So...things here have been crazy lately. We have been really busy lately...the pictures above can prove it! Halloween came and went. We went to Knoxville for Homecoming and then visited the Dixie Caverns on the way home. This past weekend we visited Henricus, VA. They had replicas of the Powhatan Indian homes and tribes and also the American settlement there.

Also, our sweet little Benjamin has been sick on and off for three weeks. It's always concerning when your kids are sick and the drs don't really seem to have an answer. We are on some new medicine now in hopes it will kick whatever this is we have. He's still been trying to do some work at home. Today he told me he was going to do some writing. He wrote a lot and then read me what he wrote. He told me a lot of words from "ho ho" to "earrings" and every one's name. Cute thing was when he turned the paper over it was his name written about 25 times. Truth is, he really is learning a lot at school. He had three E's this past report card and one was in Math. All the others were S's. That's enough to make you cry! Here's the secret...I always knew he could do it!

My big boy Samuel is really doing well in school. You would not believe how much he LOVES school. He talks about it constantly. He is learning to read and really wants to read EVERYTHING. I was proud to get the chance to volunteer in his class the other day. He beamed the entire time I was there. It made me feel good that he was proud of me. He's really been helping Brian a lot. Such a little man. He helped rake and bag leaves the other day. He was out there working hard for a really long time. His other interest lately has been football. Much to his father's delight...he chooses to watch football. This Sunday he chose to watch part of the Cowboys/Redskins game by himself. Thankfully he was pulling for Dallas! :) He says he would be really good at football..."he can zig and zag and go really fast!" Maybe he will be heading to Orange Country one day!

Oh my little Gracie. She's basically potty trained now. Can you believe that? I have never been one to love potty training and wasn't really ready to start that all now. But...she really wanted to do it! She has had only a handful of accidents and really seems proud of herself. She still has no desire to wear "big girl pants" but is comfortable in her "diaper panties" (pull ups!) She now seems to love to watch "mooes." Problem is she loves to watch the same ones over and over. Right now it's Dora (the big sister one with the babies) and this Bible Songs DVD we have. I think Santa might have to bring some new "mooes" this Christmas. She's also learned to drink from a straw finally! I knew she could do it but she was scared of spilling water on herself. The first time she did it was quite a production. Every sip she took she would twirl in a circle and say "hooray Gracie!" That was cute but lasted for almost the entire first cup of water!

We cannot wait for the holidays and hope we get a chance to see everyone soon!

Treasures...

According to Webster's Dictionary a treasure is something of great worth or value. Lately I have been trying to savor the time with my kids as precious treasure. I know that every day I get to spend with them is truly a gift from God, something of great worth. It's something I most definitely don't deserve. They say and do so many things that I don't want to forget. I think maybe I should carry a tape recorder with me so I can remember them.

Here's a few things I have to write down.

Samuel has truly become the thinker. He hears things at school every day that he has to process and think about. Lately he is thinking about his teeth falling out. I think his best friend at school told him he thought his tooth was falling out. So...Samuel has been contemplating what happens when your teeth fall out. Here's a few things he thinks...

"How do you talk and eat when you don't have any teeth?"
"When are your teeth going to fall out again (talking to me)?"
"Do you have to go to the beach to get the salt water for your tooth? ( I think his friend told him that you put salt water on the tooth when it falls out! That one has him really confused!)
"Does the tooth fairy only bring money or does she bring toys too?"
As you can see he is going to be fully prepared when his first tooth finally gets loose.


This past weekend we took a trip to Carter Mountain to pick apples. We love this trip and look forward to a fun Fall family time every year. This year we weren't sure if we would have to cancel since we thought the weather might be too rainy and cold. We told the kids that it's a lot colder on top of the mountain because the higher up on the mountain you go the colder it gets.
Samuel's thought was "Mom, do you think God is REALLY cold? He is really high up there."

Benjamin and Gracie really have become best playmates. They play follow the leader almost everyday and I am not sure who likes it best. They carry on conversations that only they understand and they can really "crack" each other up. It so funny to eaves drop on them when they are playing. I know that one of the many reasons Gracie was given to our family was for Bubs. I have a feeling she's really going to be an important person in his life.

Bubs has also become quite the popular kid at school. Everyday when I drop him off or pick him up, children who I have never seen talk to him. I cannot tell you the number of times I hear a kid say "Hi Ben" when we are walking in to school. It's so cute! He just smiles his sweet smile and says "Hi!" Who couldn't love that kid!

Well...Gracie has become quite a talker recently. However most of what she says is in her own language. Here are some more words from Gracie language.

"be up"...this is clean up but she means a broom
"bookie"....milk
"draw" ...a pencil/pen
"eyes"...glasses
"au ga be" ...we think she is saying "Follow me..." She says that when she plays follow the leader.
"Dubadub"...this is the name of her best friend
"ride"...stroller or a buggy
"naynay"...pacy
"panties"...pants

As you can see we laugh all the time at the funny words she uses.

