The Simpson Family

Buzz Light Year

2009-11-14T11:45:00.000-08:00

Well, you can't help but laugh when you see this picture. My nephew absolutely loves costumes and dresses up in them every chance he gets. So, of course anytime we are there my son goes straight to Logan's dress up basket and puts on his Buzz Light Year costume. When we arrived at their house today, Logan had on Batman! It is hysterical. Enjoy the pictures of Buzz in action.

Happy Thanksgiving!

2009-11-13T11:42:00.000-08:00

Happy Thanksgiving from the Simpson Family!

We Love the Lyon Park!

2009-11-09T11:38:00.000-08:00

Almost every afternoon when we get home from school, we are headed to the Lyon park to meet friends! It is a great park and the kids love it. I love it, too. #1 son was running around on this particular and didn't pause long enough for a snap shot.

The Artist

2009-11-01T11:33:00.000-08:00

Well, my daughter is just about the busiest body anyone will ever meet. She is absolutely constant motion and will wear you out just watching her. Will she sit down and watch t.v.? Absolutely not!! It requires her to be WAY too still. BUT, the one thing I have found that will keep her bottom in a chair- drawing! Maybe we have an artist on our hands. She sat in this chair for at least 20 minutes and drew pictures for me one night while I was cooking. I was so shocked I had to capture it.

Halloween

2009-10-31T11:23:00.000-07:00

We had such a fun halloween night with great friends! We started the night at the Downing's house, went trick or treating, and ended the night at the Downing's house with our tradition of a delicious bowl of chili! The Simpson's were dressed as a Star Wars Clone trooper and a baby bunny!

My Junior Kindergartener

2009-10-27T18:42:00.000-07:00

It is hard to believe that #1 son is in junior kindergarten! Wow! How the time goes by so fast. He is learning so much. Here is a small list of some of the wonderful things they are doing and learning!

*memorizing scripture

*writing the alphabet and learning the sounds of each letter

*learning to write his name

*the importance of community helpers

*shapes

*colors

*Creation

I love hearing him retell the Bible stories he has learned. It is amazing how children at this age are just little sponges. He knows so many incredible details. Praise God! Here is a picture of my precious child in his school uniform!

Football season

2009-10-24T18:51:00.000-07:00

I enjoyed every moment of our mother/daughter afternoon.

The boys had a great father/son day at the football game.

Of course we love being right down the road from Oxford and Ole Miss. We took both the kids to one football game, and last weekend, the boys went to the Ole Miss vs. Arkansas game. While they enjoyed the game, Maggie and I enjoyed a mother/daughter day around Oxford. I had a great time getting her to pose for the camera with her big, blue eyes and precious smile.

Family Dance Party

2009-10-15T19:00:00.000-07:00

We LOVE, LOVE, family dance parties in the Simpson house! We cut the music on and everybody dances, dances, dances! Well, this was just a priceless picture. MCS absolutely adores her daddy. At this point in our life, she wants Daddy to do EVERYTHING! These are the kind of pictures that I will be showing at her rehearsal dinner one day. She had the biggest smile on her face and so did Daddy. I know first hand how precious a daddy/daughter relationship can be. It is my prayer for my sweet daughter that she will have the same kind of relationship with her Daddy that I have with mine. I think they are well on their way.

Labor Day Weekend

2009-09-07T20:43:00.000-07:00

We had a blast with our cousins over the Labor Day weekend. Everyone wore their Ole Miss attire the day we played University of Memphis. The weekend consisted of lots of football, boat rides, four wheeler rides and much more!

2009-09-06T20:08:00.000-07:00

The cookout at the twins' (Jack and Katie) house was so much fun. I am not sure who had more fun though- the parents or the kids?!! Watching Jack with Maggie is the cutest thing in the world. He always wants her right by his side. Everyone had a blast riding around in the Jeep.

End of Summer

2009-08-02T19:49:00.000-07:00

Our best friend Mitch!!!

Well, the end of the summer brought about a HUGE change for our family. We decided to move to Clarksdale. It was a decision that Hunter and I both prayed about really hard. We wanted a very clear answer about this important decision. Well, God is so good and made it very clear what we needed to do. I took a job teaching 6th grade at Presbyterian Day School and Hunter has continued his real estate business. My precious son is in Junior Kindergarten at PDS. It is so much fun having him at school with me. I love walking over to "The Happy House" and peeking on him. I absolutely love my job and am just in awe at God's goodness. My precious daughter goes to a friends house and plays with 2 other girls her age. They are having an absolute blast doing things like painting, going to the duck walk, jumping on the trampoline, etc...It has been wonderful for her to be with other children her age! And of course we are so thankful to be back near our family! I love the fact that my children can see their Big and Pie anytime they want to! What a true blessing that is!

So, after all that...these pics are from the last couple of visits we had with Tyner's very best friend in Nashville. These two boys absolutely adored each other, and when I watched them hug each other for the last time I walked away with tears in my eyes. What a joy dear friends bring us!

Summer Fun Pictures

2009-07-05T19:39:00.000-07:00

I love seeing my kids use their imagination. They decided to make a pallet in the bathroom on this particular day.

They just looked too cute not to take a picture of them.

The night of Tyner's birthday we had a family pizza night. Notice the "T" that Daddy put on our birthday boy's pizza.

My big boy's first time to spend the night out. He spent it with his very best friend Mitch!

Well, I thought I would just put some fun pictures up from this summer. We had a wonderful summer, and I enjoyed keeping my kids at home with me and filling our days with playdates, swimming pool fun, friday fun jar activities and lots more! I enjoyed looking back at these pictures and thinking about what a joy my children bring to me.

The Birthday Girl

2009-07-03T11:34:00.000-07:00

If you look really hard you can see the picture of me blowing out my 2 candles on my raggedy ann cake.

I can't believe our little girl has turned 2. We celebrated her 2nd birthday at Moon Lake and had a wonderful time with friends and family. The idea for a Raggedy Ann birthday came from a picture I found in my baby album of my second birthday. My mom fixed me the cutest Raggedy Ann cake, and I thought it would be really neat to do the same for my little girl.

