They play hard and then they sleep

How sweet is that???

Monday I got some terrible news from my mom; my uncle (her brother) passed away. My mom and two of her sisters came to Tuscaloosa to break the news to their mother. His body was at DCH so they did get to visit him. My mom said he looked very peaceful. Almost like he was ready to look around and tell a joke. My uncle was always joking around. His children said he may have suffered a heart attack in his sleep. His son found him unconscious and performed CPR until the paramedics could arrive. He left 3 children and 6 grandchildren, his mother, 4 sisters, and a brother, and many nieces and nephews. So tragic. Please keep the Hocutt family in your thoughts and prayers.

Beach Trip

Mom and I had a fun time at the beach together. It was totally weird without any "young-uns" around. I missed my babies, but got some much needed r & r. The picture below was taken with my phone as we were waiting to eat at Doc's. The food was well worth the wait, as it always is!!

Brady handled being Mr.Mom quite well, even with a sick John Brady. Mom and I had been on the road a couple of hours when daycare called to say John Brady had a fever. Brady was in Demopolis and had to cancel his appointments and head back to get him. I was pretty worried about the situation, but kept my fingers crossed that all would be ok. And it was. Brady had to give John Brady Motrin and Tylenol around the clock, but Brady was still able to buy groceries, cook dinner, take the kids to see the new Indiana Jones movie, and take them swimming!! WOW! The kids had a great time! Brady was on top of his game!!


Ok here is the story behind this picture: After eating at Doc's and a bit of shopping, we went driving along the coast looking at the beach houses. After a couple of miles I pulled into the driveway of a beach house to turn around. The tires started spinning and I realized we were stuck in sand!! Mom and I got out to assess the damage and then mom got in and tried to get the Yukon out of the sand. No such luck! Mom, not too happy at the moment, knocked on the door to the house, but no one would answer. It was after 10:00. Not sure if I would have answered either. Although mom was perturbed, I couldn't help but laugh. I started looking for my AAA card. Meanwhile, Mom starts digging the dirt from around the tires. I said what are you gonna do, dig us out? Mom whipped her head around and told me I better hush and keep looking for that AAA card!! Hee! Hee! After clearing each tire of the sand, mom got back in and spun the Yukon right out of there. Guess those years of watching dad get himself out of such places paid off; from 4 wheelers to dune buggies to mud trucks, my dad has done it. Finally we were able to head back to the room. I let mom drive us back. All the way back we laughed and laughed. So glad mom found the humor in it! I so wanted to take a picture of mom digging, but I didn't dare. Just had to settle for the picture of the "sandy" tire and running board.

Happy Birthday Nanny!!!!!!!!

Happy Birthday, Nanny! We love you!! Hope you have a great birthday!

As part Mother's Day part birthday gift, I am spending some time with Mom at the beach. This will be a first for me: a beach trip with no children! (A first for me since having Emma 7 years ago) Hopefully by the time you read this, my toes will be in the sand!

PS: Keep Brady in your prayers for he will need them!

birthday message from abby

happybrthday nanny i hope you and mommy have fun do not frgit to buy me a tshrt i wil mis you and mommy nanny cum to ar howse win you git bac frum the bech.







love abby

birthday message from emma

happybirthday nanny i hope you have a great birthday party iloveyou nanny ihope you have a great day at the beach i hope you have a good time at the beach andi hope you have fun at the beach. how is my bunny doing how is papa doing how is papas leg doing.tell papa that i miss him tell my bunny that i miss her how are the bunnys doing how is granny hokit doing dont forget these sunscreen bathing suit ddp tooth past trash bags ziploc bags aluminun foil straws washing powders sheets map $ for me at t-shirt bacon and eggs




love emma

Nails!!!

My girls LOVE to sport nail polish. Emma always asks for a French manicure!! Can't hardly believe my 1st grader knows about French manicures!! Not sure I knew what that was until I was in college! HA!! As you can see, my Abby requested red. Funny, how you can tell personalities from the choice in nail color!

It was Monday

It was Monday morning madness! I was rushing around to get us out the door. Brady had already left with Em and Ab so it was just me and John Brady at home. From the garage I called John Brady to come get in the van. I was headed back inside to get him when I saw him shut the door, while looking at me grinning from ear to ear as he turned the lock! Yes, he locked me out! I asked him to unlock the door and he said no. I thought ok what am I going to do. I am now locked out of my house and my 3 year old is inside the house alone. I have no key and no cell phone. I said ok, John Brady, I am going to leave without you and I started walking to the van. In a panicky voice John Brady said no, no, no, I unlock it! That's one for me! I won that battle.

FYI: Over the weekend he locked my mom out of her house. It's a lot different when it happens to you and you are the only one home!

Improvement!

Here are some pics from Saturday's game. John Brady has improved quite a bit since the beginning of this season. Too bad we only have 3 games left! Guess better late than never. John Brady isn't "into it" as much as his team members, but maybe he will be next year. I am proud of our little man!!!!

His running has gotten better!

He sat happily in the dugout! Ok, some of the time he did.

