And that's how it's done

School holidays can be so good for the soul.  I have often felt very robotic like I do the same thing every day.  I can be predictable.  During fall break we had some fun and did out of the norm activities.  It felt good.

Over the weekend we went out to the farm to count hay bales, ride the gator, check the deer camera, and see if the critters had eaten any of the corn Trey put out for them.

Ford counted 32 hay bales in one row.  He was pleased with this.  I believe there were over 200 in one spot.  This momma opted to stay off of the bales since it wasn't too safe for little sister.  

I asked Ford if he wanted to go to Chuck E Cheese one day during fall break.  I honestly don’t give Bitty credit enough for knowing all that he knows.  I sometimes think since he can’t talk as well as Ford did at that age that he doesn't know what I’m say.  Ohhhh but he does.  Nobody wanted to go to Chuck E Cheese worse than that little guy.  Too bad I brought it up many days in advance.  It was hard waiting!  

I will have you know that I won that long string of tickets.

After an hour and $20.00 we left with two tiny boxes of Nerds and 12 individually wrapped packets of sweet tarts.  Highway robbery, but the kids had a blast!

We also went to the Memphis Children’s Museum with the cousins.  I hadn't taken Ford there since about 3 weeks before John Brantley was born.  Naturally, Bitty didn't know where we were going, but this place was quite thrilling to him once we got inside.

Waiting on the cousins and having a hard time sharing this space.  

That's better

Molly Cate, Bitty, and Ford flying the plane  

Doing a little grocery shopping.  He wasn't a rule follower.  The cart specifically said to only put 3 items in your cart.  Oops!

Him too.... rule breaker

My newphew, Jack

Vroooom Vroooom

Ford and Caroline

And here's the crew!

This was his most favorite thing in the entire place, a motorcycle

Last night concluded Ford’s 2014 soccer season.  I must say he has made tremendous improvements since last year.  We mostly wandered around, waved at spectators, and rolled in the grass in 2013.  This year started off a little rough, but bribery can be a marvelous thing.  Bribery can also be an expensive thing when you tell your kids they can have a toy if they score a goal.  I honestly didn’t think he would, but he sure did, and the first one cost me $31.98.  He “needed” a Wild Kratts vest and gloves and I had to order it off line.  Paying shipping and handling makes me sick at my stomach too.  I’m cheap!

Gran and BoomPa came to watch

He scored a total of 5 goals in all this season.

Now Bitty isn’t into soccer so much.  He usually wanders around with his mower and ring pop.  See exhibit A and B.

Good game!

Waiting on trophies

Coach Brant handing out the trophies.

He's pleased.

The White Team

And that's how it's done!

Cream on the cheeks

We've got SPIRIT yes we do.  We've got spirit how about you???  It was homecoming week at Ford’s school and you better bet your bottom dollar that he dressed up every day.  I take dressing up for spirit days very serious, and I always participated.  Plus he was uniform free all week which is a huge plus.

Monday: Jungle/Safari Day

 Tuesday: Superhero Day

 Wednesday: Disney character day… we went with a pirate outfit.  We don’t own a lot of dress up clothes so this one was on loan.

 Thursday: School shirt and pajama pants day

 Friday: Spirit day… #44 just like his daddy!  We forgot to take a picture and had to pull over on the way to school to document this day.  Trey said that wasn't normal behavior.  I never claimed to be normal before!!!

I don’t spend a lot of money.  I remind Trey ALL the time that I could be worse by shopping, going to get my nails done, hiring a maid etc.  However, Wal-Mart is my downfall in life.  I love that place and Dollar Tree.  And when the boys go shopping with me it makes my bill increase even more.  Ford requested a play razor and shaving cream, and Bitty had to have one too.  Except Bitty thinks you shave your buns and not your cheeks…face cheeks that is!

 After a good shave one must have a bath to wash all the excess cream off!

I mentioned in a previous post that Ford was having some separation issues.  He gets upset when he has to go to school or if I leave to go somewhere.  A lady in my Wednesday Bible study suggested that I give him something to keep in his pocket.  Genius idea!  Both of my boys are obsessed with rocks.  Therefore, I gave Ford a small rock, we painted it, and I put it in his pocket before school.  I told him if he got sad just to stick his hand in his pocket and rub that rock.  When he felt of it to know I loved him and was thinking of him.  He liked that idea.

 Sweet little Bitty.  He won’t say the blessing much but when he does we have him repeat one word at a time. “Dear.  Jesus.  Thank.  You.  For.  The.  Food.  Amen.”

 Every day when we pick Ford up for school I immediately start asking him about his day and John Brantley immediately starts asking for his lunchbox.  I guess he wants to see what treasures Ford might have left in there for him to munch on too.

More shaving…. It’s serious business.  

I often wonder what exactly John Brantley understands about me being pregnant and there being a baby in my belly.  He kisses my stomach and says, “Hey Cake!”  I told him earlier that when she came out the rocking chair would go in her room because he isn’t a baby anymore.  He got upset and said, “NO!  Momma’s baby!!!”   That’s right… I always tell him he’s my baby.  

 We drive our gator every day and collect treasures for the back… today it was cupcakes…aka “acorns”. 

Pregnancy Update:

Now, I’m not even going to lie… but I am not a fan of ultra sound pictures.  I believe that all babies look alike on them, and I’m pretty sure that if I were asked I couldn’t tell a difference from any 3 of my child’s photo shoots.  BUT, since this is my blog and I am trying to document my family’s life, I need to put up “the ultra sound pictures”.  

