One Busy Weekend...a week ago

First, I have to apologize for the not so great pictures. I'm longing more and more for a fancy shmancy camera, but I love how small the one we have is. I can have it with me at all times and I don't have to lug around a huge bag. So, I guess I'll just have to deal with "real life" pictures.

We began the weekend with our very first garage sale.
I'm not sure how to rate the success of the day. We made some money, but I still had a driveway full of stuff at the end of the morning. I really wasn't looking to make money, I was more in it to get rid of stuff and I loved the idea of people coming to me to take it from me...and any change they gave me for it was $.25 more than I had with it sitting in my garage.
I have to admit that it was somewhat of an emotional experience. I am a purger, perhaps an extreme purger to a fault. So, it wasn't hard to see things go. It was, however, somewhat overwhelming to look at our driveway full of "things" that the Lord has blessed us with. He has given us all that we need, with abundance. I looked around and saw so many things that people have generously given to us in a time of need. We've never had much or the means to have much...but here before my eyes was much...much more than we needed.

Alison sold chocolate chips cookies and lemonade.

The poor girl only made a dollar, but she was so excited about that dollar.
She carried it around with her all afternoon, like it was a new pet.
We got to ride in daddy's truck and she waved that dollar out the window to show the world her success. Oh, the simple things that make me smile.

We told her she could buy a treat at the Smithfield Olden Days with the money she made.
We didn't have the heart to tell her there wasn't a single thing she could actually afford-we'll learn that lesson another day. For today, I spent a stinkin' $2.00 on a bubble gum popsicle.

We cooled down with some "real" lemonade and sat in the shade to listen to a bluegrass band play.

The next day, daddy was feeling bluegrass inspired so he played us some tunes while we roasted some marshmellows and splashed in the pool.

Concoction fun

We attempted to make plastic dough out of our new "concoction" book yesterday.
The book said we should make beads and necklaces...
I quickly realized that wasn't going to happen, so I encouraged her to make a coaster for daddy.
I think she had more fun sprinkling flour everywhere than actually making things.
Oh well, what's the point of being a kid if you can't get messy?

Last play date with Nico

Our good friends, the Dunlaps, are moving next week and we are so sad to see them leave. Alison and Nico have been friends since we first moved to Virginia.
Alicia and I both had our second babies while friends and we shared dinner together once a week while her husband was deployed for 6 months.

These two play remarkably well for one who is all princess and one who is all superman.
It's been fun to see them grow up together and watch their two younger siblings join the "chaos".
Saying good-bye is never easy, but I will admit that having technology does make it slightly less painful.

Happy Father's Day!

I know this day is not about the children...but in a way, it really is...because without them, men would not be father's. Alison was beyond excited for Father's Day. We wrote it on our school calendar and she counted down the days. Every day she would say, "It's almost Father's Day" (I'm sorry you don't get to hear her cute excited voice, but I'll always remember the look on her face when she said this). I got Ben some wrist weights, because kickboxing hasn't been hard enough for him lately :). Alison had no idea what they were, but she asked if she could wrap the box. Sure. Why not. Note to self: need to stock more than Christmas wrapping paper in the house. She wrapped the box, but a snowflake sticker on it and put it in a Rudolf bag. She pulled that bag all through the house, putting odd and ends in it to "add" to the present. The next morning I found the cats had chewed a corner off of the bag and Alison had added 2 more cards.
This is one loved daddy!
I mean, doesn't a chewed up bag and a picture of Calliou colored only in red scream love?

Well, it does to this Daddy.
He even let Alison help open it.

He didn't even make Eli get in the picture because he knows not to mess with a boy eating his lunch.
And you know what else this amazing daddy did on HIS day?
He smoked us all brisket for dinner.
It was delicious!
I made him apple crisp for dessert...but forgot the vanilla ice cream.

I love seeing Ben be a dad.
I admit, I'm jealous of the bear hugs Eli will give only him.
And I wish I could have his deep calming effect on Alison.
But it all the more makes me thank the Lord that he gave me Ben.


