Friends helping Friends

This past Saturday Stephen and Andrew were out in the yard working on the ditch that separates our two houses. Our builder, who is such a smart man (HA HA), did not have a clue when he built our houses. When the water runs through the ditch it overflows into Andrew and Michelle's yard which washes away the underground fence for their dogs. So one night last week Andrew was shoveling dirt and Stephen told him to wait and let him bring the tractor home and they would finish (without the back breaking work). It is so nice to have such great neighbors that we can actually trust and help each other out in situations such as these.

While the men were diligently working to beat the rain clouds that were quickly approaching, Hunter and Toby were enjoying a little water shower themselves. Michelle was watering the flowers (that are still alive!) on her porch, the boys looked a little warm in this Georgia heat and Michelle gave them a good cool down. It was so much fun watching the boys run, laugh, and get cooled off as well. Must I mention, it was also fun to see our husbands working and breaking a sweat...they are so handsome! Michelle and I mention all of the time how lucky we are to have such good looking husbands, but most of all who love their families and work so hard so that we can stay home and take care of our children.

I love to see the boys playing together and most of all to hear the sound of laughter. There is nothing better than to hear the sound of children laughing!

My 8, tagged by Ashley

8 Things I am looking forward to:

1. Taking a family vacation to Disney World
2. My last week of school next week
3. Having people over at the pool this summer
4. Watching my kids play sports
5. Seeing the joy and sparkle in my children's eyes
6. Graduating and becoming a R.N.
7. Having a niece that I can spend time with
8. Living happily ever after with my husband

8 Things I did yesterday

1. Went to school
2. Gave a small speech in front of my class
3. Washed clothes
4. Took a nap
5. Ate strawberries with Hunter and laughed at who got the last one
6. Played cards with my parents
7. Tried to teach Michelle how to play cards
8. Snuggled in bed with my boys

8 Things I wish I could do

1. Make everyone happy
2. Win the lottery
3. Make better grades in school
4. Know that my kids will always be healthy and happy
5. Bring world peace
6. Swim with the dolphins
7. Find my husband a job that he enjoys
8. Bring my family closer together...both sides

8 Shows I watch

1. Dancing with the Stars
2. Grey's Anatomy
3. House Hunter's
4. The news
5. Trauma life in the E.R.
6. The bachelor/bachelorette
7. Anything on HGTV
8. ?

And I tag Michelle

Never to old for love

Yesterday my neighbor Michelle and I went to a couple of yard sales and must I mention...we got some really good deals. Well, we hit the jackpot at a scrapbook yard sale. The ad made it sound like this yard sale was going to be really good and have a lot of stuff. Michelle and I arrived at the store at 9:00a.m. and they were closed and not expected to open until 10:00. We were not happy campers so we decided to wasted some time that we would go grab some breakfast at McDonald's. I need to mention that Michelle has been on a strict diet for 2 weeks and has lost 8 pounds (YEAH Michelle!) One day a week she is allowed to eat what ever she wants so Saturday was her cheat day. After enjoying our breakfast and chatting for a few minutes we were ready for some bargains. As we left there was a couple maybe in their 70's sitting by the door at McDonald's eating their breakfast, smiling, and sitting on the same side of the table. Michelle told them how cute they were sitting on the same side of the table and I could not help to think to myself after all of these years they are still in love. How wonderful is it to see older adults still in love as they are? They are truly a perfect example to they younger generation that you are never to old to love each other. I would love to have sat down with them to get their story.

All of my grandparents are deceased except for my Daddy's Mother, we call her Grandma Guild. She is a woman of God and a beautiful lady I must add, at the age of 92. She still lives in the same house that she shared with my Grandfather until he passed in the early 90's and they were married for over 50 years. She lives in New York and I do not get to see her as often as I would like to, and I miss her dearly. As a matter of fact I miss all of my grandparents and would love to see them. If you are lucky enough to have your grandparents around still, call them often, maybe daily and tell them how much they are loved. You never know what you have until they are gone.

I did want to tell you about the awesome deals that we received when we went back to the scrapbook store though. We really hit the jackpot. When we first arrived we chuckled at the prices being so expensive and there was not a lot to choose from. As we were getting ready to leave this lady starts bringing in boxes and boxes full of items and the shopping began. She had Stampin Up stamp sets as low as $2. Pretty soon Michelle and I walked out of there singing victory, if we were not in public I'm sure we would have been doing our victory dance.
I'm sure that Michelle feels the same as I do about our experience. We might have gotten some really good deals on scrapbook items, we learned a really good lesson with the older adults at McDonald's. That alone beats any materialistic deal that we could have ever received. Love your spouse every day with all of your heart because you never know who is learning from watching you!

