Noah turns five!

It is so neat to watch the boys make friends..and Jackson's friend from 3K, Noah, is a friend I hope we keep forever! We just love him, and his sweet Momma, too! Mrs. Cheryl was Jax's 3K teacher and ended up becoming a wonderful, close friend of mine at the end of it all!

We were very excited to help Noah celebrate turning five a few months ago at Heritage Park.

It was a fun party...complete with a very brave momma who volunteered to be the water balloon target!! Hilarious! The kids loved it!

Even though Preston wasn't in class with Noah as always he fits right in! He loved the water "bawoons."

As you all know we have been at the same school since 3K. Jackson entered kindergarten there this week. Preston will start 3K next week there. It is small, Christian, private school 3 minutes from our home. I say "private" lightly because most of the private schools near us are $4500 and up per year for elementary grades. Ours is less than that..and less than half of some bigger private schools. Although it is less than the average tuition, it is still not super easy to pay for. However, we are so blessed to be able to swing it. We love it. We love that it is close, we love the hours, we love having the boys at same place, we love the small class size, we love that they can pray and go to Chapel, the list just goes on and on. Most of all though...THEY love it. Jackson asked to go to "big kid" school there. He is right at home. I cannot imagine watching him adjust (and myself!) to a whole new environment this year after all the whirlwind school + diabetes creates already for us. Looking at this picture of this group of kids below warms my heart and makes me feel even more grateful for the opportunities we have had at this school. We know all these kids from school..we know their families..and we have become close to many of them. I cherish all the hopefully lifelong friendships being formed..between all the kids and the moms. It just makes the whole idea of school picturesque. I could not imagine it any other way..and it has far passed any expectation I had 3 years ago which means so much to me because I love school..and it is very important to me. What a blessing.

Happy Birthday, Noah! I cannot believe how big all of you have gotten!

Happy Birthday, Moma!

My Special Day

Best Mother's Day Ever...

This year for Mother's Day Paul and the boys took me to eat lunch at the Dillard House, went to see Tallulah Gorge, and then we drove over to Helen for a round of putt-putt and ice cream. It was such a relaxed, blessed, fun day full of my favorite things: my boys, my man, being active, and...well of course ice cream!
The kids loved it all. (Well, maybe Preston didn't like all the vegetables at Dillard House or when Paul put ice cream on his nose. :)) But, Jax kept saying how it was his favorite holiday ever! :) He went on and on about how much he loves Mother's Day! haha! Sure he does! Because it was about them and what they like, too! But, that was ok. I love watching them have fun especially when Daddy is there, too.

This is them dancing on the little outdoor fireplace at the ice cream shop in Helen. HILARIOUS! Wish at that time I had had a flip camera!

I think Paul had fun, too. He says he did. :) Even if I DID win the game of putt putt. 18 years into our relationship, and he still struggles with losing any type of game to me. :) The funny part is how I don't even try to win most of the time, and he tries hard. Sort of does crack me up a little (at his expense..sorry babe.)

The putt putt place was really neat and pretty! The weather was perfect and gorgeous! Everyone knows how I am on the go alot and do lots of activities with the children. What alot of people DON'T know though is that only 1 percent of the time is Paul with me. Mostly he is at work..but often as well he just doesn't want to go. :) Sometimes he works in the garage instead. Anyway, so it is huge and very meaningful that he went and did this with us. That was probably the best part. And, he was in a good mood about it and acted like he enjoyed himself. :)

My kids thought Tallulah Gorge was neat, too. I like traditions (remember?) And, it reminded me of all of mine and Paul's day trips up that way with his family when we were kids.

The Dillard House gave all the mommies carnations that day, too. I really did feel special. :)

You don't really know how your mom feels about you until you experience motherhood yourself. It is just one of those things that noone can explain to you..no book can help you grasp..you just have to LIVE it. And, I am so happy and blessed to get to live it.

Addtionally, it is worth mentioning that I have an AWESOME mother-n-law who was perfectly fine with my three treating me to a special day meaning that we didn't get to spend the day with her and that we celebrated with her at a later date. Isn't that sometimes what motherhood is about? Putting yourself last? I know I do it often. And, that day she did it for me. She is a great mother to me. I used to call her my 2nd mom. But, she is pretty much my mom. Without any extra wording needed. :)

Happy Belated Mother's Day to all my mommy readers!

Sasketti

Preston is by far my pickiest eater..my most stubborn eater..or maybe to term it better my most annoying eater. :) Nearly every meal is a battle, whiny, deals being made, foods being renamed (whilst hushing Jackson not to correct us), and him being forced to at least try it and then if he wants spit it out.

However, spaghetti (ahem..I mean "sasketti") is by far Preston's favorite. And, you know only the one with the "straws." Not the squares. (In other words, only spaghetti noodles not ravioli that I try to pass off chopped up as spaghetti.) He always licks his bowl no matter where we are..Olive Garden, Carrabbas, or at home.

Typically he has already had his bath if we are at home, but often needs a whole new pair of pajamas in addition to what ends up being nearly a whole second bath.

We've videotaped this and snapped lots of blackmail pictures for later in life. :) This trend with sasketti actually started when he was one year old. We have lots of pictures like these..although these are most recent. ;) He is quite the character, don't you think?

