The Red Bubble Gum

It happened. Campbell put something in her mouth so gross - it made me sick.

A friend and I took the kids to McDonalds after Bible study to play and have lunch since it was so pretty. The kids were playing outside on the playset, and I ran in to get a refill on my drink. When I came back, my friend said - "I think Campbell has something in her mouth..."

No, I had not given her anything - we had finished lunch. This was something she must have found on the playset... YUCK! I could smell the fruity scent as I grabbed a wipe and crammed it in her mouth yelling at her to spit it out, and when I reached in her mouth I pulled out a big wad of CHEWED UP RED BUBBLE GUM... are your stomachs churning yet? Who knows whose gum that was!! And my child was chewing on it!! I'm sure this has happened many times to others, but I thought I was going to pass out. I just hope there aren't too many strange diseases that can be passed from chewing others gum...

YUM! :)

The INhumane Society

I am very sad... I LOVE dogs, and most animals in general. I am NOT an animal rights fanatic, however. But the Humane Society and SPCA commercials on TV always make me cry, and make me want to send money. NO dog should go without food or be mistreated - and it breaks my heart to know that happens. So usually, I would want to support any organization that helped them...

Until now! My dad is a Wildlife Biologist and works for the US Department of Agriculture. Through work he came across an article on the US Humane Society - and sent it to me the other day. It was so sad - apparenly, the President of the Humane Society makes over $500,000 a year and has his own limo driver full time. Also, the organization gives less than 4% - yes 4% - of their profits to animal shelters!! Can you believe that? I am furious... its nothing but a money making scheme. This article was run by several papers - even the New York Post had done an investigation.

So moral of the story is - if you want to give your money to help homeless pets - GIVE IT DIRECTLY TO YOUR LOCAL ANIMAL SHELTER - that is the only way they will get it! Most of these animal activist groups don't really have the interest of the animals in mind at all - just their bank accounts...

Jesus is Alive!

Jesus is Alive mommy! These were the sweet words I heard for weeks until Easter... the funny thing is, Jesus doesn't stop being alive nor do we need to stop reminding ourselves of that fact just because Easter is over. We love and serve a RISEN Lord -
every day of the year!

Our Easter was really special. Campbell started the week before with a party at school, and an Egg Hunt at the park and at Dawson Baptist that Saturday. Ben had to work unfortunately, but sweet Aunt Jess came along for the ride instead! We did get to take daddy dinner to work though - which Campbell loved. She loves to go visit him at the "hapital". At the park Campbell got to jump in the jumping castle, ride the carosel, decorate egg cookies, play with a bubble machine, and attempt to ride a pony. Emphasis on ATTEMPT... she loves horses, so I thought - "hey, this will be great! she would love a pony ride..." So Jess and I wait in the blazing hot sun in a long line for this. Of course when I put her on the pony, she looses it. Maybe next year!

Good Friday night my parents and brother kept Cambpell in Auburn so Ben and I could go to the Secret Church at The Church at Brookhills. We had been once before and were so excited to go again. This is an awesome night the church does twice a year, where they meet on Friday night from 6pm to Midnight for teaching, worship, and to hear missionaries from various areas of the world where the church is persecuted. They translate the teaching from these nights into hundreds of languages to be used as teaching material for these persecuted churches around the world. Its amazing. What a great way to start Easter weekend...

Saturday Ben and I had a little lunch date and he took me to the indoor shooting range here. I said I would go with him as part of his Valentines present - and he took me up on it. :) I really didn't want to go - I am not opposed to guns since I grew up around them, but I do not share this hobby with my husband. Until now... I loved it!! My shooting wasn't too bad either... The details from that trip could be a whole post in itself. :) Then my parents brought Campbell back that night and went to church and lunch with us for Easter. We loved having them here - thanks for coming Honey and Papa!

Campbell got a fun Easter basket with some of her favorites - Easter jewelry, some rings that had lipgloss in them (a mistake i later realized) stickers, candy - and a new table and chairs that are just her size from Honey and Papa. Uncle Brian gave her a huge stuffed duck she fondly calls Charlie Duck, and Aunt Vanny gave her a cute new bathing suit and tshirt she has been carrying around in its bag for days. Aunt Sue sent her a new Elmo book and stickers - she was spoiled! Thanks everyone! We also did a little Easter egg hunt at home, and spent good quality time with some friends that night. It was a great weekend!

My Alarm Clock

I have the most wonderful alarm clock... her name is Campbell.

She doesn't wake me up until 7:30 or 8am usually, which I love. (this was not always the case...) Today, she woke me up with the most beautiful sound... no crying, but a song instead.

As I opened my eyes I heard something on the monitor that went like this...

"twinkle twinkle wittle staa, how i wonda what you arrrr... up abud da woold so high, wike a diamon in da skyyyyy... twinkle twinkle wittle staaa, how i wonda what you arrrrr"

LOVE IT!!

