the look alikes

Popular opinion is that little Charlie is looking a LOT like his older brother...what do you think? This is Cade at 3 weeks...... This is Charlie at one month... This was Cade at about 6 months, I think... And, this is Charlie at 3 months...
Sweet brothers...

All for One and One for Two???

So, my little girl has declared her dreams for her future....she wants to be a musketeer when she grows up. She started about a week ago (after watching a Barbie movie) talking of when her training will begin and when she would get her sharp sword. I finally decided to probe a little more on our way home from school one day. Here was our conversation:
S: Mommy, I really want to be a musketeer when I get big.
Me: Syd, what exactly does a musketeer do?
S: I will protect the prince and fight the emenies.
Me: I don't think there are princes and musketeers around here anymore.
S: But, mommy, I just have to be a musketeer, I really want to be one.
Me: Ok, so who is this prince?
S: Prince Lewey. I need to take care of him. But, first I need my blue hat with that big feather and my big, long, sharp sword (picture her with a pretend sword slashing it in the air). All for one and one for two!
Me: Honey, I don't think 3 year olds can have swords.
S: (with despair) MOOOOM, I have to be 4 to get one?
Me: Sydney, you will need to go to school first to get your education and learn all sorts of things first...
S: You mean I can't be a musketeer until I am sixteen? Well, I need to start training today after my nap...ok. I need a farm, a scarecrow, a pretend sword...can you take me to a farm?
Me: No farm today. But, I think that practicing is a great idea. You can start training today. You are going to be a great musketeer!

I love that my daughter thinks she can do anything...dream big, sweet girl.

thoughts on a new year

It is early evening. I am sitting in our new home in a quiet kitchen waiting to meet friends at Kids' Eat Free Night at Moe's. Cade is playing Wii. Syd is coloring. And, Charlie is down for a nap...for a few more minutes anyway. I have been thinking about the new year - wow, 2010. Every year about this time, we talk about resolutions to make, goals to set, trips to plan. I don't think I made it out of January for some of my lofty ideas last year. Were my goals set to high? No. Were my resolutions too demanding? No. Life just happens. We get busy and preoccupied. I used to be so hard on myself when a plan didn't turn out just right, when I did not complete a task. Now, I am learning to flow with it. Please do not get me wrong. I am still setting some goals and praying on some things that need to change in my life, my heart, and my family. Just to name a few: I need to spend more time in Bible study. I need to organize my daily activities for better efficiency. I need to devote more of myself to my sweet hubby. I need to get in bed earlier at night. But, overall, I need to enjoy every day, every moment and realize that in light of eternity so much that consumes my thoughts is useless. This past year has shown to me more than any other in my life just how fleeting time is passing me by. (My oldest is in kindergarten, for goodness sakes. I have been married almost 11 years.) I spend way too much of my time doing rather than being. One of my favorite blogs to read (Lots of Scotts) said it best just the other day...she said "maybe she had become a human 'doing' rather than a human 'being'." I have always been a Martha rather than a Mary. I am a doer. So, I have written on my bathroom mirror (which cracked C and S up) to LIVE IN THE DAY! ENJOY EACH ONE! Scripture tells me to "be joyful always, pray continually." I plan on doing just that. My 2010 goal/resolution is to BE here...to BE here...I don't have to have beds made, dishes washed, and two veggies on the dinner plate. My children will not remember that they wore dirty jeans to school. They will remember me playing UNO with them. They will remember our talks about Bible verses. They will remember their mommy snuggling with them to watch a movie in my bed or coloring a picture or jumping on the trampoline. So, if you come to my house in 2010, I hope you find some dust and maybe the garbage not taken out. I hope you find me reading a good book with a couple of cutie pie kiddos...those are my thoughts about the new year.

Charlie is 3 months old!

On Thursday, Charlie turned three months old. Don't worry...he was not at a loss for kisses. His older sister and brother were very generous all day long with birthday love...

Her first haircut

Well, with the cold weather static and the long hair tangling and frizzing, we decided it was time for our big girl to have her first haircut. She is 3 1/2. She is ALL girl. So, having Ms. Angela play with and cut her hair (only an inch and layering) was a fun morning for this sassy girl. She even got "sparkles" in her hair when she was finished...
BEFORE:
She was so excited...and sat so very still..watching everything that was done...
AFTER:
She was sure "sparkling"...all over the place!!

snow day????

predictions of snow had my two oldest all excited...and, to our dismay, we saw lots of flakes but nothing that lasted...BUT, C-man got to stay home for two days which made Syd, myself, and Charlie very happy....
Well, it was fun while it lasted...

Already 12 weeks old

I cannot believe my little guy is already 12 weeks old. He is my sweet butterball. He already weighs almost 18 pounds...so snuggly and sweet. Grins keep coming more and more - and, we are loving it. His precious personality is beginning to show up...he was put on some tummy medicine for his reflux (thank you, doctor!!) He is really beginning to love his brother and sister and their tickling and kissing him. I really cannot believe my baby boy is already 12 weeks old...

Remembering Christmas 2009

Seeing Santa... Charlie was all smiles meeting his Mamaw for the first time in MS...
The Smith grandkids...for their annual tree photo. Syd helping me make our Christmas Eve taco soup.... ...freshly bathed and in their Christmas pjs - ready for Santa to come on Christmas Eve. Both of these guys got guitars for Christmas - what was Santa thinking???
Hope you had a blessed Christmas...we enjoyed every wonderful moment!

still catching up...

I am making a final attempt of catching up on the end of 2009...please excuse my brevity...life is full of blessings and fun, loudness and hugs, giggles and special moments...we are loving life with our three little ones...and, we sure are sleeping good when we get the chance...pure exhaustion...pure joy...

Meet our cowgirl and Bobba Fett at Halloween... I took S on a class field trip to the farm...check out the look on her face when her classmate hugged up on her...so glad we are not into boys hugging her yet...
Here is a picture of my kiddos with my brother's kids at the family cabin over Thanksgiving...
My family...
The annual Christmas card photo shoot...hee hee...I am so thankful that is was positively painless this year...even with the baby...my expectations were set low...but, I was pleasantly surprised how quick and happy it went...oh, the joy!!

The Allen boys...
And, us girls....

Yeah, now I am caught up till Christmas pictures are downloaded...