Track Master

Tucker is certainly our future engineer! He spends the majority of his day in his room, pouring his creativity into designing and building new tracks for his Thomas trains. Sometimes the tracks coincide with a story he's seen, and sometimes he makes tracks for stories he makes up on his own. He spends hours building tracks, telling stories, and then tearing them down to build new tracks. He also builds sheds, turntables, junctions, bridges...the possibilities are endless!

I love seeing the creations his little mind thinks up. Maybe it's parental bias, but Patrick and I are really impressed with the tracks he comes up with. It's not easy to build a track and have it actually connect on both ends! It takes a lot of trial and error and stick-to-it-ness from a five-year-old. He's so going to be a math-and-science kid in school this year!

Pool Time

These are just a few pool pictures taken before Mr. Carter made his debut :o)
PS--Don't you just love Presley's swimsuit? :o) (Tucker's new suit, on the other hand was too big, so we're still in last year's!)

Updates coming Soon...I hope!

So my computer has been competely wiped out by a virus, but I have much to post! Most importantly being...our Carter arrived 5 weeks ahead of schedule on Monday, June 7, 2010! He weighed 5lbs 14 oz and was 18 inches long. He was in the NICU for two days but praise God he came home with us on Friday, June 11th. I'll post more as soon as I find a computer that works!

Where does he come up with this stuff?!

So yesterday we went to the mall as a family and as we were walking in Tucker looked up at me and said, "Mommy, you're pretty. I'm gonna call you a pretty girl." My heart was just melting, when in the next moment, we saw three cute high-school-aged blondes approach the escalator, and Tucker looked at Patrick and said, "Hey dude -- those are my girlfriends."

WHAT!!! Oh my stars...

Quotes from My Favorite 5--Year-Old...

I absolutely love the random things that come out of Tucker's mouth! Where he comes up with this stuff I'll never know...

Daddy: "Mommy said we can't watch that movie right now."
Tucker: "I can't believe we let Mommy play us like that."

At a birthday party this weekend the birthday boy had a hunting cake, complete with deer and hunter figurines. Upon seeing the cake the hostess commented how the birthday boy must like to hunt.
Tucker: "I like to hunt too! I like to hunt eggs."

LOVE my Bear!!

Freshly Devloped Allergies!

So this spring has been absolute torture on Tucker for some reason. My never-had-an-allergy-symptom-in-my-life little boy has suddenly become tormented by the great outdoors. About a month ago Tucker started having a hard time breathing after being outside too long, and he's had to since be on an inhaler and nebulizer as needed ever since due to something his lungs have developed an allergy too.

Well, yesterday Patrick took the kids to the park for 30 minutes, and when they got home Tucker came to him and said "Daddy. my eye really hurts" and these pictures show what we saw! We were both taken aback with how gross his eye looked. Truely the pictures don't even do the total grossness justice! In the first picture he's holding his eye open, so you can't really even tell that he could hardly see out of it. And there was a pocket of fluid on his eyeball that literally was coming out over the eyelids and looked like it needed to pop. Even though both of our instincts told us it was probably just allergies, we went ahead and took him to Urgent Care to have him checked out. Allergies indeed they are -- he's now on a liquid steroid, prescription eyedrops, and hefty doses of Benedryl! The doctor said he'll probably have to go on a daily allergy pill if he wants to go outside any more.

Poor Bear! He never gets sick, and this year he's had pneumonia, the swine flu, asthma, and I've-never-seen-them-worse allergy eyes! Please, Mother Nature, give the kid a break!

Mornings with "Albert Felinestein"

Every morning for about the last month a neighborhood cat has been showing up on our doorstep. Tucker has taken to him and named him "Albert Felinestein". He's the black and white kitty here in the picture. Lately Albert has taken to bringing a friend, whom Tucker has named Whiskers. Whiskers is less faithful to his morning visit then Albert, but Tucker loves them both. ;o)

Each morning Patrick lets Tucker put out a bowl of milk, and Tucker strokes Albert's fur and talks to him about the upcoming day while Albert laps from his bowl. It really is so sweet! Albert frequently comes back throughout the day to say hello and snuggle up to his buddy. Thank goodness for Patrick's asthma or I fear we would currently have a pet! Albert doesn't have a collar so we're not sure if he belongs to someone or if he's a stray. But rest assured, pet-people, these non-pet-people will be sure that Albert is properly taken care of! At least, the littlest of us will :o)

Best Friends

Just a few shots of these best buds! Tucker and Presley are so cute together...Tucker is so protective of her and Baby Girl absolutely wants to be wherever her Bubba is!

