Big Da Da

Boisterous....if I could describe Davis in one word, that is the first one that comes to mind. Here is what it means: Noisy, energetic, and cheerful; rowdy
Hahaha, does that fit him to a T or what!?!?!?

Those big brown eyes and long lashes are full of energy and love. He is full force most of the time whether it be that he is over flowing with happiness or whether it be that he is melting to the floor with the latest trauma. He is very in tune to how people feel and is normally very polite and can make a friend in one minute flat. He remembers pretty much EVERY detail and still blows my mind when he mentions things that happened two years ago and remembers the smallest details of the story and every where we went. I think he is going to be a romantic and when he gets married he will remember the little details of their first date without having to write them down. :)
Speaking of the ladies in his life at the moment, first of all there is his MOMMA! And I hope I am first for a long, long time, lol He gives me kisses and hugs and nose kisses and ALWAYS climbs in my lap after his naps. He loves to tell me when I smell good but also when I am stinky. He tells me when I look pretty to him and notices when my hair looks "beautiful" or when I get a new shirt. He tells me that I am in "love" with dad and that we shouldn't kiss in front of him. He whispers in my ear that he "loves me and likes me, all the time, to above Heaven and back". Last time I walked through his room while he was standing in his underwear (both boys wear their underwear around the house as MUCH as possible, it is the CUTEST, but I make them get dressed sometimes, lol), I walked by him and kissed him on the back of his neck he said "I love you too mom" He felt the love without my saying a word. He loves for me to tickle him and cuddles with me in bed in the mornings. I want to bottle him up and pour him over pancakes when he is in his sweet moods, b/c it really doesn't get much sweeter.
The second lady in his life is Miss Frisby from his book/movie. He LOVES mice and Miss Frisby is his favorite. He watched the movie with her in it and told his dad on the part where she was coming out of the water and she flipped her hair back that "Dad, she looks so pretty with her hair like that" He also woke up the next morning and told his dad that he dreamed about her and "We were walking through the park holding hands and then we looked down and we had the same shirt on, so we laughed and laughed."
Next would have to be the girl in the Bears class across the hall. He told me that "She wears the prettiest clothes and I always look at her in the hall." But he has never got to talk to her b/c they aren't suppose to talk in the hall. :)
Maybe the fourth lady would have to be a tie between Pam and Ginger. He sits with Pam every time we let him at church and Pam has latched on to him since he was a tiny baby. She wrote to me in a card recently, "p.s. Can I have Davis?"
Ginger is his teacher who tells me stories from class all of the time. He loves to WHISPER(be against the other kids' ear talking in the loudest whisper voice you have ever heard) the answers. She also told me "If your middle one goes missing you better come check my house, b/c I am pretty sure I will have stole him."




Davis gets all fired up til he thinks he's going to "blow up" but within one second of getting it off his mind he is the happiest kid you ever met. Case and point, Scott had about a 5 minute discussion with him when he got him out of the car over something he did wrong and as soon as Scott finished he said in one breath "Yes sir, Hey did you know that Polar Bears can swim?" He already forgot why he had gotten into trouble, lol

I have to throw this story in before I forget. We went for his 5 yr old check up and he did great, until.....Dr. Jamie came in the room trying to help and says "Hey Davis, to go to big school you have to get just a few little SHOTS." As soon as he heard that word he started melting into my arm. The nurse came in with the shots and told me to pull his pants down so she could give him the shots. He starts SCREAMING and crying and will NOT let me pull his pants down. There was no reason to try and talk to him about it b/c he couldn't hear me if I tried. I apologized to the nurse who escorted Belle out of the room to the other nurse so she wouldn't be traumatized. I asked for some help and held him by the arms so that she could pull his pants down and as soon as she went to pull them down he did the splits in the air and she couldn't get them down. She said "Wow he is strong" She had to go back out and get the third nurse who had been watching Belle to help us. We got him on the table I held his hands and looked at him in his face to tell him he was o.k. and he needed to calm down, she pulled his pants down while the third nurse gave shots and held his legs still, lol It reminded me of when we were trying to cap Sam's front tooth! It was AWFUL! What is so funny is that he thought he only got one shot but he actually got FOUR! Then once we got through them, he said he couldn't walk and it took me leaving the room to get him to follow me out. He made sure everybody at church that night knew that he had gotten a shot in his knee and that they should all feel sorry for him :)