Tonight, Alison came running inside and said, "Mommy, daddy made me come inside...and I'm not happy." I explained to her that daddy was just protecting her from being hurt by the hot smoker because he loves her SO much. She said, "I'm still sad". I scooped her up in my arms and we sat down in the rocking chair. She looked up at me and said, "Mommy, when you were a kid, and your daddy made you come inside, did some extra snuggles make you feel better?"
Yes. Yes they did.

And it took me back.

To all the times my dad would walk in the door from work and I'd run up to him to give him a hug, but I only came up to his waist. I'd wrap my arms around his knees and he'd kiss the top of my head.
To all the times I'd get hurt and he'd rub it with his hand and make this sound I have no idea how to type and all the pain would magically go away.
To all the times I heard his whistle as I was riding my bike around the neighborhood and I knew it was time to come back to the safety of our home.

There's a comfort that comes from a dad that can be found no where else.

I love you dad!

Lookin' Older

It's hit me the last few days how much older Alison is looking.
4 is right around the corner, and this was just a short year ago...

First French Braids

Princess P calling Daddy

Alison loves calling Daddy at work to tell him about her morning.
She paces around the room as she talks...just like he does.

Just to remember

Oh, my little Eli. My little napkin head.
He loves to rub his food filled hands through his hair during every meal and snack. It drives us slightly bonkers and makes me want to shout, "Your hair is not a napkin!".

He also loves to carry food around. He is the happiest when he has a snippit of food in one of his fists and can walk around and play and smear his treasure on all the furniture. At the end of every meal, when we're taking him out of his chair, he'll sneak a piece of leftover dinner into his hand. I have on occasion found goldfish crackers in his crib as a result of this.

He loves his momma. He cries and forcefully reaches for me every time I leave him...even if he's with daddy.

He loves the kitties almost as much as his momma. He thinks it's a game to follow Milo around and smothers Smoochie as much as possible.


Alison had a breakthrough at the beach yesterday! I took just her with our neighbors to a private beach that was quiet and calm. I anticipated a tear filled event with her clenched to me, but to my surprise, she swam and played in the sand with her friends. She didn't want to leave, and neither did I-it was so precious to see her no longer afraid of the ocean.

"Look, I know I'm cute, but could we just eat lunch?"

Swim Diapers?

Who needs them! Not us!

Hello Hawaii

Thanks Nana for the outfits all the way from Hawaii!
Sorry it took me so long to get these two to cooperate for a decent picture.
(Eli's hair spiking is courtesy of his "fancy" sister)

If only I had some pineapple ice cream to go with my two sweetie pies.

Need to Chill Out

A sudden fever hit Eli yesterday...and didn't leave for a good 24 hours.
He was not a happy camper and after a sleepless night, I wasn't either.
Praise the Lord for a warm sunny day and our little pool on the deck.
My little man was happy again and the cool water helped finally break his fever.
Alison enjoyed a 'whole fruit' popsicle (these things are simply amazing...and I'm not much of a popsicle person). I thought they would be a good treat for Eli's fever, but he didn't have the patience for it. He'd much rather splash the water from his little seat in the pool and make truck sounds. I let the kids play long into nap time and enjoyed our much needed chill out time.

Hope picnic

So many kisses!

Oh, the sweet sound of kisses. My favorite.
When we're putting Eli to bed, we'll tell him to say "night, night" and he'll blow everyone kisses. After we sing him our song and lay him in the crib, he'll lay there and blow us kisses as we leave the room. Honestly, it chokes me up most nights. My sweet little boy is growing up and I love all of his sweet kisses.

Happy Birthdays!!!

We made these 'HAPPY BIRTHDAY' videos for Granddaddy, cousin Katherine and Grandma...my program said they were emailed to the appropriate party, but apparently they never actually got there. We love you all and are so thankful for you! Sorry the birthday wishes are a little belated.

Big Day for Momma

Though blurry, Alison helped me document a big day in my life. I started co-teaching 'Power Cut' this morning at the Y and instructed the "core" section of the workout.
I definitely had butterflies in my stomach the whole time and felt completely odd being in front of everyone, but I survived and I'm hoping it will only get easier from now on.