out where we wanted to live. We bought a house in Bryant in May of 2003. We loved it in Bryant, but the house was older and needed some work. We considered it our starter/fixer-upper house. We thought we would be there about 3 years and sell it for a profit since it would be much nicer than the house we originally bought and moved into! Ha! Six years later, we sold the house. Not much had changed except for the kitchen flooring, some paint, and an eight foot privacy fence (we had a neighbor issue).

So, with a closing date in sight and nowhere to go we frantically looked at every house in our county within our budget. We couldn't find the house that fit our needs and budget at the same time. In calling around asking about houses I came into contact with a lady that was a builder and she told me I should look into building. I was nice and tried to appease her by talking with her about it, but on the inside I was thinking, "This lady doesn't know us! We can not afford to build on Cody's income and my babysitting money!".

Anyways, ended up moving into an apartment because we had to be out of our house and "the lady" put some figures on paper and here we are! We, well I should say the workers, began September 22nd. The first pic is on September 29th and the second is October 6th.

We are excited and nervous! We are thanking God for all He has done for us and all He has given us, and asking Him to make it all work!

Random

Just to post some updated pics of what's going on in our life....





Jack lying on the drawing of his body that his Mother's Day Out teacher made the first day of school this year







Jack's painting from Mother's Day Out, I think it's awesome!!







Jace's policeman helmet that he loves playing with







Did I mention Jack LOVES cowboy boots??!!







Jack "reading" to Jace and our friend, Ella Grace

Cowboy Night!

At AWANAs a couple weeks ago we had "cowboy night". We borrowed some cowboy boots and a western shirt from my sisters kids and bought some bandanas! Voila! I had to get in on the dressing up too since I am a leader for the Kindergarten class. Here are some pics, it was so much fun!

Jace turns two!!!

My BABY turned two a few weeks back. We had a bubble party at Mills Park. I filled a small kiddie pool with bubble solution and we used lots of bubble wands and fly swatters to blow bubbles!

At Jace's two year check-up we found out that his height has SHOT up! So much the nurse didn't believe she had wrote down the right numbers and she asked us to come back out and measure it again! So, he is 80-90% for height and 90% for weight now! He weighs 34 lbs! He is heavier than most 4 year olds! Ha! He definitely is my child.

Jace's favorite thing to do right now is to play with toy food and cooking stuff. So, for his birthday his "sugar" got him lots of play food and a shelf with baskets to store it all for his room. She also got him a toddler-sized inflatable trampoline! From his friends Jack Landon and Logan he got a Razorback apron with his name embroidered on it. He loves wearing it around and bringing me things to "eat".

He got lots of stuff and likes it all! He is really into jumping (anywhere, anytime, out of the car, off of ottomans, down the stairs, etc.) and loves to wear these camo rain boots that we have. He wore them to story time at the library on his birthday with shorts! He also loves story time. He sings along and likes to do the motions with the songs. He loves to pet the stuffed animals that Mrs. Debbie brings to go along with the songs and LOVES craft time at the end!

Jace memorizes the verses that Jack has for AWANAs right along with Jack. He always says, "Momma I say my verse and get a prize?". EVERYTHING in his world revolves around food! He is constantly asking for something to eat or drink. I spoke with the doctor about it and he said that Jace is a little heavier than he is tall so he is getting plenty and that it is ok to make him wait. Whick I knew but wanted confirmed!

Cody and I have absolutely so much fun with Jace. My dad, jace's "big daddy" says that he doesn't have a serious thought and that Jack doesn't have a thought that is not serious! They are opposites but still so much alike. Jace imitates everything jack does but is starting to get out of that and do more on his own. They are best friends and love playing together. Their mother's day out teachers say that when they are both at "gym time" together that they play together the whole time and that Jack takes care of Jace and makes sure he is ok! So precious! I am absolutely loving that we had them close together!

We love you Jace! We are proud of you and all that you can do but would be fine if you decided to stop growing up so quickly!!




