42 In Articles

Spring is Alive in Alabama

Are you ready? This post is hopefully going to cover some ground. I can assure you I haven’t forgotten about you. Mom and DaddyBoy {my parents} have been around and we have been busy little bees. Seeing as how we don’t see them often I put blogging on the back burner.

We all spent this past weekend with Erika & Chance and turned their backyard into a battle ground. She blogged about it here. Some you may know that Justin has a pine straw business and he supplied the “straw” {as he calls it} for the back yard makeover. He drove it down on Friday afternoon with just a smallish load in tow. {Do y’all remember that truck?}

justinwithstraw

Speaking of that truck, it’s old, has over 300,000 miles on it, has self-applied window tint that is now so “bubbly” it prevents any passenger from seeing clearly out the window, it smells like a wet dog, my husband thinks it “purrs like a kitten”, and I think it “roars like a lion”. And guess who thinks she should get a medal for riding home in it {with all the children}? Yes, me. I know, that’s not very selfless of me… but I can’t help it. There are some vehicles out there that are only suitable for men, this is one of them. It did get us home safe and if it wasn’t the biggest thing on the road I would have had second thoughts about riding home in it. In it’s defense… it is spacious. But that’s about all the credit I can give it.

kidsintruck

The Raiger is a tender soul. She held her brother’s hand the ENTIRE way. Even while he slept.

paige&jm

Mom and DaddyBoy drove up to spend a couple days with us this week. We enjoyed fine Spring-like weather and spent Wednesday morning at Landmark Park.

We started on the playground:

mswing

DaddyBoy brought his Blackberry {I forgave him when I noticed in addition to checking his email he was snapping picture of the girls}.

DBblackberry

Mimi will be glad to see that Morgan is enjoying her new doll and that she also enjoyed the park.

doll

Isn’t Mom’s shirt cute? I kinda wanted to steal it. She was teaching Paige to pump.

mandpswing

After some time on the playground we took a quick snack break at the car…

backofyukon

Momandgirlscar

DaddyBoy is missing the top of his middle finger {thanks to a chipper/shredder}, you can see it in the picture with his Blackberry and the one below. The fact that part of his finger is missing really concerns Paige. She really gets into injuries and boo-boos…

DBfinger1

DBfinger2

DBfinger3

DBfinger4

But then he starts to tickle her… and all her cares are gone.

DBandRaiger

After our snack we made our way to the General Store for old-fashioned candy and a rootbeer float and then on to the homestead. It really is an awesome place. I’d live there if they’d let me. It reminds me a lot of the book I’m reading: See You in a Hundred Years.

LandmarkPark1

Is anyone still with me? I hope so.

Morgan still loves that hen and desperately wanted to share her peanut butter taffy sucker with her… and would have had I not stopped her.

MandHenwsucker

We strolled a while and then made our way up to the house.

girls2

house

houseporchm

MomandDBwgirls

It was a delightful morning. If anyone lives in Dothan and isn’t a member… I highly recommend it!

In other news…

MESSAGEBOARD

MESSAGEBOARDcloseup

The message/menu board you all asked about is from Pottery Barn. We got it when we got married 7 years ago… and I haven’t seen another one since. We love it. Some of our letters have mysteriously disappeared but for the most part we can spell whatever we please.

Hang on, I’m amost done.

This is another reason why I haven’t been blogging…

JMcrawls2

JMcrawls

Hornet is mobile. Very mobile. And he also likes to eat. Have y’all ever tried the biter biscuits? They entertain a child for about 15 minutes but boy they are a mess. He sure enjoyed it though, can you tell?

martin

He also enjoyed it when his sisters took a break from their “floating dinner party” to splash it off his face.

splash1

splashin3

splashinJM

And by the end… he was soaked… but his face was clean.

splashinJM2

And last but not least… my new camera should be here Monday! I am so excited I can hardly contain myself.

And… just to end on a hilarious note.

My brain no longer functions properly. Does yours?

We had a party to attend last night for a happy couple. Wednesday morning some friends who were also invited called us to ask if we’d take their gift. Of course we agreed and I told them to put it by our back door. Wednesday afternoon I stepped outside the back door to a beautiful little package. I was thrilled!!! No tag on it… it must be for me! I brought it inside and said, “Look Mom! Someone brought me a gift!” I was so excited and couldn’t even imagine what it was or who it was from. I tore into it. A silver wine cork… just fabulous. Then I saw the enclosed calling card “The Gays”. Oh my dear! I realized that was the gift I agreed to deliver to the party. Seriously. I had no cute paper to re-wrap it in so Mom {to the rescue} pieced it all back together and made it presentable. And I delivered it to the party.

