Our Little Sunshines

Tea Time!

2012-01-28T17:54:00.000-05:00

Last weekend the girls decided that they were going to have a tea party. They wrote out a menu that included cheeseburgers, cantelope, nut cake (what is that???), almond tea cakes, corn bread, fruit salad, blueberry muffins, apple juice, water, ice water, and hot chocolate...and they even made a tea party banner. We had none of their menu items except the hot chocolate (and water), but they seemed perfectly happy to sip on their chocolate treat.

The monkeys enjoying their hot chocolate. The glasses are actually dessert cups that belonged to my grandmother, but they are nice, heavy glass so I thought they'd be safe to use with little ones. :)

The Tea Party Banner...T-E-A took up a lot of room so Cassidy had to make "Party" significantly smaller. AND her "e" ended up upside down, but I thought she did a pretty good job with her first attempt at bubble letters.

Finn thoroughly enjoyed his sugary drink. He kept telling us, "I LOVE hot chocolate!"

Cassidy wasn't as thrilled. She was convinced that the foamy film on top was a sign that something was wrong with her drink...she said it made the hot chocolate "taste weird" so she couldn't drink it.

Lily was happily gulping hers down, but Cassidy kept going on and on about how she didn't like it so eventually she joined in the chorus.

Finn drank every last drop and ended up with a perfect chocolatey mustache!

FBC Christmas Celebration

2012-01-11T11:47:00.000-05:00

I'm a little behind, but better late than never! :)

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Wacky Wednesday

2012-01-11T11:13:00.000-05:00

Portraits

2011-12-11T14:08:00.000-05:00

Since Cassidy was a baby I've been faithful about taking the kids every year to get their portait made for their birthday...but in the business of this fall I'd fallen down on the job. Earlier this week Joey insisted that I schedule an appointment for Cassidy and Finn "before they don't look like a 6-year-old and 2-year-old anymore!"

Cassidy asked me to put her hair in a bun for her pictures. Normally I'd say NO...her hair is just so lovely...but actually I'd had the same idea this year. Just in the last year she's started letting me pull her hair into a ponytail or bun sometimes and each time I do it takes my breath away. Without those mountains of strawberry blond curls drawing your attention, you really get a chance to see just how lovely her features are...her startlingly blue eyes, her smattering of freckles, her soft, pink lips, her smooth peaches and cream skin, and her eyelashes that go on for miles. I love that the focus shifted and we captured my girl in a new light.

I tried to talk up picture day to Finn...and he promised he would cooperate and smile for the camera. And he did cooperate beautifully, listening to directions and staying still. The photographer tickled, made silly faces, and all but turned flips for him trying to get a toothy grin, but all she got was his sweet, closed-mouth smirk. I think she was a bit baffled, but she has NO idea how great it was that she got a little smile out of him and not his serious Finny stink-eye. :)

And in the end, that's what counts.

2011-12-06T09:07:00.001-05:00

Most days in our home there are fights over toys, meltdowns over homework, cries of "She's being mean!" or "Finn just hit me with Mr. Potato Head!" There is a 6-year-old who thinks she knows everything and hates to be wrong, a 4-year-old that seems incapable of controlling her volume and explosions of energy, and a 2-year-old that believes he's the king and screams at (or smacks) his subjects when they step out of line. I've been under the weather lately, so all this seems amplified, drowning out all the good...and there IS a lot of good, too. My patience is thin and I feel bad when I can't muster the energy for Cassidy when she begs me to "Carry me like you do Finn!" or Lily when she pleads, "Mommy, will you come out and play kickball with us? Please, Please, PLEASE!!!"

And then yesterday morning I dropped Lily off at preschool. I needed to pay her tuition in the office and pick up a beautiful canopy doll bed from her teacher's car (What an awesome Christmas surprise that will be!) so I sent Lily into the classroom and hurried off down the hall. I was halfway to the office when I heard my friend Caroline call, "Tracey, Lily needs you!" As I turned and started back toward the door Mrs. Colborn, her teacher, emerged from the room holding a red-faced, sobbing Lily. Mrs. Colborn put her down and she ran down the hall into my outstretched arms. As we stood there clutching each other, Lily's wet face buried in my shoulder, I realized that her great day at preschool couldn't begin without a hug and kiss from Mommy. In my haste that morning I had forgotten to say goodbye...to send her off to school with love. And she needed that...she needed me. I fought off my own tears, kissed her, and sent her back to class with a smile on her face. That's all she needed. Just me. And my love. All the other stuff - the arguments, the defiance, the meltdowns - are just a part of life, of growing up. But we love each other...and in the end, that's what really counts.

Turkey Day 2011

2011-11-26T16:35:00.000-05:00

We enjoyed yet another wonderful Thanksgiving in Chesapeake with our family. I hardly took any pictures this year. I was too busy soaking in the love. :)

First order of business upon arrival...change into dress-up clothes!

(Lily and Samantha)

Cassidy all dolled up

The Kid Table

(I have FINALLY graduated from this group!)

Sam and Lily...they were two peas in a pod this visit.

Finny watching cartoons

Cassidy as Wonder Woman...LOVE IT!!!

Gran and his children (Sue, Monk, and Mom)

We were so blessed that Gran was feeling good and able to join us again this year. He brought an old photo album from the war and we sat and listened to him tell us about all the pictures, places and people.

Gran with 7 of his 8 great-grandchildren (Finn was asleep!)

There will soon be 9! Heather announced that she is expecting again, due May 21st! We added this wonderful news to our long list of blessings that we thanked God for that day!

No longer with us, but never forgotten.

It was a bittersweet day. There were tears, but there was also plenty of laughter. And love. Oh yes, there was lots and lots of love.

Pretty in Pink

(Lily, Sam, and Cassidy)

Finn had to get in on the action too! :)

As always, we had so many reasons to be thankful...so many reasons to celebrate...so many old memories to relive...and so many new ones to make. I am so blessed to be a part of this beautiful family...and the girls say they can't wait until next year! :)

Turkey Day 2009

2011-11-18T08:59:00.001-05:00

A blast from Turkey Days past! Had to share!!!

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I Love Songs About Turkeys!

2011-11-16T20:30:00.000-05:00

FBC Preschool held its annual 4-Year Thanksgiving Program today. ANY event that involves small children singing songs - preferably with hand motions - is awesome in my book. Children NEVER fail to entertain and today was no different. They were adorable, sweet, and hilarious. What am I going to do next year when I have no preschoolers performing at FBC? Maybe I can crash the party. ;)

Lily was SO eager to find us in the crowd, and once she spotted us she waved, and blew kisses, and yelled, "There's my mommy!" I joked about how funny it was that they were SO excited when they had just seen us 20 minutes before, but in all honestly I wish I could bottle those perfect mommy moments. (P.S. How weird is it that my girl is wearing a tank top in November?!?! At least her outfit was autumn in its color scheme.)

Enjoying some snacks after a stellar performance

Lily and Finn

BFFs, Hannah and Lily

I have to share my videos of the songs they performed. Lily was so poised and serious about performing each motion correctly with a smile on her face, while her buddy Pierce was feelin' the song with his whole body...you'll know who he is right away! Pierce cracked me up! As I was watching the video on my computer this evening, I noticed that Adam (standing next to Lily) was watching her the whole time so that he knew what the motions were...too cute! :)

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Finn's 2nd Birthday

2011-11-16T20:07:00.000-05:00

Before last Friday, if you asked Finn about his birthday he would immediately tell you that he was getting a Tigger cake. "And I eat it like this!" he'd exclaim as he would put an open palm to his mouth and make a loud chomping sound. And that was it...that's all he understood about birthdays...there was cake! Little did he know that there were PRESENTS, too! JACKPOT!!! :)

Finn's Tigger Cake

(My first time doing Tigger, a couple of the colors were a little off. The nose was supposed to have a little more pink in it and the tummy was supposed to be LIGHT yellow. Fortunately, two-year-olds don't care about such things!)

"Happy Birthday, dear Finny! Happy Birthday to you!"

For being such a strong little man, the boy was the most pitiful candle blower outer I've ever seen! Barely any air passed through his lips at all...it was hysterical!

Cassidy and Auntie Jenn...Cassidy is eager for cake!

Lily enjoying a slice of Tigger

Mema and Gran

Auntie Jenn gave Finn an adorable monkey backpack that he wore the rest of the evening...LOVE IT!!!

(Please ignore my scary smile behind Finn.)

True Love

Giving Mema a thank you hug for his Thomas trains.

He LOVES his new Thomas trains and track. He picked out a big "Shake and Go" Thomas from PeePaw and Nana and a Toby from Grandma and Grandpa. He got clothes from us (LAME GIFT!)...he was SO not excited. :)

Completely unrelated, on Saturday we found the kids in Finn's room like this. They were playing Mommy and babies and apparently this is how you get babies ready for bed! :)

Finn's 2-Year Stats

2011-11-15T17:08:00.000-05:00

Finnegan Michael Walls

32 pounds (90th percentile), 35 1/4 inches (75th percentile)

The boy shot up 3 inches in the past 6 months! :) Click here to compare his stats with the girls. Cassidy was the EXACT same height at age 2, but Finn's got a good 4 pounds on her! :)

Birthday pics coming soon... :)

Happy 2nd Birthday, Finnegan Michael!

2011-11-10T06:15:00.001-05:00

My sweet Finn,

HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Today you are two years old. Right now, at this very moment, you are the perfect combination of snuggly baby and busy, independent big boy. You still love spending time cuddled in my arms, but insist on doing many things for yourself like buckling your carseat, brushing your teeth, climbing on and off the potty, scaling ladders on the playground, and even "reading" stories. You love all things boy...especially Thomas, Tigger, Lightning and Mater, tractors, cars, trucks, balls, and dinosaurs...but you also love to be included in any girly, princess game that your sisters invent. You love making pillow forts, collecting rocks in the yard, drawing with sidewalk chalk, and telling jokes. You also love story time and your Ready to Learn Class. We've only been going to RTL for a few weeks now, but you already eagerly anticipate class each week...your teachers and the other parents are so impressed at how well you engage in the class at your young age.

Your mind has grown by leaps and bounds over the last year. You know your colors, your letters (and what sounds the letters make), and you can count to 30 almost by yourself. Mema and I watched in amazement one day while you sat quietly by yourself and sorted our shape blocks by color. Perhaps this is a normal skill for someone your age, but we'd never seen someone so young do that without prompting or help so we were impressed. And you have a great little vocabulary and - when you're in the mood - you love to tell us what's on your mind. You are serious and thoughtful, but also energetic and playful. You have discovered the power of being cute...and you use it to your advantage regularly!

Prayer has been a huge part of your growth this year. You've gone to praying with our help, to praying for the food on your own, and just in the last week you've started praying these long, beautiful prayers. You have been listening when others pray and you try to remember their personal requests and praises in your prayer. It is such a joy to hear you talk with God and to see you beginning to develop a relationship with Him.

Finn, I love you. I love your belly laugh, your sweet smile, the way you tilt your head to the side and sweetly ask, "Please?" I love the way you follow your sisters with adoration and the way they dote on you. I love the way your body feels against mine when you snuggle on my chest and the way you grab my face between your two hands to give me a kiss. I love how excited you get when it's your turn to ride the lawn mower with Daddy...and how excited you get about the world in general. I love your beautiful heart that's growing to know God and His son, Jesus Christ.

Finn, I love you. I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you! I am so thankful that you are a part of our family and that I have the honor of being your mommy. I pray that God will bless and protect you in the coming year. I love you, my sweet boy. You are God's best!

