A Day at Gee & Geega's

This past Saturday, Alex and I took the kids to Gee and Geega's house (Alex's grandparents) to visit. His aunt from Germantown, TN was in to visit and so it was like a mini reunion over there. It was a great opportunity for all the kids to play together, especially since we all stay so busy that we don't get them together to do that often enough.

Beau took Ashton to show him his treehouse and fort he has built in the woods. Well, of course, little Miss Maddie wanted to go too, so Alex took her. While they were coming out, Maddie found a turtle. She is SSSSSOOOO excited about it as you can tell. This is one girl that has very little fear and doesn't mind getting her hands dirty.

After a whole bunch of playing, Beau and Ashton decided to sit down in the shade and have a drink to cool off.

This is Beau trying to teach Ashton how to play lacrosse. Ashton was so intently watching and taking in every little thing Beau said. He was so excited to get to play with him.

Ali decided she was going to do all the "little" girls make up. WOW! Don't they look great! LOL

Alex and Courtney Time

While the kids were away with Brandon and Casey, Alex and I got to spend some quality time together all ALONE. Thursday after Alex got done working, we started our afternoon of fun. I guess the biggest thing we did that was totally out of our norm for sure was taking my dad's motorcycle for a ride. It was such a nice and peaceful day. I have NEVER wanted to really go for a ride, but I enjoyed it. Yes, I said that and now Alex will be bugging me to get a bike. LOL We got to have two meals together without any children and even slept in on Friday morning. That alone was spectatular for me. Sleeping until 7am is pretty much sleeping in for me these days!! LOL It wasn't that we really did anything major, but we got to really enjoy each other's company, talk and had NO ONE to interrupt us or worry about keeping up with. It was a great break and has definitely given Alex and I a chance to revive ourselves. I can't wait to do it again!!!

Centennial Sportsplex Championship Cup

Wednesday night, Alex played with the Gravediggers in the Centennial Sportsplex Championship hockey game. Alex's regular time lost in the playoffs, so he was thrilled when the Gravediggers needed an extra player to join them. The game was tied 2 - 2 and went in to a shoot out. Alex scored one in the shoot out, but so did the other team. It had to go in to another round and the Gravediggers won. Here is a picture of Alex with the cup in the locker room after the game. Everyone had to "drink" out of it to celebrate. LOL

Weekend with Brandon, Casey and Addison

Last week some time, Casey (my sister) asked if Alex and I would mind if she and Brandon took the kids home with them for a few days. For those of you that don't know, Casey and Brandon live in Summertown, outside of Lawrenceburg, TN, about an hour and a half or so from us. The kids miss her terribly and love it when they come here or we go there to visit. So, Alex and I said that was fine with us and they were excited to be going. Brandon had a doctor's appointment in Franklin on Wednesday afternoon so I met them after the kids got out of school and they went home with KK and BB (that is what the kids all call Casey and Brandon).

The kids had a blast!!! Casey gave me some fantastic pictures of them from the park, just playing at home and some from the zoo. They were so tired when they got home Friday afternoon that they both crashed for a long nap. They had a great time and can't wait to go back! Thanks for the fun KK, BB and Addison. Ashton and Maddie loved it!

My Two Cuties

Ashton and Maddie have LOVED being able to get outside so much over the last couple of days. This morning was no different. We got outside and played a little bit before we headed out for a day of some shopping. They were so excited to have their new flip flops on, which they've been dying to wear!! I decided I would take a few pictures of them because they both looked so grown up and adorable. Of course, I'm a little partial. LOL

Finally, I see it

As most of you know, I am not a fan of reading. However, I have heard that "readers are leaders". I know this will be a BIG SHOCKER to most people that know me, but one of my many new years resolutions for 2009 was to read more. So, today I've been doing some reading on a book called "What Happens When Women Walk in Faith". There is a bible study section at the end of each chapter and I was looking up some of the verses in my bible earlier. There were several that spoke directly to me about something I struggle with a lot and even more so lately. Fear and Worry. After reading these several different verses, it made me realize that I'm cutting God short. He is watching out of me and I need to trust in him. I need to give my worries and fears over to him and let him take care of the details. WOW! Isn't it funny how some days the things that God is trying to tell you are so clear?! It has really been that way for me today.

1 Peter 5:7 Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

Easter Day

The Perry family had a fantastic Easter Day. We started out having breakfast at Waffle House, then went to church. The Romer's joined us at church and that was nice. Erik did an awesome job with our sermon. I think that was probably one of his best ever!!!

After church, lunch and some naps, we had Alex's family over for our Easter dinner. We did a big egg hunt and all the kids had a great time. Annabelle found TWO of the golden eggs and scored $15. Beau will be devastated!!! Maddie got the other golden egg and she got her $2. All the kids loaded up on little treats, candy and fun stuff. It was a hit!! I took a million pictures, but just picked a few to post. Hope you and your family had just as good a day as ours did!!!

Easter Egg Hunt with the Dillard Family

Today, we had our Easter celebration with my family. We all went over to my dad's house and had an Easter egg hunt inside to get the kids all warmed up, plus it was still a little too cold for outside.

