Here's Your Sign...

In the past few weeks, I have noticed several signs that were either funny(ha ha) or funny (odd and random.) Below are a few examples

This is one we saw at the Botanical Gardens in the Sensory Garden. Heath was taking the sign literally, because it says "Use your eyes and your hands to compare the bark of different trees." There was also a tree that was labeled the "Apple Berry Service" tree. (Sorry, I didn't get a picture of that one.) I found it funny because I have always been told that no tree can produce two fruits, yet here we have a tree with Apples and Berries at your service.

This is one that my 5yr old saw in our van. Since he doesn't yet know how to read he interpreted the picture and said to me, "Mom, I guess you're not allowed to cry in our van." I will be sure to show it to him again the next time we are coming home late and he doesn't want to sleep on the way home (that is when he gets crabby and starts to cry.)

This one is funny (odd) to me because again taken quite literally the cemetery is our Exit from this world. I wonder if the people that decided that the school next to this cemetery should route their parking lot to have the exit there, thought about the irony of it when they were putting the sign in it's place? Maybe this is God's way of showing us he too has a sense of humor.



Another sign that I saw, but didn't get a picture of, is one that says "The village of Grayslake has decided that this highway will now be considered a Freeway." This sign is repeated several times down the road. First of all what in the heck is the difference in a highway and a freeway? Secondly why make this change? Will we now be fined if we call it by the wrong name?

As long as I am mentioning crazy signs, I have to mention the one at Tea Lake (or Lake Shelby) in Gulf Shores, AL. The sign says "Do Not Molest The Alligators." Heath always says "If they have a sign telling people not to do it, that means someone has tried it." Only in Alabama folks.

And of course I can't leave out the signs that inspire the infamous "dad jokes." Signs like "Stop Ahead," my dad always slammed the brakes and said "Where, I don't see a head" just to hear us girls say "Da -ad!" There was also the sign "Slow Children Playing." Dad would always say "Ok. girls be looking for those slow children." I always thought it was just my dad since he loves puns, but apparently these are universal. I have even heard heath use them on our own children.

I guess the saying "Mean what you say and say what you mean" -Alice in Wonderland, doesn't really apply to signs.

Late Nite Entertainment...

I would like to share with you all, the "movie" that the boys wrote and starred in last night before bed. I had to video in small increments so that it wouldn't take hours to downloaded to the computer. Enjoy everyone.

Ahh, Childhood is calling...

I remember very distinctly the very first time that I learned to french braid. We were preteens and were riding in the church van with a bunch of the teenagers. One of them asked if they could french braid myhair. My best friend, Dawn,watched very closley and then later in the day we practiced on each other's hair. That day is like a video in my head that I have watched over and over through the years. I can also recall a photograph in my mind of a couple of years later. My friend Dawn and I and a few other girls our age sitting on the back of the bench at summer camp with some preteeners in front of us. Since it was Alabama summers with temperatures hovering around 100 degrees or more, we had lines of girls needing thier hair braided. Those are some really fond memories.

I have always looked forward to the day that I had my own baby girl so that I could french braid her hair. I love how her hair curls around her face, but the curls also make it difficult to get a good braid, not to mention that fact that she is two years old and never stops moving. I had to braid it while her hair was wet, so when it dried it started falling apart. Well, at least it looked good long enough for pictures.

I also had another childhood memory over the weekend. I can remember when my sister and I were little girls we would sit outside in the grass for hours looking for four leafed clovers. I don't remember ever finding a four leafed one, but the memory of sitting in the grass with my little sister and making clover necklaces will be in head forever. This weekend I sat in the grass and made a clover necklace with my boys (Alyssa wouldn't sit still long enough) and they loved it too. It may not be very manly to wear a necklace, but I think that Karston pulled it off really well.

I love watching my children grow and relive some of the wonderful memories that I experienced as a kid. I am so happy to be a part of the memories that they will one day look back on as adults.

Congratulations Wamsleys...

...on your new little girl Samantha Rae Wamsley. She was born today and weighed in at 8lbs, 11 oz. Her two big brothers are very excited that she is finally here.




