Sir Chuck-a-lot.....

Charlie...my oldest....my little boy who is starting to grow into a young man.

He will be 9 in a month!! He is a young man with many names....Chuck....Charles...Chuckie B...

Sir Chuck-a-lot...Charles in Charge...Chester Cheeto...oh, the list could go on.

Is it normal to have your heart ache when you see a child growing up too fast???

Slowly he is getting closer to my height....his feet are almost as big as mine....his pants size has two numbers in it......is it possible?

It seems like yesterday that I held this young man as a babe....dark black hair and the fattest cheeks I had ever seen.....and now...now we are talking about braces...middle school...and guitar lessons. He has grown into a young man that dotes on his little brother....picks on his little sisters...and loves them all in his own special way.

Where did my little boy go?? It seems like yesterday that he was sucking a paci...couldn't sleep without his silkie blanket. He cried when he went to school....for several days, and I knew I would never be the same. Sometimes I still see him in the dimples on his cheeks....the way he wants to cuddle when he's tired....his fear of the dark....his love for people...I still see that little boy that could color for days. The little boy that loved to sit in my lap and snuggle every morning watching Elmo.

This young man who has become so independent...he picks out his own clothes(even though he can't match...I mean he is his father's child)...fixes his cereal...even fixes his own hair most days(except in the back 'cause "I can't see that part MOM") is growing up far too fast. He now reads to me at night....prays for me at night....tells me all about animals, and science, and the Bible. He tells his friends about Jesus...and he is so sensitive to the Holy Spirit's conviction. He is a smart boy with a thirst for knowledge....and I love that about him.

My boy...my Charlie boy...it is a joy to watch his life unfold before my very eyes...and I am excited to see how God uses him!

It's time......

I can't believe it's really here. It seemed like yesterday that she was walking around with her paci and silkie and her wild hair sticking up everywhere....and last night we bought her first backpack! Shelby is starting PreK in two weeks from today....and I'm just sad.


She has been by my side for the last four years....my right hand gal, while the older two were in school. She has told me funny stories...made me laugh too many times to count....made me cry....and made my days full. You see, I hate my kids being off at school...I like them being home(don't get me wrong, there are many days I'd sell them in a heartbeat), and every time one of them starts school for the first time it breaks my heart.


My days for the last four years and 9 months have been filled with Shelby Jean....and to think that she won't be here....I hate the thought. I will even miss the messes!



So as the time draws near, I will relish in these last days with my kiddo's....

Thank God for the time I have with this ray of light.....

Send her off to the big world of PreK.......

And wait anxiously each day to hear all of her grand tales of the fun things she has done...

She is going to love school....I just know it. She is going to look so cute with that Hello Kitty backpack on....so grown up! Whitesburg Elementary better watch out...I doubt they have ever seen the likes of Shelby Jean! She will change their world....for the better!

My birthday....what'll ya have....

Yesterday was my birthday....I am 35. It seems odd to write that...say that. No longer am I in my early 30's. What do you call 35? Mid thirty's....late thirty's??? I don't know, but so far, I am liking 35!!

Monday and Tuesday I got to spend both day's with my husband in Chattanooga and had the best time. We walked around the downtown area...which is awesome!! We ate at great restaurants....talked and just hung out together! I loved every second of it. I came back to find that my kids had each painted me a beautiful picture. I am transforming my upstairs landing in our hallway into their "art wall" and I just can't wait to frame and hang each picture. They are precious and truly show each child's personality!

Yesterday I got to go with two of my greatest friends to the zoo with our 9 children. It was a great morning...filled with stinky animals and sweltering heat...but on the brighter side, I loved watching the kids get so excited about each animal. Charlie would tell us all about certain animals and why they did the things they do(have I told you he is an animal planet and science channel junkie??) and all he wanted to do was see the reptiles and the alligators. Jesse loved the Panda's because he could get super close to the glass wall where they were playing. Shelby just liked riding in the stroller and drinking drinks....well, she did like the first couple of animals she saw, but after that...stick a fork in her, she's done! Addie loved helping the little kids get a better look at the animals...by lifting them up...pushing them closer. She is such a good "little" Momma, which makes me very proud of her. The zoo was great and it is so amazing to watch the animals...especially the gorilla's. There was one that had a tiny little baby and it was so neat to watch her love on it and stroke it's little head...and then you could totally tell when she had had enough and she throws her head back as if to say..."can a girl ever get a break"?? I feel ya gorilla!

Jesse loved this bird...he was in the same pen as the zebras and giraffee's...he was enthralled with him and didn't want to leave the exhibit! He had all these massive animals to watch, but he chose to watch this little guy, so I named him Jesse's bird!!!

Ty was loving the turtle in this picture...he was so excited!

Guess who's kid didn't want to sit in the nest...uh yeah....mine!!

After the zoo we headed to the Varsity, which is a landmark in Atlanta. I have never been so my friends felt today would be a great day to go. It was charraazzyy!!!! I have never in my life seen that many people in an eating establishment in my entire life!! We walked in to a sea of people and I was like..."what the mess...this place is nuts"! After counting heads 213 times....ordering our naked dogs(hot dog)...hearing "What'll ya have" 1204 times...and counting heads again, we got to sit down and enjoy the varsity. We had such a good time and it will truly be a birthday I will never forget.

Last night at church in the youth room I found that all my girl's(fellow lady youth teachers) had made cupcakes to celebrate! My hubby certainly spoiled me with my favorite cake...EVER...ice cream cake from Dairy Queen! He also gave me an arm band to hold my phone while I run, which is my next step in this crazy life I live. I am running a 5k in October...one I ran 7 years ago and I am determined to beat my time! I am also trying to convince everyone I know to run with me...you know pain is always better when your friends are in pain too!!

35 feels good...so far...and I can't thank the Lord enough for the blessings in my life...there are far too many to count!!

I live in a small town....that's good enough for me...

Last Saturday night was our little town's block party for the summer. We had hotdogs...games...good friends...good music...and fireworks. A group of our friends met up at the town rec center to have a picnic and just enjoy the night...and the whole time I couldn't get the words to "Small Town" out of my head....and well, I just had to put it on here...along with some of my own lyrics, so that I could show you some of my pictures from our small town night!

Well I was born in a small town

And I live in a small town

Oh those small communities....

Got nothing against a big town

But my bed is in a small town

Oh, and that's good enough for me

But I've seen it all in a small town
Had myself a ball in a small town

We played ring around the roses...in that small town...

Drank our Sprites in that same small town....

We climbed the fence in our small town....

And we smile in our small town...

We played with sparklers in that same small town....

We did cartwheels in our small town...

And watched the fireworks in that small town....

No I cannot forget where it is that I come from
I cannot forget the people who love me
Yeah, I can be myself here in this small town
And people let me be just what I want to be

And that's good enough for me....