ZSCHOOOM!!

So, that was supposed to be the sound of this week FLYING by! This week has been so crazy. Last weekend we had to cancel our lake plans with the weather predicted to be so terrible. So, Aaron and I packed up the kids and went to Aaron's parents house in Hot Springs Village. We ended up just being able to look at the water, but with it raining all around us, we weren't totally pumped about getting down into it!
The kids had a great weekend with Maw and Da' though! So all in all, it was a fun-filled weekend! Then this week, Sarah Baker and I launched our Arbonne business and have been totally thrilled with the outcome! We're really excited! It did totally take over this week though, Tuesday night was a party @ SB's, Wednesday @ my house and then tonight we had one @ Mom and Dad's ... whew! I am just worn out. I know it will slow down a little now, and they won't all be right in a row like this, but I am plumb worn out- in a good way though. Like, I've accomplished something! I'm not gonna lie, it feels good!
My babies are getting bigger and sillier by the day. I can NOT believe how much Avery is talking (or trying to)! She is constantly jabbering, and trying so hard to tell me something! I just love it. I don't love how she is telling me "no" a lot more. Oh Lordy! But it's really hard to tell her "no" about saying "no", ya know??
Dalton is getting bigger by the DAY. I'm having the HARDEST time thinking he's about to be one. I really really hate it. I just want him to stay a baby FOREVER!
Here are some pics from this weekend, I'm sure something exciting has happened this week, but I'm half dead and have to go to sleep!!!
XOXO


Avery pretty much decided she was ready for bed and undid the sleeper bed herself ... she loves it!! :)


Naptime with Da' ...


Yay for Dora!


I love his face here!


Poker lessons ... you're never too young.


Hi Mama! (and yes that's the world's largest mosquito bite, right square in the middle of his cute forehead ... poor thing)

Avery is 2!!

Avery is so special that she needed two birthdays this year. One on Thursday night and one of Friday night. She loved each equally. Here are some pictures of both. Thank you to Sarah Baker and Lynda for all the pics, because I'm still camera-less and can't imagine not having pics of her big day!
Thursday night our "Davis" family gathered at Mom and Dad's for burgers and cupcakes ... It was so much fun! Avery got new shoes, a back pack (which she's been asking about for weeks now) some money for Target shopping, new cute clothes, and a beautiful vase of roses!


Avery struttin' her stuff in her new backpack and shoes!


Aunt Rah-Rah brought the most wonderful treats evah from Cupcakes on Kavanaugh!


Presents!


We LOVE Big Poppa!


Me and my girl!


Dede let you have a cupcake before dinner ... I think you liked it!


Reading your card from Memaw (which for some reason, she has carried around for two days!)


4 Generations! Avery with her Mommy, Memaw, and Dede!


So sassy!!


The Bubba!!!


Mommy and the Birthday Girl!!



Then Friday night, Aaron's parents came over for more burgers and Dora cake!! They surprised Avery with her very own car and a new Dora purse!! Avery's thrill in life right now is to "Drive." She is always begging to sit in the drivers seat of cars and "dri! I wanna dri!!" So now she can just "dri" all day long!!


Getting in it the first time.


Loving her Dora cake!


Sharing with Bubba


Maw cleaning her up!!


More driving after bath time!


Gotta have her Dora purse ...


Bubba sneaking a turn ...


Uh-Oh! 2 new drivers!!




Dear Avery,
This week you turned two years old. I had envisioned writing this on your birthday, but with all the fun-filled festivities, there was just no time. I never knew that I could love a little bug, like I love you. You light up every day around here and I am so thankful that God gave me such an indescribable gift in you. This year you have started walking and talking. You have a new baby brother that you love so much and you have become quite fond of Dora the Explorer.
I have tried to think of some of my favorite things about you this year ... here are a few:

