Gulf Shores-Day 1

We were so blessed to be able to go on our first big family vacation this year to Gulf Shores.  We went August 20-27.  We left on the 19th and about 30 minutes into our trip (we were driving through Fayetteville), we heard our first, "How much longer till we get to the beach???".  We got down to Alma (about an hour and a half away) and decided to stop for lunch at Subway.  Collin just cracked us up because as soon as we walked into Subway and sat down, he exclaims, "I love this place!  This is the best vacation EVER!"  Oh, Collin.  We couldn't quit laughing.  Josh just looked at him and said, "Collin, we are in Alma....an hour from home.....not even close to the beach yet."  Josh looked at me like, "Do you EVER get these kids out??"  Ha!  We had a great rest of the trip though and the boys were quite the troopers making the almost 13 hr drive.  We did stop that night in Jackson, MS to stay for the night, so that helped as well.  Saturday we got up and made our last leg of the trip to Gulf Shores.  After relaxing for a bit in our condo....and the boys discovering the fun joy of having bunk beds, we headed to the beach!  It was the boys' first time to the beach, and they absolutely loved it.  We spent our first day looking for crabs, shells, and digging in the sand.  After that, we hit the pool!

Discovering the beach for the first time.

Carter's sweet toes in the sand

Our condo building at The Beach Club.  We were on the 11th floor.

The Kiva Sand Dunes

Just love this pic of my little fish.

10 years ago.....

Many people remember where they were when President Kennedy was assassinated, or the space shuttle Challenger was lost or many other notable historical events, but for my generation, that moment happened 10 years ago today.  I have seen many people posting today where they were on that day, so I thought it important to log down my experience that day so my kids can one day know.

September 11, 2001 is still very vivid in my mind, and I hope it always stays that way so I will never forget the many people and heroes there were that day and in the days to follow.  I was 23 at the time and working as the Assistant Branch Manager at the Arvest Bank in Springdale, right in front of Walmart and Sams Club.  I was scheduled to go into work late that day at 10:00, so I was sleeping in that morning.  My sister and I lived together in an apartment in Fayetteville at the time.  She was up before me and in the living room watching the news.  She came into my room to tell me that a plane had hit the World Trade Center in New York and it was all over the news.  We watched in disbelief and couldn't figure out how that could have happened.  We sat there and listened to numerous reporters trying to hypothesize what could have happened.  It was in that moment, while watching the television, that we watched in horror as a second plane hit the other tower.  It was then we realized that this wasn't an accident.  Our country was under attack.  We sat there in complete shock and then realized that my sister's best friend, Jamie, who we also went to high school with, was at the World Trade Center for some stockbroker's meetings.  This attack had hit really close to our hearts then.  Jamie was in the first tower that was hit, but luckily made it out safely.  We were so thankful for that.  I won't go into details, but hearing his account of what happened after he got back to town will be etched in my mind forever.

As the news reports began to roll in, I remember one reporter in Washington talking and all of a sudden hearing a loud boom, which we would later find out was another plane crashing into the Pentagon.  Then, to hear about the heroic passengers on Flight 93 and the emotional phone calls they made and the all important decision they had to make to try to take over the plane, truly made me so proud to be an American.  I remember watching in horror as the Trade Center towers collapsed and never imagining that would happen.  I remember Josh being in architecture school at the time and me calling him to tell him that the buildings had fell and he just couldn't believe it.

After driving into work that day, I realized what the next few days was going to be like.....chaos.  The gas station in front of the bank I worked at was so busy all day.  The line of cars at the gas pump was unending.  People were coming through the drive-thru of the bank after shopping at Sams Club and had stockpiles groceries and bottled water, fearing the worst.  People were coming into the bank wanting to withdraw tens of thousands of dollars at a time.  Like I said....utter chaos.  I shouldn't complain because it was nothing like the chaos New York or Washington or Shanksville, Pennsylvania experienced that day. 

I remember the extreme sense of pride we all felt and showed for our great country during that time.  I am still captivated by the stories I hear of the many heroes and those who lost their lives that day.  Our country felt united like never before. 

May we never forget this day and all the people who lost their lives, the emergency responders who spent tireless hours trying to save lives and those who serve and protect us in the military. 

We will always remember 9/11 and the imprint it made on every American heart.

May God Bless America!

"Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God.  I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."  Isaiah 41:10

Funny Friday!

Hope you all have had a great week!  We are spending some time in Iowa to celebrate Josh's Great-Grandma Juanita's 95th birthday today!  I hope I age as well as she has!  God has truly blessed her and we are so blessed to be able to spend this day with her.  Happy Birthday Grandma Juanita!  We love you!

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I only have a few funnies for this week...

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We took the boys to their very first Razorback football game this past weekend.  Instead of being excited when they saw the mascot or the football players run out on the field, you know what Carter's first reaction was?? He looked down at the field, pointed at the cheerleaders and says, "Ooohh!  Look!  Girls....."  Already at such a young age.....boys....

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We went to the lake over the weekend as well and the only bathrooms available were Porta-potties.  I wasn't sure if Collin would even go in, but he did.  After he was finished he said, "Mom, I do NOT like that bathroom.  It is a SCARY place!"

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On our way up to Iowa the other day, we had just crossed into Iowa and I exclaimed to the boys, "Boys!  We are finally in Iowa!!"  We drove forever and ever over the rolling hills of corn fields out in the middle of nowhere.  Collin finally says, "Mom, does this Iowa place have ANY buildings???" 

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Have a great weekend everyone!

Funny Friday!!!....finally! :-)

I have to apologize to all my "Funny Friday" followers for not posting the last couple of weeks.  We have been on vacation and honestly, I didn't want to think about anything while we were gone. :-)  So, I have several little stories and pictures to share today.  I hope you enjoy!

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Collin is quite the singer.  You will always hear him singing or humming the tune to a song.  One day he came up to me and said, "Mom, I know a lot of songs because I'm a fanational singer." (webster may have to add that word to the dictionary)

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I've told you all before about Collin's imaginary friend from South America that he talks about ALL the time.  Well, we and everyone we met while on vacation heard about his "friend", Drayden from South America.  Drayden is taller than daddy, a better fisherman than daddy, can run faster than daddy....you name it!  Daddy was a little fed up with Drayden by the end of our trip, but we also began to hear about Carter's "friends" Jordan and Michael from South America as well.  So cute to hear him say, "My prend (friend) in Sow Merica (South America)...."   :-)  Oh brother.....

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The day we left for vacation we got to Fayetteville (about 20 minutes away) and heard our first, "How much longer till we get to the beach??".  I knew it was going to be a long drive, but didn't realize it would start THAT early.  We got about an hour from home and stopped in Alma to eat at Subway.  Collin was so excited about just the thought of being on vacation as soon as we sat down to eat he exclaims (very loudly), "This is the BEST DAY EVER!  I love this vacation!"  Josh said, "Collin, we are only an hour from home.  We haven't even made it to the beach yet."  Guess I need to get these kids out more! ha!

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One day I told Carter, "Carter you are such a cute boy!".  Carter replied, "Mommy, I'm not a cute boy....I a cute guy!"

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Last night, I overheard Collin say, "Hey Carter!  Get over here!  You wanna piece of me??"

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Collin has a beloved horsey blanket that he likes to sleep with.  The other day I caught him putting a diaper on her and underwear.

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One weekend, Carter put on Mimi's reading glasses, and we just cracked up because doesn't he remind you of the kid on the movie Jerry Macguire??!!!  So hilarious!

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The night before we left on our vacation, we were busy packing.  Carter found this mullet wig of Josh's that he wore for a costume party once and he decided he wanted to wear it. :-)

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My little creative guy Carter made his own Star Wars clone "helmet" out of underwear.....this was taken this morning. :-)  Seriously, this is how my day pretty much goes everyday....never know what I'm going to walk in to find.



Happy Friday everyone!  So excited that Razorback football starts tomorrow!!  Go Hogs!!

Funny Friday!

Happy Friday everyone!  Here's our funnies for the week...

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Carter is so funny.  Every morning before Josh leaves he says, "Well, boys, I gotta go to work."  Now every morning, Carter changes his voice and says in a deep voice like Josh (which you really have to hear to make this funny), "I gotta go work."

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A lot of the times when Josh is home, he will get comfy and just go around with his shirt off.  If he ever does that, two little boys immediately follow suit.  They want to be just like him.  Carter has even started having Josh put a little of his cologne on him in the mornings so he can smell like daddy too.  So precious.

