JJ the Mourning Dove

Third and final post for the day. We now have a mourning dove that Kolton has named JJ. When I was watering my hanging plant in the backyard Sunday I noticed a bird had started building a nest. Monday I went out and JJ and I startled each other when we came (almost) eye to eye...not really...she looked down, I looked up and there she was. I saw one egg when she wasn't on the nest but she hasn't moved since so I'm not sure how many babies will hatch. Robert took a great picture which I'll have to post. I have to admit I had no idea what kind of bird she was until my dad came over and saw her. At least I knew which types of birds she wasn't!

Baby Girl

Robert and I have decided on a girl name...Emma. Now I need a middle name and am up for suggestions. So far our favorite is Kate thanks to Aunt Cindy. We've also discussed Katherine after my mom. People keep saying Grace and the answer to that is NO. Josh's best friend's name is Grace and she is a MESS. Any suggestions on a middle name are welcome as long as you don't get your feelings hurt if we don't use your name!! We keep hearing how popular Emma is for a girl but we don't know any. Josh would have been Abby Elizabeth but now we don't like that name. My dad says no matter what her middle name is he'll be calling her Emma Lou...poor girl.

Nothing to Blog

My friend Hannah got onto me for not keeping up with my blog. Said she keeps checking it and nothing new!

Over Memorial Day weekend we shopped a little, and swam a lot. We had a great family weekend and Robert didn't have to go anywhere! He's been very busy since Mark left w/deacon meetings, and youth meetings for the upcoming mission trip but over the weekend he was home all day..almost.

Friday I made my first official purchase for our baby girl. I used to look at girl clothes and Robert would run me out of the girl department but this time I got to look AND buy. 5 outfits in one weekend isn't so bad..right?!

Saturday our church had "Music in the Park" in Wylie. I sat in the shade under a tree while the kids ran around from playground to bouncehouse then we took them swimming. Sunday was church and more swimming, Monday was a little more shopping and you guessed it...more swimming! Maybe I'm a darker shade of white now!

Summer Time

Summer is offically here! Yesterday I took the boys to the "new" pool in the neighboorhood and Cindy and Justine came too. Justine is the only little person Kolton likes. When asked if he wanted a brother or sister he said "just Justine". We tried the spray park/pool first but someone had an "accident" so we were off to another one. I really love the fact that our neighboorhood has 4 pools in it. Today I had to go shopping for a preggo swimsuit...you know how much fun that was! And no I won't be posting a picture of myself in it!

Robert and I found out today we are having a girl!! We really didn't care if it was a boy or girl but honestly, does our house need another boy?? Not really.

I called to tell Kolton he was going to have a sister and here is how the conversation went:

Me: How was school?
Kolton: Good.
Me: I was calling to tell you you are going to have a little sister.
Kolton: K
Me: Is that better than having another brother?
Kolton: Hey Mom
Me: Yea
Kolton: Can dad give me back my $15? I want to go buy legos tonight.

He's such a man in training.....

Baby Mama Drama

Tonight was ladies night out again at church..remember we only get to go out once a month. This time instead of dinner we went to the movies and saw Baby Mama...so funny. There were only 3 of us there, me, Cari and Monica. Apparently Baptists prefer food over movies because when we go out for dinner a lot of church hens show up!! Anway, the movie was hilarious!!! Not as funny as 27 Dresses which we saw the last time we went to the movies, but this one kept us laughing too.

Forrest Family Farewell

Well, it's official. Mark preached his last sermon at MRBC today and I didn't have a meltdown. I got a little teary eyed when Gina lost it on stage while she was singing but Mark held it together which helped me hold it together. Of course I had my meltdown weeks ago so that's probably why I did ok today.

After church we had a nice dinner for the Forrest crew and they were showered with gifts, hugs, and of course tears. The church put together a scrapbook for them which I got to look at and some of the pictures were so funny! When Mark and Gina came to Murphy Road they were 31 and had only 3 kids...Emily was 6! Now they are over 40, Emily is 16 and they have a total of 6 kids!! It was fun looking back at the old pictures of the kids. I think out of all the kids, Robert and I have enjoyed watching Emily grow the most probably because we work in the youth group. We've enjoyed all the kids but to watch Emily go from being 10 when we joined the church to now driving at the age of 16!

