Catching up

Honestly, I don't think it is quite possible.  I must say it is overwhelming to sit down in front of the computer. I just don't know where to start. We have been so busy lately and for some reason I can't even say what exactly we have been doing. We have been traveling (Rolling Fork, beach), we have been sick (cold & ear infections for both me and B), we have been doing stuff to our house (back yard, big boy room), and the rest is a blur really. And, I haven't had my camera in weeks so I've been using my cell phone for most of my pictures. Instagram has been my best friend lately although I am REALLY ready to have my camera back. Enough is enough already.

On the home improvement note, I hope to have a "big boy room" post soon. Of course, that does mean I will have to actually finish the big boy room. I wasn't really expecting to need it quite so soon so I hadn't even thought of what I wanted to do, but Bishop had other ideas in mind apparently. One night a few weeks ago, I read him a book, put him to bed, and went downstairs like always. Not long after, I was on my computer and heard little footsteps above my head. Yep, he climbed out. I put him back in the crib (maybe it was a freak accident?) and immediately he did it again. So, that night he graduated from the crib to a big boy bed. I pretty much pouted about it for a while (maybe I still am a little ;) ). I wasn't ready. He needed to stay a baby.... in a baby bed a little longer. It is just another realization that my boy is growing up on me. Way. Too. Fast.

While we Leon was painting his room and re doing furniture, Bishop stayed in a pallet in our floor. I have to say, it wasn't THAT bad seeing this every morning and night :) I kinda miss his little pallet! (although just about every night we wake up to him on the floor in our room anyway...cover or no cover, pillow or no pillow. Sleep walker maybe?)

Happy Mother's Day!

I am so behind on blogging that I'm not even sure I can ever get caught up, but what can I say?...Life is busy!

I'd just like to take a moment to say Happy Mother's Day to all the momma's out there! Being a momma is by far the most difficult, most rewarding, most fun, most frustrating job that I could ever imagine.

Mother's Day is a little bittersweet to me.  It is bitter for that those who have lost mothers, grandmothers, or children or for those who long to be a momma. My heart breaks when I think that Leon's mom never got to see our little man or that my sweet Granny didn't get to see his curly head of hair she gave him. My heart breaks for my momma that she isn't able to call her momma whenever she wants to. And, my heart breaks for Leon to not have his momma when he needs her. And something I haven't thought a lot of until recently is the pain that Mother's Day can bring to those who want to be a momma more than anything, but can't. My friend Ashlee says it better than I could put into words. (I know I've said it before, but her blog is so worth reading).

But, on Mother's Day I am also reminded of the sweet things blessings that God has given me...blessings that I have every single day. God has given me a momma who loves me and has given me all that I could ever need or want that was anywhere close to in her power. Not only is she my momma, but she is also my best friend. She is by far the best Granna I know of...even if she does spoil him more than I'd like :). As if that wasn't enough, He has given me a step-mom who has always loved me like her own daughter and would do anything for Bishop. And, 2 years ago He allowed me to be a mother to a son that brings me more joy than I ever knew existed. I am reminded, today, on Mother's Day, that even though my life is busy and sometimes I have to work more often than I'd like, I am truly blessed to be a momma!

 Words could never come close to describing the love I have in my heart for these 2!

Happy Mother's Day!!

 

Captain B

Yoga

Maggie's Big Birthday and Super Bulldog weekend

A few weeks ago we went to Starkville and celebrated Maggie's big 3-0 birthday! It happened to be on Super Bulldog weekend, so lots of people were in town. We had so much fun that I barely took any pictures!

Friday night we got there late and hung out past our bedtime and Saturday we went to the Cotton District Arts festival and hung out at the the Christophers. The festival was full of cute stuff, good music,  and good food....and funny people to watch.  It was a bit chilly, but it was still fun. We didn't get to stay very long...Bishop was one worn out little boy by the time we left. We also got to make a stop at Deep South Pout and eat at The City Bagel...two of my favorite  things.

They had a cute kids art area at the festival so B enjoyed that. He loves to draw. 

We then came home and ate crawfish....

And maybe my favorite part of the weekend was playing Just Dance on the Wii. Bishop even especially loved it. He went to bed crying "I just wanna DANCE...." 

Bathtime

He loves it!

