Happy Birthday Graham!!!

The boys were getting ready for bed last night, and Graham told me he'd written a little song. I thought it was pretty cute and wanted to share it. My little future preacher/writer is pretty creative, it turns out! He's constantly writing things (which I love!!). I had to help him out a little one some of the rhymes, which he's had a problem with since kindergarten!

I wish I was one, so I could have some fun.
I wish I was two, so I could have some shoes.
I wish I was three, so I could be free.
I wish I was four, so I could have some more.
I wish I was five; oh I really want a beehive!
I wish I was six, so I could pick up stix. (the game that they play with Pappaw)
I wish I was seven, so I could see Heaven.
I wish I was eight, so I could be great.
But I'm glad I'm nine, because I am fine!

Out of the mouth of my babe, I kid you not. I'll post more later. For now, I have to go get ready for our special lunch today at school with the boys!!! Love to all!

Happy Birthday to Jonah and Noah!!!

Happy Birthday Jonah and Noah!!! I cannot believe they are 5 years old! I've been dreading this day since they were born. Now that they're 5, they have to go to school. I've had them to myself for 5 amazing years, but now I am forced to share them. I know they are going to LOVE school once that time comes, but my house will be way too quiet. I will think back and wish that I could hear them arguing or laughing somewhere in the house, craving the sound of the little pitter patter of their feet. Alright, I have to stop, I'm making myself cry.

We let them open their presents this morning. They were so precious coming downstairs in their jammies! Graham was waiting with the camera, ready to take a picture! I sang happy birthday to them and hugged them both, all the while answering their one question: "Where are the presents?!?!" I figured I'd never get through the day hearing that the whole time, so they went ahead and opened them. Graham and Drew got them a little something, too, it was so sweet how they all hugged each other and Jonah and Noah thanked Graham and Drew. I am so blessed to have such compassionate children. Everyday, I thank God on the way to school while I'm praying with them, for allowing me to be their Mom. His face truly shined upon me when He gave me these little treasures. I don't ever want to take them for granted.

I remember with fondness the first time they saw each other. I had just delivered them, and they were across the room from me, crying in their separate incubators. This sweet nurse went over and picked Jonah up, got him quiet, and laid him in Noah's incubator. They looked at each other and stopped crying. It was almost as if they were saying, "Oh, so you're the one that's been kicking me for the last nine months!" It was one of the most amazing moments I've ever witnessed. They were all snuggly in their bed, wrapped up and just gazing at each other. They are a miracle to me.

I will wrap up with a funny story. On Saturday we were getting ready to go Nana's and Big Daddy's for the afternoon, and while we were getting dressed, Jonah and Noah decided to wait in the 'burban. Todd didn't know that their presents were in the back of my truck, and let them go out there. When we were getting in, I had to go put something in the back, and noticed that the blanket that had been covering the presents had been tossed aside, and that one of the boxes was partially open. Noah had found all the gifts and had shown everything to Jonah! I will admit that I was upset. I couldn't believe my stupidity in leaving them in the truck, for one thing, but then they'd gone and snooped. My hubby reminded me that they're just little boys, and they're very curious. We ended up laughing about it later.

Anyway, they were getting in the bath at Mom's, and all of a sudden, Jonah says, "man, I want that green monster truck!" Mimi and Papa bought them each remote control monster trucks, and that was what Jonah was referring to. I told him to forget he saw it, and to act surprised when he opened it. With his eyes big and bright, and his dimples showing, he said, "What truck?! I already forgot!" Smarty pants.

I like what the Bible says about friends that are as close as brothers. May they always be as close as Jonathan and David.

1 Samuel 20:42 Jonathan said to David, "Go in peace, for we have sworn friendship with each other in the name of the Lord..."

SNOW!!! In March?

The craziest snow in the world happened on Friday afternoon, on into
the night, and ending in the wee hours in the morning. I think I took a great shot to possibly use as a Christmas card photo next Christmas! Who'd have thought?! The boys LOVED, LOVED, LOVED the snow! I don't think they've seen that much in their lifetime. I know it's been a long time since I've seen that much. The much anticipated party did get canceled, but all was well. Andy and Carly came over and played with the kids, while all the mommies and daddies played some Phase 10. Andy was supposed to spend the night but ended up going home because of a lack of sleep. David thanked us for not waking him up in the middle of the night.

Saturday brought more of the same...outside getting wet, coming in to warm up, going back outside. Those boys wore my dryer out. I just left it empty and had them strip as they came in and threw it all in the dryer. I am now going to spend half of the next few days playing catch up. It was worth it!

