Rooks Rundown

Christmas 2011

2011-12-31T12:29:00.003-06:00

I opted to film Christmas morning in lieu of pictures, so I have none to post. These pics of M&E baking Christmas cookies on Christmas Eve will have to suffice...

Santa's gifts for this Christmas included a wedding dress for M (the girl loves some dress-up), a bow and arrow for E, and trucks for W. Grandparents, great grandparents and aunts and uncles were extremely generous and what we thought would be a pretty small Christmas for us actually turned out to be a really great one.

On a side note, this was the Christmas of the worst tree ever. We came home on the 23rd to find bugs all over the floor, all over the gifts and crawling ALL OVER the tree. It was disgusting. Needless to say, the ornaments came off and that nasty tree was at the curb that day. At least we were that much closer to cleaning up all the decorations!

All in all we had a wonderful time celebrating the birth of our Savior with our family - including our new addition little Ward.

Callaway Fantasy in Lights

2011-12-31T12:09:00.003-06:00

Mama Kaye treated us to the Fantasy in Lights show at Callaway Gardens this year. We all bundled up and rode the trolley (otherwise known as the "charlie") through the show. M&E loved it, but they had some trouble seeing everything so we decided on an encore performance. We loaded up in the car and drove through it another time. This time they had heat, snacks, and no obnoxious company. They REALLY loved it this time and each declared their own favorite part.

By the way, taking pictures of lights is not easy.

Ballet Nativity/School Christmas Program

2011-12-31T11:55:00.004-06:00

Madeline's ballet class gave a little nativity performance and M was chosen to play Mary. She did a great job (she didn't cry) and the girls put on such a sweet little show. Daddy even got to come watch! M really loves ballet and constantly twirls around the house.

The next day, M&E had their Christmas program at school. Daddy and Mama Kaye came to watch. It was so cute! It was so fun to see the children perform the songs that I had heard them singing for weeks at home.

Our little angels:

Thanksgiving 2011

2011-12-31T11:30:00.006-06:00

This year we decided to spend Thanksgiving here:

It was wonderful. What a beautiful time of year to be at the beach!

We celebrated my 30th birthday at Louisiana Lagniappe. I cannot think of a more perfect way to ring in my 30s than surrounded by my precious family in a beautiful setting eating delicious food!

The big kids had their own little hideaway in our suite and fought over the top bunk the whole time.

We spent most of our time in the outdoor heated pool and hot tub but we took a little walk to the playground for some fun one morning.

We also took a tour of the docks and we each picked out a yacht for Santa to bring for Christmas. (He must not have been able to fit them on the sleigh.)

These crazy kiddos even got in the gulf. It was NOT warm.

The five of us had such a relaxing vacation that we're considering a repeat performance.

Growing Up

2011-12-31T11:22:00.004-06:00

I have been meaning to post on some updates for a while now, but life has been busy. These two big kids made some major changes several months ago and I feel the need to document them. In a single day, Eli gave up his blanket (that he had slept with since his first day home from the hospital), stopped sucking his thumb and took down his bedrail. About two days later, Madeline (not one to be outdone for long) also gave up her beloved blanket and had her bedrail removed. Then, as if my two precious oldest children had not given their poor mother enough to cry about, Eli decided to take up residence in the top bunk. My oh my. And those once sweet blankets that had become progressively more nasty with each passing year? I seized the moment when M&E decided to abandon them and tossed them in the trash bin.

This dear sweet baby is delicious. Seriously, irresistible. He's a little better with his napping but still not a great napper. He still gets up occasionally in the night, but the opportunity to nuzzle that sweet little fuzzy head in peace and quiet makes it so worth the interruption in my sleep. I feel like we may have a tooth any day now and he's starting to get quite good at sitting up, not on his own yet but soon. He has a healthy appetite and gobbles down his rice cereal, bananas, apples and sweet potatoes, and he's still great at nursing. He has been such an easy addition to our family and we all ADORE our sweet Ward.

Halloween 2011

2011-11-18T11:14:00.001-06:00

Virginia Visit

2011-11-17T18:26:00.010-06:00

A month ago, we traveled up to Virginia to visit Granddaddy and Vivian. (I know, I know, my posts are few and far between lately. I'm a little busy with life these days.) The drive up there was grueling. It took us 14.5 hours to get there. At around 7 p.m. we came to a stand-still in road construction traffic and there we sat. For 2.5 hours we only traveled 9 miles. Misery. Then, we tried to throw in the towel and stop at a hotel for the night only to be turned away twice due to no room in the inn. We had no choice but to press on and we finally arrived at 2:30 in the morning. The drive home would also be in the running for worst drive ever, but I'll get to that...

No rest for the weary when you have two 4-year-olds who have been dreaming about the pumpkin-patch-on-steroids since last year's visit, so the next day... or actually the same day, I guess?... we loaded back into the car and headed for Cox Farms. It did not disappoint.

I did not anticipate the cold wind, and this little hooded blanket tucked away in the diaper bag came in very handy for little Ward. He was snug as a bug in a rug wrapped up in this and tucked into the Baby Bjorn. Incidentally, Brandon was the champion baby carrier of the trip.

The slides were a hit again this year, but even more of a crowd-pleaser was the rope swing. I was impressed that M&E were really pretty good at it. As Eli put it, "Three-year-olds can't swing on that rope, but four-year-olds can. That's why we didn't do it last year."

The whole gang:

I told Granddaddy before we traveled up there that we expected a full schedule of activities and he delivered. The day after the "punkin patch" we went to Charlottesville for lunch at Michie Tavern and apple picking at Carter Mountain. (I sure do miss Charlottesville.) Our apple-picking duo picked 35 pounds of apples. Yum.

Another day, another adventure. We headed out the next day for White Oak Canyon Falls. My family used to go hiking up in that area often when we lived there and I remember why - it is absolutely beautiful.

I think we only made it in about a mile or so before Madeline ran out of steam, so we stopped for an apple break.

I would be remiss if I also didn't mention that we managed to squeeze in a dinner with Allison while we were up in VA, too. She had just been down to AL to visit us and meet Ward, so that means we got to see her twice in a matter of weeks. I'm fairly certain that hasn't happened since we lived in the same house... icing on the cake.

Three hours into the drive back down south, we discoved why Madeline was dragging during our hike when we had to pull over for her to throw up on the side of the interstate. So, despite the crummy drive, we all had a blast and a great visit, and though it may be a while before we brave the drive again, we will definitely be back.

Genesis 21:6

2011-10-16T19:32:00.004-05:00

Soccer Star

2011-09-15T13:57:00.004-05:00

Eli had his first soccer practice and game this week. He was so excited and was so cute to watch. He's the youngest member of his team by almost a year, and this was his absolute first experience with soccer. (In fact, as we walked over to the fields, Madeline asked me, "Mommy, is that basketball?".) It was obvious that Eli was a little green, but he had a smile on his face for the entire hour and a half and we can't ask for more than that!

The team did some different drills during practice and I had to laugh because Eli told me afterwards, "I wasn't very good at running backwards. I fell down and bumped my head, so I think next time I'll just walk backwards so I don't fall." At another point, he ran over to the sideline and asked, "Where's Madeline?," and then said, "Oh! I see her! Hi, Madeline!".

Madeline had a blast at soccer too because she got to run around and play with a friend on the bleachers and playground. Soccer and ballet are the first activities that these twins have done separately and as I expected, they're both doing great with having their own extracurriculars. I'm really proud of how patient they have both been while the other practices and it's been fun for me to watch them interact with other children without their best buddy at their side.

We Call Him "Wardy-Woo"

2011-09-12T12:06:00.000-05:00

This sweet boy is growing like a weed. He had a check-up at the doctor's office today and he has gained 5 pounds and grown 3 inches since birth.

In the past couple of weeks, we've seen his hard outer shell start to crack. His constant serious expression has given way to the sweetest open mouth smiles that we can't help but reward with tons of kisses. He's also cooing a bunch (love that sound!) and I'm sure we'll hear a giggle soon because he seems to be right on the verge of it sometimes.

Apparently Ward is afraid to miss any of the action around here because this little newborn baby fights sleep like no baby I've ever seen. It's bizarre to me that he will have the most tired eyes that he can barely hold open and will just be miserably sleepy, but he just will not let go and sleep. He's even gone entire days without a real nap. Thankfully, he's very cooperative when we're out running errands and will sleep then, he falls asleep with no protest at bedtime (of course, he's exhausted by that point!), and when he does fall asleep, he sleeps great for hours.

Every one of our precious children has ended up with a nickname and so we fondly refer to our sweet baby as "Wardy-Woo," pronounced "Wordy-Boo" by M&E. Speaking of M&E, they adore their little brother. They have had a cold for the past week and it's killing them to keep their hands off of him. When I told them they couldn't be in Ward's face, Eli came up with the compromise of kissing his little feet instead. Hopefully the big kids will start feeling better soon, so they can get back in this sweet little face.

Happy Birthday, Daddy!

2011-09-11T18:59:00.002-05:00

We love you!

Somebody thinks his big brother is really funny...

2011-09-11T18:56:00.001-05:00

Ballerina Girl

2011-09-11T14:04:00.007-05:00

Madeline started ballet two weeks ago. She goes one morning a week and she LOVES it. I peeked in the classroom window last week...

This is my little girl who cannot stand still to save her life and look, not only is she still but she is hanging on every word the teacher has to say! The girls often get to dress up in tutus and tiaras and magic wands AND they get to dance around the room. Madeline is in heaven!