Speaking of knees, that is pretty much his on going complaint for when he doesn't want to do something "my knees hurt"
He started preschool this year to get him ready for big school and he LOVES the social part but VERY much struggled with the writing and sitting still part. Bless Mrs. Cheryl, I know she has had to work hard with him. He couldn't write his name AT ALL at the first of the year and then he went to writing random letters all over the line, they all belonged in his name, he just didn't know they had to be in order. Finally got them in order and now he is still struggling with getting that s to go the right way. He got Junkin pretty fast, I have to admit, I couldn't believe it, but I was Proud of him! I think he'll catch on pretty quick especially with the memory he has, I think it is partly maturity levels and not wanting to sit still :)

I have one more story, but it has been a long time since this happened, so my memory may not be completely acurate. I wrote myself a note about it and really want to add it in here anyway. He was eating peeps last year and he LOVED them. He came to me and really wanted the rest of the peeps in the box. To convince me that he should be allowed to eat them he said "mom those peeps miss their friends that are in my belly" Yes, he got to eat the rest and let his peep friends reunite, lol
Lastly, he loves the scout on Up, laughs out loud at him, he loves stuffed animals, always calls alligators "crockidators" and the elevator is "alligator", he loves his blue and like Sam who doesn't want Lotso to stink, he doesn't like for his blue to stink. If you are ever sitting on the ground, you can count on Davis to JUMP on your back and squeeze your neck. He always puts his shoes on the wrong feet and loves his best friends Ade and Tyler. Did I mention he has a bottle cap collection? If he knows of something you need or want, he will try to give it to you if he can. (As long as you aren't Belle and sometimes if you are Sam) Most of the time he doesn't give Belle things he takes her stuff away, but every now and then I hear him and her laughing their heads off at each other and loving playing together. I think the more she talks the more Davis will understand her and hopefully want to play with her.
I love my Big/Little Davis! You make life sweet and sour and wonderful all at once :) You melt my heart and my heart is full of cheer and love for you. I know God has a special plan for you and I pray that you tame your feelings and grow closer to Him each day. I LOVE YOU Big Buddy!

Spring Break 2012 - Moundville

John and Shea joined us for this fun day at Moundville. We planned to meet them at 9:30 at their exit in Tuscaloosa, then after two crying babies the night before, and me waking up at 8:15...I knew it would not happen. But we were able to make it to Tuscaloosa by 11 to eat lunch with them at Arbys.

I have been wanting to bring the kids here for a long time, having pleasant memories of my one trip down to moundville as a kid. I don't remember to much about the trip before, but I do know how the boys must have felt to see that HUGE mound to climb up, as that is how I remembered it...only now...not so big.

I was hoping for some more insight on WHY and HOW the indians made these mounds, and during our 20 minute video in the 60 seat auditorium (small room with wooden chairs and a large old-school tv). Their video began by telling me that some indian in tight blue jeans from Dances with Wolves was going to tell us all about indians of our nation. Slightly confused as I was really only interested in Moundville, this ended up being a commercial. Then the real history of moundville began and I learned absolutely nothing. "Why did they build these Mounds"...I don't know, and the narrator did not either. "Why did they have different sizes and laid out in different arrays" I don't know, and the narrarator did not either. Apparently we don't know alot about moundville, but the ponds are where they most likely got the dirt from. And no burial mound either, that was kinda dissapointing.

Our first stop was Mound A, named for the first letter in the alphabet, also the tallest mound. Sam and Davis had a blast climbing this hill, but the chiefs house was closed due to some damage. I remember going in their as a kid, and I think they had some kind of diorama set up, but can't remember what it was.

Belle loved picking the different flowers atop Mound A, and Magan and Shaab liked sitting on the bench and feeling the cool breeze. My opinion is that these mounds produced a place for the chief to hold up his son to all the people of the tribe and the surrounding forest animals. They would all gather and sing Elton John songs to commemorate the birth of a new chieftain heir.

Sam, Davis and I then found the secret back way down mound A.

Sam and I then climbed up Mound B, named for the second letter in the alphabet. Sam wanted me to take a picture of him at the top, and it was pretty neat as we were very high off the ground, and mound A was in the background even higher. Sam covered all of the ground atop Mound B.

Moundville also had a new museum area, with a gift shop and bakery. After visiting this for a rest, we went down to the Black Warrior river. It was also a nice area and had an indian village with some more dioramas of different activities of the indians 700 years ago.

All in all, the weather was perfect, and we had a great day. But I think we can mark Moundville off the list for a while. Unless John and Shaye get that annual pass or something. It was also good to see where they will be living as a couple in a few months.

