25 Random Things About Me

1. I love Jesus!
2. I love my family. I have two wonderful boys and the best husband in the world. Sorry ladies, he’s taken there are no more like him.
3. I love Alabama football!! I used to have a crush on Sam Collins he was number 7 and Michael likes to pick on me about that to this day.
4. I sometimes drink from my children’s water bottles. If I can’t find mine, yes I use theirs.
5. I eat my children’s leftovers, only if I’m sure they didn’t chew it then spit it out or anything gross like that. This is a problem for me, I am trying to watch my weight and it is hard to push their food away!!!
6. I have a 16 by 20 oil painting of Dylan in a box on the floor behind the chair in the living room. I keep forgetting to take it to get framed.
7. I graduated from Alabama and Auburn, Alabama was WAY better. Auburn was free so why not go.
8. My husband and I dated for 1 month got engaged and got married after 6 more months. When you know you just know.
9. I love light Catalina dressing for my salads. I love Ranch, but light Catalina has less calories.
10. I am a chocaholic!! I just can’t resist chocolate. I don’t know why but once I think about it, I just have to have it!!
11. I used to listen to Keith Sweat. (Twisted and Nobody were my favs, scary right.)
12. I am more thankful every day for what great parents I have. They really taught me and my sisters great morals and the value of family!
13. I would go broke giving money for a cure for pediatric cancer but I have to take care of my family first.
14. I talk to my sisters daily. I wish we all lived closer but 2.5 hours is the farthest that we are apart way better than it used to be.
15. I collect Longaberger baskets and Arthur Court elephants. Very expensive, but I like them.
16. I have dark paneling in my house that I would love to paint! I want a lighter color!
17. I HATE our living room carpet. I would rather have bare concrete!
18. I like to watch TLC and HGTV.
19. I like cake icing! I could eat a whole bucket OOOOOH and Krispy Kreme doughnuts Tiffany and I used to go to Krispy Kreme in the middle of the night and get a whole dozen when the hot now light was on. We would eat the whole dozen.
20. I don’t really like water but I am making myself drink it. I really love diet Sunkist but it has too much sodium.
21. I never get my hair cut, I color it from a box and get it trimmed every once in a while, but I am not a consistent style keeper. I just can’t spend that money on myself on a regular basis. I would rather spend our money on my boys. So often times you will see my hair in a ponytail.
22. I don’t think I have one pair of name brand ANYTHING! If you can’t buy it at wal-mart I probably don’t need it! I take that back I do have New Balance tennis shoes but I run that’s a necessity!
23. I shave my big toe!
24. I like Carrie Underwood’s Before He Cheats and Country Boy by Alan Jackson. Dalton and I like to turn them up really loud and dance to them in the car. We do the same thing to Toby Mac and Nicole Mullen.
25. I owe everything I am blessed with to my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! I am trying each day to tell Him how much I appreciate my blessings!

Sweet Dalton!

MOTHERS

Real Mothers don't eat quiche;
they don't have time to make it.

Real Mothers know that their kitchen utensils
are probably in the sandbox.

Real Mothers often have sticky floors,
filthy ovens and happy kids.

Real Mothers know that dried play dough
doesn't come out of carpets.

Real Mothers don't want to know what
the vacuum just sucked up.

Real Mothers sometimes ask 'Why me?'
and get their answer when a little
voice says, 'Because I love you best.'


Thanks Jennifer for this sweet email…it is soooo true.


