A Daddy Day

We had lots of love to give to our daddy today especially since it was not only Father's day but also his birthday!  The day began with donuts with daddy at church.  It is a minor miracle to get us all to church on time (which happens rarely), but to get us there even earlier for donuts...well, we managed but just without pictures.  Here are a couple of pictures after church of the kids lovin' on daddy.

Fathers Day 2012
Rocco - blue
Madden - orange
Jagger - green

Daddy and his baby girl

Rocco giving kisses in a rather unconventional way ;)

Earlier this week, I brought the kids to the dollar store to let the kids pick out their own gifts for Nick.  They were so excited to "shop for daddy" and it was so cool (and very comical) to see their little personalities shine through the experience.  They each had a basket and loaded it up...literally.  Before we went through the checkout line, I had to assist them with narrowing down their selection to their favorites.  I put back things like tupperware, a toy story puzzle, 6 water bottles (the same size and color), a bag of marshmallows, and even a can of pumpkin pie filling.  They also picked out their own father's day card.  Given that they can't read (just in case I had to point that out), they really did pick out cards that suited them (or the gift - in Jagger's case.)

I had to do some major distraction and redirection to get the kids to forget about the gifts that night, but once I had them out-of-sight, they were out-of-mind.  For that reason, I waited until today after naps, to let the kids help wrap and "sign" their cards before we gave them to daddy. Here's the rundown...

Rocco - bought daddy ALL candy.  A bag of tootsie rolls, a snack pack of Snicker bars, Warheads sour candy, and mini Hersey's.  I think Rocco knows that the quickest way to daddy's heart is with candy...which is also is the quickest way to Rocco's.  All that is missing, Rocco, is a bag of Skittles.  BUT Daddy was very impressed and also very pleased. Rocco's card that he chose had a sweet puppy on it saying "Thanks" and "You're the best!" (Rocco is a big animal lover.)

Madden - There wasn't much narrowing down his choices.  I guess everything he picked out was JUST what daddy needed.  He ended up with a stuffed dolphin(which he said his daddy was going to sleep with), a bag of ring pops, a rubber frog with orange gook in it, a bag of gummies, and a light up yo-yo. Nice Madden.  Daddy liked the variety, buddy.  His card was probably my favorite...had a picture of a daddy and baby goat on the front and said "Happy Father's Day from your weird kid."  :)

Jagger - Ugh...this dude was the hardest to get to forget about his "gift for daddy."  He ended up choosing a small tonka truck, pez candy dispenser, and a green...ummm...plastic...ummm...chalice?  Ha!  I guess you could call it that.  I guess the gift made his card sort of appropriate because it said something about watching TV and drinking beer! You gave daddy a good laugh, Jagger. 

Sloan - So this was probably the most thought-out shopping trip.  She didn't just load up her basket like the boys...she was careful in choosing her gifts.  I didn't have to sort through her basket as she only  picked two things.  A box of strawberry pop-tarts --which her Daddy eats almost every day of his life (well he likes chocolate, but she was sold on Strawberry only!) and also a very strategic gift, I think...a small porcelain cat.  This girl LOVES kitty cats and I think she would like her daddy to return the favor ;) Smart, Sloanie, very smart. Oh, and her card, a daddy and daughter...can you guess?...kitty cat!

Group hug...

Then we went to visit Grandaddy and Big Pop and wish them a Happy Father's Day.  Two of the greatest fathers anyone could ask for...

3 generations of Lambes

With Big Pop (and one of my new favorite pics!)

Not quite finished...

Tonight we had a birthday celebration for Nick and for my niece, Rylee, who will be 9 tomorrow. 

Rylee was so cute when she would open her presents, she would let out a high-pitched squeal. I love this picture of her unwrapping and 3 of the big boys behind her anticipating the squeal!

Nate, Griffin & Jude

The cake choices...

ooohhhh...

Yummm!

I'd say Sloan enjoyed her cake

Put a smile on Madden's face too!

The birthday peeps, 9 and 39 never looked so good!
Happy Birthday Rylee!

Happy Father's Day and Birthday Nick! I love you!

A m♥mma's weekend

I know I’m just a tad late posting about this, but I had such a great mother’s day weekend that I had to share.

So, it started with a night out with my girl…our first real momma/daughter date ever.  My friends & I took our daughters to see Disney on Ice: Dare to Dream.  I had planned the night knowing that she may be a little young and could get a little restless, tired, etc. and fully expected to be leaving early.  Boy was I wrong!  She was the perfect age!  So amazed by everything…completely enthralled by all the princesses and other characters.  It was truly a special night for us a both!