(As an added bonus, the church gym where ballet is held also has a well-stocked game room complete with arcade games and an air hockey table so Eli also likes to go to ballet!)

School Starts and Baby Update

2011-08-13T09:39:00.004-05:00

Madeline and Eli started 4K on Friday. Of course, they were so excited to get to school and start another year and they reported that they had a great first day. I can't believe this is their last year of preschool!!! I also enrolled them in extracurricular activities this year - Madeline in ballet and Eli in soccer. I laughed as I recorded all of the practice times and watched my calendar fill up. As Brandon put it, the Mommy van is really about to start rolling.

Ward is just precious. We can't get enough of him. We laugh because we named him Isaac, which means "he laughs," and this child rarely cracks a smile - he is so serious all the time. He's getting so big so quickly! At his 2-week check-up he had already grown an inch and gained a pound. Now he has the sweetest little irresistible chipmunk cheeks. He continues to have quite the healthy appetite and he is sleeping GREAT. The night before last we put him down at 9:00 and he didn't wake up until 5:30 the next morning! Brandon and I are really amazed at how well-rested we are. This single baby thing is a breeze!

We may be biased, but Brandon and I constantly tell each other what great children we have. They are so sweet and cute and smart and funny and fill our home with so much joy. And so we roll right along with our child-rearing and pray that we do a good job of it!

M&E Turn 4!

2011-07-15T15:50:00.003-05:00

Madeline and Eli turned 4 years old on Saturday. We had planned to celebrate their birthday on Thursday before I headed to the hospital on Friday, but Ward proved to be a very considerate brother and allowed us all to be home on Saturday for their birthday.

There were balloons galore, a delicious cake and plenty of fun gifts, which included ballet clothes for Madeline, soccer and other sports-themed clothing for Eli and several fun arts and crafts. Mama Kaye and Julia were in town and helped us celebrate with hamburgers and hot dogs and cake and ice cream.

These two sweet children have been so much fun over the past four years. We love them so much and look forward to what they will learn and grow to do in the next year. Happy Birthday, Madeline and Eli!

Isaac Ward Rooks

2011-07-15T13:54:00.014-05:00

Our sweet baby Ward came into the world at 12:36 pm on Wednesday, July 6.

I was scheduled for a c-section on Friday, but Ward had other plans. I woke up around 5:30 Wednesday morning with contractions... and they hurt. I sat in bed for a while trying to figure out whether or not I should call the doctor (not wanting to go to the hospital if it wasn't really necessary) and then I decided to get up and do some laundry since I was in pain and couldn't sleep. I called Mama Kaye and told her to get on the road. Then I took a shower and got dressed. Then around 7:30 I decided it was time to call the doctor, who told me to go on and head to the hospital. Finally at 8:30 we left the house.

As a side note, no one seemed to be taking this very seriously. Brandon left me and went to work for a while, Mama Kaye stopped for coffee and M&E complained that they were too tired to go to the hospital. Madeline also told me that I said we could go the beach when the baby was born and asked if we could go now since we were having the baby. I suggested that they could drop me off and go about their business and I would call them to come pick me up in a few days when I could go home...

We decided from the beginning of this pregnancy that we did not want to know the sex of the baby before delivery. However, Brandon was convinced that he saw the ultrasound tech plug into the computer that it was a girl. I on the other hand, had no feeling whatsoever about what we were having. Brandon got to make the call in the delivery room. It was so fun that he got to be surprised too - it's a boy!

We are so grateful that the Lord has blessed us with another beautiful healthy baby! My recovery has been so much easier this time around also. In fact, we even got to go home a day early, which was so nice as it's impossible to sleep in the hospital with the constant poking and prodding.

M&E have been so sweet with their new baby brother. They call him "my sweet baby brother Ward" and constantly tell him they love him. They have not skipped a beat and have even offered several funny anecdotes in the past week...

Eli when seeing me standing up for the first time post-delivery:

"Mommy, it looks like you still have a baby in there. Is there another baby in there?"

Both M&E took some time to learn their new brother's name. They kept calling him by all of their friends' baby brothers' names. He was baby Michael, baby Anderson and baby Owen within the first 24 hours of his life.

Nursing has been an interesting topic for the kiddos, too. Madeline nurses and burps her baby doll while I nurse and burp Ward, and Eli has had some hilarious comments on the topic...

Eli: "Why are you feeding him out of your bellybutton?"

Eli: "Yuck."

Me: "Yuck what?"

Eli: "He's eating you."

**Here's a PSA for the moms out there: Allowing a 4-year-old comedian into your room after a c-section can have painful consequences.

We're all enjoying loving on this sweet new baby boy.

Ward is so, so sweet and has taken to nursing like a champ. He lets us know when he needs a diaper change and is the squirmiest baby ever, making diaper changes challenging. He's also sleeping for 3-5 hour stretches at night already. Brandon and I are amazed at how much easier this one baby thing is as compared to two babies. Thank you to Mama Kaye and Julia and to all of our sweet friends for their help over the past week!

Diving Board Update

2011-07-02T13:55:00.002-05:00

Yesterday, Madeline decided it was high time she passed her swim test so she too could go off the diving board. Of course, she accomplished the task with flying colors. In fact, I was swimming in front of her and she kept running into me because she's so fast. Eventually I just got out of the way so she could finish her lap. She said, "Now I can keep up with Eli!" Indeed, Missy!

Diving Board

2011-06-22T18:06:00.003-05:00

In order to gain the privilege of jumping off the diving board at our pool, children have to pass a swim test. They have to swim 25 yards unassisted. A couple of weeks ago, Eli decided he was ready to give it a go and he passed!

I'm sure Madeline is not far behind her brother so I anticipate capturing a video of her jumping soon, too. M&E have really impressed me this summer with their swimming - they're really good!

Bedtime Entertainment

2011-05-28T09:29:00.001-05:00

We went to check on Eli after tucking him in bed last night and this is what we found...

"Do you like how I decorated my bed, Mommy?"

Sandestin 2011

2011-05-20T13:52:00.009-05:00

We took a family vacation to Sandestin the first week of May. If I had to sum it all up in one word, it would be PERFECTION. The weather was beautiful, the water was crystal clear and gorgeous, and a fabulous time was had by all.

First order of business each day: bathing suits on.

On our first morning there, we did some exploring.

Incidentally, this was the last morning for exploring because M&E were very clear that there was to be no more wasting time before heading to the beach.

Did I mention we had Mama Kaye join us? It was great to have an extra pair of hands to help out since I was more than a little pregnant. I was able to sit still often and really relax - nice. M&E of course loved her company too, and we didn't exactly have to twist Mama Kaye's arm to get her to come along.

The water was a little chilly, but we couldn't be kept out of it. M&E ran straight to it every day when we got out and would stay in until they were literally purple and shivering. Then, they would wrap up in a towel and warm up before declaring that they were warm enough and ready to head back in for more.

M&E had their first experience with a beach staple: the go carts. They were a hit. In fact, they could not stop talking about how fast they went.

Before we knew it, it was time to go back home.

M&E have told me multiple times that they want to go back to the beach and I couldn't agree more. I think next year we definitely need to stay longer or possibly take more than one trip.

Mother's Day 2011

2011-05-20T13:40:00.003-05:00

M&E had a Mother's Day Tea at their school. It was so very cute! They welcomed me at the door, showed me their artwork, served me cookies and pink lemonade and sang some songs.

I can honestly say that I truly enjoy my children's company. While I'm sure every three-year-old has his/her moments, more often than not M&E keep me very entertained and make me very proud, and I love them more and more every day.

Easter 2011

2011-05-20T13:19:00.005-05:00

We had a very nice Easter weekend at home. Mama Kaye came to visit and she and Brandon went to work in the yard. We decided that our azaleas were too overgrown and needed way more than gentle pruning so Brandon broke out the chainsaw and cut them down completely. Now we'll just wait and see whether or not they grow back but we are hopefully optimistic.

(I'm pregnant so I couldn't help - that's my story and I'm sticking to it.)

The Easter Bunny outdid himself this year. He made sure that M&E were all set for our upcoming beach trip.

M&E posed for some pictures before church.

Keeping it real... sibling love.

After church, Mama Kaye and I fixed a nice Easter lunch. It was a great way to celebrate The Resurrection!

Love

2011-05-20T13:16:00.000-05:00

Sunny Saturday Fun

2011-04-10T15:28:00.007-05:00

M&E had quite the fun-filled Saturday yesterday. It included a trip to the farm and some backyard fun.

No fish was safe from these three.

It was close to 90 degrees so Madeline decided to shed some clothing and ran around this way for the rest of our time at the farm. Life in the country is fine indeed!

The kiddos caught a little cat nap on the way home so they could burn the rest of their energy at home...

Needless to say, M&E slept well last night. They could barely function to get to bed because they were so tired. We are so grateful for the beautiful weather - there's nothing better than sun and water to wear out some toddlers!

As a side note, tiny baby had a great day as well. At one point, the little one squirmed with such excitement that I almost jumped out of my chair. Can you see the little one in the reflection? Not so tiny anymore!

A Game of Paddleball

2011-04-06T19:58:00.004-05:00

Eli was running a fever yesterday so he got to hang out with me while Madeline was at school. My to-do list included a trip to Walmart, where Eli spotted a $5 "tennis" set that he thought would be lots of fun. It was.

