The Story of Baby Bear

Once upon a time, there was a baby bear.

The baby bear was all alone in the living room floor. She was very afraid.

She cried, "Help, help! Someone protect me!"

Suddenly....Spider Man appeared.

He was ready and able to spin his web of protection around the baby bear.

The sweet baby bear was so relieved that Spider Man appeared to save the day.

She felt very safe with him in her home.

Each time the baby bear became scared, she simply reached out
to her hero and he was happy to rescue her.


The two became the best of friends and lived happily ever after.

The End.

Why God Made Little Girls

When I was a little girl, I had a print hanging in my room that said something about why God made little girls. I have no idea how it read, but realized today why He did.

When I decided that I was going to blog it was going to be a lengthy story about how everyone should feel sorry for me today because of all I've done and endured with a sick child, husband being out of town, managing to take care of picking up McClendon, finishing laundry that didn't get done over the weekend and everything else that every mom out there has done probably a hundred times over. However, I became convicted about my pathetic attitude toward every blessing in my life.

You know, I was reminded 6 months ago that I, and only I, am ever going to know what it is like to carry my children inside me for 9 whole months. And, I am the only one who will ever know the true joy and closeness that I felt to God when I gave birth to each of them. Although it's the hardest job I've ever had, I am the only person who will ever know what it's like to be the mother to my two precious children. How quickly I must have forgotten these tender moments.

So, I asked myself....would I really rather be spending two days out of town playing golf (or shopping would be my choice)? Would I really rather get in another workout this week? Would I really rather have someone else take care of my child when he/she is sick? Do I really wish I didn't have to wash all of these bottles every day? Do I really wish I could just be at work so I could get off of my feet for a few minutes?

Then I considered the answers. If I did, would that mean that the other 363 days out of the year wouldn't be spent with my best friend? Would it mean that I couldn't hear him tell Kendal how beautiful she is? If I did, would that mean that I would not hear my daughter laugh until she got the hiccups because my son was jumping from rug to rug in the bathroom? Or, would it mean I wouldn't get to feel her sweet head rest on my shoulder because she couldn't get comfortable to sleep? Would it mean that I couldn't sing the Texas Tech fight song every time my son "runs out of the wocker room" (even if it's 30 times every Saturday)? If so, I don't want to change anything about today or any other day.

"She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness. Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: 'Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all.' Charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised." Proverbs 31:27-30

I'm sure most of you thought this post would be about Kendal. Well, in a way it is, I pray that someday she will be able to feel the love of God through her own children and recognize how much He has in store for her. I pray that I may always fear the Lord and that He will continue to remind me of my blessings and convict me when I become aggravated with them.

I love these two sweeties and their dad more than life itself!

First of Many

Well, today was our first First Day of School. McClendon did great. He was up about 6:40 this morning excited and ready to get dressed. He looked like a handsome little turtle with his HUGE backpack. He wore it around the house from the time he got dressed until we left the house. Right before we left he asked, "Is it my birthday today?" I said, "No, does it feel like your birthday?" He laughed and said, "Yes." It put my heart at ease to know he was that excited about his big day. Here he is all dressed and ready to go.
Here is a picture of him and his daddy outside the school. Have you ever seen two better looking guys? Ok, I'm sure most of you think you have, but I will have to disagree.

And last, but certainly not least....Kendal was excited for her big brother's first day of preschool too. She could hardly contain herself!

How we roll....

What an exciting time this is for us. Mc Clendon starts preschool on Monday so tonight we get to meet his teacher. We've really been talking it up and he looks at the postcard they sent at least once a day. He's getting so big and doesn't pass up a chance to let us know just how big he is. However, from time to time he still needs us to pick him up, dust him off and let him know that everything is going to be okay.

For example, last night he was "helping" his dad get some things out of storage for the garage sale we're having this weekend and came in the house in his daddy's arms crying. Because he's 3, I of course had the look on my face that questioned, "what now?" Matt's response was..."He got hurt. It's actually pretty bad." Then McClendon looked up and showed me what happened when "the wood fell on me."

My first thought? Oh good, I can't wait to meet his teacher tomorrow night. Here is how we will be showing up to preschool at Calvary tonight to meet his sweet new teacher.






