Kite flying

When you live in a place with wide open spaces, you learn that it is not only good for growing cotton, corn, beans and rice but also for kite flying. There is almost always a good breeze with few trees to block it because of all the fields. One day Emma Caroline decided we needed to fly a kite. So here is Matt and EC doing just that on the field by our church. I put in this picture below of our church for those who have never seen it. I need to take a better one and put it on here so you can see how pretty it is. It is partly surrounded by cotton fields, which looks like a post card during harvest season.

The Carnival came to town

When you live in a small town the Carnival comes in on 18 wheelers and sets up in a parking lot. I have always gotten the willies about the carnival but when your 4 year old lights up at the sight of it and asks to go with a long PLEEEEASE at the end and that look of excitement in her eyes you forget all about the germs and slimy people and you go. You just bathe right when you get home.(: She rode the ferris wheel, a small roller coaster, flew in a dumbo and in a flying car. She had a blast and there was no fear. She loved it. Here are a few shots.

Mother's Day

It may be Mother's Day but that does not mean you get a good picture. We tried but there were too many other interesting things going on. Hope all the moms out there had a great Mother's Day.

EC's end of the year party

Emma Caroline is finishing up PreSchool for the Summer. Here are some pictures of their end of the year party. We didn't have the great inflatables when I was a kid but being at this party really took me back. Needless to say she had a blast!!!

Emma Caroline & Knox ride in style

Some sweet friends of ours give us hand-me-down clothes and toys. But of all the things they have given to us, this Jeep takes the cake.

Emma Caroline's Birthday

We can hardly believe that our little girl is 4!!!
Emma Caroline had multiple birthday celebrations. First with her grandparents about a week before her birthday. Then at school with her classmates on the Friday before her birthday.

Then she celebrated with us on Sunday, her actual birthday, and then had cupcakes at church with her Sunday school class!!! It was all a lot of fun. After all the presents were opened, she looked up at us with that adorable face and said "I want more."

My Sweet Peas

This was just one of those special moments when both my sweet peas climbed up in my lap and we watched a video together. Moments like this make up for dirty diapers, throw up and sleepless nights. I am truly blessed.

Happy Easter

Happy Easter to everyone. It was a cold Easter here in the South so EC wore her bunny dress with a sweater and Knox wore what he has been wearing this winter. No shorts when it is in the 40's. We went to church and then had plans to eat lunch with friends. However, no holiday would be complete for the Redmond family without someone getting sick. By noon EC was running a fever. She came home from church and fell asleep on the sofa. She was fine by that night - oh well. Thankfully we had already hunted Easter eggs over and over the days before.

Little boys and Little girls

What are little boys made of?

Snips and snails and puppy dog tails

That's what little boys are made of!

What are little girls made of?

Sugar and spice and all things nice

That's what little girls are made of!

We love Cheerios

So I have this routine on Sundays. Matt has usually gone on to church early so I am on my own getting myself and 2 kids ready. No big deal. I turn on a video and put Knox in his saucer and they are fine while I do what all I need to do. Well, this past Sunday I got them ready first (which I don't usually do) and then I was rushing around to get ready. I came out of my room ready to get them and go to church and this is what I saw. I didn't realize that I had left the box of Cheerios so close and Knox must have been really hungry. He got the bag out of the box and then dumped the entire bag on to his saucer and was shoving them into his mouth as fast as he could. When I saw this I just busted out laughing. He is going to get away with too much with that sweet face.

Gone Fishin'

We had the great pleasure of going to the cabin of some friends on Saturday. It sits on a small lake and we had hardly got out of the car when Matt started showing Emma Caroline how to fish. I don't think we had been there 5 minutes when Emma Caroline started to reel in this fish. Daddy took over and together they caught a nice size fish. We were impressed with Emma Caroline and she was just excited to see a big fish. PaPa, are you proud or what!!!!

Then later Mrs. Kristy took Emma Caroline out in the kayak and she loved it!! Thanks Kristy!! Later she got in the little fishing boat and just watched while some of the other kids fished. Then we gathered up and ate hamburgers cooked on the grill. It was a great day - Thank you Robertson family!!!!

The Redmond's 50th wedding anniversary

We were in Birmingham recently to celebrate the Redmond's 50th wedding anniversary. It was a beautiful party and all had a good time. The picture above is of all the family (minus our 2 who had already gone home with my parents). The picture below is all of the grandkids. We had this picture taken and framed and gave it to the Redmonds at the party. It turned out so good and we were all rather proud of it.

