Kyra learned the poem, “Settler’s Song” for school.

Elijah learned a portion of the famous Liberty Speech by Patrick Henry.

Owen learned the short poem “Our History”.

(Our history sings of centuries,
Such varying songs it sings.
It starts with winds, slow-moving sails,
It ends with skies and wings.)

We have been going to my baby brother, Seth’s, highschool football games on Friday nights, and, this past Friday night, it was getting rather cold. To keep warm in the bleachers, I had Elijah sit in my lap. He was keeping me pretty toasty, so when Abby Jo wanted in my lap, too, I put her in Elijah’s lap. She was facing Elijah, with her legs around him. If you know Abby Jo at all, you know that her favorite person in the world is Elijah. Sitting in his lap this way, to her, meant she was in perfect hugging position. She was hugging and kissing her big brother, and quite enjoying it. He was putting up a bit of a resistance for appearance’s sake, but he was grinning from ear to ear.

My babies were just so completely precious that I wanted to get in on the affection. I laid the side of my face against Elijah’s head, and gave a little, “mmm, mmm, mmm!” while giving him a squeeze. Abby Jo looked at me with one of her classic dirty looks, and looked deep into my eyes. Perfectly expressing her displeasure with her scrunched up face, she very deliberately said, “Mine!”

I tried to argue. I told her that he was my baby, too. That I made him. That I GREW him in my body. But she did not care.

Flashing another dirty look, she reiterated, “Mine!” and gave her brother a kiss.

You gotta love an eighteen-month-old already firmly entrenched in the terrible twos.

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And Other Assorted Photographic Hijinks

Before I share the photos I took of my eldest son, I think I should give a little information about my Elijah. Elijah is six. He is energetic, funny, super smart, often antisocial, and quite introverted. He is the sweetest six year old you’ll ever meet, but most people don’t know it because he won’t talk to you you, look you in the eye, or generally acknowledge your existence. We’re working on it. In the meantime, an activity…such as a backyard photo session…which is pretty fun for his siblings, is akin to having teeth pulled for Elijah. He tried to cooperate. He even wanted me to take his picture. He just had difficulty….you know…smiling. It’s harder than you might think for a six year old introvert. So, without further ado, I give you…”Incredibly Awkward Photographs of an Extremely Beautiful Boy”.

Grumpy Look

Painful Forced Smile

He momentarily snapped under the stress.

The stress left him feeling…irritated.

Have you ever seen a deer that has been shot? They generally bite their tongue in pain. I think Elijah…is…in…pain.

He might be sick.

He’s awfully cute when not being tortured.

For this rather pleasant looking photo, I simply told him to stop trying to smile and just look “nothing”.

I think he’s got some bark up his butt.

What’s this!?! A genuine smile!

He started scooting further and further up the tree, trying to hide among the leaves.

He’s just so sweet without the grimaces and groans.

Not the prettiest smile in the world, but I had to share these chin dimples.

Finally! A photo I love. This is my Elijah. Quiet. Sweet. Loving. A good, good boy. In this photo, I can glimpse the young man he’ll soon be.

Now that’s a good looking boy!

I recently traveled with the kids to Fort Knox, KY to return Amy’s daughter, and to stay a few days to help her get settled into her new home. In between decorating and shopping and feeding kids, we made time to play in the water one evening. We had loads of fun.

Owen’s first ever drink from a water hose.

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Aunt Amy let Abby have a go at the water hose.

I love watching Kyra interact with her baby sister.

So cute!

Owen Shane

I love to see my boy so happy!

I was trying to get in on the action.

Sarah tried to help me out.

I finally got the hose…and turned on Sarah!

I’ll get my own girl, too.

I was having a blast!

Jeremiah had been cavorting with his father, so I blasted him with some water.

That’s right, Joel. Run! Run away!

Joel went in the house to fill a pitcher with water to dump on me while I chased down his sneaky little offspring with the hose.

It’s a dirty job, but somebody’s gotta do it.

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The one in which I look like I’m pee’ing.

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In case you’re waiting for the picture of Joel dumping the water on my head…it’s not coming. He failed. He failed miserably. So, therefore…not picture.

