Classic: Baby LOVES Water

Celebrate: Critterbug Turns 3!

Dakota You are a priceless gem.  You make our faces smile and our hearts beam.  You are a burst of energy, fun and sunshine.  You are a helper and a servant.  You are kind and compassionate.  You have a desire to learn and have your daddy's love of books.  You amaze us with your thoughts and insights.  You are tough yet gentle.  You are already questioning who Jesus is and that makes us thankful.  You love fruit snacks and gummy bears.  Your name means "Friend" and you are such a good one.  Thank you for the past 3 amazing years.  Thank you for teaching mommy and daddy to love in a new way.  Thank you for making us laugh so much and thank you for bringing tears of joy to our eyes so many times.  We love you.  We love you.  We love you. 

HAPPY 3rd Birthday!!

August 5, 2010

French toast with whipped cream and sprinkles!

We are so thankful that family could come in town to celebrate our little girl's 3rd birthday.  Now that we have more space we were able to have everybody spend the night with us in the house and it was so fun.  I so appreciate all of the help that was given to pulling off a fun "BUG BASH" and Dakota does too.  We went with a bug theme this year and it was really fun.  I don't know that I've ever seen a little girl more excited than when Dakota woke up from her nap and said, "Is it time for my birthday party now?" and we could finally say, "YES!"  She had been waiting for months for her celebration and we are so glad she had such a fun time with her friends.  The day ended with her coming up to me and hugging me and saying, "Thank you for my birthday party Mommy...Goodnight."  I love her thankful spirit.  She teaches me daily.

RHS Class of 2000 - Reunited

It's cliche but time sure has flown by!  I can't believe I just celebrated my 10 year high school reunion.  I loved high school.  Some people are glad to get out of high school and never look back.  I know at the time I was ready to go to college (especially because a certain boy was already there!) but I look back on my days at Riverside and miss some of the great times we had.  Here are some of the things I loved about high school:

Playing soccer almost everyday.  First Priority.  Giving the teachers a hard time (I know they enjoyed it too!).  Escorting my friends to and from school.  Socializing.  Before school breakfasts at Waffle House and Broadway Bagels.  BCBC youth group (choir tours, retreats, mission trips).

I wasn't going to attend my reunion because it's an 8 hour drive back home and the week prior I had the opportunity to re-roof a house for a lady with our church.  We weren't supposed to be done with the house until Friday so it seemed silly to drive home Saturday.  Once I realized we were going to finish the house on Thursday I started rethinking my idea.  I knew I would regret missing this reconnection with old friends (although thanks to Facebook I still keep in touch with my favorites) so I decided to make the trek across the mid-south with the kiddos for the weekend.  It was so great to see all of the people that walked through some of the hardest days of my life with me (losing mom my freshman year) and to hear about their kids and families and jobs.  I'm looking forward to the next one...maybe we'll have a 15?

I've added a few comparisons for you...enjoy!

1987 - Kindergarten at Creative World of Learning. 

I've known Rebecca Burns longer than anybody else at the reunion.  We have fun memories of slumber parties as little girls, eating cheese toast and my mom trying to calm her down so she'd actually stay the whole night :). 

So sad that Danielle and I didn't get a good picture together at the reunion.  Danielle became one of my best friends as we braved Doc Moser's Algebra I honors class and she prayed me through the loss of my mom.  She was my cohort in crime in Mrs. Hannah's biology class and is still such a precious friend to me.  Danielle and I carpooled for a good part of high school and it only seemed fitting for her and Will to pick me up on the way to the reunion.  Love you GB (only you are not really a GB any longer...what happened???).

These girls are such sweet friends.  Lindsay and Cindy and I played soccer together for many years.  Senior year of high school the four of us had Service Learning together.  Once a week we got to eat out for lunch and then head to a local nursing home.  Lauren and I headed to Clemson and continued our weekly meals.  By the time we graduated college all 4 of us were at Clemson and still tried to get together weekly for dinner.  In the past 6 years that I've lived in Memphis we have still tried to get together when I return to Greenville.

Couldn't leave you without a prom picture of me and Jacob!! :)

Dakota's Secret Pie Tips

Dakota wants to share her secrets to a great apple pie...

