The Red Home

Easter

2010-04-11T06:11:00.000-07:00

Here are a few pictures from our Easter. It was a busy but good weekend. It was also out 1st Easter to celebrate with all the family in 10 years. We are so thankful to be back in Birmingham. We celebrated Easter and my brother, Fulton's, birthday on Saturday and unfortunately I forgot to take any pictures. On Easter we celebrated with the Redmond side of the family. Good food, fellowship and an Easter egg hunt. It was a great weekend!!
I need to go ahead and say that a good picture of Knox is almost impossible to get. He is a moving target and can not stay still even in his sleep. We did the best we could.
Sweet Dylan turned 1 the week before Easter. He is a precious addition to our family and we are so thankful for him.

As I look at other people's Easter pictures I am in awe of people who get all their kids looking at the camera at the same time all smiling. Amazing!! After taking many pictures of all 3 kids together this was the best one.

A friend at church took this picture and it may be my favorite Emma picture. Sweet Girl!!

HELLO!!!!!!

2010-04-09T16:12:00.000-07:00

Is anyone still out there??? Is anyone still reading this and wonder what ever happened to those Redmonds??? Well, I had a 3rd baby, started homeschooling, put a house on the market (aka tried to keep it clean ALL THE TIME), sold house, packed the ENTIRE house ourselves, loaded a truck and moved to Birmingham, AL. Then it was the holidays and before I knew it a lot of time had passed and I never posted anything. What can I say, I'm sort of busy. But I have been getting a lot of complaints about this which is really funny. See, I started this blog for the grandparents since we didn't live anywhere near them. But now we live here and they can see them whenever. So who is complaining??? My friends!!! Of course, I can't blame you, I would want to see pictures of my kids too. So I now vow (ok vow may be too strong a word). I here do swear (oh wait I'm Baptist now, I can't swear or at least not in public). I will try my hardest to post occasionally to my blog.

Halloween

2009-11-03T05:40:00.000-08:00

This year for Halloween Emma basically just wanted to wear a pretty dress so she is Arial. Knox wanted to be either a super hero or a robot. Then he saw this costume and decided it was the one. Technically it is a Power Rangers costume but he thought it was a robot with big muscles. I cheated with Dylan's costume. It is really just a cute warm cover for winter but on Halloween it turned him into "a little green monster".

We went to the Tappans to celebrate but instead of Beth hosting we had Zena the warrior princess. This is what happens to people in her house who double dip.

War Eagle

2009-10-20T09:14:00.000-07:00

For the grandparents...... sorry I haven't posted pics in a while but I have sort of forgotten to take any. Poor Dylan will have the typical 3rd child scrapbook..... empty.

Ruin It

2009-10-20T09:10:00.000-07:00

For those of you who don't read my husband's blog (www.discerningthetimes.blogspot.com) ..... well, you should. He wrote this and posted it yesterday. I need to read it everyday.

"If anyone wants to come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me."
- Jesus

Ruin it. Take it to the cross and kill it there. Daily. Your only chance is to ruin your life. Punch your IRA in the throat. Tell your investment strategist you want a life that looks ruinous to a world wild for more stuff. Look in the face of a culture bent on wealth, health and prosperity and see how their desire to save themselves has in fact ruined everything for them. Ruin your life by having people talk about your fanatical ideas behind your back. Ruin the lives of your wife and children so they will see the majestic peaks of the gospel up close instead of only in the lives of missionary biographies. Ruin your life by prizing the gospel of grace more than money. Prize it above all else and you will look like a fool. Ruin your life by ignoring the advice of pitchmen and celluloid models, who peddle a moment at the expense of eternity. Ruin your life by placing your trust in the most horrific act in all history. Ruin your life by admitting you are helpless and weak and in need.
You want life? Ruin it.

Carnita Soup

2009-10-13T05:40:00.000-07:00

For those of you who loved the carnitas recipe I posted a while back, I have another idea for you. See, when Matt and I eat the carnitas there is sooo much left over. I know, I know, I already gave the idea about freezing it and eating it later but I had another idea I tried out and YES..... success. So after you eat on it a few times, throw the leftovers in a pot with all that glorious juice and add 1 can corn, 1 can diced tomatoes, 1 can black beans and a tsp of cumin (I may have added a dash of salt too). If you like other stuff throw that in too. Let it simmer. It makes an awesome tortilla like soup. Dollop of sour cream and some shredded cheese......yummy!! Just thought I would share.

A Visit from the Heads

2009-09-18T05:12:00.000-07:00

Matt's best friend, Jonathan, and his wife, Aimee, and their son, Sam, came for a visit Labor Day weekend. Of course, we took them to see the Keeper of the Plains. We also ate out a lot and talked a lot. It was great having them here. The kids loved having Sam here to play with.

Dirt Cake

2009-09-10T14:51:00.000-07:00

Last week, for school, we talked about things close to the ground, like ants, moles, worms etc.... So I thought it would be fun to make dirt cake with worms. They LOVED it, of course!!

Dylan graduates to the saucer

2009-08-26T05:18:00.000-07:00

There are certain steps in life that show we are growing or aging. For my kids one of the first is the graduation from the bouncy seat to the saucer. All 3 of my kids have used this saucer that was given to us 2nd hand while we were in seminary. (One of the best gifts ever!!!) I just can't believe that Dylan is ready for this. He will be 5 months old in a few days. Where has the time gone? He was in his bouncy seat screaming and I picked him up and put him in the saucer. He wasn't sure what to think at first.
But then..... He LOVED it. The crying stopped and the jumping started.

We all love the saucer!!
Anyone need a well used bouncy seat? I think we are officially done with it.

My Superman

2009-08-15T05:23:00.000-07:00

Knox: "Girls love Superman"

Sunday Picnic

2009-08-15T05:17:00.000-07:00

We had a little break in the heat one Sunday and decided to go have a picnic. Here are a few pictures of the kids enjoying the day.

Mmmmmm toes!!

Sleep standing up

2009-08-11T06:46:00.000-07:00

This is how I found Knox the other night. Not quite standing up but on his feet, leaned over the bed and yes, very much asleep.

Crockpot Carnitas

2009-08-08T17:15:00.000-07:00

OK I have been slackin' on posting good recipes but that is because I have been slackin' on trying new recipes. But my friend, Molly, made this for me and I had to have the recipe because it is soooo good.

2 - 3 lb pork roast
1 can rotel
2 cans El Pato tomato sauce (this is in a bright yellow 8 oz can in the Hispanic section of the grocery store)
1 tsp cumin
dash of garlic salt
1 can chicken broth
1/2 bunch fresh cilantro, chopped

Dump all of the above in a crockpot (this is an exact science, folks). Set it on low and let it cook about 5 hours.
Then add a can of pinto beans. (This is optional)
Cook another hour
Then take roast out and shred it and add it all back to the pot and cook another hour or until you can't stand to smell it another minute without eating it. It will be soupy so either drain some of the liquid or use a slotted spoon.

This is a build your own taco sort of thing - serve with soft tortillas, cheese, sour cream, rice or whatever topping you want. I made a cilantro lime rice like they have at Chipotle:
Cook rice as directed then add chopped fresh cilantro and 2 caps of lime juice (again, exact science here).
This is such a yummy dish and would be great for a casual dinner party or for just yourself with lots of leftovers...hmmmmm!!!

Update: My friend gave me another great tip for this. If you don't want to eat all the leftovers immediantly you can put them in the freezer. Then the day you want them just dump the frozen block back into the crockpot and cook on low all day. She said by that night it will taste just as good as it did the first time...... Awesome!!

David Platt

2009-07-25T18:11:00.000-07:00

Here is Matt and Dylan watching David Platt preach on Matt's computer. Dylan sat mesmerized for at least 10 minutes. Yep, Matt, he is yours...... And who knew David Platt could give Baby Einsteins a run for their money.

Mommy's Revenge

2009-07-25T17:57:00.000-07:00

This is the story of my revenge on 2 little people in my house who thought they wanted brussels sprouts. At the ripe ages of 6 and 3, 2 of my kids think they know WAY more than Mommy knows. They got into their heads that they wanted brussels sprouts, undoubtedly from a cartoon they had watched (I mean didn't we all want spinach at one time or another because Popeye said it was good and would make us strong). So they started asking for brussels sprouts over and over and over and over..... you get the picture. I kept telling them that brussels sprouts were not good and that they would not like them. But NOOOOO, Mommy doesn't know anything and they insisted on having them. So I made them a deal. I buy you some brussels sprouts and if you like them I will buy more and if you don't then you NEVER talk about them again.

