Art Work

Ashlyn drew this all by herself, after seeing Aunt Nicole's new Chickens!

Luke drew this 01/22 at Church! 

More Marion Memories! January and February Birthdays!

We started our trip off in Bishopville showering Baby Ava's momma and daddy with gifts, then we headed to Florence for dinner to celebrate Nicole Skinner Eskridge's Birthday!  We had so much fun getting together.  While mom took the kids to Meet Aunt Sheila, Uncle Jedd, Livie and Jedd Alan.  Florence is a growing and busy place, and that was evident on a Saturday NIGHT!

Sunday was cook out time!

Love

Valentine's Day is coming up, and it got me thinking about what I love!

I love the way Luke says Thanks all the time for things he gets.  He received an award so we got him a Angry Bird poster [from the book fair] and, before he fell asleep he told me "Mom, Thanks so my for the Angry Bird poster I love it so much".

I love Ashlyn's little grin.  When I picked her up today, she ran across the play ground and jumps in my arms and gives me the biggest hug and kiss.  After working a long day, that is extremly nice to come home to.

Both babies have a cough and stuffy nose.  I hope they start feeling better soon!

Dolphin Splash Award

They gave out awards today at Luke's school.  I was able to attend this one.  I could not make the 10/07 one, but Pat did.

~Luke and his buddy John Henry~

~Luke and his little girlfriend Taylor~

Luke stuck his certificate in his eye, and it was watering.  Guess the thumb helped with the pain.

LOTS of KIDS and Taylor!

It was Christmas Again!

Stacie, Adam, Anabelle and Sawyer came to town.  MeMaw and PawPaw had everyone over for some yummy pizza and presents.  The kids were extra lively!  I don't think we will be going to the Circus, because we have already been.  Just kidding.  We always love seeing the Collins Family!

I don't want to go HOME!

Basketball 2 games left!

So we have two games left.  We are going to so miss these games, as well as the CHEESE GRITS from Congaree Baptist Church.  Those ladies can cook!

Ashlyn dressed herself and Luke insists on wearing these shoes.  Since he fell in his New Balance once and his Basketball Shoes once these are the only ones he will play Basketball in.  Only 2 more games!

Look at how TINY Luke is!  He is on his tippie toes!  Ben is 6 and Luke is 5 almost 6! 

Courageous!!!

One word Courageous! You simply must get a box of kleenex and watch this movie!

Diagnostic Test

So my Laptop is in need of a Diagnostic Test.  Our warranty is out in Feb so we figured we would have it serviced and see if they can help me get it running more quickly.  I know they are going to tell me I have way to many pictures on it.  I started burning them to CD's and it took 4 hours last night!

I am going to without a PC for about a week, so I will try to post here and there, but can't promise.

Have a great week-end!

Some Funny's:

Luke was dying to answer the phone the other night, thinking it was someone like Uncle Tate or MeMaw, well he was so excited and said "Hello".  The caller said "Can I speak to a registered voter?".  Luke's face dropped and he said "HUH???"  The caller said it again "Can I speak to a registered voter?"  Luke was standing there just frozen.  So I took the phone, he asked me the same thing "Can I speak to a registered voter?"  I hung up.

This morning Luke and Ashlyn were catching up on Diego.  They were eating cereal,  Ashlyn fell asleep first last night so she asks Luke "So what kind of animal did Diego save last night?".  They sounded like two adults talking about a show or a soap.  It was just funny.

Day before yesterday on the way home from school.  Luke and Ashlyn were talking and Luke said he was going to do something.  Ashlyn throws her pinky up and said "Luke, do you pinky promise?".

Ashlyn cracks Luke up the entire time we are in the car.  I tell him to hush and be quiet and he's like " I can't mom sister is just too funny".

For real I don't think they can get any funnier!

MUD PIES!

Luke and Ashlyn made Mud Pies last week-end!  It was kind of sad they did not know how to get down and dirty and make some good old mud pies!  I had to teach them.  :-) They were a little muddy when they were finished, but not nearly as muddy as my sisters and I when we finished.  We even put the little kitchen outside so we could cook the pies!  The pies had tree bark (bacon), acorns (nuts) and about anything else we could find!

Sleeping Babies

Nothing is as pretty as a sleeping baby. Last night Ashlyn fell asleep in the bed with me and I just love watching her sleep.  Her and Luke look so peaceful!  They both still look so tiny, but are getting so big at the same time.

Nice Long Week-end!

It was a nice long week-end filled with lots of activities.  Now it is back to work and school.  The kids nor I are looking forward to it.

