IT'S A BOY!!!

MY SISTER, TERESA HAD A SONOGRAM AND CONFIRMED THAT THEY ARE INDEED HAVING ANOTHER BOY! I AM JUST SO EXCITED FOR THEM. TERESA SAID THINGS ARE GOING WELL. SHE IS FEELING THIS LITTLE GUY MOVE ALL OVER THE PLACE AND THAT IS SO COMFORTING TO HER. TERESA AND CLINT ARE BOTH SO HAPPY TO BE HAVING ANOTHER BOY. THEY HAVE DECIDED TO NAME HIM WINSTON LAMAR. I LOVE THAT THEY ARE GIVING HIM SPENSER'S MIDDLE NAME. WHAT A GREAT THING FOR THESE BROTHER'S TO SHARE.



SO, WITHOUT DELAY, I INTRODUCE MR. WINSTON LAMAR...

AREN'T THESE 3D ULTRASOUND PICTURES AMAZING! ONLY ABOUT 4 MORE MONTHS AND I CAN GET MY HANDS ON THIS LITTLE FELLOW.

I TOLD MY FRIEND KIM THE NAME THEY HAVE CHOSEN AND SHE SAID SHE WOULD BE EXPECTING TO BUY HIS NOVEL ONE DAY. IT SOUNDED LIKE THE NAME OF A GREAT AUTHOR. I TOLD HER SHE HAD NO IDEA HOW MUCH CLINT WOULD LOVE THAT SENTIMENT.

PLEASE KEEP CLINT, TERESA, AND LITTLE WINSTON IN YOUR PRAYERS. GOD'S PLAN IS SO HARD FOR US TO SEE AT TIMES, ESPECIALLY IN THE KIND OF LOSS THEY HAVE EXPERIENCED. PLEASE PRAY THAT THEY WILL FEEL HIS PRESENCE AND PEACE EVEN WHILE WE DON'T ALWAYS UNDERSTAND. I THANK GOD FOR THE BLESSING OF LITTLE WINSTON ON THE WAY!

MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND!

WE HAD A GREAT TIME TOGETHER THIS WEEKEND. WE DID NOT DO ANY OF THE USUAL THINGS FOR THE HOLIDAY WEEKEND. WE STAYED HOME AND WORKED ON THE HOUSE.

MARK FRAMED THE KITCHEN WINDOW (LOVE IT!) AND BUILT THE FRAME FOR THE KITCHEN FLOOR TO EXTEND INTO THE ADDITION BEFORE YOU STEP DOWN INTO THE DEN.

I WORKED ON TEARING DOWN THE LAYERS OF PANELING AND OLD WALL PAPER FROM THE BACK GUEST BEDROOM...ABSOLUTELY GROSS! I HATE TO SOUND LIKE A PRIMA DONNA BUT THE DIRT AND MOLD WAS COVERING ME AFTER THAT JOB. EVEN WEARING A MASK I COULD SMELL IT. MARK HAS TO LAUGH AT ME BEING SO CAUTIOUS BECAUSE HE JUST JUMPS IN AND GETS THINGS DONE. I MAKE THE BOYS EVACUATE THE AREA, PUT ON MY MASK, PUT ON MY HAS MAT SUIT...JUST KIDDING ON THAT LAST ONE, BUT IF YOU KNOW WHERE I COULD GET SOME... ;-). THERE ARE NO PICTURES OF ME WORKING SINCE I AM THE OFFICIAL PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE FAMILY.

THE BOYS ARE JUST THE BEST SPORTS ABOUT ALL OF THIS. BY MONDAY I COULD TELL THAT MASON AND ANDREW JUST WANTED TO STAY HOME AND VEG OUT. WE SLEPT IN A LITTLE AFTER MARK LEFT TO GET STARTED ON HIS WORK THEN GOT UP TO WATCH CARTOONS. BY 1:00pm I ASKED THE BOYS TO GET DRESSED AND WE WOULD GO SEE WHAT DAD WANTED FOR LUNCH AND HELP HIM FOR A LITTLE WHILE. THEY WERE BOTH A LITTLE WHINY BUT WENT ALONG WITH ME. INSTEAD OF COMPLAINING, THEY MADE SOME FUN FOR THEMSELVES.

WHAT DO YOU GET WHEN YOU COMBINE DIRT, ROCKS, SHINGLE NAILS AND TWO LITTLE BOYS "WORKING" WITH YOU ON A REMODEL PROJECT?

