Our First Author

I am waaaaayyyy behind on my blogging and trying to get caught up...so stayed tuned for many more post. :) A couple of weeks ago we were invited to Coffee and Doughnuts in Katie's class. The kids were working hard lately on writing non-fiction books. They got to pick their topic, research all about it and then decided what to write.  They had finally finished and were ready to have a reading and book signing for all of us. 

Our beautiful author ready for her first book reading and signing.

Quick picture with her BFF Kelsey

You can click here to watch the video of Katie and her group reading their book "Cool Crabs" Sorry you will probably have to turn your head. I had to film on my phone and turned it to get the entire group in the shot.

Their book published

After the reading the parents got a copy of the book and each group had their own table to sign the books. It was very cute...all the parents lined up at the tables and had all the authors sign.

 Working hard on those signatures. :)

Me and my girl! I am so very proud of her and the book she helped write. Good job Katie!!!

Mother's Day

This year Mother's Day was extra special to me for a couple of reason. One is that my Mom and Dad were here. This was the first Mother's Day that I have spent with my Mom since I became a Mom.

Me and my two blessings

Me and my Mom...with a sneaky Bree in the middle

 After church and some lunch we all went over to Wilmington for the afternoon. My Mom, the girls and I went to Sweet and Sassy for a Mommy and Me day. We all got manicures and pedicures.

The girls were working the run way while we waited. 

 Getting the feeties soaked and scrubbed....while catching up on all the latest Teen Bop gossip. Katie asked me why I wasn't reading a magazine. I picked up one of the many "teen" magazines. Read a fascinating article about how your boyfriend can be more like Justin Bieber.  Because that is what we all want. LOL:) 

A group photo to show off our sassiness. Haha!

We head out to dinner afterwards and then back home. Photo is dark...but little one was out and fell asleep holding my hand. (insert melted heart). Love my girls!

The second reason Mother's Day was so special this year is that Katie was baptized today. A few weeks ago she accepted Jesus into her heart. We met with Pastor Bobby shortly after and he talked with her about her decision and about being baptized. She was so excited!

Hanging out waiting for the baptism to start.

Quick photo of the two of us right before she walked up. I love how happy she is about her decision. :)

The water was really warm...so she had to take a few minutes to get down the steps. Pastor Bobby tell everyone how Katie came to her decision to accept Christ.

Getting ready to go down in the water.

Down with the old self and up with the new self!!!!

Right after....So thankful for this little girl and who God is shaping her to be!

Being a mom is the hardest job I know I will every have. I have to rely on the good Lord to give me the strength each day to love my girls in a way that will help mold them and show them what it is like to live a life for God. I am so thankful that he gave me these two lovable and very silly girls to be their momma.

Tell the World

Video of the girls singing at church the other Sunday. They and the other kids have been working on this song the past few weeks. Click here to watch the video.

Bonfire with the Family

The weekend we picked the girls up from my Mom and Dad we actually met up at my Aunt Shirley and Uncle David's house. They live very close to where we normally meet and I haven't seen then and some of my other extended family in some time. Shirley and David had a bonfire and invited the rest of the family over. My Aunt Kathy and Uncle Ronnie were able to make along with my cousins Amy and Brian. 

The bonfire...roasted hot dogs and marshmallows

 My cuties

 Me and my Momma

 Daddy and Bree hanging out

 Shirley and David live on lots of land so they took the girls out on their gator and tractor....the girls LOVED it. They thought it was the best thing.

We had a great time catching up and seeing our family. The girls haven't spent much time with my extended family but they warmed up quickly to them all. We stayed the night at Shirley and Davids and the girls feel right at home. Bree even said that Shirley was like an extra Nana...which is high praise. When it was time to leave they didn't want to go, so I guess we will have to come back soon to see everyone. Thanks to Shirley and David for putting together the bonfire for everyone and for housing us for the night. :) 

Spring Break in TN

Last week the girls went to TN for spring break and to spend some time with Nana and Papaw. They were thrilled to be going. They love going to TN...especially without mommy and daddy in tow. 