After we grilled out and had some lunch, we moved outside for another hunt. Ashton couldn't stop running and he found a ton of eggs.

Maddie was pretty good at the hunting herself. She would scream every time she found one, which was driving her daddy crazy!!!!

Here is a picture of Maddie and Ashton both running around looking. There were moments that I thought Maddie was just going to roll down the hill she was in such a hurry.

After we were all done with finding the eggs, Maddie and Daddy sat down on the porch and looked through her eggs to see what Daddy could eat. LOL.

It was a fun morning and I can't wait to see how excited they are to do it again tomorrow with Alex's family. I'll keep you posted and I'm sure I'll have even more pictures. :)

Potty Training Day 2

We are off to a good start today. Maddie woke up fairly dry again today and wanted to wear her big girl panties. I put them on her and we began our every 10-15 minuntes of going to the potty. Here it is 10am and she still hasn't had an accident, but we've still not gone to the potty either. She has got to be ready to explode by now, but doing a great job holding it. I'm excited that we've not had to change her clothes yet after 13 times of changing her yesterday, however, I'm dying for her to go so I'm not on the tee tee watch. Ashton and I have done several "happy dances" for her this morning to celebrate her still being dry. Surely, she will "tee tee" in the potty soon!

FINALLY, it is 10:45 and we have tee tee!!!! Maddie has had no accidents, so far, and she just tee teed in the potty. We're super excited and more importantly, so is she!!!!!! Let's hope this success continues the rest of the day. I'm keeping my fingers crossed and saying a ton of prayers!

Well, as you have probably guessed from the pictures below.... Maddie managed to make it without wetting her panties ALL day!!!!! She has gotten lots of treats and rewards for her being a big girl. You might noticed the painted fingernails and toenails below, she got to go for pizza, then have ice cream sundaes with sprinkles, AND she got to go buy a new toy.

As you can see, she picked out a new baby and all the fun stuff to go with her. She has decided that she wants to name her baby, but just can't decide for sure what yet. She first said Madelyn Isabelle (after herself), but quickly changed her mind. Now, she is just thinking about it and told me she would tell me later. LOL.

Hopefully, we are on the road to NO MORE DIAPERS!!!!!!!!!

Potty Training

Maddie woke up this morning with a dry diaper. I was SO excited!!! I immediately thought that maybe we were finally ready to give up our diapers and become a BIG GIRL. I got all excited and decided we'd try out potty training today. (I know, what was I thinking.) I put her on the potty and nothing happened, we tried again about 10 minuntes later, and still nothing happened. I thought to myself, "she has to need to go after all night", but nothing was happening. I put panties on her and explained the whole deal to her. We were ready to go. She was excited and smiled real big. Well, I'll spare you all the fun stories and just say we've not yet had anything happen on the potty and we're on our NINTH outfit, yes I said nine outfits and it is only 1pm. I have laundry going in both the washer and the dryer because we're out of clean panties and almost out of pants. She is currently in bed with a diaper on and I only hope that we will have better luck this afternoon when she gets up. Please start praying for Alex and I. We are both going to be in great need of patience if we're going to make it through the remainder of this day!! LOL

Women's Group

Over the last several months, I've been apart of a women's small group (bible study group). It started out small, quickly grew and now has split up in to two groups and become smaller again. The women in my group have become some of my closest friends. I lean on them quite a bit when I'm struggling with different things in my life and they are always there to lend a listening ear or a bit of advice. I love these girls and I'm thankful that they've become a part of my life. Without this group, I'm not sure I would have grown as much as I have as a Christian. The series that we've been working on now has been very difficult at times, but yet helped me to see things in a new way. I've learned a lot and grown even more as a Christian, a wife, a mother, a sister and a friend. I'm really excited about these changes in my life and hope to only have more exciting times. Thanks girls!!!!!!

Lebanon Campus

I'm really excited that our church, The Journey, has acquired a building. We're moving our West Elementary campus to Lebanon!! I'm super excited about the move. I think it is really going to give our church an opportunity to reach out to a entire community of people not currently being reached. Alex was asked to help organize the move and he was more than thrilled to help. Now that has turned in to what is being called a "project manager's" job, which is keeping him a little more busy than he expected, but he is still glad to be apart of it. He is doing a great job and seemed to really be enjoying his part in getting the new campus ready. It is going to be a big step for our church and Alex and I are blessed that our family gets to be apart of it. It is an awesome place to worship! You should check it out.

Maddie went to Chase's Birthday Party (aka her boyfriend)

Saturday, we went to Maddie's first birthday party invite from a BOY. She has gone to other boy parties, yes, but they were for both Ashton and Maddie and more so probably for Ashton. This invitation was from a boy in her class that she calls her "boyfriend", Chase. He is a sweet little boy!!! However, Daddy is having a little bit of trouble with Maddie having a "boyfriend". Of course, Chase is scared of Alex and goes the other way to hide behind his mom when he sees Alex coming. It is funny! Guess we will have to keep an eye on Maddie when it comes to boys. She is already attracting them and she is only TWO!!!!!!!