REESE is 12!!!

 ✨A golden birthday for my baby girl!!✨

You turned 12 years old onThursday, September 12th!!  We celebrated with the neighbors on Saturday, the 7th, because Shep and Kate also had birthdays last week. It was a BIG JOINT PARTY with the hood! 🎉 

We had a celebration with presents, bundt cakes, and fun on Thursday, your actual birthday. Then, we went out to dinner with family to celebrate at Walk Ons Friday night. The one thing you wanted for your birthday was a human dog bed. I have no idea how you find these incredible gift ideas, but that’s one of the presents we got you.😂 

Aven Reese, you are such a gift to so many people, especially your Daddy and me.  When God gave you to me 12 years ago, I had no idea how much He would help me grow (as a person) through YOU!  You have a heart for people (especially those younger than you) and are such a good example for so many little kids.  You love animals like your Aunt Emily❤️, are always aware of the person who struggles to make a friend, and are constantly entertaining us with dancing, cartwheels, singing, and more. You exude confidence and you are your own individual. Your carefree attitude in life is one this Mama admires greatly. 

You are still running the neighborhood barefoot, chasing frogs, and identifying bugs. You love playing with neighbors more than anything else in the world. Your hobbies are gymnastics, playing the piano, and you started playing the violin this year in middle school, too. 

You are growing up before my eyes and I feel like we have recently changed the squishmellows and making slime for gift cards to Ulta and picking out jewelry at Kendra Scott.  These days are bitter sweet and I am here for every single one of them. I thank God every day that I get to watch Him work in your life. Never stop being YOU!!!  

Kansas City Chiefs Game

We bought Chiefs tickets to the first game of the season. The Baltimore Ravens put up a good fight, but the Chiefs pulled out the WIN!  🏆 There was a rain delay that caused our night to start off a little bit rocky because we were ALLLL crammed into the tunnels, by the concession stands, shoulder to shoulder in the gift shops…it was nuts! I usually don’t get clausterphobic, but I was having to have a ‘come to Jesus’ meeting with myself. 

Once the game started, it was the perfect night.  The weather was amazing, it was an incredible game, and we had the BEST TIME!!🏈

 

I’m so thankful we were able to check this off of our family bucket list.  It was so much fun!

First Day of School

 Well, here we are at the start of a new school year.  I say this every year, but how are my babies in 6th grade and 4th grade. This will be Reese’s last year at Brightfield Middle School, and Brooks’ last year at Evening Star Elementary. I’m having a hard time with that one. Having zero children in elementary school next year chokes me up! 😥

Both kids had a successful Open House, and met their teachers who seem to be great. Reese has Mrs. East as her homeroom teacher, and Brooks has Ms. Rentschler.

Both kids had a wonderful first day of school. I’m so thankful for that. 

Bring on all the adventures of another school year!!!

 

Holding Onto The Last Days of Summer

 We’ve been doing all we can do to hold onto the last days of summer around here. It doesn’t seem like it should be over yet. Our neighborhood crew decided to go to Dave and Buster’s one night to celebrate the start of a new school year. (Or maybe we were all just mourning the end of summer 😩) Either way, we thought a night out was needed. 

Brooks went to Little Rock to celebrate Garner’s birthday with his cousins. All 3 boys surprised him. 

The Goode’s came and stayed with us for 3 days right before school started, and we had the BEST time with them. CC came a few days before and I took these girls to get their nails done. 

We took the Goode crew to Silver Dollar City one day.  We were there for 8.5 hours. I think they had a pretty awesome time.