Welcome Home, Tony!!

After spending almost a year and a half on the other side of the earth, our brother-in-law (and uncle), Tony, is back home from Iraq! He and Shannon came up and spent this past weekend with us. It was so great to see them both! Tony - we are so proud of you, for the sacrifice you made serving our country. We know that God had His hand of protection upon you and brought you back home safely. Now we can all breathe a sigh of relief knowing that you're back here where you belong. You're the best!!

Smart girls

Even though Holland was sick with the flu this week, it still wasn't reason enough for Payton to sleep in her own room. (She says that the knots in the wood in her bunkbeds are "eyes" looking at her.) So I told her if she was going to sleep in Holland's room, her bed had to be pushed against the other wall. That's when they got real creative and taped these signs on the floor....

Valentine's Recap

Well, Valentine's was tons of fun for all of us this year! The girls got to start the morning off with gifts from me and Scott (chocolates and build-a-bear clothes), and then it was party all afternoon at school. Here's Holland with an ice cream sundae she made and Payton with a box she decorated for her valentines. Then when we got home, Pawpaw brought them special treats, and they got to open a special package from Papa and M'laine. Does it get any better than that??
Scott was so sweet and made reservations several weeks ago for us at a "secret" restaurant. (There are no secrets with me, so I figured it out early.) We went to Ruth's Chris Steakhouse with Brad & Brandi on Friday night and had the meal of a lifetime (and paid enough to buy the entire cow, but that's beside the point...)! It was fantastic! I knew we wouldn't be back there again anytime soon, so I enjoyed every minute of it. What a great Valentine's Day!

Payton's Thoughts

As Payton and I were driving to school one day this week, she was staring out the window, and I could tell that she was deep in thought. A minute later she asked, "Mom, who do you like the most - Bill Clinton, Johnny Cash, or Sam Walton?". How's that for random?? So, I said, "Well, I'd have to say Sam Walton because he's done a lot of good things". She said, "I like Johnny Cash because he's done lots of good things, too. But, he smokes, and that's bad".

Then last night on our way home she said, "Yuck! What is that smell?". I said, "I don't know. What's it smell like?". And she said, "It's like skunk.... with a pinch of cinnamon".

Anyone that knows Payton, knows that she's our passionate one. She gives 110% of her time, thought, and energy to whatever she's interested in at the time. Well, her class has been studying poetry, so she's decided that she's going to be a poet whenever she grows up. She's spent a lot of time over the past few days writing poems, and she'd like to share her favorite on here:

My Treefrog Eats

I have a treefrog
that drinks eggnog.

It's the craziest thing I've ever seen.
Now he's eating paper and a jelly bean.

First he ate some wood.
Then he ate my hood.

I'm tired of him eating
everything I'm needing.

Snowed in, but had to get out!

One snow day is a pleasant surprise. Two snow days and we weren't feelin' the love so much. So, when Jill called Friday morning and asked if we wanted to go to lunch and then paint pottery, we were thrilled! The girls had a great time, and the cats each got a new food bowl out of the deal. There's nothing better than spending the day with good friends!

I Survived The Sleepover of '08!

I'm thinking about having a T-shirt made with that very slogan.... We had 10 girls, yes I said 10, at our house from 6:00 Friday night to 10:00 Saturday morning. Here's how it went: Everyone run and scream, sit and eat pizza, run and scream, sit still just long enough to take a picture, sit and eat ice cream, run and scream until I MADE them lay down and be quiet at 11:45. Saturday: Everyone get up at 7 and run and scream, sit and eat donuts, run and scream until it was time to go home. I didn't do a whole lot, but I was exhausted! Holland thought it was the best thing ever, and that's all that really matters. I'm just glad we have 361 days until we have to do that again.

Happy Birthday, Holland!!

Let's take a stroll down memory lane, shall we? It was on this day, 9 years ago, that my mom, Scott, and I waited anxiously for this little miracle to take her first breath. There were a few tense moments, but then came a collective sigh of relief when we heard that very first cry. What a blessed day that was. It was a day that already had special meaning because it had been my Grandma Skelton's birthday. Even though she never had a chance to meet Holland, her spirit lives on in her. She's been gone for quite a while now, but every January 24th is a day of remembrance and reflection for me. Even though they are separated by 3 generations, Mamaw Skelton and Holland are forever connected by this day. To God, I am forever grateful for that.

Holland - You are pure sunshine and joy. How lucky am I that out of all of the millions of people in the world, God chose to give you to me. I'm the first one that gets to see your bright and shining face every morning and the last one to hear your sweet voice say, "I love you" each night. You are wonderfully made. God took all that is right and pure and lovely in this world and made you. I don't let a single day pass without telling Him "Thank you" for the gift of your life. The very thought of you makes me smile, and to be with you is true happiness. I cherish all of the memories from the past 9 years and look forward with excitement to the ones that are yet to be made. I love you.