Delano Park Rose Garden

Saturday afternoon we packed the boys up and headed to Delano Park Rose Garden in Decatur. We were on a mission to take pictures and enjoy the beautiful garden. Of course the picture part went a lot better with Ethan than it did with Aydan. But we still managed to get good pictures of both boys. If you cannot tell by the pictures (mainly of Aydan) it was HOT outside. It is beautiful there and I suggest going to visit.

Aydan lost in deep thought!

Looking at the birds!

Enjoying the scene!

Oh No! I don't want to take anymore pictures!

Hmmm...I wonder if these taste good? I'm sure they make a good teething ring.

Help Ethan Out :)

We need your help! This evening I entered Ethan into a cutest baby contest. If he wins then he will earn $2,500. My hope is that I can put the bulk of it in his savings account (for when he is older and wants a car :), and use a portion to get him and Aydan a swing set. If you are able to help us out that is awesome! Please feel free to put this site on your blog, facebook page, twitter page, myspace page, etc. The more people I have attempting to vote for him the better chance we have of winning. Thanks and wish him luck :) The picture that is on the website is the picture on the side bar with him sticking his tongue out.

http://gapc-vote.com/?p=2316891

DIBELS Skating Party

Tonight was my classes yearly DIBELS skating party celebration. A lot of my students and their families were able to attend. Some of my family was also able to come. Summer, Hunter, Gavin, Clint, Aydan, Ethan and my mom all were able to come. I was impressed with my students and how well they could skate. They were out their shooting the duck, doing the hokey pokey, and playing some dice game. Chaz one of my students won that :) Summer was daring enough to get out their and skate. Hunter impressed me skating for the first time. Aydan had a blast walking/skating around with his "Diego" plastic skates on.

This was Aydan's second time skating, but I think he has a bright future in it. We had a blast this year and my students worked really hard to make benchmark. I am very proud of them! For those of you that did not get to attend we missed you!

Another one bites the dust

The Vandiver family has decided to go out of business. The DEBT business that is. After reading The Total Money Makeover by Dave Ramsey we decided that debt is dumb, cash is king, and the paid off home mortgage is going to take the place of the BMW as the status symbol of choice. We haven't been exactly gazelle intense but have taken many steps to rid ourselves of debt. We refinanced our house to a 15 year mortgage instead of a 30 and the interest rates were so low right now it is only 60$ more per month. We have paid off my car. Bought furniture with cash. Sold my 4 wheeler with a payment attached and bought a great used one with cash. We also just today paid off a personal loan we had taken out for $15,000 to consolidate debt that we both brought to our marriage. YAAAYYYY!!!! My Truck is next. We were also blessed to learn last week that $5000 of student loan debt had been forgiven. If you are reading this heed our advice do not ever take out student loan debt. It is BAD!! We hope to be completely debt free soon and call Dave on the radio and scream we're debt free!!! I am so proud of my family we are living like no one else so that later we can live like no one else. We are actually cooking at home quite often which apparently is really saying something for our generation. We have also quit trying to spend money frivilously. If I could just get my discretionary spending under control by not hanging out at pawn shops and gun and knife shows we would be even better. Julie and I have always dreamed of building our own home and we plan on breaking ground in the next three to four years if we can stay on track. Wish us LUCK!!!!

Just for Today

With the end of the school year quickly approaching it is not hard to get caught up in the everyday stress. By the time I get home from work I don't know whether I am coming or going. My fuse and patience's is just about burnt out. I know that I have been a little much here lately especially towards the ones that I love the most. I owe my mom, Clint, Aydan, Ethan, and who knows who else a huge thank you for putting up with me and a big I am sorry for the way that things have been lately. When I sat down to check my email this evening I ran across this poem, and it gave me a reality check again of what really matters in life. God, these boys, my family, and my friends are the most important things to me. Everything else in this world can be replaced but you cannot replace unconditional love. So again I want to say sorry and I love you all so much! Thank you for putting up with me! :)

Just For Today
Misty J. Eades

Just for this morning I won't wash clothes, instead we will watch your favorite cartoon.

(Handy Manny, Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, Sesame Street, or Word Girl...you 2 pick)

Just for this morning I won't wash dishes, instead we will color together.

(I will even let you use the markers if you want, Ethan you will learn about those one day)

Just for this afternoon I won't watch my soaps; instead we will go to the park and feed the ducks.

(ok...not big on the soaps but I won't watch tv)

Just for this afternoon you and I will snuggle up on the couch and watch a favorite movie and eat popcorn.

(Alvin and the Chipmunks seems to be a hit now, Ethan you just love movement)

Just for tonight I will let you help me fix dinner and I won't yell at you for making a mess.

(Chicken with Mac and Cheese for Aydan and Bananas for Ethan)

Just for tonight I won't yell when you splash water all over the bathroom floor.

(Both of you love to splash the water everywhere)

Just for tonight when I tuck you into bed and we snuggle together to read your favorite story I will hold you a little tighter and a little longer and Thank God for giving you to me.

(You both love all books right now, you always want to "read/eat" anything you can get your hands on)

I Love You Aydan!

I Love You Ethan!

I Love You Clint!

I Love You Mom!

Happy Birthday Brother!

Just wanted to wish my baby brother Danny a Happy Birthday. He turned 28 this year! He was not able to spend it with his family because he is currently serving our country over in Afghanistan. I am very proud of my brother and all the other military men and women that serve our country. I know first hand how much time they give up with their families in order to make our country what it is. Without those brave men and women we would not be the AWESOME country that we are today! Thank you to all that serve our country...but a special thank you and Happy Birthday to my brother today!