The suction cups proved to be a little frustrating, but Madeline soon found a way around that.

I heard her say, "No, Eli, it works better like this!". She then proceeded to throw the entire paddle (with ball attached). Hilarious. The game got a little more intense after that.

It was a beautiful afternoon, but the sun was a little bright. Thankfully, M&E remembered the stylin' sunglasses they scored at their school's Spring Fling last week.

Busy Busy

2011-03-29T12:20:00.003-05:00

Lately it seems we have been running at top speed and only stopping to refuel (in this case while wearing bathing suits). My goal is to soon get back to updating this blog more often, but I have to be honest that it's not been at the top of my priority list lately. In the past few weeks, we have bought and sold cars (not a fast or easy process), pumped a lot of water out of our basement and finally fixed the issue (praise God for my handy husband), planted new grass, built a new storage closet in the house, enjoyed spring break (at home), etc. In addition, I've been growing sweet baby #3 while caring for two sweet and now very helpful 3-year-olds who keep me laughing at their growing vocabularies and imaginations, and Brandon has kept up his busy out-of-town every week schedule. We're all looking forward to a little vacation soon, and hopefully I'll also be back in the habit with more frequent updates soon!

Recent Happenings

2011-02-10T10:17:00.008-06:00

We've managed to stay busy lately! Here are a few snapshots of what we've been up to...

Santa knew what he was doing when he brought these kiddos bikes for Christmas. They LOVE to ride. Weather permitting, they spend a lot of time doing just that. There is a track across the street from us that is the perfect place to go get some good exercise and fresh air.

A few weeks ago we traveled over to Auburn to go to the National Championship Celebration at the stadium. Sounds exciting, doesn't it? Brandon may have been the only one of us who felt it was.

I'm the first to admit that I'm no Auburn fan but it was windy, cold and B-O-R-I-N-G!

So, we high-tailed it out of there and headed for the bookstore, where Madeline got her coveted cheerleading costume and Eli scored an Aubie toy. M&E wanted to know why in the world people were throwing toilet paper on the trees because as Madeline put it, "Toilet paper is for wiping bottoms!"

The next day, Eli helped his daddy with some yard maintenance. Madeline and I took pictures and ate bon-bons.

Last night, it snowed... again. M&E were dying to get out in the white stuff, so we bundled up and headed out there this morning.

After two snow angels, both kiddos were covered in snow and cold, and this momma was freezing. We do live in Alabama after all, and appropriate snow gear we have not. Our house is toasty warm inside and the promise of hot chocolate was too much to resist!

News Flash

2011-02-07T13:27:00.002-06:00

Eli to the ER

2010-12-28T18:22:00.003-06:00

We made it almost 3 and a half years without needing to take either of our children to the hospital, but our streak ended the day after Christmas. Along with two new bikes, Santa had safety first on his mind and also brought two new helmets for M&E. Unfortunately Santa underestimated the size of Eli's head (no doubt because of the large brain it encases) and the 3+ toddler helmet did not fit this 3-year-old. No problem. Surely we could make it until Monday to go buy a new helmet for Eli. Um, not so much. While out riding the day after Christmas, Eli took a tumble that resulted in a deep gash on his forehead. I thought he probably needed stitches so off to the emergency room we went.

Three hours later we emerged with 4 stitches and the Patient of the Day award for Eli. This little tough guy did not shed a single tear while he was fixed up. I was thoroughly impressed.

Hopefully it will be a while before we have to visit the ER again, but for the sake of posterity here is a picture of the "boo-boo." (Please note that Eli is dressed in a dragon costume and is indeed wearing one of Madeline's hair clips. I had to keep his hair out of the way while I cleaned the stitches. Doesn't he look pretty?) Yesterday, we went to Target and purchased a new larger helmet.

Christmas 2010

2010-12-28T15:07:00.003-06:00

We enjoyed another peaceful Christmas at home with our family. It was even more fun to see Christmas this year through the eyes of our children. M&E really got the whole Santa thing this year. They understood that Santa was watching them to see if they were naughty or nice and were very conscious of their behavior. They also paid a lot of attention to Sam, our Elf on the Shelf. Throughout the day they would report to Sam that they were being nice and Santa should bring presents. Sometimes one would even report that the other was being naughty and should not get a present.

The music was a lot of fun this year, too. M&E loved all of it and sang along to all of the Christmas carols on the radio. I was amazed at how quickly they picked up the lyrics. Their favorites were "Rudolph," "Frosty," "Away in a Manger," "Jingle Bells," and "Silent Night." Madeline especially could be heard singing all throughout the day.

Santa's spread on Christmas Eve:

Apparently Sam did report that M&E should indeed be on the nice list because Santa brought new bikes for these two!

They rode around inside the house all morning because this was going on outside, a white Christmas in Alabama!

Later on though, we all bundled up and headed outside to test out the new bikes in the snow.

"The word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth." John 1:14

Letters to Santa

2010-12-28T14:21:00.003-06:00

M&E wrote letters to Santa at school with the help of their teacher. They are hilarious...

Dear Santa,

I want Wall-E for Christmas. And candy. I want a fish. My mommy likes rocks for Christmas. I want to give daddy a firetruck for Christmas.

Love,

Eli

Dear Santa,

I want a Sam that can move. We have a Sam at home. Then we can have two Sams. I want a bunny too. My mommy wants a bunny too for Christmas. I want to give my daddy a toy boat.

Love,

Madeline

**Sam is the name of our Elf on the Shelf.

Thanksgiving 2010

2010-12-28T14:21:00.000-06:00

We had another great Thanksgiving at Maple Ridge Farm this year. As always, Susan was the hostess with the mostess. The food was delicious and the company was even better!

We lost my Granddaddy this summer so the annual shoot was named The Henry Ward Annual Trap Shoot in his honor. All ages joined in the fun.

Post-shoot and post-feast we all settled in for some relaxation back outside.

Looking forward to next year!

Halloween 2010

2010-12-28T14:10:00.002-06:00

Asheville Adventure

2010-12-28T13:33:00.005-06:00

Back in October Brandon and I stole away for a weekend to Asheville, NC. We had a great getaway while Mama Kaye kept M&E for us. Brandon had never been to the Biltmore Estate before so I had fun touring it with him.

We also enjoyed one of the best dinners ever on Saturday night. If you ever find yourself in Asheville, head over to the Sunny Point Cafe. You will not be disappointed. Let me just say I could have eaten a huge bowl of the black-eye pea risotto.

On the way home we were able to swing through Rutherfordton to visit my dear friend Jeanne and her husband Ben and we got to meet sweet new baby Ben - so precious!

Fall Family Fun in Virginia

2010-10-25T11:00:00.014-05:00

It's taken me too long to post on this...warning: it's a long one. Three weeks ago we traveled up to Virginia to visit with Granddaddy and Vivian. The weather was gorgeous and there was never a dull moment - Granddaddy had planned 3 days packed full of activities.

Our first adventure was a trip to what can only be described as a pumpkin patch on steroids.

There were slides of every size. M&E were in heaven.

There was also a hayride, which went great... until we stopped in front of a building on top of which stood a scary old man in an orange wig. M&E were not fans and made it very clear that they did NOT want to ride the hayride again.

And, there were farm animals.

(I know exactly how you feel, Ms. Piggy.)

We must have lost Brandon at some point, but don't worry, we found him munching on a bag of kettle corn.

We barely made it out of the parking lot before M&E passed out.

The next day we trekked up to Baltimore to tour the National Aquarium.

M&E were starting to fade on us here, but wait...

this'll wake them up.

The dolphins were my favorite.

Once outside of the aquarium, we took a poll on what to see next. The submarine was cool, but Eli had his eye on something else.

So, we ventured across the harbor to the U.S.S. Constellation.

Um, is this safe?

One of the lower decks was set up perfectly to accommodate nap time.

Next, we drove over to Cobb Island to see a boat that is still in action - Granddaddy's sailboat.

On our last full day, we went to what was one of my favorite places to go growing up - Graves Mountain Lodge.

They were having an apple festival. Oh, Virginia apples - YUM.

We made the long drive back south the next morning. As M&E say, "Granddaddy lives really too far." Nothing like a few fall days to make me miss Virginia! We had a great visit with Granddaddy and Vivian and look forward to the next one.

So Long, Summer!

2010-09-28T09:59:00.005-05:00

The past couple of days have been absolutely gorgeous. Temperatures in the 60s and 70s have moved in and we are so grateful! However, last week it was still close to 100 most days, which meant...

ICE CREAM!

And of course we have to follow up ice cream with some horseplay in the yard.

(Have you noticed that Eli wears his superhero t-shirt almost EVERY DAY??)

She Runs

2010-09-28T09:46:00.003-05:00

I ran in my first 5K race last weekend. I can't believe I've never done one before but I guess I can check that off my list now!

Here is my cheer squad... "Where is Mommy? Mommy's taking too long!"

Here I come! Do I look hot and tired, or what?

I won't tell you my time, but let's just say I came in shortly after this guy.

Workin' in the Dirt

2010-09-14T20:57:00.002-05:00

Eli has a new-found passion (obsession, really) with working (not playing) in the dirt. He'll tell me, "Mommy, I need to go work in the dirt to make money." Where did that come from?? At least we see a good work ethic in him early on. Lately, both Eli and Madeline have to go straight into the shower when they come inside at night because they are absolutely filthy. Guess that's what washing machines (and occasionally Clorox2) are for.

