I can't compete...

Jereme is the hero at our house. The little boys adore him, talk about him all day when he is gone, ask every morning if today is a day daddy will be home all day and beg most every day if they can go work with him, his dealers, at the seed warehouse, do some test plots, just ANYthing to be with him.

For the first year of Luke's life, he was SUCH a momma's boy. I was quite okay with this arrangement. But, it was if literally overnight, he became daddy's little boy. It was sooner than the little boys made that transition and definitely more fiercely than the other two. Luke says daddy, ball, uh-oh, whoa, Bonner, bubba, Jorden, Isaac, Poppa, Mimi, night-night, no-no, milk and several other words. But, ask him to say "momma" and you will get the EMPHATIC answer of "Da-deeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!"

Jereme loves it and to be quite honest, so do I...

Spring is in the air...

So many signs of spring!

1. Less layers of clothing and for some, only the 2 most important articles...a diaper and cowboy boots!



2. A MUCH perkier momma b/c of many hours spent outdoors with the kiddos who take naps more easily after playing hard.

3. A forecast that includes plenty of sunshine and promising warm temps!

4. Less runs on the treadmill (BORING!!) and more runs outside.

5. And, a stressed-out man! I always can feel spring coming on at our house...longer hours for Jereme, a Blackberry that buzzes incessantly, more business trips and just plain ol' stress etched on his face. But, this spring brought a new form of displaying the arrival of the busy season (you know, the next 9 months!). These are Jereme's shoes that he wore all day to run errands...

The Store

I don't know why but grocery shopping as a family seems to be the trend recently at our house. I think it just kind of happened this winter for a "get out of the house" activity when you live in SmallTown, USA. Jereme usually pushes the twins in the car cart while I take Luke with me. Usually, the little boys are all over when daddy is with us. In and out of the car, climbing on the top, riding on the back, climbing into the cart, etc.

Last night, however, the little boys were unusually quiet. I wasn't paying much mind to them, just getting going on my big list. Jereme was picking up a few things. And, then, it kicked in. It being a momma's intuition...something is not right with this picture. I turned around to see the two little boys calmly sitting in the car cart. Hmmmm, this is strange so I walk back closer. Outstanding! They had each stolen an apple from the produce section and were eating it. I sighed and walked on knowing we were officially Rednecks.

But, Luke, not wanting to be outdone, waited until we got to the checkout line. Jereme grabbed him out of the cart not realizing Luke grabbed a Cadbury egg. I glanced over to see sweet Luke chowing down on a Cadbury egg...wrapper and all.

Ray's Applemarket HEARTS the House family.

His father's son...

Yesterday, Jereme was talking to Jorden about driving a tractor. I asked Jorden, "do you want to learn to drive a tractor when you are 6?"

Jorden's reply? "No! I want to drive the combine and I can learn it when I am 5!"

And a couple other randoms from our house:
*If you see Luke, please don't turn us into Child Protective Services. He took a face-plant dive off the playground equipment on Sunday. It's possible he might've been "helped" by one of his brothers.

*Jereme was back home for 36 hours and is now gone again. I felt super sorry for him when he passed out asleep after only being home for about an hour on Saturday night. You know how it is..."working" in Vegas is a tough business.

5-year anniversary...

This month marks 5 years since Jereme was doped up on morphine after his 3rd extensive knee surgery and he read Dave Ramsey's Total Money Makeover book. One night during his drug-induced recovery, he woke me up and said, "We are doing this!"

Little did I know what all that would entail. In 10 months, we sold the boat, sold our truck, bought a 10-year old vehicle with cash, paid off my grad school loans, paid off and chunked the credit cards and KISSED consumer debt good-bye forever.

Check out Financial Peace near you. It'll change your marriage and life! I dare you!!

On another note, Luke officially did in my laptop so I am awaiting the arrival of a new computer. Good thing that little stinker is so cute!! I don't know how it happened but he turned 18 months on Monday. These are his stats:

Height: 34 1/4 (90th percentile)
Weight: 28 lbs 6 oz (82nd percentile)
Cuteness: 100th percentile!!