So last night was a good night. My mother and father in law stopped by and brought the boys some cake and dinosaurs. The boys were playing Kung Fu Panda on the Wii. We really enjoyed the visit but I ate some of the cake with icing. It was so good. Dylan kept saying “tank you nana, tank you nana” so sweet. Then my parents wanted us to go to dinner at Oskars. Really we just wanted to go for a ride in the car so we went to Oskars. Last time we went to Oskars Dalton threw up while we were there. Our waiter that night was Nic. Guess who our waiter was this time??? Poor Nic. When he walked in the room and saw us, I’m surprised he didn’t walk back out. I said Oh I bet you hate that we’re your table tonight and he said NO….but he pointed to the place we sat last time. He remembered too… It was funny. We ate and left with no incident. I was joyous as I was paying and then in the background I heard a loud crash. Low and behold I turn around and Dalton is standing by a table on its end. The table was the ONLY one with anything on it and it was the table that they were wrapping silverware on. There were forks and knives everywhere. At first I was shocked and told Dalton to help pick everything up. Then I looked around and my dad was walking out with him. When I got everything picked up I walked out and Dalt was just sobbing. He was so embarrassed and I was laughing about it as well as everyone else. I was amazed that he found the table that had the most stuff on it to knock over. I felt so bad for him. He was just pitiful. He just cried and cried. I comforted him but it was just so sad. I had no idea that he would be so upset. He is so tenderhearted. My sweet boy. We got home, played the wii, took baths, then Michael came home early. He was home by 8:40 instead of 10. Dylan said “I so sited to see you daddy” The boys were ecstatic so they didn’t get in bed til 9:30. Dylan got up at 4:30 he laid in his bed and talked and kicked the wall. Dalt was up at 5:30. I was angry that I wasn’t going to get any rest, but then I realized it’s just a little more time to see their sweet little faces. Dalton wanted to start playing the Wii. That was out of the question they watched cartoons instead while I got ready. Today they’re home with their Daddy. It should be a nice day.

An argument against Abortion!

Pam knows about the pain of considering abortion.More than 21 years ago, she and her husband, Bob, were serving asmissionaries to the Philippines and praying for a fifth child. Pamcontracted amoebic dysentery, an infection of the intestine caused bya parasite found in a contaminated food or drink. She entered into acoma and was treated with strong antibiotics before they discoveredshe was pregnant. Doctors urged her to abort the baby for her ownsafety and told her that the medicines had caused irreversible damageto her baby. She refused the abortion and cited her Christian faith asthe reason for her hope that her son would be born without thedevastating disabilities physicians predicted.The doctors "didn't think of it as a life, they thought of it as amass of fetal tissue," Pam said.While pregnant, Pam nearly lost their baby four times but refused toconsider abortion. She recalled making a pledge to God with herhusband, "If you will give us a son, we'll name him 'Timothy,' andwe'll make him a preacher."Pam ultimately spent the last two months of her pregnancy in bed and,eventually, gave birth to a health baby boy August 14, 1987.Pam's youngest son is indeed a preacher. He preaches in prisons, makeshospital visits, and serves with his father's ministry in thePhilippines.He also plays football. Pam's son is Tim Tebow.

SLEEP!!

Well....we are getting sleep again!! I'm so proud that our boys have been sleeping through the night all weekend!! It's great to get a good nights sleep. Weekend was great-it just flew by! We did alot of cooking. I love soup when it's cold so that's what we made. Dalton got to cook with me, he loves to cook, Dylan helped some but he can't do quite as much yet.

Michael bought us a new car yesterday! Total shock. We mentioned looking at one and then he just bought it! WOW. It's nice. An '03 GMC Yukon. It's white and VERY long! The boys were shocked but they love it! They each have their own seat. Dylan's in the middle and Dalton is WAY in the back. I'm sure it won't always stay that way, but that's what Dalt wanted. He loves the back! I hope we can keep this one for a long time. We've had the Explorer for 5 and a half years.

Michael also asked me out on a date for next weekend. I asked what was wrong, but he just laughed at me. We never go out on a date. If we go anywhere the boys are with us. And if he wants to eat out, I have to go pick it up and bring it home. But no, he actually wants me and him to go out to a restaurant!! I'm excited. First a car then a date...what next!

Please remember Ella and my mother in law. They are both doing good right now. My mother in law had surgery and remember Ella is going through chemo right now. This week has gone good for her. It's just sad that she has to endure this at all! Thanks!!

