One Special Lady

My Mawmaw, Peggy Haynes was a very special lady.  She didn't have any enemies and spoke evil words about no one.  She was the most Christ-like human I ever knew.  She loved life and everyone in it.  She cared about people and gave generously.  She had so many friends from so many walks of life and made each of them feel like the most special person.  Many of my childhood friends called her"Mawmaw" because she treated them like her own grandchild.  I always knew my grandparents loved me and spent a lot of time with me but it wasn't until I was older when I realized how truly blessed I was to have my Mawmaw and Pop.  Many people say they have the best grandparents, but Josh and I really did have the best.  Here are some of my greatest memories of her...some sweet and some funny.

• Spending the night at their house and she always cooked me my favorite: bacon, egg, and cheese on toast.  She even cooked me one if she was cooking something else for Pop.  Yeah, I know she spoiled me. 
• She would scratch my back and rub my head a lot, and I never returned the favor.  
• I loved baking with her.  She was always so patient with me.  We would bake at her house, especially at Christmas time.  She worked until 11 at night with the Forestry Commission and I would go with her and we would bake while she worked since no one was there.  We even baked together this past Christmas when I used condensed milk instead of evaporated on the fudge and we had to start over.  She just laughed.
• I can't leave out the drive by peach milkshakes from Hardee's she would deliver after getting off work at 11.  She would cut her lights off on her car and Josh and I would sneak out the door to get them.
• She would find the switches and break all of them thinking we wouldn't get whooped.  Dad busted her on that!
• If we were ever told we would get a whoopin while she was at our house she would stay as long as she could thinking my parents would forget all about it.  
• All the vacations they took us on are great memories: Disney World, the Keys, Everglades, out West twice to places like Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, Yosemite, and the Royal Gorge, to the beach, many North Carolina trips to see family.
• She never failed to tell me how proud she was of me: my grades, sports, marrying Walter, getting 2 degrees, being a mother, my job.  I wouldn't have my masters degree if it weren't for her and Pop encouraging me and telling me they wanted to pay for me to go back to school.
• She would always have something for David, Dillan, and Daniel.  It might be Yoohoos, cheese balls, marshmallows, etc.  
• Looking at Christmas lights will not be the same without her.  
• She never would ask me to do something for her.  Instead it would go something like this: "Toot, you want something to drink?"  I would reply "no thanks."  She would sit for a second and say "a diet coke sure would be good."  We called these Mawmaw hints and I never let her slide by with one without picking on her.
• She would call the house and leave a message saying "she didn't need anything.  Just calling to check on us."  
• She and Pop bought Josh and me diapers when we were babies.  When our 3 came along she said she wanted to continue for us.  We never had to buy diapers thanks to them.
• They also taught me to drive way before the age of 15 and bought me my first car.  
• She made me my own make up bag when I was little, let me put it on myself, and then let me wear it to church!  Only a cool grandma would let you go to church looking like a clown because she didn't want to tell you no.  Mom wasn't too happy with this.

As you can see, I did have the very best grandparents and I am thankful God gives me the ability to notice how blessed I am.  Pop has been missed for a little over a year now and Mawmaw will be sorely missed too.  

I feel like Mawmaw wouldn't want me to end this without asking you do you know The Lord?  Have you asked Him into your life?  If not, don't wait.  He loves all of us and will always be with you.  Trust in him with all your heart and with all of your soul.  I am promised to see my Mawmaw and Pop again one day.

In closing here is a poem I wrote the night before Mawmaw's funeral visitation.

It's the Little Things

Sometimes life can get busy and we forget to stop and think about the little things.  Summer time has me thinking and there are so many "little" things to be thankful for!

• Socks...or lack of!  I'm so happy we wear sandals most of the time in the summer.  I despise matching socks and there aren't many this time of year!
• Sleeping an extra 30 minutes or so.  I get a little extra time before the kids wake me up torturing our poor cat Kiki.
• Staying home with my kids.  I love being a mother and love being with my three Ds during the summer.  This is my dream!
• No chores on the weekend.  I love having the house clean during the week so time isn't wasted doing it on the weekend.
• Berries.  Blueberries, blackberries, strawberries, huckleberries.  I love them all and enjoy making new recipes with the kids.
• VBS.  Having 3 of my third grade girls ask Jesus into their heart this week is amazing!  
• Adventures.  Going down the river, to the beach, to the lake, creek, Six Flags, to the park, playing in the yard, riding the golf cart.  The list goes on and on and on.  I love it all.
• Coffee.  Coffee during nap time is the best!