And I have even more brainlessness to add to that but it will be in another post all of it’s own.

Good night and you are a loyal friend if you’re still reading!

You Might Also Like

  • Becky
    March 19, 2009 at 7:24 pm

    darby, those pictures are all so deliciously good, i was gonna ask if they were from your new camera!! natural light helps, huh? so glad you got so much time with your parents. and 3 being mobile is wild isn’t it?? sis hasn’t gotten fast yet, but probably cause her ears are hurting. and that’s the biggest bunch of pine straw i have ever seen!! (random thoughts from another brainless mom.)

  • Kellie
    March 19, 2009 at 7:31 pm

    You are stinkin hilarious – that is what 3 children 4 and under does to us!!!!! What kind of camera did you decide on? Those pictures are awesome, so I can’t wait to see what you can do with an SLR!!!! Your family is great – hopefully I can meet ya’ll someday!

  • joelandkitty
    March 19, 2009 at 7:38 pm

    Hey Darby! I wanted to introduce myself to you since you just counted me a loyal friend 🙂 Saw your site on a friend’s blogroll and stopped by. Love seeing your beautiful photos of your precious little family. I am encouraged by your faith in the Lord! Thanks for being a light in the world. 🙂

  • megan
    March 19, 2009 at 8:09 pm

    loved every second of it! thanks for sharing and taking us along. the photos are so great; i can’t wait to see what you do with your new camera! the one of Paige holding JM’s hand is priceless and almost brought me to tears! have a blessed Alabama weekend!

  • Mandi
    March 19, 2009 at 8:31 pm

    ahh so good to see you back. two posts ago you started with good things come to those who wait. that post was definitely waited upon and definitely good! so you were positive correct with the post’s title. can’t wait to see pics with the new camera! ~mandi

  • Martha
    March 20, 2009 at 2:26 am

    Ha! That gift story is hilarious!

    Love all of the photos!

  • the sweet life with olives
    March 20, 2009 at 4:19 am

    so glad you’re back and man is that present story hilarious. one for the books, or the blogs as it were! I can’t believe ‘the hornet’ is mobile. you’ve got some fun and busy times ahead! i also can’t believe you guys are in bathing suits. here in rome it’s cold and windy. spring came for a few days and left and in its place we have winter again. ugh! also what a pretty park, i don’t get it though, you need to be a member?anyway, off to eat pasta and day dream of warmer days in alabama. ps. i was going to make the pine cone bird feeders like you but I’m afraid of too many pigeons… is that a problem for you? prob depends on where you live. xoxo

  • erika
    March 20, 2009 at 5:08 am

    oh my! i loved it all! daddyboy and paiger, the house at landmark, the straw that is now in my yard, the story about opening the gift, seeing jm crawling! what a great recap!
    love you,
    mommasis

  • Joel and Lee-Anne
    March 20, 2009 at 5:27 am

    Darby – LOVE all your pictures!!!! SO sweet. I know you must be excited for your new camera! We got one this past year and I think I have taken like 2500 photos….I know, overboard, but I LOVE them.
    On the “biter biscuit” note…do ya’ll have Wal-Marts down there? They carry something called “Mum-Mums” and they are near the biter biscuits. They are more of a rice patty, but NOT messy at all!! Naomi loves them. And they are inexpensive for a bunch of them.
    I hope you are well!!

  • heather
    March 20, 2009 at 5:41 am

    Great post Darby! I especially love the bit about you opening the package for someone else. Totally sounds like something I would do. My short term memory is shot too!

  • Megan
    March 20, 2009 at 6:00 am

    Hey Darby,
    I was going to recommend the Baby Mum Mums too but someone else beat me to it! They are great especially when you can’t hose the baby off after a biter biscuit. I even saw them in a grocery store here in Peru recently and remembered them fondly! How in the world do you get so many and big pictures posted to your blog? I can only upload 4 at a time through blogger or Picassa and it severely cramps my style! Glad you had such a wonderful visit with your parents.

    Oh rats I just realized I’m signed in with my “other” login – not sure why I have two?