Spring Break

The boys were out on Spring Break the weak before Easter, but unfortunately Brittaney and I still had school. On Thursday my class was cancelled due to my professor being involved in a car accident. It was a beautiful day and I wanted to do something outside so the boys and I headed to Noah's Ark, which is a rehabilitation center for animals, and we had a really good time. Brittaney was not able to attend because she still had school and we missed her very much.

On Friday the weather was nasty and rainy so Stephen could not work therefore he was here with the boys and I went on to school. When I came home we decided to check Brittaney out of school and everyone went bowling. Stephen and I sat back and watched the kids bowl. We took our adopted son Austin and his uncle Colton with us so there were six kids bowling. It was so much fun watching the kids compete with each other and the boys bowling Britt's turn when she was not looking. There is never a dull moment when all of us get together.

Hunter wanted to relax with Daddy while he waited on his turn.

At the end of our 2 hour session of bowling Brian and Brittaney wanted to trade shoes. I had a hard time deciding which shoes looked best with which outfit, can you help me out?

Happy Easter

Happy Easter! May we remember the real meaning of Easter! Our Lord Jesus Christ is risen!

Angels in April

Sunday was the annual Angels in April picnic at Spalding Regional Hospital. This event is a picnic that the hospital puts together every year as a reunion for babies that spent extra time in the nursery and to remember those who did not make it. This year was our 5Th year attending and it is always so much fun to go every year and see the nurses and staff who took care of Hunter after he was born. There is always something new every year. This year they had two clowns who painted the children's faces and even some adult faces as well. There are games, popcorn, inflatable slide and good food.

I really enjoy going back every year to see the angels as they continue to grow knowing the difficult challenges each and every one of them had to overcome at birth. At the end of the picnic they share a DVD of the angels and everyone leaves with a copy. I thought that every year would get easier and I would not cry as much as the year before, but the memories are always there and I cry more and more. Hunter is 4 years old now and I still find myself crying when I share the story of his birth with anyone. It is amazing that I was able to conceive, much less everything that that little innocent baby went through when he was born. He will always be my miracle baby (in more ways than one) and I love to share the story of his birth as long as you do not mind the tears.

I am so thankful for all of the caretakers in the nursery and post partum floor who were so kind and gentle with our family. Everyday they would love my baby and help me with the heart wrenching emotions that I would experience because I could not hold my baby like every mother wishes for. Then when it came time to leave the hospital after my stay...without my baby, holding my pillow, as they wheeled me out to the car in place of my sweet angel... they

encouraged me to call or come by at anytime. Stephen had to go back to work and thank God I had my sister in law Ash to carry me to the hospital and take me shopping after three weeks of bed rest. The staff at the hospital were absolutely amazing and it is because of them and my childbirth experience that I'm in school now working on my R.N. Thank you Spalding Regional and thank you Hunter for being everything I have ever dreamed of and wanted, I love you more than words will ever be able to speak!

This weekend has been really busy. Friday night Brian went to prom and had a really good time. He and his girlfriend Jessie have been together almost a year and they went to prom together this year. I must say they both looked great! We took a lot of photos...well my sister in law took a lot of photos and they turned out beautifully. They had dinner at the new Japanese steakhouse in Griffin and then it was on to prom. Jessie is a senior this year so Brian wanted to go all out for her and I think that he did a great job. After prom they went cosmic bowling and then to IHOP to eat. They partied all night and had a great time.



Saturday was Hunter's first tee ball game and he really played well. He had his own cheering section because his Grandaddy, Noni, Paw Paw, Maw, Trevor, and 3 of his favorite cousins came. He was so happy to see everyone there. Daddy was able to take some really good pictures of Hunter in action. Brian is helping coach Hunter's team and after staying out all night he did not want to wake up this morning for the game. Hunter said to him "come on Bubba you my coach". It was really sweet, Hunter loves that his brother is his coach. Stephen and I were really proud of Hunter he played the entire game. Stephen only had to tell him one time to put on his glove. Hunter played center field and I guess he was a little bored and wanted to play so he took off his glove and played in the grass for a minute until Daddy spoke to him. I have to say so far baseball is so much better at keeping his attention than basketball. And he looks really cute in his uniform

Tomorrow is the annual Angels in April picnic. Spalding Regional Hospital puts together this picnic every year and celebrates the lives of all of the Angels who spent time in the NICU and to remember the Angels who did not make it. This will be our 5Th year going and it is something that Hunter actually looks forward to now that he is older and he understands what the meaning is about. I really enjoy going back the hospital to see all of the nurse's and doctors who took care of us during our stay in the hospital. If it were not for our experience 4 years ago when Hunter came into the world I would not be going to school to be a R.N.