Mother's Day and Waverly's 2nd birthday

They know me so well, and that was reflected in their Mother's Day gifts....

I would never request that any of my children give me gifts for Mother's Day, but when they spontaneously do so, it really makes me feel loved! This year all of their gifts reflected how they all thought about me and the things that I like or enjoy.

Anna gave me a beautiful arrangement from edible art. She knows that I constantly stress about my weight and watch what I eat.

Beth gave me an NC plaque and a small knick-knack for the beach house. She knows that I love NC and also love decorating with sayings.

Daniel gave me a note guaranteed to make the most hardened mom cry and a coffee cup. He knows that I love sentiments written from the heart, along with chocolate and coffee.

We all got together to celebrate Miss Waverly Jade's 2nd birthday. Evie had been staying with us while her mom and dad were in Spain. She met us at Anna's to get Evie-boo back. Beth's fur baby, Bella also stayed with us.

Waverly had requested a ladybug cake. Easy-peasy, as I had done one a few years ago. I made the cake a couple of days before Waverly's birthday.

She even got to help me make it!

The next night as I'm walking by the dining room table, where I had placed the cake. This disaster met my eyes!

I was shocked. I just couldn't figure out what had happened. There were no crumbs on the floor. Solomon had been locked up. The kids couldn't have done it.... we had no choice but to surmise that this seemingly innocent canine had devoured my cake.

Yep, Bella boo, the dog without a working liver, who barely eats anything had chowed down on some strawberry ladybug cake!! She had to jump onto the chair, then onto the table and stand on the table to eat the cake!! Incredible!! I immediately called Beth and explained what had happened, as I was worried about her getting sick. I needn't had bothered, she was perfectly fine! Even a little more perky than she had been before!

I lopped off the eaten end and redid the cake...it was all ok in the end!

We gave Waverly a water table. Papa and Uncles John and Daniel had a bonding experience as they put it together.

When we got to Anna and Jamie's house. We found Waverly sequestered in her sister's special closet helping herself to her sister's make up. She's such a mess! So much fun to watch...as long as you aren't her older sister! But, Layne really took it well.

I got a late mother's day present... a picture of me with all of my blessings!

I love them all so very much!!

2017 Amberjack swimming

So another summer league swim team season is under our belts. Our team did well and our kids did really well, most of all they have a lot of fun. For 6 Tuesday nights during the summer our evening is spent by the pool. This summer was unique because we did not have to deal with a single thunder storm!

Both kids were named Swimmer of the Week

I loved watching them swim.

Abbey went to the TSA  championship meet

At the banquet, both were recognized.

Abbey won high point for 9/10 girls. She only lost one race the entire season. (There was another young lady who was undefeated)

With Coach Marlee and Coach Ryan

As a team, Quail Hollow did very well, only losing one meet!

And then there were four!!

John and I weren't able to celebrate on our actual anniversary, because we were in Kentucky at Abbey's Mei-Mei Reunion. We postponed our alone time and decided to go the next Wednesday. We had a babysitter and started out for a nice night with just the two of us. Before the night ended our rendition of  "Just the Two of Us", had turned into "Just the Six of Us"... Anna ended up going into labor and we jetted, (a two hour drive accomplished in one hour and 40 minutes), to Winston-Salem, picked up Layne and Waverly and took them to their house in Pffaftown.

Side note....this was a bit funny because three years ago I agreed to babysit baby Layne while we went to Bonefish for our anniversary, and she screamed, cried the entire time. I joked to Anna that her girls share a knack for messing with my anniversary dinner!

We took the girls, our kids and Solomon to their house and proceeded to wait for new about our new grand daughter's arrival....which didn't happen.  Anna didn't dialate any further than 5 cm, and since she was only at 36 weeks, they refused to break her water. These were newbie midwives, going completely by the book! I felt they were playing with fire. Anna lived 20 minutes from the hospital, I could see her not getting there in time, since she was so reluctant to go back, fearing being sent home again.

The next day, John worked from Anna's house and we just hung out. She had an appointment with the midwife and she stripped her membranes. At this point she was dialated to 6 cm...lunacy to send her home,  in my opinion!

We had decided that if the baby did not come by Saturday, we would take the girls to Raleigh with us and come back when the baby was born. But, that didn't happen....

That night, around 2 am, John woke me up and said, "I heard someone knock on the door, and I hear movement". I poked my head out in time to see Jamie flinging on his backpack and a VERY distraught Anna. Her water had broken and she was in big time labor! As she walked down the stairs, I heard her say, "Ouch, Ouch..."  Jamie squealed the tires as he tore out of the driveway.

They made it to the hospital, barely. She was 10 centimeters when they got there. Our precious 4th grand daughter, Lyra James S*******, made her way into the world very quickly, weighing in a 8 lb 15 oz. and 21 inches.

The next day, we took the girls to meet their new baby sister.

Aunt B and Evie drove to meet their new niece and cousin.

The next day we took the big girls to Tanglewood Park. We had a wonderful time. It was so special to be able to spend this time with them. We laughed and sang in the car as we traveled. It was a great bonding time. They both are so very special and have a firm grasp of mine and John's heart!

A couple of weeks later, Anna and the girls came for Lyra to meet Uncle John and Nana and Grandaddy. This is Lyra's first visit to Mimi and Papa's house.

Aunt Abbey aka..baby hog!

Oh, my sweet Lyra, how blessed I am to be your Mimi. I know that you are going to be wonderful just like your sisters and cousin. I will always love you and be in your corner! I will cherish watching you grow, (although I won't be able to see you as much as I did your big sisters, which hurts my heart). You are a beautiful gift from God. And He has your days in His hands! I pray that you will know Him and seek Him with all of your heart! I love you!