Halloween 2017, 6 months later...

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.

I love this life.

My girls.

All of them.

4 Generations.

Crazy.

Forgiving.

Encouraging.

Supportive.

Precious.

My best friends.

Halloween 2k16

Spencer was thrilled to be Princess Elena of Avalor and she was even more pumped about that chocolate that Papa was holding... actually fixated would be a good word.

My Ariel was a pleasant fireball.  She was so excited that she ran from house to house as we trick or treated.  

Ant Man.  Did y'all know that Ant Man can be as small as an ant AND as big a building?  He can.  I learned that after Hayes decided he was going to be Ant Man for Halloween.  He's my rock star and I'm so grateful that he's the role model for my girls.  He is fantastic!

Part of the crew... we were still loading a few up on the trailer...

We did a little Halloween Pre-game on Sunday at the Ephesus Baptist Church Fall Festival.

They were really pumped to spend time running around and having a blast.

Spencer, errrrrrr, Princess Elena was super sassy in her ball gown and cranky when told no.  She was not a fan of waiting in line for the jumping things or the games.  Diva.

I call this, Daryk's child in a photo...

Elizabeth taking her imaginary plane ride very seriously.

Wolverine was SO pumped to cross the monkey bars ALL THE WAY on Sunday evening.

He had a few wardrobe changes for Halloween and that's something we are all ok with!

Tell me how your Halloween went?

Did you get lots of goodies to share with your people?

Disney Day 1

We are only about 6 months behind in life and the blog.

We traveled to Disney World on Thanksgiving Day in 2015.  Our sis and bro in law hosted our early dinner so that we could load up and head out early!  After dinner and no nap we loaded everyone up and I drove.  It works better if I drive since Daryk drives like a grandpa....

We had a tiny break in wrestling season from Thanksgiving Thursday-Sunday and that was the ONLY 4 day stretch that we had off all season!  I booked that trip to see THE MOUSE as soon as I realized we had the funds and the time off!

So I drove.  So we could get there at a decent hour.  Pretty sure we pulled into the scary $30 a night outside door hotel around midnight with plans to get up at 7 the next day.  The scary hotel with outside doors had a HUGE room.  After check in and unloading, we crammed sleep in and then we got up early the next morning, courtesy of our real life alarm clocks in the form of PRESCHOOLERS, and grabbed breakfast at the hotel before we hit the parks!

Traveling with this dude means the never ending hunt for the ORANGE Mountain Dew.  He is always thrilled to find it and buy as many as possible for the trip!  It isn't sold in the metro  Atlanta area, so we always stock up when we travel.  

At some point we stopped for dinner at a Cracker Barrell, because they were open on Turkey Day and changed the kids into their jammies.  If Chick-fil-A isn't open, we shoot for the CB since they have a space to walk around and good food!  Plus, their bathrooms are usually pretty clean!  

Sleepy babies as we pulled into the hotel and checked in!  

Day 2:  Coming soon!

Turkey Break

There were a couple of things worth celebrating over this break and a couple of things that were equally heartbreaking.  

This is my brilliant cousin Caleb and my gorgeous sister Kitty! We were celebrating Brandie's wedding to Devin.  It was a quaint wedding with a special set of guests.  I count it the highest honor that I get invited to weddings of my family and friends.  I LOVE weddings and I know that so many people have such a hard time deciding who to invite.  I know that people lose sleep and worry about hurt feelings and agonize over their guests.  I adore being among the chosen and actually getting those invitations!  I will do anything I can to attend them all!

And then there is this kid who apparently doesn't know that you can sleep in on breaks.  

Suns up so I'm up MOM!

Wretch.

I got to spend a few evenings sitting in the woods with my daddy.  Yes, I hunt deer.  Yes I wear makeup while doing so.  And of course I had in my pearl earrings.  What if I killed something?  I would need to look cute for pictures.  I am so grateful my daddy took time out of this week, which was possibly the worst of 2015 for him, to spend some time with me.  We didn't see the first deer to shoot, but it was good quality time together.

Goal Updates: March 2016--more like April.

1. Grow produce this summer.  Start a plan in March and proceed forward with tomatoes and peppers for the summer.  I think I can handle two things.
   
   I should start that now, right?
2. Clean out and organize one room each month.  It will break my little hoarder/sentimental heart to trash some of the things, but it needs to happen.  Starting in the girls' room tomorrow morning.  Closet and drawers need attention.  Hayes' room is in February.  Bathrooms upstairs in March... that's my first quarter done...
   
