My Special Gift

Last Friday, Gran and BoomPa came for a visit.  Being that it was pretty chilly outside, Boom decided he’d sport his vintage hat from back in the day.  John Brantley found this to be very humorous and needed to try it on himself!  

 Gran must have been feeling well that day because she offered to take Ford home with them to spend the night.  He had a big time and enjoyed some one on one time from his grandparents.  Bitty and I had our own party that night since Fancy went to stay at the farm to critter hunt the next day.

Doesn't my mom look amazing!!????  If I had gone through four “Atomic Bomb” sized rounds of chemo and major surgery I don’t think I’d look like this 2 weeks later!  

 This CHILD…. This child… Ohhhh this child!!!  You honestly can’t take your eyes off of him for 2 seconds.  I did the other day while I was folding laundry.  I heard him getting his bathroom stool and I knew he was up to no good.  He found an M&M Christmas candy cane and was helping himself!

 We are fighting childhood and adult obesity hardcore at this house.  My boys exercise and I spectate and document.

 Not pictured is Ford doing push-ups and John Brantley attempting the same task.  However, Bitty didn't full get the concept and preceded to head-butt the floor a few times until he decided that was for the birds.

Ford is VERY inquisitive and has such an appetite for Biblical knowledge.  He doesn't just ask surface level questions, he digs deep and puts a lot of thought into what he is thinking and wants to know.  My niece, Molly Cate, drew Gran and BoomPa a picture of Calvary and it’s on their refrigerator.  Ford made sure to study her picture thoroughly and ask me all about it.  Last week he got busy of his own version. 

No, that is not a tree at the bottom of the page.  The brown is the dirt road that Jesus had to carry the cross down on his back.  The green is the grass.  Then you have Jesus in the middle with the two criminals on either side of him.  He drew a sun, but he knows that after Jesus died the earth turn dark so he drew a purple circle and gray clouds.  I thought it was pretty good for a 4 year old!

 My Bitty loves some sweets.  On Sunday Ford was under the weather and John Brantley had to take a nap.  They were invited to one of my friend’s daughter’s second birthday parties.  Since I am so sweet I decided to go by myself to say hey and give Suzy her gift.  My friend, Amy, sent us home some goodies and John Brantley didn't mind a bit.

 Ford never really cared for TV until he was 3 years old.  Now he likes it a little too much.  At 3:00 every afternoon he MUST watch a show called, “Wild Kratts”.  It’s on PBS and is about two brothers named Chris and Martin who teach you about animals.  It’s part cartoon and part real life.  Ford calls the show “Krista-Martin” and decided that he and Bitty needed to dress up like them.  Ford came up with the attire and off they went on a “creature trail”.

When Daddy comes home its ATTACK TIME!!!!  

If you are a blog follower of mine you know that my mom was diagnosed with Stage 3 pancreatic cancer back in October.  Since then she has undergrown 4 extremely tough rounds of chemotherapy that her oncologist referred to as “The Atomic Bomb”.  At the first of the year she went in to have a surgical procedure done to remove part of her pancreas.  It was determined when they opened her up that the cancer had spread to her liver, and she was not able to have the surgery.  Now she is deemed as a Stage 4 pancreatic cancer patient, and she is trying a new type of chemo.  Today, was her first day taking the new drug and so far the side effects have been slim to none.  This is such a praise because she felt horrible for the latter part of 2013.  We have had some good days here lately where my mom, Gran, has felt regular again. 

Thirteen of my sweet friends and Tri-Delta pledge class sisters sent me a SWEET package last week.  Inside was a beautiful Ronaldo bracelet called “Tied Together” that is to represent the special bond that my mother and I have.  This was totally unexpected and very much appreciated for them to do this for me!  I know a few of them read my blog.  I love you girls!!!  Thanks for my special gift!

The Interview- Year 3

Two years ago on January 22, 2012, I asked Ford a series of questions and miraculously, last year on January 22, 2013, I did it again.  Now I knew it was time for “the interview” again, but we were gone to Jackson and I just couldn't stress myself out.  Yes, my OCD tendencies are in full effect, but I hope this won’t happen again and next year I will interview him on the correct day!!!

What is your name?  Ford

Do you have any other names?  Ummmm Lamar

What is your favorite color?  Green and blue

Who is your best friend?   Anna Katherine

What is your favorite animal?   Horses… and I like to ride horses too

What do you want to be when you grow up?  Football player, astronaut, farmer, and basketball plaeyer

What is your favorite movie?   Space Adventure (Mickey Mouse)

What is your favorite book?   Ones about Space

What makes you happy?   Momma

What makes you sad?   When people be ugly to me

What is your favorite food?   Hamburgers, chicken nuggets, and French fires

What is your favorite song?   Crocodile Rock and Pumped Up Kicks

What is your favorite game?   baseball

What is your favorite toy?   Rockets and astronauts

Can you write your name?

You can see 2012 here and 2013 here if you’d like to recap!

