Happy 4th Birthday Ben Ben!

Happy Birthday Baby Boy! I cannot believe you are turning 4! You are a mini version of your bubbas and yet 95% pure Ben! You try to do everything your bubbas do! You love boats; you love playing outside; Scooby Doo is still your favorite T.V. show; you love school; you still cuddle and love to read books; and you are the best 4 year old I know! Love you with all my heart!



Ben's birthday turned in to a week-long celebration! One week before your actual birthday, we had your first celebration with family (Mar Mar, Uncle Jim, Nanna & Papa Doc, and Ashleigh) and spent the morning on the river!









After a fun float we returned home and ate pizza and birthday cake! It was a wonderful birthday celebration spent with family. Little Ben you may not realize yet how lucky you are to have such a wonderful family, but I do! We were missing a few people but they were here in spirit!











The day before your birthday, you took cupcakes to school for your class and had a little party!





You were so funny, on the day you turned 4, I said, "Happy Birthday Ben Ben!" and you replied FINALLY! So funny! On the morning of your birthday, you woke up in a tent overlooking the Caddo River and we even saw a Bald Eagle fly over! I'll bet not too many boys get to start their 4th birthday this way... eating pop-tarts no less!





The day of your birthday you wanted a cake (not the cupcakes that were leftover from school) so mommy bought a little cake and we celebrated again!





You are one loved little boy! I can't wait to see what all you learn and accomplish as a 4 year old! Love you Ben Ben!

Zac Update!!!

Well Zachy, after two weeks in first grade of tears and frustration (from both of us)... we decided that maybe you would enjoy going to kindergarten at Centerpoint.... I mean after all, you went to K5 at the Christian School but not kindergarten at public school! And you know what........ you LOVE it! Last week was your first week in kindergarten with Mrs Evans and you had a great week! No tears, lots of good sticks, and lots of recess time with your best buddy Jeb! I think you are going to have a fabulous year and you are going to improve on the skills you already have... all while getting to be with your best buddies, having a rest time, daily snacks, and lots and lots of fun! Now this is what I see every morning when I'm taking you to school!



I love you Zac! You make this mama proud! You are Mrs. Evans' best helper and I think she is going to be such an encourager to you and you will bring much excitement and joy to her class! I'm excited to see how much you are going to learn and grow as a person this year! Love ya big man!

Summer Wrap Up!

Well, this will be a little out of order, but I wanted to include some photos from the last couple of weeks of summer before school started, which included LOTS OF RIVER TIME and HOT DAYS!



Our final weeks of summer were filled with visitors and "play dates"! Jen and Molly and Matthew came and spent a couple of days with us which was AWESOME! There is nothing quite as special as spending time with my sis and nieces and nephews. We talk on the phone several times a day but its not the same as being able to hang out together and watch the kiddos play. Love her and her cutie patooties! We spent lots of time playing in the river and even took a canoe ride down the Caddo!







Molly wasn't so sure about the canoe ride at the beginning!





Zac had his two "girl" friends over... Carlie and Kendall. It was so cute to watch Zac play with each of these girls whom he has had crushes on at various times over the past couple of years. He also had his best buddy Jeb over. Lots and lots of creek time







Nate and his buddies spent lots of time catching critters, "Down by the creek bank by the old holler log"...



We also got to wrap up summer with a visit from the Pitts' boys! It still boggles my mind that between Melis and I we have 6 boys! WOW, is about all I can say about that. We had a blast! Within the first 5 minutes the boys had caught a snake and a snapping turtle. Love Melis and it was good to spend some time with her and her crew!





We couldn't let summer end without one last quick visit to Texarkana to celebrate Daddy's birthday! We had a wonderful time (as we always do) hanging out with grandma and grandpa (which included a trip to Spring Lake Park and the Country Club). Lots of good food, fun and talk'in! I'm so blessed to have such wonderful in-laws and devoted grandparents!








Right after school started we made a trip down to "Cypress" which is a hunting cabin (really a beautiful cabin) that our friends Will and Kacee have. The boys had a blast playing with Parker and Charlie Tate and I enjoyed hanging with Kacee while Nate, Will, and Tim worked on food plots and hunted coons! Kacee cooked us a yummy dinner and the boys had a wonderful time running around like wild cowboys and Indians!







Well as they say, "all good things must come to and end".... BRING ON FALL!