Rhodes Rules

Our Blog Has Moved!!!

2008-04-23T19:38:00.002-05:00

Hey everyone, our blog has found a new address. If you have this link in your favorites, remember to change it. We will not be posting on here anymore.

The new address is:

rhodesrules.wordpress.com

Playland Paradise

2008-04-19T20:48:00.002-05:00

When it comes to parks, we've been around the block a time or two. The boys love, love, love to be let loose to romp and run and climb and play. Aaron, Caleb, and I went to the grand-daddy of all parks today to attend a birthday party. We could only stay for a short time because we had to get back to Jonathan's game; but here are a few pictures of the boys playing and singing to the birthday boy, Ethan.

Rise and Shine!

2008-04-19T20:40:00.004-05:00

Our Aaron has such a sweet spirit and tender little heart. Five minutes hardly ever pass without him checking in on Levi. He can be found every morning peeking over Levi's bassinet before Levi wakes up. And this morning, since we weren't rushing him to get ready for school, he just watched Levi sleep for a long time. So I thought I'd take a picture to remember these precious brotherly love moments. Levi doesn't realize just how loved and blessed he really is!

Stop and Think

2008-04-18T21:04:00.002-05:00

We've been working with the boys about how we stop and think before we make a choice to do something. This is a huge work still in major progress. We had to reiterate our point with Caleb twice today. First when he thought it would be a good idea to smear yogurt all over the window in the truck; and second, when he decided to dump out water from a water gun on Aaron's head. But I think this idea of thinking is finally starting to wear off on the boys. Evidence of this is found in the following conversation I overheard today as the boys were coloring in the playroom. I'm thinking they were about to dump the crayons out of the box, which would have made a big mess.

Caleb: Let me color, too.

Aaron: Wait! Now let's stop and think about what we're doing.

Caleb: Will we get in trouble for doing this?

Aaron: Well, we better not.

And their playroom is still neat and tidy!

Put a Smile On

2008-04-18T20:33:00.003-05:00

Little Levi is starting to smile!! Here are some pics of one of his first!

School Daze

2008-04-14T20:20:00.000-05:00

Jonathan and Aaron attend one of the best schools in our state and are learning lots. Their teachers keep them engaged in fun, yet educational, learning activities, and provide an environment where parents are strongly encouraged to be a significant part of students' experiences. Though the school is not a Christian school, Christian values and morals provide the background for the leadership and faculty. We feel very blessed for our kiddos to go to this school, and we even enjoy supporting and participating in many of its activities.

The following pictures are from Jonathan's Valentine's/Grandparents' Program. We also took video, but I'm trying to figure out how to shorten to just the highlights of the production.

Earlier this year, Aaron's class took a field trip to the Children's Museum of Memphis; and Jeff captured some of the fun on camera.

And today, Aaron's class had another field trip to the Memphis Zoo; so Jeff and I tagged along with Levi and Caleb in tow. After the first hour, the bottom fell out of the sky; and down came the rain. Before the flood, we saw lots of the zoo and had a great time with Aaron's friends we were assigned to chaperon, Jerryun and Adam.

Guitar Heroes and Rock Stars

2008-04-14T10:18:00.001-05:00

We pray for our boys' future success everyday, and hope they always have high aspirations and set huge goals for themselves. We express our expectations to them all the time, and try to motivate them along their life's journeys, wherever that may lead. With all that being said, Jonathan and Aaron may have found their calling recently as rock stars.

Jonathan was introduced to Guitar Hero on the Wii a few weekends ago, and was hooked from the start. He stayed up late, refusing to put it down until he "rocked" the song "Slow Ride." He finally succeeded and is ready for us to buy him the game so he can rock it out on the other songs. In the picture, you can see him playing lead; and Aaron is helping out with his own guitar.

Aaron, with the help of long-distance friends, Priscilla and Cameron Grace, put on a rock concert for all of us. He was the lead singer and Priscilla played the guitar. We must also give credit to Priscilla for designing the costume and writing the song that Aaron wasn't quite able to read and perform. However, the concert was a complete success. We recorded it, but it's taking a while to figure out how to get it just right to upload. So these are just a sampling of how rockin' it was.

The boys make us proud everyday with all they accomplish, and we know there's much more for them to attain. Whether or not they are guitar heroes or rock stars, we hope they know we will always be beside them (or in the crowd) cheering them on!

Little Levi

2008-04-13T09:56:00.001-05:00

It's been a month, and Levi is not so little anymore! Our baby boy is growing like crazy, no matter how much I want him to stay my baby boy. At four weeks old, Levi's favorite things are eating, sleeping, and staring at lights. He just started grinning at us on April 8th, which we all find adorable! He is also starting to sleep longer at night, so we're getting more rest.

I have totally loved having a new baby. We say he is completely spoiled because he really likes to be held and cuddled; but I just can't help it. He is our last baby, so I want to relish every minute I have with him. My favorite moments are when I am feeding him, and he grabs hold of my thumb and pinkie and squeezes as hard as he can. I look at his little fingers around mine and dream of what great things his little hands will do and what awesome plans God has in store for my baby's future.

Even Levi's big brothers continually take care of him. They check on him every morning, hold him after school, and dispense hugs and sugars at bedtime. When he cries, they stick his paci in his mouth and pat his tummy or rub his little forehead. It is a such a joy to watch as they love their baby brother with all their heart!

Anyway, there you have it-Levi's life story so far. Hope you enjoy the pics!

Growing Grass, Growing Jonathan

2008-04-12T12:00:00.004-05:00

So it's finally Spring, which brings warm weather and tall grass. Jeff went out to mow last weekend, and Jonathan thought he would give it a try too! Here's our big guy mowing the lawn. . . we can't believe he's even close to old enough!

Surprise!

2008-04-09T11:10:00.000-05:00

The Thursday before Easter, Jeff and I spontaneously decided to head back home for the holidays to surprise our family. So Friday night at 9:00 we pulled into my unsuspecting parents' driveway, and boy were they happy!!

We spent Saturday with Jeff's brothers and sisters cooking out, and all the grandkids hunted Easter eggs. I forgot the camera, but Jeff's mom captured the fun. I'll post pictures as soon as I get them.

After dying eggs, we had Easter dinner at Mama Nance and Daddy Wayne's, where we also flew kites and hunted eggs again.

While in town, we also visited Jeff's Mammaw and Roy, my Mammaw and Papa Don, Aunt Cathy and Jordan, and even Becky. Everyone was excited to see us, but even more excited to hold little Levi!

More Levi and More Visitors

2008-04-08T10:07:00.000-05:00

Levi is just melting our hearts. We love him more and more each day. After Ma and Pa's visit, Nana and Pepaw had to come see their new grandbaby. Even after 12 grandkids already, Levi found some room in their hearts of course! While Nana and Pepaw were here, Pepaw and the boys competed with the Wii; and we took them on the "tour" of Memphis, where we stopped at the Peabody Place and ate some BBQ at Jillian's. These are some pictures of the visit, as well as some more at the hospital and coming home. . .

Ready or Not, Here He Comes!

2008-04-06T09:39:00.000-05:00

It seems as if time just flew by as we waited for Levi; and before we knew it, the time had come. And we weren't quite ready! Some friends of mine threw a surprise baby shower, thankfully; and we received some clothes, diapers and supplies, and a playpen. Besides that, we didn't have much more. We've borrowed a crib, but we had to buy pretty much everything else. Jeff's parents sent us a new stroller/carseat combo, which we are extremely grateful for. My parents, grandparents, and aunt sent lots of goodies like bottles, blankets, and more clothes. So all this to say: we were totally prepared by the time Levi arrived!! Thanks to everyone who supplied us with the physical needs, and also thanks to everyone who's lifted us up in your prayers!!

Here are a few pictures of the many preparations. . .

Snow Day

2008-04-05T11:47:00.000-05:00

On March 7, the boys were dismissed early from school because we finally had a good snowfall! So, of course, they played outside building a snowman, throwing snowballs, chasing Dip, and making snow angels until it melted the next day. Even Dip loved rolling, running, and playing in the snow!

Off With the Training Wheels

2008-04-04T11:40:00.000-05:00

On the first of March, Aaron rode his bike without training wheels. It just took one try and he was off! Yay for Aaron! Way to go!

