Fuller's Festival

The last activity (that I haven't posted on) from last weekend (that I actually took pictures at) was Fuller's Festival. Fuller Goldsmith is a little boy Emma Claire's age who has been fighting (so far succesfully) Leukemia for the last 2 years. This was a way for his family to give back and raise money to support Children's Hospital of Alabama. It was a BLAST - there were lots of jumpy things, carnival RIDES - the pirate ship, twist and shout and a carousel. Emma Claire rode all 3 and Wilson and I rode Twist and Shout - spins around and around and around. I thought he was going to throw up - it lasted about 5 times longer than a normal ride - I just kept telling him to look down - not to look at the world spinning around him. I have never been more glad to get off a ride than I was then - being covered in puke was not my idea of a good time.

There were sack races, games, bubbles, food, entertainment - everything you can imagine. I've heard it was a huge success!!!! WE sure had a great time!

Oh! and Emma Claire still wears her glasses everyday, we just temporarily LOST them that morning, but she found them that afternoon in her cup holder in my car!

The prizes they gave out at the games were Croc charms - that you put in the holes of our Crocs - Emma Claire was thrilled when she finally realized what they were - she must have won 20 of them. Their Crocs will NEVER be the same again!

Emma Claire got on the ship with about 10 teenaged girls - she was soaking up the attention!

Henderson and Stanton - sweet cousins chillin' on Henderson's Birthday!

I had a TON more pictures to share (of course) but my computer decided to keep going offline everytime I tried to upload pictures, so that's all for now!

T-Town Block Party

Last weekend was a frenzy of activities. In addition to Henderson's 1st Birthday, and Fuller's Festival (coming soon) and a Crawfish Boil and Parent's Night Out, we had a block party sponsored by our church Sunday morning. There were many jump castles, a petting zoo, a live band, free hotdogs, hamburgers and pies and Rick Burgess (from Rick and Bubba) was the speaker.

Now, if you live anywhere in the southern US you know that we have recently had about 73 days of rain over the last 3 months. Sunday was no exception. Prayers for no rain abounded, but God has His ways. The rain held off for awhile. The children had plenty of time to enjoy the zoo and jumpy things. At the same time that they called for people to eat, the rain started. People ran and grabbed their boxed lunch and headed straight inside to the fellowship hall and gym.

Had the rain begun 30 minutes later, during the middle of Rick's testimony - it would have been chaotic and people would have run for their cars instead of running inside the church. The message was moved inside to the Sanctuary and telecasted in the fellowship hall and gym also, in order to hold the over 2000 people in attendance. Now, b/c of this, my SIL and several other friends took our brood of many small children and went to the indoor playground, as not to cause any distractions to those who needed to hear the powerful Gospel message about to be shared. many lives were changed, no doubt.

Enjoy the pictures (in reverse order that they happened, of course - thanks Blogger, but too many to drag around)

Wilson liked getting others to push him around.

At one point, Mills and Patton were pushing Wilson very fast and they came upon a gymnastics mat, well, as soon as the "bus" hit the mat, it stopped and Wilson flew over the front and landed face down on the floor with the bus on top of him. He got up laughing - it was a sight to see to that little guy being thrown through the air like a football!

These 2 - Sarah Davis and Wilson, are sweet on each other - have been since she was about 6 months old - they are truly drawn to each other like I have never seen, even though she's actually closer in age to Henderson. It'll be fun to watch their friendship grow throughout the years!

Henderson is a fiesty little thing - he gets what he wants - I wonder where he gets that from? uummmpphhh, Wilson!!!!!

My SIL started out reading books, but you can imagine that that didn't last long.

On the floor in the fellowship hall enjoying lunch, out of the rain!

The birthday boy got lots of attention from his grandmothers!!!

She can strike a pose, even while sliding down a slide!!!!

Is there something called Swine Flu going around????

We used Lots of hand sanitizer!!!!!

Once he realized it was a baby goat that was eating his fingers, he wasn't too happy!!!!

Of COURSE, you know WHO had to make an appearance - and Wilson actually touched him this time and laughed hysterically (I think that was what he doing to compensate for the fear). Wilson still LOVES

Big Al from a distance - laughing and calling out his name, but don't get him too close!!!!

