Yellow

The beautiful yellow Asiatic Lilies that Hannah planted are blooming.  Actually she planted the lilies and we had no idea what color they would be.  So far we've had two red lilies and this yellow one.  We can't wait to see what other colors bloom!!

Hannah is so proud of her flowers.  "Take a picture of me next to my lily!" 

Simply beautiful. 

Paden's Party

Now I'm going to play catch up...

Cutie-pie Paden, the sweet baby we babysit, turned 1 this past month.  We went to his birthday party the Saturday before we left for Panama (the reason I'm late in posting these pictures!)

It was a lot of fun!  But every thing's a lot of fun when we're around (right?!)  The kids got to look inside a transfer truck.  Hannah was amazed that there was a bed & a mini-fridge right in the cab.  They also played in the sprinkler b/c the pool wasn't ready yet (due to an unfortunate pump incident.)  We enjoyed some delicious food and cupcakes while we watched the birthday boy tear into his presents.  

 

Happy 1st Birthday Paden!!

Flying

This is the point of view -

of a little mommy

lying on her back on the family trampoline

with her sweet babies on her feet

letting them fly high in the air...

 

Birthday Fun

So, my birthday was May 22nd and I turned 29 {still in my 20's!}  We got home from Panama on Thurs, I unpacked & cleaned the house on Friday and we had my party on Saturday.  

It was so much fun too!  Bobby made me a cake and cooked ALL the food for the party.  I was amazed at how many of our friends and family came to celebrate with us :  the Steele's, the Buford's, the Platt's, Donald, Bonnie & Tim, Lee & Emily, Bob & Tommy, and my parents (of course).  I love you all!!!  Thanks for making my birthday celebration crazy loud and super fun!

 ---The Guests---

 

 

 ---2 of 7 kids that were running 

wild around our house!---

 

---Reva & Willie---

---Sisterly love---

 

---and of course there was cake--- 

 

Beautiful to me

An important day is coming up tomorrow. Heather will be one year older, but still in her 20s (for one more year). The Lord knew what He was doing when He put us together. Because of her, I am happier, more confident, more content and just more blessed than I ever could have been without her. Having been together 13 years and having been married nine of those years I am not sure what can be said that has not been said already but I want everyone to know (including you, babe) that every morning I wake up and leave for work and look at my wife, I praise God that He favored me so much as to give her to me as a wife. So thank You Lord! And thank you, Heather, for being the best wife in the world. I love you lots!
Happy Birthday!

Nine Years

Bobby & I have been married nine years today!  (May 19th)  It's been a wonderful crazy journey and worth every minute.

This is a beautiful song from Sara Groves' new album "Fireflies & Songs."  It's so beautiful and it always reminds me of Bobby & our relationship. 

Twice as Good
when I am down and need to cry till morning
I know just where I am going
when I'm in need of sweet commiseration
to speak out loud
raise a glass to friendship and to knowing
you don't have to go alone
we'll raise our hearts to share each others burdens
on this road

with every burden I have carried
with every joy it's understood
life with you is half as hard
and twice as good

with my good news your dancing on the table
babies born to celebration
the joy of life oh what a sweet communion
shared with you


I know we're growing older
can you imagine what that will bring
it's all a mystery to me now
but this one thing
will be half as hard, and twice as good

  I love you so much Bobby!!

Our Last Day

Today was our last full day @ Panama City Beach.  It's been so much fun.  Not to mention very relaxing.  We all agree that it's been wonderful but we're ready to head home.  Plus I don't think our shoulders can handle much more sun (you just basically have to re-apply sunscreen every 15 minutes here!)

Here are a few pics of our final day:

{Pool Fun}

 

{Sting Rays}

 

 

 

We've never been to Panama Beach and seen sting rays swim in this close.  The whole time we've been here they've been swimming so close to the shore.  Sometimes individually, sometimes in small groups and occasionally in "families" (my favorite!).  Don't know if it's actually families or groups but you get the point.

 {Farewell beautiful beach.  It's been fun!}

 

life is a beach

We're all starting to get a farmers tan.  Sammy looks like the Coppertone Baby.  We sleep late, play on the beach and swim in the pool.  It's been great just relaxing and spending every minute of the day with Bobby & the kids.  Bobby seriously deserves this vacation.  As much as we miss our family & friends it's going to be hard to leave Thursday!

Today Sammy would actually get in the ocean, but only if someone was holding him.  He still gets nervous when the waves wash the sand away + he has a hard time bracing himself against the waves.  Once you're holding him you can walk out and let the waves splash up in his face - he just cackles and points at the next wave!  He can also swim without any help (other than his water wings).  He swam the length of the pool today!  And he'll jump off the side into the pool.  Fearless.

