Easley Crew

The Zoo is still around!

2007-10-23T20:33:00.000-07:00

We're still here! Busier than I could have imagined possible. Can you believe our Gracie Girl is 8 months old today the 23rd?! Where does that time go? (BTW, that's Elizabeth in case you are confused...) :) Happy Day! Oh, and she's begun to sit up by herself finally--YAHOO!! I was so excited last night when she sat up in the bathtub and splashed around for a little bit!! I tried to have B get a picture but the moment was gone (she grew tired and hungry before I could summon the photographer). OH well, have a great one!

Save Time, Create a Web Album (or 2)

2007-10-23T20:18:00.000-07:00

Life is short and freetime is shorter. In being a conservationist, I've created two web albums with the pictorial Easley Zoo News dating from the arrival of the youngest zoo member until almost current day (same month anyway...) If you haven't recieved the link via email (for any variety of reasons) or you are a long lost friend stumbling upon our blog, drop me a comment and I'll see if I can hook you up. You don't want to miss out, I know! :)

2007-02-27T18:00:00.000-08:00

Ben (L) and Elizabeth (R)

2007-02-27T17:51:00.000-08:00

At 3 days old, she's gotten prettier...and looks more like the others at that age.

2007-02-27T17:49:00.000-08:00

New Pics in Elizabeth's Album!

Check 'em out.

Elizabeth has finally arrived!

2007-02-23T07:06:00.000-08:00

Elizabeth Grace Easley
Born Friday, February 23, 2007
Weight: 7 lbs 10 oz
Length: 20.5"

I've fixed the link to the album below. View her photo album here.

Cookie decorators

2007-02-08T13:09:00.000-08:00

Making Christmas cookies

2007-02-08T13:05:00.000-08:00

Happy Birthday, Jesus! Christmas breakfast

2007-02-08T13:04:00.000-08:00

Jacob's 7th in Jan.

2007-02-08T13:02:00.000-08:00

Ta-Da! The dining room

2007-02-08T12:58:00.000-08:00

Here it is! We are missing the crown moulding and the ceiling needs work (after the roof is fixed), but this is it. (If we had the fruit painting from Brad and Meg's we'd replace it with the one on the far wall.) :) That swag is my sari from India!

Our kitchen--nearly done...

2007-02-08T12:51:00.000-08:00

We've yet to do the backsplash; the legs supporting the pennisula are unfinished, and we lack a few knobs on the cabinets, but I love it!

Word to the Wise...

2007-02-08T12:45:00.000-08:00

NEVER fall asleep when your 3 year old is awake! Or else...
(She told me she was "skating". The thin tracks on right of the cusion match a toy car that must have been skating, too.)

Ben learns to ride his 2-wheeler

2006-11-30T13:13:00.000-08:00

Check out that training wheel!

Laughing siblings...

2006-11-11T13:17:00.000-08:00

What fun my 3 had a MawMaw's in early November!

Jacob lost his first tooth!

2006-11-02T13:24:00.000-08:00

After a day of whining about how his loose tooth hurt and how he couldn't eat and in particular, his comment, "What if my tooth falls out while I am sleeping and I choke on it?", Mom just pulled it out. Next morning, Jacob was sad to see his tooth had been taken--even though the tooth fairy replaced it with a dollar! He wants to start a tooth collection, so tonight he's leaving a note to ask for his tooth back.

Mississippi Mud Suckers

2006-03-06T14:25:00.000-08:00

At least that's what my dad calls us; now you see why. A pre-Spring mud sling after mommy forgot she was watering the lawn. They loved every minute of it as you can imgine--even the somewhat chilly waterhose shower in the front lawn complete with shampoo and a 5 second streak from the porch to the front door. (You see those undies; they're not going in my house like that!) I do love my mud bugs--these three anyway.

2006-02-05T15:20:00.000-08:00

It's a bird, it's a plane; no, it's Captain ShortyPants! (Watch out for his secret stare!)

Mini-Reunion

2006-02-02T12:40:00.000-08:00

Over Christmas break, I had the great pleasure to get together with 3 high school buddies--Brandy, Kristen, and Maggie--, 2 of whom I hadn't seen in almost 10 years! We had a lovely break and traveled to...guess where? Check out the signage behind us!
Oh, alright, we took the kids to Chuck E. Cheese, but don't you love the decor...

Future son-in-law

2006-02-02T12:31:00.000-08:00

Caleb Frady--what a doll! I am in the beginning stages of an arranged marriage beween this adorable son of my best high school buddy Brandy and my daughter Sarah. Who says these things can't be done? It happens all the time in other countries. What better way to keep a friendship close than have your kids marry each other. If Sarah and Caleb don't work out, there's always Nathan or maybe my Ben and her Hannah, or perhaps even my Jacob, if Trent (Hannah's daddy) eases up on the older man thing--come on, it's less than a year's difference

2006-02-02T12:30:00.000-08:00

Feel the chemistry--there was definately a connection!

