Daddy's Girls

Will you please stop growing up Lilli Leigh? I can't believe that in 36 hours you will be starting 2nd grade. We met her teacher this evening and we're both feeling really good about Mrs. Nugent. It helps that her best friends, Shaleigh and Keegan, are both in her class this year too.  I went and worked with the PTL and sold spirit wear for 4 hours today too. I'm excited to be more involved and really liked the other ladies I was working with. We finally got to get her awards from last year too. We missed the ceremony in May because we left for the beach but I'm finally getting to brag on her straight A's for all of 1st grade. Congratulations Lillian! We know you're going to have another great year. 

40 Years! That is definitely something to celebrate. It was actually June 25th but this was the first weekend everyone was able to get together. We started Friday night at the deer camp for a fun night together. Then last night, the 8 adults went out without kids for the first time since Lilli was born.  We met at Ernest's for a perfect night of good drinks, excellent food and lots of love and laughter.  I hope we still look so in love after 40 years. :)  The kids were happy at home too. Earlene had Case and Lane. And Raegan came to our house to babysit the other 4. A wonderful night that we will remember always! 

Happy Birthday to the best husband/Daddy your girls could ever ask for! We are so thankful for everything you do for us and hope you have the best day today! It was a year ago yesterday that we got the first results from his cardiologist visit so he said last night that this birthday means more to him than one has in awhile. They are always special to me but I'm glad he's on the same page this year. :) All of his girls woke up at 5:30 this morning to kiss him and tell him to have a happy day before he left for work. We hope you know how much we love you! 

We had so much fun spending 4 days at my cousins house in Covington this week. Michaelyn and Rick are on a bayou off the Tchefunte River and have the perfect house for a family trip. Me and the girls (Matt had to work) met Pops, Honey, Jen, Ryan, Dan, Anna and Piper on Wednesday and there was more than enough room for all of us and we all had a bed. They have an amazing sunroom that looks over the covered patio, pool/hot tub area, and fishing deck and their boat. Went spent our lazy days drinking by the pool    (Jen hosted some kids yoga ;) Lilli fished as much as she played in the pool. They caught several brim and even a few catfish  We went for a boat ride everyday. We saw lots of wildlife including alligators, turtles and even deer. Nana, Jimmy and Theresa came out for the day Saturday and loved it too.  On Friday, we took the boat to lunch where there was an alligator begging for food. And then anchored by a beach and let the kids swim for a while. The rest of the week was full of

Holman, Brandi and Chance came in for a quick visit this weekend and we had the best time. Holman worked Saturday so they got in late that night and left at 5:30 this morning so that Chance could go to art camp. We know that's a lot of driving in a short time so we were so thankful that they made the effort to come. It's been a long time since we had one-on-one time with them. We got up Sunday and had breakfast at Strawn's                      (The kids loved the Mickey pancakes) We spent a lot of the day with the kids outside in the pool while we sat in the house visiting and catching up. But to break up the day, we went to Sciport for a couple of hours in the early afternoon. We hadn't been to the new POP before but I'm so glad we did. The kids could have spent twice as long there but Holman and Matt didn't agree. :) They saw an IMAX to pass half the time but I'm going to have to get a membership to go back often. The kids played great together. Never foug

The day finally came yesterday and Lilli and Katie had their summer party. We had 7 kids over so 9 in total. They were here from 3:00-6:30 and spent the whole time in the pool, on the trampoline, having a water balloon fight and in the slip n slide that was the biggest hit!  Most of the parents just dropped them off but the Mom of Katie's friend stayed and I was very thankful! 9 kids would have been a lot to watch on my own! We had pizza for dinner a little before 6:00 And they were all gone by 6:30. It was a fun day and Lilli said there wasn't anything she would have changed. I think it may have to become a yearly tradition. And hopefully that afternoon will get her through missing her friends for the next 3 weeks.  On a different note, we have to say Happy 40th!! To Shanon today. He likes the mug we sent but I think he'll agree that Logan is his best gift. :)

Happy Birthday America! Ok, I'm a day late but we had such a lazy day yesterday that I didn't even want to put forth the effort to write a blog post. As we always do the weekend before the 4th, we spent the weekend at the lake with Yaya, Capn, Chad, Rachel, Austin and Josey. (The other group was at their Lake Oauchita cabin) It was a day full of food, drinks and pool fun. We always love a day at Rio Bonito. Then yesterday, for Matt's day off, we had the laziest day we'd had in awhile. I literally didn't get out of my pjs all day. We did pop some fireworks last night and we have some chicken kids! They each tried one sparkler and were too scared to touch another. And they were practically in the garage when Matt was popping the big ones. It's hard to believe that we just celebrated the 4th and now school starts back 4 weeks from today. Already??!! It's crazy early this year. I'm going to like the extra breaks during the year but I'm not ready for Lill