Here John Brady is where he is the happiest----hanging from the fence!!

More Ball

Emma walking John Brady to his game! How sweet!Me and my little slugger!
Abby Claire FINALLY has a loose tooth!
" Allie-best-fwiend" was there to cheer for John Brady!! Aren't they a cute couple??

Boosterthon!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The girls participated in a "Boosterthon Fun Run" to raise money for the new Northport Elementary School. The week before the kids were to ask for pledges per lap. Of course, our family participated and each pledged $1 per lap per girl. Really, how many laps could they run??? This picture was taken the day of the Boosterthon. Apparently Em ran 29 and Ab ran 25!! When the girls got out of mom's car, Abby, grinning ear to ear said she ran 25!! I said 25??!! I was scared to ask how many Emma had ran since she is such a good runner. Thank goodness it was only 29. Maybe she was taking it easy on us! Anyway, I am so proud of you girls. Way to go!! A big thanks to Nanny, MeMe, and Aunt CiCi for pledging!!! The new school is going to be AWESOME!!!

"Just brown"

My friend, Christy, and her 3 year old daughter, Allie, came to John Brady's game this past Friday night. Emma and Abby were sitting on the bleachers eating nachos while Brady and I were with John Brady. Christy came up behind Em and Ab and overheard their conversation. Christy heard Abby say to Emma, "There's no black people here, just brown and this color (pointing to her own arm)." I think Christy had to grab Allie and run before she lost it! So funny! By the way, I hope Emma wasn't talking about black people because we don't condone that at home, but you can never be sure what they hear at school.

I feel most like a mom when...

July 2002, Mom, Emma, me (8 months pregnant with Abby Claire)

I feel a tug on my bed cover in the middle of the night. Half asleep, I help John Brady snuggle next to me.


I see and feel Emma, my first grader, get frustrated with her homework.


I hear Abby Claire ask twenty questions within a 5 minute time span.


I watch my three play, laugh, and smile together.


I listen to Emma and Abby in the backseat of the van giggle until their bellies ache.


I take care of a boo-boo or a boo-hoo.


I notice how my girls "mother" their baby brother.



I think about these three little beings I helped create and how they are going to change the world!!





As the years pass and my motherhood matures, more than ever, I find myself looking back on my childhood and how my mom has influenced me as a mother. I carry with me many life lessons that my mom taught me: patience, obedience, determination, and buy in BULK!!

The picture above is alomost six years old, but it is one of my favorite pics. A lot has changed since that picture; as my family has grown so has my relationship with my mom.

Thanks, Mom, for teaching me how to be a mom. I love you! Have a wonderful Mother's Day!

PaPa and Nanny take a turn

I know you are all probably a little tired of these ball pics, but what can I say. He's my little man and it's his first attempt at organized play. Plus, John Brady looks so darn cute! Tuesday night's game, like some of the other games, required some outside assistance! My mom headed to the field and my Dad, with his bum knee, felt the urge. Here's mom directing John Brady in the right direction. We all keep pointing him in the right direction, but I am not so sure he cares. Oh, well, I have to keep reminding myself that he is only three. He is only three. In the dugout
Dad showing him the way
Pretty night sky
Here's Dad trying his best not to crack up!!!!

Meet Katelynn!

A few weeks ago Abby came home and asked me if I wanted to be a Couch Potato Phil or an Active Annie. She asked Brady the same thing. Brady and I both said Active Annie! The more I thought about it, the more I wanted to live up to my answer. We have always blamed our lack of exercise on time and pure exhaustion from our busy household. So I decided we should make time and stick to it! We had already lined up a summer sitter for the girls and I thought how nice would it be for her to keep the kids a couple of times a week while Brady and I work out. Katelynn Ray helps us out during the week so Brady and I can work out and spend some quality time together every week! It's been great!! The kids love Katelynn and look forward to her visits!! Thanks Katelynn! Brady and I are having fun becoming an Active Annie and an Active Al!

Here's a couple of pics of Katelynn with the kids and Lucky!

I had to put this one up to show John Brady's silly grin!!

Happy 1st Birthday to our nephew, Lawson!!!!!!!!

Lawson celebrates his 1st birthday ever today!! I can hardly believe it has been a whole year since this little fella was born! Of course, I still can't believe my baby is 7 years old!! Just shows how much time does fly, especially when you are having fun! Today Lawson is partying it up at Walt Disney World, and if my kids knew that he was having a birthday party there they would be having a HUGE fit. The pictures above were taken at his Birmingham party which was on Saturday, May 3. Courtney and Dave held a family brunch at their place complete with scrumptious casseroles, cake, and ice cream, all served on fine china. Yep, Court and Dave broke out the good stuff for Lawson's 1st birthday and we all certainly indulged! It was really, really nice and everyone had a fine time.



Happy 1st birthday to our special nephew! Lawson, we love you to the moon and back! Wish we could be there in WDW with you! Have a wonderful birthday and tell your mommy to give you a big birthday kiss from Aunt Kim, Uncle Brady, Emma, Abby, and John Brady.