Payton Joy is 2!

    Payton Joy turned 2 on Friday! I cannot believe it. I would say she had a wonderful birthday. She started out her day with her daddy getting her her favorite breakfast: McDonald's hotcakes and sausage. Then she got to have a cupcake party with all her "school" friends. It was a huge mess, but they all loved it.

    For dinner she got her favorite chicken nuggets from Burger King. She ate all of hers and most of Rylee's, too! She doesn't usually get fast food any more than a couple of time a month, so for her to get it twice in one day, she was in hog heaven!

    After dinner, she got to open her presents from mommy, daddy, and Rylee. Everything she got was minnie mouse themed, and she could not have been happier.

    Then we sang Happy Birthday to her and she got to eat her second cupcake of the day! After bath she played and played with her new gifts until she couldn't stay awake one minute longer. She was exhausted from all that fun and needed to rest up for Saturday: party day!

     Saturday she had a Minnie Mouse birthday party with all her friends and family.

    She cheered when Hunter arrived and cried when it was time for him to go. It's so sweet how she already has made a little best friend. He was very helpful when it was time to open presents. ;)

    Being the opposite of her sister, she loved all the attention and soaked up every minute of everyone singing to her. She didn't eat much of her cupcake. I think she had enough after having 2 the day before. Then she spent the entire evening playing with Aunt Liz. They have such a strong bond. I know she is going to be soooo jealous when Levi gets here, but she's also going to love him to pieces!

     Alright, Payton Joy. You are no longer a baby, can you stop growing up so quickly on me now?! I want to soak up every minute with you! You have such a fun, electric personality. I can't imagine our lives without you in it! 2 was my absolute favorite age with Rylee Love, but she wouldn't stay 2 forever like she promised. Will you?!

Labor Day Weekend 2015

   First off, this girls is doing AMAZING in Kindergarten. She absolutely loves it now and her teacher says she is really shining academically and behaviorally. I am so proud of this big girl!

    We started Labor Day weekend by having a slumber party Friday night with Bailey. Since Bailey lives in Dyersburg now, the girls don't get to see each other nearly as much, so they really enjoyed this chance for a whole night together! Payton thought she was one of the big kids and just joined right in on all the fun!

     Saturday, Liz, Brandon, Kaden, Mary, and Chuck came over and we had a cookout. I had spent the whole morning at the urgent care with a kidney infection, so it was a big relief to have a fun evening with my family.

     Yesterday we went to church, then out to lunch with Granny, Paw Paw, Nonna, Granddaddy, and Emily, then spent the rest of the day relaxing. Today we took one last swim in Nonna and Granddaddy's pool before they put the cover on it tonight. Then we ate hamburgers and hotdogs. It was a blast and a great way to end this 3 day weekend.

     I love my little family so, and long weekends with them are the best! Now I feel totally refreshed and ready to face a new work week. It has definitely been an adjustment being in a new grade at a new school, but I feel like I'm finally getting the hang of things and I love my little class, and I love, love, love my new school. I can't wait to see what the rest of the school year has in store.

Rylee Love Goes to Kindergarten

     I can't believe it, but it is true: Rylee Love is officially a kindergartener! Today was her very first day at MES. She has been counting down to this day, and I have been dreading it. It's so hard to handle my first born growing up on me! Waaaa!

    She rocked her Mario backpack and Lunchbox and her Toadette bow for good luck. My girl is one of a kind! She was so excited all morning, then came time to be dropped off and she got a little nervous. She didn't cry or act out, but she shut down and I started to get worried, but she let me walk away without a fuss, so I thought we were in the clear.

     Then Ms. Tiffany came into my room around 11, and it was meltdown time. If you've followed my blog you know, Rylee Love has struggled with anxiety from a very early age, so I wasn't shocked, but it's never easy for either of us when it happens: Rylee Love had a panic attack. We aren't sure what exactly set it off, she may have been scared of the megaphone siren at recess, she could have just been worn out from a fun-filled morning, who knows? But she became very upset, and she said her whole body hurt, and she couldn't breathe, and I just felt terrible for her. Thankfully, I was able to leave my class with my assistant, so I could talk to her and get her silky out of my car (which she proceeded to carry around the school for the rest of the day-yep my kid is THAT kid...), but honestly Ms. Tiffany was able to calm her down better than I was. It feels so good to know I am leaving her in such caring and capable hands each day! After that minor setback, the rest of her day went without a hitch! She even got to move her clip up because she knows how to count by tens. She was so proud of herself.

    It may sound crazy to some, but I am so very proud of my big girl. She canNOT help her anxiety, but the way she copes with it and continues to go on after something as mentally and physically exhausting as a panic attack amazes me. I'm not sure I could bounce back the way she does. She is only 5 years old. I just love her so! I cannot believe how growny she is! Why must my babies grow up so quickly?!

