Going up...

Today was such a nice DRY day and Brian was off work so we finally got a chance to hang some metal on the roof.  I was so scared at first, it's so high up and then trying to hold metal into place and not fall wore me out!! After a while, I got the hang of it and we got all the backside done and now we just have the front side to do.

Clayton turns 3!!!

I can't believe that I am blogging about Clayton's 3rd birthday!! It seems like just yesterday he was born and now he is on his way growing up. I tell you what, I totally feel like this is my third child, you know, the child that I never had-and to think that he is not  is something else!! I have had him since he was about 11 weeks old and have seen him grow in so many ways. He has brought so much love, joy, laughter and happiness to our lives.

 I never thought that Brian would be so crazy over someone else child, but boy am I wrong. They are buddies--it's like a mini me or something!! Whenever Brian comes home from work, Clayton runs to the door and greets him with a big hug and kiss, they nap together, ride the tractor together and believe me get into all kinds of trouble together as well!! Don't worry, he is "Jessie's boy"  just ask him and he will tell you.

Hunter and Hayley are just as crazy over him as anyone-- Hayley is little Ms. Mother Hen, imagine that and Hunter wants to tech him everything he knows. Ask them who Clayton is, they will tell you it's their cousin!! I have tried and tried to explain that he is not really their cousin, but guess its just because the only cousin they really get to play/see on a regular basis is Keegan.    

Last night after baths, the kids were hard at work on birthday cards for Clayton. They each had put so much time and effort into their works of art....

and couldn't wait for him to come this morning to share them with him! They each had to read their cards to him. I love the expression on their faces--priceless!!

 I think that this is my favorite picture from today--look how they are all holding up 3 fingers--we may have to work on this some more!!

Anyways:

Happy Birthday Clayton Thomas Shouse

                              WE LOVE YOU SO MUCH!!

Bend-a-roos

Hunter loves to play with his Bend a roos, well the other night he was in his room making all kinds of cool stuff. I asked him several times if he wanted me to take a picture of all his master pieces and he kept telling me "Not yet!"  I waited and waited then finally he called me into his room and was ready for him to take a picture and this is what I found....

I tell you what, some of the things he says, does or asks blows me away-that kid never ceases to amaze me!

Nightly routine

Every night when I am drying Hayley's hair she gets her book and reads it to me. I am so impressed with how well she is reading, I absolutely love listening to her read!! When she is done reading, we move on to the addition/subtraction flash cards. She is doing wonderfully with these and is even getting to the point where she doesn't have to use her finger to count forward/backwards on the upper numbers (9-12)! She is getting to be one smart cookie if I do say so myself!!

Happy Birthday Daniel

Sgt. James Daniel Faulkner

April 28, 1981-September  8, 2004

Happy Birthday to you,

Happy Birthday to you,

Happy Birthday dear Daniel,

Happy Birthday to you!

Here is to one of my biggest hero's--can't believe that you would of been 29 today...seems like just yesterday we were playing in the street, walking to Yummy's or just hanging out at your house. I am forever grateful that  Heather is my best friend and that I was blessed to be apart of the "adopted Faulkner clan." You are my guardian angel who has watched over my family many of times, THANK YOU!!

There is not a day that passes that I don't think of you and the selfless sacrifice you made. Words can't begin to show my gratitude for all that you did so that we can live in this free country! I love you and miss you lots--will be sure to drink a cold one for you!!

For all those reading this blog, please stop for a moment and pray for our troop and their families.

So sorry

For some reason Blogger will not let me upload any pictures--I have about three days worth so hopefully with fingers crossed it will allow me to upload pic tomorrow. Sorry :)

Happy Birthday Grandpa

Happy Birthday to you,

Happy Birthday to you,

Happy Birthday dear Grandpa
Happy Birthday to you!!

Game Stop

Granny sent the kids a gift card to GAME STOP so tonight we made a trip to Shelbyville to redeem them.  Hayley chose Zhu Zhu Pets and Hunter chose Scribble Nots--thanks Granny and Daniel for special gift!!

Junior

came to visit today and it just happened to be on a day that I was subbing!! As soon as I saw his sweet little face I couldn't help but snatch him up and just give him some Ms. Jessica lovin' complete with lots of hugs and kisses.  The kids were just as exicted to see him (and Mimi) and couldn't wait to hear all about his new school-Simpsonville Elementary. Seems he is adjusting well and is showing all his new teacher and friends what a smart boy is!! He promises to come back again before school is out for the summer--can't wait to see him again. I love and miss my little friend--it's weird to walk into the class and not hear him shout for me or come and get hugs!! Keep up the good work Junior--I'm proud of you!!! My prayers are sent out daily for you and Mimi !! LOVE YOU FRIEND!!!

Junior, Mimi and Ms. Sweazy

Opening Ceremony

 Opening Ceremony at TES for the Testing Olympics was today and what a fun way to get the 3rd-5th grades pumped up for all those lovely test coming up next week! The whole school gathered in the gym for this celebration: metal awards (metals given to last years 3-5 graders who scored Proficient/Distinguished on the test), torch passing, school song and cheers! It was really neat to see how much everyone got into it!

Hayley's class held up their signs as the older grades marched in!

I let Taryn hold up a sign too! She did a GREAT job following the instructions that I gave her!

Ms. Penny and I had a few laughs out of it too..she was too excited!!

This is Hayley's sign she made

Each class was introduced as they marched in and let me tell you how creative the names were.  I was impressed that the teachers dressed up with their classes--the things teachers do for their students!! I only got pictures of a couple of the classes but they all had great ideas and themes.

