Today Bowden is 2!

WOW! How time flies!

Just 2 years ago I was coming home to a 14 month old with a brand new baby in tow.

Bowden was born on August 11th exactly 14 months after Tatum.

He was NOT a happy baby at first.

It took several months for him and I to love each other.

But NOW ... wow the love I have for him is almost breathless.

He is such a handsome, fun, happy baby boy!

His hair is still curly and as blond as blond gets.

His eyes are crystal blue and will melt ANY ONES heart!

I love him so much my heart aches when I look at him!

To my baby boy -

You are growing so quick.

You are so smart!

You already know all of your colors, you can already count to 10.

You LOVE Mickey Mouse and all of us!

You are the MOST LOVING little boy I have ever met.

You will NOT go to bed until you give EVERYONE a hug and "Iss!"

Every time I drop you at day care or leave you with a sitter you chase me down and say hug hug when I hug you, you say "Iss, Iss" and plant a huge kiss on my lips while hugging and patting my back!

I Love you with my WHOLE SELF!

You are the most wonderful unexpected blessing I could have ever gotten!

Please stay MY baby boy for ever!

I love you! Happy Birthday!

4th of July

We went to Edisto Island for the week before the 4th

We loaded up the camper and the kids for a full week

of camping -

Friday night (the 25th) we went to my Husbands cousins house -

they live on a Plantation, Mullberry Plantation. Jason is the Manager.

It is beautiful. We had a blast!

We also found out that Tatum is either allergic to cats or dogs while there.

My parents have 2 dogs - neither of which shed so we didn't know.

But I am praying it is the cat!

By the time we returned from Edisto I was worn out.

Ready for some down time.

But it was just in time for the 4th -

We had a great neighborhood party - the fireworks lasted 32 minutes.

Not to shabby for donations!

Pics - oh you want pictures - here they are!

PS I chopped my hair off - if you are my friend on FB you know this -

I didn't get 1 picture taken of me ... I am sorry! I will post that later this week!

Melts my heart - I asked them to smile and Bowden went in for the hug and cheese!

Hate to brag but man are they cute!

Just incase you missed it USC, Gamecocks are the National Baseball Champs!


Hahah this one cracks me up - if he were older he would look creepy!

Play time in the camper!

Tatum is 3

WOW how time flies - My baby girl is 3!

I cried on her Birthday (Friday) I can't believe how fast it is going.

My husband makes fun of me for snapping SO MANY pictures ...

boy oh boy am I glad that I do!

My Dear Tatum,

You are the brightest star in my ski.

You amaze me everyday, your smile melts my heart.

The way that you love and share with your brother is a breath of fresh air.

You are fearless, but a little shy too.

You are so so smart. You passed your 3 year old assessment as a 4 year old level.

You are SO FUNNY and make me laugh so hard at times I think I may fall over.

You have the best hugs, kisses and the BIGGEST tears.

You are great at throwing a fit and trying to get JUST what you want. I struggle EVERYDAY not to give in. But for you and your future I am doing my best to stand ground when I think it is needed.

You so peese and tankyou with everything and have finally started to say wlcome after each and every thank you that I give you.

You are a great swimmer, you can swim without your swimmies (only under water) from one narrow side to side of the pool.

You love the be outside. You really don't like TV but you will ask every night to watch Mickey Mouse.

You love Minnie Mouse SO MUCH that right now you often call yourself Minnie if anyone says you are "goofy or silly" "No I'm Minnie" and I laugh EVERY TIME!

You love to sing "You are my sunshine."

Your favorite color is pink and no matter what it is is HAS TO BE PINK!

You are getting very good at talking on the phone, you actually listen and answer no instead of just a nod of the head.

You know your birth date, our names and your name.

You can count to 20, sing your ABC with pride!

You know Tons of songs and can recite so many books that we ready daily.

You know all of your colors, what to mix to make more colors and you are getting very good at tracing your name, and drawing T's and X's.

You love to color and love to paint.

You love to swing and BEG to go HIGHER HIGHER before I am even done pushing you.

You almost know my phone number ... you mix up the first part but someone could find me if needed!

You are getting better at goodbyes and hugs. You haven't always been a "lover" you were more of a "this is my space girl" but you are getting more affectionate (even your teachers think so.)

