Brynna's Seventh Birthday - Pool Time!

 What Brynna didn't know was that her momma had planned a pool UN-party! I decided how could I botch swimming and cupcakes? So I invited a bunch of her friends from church over to the pool to hang out with her on her special day!

 Lauryn, Brenna, Brynna, Ivy, Maryn and Emalee

 Devyn with our favorite sitter in the world, Shea (Ivy's big sister) and Lauryn with Shea's cousin Aspynn.

 Brenna Vickery and Brynna doubling as a submarine!

 Maryn had been a pool baby all day long but was ready for more! It's not always easy to have a day be all about someone else, so for her to be able to join in at the end of the day and be a part of the party was fun for her!

 Ivy, Brenna & Brynna - three little buddies!

 I swear I could pinch this kid! She is just too dang cute!

 Sophia and Emalee

 Brenna, Shea, Lauryn, Devyn & Aspynn

All in all, I was pooped at the end of the day but was so glad that Brynna felt loved and celebrated. I know being one of four kids isn't always easy. It means you don't always get Mom and Dad's undivided attention. I think that is what I was most grateful for today; being able to focus on Brynna. To let her know how grateful we are she was born and that she came into our family. To celebrate that she is now and forever will be a member of the Young Crew.

Pool Bums

   
    The idea of hanging out, half-naked, baking my pasty, white skin in the sun with both strangers and people I know, while constantly on keep-someone-from-drowning-patrol really hasn't been my idea of fun in the past. Not to mention my hellish word association with the word 'pool' after our nightmare experience in Oregon taking care of THE WORST pool of all time at the home we were renting. I thought I was damaged on pools and swimming for the rest of my life.

    But the pool in our neighborhood opened last weekend and my friend Laura convinced me not to be an idiot and go...and I have been back almost every day since. I don't mean to lay it on thick or anything, but I frequently find even more reasons to love our life in Georgia more than the day before. It just keeps on getting better; down to the little things like the neighborhood pool. I can park it in a chair and be three feet away from my two little ones in the two, kiddie pools and the two older girls can be right in front of me swimming in water they can stand in if they need to and still be close enough for me to watch without having to be in the water with them. Not to mention I don't have to dump or mix chemicals, vacuum, skim, pull dead rats out of the filter, figure out what the h*ll is wrong with the pump, take in water samples or any or that other garbage. I just show up. Blissful I tell you, just blissful. Also the neighborhood has an adult-only pool and a family pool that are completely separate. I never have to worry about annoying the weird dude, drinking a beer and working on his skin cancer next to me, because guess what, that dude is no where near me.

    In addition to my other issues, my aversion to being at the pool has stemmed from the fact that I hate wearing a swim suit. I just feel so dang naked, like the whole world can see your every flaw. But after this week, I have decided that I can be at peace with the fact that there are 13-year-olds with bigger boobs than me. And also the fact that no matter what I do, I have cellulite on the backs of my legs. Guess what, so do 98% of the other women there. Even the ones that look like they are best friends with the gym. And there we are, walking around half-naked, with our dimpled, posterior thighs and no one cares. People are so laid back, so real, so polite. I just love where we live. I may yet not be a completely lame mom this summer and happily oblige when the Little Women beg to throw on their swimsuits and head out to the pool.

Maryn's Awards Ceremony

Me and my Peanut

Yesterday morning I had the chance to attend Maryn's end of year awards ceremony. I was grateful for the opportunity to be able to be there for her and just her. So often when there is a bazillion schedules and many people to coordinate, one on one time can become few and far between with the kids...which is hard for me because I wish there was more of me to give. So chances like this were priceless to me.

Maryn and her teacher, Mrs. Hughes

This year has been full of highs and lows for Maryn. New school, new people, new experiences. It was a lot to navigate at times in her little third grade world. But through it all Maryn was able to find opportunities to let her talents shine. In addition to being recognized for her attendance, she was one of the two kids in her class who maintained straight A's the whole year through.

