Ella is groovin'

Couldn't resist sharing this clip of Ella dancing. Her big bro kept getting in the way, so you may have to watch this 2x to see her dip and groove. It was so stinkin' cute!

Enjoy.

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Walking for the Kids....

Yes, we look a bit tired. We only had about 3-4 hours of sleep last night!


I know, I know, I haven't blogged in forever. Seems hard to believe that we have started a new year and have zipped through the first month already without even slowing down for a breath. I really thought that it would be a bit slower....I know, I'm delusional. Anyway, I just had to share about our walk this morning for my dear friend Andrea and her son Luke.

As you remember from my past post, we walked to support the MDA (Jerry's Kids) foundation that raises money for research for medicine and cures for children with muscular disorders or challenges.

Bryan and I decided that instead of just me going, we would take our whole family. We thought it would be a great learning experience for our kids. They had never seen a child in a wheel chair until today. We wanted them to know that there are children out there that are different than them, but just as special. And we wanted them to know that the Lord has called us to help those around us.

So, all week long we have been talking with the boys about this event and letting them know what they would be seeing. At first the boys wanted to go through their toys to give them to the kids. Which by the way, was really sweet. They were even willing to give some of their Lightning McQueen cars away (and that my friends, is HUGE!). But we explained that this was not a toy drive, but a fundraiser of money to doctors to help the kids get better. This morning, we were all up bright and early and Reid was very excited to get going. He told us that we needed to be sure to take our silver car as that was the car where he was keeping his money (coins) that he has been collecting. When asked why, he said: "Cause I want to give it to the kids today at the walk Mommy to help them!" I couldn't help but form tears in my eyes as I thought we must have done something right along the way. We did not prompt him at all for this. He did this on his own.

When we arrived at Grapevine Mills Mall, we found our Team Luke table! The boys were greeted with M&Ms, a for sure favorite. You will see below a picture of them handing the money to Andrea, Luke's mom. Such a sweet moment for all of us there.

When the walk started, the boys were excited to walk with Daddy with the children. I just can't tell you how much I think this was an awesome thing for our boys to be a part of. I think it is so important that our children have these experiences in life. If you ever get the opportunity to involve your children in a mission like this, you should do it!

I believe that not only were Bry and I blessed this morning, but I do believe that my children were blessed as well. And the best part is they didn't give their money and then ask for more money for themselves...they just freely gave. I believe that God will bless that sweet giving in them.

This is TEAM LUKE! These are the folks that were able to come and show their support of Luke.


Me and Andrea....



Ella kissing Baby Luke on her button. She saw that we were wearing the buttons and she took my hand and led me to the table, pointed to the buttons and then pointed to her chest. She was telling me she wanted to wear one. When I put it on her, she just kept patting it and then would kiss it. So sweet!



Reid giving his money that he has been saving for Baby Luke's cause!


Cole giving his money for Baby Luke's cause!


These are 2 very precious boys with very big hearts. How can you not just love them to pieces??

We learn so much from our children and today was no different. The innocence of giving and loving someone that you don't know without any judgment unconditionally. It was so neat that I just don't have the words to really express my heart. I pray that my children will always have these sweet, tender hearts for others!

PS...Thanks for Ericka for taking all of the pictures above.

My Aunt's mom passed away

Please see the email below from my Uncle Charles.  My dear Aunt Charity's mom passed away on Wed.  Though we knew it was coming, death is never easy.  I would ask that you pray for my Aunt and her family during this time.  My Aunt is so special to me and I love her so much.  I hate to see her in pain.  My mom has talked with them and they are doing as well as to be expected.

Walking for a Cause

Hello friends and family. I wanted to let you all know that I am going to be walking with my friend Andrea on the 26th of this month for MDA organization aka Jerry's kids. This is an organization that benefits the muscular dystorphy association. Anyway, you can click on

Mission Possible

And you will be taken to my friend's blog where she has talked about what this will do. Any donations that you can give even as little as $5 helps go towards a cure for these sweet children would be so appreciated and truly benefit not only children with muscular challenges, but the parents as well. I'm excited to do this with her as a very small way to show support for her sweet Luke.

We plan to take our children as well as we think it will be a good opportunity to teach them about how other children may be different than them, but they are just as special. It will be a new experience for my children.

All in all, we do ask for your support in prayers. That is most important!! Thank you all!

I mean really....

Ok...for those of you that don't know the story about Reid taking a magic marker, black in color, you know, the kind that is permanent???...and coloring our sofa, let me quickly tell it.

