January 27 we celebrated Maddox Ren's 1/2 birthday with a mommy/daddy/Maddox date to ChuckECheese....

 She enjoyed her moment of being the "only" child!  

 Maryn was evaluated when we came home six months ago for early intervention services.  She qualified for occupational therapy, physical therapy, and speech therapy.  Today, she is almost all caught up!  She is learning to dress and undress, feed herself without making an incredible mess, hold her writing utensil correctly, puzzles, etc....she is doing amazing in OT!  Speech was never really a large concern but the therapist has come once each month to check in just to be sure all was well!  And, all is well.  She talks and sings all.the.time.  And still repeats everything we say!  Physical therapy is going well too!  We have been going to a local gym twice monthly for the past few months.  Maryn loves jumping on the trampolines, walking on the balance beams, kicking the balls, walking on the treadmill, and jumping into the pit of foam squares!  

 Our little one also loves to read and listen to others read aloud to her.  She was making me laugh one morning as she took our read aloud book for school and pretended to read to us!

 Maddox will be in my cousin's wedding in March!  She is super excited and could not wait to try her dress on!

Our sweet little-big girl is no longer taking daily naps but we can almost be sure that she will fall asleep in the car....

and she is just too cute not to photograph when she sleeps....

I love and admire that she has always been able to sleep regardless of where she is!  

Saying Goodbye

In all of my sadness, I have been comforted in knowing that my Nannie would not have lived her life differently.  94 years is a feat in and of itself, and to live that long and still have your mind in tact is a blessing.  She lived a good life and it makes me so proud to tell others she was my grandmother.

She lived all 94 years surrounded by love from family.  Whether it was my Papa or her five children or her sisters or brothers or grandchildren or great-grandchildren or the many, many extended family, she was loved on until the very end.  

She loved my children and I am so thankful for the time that she had with them.  They knew her.  They loved her.  They mourn her loss.  She is my one grandparent that got to see my dream of being a mom to a large family come true!  She adored all five of my kiddos.  

She was referred to as the "matriarch" of the family.  She was the Queen.  She loved to laugh.  And when she laughed, others joined in - it was contagious.  She would "get so tickled" - her words for laughter.  

A few things that will always make me think of her first.....Alabama, Little Drummer Boy, speeding ticket - I may have acquired one with her in the car and her response to the officer was quite memorable, "the machine" aka computer, the word "yes" because I am pretty sure she never told me "no," ripples in the water, Braves baseball, chocolate....

five children....she had five too!

I already miss our visits with her.  If ever there was a stretch of time that we did not see Nannie, the children would always ask when we could go visit.  They loved to go and see Nannie.....the boys would play the piano and Nannie would get lost in their music....she would always give them her bingo winnings, we would take her to lunch or just hang out in her room with a Chick Fil A meal, one of her favorites!

The smell of my Nannie's house is one that will forever be ingrained in me.  It was the smell of fresh baked biscuits, macaroni and cheese, caramel cake, bread pudding, southern style vegetables, chicken, ham, jelly cake.....it was the smell that surrounded us growing up, a smell that reminds me of the thrill she got out of seeing her family eat well, it was her way of serving others,  her happy place.

My nannie loved me.  I know I held a special place in her heart.  As a young child, I spent a lot of time with her and it was that time that created the bond between us.  As I got older, the bond grew.  She took care of me, worried over me.  I often tease my cousins and tell them that I am and always have been her favorite.....and my cousins and I would always tease her about who was her favorite....she loved us all dearly and I am glad we made her laugh with our antics.  

So thankful for this woman and the 41 years I was given with her!

Happy 5 1/2 Maddox Ren!

Happy 5 1/2 Maddox Ren!

 To add a little flavor to our lives, we chose to celebrate Maddox's half-birthday and Mason-Kate's 8th birthday together this year at a local gymnastics arena.  It was perfect for all involved!  

 Maddox and all of her sweet friends enjoyed their day jumping, twirling, swinging, flipping....it was truly a fun-filled day!  Maddox was thrilled to have her bests with her to celebrate her life!

 It was cute, too, to hear her friends say, "Maddox is 5 1/2! Not 5 and not 6, 5 1/2!"  They got it!

