A FEW GREAT PICTURES!

THESE ARE JUST A FEW GREAT PICTURES I HAD TO SHARE WITH YOU! THE CHRISTMAS BLOGS ARE COMING NEXT BUT THAT MIGHT BE A FEW DAYS! 

ENJOY!

AUBIE

THIS IS OUR NEW ADDITION TO THE FAMILY! HIS NAME IS AUBIE AND HE'S A GOLDEN RETRIEVER! CARTER'S NEW BEST FRIEND! AUBIE AND JAYCIE DON'T GET ALONG TOO WELL YET BECAUSE THEY ARE BOTH BABIES AND AUBIE LIKES TO BITE JAYCIE AND IT HURTS HER SO EVERY TIME AUBIE GETS AROUND JAYCIE SHE STARTS SCREAMING! ITS FUNNY BUT ITS NOT CUZ IT HURTS, BAD!!!! HES SO CUTE THOUGH! HE SLEEPS WITH CARTER AND FOLLOWS CARTER AROUND EVERYWHERE! CUTEST THING ! ITS "CARTER'S PUPPY" AS CARTER SAYS NOW!

AMAZING GRACE LIGHTS

WOW! CHECK THIS OUT! THESE LIGHTS ARE SO AMAZING!!! CARTER AND I HAVE WATCHED THIS VIDEO 500 TIMES ALREADY! ITS REALLY COOL! MAYBE GENE CAN DO OUR HOUSE LIKE THIS NEXT YEAR! LOL !

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mnk0KjWxgMA

LIVE FOR THE MOMENTS!

THIS IS MY SWEET HAPPY BABY TODAY! SHE WAS JUST SITTING IN THE FLOOR LAUGHING FOR LIKE 10 MINUTES STRAIGHT FOR NO REASON! PEOPLE ASK ME ALL THE TIME IF SHE IS ALWAYS THIS HAPPY! THE ANSWER IS YES! SHE IS 95% HAPPY ALL THE TIME! WHEN SHE GETS REALLY SLEEPY IS THE ONLY TIME SHE GETS MAD AND UPSET MOST OF THE TIME! SHE IS A GIRL SO YES SHE DOES HAVE HER MOOD SWINGS BUT FOR THE MOST PART SHES A HAPPY BABY! SHE HAS AN ATTITUDE LIKE NO OTHER THOUGH! I JUST THOUGHT CARTER WAS THE WILD ONE BUT HE HAS NOTHING ON HER! IM DEFINITLY SEEING HOW DIFFERENT GIRLS AND BOYS ARE! THEY ARE BOTH SOOOO MUCH FUN THOUGH!

JAE JAE ( AS CARTER CALLS HER NOW) AND DADDY AT CHURCH! 

 

HER CUTE LITTLE PILLOW CASE DRESS GRAMS GOT FOR HER! A LITTLE BIG BUT WE MADE IT ALL WORK! THANKS MRS. ELIZABETH FOR MAKING IT FOR HER! IT WAS SO ADORABLE ON HER! OH AND THOSE TIGHTS I HAVE ON HER ARE THE BEST INVENTION EVER! THEY ARE JUST TIGHTS THAT MAKE IT LOOK LIKE SHE HAS SHOES ON SO SHE DOESNT HAVE TO WEAR SHOES WITH THEM AND I DONT HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT LOSING A SHOE SOMEWHERE! WE HAVE THEM IN THREE DIFFERENT COLORS AND THEY ARE THE BEST!!

SWEET BABY GIRL SLEEPING IN PAWPAW'S ARMS! PAWPAW HAS BEGAN TO BE A PRO AT GETTING HER TO SLEEP. SHE USE TO NOT LET ANYONE ROCK HER TO SLEEP BUT MOM AND I BUT NOW AFTER CHURCH SHES USUALLY SO TIRED SHE CURLS UP WITH PAWPAW AND GOES RIGHT ON TO SLEEP! PAWPAW EATS UP EVERY MINUTE OF IT TOO!

CARTER AND CASEY! MAN THEY BUMP HEADS SO MUCH I GUESS CUZ THEY ARE THE TWO YOUNGEST BOYS IN THE FAMILY RIGHT NOW BUT MAN THEY SURE ARE BIG BUDDIES TOO! TWO OF A KIND!

CARTER HAS BEEN A MOMMY'S BOY SINCE THE MOMENT HE WAS BORN! HE LOVES HIS MOMMY AND I SURE LOVE MY BUG! THERE IS NOTHING LIKE HIM, THATS FOR SURE!

 

KRYSTLE AND CARTER! HE LOVES KRYSTLE AND KRYSTLE LOVES HER SOME CARTER! HE USE TO BE SO MEAN TO HER BUT NOW THEY ARE BIG BUDDIES! HE TALKS ABOUT HER ALL THE TIME! IM SO HAPPY MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS LOVE MY KIDS SO MUCH! THATS A HUGE BLESSING FOR GOD!

JUST WANTED TO SHARE A FEW PICTURES OF MY WORLD! THEY DIFFENTLY ARE OUR WORLD! ITS SO AMAZING! LIVE FOR THE MOMENTS AND  CHERISH THE MEMORIES!

LIFE...YOU LEARN AS YOU GO!

SO ITS JUST ME SITTING HERE LONELY TONIGHT! GENE'S WORKING, CARTER DECIDED HE WAS STAYING AT HIS GRAMS AND PAWPAW'S TONIGHT AND JAYCIE IS SOUND ASLEEP ALREADY! IM JUST NOT USE TO IT BEING THIS QUIET AND ME HAVING THIS MUCH TIME TO MYSELF! WOW! IM A BIG THINKER ANYWAY BUT WHEN IM BY MYSELF I HAVE EVEN MORE TIME TO THINK SO IM WARNING YOU NOW, THIS MIGHT BE A LONG ONE!

