Exciting Times...

Well, this past weekend was no different than any of the others.  We were super busy!  Justin was asked to work at his old job for the weekend so he had to work Saturday and Sunday.  Plus...we had the Festival in 96 that we tried to squeeze in too!  We planned to go listen to the bands Friday night after supper but the rain spoiled that.  Saturday morning...we headed out to town about 10:30 or so.  They had some kiddie rides.  The only thing Evan talked about was the slide.  It was a pretty big slide and I didn't want him attempting that by himself.  So, Justin went up with him.  Emma wanted no part.  I talked her into riding the helicopter's.  I was WAY to big for this ride but she would only ride if I rode with her.  Even then she didn't love it.  We were literally not even going 1 mph!  This tells me she isn't ready for roller coasters anytime soon.  Then, they shot a few basketballs.  The first one Evan shot went straight in.  It was pure luck and I of course didn't have my camera ready.  So, I videoed the next 50 shots and he never made another one.  Just my luck.  So, we grabbed lunch (BBQ, fries, & fried pickles!!), watched the sack race, listened to Chris Turner a little while and headed home about 1:00.  We had planned to return that night to meet Justin's brother and his family and watch the fireworks but once again the rain spoiled those plans.  I didn't even get my funnel cake! :(  Guess I didn't need that!  Here are the few pictures I took of the morning and even the one picture of took of them Saturday night all dressed up with no place to go!  I took one picture and my phone died!
                

  Waiting their turn in line and heading up the steps!

                

Here they come down and the helicopter I was WAY to big for.  I asked the little guy running this ride if I was too big and he said Well, just a little!  I just laughed and asked him what that meant! 

                 

Shooting the basketballs!

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And the cute outfits they were going to wear to the fireworks!

I made Emma a cute little shirt to wear so I have a picture of it too!!

Then, Sunday we helped Janice & Melvin celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary!  That is quite an accomplishment in this day and time where the divorce rate is 50%.  Just the other day at work we were talking about marriage.  The latest statistics say the first 7 years of marriage are the hardest!  I told Justin we should be good to go since we are past 7 years.  I sure hope we will be celebrating our 50th anniversary one day!  After naps we headed to my mom's for supper and to celebrate Matt's birthday.  So that brings us today.  I have some kind of exciting news.  I am a little skeptical about sharing this because it so early...but Emma is doing so well with her potty training!  We started wearing big girl panties on Saturday afternoon.  She only wore them for a while and had to put on a pull-up because we were getting ready to head back out town.  Sunday morning she wore them all morning and only had one accident.  Then, we had to put on a pull-up and head to Janice's party.  After the party when we got back home she refused to put them back on.  I didn't fight her.  Then, this morning Janice put them back on her when she got up.  She had one accident and then used the potty 5 times today!  We went to town tonight to pick out out flooring for the kitchen and were gone for two hours.  I put a pull-up on her while we were gone and she didn't wet it at all.  Like I said...it is really early and this was really our first full day at it...but she did much better today than I was expecting.  We are hoping to get her trained before we really start working with Evan.  He has NO interest.  He is going to be a tough one to potty train!  Anyway...that is what we are doing this week!  We are also working on our kitchen flooring and I am in the midst of planning Alison's baby shower.  That will be here in a couple weeks.  Since I have been in party planning mode...I think I have all the details down for E&E's birthday party as well.  Woo Hoo!!  I know I am an overachiever...but if you really want to know... I already have ideas for their 4th birthday party too.  A friend texted me today asking if I had any ideas of what she could do for her little boy's party and of course I did...so now I've moved onto planning other kids parties!  I think I could make a side job out of this! Anyway...that is just a little side note!  So, here's to a short work week and to celebrating our nation's freedom!  Hope you all have a great week!

A very busy weekend!!

