Somebody turned the BIG 30!!

July is filled with birthday's- there are so many I can't even keep up. But on Friday my hubby turned the BIG 30! I got the kiddos to make him a poster and hung it in the kitchen for him to see when he came home from work on Friday.

Chris: I really don't feel any different now that I'm 30
Me: Thats only because youv'e hit the next stage of life that I'm in and you can't make fun of me anymore!

I wanted his birthday to be special so I booked the back room at a local BBQ joint and messaged all of his friends to show up and surprise him. I had my friend Rachel take the cake and balloons to restaurant. It was perfect... Chris thought it would be just us and one other couple eating for his big day and was very surprised/excited to see everyone when we got there. Afterwards a few friends came home to hang out with him for a while. He told me it was the BEST birthday he has ever had! 

Here is Johnny and Chris at our house after the birthday dinner. At least he doesn't act like he's 30, LOL.

The very next day- Saturday, was Leah's birthday!

 Her, and her husband Josh, Chris and I became friends over the past couple of years through our church. We took Marley and went to their house to play in the river and have a small get together that night for her 23rd birthday- she has some catching up to do, LOL. Oh what it was like to be 23!

Marley and Hudson in the river, she loves feeding him clams.

Happy 4th!

Happy 4th of July and Happy Birthday to our sweet Nathan! Nathan's quote of the day" Hey do you think I can start watching  spider man and Harry Potter movies now that I'm 8?"  Love that kid! Our day started a little slow, Chris is off work so we all slept in. Got  up and made Nathan's favorite breakfast- Pancakes! And because we had his party a few days sooner, I added a candle to his pile of pancakes and we sang Happy Birthday to him.

After eating our yummy breakfast we got dressed and loaded up to start our daily activities. When we went to drop the boys off with their mom, Nick decided that he would rather spend the day and go with us to Helen, GA to swim with friends and watch some fireworks. We drove up the Helen and met up with Mickey, Melissa, and Nolan. Being as how we don't get out much, it took Marley quite a while to get in the pool, she sat on the side and kicked her feet and then slowly but surely made her way in the pool. And I might add she had so much fun! She was exhausted by the time we got her out of the pool.

We finished up at the pool, headed over to pick up some awesome BBQ and went back to the condo to eat our yummy food, cool off and wait for the fireworks to start.



 By the time all was said and done, the kiddos were wiped out, we were wiped out, traffic cleared out and we hit the road for home at 11:45pm, and hit the bed at 12:45 am. My sister in law also came home on the 4th after being on a 3 week vacation in Europe! I can't wait to see her pictures and hear all about her trip. I have been living vicariously through her pictures on Facebook. All for now, I am leaving you with some shots from Nathan's party this past weekend at the park. The party didn't last long we had record temps here in GA of 105. And it was just too HOT to play.

Happy Birthday Marley!

Happy Birthday Marley, our sweet baby girl is not a baby anymore she is 2! Such an exciting day, your getting old enough to be excited about the simple things like, balloons, decorations, cake, kool aide, and cheetos! We had a simple party this year and did not invite a lot of guest for a couple of reasons... we want Marley to learn from early on that birthday parties, presents and all the hoopla are not Needs! Yes they are nice but not necessary. With that said I bought a cute little decoration kit from party city for $10, bought snacks and made the cake and cupcakes, invited some close family, and had a wonderful time. Marley got a talking Erinie, a Big Wheel, a Dora book and a new pair of pink Toms. Along with a huge donation of items to be used for Operation Christmas Child this December.


Please look past the table leafs to the right, I obviously wasn't thinking when I took the picture.

Yummy funfetti cookies that Chris made! He's a really good helper :o)

Items given to be used for Operation Christmas Child

Dear Marley

Dear Marley,

                 You are two today, and these two years have passed by oh so fast. I remember the day we found out we were having a girl, it was a very happy moment for me and daddy both. As you grew inside me, the excitement grew in us for the day we would meet you! We kept your name a secret only me and daddy knew, and wondered who you would look like. I wanted oh so badly for you to come on my birthday but you didn't and daddy said that was good, because you needed your own day!