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We were sitting at the table the other day and Collin says, "Mom, I had a headache earlier.  I think I need to call daddy and tell him about it."  I said, "Collin, I think daddy is in a meeting right now, so we can't".  He gets all flustered, puts his hands on his hips and says, "Well mom, I need YOU to call a meeting so we can talk to daddy and tell him that I had a headache in the living room!"

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The other morning at breakfast, Carter requested pop to drink (which I don't let them have....ok....an occasional sprite when we go out, but no pop at home).  Of course, I told him no, so then he proceeds to rat out the grandparents and says, "I drink pop at Me-ma's and Pa-Pa's and I LIKE it!"

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Carter is talking like crazy now and he is picking up so much from his bro-bro.  The other day he walks in and shows Josh his Star Wars beach towel and says, "Look dad. I got Dar Bader (darth vader) towel....so awesome."

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So, earlier this week we were in the car and as I was flipping through radio stations, I came across the song, "We Will, We Will, Rock you".  I start playing drums to the beat on the steering wheel and singing the song.  Took me back to my cheerleading days, hearing that song play as the basketball boys would head to the court to do their warm-up to that song.  The boys thought that was awesome, just loved it and started singing along.  Now, all week, I catch them singing it.  Carter is so cute to watch.  Here's a video of him singing "We Will Rock You".  I just love his little "drum beat" at the end.  Enjoy!

Funny Friday!

We've had a busy week with my new nephew being born and also being in a car wreck, so I didn't log to much to write about this week. 

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Collin stayed with his Mimi this past weekend.  She told me a funny story about Collin and when she took him to church.  Collin sat in big church with her and was really enjoying the music.  One of the last songs was being sung and it was an old traditional church hymn.  Collin is so used to our upbeat contemporary music at church and what I listen to on the radio, that it wasn't going to fly with him.  He stood up and said loudly, "Boring!".  Oh brother!  I think Mimi was a "little" embarrassed! ha!

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Speaking of singing, Collin and I were singing loudly in the car today to a Chris Tomlin song that was on the radio.  After the song was over, Collin asks, "Mom, did I sing that song really good or what??"  I replied, "Yes, Collin, that was awesome."  He says, "Yeah, I'm a natural singer." :-)

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Funny story of the week.....we were on our way to go see my new nephew and on our way there we got rear-ended and pushed into another car in front of us.  The boys are screaming in the backseat, "What Happened?!!!" and I yelled back, "Me-Ma just hit us!!"  Yep, my own mother was the driver who hit us.  Pretty crazy.  Needless to say, the boys will never let her live that one down.  For the rest of the day, whenever we got in the car, Collin would ask, "Mom, is Me-Ma going to hit us again?"  The funny party was when Collin decided that he needed to call Pa-Pa and tell him what Me-Ma had done.  We were out in the garage and Collin says, "Mom, Me-Ma really messed up our car!  I think I need to call Pa-Pa!"  I put my dad on speaker phone and handed it to Collin.  Collin says, "Pa-Pa, Me-Ma wrecked our car all up!  And I'm going to tell you a secret.....whenever Me-Ma gets home you need to give her a spankin'!"  I just died laughing and my dad replies, "Yeah, I think she needs one!"  I just love Collin.....not afraid to tell it like it is. :-)

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So, I had to put a picture of this on here....since we had our wreck on Wednesday, the boys have been obsessed with playing car wreck.  I walk into their playroom to find a big pile of their cars "all wrecked up", as they put it. 

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I just had to put this picture on here of Collin holding baby Hayes for the first time.  His expression just cracked me up.



Welcome to the World Hayes!

My newest nephew, Hayes Joshua, was born on Monday, August 1st at 5:02 pm.  He weighed 7 lbs 13 oz and was 21 inches long.  We were sooo excited to get to meet him.  He looks a lot like his big bro Hudson, but with a little more darker hair like his momma.  So excited to have another little boy in the family!  We love you Hayes!

Big Brother Hudson meeting Hayes for the first time and missing his momma.

Love his sweet little head....and his hair that matches momma's....we'll see if it stays that way or goes blonde. :-)

My boys were SO excited to meet baby Hayes.  Collin just couldn't wait to hold him and of course Carter wanted his turn as well.  They were so sweet with him.

We Love You Hayes and can't wait till your old enough to play with the big boys!