Yippe Kay Yeah! It's My Son's 4th Birthday!

2009-06-13T11:22:00.000-07:00

"Wanted" signs of the cowboy!

The cowboy boot cake

These were the goody bags. They had a red money sign glued on them and a sheriff's badge with the child's name written on it.

The campfire Daddy built and the mini western town

Even the grownups enjoyed roasting hotdogs.

My cowboy and cowgirl!

Well, we had a rodeo roundup at our house today and had a blast. We roasted hot dogs over a campfire and enjoyed a mini western town out of cardboard boxes.We were blessed to have good friends and good fellowship. Everyone had a great time- especially the birthday boy. I still can't believe we have a four year old. My how time flies!

And 1 more makes 5......

2009-06-07T15:22:00.001-07:00

The newest Simpson will arrive sometime in December. So, before we know it we will be a family of five. Crazy!!

Family Day at the Lake

2009-06-07T13:42:00.000-07:00

We are so lucky to be surrounded with beautiful lakes. We took the family to the lake today. It had a great sandy beach, playground, picnic tables, etc... The kids had a great time swimming in the lake. We packed a lunch and enjoyed a really fun afternoon together. We have 2 fish in our family that are having more fun swimming every chance they get!

Memorial Weekend

2009-05-25T13:26:00.000-07:00

How much fun does that water puddle look?

Our Hattiesburg cousins have now moved a little closer to us- or I guess I should say closer to Big and Pie's house. They have moved to Oxford and we are so excited. So, these four wild children were all at the lake for Memorial weekend. Since it rained majority of the time, we just made the best of it and played in the water puddles. Who doesn't have fun splashing in the rain?

Last Day of Pre -3k

2009-05-17T12:55:00.000-07:00

This was my precious son's last day of 3 year old preschool. We were so blessed with the most incredible teacher. He absolutely adored her. I cried the last day when telling her goodbye. Having been a teacher before I know how important a role teachers have in the lives of our children. And I am so thankful for dear ones like Ms. Dawn!

Grownup Fun with Good Friends

2009-04-17T12:29:00.000-07:00

Margaret and Ashleigh

Ashleigh, Margaret, Me, and Georgia

I thought it would be fun to post some pictures of some grownup fun we had! We gave Marlee(who was also my roommate my freshman year) a baby shower in Jackson at Ryan and Ashleigh's house. It was a group of my dear friends that I pledged KD with at Mississippi State. We had absolutely the best time and laughed until we couldn't laugh anymore and reminisced until we couldn't think of anything else to reminisce about! We all stayed up way too late but it was so worth it. I am so very thankful for dear friends.

Easter

2009-04-12T10:47:00.000-07:00

Right after hunting for Easter eggs

Our yearly Easter pic

All the children from the Moon Lake Easter egg hunt

Maggie had more fun hunting for eggs

"I found one mommy!"

The boys with Cooper

Now that is a keepsake!
Well, I am so behind on updating our blog! These are pictures from our wonderful Easter weekend. The kids had more to do than they could ever imagine. Cooper took the boys on a four wheeler ride. They of course had a blast. Saturday was the "2nd Annual Moon Lake Easter Egg Hunt." Our entire family was there- all 6 of the cousins. And of course we woke up Sunday morning to Easter baskets filled with goodies and eggs hidden in Big and Pie's yard. We spent Sunday afternoon at Rob and Anna's. It was a wonderful holiday! And most importantly because of our Lord's resurrection! Amen!

A B C Bible Verses

2009-04-05T20:22:00.000-07:00

We are learning a Bible verse for each letter of the alphabet. This week is "C." I got the idea from the book ABC Bible Verses for Children by Susan Hunt. It is a wonderful resource! Anyway, I couldn't believe how well Maggie could recite it. I can only get her to do the beginningof it because she gets distracted very easily.

My Big Accomplishment!

2009-04-05T19:04:00.000-07:00

I am absolutely up to my ears in drapes! When we moved into our new house (that is covered in windows) I said, "OH, I can save us a lot of money and make all the drapes!" Well, I had no idea what I was getting myself into. They are a whole different ballgame when comparing it to making clothes! It is just a TON of fabric to work with. Anyway, although I have done a lot of complaining along the way it was totally worth all the many hours and hours of work when I walked in our bedroom and saw them hanging. Now I just have to finish the drapes for the 4 other windows in our room. Ahhhhhhh!

Dance Party USA!

2009-04-04T06:25:00.000-07:00

Our household loves Sugarland! The kids favorite song is "the ew, ew, ew song." So, my sweet husband cranked up the music last night and we had a family dance party. I danced all over the kitchen. (Most of you know that I absolutely love to dance!) I think mommy probably had the most fun. But from the pictures my precious son and daughter were having a mightly fine time as well. I highly recommend every family doing this with your children. The room was full of laughter and it was such an absolute JOY! Psalm 149:3 says " Let them praise his name with dancing and make music to him with tambourine and harp."

Flat Stanley Visits the Zoo

2009-04-03T06:16:00.000-07:00

Flat Stanley went to the zoo with us yesterday. And boy did he have fun! He saw the hyacinth macaws immediately upon our arrival. Next, he saw the elephants and then the giraffes. We were thrilled when we walked up to the giraffes and they were standing right next to the fence. So, Flat Stanley got a very up close and personal visit from these long necked fellows! We are enjoying our visit with this new friend.

A Visitor from Hattiesburg

2009-03-26T06:36:00.000-07:00

Our precious cousin

Our precious cousin from Hattiesburg sent us a visitor. She is in K-5 and has been reading about Flat Stanley at school. Flat Stanley is a storybook character that travels around the country. Each child in her class had to choose somebody to mail their Flat Stanley to. Our precious cousin wanted to send him to her cousins in Nashville. So, he is going to stay with us for about a week and enjoy all the things we do around Nashville. We have made a really big deal out of this and can't wait to mail him back to our precious cousin and tell her all about what Flat Stanley did in Nashville.