Easter...almost one month later!

So our computer has contracted a nasty virus and I am freaking out because every picture I have ever taken of my sweet babies for the last five years is on that computer!! Praying that I'll be able to recover them. So I haven't been able to blog for a while...I'm currently blogging at work (after hours of course)!

Anyway, Easter was almost a month ago, but I still wanted to post some pictures, just for Mommy anyway! (There not very good, but they are what we got!) This season has been so crazy for us so we didn't get to see the mall Easter Bunny, but thankfully our community had an egg hunt and the bunny made an appearance. :o) (My novice camera taking abilities have proven clear as I focused more on the background than my kids with the bunny! Oh well, lesson learned!) Easter Day was sweet as Tucker awoke to the bunny having had come. He had wanted him to bring him a Zhu Zhu Pet (it's a hamster) so he immediately looked for his Easter basket. (I didn't realize the Easter Bunny brought toys, but apparently Patrick knew of this strange practice!) Once he found his basket, he discovered his pet and had absolutely no interest in finding any eggs...which were pretty easy to spot! That's just the way Tucker is, we're discovering. Baby Girl woke up later and was interested in the things in her basket, and a little interested in the eggs. Overall, I think the bunny could have not come and the kids would've been fine with it! ha ha

We didn't make it to church but spent the day with my family which was really nice and relaxing. Next year I'm going to do Easter the justice it deserves! I just didn't have it in me this year :o) Since it will be our first Easter with Baby Carter it's something to look forward to even more.

Hallelujah, the Lord is risen! The Lord is risen indeed. Hallelujah!

The Great Debater

So I had this loaf of French bread in the kitchen that Tucker was begging me for a piece of all morning. I kept telling him no because the bread was for dinner. He kept asking, I kept saying no. Finally he said to me, "But Mommy, if we eat this bread won't we remember that Jesus died on the cross for us?" How could I argue with that! We got out his bible, read about the Last Supper, and Tucker enjoyed a piece of bread. He certainly knows how to get to me! Out of the mouths of babes...

Presley & the Pink Bear...1 year later

You can imagine how much joy our little ham brings us! We love you Presley!

Just a couple of pictures...

Patrick and I are so blessed to be called "Mommy" and "Daddy" by these two. They've brought us so much joy, especially in the hum-drum of life. So thankful for them today...just had to share :o)

One More for Team Jesus!

I had a very 'Baptist' moment with my firstborn tonight, but what a sweet moment it was! I was putting Tucker to bed this evening, and we were reading our nighttime bible stories, and Tucker's favorite is "Jesus Dies on the Cross". Mid-reading, he started asking me questions about Jesus, one being 'where does he live?' I told him that Jesus lives in heaven and in the heart of everyone that loves Him and asks Him to live in his heart. Tucker: "Does He live in my heart yet?"
Mommy: "Well, have you asked Him?"
T: "Not yet."
M: "Do you want to?"
T: "Yes."
M: "Do you want some help?"
T: "Yes."
M: "Just tell Him that sometimes you make bad choices and that you need His help, and ask Him to come live in your heart."
T: "Jesus, sometimes I make bad choices. Can you help me? Will you live in my heart? Amen"

May it be a sweet, sweet sound in His ear! Praising God for my sweet Bear tonight! If you're reading this, say a prayer for our Tucker too!

Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these."
Matthew 19:14

Happy 1st Birthday Presley Dallas!

Yesterday was Baby Girl's first birthday. I can hardly believe one full year has gone by since we brought her into this world. Presley has filled our life with a love and laughter no one else could bring. Most people know I had two miscarriages between Tucker and Presley, and for a time I wasn't sure if we would ever have any more kids. I found myself praising God yesterday for the way our life turned out. I would have never had four kids, meaning, without the way things were our sweet girl wouldn't be here. Isn't it funny how something you could've never imagined turning into a good thing turns into a good thing? Praise God.



