We’ve had a bit of drama in the Slaughter House over the past couple of days.

On Tuesday night, I put Estella Dru in the tub and Belle in the shower then came outside on the patio to watch Jeb play and Matt plant some shrubs.

The girls hadn’t been in the house more than 5 minutes when I heard a very loud crash. I thought to myself, “Great. What have they knocked over?”

Approximately ten seconds later, a blood curdling scream rang out from the bathroom.

I knew it was Belle, and I knew if Belle was screaming, it was bad.

I ran in to find her dripping blood from her arm and very very panicked.

By this time, Estella Dru has joined in the screaming and is literally running in place in the bath tub. Totally. Spazzing.

I very calmly (on the outside) wrapped a towel around Belle’s arm, told her to calm down, and to just stand there…

while I went to get Matt. (I might have been spazzing a little, too.)

Again, very calmly, I walked out and told Matt to hurry inside. We had an issue the likes of which I was not prepared or willing to handle by myself.

I picked Belle up, carried her in the kitchen, and sat her on the countertop while Matt went to get the first aid kit. I had not actually looked at the wound yet. I figured Matt could take the first peek.

And when he did, he put the first aid kit away and said, “Well.. we’re going to the hospital.”

You know I took a picture. If you have a weak stomach, you might not want to look. Continue Reading…

My Mother’s Day Sunday was so nice.

I really wanted a picture of me and the kids, so we tried to get one before church.

It was fun but did not yield fruitful results. This one may be the best of the bunch. It’s just not easy taking a picture of yourself and three kids with an iPhone.

After church, we ate lunch with Matt’s mom and Pat and Sarah then Matt and the kids took me to one of my favorite antique places and let me wander through. One of my ‘happiest’ things to do in the world.

That evening for dinner, Matt ordered me Japanese take-out, and we sat on the back patio, watched the kids play, and ate our food. (All he wanted was Stoby’s cheese dip.)

Fun side story:  While we were eating, I tried to make a deal with Matt. It is no secret that he is an extremely picky eater. So, I tried to “bribe” him into trying a piece of sushi. It was only a tempura shrimp roll, so no raw fish or anything crazy.

He tried. But it did not go well.

The sushi went down but did not stay there. Poor guy broke out in a cold sweat.

Oh, Matt. I love you.

While we were sitting watching the Slaughter kids play, I caught this fun little (oh-so-typical) excerpt from our evening.

Lately, every time Jeb wants something done his way, he cites the Bible. The Bible says this or the Bible says that.

I’ve been going with it. Even if his facts are a little, ummm, “off.”

This incident began with him informing his sisters that the Bible says to share. Which it does. But what happens after, apparently the Bible doesn’t cover. Or maybe he skipped over the “thou shalt not stomp on your sister” part.

Please soak in our exceptional, oh-so-involved parenting skills. Pretty sure they’re text book.

A few years ago, I updated the girls’ room.

And I really liked it. Then.

But now…. Sigh. We’re ready for another re-do.

Back then I painted the walls a light yellow, and every speck of dirt shows. On top of that… somehow, at some point, the girls snuck some makeup in their beds, and their bedding is ruined.

It’s just time for an update.

And I’ve been searching souring everything I can for inspiration.

Here are some of the things I have found that have inspired me.

LOVE these colors.

This ribbon project looks so fun and easy. Not to mention, adorable.

Continue Reading…

If you can watch this and not cry, you are a rock.

On Sunday morning, the kids and I got out of the car and started to walk across the street to go into church. Belle was a few steps ahead of us, and all of a sudden… BOOM. She tripped (over nothing) and fell (hard) onto the pavement–her Bible and bag flying several feet away.

I just knew she was really hurt, but she popped back up fairly fast. The only evidence of a fall was a skinned up hip, elbow, and hands. I felt so bad for her.

The very next day, Matt called me from school and said Estella Dru had fallen in the classroom and hit her face on her desk. Apparently it was dramatic. Lots of tears.

My poor girls. They aren’t the most graceful.

