And so it begins...

Our Home for the Week!!

 We are staying in a new place this year and we are loving it!  The back yard is fabulous!!!  We are all enjoying the extra time outside.  The weather today was GORGEOUS!!!!!!  I think our high today was about 78 degrees.  Our place has an awesome back porch and there was a gentle breeze blowing all day long!  I enjoyed a lovely nap on the porch.  We are excited and looking forward to a wonderful week ahead of us!

Caroline and Great enjoying drinks on the dock this morning

 Jack trying to catch "something"

 Caroline and I hit the beach shortly after breakfast.  She had a great time playing all by herself.

 Trying to catch a crab

 She said "Can you get a picture of me jumping in?"

 Caroline and Clara

Clara got fins, goggles and a snorkel tube for the beach

 Our first puzzle of the week

 Yesterday was Tomi Jean's birthday.  We celebrated tonight with a yummy 12 layer chocolate cake.

 After dinner, Grace and her daddy were fishing in the marsh

 Caroline and Jay playing soccer in the backyard with Uncle Greg

 We went for a walk after dinner.  We saw the most beautiful sunset and sadly the picture I took with my phone doesn't quite do it justice...

 part of our group

looking forward to tomorrow!!

Relay for Life

Tonight I went home to celebrate the annual Relay for Life celebration with my family.  As some of you may remember my mom's brother Lee was diagnosed with a brain tumor last August.  He was this year's torch carrier.  We are super proud of his fight and his outlook.  He has never questioned God, only gives praise for what he has done and will do!  My mom spoke on his behalf and it was really sweet.  

the survivors lap

 the survivors with caregivers

 my brother's team made funnel cakes and they were SO yummy!!

 mom's team made bread and hamburgers

 love this little sweetness!

Fun night!

Weigh in #5

Given that we will be on vacation on June 1, I decided to weigh in this morning.  (didn't think taking scales on vacation would be a good idea...)  The scales confirmed what I already knew...I gained this month.  Thankfully only 2 pounds but non the less, I had to move 2 marbles from my lost jar to my need to lose jar.  There aren't any excuses, life got busy and I haven't been able to get myself back in a routine since my surgery.  However, I am hoping that this summer will help me get back in a routine.  I should have more time for the gym.  Also, I hope that with all the fresh veggies coming in I will be able to make better food choices.

So here's to hoping that June will be a much better month!

Jack and Grace's Confirmation Banquet

Can't believe that Jack and Grace are really about to be in 7th grade...not sure where the time has gone!!  Over the course of the last year, they have been going through confirmation at church.  The year comes to an end with a sweet banquet at church, examination time with the Elders of the church and then a celebration.  (So thankful Andy is an Elder and we got to attend this sweet time!)

Each child has a tablet that their parents decorate for them

Sweet family

Mema was there to celebrate as well

What a great group of kids!

These sweet ladies mentored these sweet girls

So proud of Jack and Grace and pray that the Lord will continue to guide them and bless them on this wonderful journey!!

Mini Me

I so often forget just how much my girl wants to be like me...which is a pretty scary thing when I think about it...I am flawed in so many ways...but last week the Lord reminded me that she is watching everything I do and wants so much to be just like me.  I had worked at the farm and was tired.  We were waiting in car line for Tyler and had about 30 minutes to spare.  The weather was awesome so we had the windows rolled down and I took my socks and shoes off.  Within 10 seconds I see Caroline doing the same thing.  I loved seeing her sweet little feet in my rear view mirror.  Love those sweet feet and I love her!!

Caroline's story in their 5k book

Caroline would like to be a princess.  Her prince will cook and take are of the children: 3 boys and 3 girls.  He will cook broccoli, baked carrots, chicken, bread, oatmeal, ice cream and Captain Crunch cereal.  Princess Caroline will go to work every day and be a veterinarian.  She will work on large and small animals.  Caroline plans to drive a blue van.  Her family's castle will be in the city.  It will have fancy lights with crystals, a garden and a swimming pool.  For fun, her family will go to the park.

Tyler's Birthday Party

Today we celebrated Tyler's 8th birthday...yes I almost chocked when his mom said 8th birthday!!!  Crazy how quick our kids are growing up!  Tyler had his party at the YMCA pool and as always, it was so much fun!!  It's a great pool for kids of all ages!

 love these two cuties!!

First Swim at the Y this year

Caroline and I enjoyed our first day at the Y earlier today!  I had one super happy little girl!!!!  Looking forward to a fun summer, filled with lots and lots of swimming!!!!

Other end of the year fun

I felt like yesterday's post was already long enough but wanted to be sure to include a few other special pictures from our end of the year fun.

Mrs. King-SO thankful for the last 4 years.  She knew my desire to be at home with Caroline and my love for teaching and went on a limb to give me a job.  It has been a wonderful place for both of us over the years.  She has loved on Caroline and been so cooperative in allowing Caroline to hang around while I had work events or make arrangements for childcare so that I didn't have to worry about it.

 Mrs. Danielle and Ms. DeeDee have taught Caroline music for 4 years now.  Caroline loves these ladies and they love her!!  They greeted her every morning with a smile and told her how happy they were to see her.

 5K graduation is a big deal in mommy's eyes so we had to make a few special treats for our friends.  We had a great time working on both.  Best of all, Caroline was able to help me with these projects and she loved it!

 so stinking cute!!!!

 graduation caps in case you can't tell

5k Graduation...

 Somehow we blinked and our baby girl turned into a really big girl!  I am super proud of her and so very thankful for her.  It's easy for me to get caught up in the details of our struggles but when I take a step back, she really is an amazing little girl!  She has a smile that can make everything better and brighter!!  She has been so excited about this day and the fun things they had planned for us parents and grandparents.  I do believe she was MOST excited about finally getting to wear her shirt!!

we started this tradition 4 years ago on our first day of preschool

our sweet neighbor Megan comes over on the first day and last day of preschool to take our picture...sadly this is the last one like this.  next year we will start school at totally different times...  

 just so happened that I had my camera handy as my girl turned the corner one last time this morning...

 the kids waiting to get started

 so thankful for this smile!!!!

 Pastor Mike talked with the kids about how special and unique they were, much like bubbles.  The kids were glued to what he was saying.

 singing songs for us

 As part of their gift, each child drew a picture and told about what they wanted to be when they grew up.  I will post the whole story one day soon but Caroline's in a nut shell was that she wanted to be a princess and work as a veterinarian.

 getting her diploma

 I can't say enough about this sweet lady!!!!  What a gift she is to our school and our family!  She loves life, loves children and most of all, she loves JESUS!!!!!  She radiates Jesus' love...So very thankful that Caroline had the privilege of being in her class.

 Pop and Peep came to celebrate our girls big day!!

 our sweet family