A ROCK TRAIN, OF COURSE!

THEY FURNISHED THEIR NEW BEDROOMS WITH FURNITURE BUILT FROM SCRAP LUMBER. ANDREW IS SITTING ON HIS "SOFA" WHILE MASON TAKES A NAP ON HIS "SEMI-TWIN BED".

EVERY GUY NEEDS A RADIO IN HIS NEW BACHELOR PAD!

AND OF COURSE, AN ALARM CLOCK TO GET UP IN TIME FOR SCHOOL. ALTHOUGH, IT MAY BE A LITTLE LATE FOR THAT!

AND THE CHICKS CAN'T RESIST WATCHING SPONGE BOB ON THIS COOL FLAT SCREEN TV!

I JUST LOVE HOW THEY CAN USE THEIR IMAGINATION SO VIVIDLY! SOMETIMES I WORRY THAT OUR "INSTANT GRATIFICATION" SOCIETY HAS STIFLED THIS IN OUR KIDS. THIS OLD HOUSE RESTORATION JUST GOES TO SHOW THAT KIDS ARE STILL KIDS. GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY THEIR LITTLE MINDS WILL AMAZE YOU. WHEN WE ARE AT THE "YUCKY HOUSE" WORKING THERE IS NO TV, VIDEO GAMES, COMPUTER, OR ELECTRONIC GADGETS. JUST A RADIO PLAYING, A FEW DUMP TRUCKS, HOT WHEEL CARS AND THEIR IMAGINATIONS. AS IT TURNS OUT, THEY ARE CHOOSING THE LATTER...AND I AM SO THRILLED!

VISIT MARY TO CHECK OUT WHAT THE OTHER KIDS HAVE BEEN UP TO ON THIS TINY TOT TUESDAY!

THE PROGRESSION...

WE STILL HAVE A LONG WAY TO GO, BUT WHEN I LOOK BACK I REALIZE WE HAVE REALLY COME A LONG WAY.

HERE IS THE FRONT OF THE HOUSE BEFORE THE ADDTION.

HERE IT IS AFTER THE ADDITION.

HERE IS THE BACK OF THE HOUSE BEFORE THE CONCRETE WAS POURED FOR THE ADDITION.

AND HERE IS THE BACK WHEN THE FRAMING WAS ALMOST COMPLETE.

THINGS ARE REALLY MOVING ALONG AND I AM GETTING EVEN MORE EXCITED. WE ARE STILL RENOVATING THE OLD PART OF THE HOUSE AND THAT WILL TAKE SOME TIME AS WELL AS FINISHING THE INSIDE.

THERE ARE SO MANY DECISIONS TO BE MADE WITH THE INTERIOR! I WILL BE ASKING MY BLOG BUDDIES TO HELP WITH SUGGESTIONS AS I NARROW DOWN THE CHOICES. I WILL START WITH THE KITCHEN. I GET SO MANY GREAT IDEAS IN MY HEAD AND HAVE A HARD TIME PUTTING THE PIECES TOGETHER. I LOVE TO SEE EVERYONE'S DIFFERENT TASTES AND STYLES. THAT IS MY PROBLEM, I LOVE SO MANY DIFFERENT LOOKS. SO GET READY TO SHARE YOUR IDEAS WITH ME!

THERE ARE SOME THINGS MEN JUST DON'T DO...

WHILE THE BOYS AND I WERE IN THE CAR WAITING FOR YET ANOTHER FAST FOOD FIX. I WAS WRITING OUT MY GROCERY LIST. I ASKED MASON WHAT WE SHOULD GET AT THE STORE. ANDREW ASKED ME IF DADDY JUST WENT TO THE STORE. THEN THE CONVERSATION WENT LIKE THIS:

MOMMY : YES, DADDY WENT TO THE STORE BUT HE ONLY GOT A FEW THINGS.

ANDREW : DID HE MAKE A LIST?

MASON : NO, ANDREW, MEN DON'T MAKE LISTS.

ANDREW : WHY? DO THEY KNOW MORE THAN GIRLS?

MASON : NO, IT'S JUST THAT BOYS KNOW SOME THINGS THAT GIRLS DON'T AND GIRLS KNOW SOME THINGS THAT BOYS DON'T.

I SAT IN THE FRONT SEAT SMILING. IT IS SO CUTE TO SEE HOW THEY PUT THE WORLD TOGETHER IN THEIR MINDS. I THOUGHT THAT WAS A PRETTY GOOD EXPLAINATION OF THINGS. AT 8 YEARS OLD HE HAS A PRETTY GOOD IDEA OF HOW THINGS WORK IN LIFE.

