My fav little man is 2

This may come as a shock to many of you, but I absolutely adore my nephew! I love Noah. He is super sweet and is so much fun. I love that he loves my girls, and they couldn't love him any more than they do. He and Brian have a special bond which is so sweet! Noah celebrated his 2nd birthday on Saturday, April 10th. He had his playgroup friends and friends from church and all sorts of friends! We had so much fun. His party was an "anything on wheels" party. The kids all brought their favorite ride-on toys and had a blast.

Ellie hung out at the CFLC desk until she felt comfortable being around the crowd. :)

The Birthday Boy - I couldn't get him to stop and let me take a picture. He was having way too much fun!

Mollie and Kelsey deep in conversation.

Kelsey gave in to Mollie's begging and got into the bouncer with them.

Annie discovered the girls' Cozy Coupe.

Noah blowing out his candle. This was before he had a drool drip drop from his mouth. Fortunately, I was able to catch most of it before it hit the cookie. ha!

Mollie showing off her blue tongue.

Noah was thrilled with all his new Toy Story toys.

After the party, the cousins decided to play a little ping pong. Noah and Mollie took on Ellie.

Ellie playing with the little guys.

Again? I mean really!

If you read my blog or if you know my Mollie, you know that things are never boring with her. There's always something, or at least it seems like that. She has the most amazing spunk, and the most incredible personality. However, there are days that it seems like these blessings and talents are used for evil rather than for good.

On Good Friday after we returned home from the egg drop and from dinner with the fam, Ellie and Mollie jumped out of the car, I took Annie upstairs and put her to bed and I went back to the car to grab the bags. In that very, very short time, Mollie cut her hair. When I came back inside, she said, "I had a tangle, so I cut it out." I have to admit that I didn't really listen to Mollie. I heard her, but for some reason, it didn't dawn on me what she was saying. A few minutes later, I walked the kitchen and looked on the floor. There was a small pile of M's hair. It was about 3-4 inches long. I asked her what she did. She said, I got the scissors and cut out my tangle. Oh, my stars!!! She used the big scissors. Yikes!! I put the hair in a Ziploc so that we can always remember.

Well fast forward a week, I left the kids for a few minutes with Brian, so that I could run return an outfit to Belk. I also ran to Old Navy where I found perfect clothes for Ellie and by my parents to drop off gifts for a shower. While I was there, Brian called and asked when I was coming home. I honestly blew the call off and figured he was tired of being in charge. Well.....here's why he called........

While Brian was on the computer in the kitchen, Mollie was really busy. She found a Fooby red marker and went to town.

It took until Saturday evening AFTER her bath to get most of the ink off of her. I tried using water & a washcloth, baby wipe, nail polish remover, alcohol...nothing worked!!! I guess she is now no worse for the wear! ha! I still can't believe that she colored between her toes and on top of the big scratch on her leg. Oh my stars! I hope that someday she'll learn that this is not a good idea. Until then, I'll brace myself for what she has up her sleeve next. Yikes!

Missing my friend

Two weeks ago Thursday, I sat down to work on my blog, my outlet, my avenue to be creative and write. I had just logged onto the computer when I got THE phone call. Let me back up.

In June before I entered the 7th grade (I'm pretty sure it was this year), I went with our youth group to New Life Ranch in Colcord, Oklahoma. It was a beautiful place. I was thrilled to be there, but I was very homesick. You see I was a big homebody who need to have her mama near her. (somethings never change - ha!) Anyway by what what I've decided was nothing short of God's grace, the chaperone with our room was Nadyne Swaffer our youth secretary. She was fabulous and exactly what I needed. Bless her heart! She put up with me and tons of teenagers for several years as we went to camp and on mission trips. She was always so sweet and had a kind word.

Fast forward a few years and Nadyne and I kept the baby room on Wednesday nights during choir. We had a great time visiting with each other and taking care of the tiny angels at church.

A few years later, Nadyne became the receptionist at our church. As Bro. Jim said, she was the voice of our church as she answered the phones and took care of everyone. In November 2009, she was diagnosed with lung cancer. I don't think I'll ever forget the moment the call came from her husband Mr. Jim that the tests didn't look good. I remember Cherie and I looking at each other and the tears beginning. A week or two later, she took a leave of absence from work. She'd come in a couple of times a week to take care of a few things and answer questions. My mama and our friend DeAnn had been filling in for her.

The discussion had begun as to when Nadyne would be up for coming back to work. She filled in one Friday. There she was back at her desk. Then on April 8th, Nadyne lost her battle with cancer. I guess she really didn't lose it. In our eyes and our hearts, she did. In reality, she overcame it all when Jesus called her home. He really gave her a special gift. He gave her her voice back, gave her her health and reunited her with a baby she had lost years ago.