SO LET ME FIRST TELL YOU ABOUT SOME OF OUR NEIGHBORS! WE HAVE SOME VERY NICE NEIGHBORS THAT WE ARE STARTING TO BECOME GOOD FRIENDS WITH AND THEN WE HAVE SOME NOT SO NICE NEIGHBORS THAT I JUST WANT TO SCREAM AT! THE PEOPLE RIGHT NEXT TO US ARE FROM THE NORTH AND WELL THEY ARE JUST A LIL DIFFERENT! WE HAVE NEVER CARED FOR THEM TOO MUCH! ENOUGH SAID! AND THEN WE HAVE THE NEIGHBORS TWO DOORS DOWN FROM US....OH- MY- GOSH! THATS ALMOST ENOUGH SAID BUT I DO HAVE TO TELL YOU ABOUT THIS ONE! ITS GOOD ENOUGH FOR ME TO TELL ABOUT! WELL SEE WE HAVE A DOG (EMMA THAT WOULDNT HURT A FLY) THAT LOVES TO SHOOT OUT THE DOOR AS SOON AS WE OPEN IT! THERE IS NO CATCHING HER AND SCREAMING AT HER DOESNT DO A THING. IF I DIDNT KNOW BETTER I WOULD THINK SHE WAS DEAF BUT ANYWAY. WELL THIS NEIGHBOR OF OURS HAS BEEN TALKING ABOUT EMMA TO EVERYONE EXCEPT US. HE HAS TALKED WITH ALL OUR OTHER NEIGHBORS AND HAS EVEN STOPPED A COUPLE OF MY FAMILY MEMBERS LEAVING MY HOUSE, WHICH MAKES ME VERY ANGRY TO SAY THE LEAST, BUT HE HAS NEVER COME TO TALK TO GENE AND I ! HE KEEPS COMPLANING THAT EMMA IS POOPING IN HIS YARD! SO FINALLY AFTER TWO YEARS OF US LIVING HERE AND HIM HAVING A PROBLEM WITH US, HE FINALLY SEEMS TO FIND OUR HOUSE AND KNOCKS ON OUR DOOR! WELL OF COURSE MY HUSBAND WAS OUT HUNTING AND I WAS HOME WITH THE KIDS! SO I OPEN THE DOOR AND HE SAYS " DO YOU OWN THAT WHITE DOG" AND GUESS WHAT...THERE SHOOTS EMMA OUT THE DOOR! I SAID YEP AND AS YOU CAN SEE WHEN I OPEN MY DOOR FOR HALF A SECOND SHE RUNS OUT BEFORE I CAN GRAB HER AND I HAVE TWO SMALL KIDS AND CANT MANAGE TO GO CHASE HER DOWN THE STREET. WELL HE STARTS SAYING THAT EMMA KEEPS POOPING IN HIS YARD AND HE HAS TWO SMALL CHILDREN ALSO AND THEY LIKE TO EXPLORE AND HE WOULD APPREICATE IF I KEPT EMMA OUT OF HIS YARD! OH AND HE ALSO WENT ON TO SAY THAT ITS CHRISTMAS TIME AND HE'S TRYING TO BE ON HIS BEST BEHAIVOR! OH AND WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? YOU WOULD BE HARASSING ME MORE THAN YOU ALREADY WERE IF IT WASNT CHRISTMAS TIME???? OK SO  BEING THE NICE CHRISTAIN THAT I AM, I APOGLIGIZED TO HIM AND TOLD HIM I WAS TRYING TO KEEP HER UP AS MUCH AS POSSIABLE! OK WELL FIRST OFF, I HAVE KIDS AND IF THEY ARE OUTSIDE I AM THERE WATCHING THEIR EVERY MOVE EXPECIALLY IF THEY ARE IN THE FRONT YARD! BUT MOST OF THE TIME THEY ARE PLAYING IN THE BACK YARD WHICH IS FENCED IN. HE ALSO HAS A FENCED IN YARD SO WHY ARENT HIS KIDS PLAYING BACK THERE AND IF THEY ARENT BACK THERE THEN WHY ARENT HIM AND HIS WIFE WATCHING THEM AND MAKING SURE THEY ARENT EATING POOP! AS YOUNG AS MY KIDS ARE, THEY KNOW NOT TO PICK UP POOP. WE HAVE TAUGHT THEM THAT! OKAY AND SECOND IF THATS THE MOST HE HAS TO BE WORRIED ABOUT THEN HE MUST BE DOING SOMETHING A LOT BETTER THAN ME CUZ A DOG POOPIN IN MY YARD IS THE LEAST OF MY WORRIES! AND LAST SERIOUSLY, DOES EMMA JUST PICK HIS YARD OUT OF ALL THE 50 YARDS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND JUST POOPS IN HIS YARD? I CANT SEEM TO BELEIVE THAT EMMA JUST PICKS HIS YARD EVERYTIME TO POOP IN! THERE ARE OTHER DOGS ROAMING THE NEIGHBORHOOD TOO YOU KNOW! I AM SO ANGRY ABOUT THIS! OKAY SO I THOUGHT ABOUT GOING AND GETTING A CHRISTMAS CARD MADE WITH EMMA'S PICTURE ON IT AND SENDING IT TO HIS HOUSE AND IT SAYING MERRY CHRISTMAS LOVE EMMA ON IT! BUT I KNOW THAT WOULD BE MEAN AND IM NOT THAT KIND OF PERSON! I WAS NOT AWARE OF ALL THE DRAMA AND CRAZY PEOPLE WE WOULD HAVE TO DEAL WITH WHEN WE DECIDED TO MOVE INTO THIS SUBDIVISION! WE DIFENTLY KNOW WE DONT WANT TO LIVE HERE LONGER THAN WE HAVE TO! WE NEED TO BE OUT IN THE COUNTRY WITH SOME LAND OF OUR OWN AND NO RUDE NEIGHBORS!!! BUT LET ME SAY WE DO HAVE SOME GOOD NEIGHBORS ALSO! WE LOVE BRAD AND AIMEE THAT LIVE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF US AND WE ALSO LOVE LIA AND CHASE THAT LIVE ACROSS FROM US! THEY MAKE IT ALL WORTH LIVING HERE! I THINK WE WOULD GO INSANE IF IT WASNT FOR THEM! SO THANK YOU TO BRAD AIMEE AND LIA AND CHASE FOR BEING THERE FOR US! WE LOVE YALL!!!

