A Visit from Papa Wayne

Papa Wayne, my dad, came to visit this week. He arrived on Anna Kate's birthday and left on Saturday after enduring the Crosspointe Easter Egg Hunt. We really enjoyed having him here for a few days. I don't think he knew what to expect before arriving, but in my opinion I think he enjoyed himself more than he thought he would. You have to remember he lives alone and then comes to visit a house full of lively little ones. It could scare a person.

Papa Wayne played "Guess Who" with Jake when he arrived although I am sure he would have preferred to take a nap after the long drive.

The days were busy and loads of fun. Papa Wayne and the boys went crawfish hunting in he creek in our back yard, on a walk to see the donkey up the street and
fishing at Crosspointe Lake where Jake caught 5 fish. They are already asking for Papa Wayne to come back very soon.

It was freezing at the lake, but Jake's cheering section stayed out long enough to see him caught one fish. They decided to sit in the car and eat a snack while he finished fishing.

Papa Wayne and the Little Lady of the house.

Saying goodbye to Papa Wayne.....

Anna Kate's B-Day Party

Anna Kate's 1st Birthday party was very small. We celebrated at home and my dad was able to come visit for the weekend. Since Thursday was her birthday we celebrated that evening with presents, dinner and cake. We decided to let Anna Kate open presents first so that she wasn't filthy after dinner and cake. She loved all of her presents, but I do believe that the cake was her favorite part of the evening. I wanted her first birthday party theme to be ladybugs. Ms. Arlene Mooney at Sweet Sensations made these adorable ladybugs for the guest and Anna Kate was given her own little cake. It was all so fun.





This is the only time she fussed. I think she wanted more cake:-)

The Girl Turns 1!

The day I found out you were a girl, I cried. I was overwhelmed with so many fears when I found out you were a GIRL. I was excited but it was hard for me imagine being a mom to a little girl. My only experience was with boys and all of the rambunctious play, wild wrestling, rock throwing and dirt eating. This was my life and I couldn’t imagine a prissy, don’t get my hands dirty delicate little girl entering this wild life of boys.

Your daddy prayed from the first moment that you would be a sweet calm baby. I must admit from the beginning you have been sweet. You are in every way attached to mommy. You are an extension of my right hip. I have learned in the past year to do almost everything with one hand. Daddy says you are spoiled and I say you are loved. I just cherish this time because I know that it will not last long. I realize that it will pass quickly.

I must say that you are a rough and tumble little girl. Your brothers do not treat you any different just because you are a girl, which will have its benefits as you grow to be a young lady. I must say you can hold your own when dealing with your brothers. You are quick to let them know if they have done something you don’t like or if they have taken your toy.

In the past week, you have decided that screaming is your best form of communication. It is an ear-piecing squeal that makes everyone cringe. Also, now that I have turned your around to face forward in the car you are screaming because you can see me. I don’t understand it and I hope that this is a very SHORT phase.

Your brother’s love you and just recently Judd started call you “my baby.” It is really cute. Jake loves to make you laugh especially in the car.

You have started taking steps and with those steps we pray that they are the first of many that will be on the path that God had planned and laid out before you.

You are signing more, please and milk. However, you would much rather scream for something and then when we ask you to sign “more” you grin really big. I think that you believe your big smile will get you more of whatever you want at the moment.

You are a good sleeper and a GREAT eater. You love food, just like your mommy.

This year has been wonderful. You have brought dresses, bows, cute socks, baby dolls and more joy than we could have imagined. You are the Princess in the Pea, Sunshine, Babygirl and our little lady. We look forward to this next year; all that you will learn, the many ways you will grow and we are thankful that God chose us to be your mommy and daddy.

We love you Anna Katherine!
*** I will be posting pictures soon***

Out Like a Light

For some odd reason Judd has been waking up between 6:15-6:30 every morning for the past week. I can't seem to figure out why. This is VERY odd for this little guy because he loves to sleep. He is my child that will sleep to 8:30 or 9:00. Needless to say, he is very tired an whiny long before nap time.

