Squeals!

This was what my Saturday-Saturday Night-Sunday consisted of.



Two 7-year-old squealing girls!

These 2 girls have been around each other since, literally, the day they were born. They have never missed each others birthday parties or big events in each others lives. They don't go to school together nor get to see each other all the time, but when they do get together it's like they were never apart.

So this weekend while we were at lunch they started. Do you remember it? The Plotting. The Scheming. THINKING that your parents aren't hearing.

The Plot to get to stay the night.

Now, these girls have spent the night together before so it wasn't any big deal. But this one wasn't planned. The girl had no clothes. But we made it work.

With belts.

But while we were at lunch Baby Boy turned on the charm. You see, her momma is Andrea. And Andrea (or Andura as Baby Boy calls her) has always been on his 'girlfreen' list. So he taps her on her shoulder and says "Hey, Andura. I have a guitar in my mommy's room."

Yeah, that will win you a girl every time. Talking about your Mommy.

Anyway, he was sweet talking her.

Until he found out that her very own Baby Girl was staying the night.

He proceeded to walk over to Andura's Baby Girl and tap her on the shoulder.

"I have a tractor in my room."

She looks at Andura and says, "You just lost your boyfriend."

So, let's add to the squeals of two 7 year old girls...one 3 year old boy who wouldn't leave their side and always wanted to know where she was.

I told Andura's Baby Girl (in front of Andura) that I would allow him to marry an older woman. She said "That's cool because then I would have a fun step-dad!" (meaning Hubs)

We laughed even harder when we found out she really said "young"...not "fun".

Sorry Hubs.

But I love this girl and her momma so much! There were no, ZERO, arguments or melt downs the entire 2 days (until she had to leave) and she blessed my socks off when she kept on sneaking in the hallway to just stand there and watch Hubs practice thru his music for Sunday services. She was mesmerized. She touched my heart as I watched her watch him.

And her momma touches my heart as I watch her watching Him!

What Just Happened Here?

I mean...I snapped this photo the other night of Hubs and Baby Girl.



But then...I remembered these.






How did this happen? Is it a conspiracy to break my heart into 1 million pieces or what?

Seriously...I LOVE watching Hubs with her. And not just sleeping. I am so excited that she is learning from HIM what kind of man to marry. He is such a picture of Christ to not only me, but to her.

When she hurts...he hurts with her and comforts her.

When she is wrong and he disciplines her...he cries.

When she is enjoying life...he walks and enjoys right along with her...but just from a distance.

Being a Baby Girl myself, I was waiting in anticipation to see the extent that this little girl was going to grab ahold of his heart and mush it into something completely unrecognizable.

I think is heart has disappeared from sight...for it is completely covered by this...



On that note, I will leave you with a video someone reminded me of the other day.



This is the same little girl who now wears...a bra.

Family Night #34

Hey, Mama! Welcome to the 60's!

Well...we tried to stay away from the whole "make love, not war" side of the 60's, so it's more early 60's...the fall over from the 50's.

But that was too much to put on the sign.

This was one of the nights that Baby Girl requested in her listing o' Family Nights.

SHE actually said she wanted an "Ultra Clutch" night, but I couldn't make a night totally surround a can of hairspray.

But we get the picture.


Here's Hubs showing his muscle, Baby Girl and her semi-beehive with poofy skirt, me and my poofy high-waisted skirt and Baby Boy with his rolled up James Dean look showing his muscles.

We are fierce.


Our festivities planned for the night.


We had mini-burgers and fast food fries along with some "Boogie" juice. Later that night we even had Root Beer Floats. YUMM-O!

We started the night making some lava lamp type jugs with baby oil and food coloring and then had a rip-roaring game of S-I-X-T-Y (Bingo). The kids tied.


Then we busted out the 50's-60's music channel on the TV and had a hula hoop contest. Baby Girl even busted out The Monkey and the "twist-twist-twist-twist, mashed potato, Mambo". I'm telling you...she LOVES this music. And I'm not talking like...Yellow Submarine. I'm talking some Chubby Checker and Fatz Domino! She is just like her Momma. We were born in the wrong musical era. I mean, she even sang most of the words to "Sea Cruise". And I don't think we have ever heard Sea Cruise together.