Our Magical Vacation

2008-04-02T10:44:00.000-05:00

After Christmas, we travelled to Orlando, Florida, for our family vacation since Levi was arriving during our usual vacation time, Spring Break. We hopped a plane in Memphis heading toward Atlanta, and arrived in Orlando that afternoon. The boys were mesmerized on the planes as we flew through the clouds, and watched the houses and cars on the ground grow smaller and smaller. Once we landed, we boarded the Magical Express bus which dropped us off at the Yacht Club, our WDW resort home for the week.

That first evening we took a shuttle to Downtown Disney and enjoyed dinner and dessert at the Rainforest Cafe. Afterwards, despite the cool temperature outside, the boys had fun playing in the water fountains at Downtown Disney. Since it was already late, we went back "home" for a good night's sleep since we had a busy week in store.

The first park we visited was the Magic Kingdom. Luckily, since I was almost 7 months pregnant, we received a pass to skip to the front of every line, good at all the Disney parks for the remainder of our stay. The highlights of Magic Kingdom were Tom Sawyer Island, the roller coasters, Splash Mountain, and the Jungle Boat where Jonathan drove for the whole tour! We ate lunch at Crystal Palace and visited with all the Pooh characters. The boys paraded through the "forest" behind Winnie the Pooh and friends.

The next day, we were all exhausted; but we got up anyway and headed to Animal Kingdom. The Lion King show and the Bug's Life 4-D experience were our favorite activities. We also sang along to Christmas songs with a group of carolers.

Our third day, we were better rested and spent the day and celebrated Jeff's birthday at Epcot. We had breakfast with Goofy, Minnie Mouse, and Chip 'n' Dale at Cape May Cafe; and later we ate lunch in the Coral Reef Cafe, where we were surrounded by a huge aquarium. We also watched the special New Year's fireworks show at the end of the day.

On New Year's Eve, we hung out at MGM Studios where we watched the Indiana Jones stunt show and another stunt show with cars, motorcycles, and jet skis. Although we were rained on throughout the day, we still had a blast. We ate lunch in a car at Sci-Fi Dine In, and watched bits of old movies and cartoons. That evening Jonathan rode his favorite ride, the Aerosmith roller coaster, we were all awestruck as we watched the Fantasmic light, fountain, and firework show.

After all the action, we slept in on New Year's Day and took it easy. We took the boys to the arcade and spent too much money on video games, but Jonathan came out feeling like a winner because he was able to grab not one, but two, toys from toy grabber game. Then we went back to Downtown Disney and stocked up at Goofy's Candy Store. We also built Mr. Potato Heads (Caleb's Ms. Potato Head is supposed to be me. Do you see the resemblance?) at the toy store and played with Legos at the Lego Superstore. That evening, we walked to the Boardwalk and watched a very talented sideshow performer. We appeased Jeff by waiting for over an hour to eat dinner at ESPN Sport Zone; and I have to say, it was worth it!

We were able to sleep in on our final day before we loaded the bus to head back to the airport. Although we enjoyed our home away from home, we were so tired and ready to get back to our real home. Aaron and Caleb were even excited to get back to school.

Our family had a blast at Disney World and look forward to going back when Levi is older. It truly was a magical vacation.

Christmas in April

2008-04-01T11:37:00.002-05:00

Although Christmas was months ago, we thought we'd share our pictures finally. Life's been busy, the computer's been down, and I hardly ever sit down at it. That's all the excuses I can come up with. Anyway, here are all the folks we visited back in December.

Nana & Pepaw's

Mammaw & Papa Don's

Mammaw & Roy's

Mama Nance & Daddy Wayne's

Ma & Pa's & Santa Claus

One More Rhodes Boy!

2008-03-12T12:19:00.008-05:00

I know y'all have been waiting for pictures of our sweet new blessing; so without further ado, we'd like to introduce Levi Craig Rhodes. He was born March 11, 2008 (3.11) at 3.11 pm. He weighed 9 lb. 1 oz. at birth, and was 21 in. long. He looks a lot like Aaron and weighs exactly what Aaron did when he was born. We are all doing fine, and really enjoying our precious new angel. We have truly been blessed with wonderful boys, and this little guy is no different. Can you tell I'm a proud new mommy. . . again?

And, of course, Daddy and brothers were extremely proud too. . .

Ma and Pa welcomed their 4th grandson with smiles, kisses, and lots of hugs.

Our friends, Austin, Alesha, their daughter, Bailey, and Claudia all took turns holding Levi.

We're really looking forward to more exciting stories to share with everyone, so keep checking back. Better yet, come visit us! We're excited about Nana and Pepaw's visit this weekend; and Aunt Dana and our cousin, Katie are coming to see us next week. We'll be sure to take more pictures!

Christmas Cheer

2008-01-21T09:39:00.000-06:00

December kept us extremely busy, but we managed to still have a blast during the holidays. Here are a couple of activities we did to spread the Christmas spirit within our family.

A friend of ours works at an art museum in Memphis and invited us to one of their kids' nights which included lots of holiday crafts and games. Though very crowded, we were able to find some hot chocolate and cookies, make snowflake ornaments, play in fake snow, and win a drawing for a free Christmas tree and a trip back to the museum.

Aaron's friend, Lucas, invited us to a Christmas parade one night. Of course, we couldn't pass up the offer. The boys love watching parades, catching candy, and running around with new friends. Here they are!

Time Flies When You're Havin' Fun!

2008-01-11T11:46:00.000-06:00

It's been almost 2 months since we've updated our blog, and so much has happened since then! We've celebrated Thanksgiving, my 28th birthday, Nana's 50th birthday, Jeff's 29th birthday, and Christmas. With all this going on, we've attended numerous parties and parades, baked dozens of cookies, and travelled thousands of miles. Hopefully soon, this blog will be completely up-to-date with all our new pictures and stories of our many, many exciting adventures.
Here are just a few random pictures of where we've been and what we've been up to . . .

While back in our hometown for Thanksgiving, we were able to join with Jeff's brothers and sisters to throw a surprise 50th birthday bash for Nana. All the grandkids-12 last time I counted-had fun gathering around the table and helping blow out the candles.

The week after we returned home, it was my turn to have a celebration. The boys took me to Spaghetti Warehouse in Memphis; and after dinner, we dug into a huge brownie topped with ice cream, of course! As you can see in the picture, Jonathan, Aaron, and Caleb were enjoying the finger-lickin' yummy dessert!

As soon as all these birthdays rolled by, it was time to start preparing for Christmas. What better way to get ready for Christmas than to meet some of our favorite wintery friends. Caleb's school was fortunate enough to get a visit from Frosty the Snowman and Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. To top this off, the kids boarded a winter train and took a short ride to a petting zoo full of live animals. They thought this was so much fun and weren't quite ready to end their day, although hot chocolate and cookies were waiting inside for them!

Caleb's class wasn't the only one gearing up for Christmas. Aaron and his buddies from school had activities every week it seemed. We made a stocking at home to hang on the fireplace in the hall at school. His class also made ornaments and painted Christmas t-shirts to wear for their party. Many other moms and I volunteered to help with painting so I was able to capture the moment on camera. Aaron loves for me to come to his school to help, and I love to be such a huge part of his Kindergarten experience! So it works out well.

Jonathan's class didn't get to play quite as much as the other two. He's in second grade, and they have a little more work to do; so I don't have any pictures of him at school. He did, however, have a Christmas party; but, much to my utter disappointment, the camera's battery was dead when we got ready to snap some pictures.

I hope these pictures will suffice for now until I can get the time to post again soon! Keep checking back for more Christmas pictures and for our vacation pictures.

"Dip"ity Doo Dah

2007-11-17T18:10:00.000-06:00

My, oh my, what a wonderful day here in the south! We made the most of this beautiful fall day. We picked up our precious puppy, Dip, to get his vaccinations today at Petco. He made lots of new friends while we waited at the store. After the boys got haircuts, we decided we'd picnic at the park and take Dip on his very first nature walk. He loved running, playing, and rolling down the hill with the boys. We are all so happy to have Dip in our family now. He fits perfectly. He's friendly, fun-loving, very playful, and so cute. There's no way the camera could capture all the fun everyone had, but here's our best attempt.

Kickin' Parties

2007-11-17T17:37:00.000-06:00

Soccer season has ended for all 3 boys, and they all had their parties at Cici's Pizza. They had fun saying bye to their soccer buddies by eating pizza, playing arcade games, and receiving their very own trophies. Here are the pics!

