Aunt Joni's Surprise Party

This is the summer for parties and weddings! Goodness! In a 3 week time span we went to or had Jeff's 60th, Aunt Debbie's 60th, Lily's 8th and Aunt Joni's surprise party. Uncle Gary got the word out about a surprise party in the works a week before the party. He was taking Aunt Joni and I her best friend to the boats in Shreveport. They would be gone a few days but would be returning Friday evening.  Family and friends were to be at the ranch in Alto between 6:30 and 7 and no later. We all drove up to the barns and were shuttled down so no cars were around the house. We waited outside around the pool and outdoor living area. Boy was it hot! Hot and humid! When they got to the house he told her they should show her friend the work they had done around the pool. They walked out onto the back porch and we all yelled....

... SURPRISE!!!!!

She was in shock! She couldn't believe how many people were there!

 Just trying to take it all in one person at a time! Here she is with Uncle Joe Tim.

Daughter Ali

Aunt Debbie

Son, Colton

Giving a quick kiss to her gran baby Layla (2 months old) and Kyler with Melissa and Talon.

This was the first time most of us had seen Miss Layla. She was PRECIOUS!!!  Little Joni taking a peek! Britney, Melissa's sister wasn't able to make it to the party. Britney and Melissa had their baby girls on the same exact day! How crazy wonderful is that!!! We hope to meet Miss Lillian at Thanksgiving!

Mom

Angela and Lily

Angela, Lily and Bobby

Ali and Layla

Tim and Tiffany

Mom and Dad

It was sooooo hot outside!  We were all dying, but the kids jumped in the pool and cooled off....some had suits and some in their clothes :)

Little Cousins Picture

Big Cousins Picture

A great surprise and so good to see everyone! Can't wait for Thanksgiving so we can all catch up again!

First Day of School

WOW! Here we go....another school year.....a Kindergartener and a Second Grader!!!

Look how the kids have grown....

I started a first day of school breakfast when Lily started Kindergarten. We decorate the table and end up keeping the breakfast area decorated the whole first week of school. A fun way to wake up and get moving.

We did add a little something new this year to our breakfast....Magic Jelly Beans.
Red to make a new friend
Orange to be courageous
Yellow to learn something new
Green to have fun
Blue to remember that we love you

Chris and Lily are on the Watch Dog board at school!

Goodbye hugs

Getting Cade all settled in.

This look says it all!

And well....This is almost the look I will forever have engrained into my head (even if I would not have taken this shot) ...except... when I put the camera down Cade's little chin was quivering. He was trying to be so strong and fight back tears while saying "I love you." After a hug and some reassurance Chris and I had to keep moving. It was the hardest thing to walk out with Cade sitting there watching us the whole way with tears in his eyes. I knew he would be just fine though.  He loves school and always has. He has a wonderful teacher and I knew he would be ok. I blew him a kiss at the door, gave him a wink and a thumbs up and walked down the hall with Chris. WOW... it was much harder than I had imagined! We had been soooo busy the three weeks before school started I hadn't had time to think about dropping BOTH kiddos off for the first day of school! Lily is my baby girl but Cade is my baby! And now he is in kindergarten. I have no children at home during the day. How very bitter-sweet and how in an instant the last 8 years seem to literally be just a blink of an eye as we walk down the hallway. Parents will always say how fast the time goes and it is crazy that in these moments, years really do become a blink of an eye!

I didn't say much...and Chris was wonderful...my rock! He knew I needed to keep moving and needed company. He maybe even needed it too! He held my hand and let me quietly process all that had just happened as we walked down the hallway and to the car. No tears, just a flood of memories and realizations that this year would be so different from the past 8 years.  He took us to breakfast at our favorite place. We went home and I still had a need to keep moving... a little nervous energy I suppose... so I cleaned the entire bottom floor...bathrooms, bedrooms, living room, kitchen, vacuumed, and cleaned the hardwood floors...I did everything but dust windows.  (ha) It was more than I had done to the house in one morning than in 8 years Chris pointed out. To which I reminded him that we had always had a housekeeper. (ha) I met a couple of friends for lunch and browsed through a few boutiques. Then picked Chris up and we went to sit in the carpool line.  The kids were all smiles and both had great first days of school! Happy kids = Happy mom and dad! And we just keep moving...

I could not feel more blessed  and thankful to have been able to stay at home with both Cade and Lily the past 8 years. It has been filled with laughter and tears, anxiety and fears from ALL of us (ha), creativity and lots of love! I will always treasure these years with my family... forever!!

Lily's 8th Birthday

 Lily is 8!!!  How is that possible!!! 

She is so full of life, passionate about everything and continues to keep us on our toes! 

We love this girl so much!!!   

She is our daydream believer and we have always said...

WATCH OUT WORLD...HERE COMES LILY!!!!

Lily requested a Family Teen Beach Movie Birthday Party

We ended up with a luau/beach theme and I pulled it together in a week which is very very unlike me (ha).

Grandma Carter gave Lily the first gift and said it was from Grandpa Carter. She brought shells that they have had for years and years. It brought us to tears. Very sweet!!!

Jessica and Lily looking through Lily's birthday books.

Uncle Jeff, Maddi, Aunt Pat and Will

Look who all had the same color in mind :)  This is the color for the summer of 2013!!!

Aunt Kristel

Lily wanted this party to go a little different than normal. Here was the new plan...open gifts, eat birthday cake, then swim :)

A little cousin take down - haha

Look at Cade! He was so proud of himself for keeping the camper a surprise from Lily. He couldn't wait for her to finally get it for her birthday since he and I went to the store together to buy it! Way to go Cade!!! He gave her the Teen Beach Movie soundtrack before the party! He asked if we could get the music for Lily and if that could be from him. So sweet!!!

Time to make a wish!!!

Aunt Cindy

Aunt Jessica

Uncle Rick took care of the boys and all of their energy :)

Sophie of course joined in for some party fun!!

The girls played beauty shop!

And Grandma Carter got in the hot tub! So cute....Love her!!

Lily loves her American Girl Dolls!

Rick threw Pat in the pool! OMG!!!!

Cade jumped in right after both of them!

Oh....trouble.....Oh My Goodness!!!

Jessica worked on Lily's hair to get it up in the magic bun. So cute!

And Lily returned the favor by painting Jessica's nails :)

Lily and Cade's favorite restaurant is Parker Brothers. If you ask them what they eat there, they won't have a clue. All they know is that there is a dance floor and a big slide.  It was no surprise when Lily requested Parker Brothers as her birthday dinner. We went dinner here after Meet the Teacher and danced the night away with the kids.   I think this birthday went on for 3 days of celebrating - lol   One lucky girl!!!

Lunch on Lily's real birthday at Maggiano's before Gran headed back home.

And a trip to The American Girl Doll store.

A trip down memory lane...This is when Lily turned 5 and she got Julie!

Happy Birthday pretty girl! We love you more than you'll ever know!!!