Tate's Farm

Here are some pictures from our trip to Tate's Farm.

Jack's First Titan's Football Game

Daddy and Jackson at the game

Mommy and Jackson getting ready for the game

Daddy and Jackson before the game

Jackson in his sling getting ready for our walk into the stadium

Jackson watching the Titans play ball

Jackson slept through the 2nd half

Jack's First Titan's Football Game

St. Jude's Campaign for a Cure

Jason and I have been supporting the work of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital for the past few years. St. Jude’s is a non-profit organization with the mission to find cures for children with catastrophic illnesses through research and treatment. Today, nearly 5,000 children are being treated by the doctors and nurses at St. Jude’s. Children like Joshua Hooper, who was discovered to have neuroblastoma in October 2003. Thanks to St. Jude's, Joshua is still fighting.

We’ve volunteered to help the St. Jude Campaign for a Cure this year. At St. Jude, no family is ever turned away due to their inability to pay. We need money to save the lives of these precious children and to find more effective ways to cure childhood cancer. In the last three years, approximately 85% of the money St. Jude has raised has gone to the current or future needs of the hospital. But we need your help to continue this great work.

Would you consider supporting the work at St. Jude's? There are a variety of ways you can help:

• You can donate online by clicking here. You can sign up to join the monthly giving program (only $19 a month can make a considerable difference in the life of a child) or you can make a one-time donation with a debit or credit card.
  
• Sunny and I will be collecting one-time donations over the next three weeks. Please make checks payable to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. We will be mailing in all the donations we receive on Nov. 15th.
  
• If you're more comfortable, you can mail your donation directly to St. Jude at P.O. Box 187, Memphis, TN 38101-0187. If you'd like more information before making your donation, visit www.stjude.org or call 1 800 822 6344.
  
• If you're unable to contribute financially, please continue to pray for these children suffering with cancer and their families.
  

This is a cause that Jason and I believe in and we solicit your help and your prayers. Every dollar we give can help make a difference in the lives of these children and their families.

Just Horsing Around

After lunch yesterday, Abby Kate and Joshua were in the playroom singing "Old McDonald" while rocking on their horses (which they have named Jake).

Jackson at Four Months

13 pounds, 12 1/2 ounces, 24 inches

I can lift my head while on my tummy.

I love to laugh out loud.

I can hold my head steady when being held.

I can reach for my toys.

I rolled over from my belly to my back.

I can grasp my toys.

I can pull my pacy out.

I "spin" when lying on the floor.

I love to watch Joshua and Abby Kate running around the house.

I love hearing my own voice.

I love being pulled up to a sitting position.

I smiled at myself in the mirror.

I love to play.

I love hearing my mommy's and daddy's voices.

I cry every time my mommy or daddy puts me down.
*My mommy has really spoiled me, but she wouldn't have it any other way!*

I am starting to take better and longer naps.

I still love cuddling with mommy and daddy.

Unfortunately, I have eczema now.

I love watching the ceiling fans.

I love to suck my thumb.

I am losing my hair.

Joshua-isms

The other day, Jason and I were talking about all the funny things Joshua has said here lately. We were thinking about what he said to Ashley at her wedding. After seeing her, he said in full voice, "You look like a princess!" That got us talking about all the other funny things (or Joshua-isms) he's said here lately.

• We were coming home from church a few weeks ago and Jason and I were talking about what we wanted for dinner. I made the comment that I hadn't been to the store lately and we didn't have any food at the house. In the back of the van, Joshua turned to Abby Kate and said, "Mommy needs to go to the store and get food for us!"
• He calls Pop Tarts "Top Tarts". Honeycomb is "Ponycomb". I guess he's easily confused by breakfast foods.
• His favorite phrase right now is "What are you doing?" He asks us that about 50 times a day.
  
• The kids have recently been talking about some of the Genesis stories in their Bible class. On the way to church this morning, we were talking to them about Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Jacob and Joseph. I asked him who Abraham's wife was. "Sarah," he said. Then, out of nowhere, Joshua says, "They gonna have to make a baby!" That one really cracked Jason up.
  
• Speaking of babies, the other day we were talking about Jackson.
  Joshua said, "Jackson came out of your belly, right?"
  "That's right," I said. "Was Mommy's belly big then?"
  "Yeah."
  "Is Mommy's belly big now?"
  "No." (Awww. Thanks, son!)
  "Is your belly big?"
  "No."
  "Is Abby Kate's belly big?"
  "No."
  "Is Daddy's belly big?"
  Joshua thought long and hard and said, "Yeah, Daddy's belly is REALLY big!"
  

Nap Time

Today, all five of us took a two hour nap! I don't remember the last time that happened, but I loved it!

Random Thoughts

Some random thoughts I've had recently...

• I got "twinned" this weekend. I think that the kids knew that I was one parent short, so they really took advantage of the situation. I love having twins, but it is a lot of work!
• Do they make socks without the line across the toe? This is the cause of many battles with Abby Kate. She cannot stand that line and it has to be just perfect. Can someone say OCD?
• I have spent 9 out of the past 15 nights without my hubby!
• Joshua and Abby Kate wake up every morning dry. When do you stop putting on the pull ups? Joshua has been potty trained since March and Abby Kate since June.
• I am making my own bar-b-q for dinner tonight (thanks Stacy). I am very anxious to find out how I did.
• Post pregnancy hair loss!
  
