The best photos are unplanned..........

I wanted to take the boys down to the grafitti wall in old dora to take photos of them since i remembered it and since i also sprayed my name on it many years ago. Of course, my name is long gone and painted over now. But, it was still cool to go. Starla heard me mention it and she decided to go along with me. I'm so glad because the photos we got are priceless and ones the boys will never forget....... And of course, we tried the "hey, look at me" and "stand here" stuff that i always know doesn't work and DOES NOT give you the best photos but it's innate in us to do that. So, finally we just let them be little boys and we got the best photos! I have soooo many good ones that i didn't know what to pick from today so this is my first little goodie for you all. We also went up to the train tracks where there was grease!!!!!!! Can't you just imagine!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'll post some of those later.

Can i touch him mommy??????

Carey and Sandra (AKA- Grandad and Sani) wanted to take the boys down to see Thomas when he came to town. I had always wanted to take them but never got around to it so they let me go also. We had a great time. Skyler was in amazement and as most of you know, he loves ALL things Thomas. When we were standing to take a photo with Thomas i bet he asked me 10 times if he could touch Thomas. He was in Heaven! When we went shopping in the TENT that you could spend THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS in, Skyler found the perfect train - SPENCER. He informed us that Spencer was the FASTEST engine on Sodor. So, he carries Spencer everywhere he goes right now, even to bed. Ty likes Thomas too but not like my little Skyler. He just wanted to play and wear his cool new sunglasses. We all had a great time! Thanks Sani and Grandad!!!!!!!!

More photos of Annalace.......and us

I'm adding photos daily. the boys were very excited! VERY EXCITED!!!!!!!! We'll have to give it a few days and a lot less of a crowd before they can be there with her. I don't have any photos of them holding her because i was helping hold her in their arms, so Aonya, send me photos. Anyway, here are a few of us holding her. And I'll post more soon!

Welcome to the World Annalace....

Annalace was born at 11:21 on Monday morning, weighing 7 pounds 12 ounces and 21 inches long. She is beautiful and sleeps like her daddy (mouth open). LOL! We can't tell who she looks like yet but her eyes are blue. She has very tired but HAPPY parents. Lacy is very glad that she is here and out of her body. We've all been there haven't we ladies????? I'll post some more photos later. The boys are on their way to see their new cousin!!!!!!!!!!! This should be interesting!!!!!!

Here's the kicker...................

SKYLER took these photos!!!!!!!!!!!! He began to show an interest in the camera one day so i showed him how to push the button, look through the lens, then wait until it focused, and of course taking the shot!!!!!!!!!!! I have to say, i'm so proud!!!!!!!!!!!!! I have groomed a little photographer. It's really hard to get this kind of sharpness and clarity (you are seeing low resolution for web) in photos so i guess that is why i'm so proud.

These shots will be called my silly faces photos photo shoot. I converted them to black and white since i needed some self portraits anyway for this weekend's Scrap Etc event. So, they will go on a Scrapbook page, of course. I may even let him help with the page since he took the photos!!!!!!!!!!!

One Room at a time..........

I have exhausted myself moving into this house and i'm still not finished. But, i have found that it's just easier now at this point to decide i'm going to completely clean and unpack one room at a time until it's finished, then move to the next room. Also, we ordered ALL new furniture so none of it had come in yet until this weekend...... We got the boys bedroom furniture set up and in their room. So, the room is almost finished (one more box) except for decorations, etc to get put up on the wall. So, here is the boys room, playroom (ignore old couch-i'm getting a cover soon) and the front door. My favorite thing about our house is the floors!!!!!!!!!! Love them! I can show you the front door, because there are no boxes in there! LOL! Still need furniture in there! Anyway, here's at least a few rooms!!!!!!!!!

3 Amigos!!!!!!!!

We had our first "playdate" in the new house. I think i went upstairs 1000 times to check on them. It was alot of fun though. The boys were estatic when i told them that Logan was coming over to play. The asked me 100 times before he even got to the house "when is logan coming?" So, when he finally got there, they took off to the playroom and had a wonderful time! I fed them grilled cheese sandwiches (here's proof Starla since Logan couldn't remember what he ate) with Lemonade. They also showed off for the camera as you can see..... Oh and we had to move a chair to the bar for Logan to sit on that day BUT the boys refused for days to let me move it back to it's place because "it's Logan's chair"! LOL!

we moved in!

We moved into our house on Dec 31st. Our first night was New Year's Eve. We opened boxes until we just couldn't do it anymore and we rang in the new year ASLEEP!!!!!!!!!! All 4 of us! I've never slept that good before!!! LOL! We didn't even care that 2007 was coming. And, in the last 2 weeks, i've opened sooo many boxes and it's still not finished. I don't even know how we aquired all this stuff! And if it's still in the boxes, do we NEED it at all???? The boys love their playroom and bedroom. It's a big change from that 2 room basement! We do miss my mom, dad and aonya. Tyler and Skyler made the move pretty well with the exception of the first night. They played in the playroom while we moved in and when it was time for bed, Tyler cried to "go home" and get in his bed. It was sweet and yet very sad at the same time. He missed his bed. But, the next night he seemed better and since then, they've been happy with the house and the move!

