Olivia's 5th Birthday Party!!

We celebrated Olivia's 5th birthday today. We combined parties with our friend Lily again this year. We rented a water slide and a castle bounce. The kids had a BLAST!! The water slide was a HUGE hit. Peyton was the first one on and the last one off. We had a great turnout with all of our friends and families. The girls received some awesome gifts. I just can't believe that our little girl is five!! Enjoy the pictures.

Prayers and Encouragement

Well, I have decided to homeschool again (much to Davis' chagrin). He is supportive just skeptical. This will be our 4th year. Peyton has been such a challenge to teach. He attended summer school at a school that specializes in special learning styles. His teacher wasn't sure how he would do in a regular school setting.

What I need from all of you is your prayers and encouragement. I really want to teach my children at home but I feel so inadequate. Here's what you can pray for:

Pray for my attitude toward teaching

Pray for my patience with the kids

Pray for my self disciple problems

Pray for Peyton's attitude toward school

Pray that things begin to "click" for Peyton.

Pray that my kids see Jesus in me all day but especially during school

Peyton Is Home!!

Well Peyton made it home in one piece today. He actually made it home a little earlier than expected. He had a great time. They went swimming, rock wall climbing, tubing in the lake, and lots of other fun stuff. He said he definitely wants to go back again next year. The only disturbing thing is that he didn't take a shower or brush his teeth the entire time. YUCK!!!

Lord Give Me Strength!

I just put my baby boy on a bus headed to church camp until Sat. He is excited but I'm a wreck! He's never been away from home other than with family before. He is growing up way too fast and I don't like it AT ALL! He is going to have so much fun. Please pray that I don't completely fall apart over the next 4 days.

We celebrated the 4th with Davis' family at the deer camp again this year. Not my most favorite place in the world. The whole outdoorsy, one with nature thing totally escapes me. God created air conditioning for a reason. I have to say though that I had a better time than I thought I would. The kids had a absolute BLAST! This was Ava's first July 4th celebration and boy did she celebrate. She ate more than all of the other kids combined, swam in the nasty Pearl River, and gorged herself on watermelon. The other kids spent the day in much the same way as Ava though they didn't get nearly as dirty.

Two of my nieces and my nephew came home with us to spend the night. We dined on a gourmet meal from McDonalds. Davis shot a few fireworks with the kids and they played with a gazillion sparklers. I just finished hosing off Ava and she asked to go night night. A great time was had by all. Happy Birthday America!

I'm Going To Miss This....Right??

There is a country song called "You're Gonna Miss This". Basically it says one day I'm going to miss all of the craziness of raising four kids because before I know it they will all be grown and gone. OK.

Yesterday started out just like any other day. All was fine, I met a friend for lunch, had a nice visit, so far so good. Well this was just the calm before the storm.

After lunch we headed to Walmart for groceries. Big Mistake. Ava screamed the entire time, Olivia and Ethan played dodge that cart, and they all decided to play ring around the pole and growl like lions. My sole reason for going was to get something to cook for dinner. Didn't happen. I'm going to miss this....right?

When we get home they are all banished to their rooms for naps. Finally, I will get some peace. Nope. Ava decides to only sleep for an hour when she is used to 2-3 hours. She proceeds to cry the rest of the day. She wants up she crys, she wants down she crys, she crys and crys some more. I'm going to miss this....right?

It gets quiet- too quiet. Olivia comes in with Ethan covered in blood! I have to put him in the tub to wash him off just to figure out where all of the blood is coming from. It's his nose and it won't stop. All the while Ava is pulling on me screaming because she doesn't like to share attention. I ask Peyton & Olivia what happened. "We don't know he just fell". Turns out they were swinging and knocked him over. Oh the lies!! I'm going to miss this....right?

I get Ethan cleaned up and settled. It is now time for Olivia's t-ball game. We rush to get there and...no cleats. She is in her sock feet. ARGH!! Call Mamaw to bring cleats. The game lasts all of 15 minutes because the other team only had 5 players. I'm going to miss this....right?

We head to Jackson to meet Davis for dinner and I get pulled over by a policeman. I get a ticket for an expired tag. This is just icing on the cake. Nothing else can happen right? Wrong. I am finally getting Ava ready for bed, I remove her diaper and she PEES EVERYWHERE!! Now she has to take a bath. I'm going to miss this....right?

I try to remind myself especially on days like this that one day my house will be clean, I can sleep as late as I want, and the house will be quiet. Too quiet. My babies are growing up fast and I want to enjoy them. Even when they drive me crazy. Believe it or not I am going to miss this.