Jonathan and one of our goalies, Matthew, with Aaron trying to sneak in the picture.

These are the girls who were on our team, minus one.

Here's Jonathan showing off his trophy.

Coach Daddy, Austin, and the whole Royal Blue team.

Aaron, Caleb, and their friend, David.

The Maroon Team is "patiently" waiting to receive their trophies.

Caleb autographs the coach's shirt.

Aaron and his prized trophy.

Caleb was so proud of his new trophy and he couldn't stop playing with it. Do you think it made it out of Cici's in one piece? (Answer: No way! Thank goodness for super glue!)

Coach David, Coach Jeff, and the Maroon Mustangs

Priceless Art

2007-11-15T16:52:00.000-06:00

A recent new furniture purchase and a day's worth of watching the home and garden channel spawned some creative ideas in Jeff's brain to spruce up our living room. He immediately went shopping at Lowe's, Michael's, and Hobby Lobby, armed himself with a few power tools and art supplies, and began a project that I honestly didn't believe would ever be finished. But much to my surprise and pleasure, it took Jeff less than two weeks to complete; and I am now the proud owner of an original, one-of-a-kind masterpiece of, the one-and-only, Jeff Rhodes' stylish and contemporary collection. The pictures give it no justice; you'll have to come visit to see these fine works of art in all their glory!!

Down on the Farm. . .Again!

2007-11-14T14:52:00.000-06:00

Caleb's class took a field trip to the farm last week, so he and I were able to experience the excitement again. Here are a few pictures of Caleb on his first school trip!

Pumpkin Paintin'

2007-11-03T14:45:00.000-05:00

During our community group Sunday night, Alesha and I took the kiddos out and let them spark their creativity. While at the pumpkin patch, each of the boys picked out a pumpkin for themselves as well as one for Miss Bailey. So we thought this would be a great time to let them really make them their own. And my, what a fantastic job they did! Here are some pictures of the diligent workers. . .

Fall Fun

2007-11-02T09:52:00.000-05:00

Last week was quite rainy and pretty dreadful. The sun finally started peeking through the clouds Saturday; so when Sunday rolled around, we decided we'd take advantage of the beautiful weather and head to the pumpkin patch. We loaded up that afternoon and went to Cedar Hill Farms. The boys were so excited to be out of the house. We all had fun feeding and petting the farm animals, watching a chicken show, riding horses, going on a hayride, making our way through a corn maze, and picking out the perfect pumpkins for painting. The boys also had a blast on the playground, in the hay fort, and walking through a hay maze, while Jeff and I munched on some home-made fudge! Here are lots and lots of pictures of our precious, beautiful boys enjoying a precious, beautiful day God blessed us with!

A New Addition

2007-10-31T14:53:00.000-05:00

With high hopes of moving into our own house with our own yard soon, we just staked claims on a new puppy!! Our friend and fellow church planter, Dave, just brought home his dog including several little puppies. Our little fella is half Lab and half Australian Cattle Dog. He is mostly black with white paws and a tiny white tip on his tail. So we named him Dip. The boys love going by to visit him, and they're pretty content with waiting to keep him until we move. Here are some cute pictures of the boys and their new best buddy!

Ol' MacAaron Had a Farm

2007-10-30T18:43:00.000-05:00

A few weeks ago, Aaron's class learned about farms. To end the unit with pizazz, they had a big farm breakfast. They feasted on eggs, biscuits, bacon, and sausage. And if that doesn't sound fun enough, they all dressed up like little farmers. I took a couple of pictures of Farmer Aaron.

And the Drumroll, Please . . .

2007-10-30T18:20:00.000-05:00

And now, for the moment we've all been waiting for. . . IT'S A BOY!

My heart was kinda set on a baby girl, but it's exciting to have another boy. I wasn't disappointed like I thought I would be; and now that I think about it, I've realized God must really think a baby boy will complete our family perfectly. So, whatever He chooses for us, I am elated!! I certainly look forward to the many more "You're pretty, Mama"s, and the "I love you, Mama"s. I definitely can't get too many of those!!

Everything is still wonderful with the pregnancy. I'm right at 20 weeks and I'm feeling terrific. Just last week I began feeling him move around. A few days later, proud Papa felt him too. He seems to be pretty active, and is growing quickly. He is now 15 oz., which the doctor said is slightly above average, but healthy. Did anyone expect a tiny baby this time around?

We are all really getting excited. It's beginning to feel more realistic now. The boys are ready to have another brother; and Caleb and Aaron are starting to ask "How does the doctor get the baby out of your belly, Mama?" Does anyone care to help explain that one?

We're not quite sure about the name yet. We had thought of the name Malachi, but now that we're sure it's a boy, we're rethinking that one!

So thanks for putting up with my rambling. . . I'm just a little overjoyed right now! Please keep our growing family in your prayers, and we'll keep you posted in the meantime.

10 Years?!?!?

2007-10-29T09:15:00.000-05:00

We can't believe it's been 10 years since we graduated high school. We had a blast earlier this month reacquainting with our old friends from MHS! Here are some pictures from our family picnic. The boys had a great time playing with the other kids at the park and on the moon bounces. I forgot the camera for all our other activities.

We're Still Here!

2007-10-29T09:01:00.000-05:00

Hey everyone! For those of you wondering if the Rhodes family is still in existence, here we are. . . with lots to share.

Here's just a quick update on all of our happenings lately.

We will find out tomorrow who's been hanging out in my belly: either Abigail Grace or ??Malachi ______?? We haven't quite settled on a boy name yet. Maybe we won't have to. Who knows?
We tried to have a fun camping trip earlier this month during Fall Break, but the rain managed to put a halt on that. We spent one night at Lake Ouachita in Hot Springs, AR, and then packed up the next morning. This, I must say, ruined me. The next time I go camping, we will have a pop-up camper!
The boys have been playing soccer and having a great time. We're kinda ready for it to be over though!
Jonathan and Aaron received their first report cards last week. They did a fantastic job, so we celebrated by going out to eat at On the Border. Caleb is still doing an awesome job in school. He and Aaron are both quickly learning to read! We are proud of all 3 of them!

Anyway, we promise more details and pictures soon. Stay tuned.

Walkin', Talkin' B-I-B-L-E

2007-09-14T17:38:00.000-05:00

It's been 2 weeks since Caleb started pre-school, and he is making us so proud. Everyday, he comes home with a sticker for the day, which means he hasn't gotten his name on the board. He's coloring, writing, painting, singing, and learning scripture at school. Each week, he recites a verse and is rewarded with a "treasure" from the treasure box. He already knows 2 verses by heart, so we thought we would let him share them with you. Hope you enjoy!

Go Maroon Mustangs!

2007-09-13T13:06:00.000-05:00

The weather is finally cooling off here in Mississippi. Just in time for soccer season. Aaron and Caleb kicked off their first games last week. Both of them have already scored goals, and are having a blast running up and down the field chasing the ball. Here are some pictures of the silly boys! The first picture is Aaron scoring his goal, and Caleb was enjoying his red Gatorade a little too much in the last picture!

Meet #4

2007-09-12T14:39:00.000-05:00

We would like to introduce you to our new baby. As surprised as we were to find out we were expecting again, we are getting more and more excited about adding another baby to our family. We were, however, relieved when we went to the doctor today and discovered there's only one healthy baby. We'll find out in about 7 weeks whether it's a boy or girl. We're really hoping for a baby girl, and already have her name picked out. In fact, the big brothers call the baby "Abby Grace" already.

The ultrasound picture shows the baby lying face down. Her/his head is on the left side and her/his body is curled up in a little ball. The baby's due date is March 14, 2008; so stay tuned for more pictures and updates! Until then, pray with us for a sweet, healthy baby.

Off to School

2007-09-04T11:59:00.000-05:00

It was a sad day this morning. No, not for Caleb, but for me. I have to confess, I teared up a little as I dropped him off at the door of a new beginning of the next 14 years of his life. On the way to his very first day of preschool, he kept asking what it was going to be like, what he was going to do, and what they would eat for snack. I kept assuring him that he was going to make new friends, learn lots of new things, and eat yummy snacks that he would love.

Little did he know that deep down inside, I was probably way more nervous than he was about this new adventure he gets to be a part of. Maybe it's because he's my baby and now all 3 of my boys are in school. I've always known that this day would surely come, but so soon?!?!

