More baby birds

We just had our 3rd nest hatch a few days ago. From what we can tell there are 3 babies in this one. We didn't get any pictures of just the eggs because after we noticed the nest the first time and looked there was only 1 small robin's egg. We checked a few more times but still only the 1 egg. We finally quit looking thinking the mother had either been caught or abandoned the nest. Guess she was just waiting to lay her other eggs. We should be able to tell more in a few days when they get a little bigger.



Our 1st nest had been built in a ficas tree we had temporarily moved onto the porch for a few days. About 2 weeks ago our front porch became the scene of a massacre. We woke up one morning to find the ficas tree knocked over and the birds (all but some feathers) missing! They were only a week old. We had noticed an huge orange cat stalking around the house but never thought he could knock over the tree. The kids were sad (and mad at that cat).

This was those babies a few days before the massacre



Our 2nd nest was much higher (over the lights on either side of the garage) so they were safe. This nest is now empty as the babies have flown.



The 3rd nest is safe as it is above the gutter at our back door. The garbage can is kept there but we have moved it so the cat can't use it as a tool to reach these babies.

We have really enjoyed all these baby birds around the house. They are quite loud at feeding time especially when there are alot of them :)

Caleb's Birthday Celebration

Thursday Caleb turned 6 and we celebrated by having dinner at Sonny's BBQ with my family (Matt's parents were at the beach for the week). Caleb loves to go to Sonny's for their sweet tea and chicken fingers :) He was so excited all day long about going to eat and of course getting some presents. There were some presents sitting on the table when he came home from school and we wouldn't let him open them, this trauma may affect him for life :)

He got a new Spiderman helmet and pads (which he needed as his elbow have taken a beaten on his new scooter, now if we can just get him to wear them), Spiderman goggles and dive sticks, a light saber, and a scooter (though he got the scooter a few weeks ago as an early present).





We finished off dinner with a Krispy Kreme Donut Cake! He loves their original glazed donuts and we hardly ever get them as their isn't a Krispy Kreme close to us. He isn't a huge fan of cake so this was a great alternative plus everyone loves Krispy Kreme :)



Matt even got a picture of me and the kiddos afterwards.

6 yrs ago today

we welcomed the cutest little boy into our family. We are so blessed to be Caleb's parents. He makes us laugh and cry (and sometimes pull our hair out). I plan on posting about how we celebrated his birthday but will wait until tomorrow b/c I am pooped! We have been running all week and our weekend isn't going to be any slower.

Caleb, you make me so happy. I can not imagine what my life would be like without you in it (pretty dull, I think). I am proud to be your mommy. I pray that you will grow into a fine young man who loves the Lord. I pray that you will be blessed with a Christian wife one day and will experience the joy of being a dad. I love you my sweet baby boy and look forward to watching you continue to grow.

Love, Your Princess aka your mommy :)

Center Hill Dam Part 1

This past weekend we went to Center Hill Dam to Chris's cabin to celebrate Hope's 36th birthday! We had a great time even with all the rain. It cleared up on Saturday afternoon for a couple of hours and we were able to enjoy a walk down to the marina (two and a half miles to be exact but who was counting)! The kids had a blast looking at the boats and picking one to rent when we go back down this summer (we decided on a pontoon boat that had a slide off the top deck that landed you in the water). We had planned on going canoeing but weren't able to b/c of all the rain, something about the river was having to be regenerated to keep it at the right level since there had been so much rain lately.

We also enjoyed a nice lunch at a different marina Saturday afternoon. We got to check out a really nice houseboat that I will be buying if I ever run across an extra $220,000! It had 4 bedrooms and 2 baths and this really nice party deck up top! It would be so much fun to own one and park it on the Intercoastal Waterway and whenever we wanted take it all the way down to Florida :) A girl can dream, right! Saturday night we had a low country boil for dinner that was great. Then the rain settled back in and we pretty much stayed in the cabin the rest of the time. Hopefully when we go back this summer we won't have so much rain and can get out more.

The Lake


Chris, Madison and Taylor enjoying the rocking chairs on the back porch


Nana and Pops having breakfast


There were daisy's up and down the road. Matt took this picture and it looks like the flower is floating.


