This and That August 2011

At our local hardware store Joshua went to sit on the side of a box that had its top folded over. The box happened to be empty and he fell right in getting stuck. He wasn't as amused as the rest of us.

While dishwasher shopping at an appliance store the kids found 3D entertainment.

I asked the kids to straighten up the pantry. The next morning I found this lovely tower of paper while going to get my morning coffee. Later I discovered Tayler Rayn was the designer.

Princess Tayler Turns Eight!

Tangled Blu Ray from Mommy and Daddy

Presents from Grandmommy and Grandaddy

They also sent her a Walmart giftcard , so did Great Grandparents Church. Nanny, Meme and Grandmother Dismuke sent her money. Papa and Nana put money in a savings account for when she is older. This girl LOVES to shop!

This is the cake she chose. Due to being so busy during the day I didn't have time to be the "cake perfectionist" I usually am. Tayler loved it anyway and said it was the best one yet!

Happy Birthday to Tayler Rayn!

Time to dig in!

My first four layer cake.

Tayler had been "borrowing" Brendens bike constantly. She decided that for her birthday she wanted a big girl bike and roller blades from mommy and daddy. I went to Walmart to buy the one she picked out the night before and of course it was gone! Josh had to work in Jackson the next day and was able to stop by another Walmart and brought the one she wanted home that evening on her brithday.

Going for a ride the next morning.

We made our first trip to the Animal Shelter on Taylers Birthday to talk about volunteering. We found this poor kitten outside, hungry, hot and scared to death. Tayler begged to bring him home. Little guy was covered in fleas, after a stop by the vet for meds. We came home and spent hours(just Tayler and I) removing all the fleas off of him. Our friends the Viners were thinking about getting a kitty so they came to meet him. He ended up going home with them! His name is Crookshanks from the movie Harry Potter. He was our first successful save and rescue.

The three of us before Taylers Birthday Date. Both boys stayed with a sitter and her grandchildren at the house.

Birthday shopping at Scruggs our new favorite store in Tupelo, MS
She traded me her Walmart cards for cash when she found the Breyer Horse section!

Right outside Toys R Us, Josh won this for her. We also bought her roller blades here.

Waiting to see Smurfs in 3D!
Afterwards we took a walk through the mall and had dinner at Olive Garden. Our day together was so much fun! We really enjoyed her sweet personality and cute quirky ways.

Olive Garden Gecko

Look what Joshua spotted in the corner while eating at Olive Garden! He has eyes like his daddy, this little one blended in with the carpet. Both he and Tayler caught it, we dampened a napkin to store it in this cup. The waitress thought "it" was the neatest thing and had to take it around and show everyone. After much debate we decided to take it home and set it free, thinking that if caught in the restaurant again next time might not be so lucky.

Josh was thinking this was a common ordinary lizard. I kept telling him, I think it is a Gecko, just not sure which kind. I have wanted to have one as a pet for years, and had looked at them in enough pet stores to recognize one. On the way home I found out on my lap top the critter is a Common House Gecko.
Read more about them here.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_House_Gecko

Taken right before the set Gecko free near the creek where bugs and water are plentiful.

Brenden gets the first set of stitches...WARNING.Not for weak stomachs!

Waiting in the er. Fortunately we were only waiting here just a few minutes.
So when you run in the house this can be a result. Lately we have been telling the kids to "work it out", when they are aggravating each other. Tayler was giving Joshua a taste of his own medicine, Brenden felt like she was being to rough, so he intervened. He hit her and went running through the house. When he ran around the refrigerator his baby toe caught the side and spilt from front to back down to the muscle. Come to find out Tayler wasn't even chasing him! I immediately wrapped it up trying to stop the bleeding. Took forever! I knew there were several nurses at our church, so we waited to let them check it out. Mrs. R told me that he should probably have stitches but that we could try Steri Strips and see how that worked. Instead I decided to take him to an after hours clinic that could stitch him up. The nurse there took one look and said your going to have to take him to the er. That is just to much for me. :(

Not very happy about the whole ordeal.

At least he has company. Joshua sat still and quiet the whole time, eyes as big as saucers. He wanted no part of stitches.

