The Most Touching Wedding

One of the most precious people you will ever meet is my cousin Brett (he's not going to like me calling him precious - ; ).

He got married May 30th to Mindy. This is the 2nd marriage for both of them and I know it's going to be "2nd time's a charm" instead of 3, because this was the most touching wedding I've ever attended. They wrote their own vows, which I wish I had a copy of so I could post them and Brett also wrote vows to Carter, Mindy's son from her previous marriage. So beautiful! Brett, I wish you, Mindy and Carter many happy years.

Mindy, Brett and Carter

From Brett & Mindy's Wedding

From Brett & Mindy's Wedding

Brett saying his vows to Carter

From Brett & Mindy's Wedding

Other pics from the wedding of Dax and Aunt Sheila

From Brett & Mindy's Wedding

From Brett & Mindy's Wedding

From Brett & Mindy's Wedding

The Final Frontier

Dax has been able to pull himself up for a while, he rarely does it though. And he's willing to walk anywhere you want him to, just as long as he's holding on to you. Almost 3 mos. ago I panicked when I saw him grab hold of the rails and try to pull himself up then, so in the middle of the night I put his crib at the lowest setting. Though I still believe better safe than sorry, I had nothing to worry about for a while. I wondered (though not looking forward to) when he'd start standing up in the crib. Well, tada!

Clint had put him down, and after 5 minutes Dax started crying (something he only does when he's not ready to go to sleep). When Clint opened the door, this is what he saw.

From Standing and Stranded

From Standing and Stranded

Here's a video of the ordeal (just double click on it)

From Standing and Stranded

Though it's exciting that it won't be long now before he's taking his 1st steps unassisted, I have to admit a little part of my heart sunk when I saw him standing there. 1. It reminds me that he's growing so fast; and 2. I'm probably going to be a bit paranoid for quite sometime about him trying to climb out and topple over out of the crib head first. Oh well, guess it's back to checking on him 3-4 times in the middle of the night...

Just kidding, I'm not that bad. Or, maybe I will be. ; )

Oh and another special thing Dax did this week. Big boy fed himself. It was quite a messy ordeal but precious nonetheless. I'll post pictures later. Maybe when I'm not covered in food myself and able to hold the camera with out it getting sticky. ha ha.

River: Take 2

We finally got some sunshine and boy did it get hot fast!!!

So sweet

From May 2009 on the River

Dax playing so contently with his bowl (this kid is so easy to please) while Mama got some sun and read a book and Daddy and Grandmother fished.

From May 2009 on the River

I love it when he takes a short second to turn around and scratch the net then promptly go back to playing with his bowl. He does this every time he's in the pack n play.

I imagine he's thinking "yep - still there - still trapped - still can't crawl out - that's okay, I'll check again later - maybe by then it'll be gone..."

From May 2009 on the River

From May 2009 on the River

Well...what do we have here?...

From May 2009 on the River

Dax checking out Grandmother's fish she caught!

From May 2009 on the River

From May 2009 on the River

The Warrior was still muddy from all the rain

From May 2009 on the River

Old Boathouse. We were guesstimating how old it was. Clint guesses 80 years old. I'm guessing about 50-60 years old. What's your guess?

From May 2009 on the River

Watch out for snakes if you're going to the Lake or River anytime soon. When we crossed over one of the small and low bridges on the way down, Clint spotted what he's pretty sure was a cottonmouth on the right side of the bridge (in the river) swimming agressively (under the bridge) straight toward an old man that was fishing on the bank left of the bridge.

Since we were going about 40 mph over the bridge, we didn't get to see what happened next or have time to warn him, so hopefully the old man saw the snake b/f he got too close. I'm sure he did.

Rain always seems to stir them up and with all the rain we've had here lately, I'm sure they're pretty agitated.

Black Belt in Free Loading

When we visit my parents house, you have a beautiful view of a green pasture and its inhabitants, which is what I like to call my "walking nerve pills (the horses)," grazing.

Sorry I don't have any recent pictures, so maybe I'll take some new ones soon and post them, or dredge up some older ones, in the future. If only Teri had a built in camera so I'd stop forgetting mine at home.

I could sit and watch the horses for hours on a pretty day. Of course they are more fun to ride. Sad to say I haven't been on one since I became pregnant with Dax. I think it's getting about time. Although I'm not looking forward to the soreness that comes from riding when it's been a while.

When we visit Clint's mom, you have a beautiful view of a water front property. Walk out on the deck, and you will see the prettiest spot (in our opinion) on the Warrior River. So we totally free load off of our parents' luxuries that are well deserved and worked hard for as well.

It's been rainy but we're sure not gonna let that get in our way!

While we were visiting Clint's mom, we did get a break in the weather so we took the "buggy" for a ride down to the waterfall (which is always beautiful). Here are some pics.