I WIN!!!!

Andover Park

2009-07-18T09:56:00.000-07:00

This is the new Andover Park not far from our house. We actually had a nice cool day so we decided to head to the park for a picnic.

July

2009-07-14T19:02:00.000-07:00

Sorry, not keeping up with this. Here are a few for the grandparents.

Do you like my hair? Bath time

Just Dylan

2009-06-16T19:39:00.000-07:00

OK, the grandparents are getting restless and I am receiving complaints via email that I haven't posted anything in a while. Honestly, I haven't taken many pictures. I was told this would happen with the 3rd child. I will do better...... I vow.

Check out those cute FAT frog legs.

I know you can't hear him because this is not a video but he was talking up a storm and having such a good time doing it that I had to take his picture.

Hang in there grandparents..... we will be there in a little over a week.

Knox's To Do list for Today

2009-06-01T16:42:00.000-07:00

Here is Knox's To Do list for Today:
1. Poop in pants in a public place
2. Say "Mommy" 100 times
3. Pull on curtain until I yank the curtain rod out of the wall
4. Drop plate of cut up pizza all over the den floor
5. Say "Mommy" another 100 times (just to be sure she heard me)
6. Poop in pants again (it's not my idea to get potty trained)
7. Pour Spaghetti-Os on the table and down my shirt
8. Pour water out of the tub and onto the floor
9. Spit in bathtub to make sister scream
10. Dump half the bottle of shampoo into the tub
*Mental Note - When in trouble, look at Mommy with big blue eyes and say "but Mommy, I still love you"

Even Superman can have a bad hair day

2009-05-27T19:30:00.001-07:00

I promise I did nothing to his hair to make it stand up like this. He woke up Sunday morning and it was standing straight up. It was hilarious. When I asked him about it he said "my hair got tall".

2 Months Old

2009-05-27T19:20:00.000-07:00

Dylan is 2 months old today. Time is really flying. Unfortunately for him we went for his 2 months check up and he had to get immunization shots. He also got weighed and measured. He weighed in at 12lb 15oz which puts him in the 79th percentile for weight. No surprise there. Emma Caroline didn't weigh that until she was 4 months. His length was 24.5 inches which puts him in the 93rd percentile. The pediatrician was impressed that he is already sleeping from 10pm to 6am. All I know is that it helps me feel so much more sane. All in all he is a big fella and still as sweet as can be.

This week at our house

2009-05-21T06:28:00.000-07:00

It has just been a pretty normal week but here are a few highlights. Knox got to take a bath all by himself, a pretty big deal when you always have to share the space with your sister. He put on her goggles and began to "swim". It was just too cute for me to not snap a few pics. Matt reading a bedtime story to all of the kids. EC will take any excuse to hold Dylan. In case you are wondering, Matt and Knox are yelling "cheese".

I love these next 2 pics not just because they are of my sweet little one but because they were taken by Emma Caroline who just LOVES to take pictures. I never know what random pictures of the garbage can or a door that I might find on my camera if I leave it laying around. So I thought I would put that desire to good use and have her take some of Dylan. Here are a few.

Knox and Dylan

2009-05-12T16:25:00.000-07:00

Just wanted to add a few pics for the grandparents and anyone else who do not get to see my kids as they grow. Here is the most recent angel face in our house. (I know, I sound like a mom) The first smile caught on camera.

My 2 sweet boys

This was not planned or asked for. Just a spontaneous kiss I happened to catch.

A busy week

2009-05-12T16:13:00.000-07:00

The end of last week was pretty busy but a lot of fun. First, I got to attend a Mother's Day Tea at Emma Caroline's school. They sang for us and gave us gifts. They also served us our dessert. It was a sweet time. It also happened to be on my birthday. Then the following Saturday there was a Ladybug Luncheon at our church that Emma Caroline and I attended together. Here we are just before leaving to go.

Then on Mother's Day they had baby dedication. On top of all that my sweet husband has cooked and cleaned, taken me out, let me go out alone, watched the kids etc..... It was a great week. (and never have I posted so many pictures of myself. At least you know I'm still around)

Emma Caroline turns 6

2009-05-12T12:29:00.000-07:00

Our sweet girl turned 6 at the end of April. She actually asked for the bat and balls and Daddy was thrilled. They have gotten out in the yard to hit a few times and she loves it. The same little girl who wanted the bat and ball loves everything girly. She got several barbies and lots of Hello Kitty things. She was thrilled with all of it.

We had a party for her and her friends at Pump it Up. I think they all had a great time.

EC and all of her friends after playing on the inflatables for and hour and a half. They were actually tired and ready for a break - Wow!!

I will probably say it every year but I can't believe how fast they grow. My baby is 6!! You are a sweet little girl, EC, and you have been a blessing to us. We love you!!

The Big Sister

2009-05-09T06:48:00.000-07:00

I had no idea she would love him so much. But I sure am glad.

The New Sprinkler

2009-05-09T06:39:00.000-07:00

EC and Knox got a new sprinkler from GeGe and DeDe who were here for a visit. We finally had some nice weather for them to try it out. It was a big hit, as you can see.

Random Dylan

2009-04-25T12:11:00.000-07:00

This post is for all our famiy and friends who want more Dylan. Here he is. Is it so wrong for me to say that he is even cuter in person????

Easter

2009-04-25T11:43:00.000-07:00

Yes, I know I'm a little behind here but hey, give me a break, I just had a baby.... Here are our Easter festivities. First, we decorated eggs, decorated egg cookies and made our traditional bunny cake. It was a fun and crazy day in my tiny kitchen. Let me start by saying how jealous I am of all my friends in B'ham sending me pics of their family outside in front of the blooming azaleas. First, we had a major blizzard 2 weeks before Easter so everything that was starting to bloom was killed. Second, we don't have azaleas in Wichita (tears tears). Third, it rained all day on Easter. Rather depressing. HOWEVER, my parents were here with us and we did get to spend the day with our Wichita family, the Tappans. We ate an amazing meal, thanks again Beth, and hung out watching the Masters on TV. The kids hunted eggs inside, which was just fine by them.

Boxer Dylan Redmond

2009-04-09T14:09:00.000-07:00

I was taking some pictures of Dylan and happened to get this cute one. Looks like he's serious about boxing. I sure hope that is NOT in his future.

Bath time

2009-04-04T11:13:00.000-07:00

My mom was a postpartum nurse for most of her life so if there is someone who knows how to handle a baby, it's my mom. So when it came time to give the little fellow a bath, I had flash backs to my other 2 kids and decided to let the pro do her thing and I would just watch, with my ear plugs in. As you can see Dylan loves bath time.

Emma, Knox and Dylan

2009-04-04T11:04:00.000-07:00

We are so thankful that Emma Caroline and Knox have been so taken with Dylan. Emma is a little mother and wants to hold and kiss and help in any way she can think of. Knox acts like Dylan has always been around and doesn't act the least bit jealous. He asks to "hold it" almost every day. He is lovin' his brother "Dywan". Emma has been wanting to feed the baby a bottle so here she is having the best time. She was so very excited to get to feed a real baby a real bottle.

Dylan Keller Redmond

2009-03-30T20:47:00.001-07:00

Dylan is here!! I went into the hospital to be induced at 6:30 am on Friday and Dylan was born at 10:29. I think we both were ready for him to enter the world. And Yep, he weighed 9lb 6 oz. By far my biggest baby. He looks huge in this picture but when you hold him he still seems tiny. You forget how small they are in the beginning. He has a head full of dark hair like his sister did. Also on the day Dylan was born we had a crazy winter storm complete with a day of sleet and then lots of snow. I think it will be refered to as the Dylan Blizzard. One proud Daddy
My sweet angel taking a little nap

I promise to post more pictures soon.

Potty Training

2009-03-19T06:10:00.000-07:00

Just for the record I have always been against posting pictures on potty training. Some things just need to be left in private, right? Then I walked pasted the bathroom yesterday and looked in and saw Knox sitting there reading with a cowboy hat on and I just had to laugh. He looked so cute I decided to grab my camera. The really funny part was when he looked up at me and said, "why you take my picture, Mommy?" You just can't explain how cute they are.

10 year anniversary

2009-03-07T14:24:00.000-08:00

I honestly can not believe that Matt and I have been married for 10 years yet at the same time, I can hardly remember life before him. It has been a wonderful 10 years and I am so thankful for such a wonderful husband. He was the answer to a 12 year old girl's prayers.

