Why I Love Spring

I can't believe that I haven't posted in a long while, but the title of this post should partially explain my absence from the blogging world. Since Spring arrived, we have been outside every chance we've had! Riding bikes, walking (more like racing each other around the cove in our neighborhood...that's what happens when you have two BOYS ages 6 and 4 with lots of energy!), picnics, zoo trip, nature trail...WHEW! We love it! All 3 kiddos have scraped knees and elbows. Mary Claire now takes off from me and yells, "Run!" :-) Oh well, just one of those things that comes with getting outside in the beautiful weather. That's just one reason I love this season...getting outside after weeks of being "held captive" by the cold temps of winter. Here are some pictures from what we've done so far this spring. (Since I'm catching up, these are also pictures from our Spring Break.)

Adventures at the nature trail

But where is Jonah?

Oh, there he is! Throwing rocks in the water of course!

It's inevitable that we ALL have to get in on the throwing of rocks in the water!

I'll just get a closer look, Mom!

(YIKES!)

She most certainly enjoyed the sea lion show at the zoo!

Mimi and Mary Claire watching the sea lions perform

                                         Who are these children and where is the adult in charge? :-)
Oh, those would be my sweet darlings who stripped down to as much as I would allow them to. And before you start to judge me...I did not bring the boys a change of clothes, and I did not want to hear the complaining when they got wet. So, better to bear it all to strangers than walk around the zoo the rest of the day in wet clothing.
Note to self: Next time, pack their swim suits. They loved the geysers at the Teton Trek!

I snapped this shot of John Owen because this was something he's never done before on our trips to the zoo.

He stopped and read every engraved proverb on the rock walls as we walked through the exhibit. He is such a good reader, and I am very proud of the big boy he is becoming!

John Owen or Marco Polo?

Jonah's new thing this time was his insistance on being in charge of the zoo map. (Never mind the fact that he can't read yet!) He seems to be such a "take charge type" little person. Hmm...wonder where he got that from?

I like reading maps! Maybe he got THAT from me!

We enjoyed our zoo day very much!

Another reason I love this season is...baseball!

Both boys are playing this year which has resulted in our being at the ball field every Monday, Tuesday, Thursday AND Friday nights so far. Mary Claire now asks for "hot dog" as soon as she sees the grill by the concession stand, and I have resorted to allowing her more than her fair share of time spent digging in the dirt and rocks in order to keep her entertained during ballgames!

Note to self: No more white sweaters or cute outfits worn to the ballpark! A t-shirt and tennis shoes she will wear!!

I only have some pictures of John Owen in action due to the fact that I am coaching Jonah's team and no one has taken over the responsibility of picture-taking for me yet! Jan, honey, that's a hint!:-)

John Owen is the youngest person in his league with a birthday that falls 5 days short of the age cut-off. But despite this, he shows true talent for playing. His coach has recently moved him up in the batting order (to lead-off  hitter!)because he has shown such consistency in putting the bat on the ball. I am looking forward to watching him play!

(I feel awful, but I will definitely get pictures of Jonah the next time he plays!)

O.K. ,so I have saved the most important reason for why I love Spring for last!

You see, it was a beautiful Spring day...April 25, 2003 to be exact, when John Owen entered this world and changed my life forever! I am so glad God gave him to me, and I tell him this every night before he goes to sleep and every other chance I get.  We're so glad he celebrated his 7th birthday, and what a special celebration it was! We kicked it off with lunch from Sonic, cupcakes with his classmates and a "free ice cream" coupon at school on Friday!

Can someone tell me if there's a "silly button" that's pushed when they hit 7 years old?

Cause' I have seen a definite increase in the silliness lately! Oh boy!

John Owen chose to invite 3 friends (and his brother) to see "How to Train Your Dragon" in 3D for his birthday on Sunday. Here's the crew! Carter B. to the left of John Owen and Hunter, Joseph and Jonah to his right. Such a cute group of boys!

This was the view from inside the movie theater. They were terribly cute in their 3D glasses and yelled out when things seemed to be flying at their heads!

Well, that about wraps it up! Thanks for bearing with me through this longer than normal post as I try to catch up on what we've been up to and what I want to remember most about this past month. Hope everyone is enjoying Spring as much as we are!

Happy Easter 2010

"Everyone smile!!"

We have spent the last several days doing things in preparation for our Easter celebration tomorrow. Jonah had his egg hunt at school on Tuesday and he found one more than the limit of eggs alloted for each student. He graciously gave his "extra" egg up, and then received a special egg from the Easter bunny who was visiting!

John Owen's Easter festivities at school took place on Wednesday. When I asked him about how he did at the egg hunt, he replied, "Good, but the eggs weren't hidden, Mom. They were just spread out everywhere!" Guess he was looking for more of a challenge. ?