Thirty-one-derful things to love!

2006-01-30T15:27:00.000-08:00

1--Another year of life
2--A hubby who likes to decorate cakes
3--A prissy girl who loves frogs and wrestling
4--A dreamer son who is someone new everyday... superman, spiderman, Woody, Buzz...
5--An explorer/inventer/figure-it-outer son who loves to learn
6--Teaching my firstborn to read
7--Fingernail parties with the girls--2, 3, and on up
8--Kisses that heal all hurts (for now)
9--Toilets that flush (see easleypark)
10--Spring days in January
11--Family that lives closer than they did
12--Great buys after Christmas
13--Weddings (Reba & Ed, Kerry & David)
14--Other cultures and what we can learn from them (just how do you wear an Indian saree?)
15--Adoptions
16--Birthday cake
17--A clean house
18--The renewal of a new year
19--The magic of Christmas
20--The joy of Spring, New Life, and Life Eternal
21--Books on tape (or CD)
22--Libraries
23--New calendars
24--Phone calls to sing Happy Birthday
25--Cozy blankets and fuzzy socks
26--Warm tea
27--An afternoon away
28--A night out
29--The smile of your child
30--Family and friends
31--The thrill of LIFE in Jesus

Leslie Marie celebrates her 31st! (Sarah Katherine is broken hearted after being told not to blow out the candles.)

2006-01-30T15:25:00.001-08:00

What do you do when you're too cute?

2006-01-30T15:25:00.000-08:00

You smile!

2006-01-30T15:17:00.000-08:00

And show a little sassiness!

2006-01-30T15:16:00.000-08:00

Sarah Kate in authentic Indian garb

2006-01-30T15:15:00.000-08:00

Jacob turns 6!

2006-01-30T15:08:00.000-08:00

The cake maker

2006-01-30T15:06:00.000-08:00

The English is funny, but the Spanish is hilarious! David, do they really say "dang buenos"?

2006-01-30T15:04:00.000-08:00

Yeah, but where's here?

2006-01-30T15:03:00.000-08:00

I left the kids in Texas while I went to Arkansas...but only for a minute.

2006-01-30T15:02:00.000-08:00

So that's where we are--in Texas AND Arkansas. We had to do the tourist thing!

2006-01-30T14:57:00.000-08:00

Emma gets tickled by Mommy Meg

2006-01-30T14:56:00.000-08:00

The Easley Cousins at Brad and Meg's

2006-01-30T14:55:00.000-08:00

Dragaon Boy, but it's not Eustace...

2006-01-30T14:54:00.000-08:00

Moo!

2006-01-30T14:53:00.000-08:00

Cinderella Sarah again!

2006-01-30T14:52:00.000-08:00

The cousins' sleepover

2006-01-30T14:35:00.000-08:00

While Brad and Meg went to Texas to close on the purchase of their new home, we got to keep Emma for a sleepover.

A lovely bunch

2006-01-30T14:34:00.000-08:00

Picture perfect

2006-01-30T14:16:00.000-08:00

Looks like we had a rough Christmas, eh? Grandma McDermott remains unscathed. Sarah was the first to fall prey to a black eye. Christmas Eve we opened one gift--a disco light ball. The dancing, jumping fun frenzy in the darkened den led to a crucial crash between Ben and Sarah; he looked untouched, she immediately swelled up and bruised. Something about the weather must have made Jacob feel dry; he started licking his lips and licked himself a clown mouth right on the ol' smackeroos. Well, Ben was still looking great. We headed to KY for after Christmas festivities and the story finds its finish. Ben and Jacob were playing air hockey in my parents' basement. Jacob let his irritation go to his actions and he bashed Ben in the head with the hitter disc. Poor Ben, he ran upstairs crying and bleeding; the next days brought the lovely bruised black eye. You've heard about a sight for sore eyes, well, we had the sore eyes...

Making Christmas cookies (and a mess!)

2006-01-11T13:26:00.000-08:00

Tricycle built for two?

2006-01-11T13:23:00.000-08:00

My boy and his horse--I think he likes it!

2006-01-11T13:22:00.000-08:00

My sweet babies on Christmas day

2006-01-11T13:20:00.000-08:00

Cool Papaw Ray and his Christmas tattoo "Mum"

2006-01-11T13:17:00.000-08:00

Dear Mr. Bog,

2006-01-04T15:17:00.000-08:00

OK, MR. BLOG is a partial update ok for now?!
There IS more to come...be watching...