Love,
Mommy

Our Soggy Halloween

2011-11-01T21:54:00.000-04:00

It was rainy and cold for trick-or-treating last night. Joey wanted to skip it and let the kids trick-or-treat from room to room in our house, but the monkeys were beside themselves to go around the neighborhood in their costumes so off we went. The kids had it made...Cassidy and Lily were in the jogging stroller and Finn was in our regular stroller covered by a canopy and snuggled under warm, fuzzy blankets. Joey and I were soaked to the bone. I didn't take any pictures because I was afraid of killing the camera, but we will NEVER forget the fun of last night. The girls were so pleased with themselves in their costumes and Finn was a riot! Once he realized WHAT we were doing ("I GET TREATS!!!") he would start to leap out of the stroller before I had even unhooked the lap bar, grab his pumpkin from my hand ("Give me my fing, Mommy!"), run up the sidewalk and steps, dance excitedly in front of the door until someone opened it, and then would scream "HAPPY HALLOWEEN!" at them. We'd load them all back up to go to the next house and he would giggle and chatter to himself the whole time. Joey and I spent most of the evening cracking up at his antics...PRICELESS!!!

I did manage to snap a few pics of the kids before we left the house...

Lily as Belle, Cassidy as The Great Mouse Detective, and Finn with no costume...yet. :)

Sweet Sisters

(They were pretending that Belle and The Great Mouse Detective were getting married.)

LOVE these sweet babies!

Lily almost froze to death in her Belle costume. And then with 3 houses to go, she had to pee. We made it to two more before I had to race home with her...and then strip her tights and undies off and let her pee in the backyard because Joey had the house keys! :)

She did look lovely, though...and Daddy even consented to let her wear a little lip gloss. :)

I may have mentioned that Cassidy announced about a week ago that she was going to be a detective. It wasn't until just a couple of days ago, though, that I realized that she was The Great Mouse Detective. We threw her costume together in a matter of minutes...my black dress coat, Joey's UNCW derby hat, and eyeliner nose and whiskers. She wouldn't let me make her mouse ears...she said she already HAD ears!

She looked absolutely adorable in the hat, which she wore cock-eyed the whole night! :)

Joey made her a paper magnifying glass...that lasted about 10 seconds in the rain! :)

Everyone in costume

READY FOR CANDY!!!

World's Cutest Duck!

By the end of the evening, that duck head was soaking wet and twice as heavy!

PeeDee the Pirate and the Blustery Day

2011-11-01T21:25:00.000-04:00

Saturday was ECU's Homecoming. Despite the yucky weather, we were excited to head home to Pirate country. Our morning started on 5th Street where we watched the homecoming parade with Aunt Heather, Uncle Bailey, and Jordan.

Cassidy gazing lovingly at her little brother, who is sporting a new ECU shirt that I had whipped up the day before. :)

MAJOR CHEEEEEESE!!!!

ARRRRRRRRRRRRGH!

Aren't we sweet?

Pirate Monkeys

Our first treats of the morning, balloons from UBE. :)

Jordan bundled up in his 4T coat! :)

Ready to watch the parade

Brother Cousins

(Finn's coat is a tad small...it had just occurred to me the day before that he didn't have a new winter coat.)

Here come the ECU Marching Pirates!!!

(Cassidy and Lily don't like all the noise!)

Posing in front of the ECU sign on 5th Street

Family Photo before the game

Our Family Photo

The game was fun...especially once the gale force winds died down around the 4th quarter. The kids hung in really well...we made sure they had plenty of snacks. We cheered the Pirates to victory and then everyone slept soundly on the car ride home. :)

Pumpkin Patch

2011-10-27T20:48:00.000-04:00

Lily's preschool class had their field trip to Smith's Nursery this week. We went on a hay ride, walked through a millet maze, learned about early farm tools and equipment, saw a donkey, fed some goats, and got to pick out a pumpkin. It was a beautiful day for this outdoor fun!

Lilybug and her BFF, "Hannah Banana" (as Finn calls her)

The kids got to walk through a small hay maze on their own before we went into the millet maze.

They would have been perfectly happy to run back and forth through this little maze all morning!

Finn insisted on lining up with the big kids.

Looking at some early farm tools

Listening closely to the presentation

Finn made a friend.

Listening intently...and Lily appears to be mad...or smelling something unpleasant! :)

Meeting the donkey from a distance...apparently she's been known to bite!

Hannah feeding the goats

Finn feeding the goats...he thought that was the coolest thing EVER!

Me and the kiddos on the hayride back to the barn

Snaggle Tooth

2011-10-27T20:34:00.000-04:00

Cassidy lost another tooth over track out, bringing her total to a cool 1/2 dozen. :)

It's so funny how other kids admire the gaping holes in her mouth!

Finny trying to keep his pearly whites clean.

Lily in her "ROCK STAR!!!" jammies. She has a new rock star dance that involves air guitar and lots of head-banging. :)

In completely unrelated news, we had the pleasure of playing with this adorable miss and her big brother last week. The princess made a beeline for the dress-up clothes and could not be talked out of this sparkly gown and its mountains of tulle, even though it was WAY too long for her. I offered many other lovely choices, but she would have none of it...she knows what she likes...and I must say she has excellent taste...she looks adorable! All I can say is the girls better be getting some dress-ups for Christmas! ;)

Finn has decided that he will be a duck for Halloween...althought it's next to impossible to remove his melon from that costume! :)

Lovely Belle...her Halloween plans change daily.

Cassidy announced last week that she's going to be a detective for Halloween...now how the heck am I supposed to put that costume together from our rack of princess gowns?!?!

Rachel decided to care for the largest of our babies...it was almost as big as she was!

SOOOOO SWEET!!!

Oh how I wish he'd be a puppy for Halloween this year! :)

Wiley was a doll the entire visit, but didn't want his picture taken, so I had to snap one quickly when his back was turned. :)

34 x 2

2011-10-13T14:35:00.000-04:00

Joey and John celebrated their 34th birthday last weekend. Our families haven't been together for their birthday in, well, ever, so it was really fun to hang out and eat cake with each other.

HAD to do something cool (and easy) for our boys' birthday cake.

"Happy Birthday, Uncle John and Daddy....Daddy and Uncle Joey...TWIIIIINSSS! Happy Birthday to you!"

Joey scored some tickets for all of us to go see Scotty's album release/birthday concert at Walnut Creek. I made my family bring all those jackets...I NEVER get the weather right and we are often dressed inappropriately.

Waiting for the concert to begin

Cassidy and Daddy...Cassidy was NOT thrilled with all the noise...she's had this sensitivity to loud noises (unless she is making them, of course) since she was little...she doesn't like fireworks and often covers her ears in the movie theater.

Handsome Man...in his big boy underpants! :) BTW, he hasn't had a nighttime accident in over a week and is now pooping pretty consistently on the potty. He did have a poop accident this morning, but I gave him a bunch of fresh figs last night so I think I have to take the blame for that one...DEFINITELY over-fibered him.

Sweet Buggy

The whole gang

Gracie Lou

There was a huge crowd there to support our hometown boy. :)

Finn didn't make it through the concert...

...he completely passed out...

...and so did Connor!

Elizabeth and I paid for it with our backs. :)

We spent the rest of the day playing at the park, eating, and MAYBE we accidentally broke into a house. We managed to make a clean getaway so I'd say that was a successful birthday.

In other news, last week Lily's preschool class was invited to watch a Highway Patrol rescue training.

It was H-O-T that day, so although they were excited, the quickly wilted onto the pavement.

The rescue came complete with helicopter...pretty cool.

Lily, Hannah, Finn, and Cassidy

Lily with her best buds, Hannah and Kayleigh

Potty Training a Monkey - Days 3-5

2011-10-05T19:55:00.001-04:00

Finn's got this "pee-pee in the potty" thing down. He hasn't had an accident (except for a dribble this afternoon that he stopped and then went to the potty to finish) since Sunday. Several times he has called for me and I've found him already in the bathroom on the stool trying to get his pants down. He prides himself on being a big boy now, which has been great except for one thing...

He's convinced that big boys NEVER sit on the potty.

This becomes an issue when it's time to poop because standing and pooping on the bathroom floor is frowned upon in this establishment. So obviously poop has been a bit of an challenge. It didn't help that the boy who usually goes twice a day didn't poop until Day 3 of potty training. I kept looking for signs that he needed to go...the panicked look, clenched cheeks and stiff legs, shuddering...but nothing. For 2 1/2 days he showed no sign that he body was quickly filling with toxic levels of poop. And then, of course, during the 5 seconds I wasn't on him "like white on rice" (as my dad would say) he pooped in his underpants. He at least knew that he needed to get to the bathroom, which was where I found him. Same thing happened again on Tuesday and this afternoon. I was feeling frustrated, not because of the mess, but because I have been so focused on catching him pre- or mid-poop so that we could have a chance to practice going on the potty and I keep missing my opportunity...and I only get one a day. Joey was calm (which was slightly irritating) and assured me that everything would work out and in the meantime there'd only be one clean-up a day. "Says the person who DOESN'T have to clean it up!" I retorted.

Turns out he was right. At dinner Finn suddenly said he needed to go to the potty. When I went to get him I could smell him immediately...more poop was trying to escape! I took him to the bathroom and began what had become our routine of trying to wrestle him onto the potty while promising to read him some books if he would sit still. He was not in the mood and giving me a run for my money so Joey came in to take over. After several minutes of screaming and crying, he had him calmed down...and then Joey came out of the bathroom and closed the door. We left him in there alone for about 5 minutes and when Joey went to check him he had pooped...A LOT! MAJOR CELEBRATION took place...dancing, candy, phone calls, hugs, and a dinosaur toy. Now that we're over that hurdle hopefully the pooping process won't be so harrowing.

Finn also stayed dry all night last night for the first time. We got him up about an hour and a half after he went to bed. He was tired and cranky and not at all inclined to humor our requests for a pee-pee in the potty. He threw a major tantrum which is understandable...I'd be ticked too if someone interrupted my sleep...but sleeping in pee is not an option. We finally told him he could scream and cry as long as he wanted, but he wasn't going back to bed until he peed. After a few more minutes of flipping out - just to make sure we weren't going to crack - he gave in and peed. This was a major victory because the more he gets used to the routine the easier it will be to get him up to pee in the night. AND he woke up dry, so he got big praises and a little toy this morning.

I think it's safe to say that potty training has been a success. We'll still have accidents from time to time, but the progress he's made in 5 days is awesome. DEFINITELY my easiest potty training yet! :) As promised, here's a picture of the monkey in his Mickey Mouse undies:

Lookin' good, Big Boy!!!

OH...and I HAVE to tell you this! (Alternatively Titled: Finger-licking Good)

2011-10-02T21:40:00.000-04:00

Completely forgot to tell this story in Day 1 post, but it's priceless so it must be recorded so that when Finn is grown and has a son who does weird things I can pull up this post and and prove that the boy gets it from his father! :)

So yesterday evening I was with Finn in bathroom. He was using the potty for the second or third time in about 20 minutes...we were all so excited. Anyway, as he was going (in little spurts) he reaches down towards his parts and causes the pee to shoot on the back rim of the potty. I said something like, "That's OK. We'll just clean it up." and, before I can stop him, Finn reaches out, swipes his pointer finger through the little pee pool, and puts it in his mouth. IN HIS MOUTH, people!!! What on earth would possess him to do that?!?!?

And what did I do? Did I gag? Did I scream? Did spend the next 30 minutes trying to safely disinfect his mouth? No, I thought something like, "Eww, gross." I said out loud something like, "No, Finn, we don't eat our pee." and then I totally forgot about it before we even left the bathroom...I actually didn't even remember to tell Joey about it until today. He was totally grossed out, but that was it. If Cassidy had done that during potty training, he would have been on the Internet researching what dreaded diseases could be contracted from drinking your own urine. Guess we've officially crossed the line into veteran parents...and if you're not on fire or bleeding profusely, you'll be OK. :)

Potty Training a Monkey - Day 2

2011-10-02T21:15:00.000-04:00

Still no picture of the world's cutest tushie in Mickey Mouse underpants...maybe tomorrow. I was still on full alert for pee pee accidents, so the camera didn't even cross my mind. We got Finn up at 10:30 p.m., a couple of hours after he had gone to bed, to try and pee. We've found that it helps to do this in the first few days/weeks/months to help them stay dry over night. With Cassidy, Joey would get her up right before he went to bed around 11:00 p.m. and then I'd get her up after I'd nursed Lily at her 4:00 a.m. feeding...this lasted for months. Lily hardly needed any help and within a couple of weeks was waking up crying when she needed to go in the middle of the night. It usually takes a couple of days to figure out what time(s) that specific child needs to get up and go...last night we missed the mark. Two hours was too long and he had wet the bed. We changed the sheets and got him back into dry underpants...and when he woke up at 7:00 a.m. he was still dry! HOORAY! This means he only needs us to get him up once in the night, which is completely fabulous!!!

