Saturday, August 20, 2011

Torin and Tori

I can't resist posting this picture, because it is so darn cute!  This little boy was in Tori's class last year and is in her class again this year.  His name is Torin.  Isn't that cute????!!!  Torin and Tori..........they said that last year they always got confused about which one their teacher was talking to.  :)  Tori had mentioned maybe wanting to be Victoria this year and when we heard that Torin was in her class again, she decided for sure.  Hopefully that makes it a little less confusing for their teacher, but to their friends they are still Torin and Tori!! Right now they are just friends, but I think they would make the cutest couple some day......a LONG time from now!!!  Not only is he cute, but he is the sweetest little boy.  I think this picture will be precious someday.....maybe in a senior video!!  This was them at the end of school last year on a field trip to the family farm. 

Friday, August 19, 2011

A Baby Shower

     This past Sunday I helped host a baby shower for a good friend who grew up in my hometown and now lives near me.  I say it that way, because growing up we didn't know each other very well, but have become good friends since.  She is one of the sweetest people that I know.  She and her husband have had quite a faith journey in growing their sweet family and I know that so many people have prayed for them over the past few years.  They are blessed to have a little girl who is 3 years old and then they will be adding a little boy to their family the end of this month.  I can't wait!  I am so excited for them! 

This is the food table;  I did not get a picture of the drink table




This is Kacey, her mom, her mother-in-law, and her daughter, Ava Jayne
Kacey is so special to me.  Like so many of us women, she longed to not only be a wife, but to also be a mother.  Several weeks before their first daughter, Maddie, was to be born, she passed away.  I have no idea the heartbreak that Kacey and her husband went through.  By that point, Kacey's heart had made that transition from not just a women, but a mom.   Unfortunately she did not have her sweet baby to take home and hold.  We lived in different states at the time, but nonetheless my heart broke for them.  I can remember holding my son so tight in my arms (who was only a few months old then) and weeping for them.  Sometimes things seem unfair and unexplainable.  Then they later were blessed by delivering a healthy baby girl named Ava, who is beautiful and precious!  Each of Kacey's pregnancies have had its difficulties, which is why I am so excited to see this healthy little man!

     Kacey, you have handled the trials along this journey with grace, never doubting God's goodness and His love for you.  That is such an amazing testimony to the people around you.  You have been given a gift of compassion and understanding for women who are experiencing heartbreak due to pregnancy issues.
I am so glad that you are brave enough to use that gift to help other people.......and by the way, you are a great mom!!

Monday, August 15, 2011

My Baby is in 2nd Grade!

Today was Tori's first day of 2nd grade!  She has a great teacher and is lucky to have one of her best friends in her class this year!
Tori posing outside the house before leaving for school

Mrs. Stipe helping her hang up her backpack

Getting all her paperwork out of her folder

Tori and Reece all smiles

"Reece-ster"


Yeah!  They made it through their first day!

The kids enjoying some after school Icees!

Panama City Vacation

Last week we went to the beach for our summer vacation.  I plan to make a post for each days pictures and what we did, just so that I will have that info to look back on.  But for now, I have put together a slideshow of some of the pictures that we took during our photo shoot!  This was my first time to create a slideshow like this, so hopefully it works!  :)

Click here to view Panama City Vacation Slideshow

Tuesday, August 2, 2011

Shots!

The kids had their yearly check-ups today and they both had to get shots.  Well, Victoria had to only get one, but Carson had to get FOUR!!  They were both brave, so I told them I'd treat them to soft tacos at Taco Bell.  We never eat at Taco Bell, but our dentist gives free coupons for a soft taco and cinnamon sticks when they get their teeth cleaned.  So, we always go by and get one after dentist appointments.  From that it has somehow turned into a tradition to get soft tacos from Taco Bell as a treat after any unpleasant doctor visit.  They were complaining that they couldn't even raise their arms to eat their tacos.  :)  Poor Babies!!!