I know Robert and I will see Mark and Gina again before they leave leave...as in actually move to Granbury so maybe that's why I didn't meltdown today either. I've never seen Gina cry and today there wasn't a time when she wasn't crying. I stand corrected....I think the entire Forrest family is emotionally drained over the move..even Gina.

I couldn't find many pictures of the Forrests but I did find one of Josh and Olivia at his 4th birthday (she's on the right in the black) and Mark (he's in the middle), with my dad, Hannah and Brian at the party too.

A Day in East Texas

Saturday Robert took me shopping for Mother's Day. I spent way too much money at MOTHERHOOD MATERNITY!!!! The store at Collin Creek Mall closed so I hit the one in Longview since we were there this weekend. Maternity clothes have come a long way since I was pregnant with Kolton...I actually got some cute stuff. I broke down and bought shirts that 'tie in the back'...remind me of an apron for some reason. Can I ask, who thought it would be cute to put elastic in maternity shirts?!!! Probably a man. Robert of course had not gotten anything for his mom for Mother's Day or her birthday which was Friday so we took her shopping too.

Saturday afternoon Robert and cool Uncle Mike took all the kids (almost) and one of Katherine's friends out on his boat. I love to go boating but decided I should stay indoors for the sake of my upper respiratory system! The kids had a great time tubing and swimming. Kolton thinks Uncle Mike is the best because of his boat and pool.

Nursing School Grad

Today we attended Robin's graduation ceremony (this is a picture of her and her sister). She graduated with her nursing degree from UT Tyler and I'm surprised she didn't work tonight! We missed her pinning ceremony this morning which is where Patricia, who is also a RN, pinned Robin with her own RN pin. We ended up not being able to leave town last night and I still feel like crap so we didn't get up early this morning to make it to Tyler by 10. I guess the pinning ceremony was the one to go to but at least we made it to the second ceremony which was for all graduates of the School of Nursing and Health Science which included a lot more than just the new nurses. They even recognized residents who finished residency at a hospital in Tyler. Can you imagine doing your residency in Tyler, TX? Somehow I don't picture Grey's......

Robin will keep working the night shift in the ICU at a Longview hospital except now she'll get paid a lot more! Robert and I joke that it's a great place for her to start...patients are already critical so she can't screw up too bad. Of course we are just kidding. Robin is very smart...today was her second college graduation. Her first degree is in Psychology and now Nursing. She loves school and breezes through Bachelor degree programs while being mom to 2 girls and a wife to Mike. The Watson gang is pround of Aunt Robin!!!!

Mother's Day Tea

Josh's preschool had a "Mother's Day Tea" at school this afternoon. It was all very cute. The fellowship hall was decorating cute and Josh gave me a "flower" when I got there and escorted me to our table to be served cheesecake...my fav. All the kids were given a "Mother's Day Interview" and here is what Josh had to say:

Why did God make mothers? Cause He has to. He made everything.

How did God make mothers? He snapped her together.

Why did God give you your mother and not some other mom? Cause my dad wanted that mommy.

Why did your mom marry your dad? Because she wanted to.

What's the difference between moms and dads? Dad kills weeds with his sprayer, Mom washes clothes.

What's mom's favorite thing to do? Lay down and work on her laptop.

Hold old is your mom? 40

What is the best food mom makes for you? Muffins

If your mom was an animal, what kind of animal would she be? A lion

What do you like best about your mom? She hugs me.

What do you do that makes your mom happy? Fold clothes.

Diagnosis Bronchitis

Still feeling bad...went to the doctor yesterday and I have bronchitis again. We are headed to East Texas tomorrow night for Robin's graduation from nursing school so I hope I feel better!!

Poor Josh...except for going out to school this week, he hasn't been out much since I've been in sick. Our church is at bouncetown in Wylie tonight and Cindy picked him up to take him so he could get out of the house today. He's been pretty bored this week.

