2

Mercy Cate is now 2!  I cannot believe it!  She is such a big girl, and I am so glad that she is a part of our family.  She is so funny, and such a girly girl.  She loves all things girly and loves pink.  She doesn't like bugs, and screams if they are near her.  haha!  She enjoys taking care of her babies, and dressing up with jewelry and different shoes.  (Yes, she already loves shoes!)  She loves her brothers, and likes to play with them.  Her favorite show is Calliou.  She likes to have a bow in her hair and loves taking a bath.  She enjoys singing, too.  Her favorite songs to sing are Jesus Loves Me, Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, and Row your Boat.  She cracks me up!  Love this girl!!!!

Mercy's last night as a one year old:(

Merry-go-round fun

I love this picture of Mercy.

on the swing

with her big brother, Aedan:)

giving Mommy a kiss!

Aedan is pushing Ryan on the swings.

at Zaxby's for lunch

We ate at Zaxby's when Mercy turned 1!  I think that is the last time we went:)

We went to Kohls and got Mercy some pajamas.  This girl already likes to shop!  Look out!

Mercy with her new clip on earrings!  She's wearing a crown that Josiah's teacher sent home for her.

Mercy with her Strawberry Shortcake doll.

We got Mercy this little bed and changing area for her babies.  I found it at the Algood consignment sale.

Mercy got a big girl bike from Gigi!

and a helmet

Ryan and Mercy

She's a big girl now!

and cake once more:)

Happy Birthday sweet girl!

Mercy's Elmo Party

Mercy turns 2!  Here are some pictures of Mercy's 2nd birthday party.  She wanted an Elmo party:)  We had her party the weekend before, so we also celebrated on her actual birthday.  Those pictures are coming next!

her cake:)

Mercy with her cake and her stylish Elmo dress!

I made Elmo visors for the party.

She likes playing with balloons.

door hangers

decorating sugar cookies

pin the nose on Elmo

Mercy with her bling!

rain boots and her boots doll from Aunt Francie

Another session

The Underestimated God: God’s ruthless, compassionate grace in the pursuit of his own glory and his ministers’ joy.

Speaker: Ligon Duncan Year: 2012 Session: Main Session

T4G Session

Divine Sovereignty: The Fuel of Death-Defying Missions

Speaker: David Platt Year: 2012 Session: Main Session

This was awesome. (regardless of Shane's opinion:)

T4G

Together for the Gospel.  One word: WOW!  Ryan and I had been looking forward to coming to this conference for years.  We were supposed to go in 2010, but sweet Mercy Cate came, and we were unable to go.  (Well, I guess I could have gone, but I would have been so pregnant that I probably would have been miserable.  Not to mention I would have to have gone to the bathroom constantly...much more then this time, if that's possible.)  So, we registered early and Shane and Cathy came along with us.  We had so much fun talking, and scouting out new people, such as sally jessie, exercise man, and rainbow warrior.  (haha)  We left early in the morning, and headed up to Louisville, Kentucky.  It is so pretty there, I loved that city, and the atmosphere.  hmmm...does Louisville need a new church, or pastor?  (Unfortunately, I doubt it with the seminary being right there, but one can hope.)  Every session (except maybe one) was awesome!  And, the zero dollar bookstore was fun, too.  Walking from table to table picking up books for free! 17 to be exact!  Fun times!  My next couple of posts will be videos of some of the sessions.  If you want to listen to a good sermon, and have an hour or so in you day, then you will enjoy these men and their messages. (see my next posts)  Here are some pictures from our trip~ 

Give me some chicken

Ryan and Shane

The metal over this bridge reminded me a little of Pittsburgh.

Ryan and I

Shane, Cathy, Ryan, and I
(Thank you Shane for your persistance to get my camara on the correct setting with the lighting.)

We had never been to Indiana, but now we have!  We crossed the bridge and headed over during a break.

When it was official that Shane and Cathy were coming with us, Ryan and Shane looked up online where the show Man Vs. Food had visited in Louisville.  (Man Vs Food is a show with eating contests and the best local places to eat in different cities in America.)  They found Mark's Feed Store, a BBQ place.  Oh, my! Oh, my!  I seriously ate the best BBQ with sides I have ever eaten in my life!  If you ever go to Louisville, Mark's Feed Store is a must!

Shane and Cathy on the pigs!

Ryan and I on the pigs!

In case you decide to go, here's the sign to scout out!

And, yes, since I did love Louisville, I had to take a picture of this.  We meet in the YUM center, right on the river.  I will now be cheering for Louisville:)

Thank you Gigi for watching our kiddos!  This trip was impossible without you!

Easter

We had an egg hunt over at Cyress Creek this year.  The kids loved getting eggs and the candy inside.  It was a hot afternoon, and after a soccer game in the morning, the kids were pooped.

lots of eggs

Aedan and his eggs

Our kids with Garrett, Randall, and Vivian

Vivian is helping Mercy make a necklace.

Austin dying eggs with the boys.  I think they are picking our stickers in this picture.

~Easter Sunday~

5 years

We celebrated our 5 year anniversary of our time in Cookeville.  Well, we actually celebrated two days after (on the 3rd), but the actual anniversary was on Sunday, April 1st.  Ryan started on a Sunday, and when we moved here, our church was having the last night of our Passion play.  Similar to then, the first was on a Sunday, and it was the last night of our Passion play.

We went out to eat on Tuesday night to Cheddars, and Ryan gave us each small gifts.  Josiah got a notebook, Aedan got a pack of football cards, and Mercy got a small tinkerbell doll.  Ryan got me an MP3 player for when I exercise.  (I had been using the momentum MP3 player, and it finally broke.)  Ryan found a great deal at Essex, my favorite bargain store in town.  (I found a doll for Mercy there that was $11.00, and in Walmart the same doll was $22.00!)

I like living in Tennessee.  There are many things that I like and have grown on me since living here.  There are many things I am thankful for, and things that I would miss if I lived somewhere else.  Here are some, but I'm sure there are more; forgetting some as I type and as my eyes grow more tired.

the 4 seasons we experience (most years, anyway)

less humidity (then other places I have lived)

snows

horses and cows to see daily (even though I don't like animals, and don't want to touch them)

the mountains close by, and therefore WATERFALLS

Essex

a jeweler in town who is trustworthy~not that I have so much jewelry to handle, but I just got my wedding rings resized and it's nice to have someone to trust to leave your rings with for a week

Mae Pearls

No traffic, except school traffic, so that doesn't count

Josiah's school and his first year.  Mrs. Moss

CBS~my weekly sanity and accountability  (although, CBS is available in other cities:)

a trustworthy friend to cut my hair~Tera

our house in the back of a neighborhood, where our kids can play outside

great neighbors on both sides

Trinity's playground where I take our kids often

Liam~a play buddy for Mercy and watching them grow up together

being (sort of close) to Nashville

I'm sure I am forgetting some.  There is much more that I like, and more that I probably take for granted.  Time for bed, though.

It's been a good 5 years.  Thank you, Jesus.