Extreme Home Makeover (Bartlett style)

And so it begins...The boys and I have been gone since Saturday (February 20th) **Happy birthday to me" ;) A LOT has happened since then. We moved into this home when Tyson was about 6 months old (he is 2 now & Baby Mike is almost 8 months). The house is about 25 years old and WE LOVE IT! we always knew we would do "a few things" when we bought it...like new countertops etc. But, we decided in the last few months that we want to stay here so we are jumping into our first remodel. We call this "Phase 1" and if we are still married and have any money left when this is done...we will start Phase 2 in a few years. As I am typing this the contractor (who is AWESOME) is sanding the floors. This is my first time home since it all started. Tyson and I came in from Liberty for MDO and Aunt Misty is watching Baby Mike...Momma has A LOT to do...and one of those things is working in lunch with my husband...and get my computer fix. Life is good my friends...it's dusty...but it is good!!

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A Gift

I took these pictures yesterday while we were having a playdoh session...of course I had to dig and find the 'ol Dr. Drill n' Fill I bought for Scott while we were dating and he was in dental school...(see Scott, you thought we would never "need" this ;) I couldn't help but notice how intent Tyson became when he realized he was "being Daddy." He got very serious about his work. I had to take pictures...and then I remembered Poppa Mike's glasses.

Today is Poppa Mike's birthday. We miss him VERY much...I know the holidays are difficult this first year...and I catch myself trying to do ANYTHING to make it "better" for my family. This turned into me "buying" more "things." Which I know is NOT the answer...but I catch myself trying to "fix" it myself...instead of totally relying on God. I am spending more time in prayer and reading my Bible...not books ABOUT the Bible (which I have a tendency to do more often)...but the actual Bible...and everyday God is showing me ways to show His love. I am trying to focus on HIM and the true meaning of Christmas...not to take away the pain...but because it is what I should be doing anyway. I know after losing Momma the day after Christmas that it can be VERY hard...but I am learning that if I truly focus on the true REASON for the SEASON...there is unexplainable JOY. JOY in the faces of my boys...JOY in the voices of those who "found that perfect gift AND are able to keep it a secret"...JOY in my own heart when I see my son play & talk to Baby Jesus the way God longs for ALL of us to do...I could go on and on. (it's my spiritual gift...rambling AND sarcasm...look it up...;)

BUT...I have "A Gift" for my husband...and I am sharing it with everyone because I know I am supposed to.

Scott when I watched our oldest son "playing Daddy" yesterday...it was more than my heart could handle. (and NO I am NOT pregnant again)...I watched as he spoke "gently" to his patient...I saw the intent focus (I think we might have a perfectionist on our hands)...I loved the way he kept Baby Mike engaged in the "activity"...when he looked through Poppa Mike's glasses so he could SEE everything better...I just sat at the table and "played" too. God is GOOD...ALL THE TIME! and I do NOT know why this happened that God would take Poppa Mike so soon...but I KNOW that He has a purpose and people's lives are being changed in a good way. Selfishly I just wish it could have all happened with Poppa Mike here. But when I watch our sons I see him...and I see you...and I am HAPPY! Poppa Mike & Momma Chris instilled in you a self respect & confidence that is amazing. He taught you how to do the BEST job you can...and when you are done...if it is is not your BEST...you do it AGAIN! (I can already see you and the boys battling through this one in the future) I see a man who walks into a crowded room and never meets a stranger. I prayed that my boys would be more like you socially (I may have prayed a little too hard on that one)...I prayed that they would be driven like you as well. I am thankful that God is already showing me this. You are an amazing man! For many reason...but mainly because of your love of the Lord. I know how important this is...and I am thankful that you are here to share that gift with our boys. Poppa Mike would be VERY proud of you & Misty. I know how badly you both want to here his voice saying this...but when you can't...I am here to tell you. He loves you and he is so proud of you!