We worked a lot on our yard this week. And when I say, “a lot,” I mean a LOT.

And we had a lot of help. This guy was all about pitching in.

Continue Reading…

My Belle turned 9 on Monday.

It’s so crazy to think about.

Seems like just yesterday Matt and I were living in the little white house behind Whatta Burger in Russellville, waiting for our sweet baby girl to arrive. (I ate a LOT of Whatta Burgers during those 9 months. A WHOLE lot.)

And then she was here, and talk about rocking my world. I had no idea what I was in for.

That girl makes me smile every single day.

Her Memaw would be so proud of her.

For her birthday, she wanted lots of watermelon things. Random. I know.

But here’s one of the treats I came up with. (Well… I found it on Pinterest. Duh.)

It’s just a normal cake pop, using strawberry cake mix and frosting with added mini chocolate chips. Dip in white candy melts first, then green. And there you have it… a watermelon cake pop.

How cute is that?

What did we even do before Pinterest?

And what did I ever do before I had my Belle?

Sat down to blog.

There was a knock at the door.

Matt answers it.

It’s a security system dude wanting to install an alarm system. (Actually we have one that has never worked since we moved in.)

I wait for Matt to politely tell him, “No, thank you.”

Next thing I know, they are in deep conversation.

Matt disappears outside.

I become confused.

Just a few months ago, he turned away poor little Girl Scouts selling cookies.

Minutes later, they enter the house. (Matt and the security guy, not the Girl Scouts.)

Matt introduces the guy as, “Joe. He’s gonna install our alarm system.”

Oh. What’s up, Joe? Just like that, huh? Well…. welcome to my home.

A few hours later…

We haven’t had dinner, but…

We have a new security system.

Just to clarify….

‘No’ to yummy delicious Girl Scout cookies, but why ‘yes. Yes we will take a new security system, please. Haul ‘er on in here, Joe.’

Moral of this story… Thieves and evil doers, beware the Slaughter security.

Pretty sure it’s like Alcatraz.

Impenetrable.

(No I did not have to look up the spelling for impenetrable.)

(Ok. I did.)

On Sunday, Matt preached two sermons at our church.

I’ve heard him preach/speak a hundred times plus, but on Sunday morning, I’ll be honest… I was a big bundle of nerves.

I’m not sure why. Worry is worthless.  But I just was.

Before I left for church that morning, I literally got down on my knees in my bathroom floor and told God I needed Him to show up big. I prayed until my knees hurt, and then I ended with, “Lord, do something we can’t even imagine. Surprise us, Lord.”

Well… He did.

A few seconds before Matt was to take the stage, the power in the sanctuary went. out.

No lights. No sounds. Just. black.

Now our sanctuary is big. And I found myself standing there (in the dark) thinking, “Well…. This is awesome. What the heck do we do now?”

But before I could even say anything to Matt, he walked up on stage like he hadn’t noticed anything was different.

For a few seconds, I panicked. I knew he couldn’t see his notes. He couldn’t see the crowd. We could barely see him.

But he just jumped into his sermon like the dark was nothing, and for the first five minutes or so, he preached. Really really loud. In the dark.

And I mean PUH-REACHED in the dark.

I couldn’t help but shake my head and think, “Well, God. You’ve certainly stepped in and done something we didn’t anticipate. You definitely surprised us. Not really what I meant.”

Continue Reading…

Just found this Brazil video and now I’m a mess.

Tissues, please.

Brazil from Cross Church on Vimeo.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION FOR TEXT ONE:

Last Friday, Matt and I, along with the kids, went home to be with Grandpa while he underwent a little surgery.

I stayed at Grandpa’s house with the kids the morning of the surgery while Matt and my mom took Grandpa to the hospital at 5: 30 am.

Even though they were supposed to bring all his medicines with them, somehow they forgot and ended up calling me for the information. Hence the fact that I called them “losers” in the first exchange. (It was done in love.)

The rest of the text exchanges are self-explanatory.

My husband makes me laugh.

Continue Reading…