McWane Memories...

I loaded these three lovie's up today & we went to the McWane Center...
Overall, Kenlee did really good ~ no meltdowns & that made this Mommy very happy!!
Here's some pictures of our journey for my sister to see...


On the road! They wanted to take all sorts of pictures today.


Downtown Birmingham...I think it's so pretty in some areas.


Katie & Logan in the wind tunnel!
As we were leaving I saw a baby in there by himself - probably 10 or 12 months old. The parents were watching from the outside & the winds were in the 70 mph range. I wanted to go nuts on the parents b/c that child looked scared to death. Isn't that awful?! I just thought it was so mean!


Checking their strength. All I can say is they were stronger than me. :)



Kenlee loved playing with the rocks & trying to find fossils! They had really neat things for little kids.




You can build your own car & then race it.


I thought the McWane Center was really neat...In the Cafe, they have Subway, Pizza Hut, etc...but they have a "grill" where you can get free range chicken sandwiches & hamburgers from organic fed cows with no antibiotics or steroids. I thought that was really neat considering most places you go for kids, it's nothing but junk. We don't eat good all the time, but we try to make good choices ~ when we're out I think it's really nice to have that choice!
What a fun time we had together. Memories that will always stay with us :)

We love you, Myrtle!!!

It's funny how a girl just knows...

Kenlee got a new doll, she came equipped with a pack n play, a stroller, bottle, paci, the works. We have had to put her to bed the past two nights & I am amazed how she knows what to do...I think God gives us women knowledge from day 1 on how to be loving, don't you think?



She's got her Daddy's blue eyes. :)





~ And we are so HAPPY!!!! Katie got to come home with us for the weekend. I'm meeting her Mom & Dad in Montgomery on Sunday...unless I have adoption papers ready for them. :) I have LOVED having an extra girl around the house with Kenlee & I. Logan LOVES having his cousin here & tomorrow we are hitting the McWane Center.
It's as if she is one of mine....


How do you like those fashionable leopard print panels? Don't worry, they are out of here. This color looks really bad in pictures. Trust me when I say it's not this orange in person...more spicy. This is the never ending paint job.


Kenlee loved washing Katie's feet & splashing her. :)


At first Katie asked if she could read to Kenlee, then about the 5th book she said "Mimi, how long do I have to read to her?"
Don't you wish you were that comfy in someone's lap? I sure do.

~Nancy

Blessed Beyond Belief ~

I'm so incredibly thankful to God for my family & the moments we've shared the past few days...from getting to see my Uncle & Aunt & Mamaw, & getting to hug Jill & Katie, and eating with my precious family, to rocking Kenlee to sleep tonight, for Logan getting to spend some fun memories with his cousin, Katie, from Josh smiling at me today more than usual & spending a relaxing night together tonight, eating at the table with my parents, getting to see Josh's family & his Mom so happy, enjoying the breeze (after being in a warm kitchen!!) as the weather turns colder...I just feel blessed.
2009 Thanksgiving was one full of memories that I will cherish...
(the never ending post of pictures)


Cheers! ~ With apple juice. :)


Unk & Logan having fun upstairs @ Nana & Papa's.


Kenlee & Papa posing ~ This is her "Smile" pose for all pictures.


My Unk. Skunkle. Uncle Pie. Pie... we are the family of nicknames. I think he calls Jill "Binkie" - Me "Skeeneece" - My Mom is "Bwen" (Bonnie) - My Dad is "Mickle" (Mike) - I'm telling you..if you are part of this family, you are nicknamed.


Unk, Nana & Kenlee posing.


"Mimi & Myrtle"...Our nicknames for one another.


Unk & Logan before a game of "Touch the Couch" ~ a little game created by Unk & my brother...we missed John & his family this Thanksgiving!


Logan & Auntie Peggy ~ she is so good with our two...what a blessing she is to our family.


Katie & Kenlee


Giving her crooked smile :)


Papa's Bird...simply DELISH.


Papa posing with his carving knife & my sister...my sister looks SO GOOD! She is inspiring me to get off of my BOOTY & exercise! I love her so!


My sister trying to hide from my camera - but she forgets I'm "Papa"-razzi's daughter.


Katie & Logan ~ always having fun together.


Juju, her new man "Neil" and Logan.


JuJu & Logan - Josh had taken Kenlee home at this point for a much needed nap. :)
Daddy knows best :)

~Nancy

Feeling better...

Sometimes we just have to do things to make our Little's feel better.
Nana & Papa came over yesterday to pick Logan up to spend the night & do a little Christmas shopping...so Kenlee thought she would just have us do anything...

Anytime she is around my mom..she has to break out Nana's makeup stash in her purse.


This picture makes me melt! Nothing like a little powder for Daddy's nose.


