Orange Belt

Just a fun day

When I worked at Baptist I had the pleasure of meeting a wonderful woman. She was the chaplain on my floor. She became a dear friend of mine. Then the night of September 12, 2002 when we lost Thomas, she was the chaplain on call. So she came to my bedside. I had seen her work with tons of people before and I think this might have been the only time I had seen her completely speechless. She helped us make decisions that we never dreamed we would need to make. My mom said at first she felt like she should just leave us alone. But after some time and some healing. We all realized that the chaplain and the social worker were the most helpful people at our side. When we had our tree planting ceremony, Chaplain Marie came and read some scripture and dedicated the tree in Thomas' honor. She seemed like the perfect person for this job. She was one of the few people in this world that got to see our precious son, she dressed him for us and brought him to our bedside multiple times.

When I left Baptist Hospital, I lost contact with Marie, the chaplain. The day I had Joey, who in the world walked into the room, but Marie. She had left Baptist Hospital and was now a Chaplain at Sacred Heart. This time we kept in contact. Well a few years ago, I ran into her and she was moving to Austin, TX. She was getting ready to start schooling to become an Episcopal Deacon. A few weeks ago, we got an invitation in the mail to her dedication as a Deacon. The ceremony was in Mobile. Kev and I decided to go. We got a babysitter for the boys and off we went. Marie has three more months in seminary and then she will return to the Gulf Coast some place to practice as a Deacon. I know that she will do wonderful.

The new Deacon Marie

After the ceremony, Kev and I decided to grab some lunch. It is a rare occurrence that we get to have some time alone. We went to a restaurant at Eastern Shore in Alabama. While we were eating Santa Claus came in to eat some lunch. He was walking around. Kev ask him if he could take his picture, so the boys would believe him. Santa Claus said sure, but he had to take it with me.

Santa Claus and myself

When we got home all of us took a nap. Then we headed to a Pensacola Ice Flyers Hockey game. I think we will have to go again. The boys had a blast. We had to take teddy bears, because after the Ice Flyers scored the first time we were to throw teddy bears on the ice for Sacred Heart's Children Hospital.

The men love hockey

Luke got a free t-shirt.

Joey bummed his brother's shirt and was dancing to the music.

Having some fun at the game.

TKD Christmas Party

Last night was the Tae Kwon Do Christmas Party. It was a wonderful event. The boys had a blast. At the party they also gave the results of testing from Monday night. Joey was testing for his orange belt. He did awesome. He looked amazing. He is officially an orange belt. He was super proud of himself.

Echocardiogram

Last week went Luke went to see Dr. Grier-Hall, she heard a murmur. She said it sounded like a still murmur, but she still wanted it checked out. She said if he played sports it would help things later.

Well I sort of dreaded this appointment. You see like 3 years ago, I had to take Joey for an echo for the same thing. Well Joey was awful, he wouldn't listen to anything that day. Luke was just a tiny baby and cried the entire time.

We headed and I had talked to Luke about it. He seemed fine with everything. He was awesome. He did everything that the tech ask him to do. His heart looks fine.

Now he is home resting and watching the movie that he wanted to watch so bad before we left for the test.

Cutting down a tree

We headed to Whispering Pines Christmas tree farm today. We hunted and hunted, but finally found a tree that we liked.

Luke loved playing in the water.

Luke didn't even try to hide.

Cutting down the tree

Two boys happy with our tree

Luke is hoping he can grab Santa's sled.

Luke and I (we had been checking out the peacocks and chickens)

My sweet Joey

Decorating the tree

Luke did much better this year than he did last year. (yeah Luke has his underwear on backyards)

Daddy would hand out the ornaments.

The final project!!!

Running

Joey's gym teacher sent out a letter inviting parents to run or walk the track with their child this week. They are going to see how far the school can go in one week. They have a walker in the cafeteria on a map to show how far the school can go. Well Joey ran 1 3/4 miles and I ran 1 1/2 miles. The kids were amazed that I would get out their and run with him. One boy told me "My momma couldn't run like that!" Joey was super proud to have me there. Everyone who ran 7 laps got a jingle bell, so he was super excited about that. I got a jingle bell also, because I have ran more than any other parent. Luke will be happy with me tonight.