   I am making major progress with this goal!  Playroom done.  Kids clothes done.  My closet done.  Working on the rest of the house a little at a time.  We got a MAJOR upheaval in April since my sis and bro in law are going to be sharing our space for a bit... So we had FORCED cleaning out of some space.  It was MUCH needed.
3. Paint the rooms... living room, office, dining room... and patch the ceiling kitchen.  While you're at it, let's just go ahead and fix the wires in the living room too., okay?  And purchase new furniture for the living room.  I decided all house updates had to go in the same goal, so I'll have to also repair the master bath wall/ceiling as well.
   
   Living room done.  Dining room next.  Ceiling patching and repair and repaint in June.  New furniture was gifted to us in April!
4. Exercise for 30 minutes at least 3 times a week.  Dance parties in the living room count as cardio.  Running counts.  Weighted toddler carry time does not count.
   
   Yeah, no.
5. Become a Mary Kay sales director.  I desperately want to work a job with some flexibility for my family.  I also really like Mary Kay and the company.  Products are good, company philosophy is good, and the atmosphere is positive.
   
   Still a legitimate goal.  Still working towards it.
6. Plan a trip to Disney for 2016.  Purchase a $100 Disney gift card each month to start piling money away for it.  Kroger fuel points AND a Disney trip.  Two birds;  one stone.
   
   Nope.  Not yet.  I'm only 4 months in, so I can start now... right?
7. Complete a Bible reading plan.  I'm looking at a few, but I'm open to ideas and suggestions people!
   
   I'm a spotty reader at best.  I still love Jesus Calling and I read it sporadically... at best.
8. Schedule a fun date with Daryk each month.  I'd really like to call it my Groupon event... I would love to buy a Groupon/Living Social/Scout Mob date and go do something different each month!  January and February are so difficult because of wrestling, but we can figure something out!
   
   We do this by default, but not as organized as I would like for it to be!
9. Plan and HOLD 5 Mary Kay Skincare and Glamour classes each month.  Who wants to come over and play makeup with me!?
   
   Still working towards this as well.  I need to up my MK game.
10. Develop a family routine/plan and follow through with it.  Weekly plans in progress now...
    
    This seems impossible, but I will keep working towards this goal and complete it eventually.

Thanksgiving

The baby boy started kindergarten this year.  His handwriting wasn't awesome and he didn't know near as many words as he was supposed to, but off he went.  He did a fantastic job and I'm so grateful for his teachers.  They spend hours with him and all his friends daily and they are precious to us.  These ladies are amazing and I so enjoy them!  Mrs. Watkins is a buffalo hunter and they live near her house!  Can y'all believe that!?

Sweet 'Indian' babies

My Hayesface

So proud of his brown bag turkey!

Easter Throwbacks....Just because I can

I have been an emotional wreck this morning.

Good Friday.

I love Easter.

I love the colors and the fun.

I love my family and the food.

I love the reason for this holiday MORE than anything else.

I adore the courage of my Savior.

The purpose of THIS holiday means more to me than any others...

How precious to throw it back and look over the celebrations with MY children over the years?

I am so grateful that I have a Savior and that He chose to love me.

I cannot imagine being Mary and watching my son die, so that others may have life.

What a courageous heart she had...

A mother's love is nothing compared to my God and his love for me.

Easter 2010

Easter 2010

Easter 2010

Hayes was about 4 months old.

Easter 2011

Easter 2011

Hayes was about 16 months old.

I was about 5 months pregnant.

That is my FAVORITE maternity shirt.

I still have it....

Easter 2012

Hayes is 2 and Libby was about 8 months old.

So.  Much.  Joy.

Easter 2013

Hayes was 3 and Libby was 18 months old...

Easter 2014

Spencer was DAYS old...

Hayes is 4.

Libby is 2 and a half... going on 20.

Easter 2015.

Spencer is 1.

Hayes is 5.

Libby is 3.5, going on 16...

Easter 2016... to come.  

Mother's Day 2015

I love my church.

The tagline for the Mother's Day photo booth was that 'mom's love pictures.'

And boy, do they.

We had just spent time Saturday night having pictures made with our awesome family photographer Denise, and Daryk thought he was exempt from this on Sunday.

Wrong.

Please note the crazy smiles on Daryk and Hayes' faces...not real smiles.

And Libby looks confused.

And Spencer looks like she's lost.

But I am so happy.

Brrrrrrrrrrrr was Easter

Next time, we will put the little kids up front and use a real camera.  

The BLUR and the giant adults in the photo kinda distract you from kid cuteness.

Snuggles and Hugs from friends

I love this girl.

She's the best baby girl ever.

She had a great birthday month and we celebrated her several times.

I think this was my favorite moment though.

Sleepy baby snuggles.

Man,

I love this kid.

Last year she was 6 days old at Easter.

This year she hunted her own EGGS!

Love her.

This is Delilah.

She is Libby's BFF.

They have such a sweet love for each other.

I love this blonde and the joy she brings to my sassy girl.