You are in gymnastics at school and you LOVE IT!

You are currently also taking swim classes that you hate!

You love to go see Daddy at work and pick out your own 'Fruit!"

I love you with all my heart, you have changed my world.

You have changed my relationship with my mom. (in good ways)

You are a joy, a ray of sunshine and I am blessed to call you mine!

I love you with all my heart!

Mothers Day

My Mothers Day for the last 6 years has been spent in Darlington, SC.
I am a NASCAR fan and if you have been here before you KNOW this!
This year was no different than the others ... I was with the ones I love and yes it was HOT!
In 2005 and 2006 I was party hardy with no babies and not yet pregnant.

2005

2006

2007

I was 8 months preggo with Tatum and let me tell you it was HOT as all get out!

Preggo with Bowden and Tatum was back at the camper taking a nap - mom and I were being silly putting on these weird hats - I know I was overwhelmed with life and having a baby and carrying a baby - this is the ONLY picture of me there was in the month of May!
2008

Tatum was about to turn 2 and Bowden was not yet 1 - 2009 was a hard one! Bowden still wasn't sleeping and Tatum was into every thing!
2009

Oh look how far we have come. Both were awake and ready to see the cars. We took them to qualifying (only 1 car on track at a time) because we thought it wouldn't be so loud, I got them both noise reducing ear muffs, but was still worried about their ears. - It was perfect - it was so hot that they only lasted 15 cars and were over it ... but hey they loved the 15 cars they saw!
2010

While the 3 years of preggo and newborns was hard I wouldn't trade it for the world!

Happy Mothers say to you all and to me!

I love you

Out of the blue
for the first time ever
just driving down the road
from here sweet little lips
"I love you Mommy"
unprompted
melted me heart
I cried like a baby!

Circus

We went to the Circus ...

couldn't you just eat them up?!

Helping me find God

I have never been a "churchy" person. My mom and dad both grew up in church, they went to church every Wednesday and Sunday their entire lives ... until they married. I guess at that time in life they were frowned upon because my mom had already been married once and she had a child. Her first husband was a emotional abusive asshole and he walked out of her life when he learned she was pregnant. Neither of their churches would marry them and that was it. I guess due to that I never attended church with them.
In high school I attend church a few times ... but to be honest it was only so I could go on the winter ski trip with the youth class. In college (I attended a Presbyterian affiliated college) I attended Church a few times, I did take 5 or 6 religion based classes ... all of which I enjoyed ... again being honest I was required to take them! I have ALWAYS prayed, and I have ALWAYS talked to God. Even with my mom and dad I said my nightly prayers, we prayed before meals and we talk about God ... we just never did it in church.
Through blogging I have met some amazing people ... a handful of which have brought me closer to going to find God and finding a Church that I love. I know it is just an excuse, but with both of our kids being so young I find it extremely hard to get up and get them ready out the door and to church without resenting the fact that I only have 1 day then that I am not running around trying to get everyone ready and out the door. I work M-F and that means that I get up at 6am I take my shower, I get ready, get the kids up and ready and to Day Care before 7:45 then I am at work at 8 - 4 I leave work at 4 pick the kids up and bring them home for aprox 3 hours of awake time and poof then it is bedtime and we do it all over again the next day ... so to add in Sunday too ... well I get anxious and start to throw a pitty party for myself.
HOWEVER I have made a promise to my self ... and to my KIDS ... we will find a church and we will be in a church before CHRISTMAS!!! We will I know that is a HUGE time frame but I must get used to it ... we are starting off by going to church while RVing ... sometime we RV/camp 2 times a month! On the months that we don't RV 2 times we will go to 2 hometown Churches if we camp 2 times we will go to 1 hometown church ... I am praying that this will allow me to see what I like and don't and I wont feel the pressure to pick "one" but it will allow me to serve GOD!
Now you ask what does this have to do with my Bloggers ... well there really are a few that have brought me to this point ... but 1 in particular! It is her and her family that that have opened my eyes ... made me believe that GOD is with you, he has a plan and really NO MATTER the time it all works out the way HE wants it to! I have prayed for this family like I have no other and the things happening in their lives is AMAZING!
I am blessed that I read her blog and I am blessed to call her a friend! I love you guys and I will continue to pray for you!

