Easter Memories...

Easter this year was simply beautiful! This was the first year in many I can remember dressing in "true Spring" clothing without layering over it with sweaters, tights ,etc. It was great to just enjoy the meaning of this special day along with give thanks for the grace our Savior has shown on our family. Spending the day with all the ones I love the most was perfect!

Of course, this time did not pass without a completely full schedule ,as always. I have learned as a mom of three...we started off celebrating a few days early with both the girls school Egg Hunts and Parties.

Anna Grace and her best friend from school, Katrina, really enjoyed hunting eggs together! It was sweet to watch them helping one another find the 22 eggs with their numbers on them!

Grammy and Popa joined us this year at the country club egg hunt and breakfast with the Easter bunny. You older girls were serious about completely filling the baskets with eggs this year. I even got in trouble for putting grass in them because that took up space. Such fun!

Adelynn, you were not sure about getting close to the bunny but the egg hunting was just amazing to you. You insisted on carrying your own basket, even though it was bigger than you are almost. You would pick up an egg and shake it...if you didn't hear anything you would put it down and go on to the next one. So funny...I remember another sister of yours with a sweet tooth that did the exact same thing AILEE!
What fun it was to meet up with your cousins for an egg hunt at the park with Mimi and Granddaddy's church. You all looked like a magazine cover in your little cross smocked sets Mimi made for you!

Little Easter goodies are always fun to surprise you with on Easter morning before church. This year you got Canes cheerleader hairbows, new dresses and special bunnies.

Mimi and Granddaddy were thrilled to have us all piled up in there house again this Easter. I am sure the cleaning up after we all left was not so fun...especially since you girls and I made ourselves at home through out the whole spring break almost!

(stairsteps! What fun you all have together...Big Red Disney Boat here we come this summer!)

Finally, it is getting easier to get decent pictures of all five of you silly gooses at one time! I think this one only took about 5 seconds...impressive!

Ailee, you are really beginning to form a sweet bond with Adelynn. I love watching your gentleness and sweet spirit come out when you are around her.

And, Adelynn, you are becoming more beautiful with each day! Your little face is just precious and it lights up from east to west when you catch a glimpse of your Daddy. I have finally witness true meaning to the term "Daddy's Girl!"

The Easter lunch at mimi's and egg hunt this year included a new little peanut! I could snuggle with this tiny angel for hours...Beautiful Josie!

Anna Grace wins it all!

We have been really busy just livin and LOVIN life together the past couple of weeks! It has been a blast and I am worn slap out! I am trying to update a few blog entries for the girls journal and I realized I left out a very special day for Anna Grace!

A month or so ago, we had an Awana Grand Prix race at church. Anna Grace and her classmates spent months sanding, painting and getting their cars ready. Of course, she was more about the looks of it and not real sure about the competitive part. However, when Daddy realized that she (by luck) had a really fast block of wood on her hands, he decided they would skip the 10K mommy was running that morning and enter the race. So, when I got the the church, they were excited! The first race really didn't end so great but after that...there was no stopping that pink and brown little car. She went ahead to not only win the entire Sparks division but the entire church competition!!!

Anna Grace, you are not of the competitive nature so that made it even more sweet. You were not prideful or did not even show much emotion at the church. After we got home, we began to smile constantly and it showed how pleased you were to be able to make your Daddy's Day! It was more about getting his attention than winning the race. You had no idea what really happened that morning but you knew that you and Daddy had some special times together. It was really sweet! Great Job, Princess! (and cute car too!)

Easter is on it's Way...

