After the Rain

This past weekend, the Memphis area had a big spring storm which kept us indoors for most of Saturday.  However, once the rain stopped we had marvelous puddles to play in.

This is only a fraction of the photos I took of the kids playing in the puddles that day.  I had too many so I just had to pic some favorites.  They had so much fun and I think were completely surprised when we let them get completely soaking wet.  Hey, it made for some great pics and happy kids.  

Happy Early Mother's Day to Me!

I have been saving up for a while to buy what I've been calling my "big girl camera".  In other words, a DSLR camera.  It's been slow going and I hadn't really expected to be able to purchase it for quite sometime.  So imagine my surprise when my sweet husband took me to get it for Mother's Day!!!  I was/am THRILLED!  Because we will be out of town on Mother's Day, we went to pick it out early so I could take it with me on vacation.  So here's my new baby:

A Canon Rebel T1i EOS 500D and it's simply an amazing camera.  I've really been getting into taking pictures and editing them.  This obsession hobby has really flourished for me recently and I am having so much fun.  

Here are the first pics taken with this camera - no editing.

Pretty awesome, right?!  So to share my obsession hobby with all of you, I've added a photography page.  You can find the link in the menubar.  Pictures on this page will be pictures taken and edited by me.  I don't edit the pictures I do on the regular posts much because it just takes so much time and when it comes to my kiddos, I take a lot of pictures.  I will update my photography page with edited pics which may or may not be of the kiddos regularly.  

So to Mike, Keegan and Presley - thank you so much for my big girl camera!  I.  LOVE.  IT.  I am so blessed to have a family that loves me so much.  Keegan and Presley, I can't imagine my life without you and am so proud to be your mommy!  

Game 3 - The Sharks

Prior to Game 3, we had a long talk with Keegan and how to behave during a soccer game.  We were very excited to see that some of it actually sunk in.  Keegan got an assist during this game and got lots of praise from his coach for his efforts.

Getting a fist bump during halftime...

as well as a pat on the head as they patiently waited for the second half to begin.

Part of my video didn't come out well but Keegan played much better this game than the last.  YouTube did not have copyrights to the music I chose for the video so they deleted my audio.  GRRR!  I tried to find something in their playlist; however, I didn't recognize most of it and gave up.  So you'll have to watch with no sound, but at least you get to see part of the game.

Game 2 - The Sharks

Keegan's soccer coach emailed the parents and asked us to have the kids think of one team name for their soccer team to submit.  All of the potential team names were put in to a bowl and one was drawn - the name Keegan picked!  So we are officially The Sharks!  

Game 2 was a little.... trying for Mike and me.  The game actually started out very promising.  Keegan got in a few kicks and we thought alright!  Then Keegan went into goofball mode for the remainder game and wasn't really concentrating on the ball or any part of the game.  He was dancing on the field, picking grass and telling jokes to his teammates.  This is pretty much the only picture I got of him that was worth posting.

And the video.  Again, it started off okay, got a few kicks here and there and then just following the pack of kids and not really concerned about the ball.  *Sigh*  We know.  He's four.

A Picture for God

As with all new Christians, Keegan is constantly asking questions about Jesus, God, praying, etc.  He wants to pray all the time.  He wants to read his bible.  It's truly amazing to see God's work in this little four year old body.  I am in awe.  

Keegan is very much into drawing pictures and on this day, he wanted to draw a picture of Jesus for God.  He asked where God was.  I try my darndest to explain Heaven and where heaven is.  He asked where he could put his picture so God could see it.  I tried to explain best I could that God sees and hears him know matter where he is or what he's doing.  This wasn't quite good enough for Keegan.  Keegan proceeds to walk outside and hold his picture up to the sky and screams, "SEE, GOD?  SEE YOUR PICTURE I DREW OF JESUS FOR YOU?"  I was running through the house to grab my camera as fast as I could and luckily popped off one shot before the moment was over.

