Summer Days

The new craze is "silly bandz". Elastic bracelets in all kinds of shapes :)

Sydney and Gracie are best friends.

Luke has been having a great summer! He has been to Atlanta and Waynesboro, GA. He has gone to the aquarium in Atlanta and had the opportunity to get to know his cousins who live there.

Ear Piercing

April 3, 2010

Marty took me and the girls out for my birthday. I really wanted the girls's pierced, so I decided that would be a perfect birthday gift for me. So, we went to Claires. They were both so brave. Neither of the girls cried. I was so happy because they loved their new earings.

After the ear piercing, Marty took us to Olive Garden. It was just a really great night. A great memory was made!

Yesterday, April 7th, Gracie lost one of her earings. It fell out of her ear while she was playing. One of the kids found the back, but we could not find the little earing. I prayed that God would show me where the earing was. So, a little later that evening, I changed Luke on the floor in his room. I saw something shiny... It was Gracie's little earing! God is sooo good!

The story of Luke's Hair Cut by Mimi

January, 2010

Mimi was going to take Luke for an outing and noticed that his hair made him resemble Art Gunfunkel. Being a person of intelligence and skill, she decided that Luke needed a haircut and she could indeed perform the task and make him look like a cover for GQ. But…PapPaw was still in the house and she knew this couldn’t happen while he was there as he would protest and besides, Mimi needed his moustache trimmers to create the right look. So Mimi kept Luke in his chair, waiting patiently for PapPaw to leave the house which he finally did. She ran into the bathroom, procured those trimmers and went to work. After a few moments, Mimi and Luke were laughing so hard, that even though things weren’t going to well, we were having fun. So, we kept on going. Upon further observation, it seemed a good idea to quit and hope that no one noticed that his hair had been tampered with. There was a discrepancy between what Mimi thought she could do and reality. Instead of Garfunkel, we now had a clown look. When mommy arrived to pick him up, Mimi was concerned that this could create some strife in the family. Thankfully, though she was momentarily stunned, she quickly found her sense of humor. Her simple request was, “Please take him to a barber and get this straightened out.” Today, Mimi took Luke to Peaden’s to have his first “outside” hair cut. It is very short, but now even all over. He’s the man! I think I will refrain from temptation if I ever consider cutting his hair again.

Sweet Gracie

August 2009

{Written by Joanna Rogers} Jaime was singing a duet with her friend, Courtney, in the Sunday evening service at Pine Terrace Baptist Church. One of Jaime's dreams growing up was to sing for the Lord, so Mom, Dad, and Gigi were happy to among those in attendance to hear her sing. Upon entering the church, it occurred to Mimi that Sydney and Gracie may need to be present at the service as well. I thought it would be a blessing to them to see and hear their mommy sing. When retrieving the girls from children's church, I notice that they were quite disheveled and not real coordinated in their attire, (see explanation for this), so for a moment, I reconsidered whether or not they should come into "big church". Swallowing my pride, it seemed only right to bring them in. The service was lovely and we were all enjoying Jaime ministering through song, when I cast a glance at Sydney and Gracie and noticed that tears were streaming down Gracie's face. After Jaime's song concluded, I walked them over to children's church. During that time, I asked Gracie why she had been crying in church. She said, "Because it was so beautiful, Mimi!" Wow!!!

Explanation: Mommy did not dress the girls for church that evening, as she had to be there early to rehearse her song :)

Sydney and Gracie in Gymnastics

Three days ago, I got to see my girls in their gymnastics class. Sydney takes it very seriously. She stays engaged the entire time doing roll-overs, cart-wheels, head and hand stands, etc. She is actually pretty good. She is an active child, so this is right up her alley.

Gracie, on the other hand, likes to play and she is not yet as strong as Sydney. So, Gracie kind of flops her way through her moves. The teacher worked with Gracie a bit on her cart-wheels and head stands. So, Gracie is up against this soft wall thing and is desperately trying to do a head stand when the instructor comes to her and helps her lift her body. She falls and before trying again she says, "This thing is heavy!". Her instructor can't help but laugh. The "thing" she is talking about is her hind side and legs. She finally achieves a nice head stand with the giggling instructor's help :)

A Snow Day In the Florida Panhandle!

On Friday, February 12, 2010 it snowed in North Florida! Schools closed and we all had the chance to spend the day together. It was me and the three girls (Sydney, Gracie, and Alliana). The snow didn't stick, but it sure looked beautiful falling from the sky!

"Kitty Bou"

When I was in high school I had a cat named "Bou". Her name meant Blessed Of Us, therefore her name was Bou. She was a sweet cat. She was multi-colored cat who just liked to hang out. When my mom and step-dad married I had to get rid of Bou. I was devistated. Fast forward 7 years and I adopted a brand new Bou or Bou 2 as I called her. She was also a multi-colored cat. I loved her too, but she went crazy after having kittens so back to the shelter she went.

3 years later, in 2010, my kids still talk about "Kitty Bou". They loved her so much and she was extremely patient with them, until she had the kittens. They have asked me over and over to get another Kitty Bou. Should I grant them this wish?

I will try to pull up a picture of Kitty Bou and post it soon :)

A Priceless Conversation that was Meant for Secrecy

So, I am folding clothes in my bedroom when Sydney, Gracie and their friend from next door, Aliana, come walking into their room. I decide to listen in to their conversation. This is what I heard-

Aliana was telling Sydney that a boy named Justin likes her. Justin had told Aliana that he would do anything to be Sydney's boyfriend. He would carry her books. He would buy her jewelry. He would hold her hand and tell her that's she's a cool girl. Aliana says that if Sydney won't agree to marry him "He will wait forever for her". Aliana was doing her best sales pitch. I was really trying to stifle my laughter. Then it got better...

Sydney tells Aliana that she doesn't like Justin like that. She wants to marry Benjamin. Benjamin is, in my opinion, an annoying little boy who is 2 years older than her. Aliana says that Benjamin is not a good boy and he will be "like 40" when she is "like 20". Aliana says that Sydney won't like her life with Benjamin because all he will do is sit around and boss her around. She is still trying to convince Sydney that Justin is the better choice. Sydney still insists that she doesn't like Justin, so Aliana says, "Fine! It's your choice, but he isn't going to make you happy!". By this time, I can barely contain myself. I can't believe that I am hearing this conversation.

5 minutes later, Sydney changes her mind. She doesn't like Benjamin anymore... Now, she want to marry Preston! Oh man! How priceless is this!?

In the end, they got the big bear from the living room and they are now dancing with the bear... pretending that he is Prince Charming! I LOVE little girls!