1)  Find random apple tree in yard.

2)  Have daddy help you pick them.

3)  Stuff apples in pockets.

4)  Pose with apples.

5)  Pose with apples again (with flash) so picture isn't blurry.

6)  Peel Apples.

7)  Pose with apples sprinkled in cinnamon and sugar.  Baking with your pants off is recommended.

8)  Bake in Oven.

9)  Enjoy with whipped cream...

...or neopolitan ice cream.

Still Alive!

We're still alive. We still don't have internet. So...I rely on McDonald's free wifi once every few weeks. If you can imagine I only have a limited time and lots to catch up on when I do get on. Be patient with me...don't stop following my blog because I promise I will be social again one day.

Things are going great though so no worries...I'm just technologically deficient at the time being :).

You're a Mess!

You're a Mess! You're a Mess!

You're a BIG, ol', Messy Mess!

From the North to the South to the East to the West,

Corban James...You're a REALLY Big Mess!

At 4 months, Corban switched to a 4 hour feeding schedule and started rice cereal. For all of those with babies, you can relate to the freedom you feel when you get that extra hour between feedings. We also got to start putting him to bed earlier because he no longer needs that last feeding. The cereal keeps him full longer so we can put him down around 9 and he sleeps until around 8 or 8:45. Corban seems to like his cereal but even after a month, he still makes funny faces with the first bite. I plan on making my baby food this go 'round because it kills me that 2 little packets cost $1 when I can get a whole bag of carrots for 79 cents! Right now our food processor is packed up but once we move this weekend I plan on pulling it out and making some yummy veggies for him. He has enjoyed banana several nights, I just mash it up and mix a little breast milk. He's also had applesauce (didn't make this...just bought a large jar of "no sugar added" because it is only apples and water) and peas one time. The peas tooks FOREVER to mash up without the food processor so I decided I wouldn't do that again until I have my f.p. but he actually really liked them. Anyway, enjoy these classic photos of a messy baby and his first foods! (And yes...my son really, really likes to smile)

February + March

Sorry to be so slack lately but between raising two kids, sewing up a storm for my little business, packing and normal, everyday chores...I just haven't had time to blog. Here are some fun pictures from the past 2 months. Life is great. We are happy. New house coming on Thursday...we are buying one, we didn't build (will blog about that next week when everything is final).

Isaiah came to play for a day. It was a nice taste of what having 3 kids could be like (although that won't be happening anytime soon!)

Gigi...thanks for the recorder. I especially love it when Corban is napping or mommy is on the phone.

My snowman is bigger than your snowman! :)

Dakota celebrated her 1/2 birthday with her buddy Sutton at Muddy's Bake Shop. Nothing beats a cupcake and milk for an afternoon treat.

I think this picture is cute because I caught Dakota with her stool pulled up to the bed "reading" to Corban one day when he was supposed to be napping. I was in the shower while this was taking place.

Stinkin' Cute

I think these kids are stinkin' cute and am really glad to claim them as mine. Dakota adores her baby brother...and if you get too close, she will remind you that he is HERS. She'll be 2.5 in a week and is still full of lots of energy, smiles and sometimes attitude. Corban just turned 3 months and he's full of smiles, squeals, and slobber. He's such an amazingly happy little guy. They are still wearing their Christmas pajamas because they are so warm and cozy.

A Little Business Venture

There seems to be a growing trend of crafty moms out there and I consider myself one of them. I've been hoping to start a little business venture for several years now but I have been putting it off. After the purchase of my super-duper-awesome sewing & embroidery machine this summer I decided I should put this dream(?) to fruition. I've been making gifts for people and my own children to practice and get used to my machine. I feel pretty good about the results of my recent projects and am ready to share with the rest of you. I'm still trying to work out the kinks...graphics, payment methods, website, etc. but I'm ready to take some orders.

So...check out my new website:

www.critterbugandcricket.blogspot.com

Over the next few days I hope to put examples of the things I have done so far (that I actually remembered to take pictures of...doh!) but I will continuously be adding new things that I make so check back often and please tell your friends!

Thanks Gigi and Papa!

(just turn your head sideways:))