Wordless Wednesday

Mother's Day {2012} a walk down memory lane

Mother's Day...such a world wind of emotions and memories.

I remember being pregnant with Gunner on Mother's Day (2005).

I remember my 1st Mother's Day (2006) with Gunner in my arms. I'm pretty sure I was the proudest momma ever.

I remember my 2nd Mother's Day (2007) with Gunner and anticipating adding baby #2 near Gunner's second birthday in December. It was about as good as it could get! Baby #2 who we named Baby Rose went to be with Jesus in June 2007. We will never hold Baby Rose here on earth but we have eternity to look forward with her.

I remember my 3rd Mother's Day (2008) with Rylee growing safely in my tummy. It was a fun Mother's Day. I thought of Baby Rose and how much she had changed me. I was fearful of loosing Rylee.

I remember my 4th Mother's Day (2009) with Gunner and Rylee. What a perfect day...I thought of Baby Rose and how I longed to see her. I remember how thankful I was that Rylee was safely in my arms (that and we were in San Diego having the time of our lives!).

I remember my 5th Mother's Day (2010). Our second loss had just happened the previous December. I was broken but I remember God blessing me with the gift of song that morning in church. God knew my heart was broken. He was mending it for me.

I remember my 6th Mother's Day (2011). We had experienced a quick pregnancy and loss in the middle of the crazy snow storms in late January. My pain was fresh. I loved celebrating with my earthly babies but my thoughts often drifted to my 3 sweet babies who have lived all their days with our Heavenly Father.

I will always remember my 7th Mother's Day (2012). Not only did Gunner and Rylee get super excited about celebrating Mother's Day (and go all out raiding the house to give me special Mother's Day gifts all on their own) but Ed got me a bracelet that celebrates all 6 of our babies! We now have 4 precious ones who will welcome us into heaven one day. We experienced another loss in the summer of 2011 which continues to change my view of eternity. One day there will be a reunion for me and our sweets...one day.

Once again on this Mother's Day (2012) God showed his great love for me on a day that is always a full on time of reflection for me. A couple of weeks ago we received 5 caterpillars in the mail that I had purchase with a Groupon. We only had 4 that changed into chrysalides. We've had them hanging in their habitat waiting for them to emerge as butterflies. Saturday we had 1 butterfly. It was an exciting day. The other 2 had emerged sometime through the night or while we were at church on Sunday. As I was making dinner Sunday night, I noticed the 4th was emerging. We all got around the habitat and watched as the 4th butterfly emerged. That's right on Mother's Day God gave me the gift of 4 beautiful butterflies to remember those 4 sweet Hitchcock babies!

Ps 119:49-50
Remember your promise to me; it is my only hope. Your promise revives me; it comforts me in all my troubles

I am thankful for a Heavenly Father who remembers his promises to me. One who says that he will never leave me or forsake me. One who offers my future and hope. One who comforts me when I am broken hearted. One who lavishes his love on me.

Mother's Day can begin such a whirl wind of emotions. I understand the hurt and pain of motherhood. I am getting more of a glimpse of how deep and wide and long the Father's love is for me in a way that I could never experience without that pain.

What's Been Going On?

I last posted May 2010...that was a long time ago! A ton has gone on in the last 8 months but this post is not about me (or my awesome family). This post is about my dear friend Courtney Belle Bullard! She is an amazing woman who serves the Lord in amazing ways. Ways that only the Lord could orchestrate. Her latest new is that she has written a book that is set to release in March. Check out her website for details of the book. thesamepagebook.com


Check out and follow her blog for news on her book and what's going on in Ghana.


I am seriously blessed to have Courtney as a friend. I know many of you feel the same way. Show her some love and post about the book and blog too!

Play Dough

This is somewhat random but I thought I would post the homemade play dough recipe that I use. It's great to use for Sunday School class, BSF, or just fun at home with the kids. I am delivering a meal to a family tonight that just welcomed a new baby to their family and put together some play dough for the older siblings. (I've never done that before but was inspired today for some reason--could be the cloudy day is making me think of fun things to do with kids indoors!)

Bring to boil:
2 cups water
Food coloring of your choice
3 tablespoons vegetable oil

Mix together separately in large bowl:
2 1/2 cups flour
1 tablespoon powdered alum (can be found with the spices at WalMart)
1/2 cup salt

Pour boiling water mixture over flour mixture. Mix, cool slightly, and knead well. Store in airtight container or plastic bag. It will keep for a long time.

Wordless Wednesday

Seems like this is the only post I can get done these days...I've got lots of things going on just not the time to blog.

Wordless Wednesday

Gunner's Birthday Party...finally he is 5!
Been claiming 5 since he was 2!
(this pic is a few months old)


Rylee is having fun with her dress up stuff she got for Christmas from MeeMaw!

Short Order Cook and The Menu

***woohoo...for once I uploaded my pictures in the order I wanted them!***

With the blizzard of 2011 we are hunkered down in the house waiting for the thaw. Yesterday I decided to try to have some fun with lunch. Afterall, we have to eat so why not make if fun. I made a menu for the kids and let them choose what they had for lunch. I was the "cook" or "worker" and the kids were my customers. Gunner was into it! At one point he came to me and asked if there was a bathroom in this place. I told him "yes, just past the stairs to your right." After I made my lunch (yes the 3rd lunch of the day) I sat down at the table and Gunner told me I was a worker and was not suppose to eat with them!

Gunner was not so thrilled when he could not order his dinner and was forced to eat what I made for me and Ed. But this morning I added breakfast to the menu so all is well again. Ed asked if this was my idea...not sure. It seems like maybe someone else told me about doing this but I cannot recall who. So if it was your idea let me know...I'm happy to give credit where credit it due!


