School is almost out and how do we know this?

Well other that the obvious calendar, here are my top 5 favorite reasons: (in no particular order)

1. '09 football season is underway…spring practice has already began for freshman, the rest will start in less than a week! I'm the new Mom's Huddle
   Team Captain and have some big shoes to fill, but I look forward to another great season of Buford Football.
   
2. Prom was this past weekend – We just love to see all the pics and how grown up the kids are getting.
   
3. I am working on the preschool program and video slide show – I have been doing this for 5 years now, but this year it is going to be a bit more special…Emma will be in it!
   
4. We swam all weekend – Emma has a nice tan line!
   
5. I had a total of 12 teens (besides my 2 + Emma) at the house this weekend!
   

Brandon – our other son – the jock who we have learned is becoming a bully, a.k.a. Stacy's "Emma"

Justin – the nephew from Marietta who loves to come over to escape his reality

Cole – all I can say is never take a bag of chips from him

Austin – can be somewhat annoying to the boys, but we love him none the less

Sam – only 2^nd time at the house, not enough info to share anything good or bad

Logan - the player who seems to have a different girl every time I talk to him

Michael – just hanging out with the clan

Spencer – has allergies, so the menu is always adjusted on if he is over or not

JD – the new guy/upperclassman that is into Roxanne

Roxanne – Robert's and Brandon's best friend since forever

Carson – Roxanne's best friend and well we love her too

In addition to all of Robert's friends, Heather was over to hang out with lil Raymond and Hannah came to spend some time with Emma and the pool! None the less, the house will start to rock and roll more than ever and well what can we say, we wouldn't want it any other way…this past weekend between Saturday & Sunday morning breakfast I cooked: 4 dozen eggs, 4 lbs of sausage, 1 lb of bacon, hash browns (for Spencer), 4 cans of beans, 8 cans of biscuits, 2 gallons of Sunny D and I'm not sure how much soda we went through
J I'm just now recovering from the weekend!

Could it be, is it really…

…real spring weather? Or at least it feels like it, finally warn spring weather. Other signs include, Emma's '09 spring pics, look at her she is getting so BIG, and can you believe she will be 5 in a few weeks…YIKES! Isn't she just adorable? Well you know we are proud and think she is just that and so much more, with her funny personality, she keeps us rolling and always seems to crack us up, right when we need it. There is no doubt in our mind that God gave her to us, to remind us that He has a humorous side. Well in addition to her pics, another sign of real spring weather is we finally are able to jump in the pool. We opened it up and got it ready when we got home from Myrtle Beach, however it has been too chilly to jump in. This past Sunday was the first time everyone really gave it a try, lil Raymond & Heather were ready to hop in, until the touched the water, and they said never mind. Not Emma, as soon as she heard someone was even thinking about jumping in, the swim suit was on and she was in! Robert & Brandon even gave it a go before the night was over. But it was until today, that I finally jumped in! This past week we have been doing yard work, we started in the front and well after raking a TON of pine straw, and picking up a million and one pine cones (with 4 large pines in the front, it kind of happens), it was time to move to the back. So today, I came home from work and started cutting the back yard, well it didn't take long and Emma was in the pool. It also didn't take much for her to convince me to stop working and join her. What can I say, it's hard to tell my 3 ½ foot, curly top, brown eyed girl "NO", so only after being half way done, I was ready to hop in and did. It was nice, relaxing & refreshing. I think I will complete the other half tomorrow, and I'm sure I'll be back in before the day is over!

How could you say NO to this...she has us ALL right where she wants us

We finally found some...

…time that is. In my last note, we talked about Raymond turning 19 and well as usual it falls during spring break. With that being said we usually have to wait until a day that we can all meet to have our traditional b-day celebration. This year was no exception, except for the fact that spring break was super busy! We started out with a family vacation to Myrtle Beach, came home and had a homemade dinner and cake with lil Raymond, and then Easter was here. That was a bit much, even for us busy, always on the go folks. Anyhow, Easter was uneventful for Emma, in regards to traditional family egg hunts and even that so popular dying of hard boiled eggs….yeah I know, but it's kind of hard to do when all the kids are grown and she is the only little one around, but she didn't seem to mind, it may also be that 3^rd child syndrome (You see Dawn, I do things that won't get me "Mother of Year" award at times too). We ended up doing our traditional b-day celebration this Easter Sunday, and unlike past dinners at Frontera, this year for several reasons, we did it different…just the immediate family, plus the girlfriend. In the past we invite all family here in GA, close friends and so forth, we have had up to 20+ folks. It was a nice change to be able to sit at the table and have an intimate conversation with the family and a great way to finish an overall relaxing week.
Hope you enjoy a few pics from dinner:

