Five on Friday

1.  This has been a pretty big week around the Shackelford house.  Fred was elected president of our state convention Tuesday.   Pretty big news in our world.  The picture above is the president of our alma mater (Union University) presenting him with a framed certificate.  You can view the story by clicking here.
2.  I got to go with Fred this week to Hendersonville to Tennessee Baptist Convention meetings.  I had a blast!  I got to meet people that I've heard about for years.  I also got to catch up with a friend while she waited for her breakfast. What a treat!  It all seems surreal.   
3.  Clayton thought Fred was elected president of the United States this week.  He was a little disappointed when Janice told him Fred was going to be the president of Tennessee Baptist Convention, not the United States.  Apparently our children have very high standards and expectations for us. 
4.  Janice was here this week while we were gone.  (WooHoo!  What would we do without her!?!)  I had a talk with the big boys about being her helper while we were away.  She was washing the dishes.  Jack walked up to her and asked her if she needed any help because according to Jack, "My mom told me to help you, even if you are washing the dishes."
5.  As mentioned above, Janice was here with the boys while we were gone.  She watched the live streaming of Fred's election on the computer.  Andrew was in her lap.  When he saw Fred on the computer he reached out and tried to touch him.  Sweet.

Five on Friday

1.  Fred ran 20 miles for his training for St. Jude Thursday morning.  If you would like to give to St. Jude for him you can donate by clicking here.   
2.   I bought a 50 lbs. bag of whole wheat flour today.  I divide it up and freeze it in smaller bags.  As I was dividing it up I was secretly wishing I had my own mill so I could have fresh ground flour.  Maybe someday...
3.  Clayton has rocked some reading tests this week.  A friend in his class asked him how smart he was and Clayton's reply was that "God made him that way and being smart was a gift."  Maybe he has been listening all this time?!?
4.  Jack has been pretty grumpy this week.  Jack...grumpy?!?  Yes, he has been.  I know.  I can't believe it either.  I'm sure next week will be better. 
5.  Andrew went home with Fred's mom this week.  While he was gone Fred skyped with him.  When Andrew saw Fred he ran to the front door to look for Fred.  When he couldn't find Fred at the door he came back to the phone and said, "Hold you daddy, hold you."  Renee would not allow us to skype with him anymore. 

Five on Friday

1.  The town of Paris comes out in droves to trick or treat.  Our church sets up a station in one of the "hot spots" and passes out bags of candy (with information about our church and Jesus), hot dogs and drinks.  We started serving around 5:15 p.m. Monday night.  By 7:30 p.m. we had distributed 800 hot dogs, 800 drinks and 730 bags of candy.  Whew!  What a night!  We had GREAT help from our church folks and as always had a great time!
2.  I bought a bushel of apples last week and I have had more fun!  I am almost through the box.  I've made a "healthy" apple cake, apple butter and applesauce.  I am still going to make apple peanut butter bars and baked apple donuts. 
For the recipe to the apple bars, click here.

3.This year the boys were Alvin and the Chipmunks for Halloween.  Clayton politely asked if next year they could dress as something people recognized instead of walking around in their dad's shirts.  I thought they were cute.  Fred agreed with Clayton.  Oh well...you win some, you lose some!

On a side note...while Jack was getting dressed for Halloween he called me to tell me something had happened to his shirt.  It was too small.  Yes, it was too small.  He was wearing Andrew's shirt. Ha!

4.  Jack was using the restroom this week and Fred asked him to turn the fan on in the bathroom for obvious reasons. ;-)  Jack replied by saying, "That's okay dad.  It's not hot in here." 
5.  Andrew has really begun expressing himself.  If the boys do something that he doesn't like he throws his hands in the air and says, "Bad boys!"  We are working on this. 

Five on Friday

1.  We got to spend the weekend in Memphis with Fred's entire family.  That's right...everyone was there for the first time in 2 years.  Dan and Tami (Fred's brother and sister in law) are home for six months and we couldn't be more excited!
2. I woke this morning to rain hitting my window.  My running partner and I were supposed to run 11 miles.  I really, really wanted to stay in bed.  After a text or two we decided we would go for it.  It was great!  We were soaking wet and cold, but it was worth it.  We are training for St. Jude half marathon (13.1 miles).  I've agreed to help raise money this year, in addition to my race fee.  If you would like to donate to St. Jude just click here.
3.  Clayton and Jack finish up flag football season tomorrow.  Clayton opted not to play basketball this fall either.  I'm looking forward to some nights at home! 
4.  Jack came home last week and told me he was on green that day at school.  However, he continued to tell me his teacher had put his name on her list.  According to Jack he didn't know if it was a good list or a bad list.  Upon further investigation I'm pretty sure it was not her good list.  Ha!  Gotta love his honesty.
5.  I had to wake Andrew up one morning this week.  When I went into his room he said, "Leaves me here mama.  Leaves me here."  Too sweet.

Look at this two-year-old!

Happy Birthday Andrew!

 Two year ago today the baby in the picture above made his appearance into the world.  Two years ago today I welcomed our third little boy into our home and my heart.  He had me from the moment he breathed his first breath of air.  There were times (okay...months) during my pregnancy that I wondered what in the world we would do with another boy.  There were times I questioned God for giving me another boy.  Two years later though I can't imagine life any differently.  I absolutely love these three boys God has placed in our home.  Happy Birthday to my "baby"!  I'm so glad God gave me what I needed and not what I wanted.  I wouldn't trade it for the world. 

The big boys thought Andrew would LOVE to go to NeNe's for his birthday.  I think the big boys just wanted an excuse to eat donuts.  Whatever works, right?!?  Then we went to lunch with our friends Jerry and Patsy at Dairy Delight.  We had to have a cake to celebrate.

Some facts about two year old Andrew:
-He loves to sing.  He sings by himself frequently.  When I sing a song to him as soon as I finish he says, "Again!".
-He talks a lot.  He knows how to express himself and his needs.  I'm always amazed at how many names he knows.
-He loves his brothers.  He calls them "the boys".  He asks for them all day.  He cries at night when we put him in his bed and he doesn't get to sleep with them.
-He loves a train.  My parents have a train table and he plays at it for long periods of time.
-He loves books.  He will let anyone read to him. 
-He is generally happy and smiles the majority of the time.
-He loves to watch Dinosaur Train on PBS.  He stands in the living room and dances to the theme song.