We had a couple of dribble accidents this morning mixed with some successful trips to the potty. We ventured out to my parents' house for lunch - a definite no-no for potty training, but we have some family friends who are moving to Ohio this week and wanted to see them one last time - and of course Finn decided that was the perfect time to pee all over the floor...THEIR FLOOR. Fortunately they love us so we will probably be invited back.

From that accident till bedtime he had NO accidents. He even took a 3 1/2 hour nap and woke up dry, asked to go potty a few minutes later, and took care of business like an old pro. Here's what I learned today:

Boys' anatomy definitely has its advantages in potty training. Prior to starting this process I was focused on the challenges - sit or stand?, controlling the direction of the pee, etc. But the huge plus is that it's totally FUN to pee with boy parts. It's like your own private fountain. Finn is completely fascinated with the stream flowing from his body that makes bubbles in the potty water. And who wouldn't be? It's just plain cool. My point is after the initial fun of getting praise and treats wore off, I had a lot harder time on Days 2 and 3 with the girls. I think they were getting bored of sitting on the potty, but with Finn he gets to "play" with his own personal squirt gun and then get candy and stickers afterwards...there's NO WAY he's gonna get bored with this! (And, yes, as of today he refuses to sit on the potty unless he feels like he needs to poo poo...so I'm going to have to cart a step stool with me everywhere I go from now on!)
My son is a private bathroom user. We had some resistance and tantrums this morning and finally we (well, Joey) figured out that he wanted us to GET OUT OF THE BATHROOM. Now we get him situated, walk out, crack the door, and wait in the hallway. Within 10 seconds we hear a steady stream and a little voice calling, "Look, Mommy! Look, Daddy! I doing it!" I guess maybe I'd have a harder time if someone was in there staring at me and my parts, too. And - so far - he hasn't peed all over the room. He stands straight and goes right in the potty...SCORE!!!

Poo Poo still eludes us. Joey thought he had gone this evening, but when we got him up there was no poop in the potty. Joey was so sure that he'd heard it come out that he practically stuck his head IN the toilet to look for it. It's gotta be coming...he hasn't gone since yesterday so he can't hold it forever. We'll start supplementing his high fiber diet with fiber gummies in the morning to see if we can't get through our first poop tomorrow. And, honestly, I'm not at all worried. Peeing is the bigger obstacle to me because they do it SO many times a day. Poop usually only happens once or twice...messier, but a lot fewer clean-ups. And I went through a year of Lily purposely holding her poop, so nothing fazes me anymore.

Good day. Praise God for answering our prayers and making this whole process so easy!

Potty Training a Monkey - Day 1

2011-10-01T21:20:00.000-04:00

So, I told myself that we NEEDED to wait to potty train Finn until Cassidy tracked out for her fall break because our schedule would be more relaxed. It would give him time to "get it" before we had to go rushing out the door every morning at 8:00 a.m. And that was true. But, I also dreaded the hyper-alert parenting state, the wet (and sometimes soiled) carpet, sheets, floors, clothes, and sofas, and the occasional kicking and screaming that goes along with trying to convince a toddler that it's WAY more fun to put his pee pee and poo poo in the potty than to just go in a diaper that someone else is then responsible for cleaning. I've been down this road twice before and after the first three days that make you want to run screaming from the house, we've been blessed with great success. This time was different, though. I would be potty training a boy...I have no brothers so I'm learning as I go. I tried to tune out the "boys are so much harder" horror stories and keep a positive mindset...and I had a couple of friends who encouraged me with the "Sure he can do it! Boys are no problem!" talk. I reread my potty training guide - I actually read it to the girls so they would be ready to help. We picked out underpants and candy and other treats and we were all set.

Cassidy tracked out yesterday, so today was THE DAY...the day we would become a diaper-free house. I use the 3-Day Potty Training method, so after breakfast we took off Finn's last diaper and donned a pair of dinosaur underpants...he looked SO stinkin' cute! I'll have to remember to get a picture tomorrow. We've been talking this whole potty thing up for weeks now, but we showed him his sticker chart, reminded him to keep his dinosaurs clean and dry and tell us when he needed to go to the potty. Then, like a hawk, I watched and waited. These training days are long and boring, and often frustrating, but the end results are well worth the time and effort.

I won't bore you with all the details of accidents, rushing to the potty, false alarms, and the pee pool in his seat at dinner that I didn't discover until I was getting him down...he apparently was too busy eating to mention that he was floating in urine. BUT, I will tell you this as an encouragement to all the parents who dread potty training - although we went through 10 pairs of underwear today, we saw some really great things. (I think sometimes you have to look past the accidents to see what they're "getting" and what they can already do these first few days.) Except for two big accidents, every other accident was a small dribble or even just a tiny spot in his underpants, which tells me that he knows how to stop the pee from coming out. We ran to the potty 100 times to sit and do nothing and get back down, but I knew all of those times that he wanted to go sit on the potty he actually NEEDED to go. He was able to listen to his body even though he hadn't quite figured out how to relax and get the pee pee out once he was on the potty. And then, finally, at about 7:30 this evening - with Joey's help and prayer (they actually prayed together in the bathroom) - he pee peed in the potty for the first time. He was SO proud and we did a celebratory dance, passed out stickers, Reese Pieces, and prizes, and called everyone we knew. The kid KNEW he had done something big, and since he'd figured out HOW to do it, he went twice more in the next 20 minutes.

We are definitely not done. We still have lots of practicing to do, we still have to conquer the nights and poo poo, but Day 1 definitely ended on a high note...which helps us feel rejuvenated for Day 2. And now our little monkey, who's not so little anymore, is sleeping blissfully in his big boy bed in a pair of underwear "just like Daddy." :)

Cassidy's 6th Birthday

2011-09-20T20:00:00.001-04:00

On Cassidy's Birthday Eve we let her open one present. The weather was supposed to be chilly the next day so it would be the perfect opportunity to wear...

...her new birthday outfit! Which, of course, she put on immediately to model along with her new (hand-me-down from Mommy) pink plastic wallet. :)

Look at those beautiful baby blues!

Ahhhh, the classic Finny Stink Eye!

The Birthday Girl

LOVE that sweet face!

Photo ops with brother...

...and sister. I have no idea why she insists on holding them in every picture these days!

Everyone in their new outfits

Opening more presents...a princess castle from Mema and Gran.

She insisted on an Elmo cake this year, "because it's really special. It was my FIRST birthday cake!" I love that she doesn't think Elmo is too babyish for a 6-year-old and that she's a bit sentimental.

Make a wish!

Everyone thoroughly enjoyed the cake!

CHEESE!

YUM!!!

The monkeys doing what they do best...tackle each other!

Grandma took us bowling on Saturday...and extended birthday celebration!

Grandma's got some serious bowling skills!

Like my form? It helped me knock down about 2 pins!

Happy 6th Birthday, Cassidy Grace!

2011-09-16T06:55:00.000-04:00

My Sweet Cassidy,

As I sit down to write to you, I am at a loss for words. I usually have much to say, but I am having a hard time putting into words the growth I have witnessed in you over the past year. Gone is the round face of a baby and in it's place is a long, thin one with big, startlingly blue eyes and a smattering of freckles in all the right spots framed by a mass of beautiful strawberry blonde curls. Long and lean, you remind me of a ballerina.

And you know all these things, like how to add and subtract, the names of our first, third, and sixteenth president, and what's on the back of all of our coins. You're writing stories and spelling hard words like "because" and "friend." You are reading from 3rd grade readers, drawing detailed, thoughtful artwork, making baskets in our big goal outside, and "diving" off the diving board.

And you've matured. We can talk about all sorts of things, from how to handle a fight with your sister to ideas from God's Word. You remind us often of what we have read from the bible and make connections from one record in the bible to another. You pray with great believing and rejoice when God answers your prayers..."Mom, I prayed and God healed my scrape!" You take prayer time seriously and remember others prayer requests in your own prayer life. I am so blessed to see you develop your own personal relationship with God. He will always be with you, ready to hear your prayers, to guide you, to comfort you, and to lift you up.

You have such a beautiful, pure heart. Last night you came downstairs...I thought you were just trying to avoid bedtime, but this time you actually had something on your mind.

"Mom, I was thinking that if we have another baby we should have a boy because sometimes Lily and I want to play by ourselves and then Finn would have someone to play with. And sometimes Lily and I fight over Finn and if we had another boy baby then we would each have a baby to play with. So I think we should have a boy baby."

"Well, sweetie, Mommy and Daddy would like to have another baby someday. We'll just have to wait and see what happens, but if that is something that is on your heart, when you think about it you can always pray."

"Can we pray now?"

"Sure."

"God, thank you for the wonderful day we had. Please help me to feel better from my cough. And please help me, Mommy, and Daddy to have another baby. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen."

You blow me away with your believing. You are such a great example to me and Daddy.

This morning I gave you a wallet that was mine when I was a little girl. It's pink and plastic with rainbow striped hearts all over it...I used to think it was the most beautiful thing ever. I wanted you to have something to keep your birthday money in and I wanted you to start learning about saving and spending money...it was time to pass the wallet on to you. And you were as thrilled about that old wallet as you will be with any other gifts you receive...in fact, you were so distracted with looking at it and filling up all the little compartments, I had a hard time getting you out the door for school! It really blessed my heart to see you get so much joy from something so small, yet something that has special meaning to me.

I can't believe that my first baby is 6 years old today! Cassidy, I love you as far as the east is from the west and as deep as the deepest sea! Happy Birthday, Miss Grace! You are God's best!

Love,
Mommy

September 16, 2005

September 16, 2006

September 16, 2007

September 16, 2008

September 16, 2009

September 16, 2010

Lily's 1st Day of "4 Year Old Preschool"

2011-09-08T20:34:00.000-04:00

Since preschool ended last spring Lily's been telling people that she's going to be in "4 year old preschool this year. In Cassidy's class. With Mrs. Colborn and Mrs. Lisa." Yesterday that all became reality.

Lily's 1st Day of Preschool Card

She's wild about Izzy from Jake and the Neverland Pirates...you'll notice in the pics that she's wearing low pig tails like Izzy...she calls them Izzy Tails. :)

We finally purchased new ink for our printer...OUCH, those things are expensive!

My Sweet Lilybug

The girl knows how to pose...can't imagine where she got that from!

Of course, we had to have a special shirt to commemorate the day!

Showing off her backpack

The Walls Girls

From the difference in height you'd never guess these two were only 21 months apart!

Love that sweet glance over the shoulder!

They fight like cats and dogs, but they adore each other and really are each other's best friend. I am SO thankful that they have each other and share such a close relationship!

Had to get a pic with the Finn Man who was still eating breakfast! He desperately needs a haircut...maybe next week...

We had a little time to kill before preschool started, so we took a quick jog with our new jogging stroller...an anniversary/birthday gift from Joey.

In the weeks leading up to the first day, Lily flipped between being excited about her new class and telling us that she wanted to stay with the 3 year olds and Mrs. Beverly...but when the day came she settled right in...next to her best friend, Hannah, of course! :)

Taking the Plunge

2011-09-06T14:32:00.000-04:00

We've spent the past couple of weeks soaking up as much pool time as possible...with summer winding to a close we knew we were going to miss our after-school swim time.

Lily is pure athlete. Whether it's swimming, kickball, gymnastics, OR cheerleading with her Daddy...the girl just gets it!

Chair Sit!