Sleepless nights

Well, we've been functioning on a few hours of sleep each night. Other than that we're great. By the time we get home from work and school, we're pooped. Dalton is grumpy and Dylan is whiney. Last night we had church and it didn't go too great. Dylan cried the entire time, "I want my mommy"I heard him crying in the hallway. Dalton yelled at me in the classroom that share time was taking too long. I took him out of the room to let him calm down in time out. He sat and when we got up to go back he started screaming again. It was a meltdown night all the way around. We left early. We got home and they both went straight to bed. Dalton got up 4 times trying to get into our bed, every time it was refused, but I would have liked to sleep. Dylan woke up at 4:30 wanting his Lightning McQueen book. It was on the floor by his bed but I had to go hand it to him. Then at 5 he had to go tee tee. It's strange how he even wakes up at home to tee tee in the potty, but they say that he won't go for them at daycare. I'm not so sure if it's that he won't go for them, or they won't take him. Oh well....

I'm ready to go get them today and have a nice evening at home. I've been cooking every evening and Dalt and Dyl have helped but that takes a lot of time. Tonight I think we'll do sandwiches and relax with some lincoln logs and tinker toys. We'll see how they feel.
Please pray that Ella gets to go home today. Consider being a part of the prayer chain. You can email Shana Knight to reserve a 30 minute slot. Her email is knight.shana@gmail.com

We have a lady at our church who had surgery on her foot months ago and it's still not healing. She's been ordered to stay home another 2 weeks and then the possibility of skin grafts. Her name is Nadine and she could use our prayers. She could be faced with losing her job if she can't get back to work. So stressful. Please pray.

My cousin Staci is at home and doing good. Thanks for your prayers on her behalf. Crohns is a terrible disease.

Yall have a good day.

The Long Weekend!

Wow it was great! I got home Friday and all of my family was home. Michael was off Friday. Dalton was laying in the chair. I asked who wanted to go outside and jump. No one took me up on my offer. Not even Dalton. I knew something was wrong. 102 degree temp. He told me last Sunday that he felt a bubble in his ear. I asked if it hurt, put drops in, gave Motrin, and thought it had passed. Nope...ear infection. Michael took him to the doctor Saturday morning at 9.

Me, Dylan, my mama and daddy were on the way to Nikki's for Christmas. The Wilkerson Christmas. We missed Nick, Sinda, and Keira and Aunt Di and Uncle Gerry so much. I hate that they couldn't be with us. We had so much fun getting to catch up. I ate way too much. Dylan made the whole trip with a dry pull up. Of course he would say "I need to tee tee" and we would pull over and let him, but the important thing is that he tells us. Such a big 2 year old. He missed Dalton. He said "and Dalt Dalt too" a million times. Even though they fuss they are inseperable. Sweet boys.

Saturday when we got home Dalton was smiling. He had a dose of antibiotics, motrin, and got some new tools from Sears and he was happy. Michael said he cried a few times throughout the day because he wanted to go with me so bad. The night was filled with WII games.

Sunday Michael woke up with a headache so he missed church. He assembled Dylans toddler bed and Dylan napped in it after church. He liked it and he stayed in it. Thank you so much Matt and Tina for the baby bed. It was sad to take it down but I have to let go of the baby. Sunday night we spent the night at my parents house. I took the boys to Dairy Queen and then my parents. Dalt threw up in DQ. I took Dylan to the potty and when I came back Mama said Dalt had gotten sick. Antibiotics:) Gotta love 'em.

Monday we spent the morning with Michael then went grocery shopping. Cooked lentil soup. Yummy, got the recipe from Rachel Ray. Dalton was super excited about that. He loves Rachel! Made homemade cornbread, chicken pot pie and ribs in the crock pot. The chicken pot pie is for a church member who's sick, but the rest is for us this week. YUMMY!

Oh we watched an old black and white version of the Titanic yesterday just me and the boys. Dalton sobbed. He didn't think it was real, but when I told him it was a true story, he lost it. He is so tender hearted. Busy day, peaceful night. Dylan's at daycare in undies. Let's hope he comes home in pants. I sent 3 pair. He does great at home, but in public could be different. I'll post pics of the reunion when I get some.

Happy Birthday Jennifer! Keep my mother in law in your prayers today, doctor visit:) and as always keep praying for ELLA please consider being a part of the prayer chain from Feb 20-25th. Prayer changes things. Lets pray BIG don't box God in!

