Payton's Trinity

Payton and I were talking the other day and she was asking me about the trinity. I went on to explain it to her and she seemed satisfied with my explanation. After a few minutes of silence she said "Mom I want to be a trinity.... Payton, American Girl Doll, and Princess. Oh yeah!"
Love her little mind.

Ivy Catherine - 3 months

Yesterday was Ivy's 3 month birthday! Part of me feels like it was just yesterday she was born and then at the same time it feels like she has been here forever. We just love this little girl and so glad she is ours. Ivy is a sweet content happy little girl. She was a fussy little one for awhile because she had an ear infection and I had no idea. She never had a fever or seemed sick so I just thought that I finally had a fussy baby. Ever since she got better she has been just content as the other three were as babies. She smiles anytime someone speaks to her, plays contently, and sleeps great. Isn't there just something priceless about an infants smile? Oh man, we could just eat her up when she smiles and coos, it never gets old. I love having an infant again because there is just something so simple about their needs. All they need is a pair of arms and a bottle. After a day of child rearing being with her is refreshing, I can meet all of her needs so easily and it is nice.

a great night

We got to spend a whole night and day with the Goforth girls and man was it fun. The girls had a great time swimming, dressing up, playing ballet, and being together until their eyes closed. The big girls (Catherine and I) had fun catching up. It was exactly what I needed. I have to brag on my friend a minute..... Catherine is an amazing mom, wife and friend. Everytime I am with her I am encouraged to be better. Just watching her love her children, talk about Michael, and those she loves is refreshing. I can learn so much from her, she loves others well. I am glad to call her my best friend, what a blessing her family is to ours. We had a great time I just wish that we could have a sleepover more often, it left me a little homesick for my friend. Love you Goforth family!




ready set jump



catherine and sweet Molly Ryan



sweet friends

Memorial Day

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Memorial Day

Our first trip to the lake for the summer! The lake is my heaven and I think it is because of the memories that are made there each trip. I love watching my kids have so much fun and make their own childhood memories like I did. I was Payton's age when Nani and Pawpaw built the house. This year all four older girls get to spend the night in Mimi and Pawpaw's room. Pawpaw put up bunk beds for the two older girls. These are the beds that Stephanie and I used to sleep in and it is fun to watch our girls enjoy them too. Harrison had a great time too because he got to be OUTSIDE.... his heaven. He loved being with his Pawpaw and Pawpaw Jimmy. Ivy got extra loving too. I think she was held at all times by myself, Nani, Mimi, Stephie or by an eager sister or cousin. She deserved every bit of the extra love. Ivy got to experience her first boat ride nap, the world's best place to take a nap if you ask me. It was great. Claire asked this morning if we could go back for a little bit more fishing!

Endings are hard

Payton's last day of preschool was today and it was hard. I had several moments where my eyes started to burn and well up with tears and my mouth started to quiver when trying to answer "Mommy why are you crying." It was hard because I realized it was the first real end of something with my kids. Preschool sort of defines a stage in Payton's life and now it is over and on to a new stage. A great stage it will be, but today we ended her preschool years. As the girls got in the car this morning I started feeling those tears and ache in my heart because it was the last time I would take her through carpool and watch them walk in together. I LOVE watching my girls walk into school together, I like them together.
I have loved these years watching Payton learn, make friends, have good days and a few bad days, and always come out of school smiling and waving to me as I pull through carpool. It has been fun!
We are excited about Kindergarten next year and anxiously await it. Today I realized that I may be okay on the first day of Kindergarten because beginnings are exciting, it is just endings that are hard. Then I may be fooling myself, who knows.
I found Payton in her bedroom this afternoon crying and when I asked her why she said "I am sad my friends will not be at my new school next year. I want to stay and go to school with them at preschool again." If it was that easy to keep her in church preschool until she was 18 I would. It has been fun!

Graduation

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