Howdy

Have I mentioned that I have a cowgirl?  

Did I also mention that an iphone has entered our life?  Oh, yes, my last post.  Okay, here's the thing, many of you have asked "what camera do you use?" and some have even wondered it a camera is stuck to my forehead.  (ha ha ha ha!)  Let me just say, the iphone just might be my worst addiction ever!  It is suuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuper easy and oh so much fun!  Richard's phone died.  It just might have been a first generation Blackberry (it was a 2005).  Anyway, it finally died (and I almost JUMPED FOR JOY!!).  Mr. Don't Spend A Penny, had to finally buy a new phone.  HOOAH! (seriously, I was this excited)

So he comes home with an iphone, not the new one, but an iphone none-the-less.  And ever since, Hanson Ellis and I have enjoyed it probably a little too much.  He said he's getting me one Tuesday.  (I promise I really wasn't trying to annoy him ... it just happened.)

I was sick all Thursday night.  Nasty sick, and this is very uncharacteristic of me.  I am so thankful for Hanson Ellis.  She totally manned my post all day with keeping everyone in line and functioning.  I made it through school with Patterson, but after that I laid down and didn't get up until last night when Patterson got sick and then early this morning Richard and I were woken up all too early with Kate next in the line up.  The iphone, as cheesy as it sounds, was such the pick me up.  I had fun trying out a new gadget that captured little sweet memories during our "recover and reboot" stage.  

So here's a quick roundup of the last 24 hours via images from the latest member of our family.

Our first cookie thief .. oh so easily caught with her hand in the cookie jar thanks to the iphone:).

early morning coffee, book and time with Ellie cat while taking care of sick little girls

Ellie checking in on Kate ...

"Good Morning Olivia!" :)

Kate after her saying "I'm done being sick."  

Parker enjoying a little alone time with Patterson down for the count.

Looking for Kate, I find her curled up with her Clarice in her closet.  Sweet and sad at the same time!!

Patterson enjoying a little treat bought by her sister Parker as a "get well surprise."

Big girls (and healthy girls) enjoying the backyard and the new zip-line their Daddy installed yesterday.

So there you have it.  My first weekend with an iphone.  It was a good one and I am so thankful God made smart people who make amazing products that make life so much more fun.

Blessings to you all!

I Might Be The Last

Richard just got an iphone and I'll be a proud owner of one very soon, too!  I just might be the last person alive to have a smart phone.  That's okay.  I think we were the last people to get a microwave and a color t.v. growing up.

Maybe I'm just continuing the trend:).

Hope you all are having a wonderful weekend.  The weather is amazing here.  High of 75 expected tomorrow.  What???!!!  I'm so ready.

 

Spring Preview

(doors open)

There was a high of 70 today and there was an amazing breeze to go along with it.  After lunch, the girls and I headed outside.

Olivia rode her bike for the first time by herself.  Super sweet!!  But even sweeter was when she realized what she was doing.  "I ride my bike!"  Absolutely does.not.get.better.than.this.

A friend asked me on FB if I had a camera attached to my forehead:).  No, but boy I can sprint to my room to grab it when I see that I need it!!  Thank you Laura for the very kind words.  Richard is the one who started me on all of this, and yet I'm not so sure he even pays attention.  Oh, well:).

Yes, today was a perfect little preview of Spring.  We are all so very ready for a new season.  In more ways than one!

Enjoy ...

(flowers from our sister) 

(hot enough to need our water)

(flowers in our hair)

(bike rides)

(unhealthy leaves that we think are pretty)

(and learning to put on)

(and to take off ... and that would be dead grass on my floor, btw ... one of the "plusses" of children able to go outside!)

(new buds on my hydrangeas)

(wind in my sweet little miss's hair)

 

(hilariousness as Kate tries to get on Hanson Ellis's back and then Hanson Ellis attempting to stand up once she's on!)

(and I think we're at 623 on the jumps ... just so we could say we jumped more than the boy down the street ... you know, it was for a good cause:)!)

And last, but definitely not least, if you'll look over at my Praying for Our Troops list, you'll notice that MAJ Lewis is, as of today, home again with Lorrie and their kids.  We are all praising God for this reunion!  Tears well up in my eyes as I know all too well the range of amazing emotions going on right now. So, so wonderful!

Welcome Home Jeremy!

To God be the Glory!

Why Preschool Is a Good Thing

It is Winter Break here in Georgia.  We've taken a little break the first part of this week in order to catch up on some projects around the house.  Today was our first attempt at a full school day this week.  It is not that easy to manage the little ones while teaching the older ones.  At least not for me.  I feel like I'm constanly repeating myself.  I'm either repeating what I've asked one of the older ones to do or I'm repeating what I've just taught them because the little ones are singing on the fireplace (their stage) or riding tricycles through the house or having a very loud and lively discussion (as only a 2 & 4 year old can).  OR I'm repeating picking up, cleaning up or even getting little people dressed.  (and let's not forget  repeating rescuing them from danger ...)

Preschool is a good thing for us over here at 57.  We would all surely go crazy and never learn anything if it were not for it!

New Glasses

I have just one photo on my desk.  This is it.  

It is Parker on the ottoman in our living room in Monterey, California.  Parker was a good baby.  She slept all the time.  We, on the other hand, never slept for fear that she was going to wake up.  Oh, the irony!  

Parker has always been our daughter to be off by herself doing her own thing.  Sometimes I wonder what she's up to.  Today I walked into her room and saw this.

My own cheering squad!  And look, I even won a couple of trophies:). 

I had to laugh, you know I did.  I have no idea what she was doing, but it boosted my esteem for sure! 

Parker got new glasses today.  I wish I could have had a camera to record her feet dangling and kicking as the pharmacist tried the glasses on her face.  She was so thrilled!!  It is rare that we see the cuteness of Parker's heart.  She is holds everything inside.  Very quiet.  Very reserved.  She's just going to be our late bloomer.  I get so frustrated at her lack of confidence.  

She is just like me.  

But then I know that just like me, she'll be just fine.  

Seeing her so openly happy today was sweetness in every way.

She can just be the cutest thing.  

Every now and then I see her.  Hmmmm, it is wonderful.  I am thankful for such a priceless moment. 

True joy in the trenches.