A week full of fun!

Happy Birthday Riley!

We started off the week on Sunday with a birthday
party for our cousin Riley. A huge water slide and
a little pool, cake, ice cream, cheese doodles, balloons,
and lots of kids...what doesn't sound fun about that?
Exactly, it was loads of fun and such a great way to
start off the week. How fast our babies grow up!

Chancelor graduated Preschool on Monday. They had a little graduation ceremony prepared and the kids sang songs that they had learned. It was really cute. I realized how nervous of a child he is. During the ceremony he looked at the floor the entire time and kept bending his fingers back like he was going to break them. He did that until he couldn't hold it in any longer and came down off the stage crying and ran straight to me. I felt so helpless as I watched my little man struggle with stage fright for the first time. I talked to him for a minute and got him to go back up on stage and finish the last song. Then all the kids went into the back and got on their caps and gowns, while we watched a slide show of what they had done for the year. Then all the kids marched down the isle with their caps and gowns on, it was the cutest thing I've ever seen. Here's a picture of my little man walking across the stage receiving his diploma :)



We left Tuesday for the beach and stayed with a family
we go to church with. We had such a great time. Chance
had a friend his age to play with and Layla had a friend
her age to play with. We went out on the beach, to the
sea turtle hospital, took pictures while the sun was setting,
rode jet skis, pulled the boys behind the boat, checked the
crab pots, and let the boys fish. It was a busy time.


Layla and her new friend Kinsley had such a wonderful time together. They played in the tub together, swam in the pool together, screamed together and even taught each other a few things. Kinsley doesn't hear as well as she should and has hearing aids, so she also uses sign language. I have started working with Chance & Layla on sign language so we can better communicate with Kinsley. Kinsley taught Layla the sign for fish and Layla taught Kinsley how to say 'not nice' :) I thought it was amazing the two of them teaching one another and how the more time they spend with one another, the more they will feed off each others knowledge. It was truly a blessing !!!

We came home today and got unpacked. Cleaned up the house a bit and then went to Jacksonville to buy the kids some clothes. While we were in Target we ran into a friend of ours who has a little boy that's Chancelor's age. We talked a minute and went on our way. A few minutes later we got a phone call asking if Chance wanted to ride home with her and play with Ayden. I asked Chance if he wanted to go and of course the answer was yes, so Leah came by and picked Chance up from Target. We finished our shopping, went to eat, and then left Jacksonville to go pick Chance up. When we got to Ayden's house, they were all out at the pond fishing, so of course we stopped and let Layla join in on the fun time. We fished until we were all out of crickets! Everyone enjoyed the fun and that has to mean that the fish were biting and everyone caught a fish! Chancelor tried to be brave and get the fish off the hook...he gave up! Layla kissed a fish and replied 'that's funny' in her sweet little voice. After we ran out of crickets we fed the fish in the pond some fish pellets and watched them jump up to get the food. Layla saw a bird feeder and was absolutely amazed at the bird seed...the things that get the attention of little kids. It was great! Pictures of Chancelor and Ayden's fun time will come soon!

Now we are home, the kids have had a bath and are in bed. It has been a busy but very fun and rewarding week. I got to spend some wonderful time with friends and so did the kids. I'm so thankful for the people that God has placed in my life!

Until next time, May God continue to pour his blessing upon you and your family as he does ours! We love you all!