OK SO WE WENT TO A BIRTHDAY PARTY TODAY AND I REALIZED JUST HOW SHY AND UN SOCIAL I AM! I HATE IT SO BAD! WHY CANT I BE MORE TALKITIVE ! I DONT EVEN KNOW HOW TO START A CONVERSATGION WITH SOMEONE! THERE WERE SO MANY PEOPLE THERE AND I GUESS I JUST GET OVERWHELMED! PEOPLE PROBABLY THINK IM STUCK UP BUT IM REALLY NOT! GOOD THING I MARRIED GENE CUZ I TAKE HIM ANYWHERE AND HE KNOWS AT LEAST 3 PEOPLE! SURE ENOUGH AT THIS LITTLE GIRLS 1ST BIRTHDAY PARTY, HE KNOWS AT LEAST 3 PEOPLE THERE AND TALKS TO THEM! ANY TIPS SOMEBODY ON HOW TO GET OVER THIS PHEOBIA OF MINE???? ITS TAKING OVER MY LIFE!!! IM PRAYING AND PRAYING ABOUT IT! I KNOW, GOD MAKES EVERYONE DIFFERENT BUT MAN, I COULD USE A LITTLE HELP HERE!!!

NOW OFF ON SOMETHING A LTTLE BETTER, MAYBE! SO WHEN YOU ASK CARTER WHAT HE WANTS FROM SANTA HE SAYS TRACTOR. BUT NOW ALL OF A SUDDEN HE SAYS TRACTOR FOR HIM AND DADDY=PUPPY! DONT KNOW WHERE HE CAME UP WITH THAT BUT HE THINKS SANTA IS BRINGING DADDY A PUPPY! SOO GUESS WHAT, GENE DECIDES TO GET THE KIDS A  PUPPY FOR CHRISTMAS! YEA LIKE I NEED ANOTHER MOUTH TO FEED AND SOMETHING ELSE TO POTTY TRAIN! THANKS HUNNY! SO GENE FINDS A WOMAN SELLING RED GOLDEN RETREIVER PUPPIES( CUZ HE KNOWS THATS THE DOG IVE ALWAYS WANTED SO HE KNEW HE WOULD CONVINCE ME THAT THIS WAS A GOOD IDEA! AND YEP HE GOT ME!) SO WE DRIVE THREE HOURS TO LOOK AT HER PUPPIES AND FIND THE PERFECT ONE! THE SMALLEST MALE PUPPY WITH A LITTLE WHITE DOT ON HIS HEAD! MELTED MY HEART! SO OF COURSE WE PUT OUR DEPOSIT DOWN ON THIS DOG AND WE GO BACK TO GET HIM TUESDAY! GENE DECIDED TO NAME HIM AUBIE! AND HE WAS ONLY $200 AND HAS PAPERS. THE WOMAN WAS SELLINGTHEM THIS CHEAP CUZ SHE WANTED THEM ALL TO GO AS CHRISTMAS PUPPIES!  IF YOU KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT GOLDEN RETREIVERS THEN YOU KNOW THAT THEY USUALLY GO FOR $600- TO $1200 ! PRETTY GOOD DEAL GENE! CARTER IS GOING TO GO CRAZY ON CRHISTMAS MORNING! BE WORTH SEEING HIS FACE!  ANOTHER DOG TO POOP IN NEIGHBORS YARD! GREAT!!!!!!!!! LOL

TOLD YOU THIS WOULD BE LONG! SORRY! JUST A LITLE VENTING SINCE I ONLY HAVE A TWO YEAR OLD AND 9 MONTH OLD TO TALK TO EVERYDAY! I LOVE DOING THIS BLOG BECAUSE IT GIVES PEOPLE AN OPPORTUNITY TO SEE THE OTHER SIDE OF ME THAT THEY DONT GET TO SEE WHEN WE ARE IN PERSON! YOU GET TO SEE WHAT IM REALLY THINKING! LOL! I REALLY WISH PEOPLE GOT THE OPPORTUNITY TO GET TO KNOW ME! IT TAKES A WHILE THOUGH FOR ME TO MAKE GOOD FRIENDS BECAUSE OF MY SHYNESS!

SO IM LEARNING AS I GO. IM NOT PERFECT BUT IM TRYING TO LIVE A GOOD LIFE FOR THE LORD! I WANT TO MAKE FRIENDS I JUST DONT KNOW HOW TO PUT MYSELF OUT THERE YET. IM TRYING THOUGH AND MAYBE HAVING KIDS INCOMMON WITH PEOPLE WILL HELP ME OUT!

