Our 1st Visit with Clara Ruth Newman

We enjoyed our visit with Clara, Lori, Burt, and John so much this past Memorial Day weekend. What an awesome sight to see our new granddaughter! The boys played and played. I took the boys to WalMart shopping of course...and we came home with lots of food and....yep, TOYS! John and I made a birthday cake for Mommy (her favorite). John wanted a piece of cake for breakfast....kind of sounds like his Uncle Larkin on that one. They rode the John Deere tractor, we had a water gun fight, we got to enjoy the "Three Man Band" (I'll have to snag those picts from Sissy Lori) and got to spend some quality time holding our precious new granddaughter. Sleeping Beauty!

Umm, I'm thinking I'll go to UT to college!

Larkin said "my brother-in-law can't wait to see me!"

Mommy holding the princess

Just don't back up Uncle! When you do I get dumped out!

The water gun fight was really fun as it was 97 degrees in Columbus on May 24, 2008
Columbus has changed so much since I lived there 15 years ago. I was simply amazed at the change.

Larkin's 5th Birthday Party

We had Larkin 5th Birthday party on May 17th. Larkin had a SpiderMan Birthday party. Larkin and Mommy made the Spiderman cake. We had such a good time. Larkin had lots of friends and family at his birthday party. He greeted every guest as they arrived and took them straight to "Toy Central" (aka Larkin's Room). After Larkin's party, we went skating. This was our 1st time skating and we had a super time! Now, if we could just get to the driving range or golf course.....

Cool gifts! Thanks Everyone!

Taye Taye and Nay Nay

Swing batter batter batter....

The scramble for the candy

Brother and Katie

Jason and Taye Bug

And then, we went skating (for the 1st time ever)

Then, we went.....swimming! What a day! What a fun, fun day!

Happy Birthday Little Man!

Clara Ruth

Well, Miss Clara Ruth finally made her arrival and only 1 day late.....Larkin said, "hey, she was supposed to be born on my birthday!" (I'll defer this one to Lori!...you got some splaining to do, Lori!) We are so happy she is here and it is just fine that she has her own birthday. Uncle Larkin was 5 on May 14th and Clara was born May 15th (our 5th grandchild). We are so happy and excited! Uncle Larkin is especially tickled.

Clara Ruth Newman was born May 15th at 12:42 p.m. and weighed 6 lbs 15 1/2 oz. She is 19 inches long. Mom and Clara are both doing well.

Isn't she beautiful!

Larkin is starting to enjoy using my camera. He took this picture in B'ham last weekend. He's a really neat kid and awfully intelligent! Go Larkin Go!

Larkin had fun last weekend in Gulf Shores. He played and played in the sand. Of course, we had to eat at the Original Oyster House, Lulu's, and Lambert's (Home of the Throwed Rolls). You won't believe this but Larkin ate a crab claw at Lulu's! He also ate an almond in Birmingham when we went to eat with Josh and Alicia and baby Caroline. My how my baby is growing up!


See my baby eating a crab claw for the very 1st time!

Sweet Baby Caroline "getting" Larkin. Larkin is great with babies, oh who am I kidding, everyone loves Larkin and Larkin loves everyone!

We spent the last weekend in April at American Girl in Atlanta, well the girls went to American Girl and the men went to the Car Show. It was a fun weekend. We met Grandmama and Granddaddy there along with Uncle Chris, Aunt Sissy, Olivia, and Jordan. We were blessed to have Seth and Katie and Jason and Brandy, Brookie, Brandon, and Taylor join us. Larkin loves everyone so much and loves for us all to be together. What an awesome weekend!

Larkin's 5th Birthday

Today is May 14th, 2008 and my baby boy is now 5 years old! My how fast he is growing up!

I have been thinking about how much my baby boy has grown this past year and all I can say is WOW. Four must be the best age in the whole wide world!

Today Larkin is 43 inches tall and weighs 43 pounds! I don't know how much longer I will be able to pick him up, but I love picking him up and holding him and kissing and squeezing him!
I love the way he hugs me and holds me and the way he "snuggles me up" at night. I love his sweet kisses and the way he says "Mommy, I love you so so much!" I mostly love how much he truly means it.

I love the way he still says "t-ball Cractice" (practice) and how he says "reg lee ar" (regular) milk. As you all know, Chocolate Milk is his favorite! I miss all the "baby" words he used to say like Movie Ater....now it is Movie Theater. I love how protective he is over his nieces and nephews. I love how he told everyone he was getting another Niece for his Birthday! He knew Clara was a girl long before we found out that Sissy Lori was going to have a baby girl. Larkin also said Sissy Brandy was going to have a boy and another boy it is!

I love how Larkin plays games and has such a vivid imagination. I love how he writes his name and how he notices every little detail in this world....and how he never forgets anything!