I wrote this the day before my Mawmaw was killed in a car accident where someone was in her lane and hit her head on.  I hadn't posted it yet.  I miss so many things about her already, but I'm thankful God gave her to me to show me true love.  She was one of a kind in the best way possible.  I am also thankful for the peace that only God can provide.  

Today, think about your little things!

The #2 Chronicles

Who in the world should have a post called #2 Chronicles?  Only the Quinn's would have more than 1 story about it. 


Back when the boys were a little over one, Dillan had an "episode" at Burger King.  It was a HUGE "episode" where we had to escape and the bomb squad probably came in with those fancy masks on and body suits!  That's all I'm going to say about that.  My Dad looked like he was America's Most Wanted trying to get away.


Well, last night we went to watch David play baseball.  I had already threatened the boys about going to the bathroom during the game and made them go before it started.  Bottom of the 1st inning and David's team is batting.  Dillan says he needs to go to the bathroom.  I look at him funny and he grins and says he needs to poop.  In my mind I'm thinking is he serious or is he trying to get a rise out of me.  I told him to wait and see if David was going to get to hit and then I would take him.  Then Daniel starts with needing to go pee.  I get up to take them and thankfully my Dad goes with me.  I let him take Daniel in the bathroom since he ONLY needed to pee.  I take the more painful one.  Painful as in, I would endure the smell. 

Anyway, I took Dillan in the bathroom and it seemed like we were there quite a while.  I come out and see a familiar look on my Dad's face and him waving me over.  Now, he wasn't hidden in any form...out in the middle of the park on a sidewalk.  I go over there and he says we had a bit of an accident and gently turns Daniel to the back.  There it was.  Right at the top portion of his shorts.  Several poop spots.  Apparently he was peeing, and sharted. 


My mind starts going 90 to nothing and I decide we must take him to the car and go home.  I no longer carry extra clothes with me and he needed more than clothes!  Luckily I had a Wal-Mart sack in the trunk to put under him, but I did have to ride in a smelly car back home for 20 minutes AND I missed David's exciting hit to right field!  Being a Mama is tough, but it sure is funny and entertaining too.  :)

Blessed

Do you ever just sit and think about how blessed you are?  I have been thinking a lot lately.  It's so easy to see the negative in life, but so much better to look at the positive.  I am so very blessed and thankful for all of it.


I have two hard-headed children and one sneaky boy, but how would my life be without them?  Quiet for sure, but too quiet.  I know I would miss this and God blessed us with them because he knew we could handle it. 


God also blessed me with a laid back, humorous husband because he knew it would make my life more beautiful when things seem tough. 


My blessings are too many to count.  Some seem big, some are small.  As David told me this week, "There is no such thing as luck.  God does it all.  He performs miracles."  He's a smart child if you ask me.

CHRISTmas Time 2014

Christmas is a wonderful time of year. I love the two week break to spend time with family and celebrate Jesus' birthday. 

The very first night Walter took me on a date to Tokyo while Mom kept the kids.  It was nice to have time with him to talk and think and relax.  Tokyo was yummy as usual and my date was hot.  A good night.

Saturday I woke up and headed to my Mom's house to let the kids open presents.  They were waiting on me when I got there.  David didn't feel good and was coughing some, but he played anyway.  We went home and David didn't do much.  That night he had a fever.  Sunday we arrived at Urgent Care when they opened...still 5th in line.  He tested positive for flu.  The next 5 days were lots of fun.  He hates liquid medicine.  When I say hates, I mean he acts like a 2 year old whining, gagging, covering his mouth.  Yeah, all that.  Every morning and every night we had a battle with him.  Towards the end he did get some better.  The good part is no one else in the house got it. 

We also enjoyed Christmas with Mawmaw.  Aunt Carolyn was down from North Caroline, so we got to spend time with her as well.  Dillan and Daniel loved their poot gun!  It was their favorite.  David didn't get to go since he was still sick.  He had to open his presents at home in the bed.  :( 

Christmas Eve was busy with lunch at Karla and Jim's house and supper here with my Dad.  I thought we were in a war at Karla and Jim's.  It was one of those times when the gift opening is over and you don't know what just happened.  Karla and Jim didn't even have time to start on their presents by the time everyone else was finished.  Dillan and Daniel were into everything they shouldn't be into.  All the breakables and stairs.  When Dad came over our house turned into a playhouse with the radio flyer roller coaster riding toy.  Walter put it together and all the kids played on it.  They loved it!  David was excited to get a drone that takes pictures and videos.  Now he has to practice with it.  It was a pleasant day filled with memories. 

