July and August Recap

I am getting worse and worse about posting. I think about it everytime I check my email and I even read other blogs but can't seem to ever find the time to post myself. I thought I would recap the last few months with a few pictures.

This post is way over-due. My 29th birthday was June 26th and our 9th anniversary was July 1st. Mat took me on a surprise trip and told me it was for our anniversary. We got all dressed up and I didn't know where we were going. He took me to Hot Springs to the Hot Springs Belle where we went on our 1st anniversary. When I walked on the boat, I was greeted by my family and three of my very best friends and their husbands. It was a surprise belated birthday party. Mat decided he would do a big surprise for my 29th instead of my 30th - that way I wouldn't be expecting anything. It was so sweet of all my friends and family to make that trip for me. Jeff and Bridget stayed over with us and Bridget and I had a day of shopping and the spa the next day. It was lots of fun. The sweetest part though was on the boat when Mat had a song played for me. He wrote and recorded the song. It was all about our life together. Oh my- too sweet. Thank you honey, for a wonderful surprise and trip. I love you!!

Me and my oldest. He still talks about momma's party on the big boat.

The whole party.

We drove back on the Fourth of July just in time to get baths, jammies, and go watch the annual Harding display of fireworks. I just love fireworks! Easton covered his ears the whole time but loved to watch and name all the colors with me.

My grandpa had probably his biggest garden ever this year. He worked so hard on it and we all have enjoyed the fresh veggies. He had one very large area of just tomatoes. He let the boys go out one day and pick tomatoes. They loved it!

Pa taught them which ones were ready for picking and which ones still needed to ripen.

This was one day before we went up to Nana's to play outside. I thought they looked so cute in their muscle shirts and hats turned around backwards.

We took a spur of the moment trip to Memphis one Saturday and took the boys to the zoo and to see a baseball game. Unfortunately it rained really hard while we were at the zoo and we could only stay for a couple of hours. They had fun though and we were able to see all the main animals. We all got Zoo Ponchos.

Checking out the elephants.

After the zoo, we ate lunch and went to our hotel and everyone took a nap. How wonderful!! We were fully rested and thankful for the great weather to go the baseball game. The game was lots of fun. The boys thought it was really cool to see the baseball players and the big Redbird Mascot. Although Easton wanted the other team to win because they were wearing blue - and..."blue is my favorite color." They both were so good and we made it all the way to the 7th inning.

Lawson loves to ride the mower with his daddy. Pretty much he will do anything with his daddy, but this day, he had watched him out the window the whole time Mat was mowing saying, "I ide dat." (I ride that.) He was thrilled when I finally let him go outside and ride with daddy.

Ahh.... Easton's first day of Pre-K at Harding. He is going Tuesday/Thursday all day. He has been very excited about going to "big school." He did wonderful! He walked right in to his classroom, found his seat and starting playing. He didn't even blink an eye when I said I was leaving, he just said, "okay, bye." My big boy. He is such an easy, sweet boy. I praise the Lord for him.

Lawson fell asleep on the living room floor. We have been getting up earlier since school started and everyone has been taking good naps. I felt bad this day because he was just watching tv and I looked over and he laid down in this position and didn't move a muscle. Needless to say, he didn't even know when I moved him to his bed.

My little cowboys!! Easton's little children's church had a western day this past Sunday. He looked so cute! Saturday night we were dressing Easton up trying to decide what he should wear. Lawson, "Mr. Monkey See-Monkey Do", said he wanted to be a "ow-boy" too. Even though Lawson was just going to the nursery, we had two little cowboys. They looked so cute!

Thanks for checking in on us. We are doing good - staying very busy but doing good. We are loving the cooler weather the Lord has given us and it is giving me an inching for fall, hay, and football. Easton will start soccer soon. Mat is going to coach his little team. That should be another fun adventure. Lawson is growing up more and more. He is really trying hard to talk and doing very well. He is putting lots of words together and saying new things all the time. He also keeps us all laughing. He is such a ham!! We praise the Lord for our wonderful growing family.

Random Happenings

I just wanted to post of some pictures from the last few months. We have had a lot going on. Easton finished up Carpenter's Kids and is taking the summer off before starting Pre-K in the fall. He will only go 2 days a week but it will be big boy school. I can't believe he is that old. We are coming upon 4 years old and that just blows me away. I think at 3, they can still be a baby, but at 4 there is not much baby left anymore. My mom is keeping the boys this summer while I work a few days a week. That is helping us out so much. We will actually be able to pay for half the year of Easton's pre-k on what we are saving this summer is daycare costs. And of course....they are loving it! Lawson is now 18 months old and will go back to the sitter in the fall when Easton starts school. Lawson does well there and I am so thankful to have found a place that I feel comfortable leaving him. Those boys are my life.

