We're going on a trip

(You must sing the title of this post in the tune of The Little Einstein theme music.) Here are some pics from the trip to PCB.

Ella fell asleep and Streed grabbed her hand. They have these sweet moments often.
Then I had to get a pic of sweet Nate. He is wearing a 6-12m onesie. I think this is what we bought Streed when we found out he was a boy.

We stopped in Malbis and ate with Chip's sister and her husband. It was a good 1 1/2hour break. We ate at Chick-fil-A and they got to play on the playground. We turned in their toys for ice dream cones. Ummm. I think we are about to go get some more and play on the playground here when Ella wakes up. There are some other guests here in the pool. A family. With lots of kids.

Crooms or Clampitts, You Decide!

With three kids I think it truly was impossible to pack for 7 weeks. We can't fold down any seats. Even though I will be home for some of that time, we still had to pack lots of things for the kitchen and for the kids to play at our concrete paradise. So, we made the decision to start a new trend...taking a U-Haul to beach project. I am still embarrassed as I type this. It was so nice to have room to crawl back to the back when I was needed and not have to try and kill myself by crawling over all kinds of mess. My family knows that our van is jammed full on just a weekend trip. So, enjoy the photos. Despite the humiliation and driving 60mph the whole way, it was worth it. It didn't even seem like a long trip because inside the van wasn't stressful.

Beach Bound

our soon-to-be home away from home.

aren't you jealous!

Attn April Brown

It is time for you to start your blog...you know, the one for which you already have a name. Part of me thinks you already started it and just haven't told anyone. Please do it. I want to laugh.

Family & Friends

I spent some time updating my blogger links. (thanks Shana for prompting this). I wanted to add some sort of adjective to each of the names. I am not done yet so if there is not something by yours there will be eventually.

Nate Nate

I haven't posted many pictures of Nate. He is looking really cute these days. But I find that it is hard to get a really cute picture of a newborn. So, these are cute to me! He is a sweet baby and he loves to smile. We are thinking he looks like my sister. A lot of people say he favors Ella.

New Neighbors

I am super excited to announce that our dear friends just moved two doors down from us. It is really exciting because Chip and I are both really close to Casey and Jill. They are like family. And Jadyn is like our daughter. She and Streed and Ella interact like siblings. How often in life do you really have a friend that you really like and so does your husband...and you like her husband and he likes you too. It really is a blessing to have friends like this. We don't know how long they will be there but we are going to enjoy it while it lasts. This picture is looking from my front porch. I am sure we will quickly wear a path in Ms. Maya's grass.

playing catch up

I have just spent several hours updating this blog. ENJOY! Happy Mother's Day to me!

funny faces and the fabulous four

Streed has started making funny faces when I try and take pictures. Ella then copies.

That beauty beside Ella is my sweet baby neice Taylor. We were trying to get a picture of all four of them. We didn't plan on it being good.

April Update

Streed finished his first semester of Speech. His diagnosis is a "Speech Sound Delay". This means his language is fine, he is just delayed on some of his sounds. His teacher spent most of the semester working on his "K" and "F" sound. She was very impressed with his progress. Her suggestion was for him to stay in speech and for us to READ, READ, READ a lot. He will attend a 3-week camp this summer from 8-12 Monday thru Thurs. He will participate in group and individual therapy. I figure he will receive about 48 hours of service. It is bound to be beneficial.














Streed got to stand on the pitchers mound at one of SLU's game. At the beginning of the game they allow certain aged children to stand by their favorite player during the National Anthem. His favorite player is Josh Black, a student involved with our ministry. Streed took his glove out there with him. He was a little nervous but did great.



















A few weeks ago we went to a friend's house for some fun on the "slip-n-slide" and some pb-n-j. I guess Streed and Ella needed a break. It made me laugh how old they looked sitting in these chairs.

Ella discovered how to roll up her tongue and does it all the time.

Jill & I babysat for one of my friend'd kids the other day. She has three girls--6, 4 & 2. Streed played dress-up with the 4 yr old and Jadyn while I picked up lunch. This is what he had on when I got back. It was hilarious!

Decisions as of late

Chip and I have decided to go to the Summer Beach Project this summer.
RECAP: Back in December the staff met and discussed some changes in the project for the summer. I was at this time about 32 weeks pregnant. By the time project would start Nathan would be about 12 weeks old. I told both of Chip's bosses that I thought we needed to be on project this summer. They were both sensitive to the fact that we would have a very young baby along with two other children. So, they said they would give us time to adjust to Nate and then see what would be best for our family. (I feel so blessed to work for a "company" that actually takes into consideration the whole family!) So, when Nate was a month old we decided it would be best for us to NOT be at the project. The facility we would be staying in for 7 weeks is not the nicest and I was afraid the years of cigarette smoke burned into the walls and carpet would not be good for his health.
But...Last month I was spending time with God in Mark Chapter 8. I have been doing a study of the book this semester. This particular day I was looking at what Jesus requires of his disciples. What I saw was that He requires Faith/Trust/Belief. Several verses stood out to me but mainly 33-35. Certain phrases were God's interests not man's...deny self...lose life for My sake and the gospel's. I immediately wrote down "SBP?". Was God trying to tell me we needed to trust Him and follow Him and make this sacrifice for the sake of the gospel? I got Chip to read it and told him what I was thinking. At first he was not on board because we had made our decision and he was sticking to it. But, after more talking and praying about it we have decided it will be good for him in his job for us to be there. One of the deciding factors was Streed's speech camp that I wanted him to attend in June. We decided that it was important enough for our family that Streed attend the camp that Iwould come home with all three kids for 2 1/2 weeks.

P'd

This post came to mind about a week ago. But, in all of my "overwhelmedness" and lack of computer time it never happened.

So, I was feeling a little aggitated for a few days/weeks and then I realized why. I was P'd. Due to the Pill, maybe some mild Postpartum, extra Pounds & Pudginess leading to the need for Weight Watcher's Points (or the lack thereof...I only get 21 a day) I figure the combination of all of these P's in my life attributed to my being P'd. I'm better now.

Louisiana Girl

Ella is eating a "snow ball" that Jill brought over. I put "snow ball" in quotes because that is what "they" call it here. It more liken to what "we" in Alabama would call a shave ice. I mean, it comes in a cup and is in no way, shape, or form a ball. But, it is what it is.