Nana needed a "powder redo" on her nose...


And doesn't sitting on a 4 wheeler in the closed garage always make you feel better?

~I'm a very grateful mom today because my kids feel healthy!!

Under the cold weather....

Here is my little Miss Thing today ~ not feeling fabulous, but is flu negative, so I'm thankful for that. I'm just praying for a speedy recovery so she can enjoy good family time this week!!


Let the painting begin (again)... so I changed my mind. Imagine that from a girl?! We're spicin' it up in the office (used to be dining room) and these pic's make it look bright orange, but it's called faded clay.


And we took a little road trip yesterday for something special our family has never done & met the sweetest girl & enjoyed our time together as a family of 4!!
The only thing that would have made it better is if the kids would have been sniffle free, but we made the best of it. :) Stay tuned!!

Oh no! Here I go again!!

Guess what I'm getting myself into? And my husband is old school, he thinks the whole house should be one color & flow...I like a little color! I did the light blue & chocolate bathroom (still need to find some neat things to hang up in there) ~ but I needed a face lift for the little office that used to be the dining room. And I want to get it done before I put up our Christmas tree!! Do you ever just need a change?!
I was going to paint it this...but didn't seem to go ~ that was the spicy color I had originally intended to paint. I just think the darker will be so pretty with the white crown molding.


And I found a tasty treat for Kenlee that is dairy free & I have to share! I found it at Publix & I saw them at Whole Foods last week ~ they are really good & they look like this for anyone with cow issues. :)



Then your child will be running through the house like this after they eat it. :)



Always running around foot loose & fancy free. Oh, to be two again!!

Kenlee & Anna Kate....

Kenlee thought she was going to see her best friend, Addie Kate, yesterday...but this time we met a new friend, Anna Kate. Her Mom (Jennifer Williams Brown) and I were close friends from 6th grade on & we met them for breakfast yesterday. The last time I saw Anna Kate & her 9 lb. self was the day she was born!! Way too long ago.

What a beautiful girl she is ~ so sweet & Kenlee instantly bonded with her...just like I did with Jennifer. When we were little we took Jazz from Sheila Lindley's place in Oxford until we were older & then we were on danceline throughout high school. Some of my favorite memories of Saks are with Jennifer & I would not trade anything for them!!! Jennifer used to braid my hair before every performance (I think she did that for everyone on danceline - we used to line up in her room b/c she did it the best & it would always stay up when she did it) and she used to always make sure no makeup Nancy would have BRIGHT red lipstick before we went out on the field! If I had a dollar for everytime we laughed, we would never have to work again. :)


Here are the girls playing mini Logs.


It was sunny & warm & I think Kenlee zoned out for a minute. It felt so good outside rocking.


Instantly holding Anna Kate's hand in the parking lot...


Her Mommy made over!


Big girls, Kenlee & Anna Kate together.

A compassionate heart

My friend, Jessica, (www.just4crows.blogspot.com) has put up a list of discounts that Veteran's receive tomorrow ~ so if you know any, pass them along! They deserve those discounts everyday!
I'm mush. I'm keeping up with Kelly's Korner, Whittaker Woman, etc. as they journey to El Salvador with Compassion ~ I'm going to talk to Josh about this & see if we can do it for 2010. I've never done anything like that (sponsoring a child) but I can just imagine how it could impact my kids & even myself. Wouldn't that be such a blessing if you were one of those children to know that someone is praying for you DAILY & giving survival needs out of the kindness of their heart? I can't imagine how lost those children are & I WANT to help/pray/give in any way I can. I picture my kids faces in their position & I want to cry my eyes out. Those kids are someone's "Biggy" & "Miss Priss"
I could easily take my tip money from massage & put it to good use instead of things I don't need...

Going to get our paddle's out tonight to go to our first basketball practice of the season. :) Hope your night is a good one.

So Thankful....

It's November...which means Thanksgiving is right around the corner but I'm going to add a few things that I'm thankful for on each blog.
God has given me a close few girlfriends that encourage me, love me, support me & believe in me & for that I am so grateful for. They don't judge me, they just accept me for who I am.
I am thankful for my husband that is literally working his butt off for our family & I just adore him. There are no other words. I just adore him. He loves me for me.
I am thankful for Logan & Kenlee & the way they love each other.
I am thankful for the way my family (meaning parents, sister, etc.) put up with my type A worrying & love me anyway. :) There is no doubt in my mind that my family loves me - that is a gift.
I'm thankful that I'm forgiven for the things I don't do right & given grace from God to start fresh.

The Hudspeth's met the O'Connell's at the park today which meant a picture opportunity for me & some fun for these two little girls. Logan had fun on his scooter & was just plain happy to be outside. :)