A razor to the face at Puddin's

We have pretty much been in Mayberry since our trip to Huntsville to let Ford see the “rockets”.  I decided we needed a little trip so on Tuesday we headed south.  Our destination was none other than Jackson. 

I was tired from lack of sleep Monday night so Bitty and I napped after we got there.  I left Ford on the couch to watch PBS.  Gasp….. I know… he watched TV.  I am a PBS mom and that is about it.  No worries on the bad cartoon stuff.  After our nap John Brantley ran back to Puddin’s bathroom, got in her shower, grabbed a razor, and yep… straight to the face.

Having a snack

 Check out that cheek

 PBS time

 We went to bed fairly early on Tuesday night, and it’s a good thing we did.  At 2:42 AM, Bitty started crying in the pack-n-play.  It was rough having approximately 2.5 inches worth of a pillow to sleep on the rest of the night!!!

Wednesday we headed to the Children’s Museum.  We love that place.  I bought a year-long pass last February and we have definitely gotten our money’s worth!

 The boots

 Miss Taylor joined us on our field trip.

 We have lots of things to work on with John Brantley and sharing is at the top of the list.  Notice the mouth… he is giving Ford an earful in his own little language.

 Milking a cow....

 Today we got ready and went to see Daddy at the capitol.  I always get nervous going to see him because of the parking situation.  All the senators and representatives have assigned spots and the visitors are just out of luck in the parking situation.  I pulled up to the security guard tower and kindly pleaded my case and made sure they knew I had two small children in tow.  They gave me a good spot to park and we headed in to make our presence known!

 Daddy's seat

I believe Ford was presenting some bills here….

 Someone gave Bitty a stick.  That was safe!!!

 May I have the microphone please….????....

 He had some stuff to present himself….

Their hair was clean and freshly washed this morning.  However, it looks all crazy from the static.  

 No trip downtown is complete without a visit to the Supreme Court to see Justice Puddin!!!  The boys ran and squealed so the entire building would know they were there.

What a fun trip with my babies!!!!

This is how I feel about laundry too, brother!!!!!!!!!!!

I decided not to go an entire week without blogging because my fan base is so large, and I didn't want y’all going through withdrawals when you didn't hear from me.  (Kidding!!!)  Its 8:46 and I would MUCH rather be in bed sleeping or lying down to breathe better.  I just ate enough Chinese food to feed a small country.  Not my best idea today.

But getting on with the important stuff… the boys!  Last week Ford’s class was having a special day.  They got to wear their favorite hats, gloves, coat, and scarf (he didn't have one) to school for a picture.  They were also to wear their purple class shirt because they were eating Octopus-Stew (studying the letter O), and playing in shaving cream on the tables.  You better believe Ford Lamar was FIRED UP!!!  I’m not so sure his hunting face mask really counted as a “hat”, but there was no way around that one.   It was all or nothing for my little man.  He also received a bag full of ski clothes from a friend in town.  This delivery pleased him very much.  Her son had outgrown them and Ford was happy to take them off of her hands.  He even needed to wear his new snow boots to school.  Again, no arguing… I just went with it.  If he’s bad enough to wear it, then so be it!

 The child has an imagination.  Where he comes up with all his stuff I will never know.  The other day he called me to see his “squirrel house”.  It was complete with a wall of acorns, a small door, and not pictured… he added a bed of leaves.  The next day the bed was washed away by the rain.  This did not please Ford!!!

 John Brantley doesn't do squirrel houses.  He’s pretty much just a terrorist and was looking for the right opportunity to go kick all the acorns I’m sure!!!

 Ford is showing off the ball I spent several minutes airing up.  I got a nice leg workout pumping that sucker up!

 Ford always needs somebody to play with.  He asks during the day when everyone is at school.  I always tell him that I will play with him, but that’s not good enough.  Last week Ruth came to play.  She’s in fifth grade and was in my class in third grade.  We love Ruthie!

 Friday we had another buddy to come play.  Cooper, Mrs. Summer, and baby Emersyn.  John Brantley wanted Mrs. Summer to put a ponytail in his hair.  Isn't he a cute little girl!

 And Ford was beyond infatuated with Cooper’s baby sister, Emersyn.  It was so sweet to watch him love on her and sing to her.

 Ms. Amy, from Fancy’s office, found some sure enough treasures to share with my boys.  Who knew they made suckers that looked like such???  I don’t think Ford and John Brantley knew how goofy they looked.  I was eating it up!!!

 This is how I feel about laundry too, brother!!!!!!!!!!!

 They played horsie this morning before church.

 Picture FAIL this morning.  I attempted to get a cute picture of the boys before church, but it just didn’t happen…(John Brantley has on "the rain boots".

 Ford’s prayer tonight…. “Dear Lord, please make Gran better.  Please make the cancer go away.  Please make the pain go away.  Just make her regular.  Just make her Gran.  I love you, Lord.  Amen!”

 Then tonight at supper I said it was time to say the blessing.  Bitty put his hands together and started babbling in Bitty language.  He was trying.  It melted my heart!!!