count it all joy

Last night was sort of a rough night. Anna Grace was up crying in her bed around 3 am then Caleb was up wanting to eat at 4. Then my morning started at 6:03 when Anna Grace came in our room wanting something to drink.

So after feeding Caleb and getting a bite to eat myself around 8:00 I was roboticly going through the motions of changing Caleb's poop diaper. While doing this I was giving myself a pep talk; you know reminding myself that no matter the circumstances I am to be joyful and my life is really a piece of cake, I am just tired at the moment...My children really are a blessing from the Lord and I am thankful to have such a great family...That sort of talk. When all of a sudden Caleb had a juicy toot that, bam, landed right on my face...my cheek, temple and forehead to be exact! All of a sudden I was wide awake and for a milla-second I thought "Really?!?" but then the hilarity of the situation that only God could orchestrate had me laughing and counting it all joy, poop face and all.

marriage

As is the case with most three year olds, Anna Grace always has a question for me. However there are several that I know she will ask in the course of the day, everyday. They are:

1. "Mama, can Caleb walk yet?"
2. "Well can he crawl?"
3. "What are we having?" (referring to breakfast, lunch and dinner)
4. "Are you still married?"
5. "Am I still big?"

It is the forth question that always gets me. The typical conversation that follows usually has to do with am I married to "Daddy" and why are we married and then she tells me her understanding of marriage - "Big people, a mama and a daddy, get married, have children and stay married forever because God wants them too."

Last night Neal was going to visit a sick friend just before Anna Grace and Dean went to bed. Being out of the ordinary, Anna Grace felt the need to check the schedule for the evening, making sure he would come back and kiss her good night, that sort of thing. Then she said, "Because he has to sleep with you in y'all's bed." I said yes then came the daily question..."Are you still married?" I said yes. This time however the conversation took a different turn. Here it is:

AG: Are you still married?
me: Yes.
AG: Am I married?
me: No.
AG: Why not?
me: Because you're 3.

a post especially dedicated to ottie

Growing up Mom cross-stitched a picture that is still hanging in their house today. We all laugh and say it is Wayne's (aka Ottie's) life motto...

Use it up
Wear it out
Make it do
Or do without

Yesterday when Caleb had a hole in the back of his new diaper (it came out of the bag with a hole in the booty); I decided that I needed to make it work. Here is what I came up with and surprisingly enough it did work. Wayne these pictures are just for you.

So if you are ever in a bind and need to patch a diaper here is what you do. Cut the top front of a used diaper (this part will still be clean) and lay it over the diaper's hole. Then use masking tape to tape all 4 sides. Then place a big piece of packing tape over the patch and masking tape.

Pics from the Last Few Weeks

Dean loving on his little brother.

Caleb relaxing on the floor.

Anna Grace modeling her "new" pajamas
that the triplets gave her.

Anna Grace loving on Caleb.

No one ever accused Caleb of not filling out his clothes!

He is one laid back child-when he wants to be.

One Nifty Computer

This afternoon I had a tea party with Anna Grace and Dean while Caleb was napping. We had "banana tea with sauce and chocolate cookies." As if it wasn't odd enough that my children had me drinking "sauce," it was the computer that provided the food. If only I had known all this time that the computer would just spit out food; think of all the time I could have saved.
Oh to have such an imagination....

I left Anna Grace in charge...

for just a few minutes while I ran up to Caleb's room to get something before feeding him this morning. This is what I came back down too.

She thought he needed some things to play with. And before you (Kevin) tell me that he is mad to be in Auburn clothes you should know that I found this

hidden between his left cheek and his shoulder. Poor little guy!

last week was a busy one

We began the week by a zoo trip...all of the Hatchett grandchildren.

Anna Grace, Dean and Mallie Tate watching the

monkeys.

Caleb was there - at least his feet showed up.

Looking at the Red River Hogs.

Watching the White Bengal Tiger drink water.

Next thing on the list...the lake and the Lake Martin Firework Show.

I know it is not the best picture but it is the only one we got of
Anna Grace and Dean watching the firework show
from the boat. They LOVED it.

And this is the closest thing we got to a representation
of the actual show.

Finally the Fire Truck Pictures

As promised here are the pictures from our library adventure where we met the firemen and got to check out the truck. Everyone had lots of fun even though it was REALLY hot out there.

Slade wearing the fire helmet.

Anna Grace wearing the helmet.

William wore the helmet too.

Slade with his fireman's helmet in the fire truck.

Anna Grace needed to talk about the helmet to
the fireman while in the truck.

Everyone checking out the bell.
As you can see Dean was a little unsure of all this.

Slade ringing the bell.

Anna Grace ringing the bell.

It was only after we got home that Dean decided
to put on his fireman's hat and tell me how
great the morning had been with the firemen.

He even went so far as trying to wear
his hat to bed for his nap!