Eli, what's that tool for??

30 Years Young

2010-09-14T20:50:00.004-05:00

Happy Birthday, Brandon! We love you. Thank you for being such a wonderful father and husband and for always putting your family first. Here's to many more happy birthdays!

Back to School, Back to School

2010-08-23T13:42:00.005-05:00

This is M&E's third week back to school. Once again, they happily headed to their classroom without so much as a "Bye, Mommy". This year they are no longer in Mother's Day Out. That's right, my big kiddos are in Preschool now. Preschool or "Big School," as M&E refer to it, means the addition of carpool line, Spanish, music and chapel. I wondered how they would take to carpool since I don't need to walk them in anymore... Eli just giggled and said, "This is funny, Mommy," as we worked our way up the line. The first few days have been a hit and I anticipate that they will all turn out that way.

To say that I'm ready for the summer to end is an understatement. While we normally love the lazy days of summer, the past couple of months have been anything but lazy. Unfortunate events this summer included but were not limited to a 4+ week-long horrible allergic reaction to a wasp sting for me and the death of my Granddaddy. Nevertheless we continue to praise God through the good times and the bad and find comfort in the fact that He is in control - no doubt about it! We're looking forward to Fall and all that comes with it.

Fun in the Sprinkler

2010-07-16T14:20:00.009-05:00

First of all, I realize that I skipped the whole month of June on this blog. Here is why: my children spent the entire month (with the exception of eating and sleeping) in the pool. Therefore, I also spent the entire month in the pool. My camera, however, did not. I plan to try to capture my little swimmers with my lens at some point in time but I am usually in the pool with them. I have to say though that I am extremely impressed with their progress this summer... they can swim! Jumping in, retrieving dive sticks off the bottom, doing flips in the water - very impressive.

The many sunny days spent at the pool have also meant very little rain. As a result, we decided to set up the sprinkler after dinner a few nights ago. Watering the grass included an added bonus for M&E - play time.

Madeline made sure to inform me that, "Mommy, it's okay to get my panties wet in the 'pinkler."

Madeline and Eli Turn THREE!

2010-07-10T13:43:00.009-05:00

Madeline and Eli are now three years old or "fee" as they say and we celebrated their birthday yesterday at home. I can't believe how they've grown up so quickly. They are such a joy and it is so much fun to watch them learn and grow.

Eli requested a spiderman cake and Madeline wanted a princess one. I didn't really want two separate cakes, so I ordered one and Olexa's did not disappoint.

We sang Happy Birthday to Madeline first (because she was born first).

And then we sang to Eli (because he was born a minute later).

After cake it was present time.

M&E even got a special gift from all of Daddy's time spent in Oklahoma.

Happy third birthday sweet Madeline and sweet Eli! We love you to the moon and back!

Potty Training Update

2010-05-31T15:24:00.003-05:00

Three weeks ago while I was getting this little lady ready for bed, she declared, "I not a baby anymore, I no wear pull-ups." I went with it, put a pair of panties on her, put her to bed and sure enough, Miss Madeline is fully potty trained. No more diapers in this household! Hallelujah!

Overheard

2010-05-30T18:09:00.004-05:00

While M&E were in the tub tonight, Madeline examined a boo-boo on Eli's hand:
"It's okay, E-I. I'm a doctor."

Eli to Madeline and me throughout the day:
"Guys, where you going?"
"Guys, what you doing?"

Eli's name for Madeline, "Wuvy", is starting to fade away. Lately it has been replaced with "Maleline".

Both M&E when they want to take something in the car (a sweatshirt or hat or something):
"Mommy, I bring this jus' in case I need it."

Eli has been in the "Why? Why? Why?" phase for a while now. I answer as well as I can but sometimes I just don't have an answer so I'll say, "Eli, why do you think?" His standard answer for that lately:
"For alligators." (Don't ask me. I have no clue where that came from.)

Little Lumberjack

2010-05-30T18:03:00.002-05:00

My boy was busy today...

Introducing Mr. and Mrs. Whitt...

2010-05-30T10:30:00.006-05:00

Last weekend, we traveled over to south Georgia for Julia and Matthew's wedding. The ceremony was beautiful (as was the bride), the party was a blast and we had a great time visiting with everyone. With Brandon's help, I juggled my responsibilities as both the Matron of Honor and the mother of the cutest Flower Girl and Ring Bearer in the history of marriage ceremonies. Madeline and Eli did a pretty good job, I must say. Eli refused to wear his boutonniere (He's a man's man.), but he and Madeline walked down the aisle with me and seated themselves beside Mama Kaye, where they sat happily through the ceremony munching on Junior Mints and coloring on the offering envelopes. The reception was a lot of fun. I danced the night away with M&E. At one point I asked Madeline if she needed to go potty and she answered, "No, Mommy. I dancin' now."

We're so happy for the new Mr. and Mrs. and are so excited to welcome Matthew to the family!

Bring On The (Not So) Lazy Days

2010-05-19T14:54:00.004-05:00

Today was M&E's last day of preschool. I can honestly say that they LOVED going to school. Not a tear was shed over it (unless they were sick and unable to go). We look forward to the next school year, but in the meantime, we plan to thoroughly enjoy our favorite season of the year.

Here's how we jump-started summer...

We don't do a lot of sitting around in the summer. Nothing wears out a couple of toddlers like a day spent playing outside. To us, summertime means mornings at the pool, outdoor meals, the smell of Banana Boat, bare feet, water hose showers and good long naps. And the livin' is easy!

5 Years

2010-04-21T14:40:00.002-05:00

This past Friday, Brandon and I celebrated five years of marriage. To commemorate this momentous occasion, we enjoyed a romantic dinner... at Outback Steakhouse... with our children. That's how we roll these days.

Death by Pollen

2010-04-16T13:13:00.006-05:00

Stay away from pollen. It's bad stuff. Before you know it, you could overdose and end up like this...

After being cooped up all winter, we soon found ourselves cooped up once again due to the inch of pollen covering every bit of every playground, yard, deck, etc. I never had problems with allergies until I moved to Alabama, but this month we sure have been through our fair share of tissues. It's just gross. But thankfully, it rained since that bee met its demise, so we're back outside...

I may have said this before but this little boy is SUCH A BOY! He cracks me up. If there is mud or dirt around, he's into it. Today he was loading big rocks into the bucket of his tractor and moving pipes around under the deck. Maybe I ought to have Brandon make sure there's no dangerous stuff down there?

On the other hand, Madeline has taken to several outfit changes a day, and she wears at least 3 different pairs of shoes every day. Last night, Brandon went in to tuck her in before we went to bed and she was wearing a pair of sandals underneath her sheets. It's always a surprise what we're going to find when we go to tuck her in. The other night I removed the following items from her bed (she was sound asleep): a babydoll stroller, a babydoll highchair, 4 babydolls, one stuffed monkey, one stuffed dog, two pairs of pants, one pair of shorts and one pair of dress shoes. It's a good thing she's a skinny mini or I'm not sure how she would fit in that bed!

It's Official...

2010-03-30T13:24:00.003-05:00

I am a blog slacker. One post a month? Ridiculous. I'll try to be better from now on.

Brandon has a new job. Praise God! He'll be traveling quite a bit. Currently he is in Oklahoma for 3 days. Last year, I probably would have been leery of frequent travel. Now, I just wave goodbye and thank God for the paycheck that comes along with it. Also helping me accept him hopping on an airplane every now and then is the fact that his part-time job is over. Brandon worked at a local grocery store for the past 3 months - every single night and weekend. While I am very grateful to have a husband who is willing to work 2 jobs to support his family, I've been a single mom lately. I believe it was God's way of preparing me for a job that required my husband to travel. Now I can certainly handle a few days here and there.

To celebrate Brandon's first weekend home in quite a while, we took M&E to the farm to go fishing. I'm not much for touching worms or fish, so I let Daddy run the show while I stayed behind the camera.

It is also official that as of a month ago, Eli is potty trained! He had been waking up dry for a while and after making him wear the same pull-up over and over for 3 weeks (we're on a budget here), I finally decided it was time to throw it out. He threw a fit when I suggested he wear one of Madeline's pink princess pull-ups so I let him wear underwear... and we haven't looked back. Miss Madeline naps in underwear but still wakes up with a wet pull-up every morning. We're getting close!

Since We've Been Gone...

2010-02-18T14:32:00.008-06:00

It's been over a month since my last post, so here is a peek into the recent happenings in the Rooks household:

-- Madeline had a HORRIBLE ear infection. Seriously, the worst I've ever seen. After several sleepless nights and much feeling of helplessness, a trip to the ENT, a couple of different antibiotics, drops, one dose of Lortab elixir and many, many Tylenol, the drainage has cleared up and Little Miss is finally feeling better.

-- It snowed in Birmingham. 4 inches. Eat your heart out, Virginia.

-- M&E and I have been suffering from cabin fever and decided the cure would be a trip to Mama Kaye's. It was complete with a stroll through the cemetery (a favorite activity) and Madeline's first haircut.

-- On Friday, Brandon was laid off from his job as a Project Manager with a local commercial construction company. While the future is unsure and this time is very scary, we are clinging to our faith in God Almighty and His unending love and provision for us. We covet your prayers, words of encouragement and job leads!

Boy Oh Boy!