Also, I would love to update you all on baby Eli. He is doing great! He has graduated from the NICU to the CCN (Continuing Care Nursery.) They are now giving him breast milk and his mommy and daddy are able to hold him. Lindsay and JC. are now at home and visiting their little boy at the hospital every day. They are all three doing great, Thanks so much for your prayers.

Welcome Baby Eli...

You may remember a while back when I told you about all the new babies that are expected this year to my friends and family. Well, Eli Zannis has come about 7 weeks early. Eli is my step sister Lindsay and her husband JC's new little boy. As I understand it, Lindsay went in for a scheduled doctors appointment and because her blood pressure was high they decided it would be best to induce labor. They diagnosed her with pre-eclampsia and labor began. He was born Monday night (May 19th) and wieghed in at 2lbs. 3oz. His lungs are strong and he is doing very well. Lindsay and JC are expected to go home tomorrow, while Eli has to stay for a little longer.

JC's sister, Rachel Callahan, has been very good at keeping everyone posted on how the family is doing at http://rachelzcallahan.blogspot.com/. She has also posted several pictures and a couple of videos. Here is one of her pictures of sweet, sweet baby Eli.

Isn't he sweet? I can't wait to meet our newest nephew in person. Please pray that this new little family will get stronger and transition well into this new phase of their life.

Congratulations Lindsay and JC.

God Blessed us...

This past weekend was a whirlwind of God's blessings in our house. Here are some pictures of the free blessings that He sent our way.

First we got these two little dressers for Alyssa's room. (Doesn't it look great with the shelves we already had?)

After that the order of what we got when becomes a little blury.

a bin for the van to keep toys organized and the van cleaner ( Markers, crayons, colored pencils, and a pencil box included.)

an end table that had good bones. (Became the base for the door table top that matches the table top of the coffee table that Heath made.)

an exercise trampoline that has seen better days but still will be fun for the kids.

an outdoor swing for Alyssa (this is not it's final spot in the yard)

a nice big rug for Alyssa's room. We will probably be removing the carpet in her room really soon.

a Hammock to replace the one that Heath bought me for mother's day last year. (The critters in the garage got to our other one during the winter.)

several little things like toys for the boys, throw pillows, a lamp shade, and a duffel bag full of costumes.

A cushy chair that folds out to a cushy cot. (The boys are looking forward to sleeping on it.)

And this awesome and huge playset for the kids to play in our backyard. Alyssa is very excited to have two "Wee's" (slides) in our yard.

All of this stuff is from the trash pick up in Highland Park. Once a year the neighbors of Highland Park and Lake Forest put what they call trash (gently used items) on the side of the road for pick up. They put these things out a day or two in advance and people from all over come and get what they want before the "Trash" guys come and take the rest of it away. I went with Heath's mom for fun. I really didn't think I needed anything, so I wasn't really looking for myself. Turns out I needed all this stuff. It was great!

And finally, God gave us this car. Heath's '86 Nissan recently became undrivable and we are working on getting it sold to a junk yard. For more information on how we got this new van stay tuned to 2rules, 150 years.

God is good! I am constantly amazed at how he takes care of us. There really is no need for us to worry about what we don't have because he suffiecently supplies all of our needs. He even supplies many of our wants.

Steep yourself in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. You'll find all your everyday human concerns will be met. Don't be afraid of missing out. You're my dearest friends! The Father wants to give you the very kingdom itself. - Luke 12:31 and 32. (The Message translation)

Flowers and more flowers

The other day I was outside enjoying the SpringTime all around our house. Our neighbors are really good at keeping up with their gardens and we have some perennials in our yard planted by the previous owner. I was so enjoying the different colors that we have been looking forward to since mid-winter, and I started to wonder how long these flowers will last before the heat of Summer wilts them away?

Well there is one way to make sure they stay just as beautiful all year round as they are today. TAKE PICTURES!!! So that is what I did. I have to admit I did get a little carried away. So in order to show you all the pics without boring you and taking up too much time, I have put them into collages. I still have some pictures that didn't make it in to the collages but I think you get the idea anyway. Enjoy.

