Daddy's little girl

Nothing sweeter than the love a father has for his daughter

SNOW

The Spence House

Well the weatherman got it right this time! We woke up to a nice pretty blanket of snow at the Spence House this morning. 7 and 1/8 inches of it to be exact--measured in our backyard --look at the right side of the ruler.

I cooked breakfast and then we had to keep the boys at bay long enough to get them dressed to go outside and off we went. The boys had a big time well we all did actually AND we built a pretty nifty snowman if I do say so myself! When we came back in to get warm Net Net came over and made yummy snow cream for us too! Check out our pictures from today. {yes I know I need to update other stuff but that will come in time I promise...}

The boys on our front porch

Will's Snow Dance ???

An even funnier Jake Snow Dance {haha}

Mommy and Jake working on the snowman


Jake kissing the snowman before he was finished--he was obsessed with eating the snow--he was just diving and eating/licking the snow off the ground--crazy kid


All Will wanted to do while we built the snowman was swing--here he is in 25 degree weather swinging--another crazy kid


Daddy and his bruisers with the snowman

Mommy and her angels with the snowman =)


Meet Huskamida the snowman--Jake named him
or as James and I like to call him St Patty since he is decked in green...so
Happy early St Patricks Day!


This is Alaina Claire's reaction when we came in and told her all about the snow and the snowman we built while she was napping--she was super excited!

Kiss & Maverick--what a pair!

Looks like I gave birth to Gene Simmons {minus the painted face} and
Tom Cruise {minus the antics}! HAHAHA

possessed eyes and all just make the picture-hee hee!

That is one smooth little dude right there {in the words of his Papa}

Snoozing

Took the boys outside today. Thought it best to just put Alaina Claire in the front pack I have so I had my hands to catch runaway kiddos if need be. I went about doing my thing and happened to see my reflection in the window of my van. Little Miss had fallen asleep. It wore her out just watching her brothers. Isn't that a sweet face.

Possessed Cat

I just thought this was a hilarious picture of Maggie. This is the cat that thinks she is a dog. She fetches, specifically rubber bands. She loves them and if you have one lying anywhere around the house be prepared the next morning that it won't be there she can sniff them out and then she plays with them in the middle of the night and you find them in random places if you find them at all. Oh Maggie!

Get Together

We had our first birthday get together of the year today with the Childress family. There was lots of catching up, good conversation, lessons on how to clean toilets and watching the kids run around. Fun times, fun times with the Childress bunch!! Among the birthdays {Johnny, Richard, Nooge, Net Net} we celebrated Will's birthday too! He got some cuuute swim trunks and a tank and some cool shirts that of course in true Will fashion he HAD to put on right then. His most favorite gift I do believe was the 4 wheeler Aunt Gale got him.

Check him out:





We always have cake of course and this time my crazy kid {that would be Jake today} watched everyone lick the candles after we sang and they blew the candles out. So he proceeds to get a candle and start gnawing at the base of it. Like he really took a bite there were bite marks which I didn't capture out of the candles. Crazy kid! Knowing that didn't taste good just because he thought he saw everyone else doing it. He knows now....or at least til next time....









MY MOST FAVORITE THING FROM TODAY!!!!!

My Aunt Phyllis, Uncle Eugene, Aunt Charlotte and Uncle Ronnie gave us a Christening Gown for Alaina Claire. Phyllis had called to ask if I had one and I foolishly mentioned I would just use the one I did for the boys and she thought I was nuts I am pretty sure! hee hee This gown is absolutely GORGEOUS and yes now after seeing it the one I had really looks like a boy's gown. I took pictures but they aren't in the best light hopefully you can see some of it. THANK YOU Nanny, Nooge, Charlotte and Ronnie I love it's guts out!! {as Phyllis would say}


Weird color picture--i know. Look at the teeny tiny pearls on the embroidered flowers on the gown, plus it has lace!

A Night Out

For our Anniversary we did actually get to go out! {by ourselves!!} Yay for us---that rarely happens. Especially now with a 2 month old. So Jake went and spent the night with Granny Gaynell---don't you know that he is having a big time. Between Samantha, Kyndall and Granny I guarantee the boy hasn't had to lift one of his little bitty fingers to have to do anything! hee hee
Will and Alaina Claire stayed with Net Net. Will spent the night though we picked AC up when we got home.

Where did we go you ask? We went to Ruth's Chris Steakhouse----can we say umm umm good!! Wow it was very tasty! Neither of us had been there before. Then we made our way to see a movie. Of course we ended up taking in an earlier movie so we were home by 10 ish. Pretty funny but hey we got out and that is what matters. It was a wonderful anniversary. *clink* here's to many more!!