Nice, huh? These are his mean faces. He thinks he's real tough now that all the tears are gone and the tylenol is working. We watched him run into the living room this morning to tell Kendal as she was sitting in her little lounge seat, "Kendal, did you know I have a black eye? It's because I'm a boxer!" Followed by punching the air. Boys. Apparently, this is just how we roll.

I'm just glad that I at least know a couple of the teachers at Calvary so that maybe any abuse allegations won't be filed officially.

Big Day

So....with two kids, one of them under 6 months we have become anything but spontaneous around our house. However, we're getting back into the life we have always loved living....one of spontaneity. Well, sort of. Saturday we had planned to begin repairing and painting the trim on our house. Then, it rained all night Friday night. We had to postpone the work and also the playing outside we had planned for McClendon. So, we came up with another plan. First, McClendon saw a commercial that had something to do with bowling. So, he proceeded to ask if we could go play bowing.....yes, bowing. You know, with a bowing baw. Matt of course said yes and we proceeded to get ready to go eat lunch and go bowling.

Let me just use this as a priceless plug for South Plains Lanes. If you want to take your children bowling on the weekend and don't want to pay what amounts to $30 a lane per hour (not including shoes) and you don't want your sweet little angels to breathe in second hand smoke until they hack up a lung....you should go to South Plains Lanes. It's inexpensive, child friendly and smoke free!!!! So, McClendon got to play bowing and we had a pleasant and

relatively inexpensive outing.

This is McClendon taking a shot at actually rolling the ball. He was SURE he had enough muscles to do it all by himself.

It didn't take him long to realize that it was much easier with the ramps they have.

None of us would have been at our best without our little cheerleader!

After nap time we made the quick decision to drive to Lamesa for McClendon and Kendal's first Rodeo. As most of you already know, we are not cowfolk. But heck, you sure wouldn't know it by takin' a gander at this fine feller all decked out in his duds.
We ended our exciting day of exciting and unplanned activities with these two sweet faces. Looks like we'll be doing more of this in days to come.

Okay, okay....

I know it's been a very long time since I've posted (thanks to your "friendly" reminders). I know most of you don't really care what we've been up to, you just want to see pictures of the kids. Most of these are from the 4th of July. So, here you go.....

Can you tell?

I know I've told most of you how much I think Kendal looks like McClendon and the usual response is, 'well, kind of but she looks so much like you" or "you think? I guess she does a little." etc.

This is a pic of McClendon in July of 2006.



This is a picture of Kendal in June of 2009.


Whatdayathink?

Weekend Pics

Just wanted to share a few pics of our weekend. We went to a wedding and McClendon was the ring bearer. He did such a good job and looked very handsome. Both of our kids were great through the whole busy weekend. Those of you who have children know just how rare those weekends are!

It's already started....

When I was pregnant and we found out it was going to be a little girl, Matt's response was, "I'm so glad we're having a girl. You need someone on your side." I let him know then that I knew I still wasn't going to have anyone on my side, that I was just going to have a daddy's boy and a daddy's little girl. He was sure that this wouldn't be the case.

He was gone Tues, Wed and Thurs of this week and I felt like I did a pretty decent job of managing both kids (nightly wake-up calls included) and thought of it as more bonding time with me and both of them. McClendon makes it pretty clear and has for quite some time that his favorite parent is Daddy. However, I thought this week that maybe...just maybe I was going to win Kendal over.

Then.....Daddy came home.

Matt kept telling me this morning what a great mood she was in (since I got up late and just had diaper and clothing duty while he fed and played). So, I got my phone out ready to capture the sweet smiles we see so often. I talked and laughed, even sang a little to her.

This was the look I got.

So, I called Matt in to show him the pic. He laughed and then said something to her like, "where's Daddy's little Kendal bug?" and this was the look he got.

So much for having someone on my side.