* When you were about 18 months old, you started this routine of every single day waking up in the morning, and after naptime reaching for your bow holder saying "bow, bow." You would then go get your shoes and bring them to me and beg to go "bye bye." You have always LOVED going "bye bye" and still ask almost every day. But something about bringing me the bow and the shoes was just the cutest thing ever.
* I love that you love to be around people and light up when someone arrives at the house ... even the bug man, haha.
* I love how you want to imitate everything I do. Whether I'm cooking, cleaning, talking on the phone or holding Dalton, you want to be doing the exact same thing. Such a sweet reminder that little eyes are always watching. :)
* I love all your animal noises, especially your "Raaarrr" for the lions and tigers and bears!
* I love how that one of your favorite things is to go feed the dogs with your Daddy. Throughout the day, you'll look out the window and say "feed feed!" You love to put on your John Deere or your little rubber much boots and run around in the yard with Popper and Slick and help daddy. You are such a good helper.

* Your favorite food is fruit. You pick it over sweets every time. However you did just discover popsicles, and they're a pretty close second!!!
* I love how much you love Bubba. You are such a good big sister and are always looking out for him. One of my all-time favorite stories happened at one of our pizza nights at the Sextons. It was the first time you had been around a cat- it scared you to DEATH (You must have inherited that from Da')! You just hated it and cried and cried! It was so unlike you, because you typically love all animals and want to cover them with a blanket and put them night-night. :) We finally put the cat up and all sat down at the kitchen table, except for Bubba who was laying on the living room floor playing with some toys. Dusty decided to go ahead and let the cat out of the laundry room while we were eating. Avery, you came UNGLUED! You saw that the cat was headed for the living room and were screaming "Bubba, Bubba, Bubba!" You did not want that cat to get your Bubba. It was the sweetest, funniest thing I have ever seen.
* You love the lake, the pool and being outside. I am so excited for another summer with you. I know you will just love it.
* I love how you randomly throughout the days are bowing your head and praying. It is by far the most precious thing I've ever seen. I don't even have to be in there, but I will find you in your big pink chair in your room, hands folded, head bowed, eyes closed saying over and over "MamaDadaBubba AMEN, MamaDadaBubba AMEN!" In your sweet way, you are already embracing that you are a child of God, and I know HE is so pleased with you.
* I love how you "baby" everything. You want to rock and "shush" every little thing you can and put them on a little pillow with a blanket. I just love it. The ladies in the church nursery always say how you just "mother" all the other little kids. You pat them on the back if they are upset, pull your chair up next to theirs and say "shh shh shh." I still remember when they told me that when you were about 15 months old. I told them, "well, she's a big sister." Their eyes got big and wide and said, "SHE'S a BIG sister!" You have pretty much ALWAYS been a big sister and I've really ONLY thought of you as a big girl because we found out Dalton was coming when you were only 5 months old. You have always been my sweet helper and I am so so so so proud of you. You are just the most delightful, thoughtful, precious, fun, loving, little girl in the whole wide world and I could not have imagined loving anyone like I love you in my wildest dreams. You are perfect in every way and I can't wait to find out a whole new lists of "favorites" for next year.

Weekend Update

Well people, it has been a fantastic weekend. Let me say that it all started on Thursday with Sarah Baker and I deciding we would join the thousands of women in direct marketing and become Arbonne Consultants. I have all but sworn I would never do this. I never go to the parties for similar companies and really thought that would be SO out of my comfort zone. I knew that people really loved Arbonne products, but really didn't have any interest in having the parties myself. Well, over the last couple months I've been trying to find something I could do from home. I looked seriously at selling a chilren's clothing line from home, but then I realized that you really only do shows a couple times a year. That's when I thought about asking a friend who did Arbonne about her business. It really amazed me the possibilities with the company, if you were willing to work just a few hours a week. As my sister, brother-in-law, husband and I looked into Arbonne we got really interested. We went to a couple meetings, have learned more about the products and are really excited about our new "venture." I am raising my right hand right now to promise this is not going to become an "Arbonne" blog.
So, Friday night we hung out here, Aaron had a softball game, so he did that and then came home and we watched Slumdog Millionaire. I really didn't like it. I think I'm just too maternal, and all those little kids being hurt and not taken care of is really hard to watch. I understand that that is going on, but.... I just hated it. Saturday, SB and I went to our first Arbonne meeting :) and we felt like we learned a lot and got even more pumped up about the potential.
Then Saturday night I picked Caroline up and we went to Hannah Kennedy and Jay O. Howe's wedding. It was really beautiful and we had a great time. I wish I could show you pictures, but my camera is still broken. I absolutely loved high school and all my friends there and it's always so fun to go to events where you get to see everyone together again. A lot of our high school and college friends were there and it was really great. Today I'm about to go pick up the kids from Aaron's parents in Hot Springs. I think we are going to have a little Balboa Beach Fun in the Sun before we come back to Bryant, so I know the kids will love that. Other than that, the sun has FINALLY decided to come out, my lillies are looking fabulous and I'm really excited about a sunny week. It's just gorgeous out there. Hope you are getting to enjoy it too.