Stay tuned and i'll post some house photos when the rooms become more presentable!

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!

Hello and Merry Christmas! I haven't been in much of a christmassy mood lately. Mainly i guess because i was upset that my house isn't finished so we can have Christmas in it. But, i finally realized that it didn't matter how hard i tried, it just couldn't physically be done by Christmas. So, i chilled! I've also learned that the best photos are the ones rushed. I made this photo of the boys very quickly actually. I was upset at myself for not having it done yet so Chris and I threw these clothes on the boys and took them outside while at the lake for Thanksgiving. It was almost dark and i just shot away. I wasn't crazy about Skyler's face but it's really him!!!!!!!!! He was looking at his DADDY!!!!!!!! Chris was alot of help and realized how difficult it is to get two 3 1/2 year olds to stay in one spot. But, the best photos are not positioned, we just told them to put their hands in their pockets and VOILA!!!!!!!!!

Back to Christmas! Who out there reading this is really sick of the hustle and bustle of Christmas????? I am! Every year i feel exhausted and beaten - i feel like we loose the true meaning and all we care about are presents. So, just remember why we celebrate - Jesus' birth is the true meaning. HIS birth set everything in motion! Don't forget Jesus' birthday on this Christmas!

Hope you all have a great one and i look forward to a Great, New Year!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Catching up - starting at Halloween

I know, i'm behind on photos! But, here are some halloween photos of our little lions. Skyler wasn't happy much - all he cared about was if Ty was going to get his seat in the van. Literally, they ran from houses to the van, fighting on who was going to get there first! They didn't care much about the trick or treating. But, we did have fun at the church festival. I don't have those pictures for the blog. But at least you can see the lions. Aren't they the cutest? LOL

Hang in there with me....

Sorry, i've been so busy with the house and work that i haven't even uploaded any Halloween costume photos. I know, i'm sorry. They were sooooo cute too! So, i promise, this week, i'm going to get you some photos.

The house is coming along. This week we should have power, hardwood installed and cabinets installed. I'm hoping that by next week, tile is down and the plumber can get us finished up, and carpet put down. i promise i'll post photos for that also. May be next week though.

Please pray we are in by Christmas!!!!!!!!!!!! I need my sanity back!!!!!!!!!

Men in Trees!

Well, i knew one day it would happen, they'd begin to climb trees! Luckily they couldn't move once they got there and they smiled for photos. Here they are- my men in Trees!

Loving my new zoom!

Bit the bullet and bought a zoom lens that i'd been wanting. It's the Nikkor 80-200 f2.8. I couldn't be happier!!! Here are a few from Sunday while playing outside. I also have some of them in the tree outside at mom's house that i'll post later. They were really great shots of the boys but i didn't have time to do them all today. Just decided to crop a few throw them in a collage and post! So, i'll get those on here a bit later!

House update - we are painting! Praise God! Hopefully i'll have some photos of that by next week sometime! YEAH!

House has trim!!!!!!!!!

Here is an updated house photo. The trim is on the house now! Most of it anyway. I think one of those doghouses is still needing trim, but all in all, it's coming together. The front door is closed on this one but it isn't stained yet. I think it is my favorite part of the house-truly. It will be stained a very dark chocolate like the trim is. They are priming the inside - so i'm finishing up my color selection here. My dining room is going to be apple green! Then alot of the house has blues and chocolates in it. I love blue and chocolate!!!!!!! The floors will be a VERY dark hardwood - i mean dark! YEAH! I'm going to have to get one of those little robots to clean it. I hear they are amazing and practically clean the floors for you so you never have to sweep or mop as much. I LOVE that idea!!!!! Now, if they'll only, cook, clean the showers and tubs and pick up after my 3 men, i'd be in business!!!!!!!!! I'd pay alot for that robot!! Also, the brick is going to be cleaned in a week or so......AND that port-o-potty won't be there when we move in either!!!!!!!! Isn't it beautiful?????

Gotta run and get back to working! TTYL!

House Update!

Hey everybody! Alot has happened he house since my last post about the windows. Of course, if it hadn't been for the mess up on our windows, i'd be living in the house by now, but who's upset about that!!!! LOL! Here's a shot of the front of the house (at the wrong time of day for sunlight)! but as you will notice, the boys LOVE building a house because they get to play in the sand that is supposed to be for the mortar. I'm sure the brick layers came to work the next day and wondered why their sand had been spread everywhere and had little truck marks in it. But, the boys had a blast. Now, my story on how i had to get them home.... in these photos they are still somewhat clean. After about 15 minutes in the sand, they were so NASTY, i had to put them both in garbage bags from their feet to their armpits and buckle them in. They thought it was HILARIOUS and cool to be in a garbage bag! Now, that is what i should have gotton a photo of!!!!!!!!!!! Oh well, next time!