GENE AND I ARE LEARNING WHAT OUR PARENTS WENT THOUGH AND WONDERING HOW ON EARTH DID THEY EVER MAKE IT. BOTH OF OUR MOTHERS RAISED US AS SINGLE PARENTS MOST OF OUR LIVES. GENE'S DAD DIED WHEN HE WAS 2 AND HIS SISTER WAS 5, AND HIS MOTHER NEVER REMARRIED! MY MOM WAS SINGLE FOR A WHILE WITH 4 KIDS. WE NOW REALIZE HOW HARD IT IS TO PAY THE BILLS AND PUT FOOD ON THE TABLE AND BUY ALL THE CHRISTMAS AND BIRTHDAY PRESENTS AND TRY TO GIVE OUR CHILDREN EVERYTHING THEY NEED AND A LOT OF WHAT THE WANT! ITS REALLY HARD, AND GENE AND I HAVE EACH OTHER AND HE HAS A WONDERFUL JOB AND PROBABLY MAKES MORE THAN OUR MOTHERS DID PUT TOGETHER! SO TO OUR MOTHERS, WE JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU!!! YALL ARE THE BEST MOTHERS WE COULD ASK FOR! WE DIDNT REALIZE AT THE TIME WHEN GROWING UP, THE SACRIFICES YOU MADE FOR US AND HOW HARD IT WAS BUT WE DO NOW!  THANK YOU WILL NEVER BE ENOUGH!

WHAT A MIGHTY GOD WE SERVE! THANK YOU LORD FOR SENDING YOUR SON DOWN HERE TO DIE ON THE CROSS SO THAT WE COULD LIVE AND BE FORGIVEN OF OUR SINS! CHRISTMAS IS A TIME TO REFLECT ON OUR LIFE AND FAMILY! ITS A TIME TO SAY HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO JESUS AND THANK GOD FOR BEING AN AWESOME ALMIGHTY AND WONDERFUL GOD! GOD IS JUST SO GOOD AND I CANT IMAGINE MY LIFE WITHOUT HIM! HE HAS DONE SO MANY WONDERFUL THINGS IN MY LIFE AND HAS GIVEN ME SO MANY WONDERUFL BLESSINGS!

FROM OUR FAMILY TO YOURS, WISHING YOU A CHRISTMAS FILLED WITH THE MIRACLE OF PEACE AND THE JOY OF FAITH! WE HOPE EVERYONE HAS A BLESSED CHRISTMAS WITH THEIR FAMILIES!
LIFE'S A DANCE, YOU LEARN AS YOU GO!

CHRISTMAS PARTY

ISNT THIS THE CUTEST LITTLE TUTU YOU EVER SAW! KELLY REBURN MADE THIS FOR JAYCIE FOR CHRISTMAS AND I LOVE IT! ITS SO ADORABLE! JAYCIE WASNT SO SURE WHAT IT WAS BUT SHE SURE DID LOOK CUTE ! IM GOING TO LET HER WEAR IT ON CHRISTMAS EVE WITH A RED ONSIE UNDER IT WHEN WE GO VISIT FAMILY! AWE THANK YOU SO MUCH KELLY!!!!!

ANYWAY, LAST NIGHT WE WENT TO OUR CHURCH CHRISTMAS PARTY! WE ALL BRING FINGER FOODS AND A GIFT AND PLAY DIRTY SANTA! IT GETS TO BE A LOT OF FUN!!!

GENE HAD TO WORK BUT ME AND THE KIDS WENT! MY KIDS WERE SOOO GOOD! I WAS SO PROUD OF THEM! THE PARTY DIDNT EVEN START TILL 7 WHICH IS THEIR BED TIME SO I DIDNT KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT! THEY ALWAYS SEEM TO SURPRISE ME! THERE WERE TWO OTHER CHILDREN THERE SO CARTER HAD A BLAST PLAYING WITH THEM! WE HAD A REALLY GOOD TIME! THANK YOU RICHARD AND JAMMIE FOR ALLOWING US COME INTO YOUR HOUSE FOR OUR PARTY! IT WAS WONDERFUL AND I THINK EVERYONE REALLY ENJOYED THEMSELVES!!!

DOCTOR CHECK UP

TODAY CARTER WENT TO THE DOCTOR FOR HIS TWO YEAR CHECK UP! HE NOW WEIGHS ALMOST 27 POUNDS AND IS 34 INCHES TALL ! EVERYONE ALWAYS SAYS HE IS TALL FOR HIS AGE, SO TODAY I ASKED THE DOCTOR IF THAT WAS TRUE! SHE SAID NO! HE IS IN THE AVERAGE RANGE FOR A TWO YEAR OLD! SHE SAID HE JUST IS MORE MATURE THAN OTHER TWO YEAR OLDS! HE LOOKS AND ACTS OLDER THAN HIS AGE! HE HAS A SLIMMER FACE AND DOESN'T HAVE ANY BABY FAT! SO IM HAPPY THAT CARTER IS JUST AVERAGE HEIGHT AND I'M ALSO HAPPY THAT HE IS MORE MATURE AND MATURE LOOKING FOR HIS AGE! THEY GAVE ME A SHEET WITH THE DEVELOPMENT SKILLS FOR AGE 2 AND WELL CARTER DOES EVERY ONE OF THEM ALREADY! HE CAN DO EVERYTHING A 3 YEAR OLD CAN DO! IM SO PROUD OF HIM!  CARTER GOT ONE SHOT TODAY AND DIDN'T EVEN CRY! HE WAS A VERY BIG BOY! DON'T HAVE TO GO BACK TO THE DOCTOR FOR A WHOLE YEAR ( IF WE CAN MANAGE NOT TO GET SICK)! 

