And the Winner Is . . .

Pregnant with our first babies 2005

Emily (and Tucker), Me(and Emma-Caroline) and Amanda(and Evan)

Tucker and Evan were born 2 months after EC in May

Emily, Me, and MaryBeth

Thank you friends for responding to my blog post so quickly yesterday. Four out of the five of you that "won" a free tshirt are my dear friends from Loudon. I couldn't resist posting this picture of all of us when were expecting our first babies, with the exception of MaryBeth. You girls are the best. Sarah H. you are the best too! Here are the choices for applique for your freebie. Let me know in a reply what you would like and what size you will be needing.

Boy's applique: dump truck, fire truck, crab, soccer ball, car, lion, giraffe, elephant, dog head, turtle, train, football.

Girl's applique: flower, lady bug, lady bug with flower, flip flops, flamingo, bee, beach tools (pail and shovel), watermelon, butterfly.

You don't have to limit to what I haven't done if you would like one of my other appliques as your freebie.

MaryBeth, I could create a big brother tee for Luke and matching onesie for new baby. Y'all decide and let me know what you would like as well as the name or initials you would also like on your shirt. Then I'll get started and send them to you.

Thanks again ladies!

New Josie-Bea Originals Tshirts!

I have recently acquired many new appliques for the Spring and Summer. I am working hard at trying to find appliques that are cute for boys too. I have LOTS of new ones and I am looking for an excuse to make a tee shirt so I can place it on my josiebeaoriginals.etsy.com site as well as my Josie-Bea Originals blog site. Soooo, those of you who are reading this and are one of the first five to reply to this post, I will create a free tee shirt for your little boy or girl. The only stipulation I have is that you will have to choose one of the new designs that I don't already have posted (I'll let you know what I have to offer). Please check out my Josie-Bea Originals blog site linked to this page and look at my Etsy shop at josiebeaoriginals.etsy.com. Good luck! I hope you are one of the lucky five!

'Tis a Gift to Be Simple

This past weekend we planted several dogwood trees in our back yard, 3 pink and 2 white. I have always loved the dogwood because of it's legend and it being linked to Christ. It always amazes me with it's beautiful blooms while reminding me, at the same time, of the sacrifice Jesus made for each of us to have everlasting life with Him. If you do not know the legend of the dogwood, take a few moments to read about it below. In this season of Lent, it is the simple things that remind of us of such an awesome gift that was given to each of us.

"Legend of the Dogwood"

"At the time of Crucifixion the dogwood had been the size of the oak and other forest trees. So firm and strong was the tree that it was chosen as the timber for the cross. To be used thus for such a cruel purpose greatly distressed the tree, and Jesus nailed upon it, sensed this. In His gentle pity for all sorrow and suffering Jesus said to the tree: " Because of your regret and pity for My suffering, never again shall the dogwood tree grow large enough to be used as a cross. Henceforth it shall be slender and bent and twisted and its blossoms shall be in the form of a cross--two long and two short petals. And in the center of the outer edge of each petal there will be nail prints, brown with rust and stained with red, and in the center of the flower will be a crown of thorns, and all who see it will remember."

Mowing the Lawn with Daddy!

Much to Howie's dismay, it is lawn mowing season again. Howie actually enjoys taking care of our lawn and does a fabulous job. He has recruited some helpers this year with both Emma-Caroline and Sophie eager to help. They love mowing the lawn with Daddy!

Going solo.

Sophie prefers to mow the sidewalk.

Emma-Caroline mowing with Daddy in 2007

Our Little Artist

Emma-Caroline has always enjoyed drawing, painting, coloring, writing, creating . . . anything that involves art. We have numerous art pieces she has created which we will eventually try and make into a cool little book. Here are a few from the last hour that she has been working on.

Picture of the girls as written by Emma-Caroline herself.

Daddy and Mommy. She said she wasn't finished yet when I snatched it for a photo.

