Special Delivery

Surprise!

Kayleigh proudly announced to me that a very special package would be arriving in the mail. I had no idea that it was going to be this special. Cozette is the lucky recipient of Kayleigh's creative imagination.

They do play some very clever games.

Cozette is starting to say her letters and hums the A-B-C song constantly.

"My Mommy," is how Cozette greets me. I always respond by saying, "My Cozette."

She has the sweetest little voice.

Cozette is 20 months today. She is one little package that I will definitely keep!

The Geese Came A Callin'

Truth be told, when you hear honking outside your door, it could very well be your fine feathered friends!

Please do come in and make yourself at home.

Mommom and Papa came for a visit, and the geese thought they would join us. Their arrival was a most pleasant surprise. I hate talking about my new friends, but I must admit they were not the most well mannered guests. They left a little present for us to clean up outside my front door...


You never can tell what surprises the day will bring!

The Catcher is My Guy

"I have a vision that you will hit a home run tonight." I humbly prophesy to Everett before each game.

"What if I don't?" He questions me.

"It's perfectly fine if you don't, but I think you will tonight." I assure him.


Now, it's time for the rest of the story:

Me: Mr. Baseball, how do you feel right now?

*It's important for me to share that Mr. B speaks to me in a very southern accent. Please read his answers in your most southern accent.

Mr. Baseball: I feel great!

Me: Why are you feeling so great?

Mr. Baseball: I hit a home run RBI, and when I was catchin', I threw someone out at second base. And, I also tagged someone out at second base.

Me: What's an RBI?

Before Mr. B can answer, the coach tries to answer for him. I told him to hush!

Mr. Baseball: It's a run batted in. It's when you are up to bat, and you hit a ball so the man on base can run home. Tonight I hit a home run when someone was on base.

Me: Thanks for that explanation. Did you see me cheering for you?

Mr. Baseball: (Mr. B smiles really big) Yes. I liked it a lot. It was really funny. You were up at the fence screaming.

Me: I sure was.

In the history of Everett's baseball games, I don't think I have ever screamed as much as I did tonight. I jumped up and down like I had just won the lottery. Everett had several guests tonight. I wanted him to hit a home run so badly for every one. Mommom, Papa, Nikki, and three of his neighborhood friends came to watch him. What was so cute is that the three of them were also jumping up and down. Mommom, Papa, and Nikki went wild too.

Me: How do you enjoy catching?

Mr. Baseball: I like it a lot.

The coach adds his two cents and praises Everett for being such a great catcher. We feel he may excel at this position.

Me: Do you like pitching or catching better?

Mr. Baseball: They're equal. (He then thinks about it some more.) Actually, If I had to choose I would choose catchin'.

Me: You are doing a great job at it. Is there any other reason why you are feeling so great tonight?

Mr. Baseball: Hmm...

Me: Have you already forgotten?

Mr. Baseball: Oh yeah...I got the game ball.

Me: Congratulations. You played a spectacular game tonight. Now, will you give me a kiss?

Mr.Baseball: Who me?

Me: Yes, you!

Mr. Baseball: I will kiss you if I can leave now and go to Publix with Daddy.

Me: I guess I'll settle for that.

Mr. Baseball: Smooch. I will give you another kiss if I can have $5 to spend at Publix.

Me: No thanks.

Kayleigh: I will kiss you for free!

That's my girl.

We did not win tonight. The final score tonight was 11-6.

Everett was on cloud nine anyway!

Garden Party

Dad and I spent the most delightful day together. We planted a garden in our backyard. Our friend, Leslie King, was kind enough to come over and offer his services to till the soil. Dad and I then went to Home Depot to get the tomato, cucumber, and pepper plants. I am the most excited about the cantaloupe seeds. It was a difficult decision to narrow down what I wanted to plant. When we arrived back home, we shared a simple lunch of ham and cheese sandwiches and Oreo cookies.

Our conversation was the most enjoyable part.

It is important for me to be a little more truthful and correct myself. Dad and I did have a delightful day, but "we" did not plant the garden.

He planted the garden.

I planted the cantaloupe seeds and the pepper plant, but Dad did all of the hard work. He created the beds, planted most of the plants, watered them, and cleaned up the mess.

