In all the countries I've been to , everyone understands a smile Jennifer Age 10

You can't possibly look at this picture and be sad!!! I just love it!!! It makes me laugh out loud every time I look at it. Don't you wish we could go back to being children again? I would love to be amused so easily over life's simple pleasures. I would love to still get excited when I see a bubble float in the air, or when a dog wags his tail, or when something catches my eye on TV! It would be a wonderful world if we were all as happy and innocent as our children! Oh to know then what we know now, but would you really want to? That kind of takes the fun out of it, don't you think? :)

Today is Palmer's 11 month birthday!!! Happy Birthday my sweet, sweet baby boy! Only one more month left until your BIG First Birthday. I love everything about you and each day you become more clever, smart and funny!! Your timing is always impeccable and you can make mommy and daddy laugh at the drop of a hat! You have such a love for life and such a big personality you are going to make a lot of people happy in this world! We are so proud of you and the person you are. I worry about being a good parent and want to have the perfect balance of mother, friend, and disciplinarian... I am sure I will make a lot of mistakes but if I am consistent with one thing it will be my unconditional love for you, that will never waiver.

What A Difference A Year Makes!!

PALMER'S FIRST BIRTHDAY PHOTO SHOOT


THANK YOU Sara!!! I took Palmer to get his first birthday pictures taken this morning! It was a hit. I am going to use a picture for his invitations, I am SO excited.

He was so hilarious! He got pictures taken in his "birthday jumper" first and then we stripped him down, put on the party hat and placed the balloons and handed him his FIRST chocolate cupcake!!! While most children will study it and maybe put their finger in the icing for a second Palmer decided to turn the cupcake over and literally mash the whole thing on the chair in 2.5 seconds! After he did that we proceeded to ever so "gently" re-ice the cupcake with our fingers and off he went. We couldn't have painted the icing on him any better! He had it on his legs, diaper, arms, face, nose and hair! I can hardly wait for his birthday so that everyone can see what an "experienced" cupcake eater can do!

Again thank you to Sara Floyd for being a great friend and wonderful photographer! She is headed to Michigan right now for a weekend visit, so she will post more pictures when she gets back! Go visit her website to see the updates and more pictures! http://sarafloydphotography.blogspot.com/

NO NEWS IS GOOD NEWS!

It seems like I haven't written in forever! I really haven't had too much to "blog" about which is actually a good thing! Like I said No news is good news for the Templeton's! With everything that has happened in the last year we are just glad for a normal few weeks!!!

Everyone is happy and healthy and doing well! A few things to note:
* Palmer is getting his pictures taken by Sara tomorrow! I can hardly wait. We are going to do some shots in his birthday outfit and then a few with just a diaper, party hat, balloons and a cupcake. I had to ask Whit (all knowing mom:) if Palmer would get sick off the icing but she assured me that Ava survived and we too would survive the sugar high! I will post some pics when I get a chance. Sara always does amazing and I can't wait to see what she does with these! Let's hope Palmer cooperates! Oh, I cut his hair again. Oops :) If you don't look close or get it wet, I think it looks fabulous! haha

** Tatum Lindsey Cart was born yesterday! She added to Palmer's ever growing circle of friends, we are so excited for Eric and Leslie and can't wait to meet her!!

*** I rented Juno last night and I am dying to see it! I have heard so many good things about it, I will post and let you all know how it was!

****Finished my book club book of the month ironically titled "the book club" and it was an easy read. Still trying to figure out how we will discuss this one?

****** Tex and I had a blast with the Prather's in Brown Co aka mini Gatlinburg! It rained the whole time and we filled out time with eating and relaxing, it was great! Palmer had a great time with Mamaw and Papaw and got some new clothes to boot!!!

Everyone have a wonderful day! This weather definitely is a spirit lifter!

"He Who Has Hope Has Everything!"

I am SO thankful for Today!

This picture is priceless!! It makes me hopeful just looking at it!