Unfortunantly, we did not get to celebrate like we would have liked to. On top of being almost 9 months pregnant I have a terrible cold. So I spent most of the day laying down. We did manage to go to dinner and have a nice time (despite the fact that I couldn't taste my food). But once we got home the fever hit and I was back in bed - AUGH!!! But my sweet husband did have these beautiful flowers delivered and it made my day.

The day may not have been how I would have planned my 10 year anniversary but looking back over the last 10 years I wouldn't trade a day or even a moment I have had with Matt. Love you, Honey!!

Sweet and Sour Chicken

2009-02-21T14:02:00.000-08:00

The main reason I am posting this recipe is because not only was it easy and good but my kids ate it and EC kept telling me how good it was. My kids are picky eaters. I try to get them to eat but it seems like every meal is a battle. When I put this on their plate they ate every bit of it without complaint. Matt and I enjoyed it too and I thought seriously about grabbing a straw and drinking the sauce. By the way it came out of a cookbook my mother-in-law gave me "Table of Grace" put out by Dawson Baptist (just in case some of you have that cookbook). Oh, and I only did half the recipe and we still had leftovers.
8 skinless, boneless chicken breasts
1 (8oz) bottle of French dressing
1 env. onion soup mix
1 (8oz - 10oz) jar apricot preserves
1 (8 oz) can crushed pineapple, undrained
Place chicken breasts in a 9x13 casserole dish. Mix remaining ingredients together and pour over chicken. Bake 1 hour at 350, basting occasionally. Serve over rice. Enjoy!!

Slacker

2009-02-15T05:46:00.000-08:00

To those who read my blog...... I am sorry for being such a slacker lately. I have gotten really bad about not posting things. But I have about 6 weeks to go until this baby comes and am having a hard time keeping up with every thing in my life. Hang in there. I promise to get better eventually and of course will post all about this baby when he decides to make an appearance.

Knox turns 3

2009-01-26T16:47:00.000-08:00

Today is Knox's 3rd birthday!!! All day when we have said "Happy Birthday, Knox", he looks up at us and says "happy birthday". Too cute.
One of the problems with having your birthday so soon after Christmas is that your parents are still frustrated with the multitude of toys you just got and they don't want to buy any more. We certainly didn't want to buy anything with lots of pieces, augh!!! Then I got this idea from my friend Becky..... a trampoline. So, that is what Knox got and he loves it. (thanks Becky) He got a few other things too but still takes most of his delight in just opening the gift regardless of what it is.

When we asked Knox what he wanted for his birthday his answer was always the same, "cake". Nothing fancy but he sure was excited.

Me and my sweet little boy who is growing up WAY too fast. What a blessing you have been to us Knox. We are so thankful that God gave you to us and we love you.

Thai Pesto Shrimp

2009-01-23T16:51:00.000-08:00

I made Thai Pesto Shrimp for dinner and it was awesome!!! It is in the February issue of Southern Living or you can click here for the recipe. My husband said it was restaurant worthy and he would order it again. (:

Hobby Lobby

2009-01-16T05:56:00.000-08:00

Emma Caroline, with her speech issues, has given us many reasons to laugh over the years. Part of her problem is retrieving information she has in her head. So sometimes, when she is trying to say something, it doesn't come out right. Last night was a good example of that. Matt was sharing one of his favorite things with the kids, a big jar of Jelly Belly jellybeans. Matt handed a bright red one to EC and she promptly said, "no thanks, I don't like those. They taste like Hobby Lobby." This of course made Matt and I look at each other with very confused looks. Both of us trying to figure out what she meant by that. Then she said, "it is too spicy" and it hit us, not Hobby Lobby, she meant Hot Tamales. Gotta love it.

Fun at the Mall

2009-01-12T08:13:00.000-08:00

When we are in B'ham we always have to go to the Galleria and ride the carousel. At Christmas all the animals are reindeer. EC loves it, Knox is still a little scared but Daddy was there to keep everyone safe. And yes, please make note that Knox has his thumb in his mouth and his finger up his nose. Gotta love it.

4th and final Christmas

2009-01-12T07:56:00.000-08:00

After spending the morning with my family and eating lunch, we headed back to the Redmond's for the final Christmas party of the day. The Redmond party is fun but chaos since there are so many of us. Here is EC with her Uncle Bobby. Knox with Julie and proof that there are blondes in the family.

The boy cousins: Knox, Tyler and Trey

OK, so EC got this cute ATM machine (which is really a piggy bank with accessories). But the funny thing was how excited her 21 year old cousin Rachel got about it. I think we know what we can get Rachel for Christmas next year.

Did I mention it is a little chaotic? I couldn't even see EC opening her presents until the mound of presents dwindled a bit.

The whole Redmond crew.

3rd Christmas

2009-01-12T07:13:00.000-08:00

Ok, technically this picture was not taken on Christmas. A few days before Christmas MiMi and the kids made this cute gingerbread house. It all came in a kit and was so easy to put together. Thankfully my mom had the brilliant idea to buy more candy so that some could be eaten while the house was being decorated. I'm not sure my kids ever came off the sugar high but we all had a fun time decorating the little house. So, after opening presents with the Redmonds we headed to the Ramsay side to have our 3rd Christmas with my family. Of course, the kids got a ton of stuff but mainly just liked opening the gifts. I think I could have wrapped a bunch of empty boxes and they would have been happy.

These Superman PJs came complete with a cape. So cute!!

EC got a Barbie and a Ken doll with lots of clothes. It took me back in time (except that Barbie's clothes weren't that skimpy when I was little.)

2nd Christmas

2009-01-12T05:52:00.000-08:00

2nd Christmas was on Christmas morning at the Redmond's. This was just us giving our kids the rest of their gifts, Santa's gifts, Matt and I exchanging gifts and Mr. and Mrs. Redmond exchanging gifts. It was a fun morning. After eating a great breakfast we headed over to my parent's house for our 3rd Christmas.

1st Christmas

2009-01-09T17:28:00.001-08:00

Since we were spending Christmas in Birmingham we had a mini Christmas here before we left. The main reason we did that is because we had 1 big present for Knox that we couldn't take with us and 1 present for EC that we thought she might like to play with in the car. So here is our "1st Christmas". Here is Knox's big present. Some super sweet and generous friends gave us this train table and train set. As you can tell from his face, Knox loved it. The funny thing is that I think EC has had just as much fun with it as Knox. YEAH!!

Thoughts on Christmas

2008-12-18T11:37:00.000-08:00

As I grow older, have babies of my own and grow in my knowledge and love of God's word, my thoughts on Christmas have changed. Some of this is influenced also by books I read and songs I hear. One song, Labor of Love by Andrew Peterson, moves me to tears every time I hear it. As a child, being innocent, as all children should be, I, of course, did not have a clue what Mary was going through. I just looked at nativity scenes that showed a woman who looked to be in her 30's kneeling and praying to a fat baby in a very clean manger with a halo around his head and thought that must have been what it looked like, right? Not even close. She was a teenage who had been through a traumatic 9 months, traveled a long journey with her new husband, given birth to her first child in a barn on some smelly hay with an audience of livestock. She was probably in terrible pain, bloody, cold, filthy, scared out of her mind and no clue what to do. Then she has this baby who is the son of God but he looks just like any other baby. There was no earthquake, no royalty, no purple robe to wrap him in, just an occasional moo and neigh. What must she have been thinking? The promised child. The one she and her people had been waiting for for hundreds of years to save them and here they are in a barn, in the dark, in a small town. And who should show up to see the baby but some smelly shepherds saying some angels had told them to come. Shepherds, the riff-raff of society. THAT is who God sent his choir of angels to to proclaim that the Messiah had come. Not to a palace, not to a large city to tell hundreds of people. No, to some shepherds on a hillside in the middle of the night. Think about it. The whole thing is preposterous. BUT this was the grand plan of God put in place before the stars that gave them light that night had even been created. What a picture the whole thing makes because I can see myself so clearly in it. I am the smelly stable, the scared girl, the riff - raff shepherds. I am the one He came to redeem. And He wasn't just any baby, He was "the maker of the moon, the Author of the faith that could make the mountains move." He was the Son of God who grew into a man who hung on the cross in terrible pain, bloody, cold and filthy. But unlike his mother He knew exactly what he was doing. All praise to God with His crazy plan to save riff-raff like me.

