The Combo

This year was exceptionally busy for us in the Spring.  I am grateful that all our people made time for an Easter gathering and celebration of Spencer turning 3.  Somehow those things happened in the SAME week and we got to gather and celebrate both our Risen Savior and this sassy pot.  She insisted on wearing her Elena dress for the celebration and egg hunt.

See below.

Grandma and most of her grand babies.

Clean children.

Joy turns 3

Spencer Brynne turned 3 on Friday.

Here are a handful of pictures that make me giggle.

Can you tell she loves that hat?

Oh, and sleeping.

She loves sleeping.

He's seven.

This kid of mine.

I posted this picture a few months back and I can't help but love it a lot this week.

He turned seven this month.

That is more than one hand...

It requires two hands to indicate his age now.

He lost 3 teeth in the month of January, technically one weekend.

He just got notice that he has tested INTO the gifted program in our schools.

He's a genius, no denying it now that we have proof.

I love watching his kindness on display for others.

He is cautious and calculated with every move he makes.

He follows the rules and is motivated to do all the things.

I love watching him with his sisters.

He wrestles tomorrow and I'm already a nervous wreck.

Seven years ago this month I was learning about love.

I had no idea what it was like to be a parent.

I was terrified and still am, most days.

But if he's the first edition, then we are doing alright.

He's my favorite boy in all the world.

My boy

Sunday this week Hayes turned 6.

S-I-X

Six years ago we were on our way to Northside via 285 in all the bumpy lanes.

Six years ago I planned to have an unmedicated delivery.

Six years ago I learned that I wasn't always in charge.

Imagine that?

I was in labor for 3 days before I made it to the hospital.

I was in labor for about 12 hours after my water broke before the c-section began.

I wasn't planning on a c-section, but my kid was ready.

He arrived at 6:23 pm and rocked our world.

It was the longest day ever and I was so grateful to finally have him.

She's 4.

I won this cake contest via Facebook in June.

I was SO pumped that I could get my girl an awesome cake.

It looked fantastic.

Tasted ok.

But wasn't functional at all for her party.

Never again...

I don't think she cared ONE bit.

She turned 4 in August.

She is my favorite 4 year old girl ever.

I love her independence, her stubborn streak, and her caring heart.

She has the best manners in the whole world.

She is literally, the MOST caring child I've ever met.

She never stops talking and she avoids bedtime like it is toxic.

Her favorite things include lipstick, lipgloss, fingernail polish, sparkly things, her skechers, pink stuff, purple stuff, pretty stuff, stickers, markers, and ketchup.

Elizabeth turns 4.

This sassy girl turned 4 today!  She is stubborn and has a vocabulary that most grown folks strive to use.  She is vibrant and funny and she keeps us laughing.  She is a wonderful child and an absolute challenge to raise.  Proud to be her momma. 

Bday cookie

We had an impromptu shopping trip to get my MIL a new fridge on Spencer's actual birthday.  I didn't really have a special plan for her day to celebrate.  I'm not a good 'celebration planner' and I truly hate birthday parties, so mall dinner was a good plan for us.  After feeding the crazies dinner and letting them run off energy at the mall infested playground... I got a cookie for Spencer.

I think she liked it.

It was a great birthday investment and possibly the messiest thing ever.  

But this little squish face enjoyed every bite and then some, so we will call it a win.

Birthday Baby

A little over a year ago we welcomed a 3rd human into our family.

She's the most joyful person ever.

I cannot imagine waking up without her giggles and smiles each day.

She's so sweet when she sleeps.

Even sweeter when she snuggles.

She is the bestest baby in the whole world.

Makes me want to have another person...

2 months later....

The best aunt who lives in Georgia turned 30 in February.  We happened to be on a break from school on her actual birthday, so I began plotting a long time before that week to arrange a date with her for lunch on her bday!  I had to do some intense internet stalking to FIND the office where she worked in Atlanta.  I knew there was a website, but there are SO MANY offices that share the same name in the Atlanta area, it was a bit of a challenge.  I didn't want to ASK her for help because I wanted to be able to surprise her!  After about 3 hours of calling and internet research I finally found the office.  I emailed her boss and proposed my plan, she agreed and I began or orchestrate the master plan!  The day of the event we went to Sams and bought cookies to share.  We stopped by Chick fil A and got lunch.  After that we drove to her office.  

