Crazy Wrestlin' Time

Cummins Falls

After lunch we headed out to Cummins Falls at Cummins Falls State Park.  It is a newer state park in our county.  We tried to go several times this fall, but it just never happened.  We got a little turned around trying to find it, but we made it.  It is actually really easy to find!  There are trails to walk down to the bottom as well, and you can swim in the water! (Of course, there were no swimmers today.)  We plan to go back this summer and try it.  The waterfalls in the area are one of the many things that I like about living here.  SO pretty!

It was chilly to start, but we all warmed up as we walked on the trail.  Mercy rode in her carrier, but she is getting a bit big for it.  She liked her ride, though! :)

Checking out the falls.  Josiah is carving on a stick.

Aedan and I at the falls overlook.

 We walked around the top a little before heading back.  We didn't have a whole lot of time to walk to the bottom since it was later in the afternoon.

Josiah is striking a pose!

Game 3

Josiah had his third game today.  He played so hard and had fun!  His team did really well today!  No baskets today, but he had some great assists and once again, his defense was great!  And, quite humorous to watch! :)  Here are some pictures and videos:

 Josiah's fans:

Mercy is sporting the Aunt Jemima look.

Videos:

The first video shows how they start every game.  They introduce every player and they get to run out like a star!

This video shows a little of his defensive moves!

Game 2

Josiah's second game went well.  He tries so hard and doesn't give up.  We are so proud of him and his efforts!  He made two baskets this morning!  He was so pumped!  Thankfully, I got them both on video!  (See below)  2 games down, 6 to go!  That sounds like a lot!  hahaha!  I'm sure these next six weeks will fly by.  Also, in other news on Josiah, he got all A's on his report card he got this week! :)

Upward cheerleaders!

Josiah's cheering squad!  BJ, Vivian, Emma, Ryan, Mandy, Mercy , and I!

The videos!!!!  Woot!  Woot! 

John's song

John's song was picked up for a CBS promo!  So cool!  Yes, I have a famous person in my family!

Interviews!

Last year about this time, I gave the boys some interviews.  Well, here are the same interviews a year later with Mercy included!  If you want to see last year's or compare:  Click HERE!

Josiah's interview (age 7):

1. What is your favorite color? red

2. What is your favorite toy? Baby lion

3. What is your favorite fruit? apple

4. What is your favorite tv show? Wild Kratts

5. What is your favorite thing to eat for lunch? Grilled cheese sandwich

6. What is your favorite outfit? Basketball jersey

7. What is your favorite game? football

8. What is your favorite snack? Roll ups

9. What is your favorite animal? All of them!

10. What is your favorite song? I don’t know

11. What is your favorite book? Lions

12. Who is your best friend? Emily

13. What is your favorite cereal? Honey nut cheerios

14. What is your favorite thing to do outside? Play with Isaiah

15. What is your favorite drink? juice

16. What is your favorite holiday? Christmas

17. What do you like to take to bed with you at night? Baby lion

18. What is your favorite thing to eat for breakfast? Honeynut Cheerios

19. What do you want for dinner on your birthday? Chili’s

20. What do you want to be when you grow up? Zoologist

Aedan's interview (age 5 1/2):

1. What is your favorite color? Orange and blue

2. What is your favorite toy? Clemson the tiger

3. What is your favorite fruit? apples

4. What is your favorite tv show? Wild Kratts

5. What is your favorite thing to eat for lunch? pizza

6. What is your favorite outfit? Sammy jersey

7. What is your favorite game? Wii

8. What is your favorite snack? Roll-ups

9. What is your favorite animal? Tiger and a bear

10. What is your favorite song? “Hold Us Back”  Tiger anthem song…”We Too Deep”

11. What is your favorite book? Tiger Time (Clemson magazine)

12. Who is your best friend? Isaiah

13. What is your favorite cereal? Cinnamon Toast Crunch

14. What is your favorite thing to do outside? Playing soccer

15. What is your favorite drink? juice

16. What is your favorite holiday? Easter

17. What do you like to take to bed with you at night? My elephant

18. What is your favorite thing to eat for breakfast? toast

19. What do you want for dinner on your birthday? Chili’s

20. What do you want to be when you grow up? A football announcer

Mercy's interview (age 2 1/2):

