5 Months!

Happy 5 months, Emerson! (a week late...oops!)

You are rolling over, smiling all the time, playing, giggling, and even had your first trip to the beach this month!

Your sure are growing up fast. Love you, sweet girl!

The Graduate

Carter graduated from preschool Wednesday, and let me tell you this was a BIG deal for us! Carter is my hesitant, nervous child, so when they wanted to put a cap and gown on him and stick him on stage in front of a crowd and expect him to sing, he wasn't exactly on board. So we talked about it, prayed about it, put a "brave rock" in his pocket, and hoped for the best. Although he couldn't quite bring himself to put on the cap and gown, he got on stage and sang and said the pledge of allegiance and did all the hand motions, and walked across stage to get his diploma! I was so so so proud of him and the courage that took! It was most likely no big deal to any other parent there, but we were so proud of our buddy that we celebrated all day! We went to the candy store that afternoon and got an angry bird cake from Kroger to have after dinner. He even blew out candles as we sang, "Happy Graduation to you!" Such a big step for him! 

This was his brave rock he had in his pocket. I told him if he got scared, he could put his hand in his pocket and feel the rock, and it would remind him that God was with him. Such a Divine idea. Thank you, Lord. It helped so much!

There he is front and center...having nothing to do with that cap and gown! Hee Hee

My mom and I looked like crazy people during the program. We were ducking down in the pew so he wouldn't see us! Ha! The things you do for your child. I knew if he saw us, he would want to come sit with us and wouldn't stand up there and sing!

Mrs. Glenda....such a blessing.

And Mrs. Brenda....love her!

Some friends.

His family portrait he drew.

Celebrating!!!!!

Dada came home with a treat too! Can we say sugar high?!

Like I said, it may seem overboard to celebrate a fifteen minute stage presence, but it was so much more for my Carter. It was a brave act and a blessing from the Lord! I prayed that God would give him a supernatural courage and peace, and He did! I knew it would help his confidence so much and show him that he can do what other kids can do! And let me tell you, I have one confident little dude on my hands right now ;) I am thankful to the Lord for such a blessing and mostly for such a wonderful little graduate.

Fishing in their underoos

(I apologize in advance for the lack of clothing on my boys)

The boys were jumping on the trampoline in typical Bell boy fashion when...

all of the sudden, Dada showed up with crickets!

 We fished and fished and fished all afternoon. I think we caught ten or twelve fish off our dock. Not bad!

Coop of course had the most fun with these.

And Carter had the most fun with these. Poor crickets met their fate with Carter. He put them in spider webs, amputated their arms and legs, shot them across the yard with is angry bird sling slot, etc. This kid loves a bug.

He won dad of the year after showing up with fishing bait!

This sweet thing just sat pretty on the porch. 

And learned to rolled over! She rolled over back to front for the first time yesterday. 

So I guess we'll be seeing a lot of this little booty now :) Time for the monogrammed bloomers! Thanks, Aunt Nancy!

And we ended the weekend with a very special Mother's Day. 

I received a bedroom suit, a necklace, homemade cards, a night out with Joel last night (whoop!), and about to head out to go eat dinner with the whole crew. Spoiled rotten!

Full of thanks today! Thank you. Lord, for my family and all the blessings they bring. 

So big, a wedding, a new baby, and the RV

Sister is growing up on us! She is now loving the Bumbo, is trying to roll over, and even has two teeth!

Giving rolling over her best effort.

We went to a family wedding two weekends ago. So much fun! We are blessed with such great families.

Ginny and Julie

Joel, Stephen, and Pop

Shot this pic on the back porch two days ago. Framer!

My new niece was born last week! Hattie :) Isn't she precious? She and Sister are bound to be BFF.

We went to Sardis to visit my parent's while they were camping this week, and Carter made friends with this squirrel. He fed it WAY more bread than a squirrel should eat.

BB taking Coop for a spin.

Great week for us over here!