So proud of Em !!!!

This past Sunday at church (Dec. 27) Em went up at the end of the service and told Bro. Tommy (our pastor) that she had given her heart to Jesus...she wanted everyone to know! (She did this over the summer at another church's VBS). She got lots of hugs from our wonderful church family. We were all smiles. I didn't have my camera so I don't have a pic of the actual day...so I'm just posting a pic of my sweet gal!
Emmy, we love you VERY much! We will always be together FOREVER and EVER!!!!

Merry Christmas!!! and missing Granddaddy....

It's been a long time since I've posted. Just fell off the blog wagon I suppose.
Merry Christmas (to the tens of people who read this!---if that many).

Just sitting here thinking about how strange it is not to be deciding what day or days over Christmas break that I want to go to Mississippi and visit Granddaddy. Thanksgiving break brought the same feelings....he had just passed away the week before. I know he is having the merriest of all Christmases this year, but I'm still sad that I cannot see him or give him a big ole hug! Sad for my sweet daddy too....he told steven the other day that it is just hard not being able to pick up the phone and call him to check on him or riding up to MS at least every 10 days to watch him and help him.

It's Christmas Eve and the girls are busy playing in the living room and counting hours away till santa comes. We will go to mom and dad's this evening to celebrate with them and Tood, C, C and Zane. The kids will have such fun. Steven is most happy because just last week he had lasik surgery and now he can SEE without having to wear glasses or contacts after MANY MANY years of doing so!

I am blessed to have such a wonderful family!

Merry Christmas to all my family and friends who are like family!

May 2010 be a blessed year!

A Special Day

Today Ebeth was baptized by Bro. Tommy Middleton, our pastor. We are so proud of her and her decision to follow Christ. We had our church family there as well as MawMaw and PawPaw, Aunt Candace, Connor and Zane (uncle todd was working at the fire station), Mrs. JoAnn, Mr. Johnny, Emily and Hannah, Ms. Andi and Megan, and Mrs. Donna, Mr. Richard and Dylan. We were happy they were there to share this as well.

Ebeth, I love you so much and am so happy we WILL always be together. :)
What a special day this has been!

Proud of Ebeth

Today Ebeth went up to our pastor at the invitation time and told him she had asked Jesus into her heart and wanted to let everyone know and that she wants to be baptized. Steven and I went up with her (we were all sitting in our usual spots in the balcony....Em was at my mom and dad's house for the weekend with cousin Zane.)
Anyway, almost 2 years ago Ebeth had asked Jesus in her heart and told us and had even gone up front at church with many other kids who had done the same at an Upward awards night (Upward is a sports and cheerleading program our church participates in yearly). But she never was ready to officially go forward and tell our pastor and our church. But she was today. Steven and I are so proud of her. And of course we are happy that our family will always be together, here and in heaven. Em hasn't gone forward yet but she too has asked Jesus in her heart.....over the summer.
If any of you who read this want to know anything about Jesus please let me know. :)

I think Ebeth will be baptized in the next few weeks.

Ebeth we love you so much!

A great first week

I had a wonderful first week at school. But I am one tired woman. My three sets of kids are a great crew. I think it is going to be a great year!
And having Ebeth at my school is so nice.......but so funny to see her walking around with the kids. I can't believe she is in jr high.
Emily is enjoying 3rd grade (but not as much as she enjoyed second she says......she just absolutely ADORED her second grade teachers). Ebeth had to stay home one day this week (thursday) b/c she had a bad bad ear infection. But she had to go back today (she insisted and she had no more fever). She made it but is so tired now and of course asleep, like I should be.
Just wanted to let everyone know I survived. And lesson plans are done for next week. Go me. Now if someone would just clean my house.....any takers?

Summer is over! School is starting this WEEK!

I've been lazy and not downloading pics........so I don't have any to post.
Just making a note that I have to be back at school THIS WEDNESDAY, August 5.
hard to believe. Summer flew by! I go this thursday and friday and the kids come on Friday, August 7. Playtime is over!!!! Ebeth and Em are excited about school starting. My room is ready and I'll eventually think about what I'm doing the first few days. To all my teacher buddies, have a wonderful 2009-2010 school year. I'm planning on it!
:)

trying to post the picture

Ok, I'm hoping the picture I was referring to in the previous post will actually appear now.....let's see......

I love my guy and gals!

