meow

Two stray little kitties showed up at my house. They are the cutest I have ever seen. I think I will keep them!!

little moments

Sometimes it’s when I see them ahead of me … walking with someone else. They tilt their head and smile sharing something funny with a friend. Sometimes it’s when they scoot up so close to me … they lay into me and I feel their dependence on me. Other times it can be as simple as they put a plate away in the dishwasher and I smile to myself and think … wow they are learning to take care of things. These random times and others have the ability to suddenly grip my heart and humble me to the core. It hits me and my heart swells … these kids call ME mom. These precious children love ME. These amazing kids are my blessings.

It’s such an incredible gift … motherhood. I absolutely love it.

magical

When I was young, I loved to play outside in the woods. My mind could turn ordinary trees, paths and bushes into something extraordinary and magical. I have oodles of memories playing with my cousin Valerie in her woods that bordered my grandparents. We crossed over back and forth between the two properties and together we created a huge fantasy world.

I never dreamed my kids would spend part of their childhood playing in those same woods. It thrills me to see them discover and create in similar ways I did as a kid. They love the woods and they have created and world out there that is all their own. I LOVE IT!

Here a few pics of some of their new favorite places.

My boy built this and she came to sweep the floor for him.

MeMe and Granddad’s

We really had been missing MeMe and Granddad so we took a quick trip to Destin to hang with them for the weekend. This was a special trip because it was Macy’s first time traveling to their house. She had a BIG time and she LOVED riding on the golf cart. It was a wonderful break for the every day and I loved being spoiled and loved on by my wonderful in laws!

The water was beautiful but FREEZING and the beach was crazy crowded.

Poppy and Nanny

It’s been such a fun weekend. Poppy, Nanny and my man’s sister Erika came up from Columbus … and of course my 3 precious nieces came along too! We ate a TON of food – Jo Mama’s Spaghetti of course. The kids put on two plays. They rode down the stairs over and over on a crib mattress. I took Nanny and Erika to make their first trip to IKEA … and we just laid around and hung out. It was great. I love seeing all the cousins together playing and giggling. Great memories!

there’s a little alien in my sink

My favorite little guy is here. Can you believe he’s about to turn five AND he can still fit in the kitchen sink for a bath!

this is us and where we are now

It seems like in a blink of an eye we went from this ….

to this …

Long legs, missing teeth (molars get loose and fall out – yeah it’s kinda freaky), hair growing out phase, feet that are larger than mine, girls that won’t share clothes any more, earrings … and so much more.

Things change so quickly … so fast. I tear up looking at their old photos wishing I could relive those precious moments and wonder did I really appreciate each day.

Now I am not big on quotes but recently I watched an old movie for the first time …The Bridges of Madison County. It was a good movie, not one of my top favs but Clint Eastwood had a particular line and it made a impact on me. I think about it all the time.

“Most people are afraid of change. But if you look at it as something you can always count on, then it can be a comfort.”

I like that. Change happens whether we want it to or not. I am trying to embrace the changes that come our way. Looking back I can clearly see so beautifully the hand of God in each one. BUT … like God’s stead fast love there are some things around here that aren’t changing.

Like this …

The love they have for one another. Yeah, of course they bicker, tattle, etc … but more often than any of that, they are laughing, sharing, smiling and just loving each other well.

I am one blessed mama.

photo shoot – sisters

I just loved these girls … twins born only one minute apart. They had the best attitude and they were so relaxed with the camera. They made my job super easy and crazy fun. Once we wrapped things up my girls came out and the four acted like they had been friends all their life. #2 and #3 have already asked me several times, “When can we see them again?”

snow days

Last year, we got some great snow in the Atlanta area and I was shocked that it happened again this year. Can you believe it? Two years in a row!!

It was fun day one and day two but the rest … it was just dangerous. It all hardened and became ice. I busted in on the driveway. #3 busted it twice on the path to my grandmother’s. Poor Macy dog, she just slipped all over the place and couldn’t hardly find a place to sniff and poop for week!

Here’s the pics.

people you just love

This is my CoCo and her crew. Their friendship means the world to me. I had a blast snapping pics and spending the afternoon with this animated family.