Memorial Day 2011

We had a fun day today with Glenn at home. We headed out to Dickey's peach plant this afternoon to get peaches, and of course eat some peach ice cream. It's only about a 20 minute drive from our house so it's not that far.
Joseph and Emily LOVED watching them pack the peaches. They've changed alot out there since last year. Before you couldn't see all of this just only the boxes. Joseph has never seen all this so he was amazed. He kept pointing and "talking" to the men and ladies down there.



Of course we had to get some ice cream to enjoy, and we all enjoyed it. I think Joseph and Emily enjoyed it the most. Since this was only his 2nd time to have ice cream you can tell he enjoyed it. I've kept him from dairy since he'd showed signs of lactose intolerance, but the past time I gave him ice cream he had no signs, so we let him have it again today. So far no signs from it.

He kept running around and coming back for another spoonful. He had everyone laughing it was so cute!!! He and I couldn't eat all of our ice cream (it was kind of tart for me), but Glenn and Emily had NO problem cleaning theirs out.

We got both our Georgia "peaches" photo made in the peach. I can definitely say that both my little "GA Peaches" love some GA peaches!!!! Emily ate a whole peach for "dessert" after supper, and it was still a little green. If you've never had a true GA peach you've NOT had a true peach! We'll be glad to bring you some whenever we come visit! Hope you all had a great Memorial day weekend. And no I don't have my camera fixed, but it should be back this week. These photos were made from Glenn's phone, weren't they pretty good? Thanks to Glenn I can at least have a few snapshots to remember it by!

Problem With Blog

If you are reading this then there's probably not a problem for you viewing the blog. But I've been having trouble logging in to it myself. I really don't know what's going on, but I know it's only when using Mozilla brower, not with Internet Explorer. SO again, if you're reading this then I guess you're not having trouble, but just note that there have been several people saying they're having trouble logging into their blogs.

I hope you'll look at the previous post if you haven't already at Joseph dancing to the polka, and Emily too. We discovered polka music yesterday and they love it. I can only handle it for a short time, but we listen to it in small segments. As summer begins we are all enjoying more time outside. Since it's hot, and I mean HOT lately we've been getting in the water. At first Joseph LOVED it, but lately he's just screamed every time he gets wet. Funny, because we have him on video running through the sprinklers. I guess he'll just have to readjust again. He does love the mister and gets pretty wet with it, but just doesn't like anything else.

We've really had an uneventful week, but a full one. We hope that story time at the library will start week after next, so that will be something to look forward to. Emily had a friend come over today and play and they had a blast. We pulled the slip-n-slide out after lunch and they had the best time. Joseph wasn't too sure about someone else playing with his big sister, but he did okay.

I had a Dr.'s appointment yesterday for some pain I've been having in my left foot. I'm starting on a strict workout schedule and over the past month my left foot has started hurting really bad. He told me what I already knew, that it's plantar faciitis, and tendinitis too. He gave me some stretches to do, and I got me some new shoes. I go back in 2 weeks to see how it's going and to see if I need to get some special inserts. I've always had bad feet, but since starting to walk harder, and jog some it has just gotten worse. With time and exercise it will clear up he said, so no worries. I've got 25 or so pounds to come off, and with that I know it'll help the pain too. Besides being pregnant, this is the heaviest I've been, so I know that affects your feet and knees alot. BUT on the upside I've been averaging 15-18 miles a week. Last Saturday I went on a major "hike" and it ended up only being 4.5 miles. It took me a little over an hour, so I was disappointed afterward but still got a good workout. Our neighborhood is filled with hills so you can really get a good workout! My leg muscles are starting to gain back some good strength and I can already tell a difference. Since Joseph isn't completely weaned it'll still be some time before everything comes back together, BUT I'm in NO hurry, just enjoying back to being active again.

