Funnies

Just a few days ago I admitted to a friend that I am IN LOVE with this season with my kids.  They can take a nap (or not -- totally up to our plans for the day), don't need sippy cups or bottles, can be reasoned with (for the most part), and their personalities are bubbling over.  Conversations are hilarious, misunderstandings abound, and silliness is usual.  Less than 24 hours after that admission, Clara burned her hand (pretty bad) on an iron in our hotel room AND then an hour later was dancing around the room (oblivious to her surroundings) and rammed her head square into the corner of the wall.  Life is ever changing, and so is my perspective about this season of life!!  :)

All that being said, I need to record some of the great things my kids are saying.

Eating at Monterrey with the kids last night, they got into spelling the neon signs up around the restaurant.  MICHELOB was one Clara focused on.  This is how she spelled it... "M...1...C...H...3...I...bracelet...B".  She gets a little mixed up :)  

In the van, Clara found an old donut (3 days old).  I recall her saying to me, I'm going to save this for later ... but then I forgot to ask her if she ever did eat it.  Well, I overheard her trying to feed this old donut to Coleman while they are buckled up in the back of the van.  Here is the conversation I hear...

Clara: "Oooooh look, Coleman.  A donut!  Don't you want to taste it?"

Coleman: "Sure!!"

Coleman opens his mouth and Clara inserts donut.

Coleman: "I have to bite it too hard.  My teef just aren't strong enouf!"

Me: "Clara, that is disgusting!  No one needs to be eating that!"

Clara: "Well, I told you that I was going to save it for later, and you said OK."

We recently celebrated Baba's 90th birthday with a party at Joe and Chris' house in Anderson.  Eric was preaching the following day, so I took the kids up there by myself.  It was a full time job, but a lot of fun.  I really enjoyed it.  While getting everyone together for a group picture, Bill was trying to help Baba move from her wheelchair into a prettier chair.  Baba wasn't having any of that, and shooed  him away.  Everyone was watching intently, making sure she could do it by herself.  In front of the entire family, when it was nearly SILENT, Eve declares, "See y'all, she's got a LITTLE BIT of life left in her!!"    Oh my word.  Wow.  I was beyond embarrassed.  Everyone laughed, of course, and Baba didn't understand, she just nodded, oblivious to the comment.  

Clara also had a moment with Baba at the birthday party.  She was sitting at the head of the kid table when they wheeled Baba up to the opposite end.  As Baba was eating, Clara was watching intently.  I knew those wheels were turning.  All of the sudden she says, "Momma, what happened to your old grandma?"  I try to quiet her down by saying, "Oh, Nonny?  Nonny was Poppa's momma.  Nonny died a few years ago.  She went to heaven."  Clara was not going to be quieted.  "No, not Nanny!  THIS old grandma??  What happened to THIS OLD GRANDMA?"  Poor thing didn't know why her great grandmother had food on her face and was spilling her second glass of wine.  

Shed Light on Trafficking 5K

Eric was asked to be the emcee for a 5K, so the kids and I went to be a part of the family fun run (only 1 mile).  One year, I pushed the kids in the stroller, but this year, I thought i'd let them just run at their own pace.  They did AWESOME!  Eve came in second for the fun run (out of all the girls that ran) and even got her own MEDAL!  It was such a special moment to have her daddy call out her name and present her with her award.  We were not expecting that at all!  Clara, Ellie, and Coleman were more interested in the balloons they blew up and put out for the kids to run through.  That slowed them down quite a bit.  Overall, this was a huge success!!

Trampoline Fun and the Great Outdoors

The kids absolutely LOVE the trampoline.  It offers us hours of fun, giggles, and exercise.  Yaya, Mimi and Poppa came over to enjoy the trampoline with us recently.  The Davis kiddos and the Garrard kiddos have also come to jump with us!! 

Any chance we get, we are headed out side to get some Vitamin D.  I love that the kids can be loud and make a mess and climb trees and run around in circles.  They love it too!  

We've also discovered how much fun the hot tub can be at grandmas house!  

Coleman's Blaze Party!!

Grandma made her first ever BLAZE birthday cake, and had a lot of really awesome decorations.  One of those is a giant poster to hang up in Coleman's room.  He loves it!  We had a blast celebrating this fun kid.  He got a left-handed baseball glove, some baseball bases and balls, a toys r us gift card, and some other little boy toys (Ninja Turtles, cars, etc).  It was his favorite birthday yet.  

Easter 2015

He is RISEN, He is why we celebrate!  Eric and I are so thankful for all of the ways God is speaking and moving in our family this year.  We can't wait to see what He has lined up for us!!  

Coleman -- age 3

Daddy's buddy, momma's boy, and anyone's snuggle buddy.  You have made us well up with joy with each new milestone you pass.  You are tender, sweet, and cuddly; rough, loud, and all-boy.  You LOVE dinosaurs (Dino Dan, especially), any kind of ball, and Toy Story characters.  You love to watch Paw Patrol and Blaze.  You make hilarious faces, almost nonstop throughout the day.  You have completely potty trained yourself at age 3.4.  When we put your socks and shoes on, you always ask, "are these the fastest shoes?" "wanna see me run faster than i can?"  You love to play your drums.  During any downtime at the house, you ask me to stop what I'm doing and come sit with you on the couch.  You always ask daddy if you can "be on your team", and then get the biggest grin when he tells you that you are!

