Can Dallon come out to play?

Dallon was invited to go home from school with one of his best buddies yesterday. Lincoln won't be able to come to Dal's party Sat. so they invited Dallon over for a special day of fun. Lincoln's mom is also Roman's 4th grade teacher so Dal stayed in her class with Lincoln until she got off work. They spent the afternoon playing their hearts out like seven year old boys like to do. Nick, Roman, Rocco, Gammy & I were invited over to eat dinner with some sweet friends. A little after 7pm we headed over to Monica's to pick Dallon up. He had done his homework, been fed, showered & was in Hulk PJs! Wow, thanks Monica!!

Monica just built a house preparing for her new marriage in February. So we also got to see the BEAUTIFUL new home. She has fantastic style! Loved the colors, floors, countertops, fireplace, furniture & decorating. (Not old-ladyish at all Kristen & Melissa! *wink to Monica*)

You know I took my camera along for my Project 365 picture! Here are a few of my favorite shots.

Brandyn (Monica's youngest is one of Rocco's buddies) & Rocco on the piano

Roman & Lincoln on the GameBoy
Gabby (Monica's niece), Rocco, Brandyn & Dallon on the piano

Group picture

Pile on Roman time! (He loves it)

Did I really just sleep for ten hours or was that a dream?

Last night the boys had to go to bed at 7:30, thirty minutes earlier than their normal school night bedtime, because they misbehaved in the morning while getting ready for school. I know I am the only mother who has this problem right? Same routine every morning but still has to remind her children step by step what they are supposed to be doing while breaking up fights & getting myself dressed for the day as well? Thought so. Well, it actually worked out to my benefit because I was exhausted! I don't really know why other than it could have been because I had been sleeping in while on Christmas break (yes, I took some time off too). Or maybe it's because it gets dark early & it's FREEZING cold here right now (yes, literally freezing & yes, in Florida). Either way, I was tired! TV was horrible & 5:30am comes early so why not just go to bed?! That's exactly what I did. I did wake up feeling like I was ready to get up at midnight, but made myself go back to sleep. Actually, I prayed myself back to sleep. For a long time I felt guilty about this. I mean, who would want you to fall asleep while having a conversation with them? So why would God? Then I realized, as long as it doesn't happen every time I talk to Him then, what better way to fall asleep?! Adoring, confessing, thanking & bringing all my supplications to my Father? Thank you Lord for a restful night!

Happy 7th Birthday Dallon!

Oh Dallon, you are my froggy and I am your butterfly. I remember praying to our Father in heaven asking him for you, He said yes. You were such a good baby and are such a good boy now. Here are some things I love about you.

• You love God & desire to know more about Him
• You are Daddy's twin, I think he looked just like you when he was your age
• You love to write & sing your own praise songs
• You have always been such a good eater & are always willing to try something new
• You like to dress up & wear ties
• You always like your hair to be just so & you have my favorite hair in the family
• The way you pooch your lips when you kiss me
• When you defend others when you think someone is being ugly
• That your favorite thing to do is 'Family Movie Night'
• Your piglets, they are adorable!
• That you tell us regularly that you love us
• You love frogs
• You always look for ways to help out when I am doing chores
• You like to read
• You like to cook
• You make us all laugh with your quick, witty sense of humor
• You love to pray
• You love to play with my hair
• You have a gentle touch

Happy Birthday Dallon-o!

We look forward to celebrating with you Saturday at your birthday party!

Rocco's Cowboy Room

I took some pictures today because this will only be Rocco's room for another six months or so. Over the summer we'll buy some new furniture & move Roman in. Rocco will become Dallon's roomie. We wanted to document the memories.

This room is also special to me because our sweet friends Brian & Sara helped us decorate it. Thank you guys!!

Happy 40th Birthday Stephen!

Tonight we celebrated my brother's 40th birthday by having a dinner party at Big 'T's Steakhouse & Tavern in Jacksonville. Here are some of our pictures:

Stephen, Mike & Jeff have been bestfriends since kindergarten!

The kids had fun too!

Yummy cake..

Presents for the birthday boy!

Hilarious!

Momma enjoying her son's birthday party and thankful she doesn't have to clean up. And more friends in the background. So good to see some of these people I haven't seen since high school!

A few of the things I love about Stephen:

~His sensitivity

~Always giving me good fashion advise growing up

~Letting me borrow (steal) his new socks when we were teens

~Loving me unconditionally

~His sense of humor

~ALL of our inside jokes

~Emmitt Otter & the Jugband Christmas

~Summers at Grandma & Grandpa Cooper's

~Always letting me play with him & his friends because all the little girls on our street moved away

~Defending me to the end even when I was wrong

Memories.. Memories.. Memories..

Love you Bubby!

Rocco used to live in California?!

Mom, Dallon, Rocco & I (Nick & Roman went ahead) were on our way to Big 'T''s in Jacksonville for my brother's 40th Birthday dinner today when we passed by Girvin Rd., going down Atlantic Blvd. I said, "Rocco?! Daddy, Roman & I used to lived down that street right there, before you & Dallon were born." Rocco replied, "I used to live under that thing there in California. That's where I get my money from." So I said, "Rocco, I thought you lived with Jesus in heaven before you came to live with us?" He said, "No, California. Tomorrow I'm going to live with Jesus." Well, I hope he's not going to live with Jesus any time soon but I love his imagination!

Rocco & the Bean Tale

Last night we had black-eyed peas with our meal because we are rule followers & that's a New Years Day rule! Not that we believe in superstitions, more for tradition. Somebody needs to tell Rocco we are not making this up. Rocco ate his rice & corn beef with no problem. When it came time for his black-eyed peas I told him one bite would be good enough. He has to at least try them, that's our rule. An hour later he still had those three darned black-eyed peas in his mouth! When I asked him why he said, "When I was a little boy these beans you gave me were poison."