Tee-ball and Easter Eggs

Man, have we been loving the weather the past few weeks!!! Our family loves being outdoors, and we have been taking full advantage of the warmer weather. I think I appreciate it more this spring than even in the past, given the really cold winter we had.

So, we've been doing alot of this...

and Reese and I even did this...




Reese loved the jumpy-thing (that's the technical name) at Sandestin...

Then, there's Reese's first year of tee-ball. To be honest, tee-ball isn't Reese's favorite thing in the world---but she is doing fine for her age. At this age, I just want her to learn the basics---and get any "life lessons" that she can from being involved in a team sport. And, so far, that is being accomplished. She's doing pretty well at batting....the outfield bores her a little, though.

Here's some samples of our Saturdays at the games...

And, a video of her batting..

Finally, Easter was really a glorious day. Not only celebrating the eternal life that Christ made possible thru His ressurection....but, also in the family time that we got to share and the weather God blessed us with that day.

Here is Reese is the gorgeous dress Lee's mom made.


And Lee's mom with all her grandkids. Notice my prissy girl's crossed legs pose. : )


Note the chocolate already running down John's mouth. Hence the reason we changed both kids out of the Easter clothes before hunting eggs.

...and I'm back!!

I can't believe that it has been 4 1/2 months since I've posted!! I think facebook has taken the place of my one-off Reese and John stories----and, I've been too busy to take lots of pics.

The main pics that I've taken since the fall are the ones from Disney. Here is a slideshow of them....but, there are a ton, so this is really just more for my memories' sake. Also, if you do choose to look at them, know that they are not in chronological order. I just didn't have the time to re-sort them.

Disney was so much fun!! I am not much of a theme-park person---but the fun I had a Disney well exceeded my expectations. I can't wait to go again----though its so expensive, we'll have to wait until John is around 4-5 years old.

We went to Disney with some friends who have kids the same age as ours. Last weekend, we had them over for dinner. That night, our 4 kids had their first double date. : ) John and Bradford (who was so cute wearing John's jacket) are in the front seat of the gator, with Reese and Wyatt in the back.

Other than Disney, not much has been going on other than normal life. I have been trying to be more creative about how I get my "normal" things done. A couple of Saturdays ago, Reese went with Lee to pick up his tractor from the shop. So, John wanted to play outside all day, and I had to get ironing and other household stuff done. So, being the classy Southern lady that I am, I did this on our back porch...

while John did this...

He got in trouble so much that day, that he finally just put himself in time out. He was sure to let me know how he felt about it though...

All in all, life has been wonderfully normal. With all the bad and sad stuff I see on the news and hear about, I have just been really grateful for the routine, boring, lovely, fulfilling life that God has blessed me with.

Of course, getting to see these faces every night after work doesn't hurt.... : )

Pictures

Haven't had much time to write lately, but I did want to share some pictures. The first couple are from John and I playing outside one morning before Reese woke up. The rest are from our weekend at the camp. The kids love it so much there. For the most part, they stay all day and play in their PJ's (which, thankfully their mother gets at Walmart, so no huge deal that they get oh so dirty!). Reese uses the camp as her own personal wind-down spot. She watches Peter Pan approximately 248 times on any given weekend there and just lounges around. John wants to go wherever his daddy goes. Lee even took him out on the 4-wheeler putting out deer stands. You should have seen the smile on John's face riding around with his daddy. Pure, uninhibited joy.

Happy Anniversary!!

Most people think of October 31 as Halloween. Lee and I get the added pleasure of calling it our anniversary. This year is our 11th. In some ways, it really just doesn't seem half that long...and, in others, we've been thru so much in our 11 years and I feel so fortunate to have lived the past 11 years (15, if you count dating too) with Lee. We like to joke that we are practically newlyweds when you count how much time we ACTUALLY spend together, compared to most couples. But, somehow, for us...it works.