Dax loved watching Daddy walk in the water. So much we eventually had to put his feet in it as well.

From River Rats

From River Rats

Captain and Tenille?

From River Rats

From River Rats

I got this...

From River Rats

From River Rats

The buggy... Glenda's buggy...

From River Rats

ha ha. I put his life jacket on backerds (translation: backwards). I fixed it later - I promise...

From River Rats

From River Rats

Mama wearing Daddy's stinky ole hat b/c I lost my sunglasses - AGAIN

From River Rats

That's a "grin and bear it" expression... trust me, it was that bad. He fell in Bayview while fishing with Josh the other day. When I got home I had to wash it immediately. For Clint's sake...

From River Rats

Clint w/o a hat - you don't see that often. Well, at least we know now he doesn't wear them to cover up bald spots.

Clint actually has very pretty hair (a nice flowing mane as he likes to call it)

j/k... those are TOTALLY hair plugs.

From River Rats

From River Rats

From River Rats

"The Man" Owen

My nephew Brian Owen turned 5 on Friday. Yep, this time of year is obviously the time to birth babies, because most of our nieces and nephews with the exception of 3 celebrate their birthdays around this time of year. So, expect more B-day wishes to come.

Happy Birthday big man!!! Aunt Teri & Uncle Clint love you much! and cannot wait to see you so I can just squeeze those cute cheeks of yours until they're near purple. Just kidding Owen - (about the purple part).

When you come up soon I'm going to need your help on picking out (or building) your baby cousin, Dax, a new swing to hang off that old tree of ours.

However, we'll let you give the old tire swing another go round before we take it down if you like.

I hope you had a terrific Birthday!

From Ropers in Brazil

Birthday Wishes!

Today is our nephew's, Austin, birthday! He is 10 years old today. So hard to believe he's that old.

Oh but wait, there's another reason to celebrate... Austin made straight A's for the entire 4th grade school year!!

Happy Birthday Austin, welcome to the double digits!! Your hard work at school definitely paid off!! Keep up the good work. We are so proud of you.

From The Sparks

May 1st, our niece, Natalie Ellen, turned 7!!

Happy Birthday sweet girl! I can't wait to see you in August or hopefully sooner so Aunt Teri can give you the biggest hug!!

From Brian, Emma Brown and kids

Saying Goodbye to Faye

In Loving Memory of
Faye E. Spradlin

BORN
Friday, May 10, 1946
DIED
Saturday, May 16, 2009

Psalm 23

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

He maketh me to lie down in green pastures:
He leadeth me beside the still waters.

He restoreth my soul;
He leadeth me into the path of righteousness
for his name's sake.

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the
shadow of death, I will fear no evil:
for thou art with me;
thy rod and they staff they comfort me.

Thou preparest a table before me in the
presence of mine enemies;
thou anointest my head with oil;
my cup runneth over.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the
house of the Lord forever.

From Faye

Tuesday, we said our farwells to Faye. Faye was one of Glenda's dearest friends and like family to them all. Clint and I both were crazy about her. She brought a smile to our face by just mentioning her name. We will miss her terribly. Please keep her family in your prayers as well as the Freemans.

I have another prayer request that is for my Aunt Shiela's mother, Mrs Sherbert had a heart attack and is set to have an alteriorgram when possible. Also, her father, Mr. Sherbert, has not been doing well for quite a while, and Mrs. Sherbert was taking care of him but now has become sick herself. So, if you could please keep all of them in your prayers we would be greatly appreciative.

An Angel Has Found Her Way Home

Today Clint, Dax and I released 4 pink balloons for Kayleigh. We let go of one to represent Kayleigh, then the remaining 3 from each of us.

To see why, visit:

http://www.kayleighannfreeman.blogspot.com/2009/05/51109-goodbye-sweetheartfor-now.html

From 2009-05-17

From 2009-05-17

Clint had to tie our 3 together because 1 or 2 of them didn't want to float very high and we knew they wouldn't get very far. So Clint combined them and it worked- they flew fast and high. (wow, if that wasn't symbolic of a lesson in itself - we definitely fly higher and go farther when we support one another as family).

From 2009-05-17

From 2009-05-17

From 2009-05-17

From 2009-05-17

I pray that God will "lead" those balloons to someone that will take the time to read Kayleigh's story and be blessed by it as we have been.

We are so thankful for what God has given us and we are also thankful that he sent Kayleigh into not only the Freeman's lives, but many including ours.

From 2009-05-17

Please keep the Freeman's in your prayers.

Everyone Thinks Their's is the Best

No big deal

9 months old today and (well - May 1st.) and what am I doing special?

Just hanging around. And then later on decided to crawl. Maw Maw swears he'd already been doing it, but Clint and I had not seen him do that - or that fast until that day.

From 2009-05-01

From 2009-05-01