Here, Birdie, Birdie...

Well, I have several things to catch up on. The first is my new hobby. Bird-watching. Well, I guess technically it's not bird-watching like going into the woods with binoculars and finding rare species. It's more like sitting on the sunporch watching the bird feeders, hoping some pretty little birdie will decide to partake of the feast that is before them. We have hummingbirds, yellow finches, purple finches, cardinals, blue jays, bluebirds, orioles, grosbeaks, woodpeckers and others that I haven't yet learned what they are. I just love watching them... they're kind of hard to see in this picture.
Oh,... Mother's Day. I had just a wonderful weekend. Todd and Matt's families met Gary and I at Red Robin's on Saturday and it was so fun. Then, Gary took me to Nakato's on Sunday. Since it was just us two, we had to sit at a table with seven other people. It was a mother, her two daughters and their children. In the course of our conversation, they mentioned they were from Osceola which is north of Collins and west of Nevada. I said, he (pointing to Gary) is from Schell City (which is between those towns). They looked so surprised...they had graduated from Schell City high school! Gary went there through his Sophomore year. They knew a lot of the same people and families, even though they were younger. Now isn't that crazy that we would get seated with that family! Anyway, it was fun!

Then, the next weekend we got to spend with Wendy's family. We drove to Tulsa on Friday, the 16th and flew to Houston. We arrived and rented a car and drove to their house. We brought some Cardinal outfits for the kids to remind them of their roots. No Astros, Yes Cardinals!

Saturday morning, they had tickets for "The Chronicles of Narnia, Prince Caspian, " so we all went. The kids had seen the first Chronicles movie and had been playing like they were the kids in the movie: Lucas is Peter, Bailey is Susan, Micah is Edmond and Ruthie is Lucy.

After the movie we ate at a bbq place and went to ride go-carts Fun, fun! That night we had the boy's birthday party. Lucas's birthday is May 3 and Micah's is May 20. We got them each a set of golf clubs. Pappy wants to get them started playing golf at a young age. They live about 5 minutes from a golf course.

I have more pictures, but I'll post again tomorrow.

Goodnight!

Is It May Already?

Okay, remember in my first blog when I said I would probably be lucky to post once a week.....well, make that once a month!


I was reading my past blogs and discovered that I need to update you about my fishponds. When the ponds finally unfroze, I found that there are still two fish in each pond. The koi pond has two black fish and the goldfish pond has two orange fish. Now....how to keep the racoons out. One possibility is to put new handrails and gates on each side. But I bought these fake lily pads with lights on them. One has a sun sensor and the other three have bulbs, so they light up at night. It might work. I just need to get a set for the other pond.






Let's see.....what else is new. Jadon and Haven love to find frogs in our backyard. This day they each found one to carry around. Jadon jumped on the trampolene with his and every time Jadon jumped, the frog croaked.






Friday, Heather and I took the kids to Silver Dollar City. We had to get there, because it was the last day for the WorldFest. It was a beautiful day. Here's Jude...first time at SDC!



Oh, something else I remembered as I read old posts. The fire-bellied toad, Poison. We had him about 3 years. Gavin picked him out and named him. He wasn't allowed to hold him without gloves on because they secrete a kind of poison as a self-defense mode. Not enough to hurt humans, but not something you would want on your hands. Anyway, we have bought crickets to feed him and cleaned out his house for the past 3 years, but early this year, he died. Somehow he got under his water bowl and was smashed flat. Well, I knew Gavin would want to bury him, but he was gone to Maine at the time, so I put Poison in a baggie and stored him in the freezer. I did show him to Gavin when he got home and he took it pretty well, but the weather was bad and the ground too hard to dig a little grave, so we forgot all about him. I guess we better get him out and schedule a graveside service for him. As toads go, he was actually a pretty cool one.
I didn't think a picture was appropriate at this solemn time.


Gary and I are flying to Houston on May 16th and I can't wait. Lucas's birthday was May 3rd and Micah's is May 20th, so we will get to celebrate with them. When I figured the cost of gas and food and a hotel room, it was just as cheap to fly out of Tulsa on Southwest plus get there in half the time.


Well, that's all I have time for now, I guess. Have a wonderful day!

Til next time,


Donna

Where've I been?

I know...I know.. I haven't posted since Jude's birth. I think that my journaling limits have been maxed out by the Bible Study ( "This is My Story") we have been doing. My very limited brain power just isn't used to thinking and writing that much.

We sure have been enjoying getting to know our new little guy, Jude. Here's Pappy doting on his new grandson.

My sister and I went to Houston, Texas in March to visit Wendy's family because the kids were on Spring Break. We drove part way on Monday, spent the night outside of Dallas, then drove on in to Houston on Tuesday morning. We had a full week of fun and loved every minute of it. We went to see "Horton Hears A Who", ate and played at Incredible Pizza, went shopping for Easter clothes at the Gallaria Mall, went to Cheesecake Factory for Wendy's birthday lunch, played in the park...then we drove home on Friday. Here's a few pictures from our wonderful week...INCREDIBLE PIZZA! (Lucas drove a race car, but my pictures were too dark.), MEMORIAL PARK, AND EASTER CLOTHES!

I just have to add this picture of Gavin, Jadon and Haven. We were at the AWANA car race last night at church and these three were just having the best time playing with each other.

