So much has happened...

...since I last visited the blog! Crazy! Social media has seemed to have replaced blogging. 

Here's where we are in the fall of 2017:

• Jaycie - first year of college
• Hannah - first year of junior high
• Will - fourth grade
• Lee and I - both working full time

Life is full. 

Winter 2014

How much life has changed since our early blogging days! Facebook has stolen away all of our attention, as all eyes are on it. Short snippets of 140 characters or less make us succinct, brief, and to the point, to a fault. So here's my hat tip to our blog. The Fowlkes family is going and blowing with all cylinders. But time is passing, as older folks often say, way too quickly. Will is 5; Hannah is 8; Jaycie is (gulp) almost 15. Love this sweet crew, and love to watch them grow. Here's to a fabulous 2014!

Love My Life, Love My Family

Where we are in the spring of 2012:

• Jaycie is 13...beautiful, tall, slender, graceful, witty, thoughtful.
• Hannah is 6...lovely, limber, smart, funny, compassionate.
• Will is 3...handsome, hilarious, strong, active.
• Lee and Ashley are (ahem) in their 40s...busy, hard-working, in love, blessed.

Good Night, Irene! Has It Been THAT Long?!?

Technology and social media have changed so much over the past couple of years, as evident in my fifteen month absence on this blog.


So much has changed in our family's world. Jaycie has entered the world of junior high. She ran cross-country in the fall and loved it. She is now involved in community theater and having a blast. Hannah, in her last months of preschool, is very much looking forward to living the big life of a kindergarten gal beginning in August, although she'll miss her preK teachers tremendously. Will is almost three, almost potty-trained, and almost as tall as Hannah. He does, however, outweigh her by five pounds. When he resists being picked up, feels like he outweighs me, too! He's a cute, active little booger. We are blessed beyond measure, and crazy busy with life. Speaking of busy, I must go. More again later - actually, hopefully sooner than later. :)

Snow Babies

Our first snow was a nice one but a small one. Jaycie loved falling down in it (on purpose), Hannah loved eating it (no matter what surface it fell on),
and Will loved exploring it (totally uninhibited by having to wear his sister's lavender snowsuit). Hooray for snow!

Will LOVES Basketball!

He sizes up the goal.
He aims.
He shoots.
He scores!

Go, Will!

What a Difference a Third Makes

So much has transpired in such a small amount of time. I can't believe my last post was in August!. Poor Will, whose story will be less documented than his sisters', has grown so much since that time. Ah, the curse of the third child.

Here are a few things I want to remember:

The song I made up for Will when he was an infant is sung to the tune of "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star." One day a couple of months ago (I think), he proceeded to sing the song with the lone lyric "Daddy" and has now progressed to insert "Jaycie" and "Nanna" (for Hannah) and "Mommy" into it. I guess now it's a family song. It's precious. The only family name he can't say is his own. I guess the "W" is a tough one to pronounce.

Will holds up his pointer finger when we ask him how old he is. He asks, "Where's Daddy/Jaycie/Nanna/Mommy?" and will say "Sh!" if I tell him they're sleeping. He can say "I want..." (more like "ont") "down" / "juice" / "Cheerios" / "ball" and a few other basics. He can tell us what Santa says - "ho, ho, ho" - and says "no" with much more certainty and emphasis than "yes."

He loves to sing. The "I Love You" song was his second to sing (thanks, Barney!), and he will sing along to "Jesus Loves Me" and "Jingle Bells."

He is all boy and loves to play with balls, trucks and trains. He may be a chef like his daddy, since he loves to play in the pretend kitchen. However, he'll have to learn to not throw the food and utensils on the floor to succeed. He makes a beeline to any available cell phone or remote and loves to push any button that makes noise.

What a blessing this little boy has been! Our hearts are full, and our cup overflows!

Back to School

Pics For the Cosby Crew!

Is It Summer Already?

Happy busy times around the Fowlkes home means no time to blog. Instead I'll post a few fun shots. Enjoy!

Like father like daughter:


















Birthday boy; birthday suit.









































Jaycie helping at a magic show:

Asleep At The Will

Baskets Full of Easter Joy

Easter was wonderful this year! We spent the day in Nashville with the Fowlkes and Coggins crew and enjoyed a lovely time together. Having Will with us this year made the day all the more special. I am so thankful for the blessings I have in Christ, and I am humbled by the gift of family, both spiritual and physical, at this magical time of year.

Well, Goodnight, Irene!

I cannot believe it has been so long since I've posted. These posts were once part of my routine, and now, sadly, they've fallen by the wayside. I think I need to post as much for my own benefit as for my friends and family. Following are random thoughts from the past several months.
-38 year old mommies are more tired than 28 year old mommies.
-It's way too easy to get distracted by the blues in the winter. Praise God for the spring!
-TV watching breeds more TV watching. Depressed folks watch more TV; I vow to cut back - soon.
-Knowing what a problem is doesn't necessarily lead to its solution, but it's a start.
-Babies are fun, but they are work nonetheless.
-Potty training a child who occasionally forgets she's a big girl can be quite frustrating.
-Sleep deprivation is a form of torture. I value a full night's sleep now more than ever.
-Having a child in 3 different developmental stages is challenging.
-Seeing the way you once reasoned in the conversation of your own 10 year old is spooky.
-Children are indeed a blessing from God.
-There are bumps in the road; expect them.
-There are peaks in the path of life, and there are valleys; all windy roads leading to the destination are necessary.
-Children say funny things; they grow quickly, too.
-Life is an amazing gift, but Heaven's going to be even better.
-I love my family.
-I love my friends.
-I love my life.

New Year Fun

Happy 2009!

Happy Hannah Day

We marked the two-year anniversary of Hannah's Gothcha Day with a delicious Christmas eve dinner at our favorite local Chinese restaurant. Lee and I had duck for dinner, as will be our custom from here on out, whether Lee is brave and cooks it (like last year) or another expert (like the chef at Beijing) does all the work. We have been so blessed since our journey to China and back. The memories of those times, the daughter we gained, and the friends we made on our journey will make my heart happy forever.

Going Back For a Moment...

...to Thanksgiving. We had 14 of staying in our humble abode during the second half of Thanksgiving week. The Cosby & Cooper crews were a welcome addition to our Kentucky home, and the latter were very gracious, staying in our Air-Bed & Breakfast. The cousins loved walking the dog, and Bogey was gracious in letting them do so. There was play time, sleep time, and eating time, interspersed with card playing, present unwrapping, and baby holding. A good time was had by all!

Visting St. Nick

Hannah looks entranced, Will looks shocked, and Jaycie looks like an old pro. We love Santa!

Haloween-ing

Jaycie's blog

Jaycie has a new blog, also called Jaycie's Journal. Just go to www.jafowlkes.blogspot.com.
Thanks!

Disney Delights, Florida Fun - Part 2