Last Day of 2yo Preschool

May 20th: Last Day of School

Today was Banks and Blakely's last day of 2K at Lexington Baptist. Banks and Blakely have had an amazing first year of preschool!! We are so proud of all they have accomplished in this past year. We are so grateful to Ms. Robin and Ms. Stephanie for an amazing first school experience. They have loved every moment, and I know they are going to miss all their friends from LBC Preschool!

There is just something about last day of school that makes this mama weepy! Growing up, I cried at the end of 2nd grade, middle school, camp.... I KNEW that the last day of school for Blakely was going to do me in!!

Love this little girl! So, so, so proud of her!! Let the tears fall!!

Can't believe how much growing up they have done this year!! So fun having them in the same class... Its like we have had twins!! They have made lots of new friends this year like Ryan, Quinn, Ellie Ann and John Thompson... but these two are still best friends!

We love Ms. Stephanie!! We are really, really gonna miss her!!

We love Ms. Robin too!! We will miss y'all so much!! Now we have one big hurdle before 3yo Preschool in the fall... POTTY TRAINING! (*gulp*)

After their last day of school, GG and I had planned an end of school party in the back yard!!

Redneck Waterpark complete with slip n' slide, baby pool, sprinklers, water table and squirt guns!!

Never to be left out on a good time.... The Rooster Bear!

We even had a Sundae Bar!!

This got messy quickly!! Eeee.

Redi-whip, sprinkles and candy crazy!!

This girls loves a party!!

After the party was over, we had to hose these kids down and get them ready for naps.

What a great way to kick off the summer!!

Can't wait for all our fun summer adventures ahead!!

Happy End of the School Year!!!

GrandAnnie is Here!!!

May 9th-16th: GrandAnnie's Spring Visit

GrandAnnie drove in late Saturday night from Charlotte. These two little girls were super excited that GrandAnnie has arrived!!

First big adventure: The Zoo!!

These are some lucky kiddos to have two AMAZING grandma's!! Riding the train with GG and GrandAnnie!

Best Buds at the petting zoo!

GrandAnnie took Katy Ellis for her first time feeding the giraffes! Katy Ellis is not so sure what she thinks about this!

Watch out KE!! That giraffe thinks Katy Ellis tastes good!!

Out to Lunch and shopping with GrandAnnie at Chapala!!

These girls love to throw pennies in the fountain!! Asked Blakely what she was wishing for and she quickly responded "More pennies!!" Heehee... that girl!

 

As the musician of the family, GrandAnnie has taken the girls musical education upon herself... so what could be better than an impromptu jam fest??

Music then transitioned into a cooking lesson!

These two always have a blast when GrandAnnie is around!!

 

This was a super quick visit, but we enjoyed every moment of it!! Come back soon GrandAnnie!! We love you!! xoxoxo

 

 

Katy Ellis Baby Dedication

May 10th: Happy Mother's Day!!

This past Sunday was a beautiful day!! We got to spend the day with our entire family celebrating our Katy Ellis and committing to raise her in a Godly home. It was Mother's Day, but it was also baby dedication Sunday at Radius, our new church here in Lexington.

 At first, I was a little peeved that my mother's day had been hijacked by Baby Dedication Sunday!  This meant rather than being lazy and pampered, I would instead have to cook and help host a huge family gathering. Thankfully, the Lord softened my heart (and my attitude) and helped me see that there is no better way to celebrate being a mom. He helped me remember WHO gave me this opportunity and WHO entrusted this child to me. Katy Ellis is not mine; she is the Lords!

Thank you Jesus for letting me enjoy this precious child, may I use every day to show her YOU and demonstrate YOUR love for her!!

Katy Ellis decided to start Mother's Day off right with a 5:30am wake up call for Mommy! So thoughtful.

As a result, I knew that post-church pictures were NEVER going to happen, so we quickly got in our family pics before leaving for Church that morning.

My subjects were less than cooperative.

Blakely's face in this picture!!! HeeHeeHeeHee!!

Blakely loves her baby sister! Since I found out Katy Ellis was a girl, I have been dreaming of these two becoming best buddies, and it is starting to happen! Blakely always tried to include KK, and always make sure she gets some of Blakely's snacks and drinks. She is always saying "come on KK! come on!" And she always wants to "stay and play with KK." I am so thankful these two will always have one another!

Stink Face!

GrandAnnie even came all the way from Canada for Katy Ellis special day!! ;)

Sweet cousin Walker was also dedicated on Sunday, so we were all able to celebrate together.

 Mom's beautiful party decorations were also Alyssa and I's Mother's Day gifts! Aren't they beautiful?

GrandAnnie getting some baby Walker snuggles in... watch out, he spits!

Best buddies.
(Banks: "DeeDee these too tight!" as he pulls his suspender straps off for the 100th time!)

At first glance, I thought this was great picture of me and my girls on Mother's Day, and then I realized they both look LESS than THRILLED to be with me! HA! Oh well.

 

Alyssa and I with out two freshly dedicated babies, Kathryn Ellis and Walker Harrison.

 

 

Obsessed with this picture!! Realized after I saw it that I don't think I have a nice picture of all 4 kids with Alyssa and I in it!
Me and my co-parent with our 4 kiddos! ;)

 

LOVE Walker and Banks as if they were my own kids!!! They are part of my crew!

 

Alyssa and her boys. So blessed to get to raise my kids with my sister!!

 

 

Another BEAUTIFUL Mother's Day gift from my talented Mama!! Each word on my serving platter was a memory from when I lived in Charleston. I love this so much, and I totally got choked up when she gave it to me! Such a sweet surprise!
My personal favorites: Home Team BBQ and Angels&Rascals! HA!

We had a BBQ Buffet! Hudson's BBQ, homemade Mac n' Cheese, cole slaw, baked beans and rolls. YUM!!

 

Rich seems to fit in nicely at the kids table.

Katy Ellis totally SHOCKED her mama!! She had already had her supper in her high chair. I got her down, and she crawled over to the kids table picked up the fork and USED IT!!! Y'all!! She is 15 months old. She can't walk.... who knew she could us a fork!

I have NEVER even given her a fork, but I guess she had been watching Banks and Blakely use theirs.

She is so proud of herself for using the fork!

She did it OVER and OVER again... she ate every bite on the plate!!

I might add that this was STOLEN food.... off Banks and Blakely's plates. They had left to go swimming... and she just jumped right up and commandeered their plates!

This is one little miss who will not be denied or held back! You go KE!

She was obsessed with this little umbrella!!

Katy Ellis enjoying the beach with her Daddy

First Kayak ride of the season!

I think she ate about a 1/2 cup a sand. Oops!

GG reading to her girly Granbabies.

My girls TORE UP some cake!!

Walker's first taste of cake.

Banks always eats dessert like a boss!

Swiper stealing cake off Blakely's plate.... didn't recognize what had happened until after I was editing the pictures! HA!

Get it girl!

While Blakely was busy trying to steal the frosting roses off the big cake, KE was helping herself to Blakely's cake! HA!

Such a special day celebrating my little Katy Ellis! I am so, so, so proud of this little bug and humbled that God has called me to be her Mama! I am going to do my best, but I know that my best will not be enough. I will not be enough. AND THIS IS PURPOSEFUL!! I will not be able to LOVE Katy Ellis perfectly, but I can point her to the one that can! I can teach her about Jesus and spend my days with her pointing to Him!! Only He can be the ONE she needs!!!
That is my promise. That is my "dedication." That I would first seek Christ for myself, and then seek to help Blakely and Katy Ellis to find him, too!! God be praised! AMEN!