Highlights

Thursday before swimming lessons the kids and I visited Jason at work for lunch. After eating we took the boys for a surprise visit to their future school, Huntertown. They were very excited! Of course the playground and gym were their favorite spots! We talked with the current principal, unfortunately she is retiring this year. I love her, and really wish she were still going to be there. We are praying for the perfect fit! The boys peeped in the kindergarten rooms too. Worst part... I cried. Seriously, what is going to happen in August?

Playing Daddy

Friday I worked all day getting us packed and ready for the campground! After dad got off work, we headed to Fort Boonesborough with mom and dad's new pop up! We had a nice dinner, several walks, and a fire for marshmallows. The best part was waking up dry even though it was storming outside. The worst part... it was storming! The boys enjoyed riding their bikes and scooters.

Go Mets! Saturday the boys won their first tournament game! Austin and Matthew both had good hits, ran the bases well, and scored runs! We play again tomorrow at 11:30.

Swim Lessons

Matthew and Austin have been taking swim lessons this week at a private home in Versailles. Maggie and I sit under a huge shade tree in the front yard while the boys swim for 25 minutes. Then, they call for us and we get to go see the show. Yesterday we saw Matthew swim under water through a hoop. He had his hands closed tightly just as she told him. Today he dove under water to get a dart and then swam to the other side. He is doing very well! He has no fear of the water. I am glad he is quickly learning how to swim.

Matthew diving to get the dart at the bottom

Matthew and Ethan (another boy in the class) swimming from one side to the other
Matthew practicing his free style stroke

Austin is still struggling with the pool. He doesn't want to put his face under/ in the water. Mon and Tues he blew bubbles in the water with his mouth. Today he did it with his nose. Babysteps. He is definitely getting more comfortable with the water and his instructor.

The boys get to go down the slide after they show us what they learned.

While the Crums packed and moved :( I kept Olivia and Ellie for a little bit tonight. Ellie fixed Maggie's hair. Maggie was very proud of it!

We started potty training MJ yesterday. We've had two very successful days. She only has had two small accidents where she started to go, stopped, and then finished in the potty. She also went #2 in the potty! Apparently she'll do anything for candy!

Starting the Summer with Friends

Summer has already started out great! I enjoyed dinner out and WCHS graduation on Friday with my co-workers Jessica and Joyce. Saturday morning Sara and I went garage sale shopping. Not only did we have great luck, but we also had lots of talk time. Jason and I took the kids to the pool Saturday afternoon. Then, we enjoyed a nice long patio meal with Danny and Sara (without kids) at Malone's Saturday night. Sunday after church we celebrated my cousin's graduation and my uncle's 50th birthday at mom and dad's. Sunday at 4:00 we had one last cookout with the Coleman's before they move to Paintsville. Then, we hung out with our life group Sunday night. Whew! It was a fun filled weekend.

Today officially started my summer break off from work! The kids and I went to the library this morning. The boys got a library card and signed the back of it so nicely! Then, they scanned the books to check them out. Each checked out 5 books from the Kindergarten list. We joined the summer reading program. Matthew's favorite book that we've already read.... How the Grinch Stole Christmas! We finally deleted it from our DVD in late March because the boys still wanted to watch it daily! We have our first swim lesson today at 3:30 and the last season t-ball game at 5:30. Tomorrow..... we lounge poolside!

Memorial Day Weekend... Extended!

On Saturday the boys won their 6th t-ball game! It was another great (and close) game! One of the coaches has a great website he updates after each game. This is what he said about Matthew this week, "...Back to the top of the order & Matthew “The Cat” showed why he’s the lead off man, finding a way to get on base while driving in, what would later prove to be, the game winning RBI..." We attended church on Saturday night, and then closed out Saturday with a nice LG gathering at our house.

On Sunday we headed to Great Wolf Lodge to celebrate Austin's 5th birthday. Mom, dad, Amy, Caleb, and Anna went with us. We had a very fun time! We booked an extra special room for Austin's b-day. The kids had their own little cabin room with bunk beds. They were very excited! My favorite part of the trip was leaving the room at 9 to go back to the waterpark with dad and Jason to hit the bigger water rides for an hour before closing. Thanks mom!

The kid cabin had three twin beds. Matthew wanted the single bed because the TV was closer to it. On the other side there were bunk beds. Austin took the top, and Maggie slept on the bottom bunk.

Fun at Our Neighborhood Pool!

Jason and I decided to join the neighborhood pool this summer, and we are two for two! We joined yesterday (Tuesday) and we've already been twice! Both yesterday and today we went to the pool after school! We love it already! As you can tell in the picture, it has a nice baby pool area and a large pool behind it. Today I met two women as the kids played with their children in the pool. They were super nice! One woman has four children and is in the process of adopting a fifth from China (one other is adopted from China too). Another lady has two kids; one is adopted from Ethiopia. Obviously we had an instant bond! I look forward to spending the summer at the pool! The boys start swim lessons on Monday, so hopefully they'll feel more confident soon.

