A LOOOOONG FOUR DAYS!

WOW-what can I say about last week in the Wilson household. First of all it was supposed to be the busiest weeks for me personally that I have had in a long time. I was scheduled to begin working with the women's ministry at my church on Tuesday; Wednesday morning we were to have our Women's Bible Study and then I was immediately leaving to drive to Houston to speak at the women's meeting at Lakewood Church; on Friday our best friends Shon & Tina Shelton were supposed to come for a soccer game and we were going to renew the tradition of Friday night dinner between the Shelton's & the Wilson's; then on Saturday I was to teach part of the Vision class for our church. Needless to say, NONE of those events happen. Not a single one.

All of the sudden on Monday evening the weather forecasters begin to say we have misjudged the storm coming in. It is going to be a major storm and we will get a lot of ice. I quickly made a phone call to Jackie Garner, my old boss at Lakewood, to inform here that would be a "small" chance that I may not be able to make it on Wednesday. We all went to bed Monday night wondering what Tuesday would hold. At 4:50 am they made the announcement that Frisco ISD was closed for Tuesday. I immediately knew my trip to the church office in Southlake was off. So Tuesday we were iced in with below 0 wind chills. Because of Joel's asthma, I wouldn't allow him to go outside and the other two boys really weren't interested in the ice. Craig of course was home sleeping all day and I felt like I spent most of the day telling the boys to be quite, stop running, stop fighting and doing more refereeing than I ever wanted to do!

Tuesday afternoon I received word that we were cancelling our women's bible study for the next morning. Then about 10 minutes later Christian hollered down that school was cancelled again for Wednesday. I was like our you kidding me...I knew at that point I wouldn't be driving to Houston. I called and cancelled with Jackie who was so gracious. She is one of the most gracious women I have ever met. She truly trust that nothing catches God off guard and he has a plan. My outlook for day two in the house was not looking pretty!


Wednesday morning arrived with another cancellation -no youth for Wednesday night. As was becoming the norm I felt like life was revolving around the 4 o'clock news. At 4 o'clock we would know if there would be school on Thursday or not. At 4 they announced Dallas ISD was closed, I knew that our school closure was only a few minutes away. Sure enough shortly thereafter they announced Friso ISD would be closed for Thursday as well.

Thursday was day 3 of being totally iced in. We had not gone anywhere in 3 whole days! My expectations of this wonderful week I was going to have where quickly ending. I now knew that the odds of our friends coming in to play soccer on Friday were quickly vanishing. We kept busy by cleaning the house most of the morning. Like I predicted Tina called around 2 to say the soccer game had been cancelled.

All week they had talked about a chance of snow for Friday. However the forecasters kept saying we would only get a trace to maybe an inch of snow. I felt completely confident that the kids would go back to school on Friday. Forget the fact that if I looked out the front door my whole street was a complete block of ice, or the fact that Craig had driven to work and knew first hand how bad the roads were, I SO NEEDED the boys to go back to school for all of our sanity.

I was glued to the 4 o'clock news Thursday afternoon as I ran on my treadmill. Sure enough around 4:15 they announced Frisco ISD along with 60 other school districts would cancel again on Friday. I thought are you kidding me...I then quickly decided that Christian and I would grocery shop Friday!!

Friday morning we woke up covered in snow. I was like this is WAY more than a dusting or even 1 inch. Sure enough due to a "slight" shift in the weather we got 6 inches of snow. 6 inches of snow on top of 3 inches of ice that had not melted because are temperatures had not been above freezing all week. I decided we were breaking out. Craig agreed to drive Christian and I to Wal-Mart. We did our "big" grocery shopping and they had everything I needed except for milk. There was not a gallon of milk in all of Wal-Mart. We then talked Craig into stopping by Ci'Ci's for some pizza on the way home and at Wal-greens for a gallon of milk. We were a totally different family with some time out of the house and of course some GROCERIES!!

Friday afternoon I received the last cancellation notice of no Vision Class for Saturday - YUCK! Saturday dawned with a gorgeous sun rise, temps above freezing, and the majority of the snow/ice starting to melt. It was an eager Wilson group who got ready for church that afternoon. We were ALL ready early for church. It was great getting out, seeing people, worshipping God and finally eating some Mexican food.