Accepting her award from the Principal, Ms. Suarez

Maryn was nervous about getting up on the stage in front of everyone to accept her award. As she tippy-toed across the stage to shake the Principal's hand my heart just swelled with pride for her. After she came down off the stage she ran to me with a grin and threw her arms around me and squeezed and squeezed before going back to sit with her class. I loved that she hasn't outgrown me. When other kids seemed embarrassed by their parents, Maryn sought me out...and it made me grateful.

I looked down the row at her and couldn't help but think, here was this amazing kid who shyly had no idea how dang awesome she is. A girl who has struggled with other people's perceptions of her at times, but has remained true to who she is at the core in spite of it. Smart, lovable, funny, introspective and imaginative. I hope this next year she is able to see herself for the true gem that she is. Truly, 100% one in a million.

 Maryn with Sister Johnston, or Mrs. Johnston as she is called at school. Judy Johnston used to watch Maryn and Brynna for me when they were little and I had to go to work. Now she is a teacher at Cherokee Charter Academy and I am SO GRATEFUL that the girls get to see her face and feel her loving hugs each day at school. I simply love this woman and am so grateful for her influence in my children's lives!!!

Brynna's Awards Ceremony

 

Brynna accepting her Presidential Award for Academic Achievement

I feel weird bragging on Facebook about my kids, but this is my blog and I will do what I want to! This morning I was able to attend Brynna's end of year award ceremony at her school. I was so proud of that little nugget and the good kid that she is. Not only was she recognized for her attendance and academic achievement, but was also one of the few kids in her class to receive a citizenship award as well. I whispered to her after it was over that I loved that she was smart, but I loved even more that she was smart AND had a good heart. That was what made me the most proud of all.

Brynnie and her 1st Grade teacher, Mrs. Welsh

**As a post note, we did not get the memo that kids had the option to not dress in uniform this day and could dress up for the awards ceremony. So when Brynna showed up in her P.E. sweats and many other kids were wearing dresses and ties I thought I was in trouble. But Brynna didn't even mention it bothering her. She just went with the flow. One of the things I love about Brynna is that she has an understanding heart. She's learned being my daughter, that I truly do try my best but often fall short and she is so often so forgiving of my shortcomings. I just love that about her! 
P.S. I still think she is a beauty even in her old P.E. sweats! ;)

Just checking in...

No, I haven't forgot about the ol' bliggety blog. It's just been too gorgeous outside lately to be thinking of being camped out in front of the computer any longer than necessary! (Think 80 degrees in March, sunny skies, fluffy white clouds, just enough breeze...oh yeah!) Even though school isn't out for almost two and a half more months we are all getting so excited for summer! I booked our tickets for our summer trips to visit all of our family the other day! Between the excitement of that and the warm weather and sunny skies I can almost taste the freedom from schedules and fun on the horizon! Wahoo!!

Justin and I had a moment to reflect last night for a minute on how blessed we feel at this place in our life. Things still get crazy with schedules and busyness and all that. But at the end of the day I can lay my head down on the pillow and know that my life is a quiet and simple one in the grand scheme of things, but so very good. And I am so grateful for that.

A Real Heart Squeezer

Maryn has a heart the size of Texas. As I have previously mentioned my Nana, Maryn's Great-Grandma, passed away this past November. As a family we decided to invite everyone to contribute whatever they felt they could towards Nana Mary's headstone, which will be placed at the head of her grave this coming Mother's Day. After all Nana did to show love for all of us, we felt it would be a meaningful gift each one of us could give to her to show our love in return.

The girls have been saving all the change they could find in a special 'Nana Mary' jar. Maryn even contributed checks I had written her for chores and such. All the girls generously contributed, but Maryn didn't want to keep any of her money for herself. She wanted it all to go to Nana Mary. In a short period of time they have managed to scrape together over $50, which I felt was a sweet and generous contribution for such small children.