My little princess awaiting her chariot

Before the show, we all met for dinner at Lucy’s downtown.  So much fun!

Heather with Mikalyn & Carli

Sissy & Rylee

Avery and her momma, Ashley
(Sidenote: Ashley and I have been friends since we were Avery’s age if not younger.  Pretty cool to do fun things with our daughters together!)

Mary-Kate and her momma, Katie

Kaitlyn, aka Sleeping Beauty, with her momma, Casey

The girls
(Sloan, Mary-Kate, Avery, & Kaitlyn)

We got to our seats just in time for the show…perfect planning

Love this…this is how she looked the whole night!

She didn’t even want to take her eyes off the rink to take a pic

As soon as I saw the man with the cotton candy, I had to get Sloan some since she had never had it before.  I just knew she was gonna love it!  Wrong.  Not only did she not like it, she spit it out! Ha!   So she was quite content with this…

Sloan with her tub-o-popcorn.

It was a great night and a late one for us, especially since we had to get up early because we were driving to Mississippi to spend the day with my family at one of the state park/campgrounds.  We got to spend the day with my mom & dad, maw-maw, aunts & uncles, some cousins & their kids, and my brothers & families too.  The kids were excited to go “camping” (even if it was just for the day) because they LOVE to be outside. 

Sprinkler fun!

Lovin’ on the camp kitty

Jagger – ready to go fishing

Rocco taking it easy

Down by pier, playing in the water…

Big Pop took them on their first boat ride.  A little unsure at first, but ended up loving it.  I see a lot of boat rides in their future, especially with daddy and Grandaddy since they are the big fishers!

Jagger & Sloan

Me with Madden & Rocco (& wild hair!)

Another great day with the fam! 

Sunday, we went to church and then took a loooooong nap after lunch – one of my MOST favorite things to do on Sundays.  Then Nick gave me one of the best presents by taking the kids out of the house for a couple of hours so I could get some housework done.  Yep, I loved every minute of it!  Nothing like cleaning with the music cranked up and no kids under your feet

Mother’s day is always a special day for me and a sweet reminder of how far we have come and how blessed I am.  I love this little life of mine.

P.S.  This weekend will be a daddy weekend, especially since his birthday falls on Father’s day this year.  How special is that?!?

Just the dudes.

Who knew 3 years ago that these guys…

3 months old – R,M&J
(Picture by Ashley Beth Photography)

would have this…

3 years & 3 months – J,R,&M

Their bond is real. It is strong. It is deep. It is natural. It is undeniable.  It is amazing. It is forever.

And just plain cool :)

School’s Out!

Well, we’ve been out for a few weeks now, but I’m just getting around to writing about it.  This past year the kids went to a 2-day-a-week mothers day out program.  It has been the best thing for them…the structure, the socializing with other kids, the learning – like sponges!, the teachers – we just LOVED them!  It was such a great year and we are already looking forward to the next

So, I’d be lying if I said I didn’t tear up looking at these pictures.  Wow! what a difference a year makes!  They're not babies anymore. sigh.

Rocco - 1st and last day of MDO – my rock star!

Jagger – 1st and last day of MDO – one cool dude!

Sloan – 1st and last day of MDO – looking SO grown up!

Madden – 1st and last day of MDO – love this little peanut!

My little loves

4 almost-ready-for-college kids

SO excited for our summer together!

A tree to grow with

Can I tell you just how nice it is to have grass and plants in the flowerbeds?!  All those months with dirt and dust being tracked in constantly..ugh! Nick (along with me and my mom, but mostly Nick) has been working real hard these last few weeks to fix up our yard. We are not quite finished but the end is in sight! 

We also planted two Live Oak trees in our front yard near the road.  Since this is our forever home and we will be here…umm…forever, I thought it would be neat to take a picture each year of the kids in front of one of the trees.  

I shot these pictures last night right before dark…

Baby Live Oak and Rocco, Sloan, Madden, & Jagger, age 3

“One day guys, your tree will be as high as the sky!!”

I don’t know if they were more excited about the tree or the Yoohoo…but I can make a guess

On one hand, I can’t wait for our tree to get big, tall and beautiful, but on the other, I know that would mean our kids will do the same.  Slow and steady, little tree…slow and steady.