Flag Football Wednesday

Well, Wednesday was a busy day. Harper had her two month check-up which turned into a sick visit, having an ear infection and RSV, poor baby! And Hagen also had a dermatologist appointment in Tyler. So, after the doctors visits we rushed home because it was the long awaited first flag football practice. I was so thankful the rain held off so they could practice because Hagen would have been so dissapointed. He is so lucky to be on a team with three other little boys that are in his pre-school class and his good friends. They play football every day at recess and could not wait for this day. And..best of all they have a real football coach, Drew's dad who is the Eustace football coach has decided to coach their little team. Here are some action shots from their first practice!

Harper is 2 months old!

Our little girl is growing up so fast. Time really does fly when you are having fun. She is such a blessing and completion to our family and we are enjoying her so much.

Dear Harper Kate,
We are so thankful that we were given the gift of such a special little girl. We have loved watching you grow these last two months and can't wait to start to see your personality develop. We love you so very much.
At two months.....
You sleep through the night! Around twelve hours every night, 8:30-8:30
You nurse 5-6 times per day, and love it oh so much!
You are smiling now.
You love to hear your brothers' voices.
You still seem to be amazed by Hagen. You never take your eyes off him if he is near by.
You are starting to hold your head up really well.
You wear size two diapers.
You are in size 3-6 month clothes and those are almost too small!
You weigh 14Ibs and are 23 3/4 inches long. The 97th percentile for weight and the 90th for heigth.
You are starting to respond with noices when we talk to you.
And you still love your bed in your room.
Love,
Mommy and Daddy

Harper's Week of Firsts

I can not believe our little girl is eight weeks old already. Time really does go by right before your eyes, and wow was this an eventful week for Harper. Many firsts in her life. The most important first this week was she started sleeping through the night, YEAH! She sleeps from 8:30 to 7:30, I am so very thankful for that. God has blessed me with three sleeping babies.

Harper loves attention at all times. So Hagen and I were talking to her one night and...she started smiling at us. So sweet, she has continued smiling all week, of course when you are right in her face giving her plenty of attention.

I know her smile is not very big in this picture, but everytime I put the camera up to take a picture she quits smiling, so this was the best I could do.

Harper loves clothes, Ha Ha, and this week she received her first Matilda Jane dress. And I must say she loved it.

On Saturday, I was a hostess at a wedding shower for Connie Marie Gibbs, and of course Harper got all dressed up an attended with me.

Harper's first wedding shower.

That afternoon, Harper and I visited one of my oldest friends Lauren
. We have been friends since the first grade, when we met in Ms. Reese's class. She currently lives in Tennessee where her husband is a surgical resident. On November 9, 2010 she welcomed in to the world their first child, Barrett. What a coincidence that November 9th is my middle child Cooper's birthday as well. I was so excited to visit with her and meet little Barrett for the first time. And Harper was excited to meet her new friend, even though you may not be able to tell from the pictures!

I think Barrett loved Harper's dress.

Talking about babies!

WOW, Harper had such an exciting week.

Harper Kate's Silver Cup

On Saturday February 12th, Harper received her first piece of silver. An engraved silver cup. I have the privelage of being a member of the Mabank Halcyon Club. A club that was formed in 1931, by five women and has consisted of twenty members at all times since that date. I am by far the youngest member of the club but I so enjoy the fellowship with women from a variety of different generations. My mother has been a member of the club since I was a girl and I have been a member for the last three years after moving back to Mabank. The club meets every second and fourth Tuesday of the month, has refreshments and a program on a variety of topics.One of the bylaws of the club is to purchase a silver cup for anyone that has a baby in the club, a tradition over the last eighty years. Saturday was the club's 80th Anniversery Breakfast, where Harper received her silver cup.

The twenty active members of the club and one retired member, at the Anniversery Breakfast.

Something special to cherish for many years to come.

My Muddy Boys

I will let the pictures tell the story.

Cooper, Hagen and our neighbor Collin

Look Mom!

Happy Valentines Day

We love because he first loved us, 1 John 4:19
Our Valentines celebrations started on Thursday. Cooper had his Valentine exchange and party at his school. He was so excited, the night before his party we prepared all of his Toy Story valentines. He also made a special gift all by himself for his special friend, Presley.

