Easter/Spring Break 2017

How on earth is it almost May?  Where the heck has this year gone?  I mean seriously...we are almost in summer!  I just wish time would slow down a little...I am desperately trying to grasp at these fleeting moments and savor each memory of my little cuties. 

We started off our spring break with the kids' Easter parties.  At their school, they have parties at one of their classmate's homes. Since I couldn't do both Aubrey and Weston's party at the same time, we all agreed to go to Aubrey's party...Weston doesn't really want to hangout with anyone but Aubrey anyway so he was fine tagging along with her friends. They did an egg hunt, art projects, zip line and lots of swinging.  They had a blast. Aubrey sure will miss these sweet friends next year.  

We went to an egg hunt at our church and the kids had an absolute blast. There were jumpy's, an egg hunt, games and lots of food.  My kids were a sweaty mess when we left and they took some amazing naps that day.  So I would call it a success!  

Weston was spiderman and he cried that night at bathtime because he did not want to take the paint off.  He looked so cute! 

Cool dudes

Weston has started T-ball with some of his cousins and friends and it is a hoot.  He really does not like it at all, and constantly asks if it is over yet. He doesn't like any part of the practice other than the snacks at the end. He does love his coach though and talks about him constantly.  I have to laugh because he will stand on the field and blow me kisses or run off the field and bring me flowers!  He is such a mama's boy...nothing but pure sweetness. 

Speaking of pure sweetness...this little dude is always smiling.  He is such a happy baby and I could just eat him up.  He is by far the easiest baby ever and I am just in love beyond words.  Baylor is so easy going, I am tempted to have just one more!  

Baylor is making such progress, he has started physical and occupational therapy and he just loves to show off his skills to his therapists.  He is doing fantastic and starting to make great strides. We are so excited he is starting to sit up better and he has started attempting his own version of crawling.  He still doesn't roll over but we are just thrilled he is moving! 

My blue eyed angel.  I just cannot get enough of his sweetness. 

We celebrated Easter Sunday with my family...we went to church and then we did fried catfish and fries and my oh my was it delish.  The kids played outside and it was just a fantastic day celebrating our Lord's Resurrection. I am so thrilled that the holidays spent without Christian is dwindling down and next year we will have him with us on these special days!!!  

I love my little family and I am so thankful God chose to give them to me.  Each special occasion is so much more fun because of them and their innocence.  They are just pure fun and delight (most of the time). 

We celebrated with Christian's family on Monday with a BBQ and fun splash activities for the kids.  It was a blast as well.  

We finished out our Spring break with a trip to Tunica Hills with Christian and Uncle D!!! It was a day packed with some intense hiking.  I am very sore today and slightly embarrassed to say I even had to take a nap with the kids because I was so exhausted.  It was some hard core hiking and climbing and I was so impressed my kids were able to keep up. They were such troopers.  They did both start crying at the end and saying they couldn't make it...but they hung in there and conquered those hills!  It was a great ending to our spring break.    

A rare gem

When it comes to love and marriage, I have so much to learn.  Christian and I are just babies on this journey of marriage and we are just beginning our journey together.  My parents are celebrating 40 years of marriage this week and I am just amazed at their love and commitment towards each other. They continue to set the example of what a Godly marriage looks like.   My parents are such a rare gem.  When God gave me my parents, He picked the cream of the crop.  The filet minion of steaks, the penthouse suite, the BMW of cars, the finest cut diamond, the first class on an airplane, the list could go on and on...but truly the best of the best.  You can search high and low, but you will not find two more genuine hearts on the planet.  Not only are they as caring and compassionate as they come, but they love me and my family with a fierce passion.  My parents are one of the greatest gifts I have been given.  I sometimes looks around at my husband, children, parents, parents-in-love, siblings, and friends and just could cry...my people are just amazing. I need to say it again...my people are just amazing.  There isn't a bad one in the bunch...each and everyone is just wonderful and unique in their own ways.  I am so blessed. 

Growing up, I had it made.  I had two hard working parents, two parents who devoted their lives to me and my brother, who were kind, gentle, patient and supportive of me.  Brandon and I never went without.  We never grew up with fighting, arguing or tension in the air. I can remember just a handful of times where my parents would get into disagreements but even those would be resolved in a healthy manner. We grew up in an environment where there was respect, honesty and lots of love and laughter. Sure there were very difficult times, as a family we walked through many rough waters and had our share of extremely low valleys. There were times when we were held together as a family but by a mere string, but never once did I question whether or not we would break.  I always had the comfort of knowing our family was built on a solid foundation. 

We had the honor of celebrating their marriage with a party last week and it was such a beautiful night of sharing, laughing and reflecting on what is really important in life. When I look at my parents today, I see nothing but happiness...pure joy radiates from both of them.  Their lives are not without stress, trials or pain, but they are such rocks of strength and pillars of hope no matter what.   And can we just discuss their social calendar for a moment?  Umm it is packed and more vibrant than a 21 year old!  They are just living life to the fullest.  I am so proud of who they are and what they together as a team represent.  They represent years of hard work.  They represent years of prayer, devotion and growth in the Lord.  They represent a marriage that produced two healthy and thriving children and six amazingly fun grandchildren.  They represent time and devotion given to others, tons of hours and money given to those in need. They represent a union of love and respect that could withstand decades of change and adversity.  They represent a relationship that glorifies God through their integrity.  They represent an undeniably strong love for their grandbabies...so much so that it is often first on their minds. They represent the willingness to help in any situation, even if it means putting their needs last.  They represent a couple that has touched so many lives...both near and far...they are loved by so many.

I am so proud to call them mine...they have set the bar high for me and Christian.  I know if we yield half the return my parents have...we will consider ours a huge success. We have such amazing parents and in laws, both, who have demonstrated exactly what a thriving marriage should look like.  I am so thankful for their dedication to each other and to family.  Because of them, my children have a firm foundation and a lasting legacy.  My kids have such a bright future because of the ones that have gone before them and paved the way.  They have set that standard of what commitment should look like, what love should represent and how to stand firm in an ever changing world that loves to devalue the importance of marriage.  Thank you mom and dad for giving that gift to me, but also to my children.  Thank you for loving each other and in that love being a blessing to so many.  As we celebrate this milestone, I can't help but smile and think about the next 40 years...I know in my heart that ya'll's love will continue to grow and become even sweeter with time.

I read this paragraph on a blog and I just loved the words, "There is no ONE secret key to a lasting marriage.  It's not possible to avoid the change that will materialize over the years.  Marriage is a tide of easy waves, followed by crashing waves. It is a constant ebb and flow of happiness, hardships, challenges, adventures, excitement, tears and every emotion in between. There are no promises it will be easy, but nothing worth it in life is."

40 years is a rarity these days, a milestone that is to be celebrated and treasured!  I love you so much mom and dad...you both are a rare gem and I am so glad you are mine!