Cooling off of course! One of the big things we all look forward to in the summer is enjoying ourselves outdoors and finding ways to cool off. I am sure I will have future posts about playing at neighborhood "big pools", spending time at the river, and so on... BUT today's is just us. Us in our own backyard. Us in all of our glory..spending time as a family...and keeping cool!




Gotta love it!
:0)

My mind wanders back to a couple of years ago. I entered a children's hair salon with high hopes. They had styling stations with cars as the chairs, tvs mounted at each station where children could pick out their own movie, they even had fun little hair drapes to put on the kids. I just KNEW Caleb would do a great job and allow the stylist to do her magic. An hour later, 10 gray hairs later, and absolutely no nerves left...we exited that salon and I swore to never return.
Caleb and I haven't. I know buzz his hair myself, releasing us from having to step foot into a hair salon.

Now there is Georgia though. We've had her hair cut once before but it was definitely a "do-what you-can-in-the-time-she-allows-you" sort of hair cut. A few days ago I got in my mind that I wanted her to get a real hair cut. A style even. I wanted it stacked and in my mind it would swoosh down to the front, framing her face, and lay perfect. So off we set. I thought out the pros and cons of going to a quick and cheap salon versus the expensive salon. The expensive salon would guarantee me a great cut right? On the other hand, it's a hair cut for a 2 year old and I can't really rationalize spending $20 on it. SURELY the cheap salon could still give a good cut.
I went back and forth...literally even...between some fancy looking salon and the Fantastic Sams next door. We decided on Fantastic Sams. For $8.95 I decided to say a prayer and hope for the best.
Much to my delight...it went really well. Georgia wasn't thrilled and she did a good bit of screaming. BUT since I had opted for the cheaper salon, I wasn't overly concerned with the screaming or bothering other customers..and well..there weren't any other customers there! So, I held her head down while the lady cut the perfect stack in the back. Georgia actually did the opposite of what Caleb would have done..she started to get calmer. The stylist finished the cut.. or so she thought. I didn't like the "swoosh" though..Georgia's hair does a natural sort of wave and flip thing that I don't like. So I had her cut some more off the front.
In the end...we were all happy. It turned out pretty cute. I LOVE Georgia's hair short. It made me think of my Mom too because she always, ALWAYS, loved our hair short (and continued to beg me to cut my short for 35 years) and I KNOW she would love Georgia's new haircut too.

Success!
Without new gray hairs.
Without frazzled nerves.
Without having to resort to buzzing Georgia' hair for now on.
:0)

SANDALS and CROCS! (well...knock-off-Crocs)

I always heard about how socks disappeared in dryers. I remember hearing my mom fuss about it when I was growing up. As I got older I thought MAYBE it was true. On occasion I would have a couple of socks disappear now and then.

But now...

It is more than true. I can't explain it. I can't figure it out. They simply disappear. No matter how many I buy, how hard I try to make sure that each person has their own type of sock and only that type. It doesn't matter. They simply disappear.

When preK was still in session I had to deal with finding socks 3 days out of the week for Caleb. The only hassle I really had in the mornings when getting him ready...finding socks.
Not anymore!

It's summertime!
YEA for sandals and crocs!
YEA YEA YEA for NO SOCKS!

:0)

Ahh...the graduation march song was playing over the loud speakers, parents armed with cameras filled the sanctuary, and a feeling of pride filled all in attendance...and in marched the graduates. Standing tall at about 3.5 feet but sporting their cap and gowns proudly, the 5 (and a few 4) year olds took to the stage.
They all anxiously scanned the audience, eagerly seeking out their parents' faces. Being the age they are, that means that sounds and shouts of "MOM!" and "hey, that's my Mom!" followed right after their eyes found their targets. It was adorable of course. Try as the teachers might, there is just no stopping that exclamation of joy....and try as a Mom might to say "shhhh" to her little one, inside she is burning with joy.






That was me today. That was Caleb today.











They sang songs. Then they all had a seat and waited for their names to be called so they could walk over the bridge as a symbol of their moving from one phase to the other. They proudly received their "diplomas" and shook hands with their teachers.




