Old School Alarm Clock

 A few weeks ago, a member of our family lost their phone and wondered what in the world they would do for their morning alarm.  I went to our hurricane box and pulled our old faithful.  I quickly introduced the two to our first radio/alarm clock combo.  Nothing better than waking up to your favorite radio station...even better when it's playing a favorite song!!

Yesterday, the girls were working to clean their room.  Our Amazon music only allows one device to play music at a time.  The girls were going back and forth over who got to listen to Amazon Music.  Caroline decided to solve the problem and turn on her radio for music. :-)

Fall Pics

I absolutely LOVE the girls fall pictures this year!!!  And the best part, I let them do it all on their own.  I had a coffee date with friends.  I left them and went to walk and have coffee.  I told them I would meet them there are their appointment time.  I was so proud of myself for letting go and trusting them.  I thought they did a great job on their own!!  It's a reminder that they can do more than I think they are capable of!

 

Daddy's 80th birthday

 Daddy knew we would have celebrated his 80th birthday BIG so he's helping us out with the excitement today. Although Hurricane Helena is hitting Florida, we're feeling the effects all the way here.  High winds and heavy rains...and I have to go to work shortly! We miss him as fierce as this strong and have cried bucket of tears over the years.  We wish he was here to celebrate with us but we know the celebration in Heaven is more than we could have accomplished on Earth!

Today I also had the realization that 80 is pretty old.  It's the first birthday that I wondered if cancer hadn't taken Daddy, would he still be alive OR would something else have taken him from us???  Hard to know...either way, he was taken all too soon and we so wish he was still here but we trust the Lord's plan for his life and ours.

Sweet High School Days

Sweet high school days!!  Hope they will always remember these Friday Nights under the Lights!

 

Maggie Shaves Her Legs

Maggie has been asking about shaving her legs...tonight was the night.  I was helping her and talking about what needed to happen.  She took it really slow, which I was thankful.  She needed me to help her with certain angles...she said "Momma, I'm going to need you to help me for a while, I think."  I said "No you won't...it won't be long before you will be a pro and know how to do it all by yourself!"  (Because let's be honest, I don't have time to help her shave her legs every time she needs to shave her legs.)

Well that conversation haunted me the rest of the evening...isn't it funny how we're fine to let go and let them be independent in areas that we aren't interested in.  Yet, when they don't want to talk or when they don't want you to take them somewhere, our feelings get hurt.  We don't want them to be that independent...although we know independence is what they need to succeed on their own.  Oh well, let's see how long before she needs me to help her again... 
 

Sumter Meet

What a great night for our final meet in Sumter for this season.  Typically Charissa and I pair up to time at the Sumter meet.  It's typically a quick meet and pretty low key.  Charissa and I originally signed up to time for this meet since it was our last meet together, however, they had plenty of help so we got to sit back and enjoy the night together.  I was able to get some really good action shots of Caroline, which is really hard in swim.  However, I was thankful for these!!

 

Sweet 16 celebration

Today we got to celebrate our girls sweet 16 with some of her closest friends.  Her bff Josie created a Pinterest board based on Caroline's ideas of what she wanted her 16th birthday to be.  Together the girls worked super hard and everything turned out perfectly!!!  There were moments I had my doubts but she didn't...she loved every minute of planning, preparing and the party! Josie and her Mimi (Mrs. Beverly) made her cake and cupcakes.  They were amazing!!!!!!

Shortly after the girls finished taking pictures, it started raining.  So they didn't get in the pool and only a few wanted to actually get in the hot tub...they washed their hair for the party and didn't want to get it wet...:-)

She wanted ham and cheese or turkey and cheese croissants with veggie cups and fruit.  Simple enough and it looked great.

Gorgeous!!!!

So pretty and yummy too!

UPDATE:  Caroline had a few girls spend the night.  I offered air mattresses but they said they could sleep on the floor...oh to be 16 again!  Caroline and Josie were up super early.  Caroline said "Josie do you want to explain to momma what happened last night?"  Josie said "We were playing the games what are the odds and I asked what are the odds Caroline will buy us coffee before church in the morning?"  They lost!  So these two hit Starbucks before 8.  Caroline said "Momma did you know they make these small drinks??? It's cheaper that way when buying so many drinks!"

