H4H!!!!

No - it's not a type-0 - it's what you'll hear Brittany, Zach and Lindsey (neighbor girl) yelling if you walk up to their new "fort" in the woods.......AKA: Head For Hut! They have worked the past few days with Roy to clear out a path in the woods. They moved an old dog pen in as their "fort" along with an old Fisher Price Tool Bench that they use for their counter and some lawn chairs. They even have a port-a-potty (only in Arkansas), and Christmas decorations! Yesterday, Zach comes running in and advertising that the blue bucket (port-a-potty) is gone and someone has been scratching in the dirt. Lo and behold - Roy looks up and the neighbor kids have gotten the bucket and it was under their carport. Roy backs up in their driveway and reclaims his blue bucket. WOO HOO!....Port-a-potty saved! Zach suggests that they will put a snicker bar in it so that the next time the neighbor boy thinks he wants their bucket, he'll think there's a poopy surprise inside and he'll leave it alone. Only Zach.......

Zach and Lindsey in their "hut"........

The disassembled, reclaimed port-a-potty - the chair was actually sitting on the bucket pre-stolen time.......

Zach's deer stand that he made himself......

Looking down the trail into the "hut"

Playing Dress-Up

Brittany played with Rylee in this bathrobe a few months ago. She came in with Rylee this morning saying she had outgrown the robe......I would agree. It was too cute not to post, though.

Christmas 2008

Christmas has come and gone.....whew for me....sad for the kiddos. I never realized how much work and money my parents obviously put into Christmas. I never realized how unappreciative I probably was.......I just hope that Roy and I can provide memories that my parents provided my brother and I as we were growing up! I have lots of Christmas memories, but the thing I remember the most is that my Mammaw Ruby and Pappaw Dick would come spend Christmas Eve at our house and I would have to sleep with Chad so mammaw and pappaw could sleep in my bed. It was PURE torture and there are things that I do not wish to discuss here.....like how he would wipe boogers on me......yes - Chad, you DID! Horrible!!!! Seriously, though, now that I'm a momma, I just hope my Rylee Grace and Brittany and Zach can have precious memories from their mommas and daddies like Chad and I had. Priceless! Here is a sneak peak at some of our memory makin' moments.....Merry Christmas!

Rylee Grace was SOOOO excited to see Brittany and Zach! She squeeled when they walked in!

Rylee's new Razorback rockin' chair from Mammaw Cathey.....

Uncle Chad's horrible joke....porr Rylee didn't even realize why everyone was rolling on the floor laughing!

It's a.........NUTHER sister......

For those of you who are thinking I've been withholding information - close your mouth - we are NOT having another baby!!!

BUT - Brittany and Zach's mom IS and Zach was desperately hoping for a baby brother. Unfortunately for him, it's a girl!!!

Zach is already such a good big brother so he has practice at it and I'll know he'll love his new little sister just as much as he loves Rylee - or "Boogie" as he affectionately calls her! :)

And Zach - if you read this - maybe your mom will let you name THIS baby Alabama!!!!!

Congratulations to the Ferguson Family!!!!!! Merry Christmas!

I CAN DO IT MYSELF!

Ms. Independent wants to do it herself! She starts out with the fork and then......

Realizes the hand is MUCH more efficient!

One, Two, Three......FOURTEEN!

Our little Rylee Grace turned 14 months old on the 20th. Precious angel!

Merry Christmas?

Roy, Rylee Grace and Cathey (Roy's mom) and I went to WalMart today and it was horrible! It was hot, people were everywhere and I'm ready for Christmas to get here! Luckily, Rylee Grace was a little angel. She had not had a nap all morning and she was a real trooper......never fussed, well almost never..... She only fussed when she didn't get that toy she wanted! Anyway - we had a good shopping trip and I'm glad to be home.

We visited with Fred, Cherrye and Chloe at Momo Frances's house. Chloe is convinced that Rylee Grace stole her "z" piece to her "ABC puzzle". She also informs my parents that Rylee Grace is no fun to play with - she didn't say she was sorry and all she says is gaa gaa-goo goo.... Dad tells her that when she says gaa gaa goo goo, she's really saying "I'm sorry". HA! Merry Christmas, Chloe. Roy told her he hoped Santa brings her everything on her list - she says "Oh - he will".

Makin' Sweet Music.....well, sorta!

Christmas with Uncle John and Aunt Marcia.....and Daniel

Not real sure about what I'm supposed to do with this box with a bow on it........

Something tells me she'll figure it out!

Oh....Oh.....wait.....is that a happy face with Uncle John? I think it is!!!! Maybe he's making a little progress? We'll see.....

Taking care of those "Pearlie Whites"!

Cousin Tammy (dental hygenist) would be so proud!

'Tis the Season!

Rylee Grace with her ornaments!

OH HOW COOL! The Christmas Tree!!! (Now isn't THAT what it's all about!!)

Happy Birthday Brittany!

Brittany had some friends to spend the night Friday night for a birthday sleepover! They seemed to have had a good time. She had Kaycee Patrick, Sadie Kuykendall, Olivia Jamison, Klair Howard and ZACH. Zach loved it, although you thought he had been sentenced to death! We had a bonfire and roasted weenies and marshmallows, had birthday cake, listend to halloween songs, sang karaoke, played foosball, did the limbo, watched movies in the camper and then went to sleep around midnight, according to them! (We did make them come inside to sleep!) Luckily, they all had soccer games at noon the next day, a good excuse to part ways! Just kidding - they are a good group of girls!

