Halloween 2017, 6 months later...

August-December 2017

My goal is going to complete the blog updates from the last million years and attempt to stay in real time from now on.  Blogging is something I really like, but it is so hard to maintain that on a regular basis!  I don't mean to neglect it, but it isn't something I can just sit and do unless I plan a time to do it.  

So thankful for this man and his health.

Open heart surgery in August and he was up and moving soon after.

My best friend lost her dad in October to the same kind of heart issue that Dad had.

Every now and again I catch myself thinking about Dad and Roy and how thankful I am.

I started coaching my girl last May and we had competitions through December of 2017.

It was a long season and it was hard, but we had fun!

I think she's ready to do it again and I am gearing up to coach again!

Hayes plays soccer and Libby does cheer.

The girls color on the sidelines while we watch soccer.

It is lovely.

Last season our soccer team was terrible.

As in, we never won a game.

This season was awesome and we went undefeated!

Cheer comp season was similar to LAST soccer season.

We didn't win one single competition during regular season!

We still had a GREAT time!

In October 2017 we put our house on the market and got full asking price in 10 DAYS!

Fall Festival at Winston is always a good time!

Our BFF Kinsley!

SB 2017

We had a busy week planned for Spring Break 2017!

Monday was a great lunch courtesy of my mother in law at Mary Macs in Atlanta.

They have some of the best food ever!

I had the chicken friend chicken and the sweet rolls!

So yum!

We also had fun dodging the RAIN and the tornadoes!

Yikes!

Tuesday the tiny people went to play with BeBe and Papa for the day.

We cleaned out the garage AND sold some things online!

It was miraculous.

I was so excited to get that task done.

I love being able to trash things and donate them to people  who will actually USE them!

Wednesday was filled with more crazy weather.

We braved the rain and some more tornado warnings for playtime!

It was Hayes' bday celebration with his BFF Luke.

I'll post those pictures and that story later!

Thursday we went to have lunch with Pawpaw and tour the Delta Museum in Atlanta.

SO COOL!

There is an actual 747 we got to walk around in AND there are several airplanes on display.

We got to spend some time learning about the history of Delta.

Spencer is wild.

Hayes loves to learn.

And Elizabeth is a professional picture poser.

Friday  was our last day of break and I'm pretty sure we just laid low and worked in the yard!

This cold...

This weather in Georgia is not fun.  We did the 'spring ahead' time change this weekend and then we woke up to the arctic on Sunday!  It has been below freezing and windy for the last 2-3 days.  Misery.

But all this cold weather reminds me that I have snuggly babies at home.

These two have so much fun snuggling together and watching songs together.  I love watching them play together and spend time being cozy.  

And here is a lineup of the whole crew.

Remind of their sweet goodness when I am crying about college later in life.  

There is nothing that warms my soul like these guys.  I cannot wait to add to our crew, one day.  

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.

The Boys

For the 50th day of school the boys all dressed alike.

I guess all of the parents plan the same...

I am not sure when my kid became a gangster, but here he is... in all his glory with his friends.

I just love them and the fun they have.

I hope that he maintains the same level of confidence forever.

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?

WES: year two.

Y'all.

I'm so grateful for those mommas who take '1st day of school pics' before school on the actual first day of school.  I get so many good ideas from them!  I'll be honest with you;  I take mine after school and usually just before bath time.  I can barely get myself up, dressed, out the door, etc. on time for school.  You can honestly forget adding photo time into that equation.  

So, here we go.

First grade with Mrs. Bragg and he's in LOVE with it.  His class is full of some of his very best buddies and some of the best kids I know.  I cannot wait to watch him grow and learn in the next 180 days.  I loved school and I love being a student.  I feel like he will be my studious child and for that, I'm grateful.

This girl started kindergarten with Mrs. Watkins.  She is thrilled with the aspect of social time every day.  She wants to wear a dress and a matching hairbow every day too!  She came home sweaty and so tired, but she loves every minute of it.  Her learning will be different and more challenging for all of us.  She tries hard and works every day at her homework with a gleeful attitude.

Daryk and I started our 11th year together as educators at the same school together this fall.  I know some people think it is crazy to work alongside your spouse, but I do enjoy working with him.  I like spending time with him and seeing his relationships with students.  He has a different crop of students than I do, and I so appreciate their interactions.  

Here's to a new year and some amazing kids, both at home and at school!

One of the D Days