Raymond & Heather & Emma


Robert & Emma

Proud Parents

Singing Happy Birthday, or should I say Feliz Cúmplanos

Our Trio

Where has the time gone…

…lil Raymond is 19 today…yes 19. Where did the time go? How time flies when your little one that everyone knows as lil Raymond is just about too old to be called "lil Raymond" anymore. We knew it would come, just didn't realize how fast it would get here, I think we didn't really think about it too much that it almost has caught us by surprised. I see Kelly write about her little one and how grown he looks with his haircut, and I can say I truly understand, all I can say is relish every moment, life is too precious not to stop and smell the roses. We lose our kids to so many things and age is not an exception. We are so proud of the young man he has become and pray that he continues on the path that God has layout for him.

Emma just loves her big brothers and today was no different, she woke up and wished him a happy birthday, went to the pantry and said mom, it's time to bake a cake, and so that is what we did. We got home from the beach in time to celebrate a milestone for our family and enjoyed it with dinner and family followed by a cake that Emma baked for her big brother. He had to work today, so he ate and ran but loved it all.

Emma's Masterpiece for her big brother!

Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you...

Making that all important wish

Myrtle Beach…

…well we were supposed to have a rainy day, during our stay, but the rain held out and we had a great time. We enjoyed a day at Family Kingdom, an old fashion amusement park, had some time to spare to get some rays on the beach, and then back to the park to get our money's worth on our all day pass. We topped off a great day with dinner with friends.

We were able to take in some time in the indoor facilities before we headed back home. Overall it was a great time to relax, reflect, and take time to remind ourselves on what is really important…family and friends.

SB09...

…a.k.a. Spring Break 2009! So it seems that this past month we have had a lot of first in the family and well this year’s SB, is no different. We are spending our 1st family vacation, minus our first born…1st time ever. We knew it would happen sooner or later, but man, it seems so much sooner than later! Seems kind of weird, but after this morning’s sun rise, all seems right in the world. There is nothing like a great big ocean to see what an awesome God we have…kind of helps put life in perspective.

Thanks to the BFF, who made reservations for our families at the “Landmark Resort” here in Myrtle Beach, about a month ago, we got a great deal, so we are spending a great time with family and friends at a very economical low price and well in this day and time with the economy the way it is, that is a blessing in its self.

This place is awesome and today was a great sunny day so we soaked in the rays the best we could, and enjoyed the beach all day long.

It is suppose to rain tomorrow; however no worries, we have an indoor pool and lazy river that will keep Emma entertained and happy, thus making us all happy! Well, it’s been a long day, and we need all the rest we can get, hope you enjoy some of pics (o yeah, I took the sunrise pic above too from our room):

View from our room

Exploring

The water is too cold

It's all good now

Just give me some shade and I can sleep all day long

Trying to get some sun

Playing in the sand

Life is Good

Easter already…

…well almost, today Emma had her Easter egg hunt at school. I remember her 1st ever egg hunt at school. She was almost one and she and Big Raymond “practiced” how to find eggs the week before. I remember going to school for the “egg hunt” and was upset because I was running late, but when I got there to my surprise, she didn’t need me after all, it was almost a bit embarrassing…she pretty much had hogged up all the eggs. You could say we are a little competitive. That is a memory I sure hope I don’t forget. Well I did not go this morning to school, but in a class full of boys, I’m sure the outcome was not the same as when she was one. However I did slip in for a few minutes this afternoon for the “party” and I enjoyed watching her as she ate her food and talked with her friends. I took a few snap shots;

it’s hard to imagine in a few weeks I will put together a slide show for her preschool graduation. I have done this for the past 4 years, but for some reason, I think this year is going to be a little more fun & special.