Dancing Beauties

Last week the kids took dance pictures.  Here is my beautiful ballerina:

 She loves dancing.  Since she got her costume she has asked me "when am I going to dance on the big stage?".  I thought she would be scared and not dance last year.  However, that was not the case.  She loved the stage and cannot wait to get back there!  Too funny!

Addie Lee and Kaylee:

 Sidenote Story:  A few weeks ago Kaylee was at my house after dancing and she pulled a bracelet out of her bag and said "Addie, I got this for you."  The bracelet says "Friends".  AL is so proud of that bracelet that she will not take it off, not even for a bath.  She tells everyone Kaylee gave it to her and it says "good friends"!  Kaylee's mama does not know where the bracelet came from, how Kaylee got the bracelet or how she knew what it said!  A mystery, but it makes both girls so happy!  They really are good friends.

Addie Lee, Kaylee, and Marrah Beth:

The boys also accompanied us to the pictures.  They were a little rowdy, but hey, they are boys!

Addie Lee not happy that I'm making her take this picture but Kimber was excited:

A quick snap of the boys.  One of the only times they were semi-still!

They were not still for long.  This is them peeking through Jessica's legs.  Not sure what they were doing besides distracting her from talking.  Thank goodness the pictures did not take long!

Eleven Grands

We had a real adventure yesterday....we attempted to take pictures of my grandparents and their 11 great grandchildren that range from 11 years of age to 1 year.  It was interesting to say the least.  

My grandparents have been married 60 years.  My grandmother will turn 79 this Sunday and Pappaw will be 80 in April.  They are a true testament to faith and love.  They are very God centered and have always gone to church.  My papaw told me a story one time.  He said he went to college for one day at LSU and decided he had enough and wanted to come back to my mammaw.  He doesn't talk much so to get that out of him was a lot.  My mammas still teaches piano three days a week and my pappaw has his cows he tends to every day.  They have four children, twelve grandchildren, and eleven great grandchildren.  We are a truly blessed family.  Here are some pics from yesterday:

You can see that Kaylee is crying.  First, she slammed her finger in the door and was then promised she could hold Camille (the baby in the picture) and she did not get to do that.  So she was upset.  Kimber was actually doing good at this point.  However, after Kaylee got a spanking he no longer wanted to cooperate. He only wanted to be with me!  It's hard to get 11 to cooperate at one time!

My mama is very creative and made these letters.  If you're wondering what it says it is "GREAT GRANDS".  You can see Kimber's cooperation at this point!

I actually thought this one was pretty cute.  And the kids LOVED climbing no the fence.  Not sure why Cade is hiding his eyes!

Here is another attempt at Great Grands.  Maybe it's just a word scramble!

Potty Training

Just an update on the potty training.  My little boy, or should I say big boy, is doing excellent.  The first day we were like 2 for 8 (or worse, I can't remember).  But since Monday, he has only had one tt accident and that was today.  So, I think he's doing great!  However, he has not learned about going number 2 in the potty.  Any suggestions are welcomed!  Every day he has gone in his undies.

On that same note, Addie Lee is a little upset that she cannot tt standing up!  She asked if she could go like that and I told her no.  She was most upset when Kimber was allowed to stand outside and do it!  She tried to do it too, but to no avail!  She also asked me if I could cheer for her when she goes to the potty!  I thought that was priceless!!

She also fell into the toilet for the first time!  We forgot to put the seat down and she had just woken up from her nap and she fell right into the potty...in her princess dress nonetheless!

Maybe that was TMI, but I figure you could have stopped reading at any point!

What I'm LOVING

We are so blessed as a family but here are a few things I am loving rights now:

1. Our Bible conference.  I have truly been blessed these past two nights by our guest pastors.  They have called us to stand up, fill the gap, and do what God has called us and prepared us to do.  It has really hit home with me and I love it.  God is so great!  In my quiet time yesterday I read the following promise in Isaiah 30:21: "Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, 'This is the way, walk in it,' Whenever you turn to the right hand Or whenever you turn to the left."  I thought it was right on point!  God promises us that He will give us the word if we are listening!  Also, on Sunday morning Dr. EW preached on listening to God and in my SS class we had a lesson on finding our gifts God has given!  God knows exactly how to put things together!  I'm amazed daily that we are allowed to be in His presence!  So, this is the main thing I'm loving right now!
2. I'm also loving my kids singing to Lion King at the top of their lungs!  We have the movie in the car right now and we all sing "Circle of Life" and "Gonna be a Mighty King".  None of us know the real words but that does not stop any of the three of us!  It is hilarious!  Mostly because the kids think they know the right words!  
3. Michael Connelly books.  I'd never read these books until I asked for a recommendation from a friend.  She recommended these books and I read 2 on my trip and I'm on a third.  This is the author who wrote the Lincoln Law!yer.  They are very good books.  
4. I love seeing my kids sleeping at night.  Last night I checked on them before bed and it is just the most innocent thing to see both of my kids sound asleep in their beds!
5. I'm loving that we started potty training and Kimber has gone 3 for 3 today!  Yay!  We started yesterday so I think he's doing great!  
6. I love that I have a godly husband.  I know he has enjoyed the Bible conference as much as I have and I love that!  