Dad did inform me, however; I am to be the maintenance lady! All weeding and watering is my responsibility. This is where Kayleigh and Everett come in. They are excited about this garden and are eager to help water and weed it. I am glad for their excitement, because I will need all the help I can get.

We should be seeing the fruits of our labor by mid June. The cantaloupe will be ready in August. I will make sure I take pictures of my little garden's progress and post pictures along the way.

Aren't you so excited?

Please notice how hard my Dad is working!

My Thoughts About Easter

With the passing of my cousin last week, my thoughts have been centered on the resurrection of our Savior. Joel's life was not easy. His was burdened with consequences from the choices made in his youth. He did however, express hope in the end and a desire to attend church. I know that because of our Savior, he is now at peace.

Attending Joel's funeral in South Carolina, presented the opportunity for me to travel all day with my sisters. We recognized that this was the first time we had spent that much together, just the three of us, since Brad and I were married.

We did have one little travel companion, our little Susie.

My sisters and I spent time talking about our hope in the atonement and a thousand other things that sisters share. We laughed, and we cried. Quincy said our time together was a rare treasure.

It really was.

This year's Easter festivities were especially fun. Cozette did not completely understand the Easter egg hunt, but it didn't take her long to discover the candy inside the eggs.

She walked around with her Elmo Easter basket with eggs in her little hand saying, "Mine!"

We also hid a golden egg this year that had a two dollar bill in it, Everett was the lucky winner.

Easter dinner was at my house. It was a real feast. Our menu included: Asian marinated pork loin, ham, million dollar potatoes, sweet potato souffle, deviled eggs, fresh asparagus and garlic green beans, rolls, and last, but not least: banana split pie.

Easter is a wondrous time of reflection and thanksgiving for the life and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

He lives. This I know to be true!


I do need to add that Cozette is starting to say more words.

Here is a list of her extensive repertoire:

"Daddy (dah-dee)."

"Hi Daddy!"

"Daddy downdair (downstairs) ?"

"My Daddy."

"Da da da da da da."

I really don't think she likes Brad that much!

"Mine."

"heh-woe (hello)."

"maca." For macaroni and cheese.

Today she said her first sentence. I was simply shocked. We were trying to find her a bib for lunch. They were all dirty. I was in the laundry room saying to her how sad it was that her bibs were dirty. Then as clear as a bell she said, "My bibs are dir-dee!"

And that is her first official sentence!

There Was a Little Girl

Who has some little curls. Cozette was a little rooster at her 18 month photo shoot. She cried when the photographer tried to talk to her, and she kept me in a choke hold for the first 10 minutes. Cozette finally calmed down for a few pictures. I tried every trick on the planet to get her to smile. None of them worked.

Cozette really was trying not to cry.

I really do love this one. This is Cozette's reaction
to the photographer holding
a little bunny and saying,"hop, hop, hop."

The red flower and a package of smarties saved the day.

At least we were able to get Cozette to look at the camera!

Up To Bat

The moments that precede a baseball being pitched to Everett are emotionally intense. I can see the pitcher on the pitchers mound. His body is erect, his focus on Everett, as he starts his windup. Somewhere, his Mom is watching and hoping that her son will throw a strike. I can see Everett at home plate; knees bent, assessing this pitcher and getting his batting stance ready.

I cheer for Everett.

"Please don't strike out." I whisper to myself.

CRACK! The crowd starts to cheer, and I start jumping up and down as Everett runs as fast as he can to first base.

It's such a relief when Everett gets to base. Sometimes, he doesn't because the opposing team catches his ball. What I have noticed is that Everett always gets a hit. He's the team's lead-off man and is solid hitter.

We have only played three of the seven games scheduled because of all the rain we have been receiving. The Yellow Jackets have had one win and two losses. We have four make-up games scheduled.

Last night's final score was 9-4. A much needed win for our team.

Everett also pitched last night.

I can sum it up by saying, it just about did me in!


Now, it is time for a picture of some delicious cuisine:

Omelet a la Everett.

Everett decided he was going to make his own ham and cheese omelet for dinner. Pictured above is the finished product. When he saw the picture, he starting cracking up and said, "Boy, that doesn't look so great, but it sure was good!"

I told him cooking takes practice just like baseball.

He seemed to like that idea.