Wacky Wednesday

Levi is so self-conscience, bless his heart. He hardly wanted to "rock the boat" and dress wacky today. He said he did, then he didn't, then he did and back and forth, then finally, he did! I just wish he could chill a little and not worry so much about what others think of him. Maybe it's just a stage. He did finally loosen up and even went a little on the wild side and wanted his hair wacky, Oh my goodness! A huge step for him, ha! Love him to pieces though. This is his Wacky-Wednesday-Wear.

Houston just got out of the bed but this child loves the camera. He struck a pose like he had been up for hours, without me even asking.

The bandanna and 2 different shoes were actually his idea.

Houston is killing me!!

My sweet baby, my 2nd and last child my womb will bear. Good gracious he's cracking me up and he doesn't even mean too. And don't you dare laugh, because he thinks you're making fun of him, he gets really upset. But oh my goodness, he is so funny. He likes to pilfer with letters and numbers a little. He doesn't get all excited about the idea of taking a break from "his shows" or the DS to learn a little, but he still has another year so I'm not gonna push it. Anyway, he said

"Momma, I know how to spell some words, now."

"You do? Like what?"

"Well, like TV.... a T and a V, TV"
And like My KK....a K and a K"
And like pee pee, you know like #1.....a P and a P"
And like a bb for a bb gun.....a B and a B"
And the last one is "OH!"....a "O".

This child is killing me!!
"Oh buddy, you are so smart already and you haven't even started school yet."

"Yes Mam.....Y.E.S.!"
Hilarious!! Don't they just brighten your day?!

Homecoming Week

My little fella sported the plaid PJ pants and T-Shirt on Monday for Pajama Day. That would bring us to today, Tuesday, "Super-Hero Day"!! Who thought of this one?! Great idea!! Levi was torn, Batman, Superman, Spiderman, etc. The decision was easily made when he couldn't fit into hardly any of them anymore, so Superman it was! I love my "Super-Kids"! :) Don't want to even think about life without them.

We had to modify a little. "Momma I still gotta be able to play football at PE!"

Notice the missing tooth on his left side. That was the one pulled by Houston!

Most mornings I just pull Houston right out of bed in a blanket and off we go. I heard him up and "piddling" around. This was the result. He had dressed himself in Spiderman. I think they look like Super-Special Super-Heroes!!

Special Prayer Request

I would love for all of you, my blogger sisters and friends, to join me in praying for a dear cousin. She is actually my 2nd cousin and she has been diagnosed with Stage 1 Breast Cancer. Her name is Gwinna Boyd and she lives in Jasper. She has a precious teenage daughter and supportive husband. They are Christians and believe in the power of prayer and so do I. Please lift her name and family up to the Lord in your prayers. May God Bless each of you for your faithfulness and "what a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer".

"Brownies From Heaven"

SERIOUSLY, they fell straight out of the clouds!! They are officially the best brownies I have ever eaten and rate right up there with one of the best desserts I have ever eaten, and believe you me, I have put some away!! You will like them too, that is if you like anything that has to do with loads of butter, cocoa, powdered sugar, sugar, etc.
I have a dear friend who shares some of her wonderful recipes on a recipe blog, which by the way I have enjoyed feasting on some of them. I however, don't want to start a recipe blog, but do want to share this particular recipe. Even, the Good Lord has a sense of humor now and I don't mean this disrespectful in any way, but I am almost certain these will be present at The Marriage Supper of The Lamb, ha! And by the way, add a scoop of vanilla ice cream and the Angels just might rejoice with ya!!

"BROWNIES FROM HEAVEN"
1 cup butter, softened
2 cups sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla extract
2 cups A/P flour
1/2 cup baking cocoa
1 cup chopped walnuts

FROSTING:
1/2 cup butter, softened
3 1/2 cups powdered sugar
1/3 cup baking cocoa
1/4 cup milk
1 tsp. vanilla extract

1. In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each. Beat in vanilla. Combine flour and cocoa, add to creamed mixture, just until combined. Stir in walnuts.
2. Spread into an ungreased 13x9 pan. Bake at 350 for 23-28 mins. Cool on a wire rack.
3. For frosting, in a small bowl, beat butter until fluffy. Beat in powd. sugar, cocoa, milk and vanilla until smooth. Spread over brownies. Cut into bars.

