Praying for Baby Zoe's recovery from surgery

I've been wanting to do an update on Zoe for awhile, but didn't have any recent photos/video to post. But finally, here it is...

Zoe and family are in Atlanta as he recovers from surgery yesterday to correct a non-threatening defect called hypospadias. I talked with my mom and dad this morning (they are also in Atlanta) and they said the surgery went very well. The released Zoe last night (didn't even keep him overnight) and he stayed with Jim & Carmen at the Ronald McDonald House. (Nanee & PaPa kept the other 2 kids at the hotel with them.) The surgeon will check Zoe in a few weeks and determine when and if a follow-up surgery will be needed.

You can see get more updates, see additional video of Zoe, and even hear him laughing at his web site.

Thank you for all your continued prayer for my sister and her family!

The Case of the Tomato Bandits

Calling all gardeners!!

Remember my post a few weeks ago about how well my rookie gardening experience was going? Just as I was anxiously awaiting the taste of that first, ripe, juicy, homegrown tomato, a gang of bushy-tailed bandits struck and left me nothing but empty vines. I had been warned about the bandits by my neighbor who has even sacrificed her granddaughter's stuffed animal to create a scare-cat for her tomato plants. But I was naive; I did not heed her warning.

Hubby first noticed the bandits making off with their booty on Friday as we were preparing to leave for I Love America. He quickly rigged together a make-shift fence to salvage the few tiny fruits that remained.

I went out on Saturday to water the plants and estimate the damage, only to realize that an innovative rodent had somehow shimmied through the fence and made off with the last of my tiny little tomatoes! So, now after much hard work, here I sit, tomato-less.

For all you gardeners out there, how do you keep your precious plants safe from these furry little thieves? I'm desperate for any and all ideas!

God Bless America

Happy 4th of July to you all! Yes, I know it's only the 3rd, but in our family we are considering it the holiday already. Hubby is off work, we've had a nice, relaxing morning, and now we are getting ready to head out to our church's annual "I Love America" celebration--our largest outreach of the year and our city's biggest fireworks celebration. The kids love it, and we always have a great time with friends from our church family.

This year our church is partnering with GodTV to broadcast the event which will include the first ever Angel Mission Benefit Concert. The event will include a live-feed of Angel Mission's drilling of a clean-water well in Kenya, Africa. Those of us at the event, as well as GodTV viewers will have the opportunity to make a donation toward the drilling of 25 other clean-water wells in Kenya. A $5 donation will provide clean water for one Kenyan for 20 years! For more information on the event or to donate to Angel Mission's Water for Kenya project, click here.

Off to get the kiddos ready for a day of fun as well as an opportunity to change the life of someone on the other side of the world. It's a good day! If you get a chance, tune in to GodTV to see what we're up to today, and consider donating toward the project in Kenya.

God bless America!

Happy Father's Day!

Happy Father's Day to all the Daddies out there...especially ours! And a special Happy Father's Day to Grandpa, PaPa, and Grandpa Carl!

We love you!!
Your little Prince and Princess

P.S. For a special treat, head on over to my friend Lora's blog, My Blessed Life, and check out the video her hubby and kids made for Father's Day.

Happy Birthday Sis-in-Law!

Not only does this weekend mark the beginning of summer, and a celebration of fathers everywhere, it is also my sister-in-law's birthday. Unfortunately, distance keeps us from spending a lot of time together, but that ensures that we truly cherish the times we get to spend with her (and her family).

As I was thinking about what to say about my beloved "newest" sister, I kept thinking how much I wish our families lived closer so we could do every-day-type family stuff together...take the kids to the pool, have BBQs, put the girls in ballet together,have playdates and sleepovers, etc. We would have so much fun! Until that day comes (if it ever does) we will continue to work hard and plan much-anticipated get-togethers for our two families. (We're looking forward to a whole week with you all in July!)

I also realized that the way Little Man looks at Little Miss (with incredible awe and pride) and the way he follows her around (like she's the smartest, funniest, sweetest person he knows) is EXACTLY the way Hubby's face lights up when he talks about his "big sis." I truly hope my Little Miss and Little Man grow up to have the awesome relationship that Hubby has with his sis.

Happy Birthday, Aunt Anna!

P.S. I also realized we need more pictures of you...sorry for the slightly-outdated photo! But you always look amazing!

I May Have a Green Thumb Afterall

This summer I took on an enormous task. I planted some vegetables--eight tomato plants and two pepper plants, to be exact. Now, before all you seasoned gardeners begin laughing and mocking my timid attempt, let me explain. I do NOT have a green thumb. Some might even say it's more of a blackish shade.

I have killed every houseplant I have owned (all of which were given to me as I know better than to spend my own money on something that will inevitably meet its demise). Once I was given a cactus, and the giver even said, "it's so easy...you won't be able to kill it." They underestimated me.

But I figure now that I've managed to keep a dog alive for eight years, a daughter for four, and a son for almost two, maybe it's time to give plants another shot. Since we will hopefully be relocating in the next few months, I opted to try just a couple different plants in pots. I also purchased some flowering plants to spruce up our deck and front porch.

It's been almost two months and I'm happy to say, they are doing well. I was so excited, I had to share some pictures...

My Cosmos plant, blooming nicely in spite of my blackish thumb!

My tomato plant doing pretty well so far!

And the best part...my first homegrown tomato!

I can't wait to taste that first tomato. That is, if I can keep Little Man from picking it before then...he's so anxious to pull one off the vine.

You'll notice I didn't post any pics of my pepper plant. I'm afraid the bugs have made a buffet of the leaves and while the plant itself seems to be doing OK, there are no peppers showing up yet. I need to do some research and help my poor little pepper plants. If any of you gardeners have any tips or hints on getting rid of leaf-eating bugs (or anything else that might be the cause) I'd appreciate it.

I will keep you posted, and I'm sure I'll be posting what becomes of that first tomato...stay tuned!

Summer Fun

I know summer doesn't officially begin until this weekend, but since the weather warmed up (and the rain finally stopped!) we got an early jump on some summer fun. Here's what my crew has been up to...

A campfire wienie roast with Uncle Andy, Aunt Anna, and the cousins.

All the cousins ready for a ride on Uncle Andy's boat...safety first!

Little Miss catching birds-eye view from Uncle Andy's shoulders.

A special tea party hosted by Little Miss for all her "buddies"

And of course, what would summer be without an Elmo sprinkler?