Happy Birthday, Mom, Nana, Mamie!

Poppy and Mamie

The lunch bunch!

What a great group!

Today is Alf's mom's birthday and she has been my "mom" for twenty years. We all celebrated with lunch at Cracker Barrel yesterday and had a great time!
It is so great that Mom has reached the milestone of her 80th birthday and she is still going strong. I couldn't ask for a better mom-in-love. She has been a loving encourager throughout my marriage! I hope this is a wonderful year for her. She blesses the lives of all of us!

Josh's Birthday Celebration!

Ashlyn and Jax give daddy a birthday smooch as Paw Paw looks on!

Josh and his beautiful family!

Yesterday was Josh's birthday. Josh, Jen, Ashlyn and Jax, Paw Paw, and I celebrated with a birthday meal at Red Lobster. It's hard to believe that my eldest son is 35. Makes me feel kind of old (I guess I am, huh?). I made brownie cupcakes with coconut frosting for him. Since one of his favorite candy bars is Mounds, I thought he would enjoy that kind of cupcake and he did. I knew that a cake would be too much as he has been doing some serious working out at the gym lately.

When I look at my sweet son's handsome face, I can still see that little boy that I had the privilege of mothering so many years ago. When we brought him home as an infant, I cried most of the way home and kept asking his dad if he thought this precious babe would survive my parenting. There has never been a child more loved or wanted than this child. I am so proud of the caring, loving man he has become! I guess he did survive my parenting after all. Your Dad and I love you so much and are so thankful to be able to watch you grow in your own role as husband and father! May God continue to bless your life as you have blessed ours!

Congratulations Ashlyn and Noah!

Ashlyn's Good Citizen of the Year Award

Ashlyn's highest average in reading award

Noah's Perfect Attendance for the 9 weeks award

Noah's Principal's list ribbon and 100 Reading points award

Our grand girls are not only beautiful but smart as well! Ashlyn's good citizen of the year award means that she has maintained terrific behavior in her classroom as well as great relationships with her teachers and classmates for the whole school year! Her principal said it was the highest honor for the students recognized. Each class had a student receiving the award. Ashlyn's second award was from her reading teacher and she was in the advanced reading group! Noah's ribbon means that her grades are excellent and her 100 point certificate for accelerated reading means that she exceeded her reading goal for the year!

We are so proud of our sweet girls and so thankful for the intellect with which the Lord has blessed them!  My prayer is that they continue to do their best and be the kind and loving children that they are now!

Summer's coming and soccer is ending!

Warmer weather means watermelon! Jax thinks it's yummy!

Coach Josh's Team, The Red Rockets!

Medal for Jax! Yes!

Medal for Grey! Yes!

Today was a scorcher and gave a preview of summer. Whenever I think of summer, one of my favorite things comes to mind and that is watermelon. When Paw Paw went to the store today, Jax asked for watermelon and really enjoyed his first piece of the season!

This afternoon was the last game for Jax and Grey's soccer season. Coaching young ones was a new experience for Josh and he did a good job! The key to coaching this age is to learn to laugh a lot and he did! So glad his competitive nature took a hike and just let the children enjoy the moment. Following the game, all players received medals and they were so proud! Great job, Jax and Grey! You guys are a delight to watch and we enjoyed doing just that!

Grey's Birthday Party!

The cake!

The sister and cousins!

Gigi and Gida

Daddy and Uncle Troy!

Zane, Ghee and Pa!

Great, Uncle Josh, and Jax with a silly face!

Shawna and little miss Sadie!

Ryan, Grey, and Jax!

Mama lights the candles!

!

Make a wish!

Yesterday, we had Grey's birthday party at Raphael's Pizza. I was too pooped to post last night so here is the event report. A lot of relatives and some friends gathered to celebrate and enjoy pizza together. I got a picture of everyone but Paw Paw (how did I miss him?)and me so we would know who came. There was a game room at the restaurant, too, and the kids, big and small, enjoyed playing. Grey received a lot of terrific gifts and thanked everyone with a big smile on his face! How thankful we were to have such a special group gather for a memorable celebration! Everyone seemed to have a great time and we look forward to sharing the upcoming year with our precious Grey!

Happy Birthday, Grey!

Grey's birthday ice cream with Oreos! Yummy!

Celebrating with cousins is the best!

Grey, the youngest of our grand brood turned 4 today. Even though he is the youngest, he has always been the tallest of the four as we marked heights on our special measuring wall at the house. We had a little birthday celebration at McDonald's after school today. He and his sister, Noah, and cousins Ashlyn and Jax played, ate ice cream, and played some more until all had to go home. We will mark Grey's height on our wall tomorrow.

When I think about Grey's specialness, I remember all the times he is such a willing helper. He goes to the grocery store with me and never stops helping until the groceries are carried in and put away. I was having some visitors one day and was busy in the garage and asked Grey if he would run the vacuum in the kitchen for me. He said, "I will but I don't know how." I showed him with my little light weight vacuum and he did a terrific job! He likes to help cook, especially cracking eggs, and he's pretty good at it. There are days when I barely stay ahead of his mischief but he is so loving that he melts my heart, especially when he says, "Grandma, can I sit in your wap?" I treasure those moments and I treasure this sweet little boy! I love you, my "big boy". Hugs and kisses, Grandma.

Happy Mother's Day!

My Mama

Daughter-in-love Jen, mother of Ashlyn

and Jax

Daughter-in-love, Blair, mother of Noah and Grey

Sister, Holly, mother to Brandon (serving in Iraq)

Me, mother of Josh and Jarrod (at work)

Mom-in-love, mother of my husband, Alf and his sister Amanda

Amanda, mother of Rachel, Rebecca, and Jonathan

We started our Mother's Day celebration yesterday as I served dinner to my mama and daddy, sister, Holly and Troy, Josh, Jen, Ashlyn and Jax, Noah and Grey, Alf and myself. Blair came by after work. Ashlyn and Noah gave their moms bags with their own artwork adorning them. It was a great evening!

Today, we went to Alf's parents house after church. Jeff and Amanda furnished lunch from Cracker Barrel. Those whose who enjoyed lunch together were Alf's mom and dad, Jeff, Amanda and children, Rachel, Rebecca, and Jonathan, Josh and children, Ashlyn and Jax, W. B. and Jewel, Alf and me. We missed having Alf's brother, Eric, Jen, Jarrod and Blair, Noah and Grey with us. The food and the company were very enjoyable!

When I think of how blessed our family is, I am overwhelmed! Four generations were included in our celebrations this special weekend and how we treasure those relationships! I thank God for each and every person in our families and the opportunities He gives to spend time together and share the love we have for one another and the hope we have in Him!