Spring Break

2009-03-17T06:01:00.000-07:00

We traveled to Big and Pie's for spring break. Of course it is always so much fun. We spend almost every afternoon riding bikes, playing at the sandbox, and jumping on the trampoline. Spiderman even got to enjoy a picnic with Pie. We traveled to Oxford to visit our Cooper Tyner cousins. They had a great time playing at the park. It is so much fun getting to see our family. We had a fun time visiting with our Rob Tyner cousins in Clarksdale as well. What a blessing it is to have all these cousins.

Just Being a Boy!

2009-03-15T06:47:00.000-07:00

It was a cold and rainy Saturday! What a perfect day to build a fort! Daddy has shared a few childhood memories of building them. Boys love forts!! So, he built one for Turbo! Oh, and he loved it!! He loved it so much that he slept in it!! And I enjoyed a cup of coffee in it on Sunday morning! And I feel sure that this won't be the last time we build a fort!

Painting Easter Eggs

2009-03-11T06:35:00.000-07:00

We are having a good time celebrating this Easter season. While reading the Easter story to My Precious Son the other night he asked why those mean men were carrying off his Jesus? I sat for a minute with tears filling my eyes. Wow! "Well, my son, it was all part of God's plan. Jesus died on the cross to save our sins. He died for you, me, Daddy, sister, and everyone else in the whole world. When we celebrate on Easter Sunday we are celebrating Jesus Resurrection!" Now I don't know if that was the best explanation for a four year old but what I do know is that it is the truth! So, as we celebrate this Easter season let's celebrate the truth that we have in Jesus!! He is our Rock and our Savior!! He was crucified for everyone of us! He suffered for you and for me! Wow! All so we could one day spend eternity with Him!!

Mommy's Copycat

2009-03-10T06:33:00.000-07:00

My precious daughter loves to copy anything I do! So, I sure have to watch my every move! It is a joy to watch! These children make us mindful of everything we say and do!

Tyner's First Soccer Season!

2009-03-07T06:05:00.000-08:00

While I was away at a Women's Retreat with my mom and two dear friends, Turbo had his first soccer game! Practices started a few weeks ago and he is really enjoying it. His team is the Bumble Bees. I love the picture of My Precious Daughter- Daddy even put a bow in her hair! Daddy said Turbo played really well and loved every minute of it!

Baby Cousin!

2009-02-16T17:40:00.001-08:00

We had so much fun playing with our cousin!! He came to visit us on Sunday and spent the night! The kiddos had so much fun playing with him. My precious daughter was a little confused at first when I kept picking baby cousin up! He is a year younger than my precious daughter but weighs more than she does. He is the cutest little chunk!! We loved seeing our family!

I Want Goldfish!

2009-02-12T13:33:00.001-08:00

I have a very determined child on my hands! I am pretty sure I will soon be reading Dr. James Dobson's book The Strong Willed Child in the near future. Maggie really wanted something to eat out of the pantry. I wouldn't get it for her because she had already had several snacks! Yes, my tiny daughter that is only in the 14% percentile can eat a ton of food! Anyway, since I wouldn't get her the snack she wanted she decided to crawl up on the shelf in our pantry and get it herself! How about that for some determination!

The Park in February!

2009-02-08T17:29:00.000-08:00

My Ole Miss Rebels!

Best Friends!!

It was a beautiful, warm day here so we took advantage of the weather and met our dear friends at Centennial Park. It was unbelievably crowded. We strolled around the pond and just enjoyed great conversation and watching our children play together. They are all within a few months of each other so it is so much fun watching all these kiddos enjoy one another! It was especially fun watching the youngest two hold hands! Precious! Everytime I pick up my precious daughter from the nursery at church she is sitting in this dear friend's lap!! We laughed today

while they were walking and holding hands that they were practicing walking down the aisle!!

Another outfit finished

2009-01-26T07:27:00.000-08:00

For those of you that know me really well know that I am a little obsessive about this hobby of mine- sewing!! Here are a few pictures of my latest project. Of course it was completed about 30 minutes before we were walking out the door. Typical!! I am very excited about my new monogramming machine, too. Just what I need! Another machine to get obsessed with! It is amazine though and I can't wait to create lots of fun things with it. I monogrammed my first t-shirt for Tyner. I tell you what! It is unbelievable what these machines can do with the touch of a button. It can monogram, applique, etc... When I really figure out how to use it I will post some pictures of some of my creations!

Ringling Brother Circus

2009-01-25T12:24:00.000-08:00

We took Tyner to the circus today. It was incredible!! Of course we saw everything you expect to see at a circus. There were elephants, tigers, motorcycles, trapeze, and a whole lot more. Tyner really enjoyed and I just loved watching his face light up. His favorite parts were the elephants and motorcycles. They put about 8 motorcycles in a round cage and did the most unbelievable stunts. I will say that it made me a little nervous watching it! What a fun day it was!

Family Night and Veggie Tales

2009-01-23T20:30:00.000-08:00

Maggie slowed down long enough to take a picture with her Daddy!

Maggie and sweet Anna Truss! I have found the babysitter I have been looking for.

I am sure Witt is going to be a basketball star! He is tall just like his Daddy!

Every few months our church has family night and shows a Veggie Tales movie. We enjoy a fun night out with our children and also get to see lots of our friends as well. After the movie is over the kids run out all of their energy and then crash on the way home. It is such a great time for fun and fellowship!

P-L-A-Y-I-N-G

2009-01-23T07:07:00.000-08:00

We are just enjoying life right now! Tyner and Maggie love being outside. Anytime itis warm enough for us to step out the door, we do! Our great friends Susanna and Witt came over today and played! It is always so much fun to watch all four of the children play together! And I am so blessed by my dear friend Lauren! We love y'all and enjoy our times together so much!

Just playing!

2009-01-15T17:20:00.001-08:00

Are these pig tails not hilarious?