Let it Snow, let it snow, let it snow

2008-12-17T06:12:00.000-08:00

We woke up to about 3 inches of beautiful snow yesterday. The wind was NOT blowing so it lay peacefully. So much more enjoyable than last time. I don't have pictures of the kids in it because they never went out to play. Like I said before, life goes on even when it snows and we had too much going on. You can't really see it in this picture but my favorite thing to see is the snow in the trees. I love how it lines each limb white on brown or how it lays in the pines like a "flocked" Christmas tree. I would start singing "I'm dreaming of a white Christmas", but we are heading to B'ham where it has been in the 70's for the past week. Oh well, maybe another year.

Paint or not to paint.....

2008-12-13T06:40:00.001-08:00

Looks like a dang Christmas card if you ask me. But that is not why I am posting this. We have now been in our house for almost 7 months and I have been prego almost the whole time which means I have done little to make this house mine. I re-did a bathroom and painted the downstairs bedroom and playroom and had carpet put in but have done almost nothing upstairs. I desperately need to paint the den and plan on doing that (I mean, have Matt do it) before the baby comes. I will probably do it a light khaki. This is a dark room with just 1 sliding glass door and no windows. At one end of the room is the fireplace and bookshelves. The big question is do I paint them a lighter color? Some kind of paint treatment, not just plain white. The floors are hardwood laminate and did I mention it is dark in here. So what do y'all think? And no I won't be doing it until after the baby is born.

Our First Wichita Snow

2008-12-10T06:27:00.000-08:00

Right after we got up Tuesday morning it began to snow. The kids loved watching it come down. It continued to snow most of the day. The wind was also blowing hard so it was almost impossible to be out in it for more than a few minutes. Knox looks happy hear but he wasn't a big fan. Right after this picture he picked up some snow and said "it's cold, it's cold" and burst into tears. And through his sobs he was saying over and over "go inside, go inside".

When you live outside of the South and it snows, life still goes on. We went to MOPS (a get together for Mothers of Preschoolers) that morning and everyone was there. But I chickened out of driving EC to school. Matt went to work but came home early to enjoy a few minutes of snow and a lot of time in front of the fire.

EC warming up with a cup of hot chocolate. I can't believe my baby is drinking hot chocolate.

Christmas Around the World

2008-12-08T10:57:00.000-08:00

Last week Emma Caroline had her school Christmas program. It truly was the best kindergarten program I have seen. They sang a few songs and did hand motions. Everyone sang and everyone did the motions. It was great. The theme was Christmas around the world and they showed video of missionary kids around the world and what Christmas was like for them. Great program. This is EC with her wonderful sweet teacher.

Happy Thanksgiving

2008-11-29T07:04:00.000-08:00

I have only been away from home on Thanksgiving 2 other times. The first time I was in Sydney, Australia celebrating with my best friend, Abby. The second time Matt and I were in St.Louis and I was very pregnant with Emma Caroline. This was #3 and we are in Wichita Kansas celebrating with the Tappans. We may be in Kansas but we at least celebrated with Southern friends who make cornbread dressing. All jokes aside, we have been so blessed by our friendship with the Tappan family. God has always been faithful to provide us with good friends wherever we have lived and he has done that again with the Hugh and Beth. As Hugh prayed before we ate, God gave us new friends who have become family. The 3 little monkeys
A spread even my mama would have been proud of. There was so much food for only 9 people, we hardly put a dent in it.

New Haircut

2008-11-25T09:20:00.000-08:00

Well, I have had it. I can't take it if one more person calls my little boy a girl. No matter how much blue clothing with trains, footballs, and animals I put on him, he is still called a she. So I did it and I didn't cry...... at least not at the salon. He looks cute, just so totally different. He aged before my eyes. OK, I need to stop typing before I start crying.

Great Big Turkey

2008-11-25T05:57:00.000-08:00

So, I am rather proud of myself. I made these cookies for EC's Thanksgiving party and they turned out cute if I do say so myself. But if you ever decide to do this, buy your candy corn at Halloween. Because if you go looking for them the week of Thanksgiving you will be out of luck. Thanksfully, my kids had some left over and it was just enough. I also thought I would share a little song with you that I grew up hearing my mom sing. It is a family favorite:

There's a great big turkey on Grandpa's farm and he thinks he's very gay.
He can stretch his tail into a great big fan and strut around all day.
You can hear him gobble at the girls and boys
cause he thinks he's singing when he makes that noise.
He'll sing his tune another way
up on Thanksgiving Day.

Hot Apple Cider

2008-11-23T16:08:00.000-08:00

A lady from my Bible Study brought a crockpot of cider one morning and I think I had 2 or 3 cups. It was wonderful. I LOVE cider but am always let down by the packets or store bought jugs of cider. This recipe is great. I actually half the recipe. Then after Matt and I drink a cup or 3 I pour the leftovers back into the apple juice jug and store in the fridge. Then all I have to do is warm it up a cup at a time in the microwave. Enjoy!!
1 gallon apple juice
2 cups pineapple juice
2 cups orange juice
6 Tbs lemon juice
7 whole cloves
2 cinnamon sticks
1 cup sugar
-Mix and simmer 20 minutes

Dragon Tales

2008-11-17T07:23:00.000-08:00

So ever since Halloween, Knox has wanted to wear his Spiderman costume everyday. His "sissy" has about a dozen costumes to wear but unless he wants to be a princess he only has the one, Spiderman. I was telling this to a friend of mine and so she surprised me with this cute dragon costume for Knox. He wanted to put it on immediately. So what is up with that face, you ask? I have no idea. But he had the most pitiful look on his face the entire time he was wearing it. I kept asking if he wanted to take the costume off and he insisted, "NO". The next day he wanted to put it on again but this time no sad face. Who knows what goes through the mind of a 2 year old. Thanks, Julieanne, for the costume.

Oh, The Things They Say

2008-11-12T09:35:00.001-08:00

So, I'm walking into Walmart this morning with Emma Caroline and Knox when we pass a place in the parking lot where someone had spilled an entire can of white paint. Emma Caroline saw it and loudly said, "Mommy, that is the biggest bird poop I have ever seen!" Oh my.

Another EC Update

2008-11-09T16:28:00.000-08:00

I realized today that I never did post the final diagnosis on all of Emma Caroline's tests. After having CT scans, MRI, blood work and an upper GI she was diagnosed with Cyclical Vomiting Syndrome. I can't quite explain the range of emotions that went through me when I was told that. My first thought was "no duh". But that isn't nice to day to a doctor (right, Jonathan). I am, of course, so glad that it isn't something terrible. There are no tumors in the brain or tears in the stomach. But to go through all the pain, time and expense to find out that she just throws up from time to time is, well, a bit frustrating. But we got some new drugs and plan of attach for the next time it happens. If that doesn't help we will consider a daily medication. The best hope given is that this is not something rare and crazy. Our doctor treats other kids with this. Plus, she should grow out of it.

About the same time as all of these tests, EC had a new speech evaluation. That went really well. We have seen such improvement over the last year and she is doing really well in school. The speech therapist recommended 3 to 6 months of therapy just to "tweak a few things". But thinks that may be all she needs. We then had her parent teacher conference and it couldn't have gone better. All in all she is doing good and we are so happy to see her growing into such a sweet young lady. Thanks to everyone for your prayers and words of encouragement.

It's a boy!!!

2008-11-06T16:08:00.000-08:00

For those of you that I have talked to about this baby, you will know that today was a shocking day for me. I have been so sure that this baby was a girl I even told people that I was going to have an ultrasound to confirm it was a girl. Imagine my surprise when we are told it is a boy. Matt actually spotted "it" before the lady told us. My first response was, "what"? I am thrilled to be having a boy, just surprised. Emma Caroline on the other hand was not so pleased. She has been saying since day 1 that she wanted it to be a girl. When I asked her if it would be OK if God gave us a boy and not a girl she said simply "no". But she enjoyed seeing the baby today and was easily appeased with the promise of going to Panera for lunch and having Sprite.
One of the coolest parts was getting to see the baby with the 3-D ultrasound. It was like looking right at him. That is the picture above. The ones below are the regular ultrasound. Sorry these aren't real clear but I don't have a scanner hooked up.
All in all the ultrasound went good. He looks to be healthy and growing as he should. Now the hard part starts...... deciding on a name.