Let me please explain that taking 3 kids out in public where multiple events and stops are on the agenda is a bit challenging.  Like, insanely difficult.  I only started to sweat about 1/2 way through the bathroom stop at her office.  The office building has fountains and ducks, well.... geese, as Hayes would say.  They have a revolving door and well, its an office.  You're supposed to use an office voice.  3 year olds don't have an office voice or office behavior.  We survived the bathroom, the revolving door, the fountains (thank you God, because it was REALLY cold), and lastly, the elevator to the floor where she works.  

We made our way into the front conference room and set up lunch.  All of the sweet ladies Kathryn worked with came in to greet us and wait for her, so we could surprise her!  Kitty rounded the corner and began to get teary (never happens) so I knew she was surprised and I was FLOORED!  Y'all know that anytime you get to actually surprise someone, you get pumped, right!?  

We don't get to see her nearly as often as we like to, so this was a super special treat for us this day!  Hopefully we will get to see her again some this summer and we can have outside lunch dates by the geese and the fountains!  

Love you Kitty!

Happy we can celebrate 30 years of YOU!

HB KITTY

Sooooooooooo, last week my Kitty celebrated her 30th birthday.  I was able to orchestrate an epic surprise lunch for her!  I emailed some of her colleagues about it the week before and coordinated with them for a special lunch!  I was terrified to manage the whole thing by myself since I had all 3 kids and no help!  Thankfully we pulled it off.  I was actually on the phone with Kitty wishing her a Happy Birthday while we were driving to her office.  I told her we were going to Target.  I quickly realized I was going to have to get off the phone or she would wonder what Target we were going to...

We went to Sams to get her gift and cookies to celebrate before we headed to her office.  After Sams, we went to Chick-fil-A and got us all lunch.  I put in a call to Kitty's husband to get her current lunch order at CFA.  After CFA we drove a little bit farther to Kitty's office, made a pit stop for a diaper change and potty break on the way into the building, and then headed up to Kitty's floor!  

I was greeted by the receptionist and put in a conference room to wait for Kitty!  I was SO excited to be able to actually surprise her!  She walked around the corner and I'm not sure she expected us to be sitting there, but we were!  It was awesome.  We got to enjoy a nice little lunch break and spend some time with Kitty while we were out of school.  I know I enjoyed it immensely and I think my kids did too!  She has really cool fountains (rivers) at her office and we got to ride an elevator up to her office.  My kids LOVE both of those things AND they love Kitty too!  

I mean, 1/3 looking at the camera isn't too shabby, right?  

Happy 30th Kitty.  

You are the best middle sister I've ever had and I am so thankful to have you close!  

Five. A whole hand.

I can remember the day he was born like it was yesterday.  Which I find really odd, because I can barely remember yesterday, at all.  I have such a terrible memory, but I guess God gives us the power to remember days that change our lives.  January 3, 2010 was a game changer for me.  I'm not sure I was ready to be a momma, but I was sure ready not to be pregnant anymore.  I got a cuddly little guy with a big heart.  He was stubborn and did things in his own time.  His early arrival should have been an indication to me about his zeal for all things.  Literally, all the things.  He is most excited about, well... everything.  He doesn't have a bad attitude about much of anything.  He wakes up and frequently bounces off that bottom bunk bed.  He sprints to the toilet and back to his room to grab his handful of toys.  He approaches all things with a big grin and a happy face.  He loves his sisters and doesn't seem to mind that they annoy him or take his things.  He is love.

He gave me a real smile.

And when I showed up for his special day at school he gave me about 900 hugs and told me all about his classroom.  I was thrilled to go visit him in his puppy classroom, even if I did get in trouble for it.  This kid was worth it.  

His puppy friends were so excited to share their stories with me!  I loved watching him blow out his candle!  He was excited about that too, and he blew wax all over his table!

Bebe turns 37, again.

Mom turned 37 again this year.  Not sure how that works, since I'm 32... but whatever.  We had all these grand plans for her birthday weekend.  We were planning to take her to lunch and then go get our toes done together.  The 4 girls.  We made plans and forgot to tell mom.  