We absolutely love the park and really love having one around the corner from us!

Each afternoon we are either strolling to the park, playing in the backyard, or playing in Tyner's room. Tyner and Maggie are really playing with each other now and it is so much fun to watch! I certainly have to do my fair share of acting like a referee but what mom doesn't?! They are truly a joy and "I thank my God in every remembrance of them!" (phil. 1:3)

Tyner is in preschool 2 days a week and loves it! He has met some precious friends and absolutely adores his teacher Mrs. Dawn! They are learning so much and he is just taking it all in. Maggie is just non stop after her brother all the time. She is talking up a storm and is hilarious. She laughs all the time and keeps us laughing! If you can't tell I love my job title- MOMMY!!

What Santa brought Mommy!

2009-01-15T14:57:00.001-08:00

Santa totally surprised me this year and brought me a new camera!! It is unbelievable! I started crying when I opened it!! I am having so much fun capturing every precious moment of my children playing and laughing!Lots more to come!!

Playing at home and around the neighborhood!

2009-01-15T14:40:00.001-08:00

It was cool enough to take and afternoon stroll.

Tyner loves his Ole Miss football uniform! I think his daddy loves it even more!

Maggie taking care of one of her "American Girl Bitty Twins!"

Hunter and Tyner playing with his new race car set. Hunter and I both are enjoying this new phase we are in with our children. It is so much fun sitting down with them and playing with all of their toys. I feel like a kid again!

Maggie and Tyner have had more fun with her "Cozy Coupe" that Kacky gave them. They take turns pushing each other around! It was nice having a break from school, activities, and tight schedules during Christmas! It was then nice to get back into a routine. We have spent afternoons going to the library, visiting the zoo, taking strolls to the park, and just enjoying playing with all of our new toys at home! I am looking forward to what 2009 has in store for us!

And still more Christmas!

2008-12-25T14:33:00.000-08:00

When do you ever see a shot of all the grown ups?!
Anna, Tuck, and Douglas

Maggie and Reaves!

More Christmas!

2008-12-25T14:19:00.000-08:00

Well, I am playing catch up on my blog posting. So, I will begin with Christmas night! These are just a few pics from our Christmas night tradition. Everyone begins coming out to the lake Christmas afternoon. All the boys in our family love to play race cars!! My dad has a great slot car race set. Rob built him a great table for it for Father's Day last year. When we all get together for holidays they pull it all out and have the best time having races!! Tyner and Logan REALLY like watching the big boys race cars!

Maggie decided she wanted to have story time right before her bath. Aunt Anna was right there to read her one of her new books she got for Christmas.

Big and his two granddogs Stella and Millie. Like he doesn't have enough grandchildren!!

The big boys playing race cars!

Anna Carson and Chloe in their new bean bags that Big and Pie gave them!

After we all get through playing, chatting, laughing, etc.... my mom has a delicious meal prepared for us!

Santa's Visit

2008-12-25T06:51:00.000-08:00

Santa came to Big and Pie's with lots of fun new toys! We didn't quite get the response we thought we would but after it all sank in there was lots of excitement! Of course the best part of Christmas is the incredible gift God gave to us all. He sent us his Son!! To reflect on the Christmas story brings tears to many eyes. Happy Birthday, Jesus!!

Christmas 2008

2008-12-24T06:13:00.000-08:00

I absolutely love Christmas and all our family traditions that go along with it. We arrived at Big and Pie's house on December 20 to spend some time with the Cooper Tyners! It was great having them for some of the holidays this year. So, that is the picture of Tyner and Logan in the bathtub. We had a big family dinner on Sunday and exchanged presents between all the cousins! Our Christmas Eve tradition is so special. After the Christmas Eve service we go to Rob and Anna's house. Before we get to enjoy the declicious array of food we walk down to the Johnson's to see Santa and spread some holiday cheer to our second family. All the Johnson grandchildren are around the same ages as Tyner and Maggie. So, it is so much fun seeing them all play together! We rap up Christmas Eve night at Rob and Anna's with a reading of Luke 2 and Twas the Night Before Christmas and a singing of Silent Night! Family traditions are so special!

Thanksgiving

2008-11-27T11:04:00.000-08:00

What a wonderful Thanksgiving we had! Hunter and I are so very thankful for this wonderful family that we have! Just sitting back and watching all these kids run around, laugh and play is such a joy! The Lord has been so good to us and for that we are truly thankful. We have healthy children, a happy marriage, and such a loving family. We enjoyed sitting by the fire at Moon Lake laughing and talking.

The picture with all the children in it are my parents 6 grandchildren. Anna Carson (9) and Chloe (6) Tyner, Hayden(5) and Logan (4)Tyner , and Tyner (3) and Maggie (1) Simpson.

Surprise visitors while at Big and Pie's House

2008-11-14T06:58:00.000-08:00

We were so excited that Cooper and Logan came to visit while we were at Pie and Big's! The two spidermen ran around like most boys do! They played football, legos, etc... Is it just me or can you tell they are related?!! I could eat both of them up!! It was such a blessing watching them play together and have so much fun!

Our long stay at Big and PIe's House

2008-11-03T06:48:00.000-08:00

We stayed at Big and Pie's house for a long time! We were there from Halloween until November 8! But it was a nice break from the city! Tyner and Maggie have so much fun and so does their Mama! It is so peaceful and relaxing! Tyner has found 2 great buddies down the street, too. We had so much fun playing with Jack and Henry at the sandbox! Our days at Big and Pie's involve lots of bike rides, playing in the loft with lots of toys, and just enjoying the view of the lake! Although I didn't get any snaps of them in playing in action, I did get them to sit still for a second to say cheese! Well, at least I did for one picture! I couldn't resist making mohawks with their hair in the bath tub!

