Eight Years Ago...

Eight years ago in 2002...a really sweet wedding ceremony took place in the backyard of Brad's parents house. Lots of friends and family were there. My mom made the most wonderful cakes and the most beautiful floral decorations. Perry Lee cooked the best chicken and hamburgers. It was such a fun evening. The next day we flew out to a destination we still talk and reminise about today...Juneau, Alaska. We dream about what we will do when we return...

Lots has happened in eight years...we both became teachers/coaches at Mendenhall High.
Built a house, had a baby in 2003, another one in 2006, and another one in 2008...

We ventured in the world of chickens, built a man-shed, and a chicken barn. We love each and every moment we get to spend outside doing lot of "farm" things as a family.

Prayed about having a 4th baby. Thought are crew was complete. God had other plans in 2010 we got guardianship of Megan. Lots has happened in 8 years and I have loved sharing this adventure with this guy...can't wait to see what the future holds.

Destination Graduation

Our school district puts on on this huge graduation ceremony each start of the school year. We line up by grade and walk to track and they introduce each class and everyone cheers. It's to promote graduation...all I know is that it is always super H.O.T! Brad conveniently had a volleyball game at Dexter (where ever that is) on the night of our "special" event!

So here we are all are dressed in our "tiger gold" shirts...

Amy S. and Amy T. - so thankful for our friendship

My boys with the Tiger (sweet Katie). Toby was NOT thrilled with this photo session.

Toby was all over this playground that was really made for elementary kiddos.

Carson loved climbing all over this playground!

Gage-man was all over it too!

They have a super cool playground at our elementary...can't wait for my boys to go there.

Gage is at GG's

My middle little boy (Gage-man) is at GG and Top's tonight. I drove him down to H'burg this afternoon to meet my parents 1/2 way. GG did it up right...had him a Sprite in a new racecar sippy cup, gummy worms, and a new blue fuzzy pillow. They have big plans tomorrow...heading out on the ferry and exploring Ship Island. If you ask Gage he says "me and GG are going out on this huge boat to a cool island to find lots of treasures...maybe I'll find a sword or a cool gun." I can't wait to hear all of the adventures these 2 will be up to tomorrow. I'm loving their relationship...

Carson Henry

This boy is growin up! He is now in his 4th year at Magnolia Speech School and doing so great there. He loves his new teacher (Ms. Anna) and all his buddies are still the same as the last 2 yrs. He prefers to still stay on our farm...but is adjusting to school once again...ahhh...life!

He made a "homemade ramp"...(forget the real one Santa brought). I know he has riden his bike around our porch a million times just to go over the ramp.

Riding a big boy bike...

My BFF teacher friend...Amy told me tonight that she was going thru blog withdrawals because I have not posted in so long. To say that I've been busy would quite be the understatement. Brad and I have not spent a night together this week...kissed each other in passing. Seriously. If it's not Megan at cheer in H'burg, it's volleyball games, or another type of school function for one of the six of us. Crazy...but gotta love it. O and I just take it moment by moment to handle it all.

Ok...So....look who's a big boy now and riding a bike with no training wheels. He never started out on training wheels. He used Carson's "walk bike" with no petals on it and really learned balance. So when he would sale past us on the walk bike we informed him once he learned how to ride Carson's old bike we would take him to Wal-Mart to get one of his own.

He was soooo determined. He wanted to practice constantly. Brad is sooo good with this stuff. He made sure when he taught Gage that he also taught him how to start off himself instead of relying on us to start him each time...took a little longer but sure paid off in the long run.

He was so excited after about a week we informed him he was ready for a bike of his own. He picked out a lime green one with hot wheels on it. Even has a motorcycle like sound on one of the handle bars. Too cute and he is soooo proud of it. Brad took off a kick stand off an old bike and put it on his new one...that was a major request from Gage b/c wants to be big like Carson. O and only bike 20inch and up come with kick stands...go figure!