Aren't these 8 of the cutest kids you've ever seen? They sure bring a lot of joy to this Mema and Pappy!

Have a great weekend!

The Miracle of Birth

He's here! He's here! Our little Jude has arrived -- the best valentine we could receive!

Jude Ezra Wallace 2/13/08 7 lbs. 3 ozs. 19 1/2 inches long

What an incredible privilege to spend the day at the hospital with Todd and Heather waiting to welcome their little boy into this world! I got the call at 7:00 a.m. and headed for Citizens Memorial Hospital in Bolivar. Heather was already settled in her room with Todd and Beverly waiting with her. Lindsay showed up soon after and we all had a great time talking and laughing - in between contractions, of course.

Beverly and I made a Wal-Mart/Subway/McDonalds run, but got back in plenty of time for the main event. The nurse kicked us out of the room about 1:15 p.m., but Todd came and got us out of the waiting room about 2:15 pm and we got to go see the boy. Honestly, he is a beautiful baby!

It's amazing how each grandchild's birth is so exciting and unique and wonderful! And it's never "just another birth". It's always a miracle!

Here's Mema and Pappy with the newest member of the family!

Check out Heather's blog http://wallaces5.blogspot.comin a few days (when she gets home and has some time)

Love,

Donna

Music To My Ears

I just have to tell this story about Jadon. Yesterday we were driving home from town and listening to the CD's. We finished Backyardigans and the next CD started playing. It was "Kids Praise" and children were singing "What A Mighty God We Serve".

3 year old Jadon: "Who's that singing?"
Mema: "I don't know, who do you think it is?"
Jadon: "Switchfoot"
Mema: "Oh, do you like Switchfoot?"
Jadon: "Yes"
Mema: " Who else do you like?"
Jadon: "Todd Agnew. That's what mommy has in her car. Would you turn it up, please?"

Are children influenced by the music they hear? Absolutely! All of the grandchildren listen to and love songs about Jesus. What better message to be going into those little ears day after day?

Have a wonderful day!

Donna

All I Want For Christmas Is My Two Front Teeth....

"It's A Wonderful Life"

Wow! It's 2008 and since I haven't posted since before Christmas, I think it's about time I recorded some of our fun times this past month.

Wendy and Doug's family arrived on Christmas Eve and I got to see them a few minutes, but they stayed at Doug's folks this year and went to Hamlin's Christmas Eve service with them. Our service was wonderful. We observed the Lord's Supper and circled the inside of the auditorium holding lit candles and singing Silent Night. So beautiful and sweet. Gary and I exchanged our gifts after we got home.

Then....Christmas morning! Everyone arrived about 9:00 a.m. We had breakfast - ham, sausage, gravy, biscuits, eggs, cinnamon bread......Then...to the presents...

The only way we could get Haven to pose with her cousins was to let her hold a present. Then the adults got to exchange our gift cards and played a game. I usually come up with some kind of game for the "older kids" to play. Each family was a team (3 teams). I gave them the first line of a praise song. They had to give (1) the next line, (2) the name of the song, and (3) who wrote it. They got a $1 for each right answer. Possibility of $3 for each of 12 songs. No team got the whole $36, but they did really well.

Then they all went on to other get-togethers that day. Doug and Wendy came back that evening and we played "Deal or no deal" DVD game.

All week the kids took turns staying all night with Mema and Pappy. Wednesday: a bunch of us went to see "Enchanted". Cute movie. Thursday: Kevin, Tammy, & Heather Smith, Doug, Wendy & kids, Heather & kids joined Gary and I for lunch and a nice visit. Friday: Wendy & kids came over and stayed while Heather left Jadon and Haven so she could go to her Doctor's appointment. Saturday: we went to the Wilson-Rutledge Farm Park. It's a Springfield City Park, that's still in development. But it's going to be a great place. The kids really enjoyed it. Micah seems to make the same funny face in all of his pictures lately. But he's so cute whatever face he's making.

Saturday night we went to see "National Treasure 2". We loved it and had fun together. Sunday everyone was at Springhill for church. Karla, Heather and I took the kids to Silver Dollar City Sunday evening. It was so crowded, but the lights were beautiful and the kids got to ride rides, see the parade, the big tree, drink hot chocolate and eat at McDonalds on the way home (for the 3rd time since they've been here, they informed me).

Monday, New Year's Eve, everyone came over. We had pizza and leftovers and played a game that Matt & Lindsay brought. It was so fun, even though the girls were 0-3. We decided Doug, Matt and Todd should never be on the same team. Those three think too much alike.

Well, Doug and Wendy and kids left on Wednesday morning to go home to Houston. Gary and I went over to the Bischoff's to tell them goodby. Too hard. But I've talked to Wendy just about every day since they've been home. The kids went back to school today.

I got to see Gavin tonight. He's been gone since Christmas and didn't get to spend much time with his cousins. He went to Maine with his mom and stepdad. I missed him so much. He pulled his other front tooth while he was gone. I will take a picture of him tomorrow night at Awanas and post it so you can see how cute he looks. I was sick this weekend and had to miss his first Upwards basketball game. But I heard that he did great. And I'll be there next Saturday.

Well, I know once I got started, it would go on and on. I'm sure I'll think of some things I forgot.
Hey, Bible Study begins Friday night. Yeahhh!

Love,

Donna