Captured!

Thank goodness for a camera phone right!?! Here are a few pictures from lately.

 Boys and their toys....

 He is getting very brave! This was just one of the many stunts he has under his belt now.

 I had a sweet lunch date this week with this adorable munchkin! She is beautiful just like her mommy.

 "Look Mom, I am a monkey!"

 Dear husband, we have a walk in closet with a large shoe shelf. Please utilize it. This is unnecessary!

 Our first swim of the year. We still have the floaties :( Amazing that a child who will stand on the seat of a four wheeler while driving is terrified to swim. I am hoping swimming lessons will conquer this fear this summer.

So a few months ago we had water leak that just so happened to occur RIGHT above my desk at work. We ended up having to strip the walls and while we are waiting on the new wallpaper we decided to have a little fun with the walls......with the bosses permission of course. This is sidewalk chalk and three women acting like 5 year olds

 

 She was the MOST excited. She is responsible for most of the wall art.

Look how big my Cami is! She is the sweetest cat.

Lastly as most of you know the world lost a precious angel last week. I never had the opportunity to meet sweet Ava but I have followed her story for over a year and like most of you we feel as though we have been on this journey with her. I can't and won't even try to begin to know what it must feel like to lose a child. I hope I never have to know that feeling. It is amazing how a child you never met can make such an impact on your life and steal a piece of your heart. The moment I learned of her passing, I wept for a while. I then went and got Colby out of his bed and put him into mine and held him till I found rest. Thank you God for sharing such a precious gift with us, even if it was just for a little while. She changed my outlook on life forever and I will never be the same. Wrap your arms around her family and give them the peace and comfort that only you can. We often want to ask why. It is our nature and we know that you understand that. What I do know is that there is a reason and purpose for everything that happens even if it isn't to our own understanding. Just the impact that she has made on so many lives is evidence that her life served a purpose. Thank you Paige for sharing Ava's life so openly with us these past few years. May we not fail you to pray for you and your family each and every day.

Such a beautiful blessing.



A mothers love

I can't imagine life without my mother. Although I am thankful for her every single day, around mothers day I often reflect on how much she means to me. My mother is a Godly woman who raised me to know right from wrong and never compromised on her definition of right and wrong. She was always a shoulder when I needed to cry, she was there on several occasions to pick up the pieces of what was left of me and help me put them back together and she has been patient with me even when I made life decisions that she wouldn't have made herself. I can only pray that I will one day be as good a mother as she has been to me. When I am sick, she is still the one person I want to come take care of me. When something exciting happens, I call her immediately to tell her. She is who I go to for comfort, guidance, a laugh and sometimes just to vent. Although I soley blame her for Colby being rotten to the core (because there is no one there to spank nana), she has been an awesome grandmother to my child. So mom, from me to you, a VERY Happy Mothers Day. I hope I have made you proud in life and lived up to your expectations. Thank you doesn't even seem like an appropriate word.

A little bit of this and that....

We have had an exciting and busy last few weeks. Here are a few highlights:

 Our soccer season ended :( It really didn't last long enough. Colby has missed it so much in the last few weeks. We had the kids a party and took some group pictures. These kids had the best time and it has really helped Colby learn how to channel some of that energy that he has an ABUNDANCE of.

 The dreaded day finally came......we registered Colby for kindergarten. I made it through the event without a tear although I would be lying if I said I didn't fight them back. After what felt like a complete background check we got him registered (Cue the eye roll). If you have ever registered a child for school I am sure you understand. He was taken to the back for an "assessment" to test his skills and level of comprehension. When it was over, the teacher who conducted his came out to meet "Colby's parents!" Needless to say he gave her plenty to laugh and talk about. Her assessment is that Colby will talk plenty and will have NO problems making friends. There isn't a shy bone in his body. I don't know if I will be as strong come August when he actually starts but I am very excited for him to finally get to go to big school.

 Jones Co Relay for Life was a blast. Our company goes above and beyond for this worthy cause. Seeing the survivors do their victory lap will make the hardest heart soften. I am so thankful to work for a company who sees the value and importance in Relay. We had a mardi gras theme this year which made for some memorable times to say the least. I tried to get Jason in a pimp hat and beads but he wasn't quite game for it. I can't say enough how much these two gals mean to me. It is so nice to work with your best friends. We may not always see eye to eye but at the end of the day we all know we love each other.

 Now that the weather is nicer, it was time to break the four wheeler back out. Colby had to get adjusted to it again and oh the difference a year makes! After a few slow practice laps he started doing "tricks!" If you can't tell he is laying on the seat.

 In this shot he came by me and I snapped at just the right time. I think it is safe to assume we have our hands full in the near future.

 Colby loves any kind of super hero so when you put a bunch of them into one movie you could not even begin to contain his excitement. The Avengers was a great movie. I was actually surprised that he got some of the comedy and laughed on cue. I guess it shows just how much he has grown. The last movie experience with Colby was ......for lack of a better word miserable. I was apprehensive to do this on my own but he was a total angel this time around.

For those of you who have know me a while, isn't it hard to imagine that she is about to be a Junior in High School? I remember when she was Colby's age and every other word out of her mouth was "But Why?"

"Don't worry about the wicked or envy those who do wrong. For like grass, they soon fade away. Trust in the Lord and do good. Then you will live safely in the land and prosper. TAKE DELIGHT IN THE LORD AND HE WILL GIVE YOU YOUR HEART'S DESIRES" Psalm 37: 1-4

Too often we delight in our own desires and still expect God to bless us. I heard these verses this week and thought I would pass them on. Have a great week!