Finny "swimmin'" with Sissy

Right after I wrote the last post about how the girls were becoming expert swimmers, they decided to one-up me. I flippantly asked one afternoon if they wanted to jump off the diving board...and almost fell over when they said "SURE!" and took off for the deep end of the pool. After "catching" Cassidy once she informed me that she didn't need MY help! Both girls LOVE the diving board and started asking to jump off as soon as we would walk in the gate.

CANNONBALL!!!

Lily likes to get a running start...the girl has NO FEAR!

WHEEEEE!!!!

Love the perfectly pointed toes! :)

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Just keep swimming, just keep swimming...

2011-08-20T21:34:00.000-04:00

After several years without a pool membership, we finally splurged again this summer and joined Turner Farms. The past two summers I'd taken the kids out to Lake Johnson Pool in Cary, which is fabulous but far away so we only made it out there several times the entire summer. By the end of last summer the girls were no more at ease in the "big pool" and in the "deep water" (that was all of 3 1/2 feet deep) than they were at the beginning...I had even stooped to buying them water wings...and I have always hated those things! And then come to find out we weren't allowed to wear them at Lake Johnson Pool...talk about adding insult to injury. After the fiasco that was last summer's swim season, I was determined that THIS was the summer that they would FINALLY learn to swim. I had it all mapped out in my head...my mom and I leading morning swim lessons for the younger two while Cassidy was in school and then private afternoon lessons for Cassidy with mommy or Mema. We bought goggles, and a kickboard, and diving rings and I searched online to refresh my memory of how and what I used to teach during my swim instructor days. I was ready.

Turns out I didn't need to prepare. I didn't need to worry. All I needed to do was sign up for a pool membership, pay my money, and then bring them to the pool everyday...or at least a lot. By the second day the two girls who didn't like to go underwater were proudly showing off their submersion skills. Submersion quickly morphed into making cups with their hands and the beginnings of kicking and paddling...two months later my girls are jumping into water that is over their heads and swimming to the ladder unassisted. Janet Evans they are not...not yet anyway...but Lily's got a beautiful little freestyle in the works, both have a mean backstroke start, and Cassidy's backstroke is really starting to take off...I think she may be a backstroker! Most importantly, they are confident in and around the water and a whole new world of fun has been opened up to them!

Finn, too, has become quite the little water bug. He loves running around in the shallow end, practicing kicking and paddling, blowing bubbles, and climbing the ladder. With his sisters as wonderful examples I am certain he'll be swimming with them next summer!

I had to capture some footage of their swimming feats so that we'd always remember the summer that they took to the water! :)

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Works of Art

2011-08-20T20:48:00.000-04:00

Lately, our family's been exploring its artistic side. Last weekend while Joey cut the grass I was playing with the kids outside. They asked if I would trace their bodies on the sidewalk with chalk. We've done this before and usually they'll just scribble a face on the figure and then ask me to trace them again...however, that night their inner artist emerged and we ended up with these masterpieces:

Cassidy's self-portrait in winter clothing...toboggan, gloves, scarf, snowsuit, and shoes. NEVER have I seen her incorporate so much detail and take so much time and care with her coloring. I was beyond impressed...coloring typically doesn't interest her. :)

Lily's self-portrait...she drew her face, hair, shoes (she's apparently naked except for shoes...if you know Lily this is actually pretty accurate!), and the pink squiggly line is a snake. I don't understand the snake, but perhaps that's what gives this piece its artistic flair. :)

As for me, besides my embroidery I took on the challenge of designing a 3D pirate ship cake for a friend's son's 5th birthday. I modeled the ship after the one from Jake and the Neverland Pirates...the birthday boy is a fan of the show.

When I was finished, the cake weighed about 900 pounds and was slightly larger than the cake box I had purchased for it, even though I had carefully measured.

I was pretty proud of the finished piece...and exhausted!...but very happy to make a special boy's birthday memorable! :)

At the party with the two masts I'd made for the cake.

The kids had a blast at the party.

Lily was all smiles...

...because all the monkeys love to bowl!

Lily insisted on bowling "all by myself!"

Finn bowled the highest score of the 3...not bad for his first time! Check out the neon shoes!!! :)

Cassidy insisted on wearing her princess crown...she has this whole hair style schedule now...something different for each day of the week...apparently Saturday is brushed with her princess crown. :)

The Rest of the Story...

2011-08-08T14:52:00.000-04:00

At Mema's graveside service last month, I was commenting to my cousins that I had forgotten to include so many things in the tribute I wrote for her. Like how she and Gran had grapevines growing in their backyard...how she would stand in their tiny kitchen for hours canning homemade grape jam. We used to stand under the hanging vines with her, biting into the dark grape skins until the sweet insides burst into our mouths. The bees loved the grapes as well and sometimes one would mistake Mema's lips for a grape. She wouldn't scream and run or even shoo it away. "It's just kissing my lips," she'd say gently as the bee danced around her mouth drinking the sweet grape juice on it. This memory seared clearly into my mind...probably because I was terrified that the bees were going to think it was open season on my lips too! :)

But the story I wanted to share most of all was one about the beach. It's my last memory of being at the beach with Mema...I think maybe I was in high school so perhaps she was in her 70s. Anyway, at least one day while we were there Mema decided that she wanted to go in the water. We were at Nags Head where the water is always cold and the current and waves are often rough. Mema was always up for an adventure, so despite the rough seas and with my Mom and Uncle Monk's help she joined us past the breakers. I don't remember exactly how it happened, whether the undertow got too strong or whether a rogue wave broke too close to us, but all of a sudden there was a bunch of whooping and hollering as they almost lost her in the surf. And by "they" I mean Uncle Monk...my mother was too busy laughing hysterically to be of any help! There were probably a few calls for assistance, a bit of a struggle, and LOTS of howling laughter, but they finally managed to get her to shore again. I love this story because it completely sums up the beauty and the heart of our family...always sticking together, always finding joy, humor, and fun even in the most harrowing of life's moments. That humid July morning as we stood by Mema's grave I remarked that I wished we had a picture of that day.

A couple of days later as I was preparing for our Sunset Beach trip, I was in Finn's closet looking for something when I spied a stack of photos in a basket on his dresser. I picked up the stack and there it was...

Do you see her?

There she is...jumping the waves with us...probably letting out the occasional "Woooooooo!" as she is lifted over an especially tall one.

I stood in the closet and smiled through my tears and thanked God for the unexpected blessing of this perfectly captured moment with my Mema. Then I ran outside as fast as I could to show Joey. We looked through the rest of the photos and some were just too good not to share...some of Mema and some of some kids with awful hair 'dos and bell bottoms. :)

All dressed up for Mema and Gran's 45th Wedding Anniversary Party

(Allison, Becky, ME, Heather, and Jennifer)

Mema and Gran with all their grandchildren

Me and Mema at Thanksgiving

Mema and Gran sharing a good laugh

Mema and Gran at Mema's infamous "Best Christmas Ever!" Those of you who were there know what I mean. :)

One of my favorite dress-up outfits (age 5)

Me in front of our Charlie Brown Christmas tree with Raggedy Ann and Leslie...check out the pants!

Christmas at Mema and Gran's...the year I got my Pound Puppy! The blue robe behind me is Mema...she wore that robe all the time...probably till it fell apart or Mom and Aunt Sue threw it away. :)

Christmas 1985 at Mema and Gran's

Me and Cousin Ashley...I thought I was the coolest in my new sweater vest thing!

Me, Aunt Brenda, and Jennifer at Ashley's ECU Cheerleading tryouts...Brenda looks like she's 15!

Me and Leslie with my dollhouse

My 5th birthday

This was the only year my mother didn't make my birthday cake...I wanted Smurfette so our next-door neighbor, Jean Jean the Dancin' Machine as my dad called her, made it for me. As cute as this one was, I still liked my mom's cakes better...homemade cakes for birthdays are VERY important to me...just ask Joey. :)

I have NO idea where I am, but I am wearing my most favorite outfit made by my Aunt Brenda! It was Hawaiian print, had one button on the back of the shirt, and I thought it was the best thing EVER! I think I wore it till it fell apart!

Thanksgiving Dinner in Farmville

(I think this was the year we all went and rode horses and go-carts at Trey Peaden's house!)

My 1st Born is a 1st Grader!

2011-08-01T12:28:00.000-04:00

Today Cassidy became a first grader...life is moving too fast and I can't seem to locate the pause button. :)

A card from Mommy hidden in her lunchbox...it's our tradition. And since our printer is out of ink, I had to get creative...and by creative I mean find a picture on the computer, put my paper up to the monitor, and trace away! :)

We're all about Jake and the Neverland Pirates these days...yo ho, let's go! :)

All ready for her first day and sporting a new shirt (designed by her)...

...and a new bookbag since her old one fell apart. :)

She's looking so mature these days.

Finny and Sissy

The Monkeys

Silly Faces!

Mrs. Webb, her new teacher, is young and cute and energetic. The Kindergarten and 1st grade hallway was damaged in a fire a couple of weeks ago, but crews worked round the clock to make sure the students could be in their classrooms this morning. Mrs. Webb's room, 211, is right next door to Cassidy's Kindergarten classroom.

After giving our mountains of school supplies to her teacher and assistant, Cassidy gave us hugs and kisses, found her seat, and got right to work. She only has one friend from Mrs. Jones' class with her this year, but she's totally at ease in new situations and I'm sure she'll have made a passle of new friends by the time we pick her up this afternoon.

Colored Bubbles

2011-07-31T17:28:00.000-04:00

A man must have invented these...

...a woman would know that no mother needs ANOTHER mess to clean up...

...but they sure are fun...

...and apparently double as body paint...

...and can entertain these monkeys for hours!

Visiting Great Gran

2011-07-23T09:11:00.001-04:00

The kids and I spent Thursday and Friday in Richmond visiting my Gran. He absolutely adores children, especially babies, and was thrilled to have us with him for a couple of days.

As soon as we arrived, Finn went right over and let Gran put him in his lap. It was SUCH a blessing for all of us...especially since Finn doesn't go to many people so readily. He must sense how much Gran loves him! They snuggled for a good 15 minutes before Finn got down to explore the room.

Spreading out toys to play while my mom read us some cards from friends and family...including Vera of England.

The girls and Sam were SO excited to see each other!

Dinner at Chick-fil-a...a special treat!

Gran was amazed at how much Finn ate! :)

That evening, Finn and Gran played ball for a looooong time. Gran played football, basketball and baseball in school, but he said he favorite was baseball.

Catch, Gran!!!

Meanwhile the girls played a Disney Princess game...what could be better???

Snuggling with Mema

Before our trip we talked a lot about how excited Great Gran was to see them and how much he loved them. I told them that even though they may not know him very well, they should be as kind and loving as they could be. From the start Cassidy tried her best, although initially she was still shy. After dinner Thursday evening, when I was alone in the car with the kids I reminded them that it would REALLY bless Great Gran and Mommy if they could try to talk to Great Gran. I made a couple of suggestions for conversation topics...school, swimming at the pool, the beach. Cassidy, my sensitive soul, took it all to heart and in the midst of playing that evening came and sat next to Gran. "Great Gran, did you know I can jump half way across the pool?" From there started a conversation about swimming and the beach. I know it blessed Gran and it was all I could do to contain the tears of joy, love and appreciation for my tenderhearted girl!

Turns out Gran's father, my Great Gran, was a baseball player. He was invited to join the major leagues, but his family didn't feel that was an acceptable profession, so he stayed home and farmed because that was the family business. Mom commented that it was sad that he wasn't able to do what he loved and use his talents. That's true, but if he had none of us would be here, so I am very thankful. :)

"Night, Night Gran." Melt my heart!

After breakfast the next morning we played in the Book Nook, a playroom at the Masonic Home for visiting children. The girls...with some help from Ashley...put on a puppet show. :)

Finn exploring all the toys.

