15 degrees outside, what to do?

Aliza crawled, giggled, and chased her sisters!

Anna calls Aliza, who's in the tube!

Had to get a little creative for free play when we had some brrr Chilly days! We finally got out the tent they got for Christmas, and they played for a bit. Abigail and Anna didn't stay interested in it as long as I thought they would...but Aliza sure LOVED it!

Trip to Knoxville

Aliza loved the rides, just enough motion to keep her holding on!

Abigail and Anna LOVE pool time with Daddy! He's the FUN one!

We saw The Tale of Despereaux...Anna fell asleep. Aliza would rather go after the popcorn than eat HER baby snacks! In a few years, Aliza! This trip to the theater cost about as much as the hotel room, lol!

Aliza in her new car seat FACING the FRONT!

After the holiday craziness, we went on a little trip to Knoxville. Initially, the idea began as taking the girls to Chuck E. Cheese's and the closest was 2 hours away in Knoxville, or Nashville...so we decided to head east and make an overnight of it! Next time we go, we have to take the camper though and GO TO THE ZOO!

NEW DESKS!

You girls were so excited to get your student desks! They were old, but in really good condition and just needed a thorough cleaning. I was so impressed there wasn't any gum in them or under them (I always remember finding chewed up gum when we'd have to clean ours at the end of the school year).

Anyhow, you sure enjoyed playing (I mean cleaning) with shaving cream! You wrote your names, formed letters and shapes in the shaving cream, so it easily became a learning activity! I was pleasantly surprised that the mess stayed on the desktops and not you or the floor! The kitchen smelled so good afterwards!

Abigail's First Sleepover

Abigail slept over at a freind's house Friday night. We were invited to her little friend's 5th birthday party. As the party was nearing the end, her friend Analese came up to us and asked if she could spend the night with her. Abigail pleaded jumping up and down, "Please, please, can I spend the night?" Analese's mom told us it was fine, and we were still in shock over the question! The two girls had already worked out pajama and blanket details!! So Louis and I agreed, and went home to get her an overnight bag thinking when we'd return she might have changed her mind. She didn't! Anna was a little sad that Abigail wasn't coming home. Though they bicker as sisters sometimes do, it's times like these that I know they cherish each other's company. We had a lot to do at home to make Anna's slumber party with mom and dad partly comparable...it's amazing what cartoons and a bowl of popcorn in bed can do for a 4- year old who feels left out. We picked Abigail up Saturday morning. The girls had a fun time, Kelly said, painting toenails, eating, and watching Chicken Little well into the 11th hour! Abigail talked all about her night on the 5 minute ride in the car to our house. She's growing up on us!

"And a little child shall lead them" Isaiah 11:6

Abigail & Anna at church Spring 2007

This past Saturday, we got home after midnight from a wedding roadtrip. Pulaski was 3 - 3 1/2 hours away. We were pretty exhausted from the events of the weekend: wedding rehearsal, visiting with old friends, getting naps at wierd times, and a wedding Saturday night. We expected a lot from the girls with their behavior, and as the wedding just got started, it was as if ants got into the threes' britches. A bit stressed out I was, unsuccessfully keeping them quiet and still (which they are capable of). Louis officiated remarkably well adding personal stories to our friend's ceremony. Anyhow, Sunday, I decided when we woke at 7:30 a.m. and the 3 girls were still asleep that we'd just stay home from church and not rush around getting ready. Afterall, we'd have to leave the house by 8:30 a.m. (We have two services- one at 9am, and the other at 11). Louis left for church at 8:15 and minutes later Abigail got up. We hung out in bed watching cartoons until Anna woke at 9:30. I was fully prepared to stay home in jammies ALL day! Abigail questioned the whereabouts of her daddy and was not happy with my answer of "Let's just stay home today and rest". Before I could give Abigail justification for staying home, Anna was picking out her dress. Abigail pleaded, "It's Sunday, we want to go to church". "We don't want to miss church". After all of that, we got dressed for Lovelady Church that started at 11. After I called Louis to come by and pick us up after the 9:00 Worship and was telling him the story he said, "And a child shall lead them". Thanks God for the lesson! I needed to be in church afterall!

A birthday party for a not so happy 1-year old

Aliza Beth (12 days old)

It's long overdue, but busyness got the best of me. It's hard to believe Aliza's First Birthday has come and gone! She doesn't look happy in her party pictures because she wasn't feeling very well. She had double ear infections and an upper respiratory infection the week of her birthday...I wish we had her party to do over again. We got a ladybug ice cream cake from DQ and what she got to dive in was a star brownie covered in whipped cream. She really wasn't into unwrapping gifts, socializing, or touching her brownie cake. She just sat there and stared at it uninterested. My sister put her hand in the icing to encourage her to make a mess and Aliza just cried. I wish we had her party to do over again, but this will be a memory for sure. Maybe her second party will be better for her! Now she's back to her happy, sweet self of course!

Aliza began this life at 5:37 pm on December 11, 2007 weighing 6 pounds 14 ounces and measured 18 1/2 inches in length. At 1 year, she weighs 20 pounds, but is still a shortie! She is trying soooo hard to walk, but is still Miss Spaghetti Legs. She talks to us alot....she says Mama, Da-Da, bye-bye, and will say hi with a wave (it's more like an indian's "How" with one hand raise in the air...but we'll take that). She kisses her sisters, will make kiss noises, and will blow her nose if you hand her a wipe or a tissue. She has 6 teeth and two more poking out of the gums barely. She sings in church, reads books by humming and touching the pages, and tries to talk over her daddy while he is preaching. She has given us so many laughs and has been easily entertained by her sisters as well. She is an all around "Mama's girl" but is slowly adapting to family and friends easier and more quickly. The tough time in the hospital is all but a distant memory but a reminder to us of the power of prayer and the awesomeness of God!! We are SO blessed by Aliza Beth!