Just taking a moment after reading a few blogs and facebooking to post this cute pic of E. and E. with their daddy b/f we headed to Nahsville. (at the airport in N.O.) I just am so blessed to have such a sweet hubby and wonderful little gals. I love them sooooo very much! We have just been enjoying the summer so much I don't have time to download more pic or post. Bad me! The girls are with my mom and dad and cousins Connor and Zane on a mini-road trip. They are siteseeing along the historical Natchez Trace. Last night they stayed in Vicksburg, MS. They are going to the battlefield there today and not sure what else. They are just happy to be with MawMaw and Paw Paw. Last night steven and I had a great "date" night...went out to eat with our friends Kellie and Jay at the best seafood restaurant in Baton rouge, Mike Anderson's. It was nice to have some couples time! The kids only called once while we were eating!

Well, just a quick post about my WONDERFUL family of 4....(well, 5 if you count Skippy and of course we do!---he had surgery about 9 days ago and was "fixed"---he gets his stitches out tomorrow!---poor skippy!)

Another birthday girl...........

Today is Susan's (aka "Nanny" to the girls) birthday. It's number ?????? for her!
We just wanted to wish her a super happy one! We love her LOTS!!!

Enjoy your special day! You are very special to us!

(Nanny doesn't like photos taken of her so that's why there's not one of her....
so I'm putting one of "petunia"---her little one.........and my two gals too.

Someone special is 11 today!

Happy Birthday Ebeth!!!!! 11 years old! Wow! Soon to be a 6th grader at the junior high! I am so proud to be your mom! We are at Nanny's now and about to head to the mall to eat at the Rainforest Cafe, then shop, then Ebeth is getting her ears pierced!

Happy Birthday sweetie! We all love you soooooo much!

We're leaving.....on a jet plane.....(WED)

The girls and I have been busy packing (and I'm doing laundry too of course) for our trip to see Susan (nanny) and Petunia....We leave out of N.O. bright and early Wednesday a.m.

Ebeth will turn 11 on thursday while we are there. We'll do some fun things I'm sure on that day!!! (hey, everyday we are there will be FUN!).

We will be at nanny's for almost a week! Talk about a house full of nothing but GIRLS!!! :) See you soon Sue and 'ana!

Mssing Ebeth.....

Em made it back yesterday afternoon from camp....she had a GREAT time (hiking, playing in the creek (although she said that was way too dirty), horseback riding, swimming, sleeping in the top bunk...the fun goes on)....and Ebeth left yesterday a.m. and I am missing her a lot already. She stays tonight as well.....so she won't get home until tomorrow afternoon. Em even said this a.m. that she missed her sissy. I am so glad my two love each other so much even though they don't always show it (most of the time they get along very well).
Again, I thank God every single day for these two precious girls. They are just the best and bring Steven and I soooooooooooooooo much joy!

the boy in the pic with Ebeth is my brother's son, Zane....he and Emily are the same age (except a school grade difference b/c he was born one day after the cut off to be in the same grade). This was at a restaurant after ebeth and em's dance recital in May....we all went to eat sushi and hibachi grilled things.

Missing Emily

Emily left yesterday for church camp....and she will soon be back. Just an overnight trip. I'm just here waiting for the clock to strike 4:30 p.m. so I can go get her. She's riding in the van as I type. Ebeth left today and I'm already missing her. she'll be back thursday afternoon. I love my girls so much!!!! God blessed me sooooo much by allowing me to raise E and E.
Em, you'll be home soon!

Splish Splash they were taking a bath...I mean "swim" in the whirlpool!

Happy Birthday Daddy/Paw Paw

Today is my dad's 69th birthday!!! Happy Birthday Daddy!!! We love you dearly!
The pics are of Connor (my nephew) and Paw Paw and then Ebeth and Paw Paw. We will celebrate his bday this weekend, along with Father's Day!

We are loving our summer!

Our summer is going by quickly......but we are loving every minute. The pics are of VBS at our church 2 weeks ago....I was Em's teacher. The theme was Boomerang Express (Australian theme). The kids all seemed to have a good time. Then last week they went out to my parents' house and did their VBS at their church (same theme so Em knew all the answers and Bible verses!). This week Em is taking Acro classes at her dance studio...she has already learned how to do a backbend correctly and she's just had one night there. Ebeth is running a half-mile tomorrow night in a local race. she is pumped about that. We've been doing summer movies and swimming and playing with friends and eating out. And I've been doing some summer cleaning and organizing (that's no fun, but needed). Next week the girls will go to church camp a couple of days and nights. They'll get to go horseback riding among other fun things. They are excited. They go on separate days/nights. Then the week of July 1 we will be heading to Nashville to see Nanny and Lily Ana....for Ebeth's birthday which is July 2. We'll stay till July 7th. We can't wait.
Summer needs to slow down....or maybe we do. Enjoy the pics! sorry i haven't posted in a while. I must do better!

