"Mom, I Don't Feel Good"

Words that all mothers dread hearing, especially at 12:30 in the morning. Ashton was hovering over my bed and complaining that his stomach was hurting and then it was straight to the bathroom and let the good times roll. Poor kid, he threw up all night and felt miserable. Thankfully he has not thrown up since about 4 a.m. and I am hoping that it has subsided. He is also running a fever and the one thing that has him the most upset is that he Bo have tickets to a college game tonight and he is determined to go. We shall see. He has only had a few sips since last night and is sleeping off his Phenergan right now. I am just hoping that no one else has the pleasure of sharing in his misery.

Little Miss drifted off to sleep on the couch Sunday afternoon. Notice that she is wearing her sweat band. She also had on underwear and socks. Thank goodness because you just never know with her.

 Ashton and his teammates. They are having a great season.

 If you will notice, there is a little girl right in the middle of all these teenagers getting ready to cheer on the boys as they come in to the gym.

 Oh yea, she thinks she is all that.

 Emma and Cubby. They have become very good friends this year. Last year, not so much.

Notice also if you will a little girl sitting with the teenagers watching the dance team. She has no clue that she is only 4 years old. Her favorite person is "Aprie". April is Ashton's girlfriend and Emma worships her. She is the one on the right.

 Part of her basketball attire. She wears it EVERY GAME.



Just Catching Up

Emma spends a lot of time with her various backpacks on. She thinks that we are going to a ballgame and that she needs to pack all of her belongings. That includes her extra shorts, sweat towel (personalized thanks to Dede), various toys, a hairbrush (just like Ashton), and whatever other hodge podge of items that she chooses. I looked up one day last week and she was sleeping with her backpack on.

 Just looking out the door.

 Notice what section of the paper she chose. This child loves basketball and thinks that every paper that has anything about basketball in it is about Ashton. She is his biggest fan.

 Christmas morning. I don't know why I even attempt to take their pictures together.

 Emma got the next best thing to a real pony from Giggee and Pop for Christmas. She wasn't sure about it at first but once she figured it out she was thrilled.

Some of Emma's latest antics include, but are not limited to:

• requiring that all of her shirts be tucked in. This is driving me NUTS.
• wanting to wear button up shirts. She owns none but was determined that she wanted one while at Target last week. I won out. It was a boys outfit that she wanted, including vest and bow tie.
• wearing only summer pajamas....tucked in.
• Lo Mien from the local Chinese restaurant after gymnastics every Monday night. She starts talking about noodles the minute we get to the gym. The lady that works there loves her.
• anything Mickey Mouse. Constantly singing the Club House song and Hot Dog.
• Requiring that all clothing, including underwear, be removed before she poops in the potty. Drives me NUTS.
• Constantly saying "Oh MAN" and calling for me to "come here mama".
• Every morning, without fail, asking about "Ashton's basketball". Poor kid is going to be heartbroken when the season is over.
• Finding every lady bug that winds up in the house. Dead or alive and telling me "lady bug bite you".

A Few More Christmas Pictures

I can hardly believe that my boys are this big. Brady will be 18 in February and Ashton thinks he is 21. He loves being taller than his brother.

The boys had a good Christmas. I am glad that everyone is back in school and at work so that life can get back to normal....whatever that is. We are working on all the college applications and FAFSA paperwork for Brady who is on track to graduate in May...please Dear Lord.

 Emma will kiss you for a dollar. Is that something we should be worried about or take pride in? I mean really, what a little scam she has going on. She conned Uncle Jimmy into a dollar without any problem.

 Look at that happy face. She loves her money.

 She also loves her Uncle Johnny. Emma was very excited about the farm set and the donkeys that she received for Christmas from her Uncle. This girl has no idea that she is indeed a girl. She thinks she is a teenage boy most of the time. Constantly "playing" basketball and being in the band. I love to watch her pretending.

 This will be the next member of our family. Ashley and Ben (not pictured) got engaged a few months ago and are on track to marry in September. I think my brother is happy about his next daughter-in-law.

 Bob and Sarah were able to be here for Christmas and it's hard to believe that they have already been married a year. The laugh of the night was hearing about Sarah making cornbread. Apparently using ONLY 3 tablespoons of corn meal just doesn't cut it. Kuddos for trying!

 Emma sporting some stockings.

A follow up on my medical scare from a few weeks ago. I had surgery on December 16 and the tumor they fournd was a fibroid but large enough and entangled enough that my doctor chose to leave it alone. She said it would cause me more problems at this point to remove it and that we will leave it alone and deal with it if I begin having problems. That would mean a Hysterectomy and I am in no hurry for that. It was an answer to prayer and I am thankful for the good news. I enjoyed the pain medications for a few days and then it was back to work!