Sorry the post is vague on the blogger I am speaking of, but the family has some BIG news and I don't want to spoil it at all for them! But I do want them to know that I am thankful that God brought me to them!

Easter

Happy Easter!

Ours was wonderful!

We enjoyed every minute of the long weekend!

It was beautiful weather in Myrtle Beach!

Sunday after our family lunch and egg hunt we took naps and went to the Circus!

It was a blast!

Here are some Easter photos - hope you enjoy!

St Pattys

Geese I really need to get a hold of my blogging - I just can't find the time!

I laid off our secertary and now we got some work, but I am holding off

on bringing her back until we figure out what is going on with our Law Suit.

It has all been very difficult!

But St Patty's was fun:

Camping

We went to Ocean Lakes this weekend
a small weekend stay-cation
the kids loved it
I loved it
we had a blast!

3 peas in a pod -

Maddie, Tatum and Bowden

Bowden on the swing with Grampa

Mommy and Tatum swinging HIGH!


Tatum gets sugar from daddy!

Ready to slide!

Peak A Bo I see you!

Just Chillin in the swing!

I'm gonna get you !

Breath Taking!

My baby boy!

A LOT

I can't seem to find the motivation to blog anymore - I read a lot of blogs and I look at the computer ALL DAY. Literally I surf the web all day long. I used to have work to do ALL day long, but now I sit at my desk staring blank at the screen wondering just how long it will be until I don't have a paycheck here anymore. I own a construction company with my father, we are dead. NO WORK! I haven't signed a contract in MONTHS ... and I don't see any signs of that changing soon. We are bidding, have been bidding and can't seem to land any jobs.

My pay has been cut - for the first time in my life I am on a budget - something that is hard when you have NEVER been on one. I am paying for insurance for me and the kids for the first time ever and boy does that suck.

Tatum just had a second set of ear tubes put in and boy oh boy am I glad that I am paying for that insurance.

Bowden is still having a LOT of sinus issues so they are talking about removing his adenoids. Again - good thing we keep our insurance.

So in short I got A LOT going on ... my business is failing, after 32 years of profit we are very close to closing the doors. My kids are staying sick and I am ready for a change!

Germ Killer

Friday Night Tatum had ANOTHER stomach bug

Sunday night Bowden got it.

Is it too much to ask for a germ killer?!

I mean this is the 3rd time Tatum has had it since Turkey Day.

Second for Bowden.

And YES i bleached all the toys in the house after all 3 of them.

(or should I say 5?!)

You know because Bowden didn't get it either time until after 48 hours so I had already cleaned them after Tatum's attack, and then again after Bowdens.

So if you have any secrets wont you sent them my way?!

And just for fun ... look at my babies - they are so cute! - When they aren't throwing up on me!

Bowden and his MarshMellows

How do I add my video from YouTube?!

This is Bowden telling me he is going to eat his snack ...

it is too cute!

Snow in Myrtle Beach, SC

I think the last time it snowed in MB was 1989?!
I am sure I could google and find it, but your lucky I am blogging at all!

Well as you can tell by the post title we got SNOW ...

What could be more adorable than babies in the snow?!

NOTHING ... so here ya go:

Getting the babies ready to go play!

Tatum not real sure about the white stuff ...

she got hit by a snowball and the fun was all over!

Sledding ... you know they don't sell sleds in SC ...

so my Daddy used a storage bin lid

Bowden tasting the snow!~

He loved it!

My beauty!

Health conscience Valentines Day

Both my babies are in Day Care ...

With each passing holiday I TRY to make each teacher a little something.

I am in the construction business and just like everyone else

we are HURTING for work and our cash flow SUCKS!

So the "little" something must also be cheap, but not cheap looking!!

This year for Valentines I was at W*al-Mart

I saw the little $1 hearts with 4 pcs of chocolate in them!

Cheap, Easy and still nice!

Then I thought "How many of these will one teach want?"

So I went with something different ....

Who doesn't love a candle?! The candles were only $0.97 each

The craft ribbon was a $1

and the other ribbon was left over from Christmas!

So ... I still kept it cheap and CUTE and stayed Healthy too!

What did you do?!