Love Dares yesterday and today are Love is not jealous appreciate your spouse (be his cheerleader) and Love makes a good impression, greet him with as much enthusiasm as you used to have when you saw his handsome face.

Luke

Here is the promised photo of Luke. Isn't he a cutie. This is Leigh Ann's youngest. I will update about our weekend when I have more time. It was GREAT though.

Please Pray

Please pray for my cousin Staci. She has Chron's disease and is in the hospital now. She's been there for almost 2 weeks. They did surgery and things were going good but she now has some kind of infection and is having trouble breathing. She has a 4 year old son and husband eager for her to be well. Every mention of her name to God in prayer helps. Thanks!

Some of the neices and nephews

These are my sisters' children. I don't have current ones of Michael's side with me but I'll post some of Gabe and Hayden later. They are cuties too!
Katie Donna's youngest, 3 years old. She was born in May and Jill was born in April. They love each other, just like sisters! They even talk on the phone to one another. Look out phone bills!! She's doing gymnastics now. She is a cutie! She looks so much like Donna did when she was little. Little miss priss.

Eli, Leigh Ann's oldest. 9 already. TKD and Soccer are his specialties!Straight A student!

Anna Beth Donna's oldest 7 years. She is on to basketball and gymnastics now!! Straight A student!

Leigh Ann's daughter Jill 3 years old. Isn't she precious! Looks just like Leigh Ann.

I'm so proud of all my neices and nephews. I don't have any photos of Luke yet. Leigh Ann send me some!! Love yall!

More Pics

Dylan eating his cheese crackers like a puppy dog.
Dalton and Eli preparing for fireworks. They were so cold, but so excited.
I don't know how to turn it right, but this is what the boys love to do. WII

Dylans face of terror sitting out at fireworks. He watched one outside and the rest from inside at the window. Poor baby.

New Pics

They race dump trucks and dig up all the rocks in our drive way!!

My sweet Dalt showing me the flowers he just picked for me. (Dandilions but I have tons and I love each one!)

Dylan at the Christmas parade after eating my special K snack bar. He's saying cheese. He always looks like this in all of his pics. I've got to make him stop saying cheese.

Dylan will drag them both around in this little cozy coupe. Strong legs, it's a good thing Dalton's skinny.

Riding the four wheeler. Dalton wants a new one, a REAL one. And a REAL motorcycle. Our boy loves speed.

I am so proud of my neice and nephew. Both received all A's on their report cards! Eli and Anna Beth, keep up the great work! I love yall, smarties. Dalton also got a good report from preschool yesterday. Mrs. Leah wrote a note that said, "He is going to do GREAT in kindergarten, he is ready. He is a sweet boy!" This is what I know, he is precious, I'm so glad he's behaving well enough to allow others to see it as well. Mrs. Julie who used to keep him knew it, but she had him from birth to 4 years old.

When I picked the boys up yesterday Dalton was moping around. He said that some boys were mean to him. He said "they're all strong and I'm not strong" I told him that Jesus tells us to turn the other cheek and forgive others. I've asked him not to play with people who are mean, but he really wants to fit in with them. He was so tired, he fell asleep on the way home from McDonalds. I took him there to try to cheer him up. It worked, but he was pooped. We got home had baths, played the Wii, played trains, and read books. They went straight to bed and to sleep. They were angels.

Dylan asked for a candy cane and I told him I didn't have one and he said "yes you are" the other night Dalton said "I'm going to throw this at you" Dylan said "you betta don't". I caught Dylan kneeling at the potty praying on MOnday. He put his car on top of the toilet and said, "Dear God thank you for my lightning mcqueen" Matt and Tina gave him this remote control Lightning for his birthday and he loves it. He sleeps with it every night. Every trip we go on, it goes too. Even if we're just going to the grocery. He loves lightning.

My cousin's sons (Cole) surgery went well yesterday. They got right in at 6:30 and he slept alot yesterday. Please keep his healing in your prayers. Also Sabastian (don't know the last name), a 17 year old boy with leukemia just passed away last night. Please pray for his family and be thankful for the blessings you have. Ella is having chemo today please pray for an uneventful day for the Norris'. Also my cousin Staci has Chrone's (spelling??) Disease. She just had surgery last week where there was an obstruction and they removed part of her colon. She had to go back this morning due to extremely intense pain. She is exhausted mentally and physically and has a 4 year old son. Please pray.

