Memorial Day 2011

Carri and Hudson

The Cousins: Ava, Hudson and McClellen

Swinging in the shade

Snack and secret time

Hudson helping Doc drive the boat

Ava chillin in the sun

Brad and Hudson swimming

Ava and Daddy

HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY 2011!! We had a fabulous weekend at the lake! We boated, swam, road on the tube and jet ski and relaxed together. It was a special weekend and shared with a bunch of family; Doc, Grammy, Brad, Carri, Hudson, McClellen, Me-Me, Bob-Bob, Kathi, Rick, Sandy and Larry, WHEW!! We are so blessed to be able to celebrate special holidays with an amazing family!!

Pool Party Birthday Fun

Tropical pool fun

Right before Ava whacked Will with the bucket

Happy Birthday Addison!

This afternoon Ava was invited to help celebrate Addison's 3rd birthday. Addison is just a great "older" friend to Ava. The birthday party was fabulous. The children with treated with playing in little pools, fun sprinkler and bubble machine. The grown ups with treated with some great country cooking (fried chicken, fruit, mac and cheese, green beans and sweet tea). The best treat of all were the cupcakes. Addison's mom, Cynthia makes the most delicious homemade cupcakes. I am so thankful for the wonderful friends that God has placed in both my life and in Ava's life. God has been so very gracious to us!

Ava's last day of school 2011

Miss Tammy and Miss Kathy

Last day of school picture

Playing on the bouncey with friends

Thursday was Ava's last day of school. She has had a blast this year. Her teachers, Miss Tammy and Miss Kathy have been wonderful and had truly shown love, encouragement and patience with Ava. This year has been absolutely wonderful for Ava. She has learned so much and has grown into such a big girl.

Weekend with Gran-mommy and Poppy Joe

We went fishing and look what we caught!

Splashing fun

Have fun in the sun with mom

Gran-mommy joined in on the fun

This past weekend Ava had a fun weekend vacation and camping with Gran-mommy and Poppy Joe. Now when I say camping, I mean cabin camping at a camp ground, not quite ready for tent camping...yet! We played at the fun playground, splashed in the lake and enjoyed spending some quality time together.

Happy Mother's Day 2011

1st Samuel 1:11, "And she made a vow, saying, “LORD Almighty, if you will only look on your servant’s misery and remember me, and not forget your servant but give her a child, then I will give that child to the LORD for all the days of its life!"

For a year and a half of tears, tantrums, prayer and needle pricks I cried out to the Lord for a child. My husband and I married a little bit older in age then some of our other friends so we were not going to wait too long to start a family. After being married for just a few months we began the journey towards parenthood. Since I took 6th grade science at Greenville Middle School and learned about the "birds and the bees", I knew that "A" plus "B" equals "C".

I thought conceiving and having a child would be easy. Little did I know the journey God would take our little family. After a year and a half of much crying, prayers, and modern medicine I became pregnant. When I did, I thought whew the hard part is over. Then ten weeks before my due date, my precious Ava decided to make her entrance into the world. My first glimpse of my little, tiny daughter was through the glass of an incubator. She had all types of tubes, wires and IV's coming out of her two pound body. During the 57 long days that my sweet Ava was in the NICU, God taught me about his faithfulness, grace, mercy and strength. Today I celebrate Mother's Day by being so very thankful for the miracle little girl with whom my mighty, loving, powerful Lord and Savior blessed me!

Family Picnic

Mommy and Ava

Daddy and Ava

Today we decided to have a spontaneous picnic. It was a such a beautiful day we could not waste it by eating lunch inside. Lunch was simply PB&J sandwiches for Daddy and Mommy and peanut butter crackers for Ava. We also had fruit and brownies for dessert. As picky of an eater that Ava is, she LOVES brownies. But she did eat her crackers and fruit first before dessert. On one of my friends blogs she has talks about 7000 days. I couldn't figure it out until I did the math and realized that from the day Ava was born until she turns 18 year old, I have 7000 days. After figuring that out, I want to make every day count! A great reminder that in just a blink of an eye, Ava will be a young woman and ready to fly the nest. My prayer is that Adam and I give her the roots that she will need to be a strong, amazing, independent, confident Christian woman. So here's to making fantastic memories each and every day!

Mother's Day Tea 2011

Mommy and Ava at the Mother's Day Tea

Ava enjoying her special treat at the tea

Praying before snack

Having "tea" together

Ava's sweet Mother's Day card

The room was decorated beautifully

Today was a day I have been dreaming about for many years! I got to go to Ava's first class party, a Mother's Day Tea! It was precious and surprisingly, I did not cry...well except for the way there. The room was decorated with little art projects the children had made. Her teachers Miss Kathy and Miss Tammy had brought in a cookie cake, pink lemonade and other snacks. It was a wonderful day and one that will not soon forgot. Feeling very, very blessed today!