NOW I NEED TO BREAK THE NEWS TO MARK THAT HE DOESN'T KNOW EVERYTHING. ;-) OH, MAYBE THAT MEANS I DON'T KNOW EVERYTHING EITHER...WE'LL, WE DON'T HAVE TO TELL MARK THAT PART. :-0

THIS MORNING ANDREW AND I WERE ENJOYING OUR TIME IN THE CAR TOGETHER. WE HAVE SOME OF OUR BEST CONVERSATIONS AS WE COMMUTE 30 MINUTES TO HIS BABYSITTER, RONDA'S, AND MY OFFICE. HE NEVER CEASES TO AMAZE ME WITH HIS "WISDOM" BEYOND HIS 4 YEARS. THIS WAS TODAY'S GEM... (THE ITALICIED ARE MY FLOODING THOUGHT IN THIS MOMENT)

ANDREW: MOM, I WANT TO BE RICH.

MOM: WHY DO YOU WANT TO BE RICH? HOW DOES HE KNOW WHAT "RICH" MEANS? OH, YEAH, BIG BROTHER

ANDREW: BECAUSE I WANT MONEY.

MOM: YOU KNOW MONEY IS NOT THE MOST IMPORTANT THING.

ANDREW: YEAH, BUT IT'S IMPORTANT WHEN YOU WANT A LEAPSTER.

WELL, MY ATTEMPT TO TEACH HIM ABOUT EARNING PRIVILAGES BY DENYING THE LEAPSTER AND EXPECTING HIM TO SAVE HIS MONEY HAS TURNED HIM INTO A CAPITALIST PIG! ;-)

MOM: TELL ME WHAT IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN MONEY?

ANDREW: GOD.

MOM: RIGHT! WHAT ELSE?

ANDREW: MY BROTHER

WHEW! I FEEL BETTER NOW. WE HAVE NOT LOST ALL PERSPECTIVE AS HE STRIVES TO ACHIEVE BY EARNING HIS LEAPSTER.


CHECK OUT WHAT THE REST OF THE KIDS ARE SAYING TO MAKE US THANK THE LORD FOR WHO THEY ARE...AND GIGGLE AT NOT BEFORE 7 . YOU MAY EVEN WANT TO SHARE A LINK TO SOME OF YOUR KIDS CRACK UPS.

CONFESSION OF A LONELY WOMAN...

I HAVE BEEN GOING TO BED ALONE AT NIGHT. MARK FELL OFF A LADDER AND HURT HIS LEG. HE HAS A BONE BRUISE SO HE IS SLEEPING ON THE COUCH TO KEEP IS LEG PROPPED UP AND PREVENT "SOMEONE" FROM KICKING IT.

I HAVE TRIED TO BE PATIENT AND WAIT FOR HIM TO GET WELL, BUT A GIRL GETS LONELY AT NIGHT...

I DON'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED, BUT SATURDAY MORNING I WOKE UP WITH 2 GUYS IN MY BED.

I GUESS I SUCCUMBED TO A WEEK MOMENT...

OH, NOW YOU DIDN'T THINK...

INTRODUCING KASEY & KELLY

LAST WEEKEND I HAD THE BEST TIME WITH KASEY AND KELLY TAKING FUN ENGAGEMENT PHOTOS. I HAVE WORKED WITH KASEY'S MOM FOR YEARS AND HAVE GOTTEN TO SEE HIM GROW INTO A GREAT GUY. AND NOW I HAVE GOTTEN TO MEET HIS WONDERFUL FIANCE! THEY ARE SO MUCH FUN AND SO PHOTOGENIC. EVEN A NOVICE LIKE ME CAN END UP WITH SOME GREAT PICTURES WITH A COUPLE LIKE THIS! I REALLY ENJOYED THE OPPORTUNITY TO TRY TO CAPTURE THEIR HAPPINESS IN THEIR FLEETING GLANCES AND LAUGHTER. THEY EVEN WENT ALONG WITH MY CRAZY IDEAS AND WE ENDED UP WITH SOME FUN PICTURES.

My Mother's Day Present

I HAD SUCH A WONDERFUL MOTHER'S DAY. I WOKE UP TO ANDREW BRINGING ME THE CARD HE PICKED OUT FOR ME...

