a nice sunday drive

a really nice day today.  we didn't get up early enough to cheer kate on at the mini marathon, but i was with her in spirit.  we were able to make it to church.  i dressed gracie in her sleep & gave her a poptart for the road.  yesterday, they had a super fun filled day at the fall festival with cousins from 2:30  till after the parade.  she was so fired up, it was after 11:30 when she fell asleep.  that child of mine!  (as i sit here up at 1:30)

after an amazing church service, we went out to papaw's for a visit.  been a loong time since we went out there after church!  it was really nice.  different, but nice.  i spent a lot of time searching for things he was looking for & justin did some handy work around the home.  the kiddos enjoyed swinging on the swings & hanging out & running all over the yard.

i love how sophie the dog is the only one smiling.

then, we went for a drive out on the land.  woah nellie!  daddio let the kiddos "drive" around.so not "safe," but i remember "driving" as a little kid on pap's lap by the spoil banks & there's nothing out there on our land yet. someday though we hope to clear it out & have our home sweet home. 

 ben was cracking up & snorting so hard he peed his pants. running over the big bushes that we were calling trees was just too much fun.  ben had to make a face for his picture.

i about lost it when miss grace while looking at me said "mommy, i won't hit anything."  & then added "i won't hit anything too hard,"  in her sweetest & most serious voice.  

the ride was the hardest on poor zack, the dog.  i think he was a bit freaked out by all the excitement of running over "trees!"

little baby birdie egg

a few sundays ago, the kiddos discovered a little bitty egg  that had fallen out of a tree.  we couldn't even see the nest, the tree was so big.  the kiddos decided they could hatch this egg.   for a while, they both contemplated on the best way to care for the delicate being growing inside.   

but grace soon decided she was the momma, took charge & knew what was best. 

she was the only one who knew how to care for it.  she carried that egg all around, took it for a swing, pet it & loved it. 

papaw asked to see it.  nooo way!  (here she is running away from him after the request)

mr. ben gave up his birdie rights to enjoy some good old playing at pap's.

i'm sorry to say that little birdie egg, though greatly loved, didn't make it in the hands of gracie. 

i was suprised at how well she took it.  yes, there was some crying (we are a bit of a drama machine right now, so i would have been worried had there not been). my well meaning 2 year old animal lover learned how delicate little baby birdie eggs can be & how careful we need to be with all god's creatures (except worms, she still tears those apart when caring for them..). 

oh, caring for a little one (even a little birdie egg) can wear a person out!

sunday, oh what a funday!

papaw got the kiddos some kites to fly. despite the sprinkles, we had a fun time outside. 

miss gracie loved it.

it was a team effort on her kite  aunt peggy or damaw chased her around "flying" her kite for her. 

mr. ben was determined to fly it all by himself.  no help. 

he did share with daddy though.

after kite flying, we had to get out the teeball set to show papaw ben's baseball skills.

 & to get some pointers from an old lefty. 

everyone took a swing & ran around.   

oh, the countless numbers of ballgames that have been played in that backyard over the years.  good times.

swinging & a sliding & a new hair do

namaw & poppy came up today to visit & celebrate daddio's birthday.  they brought some coconuts for us to crack open from auntie jen's.  the coconuts weren't quite ripe, or were overly ripe but we had fun whacking them open. 

check out this big one!

gracie would swing outside all day if we'd let her. she was swinging so high she'd say "i'm upside down! i'm upside down!"

poppy trying to get her!

swinging on her belly

big ben getting some help from namaw on the slide.  trying to slide into his shoes or sumthin.

when namaw & poppy come & visit, i don't cook.  they seem to always bring the food with them.  it's not that i'm that lazy, she's just that good of a cook.  i'm pretty lucky!  i've got it pretty easy.  thank you for doing that. 

birthday cake time! happy birthday to you daddio again!  we love ya!

namaw crocheted  miss gracie some super sweet headbands to keep that mop out of her eyes.

before.

& after. this is the best shot i could get of my hippy child wearing it. what a face!

sunday

we had a typical sunday around here. we are looking for a new church to call home. we've finally decided to make that move from where i grew up to a new place to grow. we tried out one of the larger churches in town. a new friend of mine i met last weekend invited us to worship with her. the sermon really spoke to us both & the kiddos loved their sunday school classes. but, this church is huge! much bigger than we are used to.. i am excited to check out some other nearby places.


after that, we went to papaw's for lunch & playing & playing & work.

gracie made a beeline for her favorite thing at papaw's. big suprise.

ben, of course, wanted to ride on it right away too. but he was patient & waited his turn. it looks like it was well worth it.




gracie can't seem to get that trike to move.


her feet almost reach the pedals.


she's got a great big brother to help her out though.




papaw has the perfect yard for hide & seek.

there he is!




the kiddos always have a blast at papaw's playing outside. i loved it growing up & so do they.


just a swinging.



time for rest.

giddy up

all gracie wants for christmas is a horse & a piggy.

a few sundays ago at papaw's, we got some of damaw's old, old, old toys out.



gracie got to take blaze for a ride.
she really liked old blaze.


the old trike that papaw fixed up for ben was a big hit too.


i didn't realize how shaggy mr. ben was getting. what a mop top!

they had a great time horsin' around at papaw's!

sunday at papaw's

we had a good time at pap's today. he was in good spirits. we ate chicken & dumplings, asparagus, green beans & had strawberry shortcake for dessert (no wonder i am fat).
after lunch we planted a few things into the garden (it was too wet).



we mowed the grass
i started out on it, but apparently wasn't doing it right & was fired. justin & ben took over. whatever.


pap's tumor keeps getting bigger. gracie was calling it an apple today (1 of her 100 words she says) here is papaw in his high school glory days. i think he was a hottie. (i still think he's a handsome man)
hope everyone has a great week. for us, this week is full of running around with pap. chemo treatment tomorrow & then radiation wednesday - friday. thank god we have dvd players in the van to keep the kiddos occupied. i am also thankful that we are able to help him out & take him to these appointments. i like to be there, holding his hand.