Larkin's 5 year old pictures

Today we put up our Christmas tree

Today we put up our Christmas tree and started decorating a little bit. Then it dawned on me that I have not posted Larkin's 5 year pictures. I am going to get busy on that, that will be my next project. As we were decorating the tree, Larkin said this is the best Christmas ever! He is so excited and I am excited for him! This morning when he woke up, he said "Mom and Dad, you are the best Mom and Dad ever and I don't know what I would ever do without you. I would be so sad without you." He is so sweet and precious. He stops in the middle of conversations just to say, "Mom and Dad, I love you" He says it with such meaning and he truly does mean every word of it....I hear it also when he hugs and kisses his grandparents, his brother and sisters, his aunts and uncles. He truly does love everyone. Well, I need to stop for now and get busy wrapping gifts!

Larkin earned his green belt!

Way to go Little Man! Larkin earned his green belt and Mom got to buy his Sparring Gear! Yeah me! It is so much fun and his instructor said he cannot believe how focused and intelligent this little 5 year old is....I said "well, we think so" and he said "no, really...I have never seen a 5 year old like him, you noticed I could not put him in the cubs with the children his own age..he would be too bored and he is doing very well, very well indeed"....(he never met his brother).....

Okay....there is where I have to say it....here goes....there is a scientific study out that shows that boys get their brains from their Mother's....it is true! Ok, I said it....there it is......

Larkin has fun telling people that he has his green belt and Mom just has a white belt. It costs so much to test...I'm thinking of testing at some point when he is not testing....and now that he has sparring gear....I may have to stop with a green belt....not sure I can afford for both of us to get into sparring! Good luck Laura with Cay and Cav!

Thanksgiving 2009

Wow, we have so much to be thankful for this year....We had two new additions to our family, Clara in May and Jonathan in September. Seth and Katie came by and Brandy, Jason, Brooklyn, Brandon, Taylor, and Jonathan were with us for an early lunch. When the kids said the blessing, we paused for a moment and Brookie and I had another prayer....we even prayed that baby Jonathan's nostrils would get a little bigger so that he could breathe better! It was cute, sweet, and funny! Who says God doesn't have a sense of humor! I have no idea, but He created us and gave the most amazing humor to little children.....and I know He has a good sense of humor because we laugh daily with our children and grandchildren! These little ones really crack me up and I love it....every single minute of it! Besides, He gave me a baby at 40! Most people laugh at that....I say it is the biggest blessing ever! What an Awesome God we serve!

A Revelation...through the eyes of my Child

Yesterday morning, I did not have to go to work and Larkin and I took our time getting to school. We went over a few bible verses and the next thing I know this wonderful little conversation occurred....it went like this:

Larkin said Mom, when I was in heaven, before God gave me to you, Brookie was my sister. We used to just fly around and play tag. She always tried to tag me on my side (on his ribs). We would fly right by God. I was so fast, but sometimes Brookie would tag me on my nose...one time she tagged me on the back of the head and knocked me down right on the clouds. God would hold us, He is my father and we were great friends. He played with us and He would laugh. Brandon would fly around too fast and God had trouble catching him, but then he went right, then left, and God caught him right in the face (like this)... Jesus was our big brother and He was a great big brother---almost like a father. God was too nice to me. When He found you, Mom, He wanted to give me to you. It is very important to have good Mommy's and Daddy's...so he said I could come live with you and I did. I miss Him, Mama, and I can't wait to see Him again.

When Larkin had finished his story....I said Little Man do you have any idea just how PRECIOUS you are? he said, "yes mam, I shore do"....... Do you see and hear what I do? He has this most wonderful insight and gift from God to discern this truth at his young age. God is his father and Jesus was a great big brother...almost like a father! Pray for us that we can nurture this gift in the path that he should go.... Aunt Betty always says that Larkin is so so special and that we do not yet fully realize how special he is....I can only imagine.....

Lordy, Lordy Carl is 40!

We had a lot of fun at Carl's 40th birthday party! Some family and friends attended (a lot actually)...and we all wore our team colors. Thank God no one was there with FL on....I'm sure they would've gotten the boot! It is kind of cool having a 40 year old brother....I am hanging on to 29! So this is really cool!

Seth and Katie finally get engaged! And Seth gets treed

Seth and Katie have a website with all their wedding info on it as well as some pictures.....
It is csethandkbeth.com
Check out their website and stay updated as this event unfolds....
Katie, I still need a picture for my blog....email it if you can!

Bo calls me on Sundays

I get phone calls from Bo on Sunday's. I used to get an occasional letter, but now we get to email. It is so much easier to keep in touch this way. He also calls Brandy. Tonight Brookie asked me who I was talking to on the phone and I said oh, that was Bo...she said oh, "uncle Bo" and I said yes Brookie, it was Uncle Bo. How do you like the sound of that Bocephus!?!
Staying in touch with Bo has been very important to me because I love and care about him so much....as any mother would. I could no more walk out of his life than I could any child's life. It has been a good experience for me to continue to be part of his life and watch him grow and mature and learn from his mistakes. Some things are hard to understand, but I will always be here for you Bo.......always. I love you.

The Photo Shoot (as Lori called it!)

AND THIS IS WHY!

Try getting 7 children together all ages 5 and under for pictures!

Well at least we tried!

Brothers!

Uncle Larkin holding Clara

The Princesses!

Brandy's babies....with new baby brother

Clara's Christening

We were fortunate enough to be in Clarksville for Clara's christening and John's birthday party. We had so much fun and so enjoyed spending time with Lori, Burt, John, and Clara. Clara's christening was a wonderful day for us and the princess did so well during the service. She is beautiful and so very precious to us. God Bless you, Clara.

Burt, Lori, and Clara

Papaw and Princess Clara

Papaw's hand and Clara's feet.

Call me crazy but I love pictures of the kids whether it is their face, feet, hands, it is part of them and since time passes as fast as it does....I love these pictures that are uniquely theirs....

Uncle Larkin and John inspecting the big package and trying to decide where the best place to begin opening this would be? Ok, so one of John's other Uncle's (it is very hard to tell which one this is, since they are twins too!) is helping with this big present. John said he liked the John Deere tractor that Granddaddy and Grandmama sent the best!