All About Aunt Lori

This post is all about Aunt Lori!

My sister is not one who enjoys being the center of attention. I think that's why we've always made a good team. When we were little, we were constantly creating dance and synchronized swimming routines, music videos, recitals, plays, etc. I was always the one with no shame. I'd get out in front, be silly, and make a fool of myself. Lori, on the other hand, was always the mastermind behind the scenes. Sometimes, I could convince her to join me, but she was much more comfortable with a smaller "side job." But in this post, she's getting all the attention, like it or not! Because she deserves the recognition!

When she was 13, she moved to White Hall with my parents. Away from me. I was in college so I stayed in Magnolia, but she was just in Jr. High and had no choice in the matter. Until she moved, we had always been close. We shared clothes, shoes, make-up and hair supplies, etc. We even moved my bed into her room so we could turn my old room into our very own "walk-in closet!" So when she moved, it was hard. But I know she had it a lot harder than I did. She had to start a brand new school, make all new friends... basically start from scratch. I've always admired her for being able to do that.

Then she graduated from High School with honors and started college at UCA. Without a doubt, she has excelled in all her classes. I always pick on her for being so dedicated to her studies, but clearly I should've been more like her in college! :) I changed my major 3 times, while she has always been the girl with a plan. She's known from day one what she wanted to do and has followed that plan exactly.

She had an interview last Thursday at Baptist in Little Rock in hopes of getting into the Medical Technology program there. We helped her pick out a new cute, but very business-like, outfit just for the interview, and she even studied all 25 possible interview questions so she'd be prepared. When she left, they told her she might know something by the next week. The very next morning I got a text from her that said Baptist had already called her back, and she got accepted! I never had a doubt in my mind because when she sets out to do something, she will practice and prepare for it until she has it down-right perfect. Obviously, it didn't take them long to decide that their Med Tech program needed a smart, dedicated, hard working student like Lori Monk. We are so thrilled for her! Now we get to relax on the beach in June before she starts school in July!

The last several months have not been easy for her, but her faith in the Lord has never wavered! She's such a great role model for my sweet Olivia, and I am so proud to call her my sister!

Here are a few pictures from our celebration supper Friday night:

And here are just some random pictures of my beautiful sister:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Did I mention she cut off her hair to donate it to Locks of Love?

 

...and she ran a HALF MARATHON!!!

 

 

 We love you so much, Aunt Lori!!!!

Happy Birthday, Zoe!

Friday was Zoe's birthday. She's 8 years old now. How can that even be?! I just got her, right? If she was human, I would have a 2nd grader! Crazy!

Happy birthday little Zoe girl! We love you so much!

Pretty Like a Necklace

Well, it's that time of year again... when softball starts to creep back into our lives. I love it. I love watching Drew play. There's just something about seeing him do something he's really good at, and knowing that that's my husband... it just makes me proud! I just love him. Ok, enough mushiness.

Anyway, Saturday, Drew played a tournament in Hope so we were at the ball field all day. The sun was out, mid-70's, with a light breeze... it was perfect! We got to catch up with some old friends and even made some new ones. It was a great day!

When we first got there, Drew was still out at the truck unloading all his stuff, and I had to take Livy to the potty. As we were walking towards the fields, she said,
"Whoaa! Look at all these boys!"
Haha! Girl, you are way too young to start that already!

Drew's team ended up placing 2nd in the tourney, and after the game Livy wanted to give her daddy a high-5. He met her at the fence, she gave him a high-5 and said,
"You did so good, Daddy! Two points!!!"
We all laughed. I asked her where she learned about points and she said,
"I watch basketball at Pappy and Annie's house!"
She's such a little sponge! She soaks everything right up!

She always wants to ride on his bag after the game... if I fit, I'd want to ride too!

 

This is just the sweetest picture. Drew will do whatever Livy wants him to... there's no shame in his game!
Baby doll and all :)

 

Who's the lousy mom who forgot to pack her daughter a jacket?! Me! So we made do with one of Drew's shirts.
She thought it was cool to wear a ball shirt like Daddy.

 

Even Kitty likes to watch Daddy play ball!

 

This little girl is the best. She played all day, just content as could be. She is so easy-going!

Then last night after church, Calvary had a scrimmage game against First Baptist. Livy saw a little girl who was a little younger than her and wanted to go say hi. I told her that was fine, but just to say hi and come right back. I watched her run over there thinking she'd just literally say hi and turn around and leave. But no, not my child. She walks up to the girl and gives her a huge hug! I'm sure that girl's mom was thinking who is this strange little girl hugging my daughter?! Livy never meets a stranger! Especially with kids. She thinks everyone is her friend.

She eventually came running back to our side of the bleachers and said,
"Mama, I told her hi!"
"Good, that was sweet of you."
"Yea... she's pretty like a necklace, but she's not a necklace."