Trick or Treat

2008-10-31T06:15:00.000-07:00

We spent Halloween in Clarksdale this year and had so much fun! Tyner was Spider Man and Maggie was a pumpkin fairy. First, we stopped by the Flowers to say Happy Halloween. Ann Gray was Big Bird. As you can see in the picture, Maggie was a little scared of Big Bird! Next, we went trick or treating with our cousins Anna Carson and Chloe! Last, we went to Matthew and Margaret Downings house. We all loaded up in the back of Steve's truck and took all the children to trick or treat! We had a fire fighter, 2 spider men, a mermaid, a skeleton, a pumpkin fairy and a dalmation! They were all precious. Mary Margaret, Anne Clark and I sang Camp Soaring Hawk songs to the kids while riding around in the truck. It was great! And all the kids had a blast!

Shelby Bike Trail

2008-10-20T17:36:00.000-07:00

I got an exciting phone call Monday morning from Hunter. He said he was going to take off early from work so he could go do something with the kids. I was thrilled and the kids were, too. We have a great park and bike trail right down the street from our house. So, we all loaded up with bikes, strollers, etc... and headed to the bike trail! It also runs along the Cumberland River so it is a beautiful view! Anyway, it was so much fun and very special having Daddy with us on our afternoon adventure. Tyner was moving too fast on his bike for me to get any pictures of him but I got several of our delicate little girl!

Playing with Emma-Kate and Noble Lucius

2008-10-12T13:36:00.000-07:00

We took a last minute trip to Olive Branch to spend the night with Emma-Kate and Noble! We had so much fun. It is just precious watching our children play. They turned the Lucius house upside down in no time, but it was hilarious watching Emma-Kate and Tyner play! And Maggie loved Noble! At one point she was sitting in his lap with her arms wrapped around him. We took them to the zoo and of course that was such a treat! I am so blessed by my sweet friend Amy Lauren and so thankful for the special friendship that we share!

This is a video of Tyner telling Emma-Kate and Noble bye!

The Pumpkin Patch

2008-10-11T06:54:00.000-07:00

We had a great time at the Pumpkin Patch today. First, we went to this great little "pour your own pancake" place called the "Pfunky Griddle." Then we headed to Nolensville to Walden Farms to pick out our HUGE pumpkin and enjoy all the fun and games they have. We petted numerous animals, played with trucks, and picked out our pumpkin! The kids had so much fun!

Life at Moon Lake

2008-10-05T07:50:00.000-07:00

While we were in Oxford my parents kept Tyner and Maggie. They always have so much fun and are entertained from the time they wake up until the time they go to bed! My mom just does activity after activity. When I talked to her on Sunday morning they were about to carve the pumpkin. After that they went riding in the wagon. When Hunter and I arrived to pick them up they were roasting marshmellows in the chiminea! People are always asking me "How do your parents like living at the lake?" Well, by looking at the picture of them roasting their hotdogs in the chiminea I would say they love this "country" way of life!

Fun with Friends!

2008-10-04T07:47:00.000-07:00

Amy Lauren, Anna, and I had so much fun together in Oxford. We stayed at Amy Lauren's grandparents house that was just wonderful! It is so much fun catching up with old friends. We laughed the entire weekend and all the boys had a great time together too!! I can't wait to do it again! I have been blessed with such dear friends and am so thankful for the fun time that we had!!

Our new helmet!

2008-10-02T07:41:00.000-07:00

I took Tyner to Target to get a helmet to wear when he is riding his bike! Well, anytime Tyner gets something new he keeps it very close to his side. When we got home from Target with his new helmet I had to send Hunter to the grocery store to get something. Well, Tyner wanted to go but do you really think he was going to take his NEW helmet off?!! I don't think so. Well, off my two boys went to the grocery store and one with his helmet on. Hunter said it was hysterical watching everyone look at him in the store. When Tyner woke up the next morning what do you think was the first thing he wanted to do? You guessed it! He wanted to wear his helmet. So, with helmet on head he got in the bed with Hunter and turned on his t.v. show. Daddy even took a turn wearing the NEW helmet!!

Sunday Afternoon at the Park

2008-09-28T07:37:00.000-07:00

It was a beautiful Sunday afternoon so we took a family trip to the park! Maggie is Miss Independent and goes up the steps by herself and down the slide by herself! It is so much fun watching her. Hunter and Tyner played football and ran all around the park! Tyner and Maggie are playing with each other more and more so that has been such a blessing to watch!

Community Group BBQ

2008-09-27T07:32:00.000-07:00

We love our community group! Our monthly "family get together" was as the Johnson's house! Hunter and Allen smoked some delicious BBQ and the kids had a great time playing! Our group consists of kids from ages 9 and 10 to 8 weeks old! They have been our family and we have been so blessed by everyone in our group!

I'm Tagged...

2008-09-26T20:00:00.000-07:00

My dear friend, Beth Barnes Winterburn, tagged me! So, here are 6 random things about me you may not know...
1)The very first thing I do in the morning (after brushing my teeth) and have been doing for as long as I can remember is fix myself the tiniest sip of orange juice. It is only about 3 oz. but it is just a great start to my day!
2)I have slept on the same flat, feather down pillow for as long as I can remember. It even has my winnie the pooh pillow case on it. And yes Hunter makes so much fun of me!
3)I drink a diet coke every day at 1:00. It used to be 3:30 but now I like to enjoy it while my house is nice and quiet during nap time.
4)Most of you won't be surprised by this but the second my kids heads hit the pillow I run to my dining room to begin working on my next sewing project!
5)I still operate like a school teacher. If I could have things my way all the time we would do the same thing at the same time on the same day of the week. I would have every day of the week planned out from 8:00 am until 6:00 pm. For example Mondays at 3:00 zoo, tuesdays at 3:00 library, Wednesday at 3:00 Park, etc... You get the picture! But I know that this is absolutely not possible with toddlers so I am trying to get over this mentality! I still am extremely routine about certain things!!
6)I am such a morning person and always have been. A lot of mornings I am up and at 'em at 6am- along with my little side kick that is quite the morning girl, too!! So much for trying to squeeze in a little early am quiet time! But that is ok. It is precious time that I get to spend with her!