A Good Day

Yesterday was a good day. I was off for Muffins With Mom with Dalton's class. It started at 9 and ended at 9:30 but I took the whole day so I wouldn't have to just get a sub for half a day. I went to eat a muffin, ran some errands and picked them up at 10:45. We got home, played outside, ate lunch and played the Wii then took a nap. After our nap they wanted to eat and play the Wii some more. I made them play tinkertoys with me instead of the Wii. We played that for a while then got baths ate dinner, played the Wii, watched an Arthur movie then read books and ate popcorn. Book reading takes about an hour. It was a great way to end the perfect day. Dalton got a Good Note at school. His teacher said he has really improved. He keeps his hands to himself and sits quietly much better than he used to. It was wonderful to hear a good report. I can tell a difference in his behavior at home too. After Christmas he has really improved. He is 5 now I guess that's it. It really is due to a lot of prayer. Speaking of him being 5...I didn't update on his b-day. We took him out to dinner, we left Dyl with my parents for a little while. He wanted to go to McDonalds, but we talked him into Oskars. We ate dinner and he got a dessert. He had a great time. He is such a big boy. I can't believe that he's 5. Too big.

My love dare today is to ask Michael to tell me three things that really bother him about me. I have to ask him without attacking him or defending myself. I've done this before and he never says anything. We've been married almost 8 years now though so surely there is something!! This was actually my dare for yesterday, but I still haven't done it. I was asleep when he got home last night and he played with the boys all afternoon yesterday so I never got around to it.

Last night was church. They had a Christmas party and had hot chocolate and cupcakes. It was good and way over my calorie limit. Dalton did great in class. He is growing up. Dylan bit Nana on the knee. He is not a biter, Dalton was. But Dylan hasn't picked up that habit. She told him it was a no no and he said he wouldn't do it again. Yesterday at home he had no accidents. He slept all night with a pullup but it wasn't wet and he took a nap without wetting. He is doing great! I'm so excited. His favorite Christmas songs were Grandma got runover by a reindeer, Frosty and Jingle Bells, Batman smells, Grandma got a gun, shot me in the unnerwear and boy I had to run. He asks to hear that one on the radio, I have to explain that it's not on the radio. Dalton taught him all those songs. Michael taught Dalton. The things they learn from their Dads. Too Funny.

My cousin's son Cole (8months old) has to have tubes on Tuesday. Please pray that it goes well and he doesn't wake up wanting a bottle. He has to be without food or drink after Midnight on Monday. They will try to get him in first that morning, but they may not be able to. Dalton had tubes and it was quick and easy, but it's always scary to send your baby off for any surgery.

Y'all have a great day! Remember that our life is greatly affected by our attitude. I had to remember this from 3-5 this morning when Dalton kept waking up and singing trying to get in bed with us and singing and singing and singing. He is quite the loud singer, I had to remind myself that I am grateful for that because some parents wish they had a child to sing at 3 in the morning. Something to ponder....

Pics

Kiss the cooks!! A last minute Santa request for Chef hat and apron. We did lots of baking over our vacation so they came in handy.

Today's Love Dare

Yesterday I was supposed to buy something to let Michael know that I was thinking of him all day. So I picked his watch up from the house and took it to get a new battery. I was going to take it to him and tell him that I think about him All the TIME. But the watch man wasn't in. He'll be in today. So I went to the store and bought them a honey bun and told him he was my hunny bunny. Corny, but that's me kinda corny. He appreciated it anyway. So today the dare is to be thoughtful. My challenge is to call him and tell him I am thinking about him and see if he needs anything. I call him everyday just to see how his day is. So this challenge won't be out of the ordinary either. So far it's been easy, but it does encourage me to think more about making him happy. I like that!! I'm posting pictures of Christmas later today. Hey Christy, we got Tinkertoys from Santa too!! I saw your pics and thought that Santa really knows 5 year olds!! I'll have to post some of Dalton's inventions later.