Through all of this, I have been reminded just how short our time on earth really is. I miss her so much. She was my friend and my co-worker; yet she was a huge part of my life. I think Ellie said it best. When asked in Sunday School about Jesus' resurrection, she said that Jesus rose from the dead after 3 days and that He was in heaven and Nadyne was there too waiting for us.

DeAnn found the following poem in Nadyne's desk last week when she cleaned it out.

Miss Me - But Let Me Go

When I come to the end of the road
And the sun has set for me
Remember I have no more pain, and
The Master I will see.

Miss me a little - but not too long
And not with your head bowed low
Remember the love that we once shared
Miss me - but let me go.

For this a journey that we all must take
And each must go alone
It's all a part of the Master's plan
A step on the road to home.

When you are lonely and sick of heart
Go to the friends we know
And bury your sorrows in doing good deeds
Miss me - but let me go.


Thanks for letting me share.

Easter 2010

This is what feels like the 50th time I have tried to finish my post on Easter!! I should have had it finished way sooner, but life just kept getting in the way. So frustrating. So, here's what we did to celebrate Jesus' death, burial and resurrection.

We began Easter weekend by heading to Operation Egg Drop hosted by our church. Our original plan was to have our traditional Easter egg hunt on the church grounds. Then, one of our staff members joked about hiring a helicopter to drop the eggs. Well, this developed into Operation Egg Drop. About 24 hours before the drop, we had to move it from the church to ABHS' football field. What a blessing that we did this. We can account for 1,500 people being there!! I have to say that it was incredibly exciting to watch the helicopter fly over and drop the eggs. You should have seen the kids rush the field! We have already been working on plans for next year. We'll do things quite a bit differently. :)

Mollie was so excited about the egg drop. We had to stop at Kroger on the way. While we were there she picked out her pink felt Easter bucket and a yellow one for Annie. Not my first choice, but she was elated.

Mollie and her Dunna

Noah and Mandy after the drop. Noah wasn't so sure about everything especially after I scooped him up and took off running for the eggs. I had to maneuver us into a pile of kids to get 4 eggs. It was crazy!!

Ellie was so excited!!



Annie wasn't quite sure what to think.

The Drop

Friday night after the drop, we all met up at my parents for dinner. After we ate, we were all visiting when Mandy said something about Annie standing up to the table. She asked me if I sat her there. I said no. Annie had pulled up for the first time! It was so very exciting!! Saturday afternoon we got back together to dye Easter eggs. What fun!!!! Noah and Mollie were super excited - so much so that Noah accidentally tumped a cup of egg dye in his lap and Mollie did the same thing!! It was funny. :)

Annie showing off her new trick.

Mandy and Noah dying the first egg and before he was banished to the high chair after pouring egg dye on himself. Mimi was the heroine after she got his shorts all cleaned up.

Brian and Mollie dying her first egg and before she poured egg dye on herself

Poor Noah....but he was a good sport. Isn't he cute!??!?

Annie hung out in the other high chair. Fortunately, she was just happy to be there!

Doesn't Brian look guilty? He kept breaking eggs so that he could eat them. Hmmm. Not nice. :)

Kelsey and the Kiddos - yes, Mollie was anti-pictures at this point

Micah and Kelsey

Me and Brian

Ellie, Mimi and Annie dying Easter eggs.

After we finished our eggs, we headed outside to build bunny nests. This is a tradition that my grandmother had when she was little, and she did it with us when we were growing up. You pick a spot, build a nest and check back on Easter to see what the Easter bunny brought! :)

Cousins! Annie, Ellie, Mollie and Noah

Annie and Kelsey!

Noah, Mollie and Ellie collecting stuff to use to build their nests.

The bunny nests complete with carrots

Easter morning we took our time getting ready. The girls were thrilled to wake up and find their baskets full of special treats!! The first basket was Brian's. Every year, I try to get him a little special treat and a bag of Snickers. Oops! I mean the Bunny gets it. :)

The baskets! The orange one is Brian's. :)

What Mollie? The Bunny brought you lip gloss? What was he thinking?

Mollie and Ellie checking out what the Easter Bunny left

Mollie and Daddy - don't think he was ready for E to take this pic!

Annie was all about her Easter basket.

After Easter worship at our church, we headed to Brian's parents for lunch and to hunt Easter eggs. The girls had a great time!

Our little family!

Mollie, Ellie and Annie with Nannie and PawPaw

Hunting eggs at Nannie and Pawpaw's house.

After we left Nannie and PawPaw's house, we headed home for a much-needed nap! After we slept and recharged our batteries, we headed to Mimi and Papa Jim's to see what the Bunny left in the nests we built the afternoon before.

The bunny was very good to A, E and M!

Mollie and Ellie checking out the loot in their bunny nests.

Annie fell in love with her very own Winnie the Pooh! She figured this Easter basket thing out very quickly!

Mollie loves play-doh!! She was thrilled to find it in her basket.

