Way to Go, Sarah!

Last night, Sarah received an award for AP World History!

This is one of her favorite classes taught by one of her favorite teachers!  When he called me to tell me that he was giving the award to Sarah, he said that she's "astounding" and "there was no one more deserving."  Oh, my Mama heart!

We are so proud of her!

Mother's Day

Sunday was my 16th Mother's Day.  I am so grateful to God for blessing me with Sarah and Jackson!

Being their Mommy is my life's greatest joy.

I love them more than words can convey.

They are my littlest best friends.

They--and their Daddy...and Jesus!--are the best things that have ever happened to me!

I love them so much it hurts.

They are my heart and soul.

Jackson has been saying that he wanted to make me breakfast on Mother's Day for about 3 weeks.  So, after church, that's what he and Daddy did!

After they made biscuits, J looked a little sad, so I asked him what was wrong.  He said, "I just wanted to make you breakfast...not the whole family."  Ha!

A couple of weeks ago, sweet Jackson was sick--as in throwing up sick.  As I was in his room cleaning up, he apologized to me that I was having to do that.  I told him not to be sorry because it was my job, and I didn't mind.  I went on to tell him that I always wanted to be a mommy, and that means taking care of him and Sissy.  He said that being a mommy was my "specialty."  My heart melted.

Band Banquet

Sarah and her boyfriend, Billy, are off to Band Banquet tonight, and all I can think is, I have to quit blinking.

Family Dinner

Family dinner is super important to us.  But with call shifts and band rehearsals and church and award ceremonies and chess, I don't remember the last time we had family dinner...all 4 of us around the table together.  Last night, we finally did though!  And that meant that we were finally able to celebrate Sarah's journalism accomplishments and induction into the NHS, as well as Jackson getting 5th place in the chess tournament!  And a celebration at our house usually involves the "you are special today" plate (which J asked if he could have his dinner on as soon as he told mehe was 5th place!).  So, earlier this week, I ordered a second "you are special today" plate to properly celebrate both kiddos...and maybe because the last time one kiddo had his dinner on the plate, the other kid asked why he had the plate that night, to which the first kid proudly exclaimed, "it's because I got all A's on my report card!" which caused the second kiddo to mumble, "my lowest grade was a 98."

Family dinners and celebrations and these kiddos...they're my favorite.

Way to Go, Sarah...Again!

Yesterday, Sarah got inducted into the National Honor Society!

After I snapped her picture, Papa Bear said, "now, it's my turn!" and he put his arm around her for a picture...and of course, Jackson had to jump in as well!  It was the cutest!

As always, we are beyond proud of our baby girl!  She works so hard and always does such an amazing job!

Way to Go, Sarah!

Yesterday, Sarah got home after competing at state for journalism.  She place 1st in features and 5th in copy editing!  

She did awesome, and we are so stinkin' proud of her!

Way to Go, Jackson!

Last Tuesday, we went to Jackson's chess tournament.  After the first round, (which was technically the 5th round.  The kids had played the first 4 rounds during school on Monday.), we all had to go to the music room for safety due to a bad storm in the area.  Then, after about 30 minutes in there, they called off the rest of the tournament so we could all get home safely.

He's the cutest!

On Wednesday morning at school, the kids played their sixth and final round in the tournament.  When I picked J up that afternoon, I asked him how he did, and he said that he came in 5th place!!  He was so excited!  He said when Mr. Ball--the school counselor and the leader of the chess club--called his name for 5th place, he ran on stage!  There were about 45 to 50 kids competing in the chess tournament, so coming in 5th place--after only learning how to play the game a year ago!--is a huge deal!!  We are so proud of him!!

Easter

We had the sweetest Easter!

For us, Easter started on Saturday, when one of our besties asked us to come to her church campus so Sarah could take pictures of the kids with the Easter Bunny.

All week, Jackson was so excited to sit in the Easter Bunny's lap, but then, he saw him, and said, "that's not the real Easter Bunny!  I'm not sitting with him!"  So, Bryan and I did!

He had a blast at the Easter egg though!

On Sunday, after church, the Easter Bunny came to visit our house!

You're never too old to look for eggs!

After hunting for eggs, we had lunch.

When Jackson came downstairs, he commented on how fancy the table was!

About a month before Easter, Jackson told me that you have to eat ham on Easter!  I don't know where he heard that, but I made ham!

We also had macaroni and cheese, 

fruit salad,

biscuits,

 and carrot cake.

It was the sweetest Easter celebrating the sweetest Savior!

Happy Easter!

Thankful for Jesus--our risen Savior!

Field Trip

On Friday we went on a field trip to the AT&T Stadium where the Dallas Cowboys play.  And the best part about it was that Daddy got to go with us!  He has never been on a field trip, but he'd taken the day off for a charity event we were going to that night, so I asked him to go with us!

The boys love playing football together at the house, so watching them throw the ball to each other on the field was really special!

Jackson said it was his favorite field trip ever!  I'm pretty sure it's because his Dad was there!

A Sweet Day

Yesterday was the sweetest day.  Bryan had a late start, so after I took Jackson to school, I made both of us coffee to have while we talked on the couch.  I make his coffee every morning, but it was nice to be able to enjoy it together yesterday.  Then, after he did a couple of short cases at work, he called me to see what I wanted him to bring home for lunch.  It was such a nice treat having a little lunch date together too!

Then, after school, Papa Bear thought it was warm enough for the first swim of the season...it was not!  But we all had a blast hanging out with each other!  Where Sarah's sitting is as far as she and I got!  I don't know why we even bothered putting our swimsuits on!

Even though it was freezing in the pool, the boys had so much fun swimming!  And the only way we could coerce J to come out, was with milkshakes!

And that's how we ended the evening--oreo milkshakes!  It was the perfect ending to a perfect day.  My favorite thing is spending time with my favorite people, so yesterday, I went to bed with a very grateful heart.

Dr. Daddy

Yesterday was the final installment of the “you are special” plate, and it went to Papa Bear!  I served Bryan dinner of the plate as a belated celebration of Doctors’ Day...that I forgot!  He’s hands down our favorite doctor, and we love him so!

Way to Go, Jackson!

On Monday, when Sarah got the "you are special" plate, Jackson was a little sad because he said it had been a long time since he had it.  Then I realized, I forgot to give it to the kids for their last report cards.  So last night, Jackson got the "you are special" plate for receiving straight A's on his report card!

When we called him down to dinner, he was so excited to see the plate--he started dancing!  We are so proud of him!

Way to Go, Sarah!

Last week, Sarah competed in UIL for journalism, and she received 1st for copy-editing and two 2nd places for features!  So last night, I served her dinner and dessert on the "you are special" plates!

We are so proud of our baby girl!