Easter 2011

So, I don't have photos to show of Luke and Lily in their Easter outfits because Lily pooed all over her dress as soon as we got home from church. Better than at church on me, huh?

Luke also told me that he heard the Easter bunny last night in the house. He preceded to tell me that he got out of bed, got his gun and shot the Easter bunny.

I took the easy way out this year - I bought plastic eggs. Yes, I get the lousy mother of the year award, Luke did not get to dye eggs this year. Although he did go on four different egg hunts from Thursday to Saturday. By the time Sunday rolled around, he was tired of hunting eggs.

Emma and Dougie come back to us this week, so maybe we can taken family photo and pretend it is our Easter picture. Ha......

Did any of you have a fun filled Easter?

Happy Anniversary

April 1, 2011 Doug and I celebrated our 6 year anniversary. WOW - it has been a roller coaster six years too! I have shared with some of my friends that He and I both have changed so much in that time - and most definitely for the better. We both have been greatly changed by our God who has taken hold of our lives and not let go. I have always wondered why I ended up in what I thought was the armpit of Georgia - over time I am seeing God's plan and purpose in the things that have happened thus far in our lives. I still wonder exactly what is in store, but I have to remember that is what FAITH is - not being able to see the future.

So back to our anniversary..... We actually had a DATE..... I know, how do we afford child care for 4 kids???? Nah, all I can say is Thank the Lord for grandparents! My husband arranged for his parents to keep the kids so we could get away for the evening - (yes breast pump in tow)!

We started the night at one of our favorite restaurants - Takosushi with a fabulous meal. I had the most amazing piece of white tuna I have ever tasted. I wonder if I will remember the taste of it a few years down the road? It was so tender and juicy and blackened. Doug had smoked pork tacos. As you can tell by the name, it has several items on the menu, from sushi to cooked fish to Mexican flare items.

Next we went to the baby store so I could pump and we could get Lily a bumbo seat.  What a date, but we enjoyed it.  Oh and I forgot Starbucks coffee.  A nice way to end the night with a little decaf Starbucks........ the things we sacrifice for our youngens! 

Most of all I enjoyed the kid free conversation with my precious husband of six years.  I can't believe that we have the marriage that we do.... we are so in love, a giddy kind of love.  We like to hold hands, we like to talk to each other, we like to listen to one another's fears and successes.  Doug makes me laugh so hard.  I think he is the smartest man in the world.  I love how his eyes squint when he smiles.  I love how all the old black ladies flirt with him!  I love how we can have discussions now without escalating to fierce fights!  I love that we can be different people who in the end have so much compassion for the other that we will lay aside our own agenda to better the other one.  This is what is special about my marriage.
Looking forward to the next 6! 

Where Do I Start?

I have so much to catch up on blogging - I have really neglected this site... I have been extremely busy with L.I.F.E. - as I am sure that everyone else has been just the same. So, even though much has happened over the past few weeks I will probably break them down into a few different posts.

First I want to review the circus... A few weeks ago we took the entire family plus 2 to the circus. The crew was: Emma and Chloe, Dougie and Collier, Luke, Lily, Doug and myself. Obviously Collier and Chloe aren't ours but I really think that involving our kids friends in some of our family outings is important. We love these kids just as much as our own. If we can share with them some of the blessings that have been bestowed upon us, then we are more than happy.

I truly think the BIG kids enjoyed the show more than Luke. I being one of the BIG kids! Dougie and Collier's favorite part was the IPOD scene. Yes, I said IPOD scene. The group of clowns were playing "classical" music and there was one crazy clown who insisted on playing his IPOD with the Black Eyed Peas -Boom Boom Pow - song REAL loud. The clowns would go back and forth taking his super size IPOD and trying to destroy it so he couldn't disrupt their "classical" show. As the scene went on, his IPOD got smaller and finally he used a true IPOD Nano on a doc and played the Peas! It was great!

Emma played a trick on Luke.... on the way to the Circus, she told him that she was going to be in the circus! She had him going that she was going to swing from the trapeze all dressed up in a fancy costume. During the show, Luke kept asking Emma "When is it going to be your turn?" Emma kept saying "In just a little bit". Finally at the end of the show Luke looked at Emma very serious and said, "Emma, your really not in the circus are you?" We died laughing........ He was so disappointed.

The night was a success despite the rain. My favorite part is always the elephants. I am so curious is to how those ladies stand the smell of them stay on them! I do think my husband was a little disappointed because it wasn't a three ring circus like he remembered when he was young - but hey - times are tough now - even the circus has scaled it back!

Oh, BTW, I don't have photos to show because my husband wouldn't let me take pictures in the arena.  Mean ol' Daddy!  Those were the rules and he said I needed to follow them to set an example for the kids!  ( I hate it when he is right) ;)
Much Love,