The more I watch you grow the more I know I will see your lasts...those sweet baby words you use when your trying to tell me something, rocking you, your sippy cup, packing a diaper bag to go out, and seeing your sweet smile from behind that big paci.... are all things I continue to take in and hold onto oh so tightly, because each day little by little all of these things will stop. And I won't cry, because this means you are growing and becoming older and smarter. You are growing into the little girl that God has designed you to be. Because before I know it, you will three, and there will be new things that I will want to hold onto. Our sweet Marley you really are more than we ever imagined you would be, I can't wait to see the little girl, young woman, and adult you will grow into. I pray every day that we can teach you all you need to know. And that you will allow God to lead your life. God has great big plans for you all you have to do is follow and trust Him. Always remember that you heard my heart from the inside and I will always love you more than you will ever know, and I am blessed knowing that God picked me to be your mom.

All my heart,

Mommy

Just for FUN!!

Today I am 31! Where have the years gone? Birthday's change the older you get, they dont' seem to be as important or not me anyway. Maybe that is because the sweet girl I never thought I would have almost came on my birthday. She made her apperiance the day after. I can not belive my sweet girl is turning 2 tomorrow! With that said today has been pretty low key. Chris had the kids make me a big card on poster board (which totally explains why he had an .83 debit reciept)! The card made me smile something BIG, but leave it to kids, Nick was taking a nap when they made the card so they didn't add his name.

 Chris bought me a cheesecake, my mom stopped by with a box of godiva chocolates, Marley helped me pick fresh blackberries.

We spent the rest of the day was spent preparing for her party. Headed down to Gwinnett to pick up a few party items includling her new Toms (if she's getting a gift why not help a child in need in the process), some plates, and food for tomorrow. Can't wait to update you tomorrow with all the party and 2 yr. pictures!
Before I go I wanted to leave you with some random pictures. They make me smile, they are fun times and remind me just how sweet my family is. So happy that God made us a family! 

Chilling with Daddy

Fun with Mustaches

Yeah, Bella didn't appreciate Marely giving her a ride in the toy buggy.

I Love to swing

But Mom Im looking at all of the books! Love her!!

Spring Break - Easter & Alex's 13th Birthday

Well I promised a few post back to not get so behind on our family updates, and here I am way behind AGAIN!
Spring Break came and went, Nathan and Nick were able to stay with me the week of spring break. We all had the best time, here is a picture timeline of all the activities from the week.


Somebody got into Mommy's Lipstick!



Watching movies

And then comes a moment when you realize what it was like to be a child. The simple things that make you smile. I remember how fun it was to pick the little white fuzzy flowers and blow all of the seeds away. The way they tickle your nose and get caught in your hair.

Sweet moments like this!

While Nathan ran and found flowers to blow, I was reminded of a sweet group of children living in a tent city in Haiti. On one of the days we walked out into the city, we blew bubbles for them. I was amazed, how the children and adults giggled. They had no idea what bubbles were! Really?? As Americans we take so much for granted- have you ever gave a 2nd thought to bubbles? I bet not, I'm sure you make them at home or run over to the dollar store and grab 1, 2,or 3 bottles. You have probably even given them out at parties or weddings. But to see a child or adult for that matter that has never seen or blown a bubble before, is PRICELESS! And the two pictures above reminded me of just that.


Playing outside getting plenty of fresh country air.

A Caterpillar nest the kids found! We watched it for many days, I couldn't believe how many came out of it.

Our Blueberry bushes, can't wait until they are all ripe.



Movie day and Story time

Resting with Bella- Hope Daddy doesn't see this. Bella being on the couch is a big NO NO!

Easter morning before church

Marley playing with her cousins

Chris's Granny had her 75th Birthday this year and it fell on Easter! What a special day for her. We had an egg hunt, dinner and cake.

Here is Granny with her grandchildren, their spouses, and her great grandchildren.

I come to an end on this post with sadness and excitement! My firstborn had his 13th birthday- a teenager really? It's seems like only yesterday I was holding you in my arms and now you can almost pick me up.

Alex,

You will always be my baby. You are my first! The one who taught me how to love like no other love. Who I watched grow from a beautiful 8lb. 4oz. 21in long baby boy to a handsome 13 year old, and who helped me grow into the mother I am today.  You are smart, talented, and I am so proud of you. I love you more than you will ever know. "I love you forever, I like you for always, as long as I'm living, my baby you'll be"
I can't wait to see the man you will grow into.

Love,

Mom