Endings All Around

I've gotten so behind on my blog! We have been super busy, my numero uno reason I have been avoiding the blog is this...

Something must have fallen on my laptop. I used to have half the screen which wasn't too bad, but we got home from the beach and it was cracked even more. So annoying...

 

We planned our holiday (yes, I said holiday...I like the British version better) a few months ago when our May plans were crushed. We knew Avery would miss her last week of school, and we planned accordingly. We waited and waited for that week to come. I had teacher gifts all ready. I was planning to pick her up early on Friday. We were so excited. Thursday evening Avery threw up everything she had eaten the past month (and more). She was so sick. She was moaning with a terrible stomach ache and couldn't keep anything down. Luckily Daniel was home that night, and at about 11 pm we decided I would take Avery to the ER. It was the first kid trip there. So lucky we live in a small town. We were in and out in less than an hour.

 

They gave Avery a popsicle and took an x-ray, and the diagnosis was...constipation. Luckily there were no IVs or shots. Needless to say, Avery missed her last day of school.

 

She was fine on Friday, but I kept her home. Around lunchtime she felt well enough to go up to the school to say goodbye and give her teachers their presents. We got them these cute drink dispensers with some lemonade packets, chocolate covered peanuts, and a Tennessee towel I made. Her teachers were so happy to see her, and they loved her gift. We have been so blessed with Stone Bridge Academy, and we can't wait to start kindergarten.

 

We came home to rest before dance recital rehearsal. Avery picked a fine time to get a stomach bug. Luckily, she was vomit free that day and recital day.

 

This was after rehearsal. We are ready!

 

We made it through Friday night, and Saturday morning Meme, Beth, and Tate came up to see the recital. We all went to lunch, then Avery and I headed up to the school to get ready.

 

Tap was first, so that's what all the good pictures are. I can't believe how well she did on that stage! We are so proud of her! She danced her little heart out, and looked like a pro! We can't wait to start again in the fall.

 

A week later something sad happened...my baby sister graduated from high school! I was in high school when she was born, and I can't believe she's old enough to graduate! Sarah Grace is an amazing young woman. She is smart and sweet, and she has such an amazing faith and a love for others and for sharing the gospel. She will be a light to everyone she meets. Avery was in Birmingham, so Colt and I headed to Huntsville. About halfway through the ceremony Colt lost his mind. I had to take him out screaming. I was sick, and I wanted to see Sarah Grace graduated. I was crying, Colt was crying...it was a hot mess. We were able to walk up to the balcony and stand and watch her walk.

 

The picture I took of her walking across the stage was blurry, so this is all I could get. Such a proud big sister.

 

Isn't she gorgeous? There's also a picture of Beth, SG, and me, and I'm the shortest! Made my day!

 

This is what my hooligan did while we were waiting for graduation to end...

 

In other news, we planted our garden. We have almost anything you can think of. It has been so dry I'm hoping everything makes it, because I want more vegetables than last year. I've been watering like a fiend (but not too much!) and praying it works. Lots of stuff sprouting already. God is so good.

 

Avery and Colt had fun helping us plant and water. The garden is considerably larger than last year and a doozy to water! We also bought two more peach trees, two blackberry trees, and two blueberry trees. I'm so excited!! What fun our kids will have being able to pick berries in their own backyard!

 

I usually go back and proofread the blog before I publish it, but I might jab my eyes out if I have to read this thing on this tiny screen. Forgive any typos, please. Holiday pictures up next...



Hooky

After a long weekend celebrating and dealing with the stomach bug, Avery was still puny on Monday. I let her stay home from school. We were running some errands that morning and one of the kids mentioned they wanted a Pongo stuffed animal to go with the Perdita we have. That gave me an idea...let's go to the Disney Store in Nashville! We quickly finished our errands and headed toward Music City.

I have been dying to go to Marcy Jo's Mealhouse near Columbia for months! It's only open Thursday-Saturday, but we got off the interstate to find it anyway. It is the cutest, smallest little restaurant ever! We looked like major tourists, but I had to get pictures!

