The Duck Park and other adventures at Perpy's

We spent this Easter weekend with Perpy at her house. It was a quick weekend trip, but we were so happy to spend some time with her. She and Graham decorated a bunny cake for our Easter dinner dessert. This was a tradition that Tim used to share with his grandmother when he was little. Another highlight of the weekend was chasing the ducks at a park close to Perpy's house. Now, every time we visit Perpy, Graham wants to go to this park so he can feed the ducks. What fun memories we made!

Buddies True and Strong

"Big brother, little brother, buddies true and strong.

Life is truly twice as fun since he came along.

Big brother, little brother, our adventures never end.

We'll always have each other and you'll always be my friend."

taken from Big Brother, Little Brother by Marci Curtis

We just got this book in the mail through Dolly Parton's Imagination Library, and I love it!! It makes me smile every time I read it. I may have put this on the blog before, but I just had to use it again.

Some of the best moments in my day are listening to the laughter and giggles of my boys playing together. We have our share of arguments, but it's all worth it. I pray often that their friendship will continue to grow. I know God uses them to teach both of them how to love. I pray as iron sharpens iron, they will spur each other on to a greater faith in Christ.

The boys' favorite spot

In the creek behind our house

with their daddy

Happy Birthday, Tim!!

We love our daddy!

Neighborhood Easter Egg Hunt

I am so thankful to have friends in my neighborhood that are stay-at-home moms. We've been getting together about once a month this year to celebrate different holidays and let our kids play together. They are a great group of moms and I enjoy the friendships close by. Today we went to an egg hunt in our neighborhood. Graham loved it. Wesley was not that into finding eggs, but he did enjoy the snacks.

A Morning in the Mud

On Saturday, my brother and his sweet family came over to our house for a little work and a little play. The work was done by the two Tims and the play was done by the four boys (I think Kimberly and I did a little work, too.). Tim helped Tim in our bathroom. I want to say it is coming along very nicely. I can't wait to show you pictures of the final product soon.

Since we've had some rain lately, the creek had water in it and there was plenty of mud to be found. Graham couldn't wait for his cousins to come over so they could go out back. He definately got the muddiest followed close behind by his cousin, Drew. my attempt to get a shot of all four of them

This picture gives you an idea of how much fun Graham had. The degree of enjoyment is measured by the amount of mud on his clothes.

Drew was fearless. Watching him reminds me of Graham a few years ago.

What makes my son's heart happy...

Flip-flop season has begun, and Graham is sooooo happy. He would wear these things year round if I let him.

This picture is especially for Jenn. She got him this lawn mower for his first b-day. Jenn, what a great gift it has been! He still loves playing with it!

Michigan Friends

A few weekends ago, we drove up to Michigan for a quick weekend visit with friends. It was such a great time watching our kids play and catching up with dear friends. We also enjoyed visiting our old church and seeing lots of wonderful people we have missed. Although the weather was a little cold and dreary, our hearts were warmed by the love of old friends. Friends from church, Sybille and Brian, ate dinner with us on night at Marie's house. They brought their beautiful daughters, Anna and Kate. Graham and Kate developed a quick friendship, and he's hoping that she might come visit him in Tennessee. :)

Marie and Joe with their kiddos, Maddie, Jack, and one on the way

Graham and Wesley with Maddie and Jack

An Afternoon at the Park

Spring is almost here!

His shirt says "Monkey Business". Quite fitting, I thought.

Tool Time for Tim

My handy husband is at it again. The project started out with the shower and now it's the bathroom floor as well. Tim is learning how to tile, and he's doing a great job! We will be so excited when this project is complete.

Stirrings in the Heart

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OSdP6PqsbJY

Silly Faces

enjoying a little snuggletime with Daddy

Potato Prints and Pride Stompers

Let me start out this post by saying it was one of those days. You know the kind. One minute you feel like you are doing a pretty good job at this mom thing. You did a great art project with the kids, you let them play with playdough, or you cooked them a really fantastic meal that they eagerly devoured (How often does that happen?). Then, you find yourself with paint splattered everywhere, playdough ground into the carpet, or mud tracks on the floor you just cleaned. You hear the little one screaming because the bigger one pushed him down, or you've had to repeat yourself three times because they are chosing not to follow directions immediately. Ugh...it was one of those days for me. I tried to ignore the mud so the boys could have fun outside. I got out the paint so my oldest could do a fun craft. I even took a meal to a friend. But, I yelled...at my boys...both boys...and boy, did I yell. I didn't feel like such a great mom after that. In fact, I wanted to cry. I felt like a horrible mom.

After we all calmed down and were in the car, I apologized for yelling and told Graham that it wasn't right what I did. I told him that God still loves me, and I can pray to Him, tell Him I am sorry, and He will forgive me. Graham responded, "Do it right now, Mommy." So, I did. Aloud. Graham heard. And that is the beauty of the Gospel. God loves and forgives, and my son saw an example of that in his three-year-old world.

