Big Boy

T has now decided that he is just as big as Z and should get to do everything that his big brother does. He wants to be on the four wheeler every time it is moving, jump on the trampoline with brother, wrestle with the big boys, and join Z in any other activities he engages in. I love to watch him once he gets his way in joining the big kids. He is so proud of himself and makes the greatest little "I'm a big boy" face.

Sunday he realized how much fun it was to ride the mower with his daddy. So not only did Brandon recently acquire over 2 acres to mow, he now is forced to do it with 2 passengers. It made for an interesting work day.

This morning I took the picture of T sitting next to his idol drinking their yogurt while watching morning cartoons. T doesn't care anything about the cartoons, but he thought he was so big getting to sit in the floor to have his quickie breakfast.

They are so much fun and getting to be such great playmates.

Texas Size Tummy Troubles

Z had a great day at school yesterday. He seemed to like it and looked forward to going today. There's just one problem. Apparently, when these little miniature Texans get the stomach virus, they aren't kidding around. In fact, so many kiddos and teachers have "the bug" that TLC has closed down...FOR THE REST OF THE WEEK! Can you believe that?! Anyway, I am sure glad we made it here just in time to be contaminated with it before the school closed.

The saying that "everything is bigger in Texas" doesn't just apply to women's hair.

Precious

Just wanted to share this precious announcement with all of you. I prayed for these babies before they were even created. Becca has been such a great partner in figuring out this whole mothering thing with me and now she is the mother of THREE! Oh my! She is handling it beautifully!

By the way, please notice the baby girl's middle name....coincidence? I think not!

A Little TLC

Today was Z's first day at Tennison Learning Center. The minute he woke up he began telling us how he didn't want to go, he didn't like his new school, he only wanted to stay home, etc, etc. It was quite a struggle to get him dressed and ready, but Daddy persevered and won that battle. We had a few minutes to spare before leaving, so he had a little time to play and relax. His entire attitude changed when he decided to take Daddy Bear with him to show him his new school. It was funny to listen to him repeat the same things that we had been telling him to his beloved bear. I heard him say, "You will love TLC and you will meet all new friends."

Soooo, we packed up Daddy Bear, grabbed his lunch box and headed for school. He was excited in the car and chatting away. When we got to school, his precious teacher was waiting with open arms. She could not have been sweeter and made my little one feel so welcome. He marched right in and took his place on the mat where they were having circle time. I was so proud of him.

Lots of prayers were answered this morning!

4 out of 5 Ain't Bad

We made it to Texas somewhat in tact. It was a VERY long weekend, but we are surprisingly feeling pretty settled in our house already. My mom is off work this week so it helped a lot that she was here all day to help and babysit while I ran errands. Z starts school in the morning and is understandably nervous. Please say a prayer for him to have courage, confidence and a great day during his first day of TLC (Tennison Learning Center.)

The four of us are extremely happy to be together--at last! The only casualty of the move is Max the fish. He was in great need of a water change today so I cleaned his bowl and freshened him up. He, apparently, was in no mood for new water and took a turn for the worse...and when I say turn for the worse, I mean he turned over belly-up and was floating in his bowl. God rest his soul, I do believe he is residing in fish heaven. I just hope they use Arkansas water behind those pearly gates.

(I wanted to share pics with you of Max's last moments with us, but Daddy felt it necessary to destroy the evidence before one little blonde haired boy notice the tragedy sitting on our kitchen bar. We will cross that bridge at a later date...hopefully not in the morning before his big "first day!")

It's good to be home!

Goodbye Natural State

It has been a long two days and we still have a ways to go! We have the majority of everything that we are taking loaded and we will be leaving very shortly. It may be a while before I have my computer hooked up and Internet access, but as soon as I do, I will update.

I have been to busy to think about the fact that last night was probably our last night ever as a family in this house. Don't even get me started....

So long!

"Emo"

Mrs. Susan and boys after Mother's Day Out. T is visibly shaken at having to leave her!:)
Mary Sydney, McKenzie and Z
Taking a break
Perfect hair. Although we need to work on the fake smile
Purple milk shake for two
Jamie and Alexee

In the words of Brandon's 15 year old cousin, this week has been very "emo"! (I will have more teenage lingo in the near future...Raegan will soon be our neighbor!) Wednesday we met Brittany, Mary Sydney, and McKenzie at JumpZone for one last playdate. We were happy to run in to Liann and Garret there, as well. I was sad watching the kids play together because I knew it would be the last time for a while. Brittany was the ONLY person I knew when I moved here and she has been a dear friend to me. Our oldest kiddos have a blast together. Mary Sydney is one of the orginal girlfriends...many have come and gone over his brief 4 years, but she has remained! Please notice that he spiked his hair for his "date" with her.

Thursday, T went to his last day of MDO at Immanuel and Z and I met Jamie, Rhett and Alexee at Purple Cow. I think it was Jamie who introduced me to Purple Cow and MANY important discussions, friendly chats, and counseling sessions have since occured over a purple milk shake there---with Jamie and other of my closest friends. In true Jamie fashion, she brought us some Forrest Wood goodies to remember her family and this great state by. Z was thrilled to know that Rhett's PawPaw makes boats! Leaving her little family after lunch was just so sad for me. We have been through so much together--new babies, new houses, husband's job changes, birthday parties, costume parties, and MANY a Friday morning playdates. I know that we will keep in touch and we will get to watch each other's kids grow year by year, but it will never be the same. My heart aches just thinking about it.

After all that trauma, I was off to get T at MDO. Susan and I agreed that I would take a picture, we would have a "quick hug" and then I would hit the parking lot with no tears...YEAH RIGHT! She was one of the first people that I told that I was moving and we have barely discussed it since b/c it's just hard to think about. She has been such a blessing to me--she has loved me and my boys, unconditionally (trust me on this, Z was very unlovable during his first days at church nursery!!!) and made us feel right at home since day one. To say that I (and my boys) will miss her would be a drastic understatement!

I came home yesterday afternoon feeling so drained. I am trying to remember what an answered prayer this move will be for our famly of four; however, every day reality sets in a little more. It is not going to be easy to leave our lives behind here.