Finally...our visit to East Texas and the Baby Get-Together

Are you ready for a deluge of pictures?!  Well, I hope so, because here are all the pics from our visit to East Texas and the meet and greet for Ailey Grace.  Just to let you know, Braden is not in very many of them.  I found out later that he was having a grand old time playing in the mud outside.  Without further ado...

Our visit with my granny, Aunt Peggy and my mom:

I love this hat on her, but she can't stand for it to slip down over her eyes. hehe.

Granny (my mom) and her first granddaughter

For the first hour or two that we were there, Zekey wouldn't go to my granny, but after she took him outside for a bit, he warmed right up!:)

This picture was taken for my mom because it shows the AT & R reflex or something. (She's an Occupational Therapist and is constantly observing growth and developmental stuff.)

One of my granny's dogs kept taking Zekey's digging spoon and pacifier away from him. It was pretty funny. He didn't so much think so.

Braden climbing a tree I used to climb when I was his age. Now that's cool!

Zekey, the digging spoon and pacifier...the dog was waiting in the wings for her chance...

This one just cracks me up.

I love this picture! My Granny is one of my favorite people in the whole world and I love picture with her and my kiddos. (BTW - she HATES having her picture taken, but I made her anyway...mmmwwwaaahahahahaha!)

Ailey and her Gran-gran. (My mom's mom.)

I think Zekers was throwing a fit in this one...

Ailey and her Great-great Aunt Peggy

The Baby Get-together:

Just five more minutes, Ma!

Sandy and her beautiful Granddaughter

Uncle Ben and Zekey

Aunt Jenny and Ailey Grace

Zekers

Sam, Elijah, Ailey Grace and Ben (I've already informed Ben and Jennifer that I want to hire Elijah and Luke for the summer to help with the kids...seriously, Elijah and Luke had Ailey and Zekey in turn nearly the whole time. Whenever someone wanted to get a hold of Ailey, usually they went and got her from one of the boys. Can I get a hallelujah?! Okay, you caught me... I love my nephews and would love for them to get to come visit and hang out with us. :)

Yep, she's got bling already. Even the snaps on the bottom have bling. Courtesy of cousin Beverly.

That lamb is sooooo silky soft!  One of Sandy's gifts.

This is the blanket that Rachel made. Isn't it cool?! Love it...

Mzzterry, me and Rachel at our 12 year reunion!

Our nephew, Michael. Isn't he a cuter-patooter?!

Mzzterry, our nephew Elijah and Ailey Grace

Zekey and Michael checkin' out the goodies.

Zekey was having a real need to be as close to me as possible.

Ailey Grace chillin'

Aunt Jenny and Mollie and Ian's son (our nephew) Michael.

Mollie and her new niece. (Mollie is supposed to be having a girl too! Yeah!)

My sister Mollie, Ailey Grace, Mollie's hubby Ian and Sam's brother Ben

Isn't she beautiful?! (Not me, silly, my sister Jennifer ;)
Beverly and Ailey (Beverly and Sandy are twins and Sam's mom's cousins.)
Sam, his brother Ben and Ben's oldest son, Elijah all spoiling Ailey Grace.
Zekey and his Uncle Ben

Rachel and Ailey bonding. (You know you liked it, Rachel! hehehe...)

This is Aunt Nancy who is such a sweet person! Her presence is like the most relaxing, wonderful balm. She's Jennifer's Aunt aka Grandma Little's sister (there's a lot of aliases in our family...hmmmmm...), but we all adopted each other and she's stuck with us forever! I just love her!!!!

Zekey was VERY intrigued that she had a pacifier that looked an awful lot like his. He kept trying to give it to her. I guess he just didn't know why she wouldn't want it in her mouth always, seeing that is what his view on the whole subject is!

Beverly and Sam with a head shot of my dad.

Meemaw and sweet Michael

This is my precious friend, April and her son Isaac. We've been friends since we met at Movies 9 where we both worked when I was in high school. Both of her boys are about 2 months younger than our two boys..respectively, of course. Fun, huh?

Catchin' a little snoozy.

Our nephew Dakota. He and Michael are brothers.

I'm gonna have to frame this one!

She has such a great laugh! Isn't her smile wonderful? Her daughter totally takes after her! :D

Lots of chit-chatting.

My dad and Ben

Our nephew Luke and his Grandma and Ailey

Meemaw, Mollie and Ian

So sweet.

This is the precious outfit that Kay aka Grandma Little aka Jennifer's mom bought for Ailey the day she was born. I told her I'd dress her in it for this occasion. Laura aka Meemaw aka Sam's mom is on the right gazing in adoration. :)

I think the hat really makes the outfit...

Okay, maybe not?!

Sam, Jennifer, Mr. Little aka Grandpa Little aka Jennifer's Dad and April

If you've made it this far, I am truly impressed...you should probably get a medal.  Since, I don't have any, let's just pretend.  Hope you enjoyed all the pics.  I think it took as long to do this post as it did for you to get through it! :p

Organized... What's that?!

I stopped by octamom's blog and she wrote a post about how her priorities have had to change in the perfection department after having kiddos.  Boy am I following in her footsteps.  I love organization.  As a matter of fact, I'm addicted to it.  The problem is, I truly can't feed my addiction. I like everything to be in a designated spot in a desinated container with labels and sections and the whole gambit.  I would love for my floors to be clean of all debris and toys and somewhat sanitary on a daily basis, but its not gonna happen.  I honestly get about five minutes to savor a freshly vacuumed floor before it is decimated by two boys in rubber boots who decide right then to come inside with mud, rocks, dirt or some other unknown substance being trekked across the floor.  I have gotten them in the habit of taking off their shoes when they come in the door, but for some reason that only keeps the dirt at bay for a short while.... somehow it travel...  yeah.  