Where does she get this stuff? That's the best pick-up line I've ever heard!

Copy-Cat

Livy and I have been playing copy-cat on her dry erase board in her play room. I draw something, and she has to copy it. Here's a couple of pictures... She was so proud!

Detective Olivia Baker

This morning we were watching Law & Order: SVU, as we do every Tuesday (that's SVU marathon day)! We love SVU. It's definitely our favorite show... ever wonder where we got the name Olivia? :)

Anyway, on this particular episode, Finn had gotten shot just below the shoulder in an attempted robbery at a bodega. Olivia was just outside the store, so when she heard the gun shots, she ran in to find Finn barely conscious. She was applying pressure to his wound, trying to stop the bleeding (don't worry... it wasn't a gory scene), and she kept saying over and over, "Finn, stay with me! Stay with me, Finn!" Livy looked at me and said,
"Whoa. That mama really wants that daddy to stay with her!"

Then a little later in the episode, the detectives were questioning a drug dealer in the interrogation room. The drug dealer was talking very fast and loud, doing his best to defend himself, when Livy asked,
"What's he talking about?"
"I don't know, baby?"
"Well, maybe he's telling everybody about Jesus..."

Haha! You can't get anything passed Detective Olivia Benson Baker!

Heavy Jesus

Last night was pretty bad... we hardly slept at all. We're trying to keep Livy in her bed, and break her from the habit of climbing in our bed in the middle of the night. We were making progress until Drew and I had to go out of town this weekend. I guess one night away from home made her completely forget everything... that goes for sleeping and obeying. It has definitely been interesting around here since we all got back home. I think my sweet little girl is still at Pappy and Annie's house somewhere, and we brought home her crazy evil twin! Hopefully, this screaming-fit-throwing phase will pass as quickly as it arrived!

One funny moment from last night's nightmare struggle... she was standing in the middle of her room, with her over sized t-shirt and hair pulled up in a messy bun (she still looked as cute as ever) screaming and crying! I walked in and told her to get back in bed and lay down. She was so upset she could barely talk, but between gasps of air she said,
"But... I'm... happy... now!"
I said, "Uhh, I don't think you're happy. Now get back in bed." She replied,
"But... I'm... really... really... happy!"
What do you say to that?! She always finds a way to make me laugh!

This morning I was talking to her about how ugly she was acting last night. I reassured her that she can sleep in her bed by herself, and I expected her to go to sleep without screaming tonight. I also explained to her that it makes Mama and Daddy very sad when she disobeys. Here's how the conversation went:

"Livy, when you don't mind Mama and Daddy it makes us very sad, and it also makes Jesus sad."
"It makes Jesus sad?"
"Yes, Jesus wants you to mind Mama and Daddy."
"But... Jesus is so heavy to me."
"What? Why?"
'Because I just can't carry Him. He's too heavy to me."
"Baby, you don't have to carry Jesus. Jesus carries you!"
"Jesus loves me?"
"Yes, He loves you a lot!"
"Aww, I want to see Jesus tomorrow."
"Well, we probably won't see Him tomorrow. He lives in heaven with God, remember?"
"But it would make me happy. I want to see Him tomorrow at 4 o'clock... ok, ok?"

Wouldn't that be awesome? If we could just set up an appointment and visit with Jesus? I love how little minds think! Here's to hoping tonight will be better! :)

Who could stay mad at this cutie pie?? I just love her!

Sleeping Beauty Goes to the Dentist



I had a dentist appointment at 10:30 this morning. We got up, got dressed, and were out the door in plenty of time; we were actually a little early. We were in the waiting room, and I noticed Livy kept scratching and tugging on her diaper...

 

*Side note: Since she's been on antibiotics, her diapers have been terrible... I mean terrible! Like leaking out from every angle, getting all over every single pair of pants I put on her, terrible!*

 

So fearing the worst, I lifted up the back of her skirt to check out her leggings, and sure enough... disaster! I knew I didn't have any spare diapers in the truck (I thought surely we could make it an hour without changing a diaper...) I was wrong. So I explained the situation to the lady at the desk who was very understanding and rescheduled me for 3:30 this afternoon.

 

We got to eat lunch with Drew today. While we were sitting at Mule's, out of the blue, Livy looks at me and says,

"I don't like you, I like Daddy."

I said, "What? I'm so sad! Why don't you like me?"

"Because I like Daddy."

"Well, you can like both of us."

"Ooh, I forgot! I do like you Mama."

 

We went home, I did a little laundry, and Livy played house with pieces of chalk. Yes, you read that right. She put 48 pieces of chalk in her baby doll bed and rocked them to sleep. She said,

"My chalks is sleepy!"

 

Then it was back to the dentist. Livy fell asleep on the way.... and slept the entire time we were there! She even snored a little... she was out! The hygienist thought it was hilarious.

 

Even Sleeping Beauty goes to the dentist...