Spring Break Vacation ~ Day 4...

Day 4...the whole reason we went to Atlanta...RACE DAY! 

First time my name has been on my bib...the little things that excite me!

Two of my favorite cheerleaders...

For sure my FAVORITE cheerleader...and let me just say, the whole family made sacrifices in order for me to do this race.  So thankful for each of them and especially their support, encouragement, and excitement.

Kelley and I waiting to start...

And we're off!  Got to love Kelley's tutu...her favorite part is dressing up for the races.  And let me just say, she got lots of shout outs for her cute outfit...no one said they liked my new shirt!

Matt and the kids rode the MARTA and saw us between mile 5 and 6...

Kelley is always so sweet and waits for me while I hug and kiss my little cheerleaders...

Waiting on Mommy and Ms. Kelley around mile 13...Daddy blew up their bam bam sticks they got at the expo...

A few more cheerleaders around mile 13...Spencer, James, Kate, Anna Lauren, MeMe, and Cooper...

Excited to see my cheerleaders...ALWAYS brings a smile to my face!

And we're off...want see our cheerleaders again until the finish line...

Finishing with smiles on our faces...what an amazing experience!  And YES, I will do another one...I LOVED it!

My favorite part of the race...my sweet little Anna Lauren finished with me!  Cooper was asleep in the stroller...in case you don't know, it is just as hard to be a spectator.

Sweet Ms. Kelley gave Anna Lauren a tutu to wear too...she loved it!

Anna Lauren was all smiles...they gave her a medal too!

We did it...many hours of training, early mornings, and discipline...BUT...so worth it in the end!

Me and my little man who only wanted the chocolate milk...who cares that Mommy just ran a marathon.

When we got back to the hotel, Matt gave me a 26.2 magnet for my car.  We proudly put it on before the drive home!

Cheer Competition #2...

Yesterday Anna Lauren had her second cheer competition in Biloxi...

All ready for her competition...the smile confirms she LOVES it!

Few pictures before heading to the coliseum...

MeMe, Anna Lauren, and Nanna...

MeMe and Anna Lauren...

Nanna and Anna Lauren...

Anna Lauren with one proud Mommy...

Coach Alyce putting on her make-up...this is a BIG deal to Anna Lauren!

Ava and Anna Lauren...they wanted to do a "serious" face...

Ally Claire, Anna Lauren, and Ava (these are the three that I take to tumble most Tuesdays)...

We started out with Coach Jake, Coach Alyce, and Coach Megan...Coach Jake is no longer with MCA and Coach Megan was in Orlando competing with her squad so we just had Coach Alyce yesterday.  As you can tell, Anna Lauren likes her alot as she is right be her side at all times...

As I've said before, my camera is old and grumpy so it acts funny with crazy light...but...I did get a few pictures of the performance...

Just acting silly waiting on time for awards...

And this is what Cooper thought of the awards that were FOREVER long!  Up next...Panama City Beach in April...should be fun time for sure!

Cooper's New School...

When we registered Anna Lauren for kindergarten last February, we knew that having her at Highland Bluff Elementary and Cooper at Ridgecrest Weekday was going to be hard logistically.  However, we were hesitant to leave Ridgecrest because Anna Lauren was there from 3 months through 4 year old preschool and Cooper had been there since 3 months...we have always been pleased so to move was just scary to say the least.  Ridgecrest Weekday was for sure our "comfort" zone for the kids.

But...last May we put Cooper on the waiting list at St. Paul Learning Center, which is directly across the street from Anna Lauren's school.  We waited, we waited...in November, we added him to another wait list at another church...in December, we heard St. Paul was going to close so we added him to two more waiting lists at daycares more convenient.  St. Paul was for sure still our first choice so we continued to wait and of course pray that the right door would open for our little man. 

The middle of February, I got a call from St. Paul that Cooper had a spot.  In the back of my mind, I knew that they were scheduled to close May 2014, but I was confident God had opened this door for us so we took the spot. 

This past week was his first week...he LOVED it!  And...we got a letter Friday stating the center will not close. I knew not to doubt God and this door opened for a reason!

Cooper (2 1/2 years old) and Anna Lauren on Cooper's first day at St. Paul...this means they get to leave every morning together and come home together.  That is for sure a big deal to them, and wow, just so much easier on Daddy and Mommy!

He was super proud of the hat he made his first week at his new school!  He says he likes his school, and he says he's going to go make new friends everyday.  The teachers say he is smart and has transitioned perfectly.  We couldn't be happier!