Jace opening his presents with helper, big brother Jack





Loving the cake!





"Cheese!"





Story time crafts on jace's birthday





This was Jace's birthday breakfast!

Night Night

Since Cody has been out of town we have established a new bedtime routine. We used to put the boys down separately because if one of them was not asleep before the other came in they would laugh and play for a long time. With Cody gone it's hard to tell one or the other to wait in the other room while you put brother in bed. Anyways, we get all ready for bed and I tell them to each pick out a book for me to read. They go get the book and lie down in their spots in bed. I read each book, we laugh and have a good time. Then I put the books away, give Jace his paci (yep i do) and give them both kisses and hugs. I tell them that it is time to go to sleep and that they should close their eyes, be still, and quiet. I laughed when closing the door the first night because I thought it would never work with a 3 year old and a (soon to be) 2 year old. They never made a peep! Haven't yet and we've been doing this for 5 nights now!

I'm just really feeling blessed these days. I know it has to do with the Bible Study I am in right now, One in a Million by Priscilla Shirer. But really. My kids are the best. Now I know every mom on the planet (well not that any of them are going to read this) is thinking that I'm wrong and that's perfect! All moms deserve to feel this way about their own!

Memory Verse

Jace is officially saying the three year old AWANAS memory verse now, even the scripture reference. Just reaffirms the affinity children have for learning. I don't think many people realize just how much they are able to learn and do. Jace must be at one of those stages right now where you can tell they are really developing, both physically and mentally. He amazes me every day by something he says or does.

Physically I noticed something pretty funny today. A few months back, probably around 18 months or so, Jace started asking to go pee pee on the potty. I knew that this was because he had an older sibling that was potty training and going to the potty. I would occasionally let him "try" but is was not productive. He wanted to stand just like Jack, and he would strain so I could tell he was trying but he didn't get it yet.

One day as the boys were getting out of the bath Jace asked daddy if he could go pee pee. Cody scooped him up and stood him up on the stool in front of the potty. Out it came!! He was around 21 or 22 months I guess. Since that time I have been occasionally taking him to the potty. He always tries and most of the time he goes. When he doesn't need to he stands there and "strains" but then quickly says, "I can't".

Anyways, that was a long story to get to the fact that today I decided to put some big boy underwear on him and take him to the potty more often to see how that went. He's been asking lately to put on "under pants", I really don't know where that term came from but it is funny anyhow. So, I told him he could go get a pair out of the drawer and he could wear them today. I was in the kitchen doing something and when I turned around he had a pair and they were on! He had them on the right way and he had pulled them up but couldn't quite get them over his booty! That's when I noticed he grabbed one of Jack's size 4T underwear. I recently bought the bigger size because the 3T's are getting snug on him but the 4T's are still a little saggy. But, Jace filled out those 4T's like no other! He's got his momma's curse! I had a funny thought about having to buy him 5T underwear to potty train him! Oh my!

Sweet Sayings

My youngest, Jace, will be two this month. He is the sweetest little thing a mom could ask for. One night this past week I was putting him to bed, usually daddy does this, and he said, "Mommy lay by me". Cody normally tucks them in, says prayers, gives kisses, and he's outta there!! But, this was such a sweet request and I will never have these times back that I quickly agreed. He snuggled up really close. He told me, "Mommy I love you" then he said some other words that I couldn't understand with the paci in his mouth. Usually I tell him to take out the paci (which he only gets at bedtime now) when he talks so that he will correctly learn how to speak but this time I had to ask him to take it out so that I could understand him! Anyways, he repeated what he had said, "Mommy I love you, you are my best friend". My heart melted! It reminded me that I am the one they spend most of their time with and the person that has the most influence over them. It re-inspired me to "train them in the way they should go so that when they are old they will not depart from it" as paraphrased by me, I'm sure it's not an exact quote.