We had a small party celebrating Presley's first year with family and friends. (I can't get the pictures my friend took to download, so that's why there's only one!) It was precious, however, she did have a "wardrobe malfuction"...against my better judgement I put Presley in this darling onesie I had made especially for her birthday before her nap. The onesie had a cupcake on it made out of zebra and pink fabric, which matched the tutu I bought her, and it had her name monogrammed on it and one candle monogrammed on the cupcake. Well, as it would go, when we went to get Presley Girl up from her nap for the party, she had a major blowout and had gotten poop all over her custom-made, tutu-matching birthday onesie! I was totally bummed! Oh well :o) I was so thankful that the weather was beautiful. All the kids ate outside and played in the backyard to their hearts content. It was a sweet day for a sweet girl.

Presley Dallas, you have the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit. You are observant and already compassionate. You are laid-back and content in most situations. Daddy, Tucker, and I love you with a love that makes our hearts want to burst. The three of us love to stare at you, play with you, talk with you, and just squeeze you with everything we have. We love hearing each of our names come from your lips...'Mama', 'Dada', 'Bubba'. We love your dance moves and your giggles. For so long Daddy and I wondered how we would be able to love another child like we love your brother, and now we know we've just grown extra hearts. You bring us so much joy, sweet girl. We are praying that the God that made you will reveal Himself to you in mighty ways, and that you find your self-worth in the One that loves you more than life. You are the one Jesus loves, Sweet Presley! We are honored that we were chosen to be your parents. God bless you on your first birthday!

Happy Valentine's Day!

This year I decided I wanted to start making Valentine's really special for my two little valentine's. I want this to be a new tradition that my kids will remember when they're older. So last night I decorated the kitchen, and Tucker was so excited when he got up this morning! He came into our room at 5:30 and whispered in my ear, "Mommy, it's Valentine's Day! Come look at the table!" I worked to override my exhaustion and got up to see the table (really to see Tucker see the table!) Then I went down the street to the donut shop and picked up pink and white donuts -- they were a hit :o) I'm planning on heart-shaped sandwiches for lunch and a heart-shaped pizza from Papa Murphy's for dinner, which will be served in the dining room via candlelight :o)

Happy Valentine's Day to you and yours!

Snow Days!

Here are a few pictures from the biggest snowstorm in DFW record books! We got a whopping 7 inches in our yard! I couldn't believe it...and neither could Tucker!

Quotes from our 5-Year-Old

On stating the facts...
Daddy: "Tucker you need to help clean this mess up and pick up these toys."
Tucker: "'BTW'--I didn't get them out."

On dishing out conviction:
As mommy was nagging/getting on to daddy about something...
Tucker: "Mommy, can I talk to Daddy like that?"
OUCH!!! That one hurt! LOL

11 Months Old (and one day)

I can't believe in only one month Presley Dallas will be celebrating her first birthday! She is growing up so fast! In this past month Presley has completely abandoned baby food in favor of whatever we happen to be eating! She's enjoyed Nana's spaghetti, lasagna, carrots, mac 'n cheese, tuna fish with all the fixings, cereal, yogurt, bananas...she's in heaven! We're starting her on milk once we run out of formula, probably within the next few days. No more baby stuff for our baby girl!

In the past month Presley has started cruising the furnature too. She loves to be up on her little legs, and is quite the explorer. She's into everything, much to the chagrin of the rest of her family! Every square inch of our house seems to be baracaded at the moment in an attempt to keep Miss Presley contained :o) All of her crawling and exploring must wear her out because she still sleeps about 18 hours a day!

Presley continues to bring the three of us so much joy. This stage is truly my favorite and I am savoring every minute. Thankfully we know we'll get to do it all over again really soon! We love you Presley Girl!

5 Years Old

Our first born turned five years old today, and I simply cannot believe it. Where has five years gone? He'll start Kindergarten in about seven months...seven months! I have so loved being mommy to my sweet Tucker Bear. Everyday brings new excitement and new adventures with our big boy.

