Our trip to Iowa

What is it about summer time that makes me not get as much accomplished as during the school year? I feel like I have really let the blog go this summer, as we have been busy, yet relaxed. Sorry to my in-laws, who hopefully read this to check on the lives of their Memphis family. Mid August, we took a family trip to Iowa to visit Jerry's family and enjoy the state fair. Deb, Jer's sister, took some awesome pics of the kids at The Ledges State Park. Parker got a 12 hour stomach virus and Marilyn, mom-in-law, helped with that, bathing Parks and cleaning sheets after the sickness struck. And 12 hours in the car with the kids was really great, no sarcasm, I mean it. Everyone played, sang and watched movies, read some books (lots of Where's Waldo) and slept...a little (very little.) We also celebrated Patrick's Birthday, dad-in-law.

Just another Friday night in the ER!!!

As some of you saw on Facebook, we spent Friday night in the ER with Davis. At 8:30 Friday morn, he was standing in the kitchen chair and pushed his foot against the table, thus throwing himself backwards, cracking his head against the hardwood floor. He had that crying expression, you know, where no sound comes out for about 10 seconds, then screams. Right, that's the one. He cried for about 10 minutes, settled down and acted himself the rest of the day, just with an enormous goose egg. That evening, he beagn to throw up, but still acted normal after that. I called the after hours nurse at the doctor and she said to head to the ER for a catscan. I had a peace that nothing was wrong since "D" was all smiles and high-fiving people there, but it was still good to know for sure. Arriving at 9 pm and leaving after 2 am was exhausting, but Davis was fine with some soft tissue swelling and that was it. Whew! P.S. I know the radiologist thought I was a nut for pulling out my camera in time of crisis, but I told her I was a bit of a blogger. Awww, poor boy!

OMG it's NKOTB!!!!!

Crazy, right? Amy & Christy, both, won tickets on the radio and took me and Ashley to the New Kids on the Block concert on Thursday! Amy answered the question on the radio about Irene Cara being the singer of "Oh, what a feeling" that topped the charts July 1st, 1983. She is so smart! Only a tiny bit of help from the i-phone, but still, can you believe it? We met at Christy's house, where she had decorated the car and filled her ipod with all the NKOTB songs you could want. We headed to the Beauty Shop for dinner. Mmmm, I got the mustard seed encrusted scallops. From dinner, we parked and headed to mud island for the concert. It was so great, I think I screamed and laughed for 3+ hours. We were on such a high after coming face to face with some of them, we couldn't call it a night. We walked to the Kooky Canuck and ate dessert and cheese sticks. As, we arrived home and I crawled into bed at 1:30am, I couldn't unwind and I think I dreamt I was there at the concert all night. It was the most fun I have had in a long time.

Our Little Animal Lover

Parker is an animal lover! No doubt about it. I just know she will have a career with animals somehow, be it a sheep shearer or an animal rights activist, it will more than likely happen. We are so proud of her and how she is turning into such a sweet, young lady. She was playing with a friend last week, when the friend boldly told a lie to her mother. Parker confronted her friend and said, "You told a lie!" The little girl brushed Parker off with, "So?" Parker told me the story that evening and I was so proud of her for recognizing what was right and wrong and verbalizing it. I told her, as a reward, we could do whatever she wanted, maybe Chic-fil-a for ice cream. She said she really wanted to go to the animal shelter and love on the cats. So, we went last week and spent almost 2 hours there. She told me it was the best day ever. She was also playing with her stuffed cats in the playroom, laying out the plan of salvation for them. Telling them, "...you know, Jesus died on the cross for your sins." She is on her way, I tell ya, but I won't ever stop praying. Prayer has gotten us this far. Here are some pictures of our future ASPCA member at a petting zoo in Southaven, MS.

Visiting Old Friends...Love It!

This past weekend we drove to Clarksville, TN to visit two of my college friends, that were both in my wedding. Stacy was my maid-of-honor and I haven't seen her since little Jaxon was born, almost 4 years ago! Courtney has Tanner (4) and Tyler (2) which both of my kids had a blast playing with. When we got there Friday night, Tanner and Parker were going to sleep in the same bed, but we had to separate them early on due to excessive giggling. We grilled out, made homemade ice cream, played in the sprinkler and hiked at Dunbar Cave. It was so fun, I love those girls!

Field Day

Parker had field day at GBC preschool a couple of weeks ago (have gotten a bit away from the blogging, just busy, lately) and it was so sweet to watch all of the little ones playing and "competing" against each other. There was a lot going on, like face painting, inflatables, relay races, water tables and playing with a parachute. Here are some pics from the day. Oh, and on a different note...HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my sweet friend, JENNIFER! Can't believe I missed it by a day! Sat up in bed last night and was like, "Crikey!!" Anyway, I love you, girl!

Pictures on the Square

My sweet friend, Ashley came over last week while both of our Hubbies were at some boring, work related, business dinner, I don't know, something about stocks, shareholding, capital gains, blah, blah, gag. I tuned Jerry out when he got home from it. Anyway, I had much more fun than him, Ashley and I took the kiddos out to the historic square and took some cute pics. We got dinner and everyone played. Davis has a thing for Caroline and the feeling may be mutual. And Molly Cate loves listening to Parker's stories about a cat-bug that she calls "cug" that is as dangerous as a Brown Recluse.