As I'm watching "Extra" I have to ask the question... Clay Aiken...straight or gay? Robert says straight, I say gay....

Random stuff

I copied this from Cari who copied it from Melissa! Some facts you may or may not know about me!

1. Four places I go over and over: work, home, Kolton's school, church

2. Four jobs I have had in my life: mom, receptionist, grocery bagger, office manager

3. Four people who e-mail me regularly: my dad, Helen, the school nurse, Robert

4. Four of my favorite foods: cheesecake, mexican food, pizza, seafood

5. Four Places you would rather be right now: I like being home so the only other place I'd rather be is in the Bahamas.

6. Four places I have lived: San Angelo TX, Guam, Wichita KS, Manhattan KS (Go Wildcats!)

7. Four TV shows I watch: Grey's, ER, Desperate Housewives, Brothers & Sisters

8. Four movies I have watched more than once: Steel Magnolias, Pretty Woman, Cars, Top Gun

9. Four places I have been: Bahamas, Atlanta GA, Anaheim CA, Austin TX

10. Four things I am looking forward to in 2008: our new baby's arrival, Hannah's baby's arrival, vacation, getting a new pastor at church

11. Four Pet Peeves: Corollas in the fast lane, my kids when they don't listen to me, people who think type 1 and type 2 diabetes are the same, people who call my cell phone over and over and over and over.....

Sniffles

Today my allergies are no better. I didn't sleep well last night due to the sore throat. You know it's bad when you feel better getting up and going to the 8:30 service than you do staying in bed. So I went to the early service, went to youth Sunday school, and then worked in the bed babies room, then went out to eat after church, then came home and crashed!!!! My throat feels a little better but not great. I hate not feeling good. :(

Over It Part 2

So in my blog last night it must have been the tequila talking, or in my case the benedryl. Although I still feel Mark has checked out I've had a perspective change. I think the calling to Granbury has been very hard on Mark and in his sermon today and I'm sure in his sermon next week, he is helping the church prepare for change. I think he is focused on his task ahead and from what I can tell he's about to venture into unknown territory. The church he is going to had the same pastor for a long time until he retired and now Mark gets to step in! The new church voted him in so let's hope they all like the new guy.

Over It

For those of you who go to church with me, you may want to skip this blog and not read it. Just a warning.

If you read my meltdown blog and updates blog, you know the my pastor and his wife are leaving the church....old news. And obviously I was having a very hard time with the news at first but now I'm just simply over it.

I feel like Mark checked out weeks ago. I know he's ready to move on to his new church but what about where he is now and has been for the past 10 years? It seems like he's been gone now for several weeks. I'm kinda disappointed in the whole way his resignation was handled in regard to how some people found out about it. (And if you go to MRBC you know what I mean).

Our church is having a dinner for Mark and Gina on his last Sunday which I am all for. Tomorrow the praise band and families are going out to eat with them for a farewell dinner and I think we are suppose to pitch in for a gift. Robert and I already got them something from our family so I'm out on another gift. Then I found out the church is taking up a love offering for them tomorrow too. You can guess my reaction to that one too. He's LEAVING...our church never did this much stuff for him the entire 10 years he was here!!!!

Maybe Robert and I are over it because we have known for a month (?) now that Mark and Gina are leaving and have had time to go through all the emotions....we are both ready to move on. We will miss the Forrest family because to us they really are more than just the pastor and his wife. We've known them longer than we've been married but we are ready to take the next step with the church. (And yes Gina knows Robert has said "cut the cord" and move on and she's still not happy with him for saying that!)

Ok, church hens...stop gasping for air....

Allergies

Don't you just love Texas allergies?! Mine are in full swing and all I can take is Benedryl..lucky me.

Today started with a football game at 10:00 and it was FREEZING outside! My mom, dad and I were covered up with blankets and couldn't get to the car fast enough when the game was over. Kolton made a touchdown and several interception attempts. He's still the QB but loves playing defense too.

This afternoon we planted flowers in our massive flower bed. Some people can plant flowers in their yard and be done in an hour...not us. Takes all day long and I was too tired when we were done to take a picture. Not a great thing to be outdoors today with allergies but o well.