Birthday Party Day

Mamaw and Papaw gave Eli Mario Kart for the Wii for his birthday. Here he is learning to drive. I haven't tried it yet. I'm not very good at those driving games. I always run off the road. I guess it's a good thing it's only a game.

Eli took 3 of his friends to the Clone Wars movie on Saturday. They had lots of fun, as you can see. I wasn't feeling well so Philip had to take them. He said the movie was pretty good through the naps he took. He said he would dose off and wake up and take a count to make sure he still had 4 boys! They came back to the house and had cake and ice cream and then played for awhile. By the way, the cake was pretty good!

A mom's work is never done.

Happy B'day Eli

Yesterday we celebrated Eli's birthday. He is 7 years old! I took cupcakes to his class yesterday and then Gan Gan came to see him. She brought presents! He opened the presents that we gave him also. He is really big into Star Wars these days. That's all he wanted for his gifts. I've been working all day on his cake. It is suppose to be a scene from Star Wars III. I guess it will do... (picture below) We met my parents at PF Changs tonight for dinner. Eli's choice. It was so good. We were all so full. Tomorrow afternoon Eli and 3 of his friends are going to the new Star Wars movie and then coming back here for cake and ice cream. It should be a lot of fun! I can't believe that Eli is 7. I remember the day he was born. I woke up early when my water broke. I got up, got a shower, got dressed and put on my makeup. I made sure the kids had lunch money for the next few days, wrote their teachers notes, washed clothes and made breakfast. I then got Philip and the kids up and we took Shelby to school. Brice woke up with a sore throat so I called his doctor and made an appoitment for him. I called my mother to take Brice to the doctor and we headed to the hospital. Eli Jacob was born at 2:45 pm. I just knew that he was a girl and that he was going to be big. He was most definetly not a girl and he was not big. He weighed 5 lbs. 6oz. He was such a joy and I don't know what I did with out him. I love you Eli and Happy Birthday!

Rainy Tuesday

Today is another rainy day. I don't know about you, but I get headaches when it rains. I like rain every now and then (when I can take a nap, especially) but enough is enough! I had to take the kids to school in the rain, go to the grocery store in the rain and have to go to the fabric store later today in the rain. YUK! I know, it could be worse!!!

The kids have pretty much settled into their school routine. Yesterday was the first real day with homework. It will be a challenge for Brice and Shelby. Brice was mad because he has to carry 3 big books back and forth everyday from home to school and back again. They don't have lockers like I did when I was in high school. It makes for a pretty heavy back pack! Shelby is just happy to be alive, I think! She is enjoying being back in her social world. Being able to see her friends everyday and talk about whatever it is they talk about makes her happy. Eli has settled into his class and seems to be enjoying it. I know he would rather sleep later in the a.m. but other than that he seems to be happy.

Soccer should start up soon for all the kids. Brice and Shelby will be playing on rec teams and DII teams (a little travel with these teams). Brice will be playing for the Jr. Varsity at the high school and Eli will be playing for a rec team. We will be busy with all the different practices but it won't be anything like Brice's select team. With these rec teams if you can't make it or you have too much homework or need to study it's not that big of a deal. With the select team you better be throwing up or have a high fever to miss one of those practices...

I must go to the fabric store this morning. I've been putting it off long enough. Into the rain I go...

First day pics

The day started out pretty smooth. Eli didn't eat too much but seemed pretty happy. I can tell he is nervous in this picture but I wasn't expecting what happened when we got to his class.

We stopped and talked a second to the teacher across the hall. (Shelby's 2nd grade teacher) and then I asked for a picture with Ms. Walsh (Eli's teacher) I said good bye really quick and we started walking away and then the flood gates opened up! I just hugged him really hard and told him to wipe his face and go on in. He went in and then out again. I pulled him aside and told him that he was going to be fine and that I would see him this afternoon. He wiped his eyes and went on in. I hope is okay now! This is one of the main reasons that I wanted to hold him back in 1st grade. He needs a little confidence and a self esteem booster. I will have to work on that. Eli's best friend is in his class so I'm pretty sure the tears stopped soon after I left and that he is fine now. He is so like his mother... (Right Mom?????)

I thought the hard part was going to be sending Brice to high school. At least he is in a 9th grade only school this year and doesn't have to face all the "big" kids yet. He and our neighbor went together this morning. They have the first two classes together. He got out like no big deal and headed in like there was nothing to it. Nothing to it????!!!! My baby is going to 9TH GRADE!!!! Oh my goodness!!!

Isn't he handsome!!!

Shelby was a piece of cake today. She woke up in a semi good mood and we fixed her hair before I left to take Eli. When I got back she was ready and had her lunch fixed and everything. She was only worried about one teacher. She doesn't want the Social Studies teacher that Brice had. He is a coach for the high school girls' softball team. He was pretty hard. He had to learn lots and lots of maps. Maybe she got someone else. Shelby is changing so much in her looks. Since she got her braces she looks so much older! She's so pretty!!!
I can't believe it's time for school again. It's so quiet around here this morning. I don't know what to do with myself. I guess I could go do some laundry or something. I think I'll go and pray for all the kids. That should make me feel better. Especially about Eli. Poor Eli, he had to turn out like his mom!

Happy 18th Anniversay

18 years ago today I married the love of my life. We have done these pictures all 18 years. It is fun to look back on all the pictures and see how we have changed. Everyone always asks "What are you going to do when you run out of fingers?" I don't really know. Maybe we will use the kids fingers???? Anyway, Happy Anniversary Philip. I love you more...........

Beach 2008

We just got back from Perdido Key, FL. We had a whole week with the family and with Sean and Amanda Dodds and their little girl, Samantha. Sean and Amanda have some friends who have a condo at Perdido Key and they invited us to tag along with them. We had so much fun. We played on the beach, and in the water. We played games at night and went sand crab hunting at night. Sean even treated us to a day of crab fishing. We had never done that and it turned out to be pretty fun. We owe so much to Sean and Amanda. They were so kind to let us come with them. It was very relaxing and nice to get away from the "real world" for awhile. Thank you Dodds for making our vacation so special. You are great friends!!!

I have lots of pictures to share but tried to pick some of my favorites. We start back to school this Thursday. In a way I'm looking forward to it and in other ways I'm not. I'm hoping and praying that they all get good teachers that will help them grow and learn.

Daddy and his girl.

Mom trying hard to not let her little girl grow up.

The Thurman boys.

The Thurman Bunch

Dad and Brice

Ain't that sweet.

Mom and Brice

The kids
Sean and Amanda
The DoddsSamantha showing me a shell.

The view from our balcony.

Shelby looking for shells.

Shelby and Samantha playing in the sand.

The stick man.

Crab fishing...

Our first crab. We ended up catching about 12.

Eli playing in the waves.

Here is a video of Brice "escaping" from the sand.


Here is similar video of Eli "escaping" from the sand. You know...monkey see, monkey do...


Watch Brice in action...