Even more excited to go now that we've seen it! We got back on the interstate and made our way to the Opry Mills Mall. As we were trying to find the Disney Store, we passed the carousel and took a little ride. I always forget they make me sick until it's too late. Oh, well...the kids liked it.

 

We found our store, and lucky me...their stuffed animals were buy one get one for $1! They didn't quite have what we were looking for. Avery got Lucky from 101 Dalmatians and Colt got Pluto. We left there and I lost my mind in Boot Barn. I have been wanting to get the kids some cowboy boots. Well, once you are there and the kids are with you, you can't leave empty handed. So I paid a ridiculous amount of money for some boots for the kids. YOLO, right?!

 

Here's our loot outside our favorite spot, Rocket Fizz. Had to end the day with some sugar.

 

This made my day. Rocket Fizz is across the street from a parking lot that costs like $11. I found this spot on the road, and only paid a couple quarters! And we got to see the stadium where the Titans play! Now that Derrick Henry is playing here, we gotta go!!

 

 



And one last stop on our way home. Just down the road from Marcy Jo's is Joey and Rory's house. Sorry, Rory, for being a little stalkerish and driving by your house three times very slowly taking pictures. At least we didn't go knock on their door like Avery wanted to do.

 

What a fun, spontaneous day we had! I love living near new places to explore, and I can't wait to take advantage of this come summer!! Sorry, Daniel, our gasoline bill is about to go up!!

Birthday Girl

In December 2010 I was twenty weeks pregnant with our first baby. We anxiously waited to see if we were to have a boy or a girl. My sister had two boys, so I just knew it was a boy, even though I wanted a girl more than I cared to admit. We had the ultrasound technician put the gender in an envelope and gave it to my sister. She made a cake with the gender color in the middle. That was probably the longest day of my life! That night we all gathered for dinner. Then it was the moment I had been waiting for. I cut into the cake...

And couldn't believe my eyes! I immediately started crying and asking if we were really having a girl. Obviously all I wanted was a healthy baby, but a healthy girl? Double score.

I mean, can you get any sweeter?!

Fast forward to April 26, 2016, and our precious Avery is five years old. Where did the time go? We have been so blessed by this girl, and we couldn't imagine what we ever did without her. She has the best laugh ever, and wakes up smiling (on most days). She is funny and smart, asks a million questions, loves to play no matter where we are, has a sweet tooth like her mama, and loves with all her heart. She loves listening to Joey+Rory and makes me melt when she sings "I'll Fly Away" with everything she has. She loves hearing me tell her stories of people from the Bible (although I think the one about Samson was a little much for a four year old). She has brought us so much joy these past five years, and we can't wait to see what the future holds for this girl.

Avery's birthday party was on Saturday, and we had been planning forever. We had a bounce house, and we invited her girlfriends from school plus her other friends and family. We got everything ready Friday night, and at 2am Avery woke up throwing up. We couldn't believe it. She rested and rehydrated Saturday morning, and luckily she quit throwing up. She still felt horrible, and spent most of the party curled up in a chair outside while everyone else had fun playing. She was the most pitiful birthday girl I've ever seen.

Just a few shots I got. I'm horrible about taking pictures. Mamaw came after the party, and I guess Avery started feeling better. I don't know who took that last picture. Her sweet friend from school, Alexa, came and that cheered Avery a little. It was cloudy tornado weather that day, and her candles blew out before we finished singing. The party ended just in time for a few funnel clouds to go through our area. So thankful the weather held out for the party. We are so thankful for everyone who drove out to the boonies to celebrate our sweet Avery.

 

Meme got Avery the best gift. Avery loves listening to CDs in her room, but Meme got her a record player! She brought some good records from her house and we all learned how to use it. The kids are having a blast with it! That middle picture cracks me up. We've got 101 Dalmatians on in the background while they are listening to Wham. Definitely retro in Avery's room these days. We are hoping to find her Joey+Rory favorites on records.

 

Even though our birthday girl was hit with the stomach bug for her party it turned out to be a fun weekend celebrating the light of our life. Happy Birthday, Avery!