Flashback Friday

One of my oldest friends Holly Reid Bailey gave birth to her third baby Benjamin last week. We met when we were 5 years old and she was my grandparents next door neighbor in Manchester, KY. She threw me a cookie monster chair over the fence and we sat and colored together. We have been friends and stayed in touch for 28 years! No matter how much time goes by we can just pick up right where we left off. She was cleaning out some old things this summer and she had sent me some of her finds and it made me think of how lucky I am to have met such wonderful girlfriends for moments, seasons, and a lifetime.

This my 4th grade picture she had in her Lisa Frank trapper Keeper.
1989

Christy & Holly
1997

Christy & Holly
Spring 2009
Gaines was around 5 months old and Samuel was almost here.

Questions

Gaines asked me this week, why do they call a pair of underwear a pair? 

Good question Gaines let me see if Google has an answer....

When I'm an Adult...

In the car today Gaines pipes in from the back and says:

G: Mom, when I'm an adult I know where I'm going to live.

Me: Where?

G: Not with a husband or a wife. You are going to be so excited when I tell you! 

Me: Where?

G: With your friends Jessica, Melissa, Chris and their cute little baby girl. She is so cute! 

Me: But Gaines I will miss you so much.

G: You can come visit. 

Me: Well, Atlanta is too far.

G: Then I'll move to Knoxville and live with Aunt Stacie, she doesn't have a husband.

Me: Gaines, this makes me so sad. I don't want you to leave me.

G: You can visit me at Christmas. 

Well, that was when the conversation ended. At least he is independent.

We were telling Daddy about this tonight and Will said, "I'm going to live here FOREVER!" Bless him!

Younger Bro

There are some fundamentals your younger brother should NOT be teaching you like putting on your own socks! Will had been doing this for months and Gaines still is too lazy to learn so now his baby brother does it for him.

Will teaching Gaines to put on his socks. I cannot make this stuff up.

August is here!

This has been another odd week. We started the week off good, on Monday we picked up good ole' Uncle Rusty to run errands and then played at their house. The boys really could spend all day there exploring, running, throwing stuff, etc. I had book club on Monday night and really love all these women! It is a random group from church, our neighborhood, and MJ in general. Tuesday, we went to the Y and then to Charlie Daniels Park for the Splash Pad, picnic, and playing. Wednesday, we went to the Y and the library. Gaines was on a hunt for scary animal books for the Boo Crew and his puppet show and Will wanted Spider-Man and baseball. Wednesday night Will came into our room around 2am and he had thrown up all over his bed and himself. He spent from 2am to about 7am throwing up every hour almost on the dot but then he was fine and we had a normal day. So far no one has ended up catching it so I'm not sure what was up with that. Needless to say Thursday we stayed at home and waited for the washing machine repairman since the washer broke the same day Gaines peed all over all his bedding and Will threw up everywhere! Friday we spent the day shopping for Mimi's new computer and a few other errands. This weekend was full of activity! Saturday morning the boys had their last Little Sluggers class. Will had another great week. His coach was in shock at how good and accurate he was with his aim and batting. Gaines on the other hand not only does not listen does not care. I have no idea if he could be good at baseball or not because he puts forth no effort. After baseball we went to our friend Hayes's 3rd Birthday party. It was an Alligator Water Fun party and it was POURING down rain but the party went on and the kids did not even seem to notice. I spent Saturday afternoon setting up Mimi's computer. Oh dear goodness this is going top throw her for a loop. It has Windows 8 on it which is totally different if not even backwards from what she has had for the past 3 or 4 years. Pray for my patience! 

Cheesing for Daddy while Mommy was at Book Club and Zumba

Will walking at the farm with his stick. This reminds me so much of Gaines.

My children need new play mates. The men of the Gaines family play criminals, tying up their old family to trees, and guns.

I told these boys do NOT go across the street and this is what I see all three walking on Harkreader Road - a death trap. Then the are "rappelling" down into the ditch.