JAYCIE ALSO HAD TO GO TO THE DOCTOR TODAY BECAUSE SHE'S SICK! SHE HAS BEEN THROWING UP AND HAVING DIARRHEA REALLY BAD THE PAST TWO DAYS! SO BAD THAT I HAVE TO GIVE HER AND BATH AND CHANGE HER CLOTHES EVERY TIME SHE GOES TO THE BATHROOM! ITS BEEN AWEFUL! WELL WHEN WE GOT TO THE DOCTOR SHE ALSO CHECKED HER EARS AND GUESS WHAT. SHE HAS AN EAR INFECTION ON TOP OF EVERYTHING ELSE! EVEN THOUGH SHES NOT FEELING TOO GOOD, SHE JUST SMILED AND LAUGHED WHEN THE DOCTOR CAME IN! SHE WAS HER HAPPY SELF! SHE NOW WEIGHS 17 POUNDS! IM ALSO PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE THAT SHE IS STARTING TO CRAWL! ITS SO CUTE! CARTER BETTER WATCH OUT NOW! SHES GOING TO BE CHASING HIM AROUND EVERYWHERE! 

THIS IS CARTER PLAYING HIS NEW DRUM SET HE GOT FROM TERI FOR HIS BIRTHDAY! THIS IS HIS NEW FAVORITE TOY! HE SITS AND PLAYS AND SINGS JINGLE BELLS AND WANTS EVERYONE ELSE IN THE ROOM TO SING TOO! ITS FUNNY!

LIFE IS GOOD HERE IN THE COLTRANE HOUSE!!! AS BUSY AS EVER! WE ARE GETTING REALLY EXCITED ABOUT CHRISTMAS! FINISHING UP THOSE LAST MINUTE GIFTS AND TRYING TO GET EVERYTHING WRAPPED ( WHICH IS THE HARDEST PART)! THIS IS EMILY'S LAST WEEK AT SCHOOL FOR A MONTH AND IM REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO HAVING HER HERE! MOM EMILY KRYSTLE AND ME ARE GOING TO START MAKING CHRISTMAS CANDY NEXT WEEK AND DO A  LIL SHOPPING AND GETTING OUR NAILS DONE! I LOVE GIRL TIME!! I LOVE THE FAMILY TIME THAT COMES WITH THE HOLIDAY'S! ITS SO WARM AND GOOD FEELING TO BE SURROUNDED BY PEOPLE THAT LOVE YOU! GOD IS GOOD!

MAY YOU REJOICE IN THE MIRACLE, THE GIFT, AND THE PROMISE OF CHRISTMAS!

CHRISTMAS PARADE

I AM VERY PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE THAT MY CHURCH (CROSSROADS COMMUNITY CHURCH OF THE NAZARENE) WON FIRST PLACE FLOAT IN THE BRIGHTON CHRISTMAS PARADE MONDAY NIGHT! EVERYONE PUT A LOT OF HARD WORK INTO IT! IT WAS REALLY A GREAT FLOAT!  CHRISTMAS AROUND THE WORLD WAS OUR THEME THIS YEAR!! GENE AND I TOOK CARTER AND RODE ON IT DURING THE BRIGHTON PARADE! THAT WAS CARTER'S SECOND YEAR TO DO THAT AND HE LOVES IT! HE JUST SAT THERE AND WAVED AND THREW CANDY OUT! HE ALSO ATE ABOUT 4 SUCKERS DURING THE PARADE! NEEDLESS TO SAY HE DIDN'T GO TO BED FOR A WHILE AFTER THAT! 

KEEP CHRIST IN CHRISTMAS! 

HE IS THE TRUE REASON FOR THE SEASON!

WEIRD ADDICTIONS

I HAD TO QUIT TALKING ABOUT MY KIDS FOR A SECOND AND TELL YALL ABOUT MY LIL ADDICTION! I GUESS ITS A GOOD ONE CUZ THEY ARE HEALTHY BUT A LITTLE WEIRD! I LOVE LOVE LOVE GREEN BANANAS! THEY ARE THE ONLY BANANAS I WILL EAT! IF THEY GET YELLOW I WONT EAT THEM! DOES ANYONE ELSE LIKE GREEN BANANAS? MY MOM AND EVERYONE ELSE THINKS IM REALLY WEIRD AND CANT STAND EATING THEM BUT MAN I CAN TEAR SOME GREEN BANANAS UP! MY MOM HAS TO HIDE HER BANANAS WHEN SHE FIRST COMES HOME WITH THEM CUZ IF I SEE THEM THERE AND THEY ARE GREEN I WILL EAT ALL OF THEM THAT DAY!  I HATE WHEN I GO IN THE STORE AND ALL THE BANANAS ARE YELLOW! LOL  DRIVES ME CRAZY! I WONT BUY THEM ANY OTHER WAY NOT EVEN FOR MY KIDS! ONE TIME I WAS AT MY MOMS AND THERE WAS ONE BANANA SITTING THERE AND CARTER WANTED IT. I TOLD HIM NO CUZ IT WASNT ANY GOOD! GUESS WHAT, I GOT YELLED AT FOR THAT! IT WAS GOOD, IT WAS YELLOW! SO I HAD TO LET HIM EAT IT! HE LIKED IT OF COURSE BUT MAN IT LOOKED NASTY TO ME! ANYONE ELSE HAVE ANY WEIRD ADDICTIONS?

