really?

A glimpse at my morning/life:

Gather all our gear and head over to the shopping center. Cooper needs new shoes. Go to Stride Rite, all the while wondering if I'm really going to spend more money on my toddler's shoes than I do on mine. Unload from car. Wait for shoe-sizing while Coop climbs on top of the displays. Lady measures him as a 7 1/2. He's currently in a 6... way to go, Katie. Coop dances around the store. Other moms decide he must really love the shoes. Decide against buying shoes- they don't have the on-sale shoes in his size. Can't bear to pay full price. Must find them online. Leave. Load the kids in the car.

Old Navy is next. Cooper's new shirt got a hole in it after first wash. Unload. Stand in line to exchange it. Coop climbs on top of mannequin dog in attempt to ride him. Holding Annabelle's carrier and Cooper's hand, retrieve replacement shirt. Stand in line again. Leave. Load the kids. Apologize to sweet Annabelle that I'm not allowing her a nap with all this running around.

It's only 11:00. We could still run another errand if we hurry. Annabelle needs diapers. Shoot. I forgot the coupon I got after complaining about the quality of my last box of Pampers. Should we get the coupon and then go to the store? Cooper says yes. Okay. Give Coop juice and snack as pacifier. Drive home. Retrieve coupon.

Arrive at Walmart, the necessary evil. Unload. Determine to make this a super-quick trip. Return something. Start shopping. Find plastic tub that I've been wanting and begin carrying it in one hand while pushing the cart with the other. People laugh and stare as Cooper sings "B-I-N-G-O" at the top of his lungs. Get diapers and a few groceries and place them in the nooks and crannies around Annabelle's carrier, which is taking up the entire cart. Cooper drops jar of peanut butter on top of Annabelle, who is finally sleeping. She cries. Stand in line. Pay for groceries. Coop tries to lunge out of cart to push buttons on credit card machine. Push cart to car and unload groceries. Put Annabelle in car. Realize that the peanut butter and ketchup were hidden under carrier.  Did not purchase them.

Moral dilemma. Want to get in car and leave. Really want to get in car and leave.

Sigh. Take Annabelle back out of car. Push cart back into store and hand confused lady the ketchup and peanut butter. Back to car. Load kids. Baby cries. Return cart. Drive away.

Realize that the diaper coupons are still in my purse.

Really?

baby myer

Cooper got a new cousin on Wednesday and- drumroll please- its a boy!

My sister Ashley and her husband Matt now have baby Myer to complement their duo of beautiful girls.

Rosey (3) and her sister Bess (almost 5) were thrilled. 

Maybe even more excited than they were about the blue surgical caps.

"Mammy" was pretty taken with him, too.

But how could you not be?

He reminded me of Cooper as a newborn, with a lack of fat but a surplus of hair.

They brought him home the following day, but took a pitstop at the grandparents' house to visit with us all.

You would have never know that she went through labor the day before. 

Except for that little bundle she had with her.

Bess couldn't wait to show off her little brother.

Annabelle couldn't wait to really meet him. They are both clearly overwhelmed by the moment.

They are definitely going to be best buds.

 Annabelle seemed a little perturbed, though.

 I think she's feeling a little insecure about the size of her head.

I'm sure Myer will be gracious with her. Surely he'll outgrow her one day, right?

It just might be awhile.

time

We truly enjoyed being in Knoxville for Easter weekend and beyond. Seeing family and friends was such a gift, and all the sweeter because there wasn't really an agenda.

Ahhhh.... vacation.

Time to just stretch out...

enjoy ourselves

and just BE.

There was time for Curtis to ride bikes with his dad and sister. 

And also to wear awesome nascar-ish shirts while doing so.

Time for little ones to conference over Easter egg dye kits.


...in their "Marmie's"/"Grantie's" shirts
(Cooper, Katy Ann, and Austin)

...or in their pajamas
(Ava and Millie).

Time to spin in circles.

Time for naps with Aunt Marion.

Yeah, it was tough.

There was also time to ride a 4-wheeler named Darlene, color with sidewalk chalk, read books, talk about real things, talk about nothing, visit the horses, cook, eat, hunt for Easter eggs, celebrate Jesus, fly kites, and so so much more.

I wish I had pictures of it all.