Ellie loved the play-doh in her basket at Mimi and Papa Jim's.

What happens when carrots are left on the table

So, the other night while we were waiting for Brian to get home from Dallas I ran down to the den to pick up the kids' mess from the afternoon. I left Annie up in the kitchen, safely in her walker. I thought there wasn't anything she could get into. I guess I was wrong. I piled some things on the stairs, ran up a couple of stairs to put something in the kitchen and this is what I found....
That's the jar of carrots in her hand. The jar HAD been on the kitchen table. This girl has some kind of reach!!

At least, she enjoyed herself! Ha!

Branching Out

About a month ago, the big girls went outside to play after school. I was busy taking care of a few things before I headed to a women's conference with some ladies from church. They came inside and said something about talking to the little boy who lives behind us. I noticed that Mollie was down in the yard while Ellie was on the deck. When Mollie came inside, Ellie went down in the yard. Before long, this is what I discovered in the backyard.....


It's hard to see, but our little neighbor was in the tree. He climbed the tree in his yard to talk to Ellie. For over 3 hours, they were like this. About the time I left to head to Paron for the retreat, we realized that Serenity, a friend of Ellie's from school, and another little girl were in the backyard. Before long, the little girl who lives next door was over too. The kids who live behind us were talking to the kids as well. It all turned into a big afternoon play date! We have been really proud of Ellie. She is painfully shy. However, she loves talking to the little boy who lives behind us. At least now Ellie knows it's good to Branch Out!

My baby is 3!

Three years ago we welcomed a tiny bundle of joy into our growing family. In the last three years, she has grown into a petite little girl who is full of life, loves to laugh and is ready to conquer the world! She is reserved when she meets new people, but it doesn't take her long to make new friends. She is one of those kids who is loved by everyone! She has tons of friends and is so much fun! She makes us laugh, and she tries my patience beyond belief. However, I would not change her for the world. I can't wait to see what God has in store for this precious girl. I know it's going to be a great adventure!

As always, Mollie's birthday lasted over several days. We began the festivities with a party at the Segars. Since they were heading to San Antonio for spring break, Tammy had us over for dinner and a birthday celebration. I took pictures, but there was a little bit of jealousy floating around our house. Ellie decided that she had had enough of it just being "Mollie, Mollie, Mollie," so she decided to delete all the pictures on my camera. Fortunately for Ellie, I didn't lose it and Brian and Mandy had taken pictures. Oh, sisters!

Mollie's "Friend Party" was at our church. We had the bistro area decorated with purple balloons and a Hannah Montana table cloth on the food table. We had Hannah Montana cupcakes decorated with pink, blue and white icing. The kids played in our church's indoor playground and on our bouncer that we had set up in the gym. They also "played" basketball. They had the best time. Because M's party was during spring break, there were several of her friends who weren't able to come. However, Mollie was pleased; and that is all that matters!

The Birthday Girl

Kelsey helped Mollie try to make a basket.

Mollie had a blast playing basketball with Noah.

Mollie was excited to have juice boxes - her favorite.

Not sure why this is sideways but this was just after Mollie blew out her candles.

Nannie, Brian's mom, and Mimi , my mama, helped dish up the ice cream.

My friend Chrissy was super sweet to sit her her girls Kayla and Katie as well as Elijah and Natalie.

Noah, Haven, Mollie and Bailey enjoying their cupcakes.

Unfortunately, Noah got a little freezie headache.

Papa Jim was on Annie duty.

Mollie enjoyed her cupcake so much that she got pink icing EVERYWHERE!

Mollie was thrilled with the make-up that Miss Susan and Colby got her!

She also got a Spiderman from Micah. We all laughed but that was what she asked him to get her!

PawPaw and Nannie before they had to leave to head to Fayette to see Brian's Mamaw.

Mollie's final celebration was lunch with my family at Mimi and Papa Jim's house. As is our tradition, we all get together for a special birthday lunch after church. Mollie was so excited! We were sad though that Caleb and Stephanie couldn't be home. They had been home the weekend before for Annie's dedication at church. Kelsey and Micah were home which was wonderful.

Mollie blew out her candles quickly before Noah and Ellie could do it. The three of them like to blow out each other's candles. It's hilarious!

Annie and Dunna (aka Aunt Kelsey)

Noah decided to sit with Brian while he ate his cake and ice cream.

She was very excited about the hairdresser chair that she got from us.

She also liked her new Batman. Yes, she asked for Batman to go with her Spiderman - of course!

Mollie was thrilled with her tea set from Noah, Mandy & Josh.

Mollie loved her Princess and the Frog doll - it changes from a princess to a frog.

Mollie opening her present from Mimi and Papa Jim - new clothes for her American Girl Doll, Molly.

Mollie opening her present from Mom and Papa!

Mollie loved her new baby doll bed that Mom and Papa gave her! It was perfect!