Last Super Fun Friday...

Today was a bittersweet day...it was bitter because it was my last Friday to work 1/2 day (I work 1/2 day on Fridays in June and July), but it was sweet because we got to spend the afternoon with our dear friends, the Bounds family.  Matt and Jeremy were at work, but me and Christy had a fun afternoon with all the kiddos...and thanks to Christy's parents we got to enjoy the afternoon at their pool.

And our last super fun Friday would not be complete without some pictures...

Emmy, Anna Lauren, and Rileigh...

LOVE this child...this picture is so her!

And this picture is so Anna Lauren!

Another picture that is just so "Emmy"...

Poor Emmy...look at her face...

If Cooper wasn't in the pool, he wanted the water hose.  And he even figured out how to be "sneaky" and turn it on himself.  Can we say all boy?

For some reason, this picture is just funny to me! The child has NO fear of the water!  He cannot be near water without his floaties because he is going in and most likely in the deep end.

Smiles, and smiles, and smiles...that is what I call a good day!

Calm Before the Storm...

Yesterday I realized I had not posted in a while...I then realized maybe this is the calm before the storm.  In a little less than 2 weeks our world as we know it is going to be turned upside down...Anna Lauren will start kindergarten at Highland Bluff and Cooper will move to a new room at Ridgecrest Weekday.  This seems simple until I look at the calendar and the many end of the year parties, back to school meetings, church commitments, tumble/cheer, and just the logistics of having the kids at two separate places.  What a blessing it has been for them to be together until this point.  However, we will get a new routine and everything will be just FINE...but...I am expecting an adjustment period, which is what makes me a little nervous.  I'm such a structured/routine person that change sometimes "stresses" me.

Now there is some nervous-ness but I must also say there is a LOT of excitement.  Anna Lauren would have gone to kindergarten when we registered in February so I'm so excited for her and what she is about to experience.  And for me, I'm excited about kindergarten as well...what a wonderful step into the next phase of her life that we will all take together as a family.  LOVE every phase they go through and all the excitement that comes with each phase.

This weekend we actually have several fun things planned...so...don't be disappointed because there will be some pictures to share. 

And for now...we'll enjoy our "calm"...

Crazy Hair Day...

Yesterday was crazy hair day at school for the little ones...Anna Lauren wanted several pony tails with bows and Daddy was in charge of Cooper.  Needless to say, Cooper was pretty proud of his "crazy" hair.

Calvert Cousins...

This weekend we went to Gulfport to celebrate Pop Pop and MeMe's 40th Anniversary, which took most of our weekend as we partied Friday and Saturday night.  But...Anna Lauren and Cooper did have some time to play with their "Calvert" cousins on Saturday and a little while Sunday morning.

Saturday morning the kids enjoyed the water slide at Pop Pop and MeMe's house...here is Cooper just loving life...the kid loves water!

Anna Lauren striking a pose while she waits on the slide to get ready...

This picture is kind of mean, but I couldn't resist taking a picture of this pitiful face...poor Madeline!

LOVE these tutu booties...makes me sad Anna Lauren has outgrown these swimsuits!

He looks so big in this picture...where did the baby go?

Mary Martin enjoying the slide...

After the kids got tired of the water slide, a few of us headed to the beach...I was trying to get Madeline to smile, which she was...but...the sun was so bright her eyes wouldn't stay open.

Popsicle and the beach...life couldn't be better for this little guy!

Anna Lauren, Cooper, and Madeline had a great time playing at the beach together...

While all the other kids napped, Matt and I took Anna Lauren and James on the golf cart...

Even though she doesn't see them often...she loves all her cousins and enjoys spending time with them. 

Surprise...the golf cart made it back to the beach...this is the end of the smiles though...Anna Lauren was running and fell...messed up both knees and an elbow...however, she was so tough...I was proud because it could have easily been the end of her day / major melt down.

You know...the beach is the beach...doesn't matter where you are...this is just a "happy" picture!

Happy 40th Anniversary...

Matt's parents celebrated their 40th anniversary in March and wanted to do something special in honor of their anniversary.  So...they planned a party at their house this weekend...well, what they didn't know was that their children planned a surprise party for them on Friday, the night before their party. 

From Paris to Atlanta to Jackson to Gulfport and many many e-mails and phone calls later, we did it...we surprised them with a 40th anniversary party on Friday night.  They knew something was going on, but they had no clue what and really were surprised. 

Happy 40th Anniversary Pop Pop and MeMe...we enjoyed celebrating with you!

Matt and I got to do the "fun" stuff...we did invitations, dessert, center pieces, and the photo table...let's just say, I've become a HUGE fan of burlap and mason jars.

Anna Lauren waiting on Pop Pop and MeMe to arrive...

Cooper waiting on Pop Pop and MeMe to arrive...

Jim and Kate brought them...blind folded that is!

SURPRISE!

The 5 year olds quickly found the dirt...

The "family"...Matt's cousin took some pictures with her camera...I'm hoping she has a better one.

There were a couple of these hats floating around because the bridesmaids wore hats in their wedding 40 years ago.  Two of the bridesmaids wore them at the party...

Pop Pop and Cooper...this little man was a trooper.  He got tired around 9:30 so I took him for a walk in the stroller.  He quickly fell asleep and slept in his stroller until time to go.  I was so thankful the kids were on the BEST behavior!

 This little man was happy as long as he had ice in a cup...

All smiles as she listened to the toasts...

Pop Pop, Kelly, Kate, Matt, and MeMe...and Cooper begging for Daddy to pick him up...ha ha!

Fourth of July...

Happy 4th of July!  It has just been like a "Saturday" to us...I grocery shopped this morning, washed clothes, ran a few errands, had lunch at OEC (favorite), everyone napped, and then we swam in the subdivision pool all by ourselves...surprisingly, we were the only ones there.  Needless to say, I could get use to having a break in the middle of the week!

We enjoyed our day, but it did cross our minds that if we lived near our families, we would have spent this day with them rather than by ourselves.  Just hard to take off work when it falls in the middle of the week.

Rather it was a normal day for you or something special, we hope you enjoyed your 4th!

Miss Mississippi 2012...

I was not going to do a "Miss Mississippi" post, but since several people have asked me about the pageant I decided maybe I should do a post about one of our favorite events.

Yes, Anna Lauren is still very interested in the pageant...but...due to some other expenses we decided this wasn't the best year to spend the money on tickets and make two trips to Vicksburg the week of the pageant.  So...we made it fun from home!

We watched the live feed Wednesday and Thursday night, Friday night didn't start until 10ish so we didn't watch much that night, and then Saturday we had some friends over to watch it with us. 

This year, we were a little disappointed in the winner...for sure not our pick.  We are big Chelsea Rick fans, and we were super proud of her as she made it into the top five.  I remember the day she walked into Millsaps as a freshman and she just graduated.  I've enjoyed watching her grow and mature, and since Anna Lauren has met her several times, she is all about her too!

Anna Lauren has watched the pageant several times since last Saturday night, and we hope to make plans to go back again next year.  Just one of those fun mother/daughter events!



Since we had friends over for dinner and to watch the pageant, we made cupcakes...Anna Lauren picked chocolate with yellow and pink icing.

And of course...crown plates for dinner!

Anna Lauren wanted to make place cards for the kid table...so...we got creative with what we had at home.  Funny thing is they sat on the cabinet the entire time...never even made it to the kid table.  But...it entertained her for a few minutes Saturday morning.