Grayson is "9"

Our baby girl turned the big "9" on August 10th.  Unfortunately, the day was a regular school day for her.  We did however find some time to squeeze in a few special things in all along the day to let her know how much we love her.  We started off her morning with the traditional birthday pancakes with candles to blow out and she even managed a smile at 6:00am in the morning.  After that, I was excited to go and eat lunch with her and her friends.  It's fun for them to get to eat with someone at the round tables and invite their special friends.  I have to add a sweet story here....I stopped by the bakery and picked out 4 large decorated cookies (one for each of us, I thought she could only choose two special friends to sit at the table with her) well....Grayson chose four little girls to sit at her table with her so I was panicked because I knew I was one cookie short.  I leaned over to Grayson quietly and said "we are one cookie short cause I didn't know four girls could sit with us"  She very politely replied "that's ok mom, I will just wait until after school..my friends can have the cookies"  my heart melted.  I told her how sweet that was and I would get her one after school.  So, she handed out the cookies and after about a minute, one of the little girls broke her cookie in half and handed back to Grayson and said "Here Grayson...lets share cause I can't eat all of mine..it's too big"  I realized at that moment what sweet, sweet friends Grayson has and how blessed we are to be surrounded by wonderful families for our children to grow up with.

Ok back to birth Day activities...after school, we had dinner and Grayson opened presents from family.  We are still planning to have a birthday party for her friends, but haven't set a date just yet.  We are so thankful for our wonderful, talented, smart and beautiful little girl.  She is definitely a gift from above.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY GRAYSON!!! and sorry for the delayed post.

I'm not really even sure where to start.  I have so many pictures I want to add and so many things I want to say, but at this very moment we are all going 90 to nothing and I am sad to say...the blog has been put on the back burner.  In fact, our family is going to stay busy for awhile in a good kinda way (I hope).  In my last post I mentioned going back to work, well....I have jumped in with both feet! I have taken a leap of faith and opened Quality Office Solutions, Inc.  I wanted something to make spending money, but also be in charge of my own schedule cause I have family as well as volunteer commitments I want to uphold. The business is also so much more, I hope I am creating a family business where Tyler and Kanon have built in summer jobs and I am contributing to our family as well as our local community.  Enough about me and my plans.  The kids are back at school and doing great.  We have settled into our morning routine and evenings full of cross country practice, youth at church, dinner and homework.  My mom is able to be left alone during the day and I am getting back into my old work routine.  I must add...I am LOVING it!  I have prayed and prayed and will continue to pray that this IS what I am supposed to be doing with my life or as Don puts it "this is what I want to do when I grow up".    I think the sweetest moment by far is the other day when the oldest says to me, "Mom..I am proud of you".  My heart melted.  For my 16 year old to take notice, at the work that I am putting into the opening of our new family business, is HUGE!  As a mom, we are always proud of our children and we don't really think about them being proud of us.  Ok...Ok...I already said enough about me!

Since school has started our everyday routine of going to the pool has ended.  Next summer will be here before we know it and we will be enjoying the lazy summer days of no schedule once again (except me though..I will be working. Oops, maybe I should have given that detail a little more thought).  :)

Here is one last glimpse of summer fun.........

Back to School 2011

I can't believe school has already started back, in fact it's been in session 3 whole days.  I'm just a little late posting the fabulous traditional first day of school picture (which the kids cannot stand to take).  Taking a picture on the first day of school is the one thing I have always done.  I love looking back and seeing how they have grown and changed from one year to the next.

Tyler is a junior this year, Kanon is a freshman, Parker is a fifth grader and Grayson is in fourth.  Wow!  two in high school and Tyler driving.  I can't believe I have only one school to drop off and pick up at most days now.  I guess with all this new found time on my hands, I'm back to work.

I hope you guys have a great year.  I am very excited about your teachers and I pray that God watches over you and protects you throughout each day.  With Tyler driving this year, I have had to release some Momma control and that has been so scary. I must add it has been a little funny though to hear Tyler screaming at his brother to hurry up before they were late (welcome to my world, Tyler). :)

We love you!!!!

