Visit to Grandmothers

I only have one grandparent left, this being my mother's mother who lives in Sevierville, TN. She was born and raised there and this is where my mom grew up as well. Growing up my parents made a point to take us to both sets of grandparents 3-4 times a year each. With my daddy being from south Mississippi, this took a good bit of time out of their schedules each year.
After I graduated from college, and got married, I've tried to continue visiting each of them about every 4-6 months until my daddy's mother passed away last August. Now I only have one and so I'll try my best to continue this with her. With all that said, this grandmother, has lived in several different houses in the area since I can remember. Several years ago after my grandfather passed away, she built a new house so that she would have a smaller yard to mow. This house is in the prettiest place and I should take a picture from her front yard . If you have ever vacationed here, I'm sure you've see Smokey Mountain Knife Works, well, her house sits up on the hill, above the river, looking down and the knife works but also that gorgeous view of the mountains. Anyway, we visited her about two weeks ago and since we don't really count this as a vacation, Vince wanted to do something different and vacationy I guess, take the kids camping! I agreed to ONE night of camping. So we called to see about bear activity and what to do if we encountered one, and we were off, to Elkmont Campground, home of only a potty in the bathroom and COLD water, AND NO cell phone signals. Knowing I couldn't take a shower was kind of disturbing to me, especially after getting all hot and sweaty from playing putt putt in Gatlinburg, but since I was only there for one night, I figured I could handle it. It was really pretty but I have to say I ended up at some point in the early morning going to the van to sleep. We forgot one air mattress and sharing a full size with two wiggly kids was not very comfortable.
We did roast hot dogs over a fire for supper, which was Carson's request. Then we made smores and had honey buns for breakfast, went on a short 3/4 mile hike and then were back to mamaw's for baths!!!!!

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!)

New Photos

I'm sorry the latest photos are just kind of thrown out here but I was doing good to get them posted in the first place. It takes me so long to get pictures put on here and I'm not sure if this is the case for everyone or if it has something to do with my camera. Oh well, I dread doing it but am happy when it's done.
There are pictures from Carson's Kindergarten Graduation at Calvary Baptist Church on May 12. Then his actual birthday when he chose to eat at Olive Garden, on May 15. He remembered getting a birthday cake from there last year. And then pictures from his party on May 16. Special thanks to Amy Yant for making the cake and cupcakes. They were soooooo good and not to mention cute!
And of course, my dad, who dressed like a pirate for the party and "guarded" the treasure box.
And then just a few of my favorite Disney pictures.

Sooo Behind....

My goodness, I'm so behind in so many areas and often wonder if I will ever get caught up. I have this blog that I'm horrible about updating and then I have a facebook account that I'm also horrible about updating, and my family scrapbook is open on my dining room table with pictures from last May's vacation to St. Louis, still waiting to be placed on pages. Now, we've been to Disney World and back, and I've just gotten all the nearly 800 pictures loaded onto our "picture" external hard drive and shutterfly, and ordered those, Carson graduates from kindergarten tomorrow (actually today now) and I'll have MORE pictures and then he turns 6 on Friday and his birthday party is Saturday and I'll have even MORE pictures. Maybe one day, soon, I'll get caught up.
I have to say, we have had an exciting April and May so far.
We did make it to Disney World the week of April 22-29. This was the first time Carson & Emilia had been and their first time to fly. We went with our friends, The Weeden's, from New Albany and their two kids and my parents went too. We had the BEST time, Carson is ready to move to Disney World but my goodness, I don't remember it ever being so tiring when I was the kid!!!
Yesterday was Mother's Day and it was a good day, in a lot of ways it was unlike any other, which at times, I wish it was a little different, but when it's all said and done, I'm so blessed to be able to celebrate Mother's Day b/c of two very special little people in my life. So, even though, I was the first one up, the one who fixed breakfast, the one who got them ready for church, etc, I'm blessed and I made a point to thank them both when they first got up for making me a mother! After church, it was raining and we were sure the lines would be long at restaurants so we decided to go home for a light lunch and then since our church had cancelled pm services to be able to spend time with our families, decided to go out for a early supper. We did go around 5 but this obviously wasn't early enough, we still had to wait an hour for a table but my parents joined us so I was able to spend some time with my mother as well.
Now, this week wraps up Carson's year of kindergarten, my how time has flown by and how it continues to. I can remember how I thought his first birthday would NEVER come and how now, I can hardly remember those precious times with my BABY boy who is turning six on Friday.
He's so big and I love him so much.
I think I've talked before about how I love their birthdays. I had originally planned to let their 5th birthday be the last for a big party but I couldn't stand it. I try to come up with something unique for their parties so that it won't be the same as every other party they have attended throughout the year. So, this year we are having a pirate treasure hunt. I have gotten all the clues together and the children are going to have to participate in an activity in order to get the next clue which will ultimately lead them to the treasure chest, which will have their goody bags and jewels in it. I found a book at the Pirates of the Caribbean exhibit at Disney World that helped me out alot and Carson really enjoyed this ride and gift shop.
Some of the activities are, who can dress like a pirate first? Thanks to my mom for making the boys pirate outfit and finding the girls at Tuesday Morning. Walk the plank, tug of war, jolly roger flag hunt, etc. I'm really excited and am praying for no rain and that the kids will have a good time.
For now, my goal is to finish this shift at work, and then be a "party" mom at Carson's graduation which is at 10 ~ only about 8 hours from now.
I will try my best to write him a letter this week, as I always do on his birthday and put in his baby book to tell him how proud I am of him and hope that one day he'll enjoy reading them.
And maybe in the near future I will get caught up posting Disney, graduation and birthday pictures on here!

A Wedding Cake...

I just have to share a cute story that my mom told me about. This week Vince and I had our schedules crossed a couple of nights and both ended up working the same nights so my mom came to stay with Carson& Emilia. On Wednesday night, she took them to Wal-Mart and Carson asked if he could buy Vince and I a wedding cake. He had found a white cake with shaved coconut. My mom asked him why he wanted to buy us a wedding cake and he said b/c he and Emilia were not able to come to our wedding. My mom explained to them "AGAIN" that they weren't around yet and that's the way it was suppose to be.
Anyway, they ended up buying us a wedding cake, so they could share it with us.
Needless to say, they ended up having a piece before us and my mom said that she was giving Carson and bath and Emilia kept calling for her to come to the kitchen. She couldn't go right then so Emilia, tired of waiting, went to the bathroom and told my mom that there were little pieces of paper stuck to her piece of cake!