Sister Wife

note: We have lost our camera so the next few posts may be picture less but I will try to update the picture part when I can.



Carrie and I have been best friends since the 9th grade. Every time we are together it is as though we are teenagers again and are having a sleepover. Our husbands have always kidded that the other is his Sister -wife. She was over one day when we had a repair man come to our house and Brad introduced us as his two wives. Speaking of, we have both sworn that when our husbands die we will move in together. Also, on more than one occasion our husbands have accused us of forgetting to tell them something because we had told it instead to each other. We always deny deny deny!

When we are together there is never a shortage of drama(there is now five children between us), incessant talking and a lot of laughter. We celebrated yet another milestone event with the birth of her third baby, Lillian Hope. She has a lot of pictures of her beautiful baby here.
I got the privilege of staying her second night in the hospital with her. I came prepared with Donut Den doughnuts and two batches of iced sugar cookies (her favorites) and plenty of snacks and about 75 things that I could not wait to talk to her about that would make any man run screaming! We had the best time. It was just the two of us and sweet baby Lillie that never made a peep. (She was probably comforted to hear us talk since we do squeeze in a few minutes to talk on the phone every now and again *wink wink*.)
Then a few weeks later she was hit hard by life, her dad (who also calls me his fourth daughter -since I have been to countless family birthdays, dinners and even a few "Come to Jesus" meetings) was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. I was distraught, scared, and so sad. Of course all I could do was think of one thousand questions, "How is she going to walk this road with a brand new baby, how will she mother her children through this(especially when her very bright 5 year old just watched her Great - Aunt pass away very quickly from cancer)? As the oldest daughter, how would she also be a comfort for her sister like I know she would expect of her self? How will she do being in Atlanta and her dad and the rest of her family in Franklin?
It has been a few weeks since her dad's diagnosis and the answer to all of these questions is WITH GRACE. This is her way. She has surprised me more times than I can count. "Of course, this will be the time that she completely falls apart." I said to myself. Not even close. I have always admired her strength and determination . In so many ways she and I are opposites. I am forever envious of her multitude of amazing abilities. We often and laughingly say that we share a brain (however with momnesia I think it is shrinking). Basically everything that is very hard for me has always been so natural for her... school, quick wit (she is not the one that says "oh I should have said...), self-discipline, and wisdom (I am going to stop there- I am getting depressed - oh yeah and grammar-she edits as ONE of her part-time jobs- who is good with grammar??) So many people crumble under pressure yet she seems become more alive in the face of it! Nothing inspires me more. I am such a softy in comparison and that is not a usual feeling for me especially these days.
We have been friends for over twenty years and I have yet to meet anyone that I would have rather spent these years with and I know that I never will!

The bottom line is that I am forever grateful that she is my best friend. I love you Carrie!

Happy Birthday My Budda

Cole is 1 today!

I can not believe that an entire year has gone by since our family added its newest member! They always say how different that your first and second are. Since Jack was so laid back and barely cried I thought I would be in for a real doozy. Well Cole is completely different, just not in the way that I had imagined. He is so happy and very sweet but so busy and curious! I have called poison control three times, I have pulled an ornament hook, straight pen and a bar of soap out of his mouth! He has climbed up the outside of the stairs, pulled a very heavy glass pitcher off on his toe which resulted in a lot of blood, zoomed his big brothers race car through the garage, walked out of my front door at 10 months, crawled out of a five point restraint in his high chair and across the table multiple times, pulled the vent out of the floor at 5 months, pulled the gate off the stairs so that he could race up them and get to his big brother, already played keep away with Jack and won, swiped dinner and drinks from the table many times, played in the trash more times than I can stomach to think about and on and on and on! Many of these moments have have taken my heart straight to my toes and made me out and out beg Brad to come home early from work! However, I did not know I would ever adore or think anything was as great as Jack! Maybe that is why God makes sure that they are so distinctly individual. I adore him and delight in him just as much!

I love the way he comes into bed every morning and cuddles in with the family until he can not stand it any more and begins crawling over each of us. This in turn stirs up Jack which in turn makes our bed look like bear cubs are flipping and flopping all the while Brad and I try to continue sleeping!
Here is a list of more reasons why I love him.

• I love the way he grins until his eyes disappear.


• I love the way that he has a special giggle just for when his brother makes him laugh!


• I love how double waves at Brad in the morning when he leaves.


• I love how he wants to be held just to put a head on my shoulder and snuggle up


• I love how he wants two or three pacifiers just to go to sleep


• I love how he growls in frustration


• I love how aware of what is going on around him


• I love the way he toddles


• I love his spirit of adventure


• I love the love that he has brought to our family. I feel so much more joy because I am much more relaxed this time around, the bond between brothers is the sweetest, and Brad who once thought one child was plenty would not have it any other way now!