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY MOMMA! THANK YOU FOR ALWAYS BEING THERE FOR ALL OF US AND BEING SO WONDERFUL! AND THANK YOU FOR BEING SUCH A WONDERFUL GRANDMOTHER TO OUR CHILDREN! CARTER AND JAYCIE LOVE THEM SOME GRAMS!!!  I THINK I CAN COUNT ON ONE HAND HOW MANY DAYS YOU HAVE GONE WITHOUT SEEING THEM! YOU SEE THEM EVERYDAY EVEN IF ITS JUST FOR A SECOND! THAT MEANS A LOT TO ME! HOPE YOU HAD A GREAT BIRTHDAY AND I HOPE YOU ENJOY YOUR BIG FLAT SCREEN T.V !

OH AND HAPPY ANNIVERSARY TO MOM AND JIMMY ON DECEMBER 5TH! THEY SHARE THE SAME DAY WITH CARTER AND FOR THE PAST 2 YEARS I HAVE LACKED TO CELEBRATE THEIR ANNIVERSARY BECAUSE I GET SO WRAPPED UP IN CARTER'S BIRTHDAY SO THIS YEAR CARTER AND I MADE THEM A 4 LAYER CAKE! WE USED TWO BOXES OF WHITE CAKE MIX AND SEPARATED IT INTO 4 BOWLS AND PUT A DIFFERENT COLOR FOOD COLOR IN EACH! ONE WAS PURPLE, ONE WAS GREEN, ONE WAS PINK, AND ONE WAS BLUE! IT WAS SO CUTE! ILL HAVE TO SHARE A PICTURE OF IT LATER! IT WAS SO YUMMY TOO! 

NEVER TAKE ONE MINUTE FOR GRANITE!  THE PEOPLE YOU LOVE COULD BE GONE IN JUST A BLINK OF AN EYE! TELL YOUR FAMILY YOU LOVE THEM EACH AND EVERY DAY.  DON'T LET IT JUST BE UNDERSTOOD!

GOD IS GOOD!!!!

LITTLE UPDATE

JUST WANTED TO UPDATE YALL A LITTLE ON THE KIDS! AS YOU KNOW CARTER JUST TURNED TWO ON DECEMBER 5TH! HE IS TALKING SO MUCH AND ITS MORE SENTENCES THAN JUST ONE WORDS NOW! HIS NEW SAYINGS ARE..."WHERE DADDY GO?" AND  "THATS CARTER'S" ( WHEN HE DOESNT WANT TO SHARE HIS TOYS OR WHEN HE THINKS SOMETHING IS HIS). HE'S A MESS! WE GO TO THE DOCTOR TOMORROW FOR HIS TWO YEAR CHECK UP. LAST TIME WE WENT TO THE DOCTOR WHICH WAS A COUPLE WEEKS AGO HE WEIGHED 26 POUNDS! HE LOVES FRUIT AND CHICKEN! HE'S DEFINITLY MY CHILD! LOL! HE LOVES TRAINS, TRACTORS, ELMO, MICKEY MOUSE AND HE LOVES LOVES LOVES BOOKS! WE READ ALL THE TIME! HE ALSO IS GETTING INTO SINGING! HE LOVES ME TO SING TWINKLE TWINKLE LITTLE STAR TO HIM WHEN WE ARE TAKING A NAP OR GOING TO BED! HE PUSHES MY CHEST WHEN HE WANTS ME TO SING AND SAYS STAR STAR. HE WILL SING BITS AND PIECES OF IT WITH ME! HE ALSO IS LEARNING HIS ABC'S. ITS THE FUNNIEST THING LISTENING TO HIM TRY TO SAY THEM! HE DEFINTLY HAS THE EFG PART DOWN! LOL !  

LITTLE MISS JAYCIE...WELL SHE DOESN'T HAVE TO ASK SANTA FOR HER TWO FRONT TEETH BECAUSE SHE JUST GOT THEM IN THIS WEEK! SHE HAS THE TWO BOTTOM ONES! TODAY SHE GOT SOME OF THOSE LITTLE GRADUATES CHEETOS FOR THE FIRST TIME AND SHE LOVED THEM! I GUESS I NEED TO START GIVING HER MORE SOLID FOOD NOW THAT SHES GETTING TEETH! SHES DEFINITELY A GRAMS GIRL! SHE WILL CRY EVERY TIME SHE SEES HER GRAMS UNTIL MY MOM PICKS HER UP AND WHEN MY MOM LEAVES AND HANDS HER TO ME, SHE STARTS SCREAMING! SHE LOVES HER SOME GRAMS!!!! BUT I AM HER SECOND PICK! SHES SITTING UP AND ABOUT TO CRAWL ANY DAY NOW! SHE WILL GET UP ON ALL FOURS AND ROCK BUT SHE HASN'T MADE THAT FIRST MOVE YET! SHE LOVES TO PLAY WITH HER BROTHER! THEY WILL BOTH SIT ON THE PLAY MAT I GOT FOR THEM AND JUST PLAY AND PLAY TOGETHER UNTIL CARTER DECIDES HE WANTS TO PUSH HER OVER AND THEN HE GOES TO TIME OUT AND SHES CRYING AND READY FOR ME TO PICK HER UP! BUT FOR THE MOST PART THEY PLAY REALLY WELL TOGETHER!  NEEDLESS TO SAY IM GETTING A FEW MORE THINGS DONE DURING THE DAY NOW! SHE IS STILL SLEEPING IN HER OWN BED AT NIGHT WHICH IS THE GREATEST BLESSING EVER I THINK!  SHE LOVES TO TAKE A BATH NOW THAT SHE CAN SIT UP ON HER OWN AND KICK HER FEET AND SPLASH! HER AND CARTER TAKE BATHS TOGETHER AS OF RIGHT NOW! IM THINKING SHE WEIGHS AROUND 16 POUNDS RIGHT NOW AND JUST NOW GETTING INTO 6-9 MONTH CLOTHES. SHE WILL BE 9 MONTHS OLD ON THE 25TH OF THIS MONTH!

