Luke-ism

Tonight we stopped in Publix (grocery store - for those that don't have Publix) to shop for cupcakes - I know - no I wasn't craving them. Doug and I decided to celebrate Dougie's birthday even though he is with his Mom this week. Since we had baseball all weekend, we really didn't get to do the cake thing yet. Anyway........ back to Publix - We walked in, and front and center was this bag...........

Luke proceeded to say to us, "When I get big I want to take these hunting to feed to the animals!"

He must be planning on big game hunting since the pictures on the front elude to such animals. 

Hilton Head - Thank you, I needed you -

It has been a couple of weeks since we went, but I have been extremely busy with work since our vacation! Here is the update with pictures!

So we set out to Hilton Head - this is our first visit there and Wow - we really enjoyed it! We rented a house in one of the local communities near the beach and only had a short drive to the beach every day. I know, I know, but with me being preggo, Luke being three, two pre-teen girls, and two boys, and a Hubby - we had a lot of stuff to haul back and forth.

The beach here is absolutely beautiful and there was no evidence of jelly fish or the recent problems with sting rays. The only night we had jelly fish, apparently there was a storm brewing and the waves were absolutely huge and fun! The kids really enjoyed the boogie boards and playing in that. Luke would even ride the waves in. The fun all ended for me when I got stung by one of those lovely creatures. I have yet to figure out why God made them. Thankfully none of the kids got stung. Dougie is usually "bait" for the jelly fish. We set up our umbrella every day, took a cooler full of snacks and drinks, and played the days away.

One day, Doug and the kids went "off shore" fishing. They seemed to really enjoy that. We ate at the Salty Dog Cafe for lunch that day - and my sweet Emma who saves everything - saved the napkin for her scrap book! Hehe...

We had a very relaxing time - we rode bikes, went for walks on the beach, and swam constantly when we were at our house. Ice cream every night, lots of shopping at the outlet mall, and good food.

That is my type of vacation!

Summer Fun.....Having a Blast

Wow - has this summer been packed or what! I just wanted to share a few things and pictures so far. Mostly we have been very involved in Dougie's all star baseball. They played really hard, but only made it to the first round of district tournament. He got a lot of playing time considering he was playing on a team with mostly 10 year olds. He played right field and caught every ball hit to him! We had fun going to all his games and he enjoyed playing. Well, the heat was a bit much in the end, but overall we did have fun!

On to Lukee poo - He has been taking swimming lessons and at three years old can jump off the diving board and swim to the steps.  It does take a little coercion to actually get him off the diving board to begin with.  We have a kiddie pool at our country club and he enjoys swimming in it and playing with the other kids.  He is a beach bum - constantly asking when are we going to the beach.... it is hard for him to understand two weeks from now, etc.   Doug has drawn the line - I have to take him for a hair cut today.  Well, the curls will grow back.  We did take a trip to my Mom's house to visit my brother and grandfather.  We drove 9 hours one way - and Luke was a trooper!  He enjoyed hanging with Uncle Fink (Frank) and his daughters. Also enjoyed playing with granddaddy and Mimi. 

Emma-laide has basically ditched us both weeks she has been with us! Well, not really ditched us, but she is at the age where she is off to camps all the time. The first week she attended cheer leading camp and her squad won the award for the most spirit all week! She also attended VBS for the beginning part of the week - being a journalist for all the activities going on at Saddle Ridge Ranch! She enjoyed that, because she does love to write. Then second week, she attended her last church camp before she moves up to the ...gulp.... youth group! She did have fun and was so funny when she came home - she told me that she and her room mate ate an entire row of oreos in one night looking out the window watching people! At home we are stingy with our oreos - only two or three at a time! I hope she was liberated! Due to her not being here, I don't have any photos of her.

This coming week we are all going to the beach together! So I will have plenty of photos! Hilton Head, here we come!

Love to all!

Big Boy Bed

It is official - Luke has a big boy bed now! He is the proud new owner of a full size bed with spectacular airplane bedding. He does love his new bed indeed, but still would rather watch TV, read a book, go pee pee 15 times  than go to bed!