Surely the Presence

2008-09-25T07:31:00.000-07:00

Every night when I put Tyner to bed I sing a song to him. 6 out of the 7 days of the week he wants me to sing Surely the Presence. Well, it makes total sense that he knows all of the words to it. While I was putting his shoes on this morning he wanted us to sing it. I had tears in my eyes watching my precious son singing every word! I couldn't help but get him on video doing it!

Raggedy Ann and Andy

2008-09-14T06:59:00.000-07:00

Well, I finally finished their Raggedy Ann and Andy outfits! It only took me a thousand months to finish them. But just like any other sewing project- it is worth every minute of it! My mom saved all my smocked clothes that she made for me and it is so neat dressing Maggie in them. So, it will be really special to pass these special clothes on to them for their children to wear! I have to say thank you to my sweet mother for introducing me to this wonderful hobby!!

Littlest Fire Chief!

2008-09-12T06:56:00.000-07:00

Maggie loves copying everything Tyner does. So, she had a great time putting on his fire hat and crawling in and out of this car! She is into everything and never slows down!!

A Day with Thomas the Tank Engine

2008-09-07T15:42:00.001-07:00

We had a great family day with Thomas the Tank Engine and boy was it fun!! We had about 2 weeks to get Tyner fired up about it and he certainly was! We took a 20 minute train ride on Thomas, took a picture with Sir Topham Hat and Thomas, and played at lots of Thomas tables! It was really fun to see this train that we have been watching on T.V. and playing with for over 2 years now!

Tyner's First Day of Preschool

2008-09-02T18:21:00.000-07:00

I still can't believe that my son is in Preschool! He absolutely loves it! Did he shed a tear when I dropped him off? I think not!! Walked right in and never looked back! He is having a blast and learning lots!

Labor Day

2008-09-01T18:17:00.000-07:00

We had so much fun with the Downings on Labor Day. Tyner and Matthew had more fun together and Maggie and Margaret had a great time walking around the Party boat and getting their hands into to anything they could! Tyner and Matthew loved riding in the inner tube and they REALLY loved it when their Daddies got in their with them!

Tyner's First Trip to Vaught-Hemmingway Stadium

2008-08-30T18:11:00.000-07:00

It was worth every minute taking Tyner to the first Ole Miss game of the season. He had so much fun but of course was totally worn out! We sat in front of a man from Pontitoc that had been a highschool football coach. Tyner became his new best friend! By the end of the night he was sitting in "Doc's" lap!

Afternoon Wagon Rides

2008-08-28T17:00:00.000-07:00

Almost every afternoon we go for a bike ride, stroll, or wagon ride. This day we chose the wagon! Of course Millie comes along with us as well!

Meet the Rebels

2008-08-16T10:59:00.000-07:00

We went to Oxford on Saturday for Meet the Rebels. Hunter started telling Tyner about it earlier in the week. He told him about the "big" football players we would see and get to meet. He got really fired up about it. So, when he got there on Saturday he was so ready to see these "big boys!" And so was Daddy!! Hunter couldn't wait to get him a jersey, football, and all other kind of "Rebel Gear." We had such a good time. It was so worth it just seeing Tyner and Hunter so excited about Ole Miss football!

East Nashville Tomato Fest

2008-08-09T06:07:00.000-07:00

Today was the East Nashville Tomato Festival. They had an area set up with all kind of fun kids games. This was the giant slide! Tyner absolutely loved it!! He did it over and over again.

My Sweet Husband!

2008-08-08T06:00:00.000-07:00

Well, Friday was just a long day for us! I was a little weary and worn out from taking care of a 3 year old and a 1 year old. We left Friday afternoon to go to the park for a little while. When we returned 2 dozen yellow roses with red tips were on my breakfast room table! He said he just thought I needed something to brighten up my day! These roses are also very special to me because they are the kind of roses Hunter had all over his apartment and hanging from the ceiling when he proposed almost five years ago! He certainly hasn't lost his touch! He is the most incredible husband and father!

Opryland Hotel

2008-08-05T07:13:00.001-07:00

Well, since it is 100 degrees here we are trying to find lots of indoor activities to do. Some days it is even too hot for the swimming pool. Well, today was one of those days. We don't live very far from the Opryland Hotel. So, I decided we would take a trip there and ride the boat and walk around this unbelievable hotel. Tyner loved it!! We stopped at Hagan Daaz and got ice cream after our boat ride. And you can certainly tell from the picture how much he loves ice cream. The picture of the waterfall is one of the 2 or 3 (I can't remember) that are in this hotel. It was a fun afternoon!

Learning our ABC's

2008-07-31T07:13:00.001-07:00

Each week we learn a new letter of the alphabet. Each letter corresponds with a story from the Bible. Last week Tyner learned the letter "F" and we read the story about Jonah and the Big Fish. (Whale) This week we are learning the letter "G" and are talking about David and Goliath. I have found some great activities on http://www.first-school.ws/. It has tons of wonderful resources.

Weekend with our cousins

2008-07-27T19:08:00.001-07:00

We had such a great weekend with our cousins!! Hayden is almost 5 and Logan is almost 4. Tyner, Hayden and Logan had so much fun together. It was such a joy watching the three of them play. Logan is hysterical and always keeps us laughing! They rode in the tube, played in the pool, jumped off the dock, played at the sandbar and much more! It was a fun filled weekend full of lots of love, laughter and fun!

Tyner's Bedding

2008-07-18T11:21:00.001-07:00

I would love to find furniture that I could paint to look like this! How precious!!

How cute is this? This is what Tyner's bedding is going to look like! One of my favorite sites to get ideas from is poshtots.com. It is incredible! Well, I found this bedding and loved it!

Just had to share because I am very excited about it. Now I just have to find the time to get it put together! I am sure it will be finished in about 6 months!! I will certainly post pictures when it is complete!

Fun Friday in the Backyard

2008-07-18T11:11:00.000-07:00

Susanna and Witt Brooks came over to our house today to play in the backyard with us. They had so much fun. They started with the slip 'n' slide and then moved to the pool. It is always fun to watch Tyner play with such a dear friend! They just laugh and laugh at each other!