Well here are a few pictures from the last few months. Enjoy!

Lawson's first haircut.
He did pretty good until the end. We tried to distract with juice, crackers, Mat's iphone, but he was getting restless and was ready to go. He doesn't like anyone touching his ears! I am sure that is from all those ear infections before the tubes.

How precious!

Sitting like a big boy in the chair.

Easton's HIPPY graduation. He loved doing the HIPPY program.

This is Easton kissing his metal. : ) He is learning early, folks!

There is nothing quite like Summertime and a Sonic slush!

The Four Ameigos!

"Eeeeeeze!" Lawson smiling for the camera in Momma's sunglasses.

My sweet baby sleeping away. A "pap pap" in his mouth and in his hand. Perfect!

Easton at his Carpenter's Kid's end of the year program. Easton was so precious with the large group but got embarrassed when it was his classes turn to sing. I was such a proud momma though. It was his first school program. I was one of "those" mom's with the camera, video camera, and tears in my eyes.

Easton and his daddy relaxing after the big event.

Me and my two handsome boys - this is one of the very few pictures that I have of me and the boys actually looking at the camera and smiling.

Playing with daddy. Mat has to be the best daddy in the whole world. The boys absolutely adore him and love to play with him...and on him. : )

Memorial Day at Nana and Papa's house. We had a cook out in the back yard.

Let me tell you...this boy knows how to hit a ball!

Easton stopped to pose for the camera before hitting one out of the park!

Picture Time

This summer has been very busy, but very fun as most summers are. The summer months are full of celebrations for my family. We start with my brother's birthday on May 1 followed by Mother's Day, then in June we have my mom's birthday, mom and dad's anniversary, Father's Day, Easton's birthday, my nephew's birthday and my birthday (which fall on the same day - the 26th). July 1 is our anniversary and then July 4th gives us a big finish to the marathon. We wait a few weeks and then my dad's birthday is at the end of July. This year it was packed full like any other, only we added a trip to Branson in the middle of June as well as my 10 yr High School reunion. We have stayed on the go to say the least.  With all the reasons to have parties and eat good food, there is no doubt the pounds stack on during May, June and July. I didn't even worry about trying to lose weight for my High School reunion. I just decided I would forget about it and focus on that later. Unfortunately, now later has come. : ) Time to get busy! ha ha! 

I have posted about Easton's birthday, but I wanted to post just some random pictures from the summer events. I have more but I was having trouble uploading them so I will have to add more later, I guess. They are not in order, but I hope you enjoy them!

Good times!!!

Lawson can pull himself up on anything now. He would rather be standing than sitting.

Look at those big beautiful eyes! I love that little boy!

Me and my sweetheart at my birthday celebration at Olive Garden. It was soo yummy!

Mat took this of me and the boys watching fireworks in the parking lot of Doc's Grill. We had a great view of Hardings Fireworks Spectacular. I absolutely love fireworks. I have ever since I was a little girl. I think they are very romantic. : ) Of course, not so much in Doc's parking lot with 100 strangers and chasing 2 children. But it was perfect! We had a great time.

My Memmaw and Lawson getting their feet wet. I am so blessed to have such wonderful grandparents!

Easton is quite the little swimmer these days. We are spending a lot of time in mom and dad's pool and he thinks he is something now that he can swim with his floaties all by himself.

My boys having fun before bedtime.

This is Easton pretending to be a pirate. He loves his "pirate sings". (things)

Easton riding the frogs at Silver Dollar City. He had soo much fun. We went to Branson with my whole family. We had been planning it for a long time. We hadn't all been on a trip together since Mat and I got married 8 years ago. There were 13 of us total (mom, dad, memmaw, pa, justin, katie, 3 lawson children, mat, shelley, 2 faulkner children)

Easton on the bumper boats

E on the swings

Mat and the boys on Father's Day. He is such a good daddy. They love him so much.