Then the teacher asked each of them "What do you want to be when you grow up?"
Caleb's answer..."A speedracer car". :0) She interpreted that into the microphone as "a speed race car driver". :0)








Only catch for us...this is sort of a practice round because Caleb may have participated in graduation today, but Caleb isn't really graduating. He is not going on to Kindergarten. And hopefully by the time September rolls around, he won't know any different. Honestly he didn't know any different until this week and all of the talk of Kindergarten filled his preK classroom. Now suddenly we hear "MOM..I want to go to KINDERGARTEN!" "UHHHH....nope. You get to go to preschool again! It will be fun! Then when you are SIX you get to go to Kindergarten." So far he's not really buying it. But September is a long time off. Add to that that he doesn't really hang out with too many kids that are going to kindergarten next year and we should be fine. :0)


Oh...the art teacher had these silhouettes of each of the preK kids. I did NOT recognize Caleb's at all...What do you think? Everyone, I mean EVERYONE else knew it was Caleb but I just did NOT see it..still not sure that I do. One older lady even told me "That one right there must be yours. I've never actually seen HIM but THAT looks like you!" Crazy huh?

:0)

It is FINALLY happening. Caleb is truly starting to show more consistency in being kind, thinking of others first, being gentle towards his sister, and being a giver instead of a taker.

The other evening I sat back on the porch and watched the two kiddos playing in the sandbox. There was no arguing or screaming and instead I got to witness them TRULY playing together. It wasn't the first time they've played together but it was the first time they enjoyed one another for that length of time. They were making and baking some beautiful "chocolate cakes" together and helping each other in each step. "Do you need more Baby Georgia?" "Yes please Caleb, tank you!" "Baby Georgia do you need a candle for your cake?" "Yes please Caleb. Here Caleb, here a candle!" They both put two "candles" on their cakes (they were straws they found in the backyard). Then they sang "Happy Birthday to you", complete with "to Caleb and Georgia...." with each note sung in unison and of course perfect harmony. ;0)
I loved it.
I loved it.
It made my heart warm.
To see Caleb saying things so sweet to her lately truly makes me smile to see the work that the Lord is doing in Caleb. He is indeed doing great things in him and I love being able to witness it.

Thank you Lord for your work in Caleb.
Thank you Lord for giving me the opportunity to be with them to see it.
:0)

She truly was. She was all I could have ever dreamed of having in a Mom. As time goes on it doesn't seem to get easier, I miss her more instead. I do remind myself of one thing though: I am SOOO lucky to have had a Mom like her. I know plenty of people who don't. Not all Moms really love unconditionally. Not all Moms are truly by your side for all things. Not all Moms tell you what you need to know but with complete love in her eyes. Not all Moms make you feel like you can handle anything that comes your way and if not...she'll handle it for you. Not all Moms never sway or falter in their complete dedication to you.
I could go on and on, I really could. The thing I've learned though is that not all Moms are like my Mom. She was all of that and more.
I pray to be even half the Mom she was.
I am so thankful that she got to show me how to be a Mom.
Happy Mother's Day to my Mom, simply the best Mom ever.






The two adorable Georgias!












































Mom feeding a HUGE STINGRAY!










This one is from Mother's Day last year when the three of us had lunch at a tea house.

when you have as many photos as I do from our trip to Louisiana! It was a fabulous trips with a lot going on and trying to post photos has proven to be a tough job. I certainly don't want to bore you with TOOO many photos yet at the same time there are some that I DO want to share with you. SO...this is what I have narrowed it down to. Still plenty to show but compared to how many I have.... well, you can imagine! :0)

We had a WONDERFUL trip home to Louisiana this past week. Like always, it's never enough time to really do all I want to do and see all/everyone I'd like to see BUT it was a lot of fun. It was definitely a vacation Brandon and I needed together and it went wonderfully. We actually had some time together as a couple on my birthday and we haven't had that for a long time. We've had a couple of dates here and there...very seldom~maybe once a few months...but it's usually the simple movie, dinner sort of date. This time we got to go to New Orleans for the evening and it was a blast! (Dadaw watched the kiddos! :0) My Pop (Dadaw) hosted a fabulous crawfish boil at his house on Sunday evening and my friends came over with their families. It was a great way to get to visit with everyone while the kids played in the kiddie pools and the slip and slide. It was perfect! Then a couple of days we hung out, went out on the boat, visited more friends, ETC. Then the last night we went to Lafayette to spend the evening with family. We got to see so many family members and actually enjoy a dinner together. Afterwards we went back to my aunt and uncle's house to visit late into the evening. MARVELOUS!
So...it was a great trip. Have no doubt that I'll be back later with plenty of photos!
:0)

We're headin' out for our trip home to Louisiana this morning. YEA! Of course we were supposed to leave at least 10 minutes ago but B is STILL in the shower. That's pretty norm. Ugghh.
We'll be gone for almost a week so there won't be a Wordless Wednesday next week but I'm sure I'll have MORE than enough photos to post when I get back, for plenty of Wednesdays to come! :0)

Have a fabulous week!
:0)