Here comes the... flower girl!

Back in October, we got a very special phone call.  My cousin Ashley called to tell us her big news!  She was engaged!  She also called to ask Ava a very important question... would Ava be her flower girl!  How excited Ava was!!  I don't think I could keep up with how many times Ava asked "is this the weekend for the wedding?"  She was thrilled and we were both excited for her.  It was such a special job and definitely something she will always remember. 

The wedding was beautiful, the bride was gorgeous, the flower girl was precious beyond words, and the party was a blast!  Such a fun weekend full of great times, many laughs, and lots of dancing!

The sweet flower girl!

the dress was worn by Ashley when she was Ava's age. 

My "Little Grannie" made it, so it was a keepsake!

Parker is a proud brother...

The beautiful bride!

A family shot... minus Lily. 

 We didn't think she was ready for weddings yet.  Ha!

With my sweet girl!

My favorite men!

With Dad and sisters...

Mom and Dad dancing

Katie and Kelsey with my favorite "Little Grannie"

Cousins

My cousin Justin and his girlfriend

Katie and my cousin Kelly

Just a typical picture with my family...

Fisher and Maugarite

one VERY tired little girl...

she danced her heart out all night and had a blast!

Happy Easter!

I love Easter!  Such a fun time of year!  Love that Spring is here (even though sometimes, it doesn't feel like it yet!)... Love the time spent together as a family... Love dying eggs and trying to beat Lisa's dye job (Ha!)... Love watching the kids hunt eggs.  It's another holiday that I loved as a kid and one that I want to make special for my own three favorite people!  However, as a child, I never fully grasped what Easter was all about.  I knew we were remembering that Jesus died on the cross and celebrating the fact that He had risen from the dead... but I never really, truly understood what all it meant.  The older I get, the more emotional I get about what the Easter holiday really means.  I sit here and could just cry when I think about all that happened on this weekend. The thought of Jesus carrying the cross on his back...Being nailed to that same wooden cross...suffering and dying...for me... for my husband... for my kids... for my parents & sisters.  Doing it for all of those who believe in Him... Doing it so we could live forever with Him.  It's just overwhelms me to think about His journey.  And it brings such a peace to think about the fact that when the day comes that I am no longer here... I know where I will be.  And because of Him, I will be able to spend eternity in Heaven with all of those I love.  All because He chose to die for me.  Yes, the older I get, the more I come to truly understand the price He paid for me.  What a blessing to truly understand the story!

At the Ruhl's Family Egg Hunt

Not my most favorite Easter shot,

but it's the best we got!  :)

My blessings... who were VERY ready to be done with pictures!

With my sweetie..

An Easter couldn't be complete without the grandkids picture!  :)

 

"Best" Buddies... ;)

Joey didn't get the memo...

With my sweet Dad!

With our favorite Andrew! 

This was later in the day...(which explains why the girls look a little undone! Ha!)

My favorite picture of the girls! 

Over this year, they have grown to be such good friends!  Love it!

 

Sleepy Yet?

Oh how I love my kids!  They never cease to surprise me!  Even when they are all "tucked in"... they can still make me laugh!  Had to share these funny moments!  :)

Thought my sweet girl was fast asleep, but it looks like she was busy trying on her wardrobe instead!

Look at that sweet face!!

Our den is right below her... we were watching T.V. and I could hear her snoring over the show we were watching!  Again, thought she was tucked away in bed!  :)

Just another view of our sleepy girl!

Such a sweet picture!  Even better because she was listening to Taylor Swift's CD when going to bed!  If only I could see into her dreams this night!

This was from when Ava was 4!  I guess she was worried about rain!

And my all time FAVORITE!  She was supposed to be cleaning her room.  I guess it's safe to say that she would rather sleep on a hard chair, than clean her room!  Hilarious! 

Love my kids!

(Parker has never had a moment like this...YET... but I have no doubt I will catch him someday!)

Meeing Dexter... again! :)

This weekend, we went to go see the Ole Miss/ Memphis game (and yes, I was wearing Tiger BLUE).  We had a great surprise... Dexter McCluster came in and sat right in front of us!  Parker was pumped and we were all excited to get some great pictures!! 

Lily's First Fish

Today, we took the kids fishing at the pond in our neighborhood.  About five minutes after we got down there... Lily caught her first fish!  She was not scared one bit (not a big surprise to those who know and love her) and she definitely enjoyed her big moment.  The sad thing is... it was the only fish caught the entire time we were down there!  Oh well!  It was still a fun time for all!

A proud girl!!

Fishing Friends

  

Two special celebrations!!

This weekend was definitely a time for celebration!  First and foremost, we celebrated a very special birthday!  Grandaddy turned 63!  We are all so very thankful he is here and still fighting the battle against this nasty disease!  We all know it has been a long road for him and he's had so many hard days!  But today, there was no talk of medicines or treatments... there was only talk of cake and candles! It was time to celebrate the life of a very dear man!!  This weekend was also Cathy and Bobby's 40th anniversary!  40 years!!!  They have remained best friends, constant companions, and have taken care of each other for 40 years!  Such a wonderful example they have been to all of their kids!  They've shown everyone what it truly means to stick by each other... "for better or for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health".  We are so thankful to have such each of them in our life, and it was such a blessing to be able to celebrate these special occassions together!

Happy Birthday Grandaddy!!! 

Ava and Grandmother Douglas

Getting a little help from his Lilybug!

Bobby and his sister Marcie

Marcie and Neil

Doug (Manley's cousin) and his kids

Silly boy Andrew

Sweet Lily

Cathy and Bobby

Special cousins

All the grandbabies