Kitchen Happenings...

What a cute dish washer!

Who is that cutie in the fridge?

Spraying them off..

Breaking out...

 Today after we had lunch, I got on the computer for a few minutes.   I looked around and some cute things were happening:   Garrison was hiding out in the refrigerator and Keyton was doing the lunch dishes!!!   It was very cute and sweet!   Garrison was probably thinking he ought to visit with one of his best friends...food! What got me the most about Keyton doing the dishes was the fact that he was able to reach the sink with such ease.   He is getting so tall!!!!   They are funny boys and they always do things that make me quickly reach for my camera!   After all of this, Keyton cleaned the bathroom sinks for me and Garrison cleaned the table legs with a Clorox wipe!   I may have to help them start their own cleaning school!   If only they could get their daddy to be their first student...

Real good boys...

My three artists!

Buddies...

I don't know what he was trying to be...

But I called him "Ray Charles!"

My nephew Adam came up to visit tonight.   He followed my mom home from Cookeville and is going to spend the weekend with her and help her around the farm.   As soon as he got out of the truck at my house, he began to do a little weed-eating.   He loves working outdoors and is always doing something!   When he came in the house, Garrison met him at the door and said, "You are a real good boy!"   Adam told him that God wants us to be that way and help other people.   Garrison has really started bonding with Adam here lately and that makes me very proud.   Keyton of course, is still shy around him for some reason.   He really loves him but won't talk to him much.   One day...he will grow out of this...hopefully!   Garrison climbed up in Adams lap and started requesting various things for him to draw.  They drew trees, squirrels, dogs, hearts, clouds, cakes, balloons...you name it...Garrison wanted it!   Adam tried his best to draw everything.   Keyton jumped in and began coloring everything!   It was a cute moment!   We had a ton of fun and a lot of laughs!   Adam is such a great nephew and he really is a real good boy...and I have two real good boys as well! I am very blessed!

EGGS-citing Easter Weekend!!!

Ready to hunt...

Easter Bunny visited us...

2009 "cake creation"...

My little models...

Sweet brotherly moments...

Daddy's little boys...

Mommy's little boys...

Egg Hunters...

This has been a great Easter weekend!!!   First, it started off with a special invitation to Peanut & Delilah's house for their big egg hunt!   On the way, I was talking to Keyton and Garrison bout how they needed to talk to everyone and have play with the other kids.   I told them many of the people that would be there and I told them that they were practically like our family.   When I said this, Keyton responded with a sad and shocked tone, "You mean they are NOT our family?"   I told him they were just the same as and he still continued, "But they ARE, aren't they?"   So, I just said, "Well, I think of them as our family!" He said, "That's because they are!" Then Garrison piped in with, "Yeah...they ARE our family!!!"   I could see they were going to get upset, so I moved the conversation on!   After all, family can mean alot of things...and these guys really do feel like our family!   They boys found a bunch of eggs and had a grand time playing with all of the other little guys there!   They even played a game of cornhole with Parker! Of course the food was delicious...Peanut grilled out!   Delilah had worked her fingers to the bone cutting up chicken!   We had such a good time and it really did seem like we were at a family gathering.   Later last night, after we were home...Dana was talking about how much fun he had.   He said, "They make you feel so welcome, don't they?   They treated us just like we were part of the family!"   I thought that was funny for him to say after all I  had went through with the boys earlier!   

I didn't get started on their Easter cake until really late in the night but I did manage to create something!   I made one last year and thought I would try my hand at it again.   I am going to try to make it a tradition to do this for them.   I wish I were a creative and artistic cake decorator...but I am not...so I just improvise and do the best job my little UN-artistic hands will let me!!   

The boys were super excited to wake up and find that they had been visited by the Easter Bunny and they loved their cake too!   They had to eat it for breakfast!   They looked so handsome in their new bright colored shirts!   I couldn't find anything to match for me and Dana but I tried to pick out our brightest shirts to coordinate with them a little.

We arrived at church early and I was feeling very proud of that fact until we walked in the front doors.....and I saw all of the Easter baskets in the foyer!!!!   We forgot ours at home!!!   UGH!!!!   Dana did what any good daddy would do...walked back out, headed home to get them, and was back in the pew only 10 minutes into the singing!   Whew!   They had a great time hunting eggs and they found a bunch.   Keyton was so happy he found some real eggs.   He took his bucket over to Dana to ask if he could eat one of them.   I noticed a crowd was forming close to them but thought nothing much of it.   When I finally headed that way, everyone was laughing about what had happened.   Seems when Keyton began to crack the shell to eat the egg, he got a surprise...it was a RAW egg!!!   He found 6 of that kind!   We checked the rest when we got home!   Someone must have brought the wrong batch!   So funny!   