Helping Daddy get Ready

Will was helping Daddy get ready for his night out with Mommy.

5 Years Ago Today

****Warning Warning-- sappy post below---not your usual Rach speak****

Today in 2003, I married my one and only, my cherry on top, my sweet sweet James Kenneth! I wake up every morning thankful to God that he brought this man into my life. I look back but I almost can't...because I can't picture my life without him. I do treasure him and all of the things he has given me and taught me and all the things we have experienced, accomplished and grown together. I am positive that I don't tell him these things enough and that I take for granted that he is with me every day but just in case you don't know, honey, now is the time to read the blog, my life truly is better because of you!! =) I love you baby!

I will leave you with one of the really cool things that we did at our wedding--it was a tradition we started with a Rose Ceremony. And yes for those wondering we still do it every year--this year I got lucky with a dozen roses but usually it is just the one like we started with. Here it is:

Rachel, I give you this rose. Because it grew from a tiny seed, becoming stronger and larger until it burst into flower, it symbolizes the way my love for you has grown.

Each year on our anniversary, I will give you another rose. By doing this, I’ll remember this day and renew the vows we’ve made.

James, I give to you this vase of water.

Because the water is the one thing without which we would perish, it symbolizes the importance of your love in my life. Each year on our anniversary, I will refill this vase, as a symbol to you of my ever renewing love.

Without water, the rose would die.

Without the rose, the vase of water would not be beautiful. My gift is enhanced by yours, just as my life is enchanced by yours.

My gift is lovely because of yours, just as my life is better because of you.

Today we begin our life as one.

Now is also a very appropriate time to remind those of you family and friends that shared that special day with us how much that meant for you to be there. Thank you all for the support and love you gave us before and have given us since then. We love you all!

Jake and the Pre K story

So I am usually a little slow on the uptake about what I need to be doing for my kids schooling. Like places have a waiting list and I realize that I want them to be in Mother's Day Out for example and try to do it right then. {but have to wait til the next school year} Well as you can imagine that doesn't work that well. Last time I planned ahead was when I had Jake and I was supposed to go back to work and he had a spot and then my plan backfired and they didn't have a spot and well I'm not complaining because all of that got me to right here in this moment and choosing to stay home with my kids.

Ok I digress. Anyway, SO I had always said that the year before my kids go to kindergarten I want them to go to a 5 day a week program to get ready and James agreed---not just for the things they will learn but for the social and "getting in a routine" reasons. Jake of course has gone to Mother's Day out but it is only 2 days a week so we decided this coming school year he needs to attend a 5 day a week program. Well herein lies the problem....or so we thought. I have done research on all of our options here in our county and was gonna just go ahead and try for several of them. BUT when I started looking at the Catholic Church/School we have that is right near us {not the one we attend} that has a Pre K program it was back at the first of the month and it JUST SO HAPPENED that they were having their school open house that coming up Sunday. So we attended. Jake absolutely LOVED the room and all the cool things they had there and he loved the assistant teacher as did James and I was especially impressed with the lead teacher. SO what did we do but march right to the office, get our paperwork, go out to the car, fill it out, take it right back in and sign up for a family meeting .

Which brings us to tonight. Tonight was our family meeting that we had with the teachers. We went with about 4 or 5 other families and got to hear more about the program and ask any questions we had from the lead teacher and the kids got to play and the assistant teacher was observing/helping them. It all went well. I am still impressed. Now all we do is just WAIT the admissions for the siblings of current kids just ended and now they can accept new people but we don't know how many slots they have---I feel like we're waiting for a college letter or something!!! HAHA You know I am just joking--I know it is preK and we have lots of these type things to come.....with all the kids. BUT wish us luck. Jake REALLY wants to go back to big school. Of course being potty trained is a no brainer for PreK so we have a little work to do. The best thing about this place is ---it is like 5-7 minutes from the house--woo hoo for me!! We'll keep you updated.

Happy Birthday Net Net

Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you
Happy Birthday to Net Net/Mama
Happy Birthday to YOU!!!

We love you and are so grateful for all the things you do and are so excited that you are now next door and we get to see you so much more often! Hope you enjoyed you gifts, your yummy Arby's dinner {hey that's what ya get with 3 kids--you think we're going out?! HA! or cooking double HA!---hee hee} she knows I am joking. AND don't forget the delicious birthday cake!!

Happy Birthday we hope your day was wonderful!!

