Happy Birthday Uncle Pat!

Hahahaha! Pat ALWAYS steals every one's camera and take 10,000 pictures of himself with it and then sneaks it back into its case, so I thought I would post one of those gems he left on our camera for his birthday! We hope you have a FABULOUS 28th....30 isn't too far away! We love you bunches!

Prayers for Honey!

Hi guys! I just wanted to drop you all a quick note to ask if you would all keep Mom (Honey to Hayden)in your prayers today as she goes to see a specialist about her Osteoporosis. I'll keep you updated!

Love,
Spencer

Some SUPER cute pictures!

I have attached some pictures from our trip to Arkansas, some pictures of the fabrics we chose for Peyton's nursery, some pictures of her furniture, and a picture of Hayden and me at his very first movie at the theater! We had a wonderful time in Arkansas and Hayden LOVED playing in his first pile of leaves!! I can only imagine how he will react to snow!

We are going to paint Peyton's room a pale yellow (all four walls) and her Daddy is going to paint white bunnies with pink tutus and ballet slippers throughout the room too! Mimi is making EVERYTHING for her room, from the bedskirt to the window treatment, to the bumbers, quilt, etc. It's going to be one of a kind and look FABULOUS!! I have a bunny my grandmother made shortly before she passed away almost two years ago before we knew whether or not Hayden would be a boy or a girl (she made a Raggedy Andy if we had a boy)so I will put that up in her room too! I have also saved my first pair of toe shoes in case I ever had a daughter so I could give her those too! They will hang in her room as well! I can't wait to see the whole room put together! She will probably grow up to be the biggest tomboy and HATE ballet, but until she's old enough to tell us that she is going to be our little ballerina princess!

Have a wonderful week!
-Spencer

Where's Hayden?


There he is!


Our BEAUTIFUL baby boy!! They just don't get any cuter than him!


Hayden with his Mimi in the leaf pile Daddy made!


Somebody help me get out of this thing!


Hehehe...I have leaves down my pants...


One, two, three....go!! Yay Mommy....AGAIN!!! Do it again!


Hayden and Mimi's big teddy bear


Papaw reading to Hayden


Singing together


Rolling the ball...this is VERY hard for him since all he ever wants to do is CHUNK it!


Hayden and Daddy with the silly hat


Hayden and Mimi before the game


Hayden and Mommy before the game...I don't think he likes the hat anymore.


Peyton's four fabrics that will make-up her nursery!


Peyton's dresser and changing table


Peyton's other dresser...what? This girl is going to have a LOT of clothes!!


Peyton's crib (it's convertible up to a full size just like Hayden's).


Hayden and Mommy at Hayden's very FIRST movie theater experience!

Still I Rise

I wanted to share this poem with you today from one of my favorite poets. I'm sure some of you have heard it before, and for those of you who have not, enjoy! This poem means a lot to me right now.

Still I Rise
by Maya Angelou


You may write me down in history
With your bitter, twisted lies,
You may trod me in the very dirt
But still, like dust, I'll rise.

Does my sassiness upset you?
Why are you beset with gloom?
'Cause I walk like I've got oil wells
Pumping in my living room.

Just like moons and like suns,
With the certainty of tides,
Just like hopes springing high,
Still I'll rise.

Did you want to see me broken?
Bowed head and lowered eyes?
Shoulders falling down like teardrops,
Weakened by my soulful cries?

Does my haughtiness offend you?
Don't you take it awful hard
'Cause I laugh like I've got gold mines
Diggin' in my own backyard.

You may shoot me with your words,
You may cut me with your eyes,
You may kill me with your hatefulness,
But still, like air, I'll rise.

Does my sexiness upset you?
Does it come as a surprise
That I dance like I've got diamonds
At the meeting of my thighs?

Out of the huts of history's shame
I rise
Up from a past that's rooted in pain
I rise
I'm a black ocean, leaping and wide,
Welling and swelling I bear in the tide.

Leaving behind nights of terror and fear
I rise
Into a daybreak that's wondrously clear
I rise
Bringing the gifts that my ancestors gave,
I am the dream and the hope of the slave.
I rise
I rise
I rise.

Happy Monday!

Hello all! Well, the grandmothers have had a tough go at life here lately. As you all know, Phyllis has been very ill lately, but we think is slowly improving. She had an appointment with the Cardiologist this morning at 10 so we will know more once we hear from her about that. We went up to Arkansas this weekend and we were really relieved just to go and see her and see that she seems to be doing a little better. She gets tired very easily and winded pretty quickly, but I suppose that is all to be expected when you are dealing with heart problems. In the meantime, we continue to pray for her recovery and we continue to be so grateful that this problem was caught when it was. My Mom was diagnosed with Osteoporosis recently and goes to see a specialist about that next week and she also developed another bladder infection over the weekend. She seems to get 2 or 3 a year now for the past couple of years for some reason. Hopefully that will get better and not into her kidneys, so we pray for her recovery as well.

Maybe it's my hormones talking, but when things like this happen to your family, it really gives you a reality check and you realize that family is the most precious gift we all have in life and I am certainly thankful for mine. I've lost a lot of my family in the past few years, so I am very thankful for those who are still here and very thankful for Davin's family, as they are my family too. I think we should all give thanks for our family, friends and loved ones not just at Thanksgiving in a few eeks, but everyday and cherish the time we have together and take advantage of all the opportunities we have to make memories together. In addition to my family, I am VERY grateful for our AWESOME surrogate family of friends we have: Denisha and her family, Mike, John and Ashley, Erica and Casey, Pat and Angel, Taryn, Jason, and so many others who really do mean the world to us! You guys are WONDERFUL and we love you all very much!

Okay, I'll stop being mushy now....I have some really cute pictures from our visit to Arkansas that I will post either tonight or tomorrow because I don't have to work tomorrow due to the Veteran's Day Holiday! And on that note, let us all give thanks for all the brave men and women who have served and who are currently serving our country! God bless them all!

Love,
Spencer

Some Good News!

Mimi got to go home last night! Yay! She's not out of the woods yet, but we are so thankful that she is at home resting instead of in the hospital! Davin, Hayden, and I are going up to Arkansas tomorrow afternoon and we can't wait to see her. I know we will all feel better once we are there with her. You always feel so helpless in these situations when you aren't able to be there. Please keep our family in your prayers as we may have a long road ahead of us. Thanks you so much for all the prayers and well wished we received from you all! I will keep you all posted.
Love,
Spencer

Mimi Update and Halloween Pics

Update on Mimi:

She does not have pneumonia, but rather is very sick and having some heart problems. She is still in the hospital and will undergo some more tests next week. Please continue to keep her and all of her (and our) family in your prayers. We love you very much Mimi!

Halloween Photos:

We had a few friends over and cooked out for Halloween. It was nice and everyone looked great! Here are a few pictures of our little bumble bee and Mommy and Daddy!

Our little bee with Brody


Halloween Family


Bumble Bee and Daddy


Mischievous Bee


In his super cute Halloween shirt from Mimi!