Who needs a Sky N Ty Fix?

I've heard that some people need a Skyler and Tyler FIX!!!!!!!!!! Well here's one. I desperately needed a photgraphy fix since being in the basement. I haven't taken ALOT of photos while we have been in Mom and Dad's basement - FORGIVE ME! Mainly, we are so busy with the house every weekend! It's beginning to work on my nerves! But, Chris and I got out in the yard with the boys on Sunday and i took some shots and made a little collage with them. It was absolutely beautiful on Sunday and the weather was PERFECT!!!!!!! I loved the color I got on these shots so much that it will be hanging in my NEW house soon! YEAH!

Tommorrow - Update and photos of the house (hopefully)

Off to the beach with the girls!!!!!!

I am sooooo off to the beach with about 10 girlfriends!!!!!!!!!! Yes, i know, don't be jealous! I am so excited I cannot even tell you how much. Last year and into the beginning of 2006, we began a prayer group. We would meet about once a week. The first few weeks, we read "The Power of a Praying Wife". The the next little series we did was "The Frantic Female". I missed a good bit of those so i didn't learn alot there. That was the beginning of our move and living in our little dark hole in the basement. So, i don't think i can overcome "Frantic" until i get a bit more space to live in :) But, this weekend is about "just us". A break from all that comes with being a wife and a mommy 24/7. I know i will really miss Chris and the boys so much. And by the time i get home, 3 days will have been too long. But, sometimes you need to get away so that you come back "REFRESHED". And i really need "REFRESHING". So, I'll try to write on Monday and hopefully i have some photos to share!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I fell in love in Tupelo!

Yes, Chris is from Tupelo but i fell in love with Charlotte Russe in Tupelo Mississippi over a Christmas run to the mall. Why am i telling you this? Well, because we have one in Birmingham now! Yah! There it was in Brookwood Village yesterday as i walked by. I couldn't believe it. I had wished for one for so long! And there it was. So, for all of you who love the Russe, stop by! It's here in Birmingham now!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Finally, i can tell!!!!!!!!!!!

It has almost killed me but i was sworn to silence until today. I was finally told that i could say "I'm gonna be an aunt!" The shirt says it all but i know that everyone is wondering who's having the baby! And i know Caris and Brandon are screaming - "Not US!" and Kelly and Casey are also screaming "Not US!" So, the only ones left are Andy and Lacy! YES! So, Andy and Lacy came over about 4 weeks ago and wondered if the boys were still awake and said they had bought them a present. Well, when they arrived they quietly got the boys in the next room while we were all talking and then they ran in with the shirts on! It was exciting. They are excited. Lacy and Andy wanted to wait until 10 weeks or so to tell anyone. And you know me, being sworn to silence was KILLING me! So, finally i can shout that Chris and i are going to be Aunt Audrea and Uncle Chris!

Oh and I will always have GUM!!!!!!!!! (excerpt from Monica on Friends)

First day of Preschool

A few weeks ago we began preschool. It went really well! They boys were so excited the night before that they layed in their beds awake until 10:30!!!!!!!!!!!! Then, they both woke up really early. I was really hoping that didn't happen every morning. And thankfully it hasn't. They are in Ms. Angelia's room and they love it. They didn't even tell me goodbye the first morning. They ran in and started talking to the other boys and girls like they had known them forever! And thankfully, i'm glad they do that. But, it also made me a little sad that they didn't worry or even ask where i was. Now Logan on the other hand, really loves his mommy! He is pictured here with the boys (showing off his dinosaur skills). We all knew it was going to be hard and he was going to cry. But, he only cried a little while. The teacher grabbed Logan and i grabbed Starla. LOL! Just kidding, it had to be hard to leave a crying child that you have rarely left since his birth. But, after a few days, he was telling her goodbye and running to be with the other kids. Starla seemed fine too! And she's very glad to have some alone time!

He was born on May 15th and the boys on May 17th. It's very funny to see these photos of the boys with Logan. She and i were pregnant together from beginning to end. Talking daily, and i mean TALKING, and TALKING, and TALKING! We know alot about each other. Things we'll never tell others - right Starla? LOL! Like what green apples are great for!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And how appalled my mother was to find out that Craig was in the room when Kendra did the sonar to find out the sex of the babies!!!!!!!!!! Oh how funny that was! (inside joke) But, to see these three playing and becoming friends is really cool! Maybe they'll be as good of friends as she and I are!

Sorry about the shotty photos. It was very bright and i was having a bad photo day i guess. Plus, i'm too lazy today to edit them any.