Landscaping

We started on landscaping last Summer....and when I say we, I really just mean my husband. He shaped the front beds and did all of the prep work last Summer, but it was really too hot to finish it. When Spring rolled around we chose the plants we wanted for the beds....azaleas, barberry bushes, and a green grassy plant. I did spray paint an x where I wanted everything to go. That was my contribution to the physical part of our landscaping project. ;)

We plan to put black mulch around all of our trees, add in some pink dogwoods on the north side of our house in the shade, and some limelight hydrangeas on the north side. That may have to come next Spring since mother nature isn't cooperating and we are forking out extra money for the sprinklers that are running daily!

Bayler's Pacis

Bayler has always been a paci baby from day 1. A few weeks after he was born we took him to the dr where he was diagnosed with eczema. We noticed he was scratching the fire out of his face. So we started giving less baths and using Aveeno lotion and shampoo as well as Aquaphor and a special cream for break outs. To keep his hands busy while he slept, we gave him a little "lovie" which is a little satin blanket with a teddy head attached. This helped him tremendously by keeping his hands away from his face. From then on out he, paci, and "teddy" were inseparable.

About a year or year and a half ago, I limited his paci/teddy to strictly nap and bedtime. It took a few days, but he got use to it quickly. I have been dreading getting rid of his pacis completely. This boy LOVES his paci. I am out for Summer break and knew I had the time to lose sleep if I had to and he will be attending preschool in the Fall, so I knew it was time to get rid of it! Yesterday morning I woke up and just felt like it was the day. I gathered pacis from bags and drawers and put them on the counter. Bayler and I had a talk about the paci and how he was a big boy now. I told him the story of Grasen becoming a big girl and throwing her pacis away. He was totally excited, grabbed his 4 pacis off the counter and headed to the trash can. We high-fived each other and he was so proud of himself. He went and told sis and she high-fived him, then Dad did when he got home. We saw Nana and Papa later and they were proud of him as well. Well, 1:30 came....nap time! I go to lay him down and he is searching the crib for a paci. Oh no! He has forgotten. Lord, help me. I re-explain the whole big boy, no paci thing and he isn't happy about it. I put him in his crib and hope it goes smoothly... ....2:00 comes and he is still awake crying. I'm trying to be strong. The pacis are in the trash, outside... all of them. I didn't save one just in case I caved. They're gone. All of a sudden I hear Bayler in the most pitiful and angry voice, "I don't want to be a big boy. I don't want teddy. I want paci." So he talks and cries for the next hour. Sis is awake from her nap and I decide to get him up. I know since he didn't nap, he will be tired tonight. And he was! We went to a barbecue at a friend's house and got home after 9:00, so he was asleep fast with no paci. He cried 3 times through the night, which isn't normal. I got up and covered him back up and patted his back. I knew it was only going to get better. Nap time came today and he went right to sleep. Praise God!!! My baby boy is growing up....and he won't go to kindergarten with a paci. God is good.

Anniversary Weekend

Today is our 7th wedding anniversary. We celebrated Friday night by going to Ruth's Chris and then doing a little shopping at Target. Since it was a special occasion, I decided to spend a little more time on my hair. Ha! I've been growing it out and it is finally long enough to give it some curls. I have had the short, stacked hairdo for years, so when I came out of the bathroom with curls my kids just stared at me. So funny. Kids are so observant.

It was our first time at Ruth's Chris. It was a-ma-zing, but definitely a special occasion restaurant...for us! After Target we headed home, it was about 10:00. I noticed fireworks off the interstate. Jordan told me he knew we would be in Target until they closed at 10, so he set it up where fireworks would be going off at about 10:05....whatever! But I don't mind pretending like they were for me!

These seven years with my best friend have been incredible and I know it sounds so cliche, but it really feels like yesterday that we said our "I do's". Time flies by too quickly!

This picture is terrible quality because I had to take a picture of a picture. We were married pre-digital camera. But this photo is so special to us. We were at our wedding reception and Jordan's best friend, Cody, was giving the best man speech. He made us laugh and cry.

And this one is a favorite from my bridal portraits. We took pictures at my mother and father-in-laws home. They have a beautiful victorian with a wrap around porch. We also took pictures at a gorgeous Catholic church. I absolutely loved my dress. It has a special story behind it- Before Jordan and I were even engaged, I was planning our wedding. Ha! Doesn't every girl do that?! My parents and I were on our way to visit family 1600 miles away and I was flipping through bridal catalogues in the back seat of the car. I found this dress that I was crazy about so I looked at the listings of where they sold the dress and what do ya know??? That's where we were headed! I dog eared the page and showed my aunt when we got to her house. She tells me "Jaime, that bridal store is right next to my work!" Well this is just meant to be! A few days later my mom and aunt took me to the bridal store and I tried the dress on. It was absolutely perfect!! I went back to the dressing room and found a penny heads up. That penny is now in my bridal book. We took my dad back with us a few days later, a few tears were shed, and the dress was ordered and paid for. Then I called Jordan on the phone and told him I just bought my wedding gown, so whenever he wanted to put a ring on my finger..... I hope that Grasen will want to wear it when she gets married. It's all cleaned and boxed for her, but if she chooses not to, that's fine too. :'( We have made so many memories in our 7 years...and we have encountered lots of trials. God has been so good to us and has blessed us immensely. We look forward to what the future holds for our marriage and our family.