 

 

{just a few more}

The internet service is so awesome here!  I uploaded and edited all of our pictures from this evening in less than 20 minutes!  If only we had this super fast service at home!  So I'm definitely trying to get all of our pictures posted before we head home.

We spent the afternoon eating (swimming can make you super hungry!) & napping (swimming can also make you super tired!)  After that we spent the evening in the pool.  Samuel has really got the hang of swimming using his water wings.  He's fearless now - jumping off the steps and swimming without any assistance...  all in one day!

beach fun {in pictures}

 

 

Panama City

This morning I woke up in my own comfortable bed in good 'ol SC.  After about 9 hours of driving (with kids you stop a lot for potty breaks!) we're relaxing in a comfortable hotel room in Panama City, FL. Bobby surprised the kids & me with a vacation - and boy does he deserve a vacation after all the work he's done this past year!!   It's so beautiful here - and thankfully the oil hasn't reached P. City.  We're praying that it stays away (which seems likely.)  We arrived, quickly unloaded the van, ate a quick supper and headed down to the beach.  

Hannah loves the ocean and after a few minutes wasn't nervous at all.  Sammy is still unsure (I don't like he likes the sand being washed out from under his feet) but loved playing in the sand and swimming in the hotel pool.  We put his water wings on and spent some time showing him how to kick his feet.  In no time at all he was swimming back & forth between Bobby & me.  Now we've all had a bath, the kids are asleep and Bobby & I are relaxing.  I have the best husband in the world!!!

{I was worried that Hannah's Asiatic Lilies would bloom while we were gone.  They bloomed overnight and we got to see them before we left this morning!}

 

{It was a looong trip!}

 

{My favorite picture so far...}

 

{Me & my sweet babies}

 

I'm going to try to update daily so I won't have so many pictures to upload when we return home.  Check back tomorrow!!

In honor of... me

Yesterday, as you all know, was Mother's Day.  And what a beautiful Mother's Day it was.  Bobby & the kids gave me an early present Saturday and then they let me sleep late yesterday and served me breakfast in bed.  I spent the afternoon with my Mom & then the evening with some very dear friends.  Wonderful!!  

I truly love being a mom!  And I love my beautiful sweet Mama!! 

 

hot days

The hot weather is slowly moving in and that means sprinkler fun!  Until we are able to actually go swimming the kids enjoy running through the sprinkler and playing in the resulting mud.

 Hannah really had a blast playing while Samuel stood and watched from afar.  He cried every time the water sprayed him - it's time to toughen him up!! 

**** 

While trimming my miniature rose plant I found a caterpillar.  Hannah loves it, has named it Flutter and created a home (look to her right) for it so she can keep it "forever'. 

my girl

**** 

I set out with a goal yesterday.  To get some pictures of Hannah because she's so beautiful and sweet (plus I just want a lot of pictures of my kids.  my parents don't have a lot of pics of me when I was younger.)  She just wouldn't cooperate.  She's at this stage where she makes a crazy face any time I point the camera at her!  The only decent shot I got was the very first one!  Oh well, at least she gave us a good laugh!!

{The third shot is my favorite!}

Remembering When...

...Hannah was only a few hours old...

...and 20 months old...

and now she's 4 years old!  it's hard to believe she was ever so tiny!

a birthday party

Today Hannah's little girlfriend, Hannah A*, turned 4.  She celebrated with a Caillou party, which made my Hannah very happy because she loves Caillou.

Hannah & Samuel had so much fun.  Hannah A* had a ton of toys for everyone to play with - as well as a trampoline and a sandbox.  They did "Caillou's Marching Band" where all the kids selected a musical instrument then lined up to march around the house.  After that it was time for the slip 'n slide {Hannah loved it but Samuel did not.}

Most of Hannah's friends from gymnastics and playgroup were there so she was thrilled.  She's missed all of her little friends b/c they attend the local preschool and she doesn't + our playgroup doesn't meet during the school year.

...here are some pictures I snapped during the party...

 {Caillou's Marching Band}

 {Snack Time}

 

{Cupcakes} 

 

{Sandbox Fun.  I think Hannah was made b/c Anna had a toy she wanted.} 

 

{Slip 'n Slide Fun.  Don't you love Hannah's polka dot bathing suit?}

This picture is totally unrelated to the party but it's so cute I wanted to add it.  Bob & Tommy took us to Burger King for lunch on Thurs. and I snapped this as one of my Project 365 pics.  I didn't use it for that day's picture but I still wanted to share...