Pumpkin Muffins

2008-11-05T06:40:00.000-08:00

I got this recipe off the blog of a friend of mine here in Wichita. It looked too easy. My kids love muffins and EC keeps talking about pumpkin soup, pumpkin pie etc.... The problem is, Matt does not like pumpkin in any form or fashion so I thought this would be a great idea for us. The kids and I can eat the muffins and then I don't have tempting pumpkin pie sitting around my house calling out to me to eat it. So here is the recipe:
1 box yellow cake mix (or butter or whatever you feel crazy enough to try)
1 2/3 cups of Pumpkin Pie filling (NOT plain canned pumpkin)
-Mix the DRY cake mix and the PP filling together. The batter is thick, just keep stirring to get it all incorporated. Then fill muffin tins 2/3 full and bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes.
Makes about 18 muffins.
THAT'S IT!!
If you wanted to jazz them up even more, you could add nuts or a cream cheese frosting. The other great thing is that the can of Pumpkin Pie filling has enough to make this recipe twice. We will be having these again next week. Thanks again for the recipe, Sharon!!

Fall Family Festival

2008-11-04T05:50:00.000-08:00

This past Sunday was our church's Fall Family Festival. There was a car show (for those reading who don't live in Wichita, rebuilding old cars is a big thing here), face painting, pony rides, a petting zoo, lots of inflatables, a hay ride, prairie surfing (another one I should explain but won't do it now), a chili competition, bonfire and smores. It was a lot of fun and the kids (I'm including Matt in that - see below) had a blast.
You can't see it but this is EC and Knox sitting on a pony. EC took a ride and Knox said he wanted to do it too. I doubted him so when EC got back we just sat him up there. He immediately started yelling "no Mommy, no". So we got a quick picture and moved on.
Here is Matt in an intense competition with 2 other men in our church. If you want a good laugh, click on the picture to enlarge it and take a good look at their faces.

Trick-or-Treat

2008-11-01T07:13:00.000-07:00

Here are my 2 cuties dressed up for some Trick-or-Treating. I was thrilled that EC wanted to be Snow White again (one less costume to buy) and that a friend gave us the Spiderman costume for Knox. Am I cheap or what? Actually, Knox was not at all interested in his costume and a little freaked out about the mask when we first got it. So I put him in front of the full length mirror and helped him put it all on and then wondered if I would ever be able to get him to take it off. I thought he was going to try and eat dinner with that mask on. He LOVED it. Honestly, I don't even know how he knows who Spiderman is. I think little boys are just born knowing that stuff.It was a fun night. Probably my best Halloween as a mom yet. We went to a friends house and ate dinner together and then the Daddys to all the crazy kids out while the Mommys stayed at the house to hand out candy (sitting in comfy chairs, eating candy, and having uninterrupted conversation - it's a tough job but someone had to do it.). But I am glad to report that the kids had a great time, were polite to other trick-or-treaters and said thank you. I'm so proud.

Happy Birthday Matt

2008-10-28T11:27:00.001-07:00

Yesterday was Matt's birthday. I don't think I took a single picture to document the day. I am really slacking on the picture taking lately. But anyway, I was leaving the house with the kids to go eat lunch with him and I looked down, on the garage floor, and saw this. It was so tiny I thought it was an earthworm. Then I poked it with a leaf and it raised it's head up and I could see it's little tongue hissing at me. No doubt this was a gift left to us by our cat. Thanks a lot, Aubie. I wasn't sure what to do (besides take a picture so I could post on my blog about it). Then I remembered it was my sweet husband's birthday and if there is one thing he HATES in this world it is snakes. So I grabbed the spade and wacked the little snakes head off. Happy Birthday, Honey!!!

I Love Fall

2008-10-27T12:40:00.000-07:00

I just love Fall!!! Maybe it's the beautiful colors. Maybe it's the pumpkins. Maybe it's the food - soups and hot drinks. Or maybe I love Fall because it is the end of the God forsaken season called Summer. For whatever reason, I love Fall. So here is my post to toast Fall. The below picture is for my mom. This is what you see when you look out my kitchen window. While my mom was here she said, in a few weeks you will have a beautiful view. She was right and since she isn't here to see it I thought I would post a picture. Just think, if one season can be so beautiful, what will heaven be like? I can't wait to see it.Honestly, I have been a bit surprised at how cold it has already gotten. No snow YET but we had a freeze last night and tonight it is suppose to go into the 20's. So a few nights ago we had our first fire in the fireplace and a big pot of some scrumptious (EC's favorite adjective) chili.

Did I mention that I really like Fall???

God - Our Great Provider

2008-10-23T11:28:00.000-07:00

Sorry for another post with no picture but the only picture I could think to add to this story is one of my already big belly and who really wants to see that.....NOT ME!!! So, this is pregnancy #3 and you would think with the 2 big bags of maternity clothes that I moved here with that I would be in good shape. Well, I have taken them all out and washed and sorted. Granted I have a lot of hand-me-down clothes which I have been so thankful for BUT Sunday I am trying to find something to wear and I have nothing.....NOTHING. I realized that all my clothes are stained, very dated, stretched out, have holes in them, or are too big. I was almost in tears by the time I got to church. Being pregnant is hard enough. I get big, my skin looks like the average 13 year old's and my emotions are all over the place and now I have nothing to wear and frankly can't go buy a bunch of clothes. The very next day I get a card from my sweet Mama in the mail with money inside for maternity clothes. Being the prego that I am I immediately burst into tears. I also realized that I had not even prayed about it, just worried (which is what I do). So I decided to start praying about it. Today I get a card from a couple in my church with a gift card to a maternity store. Yes, you heard me. Our God is an awesome provider. I had not said a word to anyone (except Matt) about what I needed and yet God moved in them to provide for a need that I had. Don't you just love it when that happens? I hope this has encouraged y'all like it encouraged me.

Curtain rod

2008-10-19T06:08:00.000-07:00

OK, let me begin by saying this is one of my very random posts but it is such a good tip, I had to share it. So does anyone out there buy those 8 ft wooden curtain rods from Bed, Bath and Beyond? You know, the ones that cost $40 to $45 dollars. I have bought several in my day. After this last move I lost all my curtain rods because leaving them was part of the sale. Well, I was watching one of my favorite shows, Designed to Sell, the other night and they said you could buy an unfinished rod at the hardware store for $10. I couldn't believe it. So I headed to Lowe's (which I could spend forever just walking around) and found the "rods" in the lumber section. They were back with the crown molding and hand rails for stairs. You can buy them in various lengths. I bought an 8 ft piece for $12. Then you can either stain it or spray paint it. That adds on another $2 to $5 depending on what you do. Is that not AWESOME!?! So, since I saved so much I decided I needed to get the word out to anyone else out there who spends WAY to much money on curtain rods.

"Christmas" Pictures

2008-10-15T06:54:00.000-07:00

For those of you who are so lucky as to get a Christmas card from us, here is your preview. Yes, I already have gotten my Christmas card pictures made. If you are impressed, you are not nearly as impressed as I am with myself. I am that mom doing the mad scramble mid December trying desperately to snap just 1 good shot of the kids in a cute outfit in the back yard or in front of the tree. This year, being way past due for some family pictures, I decided to take them with Christmas cards in mind. I love Portrait Innovations because just when all is going bad, they some how manage to get 1 or 2 good pictures. Here were some of my favorites. Sorry the white background is not showing up good on the blog. If you want to see a larger version, just click on the picture.

Christmas CD

2008-10-11T05:35:00.001-07:00

So EC has a CD with 2 Christmas songs on it that she needs to learn for the Christmas program at church. We have now been listening to this CD for a few weeks, 2 songs over and over and over...... you get the picture. The only thing getting me through is hearing my 2 kids sing, sometimes at the top of their lungs. One of the songs sounds like this:
Jesus, Jesus Oh what a wonderful child
Jesus, Jesus so lumpy (lowly) meek and mild......

Then Knox chimes in on the chorus:
Bory (glory), bory, bory to the newborn King

I hope I never forget these times. OK, maybe I could forget some of the things.....

Visit from my mom

2008-10-11T05:26:00.000-07:00

I looked forward to my mom's visit for a while and now it has come and gone. We had a great time and it was wonderful having the extra help. We didn't do anything touristy except eat out a few times. Mainly we sat around and talked and played with the kids. I think it was exactly what she wanted to do. Thanks again for coming, Mom. Wish it could have been for longer.