1. What is your favorite color? pink

2. What is your favorite toy? A baby

3. What is your favorite fruit? grapes

4. What is your favorite tv show? Belle

5. What is your favorite thing to eat for lunch? pizza

6. What is your favorite outfit? Belle shirt

7. What is your favorite game? Princess game

8. What is your favorite snack? gummies

9. What is your favorite animal? lion

10. What is your favorite song? A princess song

11. What is your favorite book? A Princess book

12. Who is your best friend? Vivian

13. What is your favorite cereal? toast

14. What is your favorite thing to do outside? Play with Vivian

15. What is your favorite drink? A Princess drink

16. What is your favorite holiday? A Princess holiday

17. What do you like to take to bed with you at night? A baby

18. What is your favorite thing to eat for breakfast? toast

19. What do you want for dinner on your birthday? toast

20. What do you want to be when you grow up? Ice cream

A Taste of China

After Josiah's game, we went to Taste of China.  Wesley's family runs the restaurant in town.  (Wesley is Josiah's friend from school.)  They gave us a gift card for Christmas so we decided to go there that afternoon to eat a late lunch.  This was the kids' first time eating Chinese food and I haven't had it in quite a while.  Probably since our days back at seminary with the Russells.  They liked it a lot and definitely want to go back.  Wesley came up to the restaurant to join us.  Here are the pictures: 

Wesley  is putting his chop sticks to good use!

Wesley's mom teaching Josiah how to use chop sticks!

Josiah's first game!

Josiah had his very first basketball game!  He played soooooo hard!!!  He was especially good at defense.  He had a good attitude and never gave up!  We are so proud of him!!!  My camera has a hard time in the gym taking pictures much like it did during Josiah's graduation.  I did my best and brightened up some of them.  Videos seem to work better.  Here are some pictures and a few videos to follow!

GO WILDCATS!

Josiah getting a quick sip of water!

The Upward Mascot!

Team prayer time

Love the face!

Go Josiah!

The first video:

In this video, you can see Josiah's defense!  Each player has a certain man they are supposed to cover.  You can see at the end he gets tired of guarding his man and moves onto someone else!  hahaha!!!!

Josiah getting a shot at the hoop!!!  And, and awesome rebound!  Move out of the way, folks!  hahaha!

Upward is pretty cool so far.  They are introduced at the beginning of the game and they get to run through a curtain.  I will get a video next time.  Josiah earned a red star for his defense!  :)  Go Josiah!  Games are very Saturday at noon for him.

Bye bye pappy!

So Danielle, Liam, and Amelia came over for a few hours while they were in town.  We had a fun time talking together, and I enjoyed hearing her c-section story.  Yes, there is a story to every c-section, I'm convinced!!!  There is always something interesting or different that happens!!!  Amelia is so little and Liam has grown up so much.  Here are some pictures of the kids (and us):

Mercy looks like she was just crying in this picture because she was!  haha!  I was holding Amelia and she got jealous and starting tugging on my neck and hugging me.  Then, Danielle let her hold Amelia.  It cheered her up some! :)

Amelia with a pappy!

Amelia looks especially pretty in this picture to me!

Liam and Mercy~friends since the womb

Mercy was excited to have a REAL baby in our home!

VERY excited to feed a baby!

Aedan's turn to feed Amelia.  Yes, with a football helmet on and a football in hand.  Mercy was a little upset that Aedan  got a turn.  She wanted Amelia all to herself to feed.

More feeding!

Now to the pappy!  Liam recently gave his pappy to a baby in need!  hahaha!  Danielle told me the story of Liam giving up his pappy, so I thought I'd try it with Mercy.  I asked Mercy if she wanted to give her pappies to Amelia.  At first, she said "no" and then she changed her mind.  She went and got her pappy from her room and then proceeded to get ALL of them.  She carefully placed them in the goody bag.  She was okay with it! (at the moment)

As we went to go get Josiah that afternoon, Mercy cried for her pappy.  She did settle down and then kind of forgot about it, I think.  But, later that evening Mercy was upset about not having a pappy at bedtime.  She would say things like, "We have to go Mrs. Danielle's house, to get my pappy!"  "I need my pappy!"  "Baby no need my pappy!"  "I can't go sleep without my pappy!"  She wasn't crying at this point.  Bedtime was rough, though.  She was so sad and pretty pitiful.  Of course, I felt bad knowing I had the pappies in my room since Danielle had slipped them back to me before she left.  She cried, and cried.  Finally, Ryan got home and went in to comfort her.  He told her that he was so proud of her for giving the pappies to Amelia.  And, for being a big girl and sharing her pappies.  Another thing she said at that point was, "I not a big girl!  I a baby!  I need my pappy!"  She settled down and went to sleep.  She woke up 5 times that night crying for her pappy.

Last night was better.  She woke up around 3 and then at 6, sleeping in till 8:00 after that.  She did have a successful nap pappiless yesterday!  Hopefully, she will continue to progress!  It was time to say "good-bye" to the pappy!