Weekend Fun

This weekend was busy but so very fun.  It is really starting to hit me that we are spending our last few days as a family of 3, so I really wanted to enjoy every minute of this weekend!!! 12 days until Walker gets here!!!!  On Friday night, we went to watch the Oak Grove baseball team in their playoff game.  Unfortunately, they did not play very well and lost to Gulfport.  They did win yesterday and force game 3, which will be played tomorrow night.  I will not be going.  I seem to be bad luck.  I have been to 3 games this year and those are like the only 3 games they have lost all year.  Yep, not going!

Saturday morning was spent doing one of EK's favorite things...getting donuts at the Donut Grove.....YUMMO!!!!! J always goes riding on Saturday morning with a riding group, so while he exercises, we enjoy some sweet, sugary goodness!!!!  After the Donut Grove, we headed to Ella Kate's friend Cole's birthday party at the zoo.  A sweet lady brought in several animals for the kids to pet and feed.  My child only wanted to look from afar. After a few games, cake, and presents, we all headed out to the zoo.

This is Mary Douglas Hutto.  How sweet is she? Ella Kate LOVES Mary Douglas and talks about her ALL THE TIME!!!! This precious little girl was born at just 32 weeks and weighed 3 lbs.  We have prayed and prayed for her and are so thankful to see how well she is doing! She is up to almost 7 pounds.  Walker is going to be able to squash her, but they will be great friends!

You can't go to the zoo without a little train ride!! I wish I would have gotten a picture of the conductor.  He was having a bit of an identity crisis and looked a little more like he was the conductor for the "Soul Train!" Good times in Hattiesburg!!!

It was 93 degrees yesterday...in May...so Ella Kate and Cole took advantage of the splash pad at the zoo.  They were too cute playing together!

Ella Kate decided to catch a ride on Daddy's shoulders for the rest of our zoo visit.  

The animals at the Hattiesburg Zoo are....well, they leave a lot to be desired.  The one tiger looks like he is 85 years old with saggy skin/fur, and there are just not many other animals there.  Anyway, the alligators though, are pretty impressive.  Look at this big guy!!! We happened to pass by at lunch time.  Right after this picture was taken, that gator jerked the feeding pole grabber thing out of the worker's hand and took off into the water with it.  The workers were all trying to figure out how to get it back.  I was thinking they might just spring for a new one.  EK kept asking why the alligator had a wand.  

Last night was spent at the Oak Grove Showchoir Spring Review.  The students did an amazing job and we really enjoyed getting to watch them.  Today has been fairly relaxed for a Sunday.  J led worship this morning and I know I am biased, but it was truly an awesome and Spirit filled time of worship. We are so blessed to be a part of such a special church and are so thankful to serve alongside so many incredible people! Now we just sit and wait until it is "go time!!!"  

Yeah Jordan!!

Congratulations to my sissy, Jordan!!! She graduated from Washington and Lee law school today. We are so very proud of her and hate we couldn't be there to see her receive her hood and walking stick. Can't wait to see you soon Jo! We love you!!

End of Preschool Festivities

It is so hard to believe that this year in preschool is already coming to an end! Ella Kate has had a wonderful year. She has learned so much and made some sweet friends.  Last Friday was the 2 year old class program.  Ella Kate had been talking about her program for weeks and was so very excited that Nana and Pop, G and Kay Kay, and Papaw were all coming to watch her.  Well, show time came, and EK's enthusiasm went from from full speed ahead to a no go!  Her teacher said she was bouncing around smiling backstage and as soon as they hit the top step to the stage....FROZEN....this child got a case of stage fright!!!  She sat in her chair perfectly, but never cracked a smile or opened her mouth to sing.  The only noise coming from my child was the sound of her crying.  It was hilarious. This is the same child that is around people ALL the time and who will bust out in song on the microphone in front of the entire youth group.  Friday was just not her day.

The conversation after the program went like this:

Me: "Ella Kate, what happened at your program?"

EK: "I did not want to sing."

Me: "Why not?"

EK: "Because there were too many people."

Me: "How did that make you feel?"

EK: "Not happy.  I am upset."

Dramatic any????

Moving on to happier times...Today was EK's end of the year party in her class.  We are so very thankful for Ms Brenda and all she has done this year to mold and shape Ella Kate's little life.  EK is going to be so very sad when we are out of school for the summer.  She just loves her friends and her "Ms Benda."

Our Day in Starkville

Super Bulldog Weekend was this past weekend.  We got to town around lunchtime and met Haley for a yummy Old Venice lunch. 

After lunch, we headed to the Union to visit with some precious friends.  We have been friends with the Wavro family for about 15 years.  They moved to South Carolina several years ago, but we are super excited that Chandler has decided to come to State in the fall!!! (She grew up an Ole Miss fan, so this is so extra fun for us!!)

We also got to visit with Pam and Sarah Katherine Sykes.  Ella Kate LOVES them and insisted that Kat play hide and seek with her over and over again.

They also practiced some gymnastics...we have some work to do on that hand stand!

And this is what happened as soon as we got in the car to head home! We had a great day seeing our precious friends!  Thanks to the cold snap, we missed the baseball sweep, football scrimmage, and concert, but we had fun anyway!!!  Ella Kate did get pretty upset because apparently when she wears her "Starkville clothes" and hears we are going to Mississippi State, she assumes we are going to a football game.  Oops.  Only a few more months baby girl!!!!!

Bring Max Home!!

Our precious friends the Gordon's are in the process of adopting a sweet boy from Ethiopia. We are so excited for their family and can't wait to help welcome Max home! Here is an awesome opportunity to get involved in their process. Deep South Pout, a great boutique in Starkville and Columbus has so generously offered to donate a portion of EVERY sale this week to Wes and Meaghan's adoption! How incredible is that? The details are on the Gordon's blog and if you are not in the Golden Triangle, you can shop online! Thanks in advance for helping my friends! Please pray for them as the wait on their sweet boy!!!!  http://thewesgordonfamily.blogspot.com/2012/04/deep-south-pout-is-helping-bringmaxhome.html     

Warrior Dash

This weekend, J and some friends from our church joined up with 10,000 other adventure seeking people to participate in the Warrior Dash. Now I don't know about you, but the thought of running a 5k that is filled with obstacles such as climbing rope net things, mud pits, jumping over fire, etc on an abnormally cold April morning seems pretty horrible to me. Not the case for my dear hubby. He had a blast and did a super job! He is also now the proud owner of a Viking helmet...be jealous!

Walker's Room

Several people have asked me to see pictures of Walker's room, so here you go. A super talented friend is working on a painting for over the chair, and we need pictures in the frames but otherwise, it is pretty much complete. We just need our sweet boy!!!!