2010-01-12T13:12:00.003-06:00

Raising girl/boy twins, I have had a unique opportunity to watch the innate differences between males and females reveal themselves as M&E have grown. Lately, I can't help but laugh at most of what sweet Eli does and says because... *sigh*... he is SUCH A BOY! Some examples:

With potty training and coed bathing come many discussions on the anatomical differences between girls and boys. You know, boys have pee-pees and girls have bottoms, etc., etc. A few days ago, Eli pulled his underwear down to go to the potty and declared, "Mommy, I love my pee-pee." Yes, boy, I know you do.
In the same category, like most men, Eli has recently become very particular about the environment in which he is able to poo-poo. (Sorry, can't think of another way to word it.) He has to have the space heater on and right on top of him, the bathroom fan on and the door shut. After all of this is done, he could be in there for 15 minutes or so. The other night we offered him the newspaper. It was well received - see above photo.
Perhaps I may not be eligible for the Mother of the Year Award but yes, I let my child play with guns. He's a boy for goodness sake. A favorite Christmas gift this year was a toy rifle that looks like the real thing and even makes the noise. Eli loves to take his gun "hunting", in fact he told me that he needs to "Go farm. Shoot big deer in my camo."
Doctors are also one of our favorite subjects currently. Obviously, M&E cannot remember the last time they received a shot because they become overjoyed at the thought of a trip to the doctor's office and will even feign a "boo-boo" with hopes of a check-up. Eli was playing doctor the other day and shining a light into my ear. I asked him what he saw in there. What was the boy's answer? "Big boogers", to which he died laughing.

Oh how we love our boy! While he's a goober just like the rest of them, he's one I could eat up.

The Rooks Take Virginia By Storm. Well, After the Storm.

2010-01-05T13:13:00.009-06:00

On the afternoon of Christmas we took down all of our decorations. Poor Eli led a sobbing protest at the removal of the tree, "No take my Kiss-mas tee!" Nevertheless, everything was packed away until next year. I'm one of those people who cannot leave a messy house when I go out of town and we left the next morning at 5:00 a.m. for Granddaddy's house. The 12-hour drive up to Virginia was pretty easy. Brandon got us a DVD player for the car. Normally the children won't sit still long enough for one episode of Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, but when you're stuck in a carseat, you have no choice. It seemed to keep them entertained (along with the bags full of toys and snacks I packed).

We had to make a few extra stops along the way this time. I put M&E in pull-ups for the drive thinking they would probably fall asleep and have an accident. Boy was I wrong! They would not go in their pull-ups and we made several stops along the side of the road to pull the frog potty into the front seat for a quick tee-tee break. I am so proud of these little ones - they are doing awesome with the potty training. They have been wearing underwear all day for a couple of months now and I put a pull-up on them just to sleep in but more often than not they wake up completely dry. Okay, enough with the potty talk. Here was the view once we entered Virginia...

On Sunday, Granddaddy took us to Monticello. Brandon had never been and it had been years since I had been. Here are M&E enjoying some customary 18th century snacks on TJ's lawn with Granddaddy. They had Goldfish back then, right?

Here is what we learned on our tour of the house: Madeline and Eli wanted juice. Here are M&E enjoying said juice on TJ's back porch after the tour.

The nickel shot:

Brandon gives thanks for the visit and Eli holds tight to a founding father's ideals. Now if only our current government would do the same... sigh.

The next day, we boarded the Metro and headed into D.C. for the day. Our destination? The National Museum of American History. As soon as I stepped out of the station, I regretted forgetting my gloves. It was COLD, so a quick pause for a picture and then a beeline for the museum.

M&E enjoyed the "big choo-choo"...

... and the "big truck".

Also included were "big boats," "big horses" and "big guns." Personally, I always love the First Ladies' inaugural gowns display but I was disappointed with how small it was this time. We grabbed some lunch at the museum, looked at a few more things and decided it was getting a little too crowded to drag around two worn-out toddlers any longer, so we headed back for the metro.

On Tuesday, we had lunch in Charlottesville with a dear friend and got to meet her precious 4-month-0ld. All in all we had a great trip and a wonderful visit with Granddaddy and Vivian, who by the way, gifted M&E with a giant blow-up ball that they can climb into and be rolled around in. It has provided hours of entertainment during this seriously cold weather we've been experiencing here in "Awabama", as M&E say.

Sometimes, they even play in it whilst wearing their "Mamajello" shirts.

Christmas 2009

2010-01-03T13:14:00.004-06:00

Christmas 2009 was a joy in our household. I can hardly believe this was our third Christmas with M&E!

Here we are before heading out to church for the Christmas Eve service:

Attending a church service with two two-year-olds in tow was sure to be an adventure and M&E did not disappoint. Madeline began the service by loudly announcing that "I wanna go eat!". I told her that we were going to sing some and then we would go home to eat. As soon as the music started she broke into dance. During one of the songs, a girl performed a dance up front and Madeline watched the entire thing without moving a muscle with a look of awe on her face. (Could there be dance lessons in her future?) Eventually Eli became a bit too fidgety and Brandon had to take him outside for a minute. Madeline then asked (very loudly), "Where E-I go? E-I go poo-poo? I go poo-poo too!" And so, Miss Madeline also was escorted outside. Both kiddos had a trip to the potty and we all returned to our seats for the remainder of the service. At the very end, right as "Silent Night" finished and the entire sanctuary was silent, Eli let out a resounding "AMEN!"

"Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord." Luke 2:11

Amen, indeed!

After church, we enjoyed a hearty meal and discovered that M&E are Honeybaked Ham enthusiasts. I think they probably ate 3/4 of the ham we had. We concluded the meal with a birthday cake for Jesus.

Sometime in the night, Santa visited. I awoke at 5:00 am to the sound of someone playing in the living room. I went in to find Madeline sitting on the floor under the tree playing so sweetly and quietly with a new babydoll. I said, "Madeline, what are you doing?" and she replied, "Santa Claus bring me this. Santa Claus bring me this babydoll!" So precious.

Santa also brought a "trash truck" for Eli.

He also received a remote control tractor from Mama Kaye.

This is how he likes to play with that tractor. It's just safer that way - no way to run over himself.

Mama Kaye gave Madeline Raggedy Ann and Raggedy Andy dolls. I must have taken this picture right as she opened the box because she promptly tossed Andy to Eli and said, "Here, E-I. Dis your baby." I'm still working to convince her that both the girl doll and the boy doll are hers.

Once again, Madeline and Eli were our greatest gifts of the year. They continue to provide Brandon and me with plenty of entertainment, challenges, love and exercise.

Deck The Halls

2009-12-16T15:50:00.004-06:00

A Tree Fell in 'Bama

2009-12-05T14:08:00.002-06:00

We awoke this morning to snow in Alabama, something that doesn't happen often here, especially this early in the winter. It didn't last long but it effectively got us in the Christmas spirit and set the scene for our annual trip to the tree farm.

M&E helped us pick out the perfect tree for our living room.

As our beautiful Leyland Cypress hit the ground, Madeline's inner tree-hugger was awakened.

Eli has no inner tree-hugger; he helped Daddy take care of business.

Thanksgiving '09

2009-12-05T13:41:00.006-06:00

For Thanksgiving we headed down the road to what is quickly becoming one of M&E's favorite places in the world: Johnny and Susan's farm.

We feasted.

The men played.

Eli took us for a ride behind the tractor...

...which required a camo hat because it was frigid.

We visited with family that we don't get to see often enough. (We missed Allison, Brianna and Cassie.)

We warmed up by the fire...

... which inspired Eli to build us one at home later that weekend.

It was another great Thanksgiving on the farm!

Mommy's mint m&m's

2009-11-23T14:42:00.005-06:00

Besides the many other much more important things we think about this time of year (the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ), Christmas also means one of my favorite things: mint m&m's. I purchased the first bag of these coveted candies a few days ago. They are now gone. This is not surprising. The funny part is how they met their end...

I had the bag of m&m's downstairs next to the computer so I could munch away during my coupon gathering for Sunday's grocery trip. When I left for the store, I left the bag there without a thought. Later that day, I came downstairs to do some laundry and realized that I had let Eli down a bit earlier to play. He was very quiet. I came down the stairs to see my sweet boy, bag in hand. With a guilty look on his face, he tells me, "I tee-tee potty, Mommy", as he shoves my m&m's into his mouth. (M&m's are M&E's reward for using the potty.) He frantically extracts the last two candies from the bag and eats them as well before I can get to him, hands me the empty bag and says "All gone". Not a day goes by around here without a good laugh and gosh, is that boy cute! But, he owes me a bag of m&m's.

Mmmmmm

2009-11-08T19:27:00.004-06:00

Tonight, Brandon and I sat in the den listening to Madeline and Eli having a very sweet conversation in the kitchen. We couldn't quite make out what they were talking about and finally I decided that whatever it was, it was a bit too entertaining....

The leftover doughnuts from breakfast were on the floor and each one had two bites out of it.

And, in case you would like some coffee with your doughnuts, M&E have that covered too.

Fall Fun on the Farm

2009-11-05T19:55:00.002-06:00

Brandon gave me a break Sunday afternoon and took M&E to the farm after naptime. Adding to the usual excitement associated with a trip to the farm, M&E got to ride in "Daddy's white truck" for the first time.

The reason for a ride in the truck? Apparently the loggers have created a necessity for 4-wheel drive down there. That, mixed with rain meant muddy roads... and also a need for camo boots.

