How long until October?

Oh, it would be so nice to be cheering on the Cats tonight in the NCAA Championship game.  They came so close. 


But making it to the Final Four is not too shabby. 

Especially in a year when they had quite a bumpy conference record, could barely win a road game, were only seeded a four in the tourney, and were not expected to make a very impressive run in the Big Dance, especially since they (by far) had the toughest bracket road. 

Instead, they knocked off the overall number one seed of the entire tournament, Ohio State,  to make it into the Elite 8 and then rolled right over the number two seed, North Carolina, to clinch the trip to the Final Four.  They were on fire and definitely saved their best basketball playing of the season for when it really counted...March.

Yeah, we are pretty proud of our Kentucky team!

Eric and I say it every year...football season seems to go on forever, but basketball season just flies by!  Oh how we love March!  And this has been one of the most fun NCAA tournaments to watch.  The second week of March brings the SEC tournament and then immediately following it, the field of (now) sixty-eight is announced, ushering in a month long college basketball frenzy.  The television isn't on a great deal in our house, but during March Madness, it is on non-stop.  Yeah, by April, our boys are sick of basketball...gasp.

I am sad that tonight ends the college basketball season.  It is hard to have to wait seven long months for a little basketball action, (We are not NBA fans, so the fact that their season is never ending, is no consolation for us.)  but at least we will have the summer to keep us occupied.

Way to go Kentucky!!

Birthday Celebrating

It is still hard for me to believe that Sethie is four.  Four!  If I thought that time started flying when Caleb was born, it bumped up to hyperspeed once Seth came along.  That smile.  That sweet little voice.  That creative imagination. That stubborn streak. That, "Oh, I want to be completely independent attitude, but not independent enough to walk into school, church, the grocery without holding your hand."  Yep, that is our Seth. 

Over the last two weeks, he has started doing something that makes me melt.  When he wraps those little arms around me to give me a hug, he reaches for my hair and plays with it.  It is really sweet, especially during a season when he wants to prove that he can brush his own teeth, pick out his own clothes, and buckle his own car seat.  When he reaches for my hair and nuzzles into my neck...yeah, it assures me that he is still my little boy.

And what a fun time we had celebrating him.  It was more like a week long gala.  On the Wednesday of his birthday week, we met up with some of his buddies at the Monkey's Treehouse for a day of play.  On Thursday, Seth got to go over to Tante and Uncle Tim's for a very special birthday cake making date.  On Friday, Eric took off early and we surprised both boys with a trip to the Discovery Center in Murfreesboro.  And on Friday night, our families made the trip down to celebrate our little, I mean big,  four-year-old. 

Memaw and Pepaw got stuck in traffic, so they headed straight to Unkie Dew and Ticia's house since it was so late by the time they made it in.  We, along with Granny and Aunt B, who made it in earlier, made it a pizza night, with a little UK basketball thrown in!  What a way to celebrate your 4th birthday, by watching the Cats knock off the number one seed of the NCAA tournament.  Well, maybe that would have been a gift more for Eric or I.  But we had a blast cheering them on.  I don't think any of us, except for Aunt B (who actually fell asleep at one point in the game...what??) sat down that entire game.  It was a lot of fun!

After all of the game excitement, thank goodness, Granny thought about decorations for Seth.  In all of the hooplah of the preceding week, we had neglected to do our traditional birthday balloon deco for Seth to wake up to.  Good thinking, Granny.  And thanks to Dada's midnight birthday balloon run, Seth woke up to a little more festiveness. 

It is the little things...

We started out Seth's actual birthday in our typical spring Saturday fashion, with a little soccer action.  The whole gang met up at the soccer fields to watch Biz do his thing. Then, Seth got to pick his birthday lunch spot, which was, of course Moe's.  Then we headed back to our house to unveil his and Tante's birthday cake masterpiece.  When Tante asked Seth what kind of cake he wanted to help her make for his birthday, he did not hesitate when he told her a Mario cake.  Tante enthusiastically accepted the challenge and then asked, "What's a Mario?"

This is a Mario...in cake form. 

Seth had a blast making it and even more fun eating it!

It really was a wonderful day.  It was a wonderful week.

What a blessing it is for him to know the love of family!!!  

Adventures in Narnia...from Caleb's perspective

Caleb sitting still is a rarity.

Caleb electing to write or draw over playing with Legos or figures is almost unheard of.

Until now.

Caleb choosing to sit down and write and illustrate his own books is new, welcomed, and heart warming, especially to this Momma, who spent a great deal of her childhood doing the same thing.

Seeing the excitement on his face after he has accomplished his own creative work is so much fun! 

I know that feeling and I love that Caleb knows it now, too.

Caleb's books are mostly about Narnia.  Eric began reading The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis to the boys right before Christmas and the boys were instantly hooked.  They have almost finished reading book three of the seven book series.  It is such a great series, filled with adventure, battles, fantasy, and Godly themes and undertones.  Our boys love it and spend a great deal of time being King Peter and King Edmond!  (If you know the series and know my boys, I am sure it won't take you long to guess which boy is which.) 