Levi and Eli are your best friends.  Caleb was your best buddy at school (pretty sure y'all kept each other in trouble, too).  Whit, Ruthie and Zano are some of your favorite friends at church.

You love to make people laugh.  You are super duper kind.  You love to sing (scream at the top of your lungs) and dance.  You love babies.  You will do anything Ellie asks you to do.  You still love yogurt and applesauce (and would eat this at every meal).  You also love PB and J with doritos and grapes.  You are a shark in the pool, and love to "cannonball"!!

Coleman Jude, Manny, Moo Moo, buddy, you bring a smile to everyone you encounter.  You are a delight to parent and love.  You are going to be such a strong man of God.  I cannot wait to see you as you grow into all God has for you.  I love you!

Ellie - age 4

Elenor, you make momma and daddy so happy.  You are a kind and precious girl.  You are sensitive and sweet.  You wear your feelings on your sleeves.  You have the.best.laugh in the world.  You are timid at first, but warm up quickly.  You do not enjoy animals of any kind, in fact, you cry.  You also do not like things dressed up in costume.  You are so tall and have long fingers and big feet.  You love to fix your hair yourself, full of spray and clips.  When you feel beautiful, you look at mom and dad with those beautiful brown eyes, and wait for one of us to comment on your breathtaking appearance.  You love to sing and dance.  You are Coleman's best friend and ally.  You LOVE babies, and want to take care of anyone that is struggling or sad.

You speak with such animation in your voice, and love to use your hands to tell stories.  You are typically a very obedient child.  You try your best to make momma and daddy proud.  You still ask us EVERYDAY if we will PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE take you to Disney World.  Little do you know, we are taking you (and your sisters and brother) next month!!!  YAY!  I cannot wait to see your face light up when you put your eyes on Cinderella and Anna!  You will love it.  You are tender and gentle.  You are easy.  Uncle Chris is one of your biggest fans (and you are his).  You love to write your name, and have learned so much in school this year.

Ellie Hope, don't ever stop giggling.  You are a bundle of joy.  Mommy and daddy love you so much.  

Clara - age 4

You, my dear, are fun.  You are full of funny facial expressions and giggles.  You love to watch TV upside-down (with your head in the seat cushion and your feet thrown back against the back of the couch).  You love all things Ariel, and are thrilled to meet her at Disney World this summer.  You love animals and bubble gum.  You are interested in bugs and nature; you look for caterpillars you can hold and love to come inside with a huge pile of leaves after playing outside.  Your smile truly lights up your face ... and the room.  You love to color and draw and play with stickers.  In our family, a happy Clara typically means a happy life!  :)

You have beautiful, easy-to-fix hair.  You love WARM MILK in the morning (and will not settle for anything less).  Sofia is your favorite cartoon to watch in the mornings.  At the toy store, you pick out My Little Pony's over any other girlie item.  You are daddy's little princess, and you love him more than anyone on the planet.  You are a little camera-shy at times.  You can be short-tempered.  You are going to do what you want to do ... with little regard to punishments.  You hardly EVER cry from pain because you are one.tough.cookie.  I frequently find bruises, scrapes, and scratches on your arms or legs and you have no idea where they came from.  You do NOT like to take baths, and usually have some LONG story about how you cannot possibly be dirty ... you've washed your hands, you wore socks and shoes, you didn't jump on the trampoline or dig in dirt, etc.  You love Eve.  

Clara, my sweet pea, you are a treasure.  I am so happy to be your mama.  I love you so.  

Eve -- Age 6.5

What a joy you are!  At 6.5, you have lost 4 teeth, wear size 8 clothes, are a stellar student in Mrs. Hallman's 1st grade class, love to swing and play with roly polys at recess, and have a jam-up rock collection.  You have kept your "take charge" attitude in tact, and love to make up your own rules to games your little brother and sisters are naive enough to play with you.  You are bright, kind, responsible, and thoughtful.  You go out of your way to leave notes and drawings for birthdays, anniversaries, or just because.  You are Mimi's little girl--the two of you are two peas in a pod.  Your first experience with press-on nails via Mimi were only pleasant for an hour.  After that, you were pitching a fit to get those things off!  You are a fantastic swimmer, have mastered both the front and back flip (in the pool), and are working on perfecting your handstand (also in the pool).  You are an AMAZING reader, and do so with such inflection and joy.  You are an expert jump-roper, and enjoy taking showers without help from mom.

You have NOT mastered tying your own shoes, mostly because you give up pretty easily if you can't catch on immediately.  You are a fantastic story-teller (as you always have been), and have great inter-personal skills.  Your outgoing personality draws others in, and makes them feel loved.

I cannot believe you will be 7 in a few short months!  I feel so blessed to have been given YOU, Eve Lairsey.  You are no ordinary child.  You will do great things.  I can't wait to watch what God uses you to accomplish.

FOUR YEAR OLDS

What?? my precious premies are FOUR YEARS OLD???  I can hardly believe it!

Clara Bet Lairsey

Elizabeth "Ellie" Hope Lairsey

Sisters Forever

For their birthday this year, we had three parties.  One with friends, one at grandmas, and one at mini's.  We also took all of the kids to ride Thunder, Mrs. Stephanie's horse for the girls' birthday treat.  It was a whirlwind of celebrations, presents, and cake... but the twins LOVED every minute of it!  Below is a montage of pictures from those events.