My sister is a great Mom, My brother is an awesome Dad!!!!

Jackie and Joel-and their significant others, took their girls to have the "American Girl" experience in Atlanta. Presley was so excited! It was all she wanted to do for her birthday. Joel and Alli decided to meet them and let Madeline share in this wonderful experience. It is waaaaay bigger than I thought it was people. This is real deal! The little girls check in with their new "baby", they have robes for both the doll and the child, the child gets a pink credit card to buy breakfast in bed (or whatever they want to purchase). The list could go on and on. I just thought I would share how wonderful my family is! My mother instilled such a great "instinct" in all of her children. That "instict" is to put family first-No matter what! I don't know how my mother managed to be married at 16 years old, have her first child 11 months after getting married(important detail to my mom), raise 6 children-taking them to church every Sunday and most Wednesday nights, and demand that we all attend college. My mother does not give herself enough credit. I only know this now because I am experiencing just how hard parenting is-and I only have 2 children. I don't even think my mother was on any heavy medication :) And, a little know fact is that my mother went back to college after her divorce from my father and she had the highest grades in all of her classes! GO MOM!!!!! I love my family!

No News Blues!

"The Destroyer" strikes again!

Reagan's cute new "pack-pack"

MaryLynn and Presley

"Birthday Girl Press"

Fake Sweet Smile from Grant-Reagan is about to dump this drink out in

our bed~ahhh parenting!!! Soooo rewarding!

"Well folks~looks like rain". "Just embrace it people~ don't worry about the mess a rainy day brings. Who cares! You only live once"!

Well~ the title says it all. No new news. I thought that I would post some weather predictions(watch Reagan's Afro grow)~looks like a 75% chance of rain for Friday. Definitely will be a humid morning. Grant continues to be a typical, aggravating big brother. He is SO good at that. He said he was going to enter his school's talent show~ He said his talent was "NOT LISTENING". He is rather good at that. Reagan continues to live up to her nickname.... THE DESTROYER! Presley had her 5th birthday celebration at the mall. The kids love riding the carousel. Hope you enjoy the pictures. Happy Friday!!!!

And this is just a little note to Grant. When you look at this section of your book that this blog will become, please be aware that I have made numerous attempt to take your photo. You are either fake smiling HORRIBLY, a smear-from running past my camera, or you are NAKED! You do love to be NAKED! Sorry. I would rather embarrass you than for you to think for one minute that there are more pictures of Reagan for any other reason. I love you MONKEY!!!!

Blogging makes me a better person and parent!

I really want to take a minute and thank all of my friends that blog. You guys really help me so much. It is just like a little therapy session every time I read your stories. I realize that God blesses us all, and just how thankful I should be to have a wonderful "father" who is always there for me. I want to personally thank some of you! Lindsey, thank you for sharing your low point about not having a hobby or passion. I struggle to make it through the day. No gourmet meals for me or my family. So, this particular post of yours helped me so much! Jessica, thank you for introducing me to Lindsey Steltenpohl through your blog. I look at my children and put myself in her parents place. It makes me grateful, and it has made me and my children more devoted to prayer. We remember them each night. Lori, thank you for always having a "glass half full" Though you rarely update your blog-ha!ha! when you do, they are very meaningful. Whether it be Ella's cleft palate surgery or your trip bowling with your brother Brad-it is always amazing to see how you make very tough life struggles positive! I want to be more like you in that way! Allison, thanks for loving my brother sooooo much and showing me what a devoted husband and father he is to you and my niece Madeline. I wouldn't know just how great he is without the pictures and posts that you do! All of my friends give me a little life lesson every time I read their daily story. Whether it be how Anna manages twin girls, works, and looks amazing doing it~or Lauren who does the same thing(but only has one girl-who is so cute might I add). Thank you all. And, keep up the good work! I rely on these posts for sanity~no pressure, but please update in a timely manner~JUST KIDDING!

Family Fun-for the most part!

It is rare that Jackie lets her children out of her sight. We are both rather stingy with our children. But, she did allow Jacob and Presley to come and visit Saturday. I am quite fun-if I do say so myself, and it makes Jackie VERY nervous. I'm talking about a girl that has the telephone for poison control memorized. REALLY people. I tell her, Don't worry-Jackie, I am a nurse! I was being funny! She said "I know Jan, I don't want you to have to use your nursing skills." But, we did have fun. We rode the four wheeler-Jake said they were going to check on the cows. We also went to the store-loaded up on candy of coarse, played on Grant's fort, jumped on the trampoline, and played with Callie and a little t-ball.

So, the title reads-for the most part. You can see Grant coming up on Presley from behind. She was so proud she got the bat. It was not her turn. Grant took the bat, Presley choked Grant, Jake tackled Presley, and so on and so on. FUN-and very FUNNY! But, just so you know, Presley did indeed end up with the bat. Callie is also shown stealing Presley's starburst, reaching up for Grant, then, taking a much needed nap. What a great weekend. We love family time!!!1

Jackie's New Hobby

I am super excited about Jackie's new hobby! She got a Cricket Machine. Okay, so I am not crafty like Jackie is. I count on her for everything from teacher gifts to discipline ideas. She usually has a very "crafty" solution. Her new thing is making a super personal birthday present. She tried it out with a shirt for both Grant and Reagan. Now, not only does this show how much you really care about the child you are giving this too, you know that they will not already have one. These little shirts are soooooo cute! Thanks Jackie. We love when you find a new obsession.

My New Favorite Coach

Okay~ I need to clarify the title a little I guess. My #1 Coach is Coach Horne!!!! Just wanted to make sure he knew that. So, moving on now that I got that straight. TROOPER TAYLOR
I want to tell a little about this extraordinary man. Many of you know him as the "energetic" Auburn football assistant coach. But just read the story below that was posted on MyFoxAL.com

....Taylor also explained why he wears his hat backwards. He said his father died when he was 12 years old. He said every morning, his father would allow him to turn his hat around backwards so that he could kiss him goodbye. Taylor said that was the last time he saw his father alive, so wearing his hat backwards is a way to pay tribute to his father.
"It's not about a style or trying to be cool, It's a way to recognize and remember my father." Taylor said.

Coach Taylor can also be seen on the sidelines with his signature "Trooper Spirit Towel". He says that it was not planned~"enthusiasm is contagious, and I am passionate about the game."

Like Auburn or not, this is a GREAT story! And, as if I didn't love that story enough, keep reading!!!!!
I took a chance and emailed a wonderful woman, Susan Caanan, who took time out of her busy day, got more people on board, and this is what happened:

Coach Taylor sent Colby and Cameron a MASSIVE GIFT BOX! He autographed numerous items. They were on cloud 9!!!! Cameron is a PRO at the "Trooper Towel" Colby usually doesn't show much emotion, but he was super excited as well.

I also got something else out of the research I did about Coach Taylor. NEVER JUDGE A BOOK BY IT'S COVER!! He says that he always hears people say comments like "he needs to grow up and act like a coach, not a player." or "He is trying to look like a gangster." Wow! And, I just thought he liked to wear his hat like that! WAY DEEPER!!!!

So, THANK YOU Coach Taylor for taking a moment of your time for two young boys who have lost their father just as you did.

The Package Arrives