Summer Vacation Over Already?

What happened to "the lazy days of summer?" We have definitely not had too many lazy days, but we have enjoyed sleeping in on a few days.  Grayson and Parker loved sharing my bed while Daddy and Kanon were gone to baseball tournaments.

I think this is the sweetest picture.  Grayson's little face here looks just like she did when she was about 3 years old.  Cute little bubble cheeks.
And... now school starts back next week.  I cannot believe summer 2011 is already over.  We missed the beach and have to make that trip up very soon.  My toes seriously need to feel some sand. But for now.. back to crazy schedules, homework, activities and meetings.  And then.....a very special event in September, the wedding of my cousin Derek. Parker and Grayson are both in the wedding and we are so excited to share this special day with Derek and Ashley.

Their engagement picture is so beautiful, Ahhh!!!to be that young again.  I pray that God blesses this marriage with lots of love and lots of beautiful little children. My Aunt "Rine" and Uncle David need lots of grandchildren to spoil rotten.

River Part II

Just press play....Kanon jumping about from about 30 feet in the air.  He just informed me it didn't look high in the video, but it looked very high from the tree.

 See....I actually kayaked and of course I had to put my legs out so I could get sun at the same time.

Scott, Grayson and Ashlyn riding in the canoe.  This was after Don had to leave a little early for a stinkin meeting at work.   Mr. Scott gave Grayson a paddle and started letting her paddle and every once in a awhile, you would hear Mr. Scott say " Grayson, you paddling or splashing?"  Love it!!

River Mermaid & River Rats

What a great way to spend the afternoon following Church today.  Grayson said it was the best day of summer! A beautiful sunny day spent riding horses for Grayson then cooling off in the Etowah.  I should probably start by apologizing first for the lengthy post but I cannot wait to share the pictures of all the fun we had today.  Tyler has promised he is definitely going with us next time.  If he had been there, it would have made the day even more perfect.  After Church today, we were blessed to get to spend the afternoon with some of our favorite people.  Thank you Warners for opening your home and of course Lora your sweet dad's home on the river to us.  We cannot wait until next weekend!!!

Oh yeah.....Don's still got it!  Look at my sweet husband flipping off the swing.  Kanon and Parker thought it was pretty cool that Dad could hang with them. Cause....you know our kids think we are ancient most of the time.

I have lots more to add, but I will save it for tomorrow. Tired and ready for bed tonight.  I even have pictures of me Kayaking....yes....really.  Thank you Lord for this wonderful day with our amazing friends outside enjoying your beautiful creations.

Hurry Up.....Slow Down

As I sit here about to update the blog with yet another activity or event that we have been a part of, I stop myself and just sit here.  Is that really what today's post should be about?  I feel like God is steering me in a different direction and I must say I feel totally out of control.  Don't get me wrong, I sit here most of the time utterly amazed at our many blessings, but somedays I get that feeling that there's more.  I get the feeling that I should be doing more. Don and I have been reading "Crazy Love" by Francis Chan as part of our sunday school lesson and it definitely brings into perspective our faith and christian walk and what it should be about. Yesterday as we were on our way to Monroe for yet another baseball game, Don made the comment...that we need to seriously clear out all the "junk" from our lives.  He said we should control our schedule not the other way around and I agree wholeheartedly!  We get so caught up in all the events, activities, work things, sports, etc that we forget what is truly important.  We have to make serious changes though if we want a different outcome.  It's like the saying, "Don't do the same things and expect a different result". So...I am going to be proposing a "family" meeting tonight at our house, they will love that :).  As I sit here at yet another crossroads in my worklife (partly by choice and partly because of the need to care for my mom), I plan to seriously pray about what is God's plan for my life.  My first and most important role is wife and mother and I am not willing to compromise that role for work.  The kids start school in two weeks and I feel the clock ticking faster and faster on the amount of time we will all still be under one roof as Tyler will head off to college in two short years, then Kanon will follow not too much later.  If I could turn back the clock, I would in a heart beat.  But.....I can't so it's time to take control or better yet it's time to give God all the control for how we spend our time now.