Saturday at the Pool

2008-07-12T19:11:00.000-07:00

We love going to the pool!! Tyner was even more excited when Allen showed up at the pool, too. We had a great time swimming with the Ware's today! Maggie and Tyner both love the water. Tyner has learned how to swim and is doing a great job! He jumps in and takes off! Maggie would swim right now if she could. She is all over the place. We are chasing her from one end of the pool to the other.

No She Didn't!

2008-07-12T18:57:00.000-07:00

Ok, so you might be asking yourself "Why is there a naked picture of Maggie on here?" Well, this is why. We played in our backyard this morning in the pool. When it was time for lunch I took Maggie's wet swimming suit off of her and put her in just a diaper. After I was through feeding her I thought to myself, "I will just let her nap in her diaper today because when she wakes up we are going to be getting dressed to go to the swimming pool. " Very simple you might think! Well, not so much. Around 2pm I heard her talking. I was in the middle of sewing a sleeve so I let her just entertain herself for a few minutes while I finished up my sewing. When I was through with my sleeve (which was probably about 10 minutes later) I walked into her room. She looked at me with a big smile on her face and a ball in her hand. A ball? What is that in her hand I asked myself? Well, as I got closer I thought to myself... NO SHE DIDN'T!!!!! And oh boy... YES SHE DID!! My precious, darling daughter had taken off her diaper with poo-poo in it and rubbed it all over her bed. And she was holding some of it in her hand playing with it!!!!!!!!!!! No she didn't!!!!!!!!! Yes she did!!!!!!!!! (I spared all of you the extremely gross picture of what her bed looked like!)

Mobile, Mobile Maggie

2008-07-10T18:40:00.001-07:00

Well, we are now officially nonstop around here. Maggie is full fledged walking and there is no stopping her. She really started walking well while we were at Big and Pie's last week. She is all over the place now. I cannot believe it. I had to video my little speedy!

Just another summer night

2008-07-08T18:30:00.000-07:00

I couldn't help but capture this precious moment. I think every dad looks forward to the day when he can teach his son how to play baseball. We are quite amazed at how well Tyner can hit the ball!

July 4th

2008-07-04T18:23:00.000-07:00

We had such a great 4th of July celebration! Although it became cloudy and overcast we still enjoyed a fun day with family. Maggie and Reaves had so much fun playing together in the pool. Douglas and I are having a great time getting these cousins together! They just laugh and smile at each other. That of course melts our hearts!!
They could have played in the pool for hours.

How cute is this? I think they are laughing at Tyner!

Maggie's 1st Birthday

2008-07-02T07:14:00.000-07:00

Maggie's 1st birthday was just perfect!! We had her party at Big and Pie's house. Our cousins Anna Carson, Chloe and Reaves were there. Our dear friends Matthew and Margaret Downing came to celebrate Maggie's big day with us, too. She had on her adorable ice cream bubble that Pie made for her. Maggie seemed to really enjoy her ice cream cone cake, too. It is hard to believe that my little girl is 1 year old! It was such a fun day and were so glad to share it with our dear family and friends!

More Backyard Fun

2008-06-28T06:37:00.000-07:00

Tyner and Kate TrussTyner and Allen Ware
Maggie enjoying her thumb! What a surprise!

Well, with all these fun backyard toys we wanted to have our friends over to play on them with us. It was so much fun!! The kids enjoyed the pool, moon bounce and slip 'n' slide. Maggie just sat on the blanket in her bonnet and watched all the big kids running around! It was a perfect Saturday afternoon. Hunter and I have been so blessed to have found such an incredible group of friends!

Happily Ever After at Cheekwood

2008-06-27T11:42:00.000-07:00

Happily Ever After is on display at Cheekwood Gardens until September. We met up with a group of friends and enjoyed strolling around looking at all the fairy tale houses. Tyner crossed the bridge of 3 Billy Goats Gruff. He sat in the King's Chair of the Sword in the Stone and climbed the tower to Rapunzel! It was HOT!!! but lots of fun!

More Back Yard Fun!

2008-06-27T11:30:00.001-07:00

Tyner got this great pool for his birthday! He had more fun playing in it. It has a slide and basketball goal. We drug out our grove chairs and enjoyed a cold beverage while he played! Summertime is so much fun!

We have friends coming over on Saturday to enjoy these toys with us!

Playing for a Commercial!

2008-06-26T11:33:00.000-07:00

This is what Maggie did while Tyner played in the fountains!

There is a great place to play in the middle of our downtown called the Bicentennial Mall fountains. Our friend Allen called Tyner the other day and asked him if he wanted to play in the fountains with him and be in a commercial! What fun! The Nashville SymphonyOrchestra has hired a new conductor and they are doing a commercial about him. The company Amy(Allen's mommy) works for is doing their advertising! So, since Allen and Tyner are the best of friends we got to enjoy this fun experience with them!

Maggie's Baby Doll

2008-06-23T19:16:00.000-07:00

Well, during Tyner's birthday party I looked up and Maggie was playing with all of his cars. She was not only playing with them she was making the "vroom" sound that all the boys make when they are playing with them. I immediately told myself- and a few others- I have got to get this little girl a baby doll!! So, we took a trip today and bought my sweet Maggie a baby doll. And it came with her very own stroller. How cute is that? I tried to get her to kiss "Baby" but she was blowing me kisses instead. Which, that is just fine by me! Sure melts my heart.

Back Yard Fun!

2008-06-23T19:08:00.000-07:00

Tyner was so excited to blow up his Moon Bounce today! I even got in there with him and bounced around. It was so much fun just rolling around and laughing with him! What a blessing it is to watch my children laugh, play, and enjoy life! It reminds me of the verse "Sons are a heritage from the Lord, children a reward from him!!" (Psalm 127:3)They truly are!!

