Singer in a Marching Band?

Last night we went to watch the Madison Scouts Drum and Bugle Corp rehearse at Stewart Stadium. Jay marched with the Scouts in 1999. Eve liked watching the color guard practice and said, "Wook! They're twirlin'!" when she saw the rifles. She liked the cymbal crashes and pointed out the tubas and trumpets. She cheered everytime they stopped playing and shouted, "Good job!" while clapping with her hands over her head. We told her that Daddy used to play the tuba (contra) and Mommy used to spin a flag. I asked her what she wanted to play and Eve said, "Hmmm... I fink I will sing!"
Note: I can't find another background I like so I am sticking with this one for now... despite all the negative comments... I said I would only listen if I agreed... :)

New Feature!

Notice under Eve's birthday countdown ticker that I have added a new feature to my blog! It is a virtual scrapbook. I just downloaded the software from a free website called www.smilebox.com and quickly created a scrapbook that I can attach to my blog site. After creating my photobook for our Florida vacation I have been looking for more ways to scrapbook digitally. This software is really neat and I can even print the pages!! Enjoy!

Church

Eve has become much more aware of the church services going on around her each Sunday and Wednesday. Sometimes she will give the play-by-play, "Wook, mommy! People praying!" "Wisten, Mommy! Daddy singing!" She loves the singing most. This morning she asked, "Mommy, what Mr. Todd doing?" Mr. Todd is our song leader who does an awesome job. Tonight we had a song service and after every song Eve would say, "We gonna sing some more songs, Mommy?" When I would tell her yes she would get excited. Today when the Lord's Supper was passed she asked, "Time to eat, Mommy?" She wanted some of the grape juice, but I told her it was only for grown-ups. So, I gave her the usual quarter and she announced, "Wook! Here it comes! Here comes the baksick!" and she dropped her quarter in happily. She loves Sunday school and I always get a good report on her behavior. Today the teacher even said she was a good helper! (Now, I am a teacher and I know what this really means... She was the brown-nosing, bossy daughter of two teachers who kept her know-it-all nose in everyone's business and "helped" her friends with their papers.) The best comment she has made in a while came after the sermon today. Last week, two people came forward to be baptized and Eve watched the event with great interest. So, this week, when someone came forward to only ask for prayers Eve expected more action. After Mr. John led a prayer, Mr. Todd began leading a song at which point Eve asked, "Is somebody gonna go swimming?"

I certainly appreciate the humor of seeing our church services from a two-year-old point of view, but my heart is warmed by the under-lying point. Even at the age of two Eve is noticing what is happening around her and is learning about something that Jay and I hope will one day be the center of her life... God. The icing on the cake is that in her own way she is beginning to take part in church and, to some extent, enjoy it!

In these pics Eve was practicing her ballet (like Ruby does) before church this evening. They are blurry because she was in constant motion and had trouble balancing in a pose long enough for my camera to capture it.

Our Topless Princess

I had some cute pictures of Eve I thought I would post... of course they have stories to go with them...

Eve has a new jewelry box filled to the brim with lovely plastic jewelry. She loves to put it on and take it off and organize it in the little drawers. It is just like Ruby's (off her favorite TV show, "Max and Ruby"). On this occasion she had just fancied up her elephant. She told me, "Take a picture, Mommy. Elphant is BOO-FUL!"

Recently Eve got a new toy box from Mrs. Alvey at school. She loves it!! More than fill it with toys, though, she likes to climb inside. She gets in and pretends to put on a magic show (also something she picked up from Ruby). It took me a while to figure out why she kept referring to Jaclyn as she would play. She was saying, "Ladies and Jack-a-len!"You may have noticed that Eve is topless in the photo above. This is a new endearing habit... she hates wearing shirts! My favorite time was when she came up to me in her Cinderella skirt with no shirt and told me, "Mommy, I look like a princess!" Here she is saying her lunch time prayer topless. We don't think God minds, but we are hoping she outgrows this phase quickly!!

"Construction"

I am in the process of trying to find just the right background for my blog. This one seems a little busy, but I like the colors...
Let me know your opinions as I test out my favorites. If I agree with you, I'll listen. Ha!