Mom and Ashley chatting in the rockers

Gran with 4 of his 8 great-granchildren

(Lily, Samantha, Gran, Finn, and Cassidy)

The girls getting artsy

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I tried to capture some of our special moments on video. I can't tell you what a special time this was for me...watching my kids play with my Gran, seeing the joy in his face, the comfort of being together, the bittersweet feeling of walking into their room that still smells like Mema, the wonderful memories that the furniture and decorations in the room bring back. The past two days were priceless for me and I pray I will get to share many more like them with my Gran.

We thoroughly enjoyed our visit, despite the fact that the air conditioning in the guest rooms was broken. The wonderful nurses let us take over a model efficiency room for the night and we slept comfortably in the cool accomodations. Cassidy promised Gran to return soon and we are looking forward when we can all be together again...perhaps in October for Family Day. We love you, Gran!!!

Big Boy Bed!

2011-07-19T07:54:00.000-04:00

Sunday night I was in the nursery preparing to put Finn to bed. When it was time for me to put him in the crib, he refused and instead jumped on the toddler bed (that I had moved into his room about 2 months ago), laid on his tummy, and wouldn't budge.

"Joey, I think Finn wants to sleep in his big boy bed tonight!"

"OK, but we better Finny-proof the room first."

So, we went about moving the humidifier, the CD player and several other items of toddler interest out of his reach. We rearranged the room so that his toddler bed fit where his crib had been, tucked him in bed, reminded him that he had to stay in bed like a big boy, kissed him and left...fully expecting a meltdown just like we had experienced with both his sisters. (Cassidy stood at the gated door and screamed while Lily, who had no gate on her room, screamed and cried until she fell asleep in front of her closed bedroom door making it nearly impossible for us to get inside to move her.)

There was one distressed call for "Mommy!" and then silence. I went several times to try and listen at the door...but heard nothing. It was so quiet and calm, in fact, that Joey and I were certain that he must be up playing with his toys or reading his books, so Joey went in to check. Nope...our sweet little man was laying in bed, wide awake and perfectly calm. WOW, that was easy!!!

He's slept in his big boy bed twice since then...at naptime yesterday and last night, both times with no incident. I was completely blown away, but Joey said we shouldn't be surprised. It's totally in keeping with his laid-back personality. So I'll just celebrate that we breezed through that milestone. :)

Beach Babies

2011-07-18T14:15:00.000-04:00

Last week was our annual trip to Sunset Beach with my family. It was a much-needed week of no responsibility other than playing in the sand and surf. And boy did we play! Our bodies are exhausted from all the fun, but our hearts and minds are refreshed.

The Lilybug was raring to go!

We were SO excited that the beach had awesome tide pools this year! You never know from year to year if they'll be there and the kids LOVE playing in the shallow water! (Here Finn is partaking in one of their favorite activities...throwing mud!)

Cassidy Grace was in hog heaven. We had to drag her off the beach at the end of each day!

Finn testing the waters...he LOVED the tide pools and would often sit in water that came up to his chin, but he did NOT like the waves in the ocean. The moving water freaked him out and he would run screaming towards higher ground.

Lily showing off her underwater skills in the tide pool. She quickly decided that she didn't care for submerging in the salty water.

Beautiful Boy

Lily jumping the waves with Mema. Both girls got really brave over the course of the week.

Playing in the sand with cousin Jordan...he was thrilled to be with all the kids! SO FUN!!!

Finn making cupcakes...the monkeys make us sand cupcakes all week in a variety of flavors! :)

Cassidy, Jordan, and Lily with Aunt Heather

The Brother Cousins hanging out...my Mom calls them Brother Cousins (a name coined by my aunts and uncle for their sons) because they are so close in age and they have no brothers of their own...yet. :)

HUGS!!!

Soon after, Jordan decided to climb to the top of the couch using Finn as a step stool.

Jordan: WHAT?!?!

Finn: Dude, get the heck off me!!!

The girls working on some writing and coloring after breakfast.

Hanging on Daddy's back like a baby alligator...Finn rode on both of us like this all week!

Sweet Snuggle Bug

Lily figured out how to ride the boogie board like a surf board in the tide pool...she also attempted to use it as a skim board. :)

Our Little Athlete

My Two Favorite Boys

Catching minnows in the tide pool...Joey managed to nab two. Those little buggers are fast!

Because of her height Cassidy had a much harder time balancing on the boogie board, but she finally got the hang of it!

Daddy and his Monkeys

Finn was SO excited about the minnows. He kept asking to "hold one please!"

Me and Jordan on his first birthday. We were so excited to celebrate with him!!! He is just precious!!!

Cassidy made Jordan a special card in honor of his birthday. Here she's reading it to him.

"Happy Birthday to Jordan Pope. Love your favorite cousin in the whole wide world, Cassidy Grace."

Lily and Finn also made Jordan cards for his birthday. Lily drew a picture of Aunt Heather, Uncle Bailey, and Jordan eating popsicles. We don't know what Finn drew, but he did it without eating the crayons. :)

Opening presents

Jordan's new car book was a huge hit!

Cousins

(Cassidy, Jordan, Lily, Finn)

We had snacks on the beach one day so the seagulls were lurking close by. Finn ran to see them...

...and to bring them a bowl of mud to eat!

He even waded...

...all the way across the tide pool...

...to try and catch them.

More sand creations

I love these moments when everyone is playing together and getting along. :)

Storytime with Aunt Heather

Thursday we turned Lily into a mermaid. She refused to leave her tail when we were done and sat alone in the sand...a beached mermaid...for a good 30 minutes. Oh, and she refused to break character the entire time!

Finny sitting on the turtle we attempted to make.

The Burn Victims

My parents both got sunburned our first day at the beach so they had to spend the rest of the week staying as covered as possible.

Daddy and Finn decided that Lily the mermaid was stranded on a pirate island where the natives liked to eat mermaids. Finn is sprinkling spices on Lily so they can cook her! :)

Not to be outdone, Finn decided that he needed to try boogie boarding with his big sisters.

It lasted all of about 30 seconds, but it was super cute!

LOVE this pic of the girls and the surf...only wish Finny was in it too.

But, it was Friday and he was worn slam out. He passed out in Joey's lap under a towel.

By midweek, Mom and I were showing the girls how to ride the waves on the raft. They had a blast!!!

The one picture I managed to get of our wave-riding fun. GO, LILY, GO!!!

My Beautiful Brown as a Berry Babies

Silly Faces!!!

Our Cottage, Gone Away

Mom and Dad's cottage

Here's some video from our trip...mostly the kids running and jumping in the sand and water. :)

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Counting the days until next year's trip!!!

In Memory and Honor of My Mema

2011-07-02T17:31:00.001-04:00

I Thessalonians 4:13-18

But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.

For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.

For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.

For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:

Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

Lillian Josephine Cooper, 3 months

Lillian Josephine Cooper, my Mema, was born October 19, 1917 in Savannah, Georgia. She had one younger brother, Fred.

Mema and Uncle Fred at my wedding, June 10, 2000

As a child she used to take the train with her grandmother to visit Aunt Lila (her mother's sister) in Rich Square, North Carolina. Uncle Goldwire (what a name!) worked for the railroad and was able to get them passes. Her father died from an infection after having a tonsillectomy when she was still a teenager...sadly, penicillin was discovered just two years later.

Lillian Josephine Cooper, 15 months

NOT a good hair day for Mema!

Mema always loved literature and dramatics. She even auditioned to be an extra in Gone With the Wind. Apparently the production fell through several times before the movie was finally made, so she did not have a part in the film, but I always thought that it was still such an exciting story. She told me once that she would have liked to play the part of Melanie. She also loved history (she actually would LOVE that I was documenting what I remember about her life) and had traced our family ancestry back to the Mayflower. She was an active leader in the DAR (Daughters of the American Revolution). One time she was in charge of putting on a period fashion show for the DAR and she roped my mom into being one of the models. My mom was not thrilled, but figured at least she'd get to wear a pretty dress; however when she arrived at the event she was assigned a servant's outfit. To add insult to injury, the costume was about 5 sizes too big! I wish I had a picture...

Mema, fallen asleep while reading

Lillian Josephine Cooper, High School Graduation Portrait

After graduating from high school on June 1 (my birthday), 1935 she enrolled in a small college and earned her teaching degree. She took a job teaching at a small school in Rich Square, which is where she met my grandfather. They were married on November 8, 1941...Pearl Harbor was bombed a month later...and soon Gran was sent to California to be shipped overseas. (Gran was a fighter pilot.) He promised to send for Mema if he was going to be in California any length of time, but his orders kept changing so he would call and tell her to come and then call right back and say, "Don't come. I'll be gone by the time you get here." Finally, Mema Bolton (Gran's mother) told Mema to just go. With the country at war, train tickets were impossible to come by, but Uncle Goldwire managed to get Mema a boarding pass. She met several interesting people on her trip, including another soldier who helped her run from one train to the next to make her connection...all the while begging her to stay and marry him! What a strange time it must have been for the young people.

Mema and Gran...I have NO idea where they are or what they're doing, but it looks like they're having fun!

My favorite picture of Mema and Gran...absolutely breathtaking!

Mema and Gran's wedding announcement

Mema and Gran's Wedding Invitation

Mema made it safely to California and to Gran and they were able to spend about a week together. It was supposed to be a big secret where his ship was docked, but some of the other wives found out where it was, so at the last minute they all jumped into a car, drove to the dock, stood on the end, and waved their hankies as the ship sailed into the horizon. Mema returned home and prayed for the safe return of her husband, her brother, and her two brothers-in-law, all of whom were fighting in different places in the world. Miraculously, all four men returned safely home to their families.

Mema and some other Airforce wives

I had no idea that Mema knew how to shoot a gun!

After a bout with appendicitis that nearly took his life, Gran returned to the states. The Airforce made him a flight instructor and he and Mema enjoyed living and working all over the country. Mema was always very social and loving going and doing whatever Gran wanted to do. As I danced with him on my wedding day, Gran told me that he and Mema loved going to the USO Clubs and dancing.

After the war, Mema and Gran settled in Richmond, Virginia at 3717 Moss Side Avenue where they raised four children and a number of pets, including cats, dogs, birds, ducks, a pig, and a squirrel. She never seemed to mind the noise of a busy house. Mema went back to teaching school and would sometimes take the squirrel with her and let it sleep in her shirt pocket. She and Gran were in attendance at every football game, swim meet, and any other activity of the children's and she would always wait up for the girls when they were at dances or parties so that she could hear about all the fun when they arrived home. Their home was warm and inviting, full of love and laughter and light.

A devoted wife, Mema always went along with whatever Gran wanted to do...and he never did anything without her. When he wanted to join the church choir, she joined too even though she was a terrible singer. She used to say she would just pretend to sing. :)

Mema and Gran's 45th Wedding Anniversary Party (There are quite a few unfortunate hair 'dos in that group!)

Mema and Gran with their children, Monk, Susan, Beverly, and Stafford

Mema and Gran...truly a beautiful couple

Feeding each other cake.

Mema and Gran celebrating their 60th wedding anniversary...even Vera of England was present for the celebration!

Mema and Gran traveled with their church choir to England on a couple of occasions. Mema was in absolute hog heaven...she loved the history, meeting new people, and seeing all the sights. While they were there, they made a number of good friends through the churches that would host them. One friend in particular became a life-long friend. Her name is Vera Taylor and she regularly visited my grandparents in Richmond, staying for a month or more at a time. She was in attendance for many family events...she even made it to my wedding. Mema always introduced her as Vera of England as if she was old British nobility, which always made us laugh. Vera, who is as good humored as my grandparents, ran with the joke and signed the wedding frame that hangs now in my dining room "Vera of England."

Mema and Gran with Cassidy and Lily, Thanksgiving 2007

Mema always said that she was SO lucky that Gran adored babies because when she would get tired of hers, she would just hand them off to him!