THEY ARE BOTH ME AND GENE'S WORLD! THEY ARE SUCH WONDERFUL BLESSING FROM GOD AND WE THANK HIM EVERYDAY FOR  THEM! THEY ARE TWO HAPPY BABIES THAT ARE ROTTEN BUT WE WOULDN'T WANT IT ANY OTHER WAY! THAT'S THE WAY THEY ARE SUPPOSE TO BE! I AM SO VERY THANKFUL THAT I CAN STAY AT HOME WITH THEM AND SEE EVERY WAKING SECOND OF THEIR PRECIOUS LIVES! GENE AND I WOULDN'T WANT IT ANY OTHER WAY! WE TREASURE EVERY MEMORY AND JUST TAKE IT ALL IN A DAY AT A TIME! WE ARE TRULY BLESSED BEYOND ANYTHING THAT WE ARE WORTHY OF!

TWO SHORT YEARS

YEP THAT'S RIGHT, MY BABY BOY IS TWO ALREADY! HOW DID THOSE TWO YEARS GO BY THAT FAST? I CAN HONESTLY SAY ITS BEEN THE BEST TWO YEARS OF MY LIFE! CARTER HAS BEEN SUCH A BLESSING TO OUR FAMILY! HES THE MOST AFFECTIONATE LOVING  LITTLE BOY! HE CAN MAKE ANYONE SMILE! HE WILL ALWAYS BE MY BABY EVEN WHEN HES TOO BIG TO HOLD IN MY ARMS! BUT RIGHT NOW, IM SOAKING UP EVERY SECOND OF HIM BEING SMALL ENOUGH TO ROCK TO SLEEP!  I THANK GOD EVERY DAY FOR MY TWO HEALTHY HAPPY BABIES AND TO ALWAYS KEEP THEM HEALTHY HAPPY AND SAFE!

THIS WAS CARTER AND I, A FEW MINUTES AFTER HE WAS BORN! WOW! HOW AMAZING WAS THAT FEELING KNOWING I WAS THAT LIL BABY'S MOMMY! 6 LBS 7 OZ 19 INCHES LONG BORN AT 9:44 AM ! THE CENTER OF OUR WHOLE WORLD!

THIS WAS HIS PARTY LAST YEAR! HE ATE HIS WHOLE CAKE BUT THEN WHEN HE WAS DONE HE GOT MAD AND WANTED  OUT AND TO BE CLEANED UP! IT WAS THE FUNNIEST THING! 

THIS WAS CARTER AND ME AT HIS PARTY LAST YEAR!

THIS WAS CARTER AND ME THIS YEAR AT HIS PARTY! GOT THE SAME PICTURE AT THE SAME SPOT IN OUR HOUSE! 

I LOVE THAT LIL BOY!!!

SO AS YOU SEE, CARTER GOT A POWER WHEEL TRACTOR FOR HIS BIRTHDAY FROM HIS GRAMS AND PAW PAW AND HIS MOMMY AND DADDY!  THE BEST $220 WE HAVE SPENT ON THE KID I THINK! HE LOVES HIS NEW TRACTOR AND SO DOES HIS SISTER! WE PUT JAYCIE IN THE TRAILER AND LET CARTER RIDE HER AROUND AND SHE JUST LAUGHED AND SMILED THE WHOLE TIME! SHE LOVES IT SO MUCH! SHE JUST HOLDS ON TO THE SIDES AND LOVES EVERY MINUTE! 

CARTER GOT A BIG TRACTOR CAKE THIS YEAR! MY UNCLES GIRLFRIEND AMANDA MADE THIS CAKE FOR HIM AND ALSO MADE HIM 3 DOZEN TRACTOR COOKIES TO GIVE OUT FOR PARTY FAVORS. SHE WORKS AT COOKIE FLORIST IN BARTLETT!  THIS WAS HER PRESENT FOR CARTER!  THE CAKE WAS SO DELICIOUS, BEST CAKE I HAVE HAD IN A LONG TIME!!!

CARTER HAD A WONDERFUL BIRTHDAY AND PARTY! THERE WERE A LOT OF PEOPLE AT OUR HOME BUT IT WAS FUN! I DIDN'T GET TO SIT DOWN AND TALK TO EVERYONE LIKE I WANTED TO BUT I THINK I GOT AROUND TO SAY AT LEAST HEY TO EVERYONE! THE WORST PART OF HAVING A BIRTHDAY IN THE WINTER IS NOT HAVING ANYWHERE TO HAVE IT! SO MY HOUSE HAS BEEN THE SPOT FOR THE PAST TWO YEARS BUT WE ARE HOPING THAT OUR CHURCH NEW BUILDING WILL BE DONE NEXT YEAR AT THIS TIME AND WE CAN HAVE IT THERE! WE WANT TO THANK EVERYONE FOR COMING TO CARTER'S BIRTHDAY PARTY! I KNOW IT WAS A LITTLE WILD WITH ALL THOSE PEOPLE THERE BUT WE REALLY ENJOY BEING SURROUNDED BY OUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY IN CELEBRATING THESE SPECIAL MEMORIES! IT REALLY MEANS A LOT TO GENE AND I TO HAVE SO MANY WONDERFUL FRIENDS THAT WE CAN COUNT ON!