Zach's Deer

Happy 1st Birthday, Rylee Grace!

Today we celebratedRylee Grace's 1st Birthday. Her actual birthday is tomorrow, October 20. My how our lives have changed. She is such a joy to have in our lives!

New Employment

As of about 2 weeks ago, I was hired to teach 3rd Grade Literacy at Ashdown Public Schools - CD Franks building. I'm really really excited about this venture in my little world! For those who are interested, my new e-mail address is jbackus@ashdownschools.org and of course, I still use my yahoo address. I am at the probation / parole office taking down my stuff and loading up 14 years of accumulated CRAP! It's a bitter sweet moment. I love these ladies in this office like they are my own family. I wish I could certify them all to teach and hire them at Ashdown and have us all on one little hall. Wouldn't that be terrific! I will miss them more than they will ever know. I just hope the secretary at the school is 1/3 as nice as Ms. Ruth - nobody could ever be AS good hearted as her, so I'll settle for just a little bit of niceness. I don't know if I'll be able to access my blog from the Ashdown school district. If not, I'm hoping to have internet sometime after the first of the year. When I update my Alltel account, I'm getting a smart phone so I can have internet access for $10 a month! WOO HOO! That's what I'm talkin' about - some cheap internet access! Anyway - I'll be in touch and hopefully, I can update my blog from school. Otherwise - all you people jot down my e-mail address and keep in touch that way! Love......

Today's Quote....

I did not choose today's quote, KATHY! I have a quote ticker that gives me a new quote every day!

On another note.....I start my summer session for my NonTraditional License Program on Monday and it will last for three weeks. I don't know that I'll have any access to the internet, thus no access to my blog. Please pray REALLY hard that something will open up for me at a school district nearby.

I will post at a later date........until then

........I feel like I'm leaving forever.......Kathy - I will miss you.......I'm just preparing you for the day it really happens.......all my love........ LOL LOL LOL!

Before and After

Before the pool was ready for summer.......
And AFTER, thank goodness!!!!

Seseme Street

After I fed Rylee her breakfast yesterday, I scooted her highchair over in front of the TV and turned on Seseme Street. SHE LOVED IT! She would squeal and Zach finally woke up, well kinda, and came up front to watch with her.

Books Anyone?

Rylee Grace loves her little books. She kinda giggles when she turns each page. She's also gotten to where she "tickles" the tummy of the babies in the pictures - notice the babies in the top picture. Too cute!

Notice the little "boo boo" on her nose and upper lip? BecBec let her "fall" out of her little plastic swimming pool while I was in Little Rock last week.

NO!!!!!! Those aren't weeds, they're my BEANS.......

..........Zach yells at me yesterday just as I'm getting ready to pull the "weeds" from my flower pots. Roy just shook his head. Zach has about 3 city lots to plant beans, but the need struck to plant them in my flower pots! LOL

High Winds and Heavy Corn......

Roy was FURIOUS the other night when a storm blew thru and literally blew thru his garden! Heaven forbid touching the corn!!!!! Although - I guess if I had worked as hard on the corn, as he and Zach have, I would have been furious, too!

Oh....this is fun........

well, maybe not.......
Rylee loves to crawl under the kitchen chairs. She'll play a while and then gets MAD when she can't figure out how to get out! LOL She has her daddy's temper, I'm afraid!

Rylee Grace is 8 Months old!

I can't believe how quickly she is growing up! She's such a sweet baby and we enjoy every new adventure with her! This past month, she has gotten in her 2 bottom teeth, has started "cruising" on the furniture and has fallen out of the stroller in the mall! Bless her heart - by the time she's able to walk and get around by herself, she should be a tough little toot! I just hope my nerves can make it until she reaches that point!

Bananas anyone?

I gave Rylee some banana (real banana) this weekend. Bless her heart, she would put it in her mouth and kinda laugh. I think she was so excited about something other than baby food! I'll have to find some more "foods" for her to feast on. I did find that she does NOT like the Gerber's Spaghetti with Meat Sauce.........she spits it out.

The Source of our MANY bumps and bruises!

Rylee has started pulling up on anything she can pull up on! This kitchen island is her favorite, and it's also the one item that she has fallen into/onto over the past few weeks. I swear the nursery workers are wondering if we're beating the poor child!

Olivia Reese Keeter

Dustin and Holly (Fisk) Keeter welcomed little Olivia Reese into the world Saturday night.

She weighed 7 pounds 10 ounces and has dark hair.

We can't wait to meet her and we're so excited Rylee will have a little playmate during family gatherings!!!!

Congratulations Holly and Dustin.........hope you've caught up on your sleep! LOL

Big Brother, Zach!!!

Rylee and Zach after bath-time.......Zach spent a little time in the pool that day.....ya think? :)

Summer's HERE!!!!!

Summer is here and I havne't had time to post any new pictures!!!! We've been too busy! Here are a few from the past few weeks.......

Rylee Grace fell asleep in her high chair......

Enjoying the pool and a popsicle!

Rylee and Brooke Ellen enjoying the cool water!

How 'bout a 4-wheeler ride? Zach, Rylee, Lindsey, Brittany and Roy

Update on the garden.........it's growing!

Pappaw Dick and Mammaw Ruby

Pappaw Dick's military photo and ID; campaign article and advertisement when he ran for Sheriff in Pike County.

Pappaw Dick and Mammaw Ruby