If the winter storm they are predicting for Wednesday comes in, we may be looking at a repeat of no school for next week. At least I will make sure my food supplies are packed and work on having a better attitude!!

(I only took two pictures of this storm. I think that shows how "not into it" I was!

Christmas 2010

We had a very busy Christmas season. We ended up having a total of 4 Christmas'!! It involved a lot of cooking/cleaning on my part. I finally added up and over a 7 day period I had fed a little over 50 people -that is a lot for the woman who doesn't cook, isn't a good cook and doesn't have the gift of hospitality. However, I think a great time was had been all!!

Something we did new this year was to take sweets to the Fire Department across the street from us. I really do want to instill in my kids a spirit of giving and was wondering with our schedule and family dynamics how I could best implement that. When we realized Craig would have to work Christmas eve I decided that was a perfect opportunity for us to do something. So Christmas Eve all 3 of the boys and I made cookies, white chocolate trash, and other sweets. We arranged them on a platter and took them across the street to the fire department. The fireman were so thankful. They gave the boys a short tour, took them in the kitchen, and immediately all dove into their goodies. The boys enjoyed it and hopefully it will be a tradition we do each year!

Never has Christmas vacation gone by so fast for me. I know it was because of all the activity we had in the house. For once NOBODY was ready to go back to school...but we did!!

Happy Birthday Christian!

Today, Christian turns 14! Oh my goodness where has the time gone. It seems like once they start school the time just flies by.

Christian at 14 you LOVE to aggrivate anyone! Especially your mom and your brothers. You have a very quick witt and enjoy laughing! You love band and are hating Algebra this year. You just found out you made first chair All-Region Band and you were so excited. (Or as excited as you can get). You enjoy playing on the computer, listening to your Ipod and hanging out with your friends. You HATE having your picture taken or wearing jeans or a long sleeve shirt. You are content to go to school in shorts and a sweatshirt even if it is in the 20's!!

I am so proud of the man you are becoming. I love you so much! I know this next year will be a great year for you.

Happy Birthday Caleb!

Yesterday was Caleb's 10th birthday. (I had every intention to post this "on" his birthday but I was sick!).

Caleb is not a morning person ESPECIALLY when he has to go to school, so it was so nice when all I had to do was call his name once and he jumped up! He got up to the surprise of donuts for breakfast and a movie that he had been wanting (Percy Jackson & The Olympian's). He left for school excited that it was Friday and feeling like he knew his spelling words!

Craig and I arrived at school in time to see Caleb perform with a 2nd grade class the constitution song. Then we headed back to his classroom with his teacher Mrs. Cizdziel. He picked a little boy named Boon to be his helper and so proudly passed out donuts to everyone. Once everyone had a donut they all sang to Caleb. Caleb REALLY does not like being the center of attention (unlike Joel) and he hung his head while they sang. He got to choose where we ate dinner and he had his favorite dessert of a M&M McFlurry from McDonalds.

Caleb at 10 years old you still don't like school very much, your favorite subject is Science, and you LOVE to play outside with anyone in the neighborhood. You are so kind to others and very sensitive to anyone who is hurting (except probably your brothers!). You are such a prayer - I love hearing you every night as you are in your bed praying. You always ask me, Mom can I pray for you about anything? My prayer for you is that you would see and understand how special you are and that you would be confident in who God has made you! God has great plans for you and just like Caleb in the Bible I believe that you will spy out the land and come back with the good report that with God nothing is impossible! I love you so much!

Happy Birthday Joel!

Today is Joel's 8th birthday. I honestly can't believe that my youngest is turning 8 today. Time really does go by fast (especially after they start school).

A few thoughts about Joel this morning....Joel you are all about donuts and baseball! You love to smile, laugh, annoy your brothers, learn, read your bible, have your picture taken and do cannon balls in the water. You like school - reading and math and you said your favorite class is music! Out of your brothers your are the most competive, love to be the center of attention and love to win at anything-baseball, checkers, uno, video games, etc. Sometimes you put a lot of pressure on yourself rather than just relaxing and enjoying life.

As I type this blog you are laughing in my room while watching Tom & Jerry. I LOVE listening to you laugh-that loud, cackling laugh that dad and I alway think sounds like some who has smoked for years laughing! I love that you still want to hug me, hold my hand and just aren't embarassed to love on your mom! You also are a worshipper (your current favorite song is Jesus You Care for Me as well as past favorites of Friend of God; You Are Good and Let the Redeemed Say So).

