Goodbye Summer, Hello Fall

Tomorrow Cole, Faith, Tyler and Julia will be starting school.  We had an exciting last weekend of summer.  We traveled to Texarkana to help their cousin Marci celebrate her pizza birthday party!  Fusion Youth had their 1 year anniversary and so lucky to be able to attend that.  Then some of the kiddos ventured to their cousin Owen's birthday party and caught crawdad's! All backpacks are together, lunches made, clothes set out, and everyone was asleep by 8:45.  That is called team work!  I can absolutely say 100% I love my life.  I wouldn't have it any other way.  Putting the babies to bed and the "Bye Oh Baby" song they love me to sing to them, to the sweet prayers, the I love you's, big hugs and kisses.  It saddens me when they wake up in the morning they are all one day older.  Tyler will be starting his Freshman year and working hard in football.  I am so proud of him because I watch him interact with his friends and people at youth when he doesn't realize.  The way he is so friendly with everyone and will do just about anything to get a laugh from someone.  Julia, big 6th grade....She is going through the change of wearing makeup, fixing her hair all up and slowly becoming a teenager.  She is so beautiful.  Cole, our big 4th grader!  He will playing his first year of tackle football and is super excited!  He is such an affectionate little guy.  He would let me hug and kiss on him all day if I wanted.  I am going to miss that when he gets "too cool" for that.  Faith, the big kindergarten girl!!  She is 100% ready.  She is ready to meet her new friends and play on the playground and even ride the bus!!  We are going to wait on that for a bit though.  I love each and every one of my children so much.  I thank God every night for a wonderful husband, and these precious gifts to raise for Him.  I will keep you posted and post pics tomorrow after the first day! 

Gulf Shores Family Vacation June 2011

For a surprise to the kiddos AND the Clayton Family we loaded everyone up and headed to Gulf Shores.  We were lucky that Nonnie decided to go with us to for the big surprise!  Jenee' and her fam were already there.  They had NO clue about who was going to be knocking at their condo door!  After our trip there and we got settled, we all went over to the Clayton condo and knocked on the door.  When they answered, their facial reaction was priceless!  We were just as excited as they were to spend a few days together!  It was no doubt the best vacation ever.  The weather was perfect.  The sound of the ocean when we went to sleep at night and when we woke up makes us want to move there! We went on a dolphin cruise and the kids were able to see dolphins for the first time.  Tyler, Cole and I rode a sky coaster which was great! Trent, Tyler and Cole went parasailing while us girls played at the beach and pool and did a little shopping. As night time came the kids enjoyed going on the beach and crab hunting. The air, sand, water, breeze.....it was all perfect.

Julia showing Mylie the water for the first time!

Hanging with Nonnie!

Cole burying Mylie's feet in the sand. He is so good with his sisters.

Julia hanging with Maddie while the waves come in. Julia was great with showing the girls how fun the ocean is.

Once they were used to the sand they were ALL in it! They loved feeling it in their hands.

Mylie and Maddie eating breakfast at the big table, getting ready for a day at the beach.

Mylie wasn't quite sure about the dolphin cruise.

Such sweet brother and sister.

Jenee' and sweet lil Paige getting ready to look for dolphins.

I haven't seen a dolphin yet, but I will keep looking!

Nonnie showing Mylie the dolphins.

Two handsome guys!

My beautiful Julia.

Tyler and I.  He is our crazy comedian!

You, me? Me, You?

Faith hanging with lil sissy Maddie.

Mylie and Maddie hanging watching dolphins.

Maddie was giving Paige kisses.  Mmmmuahhh.

Marci and Faith wanted their pic taken with the captain of the boat!

Tyler playing with dare devil Maddie in the pool.  He is so good with making them smile and laugh.

Me and my monkey!

Trent and I being goofy!

I think they were trying to steal my monkey!

Tyler and Faith are best buds! 

Those crazy Claytons!  Love em so much!