Just so happens, it was raining ( it seems to rain every other day in TN, hence the reason I have huge puddles in my yard) and I allowed them to watch "The Easter Carol." Approximately, ten minutes into the movie I looked over and this is what I found my Juddman doing...



Poor Baby was asleep at 12:45 and naptime isn't until 2:00. Mommy had to be flexible and put everyone down early.

Jake loves Puddles

If there is one thing Jake loves, it is Puddles! The boy loves water. It is so hard to keep him out of the puddles in the street and throughout our yard. For those of you that haven't visited we have LOTS of puddles when it rains. Our yard turns into a swamp in spots.

On this particular day, I decided to let both of the boys play in the mud puddles. Get dirty! I didn't care. We did not have anywhere to go and I did no see any reason to say no. Here are a few pictures capturing Jake's delight. He kept telling what a special day it was that he got to play in the water puddles. Judd enjoyed it for a few minutes but I did not get any pictures of him before he finished playing.

Hot Springs Get-Away

For my birthday, Jim took me on a three-day get away to Hot Springs, Arkansas. We stayed at the Hamilton House Bed and Breakfast on Hamilton Lake. I must admit this was my first time at a bed and breakfast so I was a little nervous as we made reservations. You never know what you are going to get looking at pictures on the Internet. It was so pretty and perfect. We had a lot of fun doing things that we don't usually get to do together, ALONE!

We arrived on Sunday night and we went out to eat, just the two of us. Very quiet!

Monday morning we got up and ate breakfast and then went for a 2 mile run. Jim was and still is determined that I was trying to kill him. I wasn't but as I stated earlier I have to train if I am planning to run a 10k in July. I did enjoy getting to exercise with him. Later that day we went shopping, to Garvin Gardens, out to dinner and enjoy a nice stroll through downtown Hot Springs. Ending the evening with a bit of ice cream.

Tuesday morning was the same, breakfast and exercise.:-) However, our afternoon consisted of a great massage and we ended the night with a movie and a yummy McDonald's Strawberry Milkshake.

Wednesday we packed up and headed home. It was nice to have some time but Jim kept telling me, "You don't know what to do with yourself without those kiddos." I guess I stay so busy with them I am lost without them. I love being a mommy.

Here are a few pictures from our trip:

The Hamilton HouseThe gorgeous view of Hamilton Lake from the patio on the side of our room.

All of these pictures were taken at Garvin Gardens. You have to get creative when you are taking pictures of each other. Actually, I had to help Jim think outside of the box. We had fun!

As we were leaving the gardens Jim saw this sign and just busted out laughing. He asked me take a picture. Do you see the humor?Special thanks to Nana, Jim's mom, for watching the kids for us as we retreated for a few days.

Judd and Breathing Treatments

This maybe a repeat for those of you that are reading my 365 project.


This morning Jake woke up telling us that his left ear hurt. Anna Kate has been miserable since Tuesday. Judd seemed to have an sinus infection, but was acting fine. Jim and I were going out of town on Sunday so we decided to take all three to the doctor before Nana arrived. Three hours later, we walk out with this diagnosis:

• Jake is great. He needs Flonase for allergies.
• Anna Kate has a virus. They did x-rays and blood work but she was good and her ears look great.
• Judd, you remember he was the one that we didn't think was sick. Well, he had two breathing treatments because he was wheezing so badly and he had a horrible sinus infection.

I came home with three prescriptions for him and a breathing machine so that we could do three breathing treatments a day for three days. He did great in the doctors office and at home. He is such a big boy. I must admit the Albuterol makes him wild. He is HILARIOUS to talk to and watch once that stuff gets in his system.

He would say "What that fang(thing) for?" He would scream and say blahhhhhhhhhh!

30

I can't believe that I am now 30. I have been looking forward to this birthday for 2 years. This is going to be a great year. I am anticipating what God is going to do in and through me.

