First Annual Easter Party at CeCe's

On Good Friday (April 18), we had our first annual "Cousin Easter Party."  My mom had several cute activities for the kids and fun Easter snacks.  The kids loved every single second, and we are all looking forward to round two of our new tradition :-)

CeCe is a great storyteller and told a story about the Peeps: Piddle, Criddle, Niddle, Diddle, and Moe.  The kids listened quietly to every. single. word.

Making Peep houses

Dyeing some eggs

Fun bunny straws

All the kiddos, minus Clara...who was contentedly sitting in her bouncy seat

Egg hunt for money filled eggs! (we're talking change here, folks.  But according to the kids they were rich and all were ready to go spend their loot at Dollar Tree)

Just a little proof that Clara was a passive participant :)

Ooh, this Lil Mama takes such good care of her little cousin.  You know, "the girls gotta stick together!"

Move In Day!!!

After living with my mom for close to two months, the boys and I were so excited to finally be reunited with Sam once we finalized the purchase of our new house!!  The boys were also super excited to be reunited with their toys after being packed up for so long!  Move in day was the day after Easter, April 21st. When the truck arrived, the boys rushed out to watch the men get to work.  They were practically little shadows to them all day.  And Mac would ask after almost every box was unloaded if it was his "Anger Birds playsets."  It was a very exciting day!!

Watching the  movers get to work

Taking a rest from the work to watch Frozen and eat a little popcorn

Clara was such a trooper and slept for most of the day.  She is such a good baby!!

Our new house!  455 Jones Drive :-)

Our favorite part is the huge backyard complete with swing set and trampoline (quite the change from our hilly, rocky terrain in Missouri...though I do miss that view!)

The next day the boys were allowed to begin attending the Child Development Center (aka preschool) at our church.  The staff was so very kind to let us start with only six classes remaining in the school year.  Drew was especially excited since this was his first "school" experience.  And the CDC did not disappoint!  

Giving kisses before heading out the door.  I was a frantic mama digging through boxes trying to locate lunchboxes and bookbags.  Mac was very confident because he said "I go to school in Missouri.  I know all about it."

Mac and Ms. Susan.  He just walked right in and started talking.  That can be attributed to all the work that Ms. Lisa and Ms. Rebecca did with Mac in MO to help him come out of his shell some.  I miss those sweet teachers!!

Drew was in "Ms. Wabin's" class (Ms. Robin) who he has deemed "the best teacher in the whole world."  He wasn't feeling up to taking a picture with her but did not mind a pose at the toy table.  We can't wait for classes to start back up in the fall!

You Gotta Start Somewhere...

What do you do when you've gotten terribly behind on blogging but you have loads of stuff that HAS to be documented??  You start somewhere, that's what...you just gotta start somewhere.  So here's to having a life that has finally begun to settle down, a house to call our own again, and a computer with high speed internet :-)  Now time to begin catching up!!

Sweet Clara after her bath tonight

We all, and I mean ALL of the Taylor clan, had a fabulous time at our first VBS at Fairview last week, Agency D3.  The boys had a blast and couldn't wait to go each day.  The first morning Mac woke up and said," Mom, what's something that doesn't take long to fix for breakfast so we can hurry and go to Agent CD3??"  Later in the week he figured out it was Agency D3 and learned all of the songs.  So...just when you think the week is over, they give each child a VBS soundtrack and it lives on in the car FOREVER!!!  I'm all about discovering, deciding and defending, but sometimes you just need a break! haha

Loves her Daddy

Found Mac at snack time

When Bible School was over, Sam had a lock-in with the students so the kids and I loaded up and went to see the fam (let me just add that I am loving this aspect of living in Mississippi!!)  A year or so ago PePaw and Mac made a birdhouse that we are still loving and talk about often.  Drew decided that he wanted to make a green birdhouse with PePaw...well, as soon as PePaw found out, he was right on it.  My dad is so great doing projects with the kids, just like he was with me when I was little.  Love that he's passing on the skill of working with tools. 

Deciding how big the bird hole should be in the side

While PePaw and Drew were working, Mac wanted to make his own creation

This makes me so happy to see in the mornings.  The boys come and lay in the bed with Clara while I finish getting ready.  Such sweet, sweet brothers always looking out for their "Princess."