Classic Christmas Chaos

2006-01-04T14:28:00.000-08:00

It has come...and gone. Christmas. Nary a soul received a lovely holiday card with my family's festive photo nor even my a catch-up of my crazy children. We've yet to take the family photo but I did have one of the kiddos. (Those photos were a "last minute, night before, pull out the Christmas stuff and act like we're ready photo" for a MOPS craft that was a great idea, but didn't turn out like the example...oh, well.) All that to say...MERRY CHRISTMAS to you and a Happy New Year to boot!
Since the last blog, we've been a tad busy. We decided to put the house on the market and try to buy a great yellow house directly behind B's work. We rushed to get it together in a week and a half, listed it, had a few lookers, and the yellow house sold! But not to us...so, God has something else. December found me cleaning and cleaning and fussing at the kids for making me have to clean some more. I hope we sell soon or we might not make it.
The Easley Zoo Crew, as we are known, had our first wholly at home Christmas! And for church, don't cancel it! We were thrilled to have other people with whom we could have a birthday party for Jesus. It was great fun and for the first time I think Jesus really WAS the focus! Don't get me wrong, the kids loved the presents, but we first had our party and then we celebrated with the gifts. Christmas evening was fun-filled at Nan and Pop's where the kiddos rode their new bikes in the house! They did take them OUT to ride the next day. :)
Oh, yeah, Christmas Eve, they little ones opened a disco light ball. Imagine the den with the lights out and the disco lights going every which way and kids going every which way--crazy fun! A bit too much as you will see in other pictures...Sarah and Ben accidentally tried to occupy the same space (check out that shiner!). Made for great Christmas photos...yeah.
More fun was to be had at the Crouch House in KY, but more on that later.
Keep those resolutions!
or shove 'em in a closet...

Goofy boys

2006-01-04T14:21:00.000-08:00

Brotherly love

2006-01-04T14:19:00.000-08:00

Sweet Sarah

2006-01-04T14:14:00.000-08:00

Christmas photo time, say "Cheese"!

2006-01-04T14:09:00.000-08:00

Must be stinky cheese or sour pickles...

2006-01-04T14:08:00.000-08:00

Up on the rooftop...

2006-01-04T14:06:00.000-08:00

It ain't easy being corny...

2005-11-22T19:22:00.000-08:00

Well, folks, we're at it again. From the cornmeal man to the corn maze, we're having fun in the South. To celebrate our #2's 4th, we headed to Canton to experience the maze of maize. It's amazing there was anything left after Katrina flattened it all, but many stalks rose again--"Never surrender!" they say down here. The munchkins' favorite finds were the white kitty (who loved the torture of being loved by little ones) and the dogs--2 black ones, both of whom were dubbed "Darcy" and a little black and brown one named "Pepper," who instead of riding on the wagon during the hayride wanted to run along after us the whole time. You can see the corn cannons where we shot mini cobs through the air often attemping to hit the actual signboard target. Attempting, I say, because how accurate can you be with an ear of corn, a metal tube, and a blast of air? Another crazy fun thing was the corn box (like a sand box, you know). We buried the kids in it, let it fall from our hands, dropped it on each other, dug it out of our shoes and pants....By far the kids' most talked about activity was the cow train--a series of little "cows" pulled by a 4-wheeler in the bumpiest back and forth pattern imaginable. What a laugh! (And a bit of a pain afterwards for those of us crammed into our "cow cars.") After the excitement died down we headed to Wendy's for lunch and cake--it was too cold to picnic it like we once thought we might. Ben enjoyed his day as did the rest of us. Do yourself a favor. Check out corn maze on the web, see where one is in your area, and have a corny good time next fall!

New Boots!

2005-11-22T13:22:00.000-08:00

I'm rough, I'm tough, and I like my blankie to snuggle...

2005-11-22T13:20:00.000-08:00

Who's the Birthday Boy?

2005-11-22T13:19:00.000-08:00

The Corn Maize, no, not just in Mississippi (there's even one in Italy!).

2005-11-19T10:31:00.000-08:00

The Cow Train "Plato"

2005-11-19T10:30:00.000-08:00

Cow Train

2005-11-19T10:29:00.000-08:00

"Lucky"

2005-11-19T10:28:00.000-08:00

"Sir Loin"

2005-11-19T10:27:00.000-08:00

The Corn Box

2005-11-19T10:26:00.000-08:00

The Easley Crew at the Cock-a-Doodle Ranch (with two of the favorite attractions--kitty and "Darcy" [who really isn't])

2005-11-19T10:25:00.000-08:00

The Corn Cannons

2005-11-19T10:24:00.000-08:00

Papaw Ray shoots!

2005-11-19T10:23:00.000-08:00

Jake fires!

2005-11-19T10:22:00.000-08:00

Picking up the ammunition after our fun

2005-11-19T10:21:00.000-08:00

UPDATED!!