Baby Aches

It is getting to be this time again when all of my girls are discussing the third baby (the fourth for some.) Girlfriends that are bursting to have the third, when they still have itsy-bitsy babes like mine. I am getting questions like, am I ready and if I am done. Eeeekkkkk! I don't really know. But, I do know that Davis is still such a wee one and Parker thinks she is a teen AND we are sleeping at night! I am exhausted lifting two kids in and out of the car, the grocery cart, potty breaks in every public restroom in town, putting shoes back on that get kicked off on purpose, laundry, poop in the tub, pee on the rug.... I haven't made up my mind yet, either way. Mom, don't freak out, you still may get another grand baby, like you are praying for. All I can say is that I am praying for God's perfect plan for our family. And like the Bible says, "He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Jesus Christ." -Phil. 1:6
I am interested to see more the Lord has for me in life and if it is another baby, then hooray, but 'til then I am enjoying the babies I have. Here are some pictures of the day Davis was born with a 2 1/2 year old Parker and one of my silly brother excited to be an uncle again. These pics do kinda bring on baby fever, huh? Well...maybe not the maternity one.

The Greatest of Friends

Parker and Evie and really great friends. They want to spend a lot of time together and I think that is wonderful. Good friends are so important, especially good Christian friends. Evie came over to play, last week and the girls really enjoyed the spring weather. Don't you remember days like this one? Evie asked Parker, "How long have we been best friends? I think since we were in our mama's tummy!"

Good Friday

Today, the kids and I, along with some neighborhood kids, made Resurrection Rolls in remembrance of Jesus' Crucifixion and Resurrection. We took a Grands biscuit or a crescent roll, that was symbolic of Jesus' tomb, and squished flat. We placed a marshmallow in the middle of the biscuit, which is representative of Jesus, all white and pure. We placed butter, cinnamon and sugar on "Jesus," which is is the oil and spices that anointed His body. We closed the "tomb" up tight and baked the rolls as the directions suggest. When they were done baking the marshmallow melted, so the tomb is empty. Parker really enjoyed this and Davis loved the finished product! Thanks be to Jesus!

"On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. The found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightening, stood beside them. In their fright, the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, 'Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; He has risen!"

Luke 24: 1-6a

Just a bunch of fluff

So, a lot of kids have quirky behaviors to help them relax or fall asleep. I have heard of head-banging in the crib, rocking incessantly, pacifiers, loveys, etc. Parker had her "pappy" and in fact she had to hold 3 to get to sleep. They had names and jobs, I guess you would say. Of, course there was "sucky pap," then, there was "rubby nose pap," and lastly, "feely pap." When I say they had jobs, boy, they worked around the clock. But Davis, he has a different interest. Yes, he has his pacifier and "lammy" which is a lamb-blankie that he carries everywhere, but he also has his "fluff" or "fuzzies." He started pulling the polyester fiber fill out of lammy and taking the fluff and sticking it between the passy and his top lip. He will leave it there for a while then pulls it out, rubs his nose, then back in it's little spot. He is now spotting these little fluffs all over the house and he'll point and say "fup, fup." Look close at the picture and you'll see it.

What's for Dinner?

Want a great recipe? Try this one tonight...it is so easy!

One Pot Spaghetti
1 lb. ground beef
1 can tomato paste
4 cups chicken broth
7 oz. spaghetti
2 tsp. dried oregano

In a large stock pot, brown your beef, drain and return to the pot. Add chicken broth and tomato paste and bring to a boil. Once boiling, add spaghetti and oregano, stir and turn down heat to a simmer. Cook all ingredients until pasta is done and broth is almost gone. Serve with a salad and some garlic bread. Yummy!

The Iowa Harringtons

Last week, for Parker's birthday, my Iowa Family came to help us celebrate. Jerry's parents, Patrick and Marilyn, and our niece, Caela were the three that braved the eleven hour trip from Polk City. It was great to get to visit with them even if it was only for the weekend. They arrived Thursday night, late. We stayed up visiting and of course peeking in at the kids while they slept...Marilyn itching to scoop them up out of bed since she had not seen them since Christmas. Friday we had a relaxing day and a walk to the park to work up an appetite for fried catfish, hush puppies, sweet tea and pie for dinner. If you haven't heard, the Wolf River Cafe in Rossville has the best catfish around, not to mention the 20 different pies for dessert. Saturday, we went to Build-A-Bear for Parker's birthday and had Parker's favorite dinner, spaghetti. I made an Ariel cake and it actually turned out better than planned. Sunday, the family headed back and we hated to see them go. 'Til August, when we head that way for the Iowa State Fair and lots of love and good eats.

Happy Birthday, Parker!

March 23, 4 years ago at 3:53 pm, I was introduced and instantly bonded with this tiny, 7 lb. 14 oz. bundle of pink goodness. She is the light of our life with the funniest sayings, most eccentric views and strong personality. This grass-roots girl loves bugs, "imaginating," turquoise anything, rodent-like animals, gardening, painting, not cleaning, gymnastics, talking, sandboxes and slides, olives, Big Wheels, the cello, hop balls, flip-flops, friends, baby corn, not baby dolls, and Jesus...too name a few. She keeps us laughing with thanksgiving in our hearts and a prayer never far from our lips.

"And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ -- to the glory and praise of God." Phil. 1:9-11

"I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers...I always pray with joy...being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." Phil. 1:3-6

Happy Birthday, Baby!