Daddy's Pet, uh, I mean, Pit!

As normal kids often do, my kids have started the name-calling wars! Well, tonight Brady and I could not control our laughter when we overheard Emma yelling to Abby, "You're Daddy's underarm!"

Easter Outtakes and Funnies

Just wanted to share some really cute outtakes from my Easter Special sessions.

John Brady's Very First T-Ball Practice

John Brady is playing t-ball with the YMCA and he had his first practice on Saturday. He was very excited at first, but that soon faded. He didn't participate as we had hoped. Oh, but, he sure a cutie pie in his pants and new cleats!!! Lately, John Brady tends to get shy and withdrawn if he isn't comfortable with his surroundings. And even though Brady took him off the field, Brady made him stay there until practice was over. We will try again at the next practice!

We thought it, you said it, soooo

we felt it necessary to keep Abby, our only accident-free child of the week, out of harm's reach! We have her "wrapped up" until the black cloud blows away!

Correction

My sources tell me the fire rescue did have to help the Open Door maintenance crew to release John Brady's hand from the door!! Not sure anyone at the school will EVER forget this incident!

Not again!!!!!!!

I think the dressing is a little much!

Today, John Brady's teacher called me because John Brady's hand was stuck in the bathroom stall door and they had tried everything to get it out and couldn't so they had called 911!!! By the time I got there, the ambulance was pulling away and Brady was holding a very, very upset John Brady. His little fingers were all red and swollen and we knew we needed to take him to see a doctor. The maintenance people from Open Door were able to remove the door from its hinges just as the rescue squad arrived. We took John Brady to have an x-ray done and it appears that the accident did something to the growth plate in his middle finger. John Brady now has an appointment with the same orthopedist that Emma saw on Monday!!! His finger is probably fine, but we need the orthopedist to check it. You know, if John Brady's middle finger didn't grow properly and he wasn't ever able to flip anyone off, then John Brady would probably hold that against us forever!!! Ha!! Sorry, but, I do have to make light of the situation!! One more thing: Emma's teacher, Ms. Thomas, called us while we were at MedCenter North because Emma had tripped and fallen and hurt her right shoulder (the one with the broken collar bone). Ms Thomas got Emma calmed down and she is fine. Please pray that we have no more accidents. I am soooooo thankful the accidents weren't any worse, but I sure could have done without them!!

Em's Doing Well

Emma had a great day at school. She got to play an internet game while the others were at recess, so she was tickled. Last night she got her special dinner compliments of Pops and MeMe; She had requested fish and french fries. And, of course, her wish was granted!! Thanks Pops and MeMe!! Here she is with her new wardrobe accessories for the next 6 weeks! Emma, you have been such a big girl about the whole thing and we are so proud of you!! You are one tough cookie!!

Happy Easter

Here is a picture of my little chickadees on Easter Sunday at MeMe and Pops house. This was just before our wonderful lunch, fun egg hunt, and Emma's accident. Yes, Emma was trying to do a backwards flip out of a swing and fell. We suspected a broken collar bone (Pops immediately felt her collar bone and was almost sure it was broken) and it was confirmed at the ER. Emma fractured her right clavicle and is now wearing a brace for at least 6 weeks. She stayed out of school Monday, but went back today. Bless her heart! Wish her luck today and a speedy recovery!

Following in his father's footsteps??

MeMe, I know you mentioned Brady childhood love for writing on anything he could get his little hands on, but did that include you?? Yep! I awoke from a nap like this!!

Another cute video of the cousins at play

Lawson loves playing with his cousins

Listen for Lawson's squeal!!

The Lawsons Take Arlington and Washington, D.C.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We drove into Arlington, Virginia on Saturday evening to visit Dave, Courtney, and Lawson. Dave, with dough in hand, was ready to make his wonderful pizza for us! Yummy!! It was such a nice welcome, especially, after our long, stinky night and the long drive! I will not post any details about our night, however, the next time you see Brady, ask him about the parking lot at the Huddle House, which might I add, in a sort of, ummm, sketchy part of town. Pizza, yes, the pizza. Dave's pizza is always wonderful, and he should open a pizzeria in B'ham with his brother, Ken! Hee, hee, CiCi!! After a good night's sleep, we all headed to The National Air and Space Museum's Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center. It is one of the many Smithsonian museums. This museum displays more than 150 aircraft and 148 large space artifacts. It was truly amazing!! There was even a McDonald's inside complete with a Smithsonian Happy Meal that included a little toy rocket!
Emma enjoyed "driving" Lawson around!! He was the best baby!!

John Brady is playing with his shadow in this picture!


The next day, we hit Washington, D.C.! It was a very windy, cold day and I think we walked about 10 miles! We got to see The White House, The National Mall, the Lincoln Memorial, and the Washington Monument. By this time, we had some very, very tired and hungry kids on our hands so we hopped the subway and headed back to Arlington. We ate some tasty Mexican at a restaurant about a block from Dave and Court's apt and then we went to TCBY and then we all went back and took long, long naps!!!! We had a really nice stay with our fam and and enjoyed our tour of Arlington and DC! Muchas gracias (per Em-Em) Dave and Courtney!!

Thanks for EVERTHING Dave and Courtney and Lawson!!!!!

