Busy, busy

Warning!  Lots of random pics. 

The last few days have been super busy at our crazy little house.  My precious Lily had her first dance recital this past weekend.  She did great!  I was really worried that my little ballerina would get on that stage and freeze but she didn't.  She hasn't shown me much of what she was learning in dance and when I would stay she would just stand there.  I'm so glad that she got out there and did her best.  We had a lot of family and friends come to see her dance.  My camera was messing up so I didn't get to take pics of everyone that came but they showered her with flowers and gifts.  I thank them all for coming and supporting her.

This is Lily on her first day of dance

                                    

Isn't she just the cutest thing ever!

  Lily's wonderful teacher Mrs. Candace

Mason, her little "boyfriend", surprised her with a little bracelet.  Aren't they the cutest thing!

I am one proud Mama!

Daddy is too.

After trying to rest up from our busy weekend, Colin had his first swim meet yesterday.  I'm so glad our local swim club hosted it and Colin's grandmothers, uncle, and cousins came to see him swim.  He beat all of his times in all his heats!  Proud Mama again.

Getting ready to swim the 25 meter Butterfly.  His time was a little over 38 seconds!

Family fun between heats.

A little Mama time.

Yesterday was also our 14 year anniversary.  It doesn't seem like we've been married for that long.  The kiddos went to spend the night with my mother-in-law after the swim meet so Tracy and I headed out for dinner and a little shopping.  It was nice to have a quiet night out.  Happy 14 years Hubby!  I love you and our crazy life so much.

Happy Day

Date night!

Last Day of School

Yesterday was Colin’s last day of 2^nd grade.  This year has flown by and I’m not sure who is ready for summer more, Colin or me.  It’s hard to work a full time job, take my little ones to their after school activities, cook supper, do homework, give baths, and try to spend a little time with them before bed.  I love my job but, sometimes there are just not enough hours in the day.  This year has been a good one for him in many ways.  He asked Jesus into his heart at Christmas and was baptized in January.  We took him to Washington D.C. the next weekend as a celebration trip.  There was so much to see and do that we packed as much as we could in three days.  In April he won Best in Show and 1^st Place at the local Spring Arts Festival.  He blows my mind at how much talent is in such a little person.  Last week at his Honors Assembly he received A Honor Roll for the year and was surprised when his teacher gave him a Science award for his class.  I am so proud of all he has accomplished this year.  Now it’s time for some fun and maybe a Mohawk. 

Colin and our Pastor Bro. Leland.

 One of our best vacations yet!

Colin with his winning pictures.

Awards Day at School.

Almost Summer!!!

I love that summer is right around the corner.  Colin is ready to be out of school and start swim team.  Lily is ready for her dance recital and to start cheer.  We are going to have a busy summer!  The Library where I work is busy getting ready for the Summer Reading Program.  We have one of the best Children’s Coordinators around and she’s one of my closest friends!  I am working on the Adult Reading Program.  We host a book club during the summer and this year there will be two.  There are going to be some great books being read with even better discussions.  Some of the books are not in my normal genre but I’ve enjoyed stepping out of my box.  If you have a local summer program at the library where you live, I encourage you to check it out.  You’ll be glad you did.

Colin at swim practice.  I love the smell of clorine and sunscreen!

Lily will be a bunny in a Cinderella ballet.

Some of the books on my reading list this summer.  What do you like to read?

Mother's Day

This is a bittersweet subject for me.  For most of you who don’t know me I am an only child.  My parents divorced when I was three years old.  It had always been the two of us.  We were more like sisters than mother and daughter.  In August 2008 she left this world and went to her Heavenly home.  When she passed I felt as though half of me went with her.  She was my mother, my father, my sister, and my best friend all rolled into one person.  She had already helped me through what I thought was one of the hardest things to go through, a miscarriage that April.  Losing her broke me.  While grieving I was pregnant with my third baby.  That November I lost my sweet baby Logan at 20 weeks.  This was another crushing loss in an already dark time.  God pulled me through as only he can and I am a stronger Christian for it.  On Mother’s Day I miss being able to celebrate the woman who loved me and made me who I am today.  I think about my two perfect babies in Heaven who are waiting for me with my mom.  These thoughts are only half of my feelings of the day.  I also thank the Lord for allowing me to have such a wonderful mother.  I am blessed beyond measure to be the mother of two wonderful children, Colin and Lily.  They have the biggest hearts of any two children I have ever known.  Colin fills my life with so much joy and excitement.  There is never a dull moment with him and I love that.  Lily is my sunshine.  She lights up our house with so much love.  I will never understand why things happen the way they do.  It’s hard to not question God.  I have learned that his plan is the ultimate one and through those dark days there is light at the end of it.  God will be there with you, carrying you through the hard times and rejoicing with you through the good.  So for Mother’s Day, miss your mom and babies if they are gone, but love on the family you have.  They are a true blessing.

I have always loved this picture.  I was only a day old.

This is one of my favorite pictures of my mom and me.

One of the happiest days of my life, holding Colin for the first time.

I love him with all my heart.

My perfect little princess.

My sunshine!

I made this a few years ago.  I got the idea from a blog I was reading and thought I would try it.  These are the actual size of my babies hands.  Logan's is the smallest with a cross in the middle for my second baby.  There is not a day that goes by that I don't think of them.  I just hug Colin and Lily a little tighter for being my little blessings from God.

Love

This is just a random post of the loves of my life.  So many times my emotions get the best of me and I become that yelling person I dread being.  I hate it when I feel every little thing my husband and kids do, get on my last nerve.  I forget in that moment what a blessing my life really is.  How lucky I am to have a man who has loved me for 19 years.  How wonderful it is to have a sweet and loving little boy who thinks I am, in his words, the greatest mom in the world.  To have a little girl who wants my hugs and kisses all the time.  I thank God for allowing these three wonderful people in my life.  They give me such joy and fill my heart with so much love.  Some days I need to remember to look at all the blessings and stop beating myself up for what I feel I am doing wrong.  No one is perfect and everyone’s life is crazy at some point.  So here are a few pics of the loves of my life.  They will bring a smile to your face, I know they do mine.

They are my heart

The Love of my life

Oh how I love those little faces.

HAPPY, HAPPY, HAPPY!

This past Friday, Colin’s former school hosted their annual Bingo Night.  Each class makes a basket and sells tickets for a chance to win.  They have everything from LSU baskets to Pamper Yourself baskets.  This year Mrs. Holli, Colin’s first grade teacher, was selling a Duck Dynasty basket.  When I saw her post it on Facebook, I called my friend Lisa and asked to buy 10 tickets.  Friday night we were finishing up with our yard sale when my friend Ashleigh called me and told me we had won the basket.  I couldn’t believe it.  We never win anything, ever!  Colin was so excited he started jumping up and down. We love Duck Dynasty!  Jase is Colin and Lily’s favorite on the show.  I think he was even more excited because he had won it from Mrs. Holli.  She is one of the best teachers and I am so glad Colin was in her class last year. 

This was taken last year during their Sock Hop.  We love Mrs. Holli!

Here is Colin with the basket! 

On Good Friday we went to visit Duck Commander where part of the Duck Dynasty show is filmed.  We were really hoping to see someone from the show but we didn't.  The kids had fun taking pics.

Colin and Lily in front of Jase.