The Big Pay-off

Carter had a huge game Monday night. He came ready to play. We were concerned because the game did not even start until 8:00. So to help get him ready, Damon gave him sips of Dr. Pepper periodically for the night. According to Carter, that helped him. He was 2 for 2 with a double, scored a run and had a RBI. However, the big play was to end the game when Carter caught a pop up to the pitcher's circle. The whole stands erupted because it is so rare for a 5/6 year old to catch a ball like that. Little does everyone know we do that continually in our house and have been for the last 2 years! It all paid off. Tyler made it to the game along with Papa Whittle, Grandad Willis, Damon and myself. Gran stayed home with Laura Beth since it was so late.

The Big Day

Friday afternoon the uniform was laid out. Saturday morning by 9:00 the uniform was ready to be worn. Finally, at 6:30 p.m., we were on our way to the ball field for opening day. "I have been waiting for this day my whole life!" was Carter's feelings for the day and he was ready to play! The kids all did a great job and when asked who had fun at the end fo the game, everyone yelled and raised their hands. Carter even had his own little (but very loud) fan club at the first game. Some of our college kids made signs and came out to support not just Carter but the whole team. They wanted to bring the sound system to play music as the kids went up to bat, but never the less a good time was had by all! I love these picture of him with the college kids.

Thanks Tyler, Riley, Heather, Laura, David, Sandy, Phillip, Chad and Randall (the last two ducked out before the picture) for being there for my kids! You are their heroes!

That's What Friends are For

I am so thankful for all of my friends. There are some that I can call on no matter what and I appreciate that so much. Today was one of those days where I needed a friend and I knew who to call - Arika. Our boys, Carter and Lawson, are one month and one day apart. They really do not know life without the other one and could almost be brothers instead of friends. So, I knew exactly who was going to be by my side today when we had to register our babies for KINDERGARTEN!!!!! Her first and my last . . . . where has time gone? We were not ready for this day at all but we made with no tears! Aren't you proud of us? I am so glad we have each other for days like this.

Carter's "Welcome to Kindergarten" bag.
Lawson's "Welcome to Kindergarten" bag

Two very sad mommas!

Thank you, Arika, for being my friend today and every day!

Our Own Tex

Baseball season does not officially start until tomorrow for my little fellow but I could not resist taking these pics last night at his scrimage. He has been playing pitcher's helper or the circle but last night he got to play first base - just like Mark Teixeira - one of his favorites. I thought it was great that he wore his Teixeira jersey, too. So, of course, I had to snap some pics!

Lunch and a Hair Cut

Sunday Nicole and Adam joined us for lunch after church. We have grown to love these two so much and were so glad they could join us for an afternoon. We had a wonderful lunch and then spent the rainy afternoon playing Wii and getting a haircut. Carter was not so sure about Miss Nicole's ability to cut hair at first but when we told him she cut Adam's hair - he wanted it just like his. We did not go that short but he looks great. We appreciate her willingness to cut a moving target's head of hair!

We gave him a brownie to eat while getting his haircut.

Our lunch crew - Nicole, LB, Adam and Carter

What a Pair!

I have made so much fun of Papa Whittle's seer sucker suit for many years. I have told him and told him we needed to throw it away because it is about thread bear. However, he will not part with it. While shopping for Carter's Easter outfit, I ran into a seer sucker coat in his size and could not help myself. I bought it. I laughed at myself for buying it but I told myself I needed to do this. Papa was so excited that he and his great grandson would be twins for Easter Sunday! Another boy in Carter's class also had a seer sucker suit that matched his grandfather's. All four wore their suits this past Sunday to church. What a memory!

A Night with Our Favorite Basketball Players

Thursday night we were privileged to be asked to eat dinner with the FHU Lady Lion Basketball team. They were having their annual end of the year dinner. We were honored to be asked and the kids were beyond thrilled to be with some of their favorites. The ladies had a wonderful year and we are so proud of them. They are wonderful girls on and off the court. What a blessing they all are to our lives!

The kids with All-American Jana Cross
Laura Beth loves Jana so much!

Our newest member of the family, Nicole.

She is going to be living with us for a month this summer.

