{backyard}

{just a little rain}

It rained a whole lot the past 2 days.

But that certainly did not keep us indoors.

Maddox & Presley were invited 

to a lunch play date at a neighbor friends house. 

slides, swimming, swinging, bubbles, water mellon & picnic lunches on the floor.

It started to POUR on the kids pretty quick after we got started. 

The little boys being all tough decided to stay & endure.

The little girls sought shelter on the O family's couch with some bubble guppies. 

my silliest boy... 

Ruby & Presley..matchy matchy...

 

{at the table}

We finally got around to getting out the ole' high chair.

This chair has held 5 of our babies now.

Cooper was rather pleased with himself 

as he sat at the table with us at dinner tonight.

Presley played mommy & fed baby spoonfuls of cereal.

(I had to teacher her not to jam the spoon in to the back of poor coopers throat. he was a good sport.)

Today was actually not my favorite day...

kids fighting, using the word stupid, 

drawing on furniture, spill after spill...

& yet I sit & look at these happy cooper faces 

& none of that matters.

These pictures of cooper remind me of THESE pictures 

of our nearly 3 year old gal. 

my time flies. 

{1st}

First swim came late this year. 

Usually by April we are begging for May 1st to come (the day the neighborhood pool opens.) 

Not this year.

But with a few days of high 90s under our belts It felt like time. 

sunblock, swim suits, floaties in tow, we headed down the hill to the pool.

It was nice.

I sat in a low lounge chair dangling Cooper's toes in the cool pool water. 

The pool area was flooded with calls from my boys "mommy watch this." 

They gave me lots of reasons to clap & cheer them on as they swam about like fish. 

its officially pool season. 

{together again}

These two are always giddy to see each other after school. 

best friends I tell ya.

Britt shows off his school work & "skunk" face paint. 

 Britt & Maddox are eager for summer vacation so they can be attached at the hip. 

{May 12th}

I am certain I think it every year...

THIS  is the best mother's day EVER! 

& again...

I thought it this year. 

Mother's day is simple.

its sleeping in 

its my favorite egg breakfast

its less cleaning & more playing

its school projects & primary pictures.

I like simple. 

I like that it is not a big party

just extra kisses & 

spontaneous & often random gifts throughout the day.

Maddox gave me his last carmel. 

it was an open window weekend

bikes were rode,

movie nights had, 

friends came over for sunday dinner after church.

This was the best mother's day EVER! 

(so far)

 ---------

this boy made me a mom! 

he still calls me mommy.....

 breakfast platter...no joke! a platter! not a dinner plate! 

the annual homemade fruit bouquet! Rod amazes me!! 

When Tre was born I freaked out! 

I stopped eating & started crying.

I was young. only married for 18 months.

on the brink of my 22nd birthday. 

My mom was there.

she made dinners.

she took the baby in the wee hours of the night.

she put Tre on a schedule.

she made sure i had time to brush my teeth and hair & breathe.

she taught me to be a mommy....

not just in those first weeks of Tre's life 

but in all the years she loved & mothered me.

She is my dearest friend! 

Tre & my best friend....
(Tre-18 mo. Charlotte NC)

{phone}

life according to my phone...