Such an amazing example to all of us...Thanksgiving 2008

Mema and Gran with Sue, Monk, and Bev, Thanksgiving 2009

Mema and Gran with 7 of their 8 great-grandchildren

Mema and Gran with all their children, Bev, Sue, Stafford, and Monk

My grandparents were married for 70 years...more than a lifetime for some. I am sure they had challenges along the way as we all do, but they stuck together, hand in hand. The last time I saw Mema and Gran was in April. Mema's memory was not good and she did not know my name, but her face lit up with recognition when she saw me. "Oh! It's you! It's my family!" "Hi, Mema! It's Tracey!" "Oh, Tracey, dahlin'!" She pulled me in and held me tight. We walked to her room together and as we turned the corner she saw Gran. "Oh! There you are! I've been looking for you! Where have you been?" she asked him excitedly. "Hold my hand!" she demanded and as her hand gripped his she talked of what a beautiful life they had had together. She didn't recall the details, but she knew they had shared something precious...70 years of love and laughter. It was a beautiful day. She held my hand and chatted happily about the past. As was her nature, she hardly drew breath, but she finally said, "Oh, now I'm just going on and on and you didn't come here to listen to me." "Of course I did, Mema. I came to see you!" Despite the confusion of her memory, her sweet, bubbly personality remained and it was such a blessing, an honor, and a privilege to be in her presence.

Mema oozed southern charm. I loved to listen to her talk because she used words like "dahlin'" and "mahvelous." She liked to laugh and talk...and she did both, a lot. She had the most lovely, delicate hands you've ever seen and long, beautiful fingernails. As children, we would line up to have our backs gently scratched...I remember thinking I'd never seen my cousin Mark sit so still and quiet as he did when Mema was scratching his back. Whenever we gathered in Richmond for Thanksgiving or Christmas we'd play Trivial Pursuit...boys vs. girls, although it was really a competition between Mema and Gran because they were the ones that knew all the answers!

Four Generations of Cooper Women - Mema, Mema Cooper, ME, and Mom

Me with Mema and Gran

Me and Mema in her kitchen - You can't see, but I'm standing on a big piece of pottery that was always filled with birdseed. We used to love to go outside and feed the birds!

Occasionally my sisters and I would stay with Mema and Gran while my parents would attend a bible conference. One visit I remember in particular because of the special time I got to spend with Mema. She would take me with her to run errands and to get her hair done. While she was sitting under the dryer she gave me money and sent me down the hall to the drug store to buy myself a candy bar. I could not have been more than 6 years old, but I'm sure it was not uncommon in the days of no seatbelts and carseats to give children that kind of freedom. In the evenings, Mema would let me stay up later than my sisters. We'd sit at her little, round kitchen table and talk while she typed up DAR stuff on her old typewriter. It would take her forever - she was a hunt-and-peck typer - but I loved every minute of it. I felt so grown up sitting and talking with her.

Mema LOVED the beach. She used to come to Nags Head with us and loved sitting in the water.

More portraits...she was so lovely.

This is one of my favorites.

With Airforce wings on

Mema with some friends...she always had lots!

Love the old car in the background...and her sweet dress.

Mom and Mema, Summer 2006

Mema with Great Aunt Brownie...who lived to be 104. We live long, wonderful lives in this family!

We named our Lily Anne in honor of my Mema.

Here Mema is meeting her for the first time.

The Two Lilys...beauty beyond words.

Mema was SO pleased to have a namesake. In the dining room that day each time we would tell someone Lily's name, Mema would say, "Named after ME!!!"

Great Grandmother, Grandmother, and Granddaughter

Four Generations of Bolton Women - Mema, Lily, Mom, and Me

Mema visiting with Cassidy - July 2008

Mema holding Finnegan Michael - Thanksgiving 2009

Mema talking with Finny - Thanksgiving 2010

I don't feel like my ramblings here have done my Mema justice, but I don't think any amount of words or memories can sum up the beautiful, amazing person she was. She was such an integral part of my life and she will always be a part of who I am. I will remember her and celebrate her when I look into my own Lily Anne's face and remark for the millionth time how her fire and spunk reminds me of Mema. I will smile when I use the words "dahlin'," "mahvelous," and "horrified" (another of her favorites) and I will stretch the word out a little more and allow my southern drawl to get a little deeper for a moment as I remember the way her voice sounded when she said them. I will laugh when I tell my children the story of her getting flashed in England. I will feel strong when I think of her bravely carrying on while all the men in her family were at war, breaking her arm while fighting a mugger, and battling breast cancer all the while joking about asking the doctors to take some pounds off her other breast, too. I will remember that we share the same blood and I will stand a little taller, work a little harder, be a little braver.

UNTIL THEN

My heart can sing when I pause to remember,

A heartache here is but a stepping stone.

Along a trail that's winding always upward,

This troubled world is not my final home.

But until then my heart will go on singing,

Until then with joy I'll carry on,

Until the day my eyes behold his coming,

Until the day God calls me home.

The things of earth are only temporary,

Remember they are borrowed for awhile.

But things not seen are made of God eternal,

His joy, His peace, His spirit they are mine.

But until then my heart will go on singing

Until then with joy I'll carry on

Until the day my eyes behold his coming

Until the day God calls me home.

Until then...you will always be in our hearts.

Lillian Josephine Cooper Bolton (October 19, 1917 - July 2, 2011)

I Know Who Holds My Hand

2011-07-01T18:05:00.000-04:00

There's lots going on for our family this week. I'm not ready to write about it yet...I'm spending lots of time in prayer, bringing my thoughts to some of my favorite comforting verses from God's Word, and singing some of my favorite spiritual songs. This is one of my favorites, which has especially blessed me the last couple of days.

I Know Who Holds Tomorrow

I don't know about tomorrow, I just live from day to day;

I don't borrow from its sunshine, for its skies may turn to gray.

I don't worry o'er the future, for I know what God has said,

And today I'll walk beside Him, for He knows what is ahead.

Many things about tomorrow, I don't seem to understand;

But I know Who holds tomorrow, and I know Who holds my hand.

Every step is getting brighter, as the golden stairs I climb;

Every burden's getting lighter, every cloud is silver lined;

There the sun is always shining, there no tear will dim the eye;

At the ending of the rainbow, where the mountains touch the sky.

Many things about tomorrow, I don't seem to understand;

But I know who holds tomorrow, and I know who holds my hand.

Rand Road Awards Ceremony

2011-06-30T11:10:00.000-04:00

Yesterday Rand Road Elementary held their end of the year awards ceremony. We had received a letter a couple of weeks ago telling us that Cassidy would receive an award, so Joey got someone to cover his Driver's Ed class and the whole family was in attendance to cheer for Cassidy.

We had to get all dolled up for the occassion!

Lily was SO proud of her big sister!!!

The Monkeys

Cassidy and her teacher, Mrs. Jones

The awards ceremony was REALLY long (we had to remove Finn) and Cassidy's award was the last one they announced, but it was worth the wait! Cassidy won the Outstanding Rand Road Raider award, an award given to one child in each class who has demonstrated excellent character throughout the school year. Seriously, we could not have been more proud if she had won a Nobel Prize.

She went across the stage so quickly that all my pics are a blur!

Proudly holding her award

Joey said it was the best award she could have won...and he's right! We are so proud of all her abilities and talents and all that she has accomplished this year, but above all we are blessed by her beautiful heart.

Our Sweet Girl

Later that afternoon Cassidy's class held their own awards ceremony and talent show...she was SO excited to see us!!!

Cassidy received two awards, excellent reader and super kindergartener. Finn melted down about 5 minutes into the program, so we missed most of the talent show. Mrs. Jones let Cassidy go first so that we could at least see her perform...and her performance is below! :)

Fun in the Sun

2011-06-27T20:21:00.000-04:00

Last Friday, the Kindergarten classes at Rand Road Elementary held their annual "Fun in the Sun" day. My mom is on summer vacation - like many of my family members, she's a teacher - so I was able to volunteer for the morning while Finn and Lily got to play with Mema.

Thursday, Baby Jordan was with us...Aunt Heather, too. When both grandsons wanted to sit in his lap, Gran wanted to capture the moment! :)

Fun in the Sun Day began with tons of bubbles and sidewalk chalk. Most of the children could have cared less about the chalk. :)

Cassidy had not been herself for the past few days...the low-grade fever that she had with the walking pneumonia had returned. But, with as much spunk as she could muster she chased and popped as many bubbles as she could.

She WAS thrilled when she finally got a turn with a giant bubble wand!

Next it was on to Musical Dots. It was so fun to watch all the kids' personalities while playing the games. Cassidy was very focused...she was serious about winning, while some of her classmates danced wildly around the circle to the music! :)

After Musical Dots it was time to bowl. The kids took turns setting up the pins for each other and returning the ball to the bowler.

LOVE this picture! She must REALLY be concentrating!!! :)

And it paid off! She knocked down most of her pins. :)

The class crowded around Mrs. Jones as they listen to directions before the start the water station.

There were water tables and a teacher spraying the kids with a hose. Most of the kids were in hog heaven!

Normally Cassidy would have been right in the middle of all the fun...trying to get as wet as possible. But on Friday she hung back and tried to stay out of the line of fire.

She kept smiling and trying to have fun...

...and for a moment I thought she was going to join in...

...but then she ran over and asked for her towel. She stood next to me the rest of the time.

She did muster up the energy to join her class for the water balloon fight that ended their outdoor activities. I had a nagging suspicion that she was not well, so I took her to the pediatrician after school where we discovered she had traded pneumonia for strep throat. She and Lily are now both on antibiotics again (Lily has a double ear infection). Hopefully everyone will be well in time for the beach trip! :)

Celebration!

2011-06-12T10:42:00.001-04:00

A good portion of our week was devoted to celebrating Lily's 4th birthday. We started early Wednesday morning (her actual birthday) with presents because Joey worked late every night this week and it was his only chance to see her.

Opening a Rapunzel musical brush from Mommy and Daddy...can you tell she's excited???

She is thrilled...this is one of the toys she had picked out at Walmart the week before.

A Rapunzel vanity from PeePaw and Nana

Next, all the kids had a birthday present to open...an early one for Cassidy and Finn.

I made personalized Disney scrapbooks for each of them as mementos of our trip. I had gotten 2 coupons for free books from Snapfish and another coupon for a huge discount on a book from Shutterfly, so I had to jump on the opportunity!

Looking at all their pictures

Finn LOVES his book...he reads it over and over again!

Lily sporting a new hair extension and sitting in front of her new vanity...it is SO cute!

Cassidy's hair extension blends right in, doesn't it? ;)

And he's just too cute not to photograph!

Thursday, after a bout with walking pneumonia, Cassidy finally went back to school. While she was away, Finn and Lily spent the morning playing together in the pool. They enjoy each other's company a little more each day!

Practicing her high wire act

Pretending to be cats and drinking water out of bowls

Friday was spent constructing Lily's Ladybug cake.

I was really pleased...it may be my favorite cake yet!

Lilybug with her Ladybug

On Saturday, each of the girls invited a friend to join us at the pool for swimming and birthday cake. Lily, of course, wanted Hannah! :)

Finn LOVES the pool, especially jumping off the side.

Bennett, Cassidy, and Olivia getting ready for some lunch!

The crowns and princess plates are courtesy of my mom. We stopped by her house on Wednesday...I thought so that Lily could open her birthday present. (My mom was visiting my grandparents in Richmond on Saturday and couldn't make it to the party, but Gran still came to party with us!) However, when we arrived Mema had prepared a mini-party for us...plates, noisemakers, crowns, cupcakes, and presents! It was SO sweet and my only regret is that I didn't have my camera to capture the fun!

After all that swimming, everyone was starving!

Princess Joey

Happy 4th Birthday, Lily Anne!

She had a little trouble blowing out the candle!

A Tinkerbell snow globe (or "snow glow" as Lily calls it) from sweet Hannah

The kids took turns yelling "WATCH ME!!!" and jumping into the pool.

Best Friends

Lily's new favorite thing is going underwater...I could not be more thrilled!

There she goes again!

After the party, Grandma and Grampa arrived for a short visit. Grandpa made the kids a beautiful picnic table. We cannot wait to have our first meal on it!!!

Opening presents from Grandma and Grandpa...3D sidewalk chalk and bubbles.

Dancing with Grandma

He gives the BEST hugs!!!