Jack started AWANA's this year and when he came home with his first memory verse I was doubtful that I would do as the program intended and spend time on it each day and engrain it in him. I want to be that mom who spends that entire week with lesson plans revolving around that verse. I'm not. But, I did have an idea that has ended up being wonderful for us! I wrote his verse on a neon green index card and taped it to the dash of my car. We spend a good amount of time driving here and there during the week so I thought that if we said it each time we were in the car he would have no problem with it. Well, he memorized it the first day and every day since has said it to people that we come in contact with. He even memorized the scripture reference, which isn't required until they are four!

The verse is "God loved us and sent His son" 1 John 4:10. An added benefit is Jace is saying memory verses too! Jace hears us say it so much that he 'memorizes' it and now he is going around saying, "God loves Jace, God loves mommy, God loves daddy, God loves Jacky" you get the picture. And, yes, Jace calls Jack by 'Jacky'. He's always put the y (or ey) ending on everything. I think it's pretty cute.

God's here...

During the gravside burial for my Nana this past Monday, my 23-month-old son, Jace, said the most amazing thing. It was toward the conclusion of the service and one of my family members was saying the prayer. We were standing at the edge of the tent the funeral home sets up at the burial site. Jace is my loud child and says everything in Jace volume. But, he looked up at me and whispered, "God is here" and he pointed to the top of the tent where the four corners come to a point! Wow! I was jealous that my eyes didn't see, but my heart was full of faith.

Nana

Well, I've been distracted lately due to the sudden illness and death of my grandmother, whom I call Nana. She has been battling ovarian cancer over the past year, but the chemo was stopped a few months back and she was told her "levels" were low enough that she no longer needed the chemotherapy. In May at a regular check-up she was told that there might be a mass on her kidney. She was scheduled for a procedure to put in stints to clear a blockage that might have been causing her to have kindey infections. Two days before the procedure was scheduled she ended up in the hospital. She threw up all night long the previous night and ran a temperature of up to 105 degrees. My Pop had to carry her to the car to get her to the hospital because she had become so lethargic and weak. They said she had pneumonia and she was admitted. They transferred her to Baptist so that she would be there if they decided to go ahead with the kidney procedure.

They did put the stints in her kidneys. But, then her stomach began swelling up like it would look if a person was pregnant. They ran some scans (which they didn't read for two days!) and she was scheduled for an abdominal surgery so that they could find the blockage. They took out a good portion of her intestines and said that there were spots of cancer in her abdomen (which we later found out was extremely bad, they said it would have taken them two weeks to cut out all the cancer they saw). After the abdominal surgery she never felt any better. She was diagnosed with congestive heart failure because of the fluids building up on her heart and lungs. She was transferred to the PC ICU (which is Pulmonary Care ICU) I believe on a Sunday or Monday. I was out of town that weekend and went in on Tuesday evening, which was my first chance to get to the hospital.

I visited with my Pop in the waiting room and ate dinner with him while were were waiting on visiting hours to begin. A doctor came and found him in the waiting room and told him that he wanted to look him in they eyes and say that her condition is very serious and that she is very sick. He said that there was a strong possibility that she would not make it through this. Ten minutes later I was able to go back and visit my Nana. A family friend was also there to play her instrument for her. My nana had requested that she bring it on her next visit so that she could play it for her. So, she went back to visit my Nana as well. My pop went back out to the waiting room because there are only supposed to be two visitors at a time and my aunt and uncle had showed up in the waiting room right when visitation had started, he was going to visit with them.

Our friend quitely and sweetly played her dulcimer while I gently held and rubbed my Nana's hand. She was on an oxygen mask and every now and then would get agitated with the fit or begin breathing heavy. She did this several times while I was in there. She was "in and out of it" probably due to her medication and weak state. She began another episode of breathing heavy but this time it came on rapidly and progressed further. She looked panicky, her body stiffened, she started pulling her mask out and struggling. All of the monitors began beeping and blinking. Nurses began running in yelling to get her doctor on the line. They rushed us out and asked us to wait in the waiting room.

