My Three Kids

Notice the scripture on Landon's shirt and the skulls on Logan's. LOL

I know Kailee doesn't belong to me (even though Cindi says we can have her if we pay for everything) but she seems like she does. James loves having her around. He wishes that Whitney, Ansley and Malorie could all be here like Kailee is.

James' Impromptu Birthday Bash

We had a little impromptu birthday bash for James. We had to celebrate the big 3 8. We had planned to take him out to a nice place like The Galley for dinner but he didn't want a big deal made. Instead we actually threw some burgers on the grill and had cake.

This is What 38 Looks Like

This is what 38 looks like. James on his birthday relaxing by the pool with his 80's swimtrunks on. I hate them and they are only allowed at OUR house by OUR pool. We make fun of him everytime he wears them, which is everytime he comes to lay out, and we will continue to make fun of them til he gets it...throw them away. It's ok to let go of the past.

James with his Carbon shorts from Rue 21. Logan is trying to get him to dress cool. I love the frayed edges.

Picture of James with his new clothes....don't you just love the plaid? I picked the rust colored shirt because of his tan and I thought it would look great with his salt and pepper hair...he didn't like that reason.

Landon News!

Landon had to go to the eye doctor last week. Not that he couldn't see or anything, but he was having a hard time making out some colors. I was really hoping that maybe he didn't know his colors too well, I know, that is unlikely seeing how he is almost 10 years old, but I can still hope. Turns out the fella has perfect vision and is colorblind. He is red/green colorblind moderate. Just like my brother. Ah, the things we inherit from family. The kid has been all down about it. He was convinced he was going to have to wear glasses to correct his problem. He just didnt think he would be cute with glasses. Such a simple solution, but we all know it can never be simple and this is just the way it is. His eye doctor (mean old fart) told him that it will probably gradually get worse the older he gets. Landon finally got a grasp on the whole situation after he fully understood what colorblindness is. He was excited that no glasses were involved (after we had told him that for a million times) he cheered up. He said that now he understands why he has a hard time matching his clothes up and why sometimes he can't see what is on the smart board at school (if written in a shade of red/green). He told us that he quit drawing (the kid can draw really well) because he was having a hard time picking out the colors to color his drawings. He then had a eureka moment and told us that he could still draw in pencil and in pen. (We caught him doing that early yesterday morning) He always seems at peace when he draws. We had thought that maybe he had quit drawing because of his Nina passing away. She always encouraged his drawing. He told us that he thinks of her when he draws. In fact, last year at his birthday party, his teacher had come and brought him an art set. A very nice one. He never has used it. We figured he would pick it up one day and draw. He still hasn't yet. Maybe he will get ok with not seeing the colors as they are and just color again on his drawings. Art can be whatever you want it to be. He had a sketch pad out the other day as well. It was one that his Nina had bought him before she got sick. He flipped thru the pages and just looked at the pictures he had drawn with her. He keeps it put away like it is made of gold.

James and I were complimenting him the other day for dressing and actually matching. He slyly grinned and told us that he didn't do it. His brother is helping him now with his clothes. We are coming up with a system to help him (when brother isn't here to do it for him). He told me that he hopes that his wife one day will understand (and not be colorblind herself!) so she can match his clothes up for him. We told him if he was in doubt, go for the denim shorts and any shirt will usually match. His birthday is coming up. He asked me to tell all of our family not to buy him any plaid shirts or anything that remotely has the color pink in it. He doesn't see pink well, but he told me he can just sense when something is that color and BOYS DONT WEAR PINK.

We were going to town the other day and Landon piped up from the back seat and told us that it wasn't so bad being colorblind. He says he knows that he will never get to be an astronaut or fly a plane, but as long as he could see the white baseball coming at him and could still read his Bible (even the words written in red--I think we will have to highlight) and preach and spread the word about God and Jesus, he was going to be ok. That's my boy.

