The Birthday Girl

My sweet sister-in-law has a special birthday today.  And while I will not be revealing her age, I do want to wish her a very happy birthday.  I have said on this blog before that everyone should have an Aunt Di in their lives, and I truly believe that.  If you need confirmation, just ask Scott, Kris, Lindsey, or Caleb.  In addition to being a great aunt, she is a great mother, grandmother, daughter, sister, sister-in-law, and wonderful wife.  We love you and hope your day is very special.  When can we go out for your birthday supper?

Di with Lindsey and Caleb

Reed and Di

Josey, Di and Charly

Di and Caleb

                                                     Enjoying some Dreamland Ribs.....

She is very creative.....

Helping Maddie at her 1st Birthday Party

Reed, Sandra, and Di

Reed, Lee and Di at the Relay for Life in honor of David

Again, we love you and hope you have a very special day.  Happy Birthday!

Snow and the Stomach Virus

Snow and the stomach virus make for quite an interesting time.......I began getting sick around 9:00 Saturday night.  As usual Reed was a wonderful nurse!  He brought me wet bath cloths and checked on me all during the night.  Then, about 9:00 Sunday morning, he started getting sick......He has already pointed out that I was not quite as attentive to him.  What can I say?  I still thought I was dying at that point.  Oh well, I am praying that we are both better tomorrow, so we can play in the snow!!  Also, I am praying even harder that Caleb doesn't get it.  I'm afraid that at this point if he does, he's on his own!

Monday Update-There was no need to worry about playing in the snow.  We only had a combination of sleet and ice with maybe a little snow thrown in.  On a different note, we are on the mend here.  We are by no means back to normal, but I can see the light at the end of the tunnel.  And so far, Caleb has one tough immune system.

This was taken shortly after the snow started.  At this point,

I just knew we were going to get lots of snow!

This is the next morning...Not very impressive!

(These fish are pretty tough!) 

This is our yard.  There was really no snow - just ice and sleet....

A view up the hill

I am so glad that we didn't get any more ice than this.



While I would have enjoyed a foot of snow, I am happy for what we got.  Mostly, I am glad for a day off.  With this stomach virus, I am afraid I would have been home today anyway.....

Our Girls

Time flies when you're having fun.  I was recently looking through some old scrapbooks and was amazed at some of the similarities between Lindsey and Maddie. So many of the things we enjoyed with Lindsey are now things we are enjoying with Maddie.  It's the simple things that make life so special and memorable.  We treasure our memories with Lindsey and Caleb and are having a ball making new memories with Maddie.

Check out the old and new.  It's funny how things change, yet stay the same in so many ways. (I would love to know how many times Reed has gone up and down our hill over the years.)

What Goes Up.......

Every year, Sarah, Virginia, and I, along with our children and whoever we can draft,  put up the Christmas tree at the church.  I must confess that this year I had a slight memory lapse on the day we put it up.  I think I was actually the one that set the time and day to put it up this year, and then FORGOT all about it.......However, I did get to help with taking it down.

First, isn't this beautiful?  This is the first year we have used the

garland.  Love it!!

I absolutely love looking at this every Sunday.  We sit on the

sixth row, so I get an up close look!

When Reed and I arrived, Sarah and Mrs. Sara were already hard at work.

Jenni and Mrs. Sue were taking things down from the sanctuary.

Notice the weapon in her hand......

She wasn't expecting anyone else on a Friday night, and I

think we scared her just a little!

Jenni and Mrs. Sue

Mrs. Sara boxing everything up! These ornaments were made

by many of the older ladies in our church. 

They are all so unique.

Reed and Sarah working hard!

The tree and ornaments are all packed away for another year. I wish I could come up with a way to slow the season down some.  It just seems to fly by, but I can't wait to see what's in store for us in this new year.

Happy New Year!

Sweet Dreams

Shh.....Don't Tell Mom and Dad

When Maddie comes we generally always (well, most of the time)  follow Mom and Dad's rules.  Every now and then though we break or gently bend a rule or two.  Maddie has always been wonderful about going to sleep.  When she gets tired, you simply lay her down, and she quickly goes to sleep.  She rarely ever stays up late. Well, on her last visit she was so busy playing and having fun that sleep just wasn't a priority.  Just a few minutes (or maybe an hour or two) after her bedtime, this is what happened -

She crawled up beside me to watch a little tv. 

The next thing we know, she's out!

 

Sweet Dreams!

Happy New Year

“Youth is when you're allowed to stay up late on New Year's Eve. Middle age is when you're forced to."

As I am writing this, Reed is on his way to bed.  (For the record, it's 9:25.)  We did send the year out with a "bang" of sorts.  Reed came down the stairs with a fairly large box of fireworks he found somewhere.  I am quite sure that they were SEVERAL years old.  In spite of that, he shot them as we rang in the New Year at around 8:30!!

His box of goodies.....

Children-NEVER hold fireworks in your hands.

Although it's lots of fun!

Lots of smoke-but I couldn't get a picture of the fireworks!

 Where did it go?

***Update-As it turns out Reed didn't go to bed at 9:25.  We actually stayed up and watched the ball drop.  I for one think it's way past time Dick Clark retires!

 

Happy New Year!!

What a Year!

Please hang with me on this post.  I am going back in time.  I am having a blog book printed, and since I started blogging in July, I wanted to go back and add the first of the year....Does that make sense?

As I was looking back through pictures of the beginning of 2010, I was amazed at the changes in Maddie.  She is such a big girl now.  Watching her grow is absolutely amazing. 

January through February 2010-

Pop and Maddie

What can I say?  This simply melts my heart!

What an expression!

Standing and taking a few steps.....

Uncle C and Maddie in Alex City

Brother/Sister Time!

Reed and Gus got in a little duck hunting......

The family got together in January to celebrate Grandmother

and Di's birthday in Tuscaloosa.

Maddie and Aunt Sandra

Aunt Di, Uncle Tony and Caleb

I have to be honest.  I don't remember it snowing this much in January.

Beautiful!!

Maddie looking at her first snow.....

Both of my babies snoozing......

How cute is this?

Easter-March

Maddie on Easter morning.

Caleb and Brooke dying Easter eggs.

The Easter bunny found Caleb.......

Di and Sandra on Easter Sunday

Our niece Kris

Wyatt and Aunt Sandra

Maddie's First Birthday - April

Maddie enjoying the precious cake her mom made.

Grandmother, Di, and Papa with Maddie

Yum!!

Granny watching Maddie play.

It's hard to remember her being so little.

Our girls....

Sweeties!

Caleb made me two plant holders this year.  I love them!!

The Beach-May



Josh and Lindsey had a wedding in Mobile, so we went and stayed at

my aunt and uncle's to help with Maddie. 

It was cloudy and cool, but she loved the sand.

I wonder how that tasted?

Hanging out on the boardwalk.

A little help from Pop.

Having fun with Uncle C

Caleb and Brooke

I started the blog shortly after this beach trip. Thanks for letting me catch up the year with this blog.   I can't wait to see what 2011 will bring.  Caleb will be a junior at Alabama, Maddie will turn 2, and I am sure we will be in for lots of surprises......

Happy New Year!!