Clay was working late last night so I took the kids to eat at Subway.  This is how the conversation went:

Ethan:  Mommy, I want to go to heaven.  When can I go?
Me:  We all go to heaven when God is ready for us.
Ethan:  But when will that be?
Me:  I’m really not sure.  God doesn’t tell us when, so we just have to be ready all the time.
Ethan:  But I really want to go now.
Rachel:  Mommy, I want be baptized.
Me:  You want to be baptized?  What does it mean when you are baptized?
Rachel:  Means you get be a Christian.
Me:  That’s right, Rachel!  
Rachel:  I want be baptized right now!  Want Mr. Bill (our preacher) put me in water and become Christian.

Her Bible class had a lesson on this a few months ago and I guess she’s been thinking about it ever since.  I will be forever grateful that they are getting the important lessons at such an early age.   

Dad’s breakfast at preschool – April 2008

Dad’s breakfast at preschool – April 2009

A few months ago my wonderful mom asked my SIL and me if we wanted to go on a girls trip to Savannah, Ga.  After we pondered it for about 2.6 seconds, we decided that 4 days away with no children, hotel rooms, tons of great food, etc. sounded just fine.  So, at 5:40 Saturday morning our flight left and we were all so excited to be going.  After an Atlanta layover we got to Savannah around lunchtime, loaded up in our Mercury Grand Marquis rent car (which we made Ginny drive the entire time), and headed downtown to begin the process of stuffing ourselves silly for the next 4 days.  We shopped a lot, laughed a lot, ate A LOT, took the Paula Deen tour around Savannah (this is a blog post by itself – tour bus broke down, driver ran a red light, driver went 55 in a 30 through downtown, driver kept changing her accent through the tour, and we saw said driver come out of a very questionable establishment right after our tour ended), walked around town, got pampered at the spa, made a trip to the Atlantic Ocean, and relaxed a lot.  The highlight of the trip was spending my birthday with my mom and Ginny and getting to eat that night at Lady & Sons – Paula Deen’s restaurant.  I knew the food would be good, but I didn’t know it would be THAT good.  If you’re ever in Savannah, I would highly recommend going there. 
Mom - thank you for making the trip happen for us.  I’ll never forget it and I loved just getting to spend some time with you and Ginny.  Dad – thanks for sending us!  And Clay – thank you so much for being an amazing husband who didn’t bat an eye at being home with the kids for 4 days (and for the doing the laundry!).  So girls, where to next time?

Eating at Uncle Bubba’s Oyster House

Photos with Uncle Bubba (Paula Deen’s brother)

Visit to Tybee Island

Birthday dinner at Lady & Sons

Happy birthday, Sam!  Will, Cara, Jack, Josie & Kate welcomed baby Sam into the world this morning and he is absolutely perfect – all 8 pounds, 3 ounces of him.  Mom and baby are doing great (Cara looks way too good to have just had her 4th baby), and he’s already sucking his thumb – what a sweet boy!  Can’t wait to get my hands on him again when they get home.  Love you guys!

Happy birthday, Dad!  I hope you know how much you are loved.  I thank God for you every day.  I don’t know how I got so lucky to have you as my dad, but I really do thank God for that blessing.  You have always been there for me and have always supported me.  I love that we live right down the road so that I can see you whenever I want, and I really love your unexpected visits.  Thank you for being such a wonderful grandfather – you are a hero to Ethan and Rachel.  We enjoyed having dinner with you last night to celebrate.  I hope I never forget those simple moments…you carrying Rachel on your shoulders and Ethan on your back at the same time.  I know a lot of grandfathers can do that, but I would bet that a lot of grandfathers don’t do that.  I love you so much. 

Last April

HAPPY EASTER!

I mean, happy Easter. 

Easter 2008

I think it’s too much to ask.  I have several exhibits from the past week to prove my point:Exhibit A – forcing a poor teenager from church to play dress-up with her

Exhibit B – playing with Logan and Elly

Exhibit C – caught after taking her clothes off

Exhibits D-F - Easter egg hunt with Lauryn and Allie

Exhibit G – In the bluebonnets at the park

Exhibit H – who wants to forget this doozie?

I’m almost tired of trying…

The light at the end of the tunnel – once a month she flashes one of these:

Just wanted to give a shout out to Cara for her birthday.  You know I love you and I can’t wait to meet little Sam in a couple of weeks.  Hope you’ve had a wonderful bday.

Thursday night

March 2005

There’s something about running around the house without their clothes on that brings my children true joy.  I might want to think about getting some blinds on those back windows…