Superman's not brave. You can't be brave if you're indestructible. It's every day people, like you and me, that are brave knowing we could easily be defeated but still continue forward.- unknown

Forget past mistakes. Forget failures. Forget about everything except what you're going to do now - and do it. - William Durant

You don't have to control your thoughts; you just have to stop letting them control you.- Dan Millman

I love these quotes!!! It is so inspiring to remember we are all human and we all make mistakes and we can't dwell on those mistakes forever! As I go thru some major life changes I am reminded every day of how precious life is and how easy it is to take for granted. I am starting to enjoy things in new ways and make the most of every day! I thought I would make a list of just a few things that I am thankful for! It is easy to complain about the bad things but some times we forget to praise the good things in life!

I am so thankful for today! For the first time in a long time the fog has lifted and I can see a bright future a head of me! I am thankful that I have such an amazing group of friends and family that are so supportive of me! I am thankful that my husband stands beside me 100% without questioning anything! I am thankful that I have a son that loves me and that smiles at me every morning as I go to get him out of his crib! I am thankful that I am getting a second chance at life. I am thankful that people are so forgiving. I am thankful that the weather has been nice for 2 days in a row!! I am thankful to have a mom that can read my thoughts and I can read hers! I am thankful for a great job that I love and that is flexible. I am thankful for my house that we have made a home. I am thankful for God and for letting us feel so comfortable at Northeast. I am thankful for my health and for the health of my family and friends. I am thankful that I can find humour in myself. I am thankful that people accept me for me. I am thankful for another day and another chance and another opportunity!

Life can sometimes get us down and I don't know about you, but I get tired of worrying and being mad, and thinking of all the stuff that isn't going my way! :) So, for today I am just going to be thankful and not worry about the things that I can't change and embrace the things I can!

Again, THANK YOU to everyone that has been there for me! You all are the best friends and family a girl could ask for! I love you all!

Girls Just Wanna Have Fun!

1st Annual Mom/Daughter/Aunts/Cousins Weekend

Nashville, TN

03/28/08-03/30/08

Mom, Ashley and I

Mom and Aunt Janet

Mom and I

Kelly and I

The Cousins

From Left to Right:

Julie, Blake, Kelly and Ashley

Sorry it has been so long since my last blog! My oh my a lot has happened since Easter :) Could it be that Easter was only two weeks ago??

Well, I ventured off on my first "girls" trip for two whole nights away from my boys! This was my first real trip since Palmer was born! My Aunt Janet and cousins Kelly, Julie, my mom and Ashley all headed for a weekend in the capital of Country Music, Nashville, TN!!!!

Let's just say that the trip started off a little rocky! Mom's flight got canceled into Louisville on Thursday night so she rode up with my aunt and cousins from Florida on Friday. Ashley and I met them there where we stayed at the posh Lowe's at Vanderbilt Hotel!

We had a wonderful weekend of catching up that included many tears and a lot of laughs! It is so nice to have a close family! Every time we see each other it is has if no time has passed! We really didn't get to experience true Nashville sights due to poor weather, but we didn't care. We shopped, ate, talked and relaxed it was great!!

What wasn't great was the fact that my precious little "angel" was the carrier of the stomach virus!!! Tex took Palmer unknowingly infected to Owensboro to visit the Clark's and the Carts and then on Sunday to the Prather's (that graciously volunteered to watch him in the morning while Tex worked until my mom and I got home). Unfortunately Sunday the virus attacked first with Eric and Cannon then on to Lindsey and proceeded to catch up to Palmer, myself and now my poor mom who spent her whole trip in KY cleaning up after people with the stomach flu and or laying in bed with it herself! What a disaster! My deepest apologies to the trail of sickness that Palmer carried throughout different cities and into different households :) If you want to blame someone it was his best friend Max that started it!

So.... after 4 days of constant sickness we have stripped the sheets, lysoled the bathrooms, scrubbed the floors, and are ready for a fresh start for the weekend!!! Don't they say the first year in daycare is the worse? I am praying for that! We are almost done and I hoping that Palmer has the immune system of steel by the time all is said and done!!!

*** I have to give a shout out to my husband!!! He not only watched Palmer for 2 nights while I had a get away out of tow, which by the way he did a fantastic job!... but he has stayed up with Palmer and I for 3 nights of sickness helping along the way and in the morning drudging to work only to come home and do it all over again! He definitely deserves the husband/father of the month award! Thanks Tex for everything you always do for us with no complaints and the only thing you want in return is Ice Cream!