I hope you all have a great weekend, and Memorial Day. I REALLY hope to get my camera back soon. I'm about to call and check on it AGAIN. Pray they get it fixed soon. I miss my camera!!!!!!!!!!

Baby Dances the Polka!

Curious

Okay, so since going "private" with my blog I've only heard from a couple of people (and they are all family), that have been able to get on my blog. IF you are reading this post, I would greatly appreciate it if you could just put a simple comment in the comment box right below the ending of this post. Also if you could click on "follow" that appears at the very top (above my picture) in the blue bar to the left. This will help me keep track of who is actually reading the blog. I would hate it if some people who use to read the blog are not able to access it... so if you could just take a couple of seconds and do that I would greatly appreciate it (Randy you don't have to because I already got your comment, thanks!)

Hope you have a great week!

Our little Cuties!

Since I'm without a camera I've not been blogging much, but I am hoping to get it back this week!!! Since my birthday is tomorrow, I'm hoping that's going to be my present (or at least this week one day) Glenn got some pictures on his cell phone of Joseph eating his gluten free animal cookies, that we found at the Walgreen's in Selma. We bought a couple of packs going to MS (when Moma was with me), and then had Glenn to buy all they had on his way through. We've not found them at any other Walgreens, so if you have a Walgreens in your town, drop by and check for me, the brand is "DeLish", and they are just gluten free animal cookies (in a black bag). Joseph loves them!
Below is Emily working on one of her projects!

Joseph loving on his daddy.

Childhood Doesn't Wait

I just received this poem below in an e-mail and just had to post it. It is SO true that childhood doesn't wait and it flies by SO fast. It seems like yesterday i was a child running and playing outside with my brother. Oh to just cherish and enjoy every day with your children while they're young, because they won't be for very long.

Childhood Doesn't Wait
Author Unknown

I was sitting on a bench
while in a nearby mall,
When I noticed a young mother
with two children who were small.

The youngest one was whining,
"Pick me up," I heard him beg
but the mother's face grew angry
as the child clung to her leg.

"Don't hang on to me," she shouted
as she pushed his hands away,
I wish I'd had the courage
to go up to her and say...

"The time will come too quickly
when those little arms that tug,
Won't ask for you to hold them
or won't freely give a hug.

"The day will sneak up subtly
just as it did with me,
When you can't recall the last time
that your child sat on your knee.

"Like those sacred, pre-dawn feedings
when we cherished time alone
Our babies grow and leave behind
those special times we've know.

"So when your child comes to you
with a book that you can share,
Or asks that you would tuck him in
and help him say his prayer...

"When he comes to sit and chat
or would like to take a walk,
Before you answer that you can't
`cause there's no time to talk

"Remember what all parents learn
so many times too late,
That years go by too quickly
and that childhood doesn't wait.

"Take every opportunity,
if one should slip away
Reach hard to get it back again,
don't wait another day."

I watched that mother walk away
her children followed near,
I hope she'll pick them up
before her chances disappear

Vote for Joseph

I have never entered either of my children in any contest, but I just thought I'd give it a try. Joseph made it for the weekly cut, so go and help his vote. Click on the link, view his picture and vote for him! Thanks!!!

Come vote for my child in this week's Parents Photo Faves contest!

http://photos.parents.com/category/vote/photo/861056

Weekend With the Walker's

Since I do not have a camera, as I have mentioned before, I do not have many pictures to post, and since I love making pictures it is hard for me to remember to blog without them. this is the recent outfit I made Joseph. I hand stitched the sail boats, but it doesn't fit him right, so I've got to figure out what to do to fix it.

We have had a slow weekend, and are enjoying this cooler weather today. We got some rain this weekend, and were so glad since our garden needed it. This will be our first week Emily's out of preschool, so it should be interesting. I am in the process of looking through a lot of homeschool materials and trying to figure out what is going to be the best route for us in the fall. Since Emily would be in 4K I'm probably going to start with that, and incorporate some kindergarten material. She is already trying to read, and she and Glenn worked through several words yesterday. She was doing very well sounding out the letters and figuring out what each word was. Keep us in your prayers as we figure out what's going to work best for us right now.This was yesterday at church, Joseph playing with Brianna! They are all so cute!