Mother's Day Weekend

What a joyous Mother's Day weekend I had. It started Friday night when the boys, Clint, and I went shopping at Target and Kirkland's. After we went shopping we headed over to Casa Blanca to eat some dinner. After eating dinner we headed home. When we got home Mike, Gina, and Shelby from down the street came over to play for a little bit. We had a blast playing outside blowing bubbles and playing tag. Then it was time to come in and take a bath. We had a busy weekend ahead of us.

Saturday morning we woke up early to head to Clint's Mom and Dad's house for Mother's Day. When we arrived we played with Emie Kate, Camden, Uncle Brent and Aunt Jamie. We jumped on the trampoline, ran around, and played on their swing set. Aydan had a blast playing with Emie Kate and Camden.

Around lunch time we headed up to Granny and Papaw's house to visit with them. Everyone was already outside enjoying the weather so we joined them. We ran around and played outside. We also got to hang out with Papaw Earnest, Uncle Raymond, Aunt Joyce, Aunt Lauren and cousin Tim. It was great seeing everyone. After playing outside for about an hour we headed inside to eat BBQ sandwiches. They were delicious! Aydan was so worn out from playing that he started falling asleep at the table. I laid him down and he took a 3 hour nap before it was time to head to Uncle Nephew's 30th birthday party!

At about 5:00 we got ready to go to Uncle Nephew's party! It was great. They cooked out and we all played baseball outside. Aydan was tickled with the fact that he could carry the bat, ball, and wear a baseball glove. I don't know how many times we heard him say "uh-oh, sowy" because he dropped the ball. Everyone at the party was so sweet to Aydan and Ethan both. They ate them up. Aydan put on a really good show for everyone and won their hearts over :) .

By the time we got home that evening everyone was pooped, so we all went to bed. The next morning was a special treat, Clint let me sleep in until about 8:00. Then I woke up and came out to see the 2 best reasons that I get to celebrate mother's day! Aydan and Ethan were both up and playing. Aydan brought me my cards and gave me a big hug. He wanted me to open my "books" so that he could play with them.

After hanging out for a bit I called my mom and invited her to Sam's with me and the boys. We had a good time at Sam's buying all sorts of goodies for the boys (aka diapers, wipes and formula). Then we head over to McAllister's for some Mother's Day Lunch. It was delicious.

After eating lunch we headed home for nap time because we had to go over to Memaw's and Pepaw's house for dinner. That is when I got a Mother's Day surprise from Aydan! Mom changed Aydan and laid him down for me, but shortly after laying down he started saying "mmmm hot....mmmmm hot" which to him means he needs to go potty.

So mom took his diaper back off and let him go to the restroom. When he got in there he sat on his frog potty and scooted around for a little while, Mom left to change Ethan. Then he poked his little head out of the restroom and said "uh-oh, sowy...". Great I thought to myself he peed on the wall or something. But no when I went in he said "uh-oh, sowy..." then pointed at the potty and said "mmm...yuck....yuck...sowy". He had gone poop in the potty!! I was so proud of my baby boy! He has been going pee in the potty but never poop! It was definitely a mother's day present I will never forget. Thank you baby boy! I love you so much! I wish that you would stop growing up so quickly :)

The other exciting Mother's Day present that I got came from Ethan. I looked in his mouth and rubbed his bottom gum and low and behold if he did not have his two bottom teeth poking out. I cannot believe how quickly my baby baby boy is growing up. He is already sitting up, getting his first teeth, eating fruits, etc. Where in the world did the time go? Ethan I love you so much, you always make me smile when I see your sweet face grinning up at me. No matter what I have been through seeing you makes things so much better. You are my baby boy and always will be :)

After the tooth discovery and the potty experience everyone settled down for a nap and mom headed home to get dinner ready for mother's day. Aydan and Ethan both woke up from their nap at about 4:45 and we got dressed and headed over to Memaw's and Pepaw's. We had a delicious ham, with all sorts of sides. It was so good! Thank you mom! After dinner Hunter, Gavin, and Aydan went outside to play. They ran around and kicked soccer balls. They had a blast. Before we knew it, it was time to head home and get ready for bed. Mother's Day weekend was coming to an end!

Being a mother is an awesome experience. It is amazing how much love you can have for something so little. I did not know that I had so much love to give until I was so blessed with them. My baby boys are my world, and I would not take anything in the world for them. For me everyday is Mother's Day... I am lucky enough to wake up and see them, bathe them, read them stories, play with them, kiss their boo-boos, say prayers with them, and tuck them in for bed. It is those things in life that are special. I am honored to have a day like Mother's Day for moms, but really it is everyday that I enjoy being a mother. Thank you Clint for giving me the best gifts of my life! I love all 3 of you so much!

2 Year Check Up

Aydan went Friday for his 2 year check up with Dr. Cartwright. When we arrived they weighed him, checked his height, and head circumference. At 2 years old he weighs 39 lbs., is 38 in. tall, and his head circumference was 51 cm. All of those measurements place Aydan above the 97th percentiles. Since the day he was born he always has been in the 97th percentile, and still 2 years later that is where he stands. Dr. Cartwright has always been so good, kind, and loving with Aydan. At this appointment he told him and us that he will be WELL OVER 6 feet tall. He said only time will tell, but for sure he would be over 6 ft tall. Clint told me that he better go ahead and get all those whoopings in now. A friend of Clint's said that we better start saving up money now for the grocery bill as a teenager. When Aydan completed the ability test he scored between 2 1/2 years and 3 years 1 month.

I love my baby boy so much! He is growing up way too fast. I have so much more to share about his birthday party that was just a few weeks ago, family picture day, our family trip to Birmingham, Ethan's latest check-up, etc. Hopefully sometime soon I will have more time to post those pictures. Summer is coming soon, just 3 more weeks of school. Yay!