Front yard fun

Spring is here... And we are taking advantage of the beautiful weather, luscious grass, and long days.



Larsson and our 5-year old neighbor, Hudson, find fun in crushing a box and using it as a sled to be pulled around the yard. On a side note, I don't know why we waste money on toys when the box provides just as much entertainment!




Hudson is practicing his football tackling on Justin as Tater eagerly tries to keep up.



Larsson loves playing outside!

Our Little Gardener

Exploring After the Rain

Reach Out & Hug Someone

photo from February 2010

Birthdays!

Our oldest and only nephew, Brandon, came to visit us last weekend to celebrate his birthday in Atlanta. He turned 11 in March. Where does the time go? When I met him, he was about a year old. He had a little crush on me. He was adorable with his chubby cheeks and bright smile. The family called him nicknames like Pootie, Noodle, Little B... and he gave me the nickname Beckra.

Today, he is growing up and now he wants to go by his given name of Brandon. He loves Star Wars, video games, swords, football and all things boy.

For his Atlanta birthday weekend, we went to the airplane park to watch planes & eat good burgers and then to Stone Mountain to fish. And Justin took him to ride on MARTA and then to Dave & Buster's to play games. I think Justin had as much fun (or more) there as Brandon. They ended the weekend with going to a store called Scavenger Hunt, which has all kinds of stuff gathered from yard sales and who knows where... I think this was the biggest hit. Brandon talked for hours about the swords he found there. And so did Justin.

Happy Birthday, Brandon!


This weekend, we will go and celebrate another birthday, Olivia's 10th birthday!

These kids are growing up so fast! I think that statement officially means I am old.

10 years old

Happy 10th Birthday, Olivia! Tater is working on a present for you.

The Story of How We Met

I found this today in our filing cabinet. It is a poem written about Justin and me by the chaplain that performed our wedding ceremony. It seemed fitting that I would find it this week, as we celebrate our 8th wedding anniversary. It almost seems funny to read it now (and maybe a little cheesy), but it was so nice that he wanted to write something for us.

He was born in Georgia,
she in Illinois.
When they met he nearly tripped,
but then regained his pose.

January 13th,
of 2000 was the date.
Sandbar & Grill it all began,
as if arranged by fate.

In unison they said, "Excuse me",
then they introduced.
What an opportunity,
for both had been produced.

Since they were acquainted now.
she strolled by just to talk.
Later on he gave his card,
to which she did not balk.

Just before he had to leave,
he asked that she email.
Then he told her friend to see,
that she did without fail.

On the next day she did,
and he replied with haste.
Asking her to go with him,
upon their first real date.

She agreed so out they went,
for Canyon Cafe food.
Afterwards they pecked a kiss,
which seemed right for the mood.

One day later on the 19th,
date now number two.
Cold and snowy at a Hawks game,
what next would they do...?

So the weekend following,
they danced and dined and kissed.
Since that time the two of them,
not one day have they missed.

At her roommate's birthday party,
they were more than friends.
Afterwards they were "official", [officially boyfriend & girlfriend]
loving without ends.

He likes the way she laughs and smiles,
her sweet ways and her eyes.
She likes that he's adventuresome,
so kind when needs arise.

Proposed July the 21st,
beneath the Eiffel Tower.
Under lights along the path,
when they turned on the power.

As they strolled he asked if she,
did love him o' so true.
she responded from her heart,
"of course, you know I do!"

So there he stopped and kneeling down,
he sought her for his wife.
She said "Yes," he placed the ring,
they pledged to each their life.

So here at Newnan's Something Special,
they repeat their vows.
Witnessed by their special ones,
with all that love allows.

-kdt

Just Like My Momma

Today is a Special Day

So, I woke up a few times this morning. The first time (well, we'll call it the first time, although the little guy woke me a few times before this) to hearing Justin getting ready for work. The second time to Justin standing over me, saying Happy Anniversary, before he had to head off to work. The third time to my alarm across the room. When I finally turned it off, I perused my messages to see a picture of newborn Isabella Sage!



Today is a special day because it marks our 8th wedding anniversary AND the birth of our 4th niece!

We are excited to share our day with this little bundle of joy. I can't help but think that her arrival today is a reminder that things may not always turn out as you planned but often better and more beautiful. With each day, there are new opportunities to grow together and love each other.

Happy Anniversary, DaDa! I love you.

Friday Fragments - Celebrating Progress if Not Perfection

It's Friday. It's beautiful outside - even with the greenish-yellow pollen covering everything in sight. It has been a good week overall.


- Larsson went to the doctor to have his ears re-checked yesterday after being prescribed three antibiotics in a row to heal a very persistent ear infection. BIG YAY - no ear infection although there is still fluid, but that is progress.

- We started pediatric chiropractic care for Larsson 1-2 months ago, which has been studied as something that may be helpful to alleviate ear infections in babies.

- The reaction I get from many people on taking Larsson to a chiropractor is a laugh or "waste of money" comment or "how can that help?" At the end of the day, I wanted to be sure we explored whatever was available to us to help alleviate Larsson's pain. We love his chiropractors at Lotus of Life and have found this to be a very good experience for us.

- I stepped on the scale yesterday... after avoiding it for a bit. I was down just over SIX pounds. Heck yeah! It's funny how getting past the five pound hump makes you feel like you are "almost at ten." It's not quite my goal, but headed in the right direction.

- Little Brandon, our 11-year old nephew, is coming to visit and spend part of the weekend with us. We will be celebrating his birthday, which occurred last month. Justin and I have a list of some fun ideas, and we hope he has a great time.

- Auntie Rachel has agreed to babysit tonight, so Justin and I are heading out for a dinner date at our favorite nearby spot.

Let's start the weekend.

Egg Hunt

Point me to the egg hunt!


With bunny ears and basket in tow, Larsson is ready to go.


Mommy and Deddy help Larsson at his 1st egg hunt.


Larsson and Cousin Autumn show their finds to MawMaw.


The kids played in the creek after the big egg hunt.

A Weekend "Do-Over"?

Dear God,

When I wake up tomorrow, can it please be Saturday over again?

If we could start over, I promise to do the following differently so we can fully enjoy the beautiful weather, holiday and family time you blessed us with?

- I will buy Larsson some plastic pants to put over his diaper so we don't have such a mess to clean up (read: sheets on all beds, floors, clothes) from the aftermath of antibiotics.

- We will use the time saved from the five fewer baths and extra cleaning before showing our house to get out the door earlier on Saturday.

- I will move out of the way when we are leaving Larsson's chiropractor appointment, so that when Justin rears his head back, it does not collide with my nose.

- We will buy a new battery charger for our camera to replace the one we can't find (perhaps little hands had something to do with that?) so we can capture Easter egg hunt photos.


We could really use another weekend. But if this wish is not to be granted, we will look forward to next weekend, and thank you for a wonderful Easter Sunday afternoon. We truly enjoyed seeing friends and family at the annual Turner Easter lunch and egg hunt. It was so fun to watch the 20+ kids hunt for eggs in the pasture and play in the creek. We could not have asked for a more beautiful day.

We also hope that someone got good photos of Tater's first egg hunt to share with us and we can't wait to post them!

(And P.S. I am also grateful that my nose is not broken.)

Baby Slate

Her name could be Victoria or Isabella or Sage.... Or something completely different that her parents come up with between now and her arrival. But she, our 4th niece, will be making her grand entrance to the world some time this month.


On Easter Day ten years ago, Justin and I received a call that Danielle was in labor with big sister, Olivia. Will Baby Slate follow in her big sister's steps?

Try these on for size

Do we need these? What do you think?