The Perfect Ending

In my book, this is THE perfect way to end the day - before the whole bedtime rituals of bath, teeth brushing, book reading, snuggling, and kisses. Jacob and I drink our "Special Coffee" together - complete with Mint Chocolate Truffle creamer, you understand. Really it's hot chocolate, but he likes to say it's "Momma and Jacob's special coffee". That's just fine with me. It's our special time together, just us two. Notice the two mugs we're using - we use the same ones every time. He loves his giraffe mug, and I love my photo mug. That was a gift to me after Jacob was born. Who knew 3 1/2 years later I'd be enjoying special bonding time with that new born baby over that mug.

This is the picture that's on my mug. My Dad took this photo as we were getting ready to leave the hospital after Jaco was born. The first picture of Jacob in his little coming home outfit. We were so happy to finally be bringing home that little boy and couldn't wait to show him off to the world. Precious, priceless memories. G'night!

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A few weekends ago we went to an awesome fall festival that my cousin Alison hosted. I'll blog about that later this week. This photo was taken down at the bonfire - my favorite son, my favorite TX nephews (vs my favorite GA nephews), and I. I love these little boys - they make my heart happy!

Out of the Mouth of Babes

Background:  Nana (my Mom), the kids, and I are just getting back from spending several days in San Antonio.  While there, Jacob enjoyed spending time brushing Nana's board strait hair one night. 

The Scene:  Me in my pajamas, Jacob in his pajamas, both getting ready to go to bed.

Jacob:  "Mom, can I brush your hair like Nana's?"
Me:  "No, Jacob.  That would hurt Momma."
Jacob:  "Mom, why your hair so crinkled?"
Me:  "Because God made it that way."
Jacob:  "But Mom, can you ask God to make your hair not crinkled so I can brush it?"

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The kids and I went out to a local park the other day and met a friend of mine there with her son. Jacob and Justin had a blast playing together while Lia and I had a good time playing too! My friend took these photos for me - the lighting's not good, some of them aren't as sharp as I'd like, but I love them. She did a great job of capturing the essence of what was really happening - Mom and Daughter enjoying just being together. Days like this make me so thankful to be a Mom - the BEST occupation in the world!

oh cool...I found Mom's sunglasses...wonder what I can do with them?

I'll try to put them on...

...yep, I'm one cool chick!

hummm...wonder what else to do with them?

...sit on top of Mom's back and eat them...mmmm good stuff

all tuckered out...it's been a good day and this thumb is tasting superb!

all better...the sun's not in my face now...g'nite!

This Little Boy...

made me a Mom. He makes my world go round.

I love you son!

I'm So Excited....

...and I just can't hide it!

* UPDATE - I drink this in hot chocolate, not coffee - I won't touch coffee with a 10 ft pole!

I was bemoaning the fact that the stores are already putting out their Christmas decorations as I was walking through Wal-Mart on Halloween. I mean, come on! I won't go on some tirade about the over commercialization of everything these days - not just one particular holiday - but I will yack on about something I love...THIS!

It is the one redeeming factor of Christmas stuff being put out so early. It's like music to my ears when I see it. (Does that make sense? Music when I see it??) It makes my heart skip a beat, my soul soar. The world stops and I am one with creamer. Or something like that. Ok, ok, that may be just a little dramatization, but not much. I love, Love, LOVE this! It's the half that makes me whole. Or the creamer that makes my backside larger. ;) Whatever it is, my life is a little more complete when it's a part of it. You may have your Ghirardelli or other fine, fancy smancy chocolates. As for me, I'll take just plain 'ole International Delight Chocolate Mint Truffle creamer thankyouverymuch. (Isn't that an oxymoron - "plain" and "chocolate mint truffle"?)

This is where I'd do a giveaway if I could - but I'm afraid creamer wouldn't do to bueno in the mail. So you'll all have to go get your own creamer. Your heart will be happy, everything will be right with your world. But hide the scale. It's the right thing to do. Then come back here and tell me how your life is so much more complete now that this little bit of heaven is a part of it.

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Another not so great pic - but the point is I'm in it...right??? We attended a high school volley ball game to support a friend of ours. It is now playoff season for HS volleyball and the game happen to be hosted in the gym of the shool where I graduated. I was glad to go as I hadn't been back to the school since I graduated - my how things have changed!

Scattered Brain Syndrome...

...I'm suffering from Scattered Brain Syndrome (aka SBS) today. And you, dear reader, get to take a little glimpse into it. I've been following MckMama's blog for a long time and my heart feels heavy for her...she celebrated her son's 1st birthday yesterday with him in the PICU. Not how ANY mother would want to celebrate their child's birthday - or any day for that matter. I've also been following the blog for Larisa - her parents are having to visit their "baby" girl in the burn unit of a hospital. I met and got spend a wee bit of time with a young mother a few weeks ago who's daughter was recently diagnosed with Rett Syndrome. All of these situations are very different, and they are all heartbreaking. I've been more consciously aware of how incredibly thankful that for right now, at this moment, I have two healthy and perfect children. I know that can be taken away in the blink of an eye. (I really don't mean for this to be a "downer" of a post...just posting what I'm thinking.)

As I was cleaning in the kitchen today Lia was "helping" me by pulling the dirty dishes out of the dishwasher and putting them on the floor...thankyouverymuch, Lia. I don't know what I would do without her help. ;) Usually it annoys me and I try to move her away from my work area (aka under my feet) and try to get Jacob to help distract her. Today, though, Jacob is at Papa and Nana's house and the song came into my mind "You're Gonna Miss This" by Trace Adkins. You can see the video here. I remember Jacob doing this same thing when he was her age and now he's outgrown it. Yep, I miss his "help". So - I took a picture this time instead of getting annoyed, let her play, and it only took an extra 5 seconds for me to put the dishes back in the washer. Pretty small price to pay for your child to be happy I think. Now, mind you, she wasn't playing with steak knives or anything!