The Andover Parade

2008-10-01T12:43:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite things in Greenwood was the annual Christmas parade down Grand Blvd. I will probably cry the first Friday in December this year since we will not be there. But here in Andover they have what is called Greater Andover Days. It is a weekend full of activities including a parade. No, we weren't bundled up drinking hot chocolate in front of the Smith's house but it was fun just the same. We met up with the Stout family who had scored a great spot under a tree and we enjoyed the cool breeze of the morning. EC was ready and excited since she remembers the Greenwood parade and it was also one of her favorites. Knox on the other hand wasn't so sure. When the motorcycles started us off he jumped in my lap and put his hands over his ears and said "I scared." But once the parade started and he realized they were throwing candy from the floats all fear was gone. And boy do they throw a lot of candy. We came home with a big bag, Halloween came a month early as far as I'm concerned.
One of the things we always had in the Greenwood parade was a really big tractor (or whatever it was. I never was good with the names of farm equipment.) Well, we had tractors in this parade too.
But NEVER in my life have I seen a military helicopter in a parade. This picture does NOT do it justice. It was HUGE. Very impressive and definantly the highlight as far as I was concerned. And yes that is a very big gun the nice man waving is sitting behind and it didn't shoot out candy.

Mommy in Training

2008-09-25T05:35:00.000-07:00

So, last night I am laying on the couch with the usual nausea that I have been battling for what now seems like forever. EC wanted to play tag and I was trying to explain that my tummy hurt but she kept asking. So I reminded her that when her tummy hurts and she is lying on the couch we don't ask her to get up and run around. We let her just lay there. This explanation worked. She walked out of the room and came back with a bowl and said "Mommy, when you need to throw up, just throw up in the bowl." Then she walked back to her room and brought me her newest favorite stuffed animal. "You can have it. It will make you feel better" she says. Then she brings me a book and says "sometimes I like to look at a book". This went on until I had most of her favorite things around me. Then she said, "Mommy, I need to look in your mouth......yep, you have a red throat. I need to look at your tummy.....yep, it looks like it has a baby in there." By this time I have almost forgotten the nausea and am trying not to laugh. A little later I am struggling to get them ready for bed when she says "Mommy, I will sleep with you tonight to make sure you are OK" (Either Matt or I always sleep in her room when she is sick to help her during the night). This was the best to me. It is so obvious that she has picked up on every thing we say and do and I was so touch that she wanted to show that same love to me. It made my day.

EC update

2008-09-24T12:50:00.000-07:00

We finally heard back from the blood work that was taken while EC was in the hospital. The Dr. said that everything was within normal range and she didn't see anything that stood out to her. So the next step is to go see the pediatric gastroenterologist. Sounds like loads of fun to do with your 5 year old who has already been poked, prodded and tested more than most. Please pray that this next step will go well and mainly that we will get some answers, preferably before she has another "episode".
Today, I took EC to the dentist for a normal checkup. Thankfully, I think she inherited her Daddy's teeth and all looked good (no cavities). Then just as I am feeling good and have only a slight death grip on my wallet he hits me with this bit of info. You know those little kids you see who have gaps between all their teeth and you think to yourself, "poor thing, at least they are only baby teeth and the next round should fill up all the spaces". Well, turns out those kids probably wont need braces. Then there is my precious little girl who appears to have beautiful teeth all close together and the dentist telling me to start a college fund and a braces fund (I kid you not). She hasn't even lost her first tooth and he is prophesying doom and gloom. For pete's sake.....I need a nap.

First Football Game

2008-09-23T16:28:00.000-07:00

We live in a town called Andover (sort of a suburb of Wichita). About 7 years ago the Andover school got too big so instead of building a bigger school they split the school in 2 - Andover and Andover Central. When they did this they created an intense rivalry between the schools. Once a year these 2 schools play each other in what may be the biggest game of the year. The Stout family invited us to cook out with them and then head to the game. I was afraid that with the kids this would be miserable. But, much to my surprise, they did great. This was their first ever football game and everyone had a great time. Or maybe I should say our side of the field did since we were on the Andover side and they one (for the first time since this rivaly began). Good times, Thanks Stout Family!!!

Kraft Food

2008-09-18T14:31:00.000-07:00

The lady who lived in this house before me was signed up for about a dozen different catalogues. Most do not interest me until I got this one. It is a free catalogue that is sent out by Kraft Foods. It is genius of them to do because it is full of recipes using their products. Now I really do love to cook and I love to be adventurous and use crazy ingredients. Problem is I have 2 small kids who's idea of adventurous eating is picking it up off the floor and eating it. This little catalogue is full of easy recipes that don't require a lot of ingredients. I have only tried a few so far and have had some success. Don't expect gourmet here but if you need a few easy new things to try for dinner you might want to check it out or just go to their website www.kraftfoods.com

Sick again

2008-09-12T10:10:00.000-07:00

Many of you know that our sweet Emma Caroline has dealt with stomach problems since she was 2. She has been hospitalized once before for dehydration and has come really close to it several other times. We have scratched our heads over this problem and have never been given any good answers. Well, the sickness struck again last Thursday morning. I called our new Dr for a appointment. I wanted her to see it first hand in hopes that she would run tests or send me to a specialist. She took some blood and called me 2 hours later and said that EC was already dehydrated and we needed to take her to the ER. My wonderful friend Beth went with me and we spent the next 4 hours in the ER. They gave her nausea medicine and a liter of fluid by IV and sent us home. But EC immediately got sick again. She did sleep through the night but still couldn't keep anything down in the morning. So I called the Dr. and they admitted her into the hospital. The Dr on call agreed that this was not viral and not normal and wanted to run a bunch of tests to find what was really causing this. So first she had a CT scan and then an MRI to rule out anything wrong in her brain. THANKFULLY nothing was wrong there. So they drew more blood for other tests but we won't get those results for a week. After several hours of fluids and sleep and then some crackers, EC started to perk up. Once she turns that corner she gets back to herself very quickly. They let us go home late Saturday afternoon. Many of you knew about this and have been praying. We can not tell you how encouraging that has been to us. We are so thankful for friends who pray and for our Heavenly Father who hears and answers. I will keep y'all updated when we hear back from the tests. I guess the only think I would ask you to pray for now is that we would get answers so that we can help EC not have this problem anymore.

Labor Day

2008-09-07T06:05:00.001-07:00

There is a park here that has a name but no one calls it by its name. Here it is called the "Duck Park" and with good reason. There are SOOO many ducks. The weather on Labor Day was just perfect so we decided to go to the Duck Park. We took our bread along with us which is the best way to get all 200 ducks attention. These ducks will actually chase you down to get fed. They have no fear. The feeling is mutual when it comes to Knox. He LOVES the ducks and he also has no fear. Hear he is trying to get close enough to either hug or grab one, not sure which. Did I hear someone say AFLAC?

Not sure who ate more bread Knox or the ducks. "Some for you, some for me..."
Our superstar EC on the playground. They love this playground and I do too. Mainly because I can just sit and watch.
A different shot of the park. Here we are on the top of the waterfall. You will be able to see it in the next picture. Again, notice Matt keeping Knox from falling in....no fear.
The pretty waterfall. We had a great time and decided to go get a Papa John's pizza, which Knox ate 2 whole pieces of. Not sure where he puts it.

Mr. Redmond

2008-09-05T12:48:00.000-07:00

Please be in prayer for my father-in-law, Robert Redmond. They were vacationing out in Yellowstone when he started having some heart problems. He has been plagued with this for years. They started driving back to Wichita and stopped for the night in Hays, Kansas, about 3 hours northwest of here. They ended up having to take him to the local hospital during the night. Thankfully it turned out to be a really good hospital. The original plan was to do a heart catheter on Friday and then possibly release him. But they realized that they needed to replace his pacemaker with one that has a defibrillator in it. The plan is to do this on Monday or Tuesday. Please pray that this goes well. Pray for peace for Mrs. Redmond, as well, since they are far from home. Also, we may be having some of Matt's family flying up for the surgery. Pray for safety all around. We have so many times called upon our brothers and sisters in Christ to pray with and for us. It is always such an encouragement to know that we have friends, literally all over the country, praying. Thank you to those who have already been praying and for the encouraging words we have already received.

The Keeper of the Plains

2008-08-29T08:49:00.000-07:00

I guess this is like Birmingham's Vulcan or New York's Statue of Liberty (just maybe a little smaller). This is the Keeper of the Plains. It is a beautiful metal statue down by the Arkansas (pronounced ar-Kansas here) River. We took the Redmonds down to see it while they were here visiting but somehow I managed not to get them in a single picture. Sorry about that.
Before we moved here we had an informational book about Wichita that had a picture of this statue on the front. EC use to look at that book and ask us questions about Wichita so she was very excited to see "the Indian" in person. Walking across the really cool bridge to get there.
Don't ask me what I did to deserve this pose and smile. He volunteered it and I took advantage of the moment.