A sleeping car

You gotta love a sleeping car. What is a sleeping car you ask?? It's when I get home after we have been somewhere, gone to run errands or something to that effect and ALL my kids are asleep in the car. I am lucky, I must say, my kids "transfer" very well. They always have. Oh yeah don't think some days we just get in the car right before lunch go get some Mickey D's and then ride around for awhile. What I love about it is no effort to get them to sleep---bring em home--slap em in bed---let them sleep---get something done with ALL THREE of my kids asleep at the SAME TIME!!!

Today the reason they all crashed out was a big fat playdate at Kim's house with Hudson, Carson and Lawson. Kim they were sacked before we hit the interstate while you were on book number 7. HAHA -----AND they are still asleep. WOW!!!!!! off to accomplish something.....

Friendly visit

Tonight our friends Lyndi and Steve came over for dinner and play time with their two girls Amy and Becca. It was a pizza and breadstick night---quick and easy. Then off to play. The kids had a big time running all over the house. Amy especially liked checking out our fish tank {which is in desperate need of more "stuff"}. Becca just didn't know what to do with all the boy toys in the house--you can see her pulling up to the table and checking out those dinosaurs--pretty nifty hey Becca??? Will always wants Steve to hold him. Our usual dinners take place at Mickey D's and last time they were in the play place area and the whole time Will just wanted Steve to hold him. Too funny! He took right back up with him again tonight. Well that is in between trying to keep up with Amy and Jake and whatever they were trying to play with/get into. Alaina Claire she was here but she just stayed out of the big kids way....don't worry she'll be hanging in there with the best of them in no time!

Thanks guys---we had a blast! We'll do it again soon!!!

2 months old!

2 months old already!!! What a sweet baby girl! Time flies I tell ya. I think it goes by faster and faster with each child. She had her 2 month check up today and she weighed 11lb 15 oz and 22 1/2" She is a smiling queen now--that is for everyone except mommy. Guess since I am with her 24/7 I have to work harder for it???!!! She is a precious baby--tad bit of a mommy's girl. But that is ok with me....for now! HA!

It doesn't get any sweeter than this......

Happy Valentine's Day!

Itsy Bitsy Bit of Snow

This morning we awoke to snow flurries flying all around. Alas only flurries but the most we have seen this season. We still have to dream of our blanket of white. All Jake wanted to know was "can we build a snowman, mommy?" Sadly it melted right after it fell. He was one sad boy looking out the window but still seeing green grass {which was his sign there wasn't enough for a snowman} Oh snow, please come again and bring all the snowflake friends you can muster---we know we live in TN--but one good snow won't hurt!!! Come soon--we're dying for a snowman over here!!

In case you haven't noticed

I haven't been very good about keeping the blog up daily or even weekly for that matter. I'm doing the best I can over here folks. But at least when I do update I try to go back and fill in all the things that have been going on at the Spence House. SO be sure to scroll on down and check out the updates!!

Sick.....again!

What is it with this winter season?! I am TIRED of the sickness visiting my house. I'm over it---go away!!! Where do I start..Will--has had runny nose/cough/low grade fever going on 2 weeks. Took him of course right at the beginning--nothing they can do wait it out. OF COURSE! Jake--had a runny nose but was pretty much gone--Sunday spiked a 102.3 fever! Yay--but no other symptoms. Ok so all seemed to be going fairly well this morning. We had no fevers and were playing like gangbusters and the kids were itching to go to school so off they went. Now in the meantime I had called and made and appt for today at 3pm because I wasn't sure what was going on. I started to cancel but thought better of it.

Good thing! Picked up the boys and Will was extremely whiney and so was Jake but he didn't get enough nap was his issue. So I decided it was off to the dr we go. I just knew Will had an ear infection having had this crud for so long and a little fever--I just knew it! Jake who knows he seemed better although he was now complaining that his mouth hurt---strep throat??? I just didn't know so we headed to see Dr K. It gets good.....

It took me 30 minutes tops from the time I picked them up to the time we arrived at the dr's office. Wanna know what happened in that 30 min. I'll just tell you. Jake fell back asleep ok that's fine and Will was whining like crazy in his seat which is TOTALLY not like him. I had just called Granny Gaynell to tell her we were making a pitstop before coming to her house for dinner. AS SOON AS I HUNG up the phone and had turned off the interstate to head to the Dr's office---I hear gagging and look in the rear view mirror to see Will puking his guts out. I was on a busy road and we weren't that far from the Dr's office but sometimes that road is so congested it can take forever to go that little bit so I get to where I can pull over. Pulled over and got back there to him and he was done of course by the time I got to him. Cleaned him up a bit then went on to the dr's office.