Anyway, I guess the butterflies in his tummy flew away; because as soon as I pulled up at the door and the teacher let him out of the car, he bounced right out and into the school without even turning around to flash me a smile or wave goodbye. So, I had to drive off, leaving my baby in the care of his teacher, just hoping she would help to instill a love for school and learning in him. Well, Mrs. Lester definitely did her job on the first day. Caleb came home beaming with stories of some of the fun he had at school, but "forgot" a lot of what his first day held. Now we're looking forward to many, many more stories as he progresses through the year; and hopefully, they'll be as positive as his first day!

I hope you liked the pictures. Caleb insisted on taking a picture of him turned around so you could get a good look at his new backpack that he's so proud of. We call him "Turtle" because it looks like he's wearing a turtle shell on his back!

Check It Out

2007-09-02T15:12:00.000-05:00

Our church's website is now up and running. There's still a little more to add, but the most important stuff is there. So go check it out by clicking here.

Back to School Update

2007-09-02T00:28:00.000-05:00

Jeff, Caleb, and I visited Jonathan and Aaron for lunch at school the last two Friday's. We've decided to try and make this a regular thing. I took a couple of pictures of the cuties eating and thought this would be an excellent opportunity to brag about them a little.

Aaron is absolutely loving Kindergarten. He has told us he's made 4 friends. One of his best buddies is Lucas, who is sitting beside him in the picture. His class has been learning how to write the letters "C" and "S," and I must say, Aaron has beautiful handwriting. His teacher always writes "Nice Work" on his papers, and he is excited to make her so proud. He has learned several new songs, which he enjoys singing to us at home. He's even teaching Caleb! Aaron's also reading a few words already. He takes much pride in the work he does, and wants to keep everything; so I guess it's time to stock up on scotch tape and make room on the walls to hang up his brilliant masterpieces!

Jonathan feels grown up in Second Grade, but is learning that it's not quite all it's cracked up to be. He was excited at first about bringing school books home and doing homework. After a week of the full experience, he's decided that "homework just wastes his time when he could be playing." As much as he's despising homework, he's amazing us with his genius brain. Last year, he was referred to the "intellectually gifted" program at school by his teacher. After several preliminary tests throughout the year, we were just informed last week that he was accepted. He far surpassed the necessary score to be eligible. His score actually falls within the range of scores designated as SUPERIOR and exceeds the performance of 97% of kids his age. WOW! Jonathan is looking forward to starting the SPOTLIGHT program in a few weeks, and we are so proud of him!

This next week holds a lot in store for Caleb. He'll be starting Preschool at a little church, and attending only half a day everyday. We think this will be a great opportunity for him to make his own friends. He's been moping around a little since both of his brothers started school. We'll post later about his first week. In the meantime, be praying for him, us, and his teacher (and her sanity!), as we enter this new stage in his life.

I could go on and on about these guys, but mostly anyone who knows them understands how special they are. So enjoy the few pictures and stay tuned for more stories, because our lives are about to get even busier.

1st Day of School

2007-08-16T08:30:00.000-05:00

Last Friday, we visited Jonathan and Aaron's school for Back to School Nite. We looked at their classrooms and met both of their teachers. The boys were excited to start Monday morning, while Caleb and I were left feeling a little empty inside! They have had a really fantastic week and are both enjoying meeting new friends and learning new things. We are so extremely proud to have such brilliant little guys!

Back to School Nite

First Day of Kindergarten and 2nd Grade!

Notice, they are sporting their Louisiana pride!

Pool Party

2007-08-13T16:54:00.000-05:00

Jonathan's end of the season party was last month also. To celebrate and beat the heat, we had a pool party. The kids were able to swim for only a short time before it started storming. We had a great time anyway visiting while chowing down on pizza, receiving trophies, and eating cake and ice cream. Here are the pics!

A Blast from the Past

2007-08-13T16:41:00.000-05:00

Wow! It's been quite a busy summer, and I have totally failed to keep this blog up-to-date. I apologize for the long delay. Early in July, some of our friends, Adam and Jaynee Burke and their 3 kiddos, came for a quick visit. While here, Aaron and his best buddy, Lucas, became reacquainted with one another as they played non-stop. Jonathan and Caleb joined in on the fun too; and Lucas' sisters, Rileigh and Elainah, had a blast among all the boys! Some of the exciting activities included feeding the ducks, making creations with Play-Doh, and a trip to the zoo. We hope they'll come back soon!

Silly Caleb

2007-07-06T23:56:00.000-05:00

You never know what Caleb is going to do. This is how we found him one night, fast asleep. Maybe it's just a sequel to another instance.

(Click on the above link to see other sleeping habits!)

Dodgers' Party

2007-07-06T23:29:00.000-05:00

As most everyone knows, the t-ball season has ended; and it ended with a bang. We went to the party at the Little Gym last weekend where the boys got to play in a gym made just for kids. They played silly games and sang silly songs and pretended to be gymnasts. After all the fun, they ate pizza and got what they came for. . . . the trophies. Here are some pictures.

Take Me Out to the Ballgame

2007-07-06T23:08:00.000-05:00

Last week, the boys experienced their first semi-pro baseball game. We loaded up and invited some friends to come along to the Autozone Park to watch the Memphis Redbirds play Round Rock Express. The Redbirds is the farm team for the St. Louis Cardinals. We sat on the first base line and almost had the chance to catch a few foul balls. Although we didn't get to them fast enough, we didn't come home empty handed. We all got some yummy soft serve ice cream in souvenir Redbirds baseball helmet bowls. The boys thought these were so cool! The Redbirds lost the game, but we had a fun time anyway! Here are some pictures of the action.

Big #5

2007-07-05T18:08:00.000-05:00

Happy Birthday to Aaron!! He's now 5 years old! And he's still the same, sweet little boy he was when he was born. Last year was his first year to play soccer and t-ball and this next year, I think I'll cry when we drop him off in Kindergarten. Wow! I can't believe it's that time!! So here's to Aaron's special day. These pictures include some celebrating at home and with family in Minden.

Summer Cookout

2007-07-04T14:49:00.000-05:00

One of the many things we love to do is cook out with friends. Last weekend, Austin and Alesha invited us and another family over for hamburgers and hot dogs. We took the boys' blow-up moonbounce and enjoyed an evening outdoors visiting, eating, and playing. Here are some cute pictures of everyone.

Jonathan and Aaron hanging out, playing with their new Transformers.

Bailey likes to show out and act silly on the moonbounce!

Caleb, Jonathan, and Kirsten bouncing and wrestling.

Some grown-ups like to visit; others choose to play with Transformers instead!

Bailey and the boys! They treat her like a little sister.

Party @ the Park

2007-07-04T14:39:00.000-05:00

We celebrated Aaron and Caleb's birthday on June 23rd with a party at Olive Branch City Park. Their friends Tyler, Ethan, Miles, Carolyn, GW, and Bailey showed up, and, despite the heat, had a great time! Here are some pictures of the festivities.

Break #1

2007-07-03T20:38:00.000-05:00

Yep, we knew it was inevitable since we do have 3 rambunctious boys. And it finally happened yesterday. Here's the scoop. Of course, Caleb was doing what he does best, irritating Jonathan. Jonathan finally had enough and pushed him off the bottom bunk of their bed onto the floor. Caleb hit the floor trying to catch himself with his hands and his right shoulder popped. He came to tell Jeff and me, and we really didn't think much of it. We finally noticed that he wouldn't use his right arm and if it moved he would cry. It was then that we realized that he was in great pain. So we took him to the doctor this morning for an X-ray (which he thought was way cool) and found out he broke his collar bone. Not much can be done about it except put his little arm in a sling and immobilize it as much as possible (which is quite a task for this very active 4 year old boy)!

Anyway, he has asked us to pray for his arm several times and I know he would appreciate some prayers from everybody else!!! Here's a picture of him with his arm in the sling. Please notice the look on his face. This is the only expression we've seen for two days. Bless his little heart!!

Family Reunions

2007-06-30T17:32:00.000-05:00

Last weekend, we attended not one, but TWO family reunions. Good thing our family is not boring! We enjoyed seeing and visiting members of our family we hardly ever see. We even met some who live really close to us that we hope to remain in contact with. The boys, of course, found other kids to play with and entertained everyone with their handsomeness! Hope you enjoy the pictures we took.

