Photo Drop

Menchies and belly laughing.  Good times. 

Leah instructing Ms. Peggy how to paint on her tablet. 

Snap chat Sarah. 

Leah's got Sam's shopping down to a fine art. 

Hooray! It's Dancing with The Stars season again! Poor Leah. 

Willow Park

We've all enjoyed Sarah's new bike riding adventures!  Especially when we go down to Willow Park in the neighborhood and she rides on the walking path.  Yep.  We breaking rules!  But our street is not kid friendly when it comes to riding a bike due to the volume of traffic, so we headed to the park.  We always make sure we speak to any walkers and ask if they mind that we are there.  All of them have assured us that we were not in their way and they were glad to see Sarah getting good safe practice on her bike.   

Spring selfie in the park.

Look who we found at the park!  Sarah and I were on the other side of the park when we saw Leah and Andy talking to a child and parent.  We couldn't see at the time that it was Keith and Luke!!! You see, while Sarah and I ride around the track, Leah and Andy play in the field...well, mostly they kick down the crawfish mounds. ha!  And apparently, Keith brings Luke to the park to run around after a day of day care.  Keith captured these adorable pics of our kiddos!

Coach's Pitch

If you know us, you know that Sarah had quite a time with t-ball three years ago, she wasn't ready.  It was a crazy idea by her parents to throw her into playing tball.  We learned our lesson and after that season, we have just told Sarah to let us know when she was ready to participate in a sport...any sport and then we even threw in other ideas, girl scouts, art class, music class.  Andy and I were willing to support her in whatever she wanted to try.  But she didn't want to try.  Her response would always be "Nah, I'm not ready yet.  I like being at home with my family."  So Andy and I waited.   And then....sometime this winter she said she was ready to start softball, but she was very adamant about NOT playing t-ball.   ha! bad memories I guess.   The "park" as we call it had her still in t-ball due to her age (had to be 7 before Jan. 1). My next thought was going back to Greenwell Springs Baptist Church and playing in their league.  Matt, who I teach with, is the athletic director and we discussed the age and that's all she wrote!  Sarah was ready to play...but desperately needed a friend on the team. With a little begging and convincing, Abby decided to play with us!  

Sarah was excited.  She was ready.  Andy and I were excited for her.  But I told myself to not get my hopes and to expect it to all go wrong! Yeah....t-ball effected us all! Just before we left, Sarah was complaining of a stomach ache.  Here we go...We got to the parking lot and I could see it in her eyes.  She was doubting herself.  And my heart was breaking for her.  She loves this game.  She loves to play at our house. Why can't she just get out there and do it. I had to coach myself into getting a little tough in this situation. I told her. No. We were doing this. She said she was ready.  And Abby is counting on her to be there. 

She headed to the fields. And she did shed a few tears at the beginning, but it wasn't five minutes into that she was smiling again and I could see her really enjoying herself.   I was so happy for her!!

Sarah had a great practice.  She hit the ball a number of times in batting practice.  She caught and threw the ball well.  Sarah. You can do this kid!! Don't ever let fear keep you from having fun!! 1 Peter 5-7.   I love you big sweet girl!

New Beds

Yes.  Leah is now three and a half years old.  Yes.  I've kept her in the crib strictly because it was easier and it assured that I got to sleep until 8 on Saturday mornings.  But in my defense, she loved her bed!  And never really asked for a big girl bed. So.  There. 

Our wonderful neighbors the Hoovers are moving...I know, don't get me started.  Too many emotions in one day.  Anyway, they have given us just about everything they own except for the kitchen sink!  And that's how we acquired a new bed for Sarah.  Andy and I have discussed what sized bed to get Sarah and priced a few.  And then the Hoovers offered us their spare bed and at a price we couldn't beat...free!  Today is the day.  Musical beds. 

Saying goodbye to the crib that both my girls slept in.  Hold on....I think i have something in my eye.  I'll be right back. 

Oh gosh...and then this glider.  7 years old.  I'm just going to say goodbye. If you've had a spot that you shared with your child, you get it.  

Leah is a happy girl!! And she was so appreciative of Sissy "giving her her bed" ha!  

Sarah's new bed.  Still need a bed skirt, but she loves this queen size comfy bed!

Ready for sweet dreams. 

My baby's first night in a big girl bed.  You got this Lee-lee!

Sarah's Brushfire Birthday Party

Good grief this child knows how to drag out a birthday! ;)  Sarah asked to have her birthday party at a local painting studio, Brushfire.  They happened to be closed the weekend of Sarah's birthday, thus bringing us to another weekend of celebrating Sarah's birthday. 

Our sweet birthday girl!

They steal my heart!

Kiddos painting!

Big smiles with her friend Lilly!

Leaving her mark at Brushfire. 

Sweet kiddos!

Happy Birthday Sarah May! We love you!!!  Oh yeah...did I mention that Leah insisted on wearing her Princess Rapunzel dress??? 

Godly Graffiti

Cannot tell you how exciting this day is for our church family as well as my little family.  Our church was a complete loss after the flood.  The church had already began the building process prior to the flood.  The flood has now put that construction on the fast track.  We as a church still meet weekly at DSJH, but soon, very soon, we will be in our building. 

We ride by the church property pretty regularly and the girls and I always point out the progress. It's been fun to watch. 

Leah has mad mention many times about our "flooded church" and how we now go to a "school church" and whenever we pass the new church property we are always make sure to point out the progress happening with the building.  She was full of excitement this afternoon when we told her we were going to see the new church.  She literally shrieked with joy!  And as we pulled up she said: "Ohhhh my new church!!! I LOVE IT!! I want to KISS IT!!" and that's just what she did as we got out of the car, she ran up to the church and gave it a big kiss! Be still my heart! 

We love our pastor, Bro. Leo Miller.  

My praying family. Thanks to Matt Calhoun for catching this sweet moment. 

1 Peter 5:7

Psalm 139:14

Leah's cross. 

Matthew 6:34

Looking out the "window" to the front of the church and the pond. 

Romans 12:12

Psalm 56:3

Standing in what will be the new sanctuary.  

Sarah is 7!!

Not sure how it happened so fast, but our sweet Sarah May is SEVEN!!!  We are extremely proud of you sweet girl and can't wait to see what the future holds for you.  We love you!

Beauty and The Beast

Sarah and I've been counting down the days until the release of Beauty and the Beast!!  And so we agreed to just throw it into the birthday celebration that never ends! haha!

The movie was wonderful!!! We all loved it!

Doors, doors everywhere there's doors!

Room 68

 Oh happy "door" day! A little progress post flood at DSHS helps to make a daylight saving time Monday morning a bit brighter! 

Sarah's Birthday Crawfish Boil

One of my favorite parts of Sarah's birthday celebrations....Crawfish boil day!

A rite of passage for every Louisiana child...a picture of you stirring the crawfish pot. :)   Daddy's little helper. 

YUM!!  Thanks Jeff for taking the picture.  

Yall. Mom win right here!  Give every kid a candle and light it up for the Happy Birthday song.  They were all soooooo excited.  Loved it!

Whoa...that's a lot of little people with fire. 

Back: Carter, Abby, Olivia, Ben, Sarah
Front: Rosalie and Leah. 

Loved having you in town Grammy!

Yes...it was a good as it looks!