Tuesday, March 29, 2011

Tucker Tuesday...

These are just some recent shots of the cutest red head I've ever laid eyes on!!

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If this shot doesn't make you crack up, you're just hard hearted. This smile and face is just to darn cute to not smile at!!
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This picture cracks me up!!  I didn't take it and haven't a clue who did... but it's hilarious!!
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Thanks for stopping by, come back again soon!!

Monday, March 28, 2011

Memory Monday

Whew, what a day!!  I've been playing blog catch up all day.  It's 9:50 p.m. and I'm coming to my final blog of the day.  Good 'ole Memory Monday.  These are going way back, that's why there is more than one.  I just couldn't resist. All of these are from March of 2008.

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One of my all time favorites!! <3
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"Old times..."

There's an old wooden house built by his hands. The house I begged to stay the night at. The house that welcomed me so many countless afternoons as I ran from the chores of my house.  It was the place I ran too when I was getting into trouble.  The house that welcomed anyone and everyone.  A table that you are always welcome to sit down and make yourself at home. If they have something you need, you can guarantee they'll make it yours. This place is the home of my grandparents, better known as Big Granny and Big Papa.  The memories I hold there are beyond precious to me. They are priceless and they fill my heart with so much love.
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Hot summer days playing in the water sprinkler, eating watermelon. Lazy Sunday afternoons when all my cousins would come to visit and we'd run and play for hours. The echoes of red rover, red rover send Michael right over chime in my ear. Me tattling because my cousin Justin made me eat dirt.  He made me!  I was surrounded by boys. I chased frogs, climbed trees, and played in mud. The warm summer evening that I carried a five gallon bucket with Michael and Justin catching toad frogs, I still remember it like it was just yesterday. There still stands the tree that we would swing from each and every summer.  The old rubber tire, best swing ever.  There are the trees that I climbed to the tip top of, now Carter climbs them.  Cane poles and old bread, sitting on a bucket, fishing with my best pals Justin and Michael.  Digging potatoes in the garden, shelling peas on the back porch, the good times, the days gone by.
God bless our home... "Y'all come back when you can stay longer, God bless" something Granny says each time we leave.  
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These are just a few of the many, many memories I have of 'home'.  Growing up, I didn't realize just how blessed I was growing up next door to my grandparents. Oh what I would give now to go back and relive a few of those days.  I'd sit longer on the porch, I'd ask more questions about things I'd like to know.  Papa's mind can't answer most of those questions for me now. I can't live thinking what I'd like to do.  I can however, embrace today, make it a memory and treasure the day that God has given us.
Eyes that sparkle, a soul that shines...Our Papa
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Yesterday was one of those days, one I'll treasure. It was the first day since February 17 that Papa was able to be home. Since his surgery, hospital stay, and now he's in the nursing home our lives have changed quite a bit.  The mid week visits have turned into short visits at the nursing home. Sunday afternoons spent on their porch have been obsolete.  You don't realize what means the most to you until you can't do those things.  I've missed sitting on that porch watching him rock so much.  His memory is nothing like it was before his last fall or the surgery.  We knew this could happen but I suppose you hold out hope thinking that everything will just go back to being normal.  I watched as he ate his lunch yesterday, grateful that he was home to sit at the table with us.  His body becoming more frail.  His memory much slower than it had been. His crystal blue eyes still sparkle though.  His mind might not be able to keep up with all that's going on but his eyes and that wink he gave me several times yesterday let me know that he knows who I am.  I hope that sparkle never leaves, it is my prayer that until God calls him home he knows who I am.  I'm not sure my heart can handle him forgetting who I am.  I'll never forget who he is too me.
The boys playing spoons like we did when we were kids.  <3
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We finished lunch and he laid down for a nap.  It wasn't long he was up and looking for some dessert. He doesn't talk much but anytime he's ever been offered something sweet he's not turned it down. Granny fixed him a bowl of cake with strawberries and whip cream.  As he always has, he finished it all. We all went out on the porch and it wasn't long, he joined us.  My face gleamed as I watched him walk through that backdoor onto the porch. There he sat in his chair, rocking. A sight that I so many times have just rushed by, overlooking.  Yesterday, I savored it.  I know his days are few, that's something I've had to come to terms with.  I sat for almost an hour as I watched him rock, sip his coke, and watch aimlessly as the children played around him.  As I watched the boys play, I couldn't help but feel saddened by the fact that if I have more children, will he be here to know them. 
He may be from the south but don't offer him sweet tea... he ain't having it!!  Coca-Cola only.
