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!
.

I'm so glad...

That my hubby likes to cook.

That he LOVES playing with his little girls.

 That he loves singing and playing the guitar for us.

And that he will play in the snow with me at 1 AM.

I could go on and on about this great man of mine, like how he loves to make me laugh, never hesitates to get up for a 3 AM feeding, changes diaper after diaper, takes charge of bath time, gives me foot rubs, helps clean, encourages me, and how much he loves his girls...but for now, I will just say that I'm so blessed to be married to such an awesome man. I love you Kyle!



Off to the park we go!

We've had some BEAUTIFUL weather this weekend! And the Davis clan didn't spend much of it inside. Instead we spent some time at a new park...well a "new-to-us" park. I've passed by this park several times and decided to stop by. It's the same park that my friend Maile was telling me about, and it is so fun!

The truck

There's a truck, an F-100 that belonged to my husband's late grandfather, John Davis. For many years the truck sat in a barn on the family farm in Oklahoma. Several months ago my in-laws had the truck moved to my dad's house so my dad & Kyle could make some repairs on it, and so Kyle could have this truck that has always had a special place in his heart. They've done some work on it, but with adding a second babe to our home, we haven't had the time or resources to do much. Hopefully in the future the guys can get it in good shape!

So anyway, whenever we go back to Many, Kyle likes to visit the truck! Haha! I snapped a few pics of Kyle & Finley playing in the Ford. Pretty cool watching my daughter pretend to drive her great-grandfather's truck!

Here are some of my faves:

A Sunday in February

Last Sunday, a bunch of loud, crazy, big-footed, people from all over met and went to a tiny baptist church, that had views of a lake, in a tiny town....

Let me explain. My mother's side of the family is quite large...like as in my grandmother has 20 something brothers and sisters...no lie. We are a close knit bunch known for our large feet, loud mouths, and outspoken ways. I have had the privilege to grow up knowing several great aunts and great uncles (there is only one living brother, Uncle Don, or as his sisters simply call him, "Brother") who are pretty FANTASTIC.  My grandmother and her sisters, and the women in the generations after them (aunts, cousins, etc) are pretty amazing. (As are the men who are lucky enough to marry in to this bunch.) They are all strong, hilarious, crazy women. The women outnumber the men, but the guys in the family are pretty spectacular themselves!

We are always there for one another and these people are just "my people." We get together several times during the year; one Sunday in February, for Easter dinner, Labor Day weekend for our annual reunion, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. And there are always in-between times, when someones getting hitched or having a baby, and those tearful times when we're saying farewell to a loved one. 

This post is about the first one, a Sunday in February.

The patriarchs of this family (my great-grandparents) are Ollie Belle & D.W. Armstrong. They were both born in February (although MANY years a part). For as long as I can remember, and probably even longer, the family would all get together and join great-grandma at church in honor of her and great-grandpa's birthday. After service we did what all good baptists to...we ate! Usually a fish-fry at Aunt Gen's house.

Even though great-grandma passed away several years ago (2001?), we still all go to the same church where she brought her family every Sunday (and the same church where my parents were married). We remember Ollie Belle & D.W. and the legacy they left. I didn't know D.W., but I knew Ollie Belle, and let me tell you, I have never met a stronger women. I don't know how many times she read her Bible cover to cover, but she knew her Jesus well and waged war on her knees like a mighty Saint. She worked hard, took care of her family, and always made time for everyone. Even in a family as large as hers, she made everyone feel special. I remember she would always call me "little sweetness" and my sister "little meanness." I mean, that should tell you right there what an awesome judge of character she was...hahaha! (Just kidding Stacy, now get back to work and go deliver a baby!) Great-grandma was a spit-fire of a gal. I only got a peek, a small view of her long, incredible life. I am so honored to be her great-granddaughter and hope that I can teach my girls about her and the life she led.

So this past Sunday, we all once again met at Aimwell Baptist Church to honor Ollie Belle & D.W. There were 50 or so of their descendants there to honor them! After that we went to Aunt Gen's house for some yummy Mexican food...don't even get me started on the cooks in this family!!! Yum-O!

Anyway, here are some pics from that day!

My grandma and three of her sisters cleaning up from lunch!

We're going on a heart hunt...

Finley & Rowynn's grandparents (Davis) sent beautiful Valentine cards for our family. Inside were several red and white doilies. So why Finley was napping, I hid them all around the house. She loved finding them all!

We sang (to the tune of "We're Going on a Bear Hunt"):

We're going on a heart hunt
We're going to find a red (or white) one.
What a beautiful heart.
Let's put it on the window!