To see the entire slide show click on "View All Images" and then click on "Original View"

A DIRTY JOB

Ok. That is it! I can not let the basement get neglected any longer. I have been telling the boys to get that basement cleaned up for the last month. Problem is it has gotten sooo bad that cleaning it would be an overwhelming project. How can I expect two little boys to take on such a disaster without getting distracted?

So, enough is enough, I had to be the one to get the job done. I wish that I had a before picture to show you but then again, I would be way too embarrased to show you the picture if I did have one. I was embarrased everytime people would come to our house. My only defense was to tell people that the basement had become "Boys World" and that I never go down there anymore. Not a great excuse, I know.

Well, the day came. I had some frustrations that I couldn't do anything about so I decided to take them out on the bottomless pit of a basement. A little organization and picking up the trash goes a long way. After the boys got home from school, I had gotten it mostly clean so they helped me with the rest of it. When it was all clean I sent the boys out to play while I moved the furniture around and made it a place that the kids would want to keep clean. Below are the after pics.

The room is now sectioned into several sections. It will now be mostly a game room with some toys spurced throughout the room.

The board game/hang out section with a checkers game all ready for playing.

A library/reading section complete with the CD player for soft music.

A dance area with the High School Musical dance mat.

Also the large chalkboard, so that drawings stay off the walls.

And a video game section. Complete with XBox, a racing game, a snowboarding game, one of those atari controlers with 21 games on it, and a VSmile.

It is very important that I show you these pictures because I can't be sure for how long the basement will be this clean. The kids would like to invite anyone that wants to to come to our house anytime and play games in the basement. Everyone is welcome.

adding it all up...

One night of crafting with dad

+2creative boy's crafts from school

+one awesome husband to give "diamonds"

+One sister/best friend that is very thoughtful

=

One Happy Mom For Mother's day!!!

... and just like Dallise always says "If momma aint happy, aint nobody happy"

Happy Mother's Day...

"If your baby is beautiful and perfect, never cries, or fusses, sleeps on schedule and burps on demand, an angel all the time, You're the Grandma." - Theresa Bloomingdale

To all moms everywhere I say HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!





But, this blog is to wish a special mother's day to two very wonderful women in my life. My mom and Heath's mom. I love them both very much and don't tell them often enough how much I appreciate them.

She's such a cutie!!

For the last two years I have been in awe of how cute my little girl is.I think she is the cutest little girl in the whole world (no offense to all you moms of little girls that may be reading.) Well, maybe being her mom, I might be a little bias. My sister tells her over and over that she is such a cute little girl. Is she bias, as well? Of course family thinks she is cute.



Anytime that people see her for the first time (or the first time in a long time) they always remark about what beautiful curly hair she has. She does have really pretty hair, just like her Aunt Angie's beautiful blonde curly hair. She really is a cute little girl, for more than just her hair, in my opinion.

Or is it just my opinion? This last week she has had so many admirers.



-At the grocery store, as we went down every aisle there was some one that would say "She is so cute." One man said "I just have to tell you that your little girl is a doll. I don't want you to think I'm a creep or wierdo, but I just had to tell you that your little girl is so cute."



- We went to a fund raising dinner for the boys school the other night. She caught the attention of the teachers right away. When it was time for her to get ice cream several of the teachers ran over to see what kind they could get for her.



-Today I had to take our dog to the school for Josiah's class. We were to sit down with the class and tell the dog's name, age, what kind of dog she is, and how we take care of her. Josiah and I tried to give as much information about Juliette as we could think of and then we asked for questions. One little girl raised her hand. She said "Josiah, I didn't know you have a little sister?" Then Josiah's teacher said "Oh yes, isn't she cute?" then she turned to the other parent helper and talked about how she had seen Alyssa before and thought she was a very cute little girl.



It seems that everywhere we go these days, people are noticing my precious little girl and how adorble she is. I love it!