One for the Money...

When we were children all of the cousins would line up on grandma's hearth to play this silly little game...over and over and over! "One for the Money...." "Two for the show...."

"Three to get ready... "

" Now go, cat go!!!"

Followed by a crash onto the couch! Same thing every time!

Happy Birthday Grandma Raye

Tyson, Juel and I surprised Grandma Raye on her 82nd birthday this week! I can't imagine anyone could have been happier than all three of them! Tyson had so much fun giving her special treats, blowing out candles and playing. Juel was quite content being rocked. I love spending time with Grandma and especially try to in the month of February (Grandaddy died on 2/27/93 and daddy on 2/20/08...she has never gotten over either.) Being at her house brings back so many fun childhood memories and it seems like she has not changed at all since I was a child. In fact, she loves to babysit my children--at AGE 82 and plays all of the same games with them that she did once upon a time with me! No only that, she also still push mows her grass, rakes leaves, drives to Raleigh etc... I am so proud of her and hope to be just like her someday!

Happy Birthday "Leigh Leigh"

It was fun to celebrate Leigh Ann's 25th Birthday...I can't believe my "little girls" are grown up! Juel wore a very prissy "Leigh Leigh" outfit for the occasion, with matching shoes, blanket and hat!

Monkey Joes!

I think these pictures speak for the great fun Tyson and I had with Miss Jessica and "Ca Ca" at Monkey Joes! Uncle Mike even stopped by on his lunch break! He was the biggest kid there--surprised?? Carter and Tyson are best friends! It is so fun to watch them play together!!

Baby Legs!

Ya'll --are these not the cutest things you have ever seen! They are called "Baby Legs," legwarmers for newborns! I am in love! They work great with a onesie because you do not have to take off pants, but I also think they are just precious! Travis says I have taken our baby back to the 80s! (Shout out to 80s night at Bubs and Uncle Jeff!) Oh well, I love them!

Tea for Two

Having a little girl is really making me remember so many sweet times I had as a little girl! I loved to have tea parties (just ask any of my childhood friends who ever came to visit)! Yesterday, baby girl and I shared our first--of hopefully many--tea parties using her new tea set she got for Valentines Day! It was a gift I actually bought years ago in hopes of a moment like this!

Playing Ball with Daddy

Classic Moments!!!

Valentine Fun

Like I stated in my previous post, I have always loved Valentines Day. I did not realize how much I would love choosing a special little gift for my special little ones. It was so fun! We had an explosion of Valentine fun last night topped off with pizza. (Travis and I had a date "afternoon" on Sunday.) Tyson was especially cute discovering "fruit by the foot" with Gee. It was a fun day to treasure my sweethearts!

Huggie

I have always loved Valentines Day. My friend Susan explained that it is because it is a simple and sweet day and I agree! Mom always gave us a special treat to show us how much she loves us. It was never something I really needed, just fun! She made heart-shaped pancakes and let us sleep in her bed. I LOVED writing out Valentine cards for my friends. My Gradma Raye always sent balloons to school--oh boy did that make me feel special! She brought one to Tyson this weekend! I think she has always loved V day too! In fact, my most treasured stuffed animal-"Huggie" was given to Michael on his first Valentines Day. Being the sassy three year old that I was, I had requested a box of candy---"not a little one, a big one with a flower" on the top just like the on grandaddy Gerald always gave Grandma Raye. Well, that's exactly what I got! However, Micahel received this tiny, unimpressive little bear, that would soon become mine. For some reason I loved this bear and BEGGED to have him. I would sneak in his room and sleep under his crib holding the bear until finally mom gave him to me and a life-long friendship began! "Huggie" can be found in my nightstand today! After dragging off with me everywhere-to Kindergarten, daddy's house, and yes-even college, he has suffered some damage. He survived several "surgeries," and even threats by Michael to be reclaimed, however, he still remains "here in my heart!"

HEARTS

Look who learned to smile! This little sweetheart makes my heart melt! We were so happy this week to learn that she not only has a sweet heart, but she also has a healthy heart. When Juel was born we were told she had a hole in her heart (VSD) that would need to be monitored by a pediatric cardiologist and would either close on its own or possibly require surgery. Although I was quite scared at the thought of heart surgery for my little girl, I was glad it was a problem that could be fixed. This week however, we learned that it has almost completely closed and should never require any treatment! Thank you God for this precious little love that has captured our hearts!!!

Mommy's Valentines

I am so happy spending a slow, cuddly morning with my little Valentines! Baby doll has learned how to smile! Happy Valentines Day Mommy!