Sleeping Beauty and Prince Phillip. We have recently watched the Disney movie.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

"A Wish for a Friend"
Wishing you a rainbow

For sunlight after showers—

Miles and miles of Irish smiles

For golden happy hours—

Shamrocks at your doorway
For luck and laughter too,
And a host of friends that never ends

Each day your whole life through!

-An Irish Blessing

Happy St. Patrick's Day, from our little Leprechaun's to you.

My Little Climber

Starting out.

Seeing how far she's come.


Almost to the clubhouse.

Enjoying the view from the top.

The play set we have in our back yard was given to Emma-Caroline on her first birthday. By the time she was 14months old, she was climbing the ladder to the club house by herself, with either Howie or me close by. Emma-Caroline has always been tall and able to do things most children her age couldn't only because she could actually reach. Sophie at 20 months, finally is able to climb that same ladder without our help. We still are standing close by, but she is climbing up by herself. Sophie has been on the opposite end of the spectrum and is petite for her age, and therefore has not been able to reach the next rung of the ladder by herself. She's so proud of herself in being able to do things her big sister can do. She sure is growing up!

Bonefish

Dinner with the Pearsons at Bonefish
Birthday cupcakes. Yummy!

Singing Happy Birthday!

Making a wish!

On my birthday, we went to Bonefish with the Pearsons. We had a wonderful dinner and enjoyed the company of Pete, Kristen and Jack (Davis was at another birthday party.) On our way into the restaurant Emma-Caroline proclaimed "I don't want to eat at Bonefish!" "Why not?" Howie asked. To which Emma-Caroline replied "Because I don't like fish or bones!" Luckily she didn't have to eat either. I just love her perspective on things!

Many Thanks for an Awesome Birthday!

Me on my 3rd birthday!

Just a little note to all of my family and friends to say thank you for making me feel so loved and special on my birthday. I am truly blessed in so many ways to have such wonderful friends and family in all of you. Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!! I have had the best birthday and it's not over yet!

Spring is in the Air!

We are absolutely loving this Spring weather! Today we are supposed to have a record high of 80 degrees here in Knoxville! I love seeing all of the trees starting to bloom and the fall bulbs starting to pop out of the ground. Although I know we will probably be hit with a few little cold snaps here and there through March and April, it is nice to know that Spring and warmer and sunnier days are on their way.

What is it with dogs . . .

Not so happy after his bath.

And rolling in something stinky????? I really have never quite understood the appeal of rolling around on a dead animal, garbage, or cow poop, but to a dog . . . it's like being spritzed with Chanel No 5 at the perfume counter. It truly befuddles me that the canine actually enjoys rolling in the most foul smelling thing imaginable. Those of you with dogs know what I mean. You let him out in the back yard and the next thing you know, there is your dog, on it's back, twisting from side to side, rubbing something you know is absolutely foul all over himself. And while you are grimacing in horror at the stink that you will have to wash away from your dog's coat, your dog has a look of sheer joy on his little canine face. Oh yeah, he's hit it big! Some poor little mouse or bird rotting away is his eau de parfum. Today, Barkley spritzed himself with newly spread mulch, or should I say cow poop. He was covered from head to tail in it and he reeked! So before he was allowed in the house, Barkley got a good bath and now has a more pleasant smell, at least to us humans. I guess we'll never understand the mystery behind the appeal of rolling in something stinky. But dogs sure do love to do it!

Baby Photos

I've been asked many times who Sophie looks like. It is agreed that Sophie does take after my side of the family and especially favors my Granny Bea as well as my Mema. I guess you can gather from these old pictures that she resembles many of her relatives including (gasp!) me.

Sweet Sophie Rose

My Mema, Josephine circa 1919

My mom circa 1950

My mom as an infant.

Me, Amy Kristen at age 6 months.

And yes, I had auburn hair. It's not just the photo.

Have You Seen My Lost Sock?

