Clay's 1st skating party May 2010

Clay was invited to a birthday skating party-his 1st time skating EVER!  Here's a pic of the birthday girl & Clay 

Clay in the beginning

Clay with confidence

Britt in the beginning

Britt with confidence

Brittany & Clay finally meet Baby Drew & visit with Aunt Pam & Lincoln May 2010

Britt in awe of her new baby cousin

Papa with his new grandson

Aunt Susie posing with Drew

Clay & Britt & Drew

On Saturday morning we went to the Master Gardener's Garden Fest.  We met up with Pam and Lincoln 

the kids got to make bird feeders out of recyclable products

Britt posing with Aunt Pam and Lincoln

the kids and me with their completed projects

Softball and Baseball Opening Day 5.8.10

Our youth softball/baseball/tball league just finished constructing a new complex of 3 new diamonds and new concession stand.  For Opening Day, the league hosted a parade.  It was seriously freezing but all the kids had a blast!  Brittany and the Firecrackers got to ride on a firetruck with her team!

Clay and the River Dogs; all you can see of Clay is his hat!!!!  He loved riding in a parade despite the freezing temps!

Connor and his fellow Yankees

Miss Basketball, Courtney Moses was the parade's grand marshall

Brittany's coach made each girl a Firecracker to take home after the parade.  Brittany posing with Courtney

I had to get just 1 picture of Britt and Connor

Kenny & Mary's move April/May 2010

Kenny and Mary along with Morgan, Kennedy and new baby Drew moved into a new house in May 2010.  I, being the fab sister that I am, went down to help pack and spent some time with the kiddos too!  Baby Drew born 4.21.10 was so big! 

Mommy and Daddy with Drew

is there anything more precious than a sleeping baby?

for anyone that knows me they know that I don't like feet, but here's a picture of this baby's long toes!

Miss Kennedy didn't want to pose for the camera, she wanted the camera!

Aunt Susie with Baby Drew, look at my 'packing boxes' hair!  nice!

I totally LOVE this picture of Morgan, she was such a big helper! 

Mother's Poem Mother's Day 2010

The young mother set her foot on the path of life. "Is this the long way?" she asked. And the guide said "Yes, and the way is hard. And you will be old before you reach the end of it. But the end will be better than the beginning."

Then the nights came, and the storms, and the path was sometimes dark, and the children shook with fear and cold, and the mother drew them close and covered them with her arms, and the children said, "Mother, we are not afraid, for you are near, and no harm can come."

And the morning came, and there was a hill ahead, and the children climbed and grew weary, and the mother was weary. But at all times she said to the children, "A little patience and we are there." So the children climbed, and as they climbed they learned to weather the storms. And with this, she gave them strength to face the world.

Year after year, she showed them compassion, understanding, hope, but most of all...unconditional love. And when they reached the top they said, "Mother, we would not have done it without you."

The days went on, and the weeks and the months and the years, and the mother grew old and she became little and bent. But her children were tall and strong, and walked with courage. And the mother, when she lay down at night, looked up at the stars and said, "This is a better day than the last, for my children have learned so much and are now passing these traits on to their children."

And when the way became rough for her, they lifted her, and gave her their strength, just as she had given them hers. One day they came to a hill, and beyond the hill, they could see a shining road and golden gates flung wide. And mother said: "I have reached the end of my journey. And now I know the end is better than the beginning, for I can be with my Lord and my children can walk with dignity and pride, with their heads held high, and so can their children after them. And the children said, "You will always walk with us, Mother, even when you have gone through the gates." And they stood and watched her as she went on alone, and the gates closed after her. And they said, "We cannot see her, but she is with us still. A Mother like ours is more than a memory. She is a living presence."

Your Mother is always with you. She's the whisper of the leaves as you walk down the street, she's the smell of certain foods you remember, flowers you pick and perfume that she wore, she's the cool hand on your brow when you're not feeling well, she's your breath in the air on a cold winter's day. She is the sound of the rain that lulls you to sleep, the colors of a rainbow, she is Christmas morning.

Your Mother lives inside your laughter. And she's crystallized in every tear drop. A mother shows every emotion ...happiness, sadness, fear, jealousy, love, hate, anger, helplessness, excitement, joy, sorrow...and all the while, hoping and praying you will only know the good feelings in life. She's the place you came from, your first home, and she's the map you follow with every step you take. She's your first love, your first friend, even your first enemy, but nothing on earth can separate you. Not time, not space...not even death!

Not sure the author of this poem, I copied it off another blog.  After losing my mom, Mother's Day will never be the same but I refuse to allow it to ruin the Mother's Day that I share with my children.  My Mom would be very disappointed if I did.  Love and miss you every day, Mom!

Happy Mother's Day to everyone!

Happy Birthday Stacey and Jill!!!

Happy Birthday to 2 special girls!!!  I hope you both have a great day and enjoy your "you" day!

Clay's 1st Grade Music Program 4.27.10

Clay was not happy about missing baseball practice but he did so well in his 1st grade music program!  He sang every song and played the triangle very well!

some friends after the program

Grandma and Grandpa with Clay

Earth Day 4.22.10

As a parent I am trying to set a good example for my children when it comes to recycling, not littering, etc.  I am trying to instill that not only is it a choice to keep our earth clean, it is the ONLY choice!  My latest goal is for the recycling bins at our house to be twice as full as our regular trash!  I know, it may seem sad that I have made that a 'goal' but I am telling you making a conscious decision is a big part of the success!   On Earth Day I wear my TLC to Earth shirt.  I have blogged about this foundation before.  A foundation was set up to build an eco-friendly playground after a family lost a child in a steam engine accident.  The playground was built and being enjoyed by tons of children last year at my hometown's steam engine show.

My hope is that when it comes to recycling and sorting our trash that it becomes the norm that the kids automatically recycle more than just throwing something away.  If as a mom, I set the example now it will be with them for ever-a life lesson!

Happy Earth Day!  

Drew Steven arrives 4.21.10 7lbs. 3 oz. 20 inches long

Drew Steven

Kenny, Mary, Morgan, and Kennedy welcomed Baby Drew on 4.21.10 at 6:47am.  Baby and Mom are doing really well!  Here are some pictures from Drew's Birth Day!  I wasn't able to get any pics of Dad (Papa).  He was at the hospital before I got there and left to get to the field to plant some more crops.  I also didn't get any pictures of Morgan with Drew.  Morgan was at school when I was there!  I promise to get some pictures of the entire family very soon!  CONGRATS!!!!!!!!

Mary is 3 for 3, she delivered all her babies in this room!

Aunt Pam and Drew

Aunt Susie and Drew

Mommy and Drew

Daddy, Drew, Mommy

Check out the hair!

Pam, Kenny, Drew, Mary, Susie, Deanna

Daddy really checking out his baby boy

Cousin Dylan quite happy to meet Drew

Aunt LeeAnn and Drew

Kenny, Drew, Mary, Grandma Donna

Drew, Mary, Aunt LeeAnn

Introducing Kenny to Baby Drew

Miss Kennedy ready to leave!  In the picture below, Kennedy was waving bye to her baby brother!