Life with my sister

Watch out world, Henry is ready for Summer! His Juju gave him the cool shades. Here is our boy chillaxing in his infant pool for the first time. We may have had as much fun as he did. This was Henry's first time in a bathing suit, in a pool and his first time to experience Summertime. We just adore all these firsts with our sweet Henry Patton! Abby

We had such a good time at Disney World. The trip there was forever long. I didn't think we would ever make it. We went to all four Disney parks and visited Magic Kingdom twice. The kids had an awesome time and we rode some great rides. Anna rode every roller coaster and loved them all. She had no fear! We had our pictures taken with Mickey and all his friends, and even got autographs. What could be more fun. We saw parades and fireworks, we swam in a baseball diamond shaped pool (which is really just a square!), we met some great people in line for a ride. We got to bed late and woke up early. We were first in line at the parks and didn't have to wait in long lines. Just two long lines, not bad. It was hot, it was exhausting. But it was a great time. I'm glad we went. The kids all enjoyed it so much. At 12, 9, and 6 they were perfect ages to go. No one was whiney , no diaper changes, no naps needed to be taken. It was great! Thanks to my cousin Hollye for giving me guidan

Henry in his swing Our sweet friend, Melissa ( J'town Melissa....for those who get confused on which one) gave us Avery & Will's old swing. They have outgrown it and it is just right for Henry. We have the perfect trees for a tree swing but decided to keep his swing in Randall's shop since he is so little. We can turn the fans on and keep him cool and away from the mosquitoes that plaque our yard. Here is a short video of him in his swing for the first time. The swing is very high because we have it hanging from the ceiling....I think they may have had it on a swing set base or something of that sort. We laughed at how high it was and how short we are. Melissa and Richard are both about 2 feet taller than us, it is quite comical when we get together for a photo! We love them and that they gave us their swing. Funtimes for Henry! Abby

I decided I should take part in Kelly's Korner Friday blog hop , but with my own spin. I have lots of towns I have called home so I will highlight each one. Should be fun. I was born and raised in the Fort. If you paid any attention in history class you know my hometown is known for the hanging gallows at Judge Parker's Courthouse. Lots of fun on the lawn in the above picture. So weird to call hanging out at a gallow fun, huh? The Fort has the peanut factory and houses the Mr. Peanut sign. Cute, isn't it? And if you know anything about the Fort you know this place. Ah, makes my mouth water. Is it weird that looking at this image makes me feel warm and comfy? I guess it makes me feel like "home". I like that feeling. Next is the dorm where I lived while at OBU in Shawnee (to some of you this will be "the OTHER OBU "). I did not prefer being an Oklahoman , so my tenure there did not last too long. It was very windy and not as southern as what I

Julie and her crew are wearing their mouse ears this week and playing with Mickey. I keep getting texts from her and a few phone calls reporting on their activities. I think they are having a ball! Lots of family memories will be made for them this week. Much deserved. He reached for me with a smile on his face. Be still my heart! Yes, he did. When I picked him up today he was in Ms. Maribeth's arms and saw me, smiled and then reached out for me. I was in awe. I looked at Ms. Maribeth and said "Is he reaching for me?!" and she said, "Yes!" I think if my smile was any larger it would have been a crime. She cheered for him and told him what a big boy he was. He just put his open mouth all over my nose and laughed. He is such a funny boy. He is definitely happy to be alive and I love that. He also knows that his Mama is his ticket!! ha. I love how the Lord puts things into perspective after a long work day and all is immediately right with my world when I see my

Below you will see a grainy video that I think will make you smile just as much as it makes me smile. I just love waking up to this little boy smiling at me from his bed and laughing at his Daddy and me each morning before we head our separate ways. I took this video last week while he was playing on the floor. He is so full of personality already...watch out world! Abby

Friends come in all shapes, sizes, ages and places. I have been reflecting on some of my friendships lately and just smile at the melting pot of friends I have. God is good to allow our hearts to open up and accept friendships with a wide variety of people ( Well, I guess some people don't open up...but I am not friends with those people. ha). I love connection, laughter, familiarity and sincerity. I always remember hearing that you will only have 1 to 3 really good friends in life. I agree with that, yet I think you can have a wealth of friends all over the place who enrich your life in all sorts of ways. I am feeling warm today from my friendships. I cannot imagine my days without each one. They all play a perfect part in my life. Thank you if you are my real life friend. I am so glad you put up with me! I am so excited about seeing my friend Paige this weekend! I have posted about her before . (You need to read that post. That was back when I had time to do deep thinking and po

