Somebody was a just a little bit excited last night...

Miss Lori got Callie Grace her first real ring!  Well, she actually got her 2 rings.  I let CG know that they are only for church.  They look really cute on her.

The view from here...

We had a nice weekend complete with a roller skating birthday party!  I took a few random pictures that I wanted to share.

I was able to enjoy a nice dinner with some of my closest friends the other night.  These girls mean so much to me.

We saw a beautiful double rainbow yesterday evening.  This picture does not do it justice!

Friends

I took the children to Chick-fil-A for dinner on Saturday evening since their daddy was at the football game.  Guess who we ran in to...

I love good friends that you can have fun with in a moments notice!

Happy Rainy Thursday!

A little sunshine on an otherwise gloomy day...

Going to the zoo

The children and I ventured out to the zoo on Saturday.  Kip had plans to go to the football game so I was the one woman show!  We stayed for 3.5 hours.  Callie Grace and Caleb did great until the very end.  Everyone was tired and Caleb was HUNGRY.  They had eaten all of the snacks that I had packed.   Everyone in line for the tram got to hear just how HUNGRY he was.:) 

I did get some cutie pie pictures and we certainly made some special memories...

They kept saying, "according to my map..."

He looks so growny here...

sweet girl

melt my heart

riding the train

After we got home, Callie Grace put this 46 piece puzzle together by herself!

Go Gamecocks!

Our gamecock girl before school this morning...  Our gamecock boy was still asleep!

Twinkle Toes

Someone wore her twinkle toes for the very first time this week!

She likes to call them her twinks!

Edventure

We enjoyed going to Edventure last night.  We haven't been in quite a while.  It was $1 night so that made it even better and a lot busier!

The children had fun and enjoyed the fire truck, sitting on the tractor and grocery shopping.

What a fun ending to Caleb's birthday!

Caleb is 4

Dear Caleb,

How is it possible that you are 4 years old?  I woke up shortly before 4am this morning and thought about what I was doing 4 years ago today at that very hour.  I had started to feel uncomfortable in the bed so I had gotten on the couch.  Callie Grace was 16 months old.  She woke up about the same time that I did so she just laid on me.  Around 5am, it became apparent that I needed to wake your daddy.  I don't think he thought it was the real deal but quickly found out otherwise.  We took your sister to mimi's house and then we were on the way to the hospital.  Once Dr. Shipley arrived and assessed the situation, he said that I needed to have a c-section.  I was super nervous but I kept my eye on the goal.  That goal was to hold you in my arms and to hear your cry.  You were born around 7:30am Caleb.  I couldn't get over those strong genes - you looked just like your daddy.  Feelings of extreme thankfulness to God washed over me.  He had blessed us with a perfect little boy.  His faithfulness shone bright on our family that day.

My prayer is that God will guide you and protect you all the days of your life.  I pray that you will grow to be a Godly man.  Never forget how much your family loves you Caleb.  And this mama's heart has never been the same since September 13, 2007.

Love you so much,
Mama

Caleb's School Party

I was able to take an early lunch today so I could participate in Caleb's school party!  When I got to his school, the assistant and I got the snack plates filled up with goodies and the straws in the roaring waters.  When Caleb saw me he got really excited.  He wanted me to start taking pictures!  His class sang the zoophonics alphabet for me and they were absolutely precious.  Yes, he wore his spiderman shirt again today.  We kept with the spiderman theme for his school party as welll!

getting ready for the zoophonics song

being a tad silly!

Bugs Birthday Party

My baby had a fun 4th birthday party.  He kept telling me that it was the greatest party ever!  We had a small spiderman party at the playground.  The weather was so nice!

Spiderman Caleb

pinata

yummy cake compliments of Mimi

birthday boy making his wish - he told me that he wished for everyone to be together

opening his scooter from Aunt de - so excited!

Caleb and his friend, Gavin 

Caleb's First Day of School

***Update - 12:15pm  I just talked to Caleb to see how his first day went.  He said, "well, we learned about Jesus. bye!"  I can't think of a better person to learn about than Him!


The time has finally come for Caleb's first day of school.  Caleb has been so ready to begin.  When I talked to him this morning he said, "mom, am I going to Pineview today"?  I said, "no buddy, still Holland Avenue."  I prayed with Caleb this morning.  I asked Jesus to help him keep his hands to himself, use an inside voice and remember his manners.  This is a tall order for a boy who is 3!

My baby ready for his first day!

Inside his new classroom...

showing me his play-doh in his favorite color

As I was walking out the room, I turned back to wave bye one more time and Caleb blew me a kiss.  That was just what this mama needed on this day.

Breakfast Date with Caleb

We then went to the playground.  We were running around and playing so much that I forgot to snap a picture so I had to take one as we were getting ready to get in the car.  He really didn't want his picture taken but I LOVE how it turned out.