I am so proud of this little guy, my heart feels as though it might explode most days.  My cup runneth over.

⁶Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.  Proverbs 22:6

A Keegan Funny

Plastic Easter eggs are still around our house.  I'm finding them in the toy boxes, in the backyard, and various other places all over the house.  One afternoon, Keegan had one of the Easter eggs shaped like a soccer ball.  He pulled it apart and looked at both pieces, from one hand to the other.  I watched closely because I could see his wheels turning.  He then proceeds to put one on each side of his chest and says, "Look, Mommy!  I'm a girl!"

Mike's Brithday!

This weekend, Mike turned 38 years old.  He is quickly approaching the big 4-0.  Glad he's ahead of me.  Anyhow, for his birthday dinner we drove down to Tunica, MS to partake in one of the best buffets EVER.  The one and only, Paula Deen.  Here's the catch:  The restaurant is in a casino.  We had to walk through the casino with our two children.  There was a very weird feeling about that and also a lot of stares.  However, our two children were not the only ones in the restaurant.  Still, weird experience.  And, of course, Keegan wanted to push all the buttons on the slot machines.  

Here are the kiddos all dressed and ready to go.  Just enjoying a little sunshine first.  As long as they stay clean.  

And we've arrived!  This is my first time here but Mike has eaten here once before.  Obviously, it was good enough to come back a second time - and for his birthday meal!

There was lots to eat!  Too much to choose from really.  Seafood, BBQ, southern food - you name it, it was probably there on one of the several buffets of food.

So eat we did....

And we did a little kissing to....

And gracious, yes.  There was butter!

And some of the best sweet tea I've ever had.

Me and my homegirl, Paula.

The gift shop was a replica of her kitchen.  Very cool.

And there was a big ole front porch in the front of the restaurant to sit and enjoy all the gambling passersby.

And I came home with my Paula Deen coffee mug.  I think we all really enjoyed the meal together and are looking forward to another trip - or five - to that buffet.

Presley's Shoe Obsession

Presley is totally obsessed with shoes already at the tender age of 16 months old.  If she sees a pair of shoes she wants them on and it doesn't matter whose shoes they are.  Obviously.

New shoes thrill her to no end and whatever shoes are on her feet at that time must be promptly removed and replaced with the new shoes.

Eventually, she grows tired of shoes that are too big and not being able to walk so she'll discard them only to move on to the next pair she finds.

Easter Sunday 2010

Easter was a big day for our family for several reasons.  The man who has helped raise me since I was 9 years old was baptized this day.  PRAISE GOD!  Love you, Daddy!

Here are the kids' Easter baskets before they tore into them.

And after....

After a big family breakfast, Mike explained what Easter is to the kids.  Well, Presley was there.  She didn't really get what was going on.  But little did we know, big things were in the works with our sweet Keegan.  Here's Keegan writing the word 'Easter' on his board.

Taking it all in and being saved right before our eyes.  That's right - Keegan said he wanted Jesus in his heart forever.  Our baby has been saved!  PRAISE GOD!!!  This is when I became a big ole mess.  The tears turned on and stayed on for most of the day.  Every time I thought about it, I teared up again.  How much better could this Easter get for our family?

Then the kids colored pictures about the Last Supper, the crucifixion, and the resurrection of Jesus.

And this.... Well, Keegan is in that phase of his life where he wants to be older.  "When I'm older..." he'll say.  He decided he wanted a mustache because it made him older.  We obliged.

Then we colored some Easter eggs.  Instead of dying the eggs, I found this kit that had a paintbrush and a stamp kit.  Keegan really enjoyed it.

And little sister was able to get in on the action.

Then the whole family headed outside to enjoy the beautiful day.

And we created more dandelions.

We grilled some great food.

Then I hid Easter eggs all over the backyard and the kids had a great time finding them.

Presley finally started to figure it out.

Checking out all the loot.  They discovered there were a few jellybeans inside some of the eggs.

My saved boy and me.  I couldn't be prouder or more blessed!