EE-I-EE-I-O

For the last week or so we've been busy doing farm-themed activities. My friend Maile, has some great ideas on her blog and I've stolen quite a few. I've enjoyed doing the same theme with a fellow mom, we're able to bounce ideas of each other! Finley has loved all the fun activites. She can now identify all of the basic farm animals by name and tell me what sound they make. We've also been doing some planting and learning about seeds. She loves singing "EE-I-EE-I" (Old MacDonald Had A Farm).

Here is Finley doing her farm puzzle.



 I made this file folder game to help her with her numbers. Super easy!

 We're growing pinto and garbanzobeans.

I got this great idea from Maile. I wrote out Fin's name and gave her foam letters for her to match up. She did really well on this activity--great way to make letter-learning meaningful! 

 I found this book of reusable stickers really cheap at a going out of business Borders store. It has everything in it!

We used the stickers to "plant" a vegetable garden.

 Here is our barn! Again thanks Maile! You can check out her blog to learn how to make the adorable pig and the corn. I found the duck craft here. I love that the feathers of the duck are made from tracing Finley's hands!! We plan to make more animals soon!

 Here are some great non-fiction books we checked out at the library.

 And here are some farm-themed books that we've collected. I got a few of these for about $2 at The Christmas Tree Shops---a  fabulous store!

And here is the adorable soft veggie set I got for about $6 at IKEA--I love that store. Notice the $15 easel...it's also from IKEA! And the pig and duck, or "pig and quack-quack" as Finley calls them. They came from Hallmark. She LOVES these things. She carries them around and hugs them. It's so stinkin' cute. The little horse is a wind-up toy that gallops-very fun!!

We've also got some small plastic farm animals that I picked up in the dollar section at Target. I am having so much fun with this theme. Before this one we did a transportation theme. I didn't take many pics of the

activities-but we enjoyed it a lot. The farm theme however has more activities for Finley. We're using Bible verses about creation, growing plants, learning about veggies and animals and different farm equipment. It's a lot of fun. I'll post more pics as we continue!!!

5 Years

Five years ago, my whole world changed with two simple words..."I Do!"

Five years ago I put on a beautiful gown, my momma put my veil on, my sister and best friends sang me songs and fetched me ice water to help calm my nerves.

Five years ago Calvary Baptist Church was buzzing with laughter and covered in pink. "My colors are blush and bashful....your colors are pink and pink" (if you haven't watched Steel Magnolias, you must!)

Five years ago my grandparents, aunts, and friends were busy in the church's kitchen preparing delicious food for the reception.

Five years ago Monica & Mrs. Gail were putting the finishing tulle and twinkle lights in the fellowship hall, transforming an ordinary gym into a beautiful spring garden.

Five years ago my dad & I stood behind closed doors and listened to the music play as one by one, my brides people (I had a co-ed bridal party!) marched down the aisle.

Five years ago I remember the doors opening; a cool breeze sweeping across my face. I searched until I found his teary blue eyes.

Five years ago my daddy, who was the first man to ever hold my heart, walked my slowly down a carpeted aisle, and placed my hand into my future husband's hand.

Five years ago my father-in-love prayed over us and served us the Lord's supper as a newly formed household.

Five years ago we were pronounced husband and wife.....

Mr. & Mrs. Davis!!!

I can't believe it's already been five years since we started this amazing journey as husband and wife! I would like to share a funny story from our honeymoon.

We were blessed to have been gifted two honeymoons. The first one, right after we were married was given to us by Kyle's parents. We stayed in this adorable little secluded cottage! The second one, about 6 months after we were married, was given to us by dear friends, a stay in Italy and cruise to Greece & Croatia! This story is from the first one.

It was late afternoon, on the third day of our honeymoon. Kyle and I were snuggling on the couch, watching a movie. All of a sudden, reality kind-of sunk in. I started crying....slow, steady tears that soon turned into blubbering sobs. Kyle, pretty freaked out, kept asking me what was wrong. I just lost it, and started spilling over! I had just left the safety and security of a small town. A town that I had lived in my entire life. A town my parents and grandparents had lived in. I lived, went to school, and worked in that town. I knew everyone and everything in that town. Several of the teachers that taught me also taught my parents. The greeter at Wal-Mart was my great aunt. My whole family still lived there. I graduated high school with the same friends I started pre-school with. My boss had been at my baby shower (as in, before I was born!). My dad worked at a body shop that had been built by my grandfather before he was born. I could get from one end of town to the other in about 5 minutes. I knew what to expect and who I was in that small town. I now realized that I was moving...like 5 hours away...to a huge city...that I had visited a handful of times. I kept thinking, I don't even know how do get to Wal-Mart. I don't know where the post office is. I don't know where the gas stations are. Heck, I didn't even know how to get to our tiny apartment! Finally I managed to blubber most of this out, and then kept saying, "I don't even know my zip code!" I said this over and over and over and over..well, you get the point. And my sweet loving husband just held me, patted my hair, and sweetly whispered, "76208." He kept saying it, over and over. And I knew. Right then, I knew God had purposed this. He had brought us together. It didn't matter that I didn't know my way around. I would learn, and I did! Looking back, Kyle & I laugh about this. It's become a joke in our family. I know God brought us where we are for a reason. I can't imagine leaving where we are--unless God tells us to.


I never wanted to leave, I was perfectly content to live right down the road from my parents. But God had other plans! And I'm so glad He did!  Because it was just us, God did a mighty thing in our marriage. We learned to trust in Him and rely on each other. If we got mad, there was no where to go...I couldn't run back to mom & dad's house! Our marriage is better because of the distance from my first home. I am so blessed to get to share in this amazing journey with someone who makes me laugh, is my biggest supporter, is my best friend, and the best dad to our two girls!!!

Here's to many more years together! I love you Kyle! Thanks for giving me your last name and your heart!
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