Relaxing
Gaines says, "Ahhhh This is the Life."

We left orginal ducky that Gaines has had as a lovey since birth at the beach this summer. He never realized it and we picked up the new ducky today. I said to Gaines, "Look what I found!" Gaines said in delight, "Ms. Anita (the house cleaner) must have cleaned it!" There are so many things wrong with this statement...

Another day enjoying the Splash Pad. Gaines lasted about 45 minutes and Will fell twice and decided he was ok with watching. Still was a great activity for after working out and it is close!

Two days this week we decided to "rest" instead of nap. Poor Will falls asleep every time. I don't think Gaines has ever fallen asleep on the couch.

Gaines's new "story" is the Boo Crew where they catch scary creatures. He picked out this outfit to be an official "Boo Crew" member. It had to be down to the tee.

5 minutes later he comes out in this outfit (this is all before 7:30am). I asked him who he was now and he showed me Clark Kent in his Superman book. He wore this to the YMCA and the Library. People would ask why he was dressed up and he would either ignore them completely or say he could not tell them because he was in "disguise."

While Gaines is putting on his 5th uniform for the day this is what Will has put on - his Hockey jersey and shorts. Practicing his putt.

The boys at Panera on Friday for breakfast. Seriously, do they not realize it is August! I have thrown in the towel on their attire.

Tax-Free weekend and we are at Best Buy buying Mimi a new computer. Despite the craziness they were pretty good.

Last Day of Little Sluggers
Gaines finally found his place organizing the balls in a line.
He had a couple of good hits when he would pay attention and listen.

Will did great! So glad he finally will particpate. The coach could not believe his arm.

We celebrated Hayes's 3rd Birthday. Thank goodness for the Alligator Water theme since it rained on us the entire time! The kids did not even notice! They have an awesome backyard. Gaines went down the monster slide once but would not go again.

Anna Clare and I worked together at Ch. 4 and love for our babies to play together.

Before the boys and I left for church on Sunday we had to have the Grand Opening to the museum. With everything Gaines does it had to be official so we held a ribbon cutting ceremony and a tour of the art work.

Unexpected

This morning the boys came into our room extra early, as in before 6am, and I got up to go to the bathroom and this is when our lives changed forever! I was supposed to start my period the day before and I was getting a little anxious because in the past year my period has gone from 28 days to 38 days so I usually have a pregnancy test handy so I took one and it happened to be the fancy one that spelled out your results. So at 6:03am, it spelled out PREGNANT! Oh my goodness my heart went into my stomach. For the past three years, I have talked about wanting a third but have not had the courage to actually make the decision to go for it and Garrick and I had finally decided we were done having kids and I was truly at peace with it. This feeling came after we had an amazing and relaxing vacation with the kids. Technically, Garrick has had that "peace" since Will was born and thought I was crazy! Well, needless to say I should have jumped on that birth control pack! I was seriously freaking out for so many reason but mainly out of just plain fear. Fear that my baby would not be healthy. Then the fear of the house issue we have been dragging our feet on for literally a year. I kept saying we really have no pressure to move...well now we have that pressure. It is all overwhelming! My family is going to be so surprised. My Dad might pass out. After crying in the bathroom for a good 20 minutes I went downstairs to catch up on my Bible Study for tonight and God literally jumped right off the page to me.

So now I am just going to breathe because I have no idea how to do go through this regular Sunday like life is just the way it was yesterday!

You are already loved and God has a plan for you. You were meant to be.

Everything I read just kept easing my nerves and I knew no matter if this was not my timing this was God's timing.

Flashback Friday

This week my childhood friend Dani celebrated her birthday. I try to post an old picture of me and my friends on their birthday on Facebook. I got out my white wicker trunk that I have had since I was 13 and went through pictures trying to find some oldie but goodies for Dan. Dani and I met in 7th grade in the Constellation Mini-School at Mt. Juliet Junior High. We have been lifelong friends since. Dani is terrible at keeping in touch but she is one that will always be there and we just pick up right where we left off.