I hope you all have a great week and enjoy this beautiful weather.

New Blog Security

If you are reading this blog then you have successfully logged into, and received the invitation to view it. After one of my friend's recently did this with their blog it made me think about who all can have access to it. I honestly don't think that many people other than "friends" and family view it, BUT it hasn't been secure to keep "predators" from looking at all my sweet babies pictures. If you know of someone who is having trouble viewing it, please e-mail me and let me know so I can add them to the list of viewers. Also, if you are reading this if you could put a quick comment in the comment box just so I know someone is still able to view it (and I'm not just posting to a blog no one is looking at).
On another note, I don't know about all of you but this week has brought with it SUMMER. Last week Emily had on a long sleeve shirt, and this week we are playing in the water hose!!! I is definitely a HOT week, and the start of a LONG hot summer. Since I've not gotten my camera back yet, and not for another 2-3 weeks (at the most I hope) I only have old pictures I haven't posted. These are some of Joseph's little tractor outfit I made him. I just got the pictures off Glenn's phone so that is what the delay is. I made them while in MS, but just thought I'd share some of them with you, and show you his cute little jon-jon's. I'm working on a hand stitched outfit right now with sailboats on it! I've not stitched in a LONG time so I'm having to get back into it. Hopefully I'll have a camera by the time I finish it to show you pictures. Stay cool and have a great rest of the week.

Happy Mother's Day # 5

I celebrated my 5th mother's day as a mother yesterday, and let me just say it was the best one so far. If they get better every year from here on, I won't be able to contain myself. It all started Friday night with a girls night out with some of the ladies from our church. We all treated ourselves to a pedicure and dinner afterwards (dessert for me b/c I had already eaten dinner). Saturday consisted of sleeping until 8:00 (which is extremely late for us), and hanging around the house in the quiet while Emily & Glenn went to Lowe's, and baking cookies. The afternoon was pretty fun as we all went out and ran a few errands together as a family, something we don't get to do much these days.
I wish that Sunday, the actual Mother's Day was a peaceful but it wasn't. We have to be at church by 8:30 (or that is the goal), so it's a pretty rushed morning. Sunday school and church consisted of getting children's pictures and making home-made gifts for all their mommies. But after we got back home it was a nice relaxing day. My sweeties got me a TON of chocolate (even though they know I'm NOT suppose to be eating it as I'm trying to lose some baby fat), but I do NOT complain. I got the cutest card that Emily wrote in. I'm not sure if you can see her writing in the picture, but it was so sweet. She had a little help from her daddy of course.
God has blessed me tremendously with two beautiful children. But I will give a lot of credit to my husband for without him I couldn't do all I do as a mother. #1. I wouldn't be able to stay at home with my babies. #2. I would probably lose my sanity over time if he weren't here. and #3. He gives me so much support that I'm not sure alot of moms get. He washes dishes periodically, and washes clothes. Not to mention helps get Emily into bed everynight (a huge feat to say the least). Thank you Glenn for making me such a good mommy.

Happy Mother's Day

Since I do not have a camera right now I am at the mercy of my husband to use his cell phone camera to make pictures, and in doing so I do not have access to get them off of his phone to get them on my computer. To say all that, I will be posting pictures of our mother's day here later. But for now I focus on my own mother, Sherry Alford.

Words cannot describe who she is but I will at least try. She has always been my mother, but probably over the past 5 years we've grown even more close since I've had kids. I never knew what in to being a mother until I had kids (go figure), but these past 5 years have just given me a short glimpse of what mother hood is all about. I'm still in the early stages, but I know these will pass all too quickly, as my moma says. She has many more things to teach me when I get to the childhood & and teenage ages.

