Italian Cream Cheese Cake

My mother-in-law (Gaile, "G" to my babies) asked me to make an Italian cream cheese cake for their Sunday School teacher who has just recently lost his father. I hope it turned out alright, I get really nervous about my cooking! I love to cook and love sharing food and recipes with others, but I am also a perfectionist and totally type A about it!

I also had a little taste tester come in on the icing!

Visiting Zack and sweet Mary Margaret!

The kids and I spent last week in Hazlehurst. We were able to spend some time with Nanny and Mimi and also visit with my best friends Jennifer and Chad. The have the sweetest little boy and a new baby Mary Margaret. I was able to spend the night one night and bring the children over to play for a little while before we left.

The big kids played so well together! We tried to get a good picture of them all together but what can you say about a 8, 5, 4 and 7 week old! Bless sweet Zack he was so upset to see us go and my little Myles just fell in love with Mary Margaret!

Our Paw Paw's...

Lan and I have lost both of our grandfathers this year. Mine passed away March 29th and Lan's one June 4th. There is nothing in this nothing like the love of a "Paw Paw"! We each have the best memories of ours and were able to see our children know a little of that love.

My Paw Paw was Carnell McRee. He was a farmer who raised cattle and fought in the Korean War. Most people know I was raised by my grandparents and he was the man in my life. He was one of those quite types that only spoke when necessary but always loved to get a laugh or just pick on me. Our time to talk was while we read the paper or sat at supper. He always needed to make a comment about me "running the roads" or spending to much of "his" money. But I never ever doubted his love for me or my children. He sure did love those babies and they loved him. He also loved his friends and loved to tell stories and talk about the cows or who knows what else. You always new when he was coming down the rode because you would see that head cocked over to the side and a smile on his face. With his quiet way we all new we were loved and and we loved him...

(Nanny and Paw Paw)

Lan's Paw Paw was William "Calvin" Jones. He owned Jones Cleaners here in Meridian and fought in World War II. Paw Paw Jones was one of those great men that everybody loved. He never had a bad word to say about anyone. He was born on July 4th and would have been 97 and was in really great health until shortly before his death. What a blessing! Lan and Jonda have such great memories of him and their grandmother. As children they spent every Wed. night with them and from what I understand did and ate whatever they wanted! Lan's favorite things were his grandmothers pan cooked steak (in butter) and chocolate ice cream. A few years ago Paw Paw Jones had to be place in a nursing home and wow what a great experience. He improved so much! He was able to go to special programs, church services and enjoy time talking to the others there. Paw Paw Jones always had a smile and a hug to share and was truly adored by his family!

(Myles, Paw Paw Jones, Lan, Gaile, Katie Grace and Jonda)

We all are so thankful for them and the love they gave us! Our families miss them so much but out true comfort is in knowing that they both new Jesus as their Savior and are awaiting us all in heaven!

Deeper Still

Beth, Kay and Priscilla Enley and Kathryn
Mandesa!
Kay up walking the isles!

I went with a group of wonderful women from our church to see Deeper Still in Atlanta in June. If you have never seen Beth Moore or done one of her bible studies you are missing out. Deeper Still included Kay Arthur, Priscilla Shirer, Beth Moore and Travis Cottrell. For all of you American Idol fans Mandesa was there and she is AWESOME!

I was so excited to hear God speak through these amazing women and WOW did I get my monies worth!!! If you ever have the opportunity to hear any one of them, run don't walk and I promise you will hear something special that was intended just for you.

Buddy Ball!

She wanted her little friend to watch!
Birdie decided she wanted to play buddy ball this year and as with everything she dove in head first. She was the only little girl on the team but she could care less!

Our Beach Vacation!!!

Katie Grace and her "clam"!Myles and Katie Grace headed to the pool.

My beautiful boy!
Myles and Katie Grace playing with their friend Luke.