Their good friends, the Bowden brothers, are into Narnia, too, and they spend much of their time together acting out the stories and writing their own versions.  At first, I got a little nervous when the playroom would get really quiet when they were visitng, but to my delight, that usually means they are collaborating on a new book.  I do credit Jacob Bowden for piquing Caleb's interest in writing.  (Or maybe it was me...  Nah, it was probably his buddy.) After Jacob brought over his first book, Caleb was both intriqued and hooked on writing and book making.  Maybe peer pressure...or rather, peer influence, is not always a bad thing.

I hope this interest in creative writing and drawing will last. But if not, at least we have proof of this fun season!

The Author's chair

The Author's first series

Dr. Pepper?

Seth and I were in the car on the way to the chiropractor's office this morning when the following conversation took place.

Seth:  Mmmm...I really like that Dr. Pepper.

Momma: Dr. Pepper?

Seth: Yeah, it is so good.  Can I have that today, please?

My first reaction is to say, "Of course not."  But both my confusion and intrique by this question stop me.  To my knowledge, Seth has no idea what Dr. Pepper is. However, he is being pretty adament that it is treasured treat.  Hmmm...

Momma:  Honey, when have you had Dr. Pepper?

Seth:  You know, when me and Biz are good at Dr. Eric's (our chiropractor) office, we get them.

Finally, the light bulb flashes and I understand what he is talking about.  Our chiropractor has little peppermints that the boys get to have on the way out, as long as they have had good behavior while we are getting our adjustments.  (Yes, I have been known to bribe my children a time or two.)

Peppermints from Dr. Eric's office=Dr. Pepper

Got it!

Momma:  Yes, you may have Dr. Pepper today if you don't misbehave at the chiropractor.

And he went home with his little red and white Dr. Pepper in his cheek.

Birthday Dreams

Those are four-year-old dreams in that sweet little head tonight! 

Happy Birthday to our precious Sethie!

My Leaping Heart

When Caleb first started kindergarten and was gone from me for longer than a couple of hours at a time, he would ask if I was happy to see him when we were back together again.  I would always answer him with, "Caleb, whenever I see you, my heart just leaps."  It is the only way I knew how to describe it. 

Even though he has stopped asking, nearly seven months later, I still tell him about how my hearts leaps for him, whenever we are reunited.

It is so true for him, his little brother, and their daddy.

My heart sure does a lot of leaping.

Extra Fans

There were a few extra fans on hand at the Workman abode on Saturday.  They made their way down to the living room (courtesy of Seth) to cheer on Kentucky in their victory over West Virginia.  Yes, the Cats did triumph and made their way into the Sweet Sixteen.  Yay!  Although Eric and I did not sit down the entire second half of the game, these loyal fans were able to contain themselves with minimal screaming and did not move a single inch. 

That may have been a first for a Kentucky fan in this house during game time.

Seth's "Un" Birthday

Since Seth's preschool will be on spring break next week, his class celebrated his "un" birthday today.    Caleb and I came to visit the last part of the class, which was dedicated to Seth and his "un" birthday party.  Not only did he get to wear a really cool birthday hat all day, he got to share birthday cupcakes with his class.  And what a sweet class he has.  They are just a bunch of little dolls. They all waited so patiently while Caleb passed out plates and I passed out the cupcakes...topped with Super Mario gummies and sprinkles, of course.  Then afterward, Caleb and I got to stand in a circle with them and Mrs. Cindy, while they sang their goodbye song, "You are my sunshine," and then gave each other's hands a goodbye squeeze.  So, so sweet!!

Two years ago, it was Sethie and I visiting Caleb when he was the student in Mrs. Cindy's class.  I thought it was funny how Caleb headed straight for the workshop/building area to play while we cleaned up today. Just like old times.  That was his regular spot in Mrs. Cindy's class and I guess some things never change.  I just cannot believe that has been over two years ago.  My, how time flies.

But today, the big boy we were visiting and celebrating at preschool was Seth!   Believe it or not, he will be FOUR in nine days.  He is no longer that little baby I have to carry in to pick Caleb up from school or the toddler that I have to chase around at class parties.  No, he is a big boy now, who knows how to sit in a circle with his friends and how to patiently sit at his table until all of his friends have finished their lunch or snack.  He has buddies of his own now and carries his own backpack.  He is growing up, that is for sure!  At the speed of light!

But no matter how big he gets, he will always, always, always be Mommy's baby!

Yeah, it really is impossible not to squeeze this sweet little guy!

Happy "Un" Birthday, Sethie!!

Potato head Workmans

Seth's depiction of our family in potato form

Dada, Momma, and Seth....yep, looks just like us!

(Note:  Caleb is still part of the family.  We just only have three potatoheads.)

Some Friendships...

...can endure over five hundred miles of separation and continue to last.

Caleb and Railey

October 2004

March 2011



(This post was completely my sister, Becky's, idea and one that I thought was perfect.)