All stitched up 9 in all.
He was so super brave. During the whole ordeal he only let one tear escape. The nurse told him don't be ashamed to cry, if it hurts let it out, doesn't make you less of a man. Then he and the Dr. talked back and forth sharing stories about their stitches and how many times they had them. Both the nurse and the Dr. were men, and were amazing!

All set to go home.

Joshua said Brenden had a scanner tag, and wanted to know if we were going to sell him. Brenden is smiling about the idea. I took the stitches out at home 10 days later. The hardest part was getting Brenden to take it easy and not rip the stitches! I had to tell him I would pay for the first set but the next set were coming out of his pocket!
God is so faithful and answered many prayers that night. This not something any parent wants to face alone, or at least I didn't! We were in and out of there in about an hour! That has to be a record! Got home in time to take care of all the animals, getting them put up before dark.

Hardins Fish Hatchery

Mr.Hardin was nice enough to offer us a private tour of his fish farm.
"In the barn" that holds the fish vats.

Florida Hybrid Bass

Blue Gill Bream
He actually has a huge 20 acre pond where he raises all the fish. He then catches them and puts them in vats until he sells them.

Tayler caught a itty bitty frog.

We were lucky enough to see a crop duster. It even flew right over the truck, the kids were having a fit they were so excited.

Picture of the underside. It was my favorite color yellow.
Mr. Hardin also showed the kids and I cotton in it different stages. (my camera was acting up, did not get pictures). He even shared fresh squash, cucumber, and tomatoes with us from his garden. He was such a nice man. The five of us really enjoyed our visit!

The Bass before we put them in our pond.

Grass Carp
The ducks and geese were supposed to maintain the pond, apparently they feel maintaining the grass in the yard is a better past time. Here is to hoping these two do the trick.

We met Mr. Hardin about 7:30 that morning, we had to wake Joshua up. Poor little guy also got his first wasp sting. A benadryl and being woke up is what is takes to wear this one out!

Pies New Hair Cut

Look what I found. I was on the porch filming Brenden doing a science experiment with water. After we were done I came into the house and... Tayler said "Joshua said he was bending(his word for curling) my hair around the bush and it got stuck". I said why didn't you get me? I was afraid I would get in trouble she says. Apparently Joshua tried to pull it out and it broke. She then tells Joshua get the scissors quick and cut it out. And this is the result. I told her I could have gotten it out. But it would have hurt was her response. Tayler is not into pain and would rather have her hair cut than pulled. What can ya do, but laugh and take pictures. Oh and put Joshua on scissor restriction for the rest of his life.

I am surprised that it really doesn't bother her. I would have been horrified at this age. I am proud that she said it doesn't matter what people say Jesus still loves me, it will grow back! She has learned what is really important as an 8 year old, a lesson I myself still struggle with.

Brendens Lego Creations

Object was build a defense for the village.

Object was build a flying object and use the Legos vertically.

Joshua had been begging for this Lego Police Space Ship that we got on clearance for months. Josh finally gave in. I was grateful for the peace and quiet it provided for the morning! ;)
It had a total of 825 pieces!

Vacation Bible School at Christ Comunity Church

Our awesome threesome with their offering for VBS.
This years offering went to a boy that lost pretty much everything he knew and loved during one of the recent tornadoes in MS. I was so proud of them and their willingness to give! The boys and girls all brought change and had a contest to see which teams bucket weighed the most. I am happy to say the girls won!

Boys counting their change. This also turned into a learning lesson about money.

Crazy hat night.

This beautiful rainbow shone over the whole church Friday evening before the Family Program.

Josh went outside with my camera to take pictures and found this reflection in a water puddle.
I love what my friend Shonna said when she saw this
"Made me think- even in the pot holes of life, God's promises are still there." I loved it!

Tayler and friends performing to the songs they learned during
The Big Apple Adventure

Joshua in the middle singing his heart out!

So super proud of Brenden he was so nervous about performing and did an amazing job!
I would have clumsily messed up and Josh would have passed out.

I think the key for all three of the kids is having a place to worship and learn where they feel completely comfortable and at home!

This sweet little girl wasn't even in the big classes but was around enough to learn all the motions as well as the big kids. She is precious!

Joshua with his crafts.
During Big Apple Adventure I worked registration, and took care of little odds and ends. We had a blast. The kids learned so much and are still singing VBS songs and doing the motions.