Surprises Inside

I am going to try posting this from my phone, so we'll see how this turns out.

So, I'm coming to terms with the fact that I have a toddler now. She's into everything and I spend most of my day trying to keep her from killing herself! Well that and picking up all the stuff... Who knew kids had so much stuff?!? One of my favorite things is discovering the little surprises that she leaves for me. Here are a few examples...

That Darn Cat

Two years ago a certain kitty strolled confidently into our lives. With a simple flick of his long, fluffy tail, he seemed to say "Hey. I like this house you're building. I believe I'll stay and you can be my people." 

And stay he did. He made himself right at home. ...especially on the couch!

Though he is very much an outdoor kitty, he does get to sleep inside on those cold winter nights.  

(Its the least I could do considering we took away his manhood.)

Louie and I bonded rather quickly. Possibly due to our love of naps, and we did have many of those over the course of my pregnancy. 

Perhaps that's why my girl loves him so.

The feeling is mutual. Check out his fierce face! Those eyes clearly warn that he will scratch the face off anyone that messes with his baby! 

Occasionally Louie will take little vacations. ...stay gone a few days...and then just show back up, asking for dinner, as if nothing ever happened.

I even had a chat with Husband about this. Do you think he has another family somewhere that thinks he belongs to them? Maybe they trap him inside so that he can't come home? What if they call him Fluffy!?!? Husband sweetly assured me that cats are cats and they roam. Its what they do. 

Well, last week we were visiting with our backdoor neighbor. We had casual conversation about the weather, family, health, his pesky sweet gum limbs that hang over our pool... you know, the usual. Backdoor neighbor then glances across the yard and says "Oh, Hi Mr. Carmel!!" (pronounced Car-mel...not care-a-mel as most southerners would say) We looked over to see that we were being introduced to LOUIE!!! The two-timing cat that we had fixed because we thought he was a stray!!! 

Lou-eeeee....you have some 'splainin' to do!!!

Easter 2013

 This was Easter last year...

...and here is Easter THIS year!  I think those bunny ears shrank a little!!!

I love Easter! Everyone in their Sunday best worshiping our Risen Lord and Savior. What's not to love about that!?! This year the brothers, sisters, cousins, children and even those of us that married into the family went to church together at the 'home church' where Meme and her family went to church. (Which just so happens to be the church Husband was raised in and where we are members today.) Afterwards, we went to Aunt Nellie Sue's for quite the feast! While there, we may or may not have taken a few photos.... 

Meme and Grandpa's gang

I hope you all had a blessed Easter!

Hang Ten!!!

 Saturday was such a beautiful day and the backyard was calling us to come play!

So we donned our play clothes and got some much needed vitamin D!

...and fiber!

...or whatever nutrients come from eating leaves :)

 Could she be any cuter!?!?!?!

Then Daddy found this mini surf board and the rest was history! 

Sheer joy on that girl's face! 

....and then she slept all night :)

BUMC Easter Egg Hunt

 Each year our church has an Easter egg hunt for the kiddos, but this year Smalls was actually big enough to participate. 

She had a blast hanging out with the big kids! 

...don't think the fact that she's not walking slowed her down!!! She claimed her spot on the ground and some sweet friends shared their eggs with her. 

She was just as impressed with the leaves and sticks as she was the eggs!

Cousins! 

Bryan's dad said classified this as a date since they ate lunch together first.

Look at my champion egg hunter with her game face on!

This first egg hunt goes down as a success. Next year she'll be all over the place!!! 

Wadley

 Wadley. My hometown. The place my college friends affectionately called Mayberry. 

Where I graduated from a (public) high school with a class of 23 students.

No traffic lights. Two police cars. Virtually NO cell service...until recently. And if you needed anything, you better get it early, because they roll the sidewalks up at 8 pm!!

Here's a little known fact. I didn't learn how to pump gas until I went off to college, because I always stopped at George's Texaco and they pumped it for you! 

A couple of weekends ago, my girl went to spend the weekend with my parents. She slept in a crib in my old room and had her Papa and Honey at her beck and call. Basically she was on vacation! I went up that Monday and stayed a few days before taking her home. 

That Monday night we had a terrible storm and the power was out ALL EVENING LONG! So we enjoyed  an old fashioned dinner by lantern light and good conversation. 

We also got to go visit with Mowmow in the nursing home. I love this picture because it looks like they are in deep conversation.  

Smalls enjoyed jumping on the bed, pushing buttons, and waving at the nurses as they walked by. 

I know this is a terrible iPhone snap, but I LOVE Mowmow's expression in this one! We actually caught a smile!

Four generations! It was truly a special day. 

Afterwards, we had dinner with Little Grandmother....and I'm not sure how I failed to get a picture with her. (It may have had something to do with the fact that MC ate her weight in green beans that night and got food all over herself and the floor!) 

If you'll remember, Little Grandmother lives just across the road, so I walked over for coffee and biscuits in the morning too! Just a perk of having a Grandmother at arm's reach! 

While I was home, I drove up to have dinner with some high school friends. Seeing these guys and catching up was good for the heart!!! A lot has changed over the past 12 years but I love the way we pick right up where we left off like it was just yesterday! 

Smalls got to help Papa in the yard!

She loved riding the lawn mower and playing with Troy, their rather large dog. And by playing, I mean he would walk by and she would say "woof, woof." 

I think Papa enjoyed his little sidekick too!

Just wait till you get a little bigger, Baby Girl, and he really will put you to work :)

We had a fun visit, and Papa and Honey were sad to see us leave...but Daddy and the Big Sisters were ready for this little one to come back home!