Mammaw, Katie, Aunt Cathy, Mom, Kacey, Brady, Jeff

Aaron and Caleb play Nintendo with newfound cousin, Bailey.

Jonathan poses with best buddy, Jordan.

Brady and Dana

Katie and Dana

Aunt Cathy, My Mom (AKA Ma), and Gena (my cousin)

Aunt Jenny, Aunt E, Laura, Mama Nance (my grandmother), Chris, and Stewart

More Family Fun!!

Jeff and Me

Jess and her boyfriend, Matt

Aaron, Jordan, and Jonathan goofing off!

Cutie Pie, Kaitlynn Jo

Me and my dear sweet Daddy Wayne

Linda and Benny

The camera hog, Dana and Me

Mr. Quade, Uncle Jerry, and Aunt Sue

Precious Little Kendall and her mom, Kelly Jo

Matthew, looking real cool!

Gena and Aunt "Nellie"

Linda, Rebekah, Grant, Aunt "Nellie, and Rachel

Me and my best friend, Becky

Ronny and Jordan

Bringing the Game To You

2007-06-17T18:28:00.000-05:00

Since no one was able to make it here to see the boys play ball, I decided to let you in on the action via video. I was able to get Aaron and Caleb's final t-ball game, but I forgot the camera for Jonathan's last game. So here are some videos of Aaron and Caleb.

Aaron's Hit & Run

Caleb's Hit & Run

Aaron's Slide Home

Caleb's Slide Home

Good Stop Caleb!

Birthday Dinner

2007-06-17T17:58:00.000-05:00

Our final stop during our visit home was at Mama Nance and Daddy Wayne's house for a birthday dinner for the boys. The boys received books from them that they have really enjoyed reading. Thank y'all for dinner and the gifts. We enjoyed our visit very much! Here are some pictures of the boys enjoying birthday cupcakes.

Birthday Celebration @ Nana & Pepaw's

2007-06-17T16:57:00.000-05:00

While we were back home visiting, we went to Nana and Pepaw's and had a grand time! The boys played with their cousins, Carson, Cameron, and Clayton; loved on their great grandparents, Nenaw, Mammaw, and Roy; and visited their aunts and uncles, Emily, Tim, Chad, Cindy, and Darren. They also ate yummy chocolate birthday cake and ice cream, and opened presents from Nana and Pepaw. We were so excited when the boys opened up some good ole' LSU Tiger wardrobe! Jonathan also got another Nintendo game, "Mario Kart." Aaron and Caleb each got a Viewmaster and a Spiderman car set. Then, Aunt Emily, Uncle Tim, and Carson gave the boys a tabletop basketball game. Thanks everyone for the presents. The boys haven't stopped playing yet! Here are some pictures of the fun we had! (By the way, all the kids' clothes were in the washer because they had a wonderful time playing in the mud! So please excuse the pictures of the half-naked kiddos.)

He's a Big Boy Now

2007-06-17T16:33:00.000-05:00

It's official: Caleb's not a baby anymore. This past weekend, we celebrated Caleb's 4th birthday. It just so happened we were back home visiting so Ma cooked the traditional birthday pancakes and both Ma and Pa sang with us! Here are some pictures and a video we captured on Caleb's special day!

Caleb got a Pocket V-Smile from us that he can play fun learning games. Ma and Pa gave Caleb and Aaron both a pair of boxing gloves, and Dana gave Caleb "Blue's Clues" game. Thanks everyone!

Happy Birthday Jonathan!

2007-06-07T13:11:00.000-05:00

We had a pool party for Jonathan last weekend and we had a blast! Ma, Pa, and Dana came in to visit, and a couple of Jonathan's friends showed up too. These are the pics we took.

Little Monkey

2007-06-07T13:07:00.000-05:00

Caleb eats like a little monkey and I just wanted to share a picture of the silly boy! This is how he sits every time we eat. It just doesn't look too comfy to me!

Memorial Day Zoo Trip

2007-06-07T12:51:00.000-05:00

Spiderman visited the zoo for Memorial Day, so we had to go see what he had to say. The boys learned a lot about staying healthy and eating good foods from Spiderman. We also watched the birds and a new exhibit of butterflies. Here are some pictures!

7 Years Already???!!!

2007-05-31T22:39:00.000-05:00

Can you believe it has been 7 years since Mr. Jonathan has blessed us with his presence in our world? It seems like only yesterday that he amazed us with his outstanding birth weight of 9 lbs. and 10 oz., earning him the nickname "Bruiser" (thanks to good ole Daddy Wayne)! And today I stand in awe of how big he's grown and how much he has learned since that life-changing day he was born. I definitely miss holding my "little man" in my lap, rocking him to sleep, and chasing away the bed bugs; but each day brings more exciting times to my life. How could I trade getting science lessons almost daily, or playing baseball/soccer/racquetball with him, or answering an unending supply of questions from this boy who loves to learn? So as he turns 7, I look back to sweet memories we have made together and I look forward to many, many more memories yet to happen.

So here's to our 7 year old Jonathan and the next year of his life. To celebrate and keep with our tradition, we had birthday pancakes this morning together. Then, he was surprised when he opened his present. He had been wanting a Nintendo gameboy for quite some time, so we presented him with a Nintendo DS. He was extremely excited and couldn't thank us enough. We were happy to make him so happy!

Happy Birthday Jonathan! We love ya, buddy!

The Pool Is Finally Open!

2007-05-27T17:03:00.000-05:00

The long awaited opening of the pool finally happened this weekend! We have been swimming everyday since Friday and look forward to many more wades in the pool. Here are pics from opening day!

Park Pals

2007-05-27T16:45:00.001-05:00

Last week, our friends from church came over. We had a big hot dog cookout and then we went to play at the park. Here are a few pictures that we thought you'd like!

You're Invited!

2007-05-24T09:22:00.001-05:00

All of our friends and family are invited to Jonathan's birthday bash here in Southaven. We are celebrating his exciting 7 years at our gym's pool on Sunday, June 3rd. If anyone wants to try to come, we would love to have you! Just give us a call and let us know.

Secret Message

2007-05-23T14:45:00.000-05:00

Here's just another "pick me up" from my eldest son, Jonathan. He may be a stinker sometimes, but there's a little bit of thoughtfulness underneath his stinky cover! Plus, he just couldn't stand not to run his finger through the dirt on our window! You have to look carefully to see the sweet message: "I love Mama."

Camping Adventure

2007-05-22T23:42:00.000-05:00

A few weeks ago, the Rhodes Clan loaded up and headed to the mountains of the Arkansas River Valley. We had a blast. We thought you might enjoy some pics from our weekend of extreme adventure!

As you can clearly see, we looked like the Beverly Hillbillies!

Setting up camp was a blast! I, of course, had the best helpers ever!

Here we are practicing our rock climbing skills! We had some cliff hanging good times here!

We saw some great scenery! This is why Arkansas is the "Natural State"!

Here we see Caleb getting in trouble for getting too close to the Hang-glider launch site. I still don't think he is fully aware of the danger. What can I say, he gets his hard-headedness naturally!

Pa and the boys playing in a cool cave!

No camping trip would be right with out the sweetness of S'mores! We made some of the best ever on this trip! Thanx Ma for the help!

Here are some random pics of the boys' exploits around the camp site.

Of course, the most important part of any camping excursion is the camp fire. I am certainly glad I had good help in gathering and chopping the fire wood!

Our favorite meal when camping is breakfast. We spare no effort in rolling out the good stuff!

Finally, time to relax with an ice cold drink and good poking stick!

We can't wait to hit the camping trail again! These boys love a great adventure. However, we did come back with a strong bout of poison ivy! Oh well, I guess the good times are worth the funky itch.

Thanx!

Friday Night Sundaes

2007-05-19T13:25:00.000-05:00

These past two weeks, Jonathan has really been focusing on making good choices at school, obeying his teacher and behaving. All his hard work has paid off, and his sticks have remained in his pocket in his classroom. You see, whenever he makes a bad decision and breaks a rule, his teacher makes him pull a stick out of his pocket. Well, to celebrate tonight we gathered ice cream sundae fixings and gobbled up some yummy treats! And to top it off, we shared with some of our church friends, Miles and Carolyn.

Go Bombers!