(i know - still no pictures... waiting to get them on the computer, then i'll have some good ones - i promise!)

More Toddler Talk

So today I was changing Campbell and she looked at me and said "Daddy spanks for God." I was amazed! She is too funny...

Ben and I try to explain to her that when she disobeys, she has to have a spanking - since God tells us in the Bible to obey. And just like she has to obey mommy and daddy, mommy and daddy have to obey God. I kind of thought I was telling her these things more to get in the habit for later - but sounds like she might already get it! :) Now if I could get to understand the OBEY part....

I know, I know - its time for some pictures... I'll try to get some up soon.

Peek a Boo with Jesus

So, I know I haven't posted in a while - but seriously, there hasn't been too much going on around here... but for the sake of posting, here is a conversation I had in the car with Campbell this morning - but first let me set the stage... Bens parents gave her some playing cards that have people from the Bible on them (Adam & Eve, Jonah, etc) but Campbell only recognizes Adam and Eve, and calls the rest of them Jesus. :) She was playing with them in the car when this conversation took place...

CAMPBELL: Peek a boo Jesus!
Mommy, where did Jesus go?

ME: I don't know, Campbell - where is Jesus?

CAMPBELL: Here he is! Peek a boo Jesus! (laughs)
Want a bite Jesus?
Mommy, Jesus is hungry!

ME: He is?

CAMPBELL: Yes... here Jesus - eat this in your mouth.
Night Night Jesus... mommy he sleepy.

ME: Night night Jesus.


Oh, conversations with a 2 year old... she does have a vivid imagination! :)
Enjoy your Monday...

Campbells Bday

(scroll over pics for a caption - some of them were cut short)

campbell had a fun-packed birthday week... on tuesday (feb 3) - her actual birthday -we took cookies to school and she had a little party there. honey and papa (my parents) came in town, and we had cake that night before wheel a fortune. then on saturday all our family came in town from auburn and atlanta and we took her to chuck e cheese... i thought this would be a hit - and the games and pizza were - but NOT the mouse, chuck e cheese himself. she FLIPPED! for days she kept saying, "all done mouse!" guess we'll have to wait a few years to go to disney... we still had fun, and my brother brian and his girlfriend savannah came in town that night. campbells got to show them the park, and her favorite ice cream place. i can't believe she is already two - she'll be driving before we know it...

Sunny Cali

So here are the long overdue pics from the LA trip... did my girl Hannah do good or what? $40,000 - not too shabby... Sorry, no pics from the show - they didn't even allow cameras anywhere near the studio. And yes, there is a picture of Amanda Bynes (What I like about you, Hairspray, etc)and her man thats on The Hills (Villacampas - y'all will be impressed!)... we saw them in their Range Rover and got a picture as she turned her head! :) I love that we got to walk on the beach in January - it was over 85 degrees!

Dear friends and family...

We are not ignoring you, nor have we forgotten to call you back - or call you at all... we are out of minutes! I hate this time of the month - the end of the billing cycle, when every month without fail - we run out of minutes early. I'm sure you are asking, "why not get more minutes?" I ask Ben the same question... :) But we are trying to work with this plan for now, so until this weekend - we can only text, and we are almost out of text messages too... perfect. :)

For those of you with verizon - we can talk for free! Otherwise, we'll have to put our conversations on hold until the weekend. :) Stay tuned for LOTS of pictures from the weekend and Campbells birthday...

Have a great Monday!

Tomorrow - The Big Day

 

 

 

Campbell Grace is TWO! Tomorrow, Feb. 3rd - my little girl will be two... the pictures above are of the day she was born, her 1st birthday, and today. Its amazing to see how fast she has grown, and to remember the days that she couldn't walk or talk - and now she is saying full sentences, counting above 10, saying the ABCs, singing Jesus loves me, telling me she loves me and the name of our new president. :) i wish i could go back and relive it again - even the bad days. but since i can't, i am going to try to love the here and now and cherish it - even the bad days. :) i love you my sweet little girl - your dad and i could not have prayed for a more wonderful child - we love you to pieces!


Side Notes:

-tomorrow is also big because it is my friend Hannah's (and maybe a bit of me too) debut on WHEEL OF FORTUNE! if you are in birmingham in is on ABC 33/40 at 6:30pm. Don't miss it! :)

-HAPPY BIRTHDAY JESS! today is one of my most special and oldest friends birthday... i love you and am so thankful for you!

The Wheel!