Happy Birthday my sweet baby Cole!

My grandfather is 90. He has led a VERY full and wild life (if all the stories are true, really even if just some of them are true). However, as far as I have known him, he has been just bigger than life! I often think of him as a true tall tale. I mean this figuratively and literally. He is about 6'5 and he can tell a tale like no other. He catches fish with his hands, hunts and every year he puts out a garden that could feed all of Lewisburg. I have spen many hours near him soaking up great tales and laughing until tears were streaming down my face and begging my brain to remember the last hysterical thing he said!

We try to visit him monthly and he takes so much pride in being a great-grandfather. He always has candy beside his lazyboy and hands it out willingly. It is very sweet to watch him with my children. He smiles so wide every time they come through the door. He still has many hushed conversations about working hard and the big dollars that he is going to pay out from his "pocketbook". He is still bopping kids on his knee and singing "bomp diddy bomp".

Those are the things that I remember from being a little girl. I also remember what comes next as a teenager.He hasn't (thankfully) started saying things to my children like, "If anybody tries to sell you any of that dope you tell them I want to buy some.You send them right here to Barron Rd. and I will send them home in a bag. This is always followed by a long pause and then a current Lewisburg newspaper article involving "the dope"and its many dangers. Or my personal favorite, anytime that there is a lull in conversation and you are still smiling from the last hysterical thing that came out of his mouth and he bellows "Stay off that Met (he means Meth) . It kills, do you understand (insert here wild eyes boring a hole in you for a solid 5-10 sec) it KILLS." I almost pee every time because of how much he has just startled me.

New for this generation are the games or activities that he has concocted. Most every time, I have thought, "Jack will never play with that", and then he plays for hours. He has gathered cups for stacking, balls and clothes hampers to play soccer, wood blocks, wheels and a plastic seat to rid though the yard, wheels to push across the yard and chase.

Other times, I have held my breath and wondered how to find the closest medical care. Big Grandaddy gave Jack (when he was two, TWO I say) his old tackle box with rusty lures and fishing line. Thankfully, my first born does not have that wild side that made this a real danger, but I knew then that I needed to keep a closer eye on Grandaddy than Jack!

Our last visit brought us another one of these treats. This time was more of a grab bag of sorts. We went down to his shed that truly looks like something from the set of a horror film to gather our loot!

This is what we came back with. Now if I were one of those bloggers who had sponsors and giveaways this would be a contest for sure. Except, I guess I would also need to know what these things are so I guess that would not work! However, give yourself a pat on the back if you can identify any of these things.

Even though we joke and laugh all of the time, he ends each of our visits making sure that I know how much he adores me. I truly love this man who gave me my red hair and the passion for life that goes along with it! He does not have much to give but he is always smiling and giving what he does have lovingly, and I NEVER leave without a great story!

Christmas Time Part 2

Christmas morning is truly the most magical time! I have often heard that when a child is 4 Christmas is the most fun!

I am pretty sure I was close to that age when I received my own puppy and kitchen set. The pictures of me are undeniable pure joy.

However, I was a little afraid that my son may go completely the other way. On Monday, Brad and I said" This is Monday do you know what is happening on Friday?" Now we have done countdowns and advent calendars and all of our traditions and he replies with total seriousness " I go back to school?

I was panicked. Did I do something wrong? Why does he not know to the second when Christmas morning is coming?

Well, I still do not know the answers to those questions but I do know sometime between Monday and Friday he figured it out. We spent Christmas morning with Mom,Dad Allie and Addison as well as Gigi and Papa who came for the Santa gifts. Most every present he opened came with" Oh my goodness Oh my goodness this is what I have always wanted" all the while clutching it to his chest. He was very excited. Santa left him a Titans bike and football men and he has not stopped talking about what a great job that Santa did.

Even though when the pedal fell off his bike I did hear Brad tell him that "sometimes Santa's elves get into to much of a hurry with the deadline of Christmas approaching!" (He was referring to me as that was the pedal that I put on.)

The day came to a climax for me when I lay in bed beside Jack getting ready for nap time and sweetly looked at me and said"Momma, this has been the BEST Christmas ever,in the entire world of all of the Christmases ever." Then he began to shriek because there were no more words. I melted!

* I will add some more pictures as I get them. Papa and Nana both have way nicer cameras and so we deferred to them on Christmas morning.

New Years Resolutions

My body has been a source of frustration, intense dislike and embarrassment. As New Years approached and I thought about a resolution I began to pray and something hit me.( I have had an internal dialogue about myself that would bring the most confident person to their knees. I can honestly say that I could not find anything that I liked! ) So when these new thoughts began to flow I knew they were not generated by me!