GRATEFUL

Today I am thankful for so much! Thankful for my wonderful husband, our two beautiful loving sons, our health! Thankful that we have a good God who is good all the time. Please pray for others who are not so fortunate. They are all around us. I pray often for the families of children who have passed from cancer. Parker, Danielle, Brittany, Haley, Christina, Trevor...so sad that these children were torn from their families far too soon. Sabastian has now been given the news that there is nothing more they can do for his cancer. Please pray for him and his family.http://thafuzz.org/ Feel free to leave a post for him. Also pray for Marlie http://www.carepages.com/carepages/MarlieKaiDodson and of course Ella http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/ellanorris. Thanks!

Also I'm reading the Love Dare. Day one my dare was to be patient with my hubby, easy!! Day two was to be kind, easy again, day three is to be selfless and buy him something to let him know that I'm thinking about him. All day I always do, but today I will be thinking about what to buy this wonderful man who I get to spend the rest of my life with. I'm thankful that God provided me with such an awesome provider.

Hope yall have a great day! Resolve to be a better you. Thats my goal this year:) One day at a time.

Happy Birthday

I wanted to do a short post to wish my bros in law a happy Birthday. They are now 30. Matt and Mark, we hope your day was great!

Happy New Year!

I can't believe I've gone so long with no post! This Chirstmas vacation was a nice relaxing time spent with family. I love Christmas and it comes and goes too quickly as we all rush about trying to tie up loose ends. This Christmas wasn't so rushed for us. I really enjoyed the down time with the fam. I ask the boys all the time during the break who was born at Christmas. Dalton has always answered correctly, "Jesus" Dylan however, always says "ME". He's a bit confused. You see we celebrate tons of birthdays at Chirstmas time. Dylan was born November 22, My mom in law on Dec 10, my neice Anna Beth on Dec. 16, My mom and Dalton on Dec. 21, My wonderful hubby on Dec. 23 and my sis Donna on Dec. 31. I can't blame Dylan for being a little confused. We have 3 nativity scenes out around the house and we talk about celebrating Jesus more than anything so he'll get it one day. We did bake our cake for Jesus and sang. No one ate the cake but me and Dyl. It was from scratch and I can honestly say that I would have preferred one from a box. I used olive oil instead of vegetable oil it just seemed real soggy?? Anyway it was the gesture.
Dalton has asked Santa for a motorcycle for the past 3 years. He still didn't get one. Santa said that he thought Dalton would drive too fast, and Dalt's reply was "he's right I'm not gonna drive slow." At least he's honest. We celebrated Christmas at my mom's on the 23rd, my inlaws the 24th and went to my sister's on the 30th for her birthday. Me and my mom stayed and kept the girls so she and Charlton could go out for dinner. They were only gone about an hour. Not long enough to enjoy time together. It was fun though. The 31st Leigh Ann came to Donna's and we enjoyed some family time. All the kids played so great together. They are growing up too fast. We brought Eli home with us so Dalton wouldn't pitch a fit about leaving. So when we got home, the boys jumped on the trampoline, we did jiffy pop on the firepit (Always follow the directions!) And then did lots of fireworks. Tons of fun. The next day (Jan 1st.) we took down our tree and cleaned the house. Dalton and Eli jumped and tied our four outdoor chairs into a horse chariot. Can't get in the playground without pushing all the chairs out of the way. Too cute. Then we watched Horton Hears a Hoo that night. We met Leigh Ann in Alex City to deliver Eli at 11 on the 2nd and we bought a Wii at WalMart. Dalton loves KungFuPanda. He likes to fight things. I'll have to post pics later. I do have some if I can just remember to post them. The boys are too sweet. Oh Dylan is potty training. He goes all day in underwear for me at the house. I'm sure he'll be distracted at school so we bought Pull Ups for there, but I'm so proud. He just turned two. No more diapers. Happy and Sad. Where have my babies gone?
As we think about resolutions our sunday school lesson was on new perspectives. We should always look to God to change us from the inside out. Look to the sky(His handiwork, truly Amazing), the scriptures, and within our heart for God to speak to us. I pray your new year is blessed and that you truly will enjoy the important things!