Eli LOVES his camo from Mama Kaye, and he even understands its purpose. He greeted me at the door when he got home saying, "Mommy can't see me."

While the kiddos were away, I finally got some sewing completed...

Halloween 2009

2009-11-05T19:46:00.003-06:00

Halloween was a lot of fun this year. We had some friends over for hotdogs and hamburgers before heading out for some trick-or-treating in the neighborhood. Now, if I could just force myself to step away from the candy.

It's the Great Pumpkin(s)

2009-10-26T11:20:00.003-05:00

Since Halloween is this weekend, we figured it was time to carve the pumpkins. Personally, I like an uncarved pumpkin, but Brandon wonders where the fun is in that. The man takes his pumpkin carving seriously...

M&E got in on the action this year too. Actually, they're not much for having goop on their hands. For example, their entire class painted their hands to make spider pictures at school and Madeline absolutely refused to have hers painted. So, these pictures caught the one and only time M&E stuck their hands in the pumpkins.

The final products:

UGA Cheerleader in Training

2009-10-13T20:31:00.002-05:00

Pumpkins and Playgrounds

2009-10-12T13:51:00.003-05:00

We went to Johnny and Susan's farm last weekend to check out Johnny's pumpkins and ride the tractor. Eli talks about Uncle Johnny's tractor ("Gunka dadoo") every day, so he was in heaven out there at the farm. He and Madeline are very adamant that Mommy is not allowed to ride the tractor, only Daddy, Madeline and Eli. Apparently a tractor is not the place for a mommy - I belong in the house. Let's hope the ACLU doesn't come after these two little cuties for gender discrimination. Personally, I have to agree with M&E and didn't mind at all being left behind to eat with Susan in the cabin.

I was recently introduced to a new playground near our house and it is our new favorite hangout post-naptime. It's so close to home and it's always empty. So, have I mentioned that M&E are big kids now? They swing on big kid swings and climb up big kid pole things that scare Mommy when I turn around to see my child at the top of them...

Addition Completion

2009-10-12T13:39:00.004-05:00

Brandon and I have been living in our new master suite for over a month now and we love it. It's nice to be on the opposite side of the house from the kiddos now. We can actually watch TV in bed without waking up anyone. We also love having our own bathroom now (even though it houses two frog potties at the moment). Here are some pictures of our new living quarters...

Late Night Fun

2009-09-15T19:52:00.004-05:00

The other night, I put M&E down to bed and sat there listening to Eli play for the longest time. I heard power tools going off and the flute being played, etc. Finally at around 9:00, I asked Brandon to go back there and check on him. He came out crying he was laughing so hard and told me I had to grab the camera and go see for myself.

Eli had loaded almost every toy in his room up onto his bed. You can't see the amount of toys because most are blocked by the big airport that he even managed to lug up there. You can see in the picture that Eli also thought this all was very funny. What a nut!

August in Review

2009-09-02T14:11:00.008-05:00

I've been MIA for a while, but I have a good excuse: I'm really stinking tired. In a nutshell, here is what the Rooks family has been up to the past few weeks. Ready? Here we go...

A few weeks ago, Brandon, M&E and I made the 12 hour drive up to Virginia to attend my 10-year high school reunion and visit my dad. Here we are reuniting with friends Megan and Lolly and their significant others.

The next day, we headed up to DC where we visited with more friends at the Air & Space Museum. M&E really enjoyed meeting Harper and Roman and totally ignoring the barriers set up around the exhibits. Madeline decided she needed no formal NASA training for an up close and personal view of the space shuttle.

We left the museum and headed to Dulles, where we dropped off Brandon to catch a flight home. The kiddos and I stayed in Culpeper for another day to visit with Granddaddy, which included a bike ride. That's a skort, not a skirt I'm wearing, people, and no, I did not plan to participate in this ride. It was really hot and my impression was that G'daddy would take M&E for a ride without my help. No such luck.

The next day, I hopped in the car with M&E for the long car ride home - alone. I was pleasantly surprised with how easy it was and it only took us 11 hours to get home. Praise God!

We had to get home because M&E started school 2 weeks ago. The adjustment has been wonderful. In fact, I don't think there has been an adjustment. I walk them into their classroom and they dissapear without so much as a "Bye bye, Mommy" and that's just how I like it. Here they are on their first day. (That black front door that I have despised since we moved in is gone now - more on that later.)

Another big hurdle that we are leaping, well, creeping over is potty training. I'm happy to report that M&E no longer wear diapers while at home except while sleeping. We've also gone out several times sans-diapers. Eli is proving to be quite the boy and has an accident every day, but Madeline is impressing me with her control. My hope is that soon we will be able to pay for school with the money we will save on diapers. A few people have asked me for pointers on potty-training. Here's what I have to say:

Naked time! I'm telling you, it works.

So, in my spare time between emptying potties and cleaning up after failed potty attempts, we've been trying to wrap up the work on our house. Brandon and I are all moved into the new master suite and as you saw in the last post, M&E are settled into their big girl-boy rooms. We have a few odds and ends to wrap up (paint) and we'll finally be finished. Pictures to come shortly!

New Cribs (or lack there of)

2009-08-17T13:36:00.002-05:00

Madeline and Eli are babies no longer, and they have the beds to prove it. Last night was the big night - we moved M&E into their big girl/boy rooms. While they are still works in progress, they are ready for their new inhabitants, and these kiddos are ready to inhabit. Brandon and I had a little visitor at 4:00 on Sunday morning. I rolled over to a sweet "Hi Mommy!" from Eli. The little boy had been escaping his crib lately so we decided it was time to abandon it all together. I have been pleasantly surprised with how easy the transition has been. Eli has gotten a few spankings for climbing out of bed, but after a couple each time, he gives up and stays put. Madeline seems to have some invisible force field around her bed because she will not climb into or out of it on her own. So far, one night down and M&E are currently snoozing away at naptime. I think we can call this a success!

The Soundtrack of Summer '09

2009-07-17T13:51:00.002-05:00

While this age offers its challenges (tantrums and independent attitudes), it is more than anything, a lot of fun and very high on the entertainment value. Lately, M&E's language is really starting to develop and I'm amazed every time they voice a new observation. Madeline definitely has the more advanced vocabulary of the two, but Eli seems to be learning from her too. Here are a few samplings of my daily soundtrack...

"Wuvy, no!" : Eli has been referring to Madeline as "Wuvy" (like lovey, as in lovey dovey) for a couple of months now - no clue where he came up with that, but she answers to it.

"E-I!" : Madeline calls Eli "E-I" (like e-i, e-i, o) and she usually says it very, very loud.

"Jump Big Pool!", "Mommy, I wanna go pool.", "Mommy, pool!!" : Can you tell where we've been spending a lot of our time?

"Outside!", "Eat Outside!" : Can you tell where we've enjoyed many meals?

"On my knees.", "Eat outside pool on my knees." : M&E have discovered that it's often easier to reach their food whilst dining al fresco in aforementioned position.

"Bobbles" : goggles

"Butt" : bike

"Neigh" : horse

"Dadoo" : tractor

"Tup" : truck

"Peak, Dog!" : speak, dog!

"Slops" : socks

"Mommy night night" : I want to get up on Mommy's bed, throw all the pillows off, make a mess of the bedding and jump around.

"Ice" : ice, ice cream, icing - a multipurpose word dependant on context

I would have to say that M&E's current range of vocab may be nothing to write home about now (although blog-worthy in my book). However, considering how it's grown in just the past couple of months, I'm excited to see how quickly it explodes once they start MDO this fall.

"I Two"

2009-07-16T14:31:00.005-05:00

Madeline and Eli are two. My goodness, time flies when you're having fun! We woke them up Thursday morning with a Happy Birthday serenade, which was followed by gifts...

What two-year-old doesn't need his own set of power tools?

After gifts, I loaded M&E up and took them to Panera for a big cinnamon roll for breakfast and a ride on the escalators afterwards. Then, we spent the morning at the pool because that's what Madeline said she wanted to do and she was the birthday girl after all.

On Saturday, Brandon and I had a wedding to go to in Atlanta, so on Sunday we had a little birthday party for M&E with some family members in Newnan that day.

We scraped the icing off of M&E's cupcakes so they wouldn't stain their cute new clothes from Mama Kaye. This was not okay with Madeline however, who demanded "ice," so when we got home that night, I stripped Little Miss down and let her go to town.

Thanks to Mama Kaye and Grandma and Grandpa for the birthday party and to all the grandparents, aunts and uncles for the gifts. We're looking forward to another fun-filled year with our two two-year-olds!

4th of July

2009-07-16T14:11:00.004-05:00

We had a fun 4th of July this year. Unfortunately, we had to steer clear of the pool this year due to a bout of swimmer's ear Eli was fighting. Yep, we've been at the pool A LOT this summer, so much so that we literally got sick of it. But, really, what's better than spending all day every day at the pool in the summer? It sure makes for some good long naptimes!

This year, we actually stayed up to watch the Vulcan fireworks. They start at 9:00, so that was pretty impressive, and the kiddos did great. Eli started out saying "Uh oh, Mommy" every time one went off and then he changed to "Wow" for each one. Both M&E ended up in my arms for the show, so I got a little added work out in.

Brandon and I reminisced about how we watched the same fireworks show two years ago while sitting outside the Labor and Delivery wing of Brookwood Hospital eating popsicles with my big belly stuffed in a wheelchair praying for labor. My, two years sure did fly by!