Growing up too fast!

Tot's Landing Graduation

As you can imagine, I'm a little (lot) emotional about the boys starting kindergarten this fall. I may have cried through the entire ceremony :) Anyway, it was very nice. Matthew received the citizen award and Austin the Circle Time award. They sang and did all the motions for the songs. So sweet. My favorite song brought many tears. I'll type the lyrics below. They sang it to Start Spreading the News with cute motions.

Start spreading the news, we're leaving today

we want to be part of the kindergarten grade

we've worked so hard, our teachers are so proud

Open up the doors, Big School, Big School!

Austin, Ellie, and Matthew
My baby boy turned 5 today! I can't believe it. Time is moving so fast. We love every moment with him, every inch of him, and (most of the time) every word he says. He is sweet, kind, and funny. I want to cherish everyday with him. Austin, Mommy and Daddy love you totally and completely, forever and always.

Another Win for the Mets!

• We had our 4th win tonight! The boys have improved so much, and are having a blast! They are starting to hit better and run the bases more aggressively. I am enjoying watching, cheering, and meeting the other moms. One of the assistant coaches has a webpage he updates after the games. There is an adorable picture of Matthew running to first base with determination in his eyes... and his tongue out! It is linked below as well as the coaches page.

Picture of Matthew

PressBox Productions

• I am counting down the days until summer break and Jason is counting down the days to vacation. We are ready! It has been a great school year, but a tough one too. We are spending a week with Jason's family on Jekyll Island in June. Jason is so in need of a vacation, we are starting it early with a few nights in Savannah and extending it with a weekend in Gatlinburg for fireworks! Maggie says, "Go beach?" everyday.
• The kids are doing really well right now. The boys play day and night together. For the most part they refer to one another as their best friend. Matthew is being extra loving to me lately. He tells me daily, "You're the best mommy" as he hugs my arm and kisses my cheek. The boys have two more weeks at Tot's Landing. Tuesday night they have preschool graduation. I am ready for the school year to be over, but it is hard to think about what will come this fall. Austin is as funny as ever. He says the cutest things. Maggie is developing a little personality of her own! She loves to write, play with water at the kitchen sink, and carry a baby doll.

Happy Mother's Day

I love being a mother. God has blessed me with three amazing little kids who bring so much to my life. I never would have imagined, nor can I put into words what their smiles, laughter, tears, hugs, and kisses would do to my heart or bring to my life. From the moment Austin was put on my chest I knew motherhood was the greatest gift I had been given. I try to daily thank God for another day with each child. My heart aches for those parents who have lost children, and for those children who have lost a parent. I can't even imagine. I love every inch of them. I can't get enough. Each one different as night and day, and special in countless ways. God has a plan for Austin, Matthew, and Maggie, and I am so thankful to be called their mother.

Happy Mother's Day to my mother, the best mom a daughter could have. Thank you for your love, support, guidance, and friendship. I have the best example of a mother. I want to be like you in so many ways.

Happy Mother's Day!

Austin in my arms for the 1st time

Holding Maggie in recovery

Matthew and Austin Feb. 2006

My life was blessed with Matthew when he was 3 years old. He can from my heart, not my belly.

The Ball Park

Austin on short and Matthew on the mound

Mom and I in our new Mets shirts (Thanks Mom!)

We have spent a lot of time this Spring at the Shillito baseball fields, and I have had so much fun! The weather has been great, and time with family even better. I just wanted to share a few photos from today's game. Matthew's 1st cousin once removed (whatever...he calls her Brit-Brit) cheered the boys on today with her mom and brother. They have been to most of the games. She is the one in the picture with Maggie at the top of this post. I have enjoyed getting to know the other moms on the team, and the boys are having fun with their teammates. The boys are starting to understand the game a little better, and everyone is improving! Today the boys both scored at least two runs!

64 Years!

Yesterday my Ma-Maw and Pa-Paw celebrated their 64th anniversary! We spent a rainy afternoon at mom and dad's, but it was nice to spend time inside with family. We feel very fortunate to have Pa-Paw with us still, and cherish their love for one another. 64 years, what a blessing to us all.
My cousins Stephanie and Dana

Austin has learned to tie his shoe! He was practicing with his daddy's.

Thanks for the pictures mom (I took these off her Facebook) :)

Sunny Day on the Farm

Last Sunday sure was pretty! I'm glad we were on the farm then, and not today! The rain is coming down! The kids enjoyed a weekend with their cousins, and a nice walk with Grandad and Uncle Jesse on the farm. We went to London on Saturday to celebrate Aunt Aprile's 27th birthday!