My Sambo

Well, I just checked back and my last blog about my babies was back in Dec. 2010, SO guess I am well over due for another post :)

I do have great intentions and a list of things to write about here on my desk, that I keep all along the way. I think I have more to write than one blog can hold, so I think I'll break this into 3 different blogs. I need to fill in a whole yr and a half here, lol

Let's start with my big boy Sam, who still fits in my lap, but hangs to the floor on all sides. I love that he still wants me to hold him and kiss and tuck him in each night, even gives me nose kisses. He also very much loves ANY time I can tickle his belly or back. About a year ago, I was afraid he was going to grow up too fast b/c he wouldn't hug me at the bus stop. Shortly after school started this year, very unexpectedly I felt a BIG hug around my legs as the bus came around the corner and have had one EVERY day since!!!! While I am on the subject of hugs, after all that happened in December, I know he knew how sad his mom was. I would feel his little hugs (real hugs) every time I turned around. I almost think God was hugging me through him b/c he always knew when I needed to feel that love.
As far as school goes, he is doing so GREAT! He has the BEST teacher this year, Mrs. Cooley, she is creative, quiet natured, fun and has helped him build self-confidence. What a blessing it is to have such wonderful teachers, I pray about this often and will continue to pray about it. I know God is protecting his heart when he is away from me, but I pray that he is learning to be a light around his friends and even the adults he comes in contact with.

He LOVES math and is a good speller, he just struggles with slowing down enough to check his punctuation and to sound the words out on his spelling test before he reads them to Mrs. Cooley. I have been enjoying hearing his soft little voice reading to me most every day and he is really catching on faster than I expected. Which reminds me of what Bene't says all the time "I'll never forget when Sam was 18 months old climbing in your lap saying Momma at church, in that sweet little voice." He read his first two chapter books in the past few weeks one being Flat Stanley in Washington. I was surprised that he read it so quickly, I was proud of him!
Speaking of Mrs. Cooley another reason I know she has been working with him, he actually TELLS her things that have happened, lol Last year he was afraid to tell Mrs. Garrett anything, but this year he seems to be getting more confidence and isn't afraid to speak up, yay! I think he may have even had to move his card once or twice, lol He accidently told on himself in conversation with his dad and me.



Sam is very creative and builds things constantly. We went to the baseball game and he was looking up to the stadium seats above our heads and he was making comments about how the stadium was built. He also in conversation with Davis in the back of the van mentioned how the wires ran into the post office and that was how they got power, while Davis was talking about how he was going to "Blow up like a power line." lol
One of his most favorite places to play is the backyard in the patch of woods at the back. He had built a bridge and has been clearing his area with dad's tools (hedgers/shovels) He loves it so much he usually has to run down ahead of us and check it out before we leave to go somewhere. He got muddy up to his knees several days in a row and almost ruined his shoes twice. I got the rainboots Nanny bought him out and Davis got his army man rainboots out and the problem is solved. They love playing in the little stream back there and I love that it is back there for them to explore in a bit. I always loved playing in the woods around their house, and it makes my heart happy to know that they get to experience a piece of that even though we live in a neighborhood.
Did I mention how much he LOVES his little sister!?!? He wants to hug on her, bounce her in his lap, follow her around when we are out, hold her hand when we are walking. It makes my heart feel like it will explode to see them together. She loves him just as much and tells people that "my sham" (Sam) It is hard to write down the way she says Sam, but that is the closest I can get :) When one gets in trouble they run to each other to hug and cry. She climbs in his lap when they are watching t.v. and he holds her the as long as she'll let him. He loves Davis too and they really love playing with each other and miss each other when they are apart, but they do have a bit of a competative spirit at times. So yes it seems that they fight more than play some days, but I know they are buddies all the way through the ups and downs.
Sam is also loving scouts he gets to build, explore outside, and gets recognitions, does it get better!!??!?!

I love my sweet Sam and can not believe he is almost SEVEN! I hope he holds tight to the love that he shares with us everyday and remembers to look above to find the truest love there will ever be. When I think of how much I love him, it is hard to understand that God loves him even more. I pray that he grows in patience and in knowledge each day.

Spring Break 2012 - Movie Night

A good way to end a rainy spring break day...family movie night. The kids were super excited because they each got their own popcorn (a rare treat in our household). Sam's class at school had recently read the book "Mr. Popper's Penguins" and it is also currently one of Sam's favorite animals. So...we watched the movie starring Jim Carey. Our boys seem to only wear underwear after about 7 oclock at night, and Sam's full body monster truck tattoos are finally going away. Movie was pretty good, no major surprises, but fun to watch penguins living in an apartment in New York.

Spring Break 2012 - Harlem Globetrotters

The Harlem Globetrotters!!! This is something I always wanted to go see when I was a kid, so after I convinced Magan that it was something the kids would like to see also, I finally got to go. The guy pictured above is Big Easy from...you guessed it, New Orleans. There was another guy named Stretch that was about 8" taller than this guy.