Last weekend was a very busy weekend.  I know this is late and their will be another update probably tomorrow but I was waiting on Katie to send me pictures.  She didn't hurry to get them to me.  Anyway...We started our Saturday with a baby shower for Baby Laney at church.  It was a great time.  Katie & Laney got a lot of good things.  It was funny because they used pink and burlap to decorate that shower which is what we had planned to use at the shower we gave Katie on Sunday.  Great minds think alike.  Before heading to the shower I dropped Evan off at Eaton and he and Justin headed over to the airport.  Lots of people had told me we needed to take Evan to the air show that was going out there as a part of the Festival of Flowers. So, they spent the morning walking around looking at the planes.   They had a Monster truck out there for the kids to ride in but Evan said he didn't want to ride.  Since he said no...Justin didn't want to wait in that long line if he didn't have too!  They stayed for about an hour and left because it was so hot.  Then, they headed over to a friend of Justin's.  This guy is doing some work on his yard and had some equipment there at his house.  Nothing draws boys in more than something you can be destructive with.  Justin and Evan played on that a while and then headed home to meet me and Emma.  Alison came over to help me get the favors ready for our shower while my sweeties napped.  Then, we headed to my mom's to decorate!  We got everything that we could set up out and ready for the next day.  Then, we packed E&E in the truck and headed to Greenville!  I didn't even think to look and see what time that discount door place closed!  We got to Greenville about 5:30 and they closed at 3:00.  So, looks like we will be making another trip to Greenville.  We headed to Chili's for supper and then on to the baseball game.  Evan was so excited.  He talked about it all the way up there.  We debated on whether we would go or not because it looked like it could rain at anytime...but we didn't want to disappoint him!  So, we got there and got tickets for the lawn area.  It was PACKED!!  Me & Evan sat down and started watching the game while Justin and Emma went to get us popcorn and Pepsi.  After about 45 minutes...Emma had had enough and was ready to go.  She did not like the loud speaker.  Every time they would say something over it...she told me she wanted to go.  So, we will either have to wait for Emma to get better with loud noises or just take Evan by himself if we decide to go again anytime soon.  These were the only two pictures I took and yes one is a selfie!  I don't take pictures of myself hardly ever! Excuse the glasses!  One of my contacts was killing my eye right now and my new ones would't be in until Tuesday...so I had to wear the glasses as much as possible!

              

Then, today was Katie and Laney's shower that we hosted.  I don't think it could have gone any better.   She had a good turnout and got lots of cute things for baby Laney!  Laney was a perfect little angel the whole time.  Emma did so good as well. She was a little excited at the beginning because all those people were there...but she got better and was such a big helper! I thought all of the decorations looked great...but I was the decorator...so of course I'd think they looked good.  Here are the couple pictures I took. 

Don't you just LOVE this picture of Laney!  I have been banned from putting her pictures on my blog until Katie gets some on her blog!  Trust me...I have told her if she doesn't post some pictures soon...I am going to!  The world needs to see this precious little face!  This is one of my favorites of her!

We were so excited to get to celebrate this precious little girl with some of our closest family and friends who are just as excited for Katie & Matt!  I'm sure you are wondering where my sweet Evan was during this time.  He went with Justin and Chad to the woods.  Justin said he did great.  He is really getting into boy things.  I am still a little sad but at the same time...I want him to like hunting and all...so I have to let him go!  So that was our weekend!  Now...it's on to another week!  This coming weekend is the Festival of Stars in 96.  I love a town festival  and look forward to seeing some people we don't get to see as often.  Hope you all have a great week.

Just some thoughts...

This hasn't been the best of weeks.  I am sitting here listening to Emma & Evan talk to each other in their cribs.  Evan is telling Emma about something he wants her to come see and her response to him was I can't bubba...I'm in my crib.  The sound of their voices and every moment of their life is something I don't want to take for granted.  Just this week another family that we grew up with lost a 2 year old child.  She drown in the pool which is one of my greatest fears about having a pool!  I can't even begin to imagine how you go on with life when you have experienced that kind of loss!  All week...my mind just kept going back to them.  How can we as humans not question God in times like this??  You know He has a purpose for every life but you have to wonder why he chose to take this precious little girl so early in life.  I guess it's a good thing we don't know His reasoning for letting things happen.  It will give us something to ask Him when we get to Heaven.  Regardless...my heart breaks for all that were involved in this tragic accident!  Then, I have two good friends that are battling lots of things right now.  They both contacted me this week asking me to pray for them.  How good does it make you feel to have people come to you because they know when you tell them you'll pray for them...you mean it.  One of these friends has faced so much in life and even though I don't tell her near enough...she is such an inspiration to me.  She continues to praise God through all her storms and is such a blessing to me!  Well...E&E were out of school this week because South Main had VBS.  They won't get to go until they are 4.  I don't like that.  I think they could benefit from VBS well before they are 4 years old!  Wednesday we finally had haircuts. When we got there Emma informed us that she wasn't getting her hair cut and she stuck to that.  Even after seeing Evan get his haircut and him get a sucker...she still refused!  Sally had to cut her hair as she clung to me with her face buried in my shoulder.  Granted I only wanted a trim and a slight trim was all we got.  After that we headed over to TW Boons for supper and walked around to look at the topiaries.  Here are a couple pictures that we took.  Emma wasn't a fan at first but she warmed up.  I think once she realized they weren't real...she wasn't scared anymore.  