Can I whine for one minute? pleeeaaasssee?

I had a doctor's appointment today at 8:30am. I arrived at 8:20am like any good patient would. There was only one other person checking in at that time and the waiting room had one person in a chair...... So three total people. Miss Thang at the front desk already lost her Friday happy and it isn't even 9 AM yet! Then on the scales - we won't comment, and blood work.... So wait, wait, wait..... It is now 9:15 and SIX people have been called in front of me...Count them S I X....... so I begin to get a little frustrated ( ok - really - alot frustrated) Finally, Lori Springer..... so I voice my concern with having to wait 45 minutes for what should be a first thing appointment..... I mean how in the world could the doctor be running behind for her first appointment of the day? Needless to say, Nancy Nurse just kindly informed me that we get there 30 minutes ahead of appointment time for "their convience" since the line bottlenecks (I always thought that was a traffic jam term) so early in the morning.
uuuggghhhhh! As you can tell I am still not over it! I proceed to check out and schedule my next appointment - they say 9:15 is the earliest - So I ask is that really 9:15 or is it really 9:45 HA! I got the truth and I will get there when I get there next time!

Ok - so what's going on with you non-hormonal folks out there? Any fun trips planned? We are still working for the man - every day is a new joy!
Our June is packed with Baseball, Cheerleading camp, Vacation Bible School, Swim lessons for Luke and church camp! Whew - Did I mention baseball almost every night for Dougie? He made All-Stars for his team - and then after that, we have travel ball.

Doug and I are so very happy, we wouldn't have it any other way. We were just talking the other night about how life gets in a groove and gets fun. We are in that groove.

I want to send a Shout out to my brother's daughter - Katherine Moore - graduated from HS and off to Ole Miss - pharmacy school!
And her mother, Heather, who graduated from Nursing School! Woo Hoo!

Love to you all!

Happy Mother's Day!

Happy Mother's Day to all my peeps who are Mothers. What a great day! Nothing about the day being focused on us, not about us going to our favorite restaurant for lunch after church and overeating enjoying a great meal with fabulous company, not about the coolest cowboy boots I have ever seen waiting for me to wear, not about my husband being at my beckon call enjoying the afternoon with me - just because - not about the kids being extra sweet - literally just because it is such a blessing to have all of these people in MY life.
Most of my childhood, in fact all of my childhood and early adulthood I only wanted one child - little did I know that God had something totally different in mind for me. He put a man in my life that already had two children - hence the name Lovely and other funny jokes like they have "a brother from another mother". Emma and Dougie have been wonderful to me and I couldn't ask for more wonderful children. Then along came Luke, our wild man - talk about a blessing. Doug always told me that there was something special about a baby and snuggling. I love being a mother to him - watching him transform into a little boy has been exciting for me and I just hope that I can etch every memory in my what seems to be worsening forgetful mind! Therefore, I have resorted to writing things down. All of a sudden I was a mother of three wonderful children. What fun this has been - maybe not all the nights being up in the middle when I should be sleeping - for those of you who don't know - we are adding a fourth to the mix. Yes, Rob and Kerri, Frank and Heather just trying to keep up with you all. After serious praying and more praying we decided to see if another baby was in our future. Lo and behold a mere two months later - I am 10 weeks pregnant. So, this being the first mother's day that I am pregnant - I thought I would list the reasons I love motherhood best......
5. All the children have vomited on Doug and none on me.
4. Hustling from school to homework to dinner to ballgames can be exhilarating!
3. The sound of Luke falling out of bed can be funny - unless he breaks a finger.
2. Being with Emma last year when she did not make cheerleading was heart wrenching, but this year when she did - sharing in her excitement was heart warming!
1. Prayer before bedtime with all three children - hearing about their concern for others, the world around us, and their thankfulness for our family.

So to all you mothers - and especially mine - Happy Mother's Day!

Our Family

I know I know - Easter was a month ago but here is our latest family Easter photo!

                                                             take one

                                                              take two - Dougie fell asleep! hehe

                                                    take three = Luke says - I 'm over this!