2007-05-19T11:30:00.000-05:00

As promised, here are some pictures of Jonathan playing baseball. He's getting better and better!

What A Bargain!

2007-05-18T22:56:00.000-05:00

As I reflect on Mother's Day, I can't help but think about how blessed I am to be called "Mama" by my three precious little boys. However, I must admit each day presents its own challenges as Jeff and I try to raise these guys and teach them important life lessons and values. I sometimes lose patience and wonder if I've really got what it takes to be "Mama." But then it never fails, I receive the encouragement I need that reassures me God knew exactly what He was doing when He gave me the gifts of Jonathan, Aaron, and Caleb. Like when Caleb told me all day on Mother's Day, "Happy Mother's Day! I love you!" Or when Aaron told me today "I like your clothes, Mama. You look so pretty!" (and I was just wearing some work-out clothes). And how I loved it today when Jonathan's face lit up as Jeff and I peeked into his classroom at school whenever we went to read with him for their Summer Reading Kickoff. And these are just a few recent tastes of their sweetness.

So I try not to focus on the difficult challenges we face raising the boys. Besides, the joys far outweigh those challenges. Here is a cute e-mail we received a few months ago that I think fits well with my thoughts on parenting. I hope you enjoy!

The government recently calculated the cost of raising a child from birth to 18 and came up with $160,140 for a middle income family. Talk about sticker shock! That doesn't even touch college tuition. But $160,140 isn't so bad if you break it down. It translates into:

* $8,896.66 a year, * $741.38 a month, or * $171.08 a week. * That's a mere $24.24 a day! * Just over a dollar an hour.

Still, you might think the best financial advice is don't have children if you want to be "rich." Actually, it is just the opposite. What do you get for your $160,140?

* Naming rights. First, middle, and last!

* Glimpses of God every day.

* Giggles under the covers every night.

* More love than your heart can hold.

* Butterfly kisses and Velcro hugs.

* Endless wonder over rocks, ants, clouds, and warm cookies.

* A hand to hold, usually covered with jelly or chocolate.

* A partner for blowing bubbles, flying kites

* Someone to laugh yourself silly with, no matter what the boss said or how your stocks performed that day.

For $160,140, you never have to grow up. You get to:

* finger-paint

* carve pumpkins

* play hide-and-seek

* catch lightning bugs and

* never stop believing in Santa Claus.

You have an excuse to:
* keep reading the Adventures of Piglet and Pooh

* watching Saturday morning cartoons

* going to Disney movies and

* wishing on stars

You get to frame rainbows, hearts, and flowers under refrigerator magnets and collect spray painted noodle wreaths for Christmas, hand prints set in clay for Mother's Day, and cards with backward letters for Father's Day.

For $160,140, there is no greater bang for your buck. You get to be a hero just for:

* retrieving a Frisbee off the garage roof

* taking the training wheels off a bike

* removing a splinter

* filling a wading pool

* coaxing a wad of gum out of bangs and

*coaching a baseball team that never wins but always gets treated to ice cream regardless.

You get a front row seat to history to witness the:

* first step

* first word

* first date, and

* first time behind the wheel.

You get to be immortal. You get another branch added to your family tree, and if you're lucky, a long list of limbs in your obituary called grandchildren and great grandchildren. You get an education in psychology, nursing, criminal justice, communications, and human sexuality that no college can match. In the eyes of a child, you rank right up there under God. You have all the power to heal a boo-boo, scare away the monsters under the bed, patch a broken heart, police a slumber party, ground them forever, and love them without limits. So, one day they will, like you, love without counting the cost. That is quite a deal for the price !!!!!!!

Yep! What a bargain! I sure wouldn't trade being called "Mama" for the world!

Springfest Fair

2007-04-27T09:02:00.000-05:00

Yesterday evening, we all had a blast at the Springfest, the local fair here in Southaven. Here are a few pictures of the fun we had.

What Are Little Boys Made Of?

2007-04-26T13:40:00.000-05:00

Little boys (and big boys) love playing with critters, and this weekend we got to play with all kinds. Jeff and the boys went out to the pond and fished again. But not only did they catch fish. . . they caught a frog and a snake too! They thought this was the best night ever! Here are some pictures of their catches.

First, we started with an unhealthy picnic of pizza and coke. Oh well, it was good!

Now on to our little fishermen:

Jonathan's two big catches included a bass that he snagged while he was bream fishing and a frog right before we came inside.

As Jeff was fishing, he accidentally hooked a water snake! He had to fight it so he could take the hook out of its back and release it back into the pond; and of course, the boys had to pet it!

Outside Fun

2007-04-26T13:08:00.000-05:00

We always have the most fun whenever we're outside. And whenever the weather is as nice as it has been, outside is where we spend our time. Jeff got out the fishing gear, I grabbed the camera, and the boys fished their little hearts out a few weekends ago.

Jeff and I have to cast for Caleb and Aaron.

Caleb tries to catch a fish, but can't sit still long enough!

Instead, he plays in the dirt and poses for a picture.

And he and Jonathan play with the worms.

Aaron loves reeling it in.

And he reels in a good one!

Jonathan has always loved fishing.

While we're outside, we can never pass up the opportunity to feed and chase the ducks. Here are some more pictures of our pond friends.

And just the other day, we went outside to find a little goose family. Aaron said "They are just like us. They have a mama, a daddy, and 3 little boys, too!"

Third Baseman

2007-04-26T12:33:00.000-05:00

Jonathan has been doing an awesome job playing 3rd base for the BOMBERS. He is really beginning to grasp the concept of the game of baseball a whole lot better. The ball hardly ever makes it past Jonathan, and then he is understanding where to make the play.

This past Tuesday night, we finally won our first game. We have a very young team. Only 3 of them are 6 years old, and the rest are tiny 4 and 5 year olds. For many of them, this is their first year to step foot on a baseball diamond. We have been playing teams of mostly 6 year old kids, and we've been getting spanked. With much hard work and practice, our team has greatly improved. This game we won was against a team with lots of young, 1st year players also; so it was a more even match. Our boys have started hitting the ball on offense and getting outs on defense, making for much more enjoyable games to play and watch.

Anyway, this is a blurry picture of Jonathan on 3rd base. It's hard to get good pictures through the fence at night. He will be having an earlier game later this season, so I'll get some good shots then and share them.

Handy Helper

2007-04-26T12:25:00.000-05:00

It's always nice to have a little helper around the house. That's why I really appreciate Aaron's ever-willingness to offer a hand whenever he sees me doing housework. He, unlike his brothers, is the one who will fold his clothes after he undresses, make up his bed, and usually put his shoes in his closet. On many occasions, like this morning, he likes to help me fold clothes. He's very good at matching socks and folding washcloths and towels for me. Then, he puts them where they belong. I know this probably won't last long, but I'm enjoying it now! Thanks Aaron for being such a sweetie!

Playing T-Ball or Just Playing

2007-04-25T22:05:00.000-05:00

This is Aaron and Caleb's very first year to play t-ball. At the first practice, Aaron was somewhat interested in playing the game; but Caleb, on the other hand, was just interested in playing. I must say, however, they are both taking a better liking to the game, and just may turn out to be pretty good ball players. We took some pictures of their initial practice and game to show everyone a glimpse of how cute they are playing!

Brothers stickin' by each other, ready to field a grounder!

Ready!

Or not. Here it comes. Surprisingly, he did catch a grounder just seconds after this picture, and got the guy out at first! Way to go Aaron!

"These hats are way too big for our little noggins!"

Caleb decided to rest on Aaron's back.

T-ball's Not for Wimps

2007-04-25T12:59:00.000-05:00

Caleb is a pretty tough little guy. He can definitely hang in there with his older brothers, but we just found out last night how he hangs with other kids. During his t-ball game, Caleb captured a ball that was hit and found himself in a quite dangerous position. We have learned through our years of playing t-ball, most kids will run all the way from the other side of the field to tackle the lucky one who actually has the ball, which makes it very difficult to make any kind of good play. This was the case in the game last night. When the pile-up finally cleared, Caleb was found at the very bottom with a nice little shiner on his right eye where someone's cleat had dug in. He was not very happy about it, but he stuck it out to the end of the game. Way to go Caleb! We're proud of you for playing so hard!