You are such a joy to me and dad. You truly complete our family!


Love you so much!

Christmas!

I guess since it was a month ago I should post something about Christmas!! Especially since it was soooo much better than last year. (If you missed last year's Christmas post check it out in the archive).

Since we moved into our house 2weeks before Christmas last year, this year I started decorating EARLY!! I always like to use the excuse that since we are gone at Thanksgiving and then the next weekend is Christian's birthday that we HAVE to put up our tree early. I put it up the weekend before Thanksgiving. Craig agreed to put out lights (not on the house but he did do the yard), for the first time I had a dinning room table to decorate, as well as my mantle and a new wreath for my door. I was so EXCITED... UNTIL, the tree was crooked, Craig accidentally broke the top of the tree and the tree topper and I couldn't find my manger scene. Luckily my mom came and rescued the day by wiring the top of the tree, creating a tree topper, helping to locate the missing manger scene and adding touches to the mantle. We were on our way!

Our first Christmas was with Randy & Sherri, Shannon & her boys (Shawn was out of town) and Angie & Jake at Angie's house in mid-December. We had a great evening and everyone was excited to spend their money and gift cards. Joel was very confused though that he had to go back to school and that Christmas was still about 2 weeks away!

Christmas Eve it began to snow. It snowed all day. That evening we went to our church's Christmas Eve service - what a wonderful time of worship and word as we prepared for Christmas Day. It had snowed heavily while we were at church and the roads were very slick on the way home.

Craig and I got up about 6:00 am in order to be ready and see the kids as they came downstairs. Before we were even completely ready we heard someone up. Surprisingly, it was Christian who was the first kid up that morning. He said he couldn't sleep!

It was probably an hour later before Caleb & Joel got up. It took my mom and dad awhile to get to my house (less than 2 miles) because of how slick the roads where. They arrived and the presents where opened. We had a traditional big breakfast that morning and later a very non-traditional but favorite lunch! The time with family, the snow on the ground, made it a very memorable Christmas Day!

The day after Christmas all of my family came. My brother and Leanna with their kids, my parents, my granny, and my aunt and her daughter. I was able to use my dinning room table for the first time (I bought it last April) and it was great to all be able to sit down to a great meal. Everyone stayed the night and we ate leftovers and visited that next day as well. Last year we got some great family pictures...this year we barely got one! The kids weren't real into it. In fact Joel is missing from this picture because he was upstairs sleeping!!

Lastly, Billy & Jo came New Year's weekend and we had Christmas with them. The boys loved their cash and immediately decided to put their money together and purchase a motorized scooter.

Christmas 2009 was GREAT! (Way better than 2008-ha. ha)!! But the best part came a week ago. Joel's teacher sent home a paper they had written the first day back from Christmas vacation. They were asked what was the best thing about Christmas...Joel wrote that he loved the presents but the best part was worshipping God! I was SHOCKED especially since he slept threw most of the Christmas Eve service (ha. ha)!! But, something must have made an impression on him - God is good!!

(More pics - Nicole (Kyle's daughter) kissing my dad through the stairs. My dinning room table ready for family meal. Kid's table. Present opening. Austin and his "guns" courtesey of Uncle Craig & Aunt Adana.)

15th Wedding Anniversary!

I realize I have not even blogged about Christmas and here I am blogging about my anniversary! I will blog about Christmas but my anniversary is foremost in my mind today.

Today, January 7, 1995 at 11:00 am Craig and I got married. We married on his 22nd birthday and I was 20. I remember getting up so early that morning in order for my sister-in-law Shannon to fix my hair. Whew the girl spent hours getting my hair just right, doing my makeup, plucking my eyebrows and even then she had to borrow rollers to fix her own hair on the way to the church.

I remember driving to the church with my friend Gwen with my hair fixed and the veil in place. We had so many people honk and wave at us on the way. Then sitting in the car waiting as they made sure I was not going to run into Craig before the ceremony. We were running a tad bit late and the mad rush to get into my dress and getting everything in place. Just in the nick of time Shannon came in finished my hair and hers and we were off for pictures.

