Happy Birthday!

Today is a special day.  Three years ago today was Caroline's due date.  Little did we know she would choose to come a week early.  Last year at this time we were expecting Libby to arrive any moment.  Of course, she hung out inside a whole week past her due date.  However, being that my two favorite girls have stolen the last couple weeks of summer, my other favorite girl in the whole world has been overshadowed (how many favorites am I allowed?).  My mom's birthday is today!

I've been wanting to write a blog post for my mom for awhile but it's so hard to put everything into words.  I tried to say thank you once before but it's so hard!  I've heard people say that you become much more thankful for your parents once you become a parent.  When I think about it, this may be true.  My mom used to change my diapers?!  What-you mean I wasn't born potty trained?!  It certainly does put a new perspective on all that my Mom has done for me. 

Even if I haven't been able to understand all that my mom has done for me, I really don't recall a time that I haven't been incredibly grateful for my mom (even if I didn't show it).  She was the "soccer mom" that drove me to all my sports practices and the classroom mom too.   As an elementary school student I remember her packing my lunches and putting sweet notes in them.  I also remember her fixing my hair every day.  My parents divorced when I was in the ninth grade.  Mom balanced a lot trying to keep Lindsay and I in our activities and working a job to keep things going.  She was always putting us first!  I clearly remember her making sacrifices so that we could have what we needed or even wanted.  As I became as adult, my mom became my friend.  In college I think I called every day just to say hi and chat!  Truthfully, that still continues today because I need all the parenting advice I can get! :-)

My very favorite thing about my Mom is that she works hard to make everyone feel special and loved.  She is always thinking of others before herself!! I can't even begin to count the number of times this past year that she has dropped everything to be here for our family.  She has helped with the girls, planned parties, painted our home, cared for us when we were sick and so much more!  She has made sure that she is present and active in our lives.  I could not be more thankful!

The last few years I have learned more and more about my Mom's family and the life she had growing up.  This has made me appreciate her so much more.  She had a rough family life to say the least!  You always hear about how families are likely to continue destructive cycles.  However, that is not the case with my Mom.  With God's guidance she has cast out the rotten and replaced it with so many blessings and traditions that I can carry on with my family. 

Mom taught me so much growing up.  Early on the most important thing she taught me was how to have confidence in myself.  She taught me how to be disciplined and determined.  She also taught me how to love others by thinking of their needs.  Mark has told me before that I got a brain from my Dad but a heart from my Mom. 

Thank you for my heart Mom!!  I can't imagine living any other way and I definitely would never choose another mom!  Your heart makes you the most precious mom of all!  I hope you have the happiest of birthdays!  We can't wait to celebrate with you!

Missouri

This post is a little overdue!  We went to see Mark's parents, July 6-9th.  We had a great time catching up with them and the rest of the family in Missouri.  I really wish that we could spend more time with them.  I'm all about the girls getting some grandparent love!!  They did get a ton of it while we were there.  :-)  Mark and I also got some love...we were able to run together twice while we were there and we had a date night too!  Woohoo!

Grandma and Grandpa were full of lots of hugs,



and made sure to do lots of silly playing!  Grandpa is such a hoot and is always willing to goof around with the grandkids!

Caroline also had her pick of readers...Grandma















and cousin Roman too.

Grandpa took us to Smallin cave where he gives tours on a weekly basis.  It was very different from any other cave I had been in because it had such a large opening and was wide open inside where we toured.  We were able to walk in with Libby in a stroller.  It was really neat to hear the history and stories from the cave!

Caroline fed some chickens outside of the cave.  She kept her distance just to make sure they didn't eat her legs.  :-)

After feeding chickens, we went to eat some chicken. 

Caroline with her curly head doll, practicing her newest silly face.















Libby was a climbing monster and made herself at home in a rocking chair that Grandma had when she was a little girl!

Aunt Anita is a baby lover!  I wish we lived closer.  She loves to snuggle the girls and play with them.

Uncle Phillip also joined in on the girl action.  He was super with Caroline and I was glad to see that Caroline was thrilled to play with him too.

Libby on a rocking horse that Grandpa made.  For some reason her little expression in this picture reminds me of Mark and the Taylor family!

Mark and Phillip had a friendly arm wrestling match.  It was fun to see them being together.

We also got to visit Grams (Mark's maternal grandmother). She had a "little" family gathering at her home one night where the girls got lots of attention.





























Grandpa, Grandma and the girls...we hope to have another picture again soon.  Come to Georgia!!

Happy face!

Libby's new happy face is a little reminiscent of Caroline's from a few years earlier!  We love it!!

Beach Party

Apparently it was a record setting day in Atlanta...106 degrees outside!  No better day for a beach party for these two munchkins!

We sent out this invitation a few weeks ago and did some preparation in the meantime for a fun day!

We created our own little beach world complete with sandbox, water, beach balls and all.

The kiddos even did a little crab art work with their hands...thanks to Miss Sharry and Miss Becca.

Mark was a servant as always and helped get everything set up for the part.  He even played dress up for a minute.  I think the pink suits him just fine.  :-)

Of course the best part was having lots of friends here to celebrate...both young...

and old!  I love how the old folks are sitting at the kiddie table.  :-)

We also had lots of beach themed foods...starfish sandwiches, a beach ball fruit tray, octopus hotdogs...

a watermelon shark, sand pudding and goldfish. 

The two crowning jewels of the food spread were the watermelon shark that Mark made and...

the birthday cake that Lindsay made!!  She really has a gift (patience) for making all of that happen!  I loved it and so did the girls!

 After all of the guests left we opened a few presents.

Caroline loves her new princesses and enjoyed pretending with Gigi.

I think there may be a tie for my favorite picture of the day.  Caroline looks so grown up in the picture below.  She just sat in her chair and ate lunch with the plate on her lap like all the adults!  Sometimes it's really hard for me to believe that she is really only 3.

I think this picture wins though!  I love the giggles of my sweet girl.

Happy early 3rd birthday to my favorite Caroline!