Sweet Home...

ALABAMA!!!

That's where we are moving to...YAY!! We are excited and can hardly wait to get there :) We will be so, so, so close to our family: about 2ish hours to Greg's mama and about 4ish to my parents. Greg will be an instructor at ACSC, at Maxwell AFB. We went down a couple of weeks ago to find a house, and we were successful! We make the move in July, this will make my sixth move in 13 years...wowzers! We are already praying that God would lead us as we search for a church home and that the kids would transition well. We have been still for 3 years, and it seems like I might have to dust off my moving/settling in skills as we start over and make Alabama our home :)

In other news, we wrapped up basketball. What a fun season! All three kids played and improved during the season, it was fun!! We took a week to breathe and now the boys are playing soccer, and baseball practice starts this week, too. I love it! My boys enjoy all sports and they are having fun :)

Ready for Soccer!

Jannah took part in an American Girl Fashion Show. It was exciting :) She modeled McKenna, the 2012 doll of the year. We didn't get to choose what doll or outfit she wold model...that being said, we were both a little shocked when we found out she was modeling pajamas!!! She *overcame* and did well; she was not the only one to model pj's...that made us feel better :)

Until next time...we are staying busy and hanging tough!

Oh yeah, we are also working on our tans, it has been unseasonably hot here. I am happy to say that I have a flip flop tan going on!

Basketball times 3!

We have three BB players in the house, oh yeah!!! That means three games on Saturday which is a great thing for winter, I think!

Jamison has been CA-RA-ZEEE about any kind of ball since he was a baby! He was so excited to be playing, and we were excited to see him in action. Imagine our surprise at his first game...he wouldn't leave our side to play.

This is him at week two: now, that's more like it!!!

This is Jordan getting pumped up for his game, check out the fancy footwork :)

Jannah decided she would give BB a try; Greg kinda bribed her and told her he would coach her team :) Turns out she enjoys it and has scored a few hoops!!

Jannah is the second one from the right, with the white jersey.

Let the good times roll, as we are in the full swing of Basketball!!

These kids...

They make me laugh...they really do!!

Jamison decided to do a little wall art, by himself...love it! His Gamma and Gampa gave him the Georgia Bulldog wall decals. I thought I had put them aside and I was thinking I would "help" him put them up, later. **I know when there is too much quiet time that he is doing something.** I had to laugh when I walked in his room and saw the finished product. Nice job, Jamison!

...Please note the shorts and shirt...I will have to intervene for him, his style is killin' me! He is wearing his beloved "silky shorts"

His desire to wear them 24/7 exhausts me!!!

Playing a little music for us on his baby grand, thank you Aunt Lori!!

We had a little fun with food...I had a book from the library that is really cool, it gives you all kinds of ideas to make objects from food...I can't remember the name of it right now...anyways, we had fun making it. BUT, when it came time to eat the healthy parts, there was a little resistance :)

Can you tell what it is?! The picture in the book was so much better...much like all things in a book or magazine! It's a scooter...you see it now...right?!

My boy, playing QB!!! Go Jordan!

At the football game, we have a friend who brings Peanut with her. Isn't he so cute? Guess what my kids want? Two dogs, just like Peanut! Jannah walked him for a while and was beside herself with excitement. Jamison didn't get enough of Peanut and he was so mad/sad when we had to part ways with him; can you see the frustration on his face? He wanted the dog, all to himself. My kids ask, plead, beg on a daily basis for a dog or cat. When will I give in?

I don't know...maybe sooner than later, because I can't take much more of their pleading and sadness. They truly believe they are missing out on life...maybe we are. What do you think?

These are the days...

Some fun parts of a day...

We have a little night wanderer on our hands...his name is Jamison. When he goes to bed, he's in his room. When he wakes up, he's not! Not sure when he heads to his sister's bed, but for the last couple of months, this is where we find him!

Do y'all see this mess?!?!? I am posting this for all you folks that say my house is always tidy...it's NOT!!! This was the kids' fort; it's always fun to build, but it's a MONSTER to pick up!!

It's a good thing he's so darn cute. Or else, I might scream at the messes he makes in a matter of seconds or minutes! I am not sure what this concoction was!

Where's Jannah?

Where is she?

She's somewhere in the midst of these 2nd graders! Look in the middle, scan to the left a few kiddos and boom! There she is, in turquoise, on the top row! The second grade program was really cute tonight. They have been working on it for several months now and their work paid off. Jannah even sang a song that I sang in my elementary music class, with Mr. Smith...La Cucaracha!

Jannah had a line in the program...she did perfect!

Jannah and her music teacher, Mrs. B

Jannah with her friend, C.

My girl made her Mama *proud* tonight and she also made a tear roll down her cheek...

All in a week...

