Island Babies

We spent our Memorial Day weekend on Little Gasparilla Island this weekend at my aunt and uncle's beach house (Thanks Jacque and Guy) with Grandma, Ryan, Stacy, Madison, and Maci. We had a very relaxing time. Brady is definitely a beach bum-He loves the sand, sometimes a little too much but he has so much fun. Rylee liked sleeping on the beach and Peyton, by the 3rd day, liked playing in the gulf. My husband has also decided he could live the island life-too bad they don't have an island school we could teach at.

Music in the Park

On Saturday night the California Toe Jam Band was playing at the Hammock. My cousin Jordan is a member of the band so my mom and I took the five kids out there to listen. It was apparently a very popular idea because it was very crowded. The whole middle grassy area of the parking lot was full! Luckily, my Aunt Cathy and Uncle Bob are "with the band" and staked out front row seats so we had great seats for the music. The kids enjoyed the relaxed atmosphere and dancing to the great music.

End of the Year Program

Peyton, Brady, and Rylee's end of the year program was last Monday. Peyton was in his element singing and even dancing a little to several songs. My favorite was "Every Move I Make" (I make in Jesus). Brady sang "The Wheels on the Bus." Now, in the last six months I've tried to sing this song several times with Brady and he screams "NO, MOMMY, NO" every. single. time. Then he gets up there last Monday and sings every word and does every motion! Oh my Brady! Rylee and her class rode around in the stroller and each baby was a different color crayon. Rylee was brown (with a little pink thrown in for good measure).

Busy Weekend

I've been a blog slacker lately but this weekend has given me plenty to blog about. Jon's parents were down from Indiana for a visit so on Friday night Jon took me to Olive Garden for my Mother's Day dinner. Then we enjoyed a night staying at the Chateau Elan. Yes, we stayed at a hotel in our hometown but we had a gift certificate and it was kind of nice to get away even if it was only for a night and only 10 minutes away.

Saturday was very hot but we braved Cypress Gardens anyway. Thank goodness for the water park!

Sunday was busy. Rylee was dedicated at church. Our church does them once a year on Mother's Day and helps us as parents make a public declaration that we will raise our child in a Christ-centered home. We then headed to lunch at my Aunt Becky's house. Then home for naps (one for Mommy too-that was one of my wishes for Mother's Day). What a blessing it is to be Mommy to my three beautiful children.

Rylee's Baby Dedication

Madison, Brady, & Maci playing in the sand at Aunt Becky'sTwo Beautiful Girls on the dock.My boys at Cypress Gardens

Sprinklers on a Sunday Afternoon

Well, I've been a little lax in the blog department but finally some blogable material came my way this afternoon. At least twice a month we have dinner at my parents' house. Usually my brother's family comes as well but they were busy so it was just us at Grandma and Grandad's house tonight. We had a nice dinner and then it was outside for some sprinkler fun. I have to say watching my boys run through the sprinklers (Daddy spraying the hose) brought back some great memories of my own childhood. We could spend hours playing with the hose out in the yard. It's fun to see my own kids doing the same things I had so much fun doing when I was little. Rylee wasn't quite big enough to enjoy the hose but worked hard looking cute for Mommy's camera.

I am so proud of him!!!!!

So, my husband is a 4th grade teacher and he is a phenomenal teacher! And apparently I am not the only one who thinks so because he was named HIGHLANDS COUNTY TEACHER OF THE YEAR at the Summitt Awards tonight. I think the crazy wife was more excited than he was! It was so rewarding because I see how much he loves his students on a daily basis. He puts his WHOLE heart into teaching every single day. His students love him too and he gives teachers a good name every. single. day. I love him-Congratulations Honey!!!!

My First Latte!

Last Monday, I suggested we pick the kids up from school and then go get our favorite treats (Dairy Queen Large Reese's Cup Blizzard for him, Starbucks Grande Vanilla Latte for me). Anyway, Brady and his sweet tooth were all about sharing Daddy's blizzard while Peyton was all about having some of Mommy's Latte. So being the selfless mother I am I asked the barrista (sp?) at Starbucks if she could make Peyton his own little latte. She was more than happy to oblige and Peyton thoroughly enjoyed his first latte. As we arrived home and were getting out of the car I said to Peyton, "Peyton how about if Mommy picks you up every once and awhile from school and we go to Starbucks and have coffee and talk about our day?" You would have thought I had asked the kid if he wanted to go Disney World. He was so excited! Well, I don't think Daddy was thinking this idea was especially "manly" so he said, "Peyton, why doesn't Daddy pick you up and we'll go to happy hour at Chili's and talk about hot chicks?" It took Peyton all of about 3 seconds to say, "No, I want to go have coffee with Mommy and talk about my day." Score one for Mommy.