Tucker has continued to grow to be outgoing, friendly, trusting, compassionate, energetic, inquisitive, well-mannered, sweet-natured and very loving. He still enjoys Thomas the trains as much as he did at 23 months! He's starting to get into Hot Wheels and he enjoys playing games with the family like Yahtzee, Candy Land, Chutes and Ladders, and Cranium Hullabaloo. He favorite TV shows are "Wizards of Waverly Place", "The Suite Life on Deck", "Jonas", and "Phineas and Ferb". His favorite movies are "Princess Protection Program" and any of his "Thomas" videos. He has his first crush on Selena Gomez, the actress who plays 'Carter Mason' on Princess Protection Program, and 'Alex Russo' on Wizards of Waverly Place. He scares easily and we are very careful about what he watches in his programs. (Or at least Mommy is very careful...Daddy thinks we need to toughen him up! ha)

Tucker is still a very picky eater, but I've chosen to give up this fight completely. I've convinced myself that he'll grow into being a more adventurous eater, and if he doesn't, it won't be the end of the world. We have gotten him to drink water more willingly now and he doesn't have juice very often. He loves grapes, yogurt, mac n cheese, peanut butter and jelly, Nana's spaghetti, bread, waffles, pancakes, cheese, chicken, ham (which we call chicken), and turkey (which we call chicken!) His favorite kind of cake is chocolate. He still doesn't like ketchup, though on rare occasion (maybe twice) he's eaten it voluntarily. He LOVES ranch, and calls it "hidden valley ranch" and not just ranch!

When it comes to friends, Tucker likes to be the leader. We're working on that! He's very creative and he's always thinking of new games. When he and his friend Haley get together there is major imagination involved! I adore watching him interact with his friends, because generally he is very kind.

We're slowly preparing for kindergarten, and poor Tucker has to allow me to put my teacher hat on with him at home sometimes! Tucker can recognize his name and spell it for you, but he can't quite write it yet. He can count to thirteen with one-to-one correspondence. He recognizes most of his letters and can tell you what sounds they make. He can take the onset off of a rime, which I'm really happy about. He's recognizing sounds in words and is always curious about words in general. I'm sure I'm already bugging our kindergarten team here at Boals because I'm always asking them, what should he be able to do/read/write, etc! I don't stress too much because I know he'll do great. It's just going to be here so quickly!

While Tucker has learned much over the past year and past five years, I'm certain I've learned more. Tucker made me a mom and changed my life forever. It's like there's this whole other side of living I never knew about until I had someone to love and be loved like that by. I've found that I'm much more compassionate and sensitive to others since becoming a mom (though I still have a ways to go!) I'm always looking at the world from a new perspective, a different set of lenses than I did before. I'm slower to judge and quicker to put myself in another person's shoes. I have a deep desire for the world to be a better place, truly. I can't really put into words the difference being a mom makes, I just know I'm not who I was. And I have Tucker Ewing to thank for that.

As a son, there's none better. As a brother, he's top-notch. Happy birthday to the most loved little boy in the world! We love you Tucker Bear!

10 Months Old

Presley Dallas is 10 months old! I can hardly believe that in 8 weeks our little girl will be one year old. The expression "time flies" has never been more real to me since I became a mom.

Sweet Presley has grown leaps and bounds in this month. She started crawling and she is pulling up onto her feet. I think she'll be cruising soon, and maybe she'll be an early walker. She's cut four teeth, so she has two on the bottom and two on the top. However, her left tooth cut way before the right one did, so she's a little lopsided on the top! She likes to grind and click her teeth which is the worst sound I've ever heard! I'm still trying to get her to take a pacifier, and I attempt it most when she is clicking her teeth! She is signing "more" and "eat" and recognizes "all done" and "milk", and we're working on "please". She loves to laugh, and it's the most angelic thing I've ever heard.

Tucker lights up Presley's world! She's always looking for him and grabbing him and just wanting to be around him all the time. Tucker is the absolute best big brother he can be! He loves Presley and he loves to play with her and experience her new adventures. He gets down on his knees and crawls around with her, and she thinks that's wildly hilarious. He lets her put her fingers in his mouth, and then he "spits" them out, and she always lets out a huge belly laugh.

Presley seems to always be hungry. but she never lets you know. You just figure it out when you sit down to feed her and she never wants to stop! (Great mom, I know!) She's been introduced to so many more things than we ever would have allowed Tucker to have so young. She had major junk-ified sweet potatoes at Thanksgiving (complete with milk, brown sugar, and maple syrup, to name a few!), birthday cake at Christmas, and a few french fries on our last trip to McDonald's. It's amazing what you'll let the second one do! Ha She's now moving on from puffs to Cheerios, and she's starting to eat more vegetables without complaining.

We are amazed at how very quickly the time has gone by since we welcomed Sweet Presley into our lives, and we are savoring every minute!