They had lots of fun and Nana and Papaw had lots of good pictures to share. They went to an Easter Egg hunt at my parents church.

They had a gold and silver egg hid and the kid that found it would get a special prize. Mom said Katie was so determined to find one of those eggs that she didn't even pick up eggs that she found. Gotta love her competitive side...she gets it honest at least. By the end of the hunt Katie only had a few eggs in her basket.

They dyed some eggs to hind around the house.

I gave the Easter Bunny a heads up that the girls would be in TN...so he was nice enough to stop there for them.

All dressed up on Easter morning and ready to go to church. Two beautiful girls!

They took a trip to Gatlinburg TN to Ripley's Aquarium.

Getting an up close and personal view of the penguins.

I love how Katie is leaning back from the sting ray...as if it was going to get her.

One of Katie's famous silly faces

What's in there Papaw??? I think he had to be the brave one and put his hand in the dark hole.

Hold your breath....so silly

Sweet sisters....this gives me hope that even thought they fight they really do love each other. :)

They love their Nana and Papaw

Hugs

By mid week Nana wasn't feeling so good. She had a cold so Papaw had a day out with the girls so Nana could rest. Both the girls wanted to go to Bays Mountain.

 You can see that Katie has trained Bree how to join in the silly face photo's

 Checking out the animals.

 After Bays Mountain, they stopped by Eastman Park (we played here lots as kids) to let them play.

 This playground hasn't changed a bit.

Papaw also took them to see Matthew's soccer game he had that afternoon. I think the enjoyed their day with Papaw.

They had lots of play time at home and with Kevin, Brandy and Matthew. I know they had a blast and each time we talked to them on the phone we got an ear full of that they did. They are already asking about when they get to go back this summer. Thanks to Nana and Papaw for giving them a fun spring break and also giving Chris and I some time on our own!

Happy Birthday to Me!!

Last Monday was my 35th Birthday....so Happy Birthday to me!!! This birthday was a little different, this was the first one I have spent without my girls...probably since they were born. They spent the week in TN with my parents because it was Katie's spring break. They have been wanting to go to TN for months. I was glad to share them and let them have so much fun. Post later about their fun. 

So since they were in TN for a week Chris and I had lots of time to hang out. We both took some days off work and had a 4 day weekend to do...well...what ever we wanted. :)

On my birthday I got to spend the day with this guy.... 

 We went to Wilmington for the day...just went to places that we wanted to go. Had lunch at one of my favorites places BW3's. They not only have great wings, but this place is special to us because it was one of the places we would frequent in Knoxville when we dated. We both learned we had a competitive nature as we used to play each other in the trivia games. Today, they still have the trivia but they didn't have it up to play this day :( I was looking forward to beating him...or him letting me win. :)

When we came home...I had some very special cards made and sent to me from my girls. Hands down the best present I got all day. :) They both had drawings on the back as well.

 We decided to stay in and cook for dinner. We picked up some steak kabobs and twice back potatoes from the grocery store. It was really yummy and then we split a dessert as my birthday cake. :)

I honestly can say that this was one of the best birthdays I have had  and it would have been prefect if the girls were here...but it was a great day or few days of just some time for me and Chris. I also got several bday calls from my friends and family's as well and some funny\sweet cards.  To be 35 and have two beautiful girls, a husband that loves me, wonderful family and some of the best friends a girl could ask for....not sure life could get much better than it is now. I know I am blessed more than I could ask for....my cup runneth over. Thanks to all who love me and help made my day so special.

Look Mom...Two Wheels!

Last weekend Katie learned how to ride her bike without training wheels. She tried it last year but was just to nervous about falling on the ground, so we just waited until she was ready. On Saturday, she went outside with Chris and tried on her smaller bike. It took her all of an hour to figure it out. Now she is cruising up and down our streets on her bigger bike. Just goes to show you that when she is ready and puts her mind to something she will get it done. :)

Click here for some video footage.

 I love how excited Bree is for Katie on her big accomplishment. :)