When Reid was about 3, Bry was on his way to help with Hurricane Katrina relief. We had tons of friends donate clothes for this event and we had clothes all throughout our downstairs. We were separating the clothes by size and gender. To do so, Bry had a black, magic, permanent marker sitting on the sofa to mark the boxes. Several times, I politely told him that we really shouldn't leave that marker there on the sofa because Reid may get it. Of course, he ignored my motherly wisdom! ;-) Anyway, we were taking boxes outside to load them on the trailer for them to leave. We were in and out. Well...on one trip back into my house, I screamed "NO!!!" Course, this made everyone run in to see what was wrong. Our sweet Reid who was dazed watching a tv show, had grabbed the marker and in the matter of minutes had literally colored all the way across the seat cushions on our light Khaki colored sofa. Not to mention, he literally took the marker and made at least one mark on all 7 of the pillows that serve as the back of the sofa. Oh and did I tell you that he colored his shirts???? I was horrified. I didn't know whether I should laugh or cry!


What? I'm too cute to do anything like this!!


This is what both of my seat cushions looked like! However, over the course of the past 2 years, it has faded!

So, I tell you all of this to share with you the next event...not with Reid, but with Ella!!!

I fed Cole and Ella lunch today and was in the kitchen cleaning up while Cole was watching tv and Ella was playing so contently in the corner with her new Little People house and baby bottles. Little did I know.....

I picked her up to take her upstairs to change her diaper and put her down for a nap. As I laid her on the changing table, my eyes are drawn to her legs. Are you kidding me? She had colored both of her legs. First of all...where in the world did she find the pen? Second....where is the pen that she was using. I didn't find that until after her nap, after we picked Reid up from school. Ok, let's be honest, Ella found the pen for me. I had to ask her and believe it or not, she walked up to me and handed it to me. Bright little 18 month old, huh?


Clearly she thought this was a piece of paper. A masterpiece!!


I didn't do it. See Mom, I am asleep. This is Ella's new thing, by the way, she pretends to be asleep! It's actually quite funny to watch her pretend to sleep.


Mom, he did it!!


I didn't do it Ella. I'm going to get you for that!

At least she only colored her skin...no clothes or furniture. But she is my child that was caught playing the toilet 3x last week alone. I would love to have a picture of this, but you know her germy OCD dad would freak if we let her play in the toilet while I went to grab the camera!!!

So, from climbing on top of the kitchen table to playing in the toilet, I believe she will be a tom boy like how her Momma was!

Happy New Year!!!

I just wanted to wish you all a Happy New Year! I am sure that so many of you are busy today catching up on the lack of sleep from last night (I know that I am). We didn't get to bed until 3am. We had some friends over and we all stayed up talking. What were we thinking? We are all old and have kids that were up at the crack of dawn this morning. I am sure that we are all paying for it today.

I was going to share my New Year's resolutions!!

I vow to work out at the gym 3-4x a week--that is if it doesn't interfere with my social life or my sleep
I vow to eat healthier--that is if I'm not somewhere where they serve yummy food!! I mean healthy=no flavor!
I vow to take my vitamins everyday--that is if I remember!
I vow to keep my house clean all the time--when I have the energy to constantly clean, never resting because with 3 kids the more I clean, the more they mess things up.
I vow to lose weight--that is if I can keep the above resolutions!
I vow to spend more time with family--oh wait...I do that already
I vow to read more books and learn something new--that is, if I don't fall asleep while reading them before bed
I vow to get organized--that is if I can figure out where to start
I vow to quit smoking and drinking--just kidding yah...I don't do either! Just wanted to see if you were paying attention.

These have been listed as the top New Year's resolutions along with getting out of debt.

If you make resolutions and actually keep them, please let us all know how you do it! ;-)

I hope you have a wonderful new year!!!

My little gangster

I just had to share these pics of my little gangster! Ella came into my office this morning dressed like this. She seems to like her brothers' caps now. And she loves to put them on herself. And yes, she is the one that put it on backwards!! Bry and I cracked up at how our little princess. She may be little and petite, but trust me, she packs a big punch! She doesn't let anyone mess with her. And she rules her brothers! Of course, they adore her and pamper her and pretty much always let her have her way. Oh me...what the next few years hold!

My 3 little munchkins...

I attempted to take some pics of my kiddos in the new outfits my Aunt Wanda sent them for Christmas. They all looked so incredibly cute for church this past Sunday. Sunday morning however, was not a morning they wanted to have pictures made. Can you tell? They did pretty good, but not like they normally do. They normally ham it up for the camera. But then again...what mom tries to get pictures of her kids before running out the door for church? Timing is everything.

Remember, I have said that when I take pics of the kids together that the boys have this bad habit of wrapping their arms around Ella's neck! It drives her CRAZY! Not that you couldn't tell from the picture below.


Seriously, not another picture mom! We need to leave for church so that we have time to get our donut from Mr. Trevor!!

I said: "GET YOUR HANDS OFF OF ME!"

Hey, I think if we just look at mom and smile we can go now.

Finally, she is done taking pictures. Here we come donuts!!!