Race Car Birthday Party

2008-06-21T12:22:00.000-07:00

Tyner had a blast at his "Race Car" birthday party!! The cake only took me 3 days to decorate- but it was so worth it! Tyner loved it! We had his new 4 wheeler in the back yard and all the children had a great time riding it. Mama and Daddy came for the weekend to celebrate with us! Tyner was so glad Pie-Big (as he calls them) were there! (and of course Maggie was, too) I still can't believe I have a 3 year old! Where did the time go?

Getting ready for our "Race Car Birthday Party"

2008-06-19T12:19:00.000-07:00

Tyner was so excited about his "Race Car Birthday Party." We decided on this theme a few months ago and have been talking it about it periodically. Well, the closer it got, naturally, the more excited he became. He really knew what was going on. (They grow up so fast) Well, I was out shopping for a few things the other day and came across these "race car pj's" and couldn't resist getting them for him! He was so proud!!

(Can you tell?!!)

Visiting the Fire Station

2008-06-18T12:15:00.000-07:00

We are so lucky to be around the corner from Fire Station #14. They just completed the renovation of this original fire house and it is so neat! We stroll by it all the time to look at the "Big Red Fire Engine." Several times on our daily bike ride the fire fighters have been sitting outside and have let Tyner get in the fire truck. Thank goodness I had my camera with me this time!

Tyner's 3rd Birthday

2008-06-13T07:38:00.000-07:00

Hunter and I got up at 6:00 to make sure we didn't miss Tyner walking down the steps from his room and seeing his new four wheeler. He was so excited! So excited that we took it riding at 6:30 that morning!! When Tyner and Maggie woke up from their naps we took him to the swimming pool to play and then to Chuck E Cheese's for pizza and games. It was a really fun day!

"Look one handed, Mommy!"

2008-06-10T07:20:00.000-07:00

Maggie is so "advanced" she can push her toy with one hand!!

Maggie's Almost Walking

2008-06-10T07:13:00.000-07:00

Maggie is taking several steps every day. She is so close to walking. I pulled out this push toy and she is scooting all around the house! How quick time goes by! It seems like just yesterday we were bringing her home from the hospital!

Pool Days

2008-06-08T06:10:00.001-07:00

Maggie is dressed and ready to go swimming. She loves the water! Our pool at the Maryland Farms YMCA is unbelievable. It has slides, crabs that shoot out water, a mini spray ground, and this huge thing that sits in the middle that dumps out water. I had so much fun just watching Tyner chase his beach ball around! I am going to post some pictures of this great swimming pool we get to enjoy!

Swimming Lessons

2008-06-03T05:45:00.000-07:00

Tyner started swimming lessons today. He is having a great time. Our good friend Susanna is taking them with us. They are learning how to kick, reach and pull and float. We love summer time!!

The Newest Member of Our Family

2008-06-03T05:17:00.000-07:00

We welcomed the newest member to our family today. Her name is Millie and she is a Brittany Spaniel. She looks a lot like her cousin Stella! She is the sweetest dog and already Tyner's new best friend!

Anniversary trip to Florida

2008-05-31T18:27:00.000-07:00

Hunter and I took an anniversary trip to Santa Rosa Beach, Florida to celebrate 4 years of being married. It was a wonderful trip. We ate delicious seafood, relaxed in the sun and went on a great bike ride. I really am married to the funniest man. He has such a funny wit and is always making me laugh! Just take a look at the picture of him in front of the "cool" bikes we rode on and you can easily see what I am talking about! I was so excited when I found out Clare was going to be down there at the same time. So, we met up with her on Saturday night at Bud and Alley's and had a blast!

Tyner and Lily Grace Barnes

2008-05-25T18:16:00.000-07:00

Ryan, Ashleigh, Lily Grace and Hastings Barnes stayed at their cabin down the road from us during the Memorial/Reunion weekend. Tyner and Lily Grace had more fun together. It was so much fun watching the two of them play. It was like a flashback to childhood for Ryan and me. They played on the slip and slide, played in the pool, and of course giggled and giggled!!

Class Reunion

2008-05-23T17:55:00.000-07:00

Our ten year class reunion was an absolute blast! We truly had the best class and it was so much fun getting back with good friends and catching up. Of course there were great stories told and lots of laughter! Friday we went to Ford McElroy's house. I walked into his den to the sound of Lead Out playing on his T.V. That was hilarious!! Saturday everyone went to my parents house at Moon Lake. During highschool we spent lots and lots of weekends at Moon Lake at our cabin so it was fun to have everyone back out to one of our favorite spots! Saturday night we went to Hopson and danced until we couldn't dance anymore! Will Estess, Ryan Barnes and I received the award for most children. We were thrilled to receive our great looking trophy!

Playing in the Backyard

2008-05-17T13:26:00.000-07:00

So, when we got home from Cheekwood Daddy was waiting on us with our nice, clean backyard that he worked so hard on! Hunter spent all day smoking some delicious BBQ and working in the yard! The boys hit golf balls while Maggie and I had a great time swinging! We are really enjoying this beautiful weather!

Cheekwood Botanical Gardens

2008-05-17T13:18:00.000-07:00

Saturday was an absolutely beautiful day! So, we loaded up in the car with our sack lunch and blanket in hand and headed to Cheekwood Botanical Gardens. We strolled around the gardens and looked at all different types of flowers, herbs, trees, etc... They are in the process of getting the grounds ready for Happily Ever After. It is a summer outdoor exhibition of various fairy tales! I think I am more excited about this than my children. We saw the grounds crew working on the sets of The Three Little Pigs, Rapunzel, and Cinderella! Check out www.cheekwood.org to find out more about this incredible exhibition! After hour stroll around the grounds we stopped and laid out a blanket and enjoyed our picnic!

The Fruits of the Spirit

2008-05-14T11:13:00.000-07:00

This is a picture of our "Fruits of the Spirit" tree. We are trying to learn and talk about the Fruits of the Spirit. It is amazing how much a 3 year old can understand! So, with this tree hanging in our kitchen it is a constant reminder of the Godly traits that Jesus wants us to display!