Speak Softly and Carry a Big Stick

Nathan practices kali (don't worry, it's a martial art, not a religion!). The school he used to practice at closed last year and he hasn't had as much time to practice as he'd like. He talked my brother, Andy, and his brother, David, into coming over to "stick-fight" with him today. It looked like everyone had a good time and they left with only a few welts.

Andy vs. Nathan

David vs. Nathan

Jacob thought it would be fun to swing in both swings at the same time until he got stuck and couldn't untangle himself!

Lunch at Lincoln Park

After Emmaline's dr.'s appt. today, we got Subway for lunch and headed to Lincoln Park to eat and walk around. The weather was gorgeous and the kids had a great time even though there wasn't any playground equipment to play on.

Our Little Diva enjoys her chocolate milk

Watching the fountains with Daddy

Touching the water

Getting a drink

Emmy was content to be pushed around in her stroller

Playing with the statues

Stretching with the runner

Emmaline and Mommy

Emmaline's 15-month check-up

We went for Emmy's dr.'s appt. today and it went really well. Our pediatrician is great and had nothing but positive things to say. She is a little behind in her speech, but we're waiting until her 18-month appt. to make a decision about speech therapy. Here are Emmaline's 15-month stats:

Height: 28 3/4" (10-25%)

Weight: 19 lbs. (3-5%)...she gained 2 lbs. in the past 3 months which is a huge improvement over the 8 ozs. she gained during the previous 3-month period

Learning to French Braid

I never knew how to French braid hair growing up, so when we went to get our haircut last week, the stylist asked if I wanted to learn how. She showed me, and I attempted it for the first time this morning. I think I did a pretty good job for a beginner!

Memorial Day Picnic/Mema's Birthday Party

We had both sides of the family over to our house today to cook-out and celebrate Mema's birthday. There were lots of relatives to pay attention to the kiddos and a good time was had by all.


Katie manned the grill and made excellent burgers and hotdogs.

Emmaline thought everything tasted yummy.

My younger (acting) sister and brother acting goofy

Emmaline liked playing with Papaw

Daddy and his baby girl

Mema's birthday plant

Gabrielle and Jacob explain the pictures they drew in Mema's birthday card

Mema, Granddaddy and their great-grandkids

Nathan and Andy practice stick drills in the backyard...notice Jacob upside down on the slide.

A Graduation Open House

Nathan's twin cousins, Kyle and Kayla, are graduating from high school, so we went to his Aunt Karen and Uncle Tim's house to celebrate. They live out in the country and have lots of room for the kids to run. It was good visiting with everyone and Jacob and Ellie had fun exploring.

Emmaline was pretty grumpy with no nap, but she did like reading in the grass.

Jacob really enjoyed his Sprite that Grandma let him pick out.

Uncle Tim likes to fix cars and there were several for the kids to look at. Thankfully, we have at least 13 years before Ellie can even think about getting her license.

Jacob really likes ATVs, but he knows that we won't let him ride them (especially not without a helmet). He has already told us, "When I get bigger and have a boy, I'm gonna buy him a little ATV and I'm gonna buy myself a big one."

Nathan took this picture to prove that we were at the party too.

Drinking from a Cup

Emmaline has finally learned to drink from a cup. She still doesn't have the sucking thing down (guess that's what I get for never giving her a bottle!), so we found some cups that have soft spouts she can bite down on and get liquid out of.

She thinks she is pretty big stuff now that she can hold her cup and drink on her own. She has also developed an attitude and will protest pretty loudly if you take her cup away before she is finished.

Paige's Dinner Date

I went into the basement to feed Paige before I went to bed tonight and was greeted by this lovely slug nestled between her food and water dish. Nathan wasn't exactly happy that I woke him up to deal with it, but I told him that the dog wasn't getting fed otherwise because I didn't want her anywhere near her bowls because she might eat the slug. Anyway, the slug met a watery demise (a.k.a., was flushed down the toilet), and Paige was able to eat her dinner.

Home Group Picnic

Our church home group had a picnic today at a park in Fairborn. It was pretty windy and chilly for May, but we still had a good time eating and fellowshipping together.

Ellie climbs up the slide

Watching Daddy man the grill

Ellie, Jacob, Emmaline, and their friend, Emma

Emmy had fun playing with Daddy

Kaiya and Ellie play tag

Birthday Lunch at Red Robin

In honor of me, we went to lunch at Red Robin today (I had a birthday coupon for a free burger!). It was really yummy and everyone had a good time together.

Me and my lil' sis, Katie

Mom, Andy, and Jacob

Jacob and Nathan

Ellie and Papaw

Emmaline is obsessed with taking her socks off

It was only slightly embarrassing when the Red Robin crew sang happy birthday to me. At least I got a free sundae out of it!

Ellie loves ice cream

Emmaline thought it was fun to bang the spoons on the table

Cake at Mom and Dad's

Every year for my birthday my mom makes me a banana split cake (except for when I'm pregnant because it has raw eggs in it!). It is the yummiest cake ever and we went over there to enjoy some tonight after we got back from the movie.

Jacob's favorite part was the strawberry on top

Ellie loved the "cool-lip" (a.k.a. cool whip)

Aunt Katie helped the kids make birthday cards for me

I got tools for my birthday (and these are now hidden from my husband who has a habit of not returning things to their rightful place).

Andy and his girlfriend, Alora, stopped by for cake later one. It was Alora's prom night, but Andy is too old to go, so they just dressed up and went out to dinner instead.