OK, so I know this is probably a mundane post . . . but I am asking . . . Have you seen my lost sock? I mean seriously. Where do all the socks that I know I put into the washing machine with their matching sock mates go to by the time I get them out of the dryer to fold. Is there a magic door in my washing machine or dryer that I don't know about where all rogue socks go when they want to go A-wall. Or is there a famous "Sock Party" that my socks just can't tear themselves away from by the time the dryer cycle is over. It's something that I am seriously wanting to know the answer to. Where do all the socks go? Howie is convinced that I have some how lost them in my trek from the dirty clothes hamper to the washer. And all I have to say to that is "WHATEVER!" I know I am not the only one this happens to. So what is it? Maybe it's some sock conspiracy that the Sock companies have in order for all of us to have to buy more socks. Who knows. The only thing I know for sure is that this little phenomenon is MADDENING to say the least. But alas, the saga will continue! Let me know if you have any answers to the Sock Conspiracy.

The "Caroline" Girls

Two Little Pumpkins: Mary Caroline and Emma Caroline Halloween 2005

Halloween 2006, Dorothy and the Ladybug. Don't they look happy!

Emma Caroline's 2nd birhtday party

Relaxing after some fun in the sun.


Jack's Party. I'm not sure why this picture turned this way.

Halloween 2008: Emma Caroline, Neeley,

Karley and Mary Caroline

Halloween 2008: Dorothy and the Pink Poodle

Two Bakers 2008

Dora Live Show

Celebrating Emma Caroline's 4th Birhtday

Emma Caroline is blessed to have many friends in our neighborhood. For almost as long as she has been friends with Karley, Emma Caroline has also been friends with Mary Caroline. We met Mary Caroline and her mommy Sarah one day while we mommy's were having the oil changed in our then almost twin Volvo station wagons. We learned in that first meeting that we had a lot more in common than our cars ranging from our daughter's names being a double name ending in Caroline to the fact that Sarah and her family had just moved into Dunbarton Oaks, our very own neighborhood. Now almost four years later, we feel so blessed to have the Eaton family as some of our closest friends. Emma Caroline loves Mary Caroline and always had the best time playing with her. Again we are doubly blessed that the Eatons also have a second daughter Emily and baby Jake whom Sophie also enjoys playing with. It's such a blessing to live in a neighborhood in which you can actually call your neighbors good friends.

Emma-Caroline and Karley

Emma-Caroline and Karley have been friends since. . . ,well, since before they were born. Karley's mommy Carolyn and I were pregnant at the same time with the girls. Living in the same neighborhood, we became fast friends and shared pregnancy stories with each other as well as our prenatal classes at the hospital where the girls were both born. Emma-Caroline was born on March 3rd and Carolyn visited me in the hospital and held Emma-Caroline. I think Emma- Caroline must have given Karley a pep talk, and six days later on March 9th, Karley Madison made her own way into the world. The girls are best friends and we have shared everything together from their first moments in the world, to baptisms and dedications, to birthdays, and other celebrations. It's quite an amazing thing for someone to have a friend since before birth. And for these two girls, that is something they will always have. We sure are blessed to have Karley and the Weigel family as our friends. We are doubly blessed that our youngest daughters, Sophie and Abby are also the same age with only two months between them. As we celebrate both Emma-Caroline and Karley turning four, we look forward to many more events that our girls will share in the future.

Celebrating 4 years!

Halloween 2008

Halloween 2008: The pink poodle and Cinderella

Playing dress-up: Cinderella and Belle

Ballet 2008-2009

Ballet

Ballet

Giving a push at the park 2008

Sharing a 4th of July treat with Mary Caroline 2008

Double third birthday at the Little Gym 2008

Having fun being 3!

Third Birthday Invitation Pic

Look how cute Karley looks in this one!

Halloween 2007

Halloween Party 2007

On the back of a fire truck at Jack's birthday party

Big sisters!

2nd Birthday Party March 2007

Splashing around Summer 2006

Easter 2006

Celebrating being 1, March 2006

Halloween 2005, the Strawberry and the Pumpkin

Karley's Baby Dedication at First Baptist Knoxville

High Five!

Sweet girls!

Emma-Caroline and Karley age 10 weeks

First Play date

Newborn Karley and Emma-Caroline

New Mommies!