Percy.

My little Sebastian is the most precious boy.  I call him Percy, because he perces his lips when he looks at you and all you can do is kiss him.  He crawls under everything.  Most places he does not fit so I hear a squeal and away I run to get him out.  Ceal cries when he has his morning nap.  She cries for me not to put him down.  She has that much fun with him.

I cannot even tell you the love this little guy has for his mother.  It is the most wonderful feeling in the world.  He smiles so big when I get him in the morning or for a nap.  If I am out of the room for just a minute and come back in, his whole face lights up.  I constantly tell him he makes me feel like the most special mother on earth.  Today I swept the upstairs and called down to Danny who was playing with Ceal and Seve.  As soon as Sebastian heard my voice, he flung himself back on the floor and started screaming.  All you can do is laugh.  He is the sweetest boy. 

He has got to be about 26lbs and still loves to be held.  He is allowing me to stay fit without working out. 

Kisses From Katie.

I knew ordering this book my life would forever change.  I did not know how grateful I would be for the change it would bring to my life.

This is the most amazing book about a young girl who went to Uganda for one year to work in an orphanage, and gave her life to Jesus.  Katie adopted 14 daughters and is still living in Uganda now 4 years later.  Everything about this book changed what I thought about my life.

I thought I would go to Heaven and have questions for God.  I knew he would have a lot of questions for me, but the least of these did I think he would ask why in His name would I ever allow starving children to die.  Why I allowed orphans to go on living their lives without ever knowing a mother and father, family, and love.

"Sometimes I would like to ask God why He would allow famine, poverty, and injustice in the world when He could do something about it...but I'm afraid He might ask me the same question." -Anonymous

Great Wolf Lodge.

 Umm, possibly the most fun place on the planet.  Last minute we took a trip to Cinncinatti to Great Wolf Lodge, and had a blast.  Everything was fun except for Wiley, the wolf who walked around (person in costume, not dangerous here) I had to go many of walks out of my way to avoid this character. Cealy does not like characters.  No Disney for us for awhile.

The water park was a dream.  Sebastian and I went around the lazy river over and over.  Danny and I contemplated having Cealy watch Sebastian so we could do the adult water slides, but we decided against it.  Next time we are taking friends.  There is a bar in the water park.  Talk about smart.

 Look at this place!  It is a blast.  If only we lived here. 

 We did not think Cealy would go on the slides!  She loved them!  Her little self would go up the stairs and stand in line to come down. The best was when I want to catch her and she shook her head no.  Then pointed at Danny to catch her.  Thanks.

Yes, Sebastian and I were there.  I take all the pictures and it looks like I am never around...Scary of me I know but I need evidence down the road that I did in fact raise my children.

13 Ladies and a Sebastian.

FLORIDA!

Mackenzie talked me into it. 

She said I was always up for an adventure.  Just make the drive to Ft. Walton with my kids, and stay with a bunch of fabulous, fun ladies for the week.  So I did it.  Aisha was willing to drive with me, and Kristin Poske and her baby came too!  The drive down we drove through the night (we, meaning my sister, Aisha, drove the whole way).  She is the best!  The kids mostly slept except for the night owl, Sebastian.  We got there at 4:45 am and had to stay up the rest of the day!  I would not recommend.  Ever.

We had a total blast.  These ladies are the most fun people on the planet.  We played all day.  Someone would head to our 12 person condo and get drinks for the pool.  We ate, drank, played games, and laughed for a week.  I feel so blessed to have them all in my life.  When our kiddos went to bed we played such fun games I am laughing just thinking about it now.  Being surrounded by such amazing family and friends is such a blessing.  My children always know love.

The kids woke up nice and late around 6 am...every morning.  It was delightful.  In order for everyone to continue liking us in the condo, Kristin, her mama, Marm, and I took them on workouts in the wagon.

Sebastian just might be obsessed with Aunt Jessie.  When he sees her he leaps out of my arms.

Kristin and Aubrey in the pool.

Mother's Day 2012.

Mother's Day Tea! 

Cealy and Drew playing at school.  Cealy loves Drew.  He lives in our neighborhood, and we get to play most every week!

I love this picture of the babes with Mammaw.  We cooked out for Mother's Day, and our precious Mammaw brought gifts.

I take raising Cealy and Sebastian serious.  I want to have lots of fun with them along the way, but I think really raising them into compassionate, caring, able, hardworking people is a serious job.  Raising a girl and a boy is quite the same.  Sure Sebastian likes cars and loud noises, and Cealy sure loves her dolls, but I pick up Sebastian when he falls and kiss him a thousand times, just as I do my Cealy.  I don't want him to think he has to toughen up, and never cry when he feels sad.  Cealy helps me cook and do the laundry.  You best believe that when Sebastian is two, he will be doing the same thing.

My hopes and dreams for these two loves are to give them a strong sense of who they are and where they came from.  To not judge their neighbor or friend.  I hope they will be confident people. Confident in their relationships with friends, loves, and God. 

Cealy's Prayers.

Cealy says her prayers each night. 

She always ends them thanking him for certain people.

Last night she ended thanking God for her eyebrows.

When I looked at her crazy, she said, "What? I just really like them."

Don't Skip that Word.

You know when your kids get old enough they notice you skip pages when you read a really long book...

Well Cealy has not only makes sure Danny and I don't skip a single page, we have to say every word...

I was reading, Alexander and the Terrible, No Good, Very Bad, Day.  It is a good book, but a long one.  When you have to read 50 books a day, it is nice and sweet to have a short one.  So knowing Ceal I read each page but I skip a couple of lines.

I read the last page and then closed the book.

"Nope, you forgot somethin."

"What?"

"He bit his tongue when he went to bed, you forgot to read that part."

I am in big trouble.