Keyton's 1st Grade Program

What a handsome deputy!

Posing with little brother...

Pulling over the President...

Writing the historical ticket...

Hug for a job well-done...

The first graders were supposed to perform their class assemble program in February.   However, due to missing school for snow and sickness and having to prepare for TCAP tests, it got postponed until...today.  The theme was "The 44 Presidents."  Keyton was super excited about the part he was playing.   You see, Ulysses S. Grant was the only President to ever receive a speeding ticket!   He got it for speeding while riding a horse.   So, Keyton got to play the deputy that wrote him that historical ticket!!!   Yeah, it was right down his alley to get to dress up like his daddy! He went ALL OUT:  He wasn't allowed to take a toy gun to school, but that didn't stop him from wearing a REAL gun belt with all of the necessary equipment...including real handcuffs!   (He even tucked a little bottle of spray-on stain remover in the pepper-spray holder!)   Funny boy!   His daddy always has little  reminder notes tucked in his shirt pockets, so Keyton insisted I write him a note of some kind.   I wrote "Don't forget that your Mommy loves you very much!"   He had on one of his daddy's older badges, some SHERIFF lapel pins that were handed down to him by his Pa-Pa from when he was the sheriff, and some real patches that were sewn on his shirt for him by Aggie!   He looked so cute!   Now, it is usually very hard to get him out of bed in the mornings. (He is so much like I was!) This morning, I very gently touched his shoulder and told him he needed to get up and put on his uniform, and I swear it looked like he was a piece of toast that popped straight out of a toaster! He was so excited that he started putting his uniform on over his pajamas!   So funny!   He took this very serious! When we got to school, all of the students were checking him out!  They were very impressed with his attire!   He did a very good job in the program.   One thing funny was that in all of their practice sessions, they had him just "pretend" to write a ticket and the boy that got it just "pretended" to throw it down and stomp it.   Keyton took a little notepad with him and during the program, he ACTUALLY wrote something out on one of the pieces of paper and gave it to him!   Now, I thought that was how it was supposed to go down, but I guess it shocked his teacher.  She just didn't know how prepared he was going to be!  When it comes to law and order...there is no pretending in his mind! That made it even funnier when I found that out!   His part was a hit...everyone laughed.   Everyone kept telling him how good he looked and how much they liked his outfit.   He was very proud. Garrison was very excited to get to come and watch the program.   He could hardly wait to go hug Keyton when it was over!   He said Keyton was his favorite part!   Good job Keyton!   

Dana's Birthday Duties...

What's that on your nose?

The tears are welling up...

What a great quilt!!!!

None on his nose this time...

We started celebrating Dana's birthday on Thursday night since he was going to be working today on his birthday.   We took him to Livingston to eat Mexican.   Tammy had informed the waiters that it was his birthday.   So, after we finished with our meal, they came out and placed a very large sombrero on his head and served him up a whipped cream dessert!   You should have seen his face!   But, the best part was that after they finished singing, they picked up a spoon of dessert and acted like they were going to feed him!   He stuck his tongue out all ready to taste it...and they wiped it on his nose!!!   It was so funny!!!  They boys got a big laugh out of it!   We only had our cell phones to capture the image, but that is better than nothing!!!   I got sick in the middle of the night and ended up having to stay home today.   Poor Dana...had to get up and get both boys ready and take them like I usually do!   I think he realized just how big of a job that can really be!   He had already had a dinner planned for us at the Bobcat @ 6:30.   I finally felt like I could be able to go.   I was curious what it was about because he said it was something for MY birthday (which was almost a month ago).  So, we arrive and he tells me and the boys to sit at a table and wait for him to come back there.  We did, but then Jackie Pritchett and his family started coming out there and telling me we were supposed to be back in the private dining room.   It was very confusing!   We go back there and it is like a family reunion with Jackie & Cyndi's family, Jerry & Gail, JD & Jewell, Jeff & Joanna's family...and US!!!   Yes...I was confused!   Anyway...Gail got every one's attention and said she found something on her door this morning.   She had a box in her hand and said she couldn't believe what it was.   She asked Dana to open it.  I was nervous it was something alive!   He opened it and handed me the card that was inside.   It said "Surprise For Misty." It was a card from Gail telling how much she had enjoyed reading my blog and getting to know me and my family and that when I had asked her earlier to make a quilt for me with family pictures, she had the idea to try and sneak and get them for a surprise for me!!!!  Can you believe that?   HOW SWEET!!!!   I started crying as soon as I read the card!   It was a beautiful quilt!!!   And...my favorite color...Purple!!!   I could not believe she had done something so sweet for me.   It is filled with pictures of both me and Dana when we are little as well as more recent ones of our boys and family photos!   It is something I will cherish forever!   I will never be able to thank her enough for thinking of me and doing this!.   She is an amazing woman!   After we ate our meal, Dana ordered a hot fudge cake and Cyndi told the waitresses to sing!   They did and we once again, got Dana!   We had a really good time and Dana's birthday turned out to be great for ME as well!   Happy Birthday Honey!   We love you  very much!!!

A Busy Day On The Farm...

My little mechanics...

No training wheels...

Climbing trees...

A hay adventure...

Finding surprise eggs...

3 Cute Farmers...

Gathering eggs...

He can fit...

Climber in training...

Look how high...