Nana and Madison


Uncle Chris and Madison


The kids looking at the minnows


Madison hitching a ride on the way back


She feel asleep :)

Mayfield Dairy

On Tuesday Matt and I were able to join Taylor and a couple other 3rd grade classes on a trip to the Mayfield Dairy. This was her last field trip this year though they still have some fun things planned like a end of the year party and Fun Day (this is similar to Track and Field Day). We didn't go as chaperons but meet the classes there, this is the best way to go on field trips I believe :) She was so tired by the end of the day and her legs were hurting pretty bad from all the walking around but she smiled the whole day. After the tour (and free ice cream at then end) the classes loaded back onto the buses and headed to eat lunch at Cracker Barrel. We got separated from the buses and got back on the interstate, headed the wrong direction! By the time we realized that we had gone the wrong way we knew it was too late to turn around and find them. Taylor wasn't too upset that we didn't eat lunch with her, she actually laughed that we went the wrong way. However, Matt and I were able to enjoy a nice quiet lunch together at Chili's :) Here are some pictures from the Dairy (there aren't alot b/c you can't take pictures inside the dairy). It was actually a neat thing to see. We say not only Mayfield milk being processed but also Great Value/Walmart milk. They are processed in different ways. It was neat to see.

The Mayfield Cow


Taylor and Matt waiting for the tour to begin


These 5 girls were in Taylor's group (each chaperon had 5 kids)


Enjoying their ice cream after the tour

Cove Lake State Park

This past weekend we headed up to Cove Lake State Park for our 1st camping trip of the year. We camped with the Tomlinson's as we always do and had such a good time :) On Saturday a few of the families in our H2H joined us for some visiting and eating. All the kids had so much fun riding bikes or scooters, blowing bubbles, getting rides in the bike trailer from Aaron and playing on the playground. Taylor, Caleb and Madison received new scooters as birthday presents (Caleb and Madison's were early presents). They loved their new scooters.



Taylor, Clara and Kaleigh riding around the campground


Clara checking out the too hot slides :(


Some of our H2H families


Madison chilling out in the shade for a moment


Caleb enjoying his new scooter


Madison and Clara getting ready for a bike ride


We even got a little fishing in on Sunday. We didn't have any worms so used some leftover pancakes :) And Madison caught a fish with those pancakes (however neither one of the other 2 kiddos caught anything). Madison was the last one to get a turn at fishing. Matt helped her cast her line and said "it will be hilarious if Madison catches a fish." About that time the bobber/floater started bobbing a little and then all of sudden went under! Everyone started screaming "yeah" and Madison was grinning and so excited. Matt helped her reel it in and when they pulled it up out of the water Madison started climbing out of Matt's lap fast! I don't think she really knew what to expect but it wasn't that :) We released the blue-gill that was about the size of my hand back into the water as we were not interested in cleaning and fixing fish.





Madison's 1st time fishing...reeling the line with Daddy


She caught a fish!


It was a bluegill about the size of my hand and she didn't know what to think!


We had such a great time and can't wait for school to be over so we can go camping again.

Taylor turns 9!

Today my baby girl turned 9! I can't believe she is nine years old, where has the time gone? It seems like we just brought her home from the hospital :) I remember just sitting around staring at her little face and praying we didn't mess her up. So far we haven't :)

Her birthday week started off pretty rough and not what she was expecting but after lots of resting she is finally feeling much more like herself. I am so glad because I hate seeing one of my babies feeling so bad.

She went to school for a full day and was able to control her pain with only mortin however needed a dose of loritab at bedtime. She was really wanting to go today because it was Grandparent's Day and they had a special lunch planned for the grandparents. She was able to have all 4 grandparents be with her today. And managed to make it the whole day.

Tonight we celebrated her birthday (and Nana's too as her birthday is Monday) with dinner at Olive Garden. Both sets of Grandparents as well as Aunt Hope and Uncle Chris were able to be with us. After a wonderful dinner we finished it off with a chocolate cake with butter cream icing, yummy! Taylor received so many presents....clothes, new earrings, crafts, books and a new Webkinz! She is also getting a new scooter and having a bowling party in a few weeks.

I am so proud of now big my little girl is becoming. She is a joy to be around. She is sensitive and loving. She still loves to cuddle and sometimes even crawls in bed with me at night :) She is a wonderful daughter and I am so blessed to be called her mommy. I can't wait to see what wonderful things God does with her life!

Happy Birthday sweet Taylor!

(I have pictures to post but they need to be gone through. Hopefully I will get them on sometime next week. We are leaving tomorrow to go camping with some friends! Another one of the ways we are celebrating Taylor's birthday)