Another love of ours, Tara Deathridge

Chicken Club Brunch Ring

Chicken Club Brunch Ring

(from Pampered Chef)

1 c. mayonnaise

2 T. Dijon mustard

2 T. parsley (optional)

2 T. onion, finely chopped

1 can (10 0z) chunk white chicken, drained and flaked

4 slices crisp bacon

1 c. shredded Swiss cheese

2 packages refrigerated crescent rolls

1-2 tomatoes

1 medium red pepper (optional)

2 c. shredded lettuce

Preheat oven to 375. Combine mayonnaise and mustard. Snip parsley. Chop onion finely. Add to mayo mixture. Mix well. Flake chicken with a pastry blender. Chop bacon. Add bacon, 3/4 c. cheese and 1/3 c. mayo mixture to chicken. Mix well. Unroll crescent dough into individual triangles (16 total). Arrange triangles in a circle with wide ends overlapping in the center and points toward the outside. Scoop chicken mixture onto the widest ends of the triangle. Bring outside points of triangle over filling and tuck ends of dough at the center. Slice tomatoes and cut slices in half. Place one tomato half between openings of ring. Bake 20-25 minutes. Remove from oven and sprinkle with remaining cheese.

Clean out the bell pepper. Fill with remaining mayonnaise mixture. Place in the center of the ring and arrange lettuce around the pepper.

This was served at one of my bridal showers and we served it at Laura Beth's Fancy Nancy birthday party earlier this month.

A Hunting We Will Go

We love Easter and we especially love Easter with college kids. They make the day ten times more fun! This year we were blessed to have 7 college kids come over for our Easter dinner and egg hunt after church services. I don't know who had more fun - our two or our seven. It got pretty vicious. We had to establish the rule "You must stay with your basket," so all the teams would stay together. Laura Beth was even kidnapped by Carter's teammates to keep her team from finding more eggs. We all laughed and enjoyed seeing everyone have so much fun.

Laura Beth's Easter egg team consisted of David Lee and Tyler Pate. They were pretty hard core and won the second Easter egg hunt.
Carter's Easter egg team consisted of Riley Pate and Phillip McDoniel. They won the first hunt quite handly.

Thanks, Melissa, Phillip, Sandy, David, Riley, Heather and Tyler!

We enjoyed having you so much!

Easter Best

We woke up after a late night of coming in from Lads to Leaders to a beautiful Easter morning. The kids got dressed in their Easter best and were ready for the day full of activities ahead of us. I think Carter had reached his limit of pictures taken by Momma. He was not as cooperative as he usually he, but he still looked so cute, I mean, handsome.
After church, I had to snap some pictures of them in their Easter best hunting eggs.
I love these pictures.

A Must Photo Shoot

We were in one of the most beautiful places this weekend, so OF COURSE I had to take pics of my babies.

I love these pictures because of the beautiful backgrounds, but they capture my children's multipersonalities so well!

L2L Friends

Another great thing about L2L is the friends my kids have made and reconnect with while they are there. I loved seeing all the different ages interact with each other. We were also so glad to see Kinlee and Stephanie for a brief time. Laura Beth has so many good big girlfriends. The girls in the pictures at the bottom came to see Laura Beth lead her song. I thought it was so sweet of them to come and watch 20 K-2 graders leading singing.

What a blessing these big friends are to all of our lives!

L2L Activities

What a wonderful Easter weekend we were able to take part in. We - along with thousands of others - gathered in one of 5 cities for the Lads to Leaders Convention. We were able to attend at the Opryland Hotel in Nashville, TN. We witnessed so many young men and women learning how they can serve God in various ways according to their talents. We had been several years before when the kids were babies, but took some time off from going to convention. This year Laura Beth and Carter showed interest in participating so we took off with over 100 others from our congregation.

The kids from our congregation (in the navy blue shirts) are receiving their Good Samaritan awards for service to others. Laura Beth is in the top picture and Carter is in the bottom picture.
Laura Beth also participated in K-2 songs of praise. Here are pictures of her practicing before convention and leading her song, "Jesus Loves Me," at convention. She says she wants to do a speech next year.

Carter also participated in K-2 song leading (even though he is in preschool). I was not able to go in order to watch Laura Beth lead singing, and did not have sense enough to bring two cameras. They said he did a wonderful job. The bottom right picture is of him on stage Saturday night.

We are so proud of all our participants and their willingness to learn how to better serve our God in heaven.

Fishing with Tyler "Whose"

One of our college kids is a HUGE fisherman! The kids have been begging to go fishing with them once the weather was appropriate for them. Tyler was more than gracious to call them on Thursday to go fishing. They all went out to the Gover's pond and enjoyed a time together fishing by the pond. Both kids were lucky enough to catch a fish. Laura Beth loved her little one but Carter was not so sure about the catfish which turned out to be about as big as he is! Yes, he did catch it. Tyler had to hold the pole once it was hooked or the pole and Carter would have been in the pond! Carter reeled it in until it got close to the shore. At that point, Carter saw how big it was and how it was jerking and all. He decided he wanted NOTHING to do with it! He did get somewhat close for a few pictures!