I've been *meaning* to post pictures of Jordan playing and Greg coaching basketball...always seem to forget the camera or not get any good shots, but I finally did! Our church is hosting Upwards basketball, Greg coaches Jordan's team; Jordan played football and Jannah has also cheered through this wonderful program. I really do love it! Kids learn through a loving technique, it's not meant to be harsh and competitive, they learn scriptures, have a devotion at practice and start the games off with prayer. It just re-enforces what we are trying to teach at home, and I'll take some re-enforcement, anytime!

I've mentioned the Cup before...a couple of my friends thought they needed to try it! So, we got a sitter and just the mamas headed over for lunch and cupcakes to bring home! Thanks friends, I enjoyed it!

I got a Mayan Mocha for myself and an Italian Creme for my sweetheart! They were so good. I don't know why, but an over sized cupcake that's decorated all pretty just hits home with me; I suppose you're never too old to like a cupcake!

!!!!!!!!!BIG NEWS!!!!!!!!!!

Jannah got a haircut AND I'm happy to say that she "loves it!"

!!!!!!!!!!MORE BIG NEWS!!!!!!!!!!

I got one, too! And I am happy to say that I also love my new cut! I've had long hair for so long and it just feels fresh to have something different. Greg says it's one of his favorite cuts...I'm still trying to decide if he's just trying to earn points :)

Our biggest excitement might have been last Monday when Jamison fell and busted his head. I thought I knew what happened, but as I was telling the story for the 10th time the other day, Jannah informed me that I had told it wrong and that it didn't happen the way I had been telling it...NICE! I may never know exactly what happened, only Jannah and Jamison will. What I do know is that it involved a laundry basket, hardwood floor, and the edge of a chair. Oh yeah, and Jamison's forehead. I was upstairs when I heard the scream, first Jamison's, then Jannah's frantic ones. I ran down only to see blood everywhere and two upset children. Jannah helped my get Jamison dressed (he was wearing shorts, like he always does when he's at home) and then we drove to my friend Amy's, a few houses down; I wanted another adult to agree that I should head to the ER. She said, yes. So, off we went. Greg and Jordan were at basketball practice. After waiting at the urgent care, they thought we should got to the children's hospital in St. Louis, so that Jamison could be comfortable while getting stitches...okay I said. Greg and Jordan joined us after practice; everyone was so concerned about our littlest J. We decided that Greg should take the older J's home(they did not want to leave) and I took Jamison to the hospital. We get there and wait...only to find out he needs some glue and he will be good to go! So, after all of the waiting and two different places, he has a glued up forehead! I'm just glad it's not any worse!

What's up?

Whew!!! Does it ever slow down? We've been busy and I've been meaning to blog and do a bazillion other things! So, here's a few things that have been going on...

****************I was totally interrupted while putting this post together. Our area was under a severe weather warning. We had been tracking the storms for a while; 70 + mile per hour wind, hail and rain...you know what that means: TORNADO!!! We decided after hearing the sirens and watching the storm move our way that we should head down to the basement. I think this might have also prompted us to go down there: I heard the weather man say on TV, "IF you live in the following cities (he names ours), you should be in your basement, NOW!" At that moment we heard crazy wind and hail, we grabbed up our sleeping kids and ran down there. I ran down with Jordan and Jamison and blankets...I cleared all those steps pretty darn fast!! I can say, that was a first for me, for all of us! We all slept together after that; there was no way my kiddos were going back to their beds! All is well and I don't think any major damage was done; I saw, on FB (which is a very worthy source) where a tornado touched down in our area; I'm sure we will see the damage when we get out today! Now back to the blog post...

We put on our boots and headed to see the PBR (Professional Bull Riders) in St. Louis. We had a good ole' time! I've always enjoyed rodeos and bull riding; I told my mama, that I think I shoulda' been a cowgirl! Seriously! We had our favorites from the get-go: we cheered for the man from GA, the man from IL (our current home state) and the man named Skeeter...how could you not pull for Skeeter?!? Unfortunately, none of them won tonight. I will tell you who did win...my sweet little Jordan! He looked so cute today!

Mama's little cowboy!!!

When we lived in Korea, I met a gal named Kelly. Little did I know that she would turn out to be one of my closest friends...I call her a heart friend! She and her two adorable boys spent a day with us while they were visiting their family here in Illinois. We always have so much fun together and just pick up right where we left off!

Doesn't this girl look silly? A friend (whom I have not seen in years, but now keep up with on FB) told me about these curlers, thanks Kara! They are called Curlformers, you can purchase them at Sallys. They are a bit on the expensive side, but they do work...very well! Jannah has a new favorite way of wearing her hair, can you guess how that might be??

Before : she actually sleeps in them!

After: one happy, curly-headed little girl!