Happy Birthday, Grandma!!!

2011-06-10T09:41:00.002-04:00

Happy 4th Birthday, Lily Anne!!!

2011-06-07T14:30:00.002-04:00

My precious Lily,

Today you are the much anticipated 4 years old. I know I say this every year, but I cannot believe how the time has flown. I feel like we just brought you home from the hospital...and then again, I feel as if I've known you forever. The most beautiful parts of life always feel that way.

You are so grown-up in many ways, and yet you still ache to be little at times. You fight for your time in my lap, snuggling up close on my chest and asking to hear about when you were a baby. You love to remind me that you were "SO tiny!" You were tiny - you still are - but what you lacked in size (both then and now) you have made up for in spunk, strength, and heart. You have an energy that can't be contained in your sweet, little body and so it explodes all over the place. We are learning together how to harness that energy and direct it so that you can make the most out of your God-given abilities...and you have many. You have shown yourself to be quite the little athlete and performer...Aunt Jessie asked if we had a video of you singing "Eye of the Tiger." She said it would be great footage for when you're on American Idol someday. :) You're also still our resident comedian who charms us daily with her quick wit, piercing blue eyes, and enchanting smile.

More important than your physical talents, is your beautiful, kind heart. You love with wild abandon, you protect with the ferocity of a mama bear, and you endeavor to do your best each day for God and those you love. It's a struggle for you at times...the pull between what you know should do and what your own strong will is pulling you to do. With each passing day you get a little better at controlling those wild impulses that occasionally lead you to mischief. I heard once that if you can teach a strong-willed child to do the right thing, she will ALWAYS do it and never stray. I rejoice that you have such a strong will because I know it will serve you well in doing what is right before God even if it is not the popular path.

Your relationship with Cassidy has matured this year. With Cassidy in Kindergarten and you in preschool, you've both had to learn to survive and thrive without the other. It has been a challenging, but good, experience for you. I've watched you grow as you had to figure out how to play with other kids without Cassidy's direction. You've made your own friends - specifically your best friend, Hannah - and your infectious personality has been a joy to your teachers and classmates. Mrs. Laura and Mrs. Beverly always had cute and funny "Lily moments" to share when I picked you up each day. I am very proud of how you successfully blended obedience and respect with excitement and fun at school.

I've also watched you grow in your role as big sister this year. Finn adores you and it is such a blessing to watch the two of you play, to watch you "read" to him as Cassidy used to "read" to you, and to watch your genuine care and concern for his well-being. You are such a wonderful helper, not only with Finn, but also with household chores...you especially like cleaning the bathrooms and making your own lunch. You seemed to know that "special time" in our home is a luxury and instinctively claimed chore time as Mommy and Lily bonding time. I love these moments with you, working side-by-side and watching you develop a strong work ethic.
Our alone time IS rare and precious, but I treasure those moments playing games, reading books, or even just singing songs at bedtime. I want you to always remember that even though you may sometimes feel that your voice is drowned out by all the other noise in our home, I AM listening, I DO hear you, I DO care, and I will ALWAYS do everything I can to help you, to take care of you, and to show you that I love you and that you are precious and irreplaceable in our family.

Lily, you are so amazing...it would take me a lifetime to list all your special qualities, but I'd rather spend that time loving and living with you. As you and I always say, no matter how big you get, no matter how far away you go, no matter what you do while you're there, and no matter how long it is before you come back...I will ALWAYS love you. Happy Birthday, my sweet girl! You are God's best!!!

Love,
Mommy

How to Have a Practically Perfect 33rd Birthday

2011-06-01T21:20:00.000-04:00

Roll out of bed at 6:15 and jump in the shower. Notice that the water doesn't sting your sunburn nearly as much as yesterday. Throw on old, cut-off sweat shorts and a Hamstring Hustle 5K t-shirt from 2001. You no longer concern yourself with fashion or even looking presentable most days. Head for the stairs, meeting the middle child in the hallway who greets you with, "Mommy, remember it's your birthday today!"

Make your way downstairs and fix a lunchbox for one and breakfast for four. Run back upstairs to get the baby. He shows you his blankie and lambie - he'll insist you acknowledge their existance about 100 more times throughout the day. Carry baby, blankie, and lambie down to breakfast...love how he snuggles up on your shoulder, wrapping his arms around your neck. He is so soft and cuddly...you will never tire of this.

Your eldest asks if you can read the bible to them over breakfast. Of course. Can she choose what we read? How 'bout letting Mommy choose since it's her birthday? She amiably agrees - a minor miracle. After kissing husband goodbye, sit down and read I Corinthians 13 to the kids. Explain charity to them...the love of God in the renewed mind in manifestation. Make a personal commitment to do a better job renewing own mind and walking with the love of God towards others. Use eldest daughter spilling cereal all over the table as first opportunity to walk in love.

Take oldest to school. Hug her when you bump heads on her way out of the van. Dry her tears, feel her squeeze you a little tighter (even after 5 years, it still takes your breath away), and tell her that she just made your birthday as you try to choke down the lump forming in your throat.

Hit Walmart with younger kids to buy super glue in an attempt to salvage sandals that are falling apart. Find the perfect birthday gifts for middle daughter - SHE actually finds them and has death grip on them - and rejoice when customer service agrees to hold them until husband can come purchase them after work...even though they "aren't supposed to do that." Tell middle child that you are not buying anything today, but that we were "just looking." Try to ignore inquiries about where the toys went and if she is getting them for her birthday. Buy a gigantic watermelon. Completely forget about the original purpose of the shopping trip...super glue.

When the kids decide they are hungry at 10:30 a.m., decide that it's a perfectly acceptable time to have lunch. After all, it's your birthday. Feed them Cheerios, bread, carrots, watermelon, and gummies for dessert. Eat leftover lo mein cold and directly from the container. Wash it down with a slice of chocolate pecan pie that your mother brought to you the night before.

Scream and run as the baby chases you around the kitchen island. Pretend to be terrified as he laughs hysterically. Play trucks and read books with the kids while repairman FINALLY fixes your oven...it's only been broken 6 weeks. Heave huge sigh of relief when invoice shows that parts required for repair cost more than the warranty you decided to purchase. Thank goodness you made that wise choice.

Stealing an idea from one of your BFFs, use Scrabble tiles to practice spelling words with middle daughter. Be impressed with how well she sounds out words on her own to figure out what letter comes next. Agree to play actual Scrabble game with her, even though she can't REALLY play. Feel surprised and pleased when she hangs in a good ten minutes before losing interest. (Also feel relieved because you were starting to have a hard time thinking of how to fit words into the puzzle.) Decide you now need a physical activity and enlist her to help you clean the bathrooms.

Pick up oldest from school. Melt when she wants to make you a birthday card using the colors you chose during a discussion at breakfast. While she works on her card and the middle daughter plays JumpStart Kindergarten, sort blocks with the baby. Cheer loudly when he correctly identifies a shape or color...marvel at how he is learning even though you don't spend nearly as much time working with him as you did the older two. When your oldest presents you with her masterpiece, tell her it's the best card you have ever received...after all, there is nothing sweeter in this world than a card with "I love you, Mommy. You are sweet." scrawled on it in your child's handwriting. When you hug her, she feels hotter than normal. Feel her forehead...it is warm. Take her temp...fever. Read her some books, put her in her jammies, and park her on the couch in front of the TV along with the other two.

Make dinner...salmon, sweet potatoes, and edamame. The one with the fever doesn't want to eat. Check her temp again...it's creeping up. Motrin and back on the couch in front of the TV. Shrug off thoughts about the ills of too much TV...sick days and birthdays are exceptions to the rule. Watch My Little Pony and Jem and the Holograms, regaling the children with stories of how you used to watch these shows when you were little. Give everyone a 1/2 piece of pie for dessert. Hide behind the kitchen counter and devour 2 pieces of pie where no one can see you and demand to know why you get more than them. Ignore the fact that all that pie will only add to the last 5 pounds of baby weight you can't seem to shake.

While cleaning the kitchen, step on a sticky sweet potato peel. Next to the peel is a rather large chunk of someone's pie. Not surprised to find the peel on the floor, but you are shocked that someone didn't go after the dropped pie. Throw it away before you are tempted to eat it and clean brown sweet potato juice off your foot.

Help oldest with her homework..."Write as many sight words as you can in one minute." A perfectionist, she gets easily riled, so try to make it sound as easy and fun as possible. Definitely NOT a contest. Set the timer and let her work in silence. Comfort her when she cries when the timer beeps because she had not written 10 words. There was no word minimum set by the teacher, but unbeknownst to you she had set one for herself. Insist that it is perfectly fine to add one more word to her list even though technically time was up - she had already written nine - and reiterate that it was JUST HOMEWORK.

Read more books to the kids. Rock, cuddle, hug, kiss, sing, and tuck everyone into bed. Tell each thank you for making your birthday so special. Wait patiently while the oldest takes an eternity to arrange her stuffed animals on her bed - and cries again because she can't figure out where Gabriella the Sock Monkey should go - and listen patiently while the middle child lists reasons why we need three desserts for your birthday. Soak up as many hugs and kisses as each one is willing to give...it's usually a lot.

Sneak downstairs to clean up and wait for your husband who finishes work at 9:00 and then - thanks to you - still has to go to Walmart to pick up birthday presents and a bag of baby carrots (you forgot it was the oldest's turn to bring snack to school tomorrow). Take a moment to thank God for all your blessings...a beautiful family, wonderful friends, a healthy body that has the strength and energy to work hard and play hard each day, all of your needs being met perfectly, His great love, mercy, and grace, and His Son, Jesus Christ. Thank Him for this wonderful day...a day to remember how beautiful your simple, ordinary, everyday life truly is. No fanfare, no presents, no fancy dinners, pampering, or extravagant trips...but a day filled with all that is dear, all that is truly important, and all the moments that make life worth living. It's been a practically perfect day...and you get to do it all over again tomorrow...maybe minus the three slices of pie.

Pirate Family Beach Trip 2011

2011-05-31T10:38:00.001-04:00

We spent Memorial Day Weekend at Ocean Isle with our Pirate Family. The weather was fabulous and we thoroughly enjoyed the sand, the waves, and each other. Here are some of my favorite moments from the weekend:

"Lolliloo!!!"
Sydney's Mommy
Monster chocolate chip cookies and blondie paper weights
The kids referring to each other as "my cousin"
When the puppies arrived on the beach..."Mommy, I FINALLY have a friend to play with!"
Uncle Cheese, Cream Cheese...and FETA!
"If you need some help, you could just knock on my door...because I love you!" (sniff, sniff)
Corey wearing Jess's favorite bathing suit
Catching a nautilus
Ex-lax, Miralax, coffee, and fruit cocktail
"99 Red Balloons!!!"
Joey's "Monica hair"
The boys playing ball
Peel!....BANANAS!!!!
The giant wave that took out 3 of the kids...and Lily getting thrown to the ground as we ran to the rescue!
"Those pineapples are SO ugly!!!"
Jessie's face smushed into the shower door
Cassidy stuffing sand into her suit
Uncle Joey's mind control
Nanny sleeping in the buff
Lily dancing in another family's beach camp
The Jellyfish Patrol
"Do you have your exit buddy?"
Everyone pitching in so Joey and Tracey could stay on schedule
"They should have done 'Baby Got Back'!"
Corey's high beams
"Jake, put that away."
"We're BFFs!!!"
GOLF CART!!!!

Enjoy the memories, my loves! I know I will!!!

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Lily's Last Day of Preschool

2011-05-26T11:41:00.000-04:00

The preschool year ended for Lily on Tuesday with an ice cream sundae celebration. We are excited about summer break and looking forward to being with Mrs. Colborn and Mrs. Lisa next year, but we will miss our sweet Mrs. Beverly and this darling class of six.

Kayleigh, Lily, and Finn eating lunch

Finn's always so proud to be with big sis.

Diving into their sundaes

They are such a sweet group!

Lily squealed with delight when she opened her gift from Mrs. Beverly...a Disney Princess paint set!