He used a heart box and chocolate leftover from Hagen's Valentines box we had decorated for his class. He was so excited he laid it out on the counter the night before where he would not forget to take it to school the next morning. That morning,I asked Cooper to let me give the candy to Presley's mom, beeing that he did not have a heart to hand out to everyone in the class. Cooper absolutely refused and away he went with the present safely in his pocket. When I picked Cooper up later that morning I asked what Presley said? With a huge smile on his face he responded, "she said thank you!"
Thursday night, was Hagen's night to prepare for his party that following Monday. His class was assigned to each decorate a box at home to put their Valentines in, and also adress all their cards for their class members. Earlier in the week we had taken a trip to the Dollar Tree, love that store, and Hagen had picked the supplies he needed for his box, and his football themed Valentines as well.

Here is the finished product. Some would call this tacky, but Hagen thought it was cool.
Friday night, the boys took a trip with Nanny and Pops to go watch their Aunt Mae-Mae's basketball game. So while they were gone, Harper and I had our Valentine's date with daddy, at 4-Winds. We went with another couple and had a wonderful time. We love 4-Winds.

Harper getting ready for her first Valentine date.

Sunday we headed to church in a chaotic mess because it was our Sunday to bring breakfast, thank goodness Erik was home to help out.

My three beautiful children.

After Church, we headed to Tyler to Chucke Cheese's to celebrate Kati Satterwhite's 5th birthday. The Satterwhite's go to church with us and have three children the same ages as ours in the exact opposite order, Kati, Gracie and Eddie. The boys always love Chucke Cheese and they had a wonderful time at the party!

What a fun party!

Harper slept through the majority of the party. I have no idea how the noise level at Chucke Cheese on a Sunday afternoon did not bother her.

Monday was party day for Hagen, and he could not wait. Harper and I went to Bible study that morning, where I must say she was a hit in her Valentines Day outfit, after the study we joined Hagen for the start of his party.

I wish I had a better picture, but I have learned to take what you can get.
Hagen's Party

My "sacrificial praise" Harper Kate's birthmark

In Bible study, on Monday, we studied Jonah's prayer in the second chapter, and there came to a portion of the study that talked about sacrificial praise and thanksgiving. I had done my weekly homework and completed that section the night before. One of the questions asked was "In your life today, what is your sacrificial praise?" I have to say, I thought about the question and I could not come up with anything. This past week I noticed that my sweet little girl Harper has a tiny strawberry birthmark on her left cheek. Not a big deal, right? Well, it should not be, but for those of you who do not know I had a strawbery birthmark on the left side of my face as well...

That is me, around 6 weeks of age. A strawbery birthmark, hemangioma on the left side of my face.

Ok, could not get the picture turned, I will work on this. This is after wearing my burn compression mask a while.

And this was after the first of many surgeries.

Before I had children I remember telling God that I would just die if my child had any birthmark on their face. When I had my first son, Hagen I used to stand over his bed and pray that a birthmark would not appear. My birthmark showed up about a week after I was born as a slight bruise and then progressed as a rash and by six weeks it was full blown. I prayed for that same thing with Cooper, specifically. However, with Harper I just prayed that she would be healthy. I never even thought about a birthmark, even though not genetic they are shown to be more prevalant in girls. I don't know why this never crossed my mind, maybe it was God changing my heart. Last week I noticed that the "scratch" Harper had on her face, had been there about two weeks and never changed size. I took a closer look and I realized that it was not a scratch it was a birthmark. I immediately called my mother, and she assured me it would be ok. The mark is only about the size of a grain of rice and it is on the left side of her face as well.

On Monday, I was driving Hagen to school and thinking about Harper's birthmark and I just started crying and thanking God that my daughter's birthmark was so small. I also, for the first time in my life, started graciously thanking him for mine. I could finally after 30 years see the plan he had. If I would not have had this experience, I would not be the person I am today, I would most likely not have been a nurse, not be put in the path to meet my husband and not had the beautiful family and life I have today. I spent many years, "asking God why"! Yes, I can admit that I did not understand? I believe it is ok to ask God why, he just may not reveal the answers on our timeline. I can not describe the thankfulness that filled my heart that morning. During bible study that same day, it was explained that the "sacrifice of praise" is when we are thankful for something, while maybe still being sad. Ie: the loss of a loved one that was suffering, the loss of a job we enjoyed, the move from a place of comfort. It dawned on me at that moment that this was my "sacrificial praise". I am by no means thrilled that Harper had that mark on her face, but I am so thankful because I know first hand what it could have been. I shared my experience with the ladies in the study, many of them who have known me since birth, sobbing the whole time. I leave you with this verse from our study this week, "Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is the fruit of lips that give thanks to His name." Hebrews 13:15

