My Utmost

Last night Todd got a phone call from a church where we have a resume about an interview for this Saturday. We've had our resume in since September of 2006, we are very excited and I am a little nervous. I've said all along that this time of waiting has been for me; a time of preparation and growth. This morning I was reading through My Utmost for His Highest - a side note I have never read through this devotion. I don't know why, I just haven't. So, My loving husband went out and bought me one and the pretty one with the purple cover. Back to what I was reading. It was talking about waiting. It was such an encouragement and challenge to continue to wait upon the Lord and trust in His timing. The time of waiting may come to teach you the meaning of sanctification....or it may come after the process of sanctification has begun to teach you what service means. Never run before God gives you His direction.

Thank you hubby for getting me this devotion.

Cousins Reunited

Sunday was all about the cousins being reunited. It was Christmas the last time Mema and Pappy had all their grandkids in one place. It was such a fun day. First, we all went to church. When I went to pick Jadon up from his class the teachers commented on how he, Ruthie and Micah just hugged all over each other. After church we went over to Mema and Pappy's house to have Lucas and Micah's birthday parties. Before everyone left for naps there was a major silly string fight. Later that evening we all ended up at Fellows Lake for the church Memorial Day picnic. I don't think I have ever seen Jadon so dirty in all his life. He had a blast! We were even able to take a great picture of all the kids together and looking at the camera. That is a miracle in itself.

Here's the birthday crew.

Memorial Day picnic at Fellows Lake.

Miss Haven's first time of not crying when put in the grass.

I don't know whose hand that is, but I thank you. I obviously was much too busy taking pictures to stop my son from sliding right off into the mud.

Marriage

Yesterday was my cousins wedding. I love weddings, Todd not so much. I love them because they remind me of my beautiful wedding day. I can remember everything about that day. I remember being stressed out trying to get the reception area ready and a lady walking in the church looking for Heather with a dozen red roses from the greatest most thoughtful man in the world. I remember all of us girls in the room getting dressed, I remember the first time I saw Todd on that day. I remember my boquet actually falling apart during the pictures and Jan Altic saving the day and putting it back together for me. I remember being announced for the first time as Mr. and Mrs. Todd Wallace. For my husband and most men, as he says, the wedding day is just what happens before the honeymoon. Todd, I would marry you all over again and again and again. Then we could do the honeymoon all over again and again and again.

The place they were married was absolutely beautiful and had a covered bridge and other small little walking bridges. Jadon right now is fascinated with bridges. He wanted pictures of him with the bridges. I, of course, had a blast taking pictures of him running to different spots on the bridge to pose for the camera. Here are a few of my favorite pictures. Haven, I don't have many pictures of you because when Aunt Wendy saw you she grabbed you up and ran off with you. She hadn't seen you since Christmas and was so excited to be with you. Mommy loves you!

Our Friday

Jadon and I made muffins this morning during Haven's morning nap. On the Today Show there was a lady making cupcakes and Jadon wanted to make some. Instead of cupcakes we made bran muffins and called them cupcakes. I mixed everything up and Jadon poured it in the muffin tin. I think they tasted even better because Jadon and I did them together.

After Haven woke up from morning nap we took a short trip to the zoo. It started out as a nice day, so I packed the kids up and snacks and drinks and we headed to the zoo. I enjoy going to the zoo and Jadon enjoys being the guide, which animals we are going to see next and Haven loves to point at everything. So, it is always a fun time at the zoo. We started out toward the birds and were going to head to the elephants, but as I looked up at the sky I started getting a little nervous about it pouring on us. I decided not to take chances and headed for the eating area to take cover. Just as we did it came down in sheets. So, we spent some time waiting for it to stop. Jadon got a snow cone and Haven ate her raisins. We did see a bird that had red "sunglasses" like Jadon.




Thank you Jadon and Haven for another wonderful day of being your mommy.

Rainy Days

Today was a short day for me at work. I got to go get the kids from Mema's house and take them home and put them in bed. I like my Thursdays and Fridays. When we got home it was raining so we laid Haven down for her nap, then Jadon and I went outside to play in the rain. It was one of those nice spring rains. I so enjoyed the mother/son time we had. Well, Jadon now loves to play in the rain and I'm sure we'll be doing that plenty more. Here are some pictures of him enjoying the rain.

First Jadon found the water puddle, then he moved to the mud. That built in magnet that all boys have to mud puddles kicked in.

Isn't that the cutest, wet face ever!

Why the Nasty Cap?