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Jason sat on the far end of the porch strumming Granny's guitar.  Granny soon joined him with her guitar. Listening to them play and watching Papa as he looked on, took me back to those summer days that I mentioned earlier. It was that lazy Sunday afternoon from my childhood.  Only difference, I wasn't the child playing in the yard, my children were.
I love to hear my Granny sing, always have... always will.
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Oh, what a moment. I can't explain it to you. It was something I will treasure until the day I die.  It was just like I was reliving my childhood all over again, and it was so special to me.  Granny's sweet voice sang I'll fly away, I sang along but my voice cracked as I fought back tears. I had to press my lips together and look away before I lost it. I was so very, very thankful for that hour with my family.  The most precious grandparents in the world, my dear mother who goes above and beyond, my aunts and uncle who each mean something so different yet so special to me, my boys running and playing where I once made so many memories.  God was there, no doubt about it.
Carter & Jake, boys will be boys.
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I wasn't the only one aware of just how special yesterday afternoon was.  Each person there knew just as well as I did, we were blessed.  I walked around with my camera to capture a few of the things that remind me most of 'home' when I'm there, and when I'm not.
Granny has the greenest thumb of anyone I know.
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It was the little things that as I looked around and thought if I were never able to visually see my grandparents home again, what would I remember.  Their family name sign that hangs in the tree just off the porch.  Papa's hands gripping the arms of the rocking chair. Granny playing her guitar as she had done so many times before today.
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Kids playing, laughter, reminiscing, singing, and just good family times.
My babies making memories on the porch I once played on.  <3
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I sat down in the chair beside Papa and I asked him if he was okay.  He just nodded his head.  Continuing to rock, I waited another minute and asked him what he was thinking about.  His response to me, "old times".  Words that I will remember for years to come. It's the old times, the good times, the memories that make us who we are.  Papa has always had a way of saying just one or two word answers that have stuck with me. He's to the point, no beating around the bush.  A few weeks back as we stood around his bed in the nursing home I asked him, Papa...do you have any suggestions on what I should do with these two boys?  He looked up at me and grinned, "have two more".
This is me and Pa doing our "Papa smile" better known as his scruchy smile.
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Little did he know that my heart desires more children.  Funny thing is, the night we went to tell my mom we were expecting Carter it was Christmas Eve 2004.  I walked into their house with my normal loud entrance.  As I made it half way across the room he says, "are you pregnant?" I quickly responded with NO! I didn't want to spoil the way we were going to tell my mom.  He looked at me and said, "yes you are, or either you're getting fat". My point in saying all of this, he knows me.  He has a special way of knowing what's going on with me.  It's that bond that I have with this blue eyed man that I will one day miss.  
Aunt Kathy & Papa
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Aunt Angie & Papa
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The old times, the traditions, the family each something I want my children to know and hold dear to their hearts. Life is so rushed now days that we don't really enjoy the time that we are given unless something drastic happens. May we all slow our lives down, put the things that mean most back at the top of our list.  
Momma & Papa
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Uncle Faron & Papa
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I love my Papa with all my heart and soul. Without him and his support there's no telling where my life may have gone. He's the rock of our family, though his words have always been few and his ways of saying I love you have been uniquely his own, there's not a shadow of doubt in my mind that he loves us each and everyone. His mind might be fading but his love is undying.  I'm grateful for the hours he spent at home with us all yesterday. I pray that God will bless us with more happy, memorable days with this sweet man.  Please continue to keep him and my dear little Granny in your prayers. 

Here's to old times and sweet memories!!

~Blessings to you all~

Easter Lilies

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As a child I remember this time of year wondering why it was the Easter Lilies were only in some areas.  I always thought about how pretty they were and I loved picking them and filling the window of my mom and granny's kitchen.
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Sunday as we were heading out to Big Granny and Big Papa's I pulled off the side of the road and picked these beautiful flowers with Carter. He had a big bunch in each hand for Mom and Big Granny. When we arrived at their house he couldn't wait to give them there fresh flowers.
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It's my hope to make this a yearly tradition with my boys, picking Easter Lilies and sharing the meaning of such a special holiday.
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Necessities... Bear necessities

Carter's kindergarten class participated in the school talent show. They were the cutest group of bears I'd ever seen!  