Wild boy loves his morning "oohgooo" (yogurt) and his Mommy too!

(Check out the hair!)

A Little Note

This note was on Grandma's kitchen table one morning this week. The night before, mom and I had the children with us when we went to tuck grandma into bed. Tyson thought it was so great to help her with this. He smiled and squealed with delight. After we kissed her and turned off the light, mom and I had to do a few things in her house (getting her medicine ready for the morning, setting the night lights etc.). Meanwhile, Tyson ran back into Grandma's room several times to hug her and say "night night, ov oo"! She woke up in the middle of the night thinking about it and wrote this note. I find it to be special for many reasons:

It is special because, even in her pain, she sees joy. She loves my babies so much and is absolutely thrilled when they come to her house. I can't even explain the joy I feel seeing her hold them. Even though it sounds strange, I can remember being a young girl and worrying about if grandma would get to meet my children one day. This past fall when we learned of her diagnosis, as I was carrying our baby girl, I again worried about this. Today, when I see her holding sweet Baby Juel, her namesake, smiling and calling her a "little doll," my heart nearly bursts with happiness. I did not plan to have a baby just 20 months after my first. However, everything happens for a reason. God sent this sweet baby girl into our lives at the perfect time and I am forever thankful. This little note was a reminder of that. So, even in her pain, she teaches us to see joy and reminds me of God's perfect plans.

It is special because, even in her pain, she thinks of others. She noted the pain she was having because "if something happened to me I wanted ya'll to know what was wrong." She often tries to hide how she feels for her childrens sake. When people visit her, she tries to entertain them. She has always been a 'giver' and still is. Tyson has a little basket of toys at her house. It had a little nerf gun that was broken. Everytime he would get it out, she would sadly say 'its broke, grandmamma will have to get you another one next time I go out'. Because she really does not 'go out' anymore we bought one for her to give him. It delighted both of them. With our help she continues to send cards and when children visit she still gives them a dollar. She loves to make others happy. This little note was a reminder of that. So, even in her pain, she teaches us to think about others.

It is special because, even in her pain, she has hope. She told us she wrote the note because she wanted to remember to tell everybody about Tyson being so sweet. And, so that they would know what to tell doctors if they needed to help her in the morning. She often talks about 'when I am better' and things she plans to do. The other day she was cute talking about what Baby Juel would look like in two years. It was sweet to imagine her picturing her it her mind. I am happy that she is so optimistic (she always has been), but I also know that she is not going to get better. So it feels conflicting. Other times she tells us she is ready to go. She tells people that she feels honored that the baby has her name so it will 'carry on after I'm gone'. She knows she will go to heaven and that we will cherish her memory. She is hopeful. This little note was a reminder of that. So, even in her pain, she teaches us to have hope.

Just like in this little note, she has always been my teacher. I did not go to preschool, I went to her kitchen table, where she taught me far more! We did science experiments with baking soda and vinegar, watched colors blend in a jar of water with drops of food coloring, learned about motion with a button on a string, and played instruments with a comb and waxed paper. She taught me the letters and sounds on a little Farm Bureau tablet. We practiced counting rocks and fishing worms and learned animal sounds on a see-n-say. It was preschool at its finest! When asked as a teacher who was my inspiration, it was certainly her. She does not hold a college degree, teaching license or national board certification, however, she is the best teacher I have ever known! So, just like this little note, I will continue to learn from her and will treasure the lessons in my heart forever!

Pray for Faye

My Aunt Faye is going to have open heart surgery next week to have a valve replaced in her heart. Please pray for her. Aunt Barbara lost her daddy this week. Please pray for her. Please pray for our entire family! My mom and her brothers are doing a wonderful job taking care of grandma, however, they are all under a great amount of stress- managing her medications, taking care of finances, rotating care etc. I am sure anyone who has cared for a terminal family member has experienced this, but it is hard to imagine until it is your family. The logistics of it all is difficult enough, but then you are faced with losing someone that you love so much...someone who, for us, has always been a center of our lives. Now added to this is Aunt Faye's surgery and Aunt Barbara's daddy. So, I ask my sweet friends to please pray for our family.

Superbowl

My have our Superbowl Sundays changed over the years! This year we were supposed to cook out with the Budackis, but they all had a terrible stomach virus. (Poor little CaCa even had to go to the hospital!) Uncle Mike came over and cooked chicken wings, played "Talking Tom" on the Ipad with Tyson, and provided the "drinks"! I love these pictures of Travis watching football with his little girl in her pink blanket! I wonder if he ever imagined such?