Happy Birthday Papa!

We tried to have a little "photo shoot" in honor of your birthday!

Which, of course, turned into this:

...which led to this:

We love you and hope your day is wonderful! :)

Iced In

Well...we didn't get much snow, but we did get a ton of ice! You'll be happy to know, though, that we did not lose power! :) So we have basically been iced in for the last few days. We got a call this afternoon, and school has been cancelled tomorrow as well. I sure have enjoyed these last few days at home...and it will definitely be hard to leave the kids at daycare on Thursday (especially since it will be Luke's first day)! We have been really lazy, but I have gotten a few things done around the house.

Notice that paci in his hand! :)

I love footed PJs!

We actually had a pretty heavy snow this

morning, so E and I went outside to check it out!

Check out the icicles on the playhouse!

This afternoon I made a big pot of dumplings, and we

had company...which was nice, since we haven't seen

anybody outside of these four walls in a few days.

Y.U.M.M.Y!

Milk Sandwiches

We have had an exciting weekend here in the south...the mere mention of snow and ice sends everybody into a panic! I, too, ran to the store to get...milk and bread?...along with the other items on my weekly grocery list. Actually, I really wanted hamburger buns since "sloppy joes" are on this week's menu...but, of course, they were out! So it looks like we will be eating our sloppy joes on loaf bread this week. We really did need milk, because I couldn't imagine being homebound with E and no milk...not a good mix! I'm still at a loss as to why bread and milk are the first things to go when the weather gets bad though...milk sandwiches? :)

Luke - Mommy is so glad you are finally feeling better!

All ready for church...in the freezing cold!

We were so glad Ashley and Sarah came to church today!

It looks like Sarah and Karson had a big time in the nursery! :)

I think Mrs. Teresa and Luke had a big time too! :)

Sarah and Emma are having big girl talk! :)

What a sweet face!

We have been snuggling up this afternoon!

Some serious thinking goin' on!

Here is the view from our front door! I don't mind snow...I don't even mind ice...and I certainly don't mind a snow day and being homebound with my babies...but I'm praying we don't lose power! Only time will tell!!

Blessed

I am blessed! I've always known it, but this week I have thought about it a lot. Example: In the midst of having a sick baby and no sick days, my family and friends really came through. My grandmother, mama, husband, and mother-in-law all took time off to stay at home with Luke. Then one of the sweetest people that God has put in my life offered to donate me a sick day so that I could be at home with my baby. I literally cried at the thought of her generosity. I'm sure she doesn't have days piled up, and she has a baby of her own that may need her at home sometime soon...but she gave me a day anyway. Sweet friends called and sent messages to check on our little guy. They don't have to care, but they do! I have two beautiful, healthy (most of the time;) children that God has entrusted me with. I have a husband who I truly love more than words can express (even though he can infuriate me more than words can express too)...and I know he loves me, because he puts up with my craziness. I wish I could stay at home with my babies (have I mentioned that before?;), but I know that I am incredibly blessed to have a job that I love! I have great co-workers...past and present...and great students. I could really go on and on about all of the many ways I am blessed, but I will stop...and leave you with a few pictures of two of my favorite blessings. :)

E playing dress up!

Emma puts together a puzzle while
Luke watches...so I can cook supper!

Luke Man - Don't you just love the
way his hair sticks up in the back? ;)

Emma Girl waiting for her Daddy to come home!

Luke's newest "trick"...he is trying really hard to
roll over. It won't be long...he's growing up too fast! :(

...and an ear infection to boot!

Yes, that's right...my 3 month old sweet baby boy has the flu and an ear infection to boot! Ugh! Maz stayed with him today, and when I called to check on him she said he was just restless and in pain. So...off to Dr. Ray's office we went. The verdict: an ear infection and amoxicillin! It looks like Luke Man will be at home the rest of the week, but of course I'm out of sick and personal leave so I will be begging for babysitters! :( 

I told Dr. Ray that the reason Luke was sick was because he didn't want his Mommy to go back to work...he wholeheartedly agreed! ;) As you can see in the picture below Luke has moved back into the bassinet in my room, which I informed Justin may be his permanent residence since we won't get to spend our days together anymore! He says he can stay until he gets better...we'll just play that by ear! ;) Don't you think he looks happy in there?

This Big Sister is the sweetest...she has been saying special prayers for her baby brother since he's been sick. Excuse the quality of this picture...I took it with my phone to send to her Daddy to tell him to hurry home!! :)

Maybe next week Luke will get to join Emma at Mrs. Elizabeth's!

Happy New Year & The Last Christmas

After diagnosing Luke with the flu Dr. Ray prescribed Tamiflu for Justin and Emma, but we decided to send E to Nana and Papa's for a few days just to be on the safe side. So...Justin, Luke, and I rang in the New Year together...actually Justin slept through the New Year, so I got a sweet, sloppy kiss from the sweetest boy I know at midnight!

Luke and I spent a few nights sleeping in the living room...

him in his car seat (so he was elevated) and me on the couch.

We have since moved back into my bedroom...notice I said "we"! ;)

Luke Man's first picture of 2011!

Traditionally we celebrate Christmas with my parents on Christmas afternoon, but this year was different because we were all exhausted from our road trip to Texas. On Christmas day Nana and Papa came to our house to see what the kids got and to eat supper, but we decided to wait until Moms/Maz got home from Texas to exchange gifts. So, we headed to Nana and Papa's for New Year's lunch (pork roast, turnip greens, blackeyed peas, cornbread, and sweet tea...yum!) and our family Christmas.

E got a microphone...but I'm not sure

who played with it more, her or her daddy!!

E danced all around the house. I love this pic...

she looks like Michael Jackson doing "Thriller", ha!

Sing a little song...

Luke was taking it all in...not sure what to think!

Emma opened their presents. They got all of the Toy Story movies!

...and E got some lipstick!

Of course, she had to try it out!

Ballerina Barbie

New Clothes

Luke sat with Maz...and out of the way! He may
have watched a play or two of the Tide game! :)

E showed Little Brother what he got!

Luke got a bouncing cow toy...

just like the one E had when she was a baby!

Then Emma got a very special gift. Maz gave Emma a

pair of emerald earrings that Big Daddy had given to her!

Maz was telling Emma about the earrings!

Tomorrow we have to get back to reality. I will be forced back to work, and I will have to leave Luke behind. However, his sickness has earned him a few more days at home. He seems to be feeling a little better, but his cough is terrible and he's still not eating well. So, Maz and Nana have graciously agreed to help keep him Monday and Tuesday. Assuming he is feeling much better, he will go to Mrs. Elizabeth's on Wednesday...another first for him!

Here he is tonight playing with his daddy! I am so in love

with these two boys...and the girl in the pictures above! :)