I remember our photographer was a PERFECTIONIST! At the time it was a little annoying but once I got the pictures I was so thankful for his persistance. We took what felt like a TON of pictures before the ceremony. I remember waiting in the pastor's office for the bridesmaids to get back from taking pictures with Craig so I could hear how he was doing. The girls reported back that everytime the photographer said say "cheese" Craig would say "honeymoon". A few minutes before show time I HAD to go to the restroom and the look I got from my loving maid of honor and best friend Emily!!

I remember right before I walked down the aisle Matthew Warnock the ring bearer looking me dead in the eye and saying when I get on stage I am going to do a flip! I don't know where that came from but I calmly told him no he wouldn't since his dad was up there!! Walking down the aisle with my dad and crying. I remember thinking you better get it together or people are going to think you don't want to marry Craig! Finally making it to the top of the stairs. Pastor Chuck forgetting the rings and me having to remind him! Craig telling me as we were taking communion and kneeling at the kneeling bench that he had worn white socks and had to borrow black ones from Randy!

After the recessional crying with my mom and Shannon telling me to blot and not wipe my face (or I would wipe my makeup off)!! The many MORE pictures we took before we could finally leave the church and head to the reception. Riding to the reception in my first limo and Craig informing me had had not finished packing and we would have to go by his apartment before we left!

After being introduced at the reception Craig's family broke out singing Happy Birthday to him! (Remember we got married ON his birthday). A very full house at the reception and trying to speak to everyone. I remember all of the sudden realizing that I hadn't seen Craig in a while. Throwing the bouquet and it hitting the ceiling! Changing our clothes to leave and realizing I hadn't eaten other than a bite of wedding cake!

Putting toilet paper in our ears so that bird seed didn't get lodged in them. Craig's brother-in-law Shawn holding Craig and pouring a huge cup of bird seed down him. Leaving in the limo and realizing I had not seen nor said good bye to my dad. The limo driver offering to turn around and go back so I could say bye. Then the limo driver getting out and hollering for the father of the bride and that hug goodbye with my dad.

Craig making me stand outside on the patio as the "lookout" as he finished packing because he was scared someone would come get our car. (We had left in a limo that took us to where my car was hidden. Craig had done a JOB on Shawn's car when he and Shannon got married and he was fearful of revenge!)

Finally our wonderful honeymoon in the Pocono's mountain. We have been through so much these last 15 years. Some really great times and some raelly low times. But as I reflect back today I am thankful for it all. It has changed both Craig and I into who we are today. Hopefully a lot more wiser, a lot more mature in Christ and I know more in love then when we said "I Do."

Babe, I am so glad you choose me and if I had to do it all over again I would always choose you! Happy Birthday & Anniversary. I Love you!

Christian Matthew Wilson

Christian celebrated his 13th birthday this past Sunday (December 6th). I can't believe my oldest is now officially a teenager!!

We found out we were pregnant on Good Friday in 1996 and that Christian was due December 18th. My dad hoped he would be born on Christmas Day but I was very, very thankful that did not happen. As with all of my boys labor does not progress quickly for me. I was in labor (contractions every 3 minutes) for 40 1/2 hours with Christian. My Dr. was wonderful and really worked with me because I was scared to death to have a C-section and we didn't have to! When Christian was finally born he was not breathing. At some point as he came down the birth canal the chord wrapped around his neck. I remember waiting those long minutes to hear him cry. He finally did and we were on our way!

Christian has my personality but gets his intelligence from his dad. He likes school, band and his youth group. He didn't like football and is still on the fence about basketball. He is very athletically gifted but UNLIKE his mother is not very competitive. School comes very easily to him. He is in all AP classes and loves Math. Band is his favorite! He has excelled at band with a 1+ last year at Solo & Ensemble competition along with a special recommendation and this year he was 1 of 15 from his band to make All Region.

Christian received his first "spanking (wasn't really a spanking just swatted his hand)" at 8 months old over the computer. He would crawl over to the computer in our apartment and try to turn it off. EIGHT times over and over he would crawl over, turn it off, I would spank his hand, put him on the opposite side of the room, he would cry and do it ALL again!! That was my first look at his determination! When he was little and he and Craig were riding in the car, Christian said, "Dad what color of truck will Jesus drive when he comes back to get us!" Ha. ha. One day when Caleb & Joel were little and we were all in the car both of them were crying. From the very back Christian hollered, "Mom, what were ya'll thinking having another baby!"

