Working in the yard!

Parker and Maddie!
Parker!

Luke!

My flower planting buddy!

Maddie Claire!


It has been so beautiful outside we decided to start cleaning our yard and getting it ready for Spring. We went to Lowe's and bought all our supplies and Maddie Claire got to pick out all the flowers she wanted. She had been begging to plant flowers for about a month and we let her pick whatever she wanted. She loves to dig in the dirt and we had a blast getting the beds ready then planting the flowers. The boys took on the backyard. We want to extend the patio and get some sod back there. We were able to get a 1/4 of the patio done and really cleaned up all the vines and creepers that had taken over our back yard. It is going to be a long summer getting our backyard ready but hope to have everything done by next spring. I can't wait to get a picnic table out there to eat dinners and just spend time outside. The kids have had a blast playing in all the dirt. Digging tunnels, trying to dig to Hawaii(it is only 300 miles away I learned!), playing Zombie tag. I am so glad to see them use their imagination and not stuck in front of the tv or Wii. I am almost thinking it is time to give up tv again. I will post some more pics of the yard later and keep a running diary of the progress. I can't wait to see it next spring!

Caleb is 6!

Caleb the Birthday King at school!

Caleb with Mrs. Connor!

Can I open my presents now?

My birthday brownie!

My baby boy turned 6 on March 31st! I can't believe it has been 6 years. Where has the time gone? This past year was a big one! He started Kindergarten! Started playing soccer! Learned how to ride a motorized dirt bike! Learned to read!

He is such a sweet and tender boy. He is very compassionate and really gets upset if others are hurt. He is learning to be a gentleman and really sticks up for the girls that are picked on. He is learning the true meaning of friendship. He is finding the power of prayer. His love for God and Jesus makes my momma's heart happy. I love seeing him grow in the Lord.

He is also 100% boy. He can be rough and tumble with his brothers. He loves GI Joe and all things that blow up and makes lots of noise. He loves to play with his Nerf guns. He and Scott will play hide and seek with the guns. They have so much fun. He loves all sports and loves to play football with Scott. He finally learned to keep his eye on the ball after being hit in the face a couple hundred times!

I love the fact he still loves to cuddle with his mommy. I also cherish every time he calls me mommy. I know the day is close when he will stop calling me mommy. I love the way he will pick "flowers" for me because he knows it makes me happy. I love the way he will tell me he loves me just because. I love the way he wants to take care of me because he is a "man" and that is what men do.

Caleb, you are the best son a mommy could have. I am so proud of the young man you are becoming. I see the way the Lord works in your heart. Even at such a young age I can see you letting the Holy Spirit guide you. Keep up the good work. I love you more than all the stars in the sky. You are my heart!

Love,

Mommy

Carpool

This is how Maddie Claire sleeps in the car.

Maddie Claire does not like the light in her eyes when she is trying to sleep. This is how she fixes that. She has been putting her blankie over her head like this since she was about 6 months old. At first it used to scare me, but now I'm used to it. This is carpool for us. She falls asleep just like this.

Eating is hard work

Sleeping Baby
Isn't she so sweet?
Eating is just too tough!

Lazy Days

Caleb squishing Maddie Claire
I love my baby sister

Caleb and Maddie Claire love to watch tv together. Maddie Claire will do pretty much whatever Caleb does. If he's on the couch then she is too. If he is playing with cars and trucks then she is too. I love weekends that we have nothing planned. We can lay around in our pj's and do nothing. Lazy days are the best!

Happy Birthday Luke!

Here we are at Incahoots
Me and Maddie Claire
Daddy and the birthday boy
Luke blowing out his candle
My 3 boys

Luke turned 6. I can't believe he is so old now. To celebrate we went to Incahoots and sat on the patio. The kids love to listen and look at the waterfall. It was so hot it almost wasn't worth it. We had a good time being together. Maddie at one point decided to paint her face with ketchup. It was pretty funny. Luke enjoyed his dinner and his cake. Happy Birthday Luke! We are so proud of the young man you are turning into. We love you!

Playday

Maddie Claire and Caleb at McDonald's
Maddie Claire loves to slide
The best big brother in the world!

I took Caleb and Maddie Claire to McDonald's one afternoon to play. They shared a Coke and fries and played for an hour and a half. Maddie Claire really loves playplaces now. She is now big enough to go up with a little help from her big brother. We had a good time and it was good way to let them use their energy (you know wear them out to take a nap).

My Little Sparkler!

Do what Daddy?
I am such a big girl now!
What is this?

Here are some pics Scott took of Maddie Claire on July 4th. I love them and wanted to share with ya'll. It is so nice having a girly girl. It is like having my own little doll to dress up and she likes it. Caleb never was much for trying on clothes as a baby. Being the mommy of a girl has been absolutely wonderful. I love it! Hope ya'll enjoy my Claire Bear!

My Maddie!

Happy 5th Birthday Caleb!

Five years ago today at 8:03 am my first born son came into the world. All 7 pounds and 15 ounces of him. He was so little and cute and I was in love immediately. I remember the joy and pride I felt when I looked at him. All 10 fingers and all 10 toes. Cute little button nose, beautiful pouty lips, big brown eyes and his angel kiss in between his eyes that really showed when he was mad! He finally made my dream come true. My dream to be a mother. That day is one of the happiest in my life.