Yesterday after church, we had a busy day on the farm.   They boys started out playing in the yard. It began with them using some of their new treasures we got at the auction on Saturday night! They came home with a whole bunch of new tools and Keyton got a bicycle for ONE DOLLAR!  He had been riding his with his training wheels warped so bad they weren't even touching the ground, but he thought he still needed them! So, after we bought him the one at the auction without training wheels, he learned that he could ride without them!   We are leaving it at my mom's house so he can have one to ride while there!  Hey...it was definitely worth a dollar!   A little bit later, Adam came over to visit.  He took the training wheels off for us because they were on so tightly, I couldn't budge them. Next he gave the boys lessons on climbing trees and then we all went on an adventure around the farm!   We were initially looking for our new kittens, but we found a whole lot more to do!   We walked to the hay shed where Adam lifted them up really high on the rolls of hay.   The boys are both scared of heights and were a little nervous.   He ended up having to carry Garrison the whole way across the hay "mountain."   Keyton only went halfway since he couldn't be carried too!   While they were climbing around, the boys found a bunch of eggs!   That is not where we normally gather our eggs. Because we didn't know how long they had been there, the boys had fun breaking them on the ground! Then we went to the other shed to see if we might find the kittens.   Adam searched on the square bales of hay, in the dump truck , the feed wagon...no kittens!   So, we went to gather the eggs!   Garrison decided to crawl through a hole in the corner of the chicken house to see if he could fit!   He did! On the way out, Keyton put Garrison in a wire chicken coop and called him a baby chicken!   It was funny.  We looked around the house for the kittens and decided the mama cat probably has them safely under the porch where we cannot get to them!   I love baby kittens!   I want to see them so bad! We have 4 cats now and who knows how many kittens she had!  Also...we have another cat expecting very soon!   After giving up on our kitten search, they boys climbed around on the basketball goal.   Adam let Garrison hold on to the rim one time.   They were trying to climb and jump on everything to be just like Adam!   He is going to bring his gear from work next weekend and show them how he climbs electric poles everyday!   I don't know if I can stand to watch!   It makes me nervous just KNOWING he does that! The boys, however, can't wait to see it!!!  They think Adam is super cool...so do I!   He is great to have around!  With so many cats, chickens running everywhere, and cows galore...there is always fun to be had on our farm!

Just Like Daddy...

3 of a kind...

Ever since Keyton was born, everyone told me he looked just like Dana.   That is all I would hear everywhere I went.   I listened to it for 4 years and 4 months...until...Garrison was born!   Since that time...all I hear is how much Garrison looks like Dana!   NOW...several people have changed their minds and seem to think that maybe Keyton looks like ME just a little! However, for the most part, I still hear how much they are both like their daddy.   That is okay with me.   I see parts of us both in them daily.   I see this through their personalities, actions, and quirks!   However, I, too, have a hard time seeing that they look like me at all.   What is the funniest part is that Keyton says he looks just like Dana and Garrison says he looks just like me!   I bought them these cute shirts several months ago and this morning, Garrison wanted them to wear matching "monkey shirts!" Keyton was a little sad at first because he was afraid it was saying something about his Daddy that would hurt Dana's feelings. (He is so tender hearted and full of deep thoughts) Garrison was just excited about the funny monkey on it!   At the end of the day, Ketyon told me he really liked this shirt now!   I thought it was only right to make a picture of them in these cool shirts, because as the shirt says...They are just like their Daddy!

Living Room Guests...

Check out the homemade heating system they made!

Farmers-R-Us

Poor Keyton has been home all this week sick.  His only problem was a slight fever.   Yesterday, he started complaining about his throat hurting and crying about going to the doctor.   He was afraid of getting his throat swabbed to check for Strep.   So this morning, Dana took him to the doctor and sure enough...Strep!   He didn't have to get the swab thing though, because she could look at it and tell.  There is a whole bunch of it going around school.   There were 50 students absent Monday and Tuesday both!    Anyway.......Dana called me at school with a list of things to pick up:   heat lamp, chicken starter, What?!?!   We don't have any baby chickens! Do we?   Apparently we do now!   One of the hens had been sitting on her eggs and 8 hatched!   3 did not make it.   Dana told me that they were in my living room!   I could hear Keyton in the background telling him to tell me all about them!   I asked if they were going to be staying the night and he told me, "Not if you bring me a heat lamp!"   So...I got him one!   When I told Garrison what was waiting on us at home...he was super excited!!!  He couldn't wait to get home and see them!  On the way home, Garrison said to me, "Mommy...let's talk!"  I said "Ok"  and then he said, "Well talk! Let's talk about gardens!" So, we had a talk about all of the things he was going to help plant in the garden this year!   It was so cute!   He cracked me up that he would ask me to have a talk!   How sweet!  When we arrived in the driveway, we had a surprise waiting on us beside the front porch!   3 calves had gotten out and were snacking on one of my shrubs!    In all the excitement of finding baby chicks, they had left the gate open!   Keyton showed Garrison the chicks and told him all about them.   They decided which one they would claim as their own and even picked one out for me!  I was so glad to see that Keyton was feeling better!   He was able to eat more tonight and finish all of his make-up work too!   Maybe these little chicks helped make him better...or maybe it was the TLC he got from THIS chick that he calls...Mommy!

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!