CARTER HAD A BLAST WITH ALL HIS FRIENDS! HIM AND CAROLINE HAD A GREAT TIME RIDING HIS TRACTOR! IM GOING TO TRY TO START  HAVING MORE PLAY DATES FOR CARTER! WE HAVE SO MANY FRIENDS WITH KIDS HIS AGE AND WE NEED TO START HAVING THEM OVER MORE SO OUR KIDS CAN PLAY TOGETHER!

JAYCIE ALSO HAD A GREAT TIME AT CARTER'S BIRTHDAY PARTY! HER AUNT E HAD HER MOST OF THE PARTY AND I THINK THEY JUST HAD A REALLY GOOD TIME EATING ICE CREAM AND JUST KEEPING EVERYONE ENTERTAINED!! JUST THINK, IN THREE MONTHS I WILL BE HAVING A BIG PARTY FOR HER TO CELEBRATE HER BIG 1 !!!  WOW

JUST THINK IN ONE YEAR HE WILL BE GOING TO PRE-SCHOOL AND IN THREE SHORT YEARS HE WILL BE IN KINDERGARTEN!

TIME FLY'S SO FAST ONCE YOU HAVE CHILDREN!

I FINALLY GOT IT !

YOU KNOW THAT 6 FOOT CROSS THAT I TOLD Y'ALL I WANTED BACK IN SEPTEMBER? WELL I FINALLY GOT ONE, EXCEPT ITS NOT 6 FOOT TALL...ITS MORE LIKE 12 FOOT TALL! I FINALLY GOT MY BROTHER AND GENE TO MAKE ME ONE OUT OF THE LEFT OVER WOOD FROM OUR FENCE. SEE, WE ARE RECYCLING! LOL! ITS SO PRETTY AND LOOKS GREAT UP NEXT TO THE HOUSE. I OUTLINED IT IN PRE- LITE GARLAND! 

I FINALLY GOT ALL THE DECORATING DONE INSIDE AND OUT! I THINK MY HUSBAND WILL KILL ME IF I ASK HIM TO DO ONE MORE THING! IT LOOKS REALLY GOOD THOUGH! I HUNG SOME BIG ORNAMENTS FROM THE PORCH AND DECORATED MY WREATH AND SMALL TREES WITH RED BOWS AND PUT A BIG RED BOW ON MY MAILBOX!

IM REALLY GETTING INTO THE DECORATING THING THIS YEAR. I GUESS BECAUSE I HAVE KIDS THAT ENJOY IT NOW AND I REMEMBER CHRISTMAS ALWAYS BEING REALLY SPECIAL WHEN I WAS A KID! OUR HOUSE AND MY GRANDMOTHERS HOUSE WAS ALWAYS DECORATED REALLY PRETTY AND IT WAS JUST A REALLY SPECIAL TIME! I WANT TO MAKE EVERY EFFORT TO MAKE EACH HOLIDAY VERY SPECIAL FOR MY CHILDREN SO THEY REMEMBER IT YEARS FROM NOW! WE ALSO WANT OUR KIDS TO KNOW THE TRUE MEANING OF EVERY HOLIDAY. ITS NOT JUST ABOUT GETTING PRESENTS AND SANTA COMING! ITS A LOT MORE SPECIAL THAN THAT! A SAVIOR WAS BORN! HOW AWESOME IS THAT! GOD IS SO GOOD TO US! CHRISTMAS IS ABOUT JESUS BIRTHDAY AND TRYING TO GIVE TO OTHERS! WHEN WE GO OUT SHOPPING, WE ALWAYS SEE THE PEOPLE RINGING THE BELLS FOR MONEY! I TRY TO ALWAYS GIVE CARTER A DOLLAR TO PUT IN FOR THEM! THE FIRST TIME HE DID IT, HE WAS VERY CONFUSED ABOUT WHERE HIS DOLLAR WENT! HE KEPT SAYING DOLLAR DOLLAR? I SAID WE GAVE IT TO THOSE PEOPLE TO HELP OTHER PEOPLE. HE STILL DIDN'T UNDERSTAND SO I TOLD HIM IT WAS FOR PEOPLE SO THEY COULD EAT. THEN HE GOT IT. HE SAID EAT EAT...I SAID YES TO EAT. HE WAS SATISFIED THEN! 

THIS HOLIDAY IS SO EASY TO JUST BUY SO MUCH FOR MY KIDS. I KEEP SAYING THAT IM DONE BUYING FOR THEM, THEY ARE DONE, BUT YET EVERY TIME I GO OUT SOMEWHERE I BUY THEM SOMETHING ELSE. SO I THINK IM GOING TO TAKE A FEW TOYS EACH FROM THEIR PILES AND TAKE THEM TO A TOY DRIVE! I CANT IMAGINE A CHILD NOT HAVING A TOY ON CHRISTMAS BUT I KNOW IN MY HEART THAT  THERE ARE A LOT OF KIDS THAT DON'T GET ANYTHING FOR CHRISTMAS AND THAT MAKES MY HEART HURT, BAD!!! SO THIS CHRISTMAS I WANT TO TRY TO GIVE BACK AS MUCH AS I CAN AND MAKE SURE THAT THERE ARE A FEW MORE KIDS THAT GET A TOY ON CHRISTMAS! WE TAKE SO MUCH WHEN WE SHOULD BE GIVING, SO THATS MY NEW MISSION IS TO TRY TO START GIVING A LOT MORE. ME AND MY KIDS DON'T NEED AS MUCH AS WE HAVE! 

SO MY PRAYER IS TONIGHT, LORD PLEASE HELP ME START GIVING A LOT MORE INSTEAD OF ALWAYS THINKING OF MYSELF! HELP ME BE A BLESSING IN SOMEONE ELSES LIFE EVERY DAY!