                  

The baby elephant and the tiger!

               

The bearcat and my big boy standing by himself!

                      

My two guys.  Will He like Gamecocks or Tigers???  Daddy hopes Tigers and Momma hopes Gamecocks!

Then, last night Justin had planned to go to the woods after I got off work to look at some new hunting land he maybe getting in on a lease.  When Evan saw him getting his boots and all on...he decided he wanted to go with Daddy to the woods.  So, I dressed him and am not going to lie...I almost cried as they left.  My baby isn't supposed to be wanting to go to the woods with Daddy just yet!  He's supposed to still be a baby! I did take a picture of him before they left.  He wanted to wear his boots too!!

                

Before and After!  He's looks like a hot sweaty boy !

While they were gone...Emma & I worked on a project.  I had seen on Facebook a friend of mine had made a Summer Fun Checklist.  So, I made us one!  Emma just colored on a cardboard box while I made the poster...but she will tell you she helped.  

How cute is this??  I can't wait to start marking things off! 

Well, that brings us to today.  It's Friday afternoon and I am getting ready to go meet Alison and Lauren to buy the final things for Katie's shower on Sunday.  She also has one tomorrow morning. While me & Emma are at the shower...I think Justin is going to take Evan over to the airport for the air show that is part of the Festival of Flowers.  Lauren took Colby last year and he loved it.  So that will be something my guys will hopefully enjoy together.  Then, we are heading to Greenville tomorrow afternoon/night.  There is a place in Greenville that sales doors at discounted prices and I am wanting some new doors for my bathroom. We thought while we were up there that we might check out a Greenville Drive game.  Tickets aren't that expensive and we can just sit on the hill.  It doesn't even start until 7:00 and we probably won't get to stay the whole time...but we thought we'd try it out and see what E&E think. Hope you all have a great weekend.  Stay cool! 

Father's Day...part #2

Well, today continued our Father's Day celebration.  We started our morning by giving Justin his Father's Day presents.  Emma & Evan didn't really care about anything other than tearing up the tissue paper.  We got Justin a new pair of shorts (not what he requested but I saw them and thought he needed them!), a new wallet, a new beard trimmer, and a jar full of Reese's pieces with a sign that says...Daddy, we love you to pieces!  Yes, that was a Pinterest idea!  I know you are probably thinking why in the world did we get Justin a new beard trimmer but let me explain.  Every couple of days I have to shave the back of Justin's neck because he HATES when his hair starts growing out.  I think it is because it is nothing but gray back there but he says otherwise.  Well, his trimmer was so old and raggedy that if I don't hold the button a certain way it cuts on and off the whole time I am trying to fix his hair.  It is a royal pain and I saw this one on Amazon as a gift for dad...so that's what he got.  He really appreciated it though.  No more pulling his hair when it decides to stop mid-shave! :)  Then, we headed to church.  Here is a picture of my sweeties!