First Day of Kindergarten

2008-08-25T08:14:00.000-07:00

Emma Caroline finally started to school. I say finally because she has been talking about it everyday for the past 2 months. She is going to a private Christian school here and we are just so excited about it. But when she put on this uniform she seemed to grow before our eyes. She loved her first day and is looking forward to more. She actually only goes half a day and not until the afternoon. Which means, I take her, come home, put Knox down for a nap and I have almost 3 hours all to myself.....YEAH!!!! Who knows what all I could get done. I don't because I'll be taking a nap for the first few weeks. (: Yeah school!!

Welcome to the Jungle

2008-08-25T07:54:00.001-07:00

So, on our last visit to the zoo we discovered an exhibit we had not seen before. It is called the Jungle and well, it looks like a jungle, except that you are inside. I have to say I was quite impressed with this. For one, the growth is beautiful. But secondly there are animals out, meaning not in cages. There are some in cages, a sloth, some crazy looking squirrels, monkeys oh and a komodo dragon, a big one. But there are other animals just out. This was a crazy looking bird. The pictures don't do it justice. But it was just walking down the path.

Looking up there were huge bats hanging in the trees. I am assuming they were not dangerous since they here just hanging out up in the trees. These were not small. They were probably about a foot long.

Then there were these beautiful birds just sitting on a limb. You can't tell but this guy was eyeing me as much as I was eyeing him.

There is also a "stream" with sting rays, a "pond" with some of the biggest fish I have ever seen. You could actually go under the pond and see them swimming all around you. This was the kid's favorite part. And lastly a water fall that you can walk behind. We didn't take pictures of anything else that day. Nothing else compared to the Jungle. Have I mentioned we love our zoo?

A Knox update

2008-08-25T07:45:00.000-07:00

I wanted to give a double update on my sweet boy, Knox. First, he is doing great. He was puny a few days but the day the grandparents got here he was all better!!! As far as his hair (and clothes)....well, I decided to keep both, but I did give him a trim. He may be my only little boy and it won't be long before he will be telling me what he will on wont wear. Besides, he is just too cute like this.

What a week

2008-08-21T09:44:00.000-07:00

This has been a week of sickness at our house. This time it was Knox with some kind of stomach bug. I will spare you the details but lets just say I have gone through a few packs of diapers this week. So I had to take EC to the doctor to have a physical to start school and had to take Knox along of course. I mentioned our problem to the doc and she suggested the B.R.A.T. diet and if he still had a problem in 2 weeks then bring him back..... 2 WEEKS!!!! So we leave the doctor and I have got to run to Walmart (desperately needed more diapers and some extra strength Tide). While running through the store Knox "gets sick". Yep, I was that mom. You've seen her before. And in the back of your mind you wondered, "what is she thinking bringing a sick kid to Walmart". Well, on behalf of "those" moms everywhere, I DIDN'T KNOW HE WAS GOING TO DO THAT!!! Thankfully, I had picked up a pack of wipes already so I cleaned up the best I could (even the floor) and got the heck out of there. We got home and he did it again. Let me just remind you here that I am still very nauseous pretty much the whole day. These are the times my mom says you forget. I hope so. The only thing getting me through this week is the reminder that my wonderful in-laws are on their way for a visit, Praise the Good Lord above!!!

My little Blueberry

2008-08-18T08:59:00.000-07:00

Ok, so my baby is now about the size of a blueberry according to the weekly update I get from BabyCenter.com. So how come my stomach is soooo much bigger? At this rate I will be in maternity clothes before my 3rd month, how embarrassing. I guess the biggest problem is my very short list of things that sound good:
Grill cheese or cheese toast
Pepperoni pizza
tatter tots - oh my, these are good
Cheesy potato soup (from Jason's Deli)
an occasional hamburger with nothing but cheese, mayo and ketchup
Do you realize this is the diet of a 5 year old and a college student. I steer clear of this kind of stuff as much as I can normally. At the rate I'm going I'll gain all my pregnancy weight before the end of my 1st trimester.
Several of y'all have asked if we will find out what we are having. If you know me at all, you know that I am WAY to practical to not find out. I have clothes to go through and wash and most of all a name to come up with. I really don't want to have to come up with 2 names, 1 is hard enough. Besides, it's going to be a surprise, I just get to decide when I get the surprise, right?

Baby #3

2008-08-13T10:49:00.000-07:00

Some of you may have noticed that I have slowed a little on posting. Well, that would be because every opportunity I have to myself I go lay down. Yep, we are expecting baby #3!!! This was a little bit of a surprise but we are excited just the same. I am due March 31st so we have a long way to go. I got to go have an ultrasound today and see our baby who is currently the size of a grain of rice. As I have told some others I said I don't know which is more amazing the technology to see the grain of rice and hear the heartbeat or the fact that this tiny baby has a heartbeat already. It stops me and puts me in awe of our God who is so good to us. Please pray with us that this will be a good pregnancy (that I can make it through the nausea with 2 kids running around) and for a healthy baby.

Italian Hoagies (in the crockpot)

2008-08-06T10:42:00.000-07:00

I'm still on a crockpot kick, especially since the oven in my new house makes half the house way too hot for summer time. So I found this recipe on a blog but I have no idea which one (not one I have visited before) so I can't give anyone credit, sorry. But I thought it sounded like something Matt would like so I made it. It was very good and so easy. Probably too spicy for kids. My kids don't really like shredded roast yet so I didn't even try.

Italian Hogies:
2lb beef roast
1 envelope of dry italian dressing/ seasoning mix
1 jar of peppercino peppers - mild (you find them on the pickle isle)

Put the roast in the crockpot. Dump the entire jar of peppers and all the juice on top then sprinkle with seasoning. Turn it on low and let it go 8 hours. Then I shredded the whole thing with 2 forks. We put it on hoagie rolls topped it with swiss cheese and toasted it in the oven until the cheese melted. Then we dipped it in a little bowl of the juice that left in the crockpot. We ate on it until the rolls were gone and then Matt made quesadillas with some of the meat. That was good too. It is a little spicy but I can't handle much spice and I enjoyed it. Just a good easy meal. Would probably make 6 to 8 sandwiches depending on how much meat you put on each.

Playday and Popsicles

2008-08-06T10:32:00.000-07:00

Rigdon was Emma Caroline's first friend here and one of the funniest kids I've ever met. They play so well together (Praise the Lord). A few weeks ago Rigdon came to play and this is the conversation I heard in the back of the car.
Rigdon: "Emma Caroline why are your eyebrows brown?" (not sure where that came from)
EC: (No response)
Rigdon: "Well, I think you are the prettiest girl in the whole world."

I agree

We're not in the South anymore

2008-08-02T06:34:00.000-07:00

OK, so 6 times in the past week or so Knox has been called a girl. It's the haircut. They don't cut their boys hair like this here in the Midwest. So the big question has become, do I need to get his hair cut like a big boys and lose the "baby look". But, oh my, he is so cute I hate to do it. Matt says if I just don't dress him in jumpers and put him in little boy clothes (meaning khakis and polos) then I don't need to cut his hair. What do y'all think. It's not an official pole, I just want y'alls opinions here. I just had to include this picture too because really, does it get any sweeter?

My Little Pirate (with a little chocolate on his face)

2008-08-02T06:14:00.000-07:00

Knox, who has never let me put anything on his head before, has really taken to the pirate look. I just about had to force him to let me put this bandanna on him but once I said he was a pirate he didn't want to take it off....boys. Too bad I don't have him on video saying "ARRRGGGG". Lori, where was this guy last year for VBS. We could have used him.

Customer Service

2008-07-31T11:37:00.000-07:00

I promise this blog will not become a place where I am constantly blowing off steam or ranting and raving about bad customer service. However, what I was told today by a Chase customer service agent bordered on hilarious. Here's the story. I have been paying my credit card payment online for several months. Well, due to our recent move I needed to change the bank account out of which I make that payment. I jumped through all their hoops to get that done but when I went to make the payment the new bank was not an option for making the payment out of. So I called customer service and was transferred about 4 times before I was told that I could not make that change online because I was not the primary card holder (my husband is). Now think about that. I finally said how do you know which one of us is sitting here at the computer? Talk about not wanting to admit that there was something wrong with their system or maybe it was that they couldn't answer my question. But to say that it wouldn't show me the new account online because I was not the primary card holder. I honestly started laughing. That didn't make her too happy. So......she transferred me to a number that was "no longer in service" and it hung up on me. I am 0 for 2 in customer service these days. I think I need a cookie.

