Time to change snacks

AG loves to pick out special snacks. So I took her "back to school snack shopping" a few weeks ago. She picked out cheese and crackers, you know, the little packages with cheese on one side and breadstick crackers on the other? She LOVES them and was so excited about her special school snack. We bought a few packs of them to last her thru the month. She took them the first few days of school.

On Friday I packed her snack and showed her where it was in her backpack. I expected her to get excited about it when she saw it. Instead she replied, "I don't want to take that snack anymore. I want a different one." I was taken aback and asked, "Why don't you want this special snack that you picked out? You love this snack." AG replied, "That snack makes the school water taste funny." We quickly found a new snack in the pantry for her to take to school. She was delighted to take a fruit rollup instead.

Good news! AG informed me the school water tasted better on Friday. Who knew that the taste of school water could be affected by a snack??

Fun times at the Farm

AG spent some time at a farm last week. We had a great time petting horses, goats and of course...a cat!

This is what AG did the entire time we were at the farm. It took her about 5 minutes to find the cat and she didn't want to put it down. She fell in love with it.


Sweet Coop enjoyed brushing the horse. We gave him a brush and he brushed the horse for about 10 minutes. It was so sweet. He had a ball.


AG picked up a brush and joined Coop. This picture makes me laugh...why does AG's brush look so different from the other brushes?!?


AG petting a few of the horses (after I convinced her to PUT THE CAT DOWN!)


AG and Coop catch a ride with a friend on the 4 wheeler - another farm highlight

Happy Birthday Bess!

While I was uploading pictures from the soccer game today I realized I had more pictures on my camera that I hadn't uploaded yet from Bess's birthday party last weekend.

Last Saturday we spent the day in Columbia. We had a great time at Hair Doodles for Bess's 4th birthday. The girls dressed up as princesses and enjoyed getting their hair, make up and nails done. It was a very fun party and AG loved it. After the party, we went back to Sallie's house for the afternoon and had a nice visit with her, Bess and Frank. Then we went to Clay and Terrica's house and visited with them before we came back to Florence. It is always fun to get away for a day and visit with old friends.

Here are some pictures from Bess's princess make over party.

AG is becoming a pro at getting her nails painted. I think she has had more manicures than me....and she is only 4.


Bess is dressed as Ariel and AG is Tinker Bell for the party.


Bess and AG enjoy watching an Ariel video.


Time for cake! Happy Birthday to Bess! Happy Birthday to you!


Bess had a beautiful princess birthday cake.


We had a wonderful time at the party! Thanks for including us, Bess!

First Soccer Game

Today was AG's first soccer game. Thomas coached the game because the head coach was out of town on a business trip. The game went well and Thomas enjoyed coaching. AG enjoyed playing too.

The Little Leopards
Emmy, Sarah, Owen, Caitlyn, Emma Claire, Tommy, Connor and Anna Grace




Anna Grace is pointing to something in this picture....what? I am not sure...maybe a dragonfly....


Coach Thomas gets the team ready


AG has her hands on her hips


AG walks around the field and looks at me while the team plays soccer (on the right)


AG hung out in the goal for a while


And in the middle of the game....she started walking towards me.
She greeted me with, "I'm hot and tired. I don't want to play soccer anymore."


Best part of the game?? High Fives with the other team and snack time.


Our silly soccer player


AG didn't enjoy being on the field too much today. When did she enjoy being on the field? When someone was hurt or crying. She took off to find out what was wrong. Maybe we should make her the team nurse?? I did enjoy watching her. It was a lot of fun. I hope she will continue to try. Maybe the next game she will play longer.
Each child played about 15 minutes. AG played about 5 minutes. That is all she wanted to play. On the way home she told Thomas, "Daddy, you needed to give me more breaks."

Fears...

Yesterday on the way to school AG asked me when she could go back to Mrs. Thompson's class (her teacher last year). I asked her why she wanted to go back to Mrs. Thompson's class - expecting her to say something about snack time, recess, etc. She responded,"In Mrs. Thompson's class, the bathroom was down the hall. We had to walk to get there and had lots of privacy. This year the bathroom is in the classroom and another class shares it with us. I am scared to shut the door, so the other class watches me go to the bathroom." I chuckled to myself as I pictured the scene, and asked, "Why are you scared to shut the door?" She said, "Because if there was a fire, I would be left alone in the bathroom. All of the firemen would come and no one would find me." I was surprised she even thought that. Nothing tragic has ever happened to her that would make her think that. Then I was taken back to when I was a child and had some of those same thoughts when I went to the school bathroom. I told her that when I was her age, I used to think things like that too. She liked that I had felt that way too. Then I told her that the good news was that it never happened, and if it did, I assured her that the firemen would find her.

Good news! She used the bathroom and shut the door!!

Happy Birthday, Big Pop!!

Dad,

AG and Wyatt wanted to tell you something on your special day.
Scroll down to the bottom of the page and pause the music so you can hear them in the video. Make sure your volume is turned up.


We love you and hope your birthday is special!!