Friday..Snow Day

We had the best day on Friday, full of fun! Erik and I awoke around 6 am. to find that the weather forecasts were a little off, and the 1-2 inches of snow turned into about 6!! Thursday night, before we went to bed, I told Erik maybe it will so snow much you will not have to go to work tomorrow. I got my wish! Erik's clinic decided to close that day due to most of the staff not being able to travel to work safely. Erik, was so excided he immediatley started making plans for the day. He could not wait to wake the boys up while I cooked breakfast. Hagen jumped out of bed and ran to the front door to look outside. Cooper, however, informed his daddy, "not right now! I will see it later" and rolled over and went back to bed. He eventually climbed out of bed that morning and he was excited as well. We all piled in Erik's truck (which is 4 wheel drive) stopped and picked up my cousin and her family and headed to Nanny and Pops house. There were options for snow play at their house than mine, so we headed out for the day. It is only eight miles down the road, howevere on the way we did have to stop and offer to pull someone out of the ditch. The boys loved that.

At Nanny and Pops, starting to test out the sled. Erik had went and found the sled in storage left over from our Colorado ski trip last year.

Erik on the 4-wheeler

Baylor cancelled classes Thursday night, so Blaire was able to make it home before the snow hit! Hagen and "Aunt Bo Bo" playing in the snow.

Blaire was such a good sport and drug them around on that sled forever.

Hagen, Cooper and Payton

Blaire, Hagen and Haley

That afternoon we all went over to the lake Damn and sled down it. It was so much fun and everyone enjoyed it. Nanny even gave it a whirl or two. I did make a huge mistake and forgot the camera! But thankfully Blaire had her phone!

Harper Kate enjoyed the day by the fire and looking out the window at the snow.

After cleaning up at home, we decided to make snow ice cream, and Payton joined us.

As you can tell, Cooper, my sweet eater, was giving me step by step instructions.

Cooper "pooped" from the day's activities.

What a wonderful winter day Friday turned out to be. One that I will always remember and cherish.

Burr...It's cold....... Wednesday and Thursday

My goodness!! It is cold. I am definately a Texas girl and do not like weather under about 45 degrees. So three days with 15-20 degree temperatures is enough for me. We have spent most of our time inside, as Hagen said "he only likes to ride his bike when it is a little cold, and mom, it is a lot cold!" On Wednesday, when erik got home form work, he picked up Hagen and they headed to Mr. "W"'s house "to do something".

This is what they came home with! I promised an update, so here it is..

Yes, those are the bobcats I mentioned earlier and they now are residing in the freezer at my house. Erik, is giving one of them to a lady he works with, and he is still planning to have the other one mounted. I am starting to think that I may buy Erik his own deep freezer for Father's Day. That way, he will have his own personal storage place for all of his dead animals. I currently have a deer, a spread of turkey feathers, and now two boccats in mine. Thank goodness I have two freezers.

While Erik and Hagen were shooting bobcats, Cooper was dressing up as a princess. This obsession of his has spiraled out of controlled, any suggestions would be welcomed!

Harper in her "My hairbows rocks outfit" and peace sign pants, MBM.

Thursdays are Erik's short days at work, so we decided to go on a little field trip when he got off. Erik talked to Mr. "W" earlier in the week and found out that he had a large boar hog caught in a trap in my Dad's pasture. Hagen loves anything that has to do with hunting, so we decided to take everyone to see the hog.

And here it is....

Hagen aiming at the hog with his "BB" gun.

Cooper was a little scared so he decided to watch with me from inside the truck.

Harper slept through the whole thing with her blanket and heater.

The steers wondering what we were doing and where in the world was their feed??

Before leaving the pasture we stopped to let the boys slide on the ice!! I believe this was their first time for ice, they loved it.

That night, the boys decided to have a football game. They thought is would be great if Harper could be their cheerleader! At this point, I am just thankful the cheerleader was not Cooper.

Harper an I decided earlier this week, after watching Michael Waddell's turkey hunting movie for the third time in a row and the boys sitting on the couch with their toy guns and pretending to turkey hunt, that there was more to life than sports, hunting and wild animals. So on Tuessday we attended our first Matilda Jane trunk show at my friend Leslie's house. We are "ADDICTED", and I can not wait to post a picture of Harper Kate in her first Matilda Jane dress so stay tuned...