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. 

Other March Highlights

I found this little dress/long shirt for Mercy at the Pass It On consignment sale.  It is super cute, and was a super price!

Mercy's hair can fit into pig tails (sort of).

Aedan put the cover of a new football book on the wall by his bed.  Look out, he can recognize almost every helmet.

Josiah lost his 2nd tooth!

The kids are in the Passion Play at church.  We have three performances left.  Mercy was in the first night, but got too scared.  She has officially retired for this year.

Soccer

Soccer has begun!  Ryan is coaching again, but only one team.  We moved Aedan up an age divison so they could play on the same team.  (He misses the cut off by less then a month.)  It is already SO much better then in the fall.  We are at the soccer fields a whole lot less, and it is just so much easier with them being on the same team.  There are six players on the team...4 boys and 2 girls.  Also, one of the boys (Wesley) on the team is in Josiah's class.  So far, they have had two games...so six more to go!



First Game:

Ryan wasn't too thrilled about the color of our uniforms, but after playing the pink team, he was grateful for our brown shirts...hahaha!!  I was, too!  hahaha!

They played well this first game.  Both boys scored several times!  Here are some videos of some goals~

Second game~

We weren't sure if we were going to have a game or not, but the weather held out.  It was much cooler then the first game, and the clouds looked heavy the entire time.  This team was a lot better then the first team we played, so our team struggled.  Good thing we don't have to play them again!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

the alligator

How could I forget one of the most exciting aspects of the trip?!  THE ALLIGATOR!  My dad took the boys out to the pond to fish one day while Mercy was napping, and they spotted an alligator!  The boys were SO excited.  Josiah came back to the house saying, "Mommy, we NEED to call the Gator boys!  PLEASE can we call the gator boys?!"  It was hilarious!  They went out to the ponds everyday to see the gator.  Caroline and I went out to the ponds our last evening there to see the gator.  Aedan spotted him! 

They do have warnings.

the gator

Aedan and Josiah looking at the gator

The kids and I

Charleston ~ Part 2

We went to Charlestowne Landing and Caroline met us there.  Usually we only go see the animal forest, but this time we rode on a little tram to the boat.  The kids loved it and enjoyed the hands-on aspect of it.

 lowering the anchor

I can't remember what they were doing here

steering the boat

peeking at the bear

the bear

Chuck E Cheese

We ordered KFC one night.  The boys love it!  They especially love chicken bones.  Once again, they were telling me that they wanted to bring the bones home.  I don't think so...haha!

We went back to Folly our last day.  It was so beautiful and much, much warmer.  I wish I had brought my bathing suit.  It was so nice, and the kids were so entertained!  I think we were out there for over 3 hours.

After the beach, we headed over to the Crab Shack, again.  I ordered some Mahi Mahi tacos, and they were sooooo yummy!  I wish I could eat some right now!  Now I know why Aunt Sandra goes there often!  I look forward to another visit to Folly....yes, I will be most definitely going to the Crab Shack!