This is most of my family (plus three friends) on a recent trip to the Lost Sea in Sweetwater, TN.

A few weeks ago, we took a family trip to Frozen Head State Park. Chris, the kids, Toby (the dog) and I hiked up to two different waterfalls. It was a lot of fun, and great family bonding.

Kyra played the role of photographer at the beginning of our hike, and she took this photo of the rest of us.

Abby Jo enjoyed herself.

I climbed on top of the first waterfall we came to.

We know we are totally awesome on top of the falls.

Abby eats a rock.

Me and my progeny under the second waterfall, Emory Gap Falls.

(Please to notice how that when I take the picture, the waterfall is actually included.)

It was a beautiful day with beautiful scenery.

I couldn’t help but be amazed at God’s wonderful creation.

After the kids were sent to bed tonight, I heard heartbroken crying coming from the boys’ room. I went in there to find Elijah lying face down in the floor, sobbing his heart out into a wadded up blanket.

“What’s wrong, Elijah?” I asked.

“Kyra won’t sleep with us.” he cried.

My kids each have their own beds, but, generally speaking, they all sleep somewhere all together. Like puppies…all in a pile. Kyra occasionally breaks away from her brothers and insists on sleeping alone. Sometimes the boys don’t mind, but sometimes they do.

I told Elijah I was sorry, and he cried himself to sleep.

It was sad.

It’s been a while since I’ve posted anything of substance here. We have been sick. The kids were sick for three weeks straight. I don’t even want to talk about it, though. I’m just glad it’s over.

I thought I’d write a little update post for all of the family types that care about such things.

Chris has had a few interesting things going on. Our church recently voted to pursue his ordination. Hopefully, sometime this month or next, Chris will be getting ordained. The church also made him a deacon, so, along with all of his new deacon responsibilities like serving communion and going to meetings, we also get to laugh harder about the “deacon’s kids” jokes. Or am I the only one who thinks that’s fun? Chris finished his MA with his seminary a while back, and so he is currently putting together his packet for the Army. Hopefully, within a couple months, he will finally be an Army Chaplain.

Rachel, who has recently began referring to herself in the third person, has not been doing much of anything. After recuperating from her surgery, she spent several weeks cleaning up poop and vomit. That took up most of her spare time. She has also been reading books, taking naps, and attending a new Bible study with Chris and some friends.

Kyra just finished up second grade half a year early. We are very proud of her. She is reading like a champ, and is doing pretty well in all her subjects. She is her mama’s right hand woman, and helps a lot around the house. She is especially helpful with taking care of her baby sister. She has decided that she is going to be a missionary when she grows up, and often refers to her future plans. I’m kind of convinced she will actually do it. She solicited a rather large sum of money out of her father to donate to the relief effort in Haiti the other day, and that is a very good skill for a missionary to have. Kyra makes friends very easily with random kids on the playground, and within the first five minutes of conversation she will have asked the kid if they are saved.

Elijah is working hard at kindergarten. He struggles with not getting frustrated at his mother for not moving at the pace he could move at. He’s very smart, and could be finished with the kindergarten curriculum by now if I weren’t such a slacker. Between the baby, the surgery, and the sickness, we’re just getting by with kindergarten. He is doing very well at it, though. He spends most of his days running up and down the hallway, jumping, making sound effects, and force choking invisible opponents. He also recently lost his first tooth.

Owen spends most of his time personifying awesomeness. He is the most hilarious kid I’ve ever met. He is incredibly mischievous, and he keeps us in stitches. He’s really rather rotten, but we love him.

Abby Jo has had a lot going on lately. She got two top teeth a few weeks ago, bringing her to a total of four teeth. She took her first steps yesterday, and I’m sure she’ll be walking soon. She loves her brothers and sister, and follows them around. She loves to play with them, and they are usually pretty good at letting her hang with them in their rooms. She can say “DaDa”, “Mama”, and “Yayuh” (Kyra). She’s great fun. She likes to point, clap, and laugh when someone else laughs. She is obsessed with all things electronic and spends a good portion of each day trying to get laptops, iPhones, playstation controllers, and remotes.

That’s about it for now. I doubt y’all could handle much more excitement without getting jealous, anyway.