Rylee checking out the menu...so many choices!



Gunner is making suggestions to Rylee.


Rylee is making her own choices!


The Menu!


Gunner busted out the piggy bank to pay for the meal!


Gunner's dessert...square crackers and round crackers.
And just so no one thinks I brain wash my kids into eating crackers instead of cookies...the "round" crackers have cinnamon and sugar on them and the square crackers...well they turn into sugar once they are consumed!


Rylee is having dessert envy...she picked go-gurt but wants what Gunner has!
Another example of giving a 2 year old too many choices going bad!


Drama!


Now she is all smiles...after finishing her go-gurt she ordered circle and square crackers!

Wordless Wednesday

Yes that's my Rylee Bug in a blue wig!

1st Day of Pre-K

Back in August Gunner started Pre-K and I am just now getting around to documenting it. He was excited but honestly had no idea what he was getting into. He has loved making new friends and has done great academically. Here are a few pics of meet the teacher night and 1st day of school.

Meet the teacher night...legos are cool...I could go play with legos mom...

Yes, he is only starting Pre-K even though he is the height of a 2nd grader!

Great pic of Gunner and Ed.

This is pre-tears for mom!

Hand in hand...I love this picture of them!

One last squeeze from mommy!

I think by this point he was past being tired of having his picture taken. He just wanted to color and do his new school thing!

Rylee's 2!

Rylee Kathryn is 2! And a beautiful, bubbley, girly girly beyound belief. She loves her Momma, Daddy and Nunner. Every morning she wakes up wanting to see Daddy and Gunner. She goes to a Mommy and me dance class, BSF, preschool and of course our church. She loves her family and she loves to see her friends. We celebrated with a few of her friends by having a Tutu and bow party. The girls came in their favorite tutu and bow. We danced a little, opened gifts and ate cup cakes with hot pink frosting.

Rylee got a new shirt with a 2 and her name on it and a giant bow to match. She looked a.dor.a.ble!

Cup cakes to match her shirt and bow!

Party favors for her friends...each guest got a tutu and bow (yes, made by me).

Opening her gifts.

Tea anyone?

Rylee and a buddy dancing.

Love her sweet face!

Yummy cup cakes! Yep...love that sweet face too!

1st Day of Pre-K

****Editors note...just found this in my drafts. I guess I had started 1st day of school documentation long ago. It was too good not to go ahead and post.****

Well the 1st day of Pre-K was September 20th so I think being a month behind is not too bad. Actually I know it's pathetic.

We started all day (8:55-3:20) Pre-K. (Suddenly I'm a little freaked out by all the stalkers who might be ready my blog so I don't know that I'm going to say much more than that...)

Gunner is one of 22 in his class. 22 4 year olds oh my! I can only imagine the craziness that goes on in that classroom but I have to say Gunner loves it. The first week or so of school he told me he wanted to stay home with me and boy was it tempting to let my little guy just hang out with Momma and Rylee but we went anyway. He never complained once we got there and didn't come home in tears. As a matter of fact I have been told that he is eager to do what the teacher has planned for them. So eager sometimes that he forgets to listen to what they are suppose to be doing! He was the helper yesterday and was beaming from ear to ear. Gunner has made several new best friends. Hayden seems to be the consistent one that he talks about. Hayden is in another Pre-K class and they met on the playground. It amazes me the social life of a 4 year old. Seriously, would I suddenly make a best friend if I was thrown on a playground or would I stick to myself and not reach out to anyone. Gunner wants to do something special or have someone over every day after school. The boy is social, he loves to be with people.

Everyday when the kids arrive in their classroom they go to the smart board and move their picture to either the "Hot Lunch" side or "Cold Lunch" side. I was asking Gunner about using the smart board and trying to get some feedback from him and we had a great conversation about lunches it when something like this:

Me "Gunner do you move your picture on the smart board to hot lunch or cold lunch each morning?"

Gunner "You mean spicy lunch?"

Me "Spicy lunch?"

Gunner "Yes mom spicy lunch. Mom spicy lunch is totally disgusting. The kids who have spicy lunch don't eat anything. It is totally disgusting!"

I rolled when he was telling me it was "totally disgusting" seriously, who talks like that? It must be Ed! Gunner also had the best facial expressions with a hint of an eye roll. Needless to say, Gunner is always a cold lunch! PB&J everyday!

Pics from the first day...

You guessed it...Wordless Wednesday!

OK...maybe just maybe I will make an actual entry in the days to come...as for now I'm "wordless"! (These are from our recent trip to see my sister.)

Wordless Wednesday

Wordless Wednesday

Mommy & Me Dance Class w/ Tippi Toes

Mommy and Rylee have been going to a Mommy & Me dance class for 5 weeks and having a great time. Yes, Rylee is too young and really doesn't get what its all about. I am very willing to admit that but I love doing girly things with her (especially since we do so many boy things with Gunner). It is actually great therapy for her arm, it gets her to stretch that left arm and put it in positions (beach ball, sunshine, airplane) you don't always do which is building her range and strength.

She is being a little fish who at the moment is sleeping on a rock but when she wakes up...she will take a shower and brush her teeth and remember each time that she's a fish...fish don't take showers so "let's go swimming, let's go swimming". For the record, Rylee is generally a snoring fish! They are dancing to the Laurie Berkner song Goldfish if your dying to hear the song and have it stuck in your head for days go ahead and click [Goldfish] and you too can be a little fish.

Rylee is really just there for "sticker time" which is at the end of the class and she is required to do a plie before Miss Brittnay will give her a sticker. It is so stinking cute.

So if you momma's are looking for something fun to do with your girls I would highly recommend Miss Brittnay Friske of Tippi Toes. She is great with the girls. I don't know her fall schedule but I know she will have something going!