Catching Up

HELLO!  So, it has taken me months to get these pictures off my phone.  For some reason, everytime I plugged my phone in, it would tell me my phone was locked...which it wasn't. Ugh!  All the stars aligned the other day and it FINALLY downloaded over 1,000 pictures off my phone from all the way back to February.  Halleluah!!

No, I'm not putting 1,000 pictures in this post but I want to catch up on life from getting back from Jamaica way back at New Years.  Marilyn, if you're still reading... this one's for you. ;)

JANUARY

My kids hit the ground running after our trip.  We literally woke up in Jamacia on Sunday morning and they woke up Monday in their beds and had to go back to school.  That's a hard transition.  Lol!  Roman in his Jamaican Usain Bolt jersey. 

We finished up a really fun Upward basketball season.  I loved "coaching" my girl, even if I was much for a glorified cheerleader than an actual coach.

A few weeks after we got home from vacation, her braids came out.  Oh, the knarly curls...

We decided to move Keatyn's room from the bonus room to the first bedroom upstairs.  She is really on a teal kick, so I agreed to paint 1 wall her beloved teal green.  4 walls of that color may blind someone.  Then we painted over the pink in her old bedroom and made it the playroom/guest room.  Sweet Rudy came to help...

She loved it!

On January 26th was the Father/Daughter Dance at school.  This year, I was the lead for the PTO and I was a little nervous to say the least.  The ladies that had done it for years both had girls graduating so they were ready to pass the baton.  It was such a fun night and I hope these girls made memories with their dads to last a lifetime.

It's hard to hide in the bathroom when you've got a bouquet of balloons!

FEBRUARY

Birthday month kicked into full swing on the 3rd.  We celebrated with the family at Ichiban after Keatyn's basketball game.  Love these 3 oh so much!!

Roman was not a big fan of the fire.  Ha! Ha!

Mrs. Sims is the same precious 2nd grade teacher that Trace had.  She has been such a blessing to our family and I was THRILLED when Keatyn got her too!  Every birthday she does a birthday blessing for each child and dresses up in their costume of choice. Keatyn chose a rainbow unicorn.  The parents are invited and she has each child come up and write something special about the birthday child on their "blessing board."  Then they do a special prayer and birthday dance.  It never fails to bring me to tears.  Such a special day...

We took the kids to the new Texas Roadhouse for their birthday dinner.  They sing Happy Birthday to them while sitting on a saddle.  As you can tell, Trace wasn't quite sure what to think.  Ha!

Keatyn had her party at the skating rink...

Olivia and Emerson came home after for a sleepover...

The next weekend, Trace had his birthday slumber party which included some basketball in the rain and a lot of Fortnite...

Climbing at High Point in February...

Sweet Sadie...

MARCH

In March, we went down for a weekend to see the cousins.  We always love getting these kiddos together.  There is never a lack of noise or energy.  

I stayed at the Marriott with the boys and Jim and Jimmy stayed in the room next door.

We made the most out of the indoor pool and hot tub but can't wait to get back to enjoy their beautiful outdoor pool!

This dog...love, love, love.

On a particularly warm March day, we took out the jon boat for a little adventure.  It ended up being more than we bargained for when the island we pulled up on was covered in mud from the recent rains and then the boat came untied and floated away forcing Jimmy to wade out in the freezing water to rescue it.  Hee Hee...

My girls and I went to the Moth Ball benefiting the Boys and Girls Club.  This is such a fun event and is the 2nd year we've been.  I got really lucky this year and found a dress that fit in a house we were flipping so I didn't have to scour the Goodwill stores for something like I did the year before!

Goofballs...

For Spring Break, we went down to Sisty and Granddaddy's house in Destin.  It is always such a wonderful time.  It was pretty cool down there still so we had to stick to the heated pools.

One day, we decided to drive over to Navarre Beach and Pensacola and we toured Fort Pickens.  It was such a cool place to see.  The kids really enjoyed walking around the bunkers and reading all the plaques about the history and battles fought in this place.

APRIL

Evander James Brown "Van" was born April 6th.  He is beyond precious and we couldn't wait to finally meet him.

Getting some golf in...

For Easter, Keatyn's class lead their chapel service.  For weeks we had practiced and practiced for her first "solo."  I will never forget the afternoon she jumped in the car after school and announced she had a singing solo in the program.  I was terrified, we are not singers.  I honestly couldn't believe she wanted to do it, but she was SO excited.  I pulled over in the bank parking lot and played the song/verse she would be singing and I couldn't stop the tears.  Finally, the day came and  I was a wreck.  She looked beautiful and felt really confident.  I wish this would show the video but lets just say she nailed it and it was amazing.  To sit there and hear your baby girl singing for Jesus was about more than my heart could take.  I sobbed.  I was so incredibly proud of her and her friends.

Afterwards, Nana and I went to see little bit!

Making Easter layered cake...

MAY

In May, I kept Keatyn' class while Mrs. Sims and Mrs. Hipps went to the teacher appreciation luncheon.  While they were gone, one of the moms organized a surprise class gift for them both.  They have been so amazing this year and are so deserving...

Field Day fun...

End of the year field trip to the Chattanooga Ducks...

Fun with the cousins...

Gymnastics fun meet...

First boat ride...

Last day of school and birthday fun for Jake Sparks...

After the last day of school, we headed out to Asheville, NC for the Memorial Day weekend.  We stayed at the Omni Park Grove Inn and it was beautiful!!  The kids LOVED exploring the hotel and reading about all the history and famous people that had stayed there throughout the years.  We had so muh fun and ended the trip with a day at the Biltmore...

We got to watch a wedding on the decks with stunning views...

Daddy caught a BIG one!!

We celebrated Roman's 3rd birthday at Carol's pool.  Love that kiddo!

JUNE

 In June, we started the swim team at the Chattanooga Golf and Country Club with Emerson.  I talked Trace into doing it this year and he did great!  So proud of both of them!

The girls had their recital at GPS.  Sweet Mrs. Sims came to watch and it meant the world to them!

Fun day with Jack on the lake...

Celebrating Jimmy on Father's Day.  My kiddos are so incredibly blessed to have him as their daddy.

JULY

We've always been in Alabama for the 4th, but the pool and deck at Sheila's was under construction this summer so we stayed home this year.  We did a low country boil and saw the fireworks we've always heard about they shoot off at the end of our street.  It was beautiful and quite a show!!

The next day, we took the dogs out on the pontoon and they loved it!  Not sure how Timber felt about riding on the tube but it was such a fun day.

Now it's the middle of July and we are winding down summer before school starts next month.  We are planning on heading to Destin the first week of August for some fun, family beach time.  It's been a great summer so far!