And with a big Grin my baby girl turns TEN

Cannot believe that it has been 10 years to the day that we welcomed a precious baby girl into this big ole world. Seems like yesterday that we decided to have a baby. Now growing up so fast, right before my eyes and im scared to blink fearing that I might miss something so special.

In the past 10 years we have watched her learn to walk, encouraged her to talk, then tried to convince her not to talk soooo much, she has fallen and almost bitten her tongue off, she has had stitches from falling on a fire hydrant at school, she has had the mumps, she has saved Jakes life twice (once when he fell off the porch and busted his head & again when he was 3 and put his head through the cord on a mini blind - she heard him struggling and was smart enough to cut the cord with some scissors) needless to say none of our mini blinds have strings on them anymore. She helped teach Jake to swim, she has learned all of her TEN commandments, all books of Old and New testament, has prayed for others, made others smile and loved more than any little girl I know.

She is the first grandchild on my side and had my brother Eric wrapped around his finger. She holds the key to her dads heart and is by far the greatest earthly blessing that I have ever had. She smiles with her heart and her eyes shine with His love. She can be moody and fussy but can be kind and giving all in the same day. With her curls and bright blue eyes she brightens the dullest of days. She can make me madder than anything (yes because we are just alike) and wipe it all away with a hug that goes forever.

To me she is bossy, to Sam she is baby girl, to my mom she is boss lady, to pops she is butterbean, to granny she is pretty girl and Pawpaw she is peanut. Jake thinks she hung the moon but they can fight like 2 caged hens, Sophie is still so young but I know one day she will want to follow every move she makes.

10 years have passed so fast but it has been the greatest 10 years of my life. She loves the Lord and holds him close and my prayer for her is that she will do all to honor Him.

Happy Birthday Bossy - Momma loves you 

Not ready for this

Well I officially have two kids in school.

Today was the first official day of school and so far I have not shed any tears (be proud) (but probably bc I shed them all the past 2 weeks). Jake started BIG SCHOOL today. He was really excited and did really well.

I had to go back to getting up at 5 (its been 5:45 all summer) but being the sweet little baby that she is Sophie decided that I needed an extra jump start so she woke me up at 4 (a.m. that is). Gotta love her!!!

Six a.m rolled around and much to my suprise the kids got up on the first call (oh to be like this all year) (i can dream)

Jake ran straight to get dressed, Gracie fussed about her hair, Jake played with Sophie so I could get breakfast cooked and Gracie fussed about her hair. All together and out the door 10 til 7 (hoping to beat the traffic)

Did really good, dropped Gracie off and Jake said I could take him in, but only 1 day, then he would go by himself. I agreed bc Gracie never wanted me to walk her in, she was miss independent from day one.

I made sure he could find the class room so I let him let (just to assure myself) and he did a great job getting us there. We met with the teacher and she showed him his cubby and commented on his nap mat (its really cute)

I helped him put all his things away and he kinda started to sink into his little shy hole (he always gets like that when he is uncomfortable). I stayed a few minutes and then asked him if he wanted me to stay or if I could go to work and in a low mumbled voice he said I could go to work. Was a little hard to leave, but I know that he is gonna have so much fun and meet so many new friends. Cant wait to hear all about it.

Gracie is an old pro. She got all her stuff together last night. Got up and fussed about her hair, and didnt eat any breakfast as usual. She didnt want me to walk in with her bc "SHE REMEMBERS WHERE HER CLASS IS" and she promised to make sure Jake got on the bus this afternoon.

Gracie is certainly not a little girl anymore, she will be 10 in a few weeks and I think that puts us at the beginning of the dreaded "PRE TEENS". I am most certainly not ready for that.

We said our prayers on the way to school this morning, I have really missed this part of starting my day. I pray that they both of a blessed school year and I pray also for the teachers, that they will help in guiding my children and give them the wisdom they need. I know the Lord has wonderful things in store for this year. May His protection, love and His light shine on their path and lead them in the direction He would have them to go!

Hard Working Man

Jake is a busy little man. Just like his dad, Jake never stops (not even in his sleep). He gets up on the weekends and where most little kids head to the tv to watch cartoons, Jake heads to his room to change clothes so he can go work (thats what he calls it anyways). He is such a hard worker and loves to help with anything he can.

Sam built him this huge dirt pile (most kids have sand boxes). Jake spends all his time out there. He has his bulldozer, his dumptrucks and backhoes, his little hot wheels cars and some plastic men directing traffic.

The other day we got this huge rain shower and it created a hole in his dirt pile. Sophie and I walked outside to watch him "work". He had built this bridge with his bulldozer so his cars could travel safely (his words)

This summer he helped alot in the garden with my grandmother. He loved picking okra and watering the flowers. He would remind her every night that they needed to go water the flowers

With it being as hot as it has been for the past few days, I have tried to encourage him to stay in a little more. It really hasnt worked. He is determined to go outside. He came in the other morning all red faced and wet with sweat and told me I was right, that it was really hot outside.

Yesterday we went and met his teacher for school. I can not believe that he is starting big school. We got the teacher we wanted which really made me happy. Just a few more school supplies to get today and we will be done.

Yesterday evening after we had gotten settled, he of course went outside to work. He said he had some "hauling to do". He was really working like a big man. Dont really quite know what he was doing but he was giving it his all.

He is so much like Sam. I know one day that he will make a great husband and provider to some lucky girl. He is a hard worker, a loving little boy and gives his all in everything he does.