The first thing we did at the Pete Hanna Center on the Samford Campus was visit the globetrotter merchandise stand. As you can see, the boys found that wristbands made them the coolest and newest members of the globetrotter fans.

As you can see, we were basically the first ones in the arena, and the boys enjoyed smacking each other with their new wristbands. Luckily the cotton candy quieted them down...at least for a bit.

After that the show begin with the mascot "Globie" performing some dance moves out on the court. If you haven't ever been to a Globetrotter game or seen one on TV, it is basically a 2 hour basketball skill show, comedy routine, with some acrobatics thrown in. Really fun, and the kids were laughing the whole time. Even Belle found some things she thought was pretty funny.

The pre-game show had some breakdancers spinning on their head, the halftime show had some funny character that ran around and headbutted some folks, the basketball game had several funny moments when a players shorts were pulled down...to reveal they were wearing Elmo boxer shorts. :) The globetrotters had one white guy named Hops shorter than me, probably about 5'10", but we quickly realized how he got his nickname when he leaped to his 50" (!!!) vertical windmill dunk. WHAT!

The best show of the night was when the globetrotter made some crazy moves, but the ball went out of bounds, the refs called it out on them, but Big Easy asked for a replay. The globetrotters and the other team then did an amazing choreographed rewind sequence...then did the replay in SLO-MO...It was really funny and amazing at the same time. Sam and Davis are still finding things they want to do in SLO-MO...not as funny when I need them to do something quick.

Are seats were also right on the side where the globetrotters went out during halftime, and Big Easy and Stretch clapped Sam and Davis as they went by. Davis told me it was because of their new sweatbands.

About midway through the first quarter, Magan got some visitors that sat down right beside her. Two guys that both needed two seats apiece, but squished down beside her. It was somewhat funny, but not so much for poor Magan who got a rest from their large frames only for a bit during halftime, then they were back shortly after that with sweat rolling down their faces (apparently from the 5 steps to the nacho bar).

Anyway, one last story about the globetrotter wristbands...Sam and Davis were very excited that they both got their own set of wristbands, and Magan explained to them both that the bands were for them to wipe their sweat on them. Magan told me that once as she was trying to keep Belle still, being squished to one side by one of the Big Boys...and she said she starting sweating then felt something rubbing against her head...looking over she found Davis wiping the sweat off with his sweatband. Then after the game, as we went to get our picture with Big Easy, Magan caught Sam with wristbands off wiping his underarms with them. :) It was pretty funny, and even when she told him that was not what they were for, Sam starting laughing getting a kick out of his silliness.

Hodge Podge

Just a hodge podge of pictures...Sam and Davis have recently wanted to sleep on the floor, and since their Mom thought they would be sleeping on the floor with Tornados in the area, she let them practice.

Picture below is with Belle and Mr. Scott Vinsant at church. We don't know why, but every Sunday, she finds Mr. Scott, and grabs his finger and tells him to come "sit". She takes him to this bench in the foyer, and they just "sit".

LOOK AT THE HAIR...I let it go, and finally got it cut right before Katies wedding. But this was definately the longest it has ever been. I think Magan cried tears of joy when I came home without my fro one day.

Deidra Calvert came to see Magan one day at the house, and from what Magan says, the kids had a blast with hers...

And the last two pictures show a trip to McWane with Nanny, Marcia, and family...

Katie Gets Married

Katie Beth Junkin found someone that would listen intently to every word, one with a beard to scratch and ponder the words that she said, that would consider everything she said and never joke during serious wedding planning matters...oh wait, nevermind, she has Mark (see below), and we are glad to have him as part of the family. I also like that John is learning this same "appear to be listening" technique from Mark. My technique is not as believable, as I sometimes have my eyes closed and am snoring. :)

We had a great rehearsal then rehearsal dinner. My favorit quote of the night was from Mark after someone told him great job on picking the BBQ from Johnny's...He replied "Yeah, that's probably the first correct choice I have made in a long time"...then realized that was not the best thing when he was getting married the next day. :)

Mom and her boys. Sam had the sweetest smile all day, and I was so pround of him. Davis smiles well too, yet can not seem to look at the camera. The junkin men that I was not very proud of on this day. Dad was almost crying. John and Colby almost lost it, but I had no problems except for the bad sinus issues that hit me right as Katie starting walking down the aisle.

My beautiful MawMaw above, and the beautiful bride (or as Belle called her "princess") below.

Lot's of family there to share in the moment. Seemed to go by so quickly...but I guess we have another wedding in only a couple of months.