We spent Good Friday (and our day off from school and work) shopping for new shoes in Memphis and visiting my grandmother and aunt in Somerville. We stopped along the way to buy grandmother some of her favorites...red geraniums! Some people on the side of the road were selling some of the most beautiful geraniums I have ever seen. My mom just went on and on about them. (She loves geraniums, too!) :-)
I was glad my mom was with us. She always makes the trip (shopping trip and ride in the car) better! Thanks, Mom!
It was a beautiful day! When we got home we made our Easter cupcakes! Then I spent the night pressing and steaming our clothes for tomorrow's service and for the upcoming work week. (Hmm...not sure everyone reading this will consider that an eventful Friday night, but hey, this is the story of my life now!) :-)

I awoke a couple of times to the loud crashing of thunder early this morning. Truthfully, I don't have a clue what time it woke me for I was too exhausted to turn over to see the clock. The result of the storm was that the Easter egg hunt planned at our church's Easter celebration had to be moved inside. Nevertheless, all 3 of my kiddos enjoyed it!

Mary Claire working on her "Jesus is Alive" coloring page!

Jonah listening intently(notice the look) to the story of the colored bracelet he was making.

John Owen having fun making a colorful cross!

Don't you love the grace and style exhibited in this picture?

I was quite impressed at her skills at such a young age. :-)

She even shook it!

And I think once she realized these were just eggs, she decided maybe she'd move on to something else!

We have had great fun this week, but my prayer is that my children will know or come to know the REAL reason we celebrate Easter. A reason that should not be lost amongst all the excitement of bunnies, eggs, candy, etc. I leave you with some meaningful words from a song sung at our Easter musical last Sunday...

"I think about the day He died, the way that He was crucified and how He came to set the sinner free.
I know the story inside out and I can tell you all about the path that led Him up to Calvary.
But ask me why He loves me, and I don't know what to say...
But I'll never be the same because He changed my life when He became everything to me!"
(Everything to Me, Nicole Mullen)

I hope Jesus is everything to you, too! He lives!
Happy Easter!

March 24, 2010

This past Wednesday, March 24, 2010, my sweet "Papaw" went home to heaven. Since last October I watched his health deteriorate quickly after he was diagnosed with terminal lung cancer. And while it is never easy to lose someone you love, I am thankful that he did not have to suffer very long. "Papaw" turned 89 on Feb. 20, 2010, and I took the children to see him on his birthday eventhough I knew that the last time I had been there he hadn't stayed awake for very long. I wasn't counting on him being alert enough to know they were there. Honestly, I worried about it more than I should have. I knew the boys would ask questions about their "Papaw". And I guess I was a little afraid of answering those questions.

You see, he has been such an important part of my children's lives. Until a little over a year ago, my children were the only great-grandchildren my grandparents had, so you can imagine how delighted my grandparents were anytime the children were around. They didn't miss a birthday party or any other celebration. Our time with them at their house in Jackson and wherever we were was something they always looked forward to. And eventhough I have always been close to them, I think I grew closer to them after the births of my children than I have ever been. I believe God allowed my children (and me) one last enjoyable moment with "Papaw" on his 89th birthday because surprisingly, he was more awake than I had seen him on the last visit and he smiled every time Mary Claire kissed him or one of the boys hugged him.

Yesterday, our family came together to bury his body and celebrate his life. It was a day I'll always remember. The service was a little different than your typical funeral in that we all played a part in the service. My dad did a great job in opening with comments about his father's life and stories he and his brother and sister will always hold dear about their dad. I was proud of my dad and what he was able to stand and say to others about his dad. My grandmother requested that some of us sing a couple of hymns they liked, so my dad and I sang a song together and then my dad sang again with his sister. My cousins, Amanda and Amber, read special scriptures, and my Uncle Craig, being an ordained minister, performed the funeral service. It was a family affair, but more importantly, I think "Papaw" would have been proud.

At the burial, the military salute and presentation of the flag was a very special moment. I don't think any of us could ever imagine what my grandfather saw or experienced in Normady and the Battle of the Bulge as he served our country in WWII. I wish I had had my camera as my little Jonah stood there so respectfully beside my father and the casket as the soldiers folded the flag with great care and then presented the flag to my grandmother. He hardly moved a muscle. Some of the older people there commented afterwards to me about how they couldn't believe he stood there like that. I was so proud of him. What a great tribute to his "Papaw"! Of course, my boys asked questions, and both Jan and I have done our best to explain to their young hearts and minds the concept of life and death. I am so grateful that I have a Christian belief that I can share with my children in the explanation of these things. God's always there and now my grandfather is there with Him. I am so glad of the blessed assurance that I'll see them both one day.

I will miss my grandfather. I missed him tonight as I looked out at the crowd at church when we performed our Easter musical and I thought about how many times he and my grandmother have made the trip from Jackson just to watch. Always there...  Always watching... And I have the assurance he watches still.

Papaw and Granny Phillips with Mary Claire at her 1st birthday party last May

March Already?

