School has begun!!!

Monday morning came early around here. We started off with blueberry muffins for the first day of school...don't worry - I don't 'cook' breakfast like that all the time on crazy school mornings - just for special occaions :-)
The boys put on their new shirts they got from their Nana and were ready to go. We had to pose for the usual 'first day of school pictures' before we left the house.



This is the first time to get them in a 'first day of school picture' together! Jackson started Kindergarten and Austin is in the 2nd grade.
Austin is in Ms. Mabry's class and has several friends from last year in his class.
Jackson is in Ms. Mobley's class for kindergarten. There are 5 kids from our church in his class! I don't think we could've even planned that if we had tried.
*the first day went well and they both had a great time...drop off on Tuesday though didn't go so well - Jackson started crying and didn't want to go. Please pray he'll have a great day so we won't have to go through the crying tomorrow!! I didn't expect that from him - he's been so excited and ready for school - he's not my crying kid either! I felt so bad.

Cotten Family Reunion 2008

The Cotten Family Reunion took place this past weekend at Brookhaven Retreat in Hawkins, TX. We had about 75 Cotten family members in attendance. I love the family that God allowed me to be a part of. We have such a rich Christian heritage and are blessed with a close family. Not everyone was able to attend, but it was nice to catch up with everyone who was. There are only 2 brothers left from the original 7 siblings. My grandfather, Hoot, and his brother C.J. We are so blessed to still have these great men living to share so much about their lives.
This is the Harvey Cotten branch of the family. In the middle are my grandparens, Hoot and MeeMee is what we call them. We are missing a few cousins from generation 3 but we still have quite a large branch on the family tree!
My boys and their first cousins being a little silly in the middle of trying to get some cuter pictures!

Brookhaven had this great lagoon area. Austin is on the big trapeze - trying to pull himself over to do a flip like his dad!
Jackson is flying down this awesome slide. You hit the water going pretty fast!
Jackson's favorite was probably the zip line over the water...he did it over and over again.
This is my Hoot blowing out the candles on his 90th birthday cake! 90...that's a long life!
Hoot shows me the plaque I made him with pictures of him and I when I was little, along with some shotgun shells my cousin gave him...yes, in this family shotgun shells are one of the best presents to give!

As I am writing this, I am enjoying these pictures but am saddened because on Sunday evening, when Hoot and MeeMee got home, Hoot suffered a pretty serious stroke. He was air lifted to Tyler and at this point (Tuesday) can not talk and has lost alot of motor funcions on his left side. A praise is that he does have his swallow reflex and can eat. He is very frustrated with not being able to communicate. Please pray that his blood pressure will stabilize so they can transport him back to Rusk to a rehad type facility and that he'll be able to regain his ability to communicate.

Happy Birthday Jeremy

Jeremy turned 35! It's official - he's moved into his mid-30's...it won't be long until he's 40! You'll notice I don't post about my birthdays :-) The boys had fun painting this banner for him. Jeremy enjoyed coming home to see it hanging on the garage door.

kitchen project

I have been wanting to paint my kitchen since we moved in 2 years ago this month. I kept waiting because I was working on other things in the house. Then I waited longer once we determined we would get new couches...I couldn't paint the breakfast room and kitchen and have that clash with a new couch color, right? So FINALLY (after getting the new couches) we painted the ceilings an off white (so it wouldn't be so dark in there) and the walls a olive green khaki sort of color. It took 2 tries to get the paint right - but I like it now. But after getting the walls painted, I've decided that crown molding would really make the green walls 'pop'...just another project right? No biggie!