So proud of Caleb Wayne!

Caleb had his first basketball game last night. He is on the Timberwolves team and Dawson is the head coach. It has been so fun for both of them!

Caleb is probably the 2nd best player on the team....I don't want to brag, but I'm just callin' it how I see it. :) For a 6 year old, he can dribble, pass and shoot pretty good. And his little friend from church, who is also on our team, is super good. So, with the combo of them and the other talented little guys on our team, they won 34-5 last night. It was so fun watching them, and cheering them on. Basketball is definitely my favorite sport to watch, and its even more enjoyable when I get to watch my favorite boy playing it.

But the moments I was the most proud of my sweet little red-head last night, had nothing to do with his basketball skills. Toward the beginning of the game, one of the little boys on our team starting crying on the court. ( you gotta love Pre-K/K sports!!) He was upset that he wasn't getting the ball. Dawson was trying to encourage the boy from the sideline, but it wasn't until Caleb walked up to him and put his arm around him to tell him it was going to be o.k., that he finally stopped crying and got back in the game. It was so awesome! I couldn't have been prouder. And then a little later in the game, Caleb rebounded the ball, took it all the way down the court to just underneath their basket, but then stopped and handed it to a little boy right next to him, and said "here you go--you can shoot it!" It was the sweetest thing! Of course, the ref called it illegal passing or something like that, and the other team got the ball.....but the sentiment was what counted.

Sometimes I am just overwhelmed with the tender heart that God has blessed my son with. My prayer is just that he can stay that way, and that the world won't jade him, and desensitize that beautiful heart.

Some pictures from the big, first game....

Caleb was so excited that it was his turn to get the jump ball....

Not sure what Caleb is doing in this picture....looking like he's going to have a Mary Kathryn moment. :)
Sweet moment between aunt and neice. Tracy is so good with her!

Congratulations all around. Both teams played their little hearts out!

Beware of "Pwizes"

Today, we were driving around after Adelyn's doctor's appointment (I swear, I need a frequent flyer card for UPA. I visit there more than I visit just about anywhere.....) Anyway, Ellie and Adelyn were in the backseat, and this is how the conversation goes....

Ellie: Mommy, my have a pwize(surprise) for you!
(sounding so cute and sweet)

Me: Oh yea...
(trying to sound excited)

Ellie: And its ucky!
(she says as I see her, in the rearview mirror, rolling something between her fingers)

Me: Ellie, is that a boogie?

Ellie: YES!! Pwize!

I couldn't help but start laughing hysterically. She is something else! I LOVE that kid!!

A beautiful girl, posing with a pretty flower we got from Nonny....

Hammin' it up!

This is what Ellie was doing at Bubba's basketball practice....she was 'reading about Jesus.'

And looking glamorous while doing it :)

And this is my little angel trying to steal some of mommy's jewelry....

Caught red-handed, but feeling no shame! :)

My Sweet Little Liar

Ellie is trying out lying. She's in the process of learning about it, trying it out, and seeing if it's something she wants to do. She lied to me two days ago when she was "helping" me do the dishes. I dried off her hands, and I told her not to put her hands back in the sink. Then I turn around, and guess what?! I asked her plainly, "Did you put your hand back in the sink again?" She looked right at me and said, "No" as she held up her hand covered in bubbles. I sent her to time out, gave her a few minutes to think it over, and then went into her room to talk to her. I gave her another chance to confess, and she immediately started crying. Finally, after much coaxing, she said, "Yes Mommy! I did." I told her that I was upset with her for disobeying me, but much more upset about her lying. (I'm pretty sure most of my moral teaching went in one ear and out the other!) Then I asked her, "Why did you lie to Mommy?" She looked up at me and through her tears, she said, "I just wanna be your best friend." Little Stinker!! She was, of course, immediately forgiven. :)

Truly Happy

Today at work, God reminded me about how my life is not about my happiness and my comfort. My life is supposed to be about His glory and trying to live like Jesus. I truly believe that. However, my God is so awesome, and He allows me to experience happiness quite often. Some of my favorite happy moments lately......
...getting to rock Adelyn to sleep, and holding her as long as I can as she sleeps on my chest.
...sitting in front of the fire on a cold night with a cup of hot cider.
...loving on Ellie right when she wakes up, while her hair is still crazy and she wants to cuddle.
...sitting in church with Dawson's arm around me.
...having a quiet, relaxed dinner of homeade soup with my two beautiful sisters.
...crawling/chasing after Adelyn and hearing her giggle with excitement
...going to Sonic with just me and Caleb and talking about his day at school.
...getting to hear my best friend's voice, and catch up for a few precious minutes.

These things make me so happy! Thank you God!! And some pictures of other happy moments..

Jammin' out to the new Princess music--Caleb's gettin down with the stanky leg :)

Dawson's Poppo with his great-grandkids...so sweet!

Caleb and me with our new bikes...can't wait to go riding with him! Don't you like my temporary helmet!! :)

Catching Adelyn in the middle of a laugh.....so cute!

Imagination + Theology

Conversation between Ellie and me this morning, after she had quit talking on her plastic phone...

Me: "Who was that?"
Ellie: "Shrek"
Me: "Oh, how is he?"
Ellie: "He's sad. He died on a cross!"
Me: "Oh my goodness. I'm so sorry."
Ellie: "It's o.k. The princess saved him, so he alwight."
Me: "Well......"

What do you say to that?? :)

Christmas Joy 2009

Whew! I can't believe Christmas has already come and gone. It was such a whirlwind this year! We've been so busy, but the time seemed so short. Our family Christmas was really wonderful though. We had Christmas with the Skows the weekend before, and this time they all came to our house. It was a short, but sweet visit. Then, we stayed here in College Station until the Christmas Eve service at our church. The service was especially fun and stressful this year because Dawson had a "children's choir" sing a couple of songs at the beginning of it. Caleb sang in the little choir, and I lead it! It was crazy!! But so precious! Then after the service, we drove to Hutto and didn't get there until 11:00pm. Of course, we still had to put out cookies for Santa, finish "What God wants for Christmas" and a few other Christmas Eve traditions. The next morning was awesome. There was an ungodly amount of presents for the kids....mostly from my parents, and fun stuff for us too. One of the more memorable events was when the Christmas tree came tumbling down onto Tracy!! Thankfully she wasn't hurt, and the tree survived the fall. I also made my first "coffee cake" for Jesus's birthday cake. It turned out pretty good. For the rest of the day, we ate ourselves sick.

It's sad how Adelyn's first Christmas without there being much fuss about it being her first! :( I remember with Caleb, it was a HUGE deal, and then with Ellie--it was still a BIG deal, and then with Adelyn, it wasn't much of a deal at all. But I did put her hand-me-down bib on her, and take a picture. :/ I think the most important thing is that it was a Christmas full of good memories for all.
Tearing into the goodies

Adelyn and her beautiful Auntie Leah

A couple of cuties in front of our Christmas central :)


We've been addicted to hot chocolate and hot cider this winter...a regular scene in our house!

Walking in on Christmas morning to see what Santa had brought them!

Excited about the new camo undies! :)

Trying out the new bike!

The requested baby doll and "baby doll chair"?!?

Already a professional at unwrapping gifts....

Singing Happy Birthday to Jesus....I love this tradition!


The family sitting around playing poker--don't worry, no real money changed hands!

Taking the obligatory picture of the "First Christmas" bib....she was so tired after the yummy meal.


One of my favorites--the cutest little elf ever!!