From there we made Shrinky Dinks! I forgot how much I love these little things. I think they will be making a guest re-appearance at her birthday party this year.


After some groovy tye dyed shirts...


We have a great game of Twister that ended with tears. MANY tears.

Once those dried up we watched "Hairspray" while eating our Root Beer floats.

And little James Dean fell asleep in my lap.

How many girls can say that?

When I Was Your Age...

Sheesh! Am I really old enough to say these kinds of things?

Yes, Yes I am.

Nice to meet you.

My name is MawMaw.

I actually said this the other day. My kids were working on making a hidey-hole between our recliner and couch and covering it up. I couldn't let them not experience the GREATNESS of chair forts, now could I. And the conversation started with, "When I was your age..."

I wanted to slap myself silly.

But really, when I was her age, these were my FAVORITE things that my babysitter and I used to do.

So, this is what my living room has looked like for DAYS! And last night Hubs slipped in his laptop so they could watch "Bible Man" so I snuck a pic of that too.



And let me tell you...this thing has it all! Snacks, drinks, fake candles that light up, flashlights, toys, pillows, blankets, a lap writing desk (in case they need to journal?) among other various and asundry items.

Thank you for the memories.

2 Peas in a Recliner

Sissy Girl was our first kiddo.

And while Hubs would never let either of our human children sleep with us, he took very kindly to teaching our 4-legged child to snuggle very tightly with him.

Some things never change.

I snapped this the other night when Hubs was having a borderline migraine. He had placed the blanket over his head and began snoring.

Loudly.

So, his none-too-far-from-sleeping companion quickly joined him and started up a snore fest herself.



Doesn't she seem to say, "Hey...weeve us awone! We habe a headache."

Sorry to have bothered you.

Is This the Little Girl I Cared For...

Sunrise--Sunset
Sunrise--Sunset
Swiftly, flow the days!

Apparently I am a little nostalgic as I have watched Baby Girl enter the 1st Grade.

I took off this day as well. Luckily there were not great amounts of tears shed like there were this time last year. But she did still cause me to rock her in the chair and wonder how in the WORLD she was starting 1st Grade this morning when I know fully well that I only birthed her just about 3 days ago.

Time, oh how you steal.


Having our "Breakfast of Champions". One slice of PB toast and one slice of Cinnamon/Sugar toast. Girl knows what's good!


She got to pick which of her outfits she wanted to wear. Good grief, 3-year-olds just look so much older these days. Let's get in a little closer, shall we?


Nevermind! Back away! My heart can't take it!!??!? Watch out, IB 1st Grade Boys. You'll never know what hit you.


With her new teacher, Mrs. Cline. First thing when she got home that afternoon..."I LOVE Mrs. Cline! She is so smart and so fun!" I chatted with her the night before at the open house and she really is very charming.


Settling in. Getting a feel for her surroundings. Mason...he looks a little unsure of this crazy fashionista with her chunky jewelry beside him.


Now, being a new 'photographer' (I use that term loosely) and all, I have begun to see the extreme need for a wing man at moments like these. I don't want to miss any of the good action. So my Baby Boy so gallantly volunteered to grab his sister's PINK camera and be my second at Thunder Road (what's that from?) I could not have made it without his eye for great shots (you'll notice none of them posted here...maybe later)


Then came this. He couldn't understand why we were leaving her. He was slightly depressed until he realized that we were going to spend THIS day just the 2 of us. It wasn't until the next day when Hubs dropped Baby Girl off at her school and then proceeded en route to his school. Hubs said he looked in the mirror and noticed that Baby Boy was hanging his head all the way to school.

Don't worry...They were arguing the moment they saw each other again.


Take care of my Baby Girl, Ida Burns. She really does love you and I look forward to another great year!

A Very Girly Day

Tuesday, the day before school started, I had already scheduled to take off work and spend the day with Baby Girl.

And JUST Baby Girl.

NO Baby Boy.

