It is time to play in the water!

Caleb got a new sprinkler for his birthday from Aaron, Amy and Clara and today we broke it in so to speak! Caleb and Madison put on their swimsuits and gave it a test run. Madison wasn't too thrilled with it, she would slowly walk towards it but as soon as the water hit her she ran the other way :) It was quite entertaining just watching her. Caleb however would run through it over and over. The grass got a little slick and occasionally he would "slip and slide" which provided us with many laughs.







































They all 3 are ready for the pool to open. Caleb has already requested that we swim when he gets out of school next week. His last day is the 15th. I told him that the pool isn't quite ready for swimming, that the water would still be cold. He doesn't seem to care but I do! It won't be long and our days will be spent at the pool. I am ready for those days b/c it means the kids go to bed earlier and easier! They are so tired after swimming all day that by the time we take baths and eat dinner they are ready to pass out! I love that!!! I love how tan they get too. They got their daddy's coloring and even with sunblock of 50 they get so tan and their hair turns almost white! They look so cute. We really limited Madison's time in the sun last year but this year we won't be as strict. Hopefully she will tan as well as the others. Her arms are already starting to get dark from just being in the back yard.

Happy Birthday Caleb!

Well today my little boy turns 5. I watched him playing yesterday and can't believe how fast he is growing up. It really only seems like yesterday we were bringing him home. We were so excited to have him, the 1st boy on my side of the family since my Granddaddy. Taylor was so excited to have a little brother. She was so proud of him and loved to show him off. She would proudly tell everyone "that is my little brother" and now sometimes I think she would love for him to fall off the planet :) Ok, just kidding she still loves him just sometimes needs a break from him. That is just part of the whole sibling thing.

Caleb has always been very loving and affectionate. He has always loved to crawl up in the bed and sleep with us. He tells me that he will always be my boy even when he is married and doesn't live at home. He has promised me that he won't ever move away from Knoxville. I should have kept a list of all his promises so I could blackmail show him later on. :) He still climbs in my lap every morning when he wakes up to get his cuddle time in.

I was so nervous when we found out Madison was going to be born. I was afraid Caleb would feel like he didn't get enough of my time, that he would feel neglected, etc. He fell in love with her though. He was very possessive. He never tried to hurt her. He is still such a great big brother. He had to grow up pretty quickly. He wasn't the baby anymore. Looking at him today he is even less of a baby. He is quickly growing. He has lost all of the "baby" look and is now a little boy.

When you ask him what he wants to be when he grows up he will proudly say "a daddy". He loves his daddy and they have a special relationship. He will also tell you that "he wants to be a golfer" which makes his daddy very excited. I want him to be all that he wants but most importantly I want him to become a man that loves the Lord. That is the most important goal he can have in this life.

Happy Birthday my sweet little Caleb. I am so glad that God entrusted me to be your mommy. I hope you have a wonderful day and get all the "stuff" you have asked for :)

There is no doubt that Madison is related to Caleb...

This is the 3rd time we have found here under her bed in the morning. We aren't sure how she is getting under there without waking up? She is like Caleb when it comes to sleeping!

Caleb's Artwork

Caleb has been bringing home the cutest artwork lately. I know most preschools have cute artwork but I don't remember Taylor doing any of the stuff Caleb has. Maybe different teachers have different idea books or just end up doing different things but Caleb's teachers this year have done some great things that the kids like. Lately the have been talking about "spring" things like grass and bugs. Two weeks ago Caleb brought home this


"Hairy Housin" (spelling?)

Last week he came home with this


"Caleb the Caterpillar"


and this




and then today he came home with this



I know that I can't keep all his artwork so I have been taking pictures of them and creating a CD of them for each year of preschool. Plus now I have some great craft ideas for when all 10 of our nieces and nephews are here. We are always looking for things for to do when they are here and they love crafts! I have been happy with all our teachers at CSWS but Caleb's this year have really done a wonderful job and I am sad that this is his last year there. Now it is Madison's turn!