Aaron's Soccer Season

2007-04-25T00:10:00.000-05:00

Aaron's soccer season ended with a bang as well. They were one of the best teams in the league, and had a really fun pizza party to celebrate. Here are some pictures of Aaron and the red team, his party, and his shiny new medal that lights up!

Jonathan's Soccer Season

2007-04-25T00:05:00.000-05:00

Last week marked the end of our busy, busy weekdays. While we were juggling 2 boys playing soccer and all 3 playing baseball, we had something to do EVERY night. Soccer season ended with a hoppin' party. We thought we'd share some pictures of Jonathan playing for the purple team, his party at McAlister's Deli, and his shiny new trophy.

A Blessed Easter

2007-04-24T23:54:00.000-05:00

We had a great, and cold, Easter day. It was a wonderful time teaching and celebrating with the boys and friends and family the life, death, and resurrection of our Lord and Savior. We dyed Easter eggs Saturday night with Ma and Pa, and woke up to baskets full of goodies Easter morning. We worshipped at Trinity Sunday morning and gathered with our small group that night. The kids joined in on an Easter egg hunt too. Afterwards we enjoyed some fine food straight off the grill.

We Heart Ma, Pa, Nana, & Pepaw

2007-04-24T23:47:00.000-05:00

Our house has been buzzing with visitors these past couple of weekends. Ma and Pa were able to come watch the boys play soccer, go to the zoo, and celebrate Easter with us. Then the next week, Nana and Pepaw came to a soccer game and went to the movies with us. We love our grandparents! Thanks so much for visiting!

The zoo trip was a time of many firsts. It was the boys' first time to ride the zoo carousel. Also, this was the first time we actually saw something other than the back side of the elephants; and it was the first time this red panda wasn't hiding in the trees. The other picture is of the boys peeking at us through the sea lion aquarium.

Y'all come back now, ya hear?

Spring Break: Part One

2007-04-24T23:18:00.000-05:00

We know it's been over a month since Spring Break, but we are still trying to get all the pictures together. We have a few from hanging out in Minden with family, particularly Ma and Pa.

First things first: We had to go outside, of course, and play in the backyard with T-bone and Sissy. While we were at it, we built a fire and roasted weinies.

The next day, Aunt Dana and our friend, Peyton, were so kind to take all of us to Sci-Port in Shreveport, where we got to try our hands at numerous scientific activities and experiments.

Jonathan and Jeff are controlling an airplane. Ma and Pa are switching facial features.

Aaron is discovering all kinds of little facts about science. Ma and Aaron were trying to fix the pipes in a bathroom.

Caleb puts together a huge puzzle and Aaron tries to balance a spinning tire.

The boys "pump it up".

Here, the guys are launching a rocket. Jonathan warns us to cover our ears because it's very loud!

There are more pictures to come, so stay tuned!

Final Weigh-In

2007-04-18T18:14:00.000-05:00

It's official. We didn't win the cruise, but we are feeling better than ever. Our final weigh-in last week really motivated us to keep on losing! And here are the final results:

Jeff
Total weight: 29.4 pounds
Total inches: 13.75 inches

Kacey
Total weight: 16.2 pounds
Total inches: 10.5 inches

Even more encouraging than our weight and inches lost is how much healthier we are. When we began on Jan. 25, they took our blood pressure and heart rate. Both of these factors dropped dramatically for Jeff and me. Jeff's blood pressure dropped from 154/90 to 123/74, and his resting heart rate went from 75 to 48 bpm. My blood pressure was at 127/83 and is now 116/74. My heart rate dropped from 70 to 53 bpm.

It's exciting to know making healthy choices and exercising really pays off. Although the contest is over, we are continuing to pursue a healthy lifestyle!

Biggest Loser Update #7

2007-04-05T15:59:00.000-05:00

Hey everyone! I don't post very often on here, but Kacey is busy so I decided to update you guys on our weight loss endeavors. :) We missed last week's update, because we were crazy busy, and we actually both gained a pound. Our trainer said it was because we probably put on more muscle mass. As much as I would like to claim that theory, I have to rat us out. We ate horribly! So we paid for it with a pound. But we seemed to have bounced back rather nicely this week.

Jeff
This week: 5 pounds
Total: 28 pounds

Kacey
This week: 4 pounds
Total: 17 pounds

We are feeling great! Thanx for reading the blog and keeping up with our insane lives! BTW, next week is the last week of soccer and the first week of baseball and T-ball games. We are definitely looking forward to the end of soccer, although we have had a great time. Hopefully we will have some great pics very soon. Stay tuned!

Thanx!

Biggest Loser Update #6

2007-03-27T22:11:00.000-05:00

We missed last week because of Spring Break. While we didn't exercise or eat quite right, we still managed to lose more weight! Here's the scoop for this week's weigh-in:

Jeff
This week: 3 pounds
Total: 24 pounds

Kacey
This week: 2 pounds
Total: 14 pounds

A Lesson In Teamwork

2007-03-27T13:39:00.000-05:00

I must say, Jonathan's soccer season before this week had been rather disappointing. Although the team had managed to keep the opponents' goals down to a minimum of 1 or 2, they had played 4 games without scoring a single goal. Jeff and I, and many other parents, had begun to notice that our players would just stop and wait after getting only so far down the field instead of following the ball all the way to the goal. Also, they would all run after the ball so no one would be waiting to be passed to down at our goal. So they never really got close enough to kick it in.

This all changed lately. Our assistant coach just had neck surgery, so Jeff stepped in to help. He came up with a brand new strategy which spread our players out so they could pass the ball down the field. Two of our players stay on our end of the field waiting for the ball, one mid-field and one right in the middle of our goal box.

Last night was our team's first time to really make this work. Two quarters passed and our team was still trying to get the hang of it since they had never had time to practice it this way. The score was still 0 to 0. At this point, the coach asked Jeff who he thought would score if put right by the goal. Jeff, knowing his son would never disappoint him, told him "If you put Jonathan down there, I guarantee he will get the ball in the goal." So Jonathan was put in to make his Daddy proud. Not only did he score 1 goal, but he kicked 2 goals right past the goalie. It made for an exciting and victorious game. The final score was 2 to 0.

After high-fiving and loving on Jonathan, he said this: "I was the only one on the team who scored any goals!" As we assured him of how proud we were of him for playing hard, we used this as an opportunity to teach him about teamwork. We explained to him that it was his foot that actually kicked the winning goals, but without the feet of his teammates that ball would have never made it down to him. In reality, it took the whole team to work together to make the goals.

Sorry we have no pictures. We forgot the camera!

Biggest Loser Update #5

2007-03-08T10:21:00.000-06:00

Jeff and I began personal training sessions this week to, hopefully, increase our chances of more weight loss. All we can say is "OOOWWW!" We have found muscles we didn't even know we had. After all the soreness and exhaustion, here are the results:

Jeff
This week: 2 pounds
Total: 21 pounds

Kacey
This week: 1 pound
Total: 12 pounds

We will miss next week because it's SPRING BREAK, but we have bought a small amount of equipment to keep it going on our own. And when we come back home, we still have one more week of full personal training (and possibly pain all over again) to look forward to.

Scootin' On Down the Road

2007-03-08T10:12:00.000-06:00

Since we had another nice day and a little time to spare, the boys got out last week to ride their scooters. They absolutely love getting out of the house to play outside, and we are so elated it's finally warm enough to let them loose!

Super Soccer Stars

2007-03-08T09:26:00.000-06:00

Soccer is now in full swing! Jonathan and Aaron are both keeping us all busy playing soccer this Spring (and winter). Although they play in two different age divisions, they were luckily assigned the same coach. So this means none of the practices or games ever overlap; and mostly all of their games are on the same night back-to-back.

The matches began this past Monday night. Aaron and Jonathan both had games, so we were at the soccer fields from about 6:00 until 8:45 cheering the boys on. Aaron's team won their game by a whopping 6 points with score of 9 to 3! Jonathan's, on the other hand, came off the field with a loss of 2 to 0. Both the boys played their hearts out and are really looking pretty good! Jeff makes a pretty good assistant coach for Aaron's Red Team too!

We had games tonight too. Aaron's team scored 5 points for their team, plus 2 points for the other team. When those 2 points were added to the Blue team's 5 points, the victory went to the Blue team. The final score was 7 to 5.

Jonathan and the Purple team played a tough game against the Blue team. The opponent managed to score 1 goal. Jonathan ran fast and got some good kicks, and almost scored a goal. However, the other team won. The final score was 1 to 0.