Last night, on the way to church, Wilson kept saying "Jump, Jump - I want to Jump!" He didn't quite understand that all the jump castles would not be there again!!!

A Scary Moment

This morning, I woke up at 4:45 am like usual and got dressed for my run. I walked downstairs to head out the door and realized that one of the children's noise makers was louder than usual. I walked around to Emma Claire's room and saw that her door was open. I began to shut the door, thinking that maybe she just requested it stay open the night before. Then I thought twice, and went back in her room to check on her.

Empty bed. No Emma Claire.

My first thought was that she was on the sofa or something so I went and looked on the sofa.

No Emma Claire.

I ran back upstairs to see if she had somehow climbed in our bed in the night without me realizing it. I turned the light on.

No Emma Claire.

I woke Will up to see if he remembered anything - he didn't have clue.

I looked on the other sofa.

No Emma Claire.

I can't begin to tell you the thoughts that were racing through my mind. I remembered that during Henderson's nap time yesterday, I switched the monitor from listening to downstairs to listening to Henderson's room and I forgot to change it back. All I could think was that the one time I didn't have the monitor on downstairs, someone had come into our house and taken my child right out from under me - REALLY. I thought that. My heart was beating wildly.

I raced downstairs. I looked again in her room to see if maybe she had fallen off her bed and stayed on the ground, but No Emma Claire.

I then looked in the only place I hadn't looked, but surely not, because his door was closed. Wilson's room. I walked in and looked and the side of his bed closest to the door was empty. Then I looked closer and there, on the far side of his bed, were 2 sleeping angels, cuddled together. So sweet, yet with my heart racing, all I could say was Thank You Jesus.

Jesus, please help me not to EVER take my children's health or safety for granted, even in my own house, especially in my own house. Thank you for 3 beautiful, wonderful children.

When she woke up, I asked her if she remembered getting into Wilson's bed last night and she said "yes". I asked what made her want to do that and she said, "I just wanted to make sure he didn't roll off the bed." Ahhhhwww so sweet.

Now, Wilson has never rolled off the bed and he's been in a big bed for a year now, so I'm not sure what prompted that, except that maybe Emma Claire is now taking this Big Sister thing pretty seriously!

Henderson's Birthday!

WHAT.A.WEEKEND - I was in the bed at 8:00 last night - only an hour after everyone left from the birthday party - it was a VERY fun weekend - but party after festival after festival after party - whew!!!!!! This post is only Henderson's Birthday Celebration, but over the next few days I'll cover Fuller's Festival and T-Town Block Party! Just know....I took over 900 pictures this weekend - you'll get to see a few.

Last night we had a small celebration at our house for Henderson's 1st Birthday - I cooked (well, heated) a lasagna and garlic bread, made a salad and then had other goodies and cakes.

I moved Henderson's high chair out to the porch because I had no idea what he would do with all that deliciousness (and the other children had BLUE cupcakes)!

He was not too happy to get back in his high chair
But I don't WANT to get back in that highchair!!!!!

What are all these people staring at me for?

Out of all of you, can't someone get me out?

Hmmmmmm, so this is why I'm in this thing....now, let me see

Playtime!!!!!

Wilson liked his blue cupcake

This sure is fun to play in!

It feels good to my little fingers!!!!

Maybe I can put my face down in it and eat it like a dog!!!???

(He really tried to put his face down in it several times, but couldn't get his body to bend in the right place - THANK.GOODNESS - though it would have made for great pictures!!!)

I think I'll just throw it at all you crazy people laughing at me!

MMMmmmmmm, that is kinda Yummy!

But, more fun to throw!

After THAT was all over, I gave Henderson a quick bath and then it was present time!!!

He really liked his little car Ga-Ga and Grandaddy gave him!

Wilson liked the car too, so we'll see how many fights occur over this (and who wins)!!!!


Henderson didn't get to do much present-opening for all the big kids, but that's okay.

Henderson pushing "real life" baby doll around - watch out, she'll scare you - turn a corner and she'll be sitting on the couch or laying at the top of the stairs and you'll about jump out of your skin!!!!!

Some sweet treats!!!

I attempted his "smash" cake on my own - turned out okay!

All I can say is YUMMY!!!!!!

Thanks to everyone who came and made it a super, special day for Henderson!