Didn't have firm plans as to what to do yet, but we just wanted to be together. Then, earlier in the week when our back-to-school clothes shopping trip went on hiatus due to unforseen circumstances, we saw the perfect opportunity on how to spend our day.

Every year my mom (God love her) takes Baby Girl shopping and spends WAY too much money on her. But Baby Girl never seems to mind.

Really, it's a blessing. My mom never could do things like this for me when I was little, so she is so tickled to do this kind of stuff for my kiddos.

So we set out Tuesday morning at 9:00.

And we got home at 4:00.

Working is easier than this!

No, really. We had a BLAST! Just us girls.


MiMi and Baby Girl ready to shop!


Baby Girl and all her LOOT! Seriously. She wound up with 9 outfits and 3 pair of shoes and 2 new sets of braclets.

And she got treated to lunch!


Baby Boy even scored.

And here is a sampling of her outfits.



When did she begin to look this grown up?

And WHO let her get some blue lips before she took her pics?

One thing she did learn today that I must share. Mom informed her that the more she goes to school the more she will learn and that at one point she will know more than her parents. She was SO EXCITED about that prospect.

Then she pipes up with, "Well, there IS already ONE thing I know how to do that my Momma can't."

I have no idea where she gets this flair for the dramatic.

We sit in anticipation of her answer as she grins her little snaggle-toothed grin.

"Grow."

Thanks, Babe. Thanks.

Family Night #33

Baby Girl gave me a listing of different ideas of family nights she might like to do. During that list, she piped up that she wanted to do one strictly for Bubba.

How sweet. Especially since he has been feeling so cruddy lately.

So she came up with "Pooh Family Night".


Aren't they sweet?


Our menu, favorite Hunny bear, Bit-o-Honey, picture of the 100 Acre Woods...But notice that little white piece of paper beside Pooh? Baby Girl drew Pooh and Piglet. VERY good job, girlfriend!

Our menu consisted of Piglet's Party Mix, Pooh's Fishin' Sticks, Eeyore's Sad & Cheese (mac), Rabit's Garden Salad and Tigger Cordial.

We started the night by making bumble bees out of egg crates so we could toss them into Pooh's Hunny Pot. They didn't dry before company came over, so we will be playing with Bumble Bee's later this week.



Then we went fishing in Rabit's Garden for carrots. Check out the last picture...poor Belle lost her carrot!


Afterwards, we played Pin the Tail on Eeyore. As you can see, Belle won. What they are holding in their hands is their homemade placemats. It is cardboard with a picture they colored on it. Then, you cover it with contact paper. Voila!


We ended the evening with a riveting Tigger Sac Race.

Baby Girl takes no prisoners.

Sick Baby Brother or not.

Moments Captured

As I mentioned in my previous post, I took pictures at our Aunt's funeral.

Now, before you judge me, let me explain.

It was terribly hard for me to do. I felt very disrespectful. However, the family wanted some memories. Not just some snapshots, but some memories.

The funeral was completely at the graveside where she was being buried beside her son who drowned when he was 16. That was the initial picture I was to get. So after the service I very discretely snapped some shots of what I would want memories of if this were my mother.

While I would not feel right sharing all that I took, there are a few photos that so impressed me by the words they spoke, I wanted to get them here...in my scrapbook.


I loved that everything was rose colored and rose tinted...since her name was Rose. What a precious memory.



This was her Bible. She had highlighted the Scripture she wanted read at her funeral. The Bible was then to go to her daughter. This was her daughter's rose from the arrangement. This photo just speaks volumes to me...as it did to her daughter. It's a moment...captured.

After the beautiful service, we headed back to my in-laws house. Some friends and family had to leave from the service, but most came for lunch. We counted 77 folks total there.

So, time for more pics.


This is me and Rose's daughter. I LOVE this woman so very much. She was in my wedding 11 years ago and we have been bestest friends since David introduced me to her. I have watched her walk thru many valleys of life and loved spending some much needed "bed talk" with her. Cherished memories for me!