Ms. Day's class dressed as babies complete with diapers--it was hard to get pics

Ms. O'Donnell's class did a version of  "Party in the USA"

the only part we understood was "Mr. Abell gonna wear a dress"

because we were laughing so hard. Oh yeah, they all had matching tie dye shirts that were really cool!!

Ms. Ruckreigel's  Rock stars

 complete with autographs

Ms. Buynak's brains

(shower caps with tissue paper to look like brains!)

Ms. Kelly and the school chorus sang "The Eye of the Tiger" while the torch was being passed around

the 5th grade chorus members lead us in the school song!

Happy Testing!!!

92 WE WANT YOU!!

DO YOUR BEST ON THE TEST!!

Spring...

I finally got a chance to get some pictures of the super cute bulletin board Ms. Forberger made at school. I had walked past it a couple of times last week but was too busy to stop and take pictures. The little flower petals are the kids hands and then the poem fits it so well--the kids have really "bloomed" so much since the first day of school. It amazes me so see the difference in each and every child in that room--Ms. Forberger and Ms. Sweazy have done a wonderful job, THANK YOU BOTH!! Hard to believe that school is almost over, 25 more days--I am counting them down!!

Mini Me

Hayley has been helping me cook dinner this week and let me tell you what a BIG help she is!! I can tell her what I need her to do and she does it!! Now, only if we could train the boys like that  life would be great!!
On Wednesday night her job was to cut up the cheese for  Queso and on Thursday he job was to chop of the veggies for our salad!! I love the fact that she is so eager this young to learn how to cook and begs to be in the kitchen with me!! We make some yummy dinners--Watch out Paula Dean!!!

Buddy Bats

The second grade classes at Taylorsville went to see the Louisville Bats play for Education Day at Slugger Field. I was a little hesitant when I signed up to be a chaperon just because I have always seen on the news how crowded this event is and it has been cold here--I just need to learn how to say "NO!" Well, let me tell you how wrong I was...awesome seats (front row, section 105--right in front of the playground), awesome weather (sunny, a slight breeze and 73) and awesome crowd (500 compared to the usual 10,000) I had a great time with Hunter and the Bats won so it was an added bonus. Oh yeah, when we were eating lunch, I looked up and saw my favorite nephew--Mr Keegan Abner--what a special surprise on a special day!

Me and Hunter

Ben Miles and Hunter

 GO Bats!

Catching up

We have been so busy latley that I am playing catch up with uploading pictures and blogging. You may have to click on the older post because it only shows the last 5 blog entries. Today alone I have did 4! Happy Reading!!

Just another day

in paradise.... I mean on the farm! We have a bull with a hurt foot so tonight Brian had to play Vet and try to get this foot cleaned out. I was excited because it was the first time that we have used the head chute and it was so nice not having to tie up a cow and try to hold it still while you work on them! I tell you it was a good investment! Way to think honey!!

Hayley's job was to hold the rope so that the gate wouldn't open...

Hunter's job was to feed the cow so that he would calm down

Hayley is going thru this stage where she is "scared" of the cows so we made her (yes, I know I am an evil mother) go and feed the cow. He could not "get her" because of the chute.

look at how long that tounge is!

  She was much more relax after several pieces.

Brian job was to wash the foot off and put some medicine on it!

 The kids kept asking if he was spray painting his foot since it was blue!

My job was to take pictures!

It was a neat learning experience for the kids and everything went as planned. Now just have to sit back and watch the medicine work its wonders! Fingers crossed!!

Light at the end of the barn...I mean tunnel

After today we are in the homestretch as far as barn completion is concerned. THANK YOU JESUS!! Spent most of the day putting up the runners and the metal is going to be in on Thursday. I am about over this barn and will be so glad when it's done!!

1 heifer and 2 bulls

We had to take something back up to the cabin and Luke was hanging out with Pop and Nana while Brad was setting a blind up. Faith was not there again--we are starting to wonder if we will ever get to see her or even a picture with all 4 of the grand kids! Luke was loving the calf huts and kept calling then a 'doghouse'. I couldn't help but to get a picture of the kids playing inside of them!

Pop's (delayed) Birthday

Sunday after church we all went back to Pop and Nana's for a delayed birthday lunch--Pop's birthday is April 1st--seriously, no April fools here!! It's hard to try and get all his kids together since some are in KY, NC, and college--so we did the best we could. Brad and his family have been in town for the last week , so they got to come and join in the celebration as well. Luke is getting so big and we didn't even get to see Faith, she was napping the whole time!! Brian has yet to see her, maybe next time!

Hunter, Luke, Hayley and Pop

(3 out of 4 grand babies)

I forgot how hard it is to take a toddlers picture

Hayley and Eric

Hunter "giving" Pop his present: another Pheasant Hunting trip!!

It's starting to look...

like a barn!!! Brian, Pa and Pop put up the trusses this weekend and now the whole barn is starting to come together..I can see the light at the end of the tunnel. It just took me leaving town for a weekend for the men to get busy...if I had know that, I would have left a long time ago!!

Brian rented this lift thingy to help with putting the trusses on and the kids were dying to take a "ride" in it

Good thing Brian isn't afraid of heights and has good balance

I was scared to death when I was up there!

Team Kids

Team Kids sang on last Sunday and did a wonderful job as always. I had my camera out and full intentions on taking pictures and recording the kids, but didn't get the chance to do. Thanks to my friend Diana for letting me steal these off her blog! I had my hands full with 24 kiddos (age 2-6) from my class--it was like herding sheep trying to make sure one didn't escape!! Once my class got done singing their song, all the other grades came together and sang--it was such a blessing to see the future of our church in action!

Hayley is on the second row, 3 from the left

The whole team kid group: As you can tell there are LOTS of little ones

in the front and the bigger kids are in the back.

Hayley is in the front row: 5th from the left

Hunter is on the back row: 5th from the left