We're keeping our heads up, continuing to play hard, and having a blast! Everyone can come see them play anytime. Just let us know! In the meantime, here are some pictures of Aaron's game. Jonathan's pictures didn't turn out, so we'll post some later.

Aaron and the RED Team

Videos

2007-03-02T12:38:00.000-06:00

Just to let everyone know, I have just started uploading our videos with a new video site. Maybe those of you who have been having trouble viewing the videos on your computer can watch them now.

The very first video was posted on December 13. Click here to watch Mr. Caleb in action!
Click here to watch Jonathan's Valentine's program.

Leave a comment to let us know if this worked or not. Hopefully, we'll get it straightened out soon!

Biggest Loser Update #4

2007-03-01T21:59:00.000-06:00

This week, Jeff continued to shed lots more pounds. I am still losing just a small amount each week, but a few pounds are better than none!
Last weekend was a huge "cheat weekend". A couple of friends of mine and I went to a Ladies' Retreat Friday and Saturday, and the theme just happened to be "CHOCOLATE- a gift from God." So, needless to say, a lot of chocolate was consumed, resulting in a 2-pound weight gain over the weekend. By today, though, I managed to get rid of those 2 pounds plus one more.
Here are the full results from this week:
Jeff
This week: 5 pounds
Total: 19 pounds
Kacey
This week: 1 pound
Total: 11 pounds

Warm Day + Park = Play Day

2007-02-27T17:07:00.000-06:00

Yes! We finally got a taste of nice, warm weather! After being cooped up in this house for weeks, we took advantage of it. Last Thursday, we picked Jonathan up from school, and headed straight to the park to play. We are looking forward to a bunch more of these play days!

Here are some fun pics!

Biggest Loser Update #3

2007-02-27T16:52:00.000-06:00

Sorry so late, but here are last week's results:

Jeff lost 1 pound last week- TOTAL: 14 pounds.
I lost 2 pounds last week- TOTAL: 11 pounds.

Jeff is totally blowing past me this week though. Stay tuned for this week's update later.

Playtime!

2007-02-17T13:47:00.000-06:00

Here are some pics of Aaron and Caleb in action yesterday while Jonathan was at school. We have been trying to work on getting only one toy out at a time and putting it away before playing with a new toy. They practiced yesterday and these were the toys they chose. Aaron loves kicking his soccer ball around the house, and Caleb is Eskimo sugaring Blue as they dance and sing. He thinks it's funny to watch Blue move all around.

And, here's a goofy picture of Caleb, who, despite many punishments for misusing markers, decided to put "make-up" on his lips! Aaron also decided to join in the fun; however, he was smart enough to wash it off (mostly) before getting caught, so I didn't catch a picture of him with blue lips!

Biggest Loser Update #2

2007-02-16T11:56:00.000-06:00

Jeff lost 3 more pounds this week, bringing him to 13 total pounds lost! I'm a little frustrated because I didn't lose any more weight this week; but I didn't gain any either. We are still sticking with exercising and eating healthy foods everyday. I'm not sure what's keeping me from losing more, but I'm not quitting. It's really become a natural part of our lives and we're loving it!

Stay tuned to hopefully hear of more weight loss (the both of us) next week!!!

Everything We Love

2007-02-16T11:36:00.000-06:00

Last night, we spent the evening at Jonathan's school where the First Graders presented a Valentine's program. They entertained us with some beautiful music to explain exactly what First Graders love. Some of these things are animals ("Old MacDonald"), school (their school song, "Sullivan's Kids"), our country ("This Land Is Your Land"), teeth ("Loose Tooth"), and mail ("Mail Myself to You"). One of their favorite things is to sing, and they really sang their little hearts out for their audience of parents and loved ones. This was Jonathan's first school program and it was a huge success!

How we wish everyone could have been here to watch his program, but we did happen to catch a small sample on video and, of course, a few pictures of the performance. As you're watching the video, notice how excited Jonathan looks as he's singing "Old MacDonald"; and, by the way, the girl with the pigtails you see singing her heart out and rocking back and forth, is his girlfriend, Sara.

Thumbody in the ER

2007-02-15T08:54:00.000-06:00

Jonathan gave us quite a scare yesterday after school. We came through the door with armloads of groceries and dropped them in the kitchen. After giving all the boys their Valentines, Jeff and I began stocking the shelves in the kitchen. It wasn't 3 minutes when Jonathan ran into the kitchen screaming "Mama, I'm bleeding!" and sure enough he was. Blood was pouring out of his hand, and I had to let Jeff take care of this one.

Here's what happened:
One of his Valentines was a little difficult to unwrap, so he decided he would slide our sharp scissors under the wrapper, despite our many previous warnings about the danger of scissors. The scissors slipped and jabbed Jonathan right in the base of his thumb. From examining the scissors and the amount of blood on them, we suspect they went in about 1/4 of an inch. His wound was pretty deep and took forever to stop bleeding. He wasn't able to bend his thumb, so we decided it would be best to let a doctor take a look.

Off to the ER we went. I think Jonathan was more nervous than he was hurting. He was so scared to go to the hospital. The doctor cleaned the wound, x-rayed his thumb, and saw no damage to any bones or tendons. After spending all of Valentine's night there (4 hours), we came out with his bo-bo glued shut, a splint over his thumb, and orders to keep it straight and dry for 3 days.

Happy Valentine's Day!

2007-02-14T07:46:00.000-06:00

We awoke this morning to Jonathan's voice ringing out "Happy Valentine's Day!" As he commenced to say "I love you" to everyone, I couldn't help to think that this is what love is all about. I am so grateful God ultimately showed His love through the sacrifice of His Son; but He didn't stop there. He still demonstrates His great love to me everyday through the love of my sons, and many more instances in life. How thankful I am to have such an awesome Lord and a family who loves Him so much.

Jonathan brought home a writing assignment in which he was asked to write about what love is. Of all the answers he could have used, he thought about his brothers, his best friends, his buddies for all time. This spawned an idea. I polled the three (of the four) loves of my life this morning about what love is and these are the results:

LOVE IS:
Jonathan: When my brothers share their stuff with me.

Aaron: When Mama Nance gave me that Art Kit.

Caleb: God.

As we go through the day, let's try to remember the greatest Love of all time and show that love to others. We hope everyone has a Happy Valentine's Day! We love you!

What A Weekend!

2007-02-12T09:42:00.000-06:00

We were buzzing all around OS (Olive Branch/Southaven) this past Saturday with activities galore. We got an early start at the gym, then swam for about an hour. The pictures below show Jonathan jumping around playing the Trazer in Kids' Club, Caleb and Aaron watching a movie in the nursery, and everyone splishin' and splashin' in the pool.

We headed straight to the soccer field after swimming for Jonathan's first practice of the season. It was cold outside, but it didn't take long for Jonathan to warm up and shed his sweatshirt. Jeff helped the coach with practice and got a good workout too!

After getting everyone cleaned up, we took the boys across the river to Marion, AR, to spend the night with Mrs. Deby. She was so gracious to give Jeff & me movie tickets and a night of babysitting for Christmas, so we finally redeemed our gift. The boys absolutely love spending time with Mrs. Deby and were excited about the opportunity to sleep over. While there, she kept them busy with tons of fun! They played with Legos, watched a movie, made their own pizzas, and baked and decorated cookies.

Thanks Mrs. Deby for lovin' us so much! We all enjoyed the night!

Biggest Loser Update #1

2007-02-09T12:19:00.000-06:00

Jeff and I are dropping the weight! Our healthy diet and exercise plan are really paying off. As of today, Jeff has lost 10 pounds, I've lost 8, and we feel better than ever. This week really kicked our tails as we each worked out with our trainers. Now that we have a better workout regiment, we may see faster results, although I am extremely excited about how far we've come along.

Last Saturday morning, instead of sitting on the couch watching cartoons, we got out and hit the gym. Caleb and Aaron played with the nursery kids; Jonathan ran around the indoor track and played kickball in Kids' Club; and Jeff and I got a good 1 hour workout followed by a brisk 1 mile walk. Afterwards, we cooled off with a long swim in the indoor pool. We are elated to have something new to do and look forward to this every Saturday. The boys have a blast too. We'll try to remember to take the camera along tomorrow for some fun winter swimming pics, so stay on the lookout for them.