Coasting On Idyll

Spring Break 2014 at Carillon Beach! Amazing!  The Florida beaches are so beautiful. I hate to say it, but the Texas beaches pale in comparison.  I love the way the sand squeaks when you walk on it and there are so many shells fully intact to take home! It was definitely colder than I like and the ocean was downright freezing.  Of course, my little mermaid got in the water (crazy girl).  The boys did well on their first flight.  I came armed with new toys, games, and snacks! I did my research on how to survive a flight with young kids (thank you Pinterest).  We had LOTS of bags and carseats, and tons of stuff, but somehow we got it all loaded up in a bright red Yukon XL.

We flew into Panama City Beach, got our car and headed to our house at Carillon Beach. Carillon Beach is only about 8 miles from Panama City Beach where all the MAJOR Spring Break action is.  Talk about college Spring Break central.  Wowza.  Carillon Beach is a gated community with the cutest houses ever.  They all have their own names and are beautiful.  Our house was Coasting on Idyll. Plenty of room for me, the kiddos, my mom, my sister, and my two nieces.  There was a heated pool anyone staying in the community could use (God-send) and we spent many hours there!  We did get two good days playing in the sand at the beach and even spotted groups of dolphins not too far away.  You won't see that in Port A!

It was a great week with my kids, just hanging out and having fun.  There's just nothing like it.  We even managed to get a bit of a sunburn.  We really enjoyed heading over to Pier Park for a fun dinner at places like Margaritaville and doing some shopping!

I don't get to see my sister and nieces nearly enough, so I felt blessed to have a week with them as well.  I can't believe they will be graduating from college soon.  What? Too weird.

I'm definitely spoiled by this place and I can't wait to go back!!! I have so many pictures, so I'll have to add more soon! 

Nine Going on Nineteen!

 

My pretty girl turned nine years old!  Because she loves all things Frozen, of course we had to have a Winter Wonderland party with the family before we left for Great Wolf Lodge over the weekend.

It actually worked out nicely for me since all of the winter decor was on sale after Christmas!

I look at Kylie and can't believe how much she's grown.

She's very mature and independent so I sometimes feel she acts even older than nine, yet sometimes that little girl still comes out when she's whiny or tearful over something silly.  It almost comforts me when she behaves that way because I remember "oh yeah, she's just nine."

Kids really do grow up so fast these days.  There's just no getting around it.  Sure, we can try to keep them from being exposed too much to things they simply shouldn't see or hear, but it is extremely hard.  I want her heart to stay pure and focused on what really matters.  Her relationship with God, over her relationship with her buddies.  Her inner beauty over her outer beauty.

I want her to always know that I think she is the most beautiful young lady in the entire world.  I cherish her uniqueness and even her flaws because God made her special. She is the most special gift to me.  I look forward to growing with her and even to the challenges she will bring m as a mom, because I know I can grow from those as well.

 

 

Christmas 2013!

What a great Christmas week we have had.  It has been so nice to be off of work this week to spend time together and really enjoy this holiday season.  I treasure each day I have with my kiddos to play and spend the entire day in our jammies!!!  I love it! The boys and I snuggled on the couch watching "Mighty Machines" of course, and I just wanted to freeze that moment in time.
No greater gift could ever been given to me than what I've received in my children.  Nothing could ever compare. 
I'm so thankful for a gracious and merciful God who has given me such a wonderful family to share this life with:)

 "These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full."

John 15:11 ESV

 

"I have told you these things, that My joy and delight may be in you, and that your joy and gladness may be of full measure and complete and overflowing." John 15:11



Twick or Tweeeeet!

I'm a bit delayed in posting about our Halloween, but this was the best Halloween I can remember in a LONG time. 
My three little blessings were Spiderina (Kylie of course), Sir Jackson the knight, and Captain Carter James the pirate - arrrrgh.  He looked so stinkin' cute I could barely stand it.
Okay, so some funny things I want to remember about this Halloween.
First of all, Jackson decided he wanted to wear his knight costume that he's had now for 2 years.  I thought that was easy enough.  Get him a sword and some black boots and we're good to go!  Luckily the costume did fit him, but I will say I'm glad he was wearing boots so no one could see his pants were too short!
We get all dressed up and we start to head down the street to go Trick-or-Treating and Jackson will not go up to anyone's house!  I ask him why he's not going to get any candy and he says, "I don't know them, they are strangers!"  Oh geez.  Only Jackson would say that,  It was just so true to his personality.  He did get comfortable with it after seeing Kylie do it and me explaining how it's okay because his parents are with him and it's our neighbors on Halloween.  That kid just cracks me up every day.  He drives me kinda nutso everyday too, but God love him, he's awesome.
Carter was a rockstar at Trick-or-Treating. He actually walked quite a ways and enjoyed getting his candy in his bag and was great at saying Thank You. So, this was the first year all three kids really got to participate in Halloween which made it a GREAT time.
I don't ever want to take for granted these special nights I have with my children. Soon enough, they will just be a memory in my mind and in pictures I've taken. I look forward to many new memories, but I so cherish the old ones too:)

 Spiderina is so pretty!

 Ahoy there me hearties!

 Don't mess with me... I have a sword.

My Sweet Blessings



"I don't like that..."

Carter said his first full sentence on Saturday! Typically they are broken sentences more like "don't like" or "don't like that" but he doesn't use "me" or "I" all that much yet.  But, he's really starting to form more complete sentences now!

I feel it's important to blog about because I look back and can't remember when the important milestones happen!  When it was just Kylie it was super easy to remember, but now that there are three of them... well, let's just say brain fog has set in.

The things I hear mostly from little man these days are:
"Go in mommy's car?"
"Go in grandma's car?"
"Pick me up"
"Here you go mommy"
"No nap" (gotta love this one)
"What was that noise?"
"What doing?"

Such a sweet boy.  I especially love it that he calls Jackson by his full name Jackson Ralph.  I don't know why I think it's so stinkin' cute, but I do!

Baylor Homecoming

My mom, Kylie and I all headed up to Waco last Friday for Baylor Homecoming!

We got to see Pigskin Revue and that, of course, was great.  I was disappointed Tri Delts weren't in it, but it was still great!

After that, we went to go check out the bonfire for a bit and then Kylie and Grandma were too pooped to party, so we went back to the hotel.

The next day it was early to rise and head to the parade!!!  It was a littly chilly for my taste, but I always love seeing the floats and all the hard work that's put into them.

Then, a bit of shopping at the bookstore, along with about a million other people!

The highlight was going to Ninfa's for lunch! Whooohooo!  Love that place:)  Of course, after a ninfarita (or maybe 1.5) it was time for a siesta before the big game. 

My Bears did some damage to the Cyclones and whipped some booty!  Sic 'Em!

What a fun weekend with my girls!!!

Jackson Pre-K

Here's my little handsome man...

He has already learned so much and his love for learning has increased dramatically!
He is so excited to show me all he has done through the week when he brings home his folder on Thursdays.  He's also started playing ABC Mouse and really enjoys it.  It's fun and games to him, but he's really learning while he's doing it:)
I can't wait to see what he can do by the end of this year!