Happy Birthday to my first born son! I am so proud of the young man you are becoming. I can't wait to see all God has for you in the future. I love you!

Thanksgiving!

To say that we were ready for a break from school is an understatement. ALL of us were ready for some time off and thankfully the kids were out all week! I still had BSF leadership meeting and class but that was all that was on the to-do-list!

On Monday Craig took Christian to meet Grandpa Billy for their great "hunting" week! Christian was really excited..I don't know if it was to hunt or if it was simply that he was excited to be away from his brothers for a couple of days! Needless to say (and really not to our surprise) he really wasn't that in to hunting!! The other two boys enjoyed playing outside with their friends and having one less person to "share" with. It is always amazing to me the difference in the noise level of just having one gone. It was really quite!!

On Wednesday after my Bible study, we loaded up and drove to Grandpa Billy's. The traffic was a little heavy but we made good time in getting there. The boys immediately jumped on the "gators" and raced off! Grandpa Billy's is a boys heaven! We then went fishing. Christian caught the first catfish and then I caught 4. Unfortunately no one else caught any. When I caught the last one Joel was the only one fishing. I felt bad for him because he was being so patient and so when I hooked it I asked him if he wanted to reel it in. He of course said yes and said can it be mine! So we took his picture with it!

Thanksgiving morning we got up early and waited for the rest of the 44 people to arrive! There was a total of 53 people at Thanksgiving. The boys had a great time playing with all of the cousins and Craig and I enjoyed catching up with his family.

We had to come home Thanksgiving night so that Craig could work on Friday night. But we still had a great time.

Joel's class did a Thanksgiving play called Arthur's Thanksgiving. Here is the link to his class blog. If you want to just hear him you can fast forward it to his part 1:30-3:01. He is one of the narrator in Scene 2. The blog address is www.robertson1stgrade.blogspot.com.

We have a busy week this week. We are back into 6:30 am basketball practice! Christian has his Christmas Band Concert Thursday night and then he is having some boys spend the night for his birthday on Friday night. I can't believe he will be 13 on Sunday!

It's Been Awhile!

I can't believe I have not blogged in almost 2 months. I guess that shows how truly busy we have been in the Wilson household!

Since my last post both Caleb & Joel had their birthday parties. We had them on the same day at our neighborhood park & pool. Caleb's was at 10:00 am and Joel's was at 2:00 pm. Due to some confusion Caleb's group did not get to swim but Joel's friends did (which in the end because Caleb was at Joel's party he got to swim making it all good). Both had great turnouts but it was interesting Caleb had all boys and one girl at his party and Joel had all girls and one boy at his. We had a lot of family attend as well which makes it really special. The boys both got new Nintendo DS, cash, gift cards and toys. They LOVED it!

We then dove head first into school and football season. Christian has been playing football every Tuesday night. Since, we live in a large school district we don't have to travel to play other teams we simply play other middle schools within our district. (Thank you Jesus!). Christian plays both offense (center) and defense (middle linebacker). He does pretty good but he really doesn't enjoy it and says he is not going to play next year! He has however decided that he is going to try out for the basketball team. So football season ends on November 9th and tryouts for basketball are November 11th. If he makes the team they play in a tournament the following weekend!! However, the games don't start officially until after the first of the year on Thursday nights. I am assuming we would still have 6:30 am practices!! The head football coach for the middle school has a blog with video links to most of the games. (The link is https://wiki.friscoisd.org/users/olsont). If you watch the video Christian is #71 and is in each one.

Joel also started fall baseball. He moved up into the coach pitch league and is really enjoying it. Due to the excessive amount of rain we have had there have been a lot of practices and games rained out. Joel's team has done really, really well only losing 2 games (one of which we had to forfeit). Joel has also done well hitting the ball and making some defensive stops. He LOVES baseball and LOVES the attention he gets from it. He always waves at us when he goes up to bat; out to play a position or especially if he scores!! I really enjoy his team and coaches this year so we will stick with this team in the spring as well.

Caleb decided he didn't want to play a sport this go around. He has found some neighborhood boys to play with and most days after homework he is outside riding bikes and playing with the kids. He has a lot of homework this year (at least an hour each day) which doesn't make him happy but he is holding his own so far! He is counting the days until Thanksgiving because we get the whole week off!