Another Tooth Gone

While Levi and Houston were playing today, Levi lost another tooth. They were playing with a rope and gloves being wild Cowboys. I know, I know, but it's been raining outside so I pretty much just let them do whatever. They were Cowboys using lassos and had to have gloves to not burn their hands, right? Anyway, Levi had one of Houston's gloves in his mouth and Houston gave it a pull. He not only pulled the glove out but also one of Levi's loose teeth! They were both in shock. They just stood there kinda looking at each other. It was so funny. No tears and just a little blood, no harm no foul! Another day in the life of 2 healthy, rowdy boys.

Houston's New Belt

On Thursday, Houston received a new belt! YAY Houston!! He loves Karate and it has been really good for him in a lot of ways. I am new to the whole Karate thing and wasn't sure of the process. Anyway, he started out with a white belt. He received two stripes on it so he advanced to the next belt. White with a yellow stripe. The little ceremony was so cute. Ms. Rachel presented him with this stripes. She then laid the new belt in front of him on the floor. He then had to take off the old and throw it away and turn around to find his new one. So cute. And of course he was smiles the whole time. Isaiah also received another stripe on his belt. He has been taking for almost a year now and he really enjoys it too. They have to focus and really pay attention which will actually get them a stripe whether they have mastered the new kicks, hits, etc. or not. He is so proud of himself and so am I. Thanks MeMaw for coming with us!

Patiently waiting for his instructions.

Look at the smile. He was loving it!

Time to throw away the old......
And put on the new!
He really loves Ms.Rachel. She is great with them!
It was so cute, while Houston was out on the pad, Isaiah had already went off. He was cheering Houston on. "Go, Houston, GO! And then he ran out and gave him a BIG hug! Too cute.

Houston Humor

Houston told KK today that he wanted them to play "Mario-Polo". Someone has been playing a little too much DS.

Berry vs Sulligent

We made the long, rainy trip to Sulligent and boy was it worth it!! The boys won 22-12!! They really are improving every game and it is so much fun to watch. They are so cute and get so excited. Adam had told the boys to pump the crowd up at half-time. Of course, we all stand up and act only as a crazy mother would act and they got a kick out of it. After the game, we headed to The Country Squire to eat. Josh said something to Levi about the crowd. Levi is so reserved and growny sometimes. He said, "Yea, Coach Adam told us to do it. I wasn't real crazy about it. It seemed like a little showing out to me." This is a 7 year old speaking not a 77 year old. Don't they just surprise you sometimes with the way they react to things? I told him it was ok to enjoy winning but not to rub it in too bad. "Yea, I guess so." He makes me think of Eeyore, from Winnie the Pooh, when he responds to some things. Just so old and mature acting at the ripe old age of 7.

They really got excited when they realized they had just won!!

"I'm Amazing, and that's all that matters!"

You know how we all want to be the ultimate Mom. "Cool", comforting, kisser of the boo-boo's, lap for their sleepy, sweaty little heads, first one they want when they wake up and all that good stuff. Well, I appreciate my Mom so much just because I took her for granted and she never noticed, or supposedly she didn't. When I think of the impact I have on my boys and how I am helping to mold them into the men they will someday be, I am overwhelmed. I give of myself, according to Josh sometimes too much, and it doesn't matter as long as they are happy. They tell me thank you with their smiles, hugs, love and by patting me on the butt. So not sweet and ooohy-gooohy but they run by and slap me and I know, that they know, that I'm still there. It can be crazy at times with a house full of testosterone but I love every crazy second of it. And I know one day they will be grown and will tell me in words, hopefully, how they love me and what they think about me. Right now, their vocabulary is very limited and that's fine, no problem there. But they both made comments last night that made me want to ball!!

Houston received a DS for his birthday and they love it. I'm not a video game fan, simply because I don't have the time to be but I could get a little addicted if time allowed. Anyway, they wanted me to play with them and it was close to bedtime so I did. They watched intently and let out the yells and sighs. Never realizing how many men it had taken to get through a certain level they had been having problems with, I did make it.

They both high fived me and Levi said the sweetest thing to me. His eyes were huge from excitement and shock. He sees me as his Mom, caretaker and disciplinarian. But he looked at me as if he saw me as someone different, then. "Oh, Momma, wow, you are awesome, you're amazing. I didn't know I had a cool Momma as you! You're the best. You made it Momma, you did it!"