As a side note, I made fried squash tonight..and told him it was okra. (He LOVES fried okra!) He was unsure but tried it and nearly ate the whole batch! Put it this way Paul only had one piece! After he had practically licked the serving bowl (he ended up eating out of it instead of putting it on his plate) and asked for more..I said, "Preston, guess what? You just ate SQUASH!" He said, "Huh?" I said, "Yep, that is NOT okra. It was squash." He looked amazed and said, "I WUV squash! Do you have me anymore okra..I mean squash??"

Looks like a trip to Publix is in order. :))

It's a Wrap!

Tomorrow is Open House for Jackson (and next week is Open House for Preston!) Yes, Jackson is about to start his very first year of elementary school! He will be going into kindergarten at the same school (what a blessing!) So, as I was looking over my list of things I am behind on regarding blogging as I know soon when they are at school I will have some time to catch up..I saw "End of School." I thought hmm..it might be appropriate to at least blog about the end of 4K for Jackson before he starts a whole new grade! haha! So, here is the synopsis of how we wrapped up 4K...

We went on a field trip to Dauset Trails..we had never been there before, so it was fun!

Silly smile! Jackson was excited they had an eagle there. Apparently some cartoon made him afraid of eagles, but he likes to be brave. So, he was quite proud he stood next to the one in the cage. He came home ready to tell Daddy all about it.
And, we saw our best buddy Noah there, too! He is in a different class but we got to hang out with him a little bit before we started our adventures. It was Noah's 5th birthday!

We also attended the spring program for 4K. Maw Maw and Paw Paw came, too! And, Daddy! It was emotional thinking about it being Jackson's last year as a preschooler.

He performed well (even with a low blood sugar!)

Then, his class had a ice cream picnic on the last day! He got to give his teachers their gifts..and what great teachers they were...

Say goodbye to his best friends...(only until next year though!) He has five friends in his kindergarten class and Miss Ava is one of them!

Receive his goodie bag including his very own Children's Bible! He was very excited about that part! It actually is a very neat version! If you are looking for one for your child, let me know!

But, before the last day we did manage to get to squeeze in a Mother's Day celebration at school as well. It was a brunch full of neat things he had made just for me, questions he answered about me, and most important one on one time with my cute little (ahem..big) boy! Did you know my favorite foods are whatever Daddy cooks? haha! And, my favorite TV show is the news? But, cutest of all is what he said makes me most special: That I work hard so I can take him fun places.

So true! I get alot of flack about being on the go and taking my kids places all the time...some people are just picking at me but others are serious! haha! It's ok though..I'm perfectly okay with his answer about what makes me special! :) I know he enjoys our special outings and I know we make memories we'll talk about when he's older. Even if they are more like this version: "Mom, remember when you took us to the children's museum and we couldn't fit in the parking deck and someone hit your car we thought and Preston said "ooohhh..when Daddy finds out Mommy he is going to get his belt and spank you!" See? What fun we have! Oh, how I love my chaotic, crazy life!

Simple Summer

Sometimes it is the simplest thing...like a caterpillar...that can just make your day.
My children (and, well to be frank, me too!) are deathly afraid of bugs and anything that resembles one. But, I have long been a lover of caterpillars. I was so worried they wouldn't trust me on this one..that they were okay to touch and hold.

Jackson liked them, too, though! He didn't quite like them being directly on him, but for the most part he wasn't scared and was quite fascinated. Preston was pretty hesitant but ended up being okay from a distance, too!

After much begging to bring the little guy inside to live as our pet (these poor kids don't have any pets), they ended up just settling for him being their friend for the day.

It is so rare I (and so as it happens they too) slow down enough to enjoy simple things like caterpillars, but when we take the time to it is so worth it.

**Sadly, it should be noted my rowdy Preston accidentally later stepped on Mr. Caterpillar. Not all the way but just enough to make him immobile.** :(

The Big Day

Finally on May 1st, the big day came! Yes, I know I should be ashamed blogging about it in late July. Forgive me! But, it was a great day! Carly was a gorgeous bride.. Wait. Let me repeat that. A G-O-R-G-E-O-U-S bride. She was in the best of spirits, didn't panic or freak about anything, and I truly feel that when she looks back many years later she will have happy memories. That is all I wanted for her. Me? I will look back and think about how blessed I was to be her matron of honor and what a great friend God gave me in her. And...what a great friend God gave me in the other gorgeous girl in this picture!

The rehearsal was smooth, relaxed, and followed with a fun dinner in downtown Athens.
Her room at the hotel was so pretty! It was where we all got ready (and then quickly switched to being the honeymoon suite later than night. :)) I went over the day before to help make her throwaway bouquet and give her encouragement. Well, ok, to be honest... PAUL made the bouquet! He will die I admitted that. :) And, she really didn't need any encouragement. This girl was ready!

We took pictures beforehand so there would be more time for the reception...

Most of the pictures were taken at the Founder's Garden at UGA which was very appropriate for these two UGA fans. :)

It was such a fun wedding. After the reception, we all went downtown (something I never did when I actually lived there and attended school there..Gasp!) I had always wanted to go, but Paul never visited me in Athens so I never made it. I didn't want to go without him. So, we finally got to experience that..and it was a lot of FUN! I am getting way too old for that much fun :) But, it is nice to try to pretend to be young again every once in a while.

Congratulations Mr. and Mrs. Brand!