Second Generation Friends

Last Friday night, 3 of my closest friends from High School came over with their children for a very large sleep over. Altogether, there were 4 adults and 6 children. Me and my 2 boys, 4 months and 2 1/2 years. Amy and her two, 6 months and 3 years. Robbye and her little girl, 2 years. And Laura brought her youngest daughter who is 17 months. She figured her older 3 boys wouldn't be as interested in the "baby party." We had soo much fun! The children who could walk played and had the best time and we took turns holding each other's babies and oohing and awing over who they look like and all those girly fun things to do. The kiddos were so excited to have playmates, it took us a while to get them to bed so we could have our usual "quiet talk time". We may have slept around 3 hours the whole night, but it was so worth it. I love these girls. This year will be our 10 year reunion from High School. We have stayed in touch and made an effort to get together every year, sometimes more than once a year. We have gone to Dallas, Branson, Memphis, Little Rock, and countless gatherings in Searcy. When we were in High School, we talked about staying friends so that our children would be friends and grow up knowing one another and we have done it. I don't think there are many people who are as blessed to have friends like these who have stood with you through the good and bad times and helped you come out on the other side of both. I praise the Lord for these girls and for giving me these priceless relationships. We are already starting the planning for our next big "ho-rah" and I can't wait!!! 

Left to right: Ryleigh, 2, Hannah, 17 months, Macy, 6 months, 

Canaan, 3, Easton, 2 1/2, Lawson, 4 months 

Canaan and Easton became great friends this weekend.

To Live Is Christ

I am currently in week 3 of  "To Live Is Christ", an in-depth Bible study written by Beth Moore. I absolutely love the Bible studies Beth writes. I also love to hear her speak. She is an extremely anointed woman of God with a love for the Lord and His Word. I see her as a great inspiration. This is the 4th in-depth study I have done of hers and the 3rd one that I have facilitated.  It is a wonderful way to stay accountable by having a group of ladies you meet with once a week. If you haven't done one before, I greatly encourage you to find one in your area or start one at your church like I did. I want to share with you some quotes from this study that I have found interesting, thought-provoking, and encouraging. I hope they encourage you as well.

• "Let every study of the Word of God increase your love for the divine Author!"
• For our children : "I pray for them to know what to do with bad influences and hope they become the good influences!"
• "Without love for God and His Word, we're just trying to be good."
• "We can wholeheartedly believe in something and be wholeheartedly wrong."
• "We need encouragement: a courage transplant from another believer so we can continue to pursue the abundant life of the Lord Jesus even in the midst of our discouraging circumstances."
• "Prayer is essential because prayer places us in a posture to hear from God."
• "Many prefer to think of generational prejudices as "the way I was raised" rather than a chain of sin they need to break."
• "I must stand on the Word to raise my children. I must have no other standard."
• "Differences will always exist, but division doesn't always have to result."
• "Everything we are and anything we possess as believers in Christ is a gift of grace."
• "Satan cannot do anything to us God cannot use through us!" - Praise the Lord!!!!
•  "Let's learn to pray like the psalmist who said, "Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law." (Psalm 119:18) He just may blow our minds."
• "Influence is a gift, a trust. We must be careful how we use it."
• "Every time God delivers us, the point is ultimately to draw us closer to Himself."

....And I am not even finished with week 3. I pray that over the next 7 weeks the Lord continues to speak to my heart. I hope that some of this will speak to your heart as well.

Losing my mind

I am going to tell on myself so just get ready:

Okay, now a mother of two, I sometimes think I am losing my mind. A few weeks ago, I was helping Easton eat his Strawberry Cream Oatmeal. He was running around watching tv and playing and I was sitting on the floor next to Lawson in the swing. Whenever Easton would come by, I would stick a bite of oatmeal in his mouth. It was kind of a mindless task while I was trying to keep Lawson happy. Before I knew it, I put the spoon up to Lawson's mouth and was sticking it in. I realized what I was doing when he started spitting it out with his tongue. I quickly wiped it out with a rag and declared I had officially lost my mind. I was feeding my newborn baby Strawberry Cream Oatmeal with a spoon! What was I thinking? I was definitely sleep deprived.

If that wasn't bad enough, this past Friday I had another lapse of rational thinking. I was changing Lawson's diaper and Easton was in the room with me talking to me and asking me questions. I was trying to get the diaper on Lawson and wasn't having very good luck. When I looked down and realized what I was doing.....it was a PULL-UP! That's right, a Pull-Up. I had done it again. Lost my mind. I even had one little tiny leg in it. Keep in mind Lawson is not much bigger than the Pull-Up. It was quite a sight! I hope that is my last episode.

 I think I need more sleep. Ha ha!