Let me start by saying we started out with good intentions... We planed to leave for the beach June 14 and stay for 7 nights. This was a well thought out vacation we had looked forward to for months! We decided to take my grandmother with us to "enjoy" herself and be able to spend time with the children. My Paw Paw had passed away in April and we lost Lan's Paw Paw in June so we all really needed to get away and "relax". We wanted to leave by 11:00 a.m. and we loaded up in the Yukon at 10:59 to which I had to make one of my really smart comments about. I put the car in reverse and BAM!!! Nanny's car was behind me and as I turned the wheel to back up I slammed into her car hooking my bumper into her front fender. Well God is really good and I was able to call our friend Ronny, who drives one of those REALLY big wreckers that pick up 18 wheelers, and he came to our rescue. One hour later we are on our way and happy. We go to Hardee's, because by this time it's lunch, everyone gets their drinks and Katie Grace starts crying... She had grabbed her sprite by the lid and it was everywhere. God provided again because we had beach towels in the car. OK so we get there and get settled and there were a few agitations here and there but everything was going well until Tuesday... Nanny and I went to Foley to shop. We made it into one store when my phone rang. Lan says "I think we have a problem". Myles had thrown a Dora figure at Katie Grace in the pool and gashed her forehead open. We drive all the way back to Perdido Key and I realize we do need stitches. (If you should go to the beach and some accident should befall you your only options for medical attention are in Foley or Pensacola.) My babies are so precious because even after being wounded Katie Grace would NOT go to the doctor without Myles. Oh and in the car I hear a sweet little voice in the back of the car say "Mama, does my hair look OK!", Lan just gave me that look he likes to give! Long story but we ended up driving to an urgent care center in Pensacola and they were able to use the glue. I then made the terrible mistake of saying "what else could go wrong?". The next morning we get up, smiling and happy. I go to the bathroom and come out and make pancakes for everyone. This was a beautiful morning! Lan goes into our room and starts hollering! The toilet has run over and flooded our bathroom, bedroom, closet, hallway and into my grandmother's room and bathroom. We are in HELL!!! God takes care of us again and the plumber and carpet guy are there in minutes. The plumber explained that the toilet flushed but then never stopped filling up. They were so wonderful and so was the carpet guy. The drama ended and the rest of the vacation was fairly uneventful. We did have fun and met a wonderful family that have been coming every year for 18 years. They have a wonderful grandson Luke who is 5 and played really well with Myles and Katie Grace. We will go next year and are very thankful for the good times we had. I did learn one very important lesson. If something should happen as your leaving, STAY HOME!!! Just kidding, I'm just glad we can have a gook laugh about it now! We really did have a great time and here are some pictures to prove it!

Rookie League

This was Myles' last year for rookie ball and next year he's on to kid pitch. My little fella sure is growing fast! He just loves sports, he knows more stats than a bookie and can talk about it all day long!

More ballet...

I love this picture! This was at practice and one of those wonderful picture accidents that is just perfect!
Posing before she goes on stage!


Backstage before they go on!
See I don't know what I'm doing! I wanted more pics in the last post and didn't know how! Here are more dance pics. Her G is very proud that she takes from Alpha School of Dance that she and Jonda (Lan's sister) and Lan's aunt Pitty Pat took from.

Prima Ballerina!

I am having to do a little back tracking since I haven't touched this thing in months! Since someone hasn't sent me my Easter pics (Amanda) I will start with ballet. Our little Birdie loves ballet! She floats and dances all over our house. She loves to watch the girls on point and can't wait to dance in them herself. Most everyone knows Katie Grace began walking on her toes and still does (she is very proud of this and considers it to her advantage!). So here are some pictures from her second dance recital at The Temple Theater.

Starting over.....

This blog is the hardest thing I have ever done! I am actually scared of blogging! Yes it is crazy but it's hard and I'm scared that I will mess up and have to begin all over... I know I am obsessing, I tend to do that! SO here we go again...