Oops.  

Thankfully it all worked out and she didn't have major plans anyway.  We managed a fancy lunch and some yummy dessert along with fancy toes.  I'm pretty sure we all had a blast.

I would complain about the fact that I'm the only one without glasses on my face.  But you wouldn't be able to see their eyes anyway, because I think they're all sorta Asian....

Parties with Friends

We have several friends from the ELC that have summer birthdays.  We are so blessed to be able to attend their fun parties each year.  Hayes and Libby are BFF with another set of siblings, Walker and Charlee Kate.  They love each other fiercely.  This was Charlee Kate's art party... 

Elizabeth is painting some canvas art for our home with her friend Smith.  Love her!

Art is intense, just ask Libby.

Here are the boys.  Hayes and Walker working diligently on their art squares.  Hayes was very careful not to mix the paint colors on his canvas.  Perhaps he's a tiny perfectionist?

The Baby

Last week this girl had a birthday.  She's 7 years younger than me and was my first baby.  I remember changing her diapers.  I remember using cloth diapers, with actual diaper pins, and rubber pants and changing her diapers.  People think I'm crazy when I say that, but I remember it like it was yesterday.  I remember when we found out she was born and we jumped up and down on Aunt Patsy and Uncle Malcolm's bed at that big white house with a pool.  I remember when she came home and how tiny she was.  I remember how she loved to be around momma and how she would spend hours nestled close to her in that blue velour robe before school and in the van while it warmed up.  I remember Leigh Anne reaching her chubby hands atop the table to grab mom's coffee cup so she could steal a sip of the leftover cold coffee.  I remember her yelling from the bathroom as she was potty training and needed help... (sorry sissy)... 

Mostly I remember thinking that she was mine.  She was someone I got to help with and take care of.  She didn't like to brush her hair or wear socks with a seam across the toe.  It was her job to smell the piles of clothes in our room, all 3 of us shared, and decide clean or dirty.  She had the most beautiful curly hair and momma made her cut it because she refused to brush it.  She was, and still is, the tallest one of us.  She still has that gorgeous curly hair.  She has the best skin and longest legs.  She loves to sing and always has.  She spent a lot of her childhood chasing us around ballfields and softball tournaments.  She quit gymnastics because it smelled like feet.  She has always been a pain... continues to be one.

But I love her.  With my whole heart.  She is my favorite baby sister and I cannot wait for her wedding.  

Happy Birthday Leigh Anne Palmer.  

You only have a few weeks left for me to call you LAP.

Kitty in the middle

Yes, that is a picture of a picture.  

Judge me.

I'm ok with that.

I'm a little behind in wishing Kitty a happy birthday on the blog.  She's the first sister I was blessed with and I could not be more proud of all the wonderful things she has done with her life thus far.  She's a precious human being that God blessed with so many talents.  She is determined and has a serious goal setting mentality.  She has the ability to achieve so much more than I ever imagined to, simply because she never gives up.  She loves my children with a fierce love and shows them all sorts of attention when she can.  They love to talk with her and Daniel and especially Eleanor.  My little people love for her to come visit because she always brings treats to share.  She is my favorite middle sister and one of the best friends I've ever had.  Love you Kathryn!   

Five long years=a whole hand.

Engaged 2008.

Married 2009, but nobody knew yet...

First married vacation... also pregnant!

Became parents January 2010.

Celebrated our chunk child summer 2010.

Pregnant with #2 November 2010.

VERY pregnant with #2 summer 2011.

Day before we became a family of 4, August 2011.

Family of 4 and my 7 chins...

Toddler activities fall 2011.

Baby love fall 2011.

All smiles as a family of 4, spring 2012.

Christmas 2012.

Spring 2013, maybe a family of 5 on the way?

Happiest place on earth... can I go back NOW!? 2013

Christmas 2013, family of 5 on the way...

Celebrating birthday #4 for baby #1.

The first Georgia snow of 2014...

5 years.

2.85 babies.

2 houses.

1 new minivan.

Lots of love.

And a family that God built.

Every day is a blessing and I truly believe that.

Yes, I am Suzie Sunshine and I'm ok with that.

Celebrating 5 years of marriage, family, and sharing life with Daryk this week.