    Megan

    http://www.theshirleys.blogspot.com

  • paula
    March 20, 2009 at 6:02 am

    It looks like you all had so much fun! As for the present, you had me laughing!

  • Tara and Felix
    March 20, 2009 at 6:16 am

    You kept me laughing the entire time. Daddyboy is still hot even with his missing finger! And I can’t believe you unwrapped the gift! HA! Tell your sister to PLEASE post more on her pregnancy!

  • Abby Maddox
    March 20, 2009 at 7:12 am

    Glad you took a break, but more glad you’re back. We partook of Landmark last time we were home, and it IS fabulous!

  • Marge
    March 20, 2009 at 7:27 am

    What beautiful pictures! It looks like ya’ll have had a wonderful visit. Oh how I wish we had some of that wonderful Alabama weather here. 🙂 Keep on sharing your life with us, it is such a sweet treat to read about.

  • lisa
    March 20, 2009 at 7:38 am

    That is hilarious!!! (the tearing into the package that was not yours…I can totally relate!!!)
    Get used to that little boy of yours being mobile and hungry!!! I have heard it lasts for at least a couple of decades. I’m only about 3 1/2 years ahead of you!
    Can I say that your children are beautiful!? They all look alike, but also very different. How fun!

  • Kara
    March 20, 2009 at 7:52 am

    Glad your back Darby! Mary Scott started crawling last mo too and life has certainly changed. Those biter biscuits sure are messy! 🙂

  • Laurel @ Ducks in a Row
    March 20, 2009 at 8:23 am

    Those pictures are adorable – glad you are back.

  • annek
    March 20, 2009 at 8:32 am

    We used to get Zwiebeck(sp?)cookies for the kids. One trip to Publix I bought some for Brenna (so we could make it through the store) She enjoyed it and had a face full of crumbs like JM and also all over her hands and the cart. (I was good…I bought wipes too)Anyway I’ll never forget when the bagboy looked at Brenna and the cart and asked me”Do you need help out with that?(desperately hoping I would say NO). I assured him I could handle it and you never saw such a look of relief!Ha ha!
    Aunt Anne

  • Carolyn
    March 20, 2009 at 9:43 am

    Those are some darn cute kiddos! Those biter biscuits are messy but I was always thankful for the 15 minute reprieve. 🙂

  • cgharv
    March 20, 2009 at 9:53 am

    I’m so glad y’all had a great trip! And that you were able to capture it all on your camera:)

  • alston
    March 20, 2009 at 11:00 am

    great pictures and recap…the gift story made me laugh, definitely something i would’ve done by mistake!

  • LeslieW.
    March 20, 2009 at 11:12 am

    Do you still have your etsy? I can’t find a link to it.

  • Jenny Lynn
    March 20, 2009 at 11:17 am

    Looks like fun!

    Where did you get that lamp with the green polka dots?? I love it and I really need one like it to match some green lamps I have!

  • Love Being a Nonny
    March 20, 2009 at 11:18 am

    I was one of the ones who commented on the menu board. I love it! I have contacted Pottery Barn, searched e bay and Craig’s list…to no avail! I think maybe my husband could make it. Any tips?

    conoil@yahoo.com

  • Kaysha Patel
    March 20, 2009 at 11:56 am

    This post was SO worth the wait! I loved all the pics and your parents are just precious!

  • Melissa
    March 20, 2009 at 3:20 pm

    What a fantastic post! Sounds like y’all have been having a blast. Yay to JM on his new skills! Can’t wait for you to tell us about your new camera and see some photos. You’re a great photographer already! Oh, and my husband has one of those trucks too! It’s a guy thing, I guess! His isn’t a dually, but it is a big diesel. Like you said, at least it’s roomy, and I never have to worry about buying something and no way to get it home!

  • Tara McClendon
    March 20, 2009 at 4:12 pm

    Darby, Darby, Darby…you are one of a kind, my friend! I love reading every word you write, so if you wrote a short novel for each post I’d be hanging on ’til the very end!:) I’m wondering why I’ve never been to Landmark Park after all these years…take me there sometime soon, ok?! Loved the whole thing, and glad you’ll gladly share stories like the wine cork with us…you are SO not alone! I’d think something was wrong with me if I didn’t do things like that at least once a day! I’m right there with you! 🙂