So this is my gift to you (and it did not cost any money ;))...Scott...thank you for loving me...and I am wishing Poppa Mike a VERY HAPPY BIRTHDAY! I know I am so thankful that he took the time to make you the man you are today...so you can pass that on to our boys. The boys will always KNOW him because of you.

I love you!

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"Baby Mikey WOCKIE"

"COOKIE!!!"

"BRROOMMM BBRROOOM"

"GO TYSON GO!!"

"Alright Baby Mikey...your turn...WOCKIE!!!"

I started putting Baby Mike in the walker at the lake this weekend and so I broke out the walker at the house on Monday. He is not quite big enough yet at 4 months...his little toes don't touch the ground...but he seems to enjoy "hanging" around...and Tyson thinks it is one big car..."brrrooom bbrrrooom" Thank you dear Lord for giving me a tough little angel baby. This is the SLOW version of "Baby Mikey WOCKIE" (which is Baby Mike walks in Tyson talk)

Hot Chocolate Dance

Tyson loves to watch The Polar Express and his favorite part his the Hot Chocolate song...he always screams..."MOMMA COME HERE...WATCH THIS" and he gets up to dance.

We have a READER!!!

One of Tyson's favorite things is to read books with Daddy before bedtime and sit on the floor in his room, or on his beanbag in the living room and read his books. I LOVE IT!!! Read to your children...it is PRECIOUS time you may not get back...and read IN FRONT of your children...books, magazines, the newspaper, etc...just instill that LOVE early. Usually he is a silent reader, but yesterday he decided that he needed to read a story to Momma. As a Reading Teacher it makes me proud...as his Momma I am down right speechless...of course I control the video and you don't see the part where I had to turn the book right side up...and you may not be able to completely follow the story line (or any words for that matter)...but I think I may have produced a GENIUS!!! (that half of the genetics obviously came from me) :) Enjoy Clifford the Big Red Dog

Chopsticks

Today we met the family in Beaumont to "pick up the boys." We met at Tokyo to have lunch...YUMMY!!! It was so good to see the boys again...we missed them a lot. Momma Chris kept them this weekend so Scott and I could enjoy some adult time with friends and host a party. It was a GREAT weekend...but we are happy to have our boys back.

When we walked in today Michael said "this is the same table we sat at last time" and when we sat down Lane said "Aunt Jean...last time we were here you were pregnant with Tyson." I am sure I am not the only one who enjoyed myself today...but at the same time kept thinking about "the last time we were here." The last time we were here we met the family for Mother's Day in 2007. Scott and I knew we were pregnant with Tyson so it was a VERy happy Mother's Day for me.

So while THE WHOLE HOUSE but me is napping this afternoon (it's been a long weekend) ha ha ha...I have been going through pictures and remembering "the last time." Lane, Landon, and KiKi were SO YOUNG!!! they look like babies! and of course we miss Poppa Mike so much. I can't help but think he would be so proud of us today...for creating new memories...because today I laughed SO MUCH! it is always fun to see life through the eyes of children. Even though the kids could eat with chopsticks better than Aunt Jean...I tried.

So I share our memories with you...and I hope you enjoy "the changes" in the kiddos as much as I have. God is good...and although we wish Poppa Mike was still physically here with us...we are BLESSED beyond measure with the JOY and excitement of our children.

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"Punky"

These pics are obviously from before Halloween...but I had to post them. Scott came home from work one day after we went to the pumpkin patch and he decided on a whim that it was time to carve the pumpkin while he was grilling outside. Needless to say...it took A LOT more work than he thought initially...and Tyson would not TOUCH it...because it was "EEWWW NASTY!" So here are the many faces of Tyson while creating "punky" the pumpkin. (that's what he named it) Scott did a pretty good job for the first time to ever do this and to cut it with a kitchen knife. We enjoyed you while you were fresh and not stinking punky...sorry I had to toss you in the garbage...but you carried a smell like no other.

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