Happy 5th Birthday John Henry!

At 4 am on October 6, 2005, our precious son John Henry entered the world at Martin Army Community Hospital in Fort Benning, GA. This precious boy immediately brought joy into our lives. Today he is full of life, energy, and imagination. He loves to play, especially dress-up. (I know you would never be able to guess that one.) He is athletic and can't wait to play sports. He loves to be outside. As his babysitter's head can attest, he is a good shot with the bow and arrow. Although shy to begin with, within minutes of knowing you he is your best friend and talking non-stop. I can already tell he has a gift of being an encourager. He loves his little sister and she loves him. He never tires of hearing of David and Goliath and will often get his own slingshot out to demonstrate. He loves his Florida State Seminoles, although he is debating of whether playing football or joining the circus there while in college. John, Mommy and Daddy love you and pray God's blessings on you as you grow into the young man God has called you to be. May you be a man after God's own heart like your Biblical hero, David (minus some of those pesky traits that got him into trouble.)


Your Birth Day One year old

Two years old

Three years old

Four years old

Two weeks before turning 5

Happy Birthday Mimmie!! John shares his birthday with his Mimmie. We love you Mimmie!! (We won't share her age!)

Pool Time

We started off our first day by heading to the pool. We stayed at Caribbean Beach which has an AWESOME pool/slide/kids' play area. The kids loved it and would have probably been happy there for the week.


Aunt Lola and John headed to the pool. Clara and Aunt Dianne. Clara was trying to figure out if she was going to go for the pirate play area.

John already loving it.

Going down one of the slides.

Clara decided she was going to go for it too.

Going down the slide.

Ooooo, Fun stuff!

This was the kid play area! Nice, huh? This bucket of water would fall down every so often and Clara had it timed pretty quick. She did not like that water coming down.

John going down the big slide in the big pool.

Aunt Lola wet after John was supposed to catch her.

Another Surprise

We entered the most magical place on earth - and headed straight to our resort and room. No questions from this boy except if he could open the door with the key. Hmmm, no key so I told him to knock!

Mimmie, Aunt Lola, and Aunt Dianne were waiting in our adjoining pirate rooms.

With our washcloth mouse.

Surprise!!

We're going to Disney World!! While we were at Grammy and Grandad's I surprised the kids with a trip to Disney World. It had been planned in advance but the kids didn't know it. We got up on Sunday morning and I told them we were leaving. I gave them each a brown paper bag with new pjs in them - a Tinkerbell gown for Clara and Toy Story boxers for John. I asked John where he thought we were going. He said he didn't know. Well, Rex was on the front of the package so I asked him where Rex lived, "with Woody and Buzz." Where does Woody and Buzz live? "Andy's Room" Ok, yes John! I said, "Look at Clara's gown, who is on there?" "Tinkerbell" "Where does Tinkerbell live John?" "Pixie Hollow" I mean, seriously!! Mr. Imaginations chooses now to be literal with every answer. "Where do Woody and Buzz and Tinkerbell live together?" "Disney World" I said, "Do you want to go to Disney World?" He just opened the door and climbed in the car saying yes!

Opening their packages

Thinking.

Finally figuring it out and opening the door.

I asked Clara if she wanted to go to Disney World and she started shaking her head yes!!

Florida State Football Game

We headed to our first FSU game of the season a couple of weeks ago. You have already seen the highlight of the game but here are some more. Clara and Mommy before the game. John ready to cheer on his Noles.

We always have to have our frozen lemonade.

Flyover.

John watching the flyover.

Osceola throwing the spear!! Always a highlight!

Clara taking a break from the sun under the stands.

John on the field with his tomahawk.

Leaving the game with my sweeties.

John's Dream Come True

My boy got to go out on the field and have his picture made with Chief Osceola and Renegade!! Thank you so much Uncle Jack, you might have made his year!!

Baby Carsyn and Big Brother Colton

At the top of our to-do list in Tallahassee was to go meet Baby Carsyn. Uncle Jack and Aunt Krista had this beautiful baby girl about the week before Burt left. I know when Burt comes home, meeting her will be on the top of his to-do list as well. As you can tell, Clara was a big help to Aunt Krista with Baby Carsyn.

But we can't forget Big Brother Colton -

he loves kisses too!!

Downtown Getdown

We got into Tallahassee on Friday afternoon and that afternoon headed to the Downtown Getdown. They had a huge sand area for the kids to play in.

Two Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed

luckily none fell over and bumped their heads. You have to love stopping at a random hotel in Alabama with two children who have been cooped up in a car all day!! It took a while to get settled down as you could imagine.