 Our little Maddox has had a great "1/2" year of being 5 and has accomplished lots of fun things.....reading, writing, adding, counting to 100, recognizing her numbers to 20, ballet, swimming, riding her bike....and the list goes on!  

 I often say that everyone should have a Maddox in their lives!  She is her own, unique kiddo and we love her to pieces!  

Sweet Sisters

"She is clothed in strength and dignity, and she laughs without fear of the future"

Proverbs 31:25

 "Sometimes being a sister is even better than being a princess."

 "We laugh, we cry, we make time fly.  Best friends are we, my sisters me."

 Big Sister

"My little eyes are watching all you say and do and when I grow up big and tall, I want to be like you!  My little ears are listening to everything you say, I am learning how to grow up to be like you someday.

 So be careful how you teach me to be the person that you are.  You're the best friend that I could have; you're my brightest shining star."

~Patsy Gout

"How do people make it through life without a sister?" ~ Sara Corpening 

 Oh these girls!  These precious girls.  

 How our lives have changed for the better because of each of you!

 Each day you bring us joy and laughter.....

 and sometimes even bring us to our knees as we learn the ins and outs of raising baby girls!

 Each of you offer your own flavor to our world....

 and a little spice to our lives!

 We would not have it any other way!  

Always remember you are loved and cherished from the tips of your sweet little heads all the way down to the tips of your itty bitty toes!.

Eight looks great on Mason-Kate!  She started her "birthday week" with a gymnastics birthday celebration with all of her favorite friends!

 The girls all gathered for a bit of instructions....

 and then they were off and enjoying the different stations in the gym....

 this pic is so blurry but it had to be shared since it was MK's favorite activity of the day!

 The whole time, the gym was blaring Highschool Musical music - both of our girls have memorized the songs from watching the movies numerous times:0!

 After a bit of play, it was time for a bit of cake and ice cream!

 Presents were a hit too!

 I love seeing MK's expressions as she revealed each gift!  

 And the birthday cake....MK is not a cake fan....so, cookie cake it was and she was one happy girl!

A big day was had by all! 

Happy 8th Birthday, MK!

Today is a day that you have looked forward to for a very, very long time.....

 each morning this week, you have awakened to tell me "only 2 more days until I am 8!" and so on....

 So, today baby girl, we celebrate you and we give thanks for your life.  

"May the Lord bless you and keep you; may the Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you;  may the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace."

Numbers 6:24-26

Kicking off 2015

Happy New Year!

 We rang in the new year with our traditional fireworks display....low-key but fun all the same.  

 Sometimes the noise is still a wee bit much for some but, noise and all, you better believe this little one isn't going to miss out on any type of excitement!  

 This is likely one of my favorite shots....everyone is focused on whatever just made its way into the sky!  Classic!  

 Due to wet wood and the lack of a fire starter, we went for oven-cooked smoores....yummo!

 New Year's day we had a few of our favorites pay us a visit for a bit.  Brooklyn and Maddox are in our co-op together as well as church on Sundays and Wednesdays.  They refer to each other as "sister friends" and we think they are the cutest buddies ever!  They may or may have gotten into a bit of make-up during their time together;)  Brooklyn's family is in the adoption process and hoping to bring home a baby girl from Maryn's orphanage!  How exciting!

 Our new neighborhood is a great area to ride bikes and walk.  The girls and I have spent quite a few chilly afternoons making our way to the park for some fresh air.

 Our first week back to school....new schedules, new opportunities + math with M&Ms = all is well in the homeschool world.  Though it can be overwhelming having all 5 kiddos home and schooling, the time that I spend with them is irreplaceable.  This year has been one for the books....I have a toddler, a pre-schooler, an elementary kiddo, a middle school kiddo and a high school kiddo. 

Another moment to share, was the father-child camping adventure this crew went on the day before New Year's Eve.  Ryan, the boys, and our two big girls took off with a tent in the trunk to a local campground by the lake for the evening.  Our neighbors took off right along with them!  So, two men, seven children, a whole lotta food, firewood, a couple of tents, bikes, and sleeping bags, all off for the night.  Being that the temps were in the mid-thirties that night, and they were camping on "primitive" sites aka "no electricity," I was thankful to be home in my warm bed and Maryn was thankful too!