Keeping up....for Sanities sake!

So, last week the unthinkable happened to a family in our community- a mom turned left in front of an 18 wheeler and her five year old boy was killed and her two older girls have very serious head trauma. I grieved for their family all week last week, but what has gotten me the most is thinking of my own family and how every moment is special and precious. And the fact that my kids will only be this young today. Tomorrow they will be a little older. Days are not guaranteed, only the moment you are in right now. So, I have done some reflecting and a lot of crying over the last week.

When I was pregnant with Sawyer I was really angry and I let that reflect in all aspects of my life and also onto my children. I feel like I missed a whole year of their childhood. I barley remember anything from July 2012 to March 2013. I don't want to forget what it was like when they were little. Good grief, Cait will be in middle school in August and I can barely fathom where the last 11 years have gone.

So.... My goal is to write in my journal the very personal things and try my darndest to keep up with the fun things on this blog. Nothing is too small to blog about, sorry if you get bored but I can't forget these moments.

Caitlin is the best four leaf clover finder....EVER! She has found so many, and she just sees them, she doesn't even have to look that hard.

Bean has cute little feet in his cute little flip flops :)

David saved this turtle a couple of weeks ago. We were fishing at the dam and saw this little guy on it's back and he had a hook in his mouth. So my sweet husband works hard and gets the hook out and takes cute little thing back down to the water. Awe!

Lake Guntersville we love you! It is so pretty there and it is so big, we haven't even seen half I am sure. The kids loved the "beach" and for the second day of May it was actually very warm, yay Alabama spring! But look at Buddy in the back ground of the first picture, he had barley gotten in and it looks like it wasn't as warm as he was hoping for.

Sweets CeCe's yogurt just because I'm cool like that.

Beans loves trains! Dave and I wanted to have a picnic lunch for our weekly lunch date so we went to the train park and lucky us a train came by. Bean was completely fascinated. 

Just a few of the silly things this kids does on a regular basis.

Well, this post wasn't meant to be all about Bean, but apparently I love to take pictures of the kid. Note to self- take more pictures of the other kids.

Wait here's a good one that has us all in it...

Good night, y'all.

Cait is 11

What!!! Yes, you heard right, my baby is 11! One year away from young womanhood! One year away from hormones, and tears and "why do boys hate me!" (Heaven help me). But gosh I love that kid! She is my left hand and I really can't make it through the day without her. I am enjoying watching her grow and mature but my heart aches for my little babe. I just can't think about it too much or I would cry daily.

But, on to her big day.  She requested stuffed French toast for breakfast but it turned out soggy :p not so good of a start and then she spent the rest of the day at school, boring! I on the other hand have spent the last three days getting her present ready. She wanted a remodeled bedroom. I can't blame her it was pretty bland. But due to my awesome mom skills now it is gorgeous! She had to wait all day for daddy to get home for the big reveal and it was killing her. So while we waited for David we had her dinner of choice-steak and salad. And then finally, daddy came home! 

I wish my cell had had more memory available so I could share her reaction. It was awesome! I love how it all turned out and by the thousands of thank yous I got I think she likes it too. 

So for all of you who cannot see it in person, here are the fabulous pics!

Before! Told ya it was blah!!!

After.... Super fabulous!!!!

They all decided they needed to sleep in the coolest room in the house. Can you blame them? 

So..... Happy birthday, Sweets! I love you loads and loads!

Well hello there!

Whoops! The baby turned one and I dropped off the planet. Sorry about that. Well this post is just going to be a catch up of pictures. Enjoy!

Caitlin got to enjoy Space Camp at NASA's Space and Rocket Center. She loved it! It was a week long field trip with excellent food (thats pretty much all she talked about everyday). I am so glad we were here this year so she had the chance to go (only fifth graders do this specific camp). 

The other kids and I went to her Space Camp graduation. This is the Saturn V rocket on its side in the building. One word, HUGE!

Mardi Gras Parade.

My parents came to town the first part of March. Now, these pics are a bit out of order, but you get the gist. We had a great time. 

Country Music Hall of Fame

 Decatur

Now Grandma and Grandpa didn't play in the creek but the kids thought it was a good idea.

Green Moutain

Kite Festival

My birthday morning!

I got a bike and baby wagon and so we have been bike riding fools!

The Parthenon in Nashville.

The cutest picture of this kid, EVER!

David and I building Cait's headboard for her newly remodeled bedroom. More pictures of that to come on Wednesday after the big reveal.

This is Cait's nightstand! Makes you just a little excited to see the finished product, huh?

Bean is ONE!!!!!

Holy Tornados a year flies by in a hurry. I can't even remember what it was like a year ago and Bean being a tiny baby. He's just always been our fat guy. But gosh, he is loads of fun and is a super great babe. Except when he is growing molars! Not so great then! 

As far as stats go, he is 27 pounds and probably 31 inches but I haven't measured him for a month. He has 8 teeth and his back molars are threatening to pop up. He waves  and says Hi and hey. His favorite word is Da Da and every once in a while I swear he says Zoee. He took three steps today and then we ran around the house holding hands and he thought that was the funniest thing ever! He loves soft fleece blankets, stuffed animals, anything electronic and cuddles in the dark. If it is light out he would rather be in bed than cuddling. He loves Patty Cake and Hush Little Baby. Oh I could and probably should go on with everything but that would get long. So here are a few pics of his big day! I will post more once I get them off my camera.

Green Mountain

We are discovering new places in Huntsville all the time but this place has to be one of my favorites. It sits just above our home on top of the mountain. There is a beautiful walking trail around the lake, an old covered bridge, a log cabin, and even a little chapel (they have weddings at this little chapel all the time. How sweet is that?). It is so beautiful even with all the dormant trees, I can't wait until it is in full bloom in the spring and summer. 

Bean!!!

Oh Valentines Day how I love thee!

Dave is so very good to me. I really wonder sometimes why in heavens name he fell for me. I am sure I forced him into it. I am just way too much of a basket case and he is so kind and patient. Opposites attract I guess? Well anyway, he loves me and he loves to show it. 

Valentines has always been super special to us. He treats me well and spoils me every year. This year is no exception. We started the day walking around downtown Huntsville. I liked the few little shops it had but it needs more! Next stop the cemetary. What?! That's right, we love old cemeteries and Huntsville's is beautiful. The saddest/most beautiful part was the section of unknown soldiers from the Civil War.  So heart breaking. Next was lunch at Rosie's Cantina and then shopping at a pawn shop. I picked out three rings I loved and then left the building to let David decide if he even wanted to buy one of them. Our evening then ended with a mall in the house. 

There was a chocolate shop.

A jewelry store

Beautiful morganite and diamond ring.

The best Italian restaurant with the best chef/waiter ever!

And the best husband in the world!

I must admit I never get tired if being spoiled!

I almost forgot!

Beans!