Happy Birthday Sophie!

Sophie is our 7 year old Chi-Poo (half Chihuahua, half Poodle). When Jordan and I first married, he was working 2nd shift at the Corp of Engineers as a park ranger while finishing up college. I was bored at home by myself and immediately started begging for a puppy. I wanted something small and dark, ideally a Pekepoo like this one:

(Photo came from Cassie's Closet) Once Jordan agreed, I began searching the internet, newspapers, everywhere! Come to find out these pups were popular and hard to find, not to mention super pricey! We were eating lunch and running errands in a neighboring city one day and decided to grab a newspaper. There was an ad for a "Chi-Poo". We called the lady and she said to come and take a peek, since we had no clue what a chi-poo looked like. We got to the lady's house and she was an older lady and a little rough. She proceeds to tell us that this puppy was an accident. Her Momma poodle jumped the fence and into the Daddy Chihuahua's kennel and well, there ya go. While Sophie was not what I had pictured in my head, she was so cute and worth every penny of the $25 we paid! She is the sweetest dog, but will bark like she is a pit-bull when people ring the doorbell or walk down the street. She doesn't know she is 4 lbs and could be a snack for most dogs. She prefers to be right next to me, since we bonded first. She is very timid and won't let strangers get near her. She is getting use to the kids (after 5 and 3 years!) but still won't let them hold her. Every now and then Grasen will scratch her tummy and Sophie will lay still. We love her so much!

Grasen's Pre-K Graduation

My baby is graduating pre-school! These five years have flown by way too quickly. She has thoroughly enjoyed her year of pre-k with Mrs. Charrity and Mrs. Jan. They have loved her and taught her the skills necessary to be prepared for kindergarten. Grasen met new friends that she will probably be friends with until high school graduation and I know that will come in the blink of an eye.

We celebrated on graduation day by having the grandparents over for pizza, salad, and cake. Grasen chose her favorite- strawberry cake. It was very informal since we had graduation after our celebration. I began setting up some framed pictures of Grasen on our table in the foyer and then I started digging in her tub of "memories". The table of framed pics quickly turned into the table of memories....I set out all of her birthday invitations, her Bible and certificate from dedication day, her coming home outfit, and special papers I have kept in her 5 years. It made us a little teary.

Grasen received lots of nice gifts for graduation. I think a couple of her favorites were a mani/pedi from Nana and Papa and a diamond cross necklace from Yaya and Pop.

As we were waiting for graduation to start, in walked Grasen's Great-Grandma and Grandpa, Great-Aunt and cousin Caden. It was such a surprise and we were so glad they could join us for such a special time in our lives. The graduation ceremony was perfect! The kiddos did so well saying the pledge of allegiance and singing several songs they had practiced so hard on. The slideshow was precious and, of course, the background music's lyrics ripped parents' hearts into two. Uuugghh. We got a lot of pictures, but didn't get pictures of all of our family that attended. Grasen was definitely loved on on her special day.

After graduation the little graduates and families went to a cookie and punch reception where they could get their yearbooks signed by classmates. Grasen received special gifts from her teachers including a scrapbook of her year with Mrs. Charrity and her peers.

So we have finished this chapter in her little life and in August we begin the next chapter- Kindergarten. She is so excited she can't stand it. Until then, Mommy gets to enjoy her all Summer!

Daddy's 1st Graduation as Principal

We went with Daddy to his high school's graduation. He announced the scholarships and other special awards and he also did a great job looking handsome on the stage. ;)

After graduation, we went to dinner at a rustic restaurant and the kids rode on some saddles and Bayler even petted a deer head. Ha!

Jordan has had a tough first year and was able to experience more than most principals experience in several years, if at all. He was so calm and did an amazing job. We are proud to be his family.

Last day of preschool

Grasen enjoyed going to pre-k this year! She loved going 2 days a week and spending the other 3 days with Nana. While she knew most of the skills on the end of the year assessment when she began pre-k, I know that she grew socially and made good friends and many memories. This is Grasen on her last day of preschool. (sniff, sniff)

Mother's Day

I am so blessed to be their Mommy.