Funnies

Would you want to take piano lessons?

Thomas: Yes. Well, do I have to?

Me: No.
Thomas: I don't want to. Do you know what kind of lessons I would like to take? Skiing.
(Seems plausible in Alabama)

On Palm Sunday I was reviewing with the kids what happened on Palm Sunday.
We were talking about Jesus coming into the city and all that was involved.
Me: And then one week later...
Thomas: Bammo

Brax: Thomas, do a good job being obedient at school today.
Thomas: Dad, I'll have to. Mom will be there part of the day.

Mae: Mom, the reasons I can get out of bed. If there's a fire in my room. Or a monster. Or a bad guy.

Me: Mae, please get out of the tub. The water's gone.
Mae: It's still burping.

Brax: If you get out of bed again, ix-nay on the brownie in your lunch tomorrow.
Thomas: Big snail??

Mae: Mom, somebody put marbles in my feet.

Baseball Opening Day-The Volcanos

It's a new year of baseball here! Brax is coaching Thomas's team again, and they've moved up to coach pitch. We have some fabulous friends on our team from church and other sports so I'm really looking forward to it!

Brax wondered out loud a few weeks ago where the big skill jump between the different age levels is. Well after the first game I would say this is it!! We went from not keeping score in t-ball to keeping score. Instead of everyone batting every inning, it's three strikes and three outs. I think it was a bit of a rude awakening for some of the little buds, but I'm sure they'll adjust.

Even though PaPa was turkey hunting, MiMi, Aunt Katey and Buckley all made it to the game. 

Thomas got out all three times he batted, but he did catch a pop fly and throw it to first for a double play. You should have seen the look on his face...And mine.

Easter

The last weekend of Spring Break was Easter. We had a great day. We're so thankful for our church! And then MiMi, PaPa and Aunt Katey came up for a family lunch.

HE IS RISEN!

Tennessee Aquarium

The major outing that we did during our Staycation was go to the Tennessee Aquarium in Chattanooga. It's only about an hour and a half away for us, so it's an easy day trip.

We really enjoyed going through all the different exhibits! Mae's favorites were the penguins and the turtles. Thomas's favorites were the penguins, sharks and rocks outside to climb on (which of course are free).

We bought a year pass this time, so we'll be back!

Spring Break Staycation

For Spring Break this year we were planning to go to the beach. But it just got colder and colder! Since we had booked our room with Hilton points we decided we could cancel and go another, warmer time. Brax had taken off the whole week and we spent most of the week doing stuff around home. It was WONDERFUL!!!! We bowled & went out to dinner with friends, fished at MiMi and PaPa's, visted the dentist, tried rag curls, had other friends come over for dinner & game night, stayed up late, slept in, worked on orgainizing the garage and really just enjoyed being together. At the beginning of the week I was nervous that it wouldn't be fun, but it was! I would definitely do it again!

Latest Happenings

It's been a ridiculous amount of time since I last blogged. RIDICULOUS. Here are a few of the things we've been up to. 

Since October 2011, Thomas and Mae have shared a room. I'm really glad we did it. I think it was a great time for them to have in there together. But, in January we felt like it was time to move them back to their own rooms. We painted Mae's room and put all her girly stuff up on the walls. SHE LOVES IT. We also put all of Thomas's sporty things back up on the walls. HE LOVES IT. 

 

Also, in January I got a text from my best friend from home's boyfriend Joe. It was a Wednesday and he told me that he was planning to propose to her on Friday. I immediately called Brax, burst into tears (because I was SO thrilled for Becky!) and asked if I could please go! Brax graciously agreed to take care of the kids by himself for the weekend and I headed to Fayetteville on Friday morning. I was able to be at the little party when Becky and Joe came back to her house after getting engaged and I'm SO glad I was! Plus, I was in town to celebrate Joel and Pops's birthdays. Bonus!

 

My parents came to visit for a weekend in February. I have no pictures of my mom, but I did get this one of the boys before church. Aren't they handsome!?!?! 