Here Comes the Sun!

For some odd reason, I really feel like I don't have anything of merit to tell you people ... seriously!
I will brag on my fabulous hubby for a minute. Yesterday I went to Little Rock for our wild and crazy playgroup. It got really crazy, because we were in the indoor playground and there were a lot more kids that usual. I stayed up in LR at my moms for the rest of the afternoon. Later in the afternoon, with all the stormy, yucky weather, I started craving some Paula Deen comfort food (shocker). I asked Aaron what he was in the mood for and he said steak, mashed potatoes, and fries (why did I even ask???). After talking him into going with only one potato, he offered to go to the grocery store, "um yes, please!!" So I made him a list and that man went to two different stores looking for all my items and then went by Target to get diapers and wipes. THEN he came home and grilled the steaks and fixed dinner! I just about melted. Never has he been as hot as he was walking in with all those grocery sacks in the pouring rain!! Bless him!! OK, I'm done ... but MY how that just made my week!!
Then today I woke up to the sun shining for the first time in goodness knows, how long. Maybe my Lillis might just bloom after all, they were in some serious need of some sunshine! I really want to be out there in it, attempting to tan my pale skin, but I really need to take a shower and mop before my kiddos wake up.
Speaking of my wonderful kids, Avery broke my camera yesterday. That's right, she accidentally knocked it off the counter while the zoom was out. It must have landed right on the lens, when it hit the tile floor and jammed it. It will NOT go back in and the picture is completely blurred. Ugh ... add it to the list.
If I think of my top 5 things I would hate to live without, my camera would definitely make the cut. There aren't even any holidays approaching in which I feel better about getting a new one. Another "ugh" feels necessary... ugh. After a lot of research, I did discover that digital camera prices are ever going down, so that is definitely a plus side. I will just have to get a new one before Memorial Day Weekend at the lake. That is a given. I'm hoping it's not a Kodak wind up one from the Shell station ;)
Well, peeps I think that's all I know. Dalton has done something, not so nice with my little prayer book and when I locate it, we will continue on.
What's For Dinner????
I'm altering Giada's recipe for Roman-Style Chicken tonight ....
here is the link to HER recipe, http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/giada-de-laurentiis/roman-style-chicken-recipe/index.html
but I'm altering the ingredients, to what I have in my cupboard, which is pretty close (bacon, instead of prosciutto. Dried herbs instead of fresh, Green peppers instead of red and yellow, and I wouldn't be surprised if I added a little whipping cream and lemon juice- love it!)
...So Roman-Style Chicken over Bowtie Pasta, Salad, and Breadsticks ... I do love my pasta!

Mother's Day Weekend

My little lambies!!



My Bubba!

Friday night we had the best time visiting with my family at my Aunt Tamra's new house in LITTLE ROCK!!!!!!!!