This week was full of many blessings! God really showed up for us this week. The encounters Daddy and I shared with our sweet Savior were nothing short of remarkable. It was neat to compare the things he revealed to each of us and how they directly coincided with one another. He had something to share with us this week and it was urgent that we are listening. He met us both right where we are and called us out on some very direct missions. It is fun, exciting and challenging all at the same time. I would love to say that I am not apprehensive but that would just not be true. However, I am learning to trust, very much, in the unknown. He has had us in some uncomfortable places lately. Because of this, our ears were perked and we were anxious to hear from Him. It seems so much clearer now...not crystal, but definitely less foggy! This in itself is a blessing! We are grateful! He placed a verse in front of me in Sunday school this morning that was a complete summary of our conversations together this week...it was so sweet to me. I hate to admit I was surprised by it. Why is that? I know He is orchestrating all of this but it still catches me off guard a little. It felt as if bells were literally ringing around me! I can imagine the spiritual realm dancing all around me saying "well, she is finally getting it!" It reminds me of a women's conference where Beth Moore challenged us to think about what our personal DVD playback will be like in Heaven...when we finally get to see the big picture, played back like God and His angels saw it...what type of sounds effects would be used? Anyway, it was awesome!

As if just this special season of the year is not enough to light a fire under you for Jesus, this week really started me wanting more of my God...wanting to give Him more of ME! I also squeezed in a chance to catch some sweet shots of you precious girls on my camera. I love looking back at the moments you spent with these little bunnies. I pray this Easter you will gain an even greater grasp of the sacrifice your Lord made for all of us!

Ailee's Soccer Kickoff!

Despite waking up feeling sick this morning, Ailee, you were able to make a great start to your soccer season. I loved watching you get out there and hustle. You were so awesome today and you really surprised Mommy with your eagerness to truly play hard! Great Job, cutie pie!




At first, I got a little concerned during the pregame talk with the coach. You seemed a little less than interested! And you social personality had you greeting and waving to everyone from the other team. It amazes me how people all over town know you and I have never met them or their parents. You have such a fun and friendly personality that kids are drawn to you, I guess.

(that is you turned around waving to the opposite team while Coach Stan gives you some pregame pointers.

You were the first to kick off the ball...

Daddy was assisting on the bench helping switch the players in and out.

I love these two shots the best because you can see above how hard you were trying to hustle. I cannot wait to see you at the end of the season. You have already grown so much since the first practice when it was all about the shiny shoes and not sharing the ball. Then, the look of complete satisfaction on your face below while walking off the field with Daddy to meet your sisters just melts my heart!

Adelynn is really sick today with an ear infection but she hung in there for your game. Anna Grace was a huge supporter and she brought her camera to take her own pictures of you. A little mini version of me!

I couldn't resist showing off these sweet little toes. The first sign of spring to me is when I can catch a glimse of barefoot baby toes. Nothing is cuter!

Fun on St Patty's Day!

We had a little visitor get tangled up and make a big mess in our house the other morning. You girls were so excited when you woke up to such a silly day. You had green water, cupcakes for breakfast and Mimi even sent a really cool treat for St. Patrick's Day...a stone with a surprise inside and if you kiss it you become super sweet? PERFECT!

You could not wait to get into the present Mimi and Granddaddy sent. Of course, Anna Grace you helped Adelynn open hers gift before you even opened your own. The best big sister ever!

Adelynn, you were not real impressed with the rock like your sisters but you sure did enjoy playing around with mommy and her camera!

Complete surprise when you realized that a leprechaun had placed money inside this special rock you got to bust open with a hammer. (I think when you have time on your hands to make rocks with money in them, I need to give you a few things to do! We love you, Mimi!)

Such a fun day and a big relief to finally have Daddy back home. Being a single mommy to three under the age of 6 is tough! I hope to rest and enjoy this gorgeous weekend! I wish I was running in the 1/2 marathon this weekend! Never enough time to train! Next year, Princess 1/2 Marathan in Disney...Here I come!

Ailee's New sport Adventure...

I must say that the idea of sports entering our home is a little exciting. Since the moment I met Daddy sports was included from every angle and it is a little sad there is no little "charlie" here to follow in his footsteps. So, Ailee decided to try her hand, or foot I guess, at soccer.