Finally, as if we aren't busy enough, we added a DOG! As most of you knew we had to get rid of our dog Bullet in Sugar Land because when we moved here we lived in an apartment while our house was being built. Needless to say Bullet was not an apartment dog!! The boys were very upset to have to get rid of him and have been on us for a year now to get a dog. Of course I was always the hold up! For several months now I have casually been looking through Craig's List and the Frisco Humane Society looking for dogs. This past Sunday I was again searching through Craig's List and came across a dog of interest. See we had a few requirements: small, hypoallergenic, cute, potty trained and cheap!! Ha. ha. This dog was a white Bichon Friece and he fit all of the requirements (was even assured he was potty trained but we have had several accidents the last few days). The couple was being relocated to Pensacola, Fl and were going to have to live in a condo while they looked for a house. Their complex did not allow pets! I so related with their plight and we set up a time to meet. Buddy was an immediate hit and we got him that evening. However, Buddy didn't adjust very well to the Wilson household and after 5 days we were looking for him a home. Being a male he really liked to mark his territory in my house. Needless to say, Buddy went to a "new" home yesterday. I found a lady who is very familiar with the breed and was excited to get him!!

I was feeling so guilty about having to give him away that we immediately went and got Caleb some fish!! I am more of a fish type of person-ha. ha. Caleb really loved both Buddy & Bullet and was such a trooper both times we had to get rid of them that I couldn't help myself. So he is the proud owner of TWO rainbow shark fish! (He likes the Shark part!!)

Today the kids wore the costumes to church for their Fall Harvest Day. They both picked out the same costumes-Darth Vader! We of course have a plethora of swords to accessorize their costumes!

So, we are gearing up for another week!

Happy 9th Birthday Caleb!

Today is Caleb's 9th birthday. (Yep, he and Joel are two years and 4 days apart!). We joyfully welcomed Caleb Aaron Wilson on Sunday, September 10, 2000 at 8:32 pm.

Caleb's pregnancy was fun because there was a lot of us pregnant at the same time at church. In fact I was working for our Children's Pastor and his wife was pregnant as well. (Poor Clayton a pregnant wife and secretary at the same time. Addison and Caleb are only 6 weeks apart.) I wasn't as sick as I was with Christian or Joel so that made it easier. I of course thought I was for sure having a girl and was so surprised that it was another boy. I went into pre-term labor at 34 weeks with Caleb. They stopped the contractions and put me on bed rest for the next 3 weeks. I had Caleb on a Sunday and it was the first day of football season. I remember before I had my epidural there were so many people in my room and I was hurting pretty bad, all of the men were at one end watching the Cowboys play and a nurse came in and made them all leave, ha. ha. Caleb was a good baby as well.

One thing I will never forget was an incident that happened when Caleb was 2 weeks old. Craig was working and my aunt was getting married. I sat Christian who was 4 down in front of the TV to watch the Olympics. I laid Caleb on the couch with the boppy around him and I went to get dressed. While I was curling my hair I could hear Christian just cracking up, I mean laughing loudly. I was thinking I don't think the Olympics are that funny. I came into the living room and Christian was rolling Caleb down the couch, saying roll Caleb roll. I was MORTIFIED. I mean not only was Caleb so little but Christian could have accidentally suffocated him or something. Needless to say he stayed with me from then on!!

Caleb - if anyone is going to get hurt it will be Caleb. He has put his hand through a window; hand through a glass door; ran straight into a barbed wire fence (still has that scar down his face); has a scar down his back from hitting a nail; you name it he has done it. He has gotten into more stuff than I can even remember. One day when Joel was an infant Caleb wanted to play outside. So I let him go in the backyard and kept the back door open so I could see him while I was feeding Joel. All of the sudden I hear him screaming here kitty, kitty, here kitty, kitty (and we didn't have a cat). The next thing I know he is in the house with an animal by the neck with blood coming down his arm and he is shaking it and hollering look mommy, look at my kitty. Thank goodness I had the wisdom to not over react. I calmly put Joel down and told Caleb to stay where he was. When I got closer to him I realized he had a squirrel by the neck and it had been injured, thus the blood. I again calmly told him to go back outside and put it down. He kept saying but mom it is my kitty. Animal control came and got the squirrel to make sure he didn't have rabies - thank goodness he didn't but I will NEVER forget it. Another time he and Christian were playing hide and seek and he climbed into the dryer!