My moma is the most SELFLESS person I know. She totally gives of herself and cares not what she may miss out on. The only thing I have ever caught her saying she just has to do when we're together is get out and walk (must be where I get it from). I'm sure many of you know how she comes and stays with us to help at various times. She came and stayed when Emily was born, and she came and stayed when Joseph was born, and for both times I am more grateful than you could ever know (so is Glenn). She never once complained about getting up with the babies, or losing sleep. She never once complained about washing clothes or dishes. She just never complains...worries yes, but not complains.
You all know my moma worries about everything!!! She worries about her children, grandchildren, brothers sisters, her moma, nieces, nephews, and the lady at the check out at Wal-mart! She has a general concern for all humankind like no one else I've ever met. I once remember us being in Wal-mart and a mother was getting very frustrated with her kids (and almost too firm with them if you catch my drift), and I remember my moma stepping up to talk to the baby and kids while the mother paid. She just calmly tried to distract the kids to keep them from acting out any further. It made a big impression on me and she probably doesn't even remember it to this day...but it made an impression on me as a child to be concerned for those you are around.

I could write a whole book on my mother, but do not have the time because I have a baby who just woke up from a nap and is demanding my attention. But to close I will say that I did learn from my moma that take every minute with your children because they will be grown before you know it. Give them what they need (don't spoil them), but provide for them. My parents have been a true blessing to Glenn and I through the years as they've helped us when we've been a tight bind with finances. You don't see many parents who will drop everything they're doing to make sure their children are okay, or run to the bank to send money so they can buy groceries in a unexpected dilemma.

But like I said I can't write all that my moma has taught me on this one blog post, but in the days to come maybe I can get it all typed out. But for now I hope you all have a great Mother's Day. I know I've enjoyed a wonderful weekend (I'll post about my Mother's Day later).

Who I Am!

To celebrate Mother's Day I made a collage who tells who I am. I am a child of God, wife, mother of 2 beautiful children, who LOVES photography, baking, sewing, classical music (bluegrass too), walking, & gardening. I am NOT perfect by any means, I am a HUGE procrastinator who lets the dishes and clothes pile up. I love seeing God's power in weather and nature. I am saved by the grace of God and thankful for each and every day that God allows me to breathe & live on this earth!

Tornado Damage

Last Wednesday was a day FULL of tornadoes, all over the south. We experienced one of the first ones in Philadelphia. We were VERY blessed and did not experience any of it, but the north side of town did get some bit of damage. My uncle and cousins houses were spared but they had LOTS of damage around the houses.

As the weather radios went off around noon Wednesday we really didn't think anything about it because tornadoes never come near my parents house as it's on a hill. Well when the tornado sirens were going off about 2:00 we checked the radar and saw it was probably going north of us, so we all sat on the back porch and watched. There wasn't much thunder or lightening, and really not much rain, so we thought everything was fine. All of a sudden it got really calm for a few minutes, then the winds shifted in another direction going directly across the pond and back pasture. It was very interesting because again there was NO thunder, rain or lightening so we just watched, and I filmed. This happened for many 1-3 minutes then the sun came out. WEIRD!!! So I then walked out in the yard and got a look around in the sky only to see this HUGE cloud back north east of us. As I filmed and watched we began to watch a funnel appear and touch down. We are NO meterologists so we honestly just thought it was a cloud, not a tornado. So my daddy headed to the store to get some stuff for supper, and not 5 minutes later he called back to tell us that a tornado had hit Northside park and was heading toward Spring Creek area, where my uncle lives.Like I said before we were all extremely blessed as there wasn't as much damage as Tuscaloosa or Smithville, nor anyone killed mainly. It's been a rough week over the South and I know you are all in prayer for everyone who's lost a friend or loved one from these tornadoes. These pictures were made by Glenn's camera on his phone. I'm hoping to get my SLR to the Best Buy to fix tomorrow!!!