My Aunt Tamra (my mom's sister) has been a missionary with her family ever since I can remember. They have lived all over, but for the last 10 years have been back in the States and have lived in Colorado Springs. She and my Uncle Glen have 5 boys, ages ranging from 7-18. It is so exciting to think we will go from seeing them 1-2 times a year, to all the time. Uncle Glen just joined the Bridge to Rwanda ministry with Fellowship where he will help with all the schools over there. They came here for a long weekend to bring some stuff down into their new house. They won't be here for good, until June.
Saturday morning I left with my parents, Sarah Baker and Ben, and brother, Emerson, to see Rachel graduate. We all packed in the suburban and had a great trip. It was so special to see Rachel graduate from college, I couldn't be more proud of her. I didn't get home until late last night, but Aaron had worked hard on the house because Mother's Day lunch was at our house this year.


We are so proud of Rachel!!


Mom and Dad with Rach


I LOVE my sisters!


Today Aaron's sister brought Ryley down to surprise their mom, from Paragould. She was so thrilled. I'm pretty sure she said about 10 times it was the best mother's day ever. She was so surprised! We had a great lunch and a wonderful time with their family and Aaron got me some beautiful ferns for the front porch- which was exactly what I wanted!
Here are some pics of our beautiful day.



Ashley showing Ryley and Avery the snake book! Ew!!!



"Da" and Dalton



We gave Dalton a little mini cheesecake thing ... is this not THE cutest picture ever??? He obviously liked it alot!! He is so funny!!



Avery didn't last too long, she played herself to sleep.



Me and Bubba ... humidity is not my friend.



Love this picture of Lynda and Dalton



Aunt Mandy and Maci, Aaron and Avery, Ashley and Ryley ... Love them all!!

I hope everyone was blessed with an equally wonderful day, Happy Mother's Day to all my "mommy" friends!

I've Got the Joy, Joy, Joy, Joy Down in My Heart ... Where?

Hello, Hello, Hello ...
Today has been quite a silly day. I was up all night with Avery, who was just coughing up a storm and praying for a friend with a sick baby. I finally just got Avery and put her in our bed with us. I know, spare me. I was just wanting to hold my little one. However, I learned my lesson, when at 6am she was saying "Mama, Mama, Please, Dora." I caved, I was so tired and I just let her watch Noggin until 7:30.
Later today, Dalton turned the whole trash can over on himself and oodles of noodles and other yucky things fell on him, so into the bath tub we went. They really thought it was funny to be in the bathtub during the day and were being very silly. We have been working on learning the song, "I've got the Joy, Joy, Joy, Joy Down in My Heart, (Where???)" We clap during the "joy, joy, joy" part. Dalton gets really excited about so I wanted to show him off. Never works. Instead Avery plays Mother Hen and tries to make him do it, then Dalton decided it would be a good idea to scream the whole time. I felt the need to video it for our viewing pleasure .... Enjoy.



What's For Dinner???

Tonight Aaron's mom is coming over and bringing catfish and chicken! My FAVORITE! Yay! So I will be taking the evening off, thank you very much.
Dalton is getting fussy, so I'll add in today's prayer later on.

"Oh, I Love the Rainy Nights..."