Well...I could write all day about the funny, sweet, and touching things the kids say or do but there just isn't enough time. I am so thankful that God has chosen me to be the mom to these three wonderful kids. It's truly a time to "treasure."

Time for School

Well...I thought it might be nice to catch up here. Just had a friend tell me that he wishes I would blog more often (thanks Ryan! :) ) So here goes...

Well...I guess one of the biggest things that has happened in our house has been the start of school for the boys. This year I sent both Benjamin and Samuel off to "big school." I was quite proud of myself the first day. I held it together until they were out of my sight. What a strange feeling to surrender your protection and control of your child to someone you barely know. I have really had to dig deep and with a lot of prayer and tears I have made it through the last few weeks. Even Brian commented that I "did better than he thought I would."

As far as the boys go, they are doing well. Benjamin is repeating Kindergarten and for the most part mainstreamed. He goes to a Resource Teacher for Language Arts (Reading) and Math. Of course...everyone loves him. It's so funny to walk into that school and have teachers and other children I don't know say "Hi Ben!" and most adults comment about how "sweet" he is. It makes a mom feel to good to see the teachers lovin' on my kid! What's not to love, right???

And Samuel has made me so proud! My shy, sensitive, and thoughtful child was so nervous about the first day. I had to promise him the first day that he was going to have so much fun he wouldn't miss me. (He said he didn't...but any mom would hope that he did miss me just a little!)
He's already made two little buddies. He says he ALWAYS plays with them on the playground and ALWAYS eats lunch with them. His teacher tells us he is doing awesome and just how smart he is. I already knew that and basically I just needed Samuel to figure it out for himself. Oh...and he started to take Karate lessons. His "Master" just gave him two stripes on his belt for being the best listener. He commented how well he listens and follows directions for his age. I think the class boosts his self confidence. He does beam when he talks about Karate the way dad beams about UT football (GO VOLS!)


And...little Gracie is doing just fine hanging with mom. We have had lots of fun. Fortunately, she loves to shop! It's been a blessing to have the time with just her. Her little personality has started to come out so much. It's been fun to be able to do things that a two year old little girl would like to do. Although she desperately wants to go to "her school," I think she would rather be my sidekick and mommy really likes that too!

Then one day Lord willing she will be ready to leave the nest too...

Zip Line

Recently we have had a lot of fun around here. We finally installed a zip line in the backyard. The boys have been loving it and here are a couple of videos.

Samuel and Gracie sing Happy Birthday

Gracie and Samuel sing Happy Birthday to Gracie but Gracie thinks we are singing to Bubby. I think she's pleasantly surprised when she realizes it's her birthday we are singing about.

Gracie's turning two

and where does the time go? It seems like just yesterday I was trying to decide on a name for my first girl and now she's a "toddler." Well she's really becoming quite the independent kid now. She tries to dress herself and put on her shoes. She loves to wear anything pink! When you try to help her she will quickly answer with "my" or "mine."

She's my sidekick and I don't mind it one bit. It's nice to have someone who thinks you "ROCK!" I love the fact that she usually wants to do what I do...cooking, babies, shopping... I guess I didn't really ever think about having a mom/daughter relationship since I lost my mom so young but I cannot wait to share all the "little" things with her as she gets older.

Her favorite food would have to be "rice" which she asks for at almost every meal. As far as a treat...that would be "num nums" which is m&m's. She has another language. "E's" are shoes, "diggidas" are princesses, a "nana" is a pacy and"boya" is Samuel (dont' ask me how she came up with that...we have no idea!). We all love the fact that instead of saying "yes," she says "uh huh!"She has an opinion on EVERYTHING! I guess that's a girl thing...oh and she loves the phone and talking to anyone on it...guess that's a girl thing too!

She loves those two brothers. She is going to be heartbroken in about two weeks when they both head off for school. I am looking forward to the time alone with her but it makes me sad to think how horribly she will miss them. She plays right along with them all the time. In fact I think most times she keeps them in line. They would do ANYTHING for her. My last experience with this very thing was at a birthday party recently. It was a BOYS birthday party but Gracie happened to be there with the boys. She wanted to do the slip n slide but was a bit timid to venture down it alone. My sweet Samuel took her by the hand and walked her down. I think he's smitten with her.

Although... quess who is smitten the most...her daddy! Just the other day when Daddy got home he gave me a kiss just like always. Guess Gracie couldn't be left out...she gave Daddy a big hug, and kiss on the lips with a loud "mummmaaaa." He was beaming! Daddy's little girl!

She's our baby girl. We all call her that and she will be just that I guess for a long time. Wouldn't trade anything in the world for her and feel blessed God chose to give her to us. Happy Birthday to our sweet Gracie!

Gracie's turning two...