We had a fun visit the week before last from Mrs. Rhonda and Sarah.  So good to see their faces and catch up.  Nevermind, that Drew choked on a hot dog and threw up all over the place!!!  No big deal since everyone else was finished eating and it didn't get on the treat bags that Mrs. Rhonda brought for them :-)  

Fairview Preview...

The weekend that Sam went to Fairview Baptist Church in Columbus to be introduced to the congregation, the kids and I stayed home in Forsyth with my mom, as Clara was only a couple weeks old.  Some of the people at Fairview came up with the brilliant idea to Facetime/video us into the service so we could be a part of it as well, and the congregation would have the chance to meet us too. So with mom's help and after several sound and video checks, we woke up early, got ready and gave our best smiles to the good folks in Columbus.  Of course, a good bribe was not far away for the boys :-)  It was a success...and a great picture opportunity since we were dressed and ready. 

All Smiles



 

This little beauty started smiling at about six weeks.  I love seeing that smile!!



CeCe loves to practice smiling with Clara :-)

When she's not smiling, she's usually sleeping...or smiling while sleeping!

Snoozing away with another beautiful blanket that Aunt Cheryl made for her.  That makes me smile :-)

The Show Me State Showed Out!

     Three years ago when we arrived in Forsyth, Missouri to serve at First Baptist Church of Forsyth I was anxiously excited and waiting for the Show Me State to show me something!  And over those years I was shown something, but it was nothing like I had anticipated.  In the beginning my excitement quickly turned to disappointment, and I was ready to return "home" to Mississippi.  However, Sam and I both knew that the Lord had undoubtedly brought us to Missouri, so I did my best to wait and discover why. 
     Over time the Lord worked and worked on my heart.  It took quite a bit of time (like a year and a half) and lots of heartache, but as the Lord began changing my heart and attitude, the disappointment was replaced by a deep love and fondness.  I am not anywhere close to the person that I was upon our arrival, and I am so glad!  Oh the things that He taught me while I was there...I pray I treasure and remember them always!!
     I loved my church, friends, and life in Forsyth, so when the possibility of moving came up I was pretty certain that we wouldn't be interested.  However, we sought the Lord and His will, and after lots of prayer and thought, Sam accepted a ministry position at Fairview Baptist Church in Columbus, Mississippi.  I was so, so thrilled to be moving closer to family but equally sad about leaving all that we loved in Missouri.  To say it was bittersweet is an understatement. 
     So, at the first of March, with a one month old, we said goodbye and moved to the Magnolia State.  Its kinda funny cause when we moved to Forsyth I was seven months pregnant with Drew and thought there could be no worse time to move.  Well, I discovered a "worse" time...with a newborn! It has definitely been an adventure!  The kids and I are currently staying in Jackson with my parents while we wait to close on a house in Columbus.  The boys feel like we are on a long vacation :-)
     It was so, so hard to say bye to all of our friends and church family in Forsyth.  We had the best friends that one could ever hope or dream to have, and we were blessed to be serving at a wonderful church that we absolutely loved.  And it was so great to live amongst some of the prettiest scenery I have seen.  The Show Me State truly showed out!  I am incredibly thankful for the time that the Lord allowed us to be there, and I look forward to many return visits!!

One of our last days in Missouri on the deck of our house.  Man, I'm gonna miss that view!!



Oh I miss them already!! (This clearly is before Brooke and I had Clara and Nora!)

 

The Things Boys Do...

"Jake" and "Cubby" going on an adventure. This days adventure involved watching Daddy trying to make it up an icy driveway. 

Drew loves him some jelly toast...actually, Drew loves him about anything!

Just hanging out watching tv

When the snow is too powdery to build a snowman, a smart, creative boy turns the chair into a snowman :-)

Loves "doodles" at Chinese Mexican Burrito. Yes, that's a real restaurant. Yes, there is a Chinese Mexican burrito on the menu. And yes, this place is actually good!

Sweet brothers playing and watching Angry Birds on Dad's phone 

Spreading some love with his Valentine bag at preschool

Going for a walk with "webbons" to protect their princess sister 

"Magic Mickey and Donald Duck"...my wake up call :-)

Found a lizard with Pepaw and made him a home in the "tank"

And all boys watch "Frozen" and sing the songs...or at least all Taylor boys do ;-)