 

 

Christmas morning David came and got in the bed with us to wake us up.  He has always been good about waking us up before he looks at his presents.  Dillan and Daniel not so much.  They were into all that Santa brought.  We had to get up quick.  They were all excited.  Santa brought a Mip robot for David and Dillan and Daniel had a race track and trains.  We finished up with opening presents to each other.  They were all happy with what they got and so was I.  Walter did good this year.  Mom, Dad, Karla, and Jim came over for brunch.  We sang Happy Birthday to Jesus and ate.  The grandparents played with the kids and their new toys.  It was great family time and not too chaotic too.  Days like that make me appreciate my family even more. 

Winter Memories

So many times I have heard "Your kids will grow up fast, so enjoy them while you can" so that's what I try to do.  I know we stay on the go a lot, but I enjoy it and they do too.  We are busy making memories. 

This Christmas Break was a busy one!  One day we spent at Oak Mountain in Pelham.  I have never been there, but have heard a lot about it.  I researched a little online and thought the kids would enjoy the trails, birds, and petting zoo.  Desoto Caverns was our other option, but after looking, it was too expensive for a day trip.  $7 for Oak Mountain, $98 for admission to Desoto Caverns, not including the extras like the maze, archery, panning for gold, etc. We picked up my Dad and made the drive.  It was much colder than the weather man said it would be and cloudy too.  I was glad I had lots of coats and hats in the trunk.  We went to the bird rehab first and saw some of the birds.  Then we walked on the Treetop Trail.  After walking along a beautiful creek with lots of small waterfalls for a while, we saw a building in the distance.  It was a nice wooden walking trail above ground with several large cages along the way with vultures, hawks, and owls!  Very neat to see in the woods!  The trip back to the car was uphill!  We were all tired, thirsty, and hungry when we got to the top.  We sat in the car and had a snack.  Our next stop was the petting zoo.  The goats, donkey, and peacocks were so calm when we got there so we went and bought some food.  We were ambushed immediately!  Animals came from everywhere.  I was trying to keep them off of me, Dillan, and Daniel.  I look and see David pinned against the building with hungry goats!  I sent Dad to rescue him!  The hungry animals were doing everything but attacking us.  It was quite humorous!  I've never been so happy to see an empty feed sack!

Another day David and I met with Tina and Quinn and went ice skating.  I always enjoy talking with Tina so it was nice to have 2 hours of adult conversation while the boys skated.  The cookie from the Cookie Company wasn't bad either.

On New Year's Eve we went down the road to the Clark's house for supper, a bon fire, and fireworks.  The fireworks were massive!  We had such a good time, we didn't leave until 11...with the kids. 

On New Year's Day, we met mom at Ft. Toulouse and went on a little hike.  David found something interesting and immediately knew what it was.  Us adults didn't.  See if you can figure it out. 

Lately

 

Time is flying!  It seems like yesterday our lives were crazy...a boy starting kindergarten, a newborn at home, and a newborn in the NICU.  It has now been over 3 years since those days.  Now we have a 3rd grader and two 3 year olds. 

David is still a smart boy who loves to read and learn about science related things.  He can easily read a chapter book in a night.  It's hard to get him to put down books once he starts.  He "zones out" when he is interested in anything... books, tv, whatever.  He likes to be right and gets mad at himself when he gets anything wrong.  He is a sweet cuddly child but is also a talker.  He loves to have friends and can be loud and wild. 
Dillan is a lot like David.  He loves to sit and have someone read to him.  He likes to learn.  He is hard-headed with a capital H.  If he wants to do it, everyone is happy.  If he doesn't want to do something, everyone is unhappy.  He will sit in the floor and not budge.  No kind of punishment will change his mind.  Forget it.  He is a cuddly kid.  He likes to dance and is often caught bobbing his head in the car.  He also likes to sing.  He gives big kisses and hugs.  Dillan's new saying is "Guess what?"  He says it all the time.

Daniel is a character.  Period.  He is silly and mischievous.  He likes to make a pooting sound after most of his sentences.  He has the cutest little grin when he does it too.  He likes to take things from his brothers and then whine about it when they do something back.  He can think of all kind of excuses to get up when it is time to go to bed.  I'm cold...well cover up.  It's dark...yes it's night time.  What's that sound?...there is no sound.  He's like a little monkey and can wrap his little body around you.  He doesn't like to share his mommy and will push, kick, or do whatever it takes to get David or Dillan off of me is he is sitting with me. 
I now realize why Josh and I were sometimes told to pretend there is a box between us in the car.  These three can drive me nuts when we are in a car.  They argue over the dumbest stuff and no one is ever wrong!  Sometimes the DVD player is a lifesaver.  Other times, they kiss and hug all over each other. 
All I know is, God has blessed Walter and I with three precious boys...on good days and bad.