Hope y'all are having a great week!

Where have I been...

St. Lucia....yes, this gorgeous place:

About 4 months ago Dustin asked if I wanted to take a trip to St. Lucia, just the two of us.  So, of course, my answer was YES!  We left last Sunday for a week of fun in the sun.  We arrived Monday afternoon in St. Lucia and our first ride was on this big chopper:

We got a wonderful view of the country from the helicopter.  We also saw banana plantations, the tallest peak on St. Lucia, the rainforest and the most memorable, a marijuana farm.  The pilot said he did not know if it was the "good stuff" because they randomly drug tested the pilots.  I was thankful for that!  We took a 12 minute helicopter ride, as opposed to a 2 1/2 hour bus ride from the airport to the resort.  The first night we arrived they had a "beach party" that offered the following entertainment:

You did see that correctly.  That is a man doing tricks with fire.  I was very impressed.  He was very talented.  He could also limbo with fire and the lowest limbo he did is one I'm certain I could not even lay down under!  They also pulled me from the audience to dance and limbo!  I was the first one.  I'm pretty sure they said "Ok, let's find a white girl who cannot dance!"  They picked perfectly!  But I had fun with it anyway!

The next day we climbed a mountain (ok, I'm calling it a mountain).  There was a national forest beside our resort that was the lookout point for the English.  It was a large fort that still had cannons and things.  It was very interesting.  This is a pic of us at the top.  I do not know why the pic is turned the wrong way!  You can also see that I have on a necklace.  On the way into the park we were stopped by some locals and bought two necklaces, a palm leaf hat, and a palm leaf basket.

The other days we mostly laid around the beach and pool and read.  It was quite relaxing.  Here we are on the last night.  We went to a neighboring resort and ate "blackanese" food as they called it!  It was actually Japanese cooked by locals!

The cars in St. Lucia mostly look like this pimped out van.  Dustin and I called it the Shaggy Wagon (Scooby-Doo!).  He was very proud of me taking this pic!  Also, the roads are very narrow and windy.

We also rode the helicopter back to the airport on Saturday.  This is a view from the chopper.  I must say this experience was not as pleasant.  The pilot wanted to give us a good look at the rainforest so we were flying very low and that did not sit well with my stomach.  I'm pretty sure I could have reached my hand out the window and touched the rainforest.  I kept thinking that he told me there were 4 types of snakes in the rainforest, two being deadly.  If we go down, I won't be very good at surviving in a rainforest!  I do not like snakes!

We had a wonderful trip and it was great to spend time with my hubs.  However, it was so sweet to see this:

Thankfulness

So today I was thinking about various things I started thinking of all the blessings in my life.  They are way too many to actually number or make an all-inclusive list.  But here are a few blessing that I am thankful for right now:

(1) That my husband loves our children and spends time with them.  Yesterday, we went to the "new shop" they built.  Kimber kept running around saying "big, big" (talking about the tractors).  Here he is with his daddy on the tractor.   

Of course, Addie Lee had to climb on as well.  I am very thankful for my wonderful children as well.

(2) As you can see in the picture AL has on her princess dress.  I'm very thankful for the wonderful personalities with which my children were blessed.  AL loves to dress up and is always coordinating her next outfit.  Last night AL came down in her pjs and asked if she could have her matching slippers to her new Fancy Nancy pjs.  She just had to sleep in them!  She came down this morning and was in a good mood but was very concerned.  She said "Oh mama, I cannot find my slipper and I looked EVERYWHERE!"  We immediately went upstairs and had to find the missing slipper.  I love her dramatic flare, caring nature, sweet smile, great disposition, and sense of style.

(3) I cannot leave out Kimber's personality.  He is sweet, mischievous, all boy, caring, and very loving.  He is quirky just like me!  He must have every door closed.  It does not matter if it is on the playhouse, in the kitchen, or on a toy.  All doors must be closed!  Also, he wants everyone to have their own things.  I am not allowed to put on AL's hat, she is not allowed to wear my shoes, etc.  Too funny!

Random Story:  AL always sings this song about an alligator and in the end she says "missed me, missed me, now you gotta kiss me."  So she sang it once tonight, and on the second time she said "missed me, missed me, now you gotta kiss me on the lips!" That girl is crazy!

Ready for...

The TIGERS to win! 

The kids ready for church yesterday (our preacher loves Ole Miss! I think his six-year old son is starting to come over to our side though!):

Our Tiger breakfast this morning was purple and gold striped pancakes.  I'm pretty sure this is what the players had as well: 

Outfits for today:

GEAUX TIGERS!!!