Alex

Today I learned something new about McClendon's world. I learned about his friend Alex. We were walking out of Rosa's and he said, "You know Alex can go to Memaw Trudy's (day care) with me?" I asked him, "Who is Alex?" His response? "E.K.E.Y.A...Alex." Apparently this is the proper spelling of his friend's name. I asked if Alex was "one of his boys" (remember? the ones who go watch him play soccer at his soccer games?) and in a very manly voice he replied, "yeah." Upon further prompting I learned that Alex talks to McClendon, can play cars with McClendon, he can play baseball with McClendon, goes to the same school as McClendon and that he's nice. I asked McClendon if he can see Alex and he told me yes but followed promptly with, "No, but I can just play with him." So, my next question of course was if Alex was imaginary. McClendon assured me that he was not.....that he was just a play friend. And that it was okay because Alex is a good guy not a bad guy. Hmmm. Good to know.

The Face of a Good Night's Sleep

So, Kendal slept through the night on Tuesday night (10:30 pm - 7:00 am). It was wonderful and even though it didn't happen again last night, this is the sweet face of my baby girl yesterday evening after we got home from work/babysitter.



McClendon and I just laughed and talked to her while she was grinning and trying to talk back to us. McClendon loves her so much and told me for the second time in the last week how happy he is that we got Kendal out of my tummy. I could never have imagined how much these little bugs would change my life.

Why I Love Sundays

So, last week was my first week back to work after being able to stay home a little while with sweet Kendal. Needless to say, with all of the normal tasks of daily living plus those that become normal tasks with two children, I was exhausted. We had an excellent day on Saturday as my husband spoiled me with letting me sleep in, making me breakfast and taking me to a fabulous dinner for my birthday. I figured that was about as good as life could get....

until Sunday

The following depict the scenes at our house shortly after lunch on Sunday.

After seeing how wonderfully our children were behaving, I snuggled up on the couch with my sweet husband and we dozed until they woke up. Can you even imagine a better weekend?

3 whole years!

I can't believe how quickly the past three years have blown by! I have been reminded this weekend of how being a parent is one of the best gifts God gives. McClendon will be 3 years old tomorrow and I can't seem to grasp the concept.

Here is a picture shortly after we brought our sweet boy home.

Here is a picture of him that was taken Friday. I can't believe how big he is and if I do say so myself, he's the most handsome guy I've ever seen!

Not only is tomorrow McClendon's 3rd birthday, but Kendal will be 1 month old tomorrow, which doesn't seem possible either. Below is a picture of her from Friday as well. She's just the sweetest thing ever and I can't imagine our lives without her. Thanks for letting me brag about my kids and sharing our lives!

Kendal's First Bath..

Kendal was able to have her first real bath at the end of last week. McClendon did not like the idea of putting her in the sink, but we assured him it would be alright. As you can see, she didn't really like it at first, but she got use to it and did fine.

Fun with friends..

A few pics of McClendon playing with Grayson and Presley Archer.

There's no place like home.

Well, we've been home for about a week and a half now and Kendal is doing great. Her big brother is so sweet to her and can't seem to give her enough kisses in a day. We've been having a good time staying home although I have to admit I'm getting a little cabin fever. It's funny how when I work all day everyday all I wish for is an afternoon off to stay home and rest. However, when I have to stay home and rest (like the whole week prior to delivery) it's like I can't stand to be stuck inside. Maybe after this horrible wind dies down we'll be able to get out a little more.

I'm going to take just a moment to brag on my sweet husband. He has truly been going above and beyond with helping me out, as you may have noticed by all of the wonderful pics and bragging he's done on here. But, even though he's back at work and taking call, etc. he's still willing to get up as often as I need him to with the baby and manage McClendon's schedule (and recenty peculiar behavior) every day. I have been reminded over the past couple of weeks why I titled our blog "No End to Grace." If nothing else, I am reminded of God's continual grace through this intense time in our lives. Not only are Matt and I blessed to have two wonderful children, but I'm also blessed to have such a selfless husband. I could never have imagined or planned my life to be this amazing and without God's endless grace and mercy know I would not have any of these blessings.

Okay, here are just a couple of pics of the last few days. Thanks so much for sharing our lives.

First trip out of the house.

Changing more each day.

Just a few pics from the last couple of days.

Kendal thinking about how good her daddy is to her. :)

Kendal thinking about what she wants for dinner.




McClendon pretending to take a nap with Kendal.