Look for the bare necessities
The simple bare necessities
Forget about your worries and your strife
I mean the bare necessities
Old Mother Nature's recipes
That brings the bare necessities of life
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Wherever I wander, wherever I roam
I couldn't be fonder of my big home
The bees are buzzin' in the tree
To make some honey just for me
When you look under the rocks and plants
And take a glance at the fancy ants
Then maybe try a few
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The bare necessities of life will come to you
They'll come to you!
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Look for the bare necessities
The simple bare necessities
Forget about your worries and your strife
I mean the bare necessities
That's why a bear can rest at ease
With just the bare necessities of life
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Now when you pick a pawpaw
Or a prickly pear
And you prick a raw paw
Next time beware
Don't pick the prickly pear by the paw
When you pick a pear
Try to use the claw
But you don't need to use the claw
When you pick a pear of the big pawpaw
Have I given you a clue ?
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The bare necessities of life will come to you
They'll come to you!
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So just try and relax, yeah cool it
Fall apart in my backyard
'Cause let me tell you something little britches
If you act like that bee acts, uh uh
You're working too hard
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And don't spend your time lookin' around
For something you want that can't be found
When you find out you can live without it
And go along not thinkin' about it
I'll tell you something true..........The bare necessities of life will come to you



Is the song stuck in your head now?!  Just wondering, because it was in mine for quite sometime! :)

Karate kid

With the signs of Spring approaching comes the signing up for T-ball, soccer, and all the other fun things of Spring.  We teeter tottered back and forth with signing up for ball. We're not big ball fans and spending that many hours a week at a ball field just isn't for us.  I suppose you could call us your non-typical American family.  Quite frankly, that's a-okay by me!  Instead of heading to the ball field we talked it over with Carter and decided we'd give karate a try.  He loves it!!  
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He transforms into karate kid....
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And then he turns back into this adorable, normal farm kid with his new and improved, "don't mess with me face!"
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Happy Birthday Tucker!!


March 4, 2009, the time was 12:24 p.m. when my little bear took his first breath. His cry was as sweet as I could have imagined. The day is as vivid this very moment as it was two years ago.  Hmmm, two years ago. As I child it seemed like the years drug by like a snail. As a mother they're whipping by me like the wind of a tornado.
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Our little Tucker-bear celebrated his second birthday with a small birthday party at our house.  We've had so much going on that we just kept everything simple.  Tucker didn't seem to mind, he thoroughly enjoyed his Elmo pull apart cake and all his new presents.
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He's changed so much in the last year. His little chubby cheeks are thinned out, his vocabulary grows with each day that breaks. He's smart as can be!  He mimics anything and everything. He wants so bad to be able to keep up with Daddy and Bubba. His little legs scurry as fast as they can trying to keep up with the big guys. The sparkle in his eye is one that I can't explain.
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His eyes shine with excitement and cheer. There's nothing better than rolling over in the mornings to that little hand on my shoulder, his messy red hair, and through his nippy he says, "momma, where bubba?!' Then he jumps up and takes off.
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He's a bit timid at times but once you break the ice with him, he's quite the little love bug.  He climbs in my arms and wraps his little arms around my neck as tight as he can and gives me the sweetest hugs and kisses a momma could ask for.
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I love to hear him say please and thank you.  To be only two, he has pretty good manners. I must say though my favorite is when I tell him to stop and he turns around and gives me the sweetest little smile, turns his head and says, "you top it!" then he just giggles.  It becomes a game between the two of us.  I often wonder how I'll keep up with him and his busy little self, but we seem to make it through each day with minor bumps and bruises.
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Our family wouldn't be complete without this little fellow.  He brings lots of excitement, many, many laughs, and there's never a dull moment when little Tucker-bear is near.
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I thank God for blessing us with him two years ago. May the years ahead bring many precious memories together.
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Tuck-bear,
My sweet little red head, I love you.  I love your spunk, I love your giggle.  I couldn't have asked for a more precious little guy.  You are full of life and you always know when I need a hug the most. I love our snuggles at night before you go to bed and the way you reach for my hand at night. I pray that God continues to bless your little life as you grow. You are the sunshine on my cloudy days.  Thank you for being you. Your smile warms my heart and I love you more today than I did yesterday and tomorrow I'll love you even more. Happy 2nd Birthday Monkey!
all my love today and forever.... Momma.
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