Ashlyn and Luke have a runny nose this AM!

Food Lovers Diet Update

Ok so the Food Lovers Diet kit is on the way back to them.  It was just to complicated for me to follow.  I really hate it too!  I was super excited about it! 

I guess I will have to do weight watchers!  One thing I have changed is I went all week-end with out beer, and I eat right time I wake up.  I have dropped 3 pounds just doing those two things.  I have started walking and doing my Zumba on the Wii.  Slow and steady is how I want to do this! 

4 More GAMES!

As I suspected Basketball is growing on me. Pat gets the biggest kick out of the fact, that I CRY EVERY SINGLE TIME LUKE RUNS OUT TO THE MUSIC! It does something to me, to hear his name being called and he runs out to smoke/music and to see the SMILE on his face. Pat makes sure to look at me and I try not to cry I really, really do, but I get choked up every time!!



When Luke does anything good, he will run down the court and give Pat and I a thumbs up. It is so cute and precious. It feels like we are the only people in the room when he runs down to give us a thumbs up. He made 2 goals and assisted in 7. His little team has come a long way. After the game one of the moms comes up to me, her son is on the opposing team. She tells me that she thinks Luke is the cutest little basketball player she has seen and she just could not help but cheer for him. She particularly enjoyed the way he would give us a thumbs up. These are the moments we live for. When our kids touch other peoples’ lives and hearts.

Proverbs 17:22 - A joyful heart is good medicine, But a broken spirit dries up the bones.

Luke and Ashlyn keep sharing your joyful heart with the world!!

LeapList

Yesterday I saw the Honda Commercial, where before people do something as big as get married or have a baby they do the things on their LeapList...

It reminded me of mine and Pat's LeapList before we started trying to have Luke and start our little family:

We drove to Canada for a long week-end! Saw Niagara Falls!

My mom and I went to New York with 10 other ladies!

Pat went to Wyoming with Papa Ryan!

Stayed in North Myrtle Beach @ a Elaine’s Condo for a week!

Hung out with the Neighbors a Ton, watching football having a ball!

Stayed with Kip and Katherine at the Camper in Surfside!

Stacie and Adam took us to their Ranch in Texas. I shot a Hog and Pat shot several Deer! (I was technically pregnant at this point, but it was still prior to Luke being born.)

I am so very glad we were able to do all this, and be a young married couple before we became a Mommy and Daddy to Luke and Ashlyn. Both are great and I would not change one thing.

This made me laugh!

Dear God,


My prayer for 2012 is for a fat bank account & a thin body.

Please don't mix these up like you did last year.

AMEN!

~Our 2011 Recap~

• Started 2011 with Snow and Ice – Sliding like Frosty. So glad no one got hurt.


• Date Nights started pretty much in 2011, and we have been able to get a few in.


• Soccer was for sure a Highlight of 2011. Go Team Fever and Team Athletics!


• Easter Bunny visited for the 1st Time in MARION! So super fun.


• Lots of Wonderful Vacations! Really good memories came out of 2011! (Surfside, Edisto, Charleston and Crescent Beach were all on the list)


• Thanksgiving @ Papa Boozer’s and Dang’s, shooting skeet and having fun.


• Planted Trees at Papa Ryan’s in 2011.


• 3 Christmas Family Parties and one more to come. FUN!

• I won $13.00 playing the lottery on the last day of 2011! And found out Organic Wine is NOT for me.


2011 has been very good to us, and we are so looking forward to 2012 with our family. So very Thankful for our health and happiness in 2011. God please help us remain happy and healthy in 2012. Serving you and spreading your word in 2012. In Jesus name I pray.

Ringing in 2012!

Our day started at home New Years Eve with no kids, waking up late, enjoying coffee and cleaning out the fridge.  For some reason our fridge had gotten a little out of control, not now.  It looks great.  I love opening the door and looking at it.  After running some errands, taking the trash off and going to get me some organic wine we made our way to Papa Boozer and Dangs around lunch time.  I got Organic Wine, because someone told me that it does not make you feel hung over the next day.  They were so wrong!  I still feel kind of sick, and light headed.  We rung in the New Year riding the 4 wheeler and hanging out with everyone.  Luke was the only one that made it close to midnight.  Pat, Ashlyn and I were in the bed by 9:30 PM.

Yesterday we ate the Collards, and Black-eyed Peas and headed home with the kids to wind down/gear up for the week.

Today we were so lucky to be off work, so we went to the park, came home and took down the Christmas decorations and got our clothes out for tomorrow.  Luke has Basketball practice at 6:00, then our week starts back in full swing.