Toys.  I don't even know if I want to go there.  The idea is always to keep the toys in their bedroom.  It doesn't work that way at all.  (Only if we leave right after breakfast in the morning and don't get home 'til bedtime.  hahaha.) Instead we have the nightly ritual of picking up the toys before bed time.  I did honestly try to have the toys picked up continuously during the day, but that battle was lost and I surrendered!  Making up beds is another one that's pretty laughable.  I think I might work on it when we have real beds in a real bedroom in our own house someday.  Until then, I get to my bed every now and then and it looks nice until the boys head its way. :)

In all honesty, God has really worked on me in this area.  I used to get so irate when things weren't done just the way I wanted.  Or I would go back and make sure they did get done that way.  For instance, when Sam and I were first married, we agreed that I would do the dishes and he would do laundry.  Well, having been in the military and having a specific way I folded stuff, I would actually go back and refold anything that wasn't the way I wanted it to be.  Yeah!  Let's just say that I was broken of that habit. When you do stuff like that, it just makes the other person not want to even bother.  Plus, I don't ever want my kids to feel like their abilities aren't good enough for me.  Its still a work in progress, of course.  I'm now learning how to let my children help me do dishes and fold clothes and sweep and mop the floor.  I certainly don't want to discourage any of that willingness because I can see a point at which they will get good at it and do it so that it works for our family the way it need to and I won't be carrying the whole load myself.  Woo-hoo!  Oh, yeah and I've even gotten to the place that if someone else offers to do some chore for me, I am just grateful and don't even care if its different than how I do it.  The point is, I didn't have to do it!  Yay!!!!!

I'll have to take pictures sometime of Braden and Zekey doing the dishes.  I do the actual washing and Braden rinses everything for me. (I'm pretty sure there is a dishwasher in our future....someday....bueller...bueller....)  When we get done with that, I fill both sides of the sink with a little soapy water and some dish brushes and let both boys "do dishes".  They also always want to help me sweep the floor.  I'm gonna get them some kid-sized brooms and dust pans.  I think that will help a lot of things stay upright on the counters and keep the broom handle from bopping someone (me) in the head! ;D  I've come up with an alternative to the mop.  I fill the sink with semi-soapy water,  soak some microfiber towels in it, put several on the floor and skate around on them.  The boys, especially Zekey, like this method of mopping the floor.  Niiice.

Folding clothes is still an experiment.  I usually give the wash rags and hand towels to the boys and let them do those since they are much easier to fold than anything else.  Its a 12-step program.  I might make it through.  Have to let you know.

There's more, but I'm gonna stop here.

Need your prayers

Hey everybody, my friend Reina is a little over 34 weeks along in her pregnancy and has had to go to the hospital several times over the last week for preterm labor issues.  She and her husband are trusting God to take care of this baby and cause him to be born healthy and well.  Please join me and others in their lives in praying for them.  She could especially use peace and emotional stability (those of you who have been pregnant know that the smallest thing can freak you out, not to mention anything that could possibly be serious!) and patience in resting.  (She, like me, does not like to sit still and do nothing.  I know there are others of you out there who understand completely:) Please also pray for God's perfect timing for this birth and that her body would do what God designed it to do.  Also that her labor would be smooth and not prolonged when it is time.  One more thing to pray about is her family.  That God would provide the grace and energy/stamina needed for her husband to fill in the gaps at this time and that her girls would be okay with her having to be more immobile than usual.  Thanks everyone on her behalf and mine!

Oh, the yumminess!!!

I know, I know!  I'm supposed to be doing an update on the kiddos and stuff... it is coming, but I just had to post these recipes, cuz I figure if I'm drooling and wanting to make them, then so will others!  Mmmwwwaahahahahaha!  I haven't actually made any of these yet, but I will and I will take pictures and put them on here. :)  BTW -  these are all off of the Chickens in the Road blog - I really gotta stop going there or I'm gonna blow up like a blimp!  Here goes:

Homemade Funnel Cakes - (This one could really be trouble for me... they are the only reason I see to go to carnivals, fairs or theme parks.  Well, that and those gigantic corn dogs...Oh, and maybe those ears of roasted corn...okay, I just need to STOP!)

Homemade Doughnuts - 'nuff said.

Overnight Cinnamon Rolls - mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm!  I actually emailed her and asked her for this one.  Oh, yeah!

Homemade Poptarts

I love me some stomp!

We rented Pulse: A Stomp Odyssey from Netflix and the boys and I are addicted.  Braden couldn't get enough!  He watched it over and over again..  I really hope that some day wherever we settle down that there is an opportunity to get my kids in drum lessons.  I would totally be taking them, too.  I've always wanted to learn how to play a variety of different drums.  The really funny thing was that after Braden and Zekey had watched the movie a few times, they went around the house beating on anything they could find for HOURS!  Oh, yeah, The Dyess Family Stomp!  Hahahahaha!  Anyway, here are a few videos courtesy of youtube for your viewing pleasure.  I also like the Blue Man Group.  I'm just so amazed by the creativity and talent of all these people!  Love it!

Love this!

This has been a favorite song of mine since I was introduced to it several  years ago by the worship leader at New Covenant Church.  I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.  This is Kari Jobe  of Gateway Worship.  I get chill bumps every time....still.