And which base is that?

Abigail is playing softball this spring at Cecilia.  She is excited about the IDEA of playing softball, but the actual PLAYING is another story.  Abby has a hard time focusing on new concepts and softball is no different.  I realize that she is only 5 but she is having trouble remembering the name of the bases.  Tonight her coach was asking her where particular bases were located.  As Abby stood at home plate, ready to bat, the following conversation took place:
Coach Timmy: "Abby, which base is that?"
Abby: (With Enthusiasm) "FIRST!"
Coach Timmy: "Good, which base is that?
Abby: (With more enthusiasm) "SECOND!!"
Coach Timmy: "Great, which base is that?"
Abby: "THIRD!!!"
Coach Timmy:  "Great, where are you standing Abby?"
Abby:  (with the MOST enthusiasm yet) "RIGHT HERE!!!"
Needless to say, all the parents had to laugh at that one!!!  I loved softball and played from the time I was 5, all through high school on the school team, and even a couple of years of co-ed after graduation.  I was by NO means the star athelete on the field, but I still loved the sport.  I hope Abby will develop a love for it as well....but first we will have to learn the bases:)

Total side note, but this is a picture of Micah at Abby's practice on Tuesday night.  He loves to watch the girls play and is content to just observe!!!

Once he realized I was taking pictures, his personality really started showing!!!

Happy Birthday Abby!!!

Five years ago today, Josh and I had the opportunity to bring Abigail Beth into the world. Since that time, she has grown up to be such a sweet, beautiful, caring, and giving little girl. Currently, she loves her princesses, reading books, learning to write letters and words, and her little brother. It is amazing how much she gives to her little brother. I realize this may change at any point, but it brings such joy to my heart to witness their love.

It is difficult to fathom that five years has passed so quickly. The cliche is over-used, but it does seem like yesterday that she was just a baby. I would be lying if I said life was always easy with a dramatic, emotional five year old....but that is what makes Abby who she is. Her enthusiasm and passion for her life is the reason she is the girl we love. I wouldn't change her for the world and I thank the Lord for sharing her with us....she is a borrowed angel from Heaven. I know she is just as special to Him as she is to us. We love you Abby!!! Have a happy, happy 5th birthday!!!!

Love, Mommy, Daddy, and Micah

Abby's party was on March 19th, but I just added the pictures to this post.  It was a Princess Dress-Up Party!!!

Abby dancing!!!

Abby's gift table!!!

Princess cupcakes and a Kool-Aid mustache...the perfect party!!!

Abby with her new umbrella.

Micah cheesing at the party.  It was such a beautiful day that the kids were able to play outside.

Opening a new Barbie from Mamaw and Papaw Steve.

A new bicycle from Papaw Jeff and Nana,

Wild Child!!!

Boys will be boys..regardless of their age.  Micah, who recently turned two, is definitely a boy.  His goal is to climb on everything he can reach...chairs, beds, couch arms, stools...he's not particular, just whatever catches his eye.  Monday night, after being diagnosed with the flu, he and Abby were playing on an air mattress in Abby's room.  Micah decided to spin in circles on the bed, fell, and hit his face on the edge of Abby's bed.  The first black eye either of the kids have ever had.  Immediately, it was swollen and blue with a small cut in the middle.  But he is a tough little guy and only cried for a couple of minutes and hasn't complained since.  I have attached a picture.  First stitches, then a black eye, what's next from our wild child?

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year...a month late!!!!:)

Obviously 2011 has began on a busy note or I would have already posted Christmas pictures...but it is better late than never!!! We had a very enjoyable Christmas break. We had our own family Christmas on Christmas Eve. We spent Christmas day split between my parents and Josh's parents house...of course they are 3 1/2 hours apart so we also traveled for a large portion of the day. Never the less, we had a great time everywhere we went. My mom also hosted the annual "Appetizer and Game Night" which is fun for all. The entire meal consisted of just appetizers....which is my kind of meal. We also played Rook and other board and card games. We also had house guests for a couple of nights. My cousin Sarah and her husband Jared and their dog Chloe from Tennessee joined us over the New Year's weekend. We celebrated Christmas at my grandparents that weekend. We had a wonderful time visiting and catching up with family.

In addition to the family festivities, our dog Gracie kept us busy. She began the break with stitches due to a spaying. One week later, she was attacked by a coyote...IN OUR YARD...and had to undergo another surgery to install a drain tube in her side. The poor thing had 17 stitches in her at one time, a yellow latex tube on her side, half of her body shaved from the two surgeries, and the icing on the cake was when traveling to Josh's parents in Illinois, she had to be sedated for the trip. Gracie was quite comical looking but handled it well. I think we spent more money on her than the kids for Christmas!!!

School began for the new year much as the year ended...with snow. Several inches have fell on the area in four small snow storms. As a result, we have missed five days of school this month. Now I love a snow day..probably more than my students. But I will dread waking up on a nice morning in June for make-up days. However, I should be thankful for the extra time spent with the kids.

Enjoy the pics from the holiday break!!!

Our Family Christmas Tree

Abby's Homemade Advent Calendar---On the back of each date was a task for the day, such as help mommy set the table, color a picture and hang it up, or play quietly in your room.  Once Abby completed the task she received a piece of candy.  The tree she colored "rainbow" colors.

