Cold

Today is the first day back to school after Christmas break for Joey. It was super cold. Luke was not happy about it at all.

Painting

We painted over Christmas break. I decided I wanted the dining room chocolate brown and the living room partially red. Well I really like it, except Kev thought maybe we should paint the bricks in the dining room red which we both have decided we don't like. So sometime we will have to paint it chocolate brown.

The new improved living room. We are using the table my Uncle John made me for graduating nursing school for our tv and the table Kev made a few years ago for a coffee table.

Looking back the hall. We need to paint the other side.

From the dining room.

Luke just wanted his picture taken.

Here you can see the red wall in the dining room that we don't like.

Now I am looking for some curtains for the area. I think I know what I want, I just need to find it.

Christmas

Here are a few pictures of our Christmas. The boys had a wonderful time and got lots of fun stuff.

Joey got this Playmobile toy that he loves to build

Christmas morning Luke searched for a Mickey Mouse fishing rod first.

Luke didn't ask for this, but Santa brought it to him and he loves it so.

Joey wrapped up in my Snuggie

I think this is Luke's favorite toy.

Trip to Home Depot

We headed to Home Depot to build calendars with the boys. I helped Joey and Kev helped Luke. This was the first time Luke got to go.

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.