Take Me Out to the Ballgame

It's Saturday!!! Here are a few snapshots from the day!

This is how the kids started the day . . . Isabelle very creatively came up with this using our wooden block set. JM thought it was AWESOME!

This is Isabelle's 2nd season in t-ball & Kevin is helping Coach this year. She really enjoys it, so does dad!

Playing 1st base - her favorite!

While they played t-ball, I taught John Michael how to be a good daddy (someday) . . . Don't panic Holly - I was right there to help if I needed to! He was so proud of himself. . .

Is she the cutest thing you've ever seen or what???

There pretty cute too, huh? They called themselves aliens - I don't think they can see or breathe to be honest - but the time in the sprinkler was definitely a highlight today!

Kevin got inspired to till up a small garden area & he planted some tomatoes & peppers - YUM! We are going to slowly work on the rest of the garden in the weeks ahead. It will be small this year, but I'll have my own farmers market by next summer!

That was our day . . . out to play washers . . . until next time!

Sick Mom

Hello friends . . . I have been sick for the last 3 days. It started on Mother's Day . . . YIPEE!!! I finally have antibiotics so I should be feeling back to my perky self soon! Hence, 4 blog posts in one hour - could you be more excited?

Several things . . . if you are reading my blogs say hi & leave me a message! Too many of you are telling me that you are visiting, but you aren't saying hi! I want to hear from you so leave me a message.

Also, Kevin is rescheduled to go to Haiti from June 5 - June 9. We would ask for you to pray for safety & that this trip would remain scheduled. He clearly feels the Lord calling him to take this trip & we are so excited to see what God wants to teach him while he's gone. Please also pray for the kids & I as that we will have fun bonding together while he's away. (You can look back at our posts in April to see more info about his trip to Haiti - or visit www.c3mission.org for more info.)

Finally Landscaped

After weeks of rain, Kevin had our landsape plants ready to put in. We were all really excited to do it on the Saturday before Mother's Day - my present! :) However as the week rolled on,
the we discovered the weather was NOT going to be great. Kevin's parents came for a quick visit & we told them they needed to bring their work clothes - they were excited. None of us realized the we'd be knee deep in mud - it was a wet, muddy mess . . . but we got it all in and mulched before the rain began. It was cloudy & cool the whole day, so we felt blessed. I'll have more photos as I can get them with the sun shining - rather than these gloomy photos . . .

Sleepy Head

I know I've put pictures of John Michael on this blog before of him sleeping, but it's a rare occurence for him unless he's really sick so I can't resist! He's too cute! He was sleeping in our room last weekend - I guess he wasn't ready for bed, because he was hanging out in our lazyboy & simply fell asleep. I laid him in his sleeping bad and he cuddled in . . . .

Happy Mother's Day

What a fun way to end kindergarten for Isabelle. . . she had a little Mother's Day Tea last Friday, where they sang songs about growing up & finishing kindergarten as well as thanking their moms. We went back to her room for punch & cookies. The kids all shared what they wanted to be when they grow up - can you guess what Isabelle said??? AN ARTIST!!! That doesn't surprise me one bit. Isabelle & mom with the beautiful pot she made for me . . . Happy Mother's Day!

There she is in the middle waving at me while the other kids were arranged on the risers.
Isabelle & Mrs. Barber - her favorite teacher, we have had many tears as we go to bed at night about leaving Mrs. Barber & what next year will be like. She has been GREAT for Isabelle. I prayed & prayed that God would give Isabelle the perfect teacher for her . . . He certainly did! We couldn't have picked a more perfect match for her needs - and we thank Him for his faithfulness!

Isabelle & her girlfriends - (above w/ Olivia - one of her best buds) & below with many of her friends from her class!

All I Want for First Grade is My Two Front Teeth

Isabelle's front 2 teeth finally fell out. They have been so wiggly for quite some time - and last night was the night. They were just hanging so Kevin played "deal or no deal" with her. He gave her the deal "Let me pull out your 2 front teeth & I'll take you for ice cream @ Sheridan's" - (that's her favorite custard place!) John Michael kept chanting "take the deal, take the deal". After much thought she announced, "I've made my decision . . . I'll take the deal." I put on her favorite Christian Radio Station which was blaring one of her favorite songs & those 2 pretty little teeth were out in a jiffy. I've never seen her more excited - she thoroughly enjoyed the ice cream too! This moring her enthusiasm was at an all time high - there is nothing better than to go to school & show off the latest lost tooth - WHAT A THRILL!!! She was pumped to say the least that she lost the teeth 2 weeks before she finishes school. She's been singing all I want for 1st grade is my 2 front teeth for the last 24 hours.

Her proud brother daily thinks that he has loose teeth as well . . . I have to also share that at breakfast this morning I asked her what she found under her pillow (she's already figured out that whole thing) she said "$2, but Bubba has something in his room to find." After telling him to go look, I asked her what it was - she said she hid one of her dollars for him to have because she already had one! Thank you Lord for glimpses of genuine love & unselfishness. You parents know there are days you think nothing is sinking in, and then you have flashes of what's deep down. She was so excited to share that dollar with him. He returned her love with a great big hug & saying she was the best sister EVER! I am thankful God prompted her heart & allowed me to see it as well!

First Family Turkey Hunt

What a gorgeous weekend we had . . . the weather was incredible & the sunshine was brilliant. We enjoyed every minute we could outside. (JM was in bed by 6:30pm tonight - he could have been in bed at 5pm, if we'd let him - He is wiped out!)

Isabelle (in full camo), Bubba in daddy's hat & Camo sweatshirt - thanks to Cousin Tyler for passing it to him, and daddy - who is always ready for a good hunt! (JM wants the real camo for his next hunt!)


Yesterday afternoon, we set off on a fun family adventure to capture our first turkey as a group. Well, the kids and I sat in the blind, while Kevin called in the turkey's and was ready to shoot. Unfortunately, our "hunt" was unsuccessful as far as bagging the bird . . . BUT, it was hugely successful in quality family time. We had a great time hiking in sometimes calf deep muck. The kids pretended to be swamp creatures - They thought it was great. We did see lots of wildlife however - 2 white cranes, 10-15 deer running past us - it was awesome, 1 raccoon, 1 coyote, several turkey vultures & as we were leaving the 2 Turkey's were after. They decided to make an appearance after we were in the truck & headed out of the wildlife area. That figured! The kids had a blast, but we were all so tired from the hike.

Yes, you guessed it - that's me in the BLAZE ORANGE hat & vest! I officially have my own camo, boots, & bow. Although on this trip, I was the official scout & snack provider. (see below)

Here is the gang still hiking to the "perfect" spot - that's wherever daddy tells us to stop! Notice JM's arms way in the air & Isabelle's in her pockets - the poison ivy in places was as tall as JM. We quickly showered upon returning home - hopefully we won't find any on us this week!

Here are the kids sitting in the blind - they immediately wanted to eat once we stopped & set up the blind to wait on the turkeys. Who are the real turkeys?

Here's JM, doing something with this stick - we aren't sure, but he was having fun and I think he's so cute! We moved to this new spot after having no action in the previous spot, trying to decide where to set up next.

Kevin was showing Isabelle how to use the turkey call . . . notice JM in the background still working at the tree. He was a very busy boy!

One last attempt to call in turkeys - NO LUCK!

No official turkey to speak of - but we had one GREAT time together! We love the Outdoors!