Daddy's Day

All of the birthdays in our family are back to back... and  this time it was Daddy's day!

 We were so excited to get to celebrate someone we love so much!

 

 

 One thing I love most about our daddy (other than the fact that he doesn't mind pulling over on the side of the road while I take pictures... as long as it doesn't take too long) is...

 his simplicity.

Dinner at the Waffle House with his fam was all he requested on his birthday.  Simple, but him.

Happy Birthday, we love you Daddy!

Sunday Snapshot: {bonded by adoption}

These two sweet girls have something in common.  They were both adopted.

 Natalie joined her family in October 2010 and Brynn in November 2010.

 It is easy for people around us to say that we have blessed the lives of these girls.

It is actually the other way around.

Our lives have been richly blessed by them.

Muscle Walk Part 2

After the Muscle Walk, we went back to my uncle and aunt's house for lunch.  They live on a beautiful piece of property and have lots of farm animals.

Brynn was not too sure about the animals.  She liked looking at them as long as she didn't have to touch them.  The boys didn't hesitate petting and feeding them.

It was so nice to be outside on such a beautiful day!

Uncle Ronnie saddled Denver up for rides.  Blake got very nervous when he handed the reins over to him.

The horseback ride ended up being Blake's favorite part of the day.

Barrett was very brave and hopped right up on Denver and enjoyed his ride too.

Brynn was not excited at all about being put up on Denver with me.  She didn't want to unfold her legs and do anything that might resemble touching the horse.  Once I unfolded her legs for her and we started riding, she had a blast!

We enjoyed our day so much!

I enjoyed getting to spend time with my aunt, uncle, and cousins.

We are looking forward to the next time we get to go play on their beautiful land and spend time with them.

And looking forward to many more beautiful, sunny days like this one!

Muscle Walk Part 1

Muscular Dystrophy is a genetic disorder that very closely affects our family.  My cousin Darren lost his life to it just a couple of years ago at the age of 32.  My uncle, aunt, and cousins created a team to walk for the MDA Muscle Walk.  The MDA Muscle Walk is a series of local walk events across the country held to pay tribute to and raise funds for children and adults served by the Muscular Dystrophy Association. The walks are family-oriented gatherings and light exercise for everyone — children, adults, grandparents, students, corporate teams and more.  We were very proud to be on the 3D Riders Team!

 The form of Muscular Dystrophy that my family suffers from is Myotonic Muscular Dystrophy.  Myotonic muscular dystrophy (MMD) is a form of muscular dystrophy that affects muscles and many other organs in the body. Unlike some forms of muscular dystrophy, MMD often doesn’t become a problem until adulthood and usually allows people to walk and be fairly independent throughout their lives.

We put on our mall walking shoes and loaded up the twin stroller ready for the event.

Our team colors were blue and orange (Bronco colors). 

MDA is the nation’s largest voluntary health agency funding cutting-edge neuromuscular research, health care services and education.  In 2010 alone, MDA invested almost $39 million into research for 43 forms of muscle-damaging diseases, and more than $80 million into health care services for children and adults affected by these conditions.

My three little mall walkers.



The 3D Riders Team

Holidays With Friends

We always love our monthly holiday celebrations with our friends.  As the kids get older it gets harder to get together during the school year.  I love that we still set aside these times for them to play.

We hosted the Valentine Party this year.  The kids ate and played... just what they like to do!

Blake, Preston, Chaney, Brynn, Barrett, Presley, Kinsley (Jackson was sick)

CHAT

Barrett has been delayed in his speech since he started talking.  He has received speech services through the state, that will end when he turns three.  I took him up to the school district to have him tested for the speech services they offer.

He qualified for a program called CHAT (Communication Happening All the Time).  It is a small group program that focuses on 3 and 4 year old students who exhibit moderate to profound deficits in the areas of articulation/phonology/ and/or mild to moderate expressive language disorders.

Barrett qualified based on his severe articulation delay.

They will provide: phonological and literacy based classroom instruction, group activities, individualized therapy opportunities, and home practice assignments.

We are excited about this opportunity for Barrett and cannot wait to watch him learn and grow through it.

Heartbreaking

As the mother to one of these girls... my heart truly breaks.

After you watch this, please say a prayer for the people of China.  Pray for all the babies who have been abandoned and are waiting hopeful that they will one day have a family.

Sunday Snapshot: {a windy day}

Celebrating Chaney

Blake's friend Chaney, who is just two days older than him, had her party last weekend.  The instructions were for the kids to wear their favorite color to the party.

The party was everything ART and COLORS!

There was a special art teacher who came and did a lesson about the color wheel.

They used clay and droppers of dye to blend colors.

They got to choose what color of juice they wanted.  Blake chose his favorite... yellow lemonade and blue ice cubes to make green juice.

Cupcake time consisted of choosing the color of icing you needed to make your favorite.  Blake chose yellow and blue to make green.

The very happy Birthday girl!

Instead of gifts for herself, Chaney chose to have the kids bring art supplies.  She is going to donate them to children in Africa and China! 

Mommy and Blake

Blake and his friend Chaney

And because I can't resist putting on a sweet baby picture of these two special friends.  I can't believe they are six years old!  Where has the time gone?

Happy Birthday to our special friend Chaney!