Does this seem like Friday to you? It does to me. Yesterday seemed like Thursday so at least I'm keeping a pattern going. Vacations do this to me every year. I love leaving town and going somewhere different. The beach, Branson, my hometown. It doesn't matter the where. I get excited anyway. My kids are just as bad. They are packing their backpacks with their favorite toys and things to do while in a car for.ever. I have printed out bingo cards and have tic-tac-toe sheets ready to go for a Triple T Tourney! Sound fun? Anna loves tic-tac-toe, but sadly she isn't very good at it. She just likes playing a game with someone, she doesn't care about where to put an x or an o. I'm afraid she won't fair very well in the Triple T Tourney! We'll also play the ABC game, and There It Is. But I don't like There It Is, so I won't be playing that one. It lasts a long time when Stephen is choosing "it", and I don't like things that are long and drawn

Before I was a Mom, I never tripped over toys or forgot words to a lullaby. I didn't worry whether or not my plants were poisonous. I never thought about immunizations. .Before I was a Mom, I had never been puked on. Pooped on. Chewed on. Peed on. I had complete control of my mind and my thoughts. I slept all night. Before I was a Mom, I never held down a screaming child so doctors could do tests. Or give shots. I never looked into teary eyes and cried. I never got gloriously happy over a simple grin. I never sat up late hours at night watching a baby sleep. Before I was a Mom, I never held a sleeping baby just because I didn't want to put him down. I never felt my heart break into a million pieces when I couldn't stop the hurt. I never knew that something so small could affect my life so much. I never knew that I could love someone so much. I never knew I would love being a Mom. Before I was a Mom, I didn't know the feeling of having my heart outside my body.. I did

UPDATE: Luke had surgery late this afternoon and is repaired! Pray for a speedy recovery and that his parents can find some rest. He should be headed home in about 3 days. God is good all the time. All the time, God is good. And I must say that Luke's Mama held it together so well. I commend her strength through all this. Luke is a blessed little boy. Do you recall my post a few weeks ago about my best friend having her 3rd baby boy? Well, Luke is 4 weeks old now and in route by Angel Wings helicopter to Arkansas Children's Hospital. He has a diaphragmic hernia and he is to have surgery. Please pray for little Luke and the doctors who will operate on him. Pray for Sam & Melissa and the rest of us who sit here pacing the floor, biting our nails and who are ever so anxious to hear what is to come. I plan to head to LR early in the morning to lend a hug to the girl who knows me better than I know myself. Pray for Luke! Abby

It is Teacher Appreciation Week and I give my sister this fabulous award. The responsibility she has each school day is more than I can fathom. I may run from meeting to meeting all day long and think my plate is full, but it does not touch the weight she carries on her each day as she teaches school to her four children. I am so proud of my sister for wearing a mom hat and a teacher hat at the same time. Her job is huge, yet it must be so rewarding to see the little light bulbs go off in their eyes as they "get it". Here's to you, Homeschool Teacher Of The Year! Abby From Julie : Thank you Abby. It brought tears to my eyes. I know homeschooling is hard to understand, both the desire and the "how to" of it. Thanks for the appreciation. You are so sweet! And did you know that Abby took Henry's teachers breakfast this morning? Including two kinds of milk. I'm hoping one kind wasn't formula!! I'm sure it wasn't.

I wanted to share a few pictures of Henry I have taken over the past couple of weeks that I have failed to post. I get so busy with life that I have not been posting like usual. Forgive me, but I am sure you will! Being a Mama is most important to me in my "free time" right now. I laugh at the "free time" because I am not sure what that is anymore. I think back on all the posts I have done the past 3 years that had me in deep thought and pondering life and it makes me laugh now. I have no time for deep thinking or pondering much of anything... and I love it! So funny how fast things change. Henry is our whole world now and it is such a cool place to be. I know he is mine, but is he not THE cutest thing you ever laid eyes on?! Henry is starting to eat a little cereal and baby food. He is not a huge fan of eating like a big boy, but he is working his way into being an eater. He loves carrots though! Henry is grasping and moving his arms like a pro. Of course most eve

May 2, 2010 April 2, 2010 March 2, 2010 February 2, 2010 January 2, 2010 Can you believe my baby boy is already 5 months old! I am amazed at how fast he is growing. I adore watching him thrive and become more alert each day. He talks like crazy (as you can tell from the previous videos), eats a wee bit (as you know from the previous carrot video), grasps his little toys and brings them to his mouth, rolls to his side, sleeps 10-12 hours at night and naps very little during the day, loves his new daycare, still has reflux and spits up quite a bit, loves to laugh out loud, loves the bath, and Henry still has to be swaddled to sleep at night. He is precious. I told Randall the other day that when I wake up in the morning I smile because it means God gave me another day to be Henry's Mama. I know that might sound cheesy, but I really mean it. I love hearing his little voice in the morning and seeing him smile at me when I lift him out of his bed. I stay tired and frazzled most of t