Mrs. Beverly's Class

(Kaitlin - Kayleigh's sister, Mrs. Beverly, Andrew, Diego, Lily, Hannah, Kayleigh, and Brynn)

Finn was there, too, but he was occupied with his reading.

Lily, Hannah, and Kayleigh

Lily and Hannah with our dear Mrs. Beverly

(Mrs. Beverly came to us in February when Mrs. Laura had to leave to take another job. When were heartbroken when Mrs. Laura left, but Mrs. Beverly was an answer to prayer. She is gentle and kind and just plain wonderful. Lily adores her - on the last day she must have told her 100 times, "Mrs. Beverly, I'm going to miss you!" - and could not leave school each day without running back into the classroom to give Mrs. Beverly one last hug.)

Mrs. Beverly and her girls

It's Pool Time!!!

2011-05-26T11:25:00.000-04:00

Last weekend it was finally warm enough to break out our awesome baby pool...passed down to us from our neighbors who brought it with them from Long Island. It's the coolest baby pool I've ever seen and is so sturdy that my grandchildren may be playing in it one day! :)

Cassidy the daredevil insists on going face first!

Lily is slightly more cautious these days...TOTAL role reversal from my girls a couple of summers ago!

Love the hair!!!

Finn loved sliding into the water...until he flew off a couple of times and ended up under water. After that he started turning around at the top and coming down on his belly, feet first. Not just a hat rack, people! :)

How stinkin' cute is my little man in his new suit??? Thanks to the$10 gift card JC Penny's sent me for mother's day, I paid a total of $6.00 for the whole outfit!

Cassidy loves to see what kind of crazy stunts she can do on the slide. Joey would have a stroke if he saw her attempting some of this stuff!

A little father/son bonding time around the pool

Jordan and Finn's first bath together

Bike Day (5/12/11)

2011-05-20T10:42:00.000-04:00

FBC Preschool hosted its annual bike day last week. Despite the threat of rain the kids had SO much fun!

Lily was in hog heaven...she stayed on her bike almost the entire time we were outside.

Go, Lily, Go!!!...she insisted we cheer for her because she had to "win the race!" (Can't imagine where she gets that competitive streak.)

Playing with sidewalk chalk

BFFs, Hannah and Lily...these two stick together like glue!

Enjoying an ice pop treat with friends

Two peas in a pod...thank goodness Hannah is going to be in her class next year!!!

Finn's First Haircut

2011-05-20T10:37:00.000-04:00

It's official...my baby isn't a baby any more. It was time...I had forced him to sport the shaggy Justin Bieber look long enough.

He was so good...he sat quietly the whole time.

The first snips of baby hair

Of course, he gave everyone the standard Finny stink eye...my boy is SO serious!

I could just eat that face up!

Sportin' his new 'do...I'm sure he is glad to finally be able to see!

At Cassidy's request, we cut her hair to her shoulders...she lost a good 4 inches. I was so surprised...she's wanted her hair long for as long as I can remember!

Lily just wanted a trim, but we did snip at least a couple of inches.

Out of the mouths of babes...

2011-05-16T20:17:00.000-04:00

My week has been made...and it's only Monday. Finn said the blessing all by himself at dinner tonight...well, actually he said it during dinner, but that's not important. What's important are his words:

Gah...bwess...owah...foo...name...Jesus...Christ...Amen.

TRANSLATION: God, bless our food. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

We've been helping him say the blessing for a couple of months now, but tonight my sweet boy talked to God all on his own. My heart nearly burst with joy and we all whooped and hollered, cheered and clapped, hugged and kissed and celebrated this beautiful moment.

Mother's Day 2011

2011-05-09T12:31:00.000-04:00

Mother's Day was beautiful and relaxing with lots of family time. The girls and Joey served me breakfast in bed...Lily gave me her annual lecture, "Don't even THINK about getting out of the bed, Mommy!" The girls came up with the menu - and a musical performance - all on their own. Joey is so good about letting them give and express their love in their own way...I usually come up with a plan and then talk them into doing it MY way! Maybe I should work on that. :)

As with any present, it's the heart behind it that is the real gift. I am always overwhelmed by my children...they have such beautifully tender hearts. I'll let the pictures speak for themselves.

Make photo slide shows at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Marbles Field Trip

2011-05-06T16:12:00.000-04:00

The Rand Road Kindergarten classes took a field trip to Marbles Kids Museum today. I debated up until the last minute as to whether or not the younger two monkeys and I would attend. On the one hand, it WAS Cassidy's first field trip, her first bus ride...I didn't want to miss that experience with her...AND the Type A part of my personality doesn't trust anyone else to watch over and protect my children, especially in a chaotic environment like Marbles (it doesn't help that I've watched one too many Criminal Minds episodes). On the other hand, it would be an exhausting task to keep track of lightning-fast Lily (and her terminal case of selective hearing) and the bull in a china shop we affectionately refer to as Finn. The chances of me actually getting to spend any time with or even watching Cassidy were slim to none.

But....Cassidy really wanted us to come (actually, I think she REALLY wanted Daddy to come and we were a passable consolation prize) and Lily was dying to go, so I caved, packed a backpack full of lunches, dropped Cassidy at school so that she could ride the bus with her friends, and headed into downtown.

The monkeys and I arrived well before the kindergartners...actually, we arrived before the museum opened. We were the first folks through the door and for the first 20 minutes we were the only people in the museum. It was fabulous! After that, we shared the museum with a handful of other families for about an hour until we were bombarded with hoards of school children.

When all was said and done, we spent 5 hours playing all over the museum and we only left because I had only paid for 5 hours of parking. :)

Driving the bus

Finn's turn...he got a fat lip trying to climb into the seat!

Firefighter Lily

They have a veterinarian area in the play city...Lily spent lots of time caring for the animals.

Meanwhile Finn mowed the grass.

Sporting their doctor's coats...Finn's cracks me up!

Lily was doing some serious cooking...Joey would have been so proud!

Another new exhibit...a pizzeria!

The monkeys busy making pizzas.

Finn working the register

Lily busy delivering pizzas

The new face of the hundred dollar bill!

Surfer Girl...the surf boards were mounted on springs so you could move forward, backward, left and right.

Hang ten, Finn!

Playing in the water station...despite his full body smock, he was soaked to the bone!

Lily's in hog heaven!

We spent a lot of time playing dress-up and performing. Lily's favorite costume...a tutu and tap shoes!

Dr. Finn helps his precious patient.

Fast forward 13 years!

After having lunch with all the kindergarten classes, I checked Cassidy out with her teachers and then the four of us spent an extra hour playing before heading home. By that time, most of the morning school groups were gone and the afternoon groups were having lunch, so we pretty much had the place to ourselves! :)

Pet Vet Cassidy..."Open up and say 'AHHHH', kitty!"

Cassidy's Genie Costume

We Love You, Auntie Jenn!!!

2011-05-05T20:17:00.001-04:00

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

A Morning of Motherhood Celebration

2011-05-05T16:37:00.000-04:00

This morning I was invited to attend two Mother's Day celebrations, a Marvelous Mothers celebration hosted by Cassidy's kindergarten class and a Mother's Day Tea hosted by Lily's preschool. We were treated to musical performances, snacks, a slide show, and gifts...all that love left me a little teary...there's nothing like words and gifts from the hearts of your children!

All dressed up in her tea party attire

Sweet Lily...I love that the cool weather gave us a chance to finally wear this precious jumper made by Aunt Brenda!

Our resident shaggy dog...he SO needs a haircut, but I just can't bring myself to do it quite yet!

Miss Grace sporting some May flowers

She's getting really good at posing for the camera...can't imagine where she got that from! ;)

The tables were covered with paper when we arrived in Cassidy's class so that the kids - and moms - could doodle before the festivities began. The girls got right to work. (Finn was eating his breakfast.)

Lily wrote her name first...Cassidy has been teaching her well!

Cassidy's completed handiwork...those are supposed to be painted fingernails on her traced hands.

Cassidy's Class

Cassidy was selected to read a poem with several of her classmates. She was SO proud!

My gifts from Cassidy included a portrait of me wearing my favorite outfit (I have NO idea what I'm wearing in that pic!)...

...a handwritten letter...

...a list of information about me as told by Cassidy (these are always hilarious!)...

...and a flower basket of chore coupons...SCORE!!!

Two door prizes were given - one to the mom with the most children and the other to the mom with the longest labor. I won for longest labor...28 hours with Cassidy!

Next we were off to Lily's school for a Mother's Day Tea. I found my seat decorated with gifts from Lily.

Info about Mommy as told by Lily

Love, Love, LOVE handprint crafts...and those poems always bring tears to my eyes!

Homemade Candle Holder

Finny wanted to take a picture as we waited for our Lilybug.

She spotted us as soon as she walked in the door.

Happy girl waiting patiently for our turn to get snacks.

My and My Lilybug

(Isn't the corsage precious?!?!)

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Here is a montage of the performances we saw today...Cassidy's class singing two songs and her group's poem and the 3's preschool classes singing their special song. SO CUTE!!!

Spring Break at Grandma's

2011-04-19T12:19:00.000-04:00

We spent the first long weekend of our Spring Break in BSL at Grandma's house. Grandma and Grandpa have a beautiful home on a big lake. There's lots room to run and play...a perfect place for family fun!

Cassidy and Finny...excited to go to the aquarium on Sunday!

Lily loved her piggy tails!

The Walls girls showing off their latest hair styles.

Sweet Monkeys

Riding the ferry to Fort Fisher...the last time we were on the ferry, Lily was only 10 months old!

The girls with cousin Whitney

A rare family photo

Almost everyone looking and smiling...a minor miracle!

Joey and I always forget to take pics of just the two of us...trying to do better! :)

Cassidy lost tooth #4 at dinner the night before...she loves the silly way she talks with a giant hole in her mouth!

Finn ran all over the ferry.

Beautiful girl admiring the gorgeous view!

Posing with the gator...Finn kept smacking his hands together and saying, "Chomp, Chomp!"

Cousins watching the diver in the giant fish tank

(Connor, Whitney, Cassidy, Kimmie, and Lily)

Whit and Kim showing the girls the jellyfish

My Little Mermaid

Connor did NOT want his picture taken...

...but I got it anyway! :)

In the bubble

Silly Lily

Family Shot

Back Row: Me, Lily, Whitney, Kimmie, Aunt Elizabeth, Uncle John

Front Row: Finn, Joey, Cassidy, Connor (who was in the picture under protest)

Checking out the turtles...

...how cute are that mommy and baby?!?!

Everyone had to take a turn climbing the frog.

Sisters

Cassidy's Photography

Posing with the otters

With Grandma in front of the aquarium

That night there was a wedding...Lily and Connor got married. Jon-Jon officiated. :) Lily said they were just practicing for when they were grown-up.

How precious are they?!?!

Lifting Lily's veil to kiss the bride...SO bummed I missed the kiss...it was SO cute!!!

A Whole New World

2011-04-19T09:22:00.001-04:00

Cassidy and Lily are VERY particular about their hair and have never let me do more than brush it and pull the sides back with a clip or hair tie. I am by no means a hair professional - I'm doing good if mine is somewhat tamed - but I have longed for the occasional pigtail or braid on their beautiful, little heads. Friday they finally decided it was time to expand their hairstyle repertoire and this morning I finally got my first crack at some new 'dos!

Cassidy's first style choice...a bun! I think she was imagining Tinkerbell when she made the request.

Not bad for my first bun! :)

My little pixie is obviously pleased! :)

Couldn't leave Finny out! BTW, I took him to the doctor that morning for a rash that - of course - turned out to be nothing...perhaps I should have just flushed my $25 down the toilet. Anyway, at 17 months the man-child weighs a whopping 30 pounds, 13 ounces...only a pound or two shy of his almost 4 year old sister!

Lily's First Ponytail

She looked absolutely precious!

And she was SO proud to finally be able to wear a big girl ribbon in her hair! Can't wait for all the styles to come!!!