Grooming please...

We went to the zoo yesterday.  Clearly, this poor guy is in need of a few good friends...

Gardening 101...again

Our attempt at gardening has been less than stellar.  It all started out so beautifully.  We labeled our pots, planted our seeds, watered them and watched for the miracle of life to begin to poke its green little noggin out of the soil.  We were not disappointed, several days after planting our seeds, shoots began to appear.  It was very exciting around our place as we watched for new plants daily.  They seemed to be doing so well.  

However, as they grew, it became apparent something was not right.  They all had a few leaves up top and a long, leggy stem, but not much substance.  Our sweet neighbor agreed to water them while we were out of town, but was quick to point out when I delivered the "crop" to her place, she thought we need to just go ahead and buy starter plants.  However, I had hope...

When we came home, this was what we found.  

Our neighbor felt horrible.  She'd even tried to tie some of the little plants to stakes to help them survive...so sweet, but to no avail.  I've debated whether or not I should go ahead and try again, but I do believe I'm going to go ahead and buy some starter plants, at least for the veggies.  However, we may just plant our flower seeds out in the yard and see what happens...

Baby Boy...

You've gotta' love this...

and these...

Birthday Me...

This is the day we had a birthday...well, actually, yesterday was the day, but today's the day I'm going to blog about it.  Our daughter turned two.  We've been singing "Birthday me, birthday me..." for weeks, but yesterday was her birthday, as well as her party.  Truth is, I don't really know what to say.

We've had such fun getting ready to turn "doo", but it's been kind of bittersweet.  Seriously, it seems like yesterday we were counting fingers and toes at the hospital.  And look at that precious little girl.  They were perfect fingers and toes...still are, if I do say so myself!

At any rate, yesterday we woke up, rejoicing in the amazing day the Lord had made and we had a party.  A few of our friends came to celebrate with us and we all had such fun.

We decorated bags and hunted Easter eggs...

We played with giant bouncy balls...

And of course opened presents...

There was sidewalk chalk, a b-b-q and cake (and for the birthday girl, strawberries).  There was however, no blowing out of candles, 1) the wind was pretty steady all afternoon and the candles wouldn't stay lit, 2) we had an unfortunate incident earlier at a party with Grammy and Poppy that included hot wax and chubby little fingers.  There was a definite aversion to candle lighting during the party.

So, as I said, bittersweet...it's such fun watching this precious gift from the Father grow.  She's changing so much, each and every day it seems.  She has always loved being read to and now, she loves to read.  She sings, all the time, songs she's sung with Mommy and Daddy and now songs she's made up herself.  She tells Bible stories, her favorite is the story of Joshua and the battle of Jericho.  She helps fold clothes (or unfold them, as it may be) and puts them away in her room.  She's pottying in the potty, most of the time.  She loves, loves, loves her baby brother, playing with him, reading to him and helping with his bath.   

How we love watching God at work in her.  What a joy the last two years have been.  We absolutely cannot wait to see what God has in store.

Joshua James

Before becoming a mommy I was an aunt, for six years I was an aunt to the most incredible kids, Joshua, Caleb, Makayla, David and Kaitlyn. Seriously, the most incredible!!!

Joshua, my oldest nephew, and my daughter's absolute favorite boy ever, well besides her daddy and her brother, has been on my mind today.  He was the first "baby" to be born to our family.  Wow, how we loved him...how we love him.  I remember when I heard he'd been born and he and his mama (my precious sister) were both doing great.  I just cried and cried.  I loved him so much I could hardly stand it, and I hadn't even met him.  

AND now...he's nine years old, yep, nine.  Unbelievable.  

I remember when Josh was two.  My sister and her family came to Mom and Dad's for Christmas.  We walked into church on Christmas Eve, he saw the manger at the front of the church and said, "Look, it's Baby Jesus."  Sure enough, Josh, baby Jesus.  Not long after that Josh wrote his first song...The Holy Ghost, the Holy Ghost is always with you, the Holy Ghost.

How he delights the heart of our Father.

I was not only the last in my family to have kids, I was also the last to get married.  As a single gal I was able to visit my family frequently and I was able to spend lots of time with my nieces and nephews.  We did all sorts of things together.  

When I'd stay with Josh and his family early each morning he'd come get in bed with me. We'd talk about a myriad of topics and sit and do our quiet times.  We built forts, played "I spy with my little eye", made french toast for breakfast...  

One day, when Josh was five or six, he and I went to the grocery store.  "Aunt Mo, are you one of those, ladies who wear the dresses and those things on their heads and work at the church?"  "A nun?"  "Yes.  Are you a nun?"  "No Josh, I'm not a nun.  Why?"  "Well, you're not married and you serve God with your whole life..."  Yes, of course, it makes perfect sense.

Last time I was out to visit Josh reminded me of our times together..."Aunt Mo, remember when you used to be alone and you'd stay with us when you came?"  Ah, yes, I vaguely remember when I was alone.  It seems like it's been a hundred years ago, but Josh, I do remember.  I remember sweet, sweet times with you.  What a blessed aunt I am.

May 2006

August 2007

July 2008

December 2008

Learning...

Seriously, when did I decide it was prudent to allow my toddler determine whether or not she needed to visit the potty?  Every time I let her talk me out of sitting on the potty and "trying" I regret it.  EVERY stinkin' time!!  It's a process...there's so much for Mommy to learn!!

We went to the zoo this weekend, always a favorite.  The flamingos, normally very sedentary, were performing some sort of group song and dance, quite an entertaining production.

Our littlest was simply along for the ride.  He enjoyed the breeze, the sounds and his thumb. Good stuff for a little guy!!