Josiah turned 4 ... at the Zoo!

The most adorable animal in the entire zoo!

The prettiest animal in the zoo!

This was the best habitat.

The gator was sharing his space with at least 2 snakes and a BUNCH of turtles!

We had a great day! We walked around the zoo and then had a picnic at the park just outside of the zoo. The park is at least as much fun as the zoo! It was in the 90's so we kept cooling everybody off. McKenna loved sitting on the table helping us eat our sandwiches and chips!

What a great day!

I love it when we make memories together!

Happy Mother's Day...

McKenna loves playing with Daddy and posing for the camara!

I can't believe that next weekend she will be 8 months old already!
She loves playing with her "big girl toys!"

Relaxing in her first hotel room with her favorite big brother!

Playing with her best bud!

Some of our amazing hosts in Pensacola!

Our new friend Ms. Dorothy and David Eells!

Chris and I are very blessed to have our Mom's! We love you guys very much! We can't wait to be closer to you both. We thought you might like a little photographic update.

Happy Birthday to Chris' Dad!

Wish we had pictures of all of you with the kids!

My "Blessing", My "Sonshine", and My "Miracle"

How much you grow and change each day!

My "Blessing" is holding things, putting them in her mouth, rolling over, and beginning to laugh!

Oh, and working so hard to sit up on her own!

I hear the dryer door shut and I head in to find out what my "Sonshine" has put in it

only to find...

What are we going to do with you, Mr. Sonshine?

Love you, of course!

Such a helpful big sister, my "Miracle". Always asking:

"Can I hold her?"

"Can I change her diaper?"

"Can I feed her?"

"Can I get her dressed?"

What do you know: Mommy and Miracle time!

I'm off to play Candy Land!

What a blessing to nurse each of my little ones! God gives Mommy's such keen ears to hear slight differences in breathing. Such amazing bonds he builds sometimes over time and sometimes instantaneously. How awesome is my God! He has given me the priveledge of being Mommy several times over!

Tot School

I think it is safe to say Josiah absolutely loves Tot School! ~not to mention having his picture taken! He wants me to read "cocoon" all the time and he loves to follow along with the book's predicatable pattern, counting what the caterpillar eats and of course the cocoon and butterfly parts! Our friend gave us a life cycle set for the caterpillar and that just makes him love the whole thing even more!

I am sorry I waited so long to start doing things like this with the kids! But you know what ...

that just means that the possibilities with the new baby are absolutely endless~!~~!

God is so good!

I am amazed at how pieces begin to come together when you are not even trying! Once you start doing this kind of thing you find materials all over the house. He loves to have me write "Aubrey" on anything and everything. He loves using magnets on cookie sheets. He wasn't too sure about the spagetti noodles in the parmesan (sp) cheese dispenser (an empty plastic seasoning container of any size with holes 1/8 of an inch wide or bigger may even work better).

The best parts of the whole process are his enthusiasm and Mia's joy at being able to teach him all kinds of new things.

Catch up...

Many days I think what can I post on my blog and draw a blank. Other times I know there is an event I want to post and don't get it posted right away. Today is no exception. I have wanted to post about the last horse show (last Sat.) and now that I download pics to the computer I have 10 things that should have already been blogged on. So here goes...

Josiah took 3rd in the 8 and under Assisted Barrels! He had a blast! He doesn't care which horse he is riding but today it was Patches!

We thank the Lord for protecting the 3 year old little girl who had just fallen off her pony minutes before he rode.

Josiah had fun all afternoon!



Mia is having fun riding in the cake walk or warm up time. (above and below)


Mia took 2nd place in the 8 and under Unassisted Barrels! She loves riding Popeye.


Mia (Popeye) and Chris (Blondy) are enjoying riding together!

Just because I love him and he looks so handsome in this pic!

Mom you have asked for pics to show you how tall the kids are. I took them probably six weeks ago and forgot to put them up for you.

A few weeks ago we had several days of severe thunder storms and as a result had a mighty rushing river through our backyard. When I looked to see just how mighty and rushing it was God had a surprise for me.

This beautiful crane (I think) was sitting at the edge of our property next to the lake. He just sat there for several hours. How beautiful God's creatures are.

Oh, and in case anyone doesn't know I figure that at almost 18 weeks its high time to say...

we're expecting!!!

You know your babies are growing up when...

They have to pose everytime you pick up your camara:

When they are sound asleep minus their previously ever present thumb:

Hair cuts... may not be perfect but they work.

Shaggy is how Josiah appeared to me this morning. With bangs hanging in his eyes and sides covering his ears it was definately time for a hair cut. Easier said than done considering his neck and ears are about the most ticklish I have ever seen.

So I got brave and got the clippers with combs of course and set to work.

Quit a while later and with a few wispies here and there this is the finished product.

Not too much the worse for wear if I do say so myself. How mature he looks (minus the sippy cup). Well, there he is my "son - shine."

Josiah! Such a big boy!

Josiah is doing well with his potty training! He knows where and when to go and what to do when he's done. He stands over the flushing toilet hands on the rim watching his accomplishment go down the tubes! Then we all (Mia, Josiah and I and sometimes Daddy) hoot and holler and clap and tell him what a good boy he is.

Now if we can figure out how to get him to do all of this when he has on more than his birthday suit.

What a week... full of blessings!

We have had a full week! Chris has had a full week! Praise God - he is picking up the hours at both of our jobs!!!! Mia has been waking up every morning for school even though she would rather go in a couple of hours later. Josiah and I have helped our friend move all week! Whew! I think she is almost done! Just 6 horses, 4 dogs and several cats and a few stray boxes and odds and ends to go!


The kids have worked awfully hard this week:

More importantly, the Lord carried my dad through his surgery and he should be coming home today. Wish they were here or we were there. Dad's going to be walking again in no time! Thank you Aunt Karen and Karen for being there for my Mom and Dad!


Josiah thinks he's ready for school too!

Computer Science, already!?!?!

Josiah...The Wonder Boy

Well Tim, boy were you right when you said the peace and quiet of having a girl was gone forever. And yet we love our adorable bouncing baby boy who grows leaps and bounds by the second more than we could ever imagine.

He has a never ending imagination that leads him in a million directions:

from dressing up in Mom's shoes:

playing with Mom's cooler for work:

cleaning up his own mess:

to driving:
the new trampoline:and here is our freshly trimmed handsome boy:

the object of his curiosity: "Saint"