Some blessings

The kids and I made this train city set yesterday... we had fun doing it and they loved it.  When we build sets like this, they can spend hours playing :)  totally getting along, it is nice.  Haley will play with her littlest pet shop and hunter... what else, his trains... even though now, thanks to Nate, he ALSO loves Cars cars.  

I met a new friend, Rachael, who gave Hunter this bed.  He loves it!  

Ever since Jim and I took financial peace university, we only buy things when we have the cash to do it.  So with our christmas money and some early birthday money, and after waiting a month for a good sale... we bought our first flat screen tv.  It is 32inchs and is NICE.  Our other TV was on its last leg.  Seriously, the color would sometimes be green... or the sound would be off.  It served us well, but now, thankfully it is gone. 
When one is in time out, they all go.  Actually in the above picture, Haley and Hunter got sent to time out and Jonah wanted to join in on the fun.  It really wasnt much of a time out, per say, but more a need to calm themselves down... they had to count SLOWLY to ten before entering the living room again.  

Jonah is in a huge Haley phase.  HE follows her around calling her mama.... She is so gentle and sweet to him... Hunter loves Joe too, dont get me wrong... its just that Hunter and gentle arent really words you use much together unless you are telling Hunter to BE gentle. 

Thankfully our children do love each other and get along well.  

Scott turns 30 -1 :)

We celebrated Scott's 29th birthday at our house.  When I turned 29, Jim made fun of me for a year (we are the same age by the way)... that when I turned 30 it actually wasnt as bad as turning 29.  So with that thought, I am messing around with Scott :). 

Jenny got him Battle Star Gal--- something I know the word but am too lazy to get up and go check how to spell it (I have been up all night - read last post) 
It was a smaller crew this year for his party... but it was still nice.  We watched Dark Knight after the kids went to bed.  Jenny, too, fell asleep.  :)  

Ahhhh vomit... I loathe you

I have been up all night with Jonah.... Jim and I rotating on and off shifts... after vomiting twice in his bed, we ran out of bed sheets to fit his crib so Jim and I took turns sleeping in the recliner with Joe.  I didnt realize how much crap could come out of a little 17 month old.  He hasnt been able to keep anything down so we took him to Urgent Care this morning.... Pray that the other kiddos dont get this lovely thing.  

I went to the Dermatologist this morning as well. I have had a few moles grow back after being chopped off so I had them checked out.  Sure enough, one was removed... surprisingly only one.  I am use to coming home with five less.  But now that I am in my 30's I have gained a few extra spots... they are called age spots... LOVELY... ONE MORE thing that I get to enjoy now that I am older... CRAP.

Those crazy west coasters...

My new friend, Rachael, invited me to a Beth Moore study on Esther.  It meets every Tuesday morning and child care is provided... COOL!  It really is an intense study on the book of Esther... I love it... 

Anyways...

The woman in charge got up and started us off... we were talking about mean women :)  and what we, the women in the study, think when we hear the word MANNER'S .  We all put in our thoughts about what manners are... and the last idea is, using polite, kind words like thank you and please.  The leader lady says... "I have a great story about that.  My mom just went to visit her sister on the west coast.  They went out to dinner and my mom used words like thank you and please when talking to the server.  Her sister told her that she didnt need to use those words here on the west coast....."  The lady telling us the story laughs... then says.. "you know west coasters...." all the women in the study agreed and laughed... Rachael poked me under the table laughing at me.... she was the only girl there who knew I was from the west coast :)... 

Our kids

Jenny's sister, Hayley, or as my kids have come to call her, Aunt Hayley (it sounds better then big Hayley) came out for a visit.  She got a new camera and took some amazing pictures of my kiddos....
She took some natural photos... following them around... haley probably is the only one would could pose if asked... the boys just didnt want any of that.