The other day another thing happened that made me realize what a sweet girl my Maryn Elizabeth is. She was daydreaming about birthday parties and told me "Mom, wouldn't it be fun to have a birthday party at the animal shelter?" I sat there thinking for a moment, because I had never really heard of such a thing. Then she said "And instead of people giving me presents they could bring little gifts or supplies for all the dogs and cats in the shelter instead!"

My heart wanted to burst. Here was this sweet girl who's greatest joy would to be to do something kind for someone else, even on her special day. It made me think of the scripture, "And a little child shall lead them."

Brynna also recently told me that even though she really thought it would be great to be an artist when she grew up, she had decided that she would like to be a teacher instead because she wanted to help people. Knowing Brynna, I think she would make a wonderful teacher. She has a beautiful brain, happy smile and silly ways that could win any class over! If I were a kid, I know I would want to be in her class!

Lauryn has hopes of being a "baby doctah" when she grows up and wants to go to Africa to help sick babies. (I have sat down with the girls before and showed them pictures of sick African children. We took the opportunity to discuss blessings, gratitude and wants vs. needs. I have told them many times "Don't think that the way things are here in America are the same way they are all around the world." I think this conversation is where this desire came from with her.) As we were sitting in carpool watching some construction work being done on the school the other day Lauryn said "Oohhh, I want to be a baby doctah AND a buildah when I drowed up! Den I can help build a doctah's office for sick babies!" I just wanted to squeeze her!

Devyn has many blank pages of life yet to be written. Dreams to be dreamed and hopes to be hoped. But I know as long as she keeps going with the determination and happiness she has now even at 20 months old she too will find ways to be fulfilled and make a difference in this world.

I am grateful every day, to have been blessed with such great daughters. One's who each, in their own way, teach and inspire me. I can truly say, with every piece of my heart, that I feel so blessed to be their mother.

Pump That Tiger Spirit Up!

Let me just preface this post by saying, I never, ever thought in a million years I would have a daughter in cheerleading. But alas, a few months ago Maryn came to me and asked if she could do it. It is not competitive cheer, so there is no make-up and glitter and all that. Just little girls learning some cute, age-appropriate cheers. So I put my preconceived notions aside and consented. Maryn has had a lot of fun with it and now even Brynna wants to sign up for it next semester.

After several weeks of practice and learning the ropes, Maryn cheered at her first basketball game on Saturday. It was pretty dang cute seeing her out there all silly and having fun! You could tell which cheers were her favorites, because I had heard her around the house every now and again cheering under her breath. Through it all she had a grin on her face the whole time and almost a Mary Catherine Gallagher type enthusiasm! Justin and I loved seeing her so happy and just kept stealing glances and smiling at each other.

Justin (who spent many years covering college level basketball recruiting) texted his brother, Kevin, at one point (who is a D-League basketball coach) and said "I am at my first basketball game where I am not here for the ball, but for the cheering." It was kind of funny how these little girls have softened my big manly man! ;)

Another funny part was before the game, while the girls were out in the hall warming up, some of the 3rd Grade basketball players were standing behind me and I heard them saying things like "Hey man, we have our own cheerleaders!" To which another boy said "No way!" "Yeah we do man, go look!" They all scooted over to the door and looked out in the hall and giggled and said "Aw man, we DO have our own cheerleaders!" It was pretty cute that it made them feel so special. In fact they smeared the opposing team, so I would like to think it was all that support that helped fuel the win! ;)

I also heard a boy saying to his friends when he saw Brynna, sitting with Lauryn and Devyn, "Hey that's Maryn's sister! They have FOUR girls in their family!!" Nice to know we are a memorable group! I also overheard a boy behind me pointing Maryn out to his Dad telling him "Hey, I know that girl! She is a friend in my class!" Despite being raised in a house full of girls Maryn gets exhausted with the ins and outs of 3rd Grade girl drama and has told me that she has a lot of "guy friends" since the girls are a headache sometimes. So it was cute to see some of those "guy friends" excited to see her too!

Overall, I am glad that Maryn went out on a limb and is trying something new that she enjoys and that she is broadening her ol' Momma and Dad's horizons!