I Scream, You Scream

2009-07-01T13:52:00.001-05:00

We all scream for ice cream!

Beach Trip '09

2009-06-25T14:07:00.006-05:00

Brandon was able to represent his company at the Alabama Association of General Contractors convention in Sandestin again this year, so the rest of us got to tag along for the fun. We had to really twist her arm a bit (yeah right), but Mama Kaye agreed to accompany us to help with M&E. Once again, we had a blast at the beach. Before we left, I looked back at some pictures of last year's trip. I can't believe how M&E were such babies! I don't remember them being so little just a year ago. This year was a lot of fun with two toddlers who could walk, jump, eat anything and communicate what they wanted.

We arrived on Wednesday and headed out to find some lunch. After lunch, the kiddos decided it was time to cool off. Did I mention the heat index was 110 while we were there and it was really, really HOT? We were on vacation, so there was no objection from me over this...

After they cooled off, we decided it was time to change into our bathing suits and head to the pool, so we strolled back to the condo...

Unfortunately, Eli and I came down with some sort of stomach bug the first night. Eli was up all night with a fever, etc. and Madeline was up all night because her brother was screaming and Mama Kaye was up all night taking care of them. I got a couple of hours of sleep in the early morning before we headed to the beach. Madeline passed out on the way to the beach, so this was how she spent her first day there...

M&E did really well with the beach. Madeline still had some issues with the sand this year, but the screaming got quieter once she had some water to play with. Both M&E loved the ocean and the pool. No doubt it just felt good to cool off! Eli helped keep the fish away from our feet by telling them, "Tish, no no". Madeline also learned to count to three before jumping in the pool. Okay, she won't say "one" and usually skips "fee" to go ahead and jump, but she's got "two" down. Enough talking, on to more pictures...

2nd Tri's a Charm

2009-06-16T11:59:00.005-05:00

Brandon competed in his 2nd ever triathlon last weekend at Oak Mountain state park. He did great (especially considering he didn't train at all for it). In fact, he won!!

Well, in our eyes he did.

In neighborhood news... several months ago, we sat in our living room and watched our neighbor across the street pull up with his horse trailer behind his truck. He proceeded to unload a calf... and then to load said calf into the back of a Ford mustang, which he drove away, and we never saw that little cow again. We do love Alabama!! Anyway, a few days ago, he pulled up again with the horse trailer so I gathered the kiddos up in the big arm chair in front of the window to anxiously await what he would pull out this time. It was a teeny tiny pony! Madeline is enthralled with horses, or "neighs" as she calls them. (You know, like the sound they make.) She repeated about a million times "Mommy, outside neigh!", so I decided just to take M&E across the street, knock on the guy's door and go see the neigh.

I guess if we ever decide to buy our little girl a pony, we know where to go!

A Week in the Life

2009-06-05T12:22:00.003-05:00

The kiddos are in bed napping right now. Let's hope it's a long one because we got very little sleep last night. An impromptu trip to the pediatrician this morning revealed that Eli has a dreaded ear infection. My poor sweet hot feverish sick little boy is well drugged and snoring away in his bed now. Bless his heart!

Perhaps Eli will sleep better in the future in this. His big boy furniture has arrived!

Surely unrelated to this ear infection, my children are turning into little fish (or a fish and a mermaid in our case). We spend every possible sunny day at the pool and M&E are getting very comfortable with the water. Eli loves to jump off the side of the big pool completely under water and he comes up laughing every time. Despite multiple coats of SPF50, they are also developing some nice little tans. All this time at the pool has forced me to abandon my anti-Crocs stance. The concrete deck gets so hot that I end up carrying both children to the picnic area for lunch every day. While this is good for my biceps, it's getting a bit ridiculous. So, yesterday I decided to venture out in search of some Crocs. Did you know those things cost $35/pair?! I don't think so! I went to Walmart and got these faux Crocs on sale for $1/pair.

I'm always in search of kid-friendly recipes and decided to try out a chicken pot pie on my two the other day. It was super simple to make, delicious, chock-full of vegetables and the kiddos loved it. If you have any healthy meal ideas that you think toddlers would enjoy, please share!

Speaking of sharing, somebody was kind enough to share their Jumbo Rice Krispies with the baby. I found this while I was cleaning up. That's Eli's hand. Shortly after I snapped this picture, he fished that sucker out of her mouth and helped himself to it.

Also, going on in (or shall I say outside) our household... Brandon has been on the city to come clean up the storm water drainage ditch that runs along our property line. They are finally out here doing something. I really don't know how what they are doing will help, but M&E have enjoyed the real live tractor in our front yard the past few days.

That's all for now. Moving on to the mountain of laundry staring me in the face!

For Allison

2009-05-29T20:24:00.004-05:00

We very rarely get to see my sister Allison. Once a year, if that. Since she hasn't seen M&E in quite some time (a year, perhaps?), she requested a video so she can see them talking. This is for you, Allison.

M&E's vocabulary does stretch beyond "please" and "no", but this is all I was able to catch on camera.

Free Amusement

2009-05-29T20:08:00.002-05:00

We ate dinner tonight at the Vestavia City Center and seated ourselves outside near the escalators. All throughout dinner Madeline kept saying "Mommy, I wanna ride!" I told her she could ride when she finished her supper. Man, did that hot dog and fries disappear quickly! In the meantime though, she would let out a frustrated "Ugh!" and point to each person who got on the escalator. After supper, I kept my word and M&E rode with me up and down about 5 times. Then they rode about 4 times with Daddy. If these children get this excited about a simple escalator, just think how they'll react to Disney World!

**The child behind Brandon does not belong to us, but was also enjoying the entertainment value of an escalator.

Decor, Chore, and More

2009-05-26T13:15:00.003-05:00

The addition is coming along nicely. Mama Kaye spent the night with us Sunday on her way home from her high school reunion. I took advantage of this time with my decorator and picked out paints and tile. Then, she grabbed the roller and started painting! Here is the bedroom. The color is called "Seashore Fog". I love it - very soothing.

A consequence of a home under construction is a mess. Brandon has promised me a maid once we're finished. I cannot wait! Sometimes the mess gets to Eli too. Today he pulled the vacuum out of the closet. Not one to discourage my child's desire to clean, I got him to help me pick up the toys and I plugged that baby in and had him help me vacuum. He really seemed to enjoy it, so we'll be sharing this chore again soon. Perhaps we can convince Miss Madeline that she likes to clean also.

Speaking of Little Miss, she is wearing a ponytail today. Her hair is really getting long so I pulled it up into a ponytail for the first time this morning. I feel like it makes her look so grown up.

Glasses also make her look grown up, don't you think? She doesn't have her own (Praise God for good vision!) so she occasionally borrows Mr. Potato Head's.

Hear the Bells?

2009-05-20T19:48:00.004-05:00

Okay, perhaps they're a bit off in the distance, but I hear the wedding bells nonetheless. Julia and Matthew have set May 22, 2010 as their date and M&E received a very important package in the mail today. It contained these...

Since they arrived at snacktime, M&E decided to taste them before answering.

Then they said YES!

In unrelated news, we have a new daily activity around here and Madeline has two new favorite words: OUTSIDE!!! and SLIDE!!! (The all caps and exclamation points are necessary to try to show the enthusiasm with which they are spoken **scratch that** shouted.)

By the way, I complained a bit when Brandon picked this green slide out of the trash on the side of the road last year and brought it home to us, but I will admit he proved me wrong on this one. A little carpentry and it's a hit.

Hey, y'all!

2009-05-13T20:15:00.005-05:00

I traveled with M&E and Mama Kaye down to Statesboro and Savannah this past weekend to witness Julia's graduation from nursing school. We also got to celebrate Julia and Matthew's engagement, which we're so excited about because we all just love Matthew! And, we got to visit with Granddaddy, too. The Whitts were kind enough to host us for the weekend and could not have been more accommodating. They even let Eli borrow a "dadoo" (tractor), which he bathed with, slept with and talked about all weekend.

I was busy all weekend chasing around M&E in 95+ degree heat, so I didn't take many pictures. I do have one exciting one to share though. Look who we saw in Savannah on Friday!

Brandon stayed home to work on the addition. The drywall is hung.

Mother's Day was wonderful. I was so exhausted from our weekend that I napped on the couch while two children climbed all over me, and I'm talking one of those unconscious naps. I got a card and a beautiful hanging basket from M&E and Brandon and a "Mommy's sippy cup" from Mama Kaye, which was put to use after a long weekend.

In honor of our run-in with Paula, we send you love and best dishes from our kitchen to yours.

Weeeee-dowee

2009-05-04T13:22:00.006-05:00

We took M&E to the lake this weekend in hopes of some sunshine and warm weather. Instead we got rain, clouds and cold. (And tornadoes on Sunday.) We did get out on the water for a bit on Saturday before heading home.

Eli took us for a spin on the pontoon boat.

Madeline enjoyed it.

Then Daddy took over the wheel so M&E could enjoy the scenery together.

M&E got to take turns on the jet ski with Daddy and then we all four got on for a cruise. M&E thought the waves were very fun. There was lots of "Weeee!".

Hopefully the weather will cooperate next time. At least there was no sunburn risk!

Festing and Fabrication

2009-04-28T19:23:00.012-05:00

Brandon and I took M&E to StadiumFest (http://www.stadiumfest.org/) on Saturday. Here we are arriving with our own little rockstars.