Caleb is not really into school but he LOVES being around kids. He likes being outside riding his bike or scotter or playing with the neighborhood kids. He LOVES to swim and would swim all day everyday if we would let him. He likes all kinds of sports and has played soccer, baseball and flag football. He is the most sensitive of my children and the most DRAMATIC. He can have melt downs about anything - school work, homework, the heat, not getting something he wants!! He LOVES Jesus. I heard him praying the other night after I had tucked everyone into bed. He was so cute in the middle of praying he says Hold on a minute; then he says okay God I'm back, I had dropped my car and had to pick it up; then he says I hope that was okay and not rude to tell you to hold on; if it was rude I am sorry!!!

Happy Birthday Caleb, I love you so much. I am excited to see the success you will have this year in school and the years to come. I know God has great plans in store for you and can't wait to see how you grew and change into a Godly young man!

Happy 7th Birthday Joel!

Today my "baby" turns 7! Where does the time go? This week I have been remembering when I found out I was pregnant with Joel. Most of you know that Joel was a "surprise" (a BIG surprise) to us. We weren't planning on having any more children and definitely not at that time.

Caleb was 14 months old when I found out I was pregnant with Joel. Craig & I had just come through the hardest year of our life financially. Due to the struggles Craig had just decided that he would go back to school to get his Bachelor's degree. We had a dishwasher leak in our house and an inspector came in and said we had black mold - he had ripped up all of the carpet in our living and dining rooms and the hallway. (We didn't have black mold and ended up getting new carpet, new kitchen countertops and cabinets!). So my house was in total disarray, our finances were not good, I had a young toddler, my husband fixing to go back to school and how do we make all of that work and find a job that will work around his schedule, and now guess what your PREGNANT. Needless to say I did not handle the news very well. As the months passed and things settled down we of course got excited and I of course was hoping for a girl!! Although, I wasn't real surprised when for the third time the sonogram lady typed b-o-y!

We embarked on the difficult journey of thinking of a name. I refused to have another "c" name. I just was too hard with Craig, Christian & Caleb to add another one! I don't really remember how we agreed on Joel. I know Craig really liked it. So the waiting began. It was a pretty uneventful pregnancy. In the early stages I was so nauseated and because I had Caleb to take care of I couldn't take phenegran (it totally knocks me out)! So I took a drug that they give chemo patients during the day and then took phenegran at night. It was very busy time with Craig starting school, a new job and all of us adjusting to that schedule.

I was early with both Christian & Caleb so I naturally assumed this would be the case - WRONG. I actually had him on my due date. My mom and dad where in town that day (something I had prayed for since they had moved to Houston by then). I remember calling my mom at 7:30 that morning saying I am having contractions. I was determined to not go to the hospital too early and be told to go home and come back later (as I had done with the first two) and so by about 12:30 pm I was really hurting. We called Craig at work and then dropped off Caleb at the babysitters and arranged for a friend of mine to get Christian from school. We got to the hospital around 1:20 and I had him at 6:32 pm (which for me is very fast!!). He was such a great baby. He slept through the night at 3 days old!!

He has continued to be such a blessing to us. He is such a combination of Christian & Caleb's personalities. He is very analytical in his thinking (like Christian) but very sensitive especially to me (like Caleb). He truly is a momma's boy which I LOVE!! God knew exactly what he was doing. I do remember a time when I had all three in the car and both Caleb & Joel were crying. From the backseat Christian hollered, "Mom what were ya'll thinking having another baby!" I said Christian take it up with God! Ha.ha.

Joel loves school, loves baseball and LOVES his video games. A lot of nights he will sit on the couch with me and root for the Astros! He is the only one of my children who will order a salad (and LOVE it) and is not really into chocolate. However, he is known as the donut expert in our family. That boy loves him some donuts! (This is a picture from Friday - he wanted me to take donuts to school for his birthday rather than cupcakes).

So Happy Birthday to my youngest. I can't wait to see you grow more and more and develop a deeper and deeper relationship with Jesus. Leaning on him and his guidance and direction for your life. I love you Joel! (Picture-after Tina took our family pics in Florida, Joel wanted one of just me and him - did I mention he is a momma's boy!)