We love you bunches!!!!!!!!!

Nothing beats being in mommy and daddy's bed

even Lucky agrees!

Bunnies, Chicks, and Red Charlie

While I was shooting Easter special pics, the girls spent the day with Aunt Charlotte (Brady's aunt, but I call feel like she's mine, too). The kids started calling her Red Charlie after one of the Hick's girls renamed Aunt Charlotte. My kids also call her Red Aunt Charlie and Red Aunt Charlotte! So cute! Aunt Charlotte picked the girls up at 8:30 and brought them back around 4:30!! They had a ball! Aunt Charlotte took them to a couple of parks, to CHOM, and to the museum. The girls were tuckered out by the time they got back and I think Aunt Charlotte was ready for some rest, too. I should have snapped a picture of them with Red Charlie, but I was just as tired and completely forgot! Sorry Red Charlie! Thanks so much Aunt Charlotte1 The girls loved their day with you! Mom kept John Brady occupied while I took pics. Before Brady had to leave for the race, he helped me with the rabbits and chicks!! Brady was the official "chick man"! The kids were absolutely adorable and I got some cute, cute pics! The toddlers liked to grab the chicks and the bunny. I thought the chicks weren't going to make it a few times. I couldn't figure out who was funnier, the kids squeezing the chicks or Brady laughing at the kids!! One little boy picked up one of my Easter eggs and tried to hit the chicks with it! Another licked the bunny! It was a wild and fun day!! Here's a couple of pics of Lucky and the chicks.

Granny

My granny made it through surgery and is doing well. She did have one stint put in and her kidneys weren't affected. Yea!! She will stay a few more days at the hospital and then she can go home. Granny is a tough one! Here's a little humor: I was visiting her right before the surgery on Friday while she was getting prepped for it. She was to remove her dentures, but Granny didn't want to. She said I can't talk with them out and I'm talking to Kim right now. Granny gets what Granny wants! Those dentures stayed in until I left! Love you bunches, Granny!

Update on the Update

My mom just called and said Granny is having the arteriorgram today around noon. Please keep Granny and our family in your thoughts and prayers.

Update of Granny

Thank you all so much for thinking of us and my grandmother. It really helps my heart to know how much you all care. Niki, thanks for calling and helping me with the medical jargon! I am very fluent in ENT matters, but not so much in this area. Just wanted to let you know she did not have the arteriorgram b/c her cardiologist started her on a new med and thought she was doing better. Her doctor wants to wait and see and continue to monitor her. Brady visited her yesterday and said she looked good and was happy to see him. Hang in there, Granny!

My Granny Hocutt

My Granny Hocutt is in ICU at DCH and will be having an arteriorgram today which may cause her kidneys to shut down. Because of this risk, this test hasn't been done, but it is now critical that she have the arteriorgram. Please think of her and my family and pray she does better than expected.

More Lawson pics

Amanda got a sweet surprise when she stopped by the house!! Lawson was a little upset. It was getting close to feeding and soon after he downed 2 jars of baby food and a bottle!!
Abby Claire LOVES taking care of cousin Lawson!
Lawson got some play time in with Em-Em! He liked grabbing Emma's mouth and nose!
Even Lucky got in some play time!! Great balance Lawson!! Lawson was able to walk with Lucky tugging at his shirt!
Sorry Courtney! Lawson did get a BIG smooch from Lucky!

A Lawson Long Visit

The kids got to visit with Lawson over the weekend at MeMe and Pops, and I got to see him tonight. Brady got to play with him and make him laugh! Being the mom that I am, I trimmed his fingernails, which he wasn't too thrilled about it, but Pops was. You know how those little fingernails can hurt!
I loved, loved, loved my visit with Lawson! I can't wait for our visit to Arlington in a few weeks!

Afternoon at the Quad

After a busy, busy weekend, I decided we should take advantage of the beautiful day and spend some much needed "down time" with my family. After a hectic week of editing pics, ordering, working at my usual full time job, and shooting my very first wedding on Saturday, I wanted to spend some time with my kiddos and Brady. So we spent the afternoon at the Quad and had a really good time. Even Lucky enjoyed it; she made lots of new friends there! I don't know how many people came up to us to pet her and love on her! Lucky even played with a 140 lb. great dane whose head was bigger than Lucky's entire body! One time the great dane let Lucky sit right on top of her (wish I had of taken a pic). John Brady "flirted" with several college girls waving to them as he rode by on his tricycle. Emma was so fast on her bike that we couldn't keep up with her! Abby rode her bike a little, played a little, and she felt like it was time for a rest so she stretched out on the sheet---that's my Abby!

It was a very nice afternoon and hope before long the weather will allow many days like this. Ok, hate to end on a note like this, but once we got back home we had to tell Emma her rabbit died. Emma did not take it well which made me and Brady feel helpless! Brady and Emma found a spot in the backyard to put Sally to rest. Brady dug the hole and they placed Sally in it and then covered her giving the the top a pat. (Abby said you had to pat it.) Emma cried on and off for about an hour or so and told me before whe went to bed she was STILL sad about her rabbit. Break a mother's heart!! I told her it would hurt for awhile. Em-em said maybe I will feel better in the morning. Bless her little soul!