Baptism and New Members at Central United Methodist Church

Corey and I longed to find a church home for our family when we moved back to Fayetteville, and didn't end up having to look very far - we immediately felt comfortable at Central United Methodist Church, a church we had both attended on and off while we were in college. 

In February we attended Central's Discovery Class as part of the joining process and after meeting with one of the senior pastors, decided that this is where God was leading our family.

On March 10, I was baptized into the Methodist Church as a loyal daughter of Christ:

“We are incorporated into God’s mighty acts of salvation and given new birth through water and the Spirit.”

We then became official members of Central United Methodist Church on March 13.

We are thrilled to have a new church home and family!

Another DIY Wreath

Well, I think I officially have a wreath obsession...this weekend I made my 4th homemade wreath, this one for Easter.  The other three I've made before this one have been made with tulle, but this one used Easter eggs!  I got the idea from one I saw at Hobby Lobby and thought, 'I can make that!' - of course when I Googled 'homemade Easter egg wreath' there were tons of how-to tutorials.  So much for being original :)  Here's my version of the process:

I started with a piece of foam board (you could use cardboard) and drew large circles.  I had a cake stand that was 14 in, and a dinner plate that was 12 in, so I used those to trace circles on the foam board.

 I then cut out the circles with a box cutter - the cake stand had scalloped edges, but I just rounded those off to make a true circle - which you can see is not perfect :)

 I used hot glue to attach regular sized Easter eggs around the foam board, with the small end of the egg pointing outward.

 I left a small area at the top with no egg, where the bow will go at the end.

 Next I began layering the eggs, in various positions on top of the ones on the base layer.

 Then I used smaller sized Easter eggs to fill in the holes around the regular sized eggs.

 Just need to add the bow!

Finished product!  I will probably wait until at least the first of April to hang this one.  A few of the tutorials I saw used Easter basket grass to glue in-between the eggs, but I was afraid it would look messy with the hot glue, so I skipped that step.

Spring project weekend

We had a wonderful weekend this past weekend and spent a lot of time outside, getting our garden and back yard ready for spring/summer!  Wesley LOVES to be outside, and really had a great time helping mommy and daddy get it all done.

We bought some plants at Lowes on Friday, and put them in a 'transitional' homes until its time to plant in our garden around Good Friday (April 22).

Tomato plants

Various herbs and pepper plants

Lettuce, spinach, and red onions

A pear, plum, and cherry tree for the yard

The actual garden - Corey has been preparing the soil and compost built this garden last September.

We also spent some time working on our back yard - when we moved in last June, there were lots of established plants and bushes around the pool area, but it was just too much.  Here are some pictures from last summer:



It needed to be cleaned up and scaled back, so Corey spent most of Saturday and Sunday afternoon digging out the things we wanted to get rid of and mulching leaves.  It looks pretty bare right now, but over the next few weekends we will put in smaller bushes and plants where we took things out - hopefully it will open up the pool area quite a bit!  We also plan to get rid of the hot tub and replace it with a patio set. 

15 Months!

Our Wesley is 15 months old today!  I know I say this every month, but the time seems to be flying by!  When I see small babies, I think of Wesley as being so much older - there seems like a big difference between a baby and a toddler to me now.

Once he hits the 18 month mark I'm going to have to cut back on my updates to every couple months or so because I just can't keep up!  Here's what's going on this month: 

Wesley stats:

• Head Circumference -19.75 in (90%)
• Weight - 25 lbs (60%)
• Length - 33 in (80%)
• Clothes - 18-24 months in all clothes and size 5 shoes.
• Food - Anything and everything - Corey's been on a hummus kick lately (as have I) and Wesley loves it!  He's a good eater - always has been.  We were at a friends house the other night, and their baby wasn't interested in his snacks, so Wesley took right over and finished it all off for him - and then wanted more!  It was hilarious - I'm sure when he's a teenager and eating us out of house and home it won't seem so funny!
• Sleep - Sleeping though the night!  He will take two naps during the day if he is home with me, but only one nap at school (which makes for a long evening).  Also, if he is left alone to wake up on his own in the mornings, he will be in a great mood - but if Corey or I have to wake him to get going, he's a bear!  The boy likes his sleep - just like momma :)
• Talents/interests - Outside!!  With the weather getting warmer in our area, he's been able to play outside a lot more at school and at home, and will fuss when he has to come back in.  I try to leave our front door open when we are home so he can look out the screen door - we've had sidewalk construction going on this month, so he's enjoyed being able to watch the guys work and look at the tractors.  He also likes to go 'bye bye' these days - if we tell him we are leaving, he will go straight to the door then walk out to the car to get in his seat.  He can point to his teeth, belly, and nose and has learned how to stack his mega blocks.  He can also wave 'bye bye' and is really close to being able to blow kisses :)

We love our sweet little man!!

Farewell

Baylee Abigail Runnells

August 19, 2001 - March 9, 2011 

 

Early this morning we had to say goodbye to our beloved pet Baylee.  She was suffering from heart failure, and it was her time.  These are the words my husband Corey wrote to honor her life:

Since Thanksgiving 2010, Baylee has been going through the inevitable process of winding things down.  Baylee started out with me when she was a young puppy, only 5 weeks old.  I picked her up and from that day forward, she has been as loyal and loving of a dog as any pet owner could ever hope for.  She has always been the most people pleasing dog I have ever been around, and she loved to be praised.  She attended doggy college when she was young and was a very bright student, passing with flying colors.  She has had most of the basic commands down for most of her life, and as she got older, she would obey most everything you asked her to do.  I cannot count the times that people commented on what a great dog she is.
 
She began her life with me living in a fraternity house, where she was a star.  After we moved out of the fraternity house, things were a little calmer, but it would take several years before we enjoyed a quiet, more routine lifestyle.  She has had several roommates over the years, and continued to see most of them regularly throughout her life.  She has lived with me in two states, Arkansas and Texas, and enjoyed both very much; although she told me she was glad we were going home when we left Texas.  She was by my side when Sheryl and I decided to get married, and she was waiting patiently at home when we brought our son home from the hospital.  During Wesley's first few days with us, she was very curious.  Once she realized that he was part of the family, she immediately showed her love for him and it was as though he had been with us from day one.  During Wesley's first year, she has been extremely patient, especially once Wesley learned to walk.  Baylee has been a part of my family for 9 years and 5 months and has been the best dog I could have ever asked for.  Being that she has been with me through so many milestones in my life, it is hard to imagine ever finding her equal.  She will always hold a special place in my heart.
 
Last Thursday, we found out that her heart was failing her.  Earlier this week, we learned that there is nothing that can be done for her and that she does not have much time left.  In order for her to avoid any undeserved suffering, she will be euthanized on Wednesday, March 9, 2011.  She has been such a joy and will be missed greatly.

-Corey

Weekend Fun

This past weekend my mom, dad, brother, sister-in-law, and two nephews came to visit for the weekend - we hadn't seen them since Wesley's 1st birthday!  We had two trips canceled within the past two months due to the snow, so it was a lot of fun to finally get to visit and hang out for the weekend.  Wesley loved playing with his cousins - Preston is 5 and was surprisingly patient when playing with Wesley.  Little Jackson is 4 months old, and Wesley wanted to play with him so bad, but was a little too rough at times - he'll learn though.  He'll be a good big brother some day :)

The toy zone

Mom and Jess

All the boys playing Wii

Well, except for Jackson - he was snoozing in Wesley's bed :)

Preston and Wesley playing on the keyboard