OK For some reason chills went all over me and I wanted to cry. How sweet. He thinks I'm amazing, he thinks I'm awesome and all I did was sit down and play about 15 mins of Nintendo DS with them. When I'm thinking, I have fixed him the nicest of clothes, fixed him his favorite meal, etc. that stuff does not matter to him. Just sitting down and accomplishing something he can't and killing a little dragon made me awesome in his eyes. I'm gonna stop trying so hard to be the perfect Mom and focus on being HIS, Houston's Mom, not what everybody says I should be as a Mother, but the things that matter to them, more. I'm definitely not forgetting my duties but rather I'm gonna focus on some of my desires. Like one on one time, just for 15 mins. that I would have seen as "wasting time" but that he will remember and tell his friends about. Is that selfish, I hope not. But I truly felt like I had received the best compliment ever. It was so worth wasting 15 mins for. They hugged me, screamed, called for their Daddy to come see. It was a great moment. Then after they settled down, Houston simply looked at me and said, "Momma, you're a Super-Hero!" OK, that's one the best nights of my life.

"Houston-Humor"

When I read my dear friend Kimberly's blog this AM, it triggered this from my memory box. A little Houston humor for ya. We were on our way back to Berry yesterday from Karate. We were headed to watch Levi practice. Houston was singing along with the radio and looking out the window. "Oh, Momma, look at the horses. Oh, that's a pretty teenager horse." "A what?" "A teenager horse. You know, not a baby one, but not big enough to be a Daddy one. A teenager horse." So cute.

"Not the usual"

As every AM, up and to the shower Levi goes. I usually grab underclothes, a pair of "swooshy shorts" and a T-Shirt and that's usually enough. I had just got that stuff together and he calls from the shower. So, I go in.
He says, "Momma, I don't want to wear the usual stuff today. I want like some plaid shorts and a shirt with a design on it."
"OK, but you usually wear your flip flops with those kind of clothes."
"NO, can't wear flip flops. I have to be able to run and race when I need to."
"Do you think that will look ok with your tennis shoes, remember their black."
"Yeah, that should be fine."
Well, he puts on the "outfit", Josh hates when I say that. He says men don't wear outfits, they just wear clothes. Anyway, he decides he doesn't like the look with tennis shoes and I try to convince him he looks fine. I should've kept my mouth shut earlier about the shoes, he already has enough self-esteem issues, bless his heart. But I finally convince him he looks cool and that was that. Then we get ready to leave and he runs upstairs.
"Come on Son, your body spray is down here, we're gonna be late."
"I don't want the usual body spray, it doesn't last long. I want Dad's cologne it lasts ALL day!"

What is happening to my baby? He is changing so fast I can't hardly stand it!!! He is getting out of the normal stuff we have done for the last 2 years and wanting "Not the usual" stuff. I just wish I could capture all this and keep it in a bottle somewhere. It's really happening way too fast. Lately, the things he says and does is so grown up. Clothes, cologne and speech "not the usual" lately, but his smile, hugs and kisses still do the same usual thing.....MAKE MY DAY!!

Player Pics

Over the weekend, we gathered our fellas together to take some pics. Levi and Isaac both sport their Dad's old numbers on the Pee Wee Team and the future Wildcats have a jersey or two of their own. Aren't they just too cute?! Of course, when dealing with the male species and a camera, there will be the utter groans of dismay and the huffing and puffing while changing poses, but it all turned out ok in the end. And my boys have learned, cooperate and it will be over real soon. Don't cooperate and it's bound to take a while. Cause when Momma wants a picture, she's gonna get it. I'm sure ya'll really believe that don't ya?ha Seriously, I'm serious about my pics. Levi and Isaac were playing around on the field and I called his name and he stopped in mid pose, smiled and said "OK Momma, now your memory is captured forever!" Don't you just love those little smart mouths?! They start growing those around 7, don't they?

Levi's Latest

Well, my little man is like most children, flat out honest!! I had to sub in Levi's Sunday School class and he cracked me up. The lesson page had sins on the left and the thing you should do on the right. They had to match up the wrong thing with the right thing instead. All their little lines were drawn and we flipped the page over.



On the back, it had a picture of a little boy praying. They had to fill in the blank with their name that read as such. I, Levi, recognize my sins and ask forgiveness, etc. etc. etc. SO, then they had a spot to fill in that read as this. I failed this week when I_________. Well we all know little ones don't out right sin, so I ask them to think of something they might have done over the week, that really wasn't nice. Such as hit your bro/sis, say something to hurt someones feelings, etc. Then they had lines to fill in that read as, I should have__________, instead.



