My twirler girl

Alabama had her recital for Sparklers last week. She'd practiced so so hard for it and was so good at all the parts of the routine. She looked adorable in her outfit, her hair was braided,

 her nails were painted and she was so beyond excited that all of her family was coming to see her!

 

She'd had a bit of a meltdown at the dress rehearsal when I left the room to feed the baby and she didn't know where I was so she didn't practice the second song but got on stage to do (not do) her wave and pose. We practiced what she would do, how she would smile, and pose the next two days. She was so ready! We even memorized Joshua 1:9. "Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid. The Lord your God will be with you wherever you go." Everyone was there (except GA and Clara), the recital started, the boys were relatively calm and doled out to family, camera was in hand and ready. and then it happened. When she got on stage, everything seemed great. She laid down got under her blanket for the beginning of the song and the music started. They "woke up and smiled" and then were supposed to pick up their baton. She looked around, under the blanket....no baton! The show was going on but she was just standing there. My heart sank. She'd worked so hard all year and this was the ONLY chance she'd have to do the routine for her family! I ran over to where she had been sitting (almost tripping over the caution tape blocking the seats!) saw the baton, ran around the aisle, grabbed the baton, ran to the front of the auditorium, tossed the baton to her...and it ROLLED OFF THE OTHER END!!!! Y'all. I could have died! I had to go get the baton and reach it out for her to come and get it. I was so embarrassed!!! She joined in and I ran back to my seat and snapped a few pictures of the last minute of the routine.

 

 

 I felt like I'd ruined everyone's video but I didn't know what else to do! I couldn't just let her stand there the whole time! She's only five, and yes she should have made her she had the baton, but it's not as if she does this every day and the teenage helpers were supposed to make sure everyone had what they needed. Oh well. When I asked her about it much later that evening, she wasn't upset at all. All she cared about is that all of her family was there to see her. She loves them so!

 

 

Oh, and she didn't pose or wave. But she was so proud to have that "medal!" And the flowers from her Daddy.  :) 

(I only cried once, okay, maybe twice, while writing this, but at least it can be another story for our book, Audra!)

Banner day

It was a "banner day" around here today, as Adam said! Alabama learned how to tie her shoes, Pate started potty training (and did great!!!), and Blue tried rice cereal (and spit it out!)! We are getting things done this summer! Yay! 

Sunday funnies

Pate has been cracking us up lately! 

Alabama had his cowboy hat the other day and wouldn't give it back. He finally got so mad at her he said "Mama "mank" you Bama!" Lol! 

He has conversations with his trucks like you would dolls. I was listening to him while Alabama was gone last week. "Me by?" Moves truck. "Thank you."

He comes running when he hears the baby fussing. He say "okay baby" like to say it's okay baby! 

Matchy matchy

We just love to match! As Audra says "it's just what I do!" The top pic my sister Alicia bought on Zulily and the bottom one my Aunt Kathie found at Hamricks! We've been waiting to Memorial Day to wear them and I'm so glad they still fit! Do you dress your kids alike? 

A day in the life-Monday

 

Mother's Day and Baby Dedication

I woke up on Mother's Day to breakfast in bed of eggs, sausage, and toast cooked by my sweet husband and the sweetest card he made with the big kids! I loved it!

We always do baby dedication at our church on Mother's Day.

 Blue was dedicated this year so some of our family joined us at church. We had 18 babies dedicated! We have a healthy, growing church!

It is such an honor and privilege to be entrusted with these little lives! I pray that as parents, we show them the love of the Lord, teach them His ways, and train them to serve Him all the days of their life.  Blue wore the same dedication gown that my Mama and me made for Pate.

 So precious. I don't care what all the "haters" say, I love a good Southern boy in a gown! :) (On another note, I read an article a few weeks ago that said, "People dress up for what they are grateful for" and I just keep thinking about how true that is.) We had a great Mother's Day with both of our families at our house. Adam worked so hard to get the yard looking great! Hosting is a lot of work, but worth it because it forces you to get a lot done and cleaned up with a deadline! ha! We ate outside under the pecan tree and played corn hole and had a relaxing afternoon.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pate decided to eat the icing off the cake with a spoon!

 

 

 

 

Aunt Judy even brought Granny out for a little bit and she sat outside, had a taste of cake and listened to Daddy play a little while!

 

 

 

We didn't make it back to church so we ate Zaxby's in the car as we drove around town for a while and Bama went to eat with Mimi. Pate loves riding around with the windows down! We are thankful to have great Mothers and Grandmothers in our lives that help us so much!  

 

 

 

 

I'm so blessed to be the Mama to these three sweet babies of mine!

Dirt

This boy sat in this same place with this one truck for 45 minutes. What can I say? The boy loves dirt.