We went to Nana's and Big Daddy's for dinner on Saturday and the boys made "snow forts". Notice the quotation marks. I'm glad they could see it in their little imaginations! All the snow is now gone, well except for the shady spots in our neighborhood, but it was crazy seeing snow on a 60 degree, sunny day! I enjoyed it while it lasted, but I'm ready for it to go into hibernation until next winter. Come on spring and nights filled with warm weather, family, friends and baseball!!! Oh, and did I mention that Todd will be playing three~on~three basketball?! With David, and Rusty on a team called Fatter and Sadder. Should be some pretty interesting games, filled with more of my favorite...laughter in the company of best friends. Enjoy your Monday, I'm going to try and not cry over the fact that when I wake up in the a.m. my babies are going to be 5. =(

S.O.S. Prayer

Alright, Tracy, if you're reading this, I feel you on the Spring thing. This crazy up and down, cloudy and sunny, warm and cold weather is about to push me over the edge. They are predicting snow here today and tonight...so much so that they are dismissing school at 2p.m. today. Please, please, please pray the snow will at least stay away until after Jonah and Noah's birthday party tonight!!!! The poor little guys are so excited, they even said they didn't want snow. :(

Of course, we'll deal with whatever is handed to us, I'll just feel bad for the little ones. I hope you all have an awesome weekend! We'll see how much hair I have left when this weekend is over. Oh, and Todd can't wait for Graham's birthday because we are giving him and Drew (and Daddy) a Wii. They're getting lots of games and cool controllers to go with, so it should be a fun week next week. It's probably not a good thing that I am going to be gone almost every night next week. Todd'll probably let them all stay up way past their bedtime playing games! Oh, well, who cares, you're only young once, right?! Well, unless you count the child~like phase you go through in your thirties! Ha ha, love you Todd!

Cool Quote

I got something really good from Bible study Monday night!!! I will not bore you with all the little details, but I will share one thing that Beth Moore said.

She was talking about friends, and how we are all sisters of God (or brothers!), and that we should NEVER talk bad about our siblings in Christ! Or siblings, period. Anyway, at the end, to give us a visual, she had us all stand up and stand shoulder to shoulder. And this was the cool thing she said:

"Ladies, when we all stand this close to each other, shoulder to shoulder, we do not allow the enemy to slip in between us."

Powerful, huh? I will admit that after hearing that, I had some wrongs to right. I did so, and all is well in my world, once again. Thank You, Father God, for family and friends. Especially when they love us when we're not loveable.

How God Made Snow

It's snowing! We had a very enlightening conversation on the way home from taking Graham and Drew to school this morning. Jonah and Noah told me how God made snow. This is what was said:

Jonah: "God had a bucket. He poured water in. He got little white balls and put them in the water. He poured some sugar in, and that's how He made snow."

Noah: "God got some water in a bucket. Then He got some snow and poured it in the water. Then, He, um, He got some stems off some flowers and put those in the water. Then He got some grass and poured it in the water. Then He poured the bucket out, and snow came down. And that's how He did it."

I didn't even have to ask this question. We were just driving and Noah said, "Mom, do you want me to tell you how God made snow?" And off they went. Very active little imaginations! And pretty creative, too!

Well, it's official. Jonah and Noah have grown up. They learned to ride their bikes without training wheels this weekend. I was outside with them last Thursday, and noticed that their training wheels were so bent, half the time, they weren't even using them! So, fast forward to Saturday night (completely dark outside, I might add!), and Todd took the training wheels off. All he had to do for Noah was hold the bike steady while he got on. Then he just took off. Like he'd been doing it forever! He was already turning in circles and everything!

Todd had to work with Jonah a little more, but he got it almost immediately, as well! I cannot believe my babies are so grown up! :( Drew was still 4 when he learned to ride, too, but I swear he was bigger than they are. They look so little to be riding so well! Todd took them on a bike ride Sunday after church, and Jonah came in saying, "Mom, I only had like 3 wrecks!" He was so proud of himself! He had not yet mastered stopping the bike.

We spent on and off all day yesterday outside (it was 70 degrees outside!), and he mastered the turning and stopping. Yesterday was a tease, though, because like you saw from the top of this, it's cold and snowing. Burrr, I am ready for some sunshine and warm weather!!! Love to all! Stay warm!!!

The Go Fish Guys and Diego

Well, did we ever have fun last night!!! Todd and I took Graham and Drew to see the Go Fish guys, then Mimi and Papa took Jonah and Noah to see Go Diego Live! We all had so much fun! Go Fish was even better in person (if you don't have any of their cd's, I strongly recommend them!), if that's possible. We were singing and clapping and dancing, and Graham and Drew were excited because they got to give Jason a high 5! We let them go up front so they could have a better view. At the end, they got in line and got their autographs, to which they now have a growing collection. They saw Anthony Evans in concert at our church a year ago, and he signed his poster for them.

Jonah and Noah were completely mesmerized at Diego! I heard that it was Broadway~quality, and that everything was beautiful. There was only one part they didn't like...the dancing coconut trees. They said they were "weird and dumb". I'm quoting them. Turns out the tickets they won were worth $40 each! They had fabulous seats, too, down front in the orchestral section.

I am enjoying a nice, quiet morning. The boys are with Mimi and Papa still, and Todd is doing a Memphis Maps outreach with the men in our church. I got this really great d.v.d. yesterday from Proverbs 31, entitled, "What Every Wife Should Know", and have already watched it. I am praying that God will lay on my heart who He wants me to pass it on to. Lisa Tyrekurst talked about the 8 Needs Of Every Man. It was really interesting.

Well, we're having friends over tonight, so I am off to clean. Have a great weekend!