Caleb, I love you. You are one of the funniest people I know. You are smart, handsome and genuinely a good boy. You take care of your mommy and baby sister. I have dreaded this birthday more than any other. This birthday is the one that takes you from being my little boy who gets to stay home to my big boy who will start school soon. I have 4 more months with you all to myself before I have to start letting go to see how you fly. You have made me so proud. Keep letting Jesus guide your life. Never forget the desire to know Jesus more. As I have prayed for you since you were in my womb I pray for you to fall head over heels in love with your Maker. I pray He will guide your thoughts and steps. You have such a sweet spirit and I know God will use you for His own work. This is a big year for you. You start school and start a new chapter in your life. You are on your way to growing up. Never forget you are still my baby and I love you to the moon and back!

Thomas the Train Day

Thomas the Tank Engine!
My kiddos
Tiger Woods look out!
Happy Birthday Caleb!
All Aboard!

Friday we went to the Thomas the train day in Calera. We met our playgroup friends there and had a day full of fun. There were clowns doing balloon puppets, tattoos, mini golf, bounce houses, Sir Toppemhat and much more. We decided to ride the smaller steam engine and had a blast. Caleb loves riding trains and this one was a fun ride as well. We had a birthday party for Caleb there and ate cupcakes and he opened his gifts. It was a full day of fun!

Easter!

But I want that one!
What do we have here?
Look at this!
Yes, I got my momma's big mouth!
How about a kiss?

This was Maddie's second Easter. She was able to hunt for eggs for the first time. She wasn't real thrilled with the whole idea. Although, she did like to hold the eggs and chew on them. We went to a friends house and there were tons of our friends from church there. We had a cookout and picnic on the back lawn. We had a blast.

Good Weekend!

It has been a while since I have blogged. Sorry to both of you that read my blog. I'll try not to take so long between blogs. I mean, I know you can't even enjoy your week without the daily going ons of this crazy girl. Anyway, we had all 18 kids this weekend. That makes for a busy, exhausting, crazy and good weekend. Saturday morning was spent at the house digesting the cinnamon french toast Papa Bear makes almost every Saturday. It is sooooooooooo good! Then my hubbie surprised me with an early anniversary present. He bought me 2 months of Nutri-System. Before any women get mad at him for being insensitive and suggesting his beloved needed to lose weight in the first place, this is what I wanted. He was going to buy me a set of golf clubs. (I love these and can't wait to get them soon.) Anyway, back to the Nutri-System(NS), if you come over for dinner I will be fixing dinner for everybody else and I will have my NS. If we decline invitations to go out to eat it isn't because we don't like you it is because that is all I am eating for the next 2 1/2 months. Can't wait for NS to get here so I can get this last 800 pounds off. Just kidding it is more like 40 pounds. After the kids naps we headed out to drive around and get out of the house. We ended up at Edwin Watts golf shop to look. I love the clubs I am going to get. Have I mentioned that yet? Then we decided to take our nice little family to a good and wholesome restaraunt to partake of our evening meal. We went to Hooter's. Of course, we went for the food not the service. I don't know why we went there but we did. We realized it isn't such a good idea to go anywhere Luke can read the walls. He got to watch the tv the whole time. After all that excitement it was time to head back home with any dignity we had left. Sunday was our annual church picnic and Easter egg hunt. I would post pics, but I forgot my camera. Did I mention we had all 18 kids? I'm just glad we all made it to church with all the kids, a picnic and Easter baskets. Thankfully I have friends that took some pics and I will post those soon. Maddie had her first egg hunt and hated it. Parker beat the other boys and found the most eggs. Scott sulked for not being able to get one of Nancy's box lunches. I guess a ham sandwich isn't good enough for our King of the castle. Our picnic was fun. Oh, and I got a sunburn! That topped it all off. Our weekend was wonderful. We love having all our kids home. Hope everyone has a great spring break and a Happy Easter.

Doctor Time!

I am bored!
Want to color with me?
A little green over here...
Almost finished with a masterpiece!

Madeleine went to the doctor the other day. I thought she might have an ear infection 'cause with her you never know. Remember the last ear infection. Thankfully she was just teething. I could not pass up taking some pics of her in her diaper. I love diaper pics. This is also the first time she has ever colored. She loved it. Maybe she'll be an artist someday!

Got Milk?

Yummy milk!
Chillin'
Happy girl!

Madeleine loves drinking her bottle or sippy cup in her crib. I know people say don't let babies do it, but come on look at her. She loves her crib. She loves laying back and drinking in her crib alone. I always peek in and watch her to make sure she doesn't get choked. Isn't she the cutest thing ever. I know momma's biased but just look at her.

Caleb's Tonsilectomy

Caleb when we got to the hospital
When he got back from surgery
Taking the "magic straw" out
Mommy rocking her little man

We got to Children's South about 9:45. We were taken back immediately and put in his room. There was a fish on the door with his name on it. He thought that was really cool. He had to change into his gown and then we talked to the nurse. She told him they had a Buzz Lightyear spaceship mask and he got to pick out the flavor smell he wanted for the giggle gas. He chose cotton candy(he really is my son). They came and got him soon after that. He was such a big boy and walked down the hall with the nurse and didn't even look back. Thank goodness 'cause his momma was bawlin'. About 45 minutes later he was back with us. He was so big and brave. I was really proud of him. I just held and rocked my baby. He has had a good couple of days and he has been a trooper. The doctors and nurses were wonderful and took care of my baby when he wasn't with me. One of the best hospital experiences I have ever had. Thank you for all your prayers.