My friend and I had to go to the waiting room and tell my Pop that something happened. He took it in and then stood up and said he was going to go back to try to get some information. He and my aunt, who is a nurse, walked back to the unit. Soon after we heard the "code blue" for her unit. When my aunt returned she was crying and said that Nana had coded and that we should begin calling everyone and tell them that they should probably come right away. We were given a small room them soon after moved to a larger family waiting room. Family began trickling in. We were not updated much on her condition except that they shocked her and got her back and that they were working on stabilizing her. They allowed visitors after what seemed like forever, but she was sedated and was intubated. This was a Tuesday night.

Over the next couple of days she made some improvements, her oxygen levels went up enough that they were forced to turn off the ventilator and extubate her. She was never the same person. They had her on very small amounts of morphine at times, but she was not strong enough to stay awake for more than a minute or less at a time and she could not speak. She was acknowledging us speaking to her and would smile or grimace depending on the conversation and the question asked. But, her body was dying. We were waiting on my uncle to get there so that all six of her children could be by her side. After his 27 hour drive (straight through from Canada) he arrived 12 hours before she passed. He and his family got to see her and talk to her for a few hours before the night arrived. They all either slept at the hospital or in a hotel across the street. Around 4:30 am the nurses called my family and told them that she was not going to make it much longer. My Pop and her six children gathered by her side and were with her when she died peacefully and without pain. Her breathing slowed to a stop.

My Nana has always been my role model in Christianity, motherhood, marriage, and many other things. She and my Pop had an extremely close relationship. They laid side by side every night and prayed, and woke the next morning to get dressed, drink coffee, then hold hands and begin their day by praying again. She knew how to love, always put others first, and saw the positive in EVERYBODY. She never dwelt on the negative in people no matter their situation. My goal is to be more like her. She influenced many people through being "the coach's wife". She was a team mom to the Ouachita Baptist University basketball team most of her life and would have been married to my Pop for 60 years this Christmas Eve.

I love you Nana

Rock-a-bye Baby

So this weekend Jack and Jace have been sleeping in the same room as Cody and I while we have been away from home. They had a blow-up mattress close to our bed and did really well sleeping on it. Our alarm clock at home is typically set for around 6:00 am so that Cody can get up and begin getting ready for work. Cody prefers the beeping noise over the radio. But, this weekend, we got to wake up to music! Jace.....laying in bed.....on his pillow.....singing "Rock-a-bye Baby"! Except his song comes out more like, "rock...baby...treetop...rock...baby...treetop". Either way it was a welcome change to the 6:00 am beeping!!! Just one of those things I wanted to share and never forget!

Gift Idea

As I am typing we are pulling into the great town of Lubbock, TX!! Cody's grandmother is turning 80 years old and the family is having a surprise party for her! I just had to share our cool gift that we made/bought for her.

On a list of things Cody's aunt said she needed or would like was a bird bath. I thought it would be neat to get one and have the kids put their footprints on it and turn them into little birdies! I got crafty and did it, I'm pretty proud of myself! Gotta show a pic of course! I haven't added the wings yet because I wanted it to dry a little first. Then, I will also have to spray it with a sealer. But, here it is!! Sorry they are sideways, don't know how that happened??

Hawaii 09

Obviously I can't load the hundreds of pics we took while in Hawaii, and loading five took long enough, so here are a few pics of us on our vacation. We went in early May with our friends, Justin and Jennifer. We rented a jeep for the week and never put the top on! We drove the famous "North Shore", went to the Dole Plantation, went snorkeling at Hanauma Bay, spent much time on the beach reading a book (mine was Twilight), and ate a lot of good food!

Photo 1: Our first steps on Hawaiian sand
2: A cool tree we found on the beach
3: Standing amoungst the red pineapples at the Dole Plantation! I was on my way to get pineapple ice cream with pineapple tidbits, yummy!
4: Live parrots in my hand, freaked out!!
5: At Moose McGillicuddy's having a great meal

I'm alive!!

Wow, it's been a while! Thanks Allyson for encouraging me/us to keep up our blogs! I feel really bad for my blog, like it knew I was giving preferential treatment to Facebook or something?

