A Visit from Mimi, Aunt Jan, Cousin Lynn, and Kids

This past Tuesday, Rob's cousin Lynn and her 3 children came to visit from Alabama. Mimi and Aunt Jan came with them as well. Our kids were so excited about them visiting and couldn't wait for them to get here. We all had a wonderful visit together! The kids had a lot of fun playing with their sweet cousins!

The star of the show -- Kate! Anna Lea, Layla, and Wyatt were so in love with her!

Crockett and Wyatt loved looking at the Truck Book together!

So Precious!

Fighting over who gets to hold her next

Mimi (holding Holly) and the great grandkids eating Goldfish

Aunt Jan at the kid table while they were eating lunch

Follow Your Heart???

Here recently I have heard quite a few different people say or quote things like this: "I guess I will just follow my heart," or "I'm going to let my heart lead me". I even heard these lyrics from a song on a children's TV program, "...listen to your heart...". These little sayings that have been passed along sound very safe and comforting. But, are they true?? Would you consider it good advice to give someone?? Maybe this verse from Scripture will help you make a more informed decision... Jeremiah 17:9 says it like this, "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?" (English Standard Version) So, maybe telling someone to trust their heart would not be such good advidce after all. Maybe our focus should be on the One who knows our hearts and warns us about how deceitful it is. If we truly want (and we may not be at this point yet) to do what is best for ourselves, shouldn't we look to the One who loves us with unconditional love and knows and wants what is best not only for us, but for everyone else?? If we find ourselves in a situation where our heart is leading us one way and our head another, perhaps we should stop and pray this prayer, "Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievious way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!" (Psalms 139:23-24 ESV)

Play Date Part II

Well, you saw the pictures I took from our play date. Layla snatched my camera, and Preston and her had their own photo shoot...

This is when I caught them in the act!

Play Date

Yesterday, my friend Amanda brought her three kids over to play with mine. My kids were super excited for them to come over and couldn't wait for them to get here. They all played very well together, and Amanda and I actually got to squeeze in some time to visit with each other! These are the pictures that I took...

Aiden and Wyatt

Layla, Preston, and Lilly

Preston and Layla not taking their eyes off of the TV (in a few years they won't be allowed to sit this close:)

Anna Lea and Lilly (They are two of a kind!)

Wyatt and Aiden (too cute to get into trouble for pulling leaves off my plant)

Random Pictures

These are some pictures I found on Rob's phone...

Wyatt's Cowboy gun from Gramma and Grandpa Dalton

Look at those thighs!

Grandma reading Christmas story to Layla, Anna Lea, and cousins Silas and Daniel

Layla, Silas, and Daniel in a go-cart

Wyatt in Granpa's truck

Anna Lea holding Grandpa's kitty

Early Birthday Presents!!

All of our children were born in the spring. Anna Lea's birthday is first on April 17th, Layla's is next on May 3rd, and Wyatt's is last on May 8th. So far, we have been able to just have one big birthday party to celebrate and give out presents for everybody all at the same time.


Rob saw these really cool "off road" type tricycles at Tractor Supply a while back, and we thought that would be a good thing to get for the kids' birthday presents this year. Rob has been looking for them online and in the stores for a month or so now and saw 2 of them in the store yesterday, so he grabbed them before they were gone! When he came home from work that day, he went ahead and put them together. He gets so excited about giving them presents and I knew if he put them together he would not be able to wait until their birthdays to give them to the kids....

I was cleaning the kitchen after supper, and he started sending the kids in one by one asking me if they could go ahead and have their birthday presents today. I remained strong and said "NO!" for a few minutes, and then gave in. We walked down to Marmee and Pop's where the tricycles were hiding and gave them their presents. (A whole month early!)

waiting in anticipation (Anna Lea in her dress up clothes as usual)

Biker Boy

Anna Lea zooming around

Layla got a "big girl" Princess bicycle. She was very proud. We put some training wheels on it today, and she has been practicing and practicing!!

Chattanooga Zoo Visit

We took our fist trip of the year to the zoo yesterday. We went with Sarah Washington and her daughter Sinclair, and Layla's teacher, Mrs. Cassie, and her two daughters Ensley and Caylee. They all had a good time together. The turtles and the monkeys seemed to be the most interesting attractions for them this time:)