Just Kickin' It...

Soccer Days are here again!  And this year, we have a new player on the field.  Lily played for the first time this season.  She loved practices, but didn't like all the eyes on her during the game.  She got a little "camera shy" so to speak!  It took alot of coaxing to get her out there, which was so surprising for our out-going little miss...but we took it in stride.  It actually got quite comical towards the end of the season.  :) 

There was another first this year... Manley started to coach Ava's soccer team.  Manley has never played soccer before, but he was a fabulous coach!  We ended up coming in 1st place this season... even tied a competitive team twice.  Such a fun group of girls that did a GREAT job!!! 

Silly Lily hanging out on the sidelines... where she liked to hang this season.

Daddy and his girl!

Sweet neighbor, Garret, who was on Lily's team...

The winning group!

The number 7... for an upcoming 7 year old!!

The "Cheetah Girl" in action...

With her favorite "Coach"

Meeting Duece!

We got to meet Deuce McCallister at the Boys and Girls Club Sports Ball and oh my... he's huge and all muscle!  But he was such a nice guy!  Signed some things for us and was so nice to talk to.  

Another memory from the night... the Mediknow Ring!!!  Every year, they sell keys to all the people at the ball.  The keys cost $25.00 each.  The key you bought could possibly open the glass box, and inside is a $5,000 ring from Mednikow Jewlerers.  The last time we went, I bought one... and before I even got a chance to try it out... someone else's key worked.  So this year, I didn't even think it worth buying one.  When it was time to unlock the box, we sat and watched as each person came to try out their key.  Some people had 4 keys, some at 2... there was even a man who bought 16 keys!!  They got down to the last 10 people.  Of course, we were all standing up there by the box with the rest of the people... waiting to see who had the key that worked!  Key by key went into the lock.. and not ONE of them opened the box.  The last girl in line was so excited... but sadly... her key didn't work either.  They never had this happen before and everyone was looking at everyone... none of the people in charge could understand how this happened. 

Finally, they came back and said that every person that was left in this room was going to get a ticket.  It didn't matter if you bought a key or not... if you were still there... you were getting a ticket.  On my ticket, the numbers were 245653!  Shannon, the wife of a guy Manley works with had 245658 on her ticket.  We sat there as the numbers were called out... 2...24...245...2456....24565....  Shannon and I looked at each other and realized we had a 1 in 9 chance of getting this ring.  Finally, they called out the last number... 24565..4!!!  FOUR...NOT 3 like I was so hoping for!  So this not only meant that this woman was standing behind me when they gave us our tickets... but it also meant that I was 1 number away from getting a $5,000 ring!  Crazy!  I swear it took me a week to get over that one!  Ha!  Such a funny memory now... but at the time... Ugh!  So close, but not close enough.  :)

I would definitely LOVE to go back and refix this hair and touch up my make up!  Ha!

But wouldn't trade the man with me!  Love him... such a fun night!

Ten Years, Three Kids, and One Dog Later...

September 2, 2000... Wow!  Seems like ages ago... but it also feels like it all happened just yesterday.  On this day, I married one the greatest blessing that God put into my life. (I say "one of the greatest blessings" because the other three blessings came in the years that followed!)  :)  These past ten years have been full of laughs and wonderful, perfect moments... but like all marriages, its also has some bumps in the road.  But with every bump, I only love Manley more!  He has been my best friend and the most wonderful husband a girl could ask for!  I am so thankful that God thought enough of me to put him into my life!!!  When I think about Manley and the family we have made, the words to one of my favorite songs comes to mind...

These are the moments, I thank God that I'm alive..

These are the moments, I'll remember all my life...

I've found all I've waited for, And I could not ask for more.

These are the moments, I know heaven must exist..

These are the moments, I know all I need is this...

I've found all I've waited for, And I could not ask for more.

I could not ask for more than this time together...

Could not ask for more than this time with you...

Every prayer has been answered,
Every dream has come true!

Right here in this moment, I'm right where I need to be-
Here with you... Here with me

I've found all I've waited for, And I could not ask for more! 

Just the easist way to describe what I feel about the life we've created...

I could not ask for more!!!