Big Girl Bed

This week has been busy! Kacey and Finley have been in town visiting. Micah joined them this weekend. It has been fun having them around. We always miss them when they are gone, but now that Finley has joined the family, and we can see how much she grows between visits, we realize how much we miss. That's okay, though... we will look forward to the next time they visit and enjoy every minute with them we get!! For those wondering, Jay and Micah did play golf twice this weekend. Jay wants me to mention that he won both times. Fortunately for Micah no crazy bets were placed this time. Jay should plan his victories better!!

After continuing to have trouble getting Eve to sleep in her crib without her pappies, we decided to try letting her sleep in the twin bed already in her bedroom. She has been doing well! She knows not to get up, but to call out if she needs us and she is napping much better. This has certainly been a summer of growing up for Eve... she is truly such a big girl... sniff, sniff.Now that we know she will sleep in the big bed... we have invested in a bed rail... don't worry!

Okay... So, as you can see we are still trying to convince her that this big girl bed is a good thing...

Indepedence Day

We have had a fun-filled weekend of July Fourth activities! On Friday Tim, Emily, Zak, Daddy, Mommy and Eve all went to Grammy and Grandad's house for supper... after Daddy, Tim and other friends played golf, of course. Then on Saturday morning we all attended the parade. Eve did not like the sirens so Daddy taught her how to hold her ears. She did enjoy all the candy, cars, trucks, tractors, horses and mules, though!After the parade we all chose a place from which to by BBQ on the square and then brought it back to our house to eat. Eve didn't care for the barbecue, but the rest of us enjoyed it... even if it did cost $6 a sandwich! After lunch Eve napped while Daddy and Uncle P went to... you guessed it... play golf!

Last night we had a quiet supper at home and then headed over to the church building to watch the fireworks. We ate cookies, visited with family and friends and took lots of pictures while waiting for the fireworks to begin. When Eve grew restless she and I collected a cup-full of rocks from the landscaping. Eve played with those rocks the entire rest of the night! She wasn't afraid of the fireworks, but didn't really like the loud booms. She asked Daddy more than once to, "turn it off." Isn't it amazing how children think their fathers can do anything? I know if he had a giant remote with which he could mute the sound he would have. Isn't it also amazing how fathers will do anything for their little girls?

This morning Eve wore a special dress to church. I made it for her last year in the hopes that she would wear it on July 4th, then. Unfortunately my sewing skills are lacking and the dress was way too big last year. Fortunately, it fit perfectly this year!

New Friend and "New" Toy

On Wednesday Eve and I finally got to meet Baby Jaclyn. She is so sweet and cute! Eve was a little confused as to where Luke was (since his mom's name is Jaclyn, too) and she mistakenly called the baby Finley and Tremp a couple of times, but she loved her nonetheless.
I thought I would add this last picture because it just makes me laugh. No one can ever say that we don't buy Eve the very best of everything! These are the world's most expensive building blocks... you are looking at about a $150 castle here!!

A Happy Birthday

I am officially enterring the last year of my twenties. (Or, as Sarah so kindly pointed out, I am officially starting my thirtieth year... Thanks, Sis!)
When I came in from my training yesterday Eve met me at the door to exclaim, "We got Mommy a prize!" Apparently she and Daddy had been shopping while I was gone. Jay tried to explain to Eve that it was a secret... it was a sweet moment. They gave me a beautiful blue picture frame that is perfect for one of the blue beach pictures from Florida. Daddy says Eve picked it out all by herself! Today I had the joy of sitting through another day of training for school with my M.E.S. team members. (Go, Universe!) Grammy and Grandad brought me a cake complete with lit candles this evening and Mom and Dad got me the traditional DQ cake when they were here over the weekend.
A big thank you to all of you who have sent your happy birthday wishes via text message (Dad's wins for coming from the farthest away and Vaneece's wins for being the longest.), phone call (Special thanks to Mamaw, PawPaw and Lisa for the traditional Johnson song.), voice mail, e-mail and snail mail. (Props to Boof for sending all five!)
Birthdays are always a time to reflect on what a blessed life I lead. I have such good friends, such loving a family and the best husband and daughter for which anyone could ask.
GOD IS GOOD!!
P.S. I am sure many of you are concerned about Eve's pappies... or lack-there-of. She is getting better everyday, but still cries a bit when she goes to bed. In the mornings, though, she wakes up singing!!