2005-11-15T14:43:00.000-08:00

Wow! I jumped into posting some pics and now I can't stop! I have been trying to update with photos so be sure to check the archives starting in Feb. for pics you haven't seen yet. This must be short--the natives are restless and dinner comes quickly. Oh, yeah, gotta check the weather, a friend just called to cancel a meeting tonight--she and her kids are hiding out in the bathroom. My kids, well, they're outside...must go

Ben horses around.

2005-11-15T13:42:00.000-08:00

Jacob and his Aunt KiKi celebrate her 20th birthday--they're excited because of the chocolate cake that's coming!

2005-10-28T13:44:00.000-07:00

Ben and the billy goat

2005-10-16T13:50:00.000-07:00

The boys check out the "Cornmeal Man" and his stone grinder.

2005-10-15T14:01:00.000-07:00

Everyday Princess

2005-09-22T13:55:00.000-07:00

Nana gets a kiss from her princess!

2005-08-10T14:14:00.000-07:00

Cinderella Sarah--her 2nd birthday

2005-08-10T14:13:00.000-07:00

Puppy Love! Ben and Sarah love Toby (Reba's dog)--to death?

2005-07-30T14:15:00.000-07:00

Yard Work...at 95 degrees!

2005-07-04T09:34:00.000-07:00

Fourth of July weekend--hot, hot and sunny in Jackson. Mom and Dad have been in Indiana for a week; they come home Tuesday. We've been working in the front yard. Trying to do the "curb appeal" thing on the house. I planted new grass in the bare spots under the live oak and put mulch around the trees in the yard. Today we're working on put monkey grass along the driveway to help with both aesthetics and erosion control. All 8 years (has it really been that long) we've lived here we've had an annual problem with rainfall washing dirt from the yard to the carport; hence, the bare spots.

Leslie had the idea to put azalea beds in the front by the porch so I've been reading about how and when to plant azaleas. I've never been much of green-thumber but it's as good a time to start as any.

Jacob just came in from the yard to tell me that the bee he was trying to catch was really a fly with big eyes. The boy's an entymologist in the making! He's also wanting to take piano lessons and keeps asking about going to the music store to ask about it. I love that these are the things that have captivated his attention. Ben's the same way; his thing is singing. He's pretty good at it, too!

Lucky

2005-06-21T13:36:00.000-07:00

Playing with Lucky, the orphaned baby buffalo. Shelbyville, KY. We took a trip to Buffalo Crossing to see the animals.

Baptism

2005-06-20T22:54:00.000-07:00

Jacob baptized by his father

Ah...Bluegrass...

2005-06-20T12:29:00.000-07:00

June 19 - Trip to Kentucky to stay with Leslie's parents. We always like the getaway up here. I think Kentucky Bluegrass Horse country is one of the most beautiful places in creation. In the summer when the kids can play outside, it's a real time of R&R for all of us.

Thanks, Mom and Dad C!

9 Years and Counting

2005-06-20T12:18:00.000-07:00

Our 9th wedding anniversary. June 1, 2005.

Inspiration

2005-06-20T11:50:00.000-07:00

Okay, so my very talented brother and his family make their blog feel like the best of summer-time reading and coffee table photo books. We thought we'd share the moment and put the other half of the Easley grandkids out on the web. The name's no copycat, either. Easley Crew is Leslie's doing. 'Crew' as in 'a company of people associated together'. That's probably because having three under-6 kids full of spirit and vigor is more than the sum of its parts. [All parents of multiple children sagely nod their heads...] So, we're the Easley Crew, or, according to the latest voicemail greeting at our casa de la alegría (house of joy), the Easley Zoo complete with the simian sound effects.

So, read on, enjoy the ride. We're a family who loves God, one another, and the world around us and we are raising young men and women who will go out and have an impact on that world in the years ahead. Hopefully along the way, Dad will learn to laugh more, play harder, attain the patience of Noah, the wisdom of Solomon, and the wit of Mark Twain.

Check out the other Easley brother and his clan at easleypark.blogspot.com

Tub-o-Fun!

2005-05-10T14:26:00.000-07:00

Sarah in the Spring

2005-05-04T14:24:00.000-07:00

The Crew loving each other

2005-05-02T14:25:00.000-07:00

The Easley Crew (at Cock of the Walk)

2005-05-02T14:23:00.000-07:00

Ben's Jesus in my Heart Party!

2005-04-05T14:30:00.000-07:00

Jacob's Jesus in my Heart Party.

2005-04-04T14:29:00.000-07:00

3 little monkeys laying in the bed. Sarah's toddler bed she got after continually climbing out of her crib!

2005-03-30T14:31:00.000-08:00

Papa, our favorite barber

2005-03-08T14:39:00.000-08:00

Hair with your cut?

2005-03-08T14:36:00.000-08:00

My little cowboy

2005-02-05T14:34:00.000-08:00

sweet sibling kisses

2005-02-03T14:36:00.000-08:00