While Daddy Was Gone

TJ has to stay out of town sometimes for work. When he went out of town recently these are some of the pictures he sent us of where he was:







He knew the kids would like to see these ducklings too.




We spent most of the first day at home doing our "Arch" puzzle learning all about some of the tallest wonders in America on the puzzle and finding where they are in our atlas.




That night I attempted using sponge curlers in Jade's hair. She was distracted with the app game while I did it, but by the time I got her to bed she's pulled all of them out. The curls were cute on her for the 5 minutes they lasted :)






I watched our friends' Dallin and Alera while TJ was out of town too. We all had a great day together dressing up as cowboys and super heroes.








James said he was using the map to get to North Carolina. That's where our friends, Allie and Jeff live who have a daughter named Emma (she's James' age).

*Side Note*
Funny story about that: James is always talking about going to North Carolina to see Emma. He'd never say she's his girlfriend, but they've been "matched" since before birth you might say from the pictures below. Anyway, James was talking about it one day driving in the truck with Dad and TJ says, "James, I used to have a girlfriend in North Carolina too." As soon as he said it I warned him what James will translate that to, "My daddy has a girlfriend in North Carolina."

Allie (prego w/Emma) & Tiffany (prego w/James)



James & Emma first meeting



James & Emma on her blessing day





BACK TO THE PRESENT...

Anyway, the kids had a great morning together and then we headed to Big Sandy, Texas for a special treat. James got to meet some AWESOME CELEBRITIES (or the only kind of celebrities I ever care for my kids to meet) -

JIM BOB & MICHELLE DUGGER!

Aunt Jeanette told us she heard they were in town for a conference in Big Sandy and James was so excited to meet them. We watch their show each week and they're just a great real family to emulate. James also memorized the intro (with all the family members names) for the show after only 3 times watching it. He got to share it with them and Jim Bob videoed him doing it. I think he misses a couple kids names, but overall he really did great memorizing all on his own. I'm just grateful for a wholesome family willing to share their testimonies of God and family life (good and bad) on television. They are some patient parents and I've learned lots of great ideas and watched their examples to help me become a better parent.