Our Evening in Pictures

After Cavett's nap, we wrapped a couple of presents and Cavett decorated them by coloring orange and blue balloons on them.

He even signed his name.

We waited for Dad to come home by riding in the wagon to the mailboxes and back.

Dad came home, we ate dinner and unwrapped presents.

My first present!

Kendrick enjoyed the bow on this one, hanging it over one shoulder and walking around with it.

Cavett helped unwrap.

I love it--a toolbox shape sorter! Thanks Cavett!

What fun! If only Cavett would let me play with it!

Hosted by Cecily and MamaGeek

Let the Festivus Begin!

A year ago to this hour I was holding my dear, sweet Kendrick for the first time. Time has flown by.

This morning I woke Cavett up so that we could walk in Kendrick's room singing Happy Birthday. Kendrick didn't know quite what to make of it. We cooked the traditional birthday pancakes and even had the letters "C" and "K." The Hill Family birthday plate was used and we lit a candle. He's still not quite sure what is going on yet. Maybe once we have cake and gifts.

Today was spent taking Cavett to his Open House at school and then we went by Dad's office to let the girls give him a birthday hug. Next we stopped by Toys 'R Us on the way home for a toy that Cavett could give Kendrick. Everybody is now napping. Tonight, we will celebrate as a family-low key, maybe open one gift. Tomorrow the Alexanders and Falcones will join us for cake and the paper ripping.

I can't believe that it's already been a year. It went by so fast! He's walking/running, starting to communicate with a couple of words and signs, and now smiles for the camera with his chin pointed high toward the sky. He's started liking books and he loves his brothers toys, especially the cars. He's climbing the stairs and playing in the potty when someone forgets to shut the lid or door. He's keeping me on my toes, but I wouldn't have it any other way.

We love you so much, Kendrick! You are a precious child of God and we look forward to watching you grow up to be a strong, God fearing man. Happy Birthday!

Rivenside

I got an email the other day about a couple of my former students, Jordan Dunn and Brandon Rich, at Deer Park Junior High. I clicked on the link and my mouth just about dropped to the floor. They sound incredible! And, they have a great message on top of that. Ok, and they are so grown up from the last time I saw them.

I could go on and on about these two. While they were in my classes, they were so well mannered, polite, and kind. I had very little to do with their talent--I didn't teach them that much about singing (that was Debbie Talley, my fantastic assistant!). I was just blessed to have them in my classroom keeping me sane. Thanks guys and best wishes in all your future endeavors. I'm proud of you!

Click on their names to hear their music!

Finished

This afternoon I finished the decoration on the cake and this evening I finished the cookies. They really came out cute. My only disappointment is that the cake's icing is not pure white. It's off white due to the vanilla. Oh well. I don't think he'll care.

After dinner we headed outside to pass out the extra Republican cookies to our neighbors as they watched the DNC. Much fun. Maybe we'll have an Election Day get together with them.

Tomorrow is all Kendrick all day, except for the fact that Cavett has Open House at his school for an hour tomorrow morning.

Komodo Dragon

We headed to the zoo today with our friends, Jennifer and Campbell Cox. I met her at the gym and realized we go to the same church and then realized live within 1/2 mile from each other. Cavett hadn't seen Campbell all summer and as soon as he saw her, he gave her a big hug and said, "I missed you!" without prompt. It was good to catch up with Jennifer too. We had a great time even though it was blazing hot.

Kendrick got his first ride on the carousel and he loved it. He also had his first picture taken with Hans, the plastic elephant that Cavett takes his picture with every time we got to the zoo.

The best part of the day was the Komodo Dragon. In fact for some reason, all the reptiles were really into moving today. The kids even pet a beared dragon and a skink. I digress, back to the Komodo Dragon. When we got to his display, he was asleep. Cavett told him to "WAKE UP!" and he did. He opened his eyes. Then we were talking about him opening his mouth and out came his forked tongue! EEEWWWW!!! Then he opened his mouth as wide as he could twice. That is one bizarre animal.

In fact, I think that is why the zoo is so intriguing. There are so many creatures that are so different from us in various shapes and sizes. It's just amazing how God thought up and created them all, each for a purpose--just like us.

Some Sadness with Hope and a Promise

Today, Stephen decided to buy a car. This is not something he does lightly. Anytime he decides to make a major purchase there is much number crunching, analyzing, and weighing of pros and cons. I guess you could say he's been doing that for almost 2 years now, but after looking at 2 cars this weekend, and playing one dealrship against 3 others, he made up his mind. We bought the 2009 Jetta TDI Deisel. We are way excited. Now to get to the heart of the story.


It is with sadness to that I buy this car. It means that I turn in my first car that I paid for all by myself--a 1997 black Saturn SL1. I loved my little car. It saw trips to Auburn, New Orleans, and Dallas from Shreveport. From Houston it made countless trips to Shreveport and Grand Saline, not to mention back and forth to Huntsville while I got my masters. To top it off, this car withstood Hurricane Allison. I had 1 more year to pay it off and she was flooded up to the door handles that early June morning. To hear car alarms go off still sends shutters up my back. (That's what happens when a car is flooded. The car alarm continually goes off.) With a new set of electrical wiring, she worked great for 7 more years. Yes, the headliner had rotted and was falling down and it smelled of mold and the transmission grinded, but she still ran. She was never in a wreck, ok, except that brother Jonny backed into her when he was parked in front of me in the driveway. Just a little "dent"--ha, ha, no pun intended! So, we parted ways tonight. (P.S.--Not my car pictured. Now that I look through my pictures, I can't find a picture her! She was pre-digital when brand new. I wish I would have taken one tonight. )


As we were driving home from the dealership, there was the most magnificent rainbow in the sky. (This picture doesn't do it justice.) It looked as if it were right over our house from where we were on the interstate. It was so vivid, not one of those pale ones. After pointing it out to Cavett and talking about God's promise, it was as if God was speaking to me. "I won't flood the earth again." Jennifer answers, "How bout this car, God?" I didn't get an answer, but I felt as if he was reassuring me that we had bought the right car. Even if it wasn't THE best deal to be had on just any car, we made a promise to God by buying this car that we are taking better care of his world and using the resourses he gave us more wisely. Maybe I'm stretching it, maybe not. Anyway, the rainbow was breath-taking.

You'll see pictures tomorrow, as Stephen is back at the dealership trading in the Saturn, since we didn't drive it there. On a side note, as we were cleaning out the car, I let Cavett look for coins. Any that he found were his to keep in his piggy bank. He found about 75 cents in random assortments. We took them upstairs and put them in his piggy bank which sings "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" when money is dropped in. The only problem tonight was that it hasn't quit singing yet! It's been an hour and I've stuffed it in the cushions in the couch with a pillow and blanket over it until Stephen gets home.


Update on the cake: Last night I put the crumb layer of frosting on to keep it from drying out and this afternoon I put on the final coat and smoothed it. Decorating starts tomorrow.

Aunt Amber

My sister beat me to it! She has already posted a blog about the happy news, so the word is already out! I will have a new sister-in-law and my sons will have an ultra-fun new aunt. I am way excited about this event! Besides being excited for Jonny and Amber, I get another female in my family! I need all I can get now that I have 3 boys in my house.

Amber, I look forward to many girly times with you and I hope you know that you will be like a "real" sister to me. Sister-in-law is not in my vocabulary except to describe to other people that my brother didn't marry his real sister! Ha! I pray many blessings upon this union and the many adventures you have ahead of you both. Love you guys!