  • Erin
    March 20, 2009 at 5:38 pm

    what great stories! Paige was so concerned over DaddyBoy’s finger! How funny. I got your message, I’ll call you when I’m on my way to Mt. C in the morning. Hope you all are having fun!!
    XOXO
    Cous

  • Hillary @ The Other Mama
    March 20, 2009 at 7:39 pm

    Loved your photos and can’t imagine what they’ll be like with a new camera! I had a great time with you at the party and I’m pretty sure the happy couple didn’t mind their pieced together gift! ha!
    I didn’t know JM was mobile! WOW!! Oh my! And I completely agree on all counts on the biter biscuits. Whew. They take some lovin’ to let them eat, but it does pre-occupy them.
    And I heard Landmark is having farm days tomorrow, but we are going to Tally- ugh. Hate that we’re going to miss it.
    Talk to you soon-
    H

  • meredith
    March 21, 2009 at 9:30 am

    This post is a great “ad” for Landmark Park! I love the Paiger is concerned about Daddy Boy’s finger. It’s too precious! And her holding JM’s hand was too cute!!

    ~Meredith

  • The Birds Nest
    March 21, 2009 at 12:58 pm

    I’m still reading. Thanks for supporting me too. I could just sopp up all three of your kiddos with a biscuit. Those Tevas…preciousness!! I would LOVE to visit AL and see them in person. Have a good weekend!!

  • Amber
    March 21, 2009 at 1:18 pm

    I am so glad that you have brainless moments too! I feel like my boys have sucked my brain out of me! John Martin is getting so big. YAY for being on the move. I look forward to Noah crawling and walking so he and Caleb can play more together. I loved all the pictures! I know you cherished having your parents at home. There really isn’t anything better than family:)

  • Victoria
    March 21, 2009 at 2:37 pm

    Looks like you had a wonderful trip!

    LOL about the gift. 🙂

  • thelaundryisneverfinished
    March 21, 2009 at 4:57 pm

    *clap clap clap*! I loved this post, and the updates, and the pictures. 🙂 My dad lost the tip of his finger in an accident, too, and my boys surely are fascinated with it! 😉 Anyway, just wanted to tell you I enjoyed this very much.
    Blessings!!
    Jen

  • No.35style
    March 22, 2009 at 11:51 am

    landmark looks like a lot of fun..sounds like y’all had a great time this past weekend..i know you and erika have loved having your mom and dad with you..love jm’s sweet little face and that IS a huge load of straw!

  • Ang in Ne
    March 22, 2009 at 1:53 pm

    Your family is absolutely adorable!!!!! I started reading your blog about 2 weeks ago and am now addicted. What kind of camera did you decide on? Can’t wait to see some new photos with that purchase!

  • Aubrie M. Hanchett
    March 23, 2009 at 4:59 am

    Darby,
    I loved the catch up. God has certainly had you on my heart lately. And, he certainly delivered… your words, your children, and you are simply an inspiration. Oh no! I didn’t mean to leave the hubby out. The two of you are a sight to behold as well 🙂
    All I can think of to say is, “Thank you.” Your transparency is so refreshing. I wish you lived closer. Oh, how I wish! But, I’ll just have to send my love and hugs via post (blah). We’ll be coming to D-town soon and I want a visit. I still owe you pictures- even though you have gotten some beautiful ones and seem to have gotten a brand new camera. Oh well, I can still offer my services as a painter. Portraits! And, anything else your little heart might desire. Just to give back to you a little of me, since you have been so beautifully generous with yourself. Infinite Love- A

  • Blue Eyed Tango
    March 23, 2009 at 11:59 am

    Hello,
    I thought I would say hello and that you have a nice blog going. I like your profession of faith. So many are afraid to speak about it at all! How refreshing and you have an adorable family! I was from a family of seven and was raised on a dairy farm….after almost 30 years have returned to the farm with horses! I’m loving it. Have a blessed day!

  • Sugar and Spice Mommy
    March 23, 2009 at 12:59 pm

    Hi Darby! Thanks for the info on the message board! Beautiful pictures…loved the holding hands…so sweet!

  • Mandy
    March 23, 2009 at 5:57 pm

    So glad ya’ll are doing well and were able to spend time with family..always a plus! The pictures are precious and YES..I am so brainless after this second baby! I keep blaming it on my hormones but he is 10 weeks and that may not work anymore! Have a good week! Mandy

  • the sweet life with olives
    March 24, 2009 at 6:27 am

    where are you? I miss your daily updates! 🙂