Lee, I love you. You are my my best friend, my husband, and my partner/teammate in life. I am so grateful for you----how you love me and our kids---and how you take care of us. We've both changed alot over the past 11 years and, I have to say, I am so proud of how you have grown in Christ and grown as a man/husband/father. You were a pretty darn good fella 11 years ago---but you are truly exceptional in my eyes now. I can't wait to see how I look at you and feel about you 11 years from now....and 11 years from then. Can't wait to go thru the life God has planned for us with you.

I love you!!

Right There

One of the blogs I read is from a pastor up in Nashville. His post today was a good reminder to me:
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Right There

I was going through my pictures from last week’s camping trip when I stumbled across this picture. Brewer, my three year-old son, is getting to the age where it’s important for him to feel a little freedom. He didn’t want daddy’s help to cross the bridge. He slowly, calculating every step, moved across the bridge. I could hear the fear in his breathing pattern. He was shaky, yet determined to make it across. What he didn’t know is that at no time was he really in any real damage. I was right there ready to snatch him should he start to fall.

But here is what I couldn’t stop thinking about as I looked at this picture. I wonder how many times in my life this has been a picture of me crossing the bridge of life with God right there waiting to catch me.

Let’s just be honest here. Time and time again in your life you’re going to feel as if God isn’t showing up. You’re going to feel as if God isn’t healing, He isn’t restoring, He isn’t releasing His mighty power. You’re going to feel like He doesn’t know or care and you’ve been completely abandoned on the bridge.

Do you know what the most frequently stated promise from God in Scripture is? God promises us over and over, “I am with you.”

You may feel all alone, but please know you’re not. Despite you’re feelings He’s right there with you. He’s ready to snatch you should you fall.

Do you see yourself in the picture above?

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It also reminded me of the lyrics to a song that really describes how I feel sometimes when I am so overwhelmed, upset, stressed....whatever....so much that I honestly don't even know what to say to God--I just know that I need to be in His presence. Thank goodness He knows the rest.

"All I Can Say" by the David Crowder Band

Lord I'm tired

So tired from walking

And Lord I'm so alone

And Lord the dark

Is creeping in

Creeping up

To swallow me

I think I'll stop

Rest here a while

And this is all that I can say right now

I know it's not much

And this is all that I can give

yeah, that's my everything

And didn't You see me cry'n?

And didn't You hear me call Your name?

Wasn't it You I gave my heart to?

I wish You'd remember

Where you sat it down

And this is all that I can say right now

I know it's not much

And this is all that I can give

yeah, that's my everything

I didn't notice You were standing here

I didn't know that

That was You holding me

I didn't notice You were

Cry'n too

I didn't know that

That was You washing my feet

And this is all that I can say right now
I know it's not much
And this is all that I can give
yeah, that's my everything

The girl has skills

If you knew how bad the kids (well, really John) was the morning we took these pictures, you'd know just how talented my friend Heather is...

www.heatherswannerphotography.com/thompson

My Little Love

In the hospital with Reese...



On your 1 year birthday:



At 2 years old:



John,

I think there is a reason why God makes little boys look like their daddies. I absolutely melt every time I look at you.

I can't believe where these 2 years have gone. I was in your room tonight putting you to bed and I was looking on the wall at the pictures Ms Heather took of us when you were 3 weeks and when you were 1 year old. I just can't hardly believe this big boy who was fighting with every breath not to go to bed was that baby not so long ago. I miss those days and thoroughly enjoy the ones we are having now all at the same time.

To tell you a little bit about what you are like at this stage: You are headstrong and opinionated. You LOVE your sister (and she loves you back). I absolutely adore the way ya'll love each other. Don't get me wrong, you fight plenty....but, I can tell, when push comes to shove, ya'll have each other's backs. And, that makes your mommy oh so happy. You love the outdoors. You love being buck naked running around the house like a wild man. You love to jump (one...two...one...two...jump). You love your daddy. You are all boy. And, when you snuggle up and hug on me, you have my heart.

I can't wait for the next year. Each day...each moment...I have with you I count as pure joy. You are my little love.

Mommy