Larkin says "Mom, Dad, you can't believe what's coming on at 7:30, 6:30 central.....it's Batman the Animated Series!" (as he dun dun duns and holds him arm in the air like he is going to fly!)

Larkin is not a morning person and Daddy just some how does not understand that! (I had experience in this with Seth....so Mommy has it down pat!). SO, our mornings go something like this.....
Larkin: "Mom, Daddy is hurting my feelings, I just want to stay in bed in sleep. I don't wanna go to school."
Mommy to the rescue! I do silly things like say ok, Larkin, help me get your shirt on your legs...and Larkin says, "no Mom, my shirt goes on my arms and over my head." Well, let's put your pants on your head.... He laughs and I laugh and Daddy laughs and we sing silly songs and I get to carry Larkin in to breakfast while Daddy fixes it. Larkin wants Mommy to take him to school everyday, and I just love this....it's always just one more hug and one more kiss.... I love the "Mommy, I just miss you so much!" and I miss you too little man.

Larkin is just so personable and he cracks me up all the time. Like the other day when I said something about being pale. he said "Mom, are you a pale face? Why did you take my land?" My sweet little Cherokee baby!

He has the most wonderful and contagious laugh in the whole wide world (kind of like his Daddy's). He makes everyone happy and most importantly, he makes every one feel truly loved!

He finally spent some time away from Mommy and Daddy and spent a whole week in Georgia with Granddaddy and Grandmama and Aunt Sissy and Uncle Chris, Olivia and Jordan. He had fun. Cavan got to spend the night with Larkin at Grandmama and Granddaddy's house. Larkin also got to see Cavan's baby chicks. He thought that was so awesome. As a matter of fact, he was on the phone with me crying about how much he missed me and wanted me to come get him....he saw the chicks and said bye Mom. He missed his Mommy and Daddy, but did really well I think. Mommy, on the other hand, whew....well......let's just say it will be a very long time before he does that again!

The Orange and White Game

These guys really know how to have fun and make our lives so enjoyable just being with them and watching them grow!

A NEW CAR TAG FOR SETH AND KATIE!!

BROOKIE AND KINKIN (AKA LARKIN)



BRANDY AND BROOKIE

JASON AND THE BOYS!

We took our crew to the orange and white game Saturday. The kids had a blast "tailgating", watching the game, and just being together.....

Our Caribbean Vacation

Larkin at the airport in Fort Lauderdale....Is he cute or what? He
had his Superman Backpack and his Batman Duffle Bag....the Superman Backpack was full of toys for the trip! He is just too cute! I could just reach out and squeeze him right now just looking at this picutre! On the Ship, the Imagination, he had a blast. He made many new friends, young and old alike. The Imagination was a good name for the ship my little man cruised on....he loved it and was busy here "karate chopping" the water.....being the SuperHero that he is.....
Here he is on the Pirate Ship with his new girlfriend, Riley in Grand Cayman. She is from Alabama (but don't hold that against her). She is cute as a button and has an adorable older sister, Walker. Walker and Riley not only walked the plank like Larkin, but they jumped from the top of the ship into the ocean as well. Larkin said they are "fearless!" They "swabbed" the deck and were just so cute!

Saturday (the barn cleaning) and Sunday Church

So, this Saturday, we cleaned out the barn after 2 and 1/2 years of sheer procrastination! Seth and Katie came, Jason and Brandy (and the spoils go to this couple -- who seemed to load up the most to go home with!). We were all there (kids too) in our "it doesn't matter if this ever comes clean again" clothes! (Lori, Burt, and John were house hunting -- I wish John had been there though as the kids seemed to have a great time "treasure hunting!"). So, the barn is pretty clean and Jeff's blood pressure seems to be more normal today.....I found many things that I had simply forgotten about and many things that I have needed (but had no idea where to look to find it!)....Now, I have about 10 boxes to bring inside and find a home for those particular items...

Boy, how I wish I had pictures of this day! It was actually fun!

Then we took the babies bowling....they had a blast (I have a few picts of this, but need to get them off my camera). Brookie jumped up and down everytime she bowled....and you won't believe this but Brooklyn, Brandon, and Larkin all got a spare.....

Sunday morning we found ourselves at Sunday School talking about David (and how you can pass down junk or you can pass down blessings to your children and their children and their children's children....). Then when we went in to church what song were they singing except...an Everlasting God....the same song we sang over and over and the Living Proof Conference in Jacksonville. It is an awesome song full of power and grace!

Living Proof Ministries

Beth Moore Conference in Jacksonville (sorry Lori, I had to borrow the pictures from you).

