Halloween

I'm sure I've said this a thousand times, but I'll continue to say it. I love our Woodbridge family! They say it takes a village to raise children, and I couldn't ask for a better village to help me raise Braelyn and Donny.

Here are all the kids on Halloween:

Pictured: Donny (Bumblebee, the transformer), Bennett (Snake Eyes, from GI Joe), Abby (movie star), Macie (angel), Charlie (zombie nerd), and Braelyn (Dorothy from Wizard of Oz)

The years are passing by too quickly, and it won't be long before I'm not able to get pictures like this because they'll be too old and too "cool" to hang out together with their parents on Halloween. For now, I plan to cherish every time I'm still able to do this. 

School Pictures 2014-15

These kids are growing up WAY too fast! Pictured are Braelyn's 3rd grade school picture and Donny's kindergarten school picture. I look at these sweet faces and wonder what I did to deserve such blessings!

WB Trip to Fredericksburg

Sometimes adults need a getaway from the go-go-go of everyday life. We snuck away for a weekend with our WB family to Fredericksburg, Texas. It isn't often you get to spend so many uninterrupted hours with the love of your life and some of the best friends a family could ask for!

Here we are enjoying some wine and pizza at Grape Creek Winery:

I can only hope that we have many more trips like this in the future. I look forward to growing old with these couples and going through all of life's adventures together including watching our kids grow and go through their own life-changing events. 

Pictured: Dezi & Matt Cowdrey, Casey & Kathy Spangler, Tony & Kristin Stevens, Dewawn & Don (us), and Shana & Mike Ray

First day

Today, Braelyn started 3rd grade and Donny started Kindergarten. I'm not sure how this is possible, but here we go...

Here are a few of our 1st day pictures:

Pictured: Braelyn and Ms. Turner

Pictured: Donny and Ms. Seale

Pictured: Donny and Annabelle

Proof that we all survived our first day of school - and BONUS: we did it with smiles on our faces!

Giving vs. Receiving

Today is Don's birthday. Typically, one would think Don should be the one receiving gifts today. However, we did things a little differently this year.

We went out to dinner as planned (to Frankie's) and enjoyed a delicious meal together as a family. About halfway through our meal, a woman walked in to dine alone. She sat with her back to us. Throughout dinner, I caught myself watching her. The way she sat. The way she moved. The way she looked. At one point, I found myself fighting back tears. It hit me - she reminded me of Don's mom. It was like she found a way to join Don for his birthday this year.

I leaned over, and asked Don if he felt like paying it forward on his birthday. Of course, he humored me. When the waitress returned to our table, he asked her to be very discrete about allowing us to pay for this woman's meal. She had to get her manager's approval, but in the end, we were able to put her items on our bill.

I sure hope we were able to make her day as much as she made Don's birthday complete.

4:45am

Donny is not a good sleeper.

He's never been a good sleeper. EVER.

Early this morning, Donny came in and tapped me on the shoulder while I tried to sleep. I assumed it would go as it usually does: "Momma, I'm scared. Can I sleep on your floor?" So I rolled over ready to help cover him up, but this morning was different.

When I rolled over, Donny says to me,"Momma, I just wanted to tell you I love you."

Melts my heart!

Cheer Banquet

Tonight was Wylie Elite's cheer banquet. The girls were recognized for being on one of the prep teams. I am so proud of how well these girls worked together. They placed in all three of their competitions.

I'm also so thankful to have been given the opportunity to work with such an amazing group of parents. They helped make our first year of cheer better than I could have ever imagined!

Go, Brave!