There aren't enough words to describe how thankful I am for this guy!  I know I say it a lot and people probably get tired of hearing it but he just goes above and beyond to do things for us.  He not only provides for us...our needs and wants...but he tries to be a very involved daddy whenever he can be.  Granted he's had to be there for most of the things they have done in life because I can't do it by myself but he's happy to be involved.  He loves those two like nothing else.  I'm proud of the Daddy he is too them!!  We got a surprise in Sunday School...Laney made her first church appearance.  Katie had mentioned that they might come and then she said she thought they'd wait another week or so.  So, it was a nice surprise.  That sweet girl never made a peep!  Katie & Matt shared their story with the rest of our class and even though I knew the story...it never ceases to amaze me just how God just worked this all our perfectly!  He is absolutely amazing!  After church, we headed home to get things ready for our gathering with my family.  I didn't take one single picture.  Probably because it was madness at our house.  Emma and Evan were WILD this afternoon.  I think the excitement of having everyone over...including Baby Laney...was a bit much for them.  After we ate...we went swimming to show Aunt Katie & Aunt Alison how they could swim.  MaMa & PaPa had already come over one night to watch them.   We had such a good time celebrating with them.  I can only imagine what our next gathering...which will probably be our beach trip in September...will be like with two almost 3 year olds, a 4 month old, and a newborn if Alison decides to come for a few days!  I can't wait!  Anyway...hope you spent some time today celebrating the great men in your life!!  My sweeties are snoozing away, my big sweetie is watching the basket ball game, and I need to fold some clothes.  So, good night all.  Hope this coming week is a great on for you!  We have lots to look forward too!  Our church shower for Baby Laney is Saturday and then we are giving her a shower on Sunday.  I will get to see that sweet baby all weekend! :)

Happy Father's Day...part 1

Well, we are just finishing up a great week.  Emma & Evan are back in summer camp and really seem to be enjoying it.  I am not going to lie...I love when they are in school.  They do so much better on a schedule! :)  They might just have a little of me in them! Friday, we had a parking lot party at work.  I love a good work social.  I think it just boost employee moral!  Jason cooked BBQ and everyone signed up to bring sides.  They set up Clemson tents and Clemson corn hole boards.  It kind of offended us Carolina fans but at D&F we are QUITE outnumbered.  All the guys backed up their trucks and had music going.  It was really neat.  Then, I took E&E and we went to town with Katie & Laney.  This was her first time out in public and she did great!  Emma & Evan did too but I had gotten them some ice cream from Chick-Fil-A and eating always keeps them quiet.  We went shopping for Daddy's Father's Day present.  Then, Friday night Justin and I had a date night.  We had planned to go to the movies but all of the movies playing weren't anything I wanted to see and we had lots of errands to run so we got all of that completed and went out for supper.  It was really nice to eat without having to help anyone.  Alison kept E&E for us.  In just a few short weeks...we will be out another babysitter.  Then, this morning we headed back to town to finished getting our Father's Day things for Justin and to get groceries for supper tomorrow.  Justin was playing golf with his dad and brother and some other guys.  They play every year for Father's Day.  Tonight, we headed out to Mike & Dottie's to celebrate Father's Day with all of them.  We of course did a little fishing. There isn't much else to do out there! Evan really got into it this time.  Justin had bought worms so those always help to catch fish.  Evan did not want us helping him cast the line or anything for that matter.  Emma would let us do it all for her.  She did reel it in a couple times but she was more worried about where Reagan's dog was and singing to the music on my phone.  She is easily distracted.  While Justin was putting a worm on Cooper's hook...Evan caught his own fish.  Granted it was purely luck...it was still the first fish he caught by himself.  Justin had cast his line out and was letting him reel it in by himself.  Much to our surprise when he got the hook back to the bank...there was a fish on it.  It was probably the smallest fish ever and in the pictures you will really have to look to see it but he was so excited.  We were too!  My phone was in the car so we had to take pictures on Justin's piece of junk phone so the pictures aren't that clear!

                          

Evan with his fish and if you look carefully in the left picture he is holding the fish in his hand.  

Then, Justin threw the rod on more time and got a bite almost immediately.  He let Evan reel it in and it was a much better fish.  By now I had my camera so this is a much better picture.  

My babies are getting so big!

Then, we headed inside for supper and presents.  And then we headed home for the night.  It was now about 8:45 and we had to give Emma & Evan baths.  Once we got them in the bed, I had to make rice krispie treats for bible school next week and I also made two sausage pies for Sunday School in the morning.  That is why I am typing this at 11:00 at night.  We are planning a little surprise for the guys.  We can't let them out do us.  We are having them breakfast and Tabor had put together a slide show of pictures we sent in. We each were asked to email her a picture of our guys when they were younger and then some pictures of them with their kids.  She says it is great and I can't wait to see it.  Then, we will celebrate with my family.  So, come back for part 2!!

Sweet Summertime!!