Redneck Sack Race

2008-07-30T13:40:00.000-07:00

Build-A-Bear

2008-07-28T19:46:00.000-07:00

My poor deprived children had never been to Build-A-Bear. Not sure EC had ever even heard of it. But when we moved here some sweet friends gave us a gift card so off we went. Well, they LOVED it. Every bit of it. Picking out the animal, stuffing it (stepping on the pedal was big for Knox), picking its sound, clothes and name, and the box it goes home in. We had such fun. EC picked the rabbit and a ballerina outfit for it. She named it Flip-Floppy (a name she came up with). Knox made a b-line for the orange cat that meowed. I wasn't sure he would enjoy this little adventure but he LOVED it. He held on to that cat and has been loving on it ever since. We named it Aubie, of course. I honestly think he wanted it so he could squeeze it, kiss it, carry it by it's tail etc.... All the things he wishes he could do to our real cat, without getting scratched.

Antiques Roadshow

2008-07-28T19:38:00.000-07:00

Raise your hand if you like to watch Antiques Roadshow on PBS. No really, I do. So Matt and I are driving around downtown one Saturday and we see all these people carrying pictures, trunks, boxes, typewriters, toys, chairs.... you name it. Then we see the trailer with Antiques Roadshow on the side and it all makes sense. Wouldn't you love to be that person who says "I paid $10 for it at a garage sale. I had no idea is was worth $100,000."
Becky - it's all you. I'll be waiting for that post.

I'm back.......again

2008-07-28T19:27:00.000-07:00

OK this time it is for good. Honesty here.....we were using someone else's wireless signal. It worked great at first then it would disappear for a few weeks then come back for a few days then go away again. I can't live like that. So I broke down and signed us up for AT&T wireless internet. The lady at AT&T said they would send me my modem, I would set it up and on Thursday turn it on and go. So easy right......WRONG!!! Thursday came and went and I couldn't get it to work. Thursday night I was on the phone with AT&T. She said someone would call me in the morning. No one called. So I called again. I was put on hold for 20 minutes before I hung up. I mean, I've got 2 kids. I can't sit on hold all day. So I tried later - on hold for 30 minutes, hung up. Tried about 3 hours later - chewed out the first person, got a manager, threatened her within an inch of her life if she put me on hold, so she "transferred" me to a department that could help. They put me on hold for almost an hour, hung up. I give up. Matt calls and gets a helpful knowledgeable person (the only one there, I think). Today a nice man shows up at my house and fixes all my problems. YEAH!!!! Now if I could just get signed up for that anger management class.

Emma Caroline Quote of the day

2008-07-14T14:40:00.000-07:00

Me - "Emma Caroline, what is a female?"
EC - "A person who delivers letters."

Love this weather

2008-07-12T16:41:00.000-07:00

This may be a weird post but I feel that I must document this weather although many of you down in the deep South may not believe me. It is July 12 around 6:45 PM and it is 66 degrees outside. Did you read that???? 66 DEGREES!!!!! This Southern girl is freaking out!!!!! I don't have my AC on in the middle of the summer. If this is Global Warming give me some more.

CrockPot Falafel

2008-07-12T13:40:00.000-07:00

This post is especially for my In-Laws and my brother, Stewart, who all share my love for Greek food......
Yes, you read that right falafel in the crockpot and it is so easy. The last time I made falafel I was newly married and it was so bad I think we ended up going out. This, on the other hand, is not. This is actually some of the best falafel I have ever had. I regularly read the blog of a lady who made a new years resolution to use her crock pot every day, or something crazy like that. Not only does she have some great recipes but she is very funny to read. So here is the link to her blog for this recipe. I actually got the taziki sauce recipe somewhere else so here it is:
1/2 cup plain yogurt
2 shallots, finely minced
2 Tbs fresh snipped dill (or 1 tsp dry dill seasoning, like Pampered Chef's)
1 tsp dijon mustard (didn't have dijon so I just used regular and it was good)
salt and pepper to taste

Old pics from Mississippi

2008-07-12T13:22:00.000-07:00

OK these pictures go back over a month while we were still in Mississippi. But they had been taken with Matt's new iphone and so I didn't have them on my computer until recently. Can I just say it is a tad frustrating that my husband's phone takes better pictures than my digital camera.... This one was taken out front of a doctor's office down in Jackson. Knox came down with the croup one weekend and scared us all to death. Our options were ER in Greenwood or drive to Jackson. We opted for Jackson and recieved the best care from Dr. Hopper. What a blessing. While I was inside with Knox, Matt was trying to entertain EC outside so they were stopping to smell the petunias (which I don't think have a smell but who cares when you get a picture like this).
Right before we left Greenwood, an ice cream parlor opened and one night we took the kids. This was just a classic of Knox, who couldn't get enough of the fire hydrant and the ice cream.

This is just us having one of our last picnics in our beautiful big back yard that we miss so much.

4th of July

2008-07-09T20:35:00.000-07:00

We spent our first 4th of July here in Wichita with the Dunn Family. Does it get any better than hamburgers, hotdogs, brats (a midwest thing for you Southerners reading), kids playing in the water and fun friends? A good time was had by all. The kids played in the water and had a blast!!!

Hot dogs and chips in your bathing suit outside. Brings back memories of good times for me at my cousins lakehouse on the 4th growing up. Now my kids are enjoying the simple pleasures of life. The adults on the deck enjoying the amazing weather.

Me and my Honey (awwwe)

But the story doesn't end there. We left the Dunns and brought the kids home and put them to bed. Then Matt and I sat in lawn chairs in the middle of our front yard and watched all the firework shows going on all around us. This place is fireworks crazy. I kid you not when I say it looked like a show you would see downtown going on all around us. I didn't even know you could buy those kinds of fireworks for your own backyard. I have to say it also sounded like we were in a war zone with all the explosions. It was a new experience for us but a lot of fun. Did I mention how nice it was outside? I didn't sweat one time. CRAZY!!

Metro East

2008-07-09T19:39:00.000-07:00

So we are now in Wichita and getting adjusted to all of our new surroundings (Daddy, I promise to post more pictures of those surroundings soon). One thing that is not the least bit hard to get use to is our worship service. Every week I have to keep myself from jumping up and down during worship. The music is great and the preaching.... oh the preaching.... That is another post entirely. Lets just say it is AWESOME. A few weeks ago a man, with an amazing tenor voice sang "God with us" by Mercy Me. The band played and our new friend Byron wore those drums out. Next time you hear this song crank it up and for goodness sakes forget where you are and raise your hands and sing at the top of your voice:

Who are we--- that You would be mindful of us?
What do You see--- that's worth looking our way?
We are free--- in ways that we never should be.
Sweet release--- from the grip of these chains.

Like hinges straining from the weight,
My heart no longer can keep from singing.

All that is within me cries
For You alone be glorified:
Emmanuel, God with us.

My heart sings a brand new song.
The debt is paid, these chains are gone.
Emmanuel, God with us.

Lord, You know--- our hearts don't deserve Your glory;
Still You show--- a love we cannot afford.

Like hinges straining from the weight,
My heart no longer can keep from singing.

All that is within me cries
For You alone be glorified:
Emmanuel, God with us.

My heart sings a brand new song.
The debt is paid, these chains are gone.
Emmanuel, God with us.

Such a tiny offering
Compared to Calvary;
Nevertheless,We lay it at Your feet.

All that is within me cries
For You alone be glorified:
Emmanuel, God with us.
My heart sings a brand new song.
My debt is paid, these chains are gone.
Emmanuel, God with us.

I'm Back / EC Swim Lessons

2008-07-09T13:35:00.000-07:00

For the grandparents and a few other friends who check my blog on a regular basis.....I have not fallen off the face of the earth. We lost internet access for almost 3 weeks. I thought I would lose my mind (how sad that I have to have the internet now. I can remember back in college when I sent my first email and had no clue what the internet was. ANYWHO...). But I am back online now - YEAH!!!
So a little catchup in our life is due so I will slowly begin to do some posts to cover the last few weeks.
EC has been taking swim lessons every Monday through Thursday for the last 2 weeks and will actually finish her class tomorrow. She has had so much fun. I'm not sure that she will be swimming all around by herself tomorrow but we are so much closer than we were. It was so funny to see her teacher just pull her into the water and even push her head under a few times and EC comes out saying "when can I go back?" If I had done that she wouldn't forgive me for a month. So here she is in all her goggle glory.

Thank you Lord for new friends

2008-06-25T19:28:00.000-07:00