After church, we went to Dana's parents to eat lunch and hang out.   We hid eggs for the kids and then they hid them for me and Tammy to hunt!   They loved that part!   Keyton made up the rule that whoever found the most of the large eggs was to be the winner.   It was a close contest but I came out on top.   I found 5 large eggs and poor Tammy only had 4!   I won the grand prize of...  a hickory nut!   (Courtesy of Keyton!) =)

We had a very busy and EGG-citing Easter, but it was all SO MUCH FUN!!!!

Singing & Sunshine

Me and my singing duo!   

My favorite birthday presents!

As soon as Garrison opened his eyes this morning, he started shaking me and yelling, "It's your birthday, It's your birthday...Want me to start singing to you?"   I smiled and said yes and he broke into song singing his own modified version of Happy Birthday!   Then he started trying to wake Keyton up and make him sing!   I told him to let him rest so he finally left him alone...but in a few minutes Keyton woke up on his own and Garrison started in again!   He grabbed Keyton by the face and screamed, "It's Mommy's birthday...sing to her!"   Keyton was about to crack up!   He hadn't expected such a brutal awakening!   =)   After a little while, they started asking what kind of party I was having, if I was having it here, and who all was invited! I explained to then that I didn't have parties like they did.   They thought that was so sad for me!   =)   Sweet boys!  We went to church and had a great time together.   Dana had to go in to work right after church so the boys and I headed home so they could play out in the beautiful sunshine! I cleaned house a little while they were playing (what little I could in between checking on them and running to watch every time they wanted me to look at them doing something!) I may not have birthday parties...but I have something even better....TWO PRECIOUS BOYS that love me very much....but not as much as I LOVE THEM!!!!!

Puzzle Pros

They were so proud!

These little hands can do many things!

Today I took off half of the day to go with my mom back to the doctor.   The boys went with me. While we were waiting in the waiting room, I decided to work on a 500 piece puzzle that was there .   It had already been started but barely had more than the edges finished.   I hadn't put a puzzled together in YEARS!!!   I had been wanting to for awhile for some reason though.   The boys tried to help me but they thought it was very hard work!   I got quite a bit done while I waited but I would have loved to finish it!   We went to Wal-Mart after and I couldn't wait to pick me a pretty one out!   They didn't have anything at all I liked!!!  They were all just lions or polar bears some other big animal.   The only one that was somewhat pretty was 1500 pieces and outrageously priced!  I was so disappointed!   I just got the boys a 60 piece John Deere puzzle instead so they could learn how to put one together and learn to love it like I always did!  They were very excited to start on it when we got home tonight. I showed them how to start with the edges and then work on the inside.   With a little help and coaching from me...they had it together in only a few minutes!   They both agreed that puzzles were super fun!   I am still going to be on the hunt of me some good and pretty puzzles.   Maybe I need to look at yard sales!   

After 2 Years...

Safe in My Daddy's Arms

Today is the 2nd anniversary of when I lost my daddy. It is still so very hard for me to wrap my mind around the fact that he is really gone. I often find myself wanting to ask him questions that I am certain he would be able to answer. He was so smart about so many things. Sometimes, for a split second, I forget that he is gone and actually think I can ask him something or tell him about something one of the boys said. When I have something I really want to share with him, I can see in my mind how he would react to it and I can just see him laughing at something funny that the boys have done. He was always there to take up for them and keep them out of any trouble they might get in with me! Keyton talks about him almost every day. Garrison, who was only barely 1 year old when he passed away, continues to have memories of him. This both pleases and amazes me. Also, on 2 different occasions, when we have been going to bed, Garrison has looked up at the ceiling and smiled and said "Why is Poppy Bud up there looking at me?" He smiled about it both times and assured me and Keyton that he indeed saw Poppy Bud's face and that he was smiling down on us. This has given me such an odd but comforting feeling on both occasions that it has happened. I know that he is watching over us and I continue to feel him in our lives. I hope my boys will always remember the good times they were able to have with him and that they will both grow up to be honorable, humble, and wonderful men just like their Poppy Bud was. After 2 years...I still miss him so much I can barely stand it...

Cute Distractions

See how they match?

Who could resist these sweet faces?  NOT ME!

This morning we had to take my mom back to the hospital for a visit with the doctor to find out more about all of her test results.   This was a trip that we were really not looking forward to and I do not think I could have made it through going if it were not for my two amazing little boys.   They always keep me busy and put me in a good mood.   I took off from school today so Garrison got to go with me to drop Keyton off.   He thought it was a real big deal to get to walk Keyton to his room.   He gave him many hugs and kisses before we left.   Garrison was such a big boy all day.   He acted very well for a little boy that had to stay in a hospital all day without getting to eat anything but a bag of chips.   He handled everything pretty good with only a little whining.   My brother kept him entertained quite a bit and Garrison as nicknamed him "trickster."   Jerry has always got a trick up his sleeve.   We have decided he can make very neat toys and gadgets out of any object he finds.   He is a very resourceful guy.   Keyton was very glad to see us when we returned to get him.   It was a long day and I was glad to get home to my sweet boys and let them help me think about other things.   I am so glad God picked me to be their mommy! I hope I never let them or HIM down!