James VS. Boston

Some of you know that James is NOT a big fan of having a dog in the house, but he relented and bought me Boston on our 15th wedding anniversary....you know that infamous day I was served with my restraining order. Man, I was so excited. To be getting a dog that I wanted so bad and a LEGAL reason why I don't ever have to talk to James' brother and his wife ever again, what more could I ask for. Well, James has a love/hate relationship with Boston. He loves to play with him, get him all crazy and aggravated, but then hates it should Boston have an accident in the house or stare at him when he eats. Boston is very loyal to me. He loves me (if dogs are really capable of that emotion) and here lately, he doesn't like the boys (except for Logan) to get too close to me when it's his time to be next to me. He thinks that is most of the time. James aggravates him every night when we go to bed. The poor dog absolutely goes nuts. He has him growling and biting and barking. Boston has decided he has had enough of James. So, the other night, I came home from work and called James (he was on 3rd). I usually try to ignore Boston for a little while when I first get home or he will pee all over me. (Cocker Sprinkles) Well, he had calmed down and jumped on the bed while I was talking to James and taking my uniform off. He sits there and listens very intently while I am on the phone. In the midst of the conversation, I switched James over to speaker so I could change easier. Boston heard James' voice and promptly got up from the end of the bed and went to James' pillow. This isn't too unusual because he will sometimes sleep there if James is working. The next thing I know, he SQUATS on James' pillow and pees all over it. Then deciding that isn't enough, walks on down to where James' body would be and pees there. Needless to say, I nutted up. Logan and I were changing bed clothes at midnight. Score 1 for Boston. James will get him back though and the saga will continue. James said today that as we were shopping in Target that should anything ever happen to Boston, there will be no other dogs in the house. Well, I told him that I understood that he and Boston don't see eye to eye on things, but I love him. Then I went on to tell him that some of the crap that Boston does that aggravates the piss out of James is really sweet KARMA for all the crap I have had to put up with for 16 years with some people (refer to above) in his family. As it stands....Boston 1 James 0

The Baptism

The baptism went really well. It was wonderful to be able to stand up there with my boys and be baptized. We were so blessed that family came to see us and that my Godfather got to sing and be part of the service. People said it looked like we packed the pews. My dad, brother, my sister in law Tracy, my niece Whitney and her husband Jeremy were there as well as my sweet Mama Jo. A lot of our friends were there too, but they go to that church :). We all came home afterwards and grilled hamburgers and hotdogs and ate cake and banana pudding. It was fun. My niece Kailee came after work. After everyone left, she stayed with us to about midnight. We had so much fun just talking and laughing. At one point James got a little teary and then he turned to Kailee and me and said that this day was what he needed. We have let go of our past hurts with this day. We made a pact not to bring them up. This marked our new beginning. Wish I had pics to share but James made a video of the baptism and of my Godfather singing. Maybe I can make copies of it. I just need to schooled on how to do it. LOL.

In Memory of Our Sweet Nina

8-31-1936 to 6-9-2007

We miss you so much. Today we celebrated your memory. We laughed about your habit of "accidently" taking the knives from Texas Roadhouse when you had left overs. We talked about your collection of CiCi's Pizza red cups that you obviously felt where to go because they were plastic. You being the speed demon of Starr. I wonder how many people you told about your speeding ticket. We laughed about how you thought that Target should be boycotted. It was kind of ironic. That was one of the last places you asked me and James to take you. There and Texas Roadhouse. Landon got really quiet in the pool today. He said he misses you paddling around on his boogey board with him. Logan says he is convinced you would have a hissy and cut his hair yourself if you could see it now. We remembered your last words to all of us. To James: "I love you, hon. Go to work." Landon: "I love you Landy" Logan: a kiss and "love my goodlooking man." Me: while looking me eye to eye you said "I love you, just hold me and let me go". That by far was the hardest thing I ever did. We refused to have tears today. We know you are in Heaven with Jesus. We know you are preparing our mansion for us. Today was about happy thoughts, wonderful and some very funny memories. We love you. We know that we will all meet you in the air one day. You'll probably be one of the angels that descends to get us when it is our time to go. We know that angels come down. You told us when you seen yours. Landon says our house is so blessed for Jesus came down into his room to take his sweet Nina. He says that we should all hope for that. Love you.