So, just to catch you up: Jack is now 3 years old, we had an AWESOME Monster Truck Birthday party for him and I will have to post on that later with pics. He is incredibly loving and smart. He plays well with others, takes good care of the little ones (including his little bro), and is an all-around joy to be around. Jace, will be two in September. He is speaking full sentences, pee-peeing in the potty, and loves to Jump. Kinda random, but when thinking about him, I think Jump. But, he does pronounce it "gump". Only makes it cuter to me!

Cody and I visited the island of Oahu in early May. Hawaii was wonderful, but think I will go to Maui next time to get out of the big city and see more 'Hawaii'. I also took a trip to Destin with a friend. So, two adults, one five year old, one three year old, and one one-year old! One car, 11 hour drive, lots of movies! It was wonderful though! The boys and my friends daughter laughed and giggled the whole way! (Lexie, the five year old handed Jack a pretzel to put on his finger. She said, "With this ring I thee wed." Jack said, "With this ring, I be wetter." Hilarious!!)

Hopefully I'll get my pic of the boys changed to an updated one! It's a year old!

Zoo Day!

Today was a free day at the Zoo kicking off this season. You know what free means, anyone and everyone is gonna come! And Little Rock didn't let me down! We got up this morning and hurriedly got ready so that we could be there as close to 9:00 am (opening time) as possible. We pulled up at about 8:52 and there was a long line to get in so Cody dropped off Jace and I to get in line and he and Jack went to park. As soon as Cody walked up to us in line they had opened the gates and we were close to the front. It went quickly!

We saw all the animals, got a snack, played at the playground, rode the train, saw some more animals, and then had to get out of there before we got hurt!!! By 11:00 am the crowds had turned and it was everyone for themselves! Somehow, we got out the gates but then realized it was going to be just as hard to get out of the parking lot! And, if we hadn't punished ourselves enough already, we decided to eat at Chick-fil-A down the road so that the boys could have some lunch before they fell asleep in the car. We had to park in front of the dumpster!

Oh, what we will do for our kids...........

Random

Ok, so my fifth post of the night. Just catching up on some of the pics I wanted to post. The first two below are of the boys playing Ring Around the Rosie and just goofing off together. The third is Jace sitting on the potty. He starts pointing at his diaper and trying to pull off his clothes anytime the other little boys sit on the potty, so I've been letting him sit on it to get used to the potty, how cute! The fourth pic is of Jace going for a ride on daddy's back.

Valentine's Day

The boys had a Valentine's Day party at their Mother's Day Out the week of Valentine's Day. I put pics below showing them the morning of their party. The last one is with them sitting at their table with their Valentine's for their friends as well as their candy bars for their teachers! I have so much fun with that stuff!

Happy Birthday Holly!

My best friend from High School, Holly, had her 29th birthday the weekend of Valentine's Day. We graduated from Alma High, go Airedales!! Anyways, a group went to eat at Doe's in Fort Smith. Talk about a real steak, can't beat it! The pic below is: Holly, Belinda, Me, and April

Jack opening one of his Potty Presents

Potty Celebration!

Well, Jack is officially potty-trained! We started about a month ago and Jack got the concept of pee-peeing in the potty on the first day. Of course, he had some accidents (sorry about your floor Ashley), but he really did great. Poo-poo on the other hand took a while. But, after we caught him in the act one day and got him to do it on the potty, one week later and only 2 accidents later (both in the first two days) we think he's got it down!

We went to Chuck-E-Cheese last night to celebrate because he had opened all of his potty presents! Hooray for no more diapers! He's wearing big boy underwear all of the time. We are still putting a pull-up on him at night time and nap time, but he is waking up dry at both times.


Mommy and Jack celebrating at Chuck-E-Cheese!





Jack riding his favorite ride, the horse one of course!




Daddy and Jace enjoying the festivities as well!




Jack and his friend Lucas showing off what they got with their tickets.