Keeping my little ducks in a row :)

The transition to Summer has always been a little difficult for me (naturally with this many lives present) so I have made a schedule for each week day to soften the blow for all of us consisting of things like story time, learning time, swim time, outside time, library time, craft time and quiet time. We hit the ground running on Tuesday morning with  all the refreshment that summertime brings. It is now Thursday, 3 and a half days deep and I am proud to say that it is going super (probably thanks to diligent prayers by Mia and other I am sure). We all got library cards on Tuesday and we so enjoyed picking out books together. We liked it so much that we went back yesterday and stayed for over an hour. It is so quiet and serene in the library....the smell of books....the relaxation of carousing down the rows. Yesterday afternoon I got  Mal, Londyn and Heaven dolled up to take some snapshots of them in their dance clothes. Their recital is next Friday and we are already excited :) I would love to post those pics, but my camera has gone MIA. Not good. I'm sure it will turn up and you will get those pics soon (along with others).

As for today........As I write this they have already had breakfast, cleaned their rooms, we have  read 5 books and now they are making beaded necklaces for craft time. Outside play at 11. Lunch at 12. Quiet time at 12:30 (which is when I will put away about 10 loads of laundry), up at 2 for free play and snack at 3. We have already had a bountiful harvest of squash and zucchini so RJ and I will be freezing veggies for most of the evening. Then we will start over tomorrow, but we will swim sometime tomorrow. Happy Summer.

Finally some blog time. This is gonna be a good one.

So, since last time.....

Wednesday and Thursday last week, the kids had field day. This was always one of my favorite days of the year at school (right there with the Valentines Party) so RJ and I always go. The kids did awesome!!! They were raring to go!

Mallory got first and Heaven got second  in the 50 yard dash....

Londyn got first in her group too!!! I was so impressed!

Chandler committed himself to the bouncy ball race and pulled ahead to win first. He also got second in the 50 yard dash!

Tawny got 5th place in the long jump against about 20 girls. I was so proud of her! She has so much heart.

Coco had a good time too!!

Saturday we had a Mothers Day lunch with my side of the fam. I love them so much.....so many great moms (especially mine).

 That night RJ and I went to the crawfish boil with our good friends Braden and Jessica. We met my Aunt Tina some other family there. My camera was dead :( so I only have a pic from Tinas camera. We had a blast! 

As you know Sunday was Mothers Day and we had Nana and Mia (RJ's mother and grandmother) over for lunch. These two women are such an inspiration to me......I want to be like them when I grow up. 

I accomplished what I set out for this Mothers Day. I made my mom and my mother in law cry.  ;) 

I had a pretty simple week this last week. Took Chandler to the dentist on Thursday and so enjoyed spending time alone with him. That evening, I had dinner with my besties. These girls are the best of the best!

Life is good.

Randomness from the weekend

Londyns class has been studying manners so they had a tea party and a program on Friday. I was the hairstylist and RJ was the class barber. I did about 20 heads of hair and RJ shaved faces and straightened ties. It was so much fun. I wish I had time between braids and curls to get more pics but I was too darn busy. Here are some of the few. Londyn is a doll!!

On Saturday, RJ and I did yardwork for hours and hours but it sure does look beautiful out there. Saturday night we had some sweet friends over for game night. I know this sounds crazy, but it was our first one ever. RJ and I had individual friends when we got married, but have never had "couple" friends. It has been in my prayers for years, so these phenomenal people are an answer from God. Truly. We had a great time.

Jessica and Braden

Brad and Josie

I take is pretty seriously. I won. Just sayin'.

 Goofy.

I also wanted to post some beautiful  pics I took of Mallory the other day :)

Radiant. Beautiful. Compassionate. Joyful. Genuine. One of a kind.

He lives!

What a special day, Easter. The reason for our hope. Praise God, he lives! We had a fun filled day in honor of Him. To start the day the kids got their baskets and they loved them. Then we got the children all gussied up and they looked so precious.

Then off to church where I had a total of 40 three year olds between both services to do the egg hunt. It was a blast!! Here is a pic of me with my 2nd service class. I have been teaching in this class for over two years now and some of these children are like my own. They bless me so so very much!

After church, we headed over to Nana's to take pics in her amazing back yard.

After Nana's we went home, ate lunch and took a short nap. We finished out the day playing outside together. The kids played in the water and I blew about a billion bubbles for Chloe. We had Mallorys fave, chicken and dumplings for dinner (YUM) and then we all played basketball until way after the street light came on. The kids went to bed a little later than usual, but that's okay because we were together. :) Watched the Dove awards and hit the hay. What a day

3 days of crazy... :)

The last three days have been a blur of activity and madness (but so much fun). 

Starting on Thursday...

All 6 kids had dentist appointments in Tyler,which went great. That consumes about two hours of the day. Then it was on to Chuck E. Cheese to celebrate clean teeth. We had a blast there. Next we stopped at Toys R Us to finally let Chandler and Mallory use their b-day gift cards from aunt Ashley and Uncle Kevin. Chandler got an imaginext joker house to go with his already huge collection. Mallory got a lite brite, which I have played with twice since Thursday :) Then, on to Braums for yummy ice cream. After that, we headed back home to get ready for the girls T-ball game. They did great and I had a pickle juice snow cone.

Friday was so special and fun. The kids were out of school for Good Friday and we made the most of it. There of course was lots of playing but other than that...... Chandler got a haircut, we dyed Easter eggs and we had a special "last supper" communion together in honor of our savior (which kinda looks like a seance in the pictures but was actually very sweet and spirit filled). Londyn melted my heart as it was coming to a close when she said "Mommy, thank you for praying to God for us". 

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Mine and RJ's anniversary was Thursday so we sent the kids to grandparents, went to Jalapeno Tree for dinner and then to see Soul Surfer with our sweet friends Braden and Jessica.

 Today, we had Easter with RJ's wonderful family here at the house. I just love them so very much.

And of course, I got to see precious Lauren.

Looking forward to tomorrow. A day to praise our risen Lord. Can't wait to post pics of the girls in their gorgeous dresses and the bows I made to match them. Have a happy Easter!!!!

The show went on :)

Wow! It has been a doozy of a 3 days. I have been fast and furious getting ready for Living Alternatives First Annual Fashion Show. We had a few hiccups along the way but I am left with no doubt that God has had a hand in this. I know what we do is so special and this particular event (as with them all) was laid daily at the Fathers feet. On the backside of things, it was beautifully orchestrated and I am honored to have been a part of it. Beautiful clothes. Even more beautiful children.....which is why we do what we do. Three of our girls were in it so I am posting some pics.

A beautiful day for the show. Praise GOD.