Taking advantage of nature

For the last few months we have noticed a dead pine tree to the side of our house. The day finally came to take care of that tree...before it took care of our house! Bankston Hays and I were at home and heard a big crash. When we went to the front door we saw this:


My father -in-law had the situation under control and was working with the guys to get the job done right.

Bankston Hays immediately ran to get his own chainsaw and was disappointed they wouldn't let him in on the action! He had to settle for another tree.


They got all the stumps and limbs to the end of our driveway.


It took about a week for the city to get it picked up and everyday I would drive by and see all these great stumps. I remembered a recent blog post by one of my favorite decorating blogs. She recently had a tree fall in her backyard and she seized the opportunity to turn the misfortune into a decorating treasure. You can read the post here.

I recruited Kris (and the kids' red wagon) to help me haul two stumps back up to the house. I decided I didn't have anything to lose! They might just make nice side tables for our back patio!

Wordless Wednesday

Wes, 4 1/2 - September 2007

Spring Break Art Festival

One morning of Spring Break I received a Tweet that the Lauren Rogers Museum of Art was hosting its annual Spring Break Arts Festival that afternoon and decided that would be worth a little road trip!


We found our way through the streets of downtown Laurel and found ourselves on the most quaint street. The street was canopied with trees and and lined with beautiful older homes and a bed and breakfast.


The Museum sits right among this setting and hosted the festival on their lawn.


The kids made their way from table to table participating in different crafts and activities. The Natural Science Museum had a representative with several neat things to see. Bankston Hays walked right up to "pet" the snake. He thought its long tongue was cool!


From there they each made rain sticks...


added their art to a mural...


strung a necklace/bracelet of beads...


and had their face painted.



Bankston Hays chose a star and Ann Elise chose a butterfly.


The event was very well organized and put together. I would definitely make the trip again.

Spring Break 2011 Recap

Southern Miss' Spring Break was the week before the kids so that really messed up our planning! They should really check with me before they make their schedule! HA! With Kris out of town the week before, it led us to have a rather low key break. Wes and Kris (he is the coach) had several baseball practices scheduled but other than that we didn't have much planned. I tried to think of a few fun things to do locally to help pass the time. However, I needn't plan much because the kids' creativity always wins out! The first day of Spring Break I walked outside to find they had "built" a life size spider web! Who knew a whole roll of boxing tape could provide such entertainment?!?!?


I know the pictures don't do their work justice but - believe me - it was impressive! They had even rounded up mittens, hats, etc. to get caught in the net and serve as the spider's bugs.


I absolutely love when all three are playing so cordially and working together! To see them have so much fun and use their imaginations is just as much fun for me :)

Another day we made an outing of visiting the library and a local park. While they were playing the ice cream truck made his rounds. I never carry cash, but this day I had a few dollars and decided it was worth a Spring Break Splurge! Who needs Walt Disney when you have the Ice Cream Man?? (I kid!!!)


They each picked out a mega popsicle and loved it!


Another favorite event of Spring Break - well, Spring in general - is watching the Golden Eagles play baseball. Nothing like running the bases after a game :)

Wes as Star Student

In the Fall I wrote a FLASHBACK post about Ann Elise's Spring at Preschool. One of the memorable events of that semester was her turn at being Start Student. It turned out to be a lot of fun putting together her poster! Her classmates really loved seeing what Ann Elise has looked like over the years and learning more about what she likes to do.

The whole Star Student experience was new to us as Wes attended a different Preschool. He had never really had a time set aside just to him (which was fine!). In first grade he had a little taste when he served his turn as Fantastic Reader, but with that everything was related to his chosen book. In second grade they do serve a week as Star Student (on a smaller scale from Preschool) so we were excited a few weeks ago when Wes had his turn! It was equally fun to put together a poster of pictures and things he likes. And I think his classmates had just as much fun learning new things about him!

And now I am a happy (well-balanced and slightly anal) momma who has a Star Student poster for both her older children, not just one :)

Wordless Wednesday

Bankston Hays, 3 - December 2010

God's Top 10

At Wes and Ann Elise's elementary school each grade has a set musical they perform. The second grade always does "God's Top 10". The music teacher works very hard teaching the songs, motions, and speaking parts. With this program being about the ten commandments, she has them dress in Biblical costumes.


Every second grader participates by singing along with every song and at some point throughout the program has a speaking or acting part.


Wes was part of a skit with three other boys from his class. They acted out the words to the song "God's Holy Day"- getting a few laughs :)

(Wes is second from the left)

What a cute show! They did such a great job!

Like Father, Like Son

It didn't take long after Bankston Hays was born for family and friends to start exclaiming how much he favored Kris.


As his personality has developed, we have found them to share more than just blue eyes, hair color, and cow licks. They have similar facial expressions


and mannerisms!



These last two pictures were taken a few weeks ago while watching TV. I couldn't help but smile seeing father and son enjoying an afternoon the exact same way!

Wordless Wednesday

Ann Elise (21 months) and Myself, October 2006

Upward Basketball

Our Upward Basketball season came to an end just a few Saturdays ago. Both Wes and Ann Elise participated this year, having a blast! Kris was busy, busy seeing as he coached both their teams.

Wes played for the Rhinos. He really played hard and had a good season. Kris and Coach Mark came up with a Rebound Reward that really motivated the boys to hustle. What young boy wouldn't push and shove for every rebound knowing they'd be rewarded with an extra snack?!? HA!


Ann Elise played for the Greyhounds. This was her first experience with basketball. She did really good learning the skills and we were so proud of her for participating! But, it may take another season or two for her to feel comfortable about taking the ball from someone :)

Another successful season of sports behind us and headed into Spring baseball!

Ann Elise's 6th Birthday Party

In the Fall when we were planning the boys' birthday parties Ann Elise announced she had two requests for her own birthday. One, she wanted a "puppy paint" party. Excuse me, what?!? What is a "puppy paint" party? And two, she wanted the party to be at our house. After more Google searches than I care to admit, I came up with a plan that I thought fit her imagination.

As most of our parties go around here, the invitation set the tone.

And my sister's awesome mother-in-law made us a cake to match the theme.

February birthdays have to deal with very upredictable weather and this year proved no different. After a week of beautiful sunshine and temps in the mid 60s, we made a last minute decision to bring the party inside after realizing the highs were indeed in the low 40s. We moved our dining room furniture into the garage and set up tables to decorate for the party.


Each child had their own setting that included a plush puppy, paint brush, cup of water, paint, and art smock.


After the kids got seated we wrote their names on the plate so we would know who the puppy belonged to and so they'd have a place to dry.


The kids were free to paint till their puppies were just the way they wanted them...Ann Elise chose to paint her's hot pink with black polka dots :)


I was really happy to see all the details and planning come together so smoothly. And, the kids seemed to really enjoy the project!


Especially the birthday girl!


After a lunch of pizza, cupcakes, and ice cream and a fun time of opening gifts, each kid got to take home a watercolor set and their very own painted puppy!