L-O-V-E Day 5

I love lunch dates! It's such a great way to catch up with friends. I had lunch with my sweet friend, Kandi, today. I'm so lucky to have such wonderful friends like her. She inspires me so much. She is getting ready to go on a mission trip, so please pray for her. I wish I would have taken a picture of us today, but I was too busy just visiting and completely forgot. (Hey, Kandi, "I gots books!" LOL!)

I love that Derek and Ella Grace had their very first lunch date today. It is the first time that just the two of them have gone to lunch without me or Evan. Since I was at lunch with Kandi and Evan was at school, they made a date of it and went to Chuck E. Cheese. I love that this was completely Derek's idea to take her and how excited she was when he told her where they were going. They played games and ate pizza. Derek said several times while they were there she would stop and say, "Daddy, thank you for bringing me here. I'm having so much fun." =) She couldn't wait to tell me all about it when I got home. So sweet!

L-O-V-E Day 4

I LOOOOOVE a man in uniform...

Especially when it's my man...

Lookin' hot (and not because he is in the 120 degree heat of the Iraqi dessert)

Getting an award from Gov. Beebe

Especially when he comes home after doing heroic things...

Rescuing folks off rooftops after Hurricane Katrina

Especially when that man is in uniform and holding our babies. It's a delicious sight!

I LOVE Derek aka DerBear aka Boyfriend!!! =)

L-O-V-E Day 3

For the first few days, my love posts will be quite obvious! I sure love my family.

For today, I want to write about Ella Grace. I LOVE Ella Grace so much! I love her big brown eyes. I love that she is the perfect blend of sweet, shy and sass. I love that she is nurturing and tries to mother Evan and children in her class. I love that she can get a little crazy (see above picture). I love her sense of style. I love things she says, like "Momma, I just love you," "Momma, I love you all the time," "Momma, you're my best friend ever." I love that she wants to look pretty and thinks sparkly shoes are definitely the way to go. I love her imagination. I love that she loves to help. I love that she thinks getting her toenails painted is the biggest treat ever! I love that she is a trooper and goes to all of Evan's therapy appointments without ever complaining. I love that she thinks her Daddy is IT. As far as I'm concerned, this child is an angel on earth. I am one blessed Momma!

L-O-V-E

Deidre is doing a months worth of posts in February dedicated to things she loves. What a fantastic idea!!! She invited us to play along, so I am going to do my best to post each day this month about things I love.

Yesterday (even though I didn't know I was playing yet), I wrote about how I love Spring/Summer (and clean closets). =)

Today I want to say, I LOVE THIS BOY of mine! I love that today he celebrated 100 days of school today. I love that he is now being able to attend a regular classroom for a little bit of the day (a HUGE accomplishment). I love that he is such a hard worker and is such a trooper as we cart off to therapy EVERY. SINGLE. DAY after school. I love that he plays HARD, that he loves to jump on the trampoline, that he loves to swim, and is amazing on the computer. I LOVE his adorable personality and hilarious sense of humor (that little man of mine is FUNNY). I love his snaggle toothed grin he is sporting these days. I love that he (a little man of few words) constantly tells me to "Tickle my pits!" Ha! He loves to be tickled and I'm happy to oblige! I love that he encourages his sister to "share." I love his hugs and kisses. I love his soft little hands. I love how he tells his teachers every afternoon, "See you tomornin'! (a perfect combination of tomorrow and morning...I personally think this should be added to the dictionary). I could go on for days.

I LOVE EVAN!

Thank you, Lord, for this precious child you have entrusted to me!

Cleaning Mood

Man, I am in a cleaning mood! I am SO ready for Spring. I think that is behind my efforts. I am ready to get things cleaned O U T!

I started with a certain little princess' room last week. Her closet was a wreck! I guess that's what happens when you are trying to find your perfect pair of sparkly shoes. Can't believe I'm showing it, but here it is. Oh my!

It literally took me hours on a Saturday to straighten it. Derek was sweet to keep the kidlets entertained while I organized. It seems like a lot of my children's toys have a lot of pieces to them. As I straightened, I organized and bagged up all the pieces and put them with the appropriate toy. It was a job! I'm trying to stay on top of it, so it's not so bad to clean in the future. It's hard though. She is a busy girl. =)

Now, we have organized chaos. =)

Ella Grace actually does try to help, but her idea of picking up her toys is to take them to the doorway of her room or to the corner of the living room. She's getting better though. She cleaned up our "picnic" without even being asked this weekend. =) It hasn't happened since, but it HAS happened, so I have hope. =)

She's trying. =)

One thing I know for certain about this girl of mine is that she is going to be an excellent mother! She takes such good care of her babies. After I drop her off at school, I usually always find them around the house covered and tucked in their beds with a friend or two.

"Hannah" in the ever important "bunny rabbit blanket"

"Abby" (EG's very first baby and probably her favorite) with "Hydrant" taking a nap

So sweet!

I am so stinkin' ready for SPRING. I am excited about Spring clothes, sunshine, warmer days, and longer days. Every time we go out in the backyard, I just get more excited that this will be the first complete season we will be able to enjoy the swimming pool. All this ice around it just seems WRONG! Ha!

I am also really looking into getting plantation shutters for the house. We have some sun that sets right into our living room that really makes it hot in there in the summer. We have to do something about it because I don't want all that sun to fade my furniture or my floors. Plus, I really like the way they look. I love the idea of opening them partially or fully. I also think they will block the sun way better than the blinds I have now. Several of my friends have them in their homes, and they are so pretty. Does it make me old, that I am starting to get excited about new vacuum cleaners and shutters??? Ha! Seriously though, any advise any of you have, let me hear it.

Tomorrow is Evan's 100th day of school. I can't believe the school year is halfway over. What a blessing this year has been. Evan has some amazing teachers that we have been privileged to have work with Evan for 100 days! I'll try to get a picture of him in his 100 Days t-shirt tomorrow. =)