Got in the parking lot {we are now at least 10 minutes late and in the background of all of this I have Jake telling me I HAVE to clean Will up, Alaina Claire is screaming because well I don't know why really, Net Net calls to see if I need anything from the Bread store and Daddy calls to get the scoop that I don't even have yet} Get out Will a change of clothes which I never would have had if I didn't have his back pack from school with me. {I mean who carries a change of clothes for their 2 & 3 yr old?? Not me} All the while I am Purelling my hands every few seconds because my little girl can't keep her Paci in her mouth even though it was the only thing keeping her quiet and Jake wanted to get out of the car like yesterdayANd insists that I give Will a bath you know in the parking lot.

In we go--all 4 of us. Alaina Claire in her seat in the stroller, carrying Will who is limp begging for Juice and trying to keep Jake in check in the parking lot?! Get back in the room and Jake is having a party--I mean a really good time and poor Will is just beside himself because he doesn't know what is going on.

The nurse is asking me the standard symptoms questions and I am trying to answer. Then of course everything I said HAD been going on was now opposite PLUS we have now added puking to the list?!!! AND when she took Will's temp HIS was now 102!! Seriously in the 30 minutes it took for us to get to that office the boy spiked a fever. He did NOT have one when I put him in his car seat. I just told her to take all the symptoms and put them on whoevers chart because I didn't know anymore!!

Will is still begging for juice, Alaina Claire is being somewhat good at this point and going in and out of sleep and Jake is reading every book in the room and acting out all of the parts. We finally decided to let Will have a sip {probably too long of a sip} of his Juice because he was just so pitiful.

We see the Dr and what is the Diagnosis??----OH YEAH FOLKS---we have Hand Foot and Mouth Disease!! Nice ulcers in our mouth but nowhere else thank goodness. Woo hoo--I am so excited I can't stand it!!! {total sarcasm in case you haven't figured me out yet} And it appears that Will probably threw up because his fever spiked like it did---lucky me!!

Explanation, yada yada nothing to do yada yada 3-5 days yada yada, get Will's clothes back on, two copays, two stickers and a trek back out to the car later and we are on our way home.

Or are we?? Remember that "sip" of juice?? Oh yeah before I could get out of the parking space it all came back up!!! Lovely....lovely I tell ya!!!

So needless to say Will is basically a couple days behind Jake and as of now he has not thrown up anymore though all he has had is Sprite. We will just see what tomorrow brings, as I am sure it will be loads of fun. So now we are just crossing our fingers, standing on our heads, picking four leaf clovers, touching ye old lucky horseshoe {like I have one} doing whatever it takes for Alaina Claire not to be blessed with the funk too. Can you imagine........

SO....Sorry Granny and everyone else who was coming over to visit with us that we didn't make it tonight but I promise we would have been zero fun! Granny finished dinner anyway and James went and picked it up. YUMMY roast---it was delicious! AND Kim since we had our great playdate all planned out for tomorrow we should have known. I'm thinking you definitely don't want this crud anywhere near your house!! Hopefully we will get there soon.

Books, books, books...

Both the boys love to read books. Man as soon as we receive our monthly book in the mail we have to open immediately and READ! You know the Books from Birth books or the Dolly books as my friend Kim calls them. If you live in TN and haven't participated in this program for your under 5 child then you should. Check out that link and sign up. We have gotten some awesome books that the boys love! Here we are reading Will's new book for February which happened to involve dinosaurs so they were extra engrossed. This is a moment that I rarely get these days--that is sitting with the boys WITHOUT Alaina Claire in my lap too. =)

Ode to Lovey

Man who would have thought a little stuffed animal could mean so much. I know there are so many of you out there who know exactly what I am talking about. Jake has had his Lovey since he was born--he pretty much took to it as soon as he could hold on to things. His Aunt Ni Ni and Net Net gave it to him and even went out and found a back up Lovey after we realized the importance of this little lamb. Of course, a couple years later and one too many change outs--Jake quickly figured out that he had TWO loveys. So now we have Lovey and Nuther Lovey. They or at least one of them goes with him pretty much everywhere. Anyone who knows him knows how important Lovey is---Its Mommy and Daddy then Lovey or really it could be the other way around if you asked him!!! You can tell too--I swear I do wash them but they are already becoming thread bare and always look dirty. They are worn with love. It really is sweet. Who would have thought a little stuffed animal could bring so much comfort and joy to one little man.? Well it does at our house. I got a very RARE shot of him standing still with BOTH Loveys in hand.