Travis Cottrell and the Praise Team from Nashville, TN

I was fortunate enough to head south two weekends in a row. Mama, Lora, and I went to see Beth Moore in Jacksonville, Fl. We had a great time! I am afraid that I am truly guilty of loving the praise and worship songs.....Music moves me and praise and worship songs move me in a way that nothing else does. I'm sure it is the Praise and Worship that gets to me everytime. Thanks to Lori and her friends, we had a room on the same floor as her group (and got to hear Sara laugh until 2 am -- it was her birthday!). We also had seats on the front row....Mama's knees thank you! Isn't God AWESOME! That is the FAVOR of GOD which is of itself an awesome experience! See how it came together? It was purposefully and divinely planned...and they were blessed! Grace, blessings, favor, and there's more.......so much more......

EASTER SUNDAY

Granddaddy and Grandmama












Daddy and Mommy with the children












Tater Tot!










Daddy, Mommy, and KinKin









Jas, Bran, BB&T






What an awesome pict of BB&T

My Crew Plus Two!

Ok, so I'm a little behind on picts....

Here are some pictures of my wonderful family from Easter. Larkin actually spent Easter with his cousins in Georgia. This was his 1st Easter with everyone. The last Easter we went home was 2003 right after the twins were born and I was VERY pregnant with Larkin.. He had such a great time this year (I think we all did)! Thanks Aunt Laura for the Easter Sunday Dinner at your house! We all had such a good time! Larkin doesn't get to play with his cousins as much as he would like....what a great day we all had! Thank you God for this wonderful family!

BFF

Nana and Brookie, BFF (Best Friends Forever), Brooklyn wanted to create this page because her Mommy told her that my Granny was my best friend. Her Mommy told her that if she talked to me about Granny that it would make me cry because I still miss and love my Granny very much. She did and I did. Brookie said that she and I would be Best Friends Forever just like I was with my Granny. What a brilliant little girl! She loves her Nana and her Nana loves her!!!!!

P.S. Brookie typed the BFF all by herself!

Nana sure loves her princess!

Lightning McQueen!

A you're Adorable, B you're so beautiful,

C I can't believe you're really 5!

My how time flies by, my twinlets were 5 last week! It is not everyday that a woman becomes a grandmother and as such it is quite extraordinary when your 1st grandchild is TWINS!

One Girl, One Boy.....and they are ever so amazing. Thank the Lord that we had previous experience with twins in that my sister had the most beautiful identical twin girls just a few years earlier. Being blessed with twin nieces and being able to be big part of their lives has been such a blessing to me and they have been especially helpful with our youngest set of twins......there is such a kindrend spirit and we are all very much connected to each other.

The latest addition to our family

OK, So this is Buster, Woof, Rascal, Jack, Rastas, or Buster
Woofie John Loon.....and Itchy.....not sure which one
will stick...right now he answers to them all!

WOW Brandon, I can't see you or the puppy......I love little boys in camo!
Ok, so by now you've guessed it.....we all got new sunglasses on our trip to pick up the puppy!

This is our fashion statement angel......Princess Brooklyn!

Yes, Baby Boy, I see those big beautiful brown eyes! You are sooo cool!

Larkin asked us the other day "how did I get such a wonderful Mommy and Daddy?" When I was able to breath again, I said "and how did I get such a wonderful little boy? Larkin said, "I don't know, God gave me to you!" Yes He did Little Man, yes He did!

"Life is not measured by the breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath...."

author unknown.

Larkin's Imagination....

Who could ever forget the Red Ranger!?!


Yes, It is Anakin Skywalker and we all know who he later became....of course, I always get to be the leading lady, when he is Anakin, I am Padama Amidala.... When he is in Star Wars Mode, he will also be Luke Skywalker or Obiwan Kenobi or just plain old Ben Kenobi......

This is the coolest Capt Jack.....oops, excuse me, that is Captain Jack Sparrow.....Arrrgh, Matey.

I love the dreadlocks!

When he is Batman (Bruce Wayne) I get to be Barbara Gordon (aka BatGirl!) Awesome! Daddy gets to be Alfred! Hehe!

When Larkin was 2 he could tell you (and he still can) that Batman is Bruce Wayne, Spiderman is Peter Parker, and Superman is Clark Kent! Now, just how many people know that!?!

Every Moment of Every Day, Larkin uses his imagination to the fullest....When he was just a liitle boy, I would say "Larkin" to which his response would be "Mom, I'm not Larkin, I'm ???? (whoever he chose to be at the moment). He used to say to me I'm Deananern...That was a hard one, but thank goodness, Daddy finally figured it out. He was the Green Lantern! These are some highlights of the past few "characters" that we live with on a daily basis. As O and J always say, Larkin is the only 4 year old with his own "Theme Song".....we always here him humming and then he appears.....he's (whoever????) today!