Did AG see Big Pop in the car beside us??

Back to School

I can't believe summer is over and school is already here. We had a wonderful summer, but it flew by way too fast. I am sad it is over, but also happy that school has begun. I am ready to be in a routine again!

Here are some pictures of AG today.


I found my name!! AG hangs her backpack on the hook.


Washing dishes in the kitchen area.


Working on puzzles with her classmates


I love that sweet smile.
AG was working on a puzzle and I said, "Anna Grace, I love you."


After school we celebrated the first day with Wyatt, Walker and Aunt Sage at CiCi's Pizza. Here is AG and Wyatt on the way to CiCi's.


And another - Love Wyatt's precious smile.


And AG and Wyatt at the restaurant - CiCi's is notorious for cranking up the 80s music. I don't think Wyatt sat still the whole time we were there. His head was be-bopping and jamming to the music - Everything from Lionel Richie's "All night Long" to Tiffany's "I saw him standing there."


Here is a video of AG and Wyatt be-bopping to some 80s music at CiCi's. Scroll down to the bottom of the page and pause the song, so you can hear the video. I love my nephew - Wyatt - watch his head as he be-bops to the music.

Soccer Girl

So...we have decided to try soccer this year. AG doesn't like to be hot and doesn't like to sweat, so I am not sure this is the best sport for her. She has a nice little athletic body and when she tries to run, kick the ball, and actually play soccer, she does well. It is just getting her motivated to want to do it that is hard.

She had her soccer evaluation a month ago. It was a miserably hot day, plus she was sick and she had to kick the ball, run, and dribble the ball through cones for about 15 minutes. When she was finished she got in my car and said, "Mommy, please don't EVER make me do that again." So, I knew she would be in for a surprise when she had to play soccer for 8 weeks!

We started the season last night. AG's first real soccer practice. She decided she wanted to wear a skirt. I told her that would be fine - anything to help get her motivated. She also chose a nice headband of flowers to wear...again anything to help lift her spirits and get her excited about soccer was fine with me. On the way to practice she asked, "Mommy why am I playing soccer? I am not good at it." I told her that that is why we go to practice, so we can get better. She asked me if she would get a trophy at the end of the season and I told her she would. I think that helped motivate her last night.

She did have a few dramatic moments of sweating, itchy feet, and just plain "tired". But overall, we thought she did well - better than we expected.

Here are a few pictures...

AG just kicked the ball into the goal. Go AG!


Coach Ray giving a pep talk, going over the rules and giving a devotion to the team.
She has a precious team - 5 girls and 3 boys - Their team name is Little Leopards.


AG and Conner dribble their soccer balls through the cones.


Kick the ball!! Woo Hoo!


Well, at the end of the night I asked AG what her favorite part of practice was and she exclaimed, "Snack time"! This may be a long season for us.

Babies

The other day AG took her baby outside and strolled her around in the baby stroller. Our backyard is filled with dirt and tree roots, so the baby went for a rough ride. After many falls, the baby was very dirty. I asked AG if she wanted to bathe her baby in the sink like a "real" baby. Of course her face lit up and she responded, "YES"!



AG had so much fun bathing her baby. She has wanted to do it every day since that day. I love it when little ideas turn into such special memories. It makes being a mom so much fun. AG will hopefully be a wonderful big sister one day. We were driving in the car and she asked me, "Why is it taking so long for God to give us a baby?" I told her that I didn't know and that we just needed to continue to pray in hopes He does give us one. She responded, "I know why it is taking so long. God is busy giving everyone else one."

We do have a lot of close friends and family members having their second and third children, so I can see how AG sees God is busy at work. As we patiently wait and humble ourselves, we pray He will answer our prayer too.

I have clung to this scripture over the past few weeks. A friend sent it to me in an email as she was referring to her own situation she was going through, then my pastor quoted it at church on Sunday, so I am convinced God is speaking to me through these powerful words in Ephesians:

Ephesians 3:20-21
Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

Wow! What powerful words to cling to. God is able to do more than I could ever ask for or imagine. That fills my stomach with butterflies and excites me to no end!! God is at work. His Spirit is working in me. I have met so many wonderful, incredible ladies facing infertility problems similar to mine. It has been amazing to form a bond with these ladies, that I wouldn't have otherwise had because we share a common pain. I know God is using me to reach out to these ladies and share His love. This road has been hard, but I am glad I am on it. I am humbled and in complete awe when I can look back and see God using me. Why me? Because God can use anyone willing to be used to fulfill His purpose. I know this road is not over for me yet, but I take comfort in the words of our Lord reminding me that His power is at work within me. His will is being done. Not mine, but His. I am just a piece, a small piece, of His amazing plan. I can't wait to see what He has in store for us. God can do more than all I ask for or imagine. He is so good.

As I finish typing this I hear Thomas and Anna Grace praying on the monitor. I always mute the tv so I can hear AG pray. I hear her pray, "God, please give us a baby." Such sweet words from the mouth of a child. I know God hears our cries. I pray His will is for us to have another child.