Easter 2012

I'm always behind on my Easter post...or at least I was last year and I only started this blog last year, therefore, that makes me always behind. Anyway, I guess it just takes a lot out of me plus as soon as Easter was over I was in 2 year old Bishop mode and we have been on the go constantly. Plus, I do work full time. I will warn you, this one is kinda long as well. I promise the next posts will not be as bad!

I love Easter. It is possibly my favorite holiday. Christmas is important too, don't get me wrong. Although I do get overwhelmed with gifts, parties, and all the hustle and bustle, without Christmas there would be no Easter. However,  Easter is the holiday that celebrates everything that my faith is based on. I actually love Holy Week in general starting with the celebration of Palm Sunday.  My pastor has said.."If you go from the celebration of Palm Sunday to the celebration of Easter without going to the cross, then you miss the point." So true. Jesus died on a cross and it was not pretty. He was tortured, beaten, and suffered like no human should ever have to. And, He did it for all of us. But, the best part of the story is that He is Risen....just as he said! He fulfilled his promise to us then and is still fulfilling his promise today! Every. Single. Day.

John 11:25-26 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?”

Aside from the true celebration of Easter, I also enjoy the commercialized version of Easter. The Easter bunny (as scary as the mall versions are), chicks, Peeps, egg hunts, etc are all just fun to me.  I can remember egg hunts from when I was a child and it brought me such happiness. So, it is so fun to see my child enjoying some of the simple pleasures in life that I enjoyed.

And, Easter is yet another good excuse to spend with my family!

And, finally, I love Easter because I love any excuse to eat candy. Period.

Dyeing eggs

For any of you that think I might think to have it together, I'd just like to reassure you that I do not. If you know me, then you already know this is true. Always has been. Always will be. It is just who I am...NOT TOGETHER.  Anyway, the Saturday before Easter was a little extra crazy and at one point my mom even said "maybe you should just go back to bed and start over". You know it is bad when your own mother says it. It all started when Bishop and I started making Easter sugar cookies. I thought I had enough flour, but I didn't. So, I put Bishop in bed for a nap, ran to Walmart to get flour only to realize I left my debit card at home (after I was in the checkout line and had my stuff rang up). SO, I drive back home and back to Walmart to get flour AGAIN. I finished the cookies, stuck them in the oven, and then grabbed an egg to make a cake. The egg wouldn't crack. I guess I should back up the story and say that before the flour incident, Bishop and I dyed eggs. Leon had boiled us 2 out of 3 dozen eggs for us to color the night before (he did this because while I may be able to make an entire wedding cake...I can't boil an egg!) and put them in the refrigerator. Back to the egg for the cake...it wouldn't crack because it was a hard boiled egg! So, yeah, at this point I realized that half of the colored eggs were raw. And, I had no idea which ones. I did the "spin on the counter" trick which worked pretty well, but still my sister found a "prize egg" that one of her boys brought home. Yes, that was me. I dyed raw eggs. To top that off, during the egg fiasco, I burned the cookies to a crisp and had to start all over. On a positive note, I had plenty of flour and nice pretty pink and green eggs to make them with! And, I think they turned out cute at least.

Cookies for Bishop's Sunday school class

Cookies for family

Bunny Bark

I also made THIS cake and it was really good...or so I thought. 

After a baking and egg dying day, it was time for the big day. We started off with our Easter basket before church. He was so excited about everything. Funny how a $3 fishing pole and a $1 butterfly net can be the best present. Oh, and a $3 frog. He was one happy camper with his basket...I can't say that he was a happy camper the WHOLE day though :)

Then, the 3 of us went to church as a family. Something I never will take for granted! Love my little family!

Decorating the cross with flowers

Attempt at family picture at church-not so great. Better than the next one though. 

Since I'm keeping it real today....

That was my attempt before church of a picture.

Some days are good. Some days are not. 

What else can I say?

Still not a happy camper about the pictures. Little boys have way more important things to do!

This, my friends, is as good as it gets. No smiles from the 2 year old. At all. 

The boys with their Easter goodies from Granna

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5 happy boys!

After a delicious lunch, the boys hunted eggs and played outside. 

Granna, Granddaddy, the boys, and Sally

This just makes me laugh....

Hope everyone had a blessed Easter!