Well...this was our official first week of summer.  Emma & Evan were out of school so we tried to do things in the afternoon to get them out of the house.  By Friday...they had pretty much had enough of each other. I don't think anyone can fight as much as they do!  I don't blame them though on this occasion! We have been swimming several times.  They love it.  Emma is doing much better!  She can kick herself across the entire pool.  We are working on moving her arms.  She doesn't want you to hold onto her at all anymore.  Granted she does have on the puddle jumper.  She constantly tells us "I do it by myself"!  She is little miss independent even when we can tell she is exhausted!  She loves jumping off the stairs to us.  She does it lots of times with no warning...so we have to be constantly ready!  Evan is getting better with using his arms.  He likes to stand on the steps and hit the beach ball to Justin with a noodle.  It is their water form of baseball.  We saw Morgan last night and she was still bragging on how well Evan did.  She even called him her star student! We have gone to Katie's several times to love on Baby Laney!  She is still the most precious thing ever!  We just love her!  We also went to the Live After Five concert this past Thursday.  Some guy Justin works with was playing.  Their band was actually very good.  There was a large turn out.  We stayed about 45 minutes and them went out for supper.  They played longer than that but it was HOT and we didn't think to bring chairs.  Next time we will be more prepared.  So, that brings us to the weekend.  We are finally going to be painting our front porch this weekend.  Justin is borrowing Gareth's paint sprayer so it should go pretty quickly!  Also, my curtains are here!  Justin put them up last night.  My mom is going to take them and iron them good for me...but I snapped a picture while Justin had them up.  I think they look great...don't you??

We are finally getting our house like we want it...or rather I am!  Justin could care less about any of this but he lets me do what I want too and doesn't complain very much! :)  I ordered my portraits last week and they should be here this week!  Can't wait for that!  We had planned to do our kitchen flooring next weekend until we remembered that is Father's day...so we put it off until the next weekend.  Once that is finished...our updates will be finished...for the time being! :)  We are in planning mode for Katie & Baby Laney's baby shower.  I love to plan a party.  Then, after that I get to start working Alison & Baby Reid's baby shower.  Yes...I think it is safe to say...he has a name!  Nickolas Reid Romagnoli! So, that's pretty much it for us!  Hope you all are enjoying your weekend!!

God's PERFECT Timing!!!

I forgot I wrote this Mother's Day Night...so even though it's late...I still wanted to share!


I am writing this post knowing it will be a few weeks before I can post this but I don't want to forget the details of this Mother's Day!! We saw first hand today that God works in His own perfect timing.  I have claimed that from day 1 with Emma & Evan.  I knew what I wanted in my life and God knew what I needed and when I needed things to happen in my life.  Oh how much better his plan has been!!  As most of you know in June of 2012 Katie & Matt officially found out their chances of having a biological child weren't very good.  They started the adoption process that fall and completed it the following April which was April of 2013.  April of 2014 marked their first year of officially "Waiting". I can only tell you how hard that first year for me was and it pails in comparison to what they went through.  Many times I cried asking God why he would let some thing like this happen to a couple who not only loved Him but loved each other.  They didn't deserve this when they were SO many people out there that didn't deserve babies at all and they were getting them!  I know Katie & Matt had to have these same feeling because for one they are human!  However, they trusted God through it all and used this waiting time in their life to grow closer to Him.  Well, today they announced to our families that they have been chosen and will hopefully become parents to a beautiful baby girl at the end of May.  You are reading that right they had 3 weeks to prepare for this.  I know that seems like such a short time period considering Katie hasn't done anything (against my instruction I might add) but regardless of whether they have a room ready or they don't this little girl is coming home with them in three weeks and I can't be more happier for the two of them.  We have prayed and prayed from the moment they started this adoption process that God would bless them with a healthy happy baby.  And even though we all hoped it would have happened sooner it happened in God's PERFECT Timing!  So, as we wait these next two weeks out, we are praying that if this is God's will for their life that things will work out like they should.  We know God is faithful and blesses those who love Him!  We can't wait to meet Miss Lainey Marie Babb!!  We already love you to the moon and back!  Then, we will be welcoming Mr. ____ Romagnoli a few shorts weeks later.  I would fill in his name but he doesn't have one! :)  I don't know how I come from the same genes as these two procrastinators!! :)  Our little family is growing by leaps and bounds and we are loving every minute of it!!  So, since the word is now out...I can share by thoughts on the day we found out about one of the greatest blessing Katie & Matt will every receive!! :)