9 Years

9 years ago, I became a mom. To this girl.  She is kind.  She is loving.  She is nurturing.  She is smart.  She is curious.  She is driven.  She is a perfectionist.  She is creative.  She is responsible.  She is independent.  She is funny.  And honestly, she's 1,000 other things.  But the truth is that even if she were none of these things, I would adore her.  I just don't quite know how to put it into 

words.  She's just precious to Jamie and I and I'll leave it at that.

This was her luau/swimming party with her friends.  She has the sweetest group of girlfriends.  I'm so thankful for this blessing in her life.  Seriously, there is not a mean girl in the bunch 💗

On her actual birthday we offered to take her out to dinner and maybe to a movie or something fun, but she asked for a backyard family camp out 😃

Jamie couldn't have been more proud.  He loves all things outdoorsy and is raising his kids to enjoy those things with him.  Last summer, he took each of them for an overnight camp out and they both really loved it.  Lainey asks for him to take her fishing on their daddy/daughter date nights.  So funny to me, but I love any kind of family time so I'm learning to embrace sleeping in a tent!

This picture makes me laugh every time I see it.  Lainey has a really silly side so I decided to get her some trick candles and put them on her strawberry shortcake.  She kept blowing them out and they kept re-lighting and I was laughing so hard I was crying while Jamie was losing his mind because of the small fire I put in a bowl in front of our daughter.  It was quite a moment that ended with him running water over it because the candles wouldn't burn out.  Still makes me laugh because normally I'm the one freaking out over things but for some reason, I just thought it was so funny.  Anyway...

See, they eventually calmed down a little 😉

Happy Birthday sweet girl!  You are loved more than you'll ever know.

Allergies

My poor baby had the worst allergies this season.  He's never had them before, but we had some terrible pollen this year.  He looks so pitiful in this picture but I love it because he was giving me the best snuggles.  I want to look back and remember these sweet moments when he needed his momma more than just about anything ❤️

3rd Times A Charm

Each year at Coram Deo they host a science fair.  Lainey has worked hard on her project in previous years, but this year she was extra determined to place in the top 3.  Her question was which gluten free flour makes the best chocolate chip cookie?  My doctor recently ordered that I need to be on a gluten free diet based on a sensitivity that I didn't know I had.  Lainey and I have been experimenting with gluten free baking so this was a perfect project for her.  She chose three different gluten free flours and we baked the cookies and she judged which one was best.  It was quite a process but in the end was a great project.  I was nervous for her because I knew how badly she wanted to place in the top 3 but just encouraged her to speak with confidence during her interview with the judge and do her best.  She practiced a lot and it paid off because she placed 3rd out of 18 projects.  I was so proud of her effort and happy for her that she had some success.  I love seeing my kids put their mind to something and work hard at it.  The outcome isn't always a trophy but the lesson is always valuable.  

Soldiers of God: Mother/son date night

Our children's ministry at church does a wonderful job of creating special events for parents and kids.  Lainey and Jamie had their special night a month ago and now it was mine and Coop's turn.  We had the best night...riding bikes, shooting a bow and arrow, racing through an obstacle course, playing minute to win it games, hearing an encouraging devotion on the importance of motherhood and praying over our sons.  We loved every minute and Cooper declared it "the best night of his life." I got lots of "I love you so much mommy" and "I'm so glad I'm your son." Everyone told me that having a little boy would be really special and it is!  He loves me so well and I couldn't love him more.

Zoo Day

We're willing it to be spring around here.  We've had some beautiful days off and on and I keep finding myself longing for pool days and long summer nights outside.  We're ready!  Come on spring! Last Saturday, we went to Zoo Atlanta to enjoy some time outside.  

This is how Lainey spent a good bit of her day.  You see, Cooper likes to sing and talk and talk and sing 😊

He is always doing one of those things.  Always.  This day he was stuck on Feliz Navidad.  Over and over and over.  Lainey and her introverted self was SO done with Feliz Navidad.  The whole thing was just comical to me.  I kept trying to think of ways to distract Coop or keep them separated.  I always tell Lainey that "you get to be you and he gets to be him."   I try and find ways to give her breaks from his constant energy but she'd had enough of his singing so she just plugged her ears 😊

By the end of the day, I had that song stuck in my own head.  Thanks Coop.

I'm so thankful for these precious family days.  There is nothing I'd rather do than be with these 3 people making memories together.

Valentine's ❤️

Lainey and Cooper are really creative kids.  They both enjoy anything that includes drawing, painting, step by step books for drawing characters or animals, coloring, or painting pottery.  They just really love it all.  They both used their creativity for their Valentine boxes and I thought they turned out so cute.  This was Lainey's first year working the hot glue gun!

The day after Valentines Day my mom flew in to stay with our kids while I spent a few days with my grown up Valentine.

Jamie attended a discipleship pastor's conference that just happened to be located in my happy place.

I did a whole lotta this...

And this.

I don't know what it is about walking on the beach.  It's just good for my soul.  And my fit bit numbers were amazing for the week 😜

Jamie joined me on my walk the last day after his conference was over.  It's so good to get away and be refreshed.  

Counting down the days

Since we returned from our Christmas trip to Missouri, Lainey has been crossing off the days on her calendar in anticipation of February 6th and the daddy/daughter dance at our church. This is SUCH a big deal for her.  She loves every minute of it.  

We have a new music minister at our church and his wife and I have become fast friends.  We love them and their family so much.  They have a daughter Lainey's age so we took them shopping together to pick out dresses.  

Love these two girls.  They are just so much fun.  

They tried on all different styles of dresses for fun and decided these should be called the chicken dresses 😊 We laughed so hard while they danced around like chickens.  

We found the perfect dress for this little beauty.  She would not let her daddy see it or know anything about it before the night of the dance. (I'm telling ya, this is a big deal!) 

 Goodness, she's so grown up.  I really enjoy every minute of this though. It's so fun to hear her thoughts on things and watch her grow and mature.  

Lainey has discovered Pinterest on my phone and mostly looks at American Girl doll things.  She decided to search fancy hair styles and loved one similar to this.  I was a little nervous but thanks to my double pack of Bobby pins, we pulled it off!  Her hair is insanely thick so it literally took a million Bobby pins 😊

I had my own date night with this cutie.  We saw Kung Foo Panda 3.  Coop's been showing me his best ninja warrior moves every since.  What a fun night!