Noah got to drive this time! 

Anna's turn to drive! Hold on TIGHT Noah.

Aunt Lindsey brought over Easter cupcakes for the kids to decorate with Caroline.

 

 

Fort Myers Spring Break Trip

Our first day in Fort Myers, Tim got to take Noah to a Red Sox spring training game. The rest of us got to go to Lakes Park and play with all the cousins!

 

Anna playing in the water at Lakes Park. 

 

 

Our kids favorite part of Ft. Myers is playing with all their cousins!!

 

This day the water was very very calm, a little disappointing to kids who love to play in the waves. But the weather was gorgeous, so no complaints from me!!

 

 

 

 

First Disney Trip!

On our way down to Ft. Myers, we stopped in Orlando to visit the Magic Kingdom. And with it being our first visit with our pint-sized crew, I must say it truly was magical!! Our kids had so much fun at every turn and were not even deterred by the afternoon rains!  

First thing inside the gates, Anna ran over to meet Snow White! Avery was too shy at this point.

 

Tim and the big kids riding down Splash Mountain.  They are on the back row, Tim and Anna with their hands UP!

 

 And look who we found wandering the woods! The girls were so cute meeting Tigger and Pooh.

 

After getting wet from the rain, they posed for a picture! They were still having so much fun!

Riding Dumbo! It's crazy that this ride is still around and still fun!

 

And proof that Disney World is magical, all three kids looking at the camera in a picture with mom!

What a great day!! 

 

Playing in the Puddles

Playing in the mud puddle that we created when we washed daddy's car after school one day. They helped for a little while with the car until Avery discovered this very muddy puddle near by!

Another Year!

 

Okay, so it happened. I had another birthday. And yes, I'm younger than Tim, but only by one year so it is apparent to me that the 30s are here to stay. That being said I have been reflecting a lot lately on this past year. Reflecting on where God is shaping me and growing me, on how quickly my children are growing and learning, on what it means for me today to love my family.

As a mom, I feel as though I'm constantly learning how to find that balance in life. When do I just pick up after my kids and when do I teach them responsibility? When do I just sit and play and read to them, and when do I get some chores done? When do we go do something fun and when do we go run errands? And on and on. Recently, Tim attended the Paideia Conference here in Chattanooga and came home with a quote from Craig Bartholomew, "Housewives, leaders in the shalom and order, for the next generation." What a beautiful way to describe striving to find a balance. I'm so thankful for another year to strive to bring shalom and order to our home, knowing it is all building blocks in the lives of my children. I'm so thankful for that purpose and calling in my life, and I pray the Lord will bring it to my remembrance on the hard days when it's apparent that there will be no shalom and no order!