And, here we are on the big inflatable slide. Let me tell you, it was a workout to carry two children up a staircase supported by air in 90 degree temps... we only went down once.

The music and testimonies were awesome. Unfortunately I ended up spending most of my time there in line for water and Powerade. Did I mention it was HOT? I was seriously in line for an hour and forty-five minutes, which caused my poor husband some worry.

Speaking of this man...

He is a hard worker and has a tender heart and I love him very much.

He also has a very faithful assistant lately...

The sub-floor is down in the new bedroom but I don't really have anything to show you yet. I promise to post pictures when we have something to show.

Pain and Sacrifice

2009-04-23T20:37:00.004-05:00

We are starting to feel that Alabama heat and that means we have been outside - a lot. We love the heat. Spending so much time outside does come with a risk though and I'm not talking about heat stroke (it's just April still). It seems M&E cannot step outside without taking a tumble. Example: Madeline's legs...

This week I have purchased and sacrificed a pair of Ray-Ban sunglasses. Immediately after purchasing them I began to feel buyer's remorse. So, I am returning them tomorrow. In their place I got a pair from Target for $14.99. I also bought these...

Yes, those are frog potties. It's potty time! No um... deposits as of yet but M&E have only been on them once so far.

I also got this...

A water table. I think it was a good purchase. Eli agrees. (And, yes he very badly needs a haircut.)

4 Years

2009-04-16T08:13:00.001-05:00

Happy Anniversary to my sweet husband!

Easter 2009

2009-04-13T21:04:00.003-05:00

Brandon took Madeline and Eli to Newnan for a visit with family on Saturday and I enjoyed a day off (complete with pedicure), but we enjoyed our Easter Sunday together at home in Birmingham. We took a quick photo before church. Brandon's head is cut off because the camera was set up on the hood of the car and he had to press the button, grab Eli and run to his position (and we were precariously close to being late to church). All things considered, I think it turned out pretty well.

After church, we headed down to Johnny and Susan's farm. As always, Susan was the hostess with the mostess and we stuffed ourselves with a delicious meal. M&E couldn't stop for a nap all day; they were too busy riding the tractor, Polaris and golf cart and feeding the fish, ducks and geese. I'm afraid they might start asking to go out there once a week!

"God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God." 2 Corinthians 5:21

Another Sunny Day, Another Construction Accomplishment

2009-04-09T21:09:00.007-05:00

We have paint! Outside, at least and one more coat to go. Doesn't it look like it's always been there?

The electricians were here all day today, too and will be back in the morning, so we also (almost) have lights. Next stop, plumbing.

Eli took his sister for a spin in the truck yesterday. We start 'em early here in Alabama.

Progress Report

2009-04-06T19:06:00.004-05:00

Madeline, Eli and I enjoyed a visit with Mama Kaye this weekend so Brandon could work full-time on the addition. He claims he can barely move today. This is why...

Yep, he's a stud.

The Walls Went Up

2009-04-01T19:36:00.003-05:00

It rained yesterday... a lot, so there was no framing. Today however, was a different story.

The hallway leading into the new bedroom:

There will be a door into the actual room.

From the backyard:

The window you see inside of all of that will be moved out into that framed opening in the bedroom. The bathroom and closet will be on the right.

One reason the crew was so productive? They had a great little helper (complete with work gloves):

Tomorrow's weather report calls for strong winds, large hail and possible tornadoes. I pray we don't have any leaks before the roof goes on!

Lumber and Landscape

2009-03-30T19:16:00.003-05:00

We have lumber!

Please pray that the rain holds off so the framers can do their job tomorrow.

Also, aren't the azaleas pretty?

We have somewhere between 35 and 40 azaleas in our front yard. Last year they didn't bloom, but after a little surgery and medication, they have hot pink buds all over them this year. Did you also notice the wisteria above? (It's behind the cute little girl in the orange pants and it smells heavenly.)

From Piano to Project

2009-03-26T12:35:00.006-05:00

Two weekends ago Brandon drove down to New Orleans to pick up my Grandmom's piano. We are so grateful to have it. It looks beautiful in our living room and M&E really enjoy making music (if that's what you call it). I took piano lessons years and years ago so I don't remember much of anything. I bought a lesson book off of Amazon and am trying to learn again. So far, I can play Ode to Joy and Jingle Bells. The problem lies in finding practice time around here.

The lei has become a semi-permanent accessory in Madeline's wardrobe. It is often accompanied by Eli's camo hat (worn backwards only). Little Miss has recently acquired a serious interest in her daily ensembles. Basically, she wants to alternate between her Little Mermaid t-shirt and her t-shirt with birds all over it. Eli enjoys both of these choices because he knows the Little Mermaid song and sings it when that shirt is worn and on days when the bird shirt is worn, he points to it all day saying "tweet tweet." As for his own clothes, Eli, in true boy fashion, couldn't care less about what he wears. However, if 8:30 rolls around and he is not yet out of his pajamas and into his clothes, he starts tugging at his pj's and directs me to his dresser to get him dressed for the day (complete with shoes).

Last Saturday morning we had a screened-in porch. By lunchtime, we did not. Thanks to the friends who made up the demo crew...

The porch was sacrificed to make way for our new master suite. The framers should be here Tuesday!

Mamas, don't let your babies grow up to be cowboys.

2009-03-09T19:42:00.003-05:00

(Unless they look this good in a pair of boots.)

Sprung

2009-03-09T19:22:00.004-05:00

We sprung forward this weekend and have not slowed down a bit. The weather has been glorious and we have been taking full advantage of it the past few days. M&E have been outside all day every day, save for naptime and bedtime. And oh how they have loved their beds lately! They actually giggled as I laid them down for a nap on Saturday. I guess playing outside in the warm weather without stopping will do that to you.

Today, we went to Spain Park for the morning. Here are a few pics...

When I say we've been spending all day outside, I really mean it. Tonight M&E came in for supper, which lasted maybe 15-20 minutes, and then they were stripped of their shirts and directed back outside to play until there was just enough time for a bath and a couple of books before bedtime.

Is it obvious that Madeline enjoys being shirtless?

Mardi Gras, Finger Painting and Noodles

2009-03-04T20:35:00.007-06:00

Perhaps the three don't normally go together, but in our household they did.

M&E celebrated Mardi Gras with some beads and an authentic Gambino's king cake courtesy of Granddaddy. The beads are still alive and well. However, the king cake did not last more then 48 hours in our home; the first third of it was consumed within the afternoon of its arrival.

One afternoon it was warm enough to go outside and take a stab at some finger painting. I was surprised that it actually was not a hit. M&E were very concerned with the paint on their hands and weren't much interested in smearing it on the paper. They wanted me to wipe it off so they could climb the fence instead. (Climbing, on the other hand, is a huge hit in our home these days: fences, coffee tables, dining tables, beds are all fair game.)

A couple of days ago it was way too cold to go outside and both M&E have a cold so we were stuck in the house all day. However, some Montessori training freed me up to fix some homemade chicken noodle soup for dinner. Here is Eli practicing transferring noodles from bowl to bowl - very good for fine motor skills development.

Ride That... Dinosaur?

2009-03-04T12:54:00.003-06:00

Last night, Eli mounted his toy dinosaur like it was a rocking horse or something.

Then of course, Madeline had to try it too.

Double up... what a couple of nuts!

How We Wind Down for Bed...

2009-03-04T12:22:00.002-06:00

In Like a Lion

2009-03-01T09:44:00.005-06:00

March blew in last night, bringing snow to Alabama. Unlike the flurries that usually define "snow" in Alabama, this is a real snow and I was glad to see that my little southern babies had no qualms about heading right out into it.

We wrapped up in a fleece blanket for a golf cart ride around the neighborhood. Along the way we provided a fun target for some kids' snowballs.

The wind has been fierce. Here is a tree down right around the corner from our house.

The snow is still coming down and we're all snuggled up by the fire for now!

Reach for the Moon

2009-02-20T21:12:00.002-06:00

I was reading "Papa, Please Get the Moon for Me" to Madeline and I attempted to teach her to say "moon"...

Me: Madeline, can you say moon?
Madeline: Dah!
Me: No, moon. Like ma-ma-ma.
Madeline: Ma Ma Ma.
Me: That's right. Now, ma-ma-ma-moon.
Madeline: Ball!
Me: No, Moon.
Madeline: Ball!

We'll try again later.

Monkey

2009-02-20T20:08:00.002-06:00

Does he look proud of himself or what? And, notice sister right on his heels. I took his picture... and then spanked him.

Mario Andretti?

2009-02-10T19:21:00.004-06:00

When we play outside, Eli will always climb up into the driver's seat of the golf cart and point at the gas peddle, pleading for someone to take him for a spin. Lately, Brandon's even been letting him drive.

And, yes, I said "noggin." I'm a mommy, don't make fun of me.

Remote Recovered

2009-02-10T19:11:00.005-06:00

An update on the missing remote control: During our house-wide search, we discovered that we really, really needed to sweep and vacuum under the beds. We also decided that we should probably do the same under the living room furniture while we were at it and ....

TA-DA!!

How did it get under there? I'll give you two cute little guesses.

Eli decided to forgo the milk sprinkling for powder sprinkling. I must admit, it does smell better. Still not okay though.

Madeline helped me cut coupons from the Sunday paper - SO helpful! Unfortunately, she did not stick around to help me clean up the aftermath.