It has been nothing but entertaining from the start, even buying the cleats! Of course, they had to have pink on them somewhere and the fact they it was shiny, hot pink, even better! Then, off to the first practice and you were fired up and ready...until, you realize no one was just going to give the ball to you for a turn. You actually had to learn to get in there and take it away to get a chance to play. You looked at me on the bleachers with that look which I immediately read as "mommy, they are not sharing with me!" Daddy was helping coach and didn't catch on right away the reasoning behind why you began to slack off toward the end of practice. This whole idea of aggressiveness began to worry me. I have spent many hard days teaching you all the lessons behind sharing, gentleness and kind-spirits. Your personality tends to find these lessons a little tougher to get a grip on than your older sister and now we were about to unwind those and instruct you to play hard! I know, I know...it is sports, as a dear friend quickly reminded me but isn't the idea behind ballet so much sweeter? I am trying here. We all are actually! So, yesterday I wanted to get outside and practice with you a little bit. You came out all dressed up with a tulle skirt, matching headband and shiny shoes. You said, "Mommy, I was thinking you could take my picture trying to kick the ball and that would be really pretty!" Not exactly soccer attire or the mindset of an athlete getting ready to practice. I just giggled and thought to myself...poor Daddy, we may not be cut out for this type of activity after all! You did, however, surprised me at practice this week so I am excited about the first game Saturday. Go, Ailee! I am so proud of you for trying something new!

Look at these great shots Mommy captured of you playing today! You are beginning to really look like a star!

Roller GO!

I am one of those moms who loves the days when school is out! I know some moms hate to have all the kids at home for a full day but to me nothing is better! I love sleeping in, hanging out in our pjs and eating a late morning breakfast. This time we even got to go to Cracker Barrell to meet another set of sweet sisters and their mommy for a brunch. Then, we made the best of a rainy day at the Rolling Skating rink. Need I say more? It was really sad how much fun I had participating and watching you girls learn to skate. I also felt a few little flashbacks when the 80's music started playing as we skated around! I would glance over at Daddy and Adelynn as he snapped some pics of us. From his little sideline giggles, I could tell he was enjoying seeing us girls have some fun time together. I think he also liked watching mommy basically carry Ailee around the rink until sweat was pouring from my forehead. Laughing and working out all together...who knew? This is definitely going to be a monthly family outing. It was so much fun!

Finally, sweet Ailee almost got it figured out. I know by next trip you will be zooming around all alone like your big sister!

I was beyond impressed with your determination and ability to shake off your fears, Anna Grace, and jump full force into this roller skating adventure. You never even seemed worried or timid to get out there and go. Mommy had to help you a couple of times around and then you let go of my head and took off. You would fall a few times but it never seemed to discourage you. Great Job my big angel!

Fun in the Sun...

Yesterday, we were blessed. The weather was BEAUTIFUL and the mood was sweet at our house. Daddy was gone for a short trip so it was a day for just us girls. Once we picked up AG from school, we headed straight to the park. You all have been begging to spend sometime outside there but it has been so freezing cold everyday lately. Since the temps were in the low 70's I knew I could not pass it up. We played until you needed water, snack and a potty, of course! So, we went on to the bakery for a little treat. It was fun for mommy to relax and just enjoying being with you girls for an afternoon. I think the sun did us all some good!

I love these shots of the stages of your cookie eating, Adelynn. not only were you thrilled to get to spend some time shadowing your sisters at the park, now you got a cookie with icing and sprinkles too! The look on your face proves the day couldn't get any better for you. Then, it becomes serious when mommy asked for a bite...

Here you gave me the expression...For real? You want me to give you a bite of my cookie?!!? Come on, Mom!

And then, "sorry, I just ate the last bite!" The crumbs on your litte bottom lip (although, I know some of you are arguing BIG bottom lip since it is just like Mommy's) is the only proof of the cookie at all now!

And, sweet Anna Grace, you were so busy that I couldn't catch a shot of you at all that was semi in focus. I am glad you had a blast though being outside and soaking up the sun and fun we were having just being silly girls together. I love you three to the ends of the Earth and back...even if I didn't even get a single bite of the cookie, haystack or cupcake you three gobbled down from the bakery!