A Little Time Outside

Taking a break...

Bicycle time...

Pretending to be an old man...

My Precious First Born...

My Precious Baby Boy...

We have been looking for some sunshine ever since we have been off from school.   Today...we finally got to see it!   However, my mom had to go to the hospital last night because she got dehydrated from having a virus over the weekend.  So, our morning started off with Keyton going to the dentist and then we were off to the hospital hoping to bring her home!   We waited all day at the hospital before they finally told us they wanted her to stay one more night. She did feel much better today and hopefully will feel like new by tomorrow.  I think getting to spend time with the boys helped her a little too.   They sure were glad to see her and hated leaving her there!  By the time we got home...the boys only had a little time left to play in the sunshine!   They had so much fun out there.   Garrison drove his John Deere tractor he got for Christmas.  He wouldn't drive it in slow gear...only FAST!  He ran over me TWO times!  Then he started chasing me and Keyton and yelling "Pull over in the name of the law!"   We refused and became runaway criminals!  He chased us madly while giving us his best "mean lawman" look!   It was very funny!   Keyton rode his bicycle and then asked me to give him some tips on basketball.  So...I just had a practice session with him right there in the front yard.  I showed him tips on guarding, stealing, dribbling, and passing!  Hopefully he will actually use them in the games!  They had alot of fun and it was a welcome sight for me to help take my mind off of worrying about my mom so much.   We can't wait until the sunshine starts coming to visit more often so we can have more fun times together! Who need to take a vacation on Spring Break?   Not us!   We have so many good times in our front yard and there is no place I would rather be than...Home Sweet Home...with my little guys!

My baby is THREE!!!

First present of the day...

Impatient cake lover...

My sweet boys...

Mommy Sandwich...

Blowing out the candle...

Just had to have a lick...

One of the cute faces he made today...

Sweet brothers...

After he opened everything...

Well...my BABY is THREE!!!!   I cannot believe he is so big!   However, it will be easier on me now that he is actually three because every where I went, someone asked me how old he was.   I told them 2 and they would always say, "Are you sure?"   I would have thought he was four!"   Yeah...I am pretty sure I remember when he was born!   =)  Last night as we were going to sleep, Keyton said..."Let me kiss your sweet 2 year old cheeks cause tomorrow they will be three year old cheeks! So cute!  As soon as Garrison opened his eyes, Keyton wanted to start singing "Happy Birthday" to him!   Garrison got so excited and wanted all the fun to begin right away!   Keyton agreed to let him open a little present from him to make him happy.  It was a John Deere truck and he loved it!  Garrison looked himself over and told me he thought he had gotten bigger in his sleep!  He held up his hands and said they were bigger.   Keyton inspected them and agreed that they did look a little bigger! =)  He couldn't wait for people to come over and every time someone came, he thought it was time to open his presents.   I told him we had to wait for everybody! When my mom came, she brought him a cake and he had to have a piece right away without waiting for anyone else to come!  He loves cakes!  He chose Mickey Mouse as his theme this year and loved his Mickey ice cream cake!   He licked it after he blew the candles out!   He was the cutest thing opening all of his gifts!   He made some of the sweetest faces I have ever seen.   He got excited every time Keyton brought him another one to open!  He squealed, opened his mouth, and giggled!   He said, "Oh boy, I got a bunch of presents!"  Some of the things he got:  Mickey Car, Diego Jeep, Handy Manny, Police Vehicles, John Deere Toys, Clothes, Animals, Book, and Games...He appreciated every single thing he got!   I am so proud of my little boy!   He is such a joy to watch!   He made everyone smile today.   The other night I told him that he made me smile and he grinned real big and said, "I even make God smile!"   I am sure he does!   We are so lucky to have this little guy and we are so thankful for him every single day!  Happy Birthday Garrison!

Jr. Pro Time...

Mommy's MVP

Well...it is time for Jr. Pro basketball games to begin!   This is Keyton's first year to get to play because they start in first grade!   He played a few games on a training league earlier in the year but they only played a few times.   He practiced last Sunday evening and his first game was tonight!   We lost the game but they had fun playing and that is all that matters.   I was proud of him because he tried really hard and I could tell he had listened to my tips and is trying to do things right.  The teams in his section are mixed with first and second graders so of course the second graders are a little more comfortable with the game.   He looked so cute out there and after it was over he told me that he believed he was sweating on every single part of his body! Garrison offered plenty of tips to help him out.   He told him to always remember to throw it in the goal!   Smart boy!  I love these little guys!