Happy 3rd Birthday

Time needs to slow way down!! I cannot believe that Tillie Ann is 3 years old today! It makes me so sad that just the other day it seems she was this little.

Then we celebrated the huge milestone of making it to her 1st birthday and that was too quick.

Her 2nd birthday came and went just like a sweet smelling fragrance.

Then, today she is 3 years old and I am wondering where the time has gone?!

HAPPY 3rd BIRTHDAY Sweet girl!!

Benjamin Cook Has Arrived

Look closely and you can see four hands! One hand of a happy big brother, 2 hands of the proud parents and on tiny hand of Benjamin Lane Cook. He came into this world weighing 9 pounds and 21.5 inches long at 5:20p.m. Tuesday, July 12

Benjamin and Jackson! See any similarities?!

Like a Little Fish...

Little fish is what we have been calling Tillie the last couple of months. Since in the new house we have a pool, we thought it would be best to enroll Tillie in her first of many swimming lessons. Mrs. Kim is the local guru on swimming. Anyone you ask around town says that Kim is the one to go see. She is so good that I had to call in March to be able to get an appointment in June. After many days of preparing Tillie for what was going to happen, the day and time was here. Mrs. Kim doesn't allow parents to accompany their children into the pool area. They have to walk in by themselves. We had already talked about this with Tillie, and hope she was prepared. Mrs. Kim greeted us at the gate and told all the anxious parents what was happening and what to expect. When she said "it will get worse before it gets better", I kinda got a little nervous. Tillie is usually a big girl, but when others are crying she tends to get a little clingy. So, the time was here and Mrs. Kim told all the kids to come on and for the parents to stay. Little Miss Big Girl walked right on in and never looked back. She swam and swam. This was my view for the hour.

Can you see her little head? I new she would do great, but I never expected the results that she achieved. Tillie can now swim under water, on her back, and knows what to do if she falls into the water.

The lessons lasted two weeks. Needless to say next year we will be back at Mrs. Kim's yelling "Come get us"!

Missed Me

Hi everyone!! Missed me??????? Well I have been up to a lot of things. I had a play date with my friend, Ginna Bess. We went to the cow place (I don't like the cow) and ate some chicken and fries then we played in the playhouse. But, Mommy wasn't happy with me before we went because I wanted to wear my snowman shirt even though it was Spring time, but she will hopefully not be to mad a me much longer. She says that it is just a phase, but I like what I like. So, anyways enjoy me and my friend Ginna Bess playing!

Last month, my Daddy turned 30. Mommy says he is old and jokes with him all the time about it, but she will be there in only a year so.... I had to help him blow his candles out and make a wish. Mommy and I created him a scavenger hunt that led to his gift. He had a lot of fun finding his Auburn print. Daddy says that I did good picking it out.

He Arose! That is what I learned from the next big thing that has happened. Jesus came out of the tomb that he was buried in after being hurt on the cross. Mommy and Daddy told me this story and told me that one day Jesus will be MY Savior and live in my heart. Mommy showed me some pictures of a tomb and I saw the clothes that were folded. Mommy got sad when she was talking about it, so it must have been really sad. Mommy and Daddy told me that one day I would know all about it. Jesus must really love me to get hurt for me. At school, my teacher taught us about Jesus dying too. We also had a party and hunted eggs. I had so much fun with my friends. Then, at church we had an egg hunt too. There were so many eggs I couldn't get them all. But, most of all there were bouncy slides. I had so much fun and I also cried to leave. i hope I get one of these at my birthday party! (HINT, Mommy and Daddy). Even my friend Ella was there. I was so tired that day. My BB gave me my basket so I could use it. I think it is so pretty because it's pink and has my name on it! Then it was time for the Easter Bunny to come. Mommy and Daddy woke me up that morning because that goofy bunny hid my basket and they could find it! I found it in the closet. Silly bunny! After bunny time, we got ready and headed to church. Daddy and Mommy said that next year that I would be old enough to go to sunrise service. Daddy just went this year and I slept. After church we went to Granny Ham's. I had so much fun with my Aunt Charlotte. She is so funny and hid me eggs that I could find and one had money in it! After spending time there we went to Rowan and Tuckers grandparents. Rowan had a water table and I loved it. I got so wet and had to change clothes. Then I went to my Pawpaw and Nanny's. I just hid eggs there. Plus that silly bunny brought me some clothes and a beach towel at their house.

So this is what has been going on at my house! Talk to you soon!

Love,

Tillie Ann

Publix Trip

I feel as though I haven't blogged in so long. But I have a good reason for not blogging. I have picked up a new hobby: COUPONING!! I love it. At first it was hard, but now I feel that I have a better understanding. I have gathered coupons from sites as well as the newspaper. I have a couponing binder (I know my coworkers have made so much fun of it).

So today I ventured out to Publix. I love this place. Because of there good sales I am creating a great stockpile for this summer. And the good news is that I have almost saved our budgeted dollar amount this month.

Ok so back to today......

I went with a pile of coupons in hand and walked out with this huge amount of items and only spent $54.19. Yep that is right only fifty dollars. So I love it is all I can say.

The Storm

On Thursday night we had some major storms and high winds in our area. As I laid in bed that night waiting for them to come, I started thinking about the "storms" that I had been through here lately. I thought, would it be a small storm like a recent argument with my dear hubby or would it be a big storm like I have been dealing with at work. As I laid there and thought about it, I began singing in my heart (because I didn't want to wake anyone) a song we had learned a couple of weeks ago in choir:

In the dark of the midnight Have I oft hid my face; While the storms howl above me, And there is no hiding place. Mid the crash of the thunder, Precious Lord, hear my cry; Keep me safe until the storm passes by.

Until the storm passes over, Until the thunder sounds no more. Until the clouds roll forever from the sky. Hold me fast let me stand in the hollow of thy hand. Keep me safe til the storm passes by.

As I sang this song I had complete peace with the anticipated storm as well as the other "storms" that are brewing in life. I was then able to roll over and go to sleep. The following morning as I was going to work, I saw this beautiful picture God seemed to create for me to remind me that he has me " in the hollow of his hand" until all the storms of life are over.

Just Because

Tillie was so sleepy coming home from church today. She fell asleep while eating a huge bucket of cheese balls her Nanny sent her.

Barbie Jeep Time

Tillie got a Barbie Jeep from Santa Claus this year. She had been asking for it for months. (Thanks pawpaw). Over Christmas she was sick, then it snowed, and then we went back to school so she wasn't able to ride it outside!  (Yes,  we did let her ride in the house). So last weekend it was so beautiful here and we were able to finally take it for a spin and she absolutely loved it. The only problem with the Jeep is, Tillie is so little Buddy has to hold down the opposite side when she was going up hill or she would spin out. We later put a big rock on that side and it worked great. Needless to say when the Jeep had to "get gas", she wasn't happy. So come on spring so we can fire the Jeep up again!