Charity Ball...

Matt and I who are just as happy at home in our pajamas on a Saturday night don't get all dressed up and go to a ball for just anyone.  But...we will for someone special and especially our nephew who makes us oh so proud.  Reid was chosen to be an escort at this year's charity ball in Brookhaven...it is an honor received your sophomore year of college.

These three best friends all went a different way after high school, but it sure was fun to walk into the room and see the 3 of them sitting in the corner together just talking/catching up with each other.

Nanna probably hates an event like this more than anyone in the family...but...she'll do just about anything for her grandchildren.  

Parenting is hard so they may not realize it or think it but from the outside looking in, I think God has truly blessed Brad and Paula with the best boys!!!

These two live together in Starkville, and I know many days they want to kill each other...but...deep down you can tell they really do love each other!!!

I've watched this kid do so many great things throughout his years, and I'm honored to be able to call him my nephew...

He continues to make us proud!!!

I'm thankful for this guy who never says a word when I say we have another event to attend for someone in my family...he always goes with the biggest smile on his face!!!

And to think...these two will be getting married a year from now!!!

I love any chance I get to see my cousin...

She had a hard job as she was chairman of the ball, but she did great!!! She has a love for volunteer work like no other person I know.

And here is our favorite escort, Reid...

Carrie's son, John, was a train carrier for the king so we were excited to get to see him too!!!

After the court is presented the first dance is with your mom or dad...

We watched our favorites dance, ate dinner, and then we headed out.  I had dreaded it all week, but honestly, once I got there I enjoyed myself and was so glad we went.

Cheersport in Atlanta...

We spent this past weekend in Atlanta for Cheersport, which is Anna Lauren's most favorite competition of the year.  Even though the competition there is unbelievable and they have never even come close to winning, she still loves everything about the competition.

Ready to go bright and early on day 1...

She broke her foot the week of Cheersport last year so I was thankful to see her there healthy and injury free!!!

She has been telling her friends about Cheersport for years so she was so excited they were there to get to experience it with her.

They were getting ready to go to warm-ups and Coach Katie told them to get in pairs to line up/walk.  I just happened to catch Anna Lauren and Carsyn standing there...

And then I couldn't resist a picture with two of my favorite cheerleaders...

And that is a wrap for day 1...proud of their zero deduction routine!

We were so excited the buddies who travel all the time were actually in town so we could have lunch with them...

Big Buddy mentioned rolled ice cream so our ice cream loving child was all about that.  Not to mention she had heard about it and just wanted to give it a try...

After lunch, we went to IKEA and then back to Kelly's house for the night.

All smiles as they are heading into day 2 of competition...

Quick picture before they head off to warm-ups...

Kelly and Madeline joined us Sunday...

Thankful for this coach of Anna Lauren's...she understands Anna Lauren (not always easy...ha ha) and Anna Lauren understands her.  Not sure what we are going to do the day Coach Katie is no longer her coach...

Since Katie is 35 weeks pregnant, these girls are going to spend a couple months with Cory.  Should we say...poor Cory!!!

Just makes it all the more fun when someone besides mom and dad come to watch you...

They may have gotten 11th out of 12 teams, but this is for sure something to be proud of.  They got zero deductions both days and improved their score by a point from day 1 to day 2.   All I ever ask is that Anna Lauren gives 100%, and I feel she did just that so I am pleased/proud of her!!!

Valentine's Day...

Typically around the first of January I start looking on Pinterest for cute Valentine's ideas.  This year I walked down the Valentine's aisle at Wal-Mart and couldn't believe how cute some of the cards they had were.

10 of these for $1.84???  You cannot beat that and Cooper just happened to be with me so he picked these for the girls...

And these for the boys...

Anna Lauren and I decided to give their teachers bath bombs...

No Valentine's for Anna Lauren...they don't really exchange cards anymore (sad).  So all she took were these cute plates/napkins for their party.

Matt and I had a Valentine's Day lunch date!!!

And then we had Chick-fil-A for dinner with these cuties after they got done with tumble and Matt got done with a meeting at church.

Mardi Gras...

Matt's parents and sisters have been going to Mardi Gras for the past several years and our schedule has never allowed us to go with them.  This year we thought we would go down just for the day on Sunday, but due to the weather/baseball being cancelled we were able to be there Saturday and Sunday.

Baseball didn't get cancelled until Saturday morning so we got ready and packed just in time to get there for the 2 PM Gulfport parade...

This boy was ready to catch some beads...

Who cares about the rain.  There is a parade...right?

Just missing James...he had to stay at home with his dad because he had hockey.

This parade was short and simple, but we still caught plenty of beads and had a good time as we kicked off the weekend of parades...

Later that afternoon we found our spot to see the Biloxi parade.  And what I love about this picture is that Cooper can find a friend anywhere he goes.  And if there is a ball, he is going to ask to play...

While Cooper was playing, this was happening behind him.  Yes, the van got stuck.

These kind high school kids pushed more than just our van that afternoon/night...it was a muddy mess and many cars got stuck.

So we knew we were at the end of the parade route, but we had no clue that we would wait 3 hours for the parade to get to us.  At this point, the kids were kind of losing it...ha ha!

I say they were losing it...our kids were actually fine.  Cooper was playing with every kid there and Anna Lauren was patiently waiting because she was so excited to see the parade.  However, Madeline and Mary Martin just about lost it...they were over the wait.

To know Cooper is to love Cooper!!!  He makes our life SO much fun, and we love every single minute of being his parents!!!

Oh my goodness, oh my goodness...the parade is FINALLY coming (along with the rain)...

Matt and his sisters really wanted to see the grand marshal, their friend and Ole Miss football coach, Matt Luke.  Sadly he was out of beads (remember...we were at the end), but he dug deep and found one Ole Miss bead he threw to Matt as he was rolling down the street.  And then it all went downhill...it didn't just rain...it down-poured, was thundering, and lightening.  

After sticking it out for 10 floats or so, we headed to the car...soaking wet from head to toe.  We had pizza delivered and called it a night.  Although it didn't go quite as we expected, I'm pretty sure we'll never forget the night...

Despite the rain in the forecast, we headed out for one last parade on Sunday...

Matt's parents have friends with a float so they let the kids get on their float before the parade...

Just taking it all in...

Just as we got away from our car, the bottom fell out.  Anna Lauren, Cooper, and I ran back to the car and sat there for 10 minutes or so until the rain passed on over.  Matt had Callie in her stroller so some nice people offered for them to get under their tent.

Daddy found a friend that gave Anna Lauren special beads...

While waiting on the parade to start, many of the floats had music playing so MeMe and Anna Lauren had their own little dance party...

While others ate king cake...

Although we were all soaking wet, the rained had moved on out, and we were ready for the parade!!!

Cooper had spotted these tomahawks at the Gulfport parade the day before so he went determined to get himself one.  With Matt's help lifting him up, and got one and was happy, happy!!!

Although the "to do" list at home was a mile long, I never regret spending time and making memories with this family of mine.

It was a WET Mardi Gras...every single pair of these shoes were soaking wet.  As soon as we got home, I got us all unpacked and started the laundry...

While this happened upstairs...

Matt and Anna Lauren bundled all the ones we didn't want to keep.  And just in case we ever need to know, we got 862 beads...ha ha!