Wheel a Fortune fans... eat your heart out... I am going to LA to be on the show!! Not as a contestant unfortunately, but my friend Hannah is - and her sister, another friend and I are going with her! The taping is in a week, but not sure when it will air yet... I just can't believe we will be on a live taping (wait... that means it ISN'T live... oh well) of the show! Maybe Vanna will be sick that day and hopefully they will take volunteers from the audience :)

Also - be praying for Ben... he leaves for a medical mission trip to Africa soon, and needs prayer for their safety and for God to open the hearts of the people they minister to. Its a really neat opportunity - but Campbell and I need prayer too - this is a long time to be without daddy! :)

Our streak is over...

Well, we somehow managed to go 2 whole years with no ear infections - until this week. Campbell has had a cough for a while, and since had been weeks - I called the nurse. She wanted to see her, and of course it was her ears... I was so sad to break such a good streak! But, so thankful that we made it this long without them. Now if we can just get rid of this cough...

And I know, I know... I'm terrible. It's after New Years and I haven't even put the Christmas pictures up yet. They are coming... I promise.

Christmas Craziness

Sorry for being so tardy with this post...the Christmas Season is in full swing, and so is my stress! :) I am pretty much done with my shopping and decorating - so that feels good. But I am figuring out that what would save us all a lot of time and stress - would be if we bought a few presents for ourselves (so we could get the things we REALLY want) and just do presents for the kids in our lives. (that really enjoy it) And spend our money on the people who REALLY have needs - the angel tree kids at our churches, the troops, giving money to missionaries. The birth of our Saviour is what Christmas is really about - not the craziness. We bring that on ourselves... Although, I really do love buying gifts - and to see a smile and know they really do like what they got!

On that note, I want to let y'all know about something I heard on the radio. Southern Link Wireless is collecting cards, letters, and care packages to send to the troops overseas that are from our area. They are doing this in several states - not just Alabama. So go to www.southernlink.com/community and click on the soldier option. It will give you all the details for what they need. All you have to do is drop the things off at one of their locations (listed on the site). Campbell and I are writing letters and making Christmas cards to send, and I also went to the Dollar Tree and loaded up on stuff for the care packages. They have TONS of stuff that they need, and it doesn't cost much! Please consider doing this - we should be so thankful for our troops - and they deserve a great Christmas being so far from home...

Part of the Christmas Craziness at our house has been Ben working extra to make some money to put towards Christmas... this has left me and Campbell a little lonely - but we are thankful for his hard work! It was so sad - Ben hardly saw Campbell at all this week (he was on call several times, and worked late). Wednesday night he came home at 6, but then had to leave again at 6:20. He picked Campbell up to tell her by before leaving again, and she looked at him and said "Dada workin?" He answered yes, and she replied "All done workin!" It broke my heart - she wanted him to be all done!
Poor Ben was a little teary too, so hopefully he can have some time off soon.

I heard someone say the other day on TV that it doesn't surprise him that people get so stressed during Christmas. What other time do we try to send a card to everyone we know, buy a gift for everyone we know, redecorate our house, and visit all our family - all in less than one month! :)

Stay tuned for pictures of our tree, Campbell, etc!

Congrats Ben!

We are very proud of Ben... he was offered the Chief Resident position at Baptist, and he took it! His "chief year" will be the year after he finishes residency (he'll start it in a year and a half). They ask 1 or 2 people to do this each year, and they oversee the residents, do scheduling, take care of some of the administrative stuff, get to teach, etc. All of which Ben will be GREAT at! :) The part I am excited about, is he will have a VERY easy schedule, and will be home with us a lot more - yea! It also means we will have 1 more year in Birmingham - which we are really excited about since we are really just now feeling settled in our house and church, making new friends, etc. We'll see what the Lord has in store after that...

Fall Fun

We have definitely been enjoying our fall... we have been to Dr.Crosby's pumpkin patch in Auburn, the Pumpkin Festival here in Birmingham at the Botanical Gardens, and the Fall Festival at Dawson Baptist. We still have more to come this weekend - with our church's Fall Festival tailgate on Sunday - pictures to come soon...

Campbell LOVED the Fall Festival at Dawson - they had a mini carosel to ride with mommy, tea cups to ride with Daddy and our friends the Booths (the dads squeezed into 1 tea cup together with the girls - it was hilarious!), cotton candy, snow cones, and a band! It was such a fun night... Campbell didn't wear her real Halloween costume (it was too much to play in) but she did wear her tutu. Thanks for inviting us Booth family!

Dr.Crosbys pumpkin patch was a hit too. We had mommy, daddy, Campbell, Honey, Aunt Jess, Aunt Kimmie, and much of the Crosby clan there. We got to run through the pumpkins, dig in the corn, and go on a hay ride!

My friend Jamie and I took the girls to the Botanical Gardens while the men were working - and we ran into our friends Kari and Ellie there too! It was fun while it lasted, but really the girls just loved running free through the gardens - although Campbell didn't understand why should couldn't pick those flowers...

Happy Fall!