SCHOOL'S OUT FOR SUMMER!!!!!!

Yipppeeee........let the summer begin!!!!
:)

Our annual Bennett Family picnic---year 44

Here are some pics of the Bennett family picnic that we have had since I was not even one......every single year.....almost always in May. I've always been there...never missed a one. It's not one of those huge family reunions where you don't know half the people....it's just for my dad's brothers and sisters and their kids and their kids' kids. So 4 generations are there. It's held in McComb, Mississippi (near there) which is about halfway for most of us....some of us live in Louisiana, some MS. Anyway, it rained this year....a lot...but we were under a pavillion so it was okay. We just didn't get to hike or play horseshoes or volleyball like we usually do. But we did get to eat as always. Burgers and hot dogs and the works....and tons of junk food and desserts.
It was a wonderful day...and my granddaddy felt and look great! That was a huge blessing for us all.
Enjoy the pics!

Happy Birthday Steven!!! We love you!

Today is Steven's birthday! Ebeth, Em and I love him so much! He is a wonderful dad and an amazing hubby who makes us all laugh all the time! We hope he has a great day! The girls got him a new Wii game (Nascar) and some accessories for the Wii sport games---tennis racket, golf club, bat. They, (oops, i mean he) love them!
He also got a new Nike shirt...because we always always give him at least one shirt. It's just what we do.

oh, Skippy says happy birthday too.....skippy loves loves loves steven too!

Happy 42nd bday Steven/Daddy! (i know, i know...you might be 42 but you are STILL younger than me....I hear it all the time!)

with much love,
Arlene, Ebeth and Emily

Stomach bug :(

As I type this, poor ebeth is still suffering from a yucky stomach bug. I had it all day Friday (while at school......just stuck it out and had a garbage can nearby - didn't have to use it though---showed a movie all day----no subs to be found) and then half the day on Saturday. Friday night ebeth started feeling badly and still doesn't feel good...she's staying home from church. I hope she starts doing better soon....feeling nauseated is just the worst feeling!! Em has stayed away from the bug so far......Steven was sick a little friday night but is all better now.

So, the sutton household has been a sicky household this weekend. Skippy is doing okay too though.

I'm just going to leave you with a few pics --- just some random ones!
Then, Em and I are off the church!

Happy Sunday!

Visiting Granddaddy

Here are some pics of our visit on Thursday to see Granddaddy.
He was feeling pretty well and he looked GREAT! We love him so much.
Cousin Zane was there too and my mom and dad as well. It was my mom's birthday so we celebrated with a yummy strawberry cake from Ambrosia! :) (and gifts and homemade cards from the girls)
Skippy made his first trip to see Granddaddy too and LOVED it! Granddaddy thought Skippy was mighty cute...he thought at first Ebeth was holding a stuffed animal.
He just laughed!

Enjoy the pictures!

Happy Easter 2009 and More Puppy Pics

We had a wonderful Easter....the girls and Skippy were up looking at what the Bunny left for them at .............. about 1:30 or 2 a.m. (or earlier according to Emily). They got DVDs along with candy and lots of bath stuff....so they watched "Bedtime Stories" and I went back to sleep (oh, Skippy got tennis balls and a squeaky chew toy). We went to church and then to Steven's mom's for lunch and egg hunting with cousins (and I didn't take pics...bad mom) and then out to see my mom and dad after that.

It's late now and I'm sleepy...the girls are snoozing and so are Skippy and Steven. So I'm putting the photos on here and heading to bed myself. Hope everyone had a wonderful Easter. And I hope we all remember why we celebrate Easter...I know I am very glad Jesus died for me and rose again.

Welcome "Skippy"

We want to introduce everyone to the newest member of the Sutton household...
Skippy.....he is just 8 weeks old. We just brought him home today....Daddy surprised the girls (all of us). We love you, Daddy!!! And we love our Skippy!