Girls and Boys

The weather has been glorious the last few days.  

Warm but not too hot.

Cool nights, perfect sleeping weather.

I'll take it.

This afternoon the boys are in a fishing tournament!

Ryan participated every Tuesday last year and this year he is taking Collin along with him!!  You can imagine how thrilled Collin is.  

Hard to know who will enjoy it more, Collin or his daddy.

I know this is a dream come true for Ryan.

  He's been planning fishing trips since the day he found out he would have a son.

His dream now a reality.  There they are together, doing what boys do.  Making memories that will last forever.

Ones that Collin will probably try to recreate with his own child someday.  

Presh.

Once the boats leave the dock they have 4 hours to fish.  

Each boat can keep their five largest fish.

After about 2 hours in Ryan sent me this picture of their keepers...

Look how proud he is.

My heart is happy for my boys today.

Maybe they'll even bring home some cash money.

Wouldn't that just be the icing on the cake?!

As for me and my Mads. 

Well we did what girls do.

We went to Target.

And then we came home and took silly pictures of ourselves.

 

Great day, wouldn't ya say?

The weekend

Here is a peak at our weekend via the iphone...

First stop, Nana's boat!

Sunday favorites...

Collin making silly pictures with mommy's phone.

Next stop, Memorial Day!

InstaFriday

Our week through the eyes of an iphone.

Thank you instagram!

Sweet beauty...

 Never too old...

 Madi~tude...

 Sugar...

http://liferearranged.com/

Houston we have a problem

It's nap time and this little love has a problem.

"Mommy I can't go to sleep, I just can't."

"Yes you can Madelyn, close your eyes and rest."

"No mommy I really can't do it."

"Why Madelyn?"

"ummmmmm because, ummmmm only one eye will close SEE?!"

 A mere 5 minutes later, problem solved.

Sweet dreams littlest love.

Preschool Graduation

We have a preschool graduate!!!

And a handsome one at that...

Yesterday our handsome treasure graduated from preschool.

Hard to believe he is old enough to wear any sort of graduation cap and yet there he stands, handsome as can be...

As we waited for the graduates to arrive in the chapel I glanced down at the program in my hand.

My eyes landed on the words "pomp and circumstance" and immediately filled with tears.

There's something about the pomp and circumstance don't you agree?

And imagine how I felt when the music began to play and my boy lead the line down the aisle.  His eyes met mine, he waved the sweetest wave and said "hi mom".  I cry even now at the memory of that moment...

 The stage was set, full of mini grads...

 One by one names were called...

 And they saved the very BEST for last...

 As Ms. Pam called each child to the podium she said a few words about each individually.  

 Collin's favorite book is "Cliffords First Valentine"

His favorite thing to play with at preschool is "the school bus"

And she finished with this question...

Collin, what do you want to be when you grow up?

His answer...

"A dad, like my dad"

Be still my heart.  

I cried the ugly cry.

Most other children chose the typical like baseball player, hockey player, doctor, vet, yada, yada.

But of all there is to chose to be in this world, Collin chooses to be a dad, just like his own.

What a testament to the love he holds in his heart for his daddy.

What a gift he gave to Ryan yesterday.

Our precious boy, how we love you...

 We are all so very proud...

Collin with two of his besties Luke and Tommy

Yesterday it was preschool graduation and if we blink too fast tomorrow it will be high school.  But until then we are going to soak up this little boy who we love so much.  We are going to memorize all of who he is and we will love him with all of who we are!!!

Oh Calgon

Calgon was taking me away...

but it didn't go far enough...

can't blame a momma for tryin!

Calgon may not have taken me to far away places but my sweet, selfless husband did as much when he took care of my chores today.  Bless his sweet, manly heart!  When I came home I was elated to realize that not only did he clean the kitchen floors and vacuum the carpets but have mercy the man folded all the laundry, put it away AND organized the kid's drawers and bedrooms.  He knows he was being helpful, but he honestly has no idea how much love he showered me with by taking on those somewhat daunting tasks.
Literally blessed my socks off that man of mine!

http://liferearranged.com/

It's come to an end...

Preschool.

Collin's preschool year has come to an end.

I can hardly believe it.

It seems like only yesterday that I was pulling up curbside for the very first time, waving goodbye to my first born treasure as he was welcomed into loving arms, I then pulled away with tears spilling out of my eyes.

Today I pulled up to the same curb, waved goodbye as he was welcomed into the same loving arms, and again I pulled away with tears spilling down my checks.

My heart has this very special place for Ms. Pam and Ms. Kathy.  What an incredible job they did this year.  Working tirelessly to lay the very foundation that other teachers will build upon for the rest of Collin's academic life.  They were first.  There is something special about being first.  I'm sure there will be many special teachers who will follow.  But there's something special about being first. 

One thing that was always so obvious was the genuine love that they have for our Collin.  They made it possible for this overprotective momma to pull away, knowing that my boy would be cared for by loving hearts.  

They taught him how to be a student.  

They taught him how to be a friend.

Most importantly, they taught him about Jesus.

My heart is so thankful.

I think back to that first day back in September.

I remember how my stomach fluttered as we drove to school.

I remember how my heart ached as I pulled away from the curb.

I spent so many of the days leading up to this day anxiously anticipating what it would be like.  Wondering if it would all turn out ok.  Questioning how I would ever let go, even if it was only for a little while.

And yet it all turned out ok.

Even better than ok.

It all turned out beautifully.

Thank you Jesus for hearing the prayers of this anxious momma's heart.

I can hardly think about kindergarten.

A full day of school.

A new group of friends.

A new start.

I already anticipate it.

I get anxious.

My stomach flutters.

How will I let him go again, this time for a little while longer.

I know in my heart it will be ok.

Even better than ok.

It will turn out beautifully.

How do I know you ask?

Because I pray to a God who hears this momma's prayers.

Thank you Jesus for hearing the prayers of this anxious momma's heart.

Here is my baby on his first day of preschool...

Here are my two beauties on the bench outside of the school on day one...

And here they are on the same bench today...

We are so very proud of you Collin.

You are growing so fast.

Changing right before my very eyes.

It makes me long for a way to slow the hands of time.

Yet my heart rejoices for you.

For all that is to come.

You have a lifetime ahead of you son.

And your momma is sure to watch you SHINE!

Oh how I love you sweet boy.

I will never tire of telling you just how much.

The world is yours little one.

I'll follow as you find it...