How to measure growth

I didn't take pics at playtime
yesterday, but this is a picture
from last year at this time - she
wouldn't even get on the inflatables!

I take advantage of Pump-it-Up's pop-in-playtime often. It is great - air conditioned and contained! Sometimes it can be a little crowded, but you have to take the good with the bad. We went to play yesterday and as I watched Ann Phelps, I realized how much she has grown in the month of June. The last time we went to playtime, she wouldn't slide down the big slide and she hardly jumped on any of the other inflatables. In just three weeks, she has now lost all fear of the big slide and now plays on all the inflatables. I sat there realizing how fast they grow-up in such a short time. I felt sad, in a way, because I am used to her being my baby - now she is running around like the "big" kids! So, if you want to visibly see progress in your child - you can use playtime at pump-it-up!

Hooray for the Red, White, and Blue

Keeping up with my holiday tree!! Happy July 4th!

Take me back..

My Mom's "Everyday" wedding pattern




An experienced cook would know what these are


used for, but we all know that's not me! But I


remember my Mom using these when she made


biscuits (not from the can)!




My Mom was a Chi Omega in college, so we have


tons of owls all over the house! This is a napkin


holder - it is older than me!






My mom makes homemade jelly so


lots of mason jars everywhere




This is part of a group of owl canisters she still has.


Probably older than me!





My mom crosstitched many things. I don't know


if she made these, but they have been around her house


for as long as I can remember!




This butcher block was from an actual butcher!


It has been in my Mom's kitchen forever!




These measuring spoons have been around longer


than me! She still uses them!




I used this artifact to mix the cupcake batter in!


It has the name of a cattle feed (or something) on it.


I remember this!!




The owls again!

I spent four days at home (my parents' house) last week so the boys could attend the VBS program at Westminster Pres. Church. One day, Ben wanted cupcakes so I decided to make some. Anyone who knows me and my Mom knows I cannot cook and she cooks everything from scratch! I have a hard time navigating around her meticulous kitchen! Anyway, while I was "cooking", I ran across some things that made me think of my childhood. My Mom is known for not being sentimental - I am still getting over the fact that she gave away all the smocked dresses she made for me and Marice, that's right, we have no heirloom smocked dresses for our daughters!! So while in the kitchen, I noticed things that are probably older than me that she still has and why do these things have value and smocked dresses don't??? I will probably never know the answer!! One thing I have always liked is my parents still live in the same house I grew up in, so little artifacts still remain (even if the dresses have disappeared)!!!

11 Years

a romantic bubble bath for our anniversary???

Wouldn't think of anything cuter! Our blessings!

It is almost 9:00pm and we are about to call it a night here at the Hooks Household! What is strange about this? To some this would be a sad, sad way to spend your 11th wedding anniversary! The season of life Rhyne and I are in is the "we-are-so-tired-and-going-to-bed-before-11pm (even on your wedding anniversary)is-considered-bliss" season!! I know this will only be our life for a few years, the days are long but the years are short! I try not to wish this time away or to just survive it - I really try to cherish it!! Having 3 blessings so close in age makes for a crazy, busy life!! Rhyne and I can still stand to look at each other at the end of these crazy days and fall in love again!! God allowed me to marry my best, best friend and I could never raise this family without his support!! We have a fun, fun trip planned to Nashville in July and possibly another planned in the fall - so we are calling those trips our "anniversary trips"? The most important thing is we can laugh about the simplicity of celebrating at home with all three kids and feel so incredible blessed and not feeling like we are missing out!

VBS 2011

AP wore her pink skirt to add some

sass to her VBS shirt

Ben and his Joseph he made!

Will made an Egyptian mask

Getting to eat the grown-up snacks. Cassie

would bring AP a strawberry every day!

This was in Ben's classroom. The Elmo balloons

are representing Joseph's brothers!

Well, we made it through another week of vacation Bible school. This is not a tone of gloom, we had a lot of fun - we are just worn out!! This week is always tough because living in Brandon, we have to leave our house by 7:50am to get to First Presbyterian on time. Then I have to walk all three little people across the big sea that is the parking lot. It wears us all out! This year we learned about Joseph and God's redemption. Ben was so excited to let me know the story he heard each day! I was in charge of 2 and 3 year old crafts. This doesn't sound hard, but it was! We had 38 three year olds!! This also meant I was in Ben and Ann Phelp's class each day at craft time. Of course, Ann Phelps had to leave with me every day when craft time was over for her class. She really thought she was something waving to the other kids who had to stay and then getting to eat the grown-up snacks with me!! I am thankful for this week and pray my children have learned and hidden new things in their hearts!

Even the Dog is Messy

Some of Otis' toys - when I put them
back in the toy box, he immediately drags
them out - he thinks it's a game


How could I be upset with this big baby??

almost 7 months old

My human kids are messy - they leave toys out everywhere! Now my furry kid has learned by example!! Because of the heat, I have been letting Otis spend more time in the house (I am a sucker) - he has a toy box to keep his toys in, but his favorite thing to do is leave the toys out everywhere!!