My Babies & A Birthday Party

He is 16 months today!

{He looked really creepy when I tried to take the red-eye off..so he's a red-eyed 16 month old}

And..

She is 3 1/2 tomorrow! I cannot believe that. Really...it is hard to grasp!

And they are my heart. Both of them in equally different ways. I love them so. As I sat holding them in the smallest closet in our house {seriously, 4 ft x 4 ft with 4 of us and pillows} during those awful tornadoes the other night, I just prayed and prayed for their protection. And the Lord heard our prayers. Others around us weren't as lucky. We have total destruction just miles from our house. The roads we take everyday look like a bomb went off..and I guess it did. It is heartbreaking and sad and downright depressing. Houses totally demolished. You can literally see the path that it took. Please pray for these people, and the many others affected. It was a terrifying night here.



And to cheer things up a bit...we had a great time this afternoon at Mitchell's 1st birthday party/circus. He and Cope will be big buddies {already are} but I can just see them as little boys on our street...they live a few doors down and are only a few months apart! It was lots of fun, and Emilie, Mitchell's mom, did a fantastic job. She is that creative type that you kinda envy! She made everything.

Birthday Boy!

Simms had lots of fun with Mitchell in the play area designated for babies..whatever entertains her!

Then the human bulldozer arrived and wanted in..beware children

Sweet Hudson {I hate I didn't get a pic of his precious face}

Isn't she lovely? Sweet Mary Margaret {and could I please have that skin}
I'm so upset I didn't take pictures of all the precious kiddos and even more upset I didn't get a group shot!

Apparently green was the color of the day

{Emilie, Dru, Allen}
It was such a fun day. Happy Birthday Mitchell!

Our Easter

We celebrated today by attending church with my family. I think it was so special that I was able to be there with over 20 members of my family {on my mom and dad's sides}. We were spread out all over the place, but we were there. Our preacher had a wonderful Easter message and the music was beautiful. We dressed the kids up in their finest {although Dru had Simms calling Cope "Copelina due to his lace..whatev..Dru wore it too..and our boy looked beautiful}




I got no pictures of the cousins together today..sad..but I did snap one of Mae Mae during church

Before church our two were up early to see if the Easter Bunny hopped over to our house..which they were delighted to find out that he had!




After church we enjoyed a delicious lunch at my Meme's with everyone in attendance. This was no different than any other Sunday because she cooks like it is Easter every Sunday, but since it was Easter, it was even more special!
We also attended a few egg hunts this weekend, and met Dru's parents and Taylor and Jessica at Hunter's Pub. Delish and fun!







It has been a busy but fun weekend. Simms has tested my patience more this weekend than she has in a while though..so I'm hoping a new week will bring a new attitude for both of us! At least I can pray for that and have been already!

Watching Daddy

I took Simms and Cope to watch Dru rope the other night,

{I know..poor calf}
There is lots of prep work before the roping begins though..And Simms was happy to help

Cope was happy with waiting, playing with dogs and eating in the barn

I've told ya'll before Dru just can't get past college, right? Who am I kidding, these shirts make up 95% of my tshirts that I still wear too :)

Simms and Cope both enjoyed rides..The first for Cope!

They both watched with anticipation for their turn. Especially Simms...she was pretty possessive of Dru and riding a horse when Cope had his turn

Simms decided to rope herself. She chose a rock instead of a calf. Smart choice.

It was a fun night for all of us.
And can I just tell you all that this house is sick again? Simms tested positive for strep Tuesday. She started running a fever Monday afternoon, and was burning up the rest of the day and through the night. I took her on to the doctor Tuesday without telling Dru {deceitful I know} but I knew he'd think I was jumping the gun and being my normal, {although I am working on this} anxious, worrying self. So on we went. And he had no clue {for you big city people I know this is probably just driving down the road. Its at least an hour in the car for us that live in the booneys so a bigger deal}. Glad we went. They swabbed her throat and the test was positive. The very next day? Cope is sick. So the sweet doctor just called in a prescription for him. I am SO ready for a healthy house. I've been on the verge of tears the past few nights just wanting sleep, without coughing, hot babies on either side of me. I just want them to feel better. It's that simple really. And since they have both been on antibiotics for over 24 hrs they are no longer contaigous {for all of our local friends reading who may have kiddos that we may run into this busy weekend}. So, it has been a long week. And we are getting ready for a busy weekend. Luckily, I'm not stressed out about baskets, dresses, etc. Easter bunny started and finished basket shopping in 45 min yesterday. Simms is wearing a dress from last year that she only wore once. And Cope is wearing one of Bennett's old outfits. {Although he may need it. The outfits Sissy was having made for her 2 aren't going to be ready. She found out TODAY}. Happy Easter everyone. As Simms has been saying, "He is RISEN! He is RISEN, Indead!" We are working on it... :)

Ahhhh...the Beach!

We just returned from a few days here. And let me just tell you, they were wonderful, relaxing and just plain fun for the cousins {and the parents}. Our days started early. Yes, it is barely light out as the daddies and oldest two set up our "camp" for the next few days, but how else can it be done with 4 under 4? Simms and Bennett came up with a game plan for our trip Which included lots of playing in the sand and building things, because the water was rough and cold Cope and Mae Mae were very eager to escape these {oh how the condo continues to evolve with our gear} This was the first beach trip for Cope {crazy!} but Mae Mae had him filled in on what to expect with all of that sand We celebrated our sweet Daddy & wonderful husband's 31st birthday Simms made him a "seashell cake" complete with a candle We did manage a family shot for both families {and I laugh as I type that..before Sissy and I both had 2 babies there were countless shots of our families; now we get one and we are good} More fun on the beach {wearing those kiddos out so the mamas could enjoy a few cocktails during naps before dinner} This little lad tormented me with feathers, and he and his daddy and my husband loved throwing snacks in my direction while those sea birds circled over..and basically swarmed in on me..ugh. The babies did wonderfully on the trip. They are so sweet. And just love each other {I promise they didn't stay caged} And then in the spirit of recreating our traditions as children we HAD to let Simms go to a souvenir shop and pick out a souvenir {although what she picked has now been placed front and center in our den by her..but it was SO much fun to see her walk around looking for just the right thing} It was a wonderful trip. And then we came home..and did laundry..LOTS of laundry..and today Simms and I decorated eggs for some of the hunts we are supposed to attend And I've been up to my eyeballs in pictures. I let myself get so behind in uploading pics, ordering them and putting them in albums. Like SO far behind. This stack just arrived and it is from Dec 08- July 09..I have LOTS more coming. Not to mention I am pulling a few hundred out of pink albums to put in some brown albums where the rest of my several thousand pics will be going as well {not sure why I ever though pink albums had to be used..I guess becuase Simms was our first child and a girl..but I want everything in matching, or as close to mathing as possible, albums..so I have myself quite the project going} But pictures are such a tangible memory. And so important for me to have. This is gearing up to be a busy week {with Simms running a fever..praying its just from the bad sunburn she got, even afer sunscreen was applied..grrr..} so I will hopefully be back soon!