Meet the newest members of our family...

We welcomed two new members to our family on Christmas night...Johnny (Reb) and Colonel (Reb). Both are Beta fish - one red and one blue. They were a Christmas gift to Cousar from Sweets and Pops. Sweets named the fish - in her words, "Like every true Rebel they fight 'til the end." As you can tell from the pictures below, Cousar experienced an entire range of emotions from awe to shock to giddiness!!! By the end, he decided like any good male would that he should catch the fish with his new fishing pole from Uncle P...He loves the fish and helps us feed them first thing every morning! He is also very quick to introduce any guests we have to them!!!

The wheels are beginning to churn... Is that a fish in there???

I think I see another one!!!

I have two fish...and they are all mine!!

I mean, I just can't believe this!

Time for fishing! Get your gear, Daddy!!

I think I caught one!!

Christmas Morning...

Santa Pic...

Santa Pic

December 2008

Cousar wanted no part of it unless I joined the picture and I think Barrett never realized he was in Santa's lap...

Christmas Photo Shoot

After going to visit Santa last night, Cousar, Barrett and I went to visit Aunt Kim, Uncle Shea, and Addyson. Our goal for the evening was to make a great picture of Addyson for their Christmas card. Below are some of the images from our visit...

Cousar being camera shy... Me and Barrett...I have no idea who this baby looks like...

Addyson: "Enough with the flash Aunt Angela!!!" (I couldn't figure out how to turn it off!)

And to Kim...I'm so proud of you for putting a bow in her hair!!!

Kim and I thought it would be great to get a Christmas picture of all three of them...needless to say getting 3 children 2 years and younger to pose together is not easy and usually leads to pictures like the one below...

No worries...everyone was happy again within seconds!!! (They were all so tired!!!)

Uncle Shea let Cousar wear the infamous fish hat!!! He loved it and kept asking for it after we arrived home...in fact he kept asking for Kim when we got home! It is so sweet that he knows who both she and Shea are now! Whenever we see them he always runs right up to Kim and jumps in her arms!

Hello...

I can't believe it's been over a month since I last posted! Life has been so busy. I promise to put up new pictures soon. Here are highlights from the last month: -Barrett is crawling...EVERYWHERE!! He is also finally cutting his first tooth...we have started adding soft foods to his diet. This hasn't been as scary as it was with Cousar...I guess everything has been easier the 2nd time around. Barrett's favorite food so far is french fries. Yes, I have let my almost 8 month old eat french fries. (I'll be looking for a scolding soon, Jenny!) One of the only times I've ever heard him cry is when we take a fry from him. Mostly he gets soft beans and snack puffs... -Cousar turned 2 on Thanksgiving Day! I can't believe two years have passed already...I can only imagine how fast the next 16 will go! We had his birthday party in early November...I think he enjoyed it. He really got into opening the presents! He uses new words daily and is starting to use full sentences. The most recent new word is maccaroni and cheese or "roni and cheese." The most recent phrase is "Hotty, Toddy. Go Rebs." I'm not sure who taught him "Hotty, Toddy" but he has it down pat! He can count to ten (though he sometimes skips a couple of numbers), and he just about has his ABCs down pat! I took both boys to the Ole Miss vs. State game last Saturday...by myself...I think there is a fine line between bravery and stupidity! It went great though! Cousar loved the game and the band..And there were lots of kind people sitting around us willing to help out with Barrett. Last night, we took both boys to see Santa Clause. Barrett did great and Cousar screamed his head off! I ended up being in the picture with them...I think Santa was mortified. Cousar screamed loud! And just about ran out of the room...oh, the memories! I promise to post more pictures and stories soon!

Fall 2008 School Pictures

Barrett

6 Months

Fall 2008 School Pictures

Barrett's Class

L to R: Ms. Mervet holding Barrett & Mary Carter

Ann Marie holding Bo Ausmus & Tanner Smith

Ms. Zandra holding Hayes Hollis and Trevor

Cousar

2 Years

Fall 2008 School Picture

Cousar's Class

Bottom Row: Keegan Snyder, Max Roberts, Ellie Camp, & Emily Leister

Middle Row: Tanner Harris, Lily Kate Jones, & Ella Grace Gardner

Back Row: Ms. Hannah Kemp, Cousar, Susannah, Aiden McDaniel, and Ms. Lisa Berryhill

Cousar's Birthday

Cousar is turning two on Thanksgiving Day this year! We celebrated on November 9th with a farmed theme birthday party! I found the idea on a Fine Living Network show Cool Kids' Parties. One of the most fun ideas from the show was to have the kids decorate their own horse on a stick! I thought it would be fun to do but too pricey! Well, low and behold, the next week I was in Dollar Tree (my favorite store these days!) and there they were...horses on a stick...for a $1. I bought nearly every one of them! With the help of Sweets (I COULD NOT HAVE DONE THIS WITHOUT YOU!!!) we began planning for the farm-themed party. Thank you, Sweets, for putting up with me and my ever-changing ideas!!! The day before the party, Barrett woke up with an ear infection. The doctor had me start Ciprodex ear drops. I hoped for the best that he would be better by the party! We woke up on Sunday with Barrett only feeling worse! I did what every good mother does in a time of distress - I called the doctor and cried! He must have felt sorry for me because he called in an antibiotic right away! Barrett didn't feel wonderful, but we were able to go on with the party! Thank you to Kim, Shea, Aunt Joyce, Sonya, and Chelse for watching him during the party! For the party, Justin, Sweets, and our wonderful friend, Patrick (who let us borrow the hay) set up a hay maze. Each child received their own horse on arrival and played in the maze! After that we moved inside for food and birthday presents and to warm up! While Cousar opened the presents, we had farm coloring sheets, stickers, stamps, and toys for everyone to play with. Cousar received so many fun things, and we were able to donate some of his old toys to Barrett's room!! The party's finale was a hay ride! Cousar had a wonderful time and we hope the other children did as well! I'm afraid I am going to have trouble outdoing this party for birthday number 3!!!

Trying to get a balloon.

Sweets, Pops, and the Grandkids

Family picture right before the party...

Addyson slept thru a lot of the party!!!

Sweet Barrett still wasn't feeling well!!!

Fishing for candy...

Ellie Camp

Jason and Elizabeth Simon

Derek Hellums

Grady & Allyson Mitchell

Molly & Hampton Trost

Ella Trost

Katie & Robbie Buckley - We missed Grace who was napping!

Cousar giving Kate Riddle her horse!

Lily Kate Jones, LuLu, and Ella Grace Gardner playing in the house!

Ella Grace Gardner

Tanner Harris & Cousar (handing out horses!!)

Reed Ussery playing in the hay maze!

Lauren Ussery and Jessy Mitchell watching the big kids play!

Opening his presents...between his birthday and Christmas he really got the hang of opening gifts!

All of his fabulous gifts!!! (No that is not a real gun...)

Singing "Happy Birthday" - He's thinking "All I asked for was a piece of cake!!!"

The hayride...

"That was you driving the tractor, Daddy?"