"Speak Softly and Carry a Big Stick"

See I told you that Anderson had presidential qualities. If you have no idea who said these infamous words. It was our 26th president, Teddy Roosevelt of course(one of my favorites, his cousin Franklin was my very favorite). This saying also was referred to as Big Stick Diplomacy(pertaining specifically to the Monroe Doctrine) and it was the idea of negotiating peacefully, simultaneously threatening with the “big stick”, or the military.

This stuff thrills me...but I know those of you who are history haters are totally bored to death so.....

Taking a break from our packing, Anderson and I found a great park today in Montgomery(too bad we leave in 5 days). OOPS!!!!!!! Didn't see this until after we were done... Anderson, being a total boy, found a big stick right away and proceeded to hit all things in his way. He loves this kind of thing. Some mommas would take this stick away afraid he might fall on it(probably was a good idea,now that I think about it), but I think that it's good for him to be a good old fashioned boy and get dirty sometimes! Ha!


We saw the ducks, I have never seen white ones before. Anderson could have cared less...he had his stick and was busy digging in ant beds with it. :)

He even held hands with me, so I took a picture because he does not like to hold anybody's hands while he walks.

The next time I talk to you, I'll be coming to you live from Grand Prairie, Texas! We leave on Sunday!! Pretty excited! Please pray for a safe trip for our family as we make our way out west and that my mom and I don't lose it when we have to say goodbye.

oh and uh... ROLL TIDE!!



See you soon!! ;)

Going away partay!!

Adam and Anderson, Matt and Bryant

We have had a whirl wind of a weekend! First, we had 2 showings of our house in two days and an open house today with 3 people attending! YAY!! We've gotten an offer for our house and have currently counter offered back. We're just playing the wait and see game now! Ha!

We left for Dothan on Saturday morning to go to my cousin Meghan's bridal shower. The good news, she and her husband are living in Dallas! The better news, he's a peditrician! I've already told her, I am a panicky mother... so watch out!

Saturday night we had our going away party! So much fun! Thanks to all our family and friends who came! We love you! Anderson was the belle of the ball and had such a grand time running around and having lots of admirers. We are going to miss everyone so much!

I probably won't blog too much in the next two weeks because we haven't packed up one box in our house!!! I'm getting started tomorrow. Is there a trick to it? If you have any packing tips, please share, cause I'm CLUELESS!!

We have 12 days until we leave for the Big D!

PCB

We only have 17 days until our big move to Dallas,TX. 17 days, and we haven't even gotten one box out to pack!!! Ha! We took one last trip to Panama City Beach(or more accurately Laguna Beach) before we moved to north Texas. The coast will be at least 5 hours away from us...and yes I'm groaning because our family has a beach house in Panama City and we used to could go anytime we wanted. It was just a hop, skip and a jump from us! Literally!

We had such a great time. My dad and mimi(step mother) and my step sister Jana and my nephew James all were there! We went to Thomas Doughnuts every morning (if you haven't tried Thomas Doughnuts, RUN to Laguna Beach and stand in that LONG line! They are that awesome!!

My sister Jana and I got to spend some quality time together and I was glad because we never get to hang out and just talk. Her little boy James has to be the sweetest child I have ever met! He is 10 and just polite and delightful!Finally, one of my life long best friends Jessica Tedder was at the beach. She lives in Denver and just happened to be in town. She is 20 weeks pregnant and I cannot wait for her to experience being a mom. We all went to dinner at Pasta Grill and it was so yummy! No pictures of her though...so sad!


We LOVE Pier Park in Panama City!

We rode the train through Pier Park, sooo fun!

My nephew James, who was skim boarding. Anderson thought this was HILARIOUS!!

We have our going away party tomorrow night and I think it will be kinda sad! All of our family is in Alabama and concentrated around Dothan mostly. So 12 hours, will be kind of a hike for them, but I have a feeling we should have lots of company!

This picture is not related, just wanted to show you my nephew Aaden who is 4 months old! This is Adam's brother, Anthony! Aren't they sooo cute together! Anderson and Aaden look alike in this picture, their coloring is just different. Anderson has olive skin and reddish hair and Aaden is lighter with blond hair. I never really thought they looked alike, until I looked at this picture.:)e

Question???

As Anderson grows increasingly older and is more into things now. I have a question about disciplining children especially at his age. I DO NOT want to spank him, therefore I am looking for alternatives that work for his age. Ex. Today he threw a fit in the store, because I would not let him have a pen I was signing something with, I took him outside and spanked him on the hand and told him "we do not throw fits" and then I cried all the way home for spanking his hand.

I am not a weak parent, so please don't even suggest that just because I don't spank him that I am. I just need some advice on other alternatives of discipline for his age group which is 17 months.

HELP!

Please pray

Hello friends! I am asking your to pray for my life long friend Bonnie (Ryals) Williamson and her husband Kerry and their little boy Ethan. Please follow this link to their blog page

Zoo who?

Last week, Anderson and I went to the Montgomery Zoo probably for the last time. It's such a good value for what you get to see and do (only $8) plus $2 bucks if you want to ride the train!

Anderson is such a fan of ANY kind of animals. One of his first words was "owl", I dunno, so don't ask...

Anywho, we visited all of our favorite animals. And I think his favorite outside of the zoo is the parrot, but when he saw the real live version of the parrot. He was NOT A FAN! I guess the squawking was too much for him and he would do this


every time the parrot made a noise or the chicken cock-a-doodle-dooed! HA! Do you have chickens at zoos near you? I thought this was a VERY odd for a zoo! Maybe not...

When we got to the white tiger exhibit, Anderson he roared and didn't want to leave. The tiger looked like he could have cared less. I kept thinking about Siegfried and Roy, I know, that's horrible!


This guy was so interested in us.
I think he was the granddaddy of the others, because he had a little gray in his beard, but he watched us for a good 5 minutes.

We also enjoyed seeing the giraffes, the baby was too cute! Once, Adam and I saw a giraffe get under another one and drink the pee-pee(so I'm still pretty grossed out by them altogether:)



The Montgomery Zoo has a neato river otter exhibit and you can pay 50 cents and get otter food (aka dog food) and feed them. I tried to let Anderson feed them, but he ate the food and I finally fished it out of his little mouth! Gross!! He didn't seem to hate it though!:)


Anderson was particularly excited by the lizards and snakes(which I think all little boys and big boys are) I was feeling a lot creeped out by being in the reptile house. I just kept looking around of the floor, making sure that one hadn't made a run/slither out for it!

On the way home, we stopped by and got a Sonic Blast(oreo, is there any other kind) and Anderson completely enjoyed the cookies and ice cream out of it!


See you soon with beach pics!