I can't tell you the how much this picture blessed me. This is Johnny and his 3 boys. Johnny raised Stacey and to this day Hubs still calls him "Brother" and means it from his bones. I mean, when Stacey's momma was sick, David talked to him just about every day and wanted nothing more than to get to Stacey when she died. I adore this picture!


These are the remaining siblings. There were 5 girls and 5 boys in the Overstreet crew.


So, since all were gathered and a camera was ready, I announced "Anyone who is related to an Overstreet, please meet under the tree."

Need I remind everyone it was H-O-T that day!?!? I'm sure no one liked me very well, but I cherish this photo as well. I have gotten to know these folks so well the last decade that I couldn't stand the thought of not having a photo.

AND, if you look real close you will see my daughter in the front middle giving rabbit ears to Aunt Barb and sticking out her tongue.

See...Precious, precious, tender memories.

I'll Take "Mental Meltdown" for $100, Please, Alex

This has been one crazy 5 days.

Don't worry, there is some good peppered in with the not-so-good. Here we go!

• Thursday evening we left for a family visitation
• At same said family visitation I get word my Mommy is needing to be taken to the ER
• I am over 3 hours away from my Mommy
• Finally find out at 1:43 am that my Mommy has had damage to her pancreas
• Begin thinking at about 3:00 am..."NOW who is going to feed and potty my puppy?"
• Friday morning (NOT so bright-eyed OR bushy-tailed) head to the funeral
• One of the most beautiful services I have ever been a part of
• Took some tasteful photos for the daughter (hope to have some up soon)
• Drove home 3 hours and stopped by the school to find out who Baby Girl's 1st grade teacher is (pained me to even type 1st grade) and that she is in there with her bestest gal pal
• Met the baby sitter to have her watch Baby Boy while we take Baby Girl (1st Grader) to Murray's to see My Fair Lady with my Daddy and Grandma...worth EVERY penny!
• Saturday headed to visit my Mommy and let the kiddos wear her out
• Sunday morning I walk into church, one person says something to me and I break down in tears...I think I was just spent!
• Baby Boy begins to take some fever and begins throwing up during Sunday night class
• Yippiee
• Hubs still encourages me to go out with the women's group to celebrate a birthday and that he will take care o'tha mess
• God love you, Hubs!
• Woke up to a still sick Baby Boy
• Praise God, no sick Baby Girl
• Realized as I recounted all of these events...God's mercies are STILL new every morning! He blessed me with 2 amazing families to care for, a Hubs that loves me, 2 kids that need me and love me, a church family that I wouldn't trade for anything and a group of women that can make me laugh all my troubles away and a job that is the best source God could have given me.

Final Jeapordy Answer is: Billie

Question? "Who has God blessed even thru some crazy events?"

The Many Faces of Baby Boy

I still love my camera. Don't think it has disappeared from the scene. But with everything at church and Dave with school and 1st grade about to start, time has just slipped away.

So the other night I broke it out because Baby Boy had thrown his hunting hat on backwards and kept asking that I take his picture.

He is such the gangsta.

So I was was taking photo after photo and we were having a blast as he kept changing his facial expressions. When I looked back at the photos, I decided to do a tribute to just that.

The Many Faces of Baby Boy (and possible translations on a typical day).

*Disclaimer: He really had just had a bath the night before but those of you with boys know one thing...their nails stay dirty!


This one seems to say: "Sure I may have just pushed my sister, but how cute am I and this gorilla?"


This one seems to say: "I mean, really. See how gentle and loving I am with this gorilla? I'm 50 times that to my sister. Really."


This one seems to say: "Surely you are distracted and don't see my sister behind me about to exact revenge. You can't! You are totally distracted by my charm and striking handsomeness."

(He's three and makes up words all the time.)


This one seems to say: "Did you just call me ornery? Surely not. I mean, look at this face! There isn't an ornery bone in my body. Just ask my sister."


This one seems to say: "Who around here needs a kiss? Any takers?"


This one seems to say: "Don't pretend you don't see my feelers have been damaged."


This one says: "These right here are my power tools. They melt my Momma's heart...and even Sister's if I catch her on a good day."

Why oh why did God give you those eyes?