I love this picture of Abby!!!  She was so excited about this book.  It has princess figurines that coordinates with the story.  She had been asking for this gift since October.  I think her reaction says it all!!!

Micah and his guns!!! He LOVES to shoot them.  He makes a sneezing noise when he shoots.

Abby and her bathtime Ariel doll.

THE CREW!!!--Isaac, Abby, Micah, Levi, Caleb, Samuel, Camden, and Cainan at Nana and Papaw Jeff's Christmas Eve.

Abby and Micah at Mamaw and Papaw Steve's in Illinois.

Abby and Micah climbed in Gracie's dog cage.

Micah lounging in his FAVORITE pajamas.  He LOVES these pajamas and wants to wear them all the time.  He evens wants to wear them over regular clothes.  I thought this picture was adorable.

Sarah reading to Abby, Micah, and Chloe!!!

Micah shooting his gun...it requires safety goggles, two hands, and a dirty face!!!!

Gracie in the goggles....now where is that gun!?!?

New Year's Resolution---push ups every night!!!

Jared playing golf on the Wii!!! 

My attempts at a Christmas picture....there were several like this.

Finally, one worth sending in the Christmas cards!!!

Gracie!!!!  The picture says it all!!!

Bye, Bye Pacifier!!!

Monday, December 6 was Micah's last day with his pacifier!!! I didn't want to say anthing too soon and then him revert, but so far, so good. This past weekend was a little stressful for him. I think that he was tired and really missing his "BFF" but now he is sleeping peacefully, all through the night!!! One more milestone in his life!!

Happy Birthday Micah!!!!

Two years ago, our family welcomed an 8 pound, nine ounce baby boy named Micah....today we celebrated his second birthday with friends and family. It is hard to fathom how quickly time passes. When the kids were newborn, people would often times use the cliches "they grow up faster than you know", "enjoy them when they are young", and "I can't remember when mine were that little." I remember thinking, "I'll never forget how little he was"...but it is true. When I look at Micah, I see a lively two year old who is happy exploring the world around him. He enjoys saying his new words, using his funny faces, and trying to make us laugh. He is so full of life and energy. Although the two years have fleetingly passed, I am thankful to have a happy and healthy young boy. I hope he continues to stay healthy and that his happy personality is continously fostered.

Micah had a dinosaur birthday party and loved all of the balloons. I am a little dorky about birthday parties and I like the outfit to coordinate with the party. So I was so excited when I remembered he had some dinosaur overalls....Micah looked extra cute today. Josh, Abby, and I gave him a chair, so he reclined in it while opening his gifts. I loved his faces today. He really enjoyed being the center of attention (sounds like his sister:)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MICAH..WE LOVE YOU!!!!

Trick or Treat!!!!

Only three weeks behind....that's where I am at with the blog. Halloween week...definitely more trick than treat. First of all, our county can't decide if Halloween is October 30 or October 31. I know you're thinking..."Really?". However, since October 31 fell on a Sunday this year, there was a little confusion. The last time this conundrum occurred, the county collectively decided to celebrate Halloween on Saturday night so that it did not interfere with Sunday evening church services, which honestly was fine with me. Well this year, part of the county celebrated on Saturday and part of it on Sunday. In addition to Trick-or-Treating, Abby was also the flower girl in my cousin's wedding and the rehearsal was Saturday night. So we dressed the kids for Halloween and went to the rehearsal. However, we were late (which we did call to inform everyone) but by the time we arrived at the church, rehearsal was over and the preacher had left. Why? Because this church was one that decided to celebrate Halloween on Saturday and had a Trunk-or-Treat at the local park. SOOOO, we left the rehearsal and went to the park. However, EVERYONE had ran out of candy....ONE HOUR EARLY. Needless to say Abigail, or shall I say "The Little Mermaid", was quite sad. So I did some quick Internet research (what did we do prior to cell phones) and discovered a couple of churches in Elizabethtown that were having Trunk-or-Treats on Saturday night. So away we drove...and drove...and drove because we couldn't find one location. So we abandoned that idea and drove to the other church. When we arrived, there was not a soul (no pun intended) in sight. No candy again meant a sad Abby!!! So, I called my mom and asked if she had ANY candy at all....I didn't care the age or the amount of fuzz from the couch cushions that was on it. My kids just wanted candy!!! Of course, my prepared mother already had individual bags made for each grandchild:) So we drove to Mom's and Trick-or-Treated. After two hours of driving, my kids finally had some loot in their pumpkin buckets. What a night!!!!

On Sunday, we then attended a different church in order to assure that Abby was at the church in time for pictures. She was such a beautiful little flower girl and she did a really great job...of course it was her second flower girl gig in October...she's like a pro. Anyway, after the wedding, we redressed The Little Mermaid and the deer hunter and went Trick-or-Treating for the second time in one weekend. We stopped at the usual places but we also went back to the last church and realized that the Trunk-or-Treat was actually Sunday night, not Saturday night. No wonder no one was there!!! We spent almost two hours at Valley Creek Baptist church playing games and collecting candy. Abby and Micah both really enjoyed the evening. All-in-all, the kids were able to dress up two days in a row, received candy two days in a row, and we had some great family time!!!

Micah the Deer Hunter....Abby as The Little Mermaid!!!