Ornaments

We have made our first batch of Christmas ornaments. The boys enjoy this so much.

You will need

• 1 cup Corn Starch
• 2 cups baking soda
• 1 1/2 cups water

In a large saucepan mix corn starch and baking soda. Add water and stir until smooth. Cover and cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until mixture is the consistency of slightly dry mashed potatoes. Remove from heat and cover with a damp cloth. When cool enough to handle, coat hands and surface lightly with corn starch and knead until dough is smooth and pliable.

Roll out to 1/4 inch thickness and cut with holiday cookie cutters. To dry, place on a baking sheet in a 250 degree oven for 20-30 minutes or until hard. For best results, allow to cool and brush loose powder off ornaments before painting. Makes about 16-20 ornaments.

Having fun working on ornaments.

One of Joey's ornaments

One of Luke's

Check-up

At Luke's 3 year old check up Dr. Grier-Hall could find nothing wrong with him other than he has a murmur. She said it sounds like a benign murmur, but she is going to send him for an Echo. She said that it makes it easier when he is older and wants to play sports. She said if another doctor would pick it up, then it would be complicated.

Luke was 30 1/2 pounds and 37 1/2 inches tall.

Here are the other stats for other 3 year olds.

Joey 27 pounds and 36 inches tall.

ME 26 pounds and 35 inches

Uncle Aaron 30 pounds and 38 inches

My Baby is 3 years old

All Luke has been talking about for week is his Go Diego Go birthday cake. This is how I have convinced him to work on potty training. Well after we picked Joey up today we headed out to pick up his Go Diego Go birthday cake. It was beautiful. He loved it. I think it was exactly like he had dreamed it would be.

We came home and I was working on dinner and he decided to pick it up and dropped the entire cake on the floor. SPLAT!!! There was no saving the cake. Luke did lick some of the icing up. So I told him I didn't think we would have cake. He smiled and said "Yeah, it is my Happy Birthday!" Thankfully Kev was at Walmart at the time and was able to pick up a Backyardigan birthday cake and he got Luke's name on it.

The birthday boy got 2 gifts today an ATM/cash register and a Handy Manny motorcycle. Luke has played with the Handy Manny motorcycle all day long. He has worked and worked and worked on it. He said "This is exactly what I had hoped to get for my birthday!" He never ask for this, but when I saw it, well I knew he couldn't live without it.

The first birthday cake

His face after he had got some icing I think off the floor.

Cake #2

A very happy birthday boy.

The cake is good

His birthday dinner was beef tenderloin (he calls it meat), rice and corn. He wanted tea juice and cake and ice cream. All in all it was a good day.

Bass Pro Shop

Headed to Bass Pro Shop today to see Santa Claus. The boys had a great time. Joey says that we were lucky, because we got to see the real Santa Claus.

Returning to Disney tomorrow night

Well not really, but Luke has been telling us every since we got home "Tomorrow night we will go back to Mickey Mouse's house and stay forever and forever and forever!"

We are attempting to get this big boy potty trained. Right now he is killing me, but I will win this battle just like I won with Joey.

Magic Kingdom

Disney World

Luke got his ears.

Joey and Luke met Mickey and Minnie Mouse.

All of us in front of the Magic Kingdom

Luke could barely stop eating to say hello to Chef Mickey.

Finding Nemo at Epcot was the boys favorite ride.

Learning about some sort of hog type animal at Animal Kingdom.

Very wet at Hollywood Studios.

Tiger Luke at Animal Kingdom.

Joey got the honor of being a part of Jedi Training at Hollywood Studios.

Learning to use a light saber, so he could fight Darth Vader.

We went to say goodbye to Mickey and Minnie.

Drinking some tea at Minnie's house.

True love

During the night parade at Magic Kingdom.

Tired Men.