summer

School's out! Summer has started!!!

We had a little graduation ceremony at school yesterday and it was too cute! Emery had a great year at preschool this year, and I can't believe how fast this year went. I often think about how I want things to slow down, I just love our little life and I love being a mom to my girls! Here's a picture of Emery back in September... first day of school

Here's Emery on the last day of school. She's growing up...... She actually had an opinion on what she was going to wear and what back pack she was going to take!

on stage

receiving her 'certificate'

Kiki and merrill wrestling in the back row

emery was excited that grandmother made it too!

proud mommy and daddy (would have loved to have a family shot, but hated to unleash the dragon- merrill was actually content in the stroller at that moment!)

party

well, whenever you plan for something outside, you just hope for good weather. We had no such luck on saturday. Everyone squeezed into our house, but I don't think it really bothered anyone like it bothered me!! I have a thing with feeling crowded.... but that is another post! ready for the party

merrill looks excited doesn't she? Not sure what was going on with her... even made a trip to the doctor Friday!

so excited after I forced her to wear a party outfit

blowing out the candle on her cake (another cookie cake)

emery freaking because she got icing on her hand!

some of the kiddos

and then out to the water park, I mean our backyard. I was so excited because we found a shady place to rent a blow up slide. We had it all day, and then it rained and rained right before and during the party. But, several still enjoyed it!

tori preferred to just swing and swing

where I found emery- playing on our bed. She went down the slide once, and then she was through!

Allie, the lone girl that enjoyed being wet and sliding!

how cute is cooper?

tiny merrill

Nolan REALLY enjoyed the slide

birthday with nana & poppy

Nana & Poppy drove up late last week to celebrate Emery's birthday. They couldn't stay for the party, so we celebrated other ways! Of course we hit chuck-e-cheese one night!! Not many pictures from their visit. But, that's okay... I think they have only checked the blog once before! Merrill keeps us laughing.. she had a hissy fit over this swim diaper. So, we just put it on her. They crying stopped instantly. Whatever works, right?

trying to get a cute shot....

silly face with daddy

emery was VERY animated when she opened her gifts!

(note: this yellow shirt almost did me in. I tried to put a cute dress on Emery and she politely said, "I'd like to just wear a plain shirt, please!" I had that Elf (the movie) moment, you know where buddy learns his dad is on the naughty list?" I just wanted to scream, "NOOOOOOO!" But, we were just at home, so a plain shirt worked just fine!

Emery got a cute little bed for her baby dolls. It fit merrill perfectly!

birthday fun at school

I do believe that I was at publix more last week than anywhere else! Emery's birthday week started at her school party! Let me tell you .... she was on fire that day! As we were eating her cookie cake (her request) she said to the other kids, "now, I need everyone to say thank you to emery!" Nice..... Jim and I are convinced that since we stress manners so much, she feels its her job to help everyone else learn theirs too!

Emery was hand out her party favor (aka: junky trinket) and she said, "I need all the children to sit down, please!"

my sweet 4 year old- can't believe it!

she loves me, she really does!

group shot

my baby girl is 4 today!

more pictures soon!

belated mother's day

We've had fun celebrating mother's day the past few weeks. Each year, mother's day just gets better and better. It kinda makes me feel bad for all those years that I didn't do too much to show my mom how much I loved her and appreciated her. I am who I am because of my mother! I hope I can be as good a mom to my girls as she has been to me and my brother and sister. I am also very lucky because my mother-in-law loves me like one of her own! (or at least she acts like it!!) What a blessing!!! I sometimes get teary when I think about everything I have been given- Jim, my girls, my huge family, my friends... I am so, so lucky. merrill's little personality is coming ALIVE.... I do believe that she is going to be more of a 'church' than a 'byerly' but.. one thing is for sure- the girl loves sweets as much as her mother and sister!

not your standard mother's day picture, huh? It was the end of the day sunday and we had 2 sleepy girls! We realized we didn't have one picture from the day! One of these days I am going to have a picture to post that proves we get dressed every single day!

Emery's artwork from school this year (minus the DRAMATIC PLAY sign, of course) displayed at muffins with mom at preschool. I love her artwork. I have kept most everything and she's not even technically 4 yet!!!

standing by her artwork. please notice the pearl necklace- thanks to my grandmother! She has worn it everyday for a few weeks now. I'm not exaggerating. She wakes up asking me to put her necklace on. Accessories are huge to this girl!

at muffins with mom

We have a big weekend ahead.... Celebrating a certin little girl's 4th birthday! I can't believe it....

Well, the last few weeks have been fun! Last week, Jim and I celebrated our 6 year annivesary. We had a nice dinner out and then roamed around T.J. Maxx without the kids. Soooo romantic, right? Nana and Poppy came in town for a visit on Friday and Jim and I were going to have another date night but ended up going to eat with everyone and later that night we headed to walmart alone. I mean, could we get any more romantic?? It just makes me so glad that we got away on a little trip back in January!

We had our first swim party on Friday with the 85+ SPRING weather! Oh, it makes me so excited for this summer. Jim and I also had a fun 30th surprise party for Martha Lynn! But, guess what...... not one picture from any of that!! I have fallen off the wagon I guess.


Jim sent this to me this morning. I guess he took it this morning, I don't know.... I don't remember a thing. Merrill at age 16 months has 6 teeth. Doing the late teething thing, exactly what her sister did... which will mean that she will most likely teeth for the next year. Which means she has the sleeping habits of an infant!!! And, you will notice that Emery is in bed with me too! She's been getting out of hers early in the morning and climbing into our bed. It's getting kinda crowded!! So glad that Jim is an early riser on the weekdays. Not sure all four of us could fit! But, you know... pretty sure I wouldn't change a thing! I'm going miss this someday, right?

Merrill WAS ready for bed.... Why did I give her a cookie?

Emery had a visit to the butcher shop! Oh, I mean sweet & sassy salon. All I said was no shorter than the chin. I believe it hangs about an inch below the ears. We got our $$ worth though!

a blurry shot of emery ,pre-haircut. I would post a picture of Merrill's haircut. But, well.... I didn't do such a great job. She still has a "tail" as emery calls it!