It is just raining up a storm over here!
It rained and thundered all night long, and the thunder actually woke me up a couple times. Avery was playing in her room last night and every time it thundered she would come RUNNING out, "Mama, Dada" poor little thing. Other than that I kinda enjoyed the rainy night, and am really enjoying this rainy day. Avery and Dalton both slept in this morning, Dalton woke up at about 9 and Avery didn't wake up until 9:30. I actually slept in until 8! It was great! We are still in our jammies at almost noon, and I don't plan on changing any time soon.
When I turned on the news this morning there were school closings and our country road is blocked off as well, because the creek is running full force over the bridge! I'm under strict instructions to not get out in all this mess today, "yes sir," no problem with that! We're just having a lazy inside day, Dalton just laid down for a nap, and Avery is watching a little Noggin in our bed before she takes her nap in just a minute. Side note: Avery has started doing the funniest thing. Whenever we tell her "no," about something (which obviously rarely happens, ha!) she puts her little head down and pouts and walks off. It's comparable to a dog putting their tail in between their legs. For some reason, we find this terribly funny.
Moving on, I have decided that I want to learn this sew this summer. It is a major goal- not only to master how to do it, but to actually find time. I think I'm going to clear a spot in my closet as a workspace, so tiny hands won't mess up my work. My mother-in-law is an amazing seamstress and makes all kinds of things and after my sister came home with some goodies for Avery and Dalton that she had made I am bound and determined to learn how to sew myself.
Speaking of Avery and Dalton, here is my "parent's prayer" for today. I just love this little book because for some reason prayer does not come easily to me. I don't know what it is, but praying, especially aloud, is just awkward for me. (Have I talked about this before??) I find this pretty hard to admit, but I think the more I pray about it and get counsel on it, the easier it seems to be. Now journaling it very easy for me. I've have never been short on words and writing is almost therapeutic for me. But I don't really think that's the point. I think God wants us to pray out loud to Him. Praying scripture out loud is making me more comfortable with this, as well. Right now I'm reading the book of Daniel at night, and I'm really enjoying it. I started Beth Moore's bible study on the book last summer, but after I had Dalton, I had to drop out. I definitely want to try to do it again, because it was really good. It was comparing our culture to the days of Babylong and even though I only got to do about 6 weeks of it, it was just awesome, Anyway, here is a great prayer for our little ones ... for me this is one of the hardest prayers to pray.

Releasing My Child into God's Hands

Lord, I come to You in Jesus' name and give (your child's name) to You.

I'm convinced that You alone know what is best for him (her).

You alone know what he (she) needs. I release him (her) to You to care for

and protect, and I commit myself to pray for everything concerning him (her)

that I can think of or that You put upon my heart.

Teach me how to pray and guide me in what do pray about. Help me not

to impose my own will when I'm praying for him (her), but rather enable

me to pray that Your will be done in his (her) life. Thank You that I can partner with You in raising him (her) and that I don't have to do it alone.

"The mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting

on those who fear Him, and His righteousness to children's

children, to such as keep His covenant, and to those who

remember His commandments to do them."

Psalm 103:17-18

I just feel like I can trust God with just about every area of my life, but if something happened to my babies, I might just lose it. It's kinda my "I've got this," area. Even though without Him, I doubt I would be able to love them the way I do or understand in a deeper way His love for me. A couple weeks ago at Community Group we watched the crucifixion scene from the Passion and it was really heavy, heavier than I had remembered. I know I haven't ever watched since I have had children myself. I just kept thinking that's His perfect Son, His Dalton. But He had never sinned, only been a perfect lamb. Why would he love me so much to do that? Definitely gave me a spiritual buzz that I needed to step up to the plate to live for Him more. I can't imagine living this life thinking, this was it, how absolutely hopeless. Thank JESUS we have something so much better to look forward to. My sister-in-law said something funny the other day about how she wondered if Heaven was going to be like a neighborhood with all your favorite people as neighbors. For some reason I thought that was really cute and just thinking of all the "what if's" of heaven is so exciting to me. I think I'm going to put this video on here that is possibly one of my favorite YouTube videos of all time. It's wonderful, it's a young girl who paints and tells of what she thinks heaven is about ... Please watch.

align="left">I really don't have a segway from Salvation to Supper ... so I'm just going to fly into it .... here it is peeps,

What's for Dinner?????

Tonight I'm making one of Aaron's "Family Favorites," It's not anything special, but yummy! Anyway this was Aaron's grandfather, Pa Blue's favorite way to have burgers and it's pretty good. Pa Blue's burgers are burger pattys that you make up and then put a couple sliced onion rings and a little green pepper and a pat of butter on and then wrap up in aluminum foil and bake. They're pretty good and you lose the extra carbs of the bun. (This is my attempt at cooking low fat). I'm going to cook some baked beans and corn on the cob too ... maybe something else, we'll see. Well, there ya go!

Looks like the sun is actually coming out and it just might be a pretty day, after all! I guess I might have to get out of my jammies now!