Now it is Madison's turn..........

to fall asleep in a weird place/way. Now this position isn't that weird, most mommies and daddies probably have a picture of their child asleep in the highchair but this is a first for us. I don't even think I have one of Taylor or Caleb every falling asleep in the highchair. One night at dinner last week Madison fell asleep. She had been really tired and cranky and I knew she would be going to bed early but I never figured this early! We even got the video camera out to record this. I am going to try and figure out how to post video and get it up b/c it is funny :) We couldn't stop laughing. Now don't call DHS on us b/c we only snapped a few pics and shot a little video before getting her out and putting it in her bed. We aren' that mean but we wanted to have this to show her later in life, every child needs that embarrassing picture for their parents to show to their friends, right?

I survived...barely!

What ever happened to sleeping at a slumber party? I couldn't believe the amount of energy six 8 yr old girls can have! We all had a wonderful time (yes, even I did)on Friday night. The girls were all excited to be here and were full of energy! Every time a new girl would arrive the house would be filled with high pitched squealing. You would think that they hadn't seen each other in years when reality it had only been hours since they had seen each other at school :) Oh to be young and full of energy!



We started the evening by just playing around while everyone arrived. The girls talked about boys, dressed up in all the costumes we have acquired, had a fashion show, etc. The it was time for pizza. I thought they would eat a lot but they didn't. I guess they were too busy. After this we decided to jump into "doing nails" and crafts. We got out the foot bath so each girl could soak her feet. This was a huge hit but I didn't get any pictures of it as I was busy doing the pedicures. They also got manicures. Afterwards we did a few crafts. We had Japanese lanterns and visors to decorate. These were a huge hit!



After this we opened presents and had cake! Actually Taylor didn't want cake she wanted a giant cookie so that is what we had. I didn't get a before picture of it but it was really cute. We made it ourselves. Matt decorated it with flowers and "Happy birthday Taylor" in purple frosting. All the girls loved it. Taylor got lots of good stuff: 2 new webkinz (the green frog and the google), a gift card to justice, $10, and a bracelet making kit.

















Then it was off to the movie room for what I thought would be a movie and bedtime. What was I thinking? 2 movies later those girls were still awake!!!!! Finally at 2 AM I went to bed and told them just to keep it down and. I laid in my bed and within 30 minutes there was no more noise coming from the bonus room and I went to sleep! I was woken up at 7 AM to the sound of 6 pairs of feet running through the house. They were awake and hungry. So I feed them a breakfast of milk/juice and donuts! I know, I know not the most wholesome breakfast but I was looking for fast and easy. By 11:00 the last girl had been picked up and I was ready to crash but alas I couldn't b/c I had 2 baby showers to get ready for.

Both baby showers were lots of fun. Nothing like getting together over good food and talking about girl stuff! Plus rejoicing over new babies, and girl babies at that! Lots of pink was involved!

I am looking forward to a slow and relaxing week and weekend. I am glad all Taylor's friends had fun and am mostly glad I survived!

I think I might be too old for slumber parties though :) I was teasing the girls at the party about going to bed at 9 b/c "slumber" meant sleep. She informed me that it meant "party" so it was a party party! She was too funny. She kept saying these funny things all night!

Happy Birthday Taylor

Today my baby turned 8! Taylor is such a sweet child who minds. She is the one who with only a look will start doing the right thing (while the other 2 take a "harder" discipline). She is compassionate. She is loving. She is beautiful both inside and out. She is so many things. I had really meant to sit down and think hard about what I wanted to write but didn't do that, too many other things going on today :) I have a journal going for each kids that I write in about once a month sometimes more if there is something important to say and I will write in it lots of stuff. My kiddos will get their journal when they turn 18 and can read how I felt while they were growing up. So I think I will leave the mushy stuff to that journal and leave this post at that. So here is Taylor 8 yrs ago and today! I have better pics of her the day she was born but they are before the "digital age" and therefore packed in boxes in a climate controlled storage unit with all our other belongings (I was not about to go digging for them b/c I wouldn't know where to begin that search). So I am relying on Nana's pictures. The quality of the picture isn't that great b/c I had to take "pics" of the pictures.



























Happy Birthday Baby Girl!

(I know that the pictures aren't arranged too nicely but I don't have alot of time to fix it b/c I am trying to get ready for a slumber party Friday night with six 8 yr olds, pack Madison for a overnight trip to Nana and Pops on Friday night and finish a scrapbook I am making for Amy's baby shower on Saturday afternoon....AARGH! What was I thinking?)