"Sparkely" Eyes

Elizabeth was eating carrots a few days ago and when she was done she came to ask me something...

"Do my eyes look "sparkely"?! She was blinking and fanning her face...

It took me a second to realize what she meant, but then I grinned to myself and said, "Oh yes, they are so bright and pretty!"

Someone had told her carrots made your eyes sparkle, and she wanted to make sure that hers were doing just that...

At least it is one way to get her to eat veggies!

Easter is this weekend and I am so bummed that our camera is still in the shop for repairs... I will have to go dig up Momma's so I can share all the fun we have planned!

Happy Easter Yall!

Just Because...

I love this picture of Cub with his cousin Lauren's new puppy. I took it last Sunday at the birthday party of Grandma "ChooChoo", who is Geoff's Momma's Momma - Got it?!

We call both Great Grandma and Granddaddy the "ChooChoos" because Granddaddy worked on the railroad, and they live by the train tracks. When we visit, the kids get super excited to see the big trains go by. Their older cousin Jeffrey began this term of endearment, and we picked up on it when EJ was little.

Anyhow - I loved this sweet picture of Cub and his expression of joy with the puppy!

This is how my morning began...

As usual, it was slow. I do not know why it takes sooooooo long to get myself and two little children up, fed, dressed and out the door?

Finally, in the car and both in their car seats we headed to town to take EJ to Pre-k. We were listening to the CD of songs for the Easter Play at church, and EJ was singing her heart out about the Beautiful Lamb, and He Did It!, when Cub got upset and his lips poked out a mile. HE wanted to hear Veggie Tales!

So, for the whole 20 minute drive into town I had dueling babies in the back seat singing different songs! Each was trying to out sing the other, and they got louder and louder...

Even though it was distracting (to say the least), it was kinda funny too. I love to hear them sing - EJ has a beautiful voice, and Cub is so cute with his baby talk singing. I decided to just enjoy the music, and let them sing it out!

The Camera is at the "Doctor"

Sigh...

I had to take our camera back to Best Buy yesterday as it wasn't focusing properly... I will have to borrow Momma's while ours is being checked out, and hopefully fixed. Easter is right around the corner and I sure do hope we get it back before then...


These are a couple pictures I took right before it went in the shop - there are signs everywhere that spring is near! This is the flower a Bradford Pear tree makes (and boy does it have a different kind of smell... ick!) and forsythia is also blooming now as well.

I understand the weather is supposed to be nice today, so I think the kids will be looking forward to playing outside, after EJ's preschool and Cub's Mommy and Me program. We have all of our church activities tonight as well - Wednesday is one of our busiest days!

Our "Cousin Baby Sister"

Last Saturday the kids and I went over to my 1st cousin's home (yes, down the big road a ways, but close to Geoff's/our Aunt and Uncle's dairy farm)...

Her name is Renee, and her husband is Evan. They got married a year ago, just after the Christmas holidays, and right before 2007 began. Renee is kinda like the little sister Billy and I didn't have, and I have lots of fun stories about us growing up... some include fresh cow piles, haunted houses and a sweet Grandmomma, but for times sake I will have to save those gems for later posts!

This one is about the photographs I went to take of their almost three week old little girl, Addyson. I am not a professional, but I love to take pictures. When we had Elizabeth I became much more interested in photography, and we have thousands of digital files to show for it. Geoff and I are very interested in maybe beginning something with this idea, as he is in graphic design and much more of a photographer than I am. He is also looking into aerial photography as he is a pilot, and that is his first love anyhow!

So, on our way over the kids were talking to each other about their new cousin. Cub (in his two year old way, and unique language I usually have to interpret for most) said he was excited to see the Addyson. EJ chimed in that she was too, and that she was their "Cousin Baby Sister"... it has now stuck. Funny thing is Renee said Evan's niece called Addyson the very same thing - four year olds are just smart like that!


At this point I didn't think I was going to get EJ and Cub away from Addyson long enough to take a single shot of her alone, as they were taken with their "cousin baby sister"... but Aunt Betty came to the rescue and entertained them. With chocolate chip cookies and the Disney Channel - I'd say she's got a great head start on this Grammy thing!

Here are a few of my favorite pictures from the morning...


She has sweet little feet - so tiny, with wrinkles and cute little toes... I could photograph her feet all day long! Here is one with her Daddy's wedding ring...

Our cousin baby sister Addyson was so good, and so much fun to take pictures of. She is a beautiful little girl. I know we will have many more opportunities as she grows up with EJ and Cub, not unlike Renee, Billy (now Uncle BB, as EJ named him when she was still learning to talk) and I did....


And, maybe someday Addyson will be joined with a brother or sister, or another cousin or two!? I'm not talking about me folks - I've packed up most of my baby stuff and sent it down the dirt road in hopes of it encouraging the newlyweds a pasture behind us!

Snow, again?!

I tried to post this earlier in the week, but couldn't get the pictures to upload... it wouldn't be the same without the pictures, that is my favorite part! It happens to be the best/only part of this little ditty... So, here is the delayed post of our latest "snow day"!


Saturday morning it snowed here - again! Lots and lots of it...


It didn't stick at all really, but the kids were thrilled about the huge flakes that fell for a few hours that morning.

And, of course, we had to go outside to play in the falling snow - bbrrrrr!

Is it spring yet?!

Shhhh...

It is very quiet and peaceful here at the moment...

I have a thousand things to get done before church tonight, but I love it when it gets this peaceful, if only for the short time it occurs.

What is going on? Both kids are actually taking a nap today, and in my book that is a miracle in itself. EJ doesn't usually take a real nap anymore, but will pretend to do so in her room. This works for me just fine as she gets some quiet time playing, and so I get some quiet time too. When she does take a nap, like today, I know she really needed it, and she'll be in a much better mood when she wakes.

Cub is still a pretty good sleeper in the afternoons, and I am so thankful for this. As a baby he cut out the morning nap early, so he has always taken a nice siesta after lunch! He plays hard and is sooooo active - I always feel like I need a nap when he does because I am exhausted when I get him down for an hour or two!

I am also thankful they are both napping today, as we have church tonight with Easter Play practice and AWANA for EJ, and nursery for Cub. I used to enjoy the Bible study with our preacher, but have been helping out with the kids programs for awhile now. I get so much enjoyment working with the children in our church, and am blessed to be a part of their discovering God's grace. I think (know) many times that I learn more from them than the other way around!

So, I am off to clean and do a bit of laundry before the zoo erupts again... I have had a nice little break, and must get geared up for the rest of our Wednesday!