As I was downloading the pics I took this morning I decided to look at old pics of Jacob from when he was the age Lia is now. I was struck by how much these two look alike! People tell me all the time how much they look alike. I usually smile, say "yeah, they do", and go on about my business. But this time I really took the time to get lost in the pics of Jacob I have. It blows me away - is there a such thing as twins born 2.5 years apart? If so, I think I have a set! It boggles my mind to think about how much my "original baby" has changed since he was Lia's age. He was the age Lia is now when we moved to TX. That boggles my mind too. I thought he was such a big boy then, but I realize now he was just a baby!


Jacob at 13mo - taken about a week after we moved to TX.


Lia at 13mo






On my drive back home from visiting my parents yesterday it was actually quiet in my car (no 3 year old to be constantly answering questions for/ talking to). I had time to THINK! I know, I know, it's quite a concept sometimes. My mind drifted back to "College Round 1". (Yes, there was College Round 2, but it wasn't quite as exciting.) I spent 4 years at a college close to where I grew up. The memories from those days came flooding back. One day I'll do a post about some of my time there. It's where I came out of my shell so to speak. I experienced some wonderful times, and some of the lowest times of my life. I want to get those things written down for my children to read one day. Some of the friends I made then and experiences I went through are a very important part of who I am today. For that I am thankful.

Now I must do what I've been avoiding...finish cleaning up the rest of this house...all the things I need to be DOING are running through my head too! I'll put on my "SuperMom/CleaningLady/Chef/LaundryAttendant Cape" now and get busy.

And just incase you read this post David - I've been working hard all day. No, really, I have!

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This was one night at bedtime...nothing sweeter than getting smothered in kisses! And a little playing too, thrown in for good measure!

urgh...

so...I went messin' with my blog settings, messed everything up, had to start over...and here I am. I don't have time to be sittin' here trying to figure everything out again so I'll work on it later. urgh! This blog will be going through a few "tansformations" before I'm happy with it again.

It's 9 AM...

...do you know what your kids are eating?

If their names are Jacob and Lia they're eating pumpkin cookies - unbeknownst to Mom - until it gets to quiet in the kitchen when Lia was supposed to be eating Cheerios.


just minding our own business


"oh, hey Mom. Wanna cookie? They sure are good."


"ok, fine, we'll just finish these off"


humm...mine is gone. Wonder what I should do?



beg big brother...that works every time.
"Hey there brother...wanna share your last cookie with your favorite sister?"


works every time..."hey Mom, put down that camera and could we get a few more cookies please?"

Georgetown 09

We had a wonderful 4 days in Georgetown a couple of weeks ago. These are just a few snapshots during our time there...



Jacob and Lia had a great time playing in the new gravel box. It was a HUGE hit with the kids! Meetings were a lot quiteter it seemed - the kids got their energy out playing in the rocks, then slept during mtg., giving the parents a chance to actually listen. What a concept. ;)









The "baby" Coker girls - this was only some of them...and there were several more Coker boys too. Yeah, there's a lot of us. ;)
Salem, Lillie, Lia, Callie, Suzanna


And...Lia took her first steps that Friday night! I wouldn't say she's really walking yet, but she did take one independant step two times. Ya gotta start somewhere!

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I realize it's now closer to next Thursday than last Thursday...but I wanted to get this posted anyway. We had our annual convention in Georgetown 2 weeks ago - I've been there every year (except for the few I lived in FL) since I was 6 weeks old. It is very special to be able to take my own children there now.

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This is not the greatest picture, but it is compliments of my 3 yo son. I think he did a fine job if I do say so myself. We were at our annual convention in Texarkana last week when Jacob snapped this. Thanks buddy!

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Try not to have a heart attack please...here I am!


I just attended my 15 year high school reunion - 15 YEARS! How can that be I want to know!!


Meet my friend Nikki. She and I grew up on the same street. The town where I grew up is very small and I attended Kindergarten through 12th grade with mostly the same kids. Nikki was no exception. In high school we were in band together which meant every Friday night during football season we were sitting in the bleachers at a game. I had no idea what was going on at the game - I just appreciated the "social time" I got to enjoy. After the game Nikki always brought me home - but only after a few times up and down the "drag". Yeah, we were cool like that. Now we're each married with a son and a daughter - how time has changed things!

For anyone who doesn't understand/ appreciate what the "drag" is...in my town there is one main street that goes through town. The cool kids (anyone with a vehicle) would start driving at a certain parking lot, drive through town, turn around at a the parking lot on the other end of the street, turn around, drive back to the original parking lot, and repeat the process. Yes, yes, that is what we did. With the windows down of course so you can talk to everyone as you're driving by them. It used to be that Ff was always jumping on a Fri./ Sat. night with all the kids out. Now, it's dead. Kind of sad to me. Where are all the kids?




Meet Leslie. We grew up next door to each other. Both of our families moved into the houses we grew up in when we were 3. That was the beginning of our friendship. There are a million stories we could tell on each other. We used to play Strawberry Shortcake dolls together after school. We learned to ride bikes together. We played hide and seek under the street light that was in our driveway. I would also sneak out and talk to Leslie through her bedroom window. I thought I was really doing something. Eventually boyfriends and cars came into our lives. And drama. ;) But we remained good friends through it all. Leslie now is married, has a cool job, travels the world with her husband (just because they can), and I live vicariously though her sometimes.