SO, I let them all fill out their papers and tried not to embarrass anyone or be too nosy. BUT when I read Levi's I thought how amazing it was that he came up with this and I thought it was hilarious.



His paper read....... I failed this week when "I got unglued on my Dad."(he meant "came" unglued). Instead, "I should have..... counted to ten!" Yep, that's what he wrote. Pretty smart 7 year old, don't you think. OR maybe he's just heard, his Momma say something like that before
I "get unglued at his Dad!"ha Gotta love 'em!!

Berry vs Fayette

Well, our undefeated record is no longer undefeated. The boys did great though, considering the competition. Fayette won 20-12. Levi had a good game. Josh is still a little disappointed in Levi's defense but I told him the "child" couldn't be a "child prodigy" at everything. Patience, honey, patience. The Coach is always harder on his own. But they have a great relationship and Levi really listens to almost everything his Daddy tells him, about football that is. DO have pictures but won't bore ya. We play at Sulligent this weekend. Wish the boys the best!!

Steeple

I know I just blogged about our new steeple. However, I had to share this. We were coming home from Fayette last night and the steeple was lit up. It was beautiful, so peaceful and comforting. Levi said, "Aww Momma, look how pretty." Then Houston chimed in with, "Oh, Momma, that's prettier than a whole team of Alabama jerseys." I thought that was so cute. Can you believe he has already realized at the ripe old age of 5, his ALABAMA heritage?!ha I guess we have taught them well. Church and Alabama Football.ha Two of the most important things in life. The things they come up with.

PawPaw's Wish

My precious PawPaw had a "wish-list" of sorts, that he wanted for our church. One of which, was to have a nice, big steeple. Although, he wasn't here to see it happen, it has finally happened. It is beautiful!! We are so grateful for all that God is allowing our church to be blessed with. He is amazing and is worthy of all our praise! My PawPaw would've been so proud. I miss him so much. One day however, we will be reunited and I just might not let go of him for oh, a thousand years or so.

The stained glass around the steeple will be lit up at night. It is a rose color that matches our stained glass windows and interior of our church. It really is beautiful.

Houston has another stripe....

But I don't have a pic to post. I took one with my phone so I'll have to figure out how to get it from there to here. I know, I'm very technologically challenged. I'm so proud. Of him that is, not that I'm challenged. He's "making great strides"!

Berry vs. Northside

Well my little man got his first "W" for the year! We are now undefeated!! I know it's only 1-0 but they got a kick out of saying they were undefeated. We played in the rain and the boys loved every minute of it. I was fine and dry under my poncho and loved seeing my little man have fun. We play Fayette this Saturday so the undefeated record may all too soon be broken. Due to the weather I didn't chance taking the camera in. So sorry no pics, just a little note to remind myself about his first "real game" in the future. He's learning every day and improving more and more. Wish him luck!!

ROLL TIDE!!

ROOOOOOOOOOOLLLLLLLLLLLLLL TIDE ROLL!!

He's Baaack!!

My Houston arrived back safe and sound Friday night! He had a wonderful trip and Nana said he was absolutely great the whole trip. I was SO glad to see the little booger. Of course, he has many stories to tell and funny moments to share and I can't wait to hear them all! Thank you Lord, for keeping them safe and me sane this week.

Grandparents Day

Levi had Grandparent's Day at school on Tuesday. MeMaw was the only one able to come. Nana is in Nashville and both my Grandmothers had Dr. appts. We were so thankful MeMaw could come and join us. I love my baby and so do his Grandparents! SPOILED, but whose aren't?!

"Saturday Suggestion"

Now, isn't it amazing how when one of your children suggest an idea to their grandparents, they immediately begin to break their necks to make sure the idea is brought to fruition?! I believe that my children were born some sort of "Magical Grandparent Dust" that they can just sprinkle and use at anytime to get what they want.ha I do believe my boys have a way with their PePaw and Pop that totally amaze me. No matter the suggestion, fishing, swimming, skinny-dipping, going to the creek, riding this or that, or making a bird house, it's never too much to ask.

Levi and Houston recently suggested making a bird house. Guess what?! They made bird houses! Surprise!! Not only 1 but 2 birdhouses. I will have to say it was a good idea and the end product, was surprising. It did occupy most of their afternoon and I was able to sneak in a little nap, so not complaining! I thought a cute little birdhouse that would last a few weeks and fall apart, but check these out.

I have been having trouble with loading pics. Sorry for the crazy arrangement. But each house has a hinged door on the back to open and clean out. The boys are definitely proud of these.