I don't know why, but both Jadon and Haven love to wear daddy's nasty work cap. This thing is so dirty and smelly, but they insist on wearing it. We both cringe when they start taking it off his head to put it on their own. I run in the opposite direction when Jadon asks if I would like to wear it. No son, I'm sorry I don't really care to wear daddy's smelly, sweaty work cap. But by all means you and sissy go right ahead and put it on. One day I will just have to throw that thing out, until then....

Walking and Laughing

I wanted to share some pictures of the kids, of course. Last night was a big night for Haven as she started taking steps on her own. She liked picking up the box of wipes and throwing them and then walk and get them and do it again. Way to go girl! I actually captured it on camera.

Yes, she does have a toy in her mouth. Everything, and I mean everything, goes in that little mouth.

Since I was taking pictures of sissy, Jadon wanted to get in on the fun. I never pass up an opportunity to take pictures of my family. He requested that I take a picture of him laughing so here it is. Isn't he handsome!

Big Girl

On Sunday Haven took her first steps by herself. Mema and I had nursery, we had Haven and Malachi, pretty easy. Haven was in the floor playing and stood up, which she has been doing for a couple of weeks now. She will just stand up and stand there before she plops back down. Mema was sitting in the floor beside her and motioned for her to walk to her. Haven took 4, and I have witnesses, steps before she got over to Mema. Way to go baby girl! You will be walking/running all over before long.

My baby girl is now saying words! Last night at dinner she had finished what I had given her and trying to get my attention she said, "mamma". How sweet that was to hear for the first time my name being said. Then this morning when I was leaving she waved and said bye! She's on her way to being a chatter box! Look out world another girl who loves to chat.

Anti Midas

Today was a day that my husband would refer to as the anti-Midas touch day. Everything I came in contact with broke today. Starting with my wash machine, which also flooded my hallway and laundry room. Then riding in my mom's van to go do errands in town the engine light came on. I stopped at a floral place to pick up this beautiful rose and ivy arrangement for a wedding shower tomorrow and the cash register broke while trying to ring me up. Hmmm, Lord what do you want me to learn today? After all that I went to a friend's baby shower at the church and walked by an easel and of course it came crashing down and broke right in half.

My medication, go home get my family and go to the park! The day that started off not so great ended up beautifully. Thank you Jesus for my family and that when all else is falling around me I have great support to hold me up. I've got joy through all things through Christ!

Also, very exciting is that Jadon had his first experience with the ding ding man, as I fondly called him growing up. If you live in Springfield a man in a jeep would drive around ringing a bell and all children knew what that meant, ice cream! I never lived in town so it was extremely exciting for me to be at Grandma's when he came by. So, of course we could not pass up getting Jadon an ice cream and letting him experience the joys of the ding ding man.

Graduation

My cousin Hannah graduated last night from Pleasant Hope High. That is where I graduated from and where my sister will be graduating from next year. The thing about PH graduations is they are long. They are not long because the school is huge and you have hundreds in your class. No, they are long because the average class size is 40 and to keep it from being a 10 minute graduation they do everything. They hand out all the scholarships that night, plus do a long slide show among all the speeches and everything else that goes along with graduations.

Since there would be family there that we don't get to see that much we decided to take the kids. Even with knowing it would be long and it would be late. I have to say they did a great job. I took drinks and raisins for them and they did a wonderful job sitting in their seats sharing the drink and food. Jadon would eat a raisin and feed Haven a raisin. I have to say they were much more entertaining than the graduation.

Next year we will be back to watch my sister take the walk. I might cry then.

Picture is of Hannah the grad and my beautiful sister.

Playing Together

Last night was my sister's Academic Tea at school. I gladly tagged along to see my beautiful sister get awards and take pictures for my mom. Since my dad had to work I had camera duty. My mom is forbidden by everyone in our family to take pictures. Only on extreme emergencies can is she allowed. We have so many pictures of people with no heads or half their body missing. She is a good sport about it, she acknowledges her lack of camera savvy.

Before the tea my family was at home playing. I'm not really sure how it all got started, but I look up and there is our petite, almost 1 year old girl pushing our big, 2 1/2 year boy in his big dump truck. She would push him down the hallway grunt for help and after me or daddy turned the truck around she would push him back the other way until she couldn't go any more. Again, she would grunt for help, we would turn it around and she would proceed to push it back down the hallway. This went on for quite sometime; well after I left.

Jadon loved it, Haven loved it and mommy and daddy laughed at them. What a fun evening!

By the way Mallory got awards in Yearbook & gym (after sitting out half the year due to injured knee).

My sister with one of her awards.

Mother's Day Thoughts

I had a wonderful Mother's Day weekend! We spent Saturday night at Nana & Papa's. We ate and just sat around outside watching the kids and talking. I had the best time. I am so thankful for my mother and grandmother.