Toby & Bob the Builder

Toby is obsessed with his new friend, Bob the Builder, who he usually just watches on tv. But he had to sleep with him tonight. It was too funny b/c I was treating Bob as a real person and Toby was belly laughing so hard. I was giving Bob eskimo kisses and telling him not to teetee in the bed. I was asking Bob if "he could fix it?" and replying in his voice "yes I can." Toby was just cracking him. Brad missed it. I'm so sad he did b/c it was too funny and I hate it when he misses a funny moment with our boys b/c they are so precious to him so I had to take a picture. Ummmm gotta see if there is a Bob doll out there and I can totally see a Bob the Builder 3rd bday in February if this love continues between the 2 of them.

Red & Circles Week

Gage is loving him some 4K with Ms. Kristie at Shelia's Clubhouse. Each week they learn lots of new things. This past week it was all about red and circles.

He also learned the "red" song.

R-E-D red

R-E-D red

I can spell red

I can spell red

Firetrucks are red

Stop signs are too

R-E-D

R-E-D

Baseball Practice

Baseball practice. Toby just sat where ever we put him b/c he stumped his big toe on the aggregate concrete behind him. It was horrible. He would not let us put a bandaid on it. He just told us where he wanted to go that evening and we carried him there and he sat. But he refused to attempt to walk himself. It was sad. But obviously you can see he is not pain...as long as we were catering to him with all his needs of course. Milking it...

Gage was suppose to be running the bases...
This boy is good and very serious about it. Like the new red baseball helment...he spent the week with his Nana and Slick during the day (b/c Magnolia goes back a week later then the rest of us) and he persuaded them that he "needed" a baseball helment. It's amusing that he's wearing it in the picture b/c they were playing with a plastic bat and wiffle ball that evening.

This is our team's "all time pitcher." He's good at it too!

Toby needed a chance with the helment too!

Rainbow

It has been raining each afternoon it seems like it. After the downpour of rain we all went outside to play a little baseball (well, I watched and took pictures.) This is what we saw when we walked out our front door. Rainbows are just God's little gift to us and they will never get "old" to me!

Gage's new tricks

Yay! Gage has finally decided to take up interest in the "walk bike." He is doing great tricks of balance on it. We have told him once he starts riding is really good and he proves that he can ride one of our "used" bikes that we will all go to Wal-Mart and he can pick out a new one.

Since the boy is now in 4K he is back to napping during the week. We wore him out this weekend with no scheduled naps and he crashed in the back of the golfcart on our ride.
O and I'm still liking (not totally loving) my new camera. Just still can't get use to the weight of the camera due to the biggest better zoom...10x not just a measly 4x.

frogging

Brad and 2 of his buddies (Phil and Jeffrey) went frogging in Vicksburg this past weekend.

They caught 37 of the biggest frogs I've even seen...ugh!

Carson was riding the four wheeler with Nana and Slick. But Gage and Toby were right up in all the business. They loved looking at the frogs because it was all new to them.

Some of them would start moving b/c they were thawing out (I know...yuck.) But they would spot one moving and starting yelling and hollering to the guys. It was funny...

This is the picture that I sent our local paper...I couldn't resist b/c it was too cute!

I was jealous I did not get invited. I would have loved this adventure. I told Brad my feelings ont he matter and he agreed that I would love it. He promises to take me soon...

musical practice

I was asked about 6 days in advance to be in our church summer musical. Usually would have said no to this but I just couldn't not say no this time...don't know why. I prayed God would give me the memory skills I needed to learn these lines quickly b/c this is sort of out of character for me. He has done just that...pulled me through and I know my lines!

Well Saturday morning we had practice. I had to take Gage and Toby with me. I will have pictures tomorrow of where Bradley was on his adventure!

I was attempting to occupy them by allowing them to write/draw on my script.
This is part of the crew up on stage during one of the scenes.

Then Gage resorted to tattooing himself all up...I could have cared less...as long as he was occupied and allowing me to practice my lines with the kids.

Emily decided that I needed to be in my blog...so she grabbed the camera and took a few pics! Thanks Emily. I have enjoyed working with these kids even if it's only been for a week!