I believe everyone enjoyed being together and will always remember this first fishing trip! Thanks, Tyler!

Spring Time Centers

As well as kite day, Laura Beth's class had spring centers as well. They had a great time making duck and bunny pins, eating, making suncatchers, making a bunny necklace, graphing jelly beans, scratch art, egg memory game, making handprint bunnies, and creating their own spring picture. They all had a great time. Mrs. Kim always does a great job with centers!

What a Day to Fly a Kite!

This year's Kite Day at Laura Beth's school was a better day than last year. We managed to get her kite up for a good duration of the time. She had a great time just being out with her friends running free.

Preschool Egg Hunt

On Wednesday before Easter, Carter's preschool held their Easter party. The kids enjoyed Easter egg hunting and lunch. It was a beautiful day and we all enjoyed being together and outside.

What a Surprise!!!

Carter was treated to a MAJOR surprise Saturday of Makin Music. One of our PKA girls, Melissa, had gotten wind of Carter loving Ryan Howard (the first baseman of the Phillies). She has connections with Ryan and had a signed baseball for Carter. He thought that was the best thing in the world! Thank you, Melissa, for making this little boy's day!

Why We Love Makin Music

1. A chance to be like our heroes . . . .

2. An opportunity to be with "family" who came back

3. Another time to just be around those we love

A Notion for a Potion

Our Phi Kappa kids did a great job with their show "A Notion for a Potion."

We all enjoyed their show - the humor and twists and turns of it.

They captured the third place overall trophy and, the most important trophy,

the Spirit Award.
We are so proud of them!

An Invitation to be Fancy

Dress in your most exquisite clothes

(that's a very fancy word for pretty)

and join us as we celebrate

Laura Beth's

7th Birthday

We will be feasting on an elegant meal and

would be thrilled to have you join us.

Our extraordinary night will be on

Monday, March 30, 2009.

We will begin the festivities at 5:30 p.m.

at the home of Damon and Becky Welch.

Please respondez sil' vouz plait.

(That's French for reply.)

Fancy Nancy Birthday Party

When our children turn 7, they begin to alternate family birthday parties on odd years and friend parties on even years. This year was Laura Beth's family birthday party. She wanted to have a Fancy Nancy party inspired from the books and Melissa Lester's ideas. We invited our family from town to come to a dinner on her birthday. We borrowed her Great Grandmama Whittle's tablecloth so she could be with us on this day and used my china for the place settings. The birthday girl chose the menu for the night which included the following:

Chicken Club Brunch Ring

Vegetable Tray with cucumbers, red peppers, orange peppers, yellow peppers and carrots with Ranch dip

Grapes

Cheese (cut into fancy shapes) and crackers

Edemame

Pette fores' (a fancy word for little cakes)

Raspberry Tea

Pink Lemonade

Everyone enjoyed the meal, each other and seeing the birthday girl enjoy her special night.

Laura Beth and her family members who all dressed in their elegant clothes for the fancy dinner.

with Great Papa Whittle (far left)

with Grandad and Gran Willis (top right)

with RoRo and Bub McKnight (bottom right)

The evening was declared a success by everyone who attended.

Spring Break in Nashville

At the end of our spring break, we went to Nashville with Damon's family to see his brother and sister-in-law, as well as our niece and nephew. We had a great time just spending time together playing, watching Johnathan play soccer and watching basketball. We are so blessed with any time we can spend with family that is far away.

NAIA National Tournament

We spent part of our spring break cheering on our Lady Lions and Lions basketball teams in the National Tournaments. Our guys played in Kansas City so we could not go there. We were able to get it over the internet and wired it to the movie screen at FHU. There were about 30 of us watching at FHU's new movie theatre cheering them on despite an overtime loss. The next day we were able to go to Jackson to see our Lady Lions play. Last year the kids made signs for each day so we had to carry on the tradition this year. Miss Nicole came to get the sign to take to the Lady Lions. They put the sign right by the bench during the game. It helped some because they ladies won that game.

Laura Beth and Tara after the game.

Laura Beth and our All-American Player of the Year, Jana Cross

(as well as their sign they made)

The ladies lost the next game - we were not able to be there but we did send another sign for them.