The First Pitch

Anyone who knows Parker well, understands when I say that he can truly be the world's best salesman.. I'm not kidding! I've heard from so many that he is either going to end up in sales when he's older, or a lawyer!  It's always fun to think about my kids and what lies ahead for them... but it's even better to see their talents right now and watch them shine.  :) 

Lakeland Elementary was having their Entertainment Book Fundraiser and the top seller got to throw out the first pitch at the Redbirds game!  That was all Parker needed to hear to motivate him!  He came home... ran out the door to start selling- got on the phone- and sent out emails!  And guess what... He won! He sold 42 books!!  He also won a tour of the Redbird's stadium by being one of the first to sell 10 books.  I love how motivated this child can get!  It's like he gets a fire under him and there's no stopping him!  Love it!  Such a fun memory for him... but also for Manley and me! 

The BIG MOMENT!! 

He sure did a great job!

After the tour of the Redbirds Stadium...

picture on the field...

the other winner for selling the first 10 books...

our neighbor Drew! 

The day of the first pitch! 

I don't know who was more excited...

ALL smiles!!

Enjoying fun times with family...

with a special cousin, Andrew, 

who came to watch Parker's big moment...

you know I am going to get a picture with my little man!

With a special guy... Lance Lynn! 

A former Ole Miss Rebel who now plays for the Redbirds! 

He made sure to give Parker a pat on the back!

Another Bird Day!

I swear I think the Memphis Zoo is getting better and BETTER every year!  This year they opened the Teton Trek Exhibit with the Brown Bears... they have the Northwest Passage with the Polar Bears... and even more to come!  Every Summer through Labor Day, they have the Birds Exhibit.  I am not a bird person at all... but I love this exhibit.  The kids love it too!  :)  It's definitely one of my favorites and I could stay in there for hours!  (Maybe it's one of my favorites because I come home with such cute pictures of my babies... Ha!!  If you know me well enough- you know that I am always up for some good photo sessions and these always make me smile!)

Hello Pencils... Hello Books...

Wow!  Another summer is gone and another school year is in session.  Where does the time go?  I swear every time I turn around, I feel another year has passed!  We sure had a great summer, and we are sad it see it go.  Good bye to pool days that turn into cook outs, staying out until it gets dark to catch lightning bugs, and having sleep overs on week nights... Hello to schedules, bedtimes, and homework!  I can't believe another school year has arrived.  I officially have a 4th Grader... a 1st Grader... and a PK3 child!!!  Parker has Mrs. Hynes this year.  She's a new teacher to Lakeland and we've heard wonderful things about her!  Ava has Mrs. Stevens.  She seems very sweet and Ava is so excited because her sweet friend Riley is in her class this year.  Riley and Ava went to MDO together at Trinity Baptist, and I am wonderful friends with her mom Lisa-so I think we were ALL very excited to be in the same class this year!  And Lily started at Immanuel Lutheran this year.  This is where I went to school from Kindergarten through Eighth Grade.  So many of the same faces are still there... and it feels like home.  Lily has Mrs. Brenda this year and it is so funny because I also had Mrs. Brenda when I went there.  Crazy I know!  I don't think she's changed at all since I've had her and I know Lily is in wonderful, caring hands!!! :)  It's going to be a great school year!!

On Lily's first day!  :)

I think it's safe to say... she's happy!

Such a big girl and SO excited about her new school!

Goodness... she's getting so big!

Not my "Little Man" any more... Growing up so fast!

My sweet Ava... all smiles and READY to go!

Ready to make the walk... but not ready to see them go!

Dad and his crew!  :) 

In case I fail to mention... Manley is such a GREAT daddy!  We are all blessed to have him!

Here's hoping for a great 2010-2011 School Year!!!!

Fun with Friends

I love all the fun things that go on during the summer time... pool days, summer concerts, patio dinners, and NO schedules of any kind!  Only time spent with our favorite people!

So many fun memories made during the summer time!

With my sweetie

fun time with neighbors

Botanic Gardens

Lisa and Michael

Beth and Chad

special friends!

Cook outs with the best of friends...

Ava and Brittain

Lily and Brittain

Ava and Isabella

Forever Friends!!!

Ava and her sweet friend Lindsey!  :)

I'm sure Parker will kill me one day for these next pictures... but I couldn't resist! 

It only shows what a FUN big brother he is!

Letting the girls dress him up and making it fun in the process!

Seriously... he is going to forever resent me for posting these pictures!!

ONE of my all time FAVORITES!!!

So many FUN times had by all! 

I LOVE the summer time... my only complaint is that it goes by too fast!!!!