• I am ready for the cooler temperatures to stay!
• Joshua has started the endless questioning! I am trying my hardest to be patient, but I am having to answer some of the most obvious questions 100 times a day. I know that this is a phase and that it will end soon. At the same time, I am just trying to keep my sanity.
  
• I found some awesome deals at the consignment sale the other day. Don't you just love a bargain? I am ready to see how much I made in consigning my own clothes.
• I can't wait for Jason to graduate in May!!! He will be receiving his Masters of Divinity from Lipscomb. 81 hours of credit - that's 27 classes!!! He only had 9 hours credit before Joshua and Abby Kate were born.
• Why can't we all just eat over our plates?
  
• I am looking forward to going to Tate's Farm again this year. The kids are excited about picking out a pumpkin.
• Joshua is going to be SpiderMan for Halloween. Abby Kate is going to be a fairy and Jackson is a pumpkin (or as Jason likes to call him a "JACK - o - lantern".
• Over the weekend, I joined a gym.
• I have been cross stitching for Alisha. Its been awhile since I have cross stitched and my hands are aching so badly. Its also hard for me to see the gray thread that I am working with. I am getting closer to turning the big 3-0, but come on!
• The kids did really well in the wedding this weekend. When Joshua saw Ashley, he told her that she was a princess. All night long, he asked me where the princess was.
• As you will see below, Joshua was not at all afraid of getting his picture taken!
• Joshua wore the white polo and sweater with white shorts. All of the kids walked down the aisle barefoot.
  
• Abby Kate was smiling from ear to ear the whole way down the aisle!
  

Here are some pictures from the wedding. Hope that you enjoy!

I Take It Back!

After much debate, I have decided to put both kids in completely different outfits. I will post pictures after the wedding. Joshua will NOT be wearing a "fruity" outfit. I just can't bear to see my little boy wearing one of those!

Having Fun

Joshua and Abby Kate are in a wedding with their Sunday School class this weekend. This will be the only time that you will ever see Joshua in one of "these" outfits. He is so excited about the wedding and his "white" shoes!

I am trying to decide between two dresses for Abby Kate this weekend. When we put this one on, Joshua told Abby Kate that she looked like Cinderella! Just melted my heart! Abby Kate is excited about "walking down the mile".

Jackson loves his new "Kangaroo" position in his sling!

My Little Man In Black

Wow! Look At The Size Of That Ear!

Joshua got bit by a mosquito last night! When I dropped him off at Preschool this morning, I quickly noticed that his ear was a little red. I was called a few hours later by the director. She said that his ear was really red and starting to swell. I immediately went to pick him up and could not believe the size of his ear! I scheduled an appointment with the doctor just to make sure everything was okay. Joshua spent the rest of the morning running errands with me and Jackson. We ate lunch at McDonald's. Afterwards, we ran over to the play area at the mall. When we saw the doctor, he said, "Wow! I've never seen an ear that big before". He reassured me and said that some kids just respond that way to mosquito bites. Something to do with the saliva of the mosquito. Apparently, he is allergic to mosquitos! He gave us some Allegra and sent us on our way. We have all gotten mosquito bites this past week. We've killed two, but I guess that we have more in the house. Any ideas on how to keep the mosquitos away?
Abby Kate and Joshua wore their Titan's outfits to school today. Of course, I took a picture!

Since When...

...is honking one's horn such an insult! In most countries, honking one's horn is a common courtesy. Yet, here in America, it can become the worst thing that you do to another driver.

Yesterday, while driving home from church, Jason honked our horn. The car that was in the right lane was making a lane change. He was getting over into our lane, the only problem - we were right beside him. Apparently we were in his blind spot. To keep this fella from hitting us, Jason let him know that we were right there with him. Do you know what this guy did??? He gave us a very unkind hand gesture! What??? He almost hit us!

Today, while waiting for my friend Alisha to show up at a consignment sale, I had the pleasure of watching another "horn" episode. (Keep in mind that these are all women looking for a prime parking spot at a consignment sale - that would be the "mommy" type.) There was a lady driving a white minivan that passed up a spot and decided to throw the mini in reverse to park in the missed spot. Well, she apparently forgot to look in her rear view mirror (yes, there are other people in the world) and see that another car was behind her. In fear of getting hit and by way of letting the minivan driving mom know that she was behind her, this lady did all that she could do - she honked her horn! Well, the minivan woman did not like hearing the horn, so she high tailed it out of there (good thing there were no kids in the parking aisle that she raced down). The best part was that both women ended up parking on the same aisle as the other and there was only one parking space between their two vehicles. They stared each other down all the way to the door.

Unfortunately, I have had way too many drivers say horrible things to me (even though I can't hear them since I am in my car and they in theirs), use unkind hand gestures and hit their brakes, all because I used my horn. Sometimes, I am not even honking at them, but someone else! Why is honking your horn such an insult?