This body has carried two children while God did his handwork to develop them. My body labored and delivered them both. My body has provided their complete nutrition as babies. My arms have held them as the tiniest newborn and welcomed them to this big world. With these arms I have snuggled them and comforted them. These arms have carried them everywhere. My hands have given high fives, head rubs, infant massages, caresses, discipline,and pats on the back. My legs have run races, run to their rooms in the middle of the night, and to greet them after a separation. My back has carried a sling with both boys to sleep in, ride in and to just be close. My back has also given countless piggy back rides and helped me stand firm when it that was needed. My eyes have smiled, winked, and cried tears of joy and worry. All of my soft parts have been a cozy place to snuggle up to watch movies, read books and cuddle with to get ready for bed.



So as I look forward, I feel that maybe a different perspective might help. I am always aware of my extra pounds but I think I feel so defeated before I can get started that I either think why bother or I will have to deal with that later. Maybe, being grateful for all my body has given to me and allowed me to enjoy is a better incentive to take care of it! As Jack has always said to me "Momma I love the way God made you!" So I will start there.

Christmas Time Part 1

Christmas is MY very favorite holiday of the year. Jack shares my love. And I love that he loves it! He turned on the Christmas tree every morning. He moved the marker in his advent calendar to the next day. He also asks if he can have the chocolate piece from his other advent calendar every morning. Each morning I say, " Do we start the day with chocolate?" and depending on his mood I get that half grin or a frustrated grunt. He also has a miniature tree in his room that he say is, "just beautiful".

Each Christmas season I try to get everything out of the way(decorating, presents bought and wrapped) by December 1st so that December is just a time of fun and celebration. However, I completely failed this year. I am trying to figure out exactly why. I think it is because I tried the approach of one thing at a time. I did a lot for the first day of school, Brad was gone a lot early on in the season. We also made Halloween bigger and then I hosted Thanksgiving at my house. I focused on those as they came and did not look forward. So I guess I will try a new approach next year.

We still had a GREAT Christmas! Due to my parents coming in town and my Aunt Susan coming several days, we were able to get everything decorated, all things wrapped and almost all of my handmade gifts completed the week before Christmas! Thank you so much! I will be forever indebted to you guys!!!!!!

Therefore ,we were able to do the all of our favorites just not as many times. We played games, read a ton of Christmas books, watched our favorite tv specials and movies , visited out favorite Christmas places, ate our favorite treats and sang our favorite carols. We missed a few of our favorite outings this year by being in Indy but we will pick them up next year.

Our favorite Christmas books are :How the Grinch Stole Christmas, The Crippled Lamb, Who was Born This Special Day?,Merry Christmas Stinky Face, Bear Stays Up for Christmas, Who is Coming to our house?, The Gingerbread Baby.

Our favorite Christmas specials/movies: Elf, Rudolph, Grinch, Christmas Lamb, and new this year Merry Madagascar,Merry Monkey Christmas and Disney's Prep and Landing.

Our favorite Christmas foods are: Peppermint Hot Chocolate and Gingerbread cookies( not together)

Our favorite Christmas toys: Our Nativity sets and the low rider car that Santa drives with reindeer in the backseat wearing sunglasses which plays "All my friends love a low rider" and lights up green neon on the bottom (a passed on gift from a gag gift dirty Santa that my mom played- Thanks mom!)

Our favorite Christmas outings are: Nashville Christmas parade with dinner at Demos, A Walk through Bethlehem, Opryland Hotel( Carriage rides, dinner, Santa, lights show, fountain show), Decorate gingerbread houses, bake cookies for Santa, drive around with hot chocolate to look at lights, new this year: Grinchy night- eat roast beast (Arby's roast beef) and watch the Grinch then play our Grinch game, and read the Grinch before bed!Our family playing Quelf... the best game ever!! Jack and Brad having to wear a Kleenex bib, Dad as a ballerina with a Kleenex tutu. Allie with a complimentary makeover by yours truly! We also had a lot of fun playing the Grinch game. We had to sing to the game so that the Grinch would release our presents that were inside the sleigh from the top of Mt. Crumpit.These are pictures from Opryland with the Sophie and Will. We had so much fun!

Indianapolis

We have a love/hate relationship with the town
of Indianapolis! We love their Children's Museum! It is truly amazing! They have great hotels and a very fun downtown with everything very easy to find! They have great shopping and eating! We were all sick but we still had a blast!

The hate part comes with the Colts. As we drove away from the town my darling husband rolled down the window and in a very screaming/screeching sort of way let the city and a fine policeman know how strong his hatred is with many choice words and some unintelligible words. Aww the memories...fortunately my cherubs were asleep and stayed asleep through the rant!