Mayhem - On the Last Day of Christmas, My Family Gave to Me -

enough laundry to last for eternity! Seriously, after a great Christmas, we all went to bed with visions of sugarplums and sweet dreams and hopes that perhaps the kids had played themselves into a Christmas Day stupor and would sleep until noon the next day. How very wrong we were...........

Sparing all of the gory details, I'll just put it this way...It all began around 9:00pm on Christmas night with Park, it hasn't really ended yet, and in between there have been about 7 loads of laundry consisting of EVERY towel, blanket, sheet, and washcloth in our home that wasn't being otherwise used. It has been such a long couple of days. In all my years of having children, I have never had to work as much "shift work" as I have the past couple of days.

Seeking the silver lining in all of this mess, I can honestly say that I am so very grateful for my front load washing machine and dryer that has the deep clean and sanitize cycle! I can also says that even though my children have been sick, they are much easier to handle when they are taking 4 hour naps and unable to keep any caloric energy in them, haha! Lastly, I am so thankful for a wonderful husband who has played Mr. Mom with the best of them so that I can rest from not feeling wonderful myself.

I know the Lord has a sense of humor. I think He knows how fond I am of "keeping it real." When someone's life SEEMS too good to be true, it usually is. I think He wanted to remind me that I do not have a perfect life, and that this is as real as it gets!!!! Hope everyone else had, at the very least, a little less memorable Christmas!

Musing - Smartwater really DOES make you Smarter!

Today as I was taking the kids to school, Cage told me that he needed a Smartwater bottle for his gifted program at school. Prompted by that statement, the following conversation ensued:

Banks: Mom, remember last year when you used to send us Smartwater in our lunches.

Me: Yes.

Banks: Well, one day after I drank my Smartwater for lunch, when we came back to the room, every question that the teacher asked, I raised my hand, and I got them all right! My Smartwater made me so smart!

I was laughing so hard; I really don't appreciate the simple innocence of my children enough.

Of course, the story would not be complete without adding that the much more seasoned and knowledgeable 9 year old in our family couldn't restrain herself from helping her brother realize the error of his thinking. Lucky for him, he doesn't listen to anything she says either! Maybe I should've invested in more Smartwaters when Walmart had them for buck a piece! Small price to pay, however, for helping my son believe in himself, no matter what gives him that confidence!

Banks' 5th Birthday

They grow up so fast

Fun at the water park

Just a few pictures of the fun that the kids had on the weekend that we went to see Wicked

Banks taking aim at his brother

Teague running for cover

This is as close as Park got to the water

Cage and Leslee-Kate watching the whirlpool

Leslee-Kate showing her athletic side

Jennifer and Payne enjoying the shade

Pee Wii

This video is a couple of months old, but still just as funny. Park loves to try and do everything that his older siblings do, and he really wants to be able to play the Wii. I think he found something that he could do almost as well as Leslee-Kate!

Payne's Blessing Day

On Sunday, January 4, we blessed Payne. He had a wonderful blessing, and we were happy to share the day with my parents, Joe and Irene Stockman, and my sister, Jessica Stockman.

Pop and Payne

Nana and Payne

Aunt J and Payne

The Crew

The Zoo

Not so excited Payne and siblings

Kiddos

Photo Opp

A couple of Sundays ago, Brian took his camera and took the kids out to these huge fossil-filled rocks for a photo opportunity. Brian really loves photography, so he is always using the kids to help him get better. Personally, we couldn't think of better subjects to practice on! Unfortunately, as seems to be always the case, it was very cold and the wind was blowing. Hence, we have no baby in the photos, as well as very messy hair!

Massey kids minus one

Park

Banks

Teague

Cage

Leslee-Kate

Happy New Year's Eve Birthday, Teague!

On December 31st, 2005, in Germantown, TN, our little boy, Brison Teague, was born. We have really enjoyed watching our little guy grow up over the last three years. It really doesn't take any time at all to go from this:


To this:

To this:

(Word to the Wise Man)

Teague has grown into a very lively young man who really enjoys lawnmowers, weed eaters, and trains. And his birthday this year was a celebration of those loves. He had a Thomas the Tank Engine cake:

And he got his very own riding lawnmower (thanks to all those who contributed!)