1. Memorize 24 verses (2 each month)
2. Run Peachtree Road Race in Atlanta on July 4th
3. Read the following books

• The Heavenly Man
• 90 Minutes in Heaven
• Disciples of a Godly Family
• There's Gotta Be MORE!
• Love and Respect
• Don't Make Me Count to Three
  
• One Thing You Can't Do In Heaven

5. Complete a Home Management Folder
6. Paint and Decorate the Playroom
7. Decorate the Living Room
8. Facilitate a Bible Study
10. Do a self-guided study through the Book of Proverbs

Wow! I get tired looking at this list. I thought I would put 30 goals, but decided that ten would keep me quite busy especially if I am still planning to be a wife and mother over the next year. This is going to be FUN! When you see me around keep me accountable and ask me if I am actually accomplishing these goals.

New Pictures

A month ago, my really great friend Jessica Moody and her son Sam came to visit the us. Jessica is one of my dearest friends. We met under really funny circumstances and God choose to bind our hearts together. Our friendship is a precious gift and I was thankful that she was able to come visit.

Before she left to go home she took some pictures of all of us. I really like them and I wanted to share them. It was freezing and Judd and Anna Kate were crying that is why they have red faces.

Really?? At Four!

Jake's newest thing is to tell me he doesn't want to wear something because he doesn't want anyone to see him in "that." In the past few days, he has said the following...

"Mom, I don't want to wear those pants they are too short." (In his defense, quite a few of his pants are too short)
"Jake, they are not too short. These blue jeans are perfect. The bottom of the jean is on your foot."
"But,(with tears in his eyes) mommy, they are too short and I don't want people to see me wearing them. They will say "hey look at that short man."" (What! Where did that come from?)
"Jake, mommy has asked you to wear them and now you need to put them on."

I was also told in another instance that his clothes weren't "cool". Cool, seriously?? I know that this is something we have to deal with but what in the world does a four year old know about being cool.

I guess we will get uniforms in the Perdue home. This will eliminate the need for a choice.:-)

Interview with a Four Year Old and a Two Year Old

Interview with a Four year old

1. How old are you?
Four
2. What do you want to be when you grow up?
A nascar driver
3. What is your favorite thing that God made?
Our house
4. What is your favorite activity?
Go to church
5. What is your favorite color?
Green
6. What is your favorite animal?
Elephant
7. What is your favorite thing to do with Daddy?
Play the Wii
8. What is your favorite thing to do with Mommy?
Get on top of your face-hence wrestling in the floor
9. Who is your best friend?
Judd
10. Who is your second favorite friend?
Cooper
11. What do you not like?
Hmmm…..
12. What's your favorite song?
Oh No You Never Let Go
13. What do you want for your birthday?
A car
14. What's your favorite snack?
Pretzels
15. What is your favorite thing to do with Judd and Anna Kate?
Wrestle, knock him down on the floor and get on top of him
Tickle her neck and make her laugh
16. What is your favorite Bible Verse?
Children obey your parents…Ephesians 6:1
17. What is your favorite story in the Bible?
About Jesus dying on the cross

Interview with a two year old

1. How old are you?
Four-no really you are only two
2. What do you want to be when you grow up?
Get bubble gum
3. What is your favorite thing that God made?
couches
4. What is your favorite activity?
nothing
5. What is your favorite color?
Nothing-blue
6. What is your favorite animal?
Mooooo-I am assuming that is a cow
7. What is your favorite thing to do with Daddy?
Wrestle, go high
8. What is your favorite thing to do with Mommy?
wrestle
9. Who is your best friend?
Jacob
10. Who is your second favorite friend?
Brice
11. What do you not like? (What do you think is yucky?)
Apple Cidar Vinegar
12. What's your favorite song?
Hallelujah (Before the Throne)
13. What do you want for your birthday?
Cake
14. What's your favorite snack?
Pizza
15. What is your favorite thing to do with Jake and Anna Kate?
Play
16. What is your favorite Bible Verse?
Christ loved us and gave himself up for us… Ephesians 5:2
17. What is your favorite story in the Bible?
Christ loved us and gave himself up for us… Ephesians 5:2

Mo' Snow!

