The end of summer 2012

 As I dropped Thomas off at 2nd grade today I found myself choking up.. So eternally thankful for the last seven years home with him. So thankful for all the night feedings up with him, all the naps I took with him, all the days I stayed in nursery with him waiting for him to be confident to leave my side. All the times I nursed him, all the story times, music classes, preschool drop offs, pick ups, parties, play dates, late night swim meets, precious home videos, all the journal entries I made for him.. All 500% of it, the good, the great, the bad and the ugly. You see, we get so caught up in parenting books, advise from others, what so and so thinks, what the Jones' are doing... and in the end, all that matters is the time you can not get back.. Tommy and I have made loads of sacrifices for me to stay home over the years, we did the one car deal for a while, almost lost our home in foreclosure one time, balancing this to pay that and so on. ( we are in a much much better place now but those trials were very real for us!) Today as I dropped my 2nd grader off and kissed him good bye, I choked back tears as the memories of the last 7 years all flooded back to me. Folks enjoy it, don't rush it, savor every.single.minute because it truly goes so so fast.. I would not trade those scary times financially for anything, God sustained us, we learned to lean on him and we manage money the way we do today because of what we went through. To be home with Thomas, with all of them, was/is more than worth it. Sending him off, reflecting, although sad to have him gone all day, I knew for the last 7 years I had seen and done it all with him. My sweet boy who nursed for longer than I'll admit here, who slept with us forever and stayed on my hip for what seemed like eternity walked right in with no problem. This is not a knock on working moms, I have a dear friend who is an amazing amazing teacher.. I admire her so much for the parent she is to her boys and the teacher she is to her students. The juggling act she does is nothing short of a miracle. To stay at home was the right choice for our family but each family has to do what works for them. Just because you work doesn't mean you miss things and we can all be reminded to stop and savor the moments with our children.
 Here is Thomas today with Mrs. Jennings, his 2nd grade teacher!

When we got back from Kanuga I was finally able to see baby Selah, my good friend Stacey's baby. Isn't she precious!

 Hartley's first time holding a baby!

We celebrated Grandaddy's birthday last Sunday with a family dinner and a golf cake, idea from pinetrest!

Thomas' best friend Zion moved away but we enjoyed a fun last week of summer with him, ice cream and chick fil a!

A couple of weeks ago we headed to Columbia for a house warming party for AnnaBelle's friend Ryan. She snapped these shots of the kids and of mom and I. I adore my mom and am so thankful for her! Also leading up to the party the children and I made these yummy cake pops. Hartley def thinks that helping in the kitchen has it's perks!

All of the sudden Hartley has turned into such a little girl. She loves to color and wants me to sit with her forever just coloring.. I love it! Also little Miss is really close to being potty trained. I have to take her all day long but she has only had one accident each day the last 2 days. Even staying dry through her naps. As long as she doesn't get in one of her moods where she fights me on everything I bet she'll be potty trained by her birthday a month away. Crazy!