Memorial Day Weekend in SSI

This was our first trip to St. Simons since last fall, and the girls were so excited! They had been asking for weeks when they were going to get to go to the beach, and to make it even better...they were going with their cousins!! It is always fun going with Shawn, Ash and their kids because they all play so well together. They don't fight or whine (well, not as MUCH), and it's just EASY! Asa really enjoyed the beach this year, now that he's 19 months old. He had fun playing in the sand or in holes and taking a nap. He and Carson played really well together. The girls played out in the ocean on the boogie boards, and Baylor and Avery climbed on the rocks a lot. We spent all day on the beach both days and cooked dinner at the house, so we all spent most of the vacation in our bathing suits and PJ's....Ashley's and my recipe for a PERFECT vacation! Shawn was our chef for the weekend, making spaghetti on Saturday night and a great chicken dish on Sunday. He even made chocolate pancakes one morning! What a guy!! I was telling Ash while we were there how this is just the beginning of MANY years of summer vacations we spend together at Myra's house. What a blessing!!!

Avery & Brynn's "GraduLation"

The girls "gradulated" this week (Avery's pronunciation, and thus Brynn's as well)! They were both excited and talked about it all week long. Brynn's 2K Luau was on Wednesday, and Avery's 4K ceremony was today. At the luau, the class performed a couple of songs and got their certificates. Then we had a really nice lunch. Today's ceremony was quite impressive too! Mrs. Nikki had the kids sing 4 of their favorite songs, play instruments (Avery was on the handbells), recite their A-Z Bible Verses, and then get their certificates. It was really top notch! Ingleside has the BEST preschool program in the world! I am so thankful for everyone who works with my kids. So now, school's out!! Bring on the summer days!!

Brynn singing "Five Little Monkeys"

Getting her scrapbook & certificate from Mrs. Dana

Getting ready to enjoy lunch with Mommy & Daddy

Avery got to hold a sign for "Jesus Is My Best Friend"

Getting her certificate from Mrs. Ruth

Avery's "Pissin' Cup"

This is so funny!! Yesterday, Avery won her first trophy ever - for softball. When I told her she was getting a trophy, she said, "What's a trophy?" I told her what it was. She was really excited about getting her first trophy, but when she woke up this morning, apparently she forgot the word "trophy" since it was new to her. Instead, her conversation with Bryan this morning went something like this....
Avery: Daddy, I want my pissin' cup.
Daddy: Your WHAT?
Avery: My pissin' cup.
Daddy: WHAT did you say?
Avery: MY PISSIN' CUP!
Daddy: Where on earth did you hear that?
Avery: From CARS.
He later found out that Lighting McQueen wins a trophy in the movie CARS that is called the Piston Cup! Don't know if I'll ever want to call it a trophy again. To me, it will always be a pissin' cup!

Mother's Day Memories

Today was a great Mother's Day! In the words of Avery, yesterday was the "pretend Mother's Day, and today was the real Mother's Day!" She couldn't wait to give me her gift yesterday - a clay bird's nest with eggs that she made at school and a sweet card. Brynn gave me a beautiful flower picture with her handprints as the petal and her face as the center of the flower. I enjoyed a day out with my mom yesterday - lunch at Panera Bread and a pedicure. I later explained to Avery that even when she grows up, I will still like to have "dates" with her, Brynn and Asa. You're never too old for dates with Mom! Last night, we had Shirley and Al and Mom and Papa over for Mother's Day Dinner. Then today, I enjoyed a wonderful Mother's Day at church, and then I took the girls to Nonna and Granddad's pool for a swim, where we gave Nonna her Mother's Day gift. Am I blessed or what? I have 3 moms right here in town!! It was a relaxing and enjoyable afternoon, and just now as I put Asa to bed, I got the icing on the cake! I read to him and rocked him, sang him his favorite songs and got lots of kisses; then I put him in his crib. I said, "Goodnight, buddy, I love you!" and then he said, "I dub oooo" (I love you). I'm still a puddle even as I write this. What a sweet gift from my little man on Mother's Day! I feel blessed beyond measure to be the Mommy of these 3 great kids!

Life Lessons Learned at School

Last Friday, Avery had her first ever "Field Day" at Ingleside. I had to work, but Bryan went and watched. Apparently it was the sweetest thing ever. The children were such good sports - They cheered for each other. They were graceful when they won AND when they didn't. They tried their best and didn't give up. They learned some valuable lessons about teamwork, perseverance and sportsmanship. I am so thankful for Mrs. Heather and the Ingleside Preschool Family for teaching my children these things. Avery said that she had such a great time, and the pictures make that obvious!

A "Tutu"rrific Birthday Party!

We had Avery and Brynn's ballet party today, and it was so much fun! The weather was absolutely beautiful for a party, and the girls had such a great time. They all were adorable dressed up in their tutus, and they had fun doing "Babydance" and dancing with 2 REAL ballerinas. The pictures pretty much tell it all....

So SWEET!!

Happy Birthday!!!

Mommy & Daddy with the Birthday Girls!

Grandma Shirley and PaPa

Grandmommy & Grandpapa

Let's do first position....

Scarf Dance!

Look! It's a flower!!

Even Asa is having a good time with all these girls!

Ballerinas, Kayla and Catherine came and taught the girls a dance.

Showing off what they learned...

All of the girls

Beautiful cake by Cory Knowlton!

Brynn! Get your fingers off the cake!!!

Make a wish!

Opening presents with Nonna

AWWW! Is it over already?

Happy Resurrection Day!

Here are a few pictures of the family from Easter yesterday. I thought some of them turned out so cute that I just HAD to post them. My favorite one is the "stairstep" one of the kids. Asa was just standing there, and Brynn (on her own) got behind him. Then Avery hopped in the back and I started snapping! I couldn't believe that we got such a cute pic of the 3 of them and it was completely unplanned and unposed! What an unexpected blessing!