 Thomas had a death of a classmate in February. Brax and I have been reminded of how precious the lives of our babies are, as well as the amazing group of Christian people that we have surrounding us and them. We are SO SO blessed. I got out my camera one afternoon to try to capture their sweet and silly faces in this stage.

We're currently at home enjoying a Spring Break Staycation. Brax took the WHOLE week off and we had planned to go to the beach. However, it's freezing down there (and here) so we decided to postpone our trip and spend the week around here. So far it has been relaxing and fabulous! 

So, that's what's going on in our neck of the woods. With Easter, baseball, birthdays, and such coming up, surely it won't be so long before I blog again...

Funnies

Mae: Achoo! Bless me!

Listening to choral music in the car, Thomas: Is that a real train whistle.

Mae: Mom, how's your cathene?

I left the church service with Mae during the Christmas Eve Service left Thomas there. He came running after me. "Mom, I came with you. I didn't want to get stole!"

"Snow"

Today we had what counts for a "snow day" in Alabama. It sleeted and then snowed. We ended up with about 1/2 inch. Both kids got out of school early and they had fun playing in it before it melted. Of course we didn't have quite the correct gear, but we pulled it together.

Christmas

On Christmas day we got up at home, which we LOVE! Brax got us up and we opened presents with the kids. Then we had our traditional French Toast Casserole breakfast and opened our Christmas crackers. Around lunchtime we headed to MiMi and Papa's house. We opened presents there, watched Brave as a family, and then had a DELICIOUS Christmas dinner. I'm so thankful for wonderful family and for these sweet memories for our kids!

Christmas Eve

Behold the Lamb of God

 This December has been a time of really wonderful Christmas music. It doesn't always happen that way, but this year it has been amazing! I started off by singing Handel's Messiah with the Huntsville Community Chorus on November 30th. It was my first time to perform that work even though I've known it my whole life!

Our church had a caroling night on December 9th, and that was loads of fun! I was in an 11 person "Gospel" choir for part of it, and we had a great time! We sang sweet sacred songs as well as some really fun Christmas ones! Here is the link if you want to listen! The whole thing is long, but my favorite songs we did are the first (actual song) and last. Fa La Lodge

And last, but the opposite of least was Behold the Lamb! If you didn't know, I completely love this musical journey through the Old Testament leading up to the birth of Jesus. The last two years our church has hosted them as one of the stops on their annual Christmas tour, but we didn't this year. So a group of us made the trek up to Nashville to see them. It was so fun to "road trip" with some fun friends that we don't normally get to spend extended time with. And Behold the Lamb was even better in Nashville. I loved pretty much every moment of the trip including getting to hear Sally Lloyd-Jones at the beginning of the show!

Outside the historic Ryman Auditorium

The last song (Steven Curtis Chapman and his family sat four rows in front of us)!

Funnies

Thomas: What's a filet?
Kim: It's a piece of fish.
Thomas: Oh, so if you split it it's a half-a-lay? 

Mae: Mom, I showed Mrs. Jenna our Christmas card. She knowed which one was Daddy. Isn't that silly?

Thomas (as I picked him up from school): Mom, Caleb kicked me in the place it's not appropriate to say.

Thomas was riding to the hunting club with PaPa and they were listening to the radio about coaches being fired.
Thomas: PaPa, do they really set them on fire? 

Mae has been singing The First Noel a lot around our house! The other day I said, "Mae, who is the King of Israel?"
Mae: Born?

The other day was Parent Day in Mae's ballet class. The teachers gave each girl a tutu and they performed a dance for us. It was beyond adorable. Even though my ballerina was less than interested as the dance went on. Here is the link if you want to watch the video. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zmhXRTfLhOE

Christmas Program

Earlier this month it was time for the annual Friendly Beasts Christmas Program at Mae's preschool. Thomas did it, this is Mae's second year to do it.

 This year was Mae's hear to be a donkey.

 Whose hands are those? Oh, mine. Did I mention I'm teaching music at Mae's school two days a week?

 PaPa and MiMi came!

 Brax was out of town, but here I am with my donkey.

Thomas's Best Buddies, all supporting their siblings. Thomas, Hayes, James Hale and Lake

On of my best friends, Leah is the other music teacher.