Summer Break has come to a End

     On Saturday, July 18, I hosted a shower for Liz and baby Levi. It turned out great. We had it at a local restaurant, and the food was good. Baby Levi got lots of great stuff! And it seemed like everyone had a good time. I would call that a success!

    On Monday, Rylee Love had a dental appointment. She got her teeth cleaned and got her first set of x-rays. They said her permanent teeth are coming in great and her teeth look fantastic. After the appointment, we had lunch, then spontaneously went to the movies. I wanted to enjoy every minute I could with the girls as summer came to an end, so it was the perfect way to spend an afternoon.

    Tuesday I went and registered Rylee Love at our new school. It was such a hard decision to leave RPS, but I know the MES is going to be a perfect fit! Rylee Love was a little apprehensive about starting a new school, but now she has warmed up to the idea. After we registered her, we went school supply shopping. She had a blast picking out all her new supplies!

     Wednesday was the first day I got to see my new classroom, so Liz and Brandon kept the kids for a "cousin day." The had so much fun. The girls were WORN OUT by the time I picked them up.

    Saturday we went swimming. It was a lot of fun. we had a small scare at one point when Kaden removed his floaties and ended up going under, but Rylee and Ryan worked together and got him up before any harm was done. So scary!

  I had new Teacher orientation this week with Tipton County, so I have missed these sweet girls. I was off today, so I took them for one last trip to Bounce With Us before school starts back full time next Monday. It was fun, but we didn't stay long because Rylee Love has some sinus drainage and jumping was making her head hurt.

    I have had so much fun with these silly girls this summer. I am so excited about my new adventure at Munford Elementary, but it's still hard to leave these sweet faces each day. Rylee Love starts kindergarten on August 12, and I just can't believe how quickly she has grown. I will be glad once she starts because her class is only 3 doors down from mine. It will brighten my days to know she is so near to me!

Tomato Festival and VBS

    Saturday we went to the Ripley Tomato Festival. The kids had a blast! Ryan and I decided Payt was too young to really enjoy it, so after we had dinner, he took her home and I took Rylee Love to go ride rides.

     It was wristband night, and I would say they got their money's worth. The rode and rode and rode. I was so proud of Rylee Love for being brave enough to ride the ponies. This is the first year she hasn't been too scared to ride!

    Sunday night we kicked off our VBS at Mary's Chapel. Our theme was Journey Off the Map. I helped teach the PreSchool class this year. We had the biggest class, and it was a lot of work, but we had a lot of fun!

    It makes me so happy to see these babies learning about Jesus! Tonight we had our Family Night and wrapped up a week of VBS fun.

    This morning, Liz and I took the kids swimming. It was a blast, but now I am so tired. Next week is going to be even crazier than this week. I will be glad for a day of rest tomorrow!

Casting Crowns & Payton Dr. Update

     Last night, Liz and I had a girls night! We went to Jackson and did a little shopping, had dinner at Olive Garden, then headed to the Casting Crowns concert.

   The concert was awesome! I love their music, but it was a million times better live. Liz and I ended up sponsoring children through Compassion. I found a child with the exact same birthdate as Rylee Love. I can't wait until we get more into that and Rylee Love can get to know her new friend through letters.

   Today was Payt's big Dr. appointment with Dr. Klimo. I was soo nervous. We got there and waited nearly 2 hours. When they called us back, we reviewed her growth chart, then started talking about other symptoms. Dr. Klimo said she should be having lots of other symptoms if she did have hydrocephalus. He talked to her some, tested her reflexes, checked her over from head to toe, then sent us away with a clean bill of health. He said she is perfect! I am so, so happy! When we got back, we went out to dinner with Liz, Brandon, and Kade to celebrate.

Fourth of July Weekend!

     Friday, we traveled to Georgia to spend the holiday weekend with family. We had so much fun!

    Friday night, Austin spent the night at Lesa and Robert's house where we were staying, so the kids could have a cousin sleepover. They had so much fun together.

      Saturday, was the 4th. We woke up to rain and were not so happy that we couldn't make it to the parade that we usually go to.

      But that afternoon it cleared up! We had a cookout at Uncle Phil and Aunt Andrea's and then took the kids for a golf cart ride to get ice cream.

    When it started to get dark, we headed to the golf course to watch the fireworks show. It was so pretty. The kids oohed and ahhed the entire time. On the ride back it started to rain, but it was actually a lot of fun riding the golf carts in the rain!

     Sunday we slept in to make up for all the fun on Saturday. Then we headed to down town Atlanta to the Children's Museum. The girls had so much fun. I think Nonna, Granddaddy, and Lesa had fun, too. I know I did!

    Monday Mel, Josh, their friend Tim, Ryan, and I headed to Six Flags over Georgia. We spent the entire day riding rides and enjoying a very rare "kid-free" day. 

    Meanwhile the kids had a blast with Lesa and Robert, playing and swimming.

    Today we headed back to Tennessee. On the way home, we stopped at Cracker Barrel near where my parents live and had lunch with Uncle Ben and Grandma. We had such a wonderful long weekend!