Ok! To be quite honest, I am tired of the snow. Isn't it time for Spring? But, I have to admit that I did get some cute pictures of Jim and I in the snow today. I hope to get some more tomorrow without the snow falling.


Also, for the first time I made snow cream. It was yummy! I must say that I don't think anyone enjoyed it as much as Judd.




If you would like to try snow cream here is the recipe.

Gather 2 cups of clean snow
Mix the following in a bowl:
3/4 cup of sugar
1 tbsp vanilla
2 cups of milk
Add snow until you get the consistency of ice cream.

My First Born turns Four

Jake,

Four years ago on this day, my life changed forever and I was given a new name because of you. I was a mommy. I was your mommy. At 8:38 a.m. you entered our lives with a cry to let us all know that you were here and ready to take over. We didn’t sleep much the first night, not because we were nervous as first time parents it was because you felt the need to be awake every 30 minutes to eat and cry. It was from that moment we should have known that our prayers had been answered.

You need people. I must say that this is a blessing and a curse; you never want to be alone. Your love for Judd continues to grow and your bond is tighter with each day. He is your best friend. You don’t always agree but he is the one you want to play with you all the time. He makes you laugh and cry. He is your “dusting” partner, your wrestling partner, he is the one you want to be near.

I am not quite sure you know how to be quiet. Even when you are winding down in your bed at night we hear you talking. “Daddy, does rug rhyme with hug? Does cat start with a C? Duh Duh- D makes the Duh sound. Etc…” Speaking of sleep, oh how I wish you would sleep. Everyday almost without fail you are bouncing through the house saying, “There is a 7 on my clock. I am awake.”

You are very friendly especially when we are in public. You love to speak to people in stores and you don’t understand why they are not talking back to you. But I guess this doesn’t surprise me since the first person you waved to was a man in the Chili’s restaurant when you were 10 months old. You are a very verbal child who isn’t shy and isn’t afraid to speak your mind. People give you energy. Opinion. If there is one thing you have it is an opinion.

The days of long three hour naps are slowly slipping away which are now being replaced with “quiet times.” You are becoming a boy. A real boy. Sniff…Sniff…

You are so close to reading and I am anxious to help you unlock this whole new world. You can write your name and you love to do projects with Mommy and Judd. You do enjoy learning but independent study isn’t your thing. (Remember, you need people.)

As of this week you want oatmeal for breakfast and pb&j for lunch everyday. As of last week, you thought cutting your own hair would be a fun thing to try. Needless to say, you now have a cute little buzz cut.

You can wiggle your ears, which is really cool.

You make me proud. You are the next generation. You have so many questions about God and Jesus. You memory is amazing and your scripture memory would put many adults to shame.

This has been an amazing four years. We have had days where we want to cry and pull our hair out but by God’s grace we are given 8 hours of sleep and a brand new day to build wonderful memories together. Some of our sweetest moments of late are when you randomly say "Hey mommy, I love you." "Jake I love you the most" "Mommy, I love you to Pluto and back." Two years ago, I didn't know if I would ever hear those words come out of your mouth. Thanks for loving me.

I thank God that He chose me to be your mommy and that you, my Jake, are my first-born. I wouldn’t trade being your mommy for anything in the world. Thanks for teaching me love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.

#4 For Jake

We are very blessed to have a couple, Judd's Sunday School teachers, in our church we own a hotel with an indoor pool. This year for Jake's birthday we asked if we could have a pool party for Jake. He was very excited about being able to swim in February.

Just as in previous years, he was able to invite the same number of kids as the year in age he was celebrating. This year he invited four kids which included their families.

He also wanted a cake that spelled his name. J-A-K-E.