WHEN I OPENED THE CARD IT PLAYED THE MUSIC FROM STAR WARS...

YOU KNOW,

THE "DARTH VADER" MUSIC.

AND IT SAID...

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY?" I SAID AS MARK BELLOWED WITH LAUGHTER. HE TOLD ME THE WHOLE STORY OF TAKING THE BOYS TO PICK OUT CARDS FOR ME AND THAT ANDREW PICKED THIS DARTH VADER CARD. HE TRIED TO EXPLAIN TO HIM THAT IT WAS NOT A MOTHER'S DAY CARD BUT ANDREW WAS ADIMANT THAT THIS WAS THE CARD FOR HIS MOMMY. I LOVE HOW HE WROTE HIS LITTLE NAME IN RED INK AT THE BOTTOM. NOW HE LOVES TO OPEN THE CARD AND "MARCH" TO THE MUSIC.

MASON IS SHOWING HIS "BIG BOY" SENSE OF HUMOR...

I LOVE HIS HANDWRITING!

OK, WHAT DOES A MOTHER NOT LOVE ABOUT HER BABIES?

MARK ASKED WHAT I WANTED FOR MOTHER'S DAY AND I SAID, "I JUST WANT A DAY THAT WE SLOW DOWN AND ENJOY EACH OTHER." WELL, THAT IS JUST WHAT HE DELIVERED. WE HAD A NICE LUNCH, A TRIP TO THE HARDWARE STORE TO LOOK AT MORE KITCHEN CABINETS, AND THEN MY FAVORITE...

WE HAD A PICNIC AT THE LAKE FOR DINNER AND FED THE BIRDIES AND SKIPPED ROCKS. I LOVE BEING A MOM.

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY...

TO ALL YOU WONDERFULL MOMMIES! I hope you all get to enjoy the day and spend it remembering what a AWESOME gift and responsibility God has given us. The meaning of the word JOY changed for me after we were blessed with our boys. As you can tell from reading this blog, we laugh about things we never thought we would before children. God continues to reveal more and more of his love for me through my relationship with my children. I feel completely in AWE of who God is and waiting to learn more of His plan for our boys and how He is using me to mold them into the men he intends for them to be. I am so privilaged to be their mother and to be a part of their fabulous little lives. I pray I never take one moment for granted.

TAKE ME OUT TO THE BALL GAME...

WE HAVE BEEN EATING A STEADY DIET OF BALLPARK NACHOS THE LAST FEW WEEKS WHILE WE WATCH THE BOYS PLAY BALL. IT IS SO MUCH FUN TO WATCH THESE GUYS.

MASON AND HIS FRIENDS ARE PLAYING IN THE COACH PITCH LEAGUE THIS YEAR. THEY ARE LEARING HOW TO PLAY AT THE NEXT LEVEL. IT IS FUN TO SEE HIM UNDERSTAND THE GAME A LITTLE MORE EACH YEAR. HE IS GETTING MORE DISCIPLINED AND REALLY WATCHES WHAT IS GOING ON IN THE GAME AND BECOMING A GOOD LITTLE HITTER.

SERIOUS BALL PLAYER

WAY TO HUSSLE!

HEY BATTER BATTER!

HIT AND RUN

ANDREW IS JUST A RIOT. HE AND HIS FRIENDS ARE IN THE 4 YEAR OLD T-BALL LEAGUE. WHAT CAN I SAY, YOU JUST NEVER KNOW WHAT YOU MAY SEE HAPPEN AT ONE OF HIS GAMES. WHEN ANDREW WAS PLAYING PITCHER, HE GRABBED THE BALL AND RAN FROM THE COACH AND UMPIRE LIKE IT WAS A FUN GAME OF CHASE. ONE OF ANDREW'S BUDDIES DECIDED TO LYE DOWN IN THE DIRT AND KICK UP HIS LEGS. I AM GLAD THE PARENTS ARE NOT TAKING THIS ALL TOO SERIOUSLY BECAUSE I AM HAVING A BLAST LAUGHING UNTIL MY BELLY HURTS. I DON'T KNOW IF THAT IS FROM THE LAUGHTER OR THE JALEPENIOS ON MY NACHOS.

SWING BATTER!

RUN FORREST RUN!

OK, MY LITTLE LEGS ARE GETTING TIRED.

SOMEBODY HAS HAD ENOUGH!

(NOT ANDREW, BUT IT WAS SO CUTE I HAD TO INCLUDE)