I am 20 weeks today…. halfway there.  Whoop Whoop!!!!  I had an appointment on Tuesday to have my first ultra sound and regular checkup.  I insisted that Trey join me on this venture to see our little girl.  Again, I’m not going to lie, I hate an ultra sound.  I think it’s amazing to see this life God has put inside of me, but at the same time I want to panic because it’s not just seeing your baby, it’s a huge internal checkup.  I’m pretty sure Trey was uneasy the entire time too.  I think he was praying while she was checking the baby out.  Why?  Well, this is actually my fourth pregnancy.  I have been lying on that table and heard the news, “Something isn’t right.”  We lost our first baby and the chromosomal problem was detected on an ultra sound.  That’s why I was in favor of having the MaterniT21 test (chromosomal test) done at 10 weeks to make sure we had a healthy baby on our hands.  Finding out the sex super early was exciting too.

Back on topic:  So we had an ultra sound and Baby “Three, Sally, Cake” was flipping and flopping and showing out.  She looked healthy and even stuck a little finger up as if to say hello.  Seeing her made it so much more real.

I started feeling her move at 17 weeks.  It’s still soft movements that I can’t detect too much with my hands.  I can’t wait for the boys to feel her.  I remember how exciting it was for Ford to feel John Brantley. 

Ironically, she weighs 10 ounces and I’ve gained 10 POUNDS.  Now I refused to gain 10 pounds for every 10 ounces she gains.  Ain’t gonna happen!  I told my dad this and he laughed.  His response was: “Well, Jill, I never knew you to turn down a French fry while pregnant with JB.”  Now there is a lot of truth to that and to the fact that I gained 40 lbs. with him.  It won’t happen again!

So, we are trucking along.  She still doesn’t have a name… the topic isn’t discussed too much at our house.  I haven’t made any strides to do much in preparation for her.  It’s just so hard since we are in a rental house and likely will be until a few weeks before she’s born.   Pray that the men will get a fire under their butt’s and get us in our house sooner than later.  We want to feel settled and get ready for this baby girl to come join our family.  

Resemblance with some Hotty Toddy

I find it interesting how people share their opinions about my boys.  They either think they look exactly alike or nothing alike at all.  When John Brantley was born he didn't look like Ford at all, “to me”.  As they get bigger I see a lot of similarities in them.  Now their personalities are as different as night and day, but I am seeing a lot more of a resemblance now.

Usually Bitty is right underneath me assisting as I cook.  On this day, however, it was Ford.  He insisted that we make cookies and I had flour all over my kitchen.  

We haul soap in our trucks these days.  

Saturday was a B-I-G day.  Ole Miss played Alabama and “Game Day” came to Oxford.  You would have thought Santa was coming all week because Trey Lamar was on a different level.  I thought we were leaving home when the roosters started to crow so I got up at 5:00 A.M.  I will have you know that no other Lamar male had risen even by 7:00.  But when they did get up we got it in high gear and were out the door in no time. 

I was anticipating terrible traffic, horrendous parking, and jam packed crowds.  I was pleasantly surprised with the traffic and parking, and I stayed at our tent so I was never surrounded by people.  It started off rather chilly, but turned out to be beautiful.  

The boys were both very excited about this field trip.  We packed their little tailgating chairs and naturally forgot our football.  Never fear, we bought one when we got there.  About an hour later the cousins arrived and the boys were on Cloud 9.

Caroline and Molly Cate  

Here are the cousins in no particular order…

John Brantley (2 yrs.), Caroline (6 yrs.), Jack (3.5 yrs.), Ford (5 yrs.), and Molly Cate (8 yrs.)  

My friend, Jessica, was equally as pumped as Fancy about the day.  She woke up at 4:00 AM and was at our house by 7:30.  

And Taylor drove up from Jackson to see her team play, but was disappointed they didn’t win.  

Why does my camera has spots on it in some pictures… I do not know!!???  

Bitty and Miss Taylor  

Trey doesn't get as fired up as he should about taking pictures with me anymore.  I guess after almost 12 years together he feels we have taken enough!!!!  

My brother, Ken, my sister in law, Ashley, Fancy, and me  

Isn't my nephew, Jack, so cute in his new glasses?!?!  

Pops and Puddin

Y’all ready for the game?????  

Because the Lamar boys are!

Both of my boys are super affectionate.  They love hugs and kisses and ask me for “love” several times a day.  Bitty can pucker those lips and plant one on you too!  

Our friends, Sidney and Callie, did a gender reveal at the tent.  Baby GIRL Kidder is coming in March!  

The kids spent a large majority of the day digging in the dirt and making “squirrel food”.  

A good end to any day is wearing momma’s boots while playing in the dirt!  

HOTTY TODDY!!!!!!!

Bragging Rights for bad communication

Now I’m no psychologist, but I am assuming that if you polled a lot of married people they would say “communication” is a key factor to any relationship.  I believe it is.  I would say Representative Lamar and I communicated better in years past.  Now that we have two kids who demand most of our time it’s hard for us to have “us” time and talk.  We “forget” to tell each other things.  He apparently forgets to tell me important things.

I was informed by the plumber working on our new house that my husband was written up in the local paper.  I’m guessing I looked like an idiot when I said I had no clue what he was talking about.  I later found a newspaper and sure enough… Trey was honored and I NEVER knew!  When I asked him about this he didn't think it was too big of a deal.  Well I do!

I joke on Trey a lot and try to ruffle his feathers, but he is a great lawyer and representative for our area.  I really don’t know anyone who loves Senatobia more than Trey does, and I believe that is why he is so good at representing our people.  He sacrifices time away from his family to make our community a better place to live and for that so many people should be grateful.  He has worked very hard to get where he is today, and his hard work has definitely paid off.

I am honored to call Trey Lamar my husband and the father of our children.  I can’t imagine going through this journey called life with anyone else.  Thank you for your hard work, love to your family and community, and dedication to everything you do.  You make me proud!!!!!!!!  We love you, Trey and Daddy.