A wise woman spoke today at my church's Bible study about Gospel Parenting. She said living out the Gospel in front of our children is the most important thing we can do for them. It's the main thing...the one thing. Teaching our children the Gospel-our unworthiness meets His grace and we are forgiven and accepted is the One Thing that I am to be doing for the next 18 plus years. Better than creative crafts, clean houses, well-behaved children is the truth of the Gospel being played out in front of my kids. I want to live out the Gospel in front of my boys. I want to give myself grace when I mess up because God gives me His grace. I want to tell them I'm sorry, and I want them to see how we can approach the throne of Grace with confidence that He will forgive.

Graham knows he doesn't have a perfect mom. I want him to know he has an amazing Father.

after an art project-potato prints

Mud

Graham has a t-shirt that says, "Mud Likes Me". I think it's very true. One of his favorite things is to play outside in the mud and puddles. I'm very thankful for the washing machine.

Wesley seems to love the mud, too.

Valentine Program

Graham's school had a Valentine program in which the children sang songs about God's love. We were the proud parents up front sitting on the edge of our sits with our cameras in the air waving like maniacs at our boy. Well, now that I think about, every other parent around us was doing the same thing. It may just be preschool, but we were so proud. Oh, the fun has just begun!

Graham did great. He kept his eyes on the music teacher the entire time (except for a few moments in between songs when he looked out at the audience, found us, and waved). He stood tall and straight and still. He did a few of the motions at the end when he started relaxing a little. Did I mention we were proud? Daddy and Graham after the performance-uh, I mean program as Graham corrected us

Do you see him? In the middle with the plaid shirt on

Enjoying a Little Sunshine

Since the weather has been sunny and warmer, we've taken every opportunity to be outside. The first picture was taken at a beautiful state park in the middle of Nashville. Graham and his buddies from church, Hank and Sloan, had fun walking around the lake and finding sticks and piles of rock to climb on.

This one does not involve sunshine, but it is cute and I wanted to include it. Wesley, Graham, and I like to turn up the music and dance. Here's Wesley helping me put on a CD.

Graham has been asking to go to the zoo for quite some time. Today was a perfect day for a trip to the zoo. Both boys enjoyed seeing the animals and playing on the playground.

Prayers of a 3 year old

For the last few weeks, Graham wants to pray for Pastor Scott and emergency trucks during his bedtime prayers. He prays that the ambulances and fire trucks will get to the sick and hurting people and that the doctors and nurses in the hospitals can help the sick and hurting.

Tonight, he said he wanted to pray for his family. He prayed, "Lord, thank you for my family. For Mommy, Daddy, Wesley, me and Shelby. I love them all so much."

I love those precious moments with him. Thank you, God, for hearing his prayers. I know they are sweet to your ears.

The Need for Speed

Like father, like son...

On our way home from church on Sunday, we were getting on the interstate ramp and Graham starts saying, "Geese, Daddy, geese!" Tim and I looked at each other like, "What is he talking about?" Finally, I realized what he meant. He wanted Tim to goose it.

Too funny!

Another January Craft

A good idea I got from Mops last year that we are doing again this January is to make placemats out of all the Christmas card pictures we received this year. I saved them after Christmas, cut out the pictures of our friends and family, and Graham helped me glue them on big cardstock paper. We will take them to be laminated and use them all year. So, if you sent me a Christmas card with a picture of your family on it, it will probably be on our kitchen table throughout the year. We will look at the pictures, talk about our friends and family, and pray for them. So, don't throw away those cards.

Beating the Winter Blues

January is not my favorite month...cloudy skies, cold weather, sick children and mommies, and a lot of time indoors. So, at our house, we've been coming up with some fun winter activities. Here are a few of them: Popcorn balls and hot chocolate by the fire

This was Tim's idea and it turned out to be a lot of fun.

Crayon melts in fun shapes

Patsy got me some silicon snowmen muffin cups for Christmas. I saw on a friend's blog that she had used her silicon muffin cups to make crayon melts. We just took broken crayons, removed the paper, and placed them in the muffins cups. Then, we put the muffin cups in a 200 degree oven for 20 minutes.

Snowballs

This recipe was in a newsletter from Graham's preschool. Basically, you make rice crispy treats, roll them into balls, and coat them with powdered sugar. Graham had a lot of fun helping me make these treats. Then, he wanted to take them to friends in the neighborhood.

Snowmen on sticks

We used bananas, mini chocolate chips, apple triangles, and pretzels to make these fun snacks.
I put them on skewers.

Highlights from our trip to Tyler

Despite the fact that Graham and Wesley had colds, my brother had strep throat, and Tim had a bad ear infection, we had a great time visiting our family in Tyler. The boys had lots of fun with their cousins and grandparents. We went to the zoo, a wildlife museum and park, and, of course, one of my favorite mexican restaurants. Graham, Drew and Will in the back of Grandpa Sam's truck

my mom and brother

yummy Mexican food

yummy ice cream