Singing in the......living room

Emma Caroline received a new Mickey Mouse umbrella (thanks Aunt Kelley) that you can color. She has had so much fun with it. Pair that with her favorite rain boots and you have one happy 3 year old. Who needs rain to play with your umbrella? All you need is a good imagination and a big living room.

Highlights from Valentines Day

This picture is of Emma Caroline's class at school having their Valentines party.
Knox and Emma Caroline got a little chocolate cake from their friend, Julie Day, for Valentines. Knox made the bigger mess but he really enjoyed the cake

My Valentines Gift

Toys toys and more toys

More pictures from Knox's birthday. He is one happy little boy.

Happy Birthday Knox

On January 26th Knox turned 1. I can hardly believe it. This past year has just flown by. We had a great day. Both sets of grandparents and lots of friends came to help celebrate his special day. The funniest part was when we put the cake in front of him, he put his hand on it but wouldn't put any in his mouth. It took him a long time to realize that this was something to eat. But once he got some cake in his mouth he went to town with it, as you will see in the pictures.

First haircut

In preparation for his 1 year birthday I decided to take Knox to have his hair cut by a professional. I have been trimming his hair since he was about 4 months old. He has so much hair and it grows so fast. It has look fine but I thought we would go all out for the birthday. You can imagine the smiles and laughs when I took him in to the salon. But he sat in my lap, I think in awe, and did real good. I almost cried though when it was done because he looks like a little boy and not my baby.

The little kitten who lost her mittens

Emma Caroline's first week of preschool was all about nursery rhymes. So on Friday they had to dress up like someone from a nursery rhyme. Emma Caroline was the kitten who lost her mittens. Can you find her mitten?

First day of Pre-School

I know that it is the middle of the school year but Emma Caroline started preschool today. She is going 3 days a week for half a day. We figured it was a good way for her to learn and play with some kids her age. So far she LOVES it. Leaving to go home and she was already asking to go back to school. So here she is posing with her backpack on.

Merry Christmas

Well, we are back in Greenwood after another Christmas. We spent Christmas morning with my family and that night with the Redmond crew. Emma Caroline and Knox got more toys than they know what to do with so we decided to open a toy store to sell them to pay off our mortgage.....just kidding. But our van was piled to the roof with no room to spare. We are so thankful for our family who is so loving and giving. We had a good time in Birmingham but realize that traveling with 2 kids is even harder than traveling with 1. So we are glad to be home with everyone in their beds. We hope that all of you had a very Merry Christmas and that you remember everyday the baby that was "born a child and yet a King."

Meeting Santa

Emma Caroline and Knox got to meet Santa. This was the first time we have done this. EC doesn't warm up to strange men very well (right Uncle Bobby?) so we have never tried the Santa thing. But this year I was determined. Well, she loved it. I'm not sure I have ever seen her so excited. Knox was in awe and just stared. Matt got this picture with his cell phone and I was surprised how well it turned out.

Merry Christmas

Any parent who tries to take a family picture knows how hard it can be to get even a half way decent one with everyone looking. We got a few good ones so I thought I would post them. I highly recommend bribing your kids with candy!!

Just because

I had to put this picture on just because I thought it was precious. My 2 boys looking out the window at the pretty fall day. I also had to snap it quick before Knox reached over and grabbed a wad of fur. He just loves Aubie. Thankfully Aubie has either gotten use to it or he is getting old.

Fireworks and Party

After the parade we went to watch the fireworks. We opened up the back of the van and all the kids (and me) enjoyed a comfy seat. Then we sent the kids to the babysitters and the adults had a party. This group is our Sunday School class and good friends. We have been truly blessed by these amazing people. We had so much fun. We had seafood chowder and chili and many many desserts. It was a great start to this Christmas season.

Christmas Parade

The Greenwood Christmas parade is a big deal in our little town. It is a day full of fun. The parade goes down Grand Boulevard. We gather with other church members at a friends house who lives on Grand. Of course, there has to be food and hot chocolate. This year it was so cold but we were troopers. We braved the cold for the 3 hour parade. But the fun didn't stop there. Once the parade was over everyone walks down to the river and to watch a fireworks show that would rival any big city's (no, I'm not kidding). Then after that there are usually more parties.....but that is another post.