Babies on the farm

Can I say for the one thousandth time how happy I am to have BB and Poppy living here? Charlie spent the night with them (their first house guest!) last night and we went over this morning to get him. BB cooked us a big Sunday dinner pot roast and even made a chocolate trifle. :)
Here's their pretty iris-lined driveway-




Marc took the kids around on the 4-wheeler-

''

Marky really wants to drive it-



So we let him (with Daddy on board)-



Sissy and Tucker tried to ride the gator, but it needs a new battery- it's lasted since Marky was 8 mos old- so over 7 years.



In lieu of "gator" riding, Tucker rode his tricycle-



And Little Bit pushed Charles around-



Charlie loves to stroll-



Another nice day on the ponderosa.

St. Patrick's Day 2012

Today we had the St. Patrick's Day parade. This is always a big day in the Ayers household- we've marched in the parade 5 years in a row with the Ancient Order of Hibernians. Here's a pic of Sissy and I in 2008's parade- wasn't she a sweet girl?!



In 2009 we had Amber, Dennis, Noah and Landin march with us. Because Noah has been sleeping most of this weekend, Amber wanted us to wait a bit to go down until he was more awake and aware. We are flying down later this week. And yes, Charlie was at the parade in a precious green bubble outfit- but I didn't get even one picture. BB and Poppy took him home to nap and we did the rest of the day with the big kids.

Here's the pic that was from the Birmingham News- you can see Tuck Tuck in his stroller- I was pushing him, but I'm strategically hidden. :)





We had bags of candy to throw- even Sissy was throwing candy- they loved it!



Since we are at the very beginning of the parade- we always stop and watch it go by- here's my sweet Irish Lass....





Tuck Tuck waved with his suckers hanging out- keeping it classy...





My handsome Irish lads....





After the parade we hung out in 5-points at Chick Fil A and played and listened to the bagpipes across the street. Then we headed over to the Cathedral for Mass- Noah's name was read as the first prayer request. After mass we all headed to the family life center to have a catered St. Patrick's Day party! We had corned beef and cabbage with colcannon(Irish mashed potatoes) and Irish cream cake for dessert. Here are Marc and some guys singing "The Foggy Dew."






The kids loved the Irish dancers- they asked for volunteers for one song and curly locks was first in line!



I wish you could see his huge smile and dimple- he LOVES to dance-







During the musician's numbers he offered to take a turn on the tamborine. :)



A fun day celebrating with friends. And I leave you with a prayer from St. Patrick himself-

“May the Strength of God guide us. May the Power of God preserve us. May the Wisdom of God instruct us. May the Hand of God protect us. May the Way of God direct us. May the Shield of God defend us. May the Angels of God guard us. - Against the snares of the evil one. May Christ be with us! May Christ be before us! May Christ be in us, Christ be over all! May Thy Grace, Lord, Always be ours, This day, O Lord, and forevermore. Amen. “

Heaven

Marky and I got into a deep discussion about heaven and how we will know all we want to know while we are there. I was explaining how sin clouds our thoughts and how when we are washed clean in our heavenly bodies we will see more clearly and know more fully.

Marky: "We will know mysteries?"

Me: "yes"

Marky: "Even the deepest mysteries- like the Blessed Trinity- we will understand that?"

Me: "um...yes, I hope so."

How many 7-year-olds look forward to understanding the mystery of the Blessed Trinity in heaven? Everyday this boy shocks me.

Noah's in the hospital

Hi friends,
I just wanted to ask you to pray for sweet Noahbug. He has had a seizure and is in the hospital. He is on a ventilator. The cancer has spread significantly. We don't know more details- but you can imagine the horror this is for his family. We are flying down. We know God is in the midst of all of this and loves Noah more than anyone else. Jesus, we trust in You.

Tucker can

While I was sitting on the swing on the porch watching Charlie and talking on the phone, Tucker walked by and said, "May I have some chocolate milk (a chocolate nutritional drink is what he means), please?" I whispered, "wait until I'm off the phone" and then kept talkikng for about 10 more minutes. When I got off the phone I walked into the kitchen and saw this-

"Mommy, will you put dis into dis?"



Yes, he used that stool to climb up to the cup cabinet and then crawled across the counter to the PediaSure/Boost cabinet and took the lid of the cup and waited. Stuck on the counter. You know- where the sharp knives and plugged in toaster are!



Silly boy- you sure do like your "banilla" and chocolate milk. And you will see an "I voted" sticker. I took him with me to vote after dropping the big kids off at science class. He was a hit- he talked up all the workers "look, you are using a yellow marker!" "what are you doing there?", got his own ballot that they made with notebook paper, and got two stickers. When it comes to charming people- this little guy makes it look effortless-

When the weather is nice...

...we move the party outside!










Marc says this picture looks like Ray Charles, "hey momma don't you treat me wrong.... tell me what I say...."

Daily Sweetness...

Today at lunch Julia said, "Mommy, when Charlie smiles, he makes me fall in love with him." I couldn't agree more, sweet girl.





Speaking of falling in love, "Operation Love Tank" is going well. Tucker seems to be doing a little better by getting more attention. MANY times a day I "fall asleep" an can only be awoken by "true love's kiss", which can only come from Tuck Tuck. He runs over to wake me and says, "I give you kiss of love Mommy!" I then "wake up" and tickle him. Then he falls asleep and I wake him with my kiss of love. I love my job. :)