On Sunday we had Baby Dedication for Haven. Then after church we went out to lunch with Mema and Pappy and Matt, Lindsay and Gavin. I am so thankful for a wonderful mother-in-law. After getting home and the kids taking naps my wonderful husband took us all back up to Cold Stone and we used our gift cards for some ice cream. Jadon absolutely loved his bright blue, cotton candy ice cream with gummy bears in it. He picked it out all by himself. Even little Miss Haven got to have some, which she absolutely loved!

Jadon & Haven,
I am so blessed to be your mommy;
I enjoy hearing you make each other laugh, especially when Haven wakes up from nap first and goes in to Jadon's room to wake him up.
I love hearing Jadon say his prayer at nights after reading his Bible story.
I love the little girl squeals Haven has started doing.
I love the way Haven's hair curls in the back when it gets wet.
I love those right before bedtime snuggles with Jadon on the couch.
I love how Haven can eat more than Jadon at any given meal.
I love the pride you have given me and your daddy every day, you are truly a gift from God!

Mommy

My Baby Girl

It's hard to believe that my baby girl will be 1 soon. With Jadon I think I had already planned, bought and sent out invitations to his first birthday party by this time. With Haven I just can't get it that she's going to be 1. With one child everything goes fast, but when you have another one it turns into warp speed.

Anyway, to prove to us that she is almost one she's been standing on her own. It is so funny to see such a petite little girl just all of sudden stand up in the middle of the floor, holding on to nothing. She actually startled Todd the other day. He was sitting in the floor with her and he turned out to look at something Jadon was doing and when he looked back at Haven she was standing there eye to eye with him. He said it was a little freaky seeing her looking right at him.

So, we are anticipating her first steps any day now. Still could be weeks from now, but that accomplishment is in sight. What will we do with two walking/running around the house?

Proud Mama

I am so proud of my little man. Today was the day that I put on the calendar to take some of Jadon's toys and give away. They are all toys that he's outgrown, but still sometimes like to play with. We had marked this day on our calendar over a week ago and had spent time talking with Jadon about how we were going to take his toys and give them to little boys who didn't have toys. I really thought it was going to be difficult for him. But, he is so cool. When we got to the Pregnancy Care Center he took out his mow (his favorite of all the toys we gave away) and pushed up to the building, into the building and handed it over to a lady and said, "Give mow to little boy." My heart melted! I was so proud of him for not throwing a fit or crying over losing his toy.

As we were leaving he asked me where little boys were. I explained that they will come in with their mamas and will pick out a toy and maybe even one he gave them. He then said matter of factly that they will most definately pick the mow. Because that is the best toy they could have in his sweet little mind.

Thank you Jadon for being so caring and thoughtful of other little boys. I pray you always have this giving, loving heart for others.

Just Us

So, Todd and I had a much needed fun day Sunday. We skipped our Small group and went to Silver Dollar City. Just the two of us. Of course, we could never tell Jadon we did this because he loves that place. He is always asking to ride the big swing and the tea cups and the elephants. He loves rides and I have yet to find anything he won't ride.

Anyway, back to my day with my husband. We had a wonderful time just talking and running from ride to ride. We were hoping if we went early enough in the season we could miss the big crowds. We did, the longest we had to wait to ride was 20 min. We also enjoyed a funnel cake. My husband thinks it is a sin to go there and not have a funnel cake.

Thanks Sweetie for a fun day with just you. I'm glad to know that we still got it!

WOW

Today I took Jadon & Haven to the Wonders of Wildlife Muesum by myself today. Sometimes it is fun to go out all by myself with the two of them. Other times I enjoy the help of others. But today was a great day. The only bad thing about it was every school in the area had the same idea. It was crowded, I might have left if we would of had to pay. But, since we got free tickets it was okay to spend 30 minutes going through.

What was so fun is that we were able to get close enough to the animals for Haven to see them. She was so cute, pointing and babbling at everything. And everytime Jadon touched something she had to do the same thing. She is growing up so fast and so adores her big brother. If only it would always stay this way.

Jadon is his daddy's boy. There was a lady holding a snake for any child brave enough to go up and touch it. Well, once Jadon saw that he went running up there to not touch it, no, he wanted to HOLD it. I think the poor lady was about to panic. She was afraid she was going to get bit while my son was trying to pry the nasty thing out of her hands. Yep, his daddy's son!

Blowing Kisses

Today was a new milestone from our daughter. Today as I dropped her off at Mema's she blew her first kisses. This is very exciting because now maybe she will start blowing kisses instead of lowering her head for us to kiss when she's not in the mood. There's nothing like asking your daughter for a kiss and having her lower her head for you to kiss her forehead instead.