Happy Birthday To Me....

Yes, I celebrated my 35th birthday today with a group of little kids. I had a fabulous time. One of their mom's asked me where I'd like to go and I knew if they weren't happy and having a good time, we probably wouldn't either, so I chose Chuck E Cheese and we had a blast!
Carson, Emilia and I went to Shipley's this morning for donuts and they were SOOOO good, then we visited the new HealthWorks here in Tupelo and they enjoyed that too. We went to Chuck E Cheese from there and then to week #2 of swimming lessons. They are both doing extremely well and we are really proud of them. Emilia is pooped, and asleep on the couch, which is where I wish I was!!!
I'm blessed to have so many friends and an awesome family, to have good health and to celebrate another year! Thanks everyone for making my day special!

Happy Father's Day

Aren't Daddy's awesome? I know mine is and I'm so thankful for him and all the lessons he's taught me along life's way. Yesterday at our church, our pastor was referring to how important Dad's are in the family and how many families don't have Daddy's. This is so sad, to think that little children don't grow up with their daddy's and to think of what daddy's miss when they don't get to "grow up" with their little children. I'm so thankful that my daddy was always there when I was growing up and still is!

And then when we have kids of our own, to watch our husbands take on the role of "daddy". He amazes me too, and yes, there are times when I have to gently guide him back in the right direction (as I'm sure all wives do) but he does an awesome job and man, Carson and Emilia LOVE their daddy.

I had emphasized to Carson & Emilia that Father's Day was a day set aside to thank God for our Earthly fathers and to thank him for our Heavenly Father too. And that we would let Daddy pick what we did. Of course we started the day off with Sunday School and church and then my parents met us for lunch at Red Lobster. This was actually picked for me b/c on Mother's Day I had wanted to go to Red Lobster but Vince had wanted to go to Outback, since it was Mother's Day, I gave in and we went to Outback, wishing the whole time since then, we had stayed at Red Lobster (I love their biscuits and that new wood grill they have) So, yesterday, he made up for it and picked Red Lobster, which I knew was for me!!! Thanks Vince.

Then we went back home and took naps and since our church was called off for the evening, so we could spend more time with our families, we swam, and then my daddy and I grilled hamburgers that were sooooo good. Thanks Daddy, I enjoyed making hamburgers with you.

It made for a long, enjoyable day and I'm thankful and blessed to have the parents I have and the husband and father to my children I have.

(Thanks also to B. McCoy for finally showing me how to post my pictures in the center on here!!!)

Bye-Bye Sippy Cups

I guess some of you may be wondering if my kids STILL drink out of sippy cups. The answer is sometimes they do. I feel like Carson is way to old to have one and when he does, I try to make sure it's one with the straw but they are so nice when we are traveling to not spill and keep the drink cold that I keep a few around for him. Thank goodness he got a CARS insulated thermos type cup for his birthday that looks way more his age and we try really hard to keep it clean and use it when we're on the go.
Anyway, last week, I was about to scream each time I opened up my "cup" cabinet for the mess, cups everywhere, from every restaurant you could imagine and then every kind of sippy cup they have had for the past six years. Some of them you couldn't even see what the picture once was on the side and not to mention all the teeth marks on the spout. I decided I had to get that cabinet cleaned out and what's the use in keeping them (I know mama) if we don't use them anymore. So, I pulled the trash can over and started cleaning out.
I didn't have an all out come apart but as I was throwing sippy cups in the trash I had that so often reminder that I have now that..... they are growing up! (and too fast) I can remember having a conversation with one of my friends last year about how I think God gradually prepares us for the goal of "letting our children go". Can we even imagine what it would be like if just one day they left??? I can't. So, therefore, we say good-bye a little at a time, their first day of day school - when they are only gone 2 - 3 half days a week, then kindergarten, when for us, they are gone 5 half days a week and then real school and so on. And throwing away sippy cups is just a small step we take in helping them grow up, realizing they are too big for that and they can't be babies forever (although that's what they'll always really be in our hearts!)