She took about 100 of them... I just picked these three... I still need to look threw them all to pick my favorites to print :)

Thanks again Hayley!  It was great seeing you!  I love the pictures... thanks

Right now

Updates:

I found a mops.  It is at a local church, Chestnut Mountain Church.   I have only been once but I am not sure if I will return.  It was nice and people there were nice, however, something else came up at the SAME time as the mops.  A girl I met at the MOPS, Rachael, invited me to a bible study that is every week on the same day as the mops meetings are.  It is a Beth Moore study on the book of Esther.  I am really excited about it.  Child care is free :).  Plus it is very educational and I am looking forward to really diving in and learning about Esther. :)  If you havent read a study by Beth Moore... she is VERY detailed and knowledgeable... her studies are intense and really deep.  

We have been going to Corner-Stone Baptist Church more regularly now and have even tried one of their "Life groups" which is a fancy way of saying bible study.   This group seems very deep and detailed in their studies as well, which is very fulfilling.  We are studying Philippians. I kinda feel like I am in school with how deep both studies are.  I really like the challenge and the studies...   

Both Haley and Hunter are back in school.  They are having their 100th day of school party today!  They both love school... the only thing Hunter keeps telling me he doesnt like is nap time.  :)  They dont let him bag his head... according to Hunter. :)  Therefore he doesnt take a nap :).  

I am enjoying my time with Jonah.  He is growing so fast it feels like.  He is 17 months now.  Right now here are a list of his favorite things to do

- play in Haleys room with her Littlest Pet Shop

- Play with the dog food and water

- Pick other peoples noses

- High Five people

- Bath time!

- Feeding HIMSELF

- Trying to get inside the fireplace

- Baby Einstein

- Freedom to run anywhere he wants... like at Walmart

- Balls

- Little People toys

- Throwing Hunter's trains.... Hunter isnt to fond of this one :)

- Pushing TV buttons.

Those are just a few... :)  he keeps me busy :)

Visiting with Mandy

Mandy, Adam and Wyatt (their son) all came out to the east coast to have a vacation with his family.  They flew out of Atlanta.  So on their way home we met up for lunch in Atlanta.  It was GREAT to see them.  Wyatt is a doll.... Hunter fell in love with him.  They held hands :).  To quote Hunter when he first met Wyatt, "WE have a cousin named Wyatt in California."  - so carrie, I guess we are sisters??? 
We went to The Varsity which we were told is compared to In-n-out.  But really.... it doesnt :).  In-n-out still gets my vote.
Haley was soooooo quiet and shy.  It makes her come across rude.... Like when I introduced her to Mandy, she wouldnt even acknowledge her existence.... what do you do with that???  REALLY any suggestions????  Do you make her talk? 
Hunter has the opposite problem... He talks to EVERYONE.  the people behind us... this is Hunter, "Hi.. My name is Hunter and I like Thomas the Train." 

It was really nice to see some friends out here!

New Years Eve

We played games :) 

Christmas dinner at the McElrea's

Uncle Rodger helping HUnter with a Train set they got him for Christmas

Aunt Pam reading with Joe

Between Scott and I we decked my parents out in georgia gear

More Christmas Pictures

Jenna made us some wooden frames and other wooden goodies.... she burned art into them.

Helen and Bud gave the kids a BIG winter jacket and each kids a Disney DVD.

I painted Haley and Hunter houses.... Haley uses hers for Littlest Pet Shop and Hunter for trains.
Haley HAD on a nice dress, but then it bothered her and she decided to take it upon herself to change into a summer dress... I didnt want to fight with her on Christmas so I left it be.

Just a few more pictures from my parents and grandparents visit

Christmas eve dinner at scott and jenny's.

Jonah enjoyed climbing on gifts more

While my parents were here, we played a lot of games :)

We had a big game of war!

Hunters first day of Pre-School...

Yes, it is kinda dark at 745 in the morning here.

Hunter was a little nervous on his first day.  There were a lot of kids in the class... which he isnt use to.  He kept wanting Mrs. Jones :).

On his first day of school they were having a christmas party (this was back in december - I am just getting to uploading all my pictures)  this party made Hunter feel right at home. :) I think he thought it was for him.