Layne, Layne is 3!~ February 7th, 2016

My oldest grand daughter, Layne, turned 3 on February 7. She's such a joy! She's incredibly intelligent and forgets nothing. She knows her alphabet and can recognize many of the letters. One of her favorite things to do at my house is to paint, or have me read, "Wacky Wednesday", for the millionth time.  Miss Chatty tells everything she knows.  I'm careful not to say anything that I don't want repeated.

A few weeks ago, we were at the beach. Anna called because she said Layne had said she missed us and wanted to talk to us. We talked and then Papa got on the phone. When he said he missed her, she broke down and cried, saying over and over, "They miss me, Mommy!" She can be such a sweetie., and then in the next minute, she can be a fiesty pants. It's a lot of fun to see what she's going to come out with next. I'm so blessed to live close enough to help Anna out with childcare. I hope the girls will always look at my house as their home away from home. I love seeing them.

For her birthday, Elsa from "Frozen" came and painted faces.

For her cake, Layne requested, "A Minion hugging Elsa". Strange, but true...Wilton doesn't make a minion hugging Elsa cake, so this is what I came up with.

It was a great party, all of our family, except for Daniel, came.

My three oldest

Evie rocked out with the microphone

Aunt Bee got some Waverly snuggles

Happy, happy birthday my dear Laynie-Boo! You fill our lives with so much spunk and joy!

It's great, Elijah is Eight!--March 15, 2016

Having your birthday in the middle of the bleak winter doesn't make  your birthday theme of choice very easily available, when your theme always has to do with something outside. This is Elijah's dilemma. Last year we waited until June to achieve his wanted pool party. This year, he wanted a bike party. There is a local park with lots of visible trails that would be perfect for said bike party. But, alas, even though we waited until the middle of March, the weekend we picked was forecasted to be wet and cold, so we moved it to our house. We had invited 20 kids!! I must admit I was sweating having 20 kids with nothing planned to do, forced inside my house. But, thanks to my husband's ingenuity and thanks to the Lord holding off the rain, it was mostly outside and they had a blast. (plus a few no shows, so the numbers were quite manageable)

John set water bottles and they had obstacle challenges.

Abbey wanted an extra challenge~she ripsticked through

Layne had to take a little rest.

We then went inside for cake and snacks.

After chow down, it was back outside. This time the free play was centered around Star Wars.

The force is strong with this one...

Jedi Baby!

Papa loves Jedi babies!

Some cuddle time for the birthday boy

Waverly loves her Daddy

Happy, happy birthday to my youngest baby. I love you sooo very much!

February 27, 2016~Daniel's last CAA conference meet

We traveled to Richmond to cheer on our favorite Seahawk swimmer.

As I spoke of in previous posts, Daniel had had several travails over this past season. He didn't get to train as he had wanted as a result of injuries, sickness and other issues with the team, still he achieved best times and made it back to finals in his events.

The last night before finals, all of the seniors were announced.

The senior guys

Abbey got into the festivities with her hair.

Elijah loves to imitate his big brother. Daniel gave him his cap when he was done with his last swim.

It came time for  his very last swim as a collegiate athlete, 200 breast.

He gave it his all.

Then he received his congratulations from other swimmers and his coaches

After all the hugs and well wishes, Daniel asked me and John to meet him at the stairs. He came running up with tears in his eyes and hugged us, thanking us for all our support and telling us how much he appreciated us. It was a very moving moment. A moment that a mom treasures in her heart. He really is a special guy. I'm so incredibly proud of him.

Afterward the moms of the Raleigh swimmers posed with our athletes.

And so, it ends....16 years of swimming! On to graduation and then the coached becomes the coach. Where he'll end up working, I really don't know at this point. I do know that God will guide him, if he lets Him. I pray it's close to home, but am trying, (emphasis on trying), to hold him loosely.

On to graduation!!!