Wow! Did we just complete the first week of March? I think I blinked and February just flew right by. It seems as though lately our lives have been all about getting from "Point A" to "Point B". I know I'm not alone in this, 'cause I know you all have your own "Point A's and B's". Nevertheless, here are some things we've been up to lately.  We have enjoyed lots of funny moments together...

Mary Claire keeps us laughing with her funny ways!

She grabbed one of her brother's boots, put it on all by herself, then came to proudly show Mommy.

We have celebrated life...

My best friend, Nora, gave birth to her baby girl on Feb. 16th and then we welcomed our cousin, Henry Shields into the world on Feb. 19th. Here's Mary Claire taking her first look at Cousin Henry.

We have celebrated good times with family...
On Febrary 27th, my parents celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary. Congratulations, Mimi and Daddy Nick! Mrs. Baugues and Mrs. Carol Templeton made a beautiful cake for them! The picture doesn't do it justice, and I still have cake in my freezer! Anybody want me to deliver some chocolate cream de mint to you? It's delicious!!

My mom put Mary Claire on the table...yeah, to SEE WHAT SHE WOULD DO. Uh huh, should there be any doubt as to what she would do? The picture says it all.

Mary Claire kept running around the table yelling, "Cake, cake, cake!" O.K., so I guess it's safe to say she has her Daddy's sweet tooth. Jonah started singing his dad's silly song every time we have chocolate cake for her...

"Mary Claire's GREAT!

Give her some chocolate CAKE!"

(We stole that from Bill Cosby.)

And good times with friends...

We finished up basketball season yesterday morning. Several Friday nights and Saturday mornings have been spent at the gym this winter. I enjoyed watching John Owen and his teammates play this year. They all did such a great job!

Now, we are looking forward to sunshine, warmer temps, both boys' baseball seasons, swimming, and more good times with family and friends.

Snow Days Continued

Well, it looks as if "Mother Nature" had a number of snow days in store for this area this winter. We enjoyed our days off from school.

Thank you, God, for the beautiful snow and the time we have had to enjoy it together.

Mary Claire and Jonah

Mimi and Daddy Nick came over and helped us make a BIG snowman!

We started rolling the snowball in the backyard and it got bigger and bigger as we made our way to the front yard.

Jonah "overseeing" as Daddy Nick places the second part of the snowman on.

O.K. so the head was a little out of proportion. I think we got tired of rolling for the third part of the snowman.

Mary Claire loved the snow!

Our finished snowman with button eyes, a carrot for a nose, and some raisins for a mouth.

A scarf and sunvisior were some much needed accessories as well!

Jonah giving his snowman, whom he named "Maxie", a hug! Such a sweet child! :-) "Maxie" looks pretty happy.

Winter of 2010...one to remember!

Winter Fun

So far this winter we have been having so much fun...

Playing basketball!

Going to birthday parties where you can jump & roll!

"Mommy, can you change my little girl's diaper?"

She brought me the diaper and new doll, laid the doll and diaper on the floor, and pointed at her. And, of course, I put the diaper on the doll.

I wish I had a nickel for every diaper these hands have changed. :-)

Glad to do it!

We have watched winter weather roll in!

I love the icicles on the play house.

John Owen made snow angels!

Jonah ate the icicles!

They both slid down the snow-covered slide.

Secretly, I wished I could have done it, too.

John Owen laid in the snow longer than I thought possible.

All 3 kiddos have enjoyed the winter snow so far this year!

This year Mary Claire took her first steps in the "white stuff". I have got to get her some gloves that fit, though, so her little hands don't get so cold. She pulls the "too big" gloves off right now.

What We Know

You know something I have learned quickly is that sometimes what you think you know may not be exactly true. What I have known about Mary Claire has changed, but only somewhat...I know she has a congenital brain anomaly now, I know the doctor has confirmed his belief that she is at risk for seizures now, I know she has never had a seizure and the doctor says the longer she goes without one, the better...I know what the doctor has said. But more than any of that, I know that she is the same baby girl God gave me 20 months ago today. I haven't seen one change in her except that she continues to grow and learn and show me how determined she is every day. I know she is "as tough as a pine knot" as Jan so colorfully puts it :-). I know she is going to be just fine and that we will continue to give her the life we intended to try our best to give her before we knew all of this with a few added precautions now that we know what we know.


I still know God holds her in His hand.

The hardest part for me is the fear of the unknown, but then again, do any of us know what tomorrow holds? It's all unknown. And if you really think about that, it can be kinda scary. And if you choose to dwell on that, it can drive you nuts! I'd rather live life than worry about living life.

Only He knows tomorrow.

So, I will step forward from this learning experience with this knowledge, some new, some I already knew, and know that every day is a gift and that I should value it as such. That what you know today may not be what you know tomorrow.

What we want you to know is that we are thankful for the prayers, emails, texts, calls, etc.

Knowing that you have friends and family lifting your little one up in prayer gives comfort. Please continue to lift Mary Claire up. Thank you so much.

Love,

Nicole