 

Celebrating Catherine's Senior Swim Night

Tonight we celebrated our favorite senior swimmer!!  I can't believe we're here already...my first curly haired C is graduating!  We are so proud of her and all that she has accomplished during her high school career!!

 

Sophomore SGA officers

 

Introducing the 2024-2025 Student Government Officers for the sophomore class.  This is a phenomenal class who continues to do great things!  

Grandparents Day!

Today was Grits with Grands at Maggie's school.  I am so thankful for a momma who leaves home before the sun comes up to celebrate special days with the girls.  Our friend Ava rides to school with us and since her grandparents weren't able to come, Ava went with Maggie and Granny.  They enjoyed delicious cheese grits and fruit and then off to the book fair to find a perfect book...cause Granny only buys books at the book fair!

 

Sophomore Year Football Game Fun

This sophomore class is LOVING Friday Night Football lights and games! What a gift to have such great friends!!

 

Sweet 16!!

So every momma looks forward to their daughters Sweet 16 birthday!  It's a big day and for some reason appears to be the most special day...so I built it up really big in my head.  Caroline asked Andy several weeks ago if she could 'cut class' today for her birthday.  He agreed...he gets to be the fun parent. :-)  So for the first time in 16 years, today was the first day that I didn't wake her up with a good morning kiss nor did I get to fix her her favorite breakfast...  

She and her friend Josie spent the day together.  They shopped for her birthday outfit, they went to lunch, grabbed coffee and got manicures.  She came home for 10 minutes to change into her swimsuit and was back out the door for swim team.  

I was REALLY bummed...what should have been her most special birthday was spent without me...my feelings were hurt and I was super sad.

She came home from swim practice around 8:15, changed out of her suit and we finally did birthday stuff. One of the first things she said was "I had a really great day today!!  Thanks for letting me skip school and hang out with my friends."  Well that was a sucker punch...she had a fabulous day while I sat at home and pouted!  I guess this is the growing pains of parenting that they talk about...letting them soar even when it's hard to let go...
 

My favorite Stallion

 Today I got to see my favorite Stallion and her volleyball team. She isn't getting much playing time but she is working hard and learning a lot!! I am so proud of her for trying something new.  I can't wait to see how far she goes!

Girls Day Swim Meet

 We've made the last 3 of 4 Upstate Invite a girls day.  Due to a limited number of tickets available to each swimmer, Charissa and I have taken the girls and given the dads the day off. We look forward to the 2.5 hour drive.  Here are pics from 3 of the years...it's slowly hitting me that we won't have Charissa and Catherine with us next year to enjoy this day with...

Celebrating Andy and Caroline

Today we celebrated Andy and Caroline with Mexican for lunch.  We were so thankful for the time in our crazy schedule to set aside this time to celebrate them both.  

 

Birthday Ice Cream

 Maggie got Andy a gift card for his birthday to Cold Stone for his favorite ice cream. They waited until we got home to get his favorite Rocky Road Trip ice cream.  It was a beautiful sky that they had to pose in front of...

Upstate Invite

Catherine and Charissa picked us up bright and early at 6:30...that was after we didn't get home until 1:00 AM from Caroline babysitting...we grabbed CFA for breakfast and hit the interstate.  The girls laughed in the back while Charissa and I chatted in the front.  It was a gorgeous day for swimming...the girls both had great days swimming and I enjoyed just being...

Caroline is the team captain for South.  She is doing an amazing job with these kids.  It took a little bit to get accustomed to...but they all look up to her and trust her to keep them straight.

Caroline counted laps for Catherine during her 500 m swim.  Catherine had her very best swim!

I treasure these pictures and this time together with these girls!!  Such a gift!

 We left the swim meet shortly after 2.  We grabbed lunch from Tropical Smoothie and hit the road.  We made a quick stop in Columbia to stock up on some of our favorite things from Trader Joes.  We made it home a little after 6:30...talk about a long 12 hour day!