A beautiful day....

I love beautiful sunny days. That might sound funny. Of course we all love beautiful days, right?
For years & years I loved rainy days~~ even preferred rainy days.
But this winter, some of the cold dark dreary days have just about done me in. I have struggled with blahness, blueness, and lack of motivation. yuck.
Here in Georgia, we are often times teased in the late winter with gorgeous warm 75 degree days but in the same week we will also have a chance of snow flurries.
I am longing for the sunny days where I can open my window & feel and smell the wonderful breeze. Where I can awaken to the beautiful sound of those little birdies chirping outside my window. Sun kissed days where we can light up the grill. Thankfully today is indeed one of those days!

Switching gears~
This season I am totally into Idol. In years past I thought Simon had become just down right mean & I didn't watch until the bitter end. My older girls love this show. Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday evenings we have all been gathered together from the start of this season. I have been able to spend some fun times with my girlies!
& Yes, I have felt Simon has been much more tame.
The guys this year....holy cow, are they talented or what! There is about 4 of them that I think are so fab!
Jason sang Leonard Cohen's Hallelujah-- OH MY--LOVED that!! love that song!!
David Archuleta sang Imagine last week--that was incredible.
But my word--what David Cook did to Lionel Richie's Hello was insanely awesome!!
& Yes, we love Micheal ( our atlanta boy!)
We are big fans of Brooke --I love how great she sounded singing Carly Simon last week. Wish they could always sing music from the 70's!

So between today being a gorgeous day & the fact that Idol is on tonight....I'm feeling pretty good.
What's a post without a picture--a silly one from last year

She's a teenager now!

Happy 13th birthday my sweet Madison Grace!

As i look back through some of these, my most favorite pictures of you, there are many thoughts and prayers I have for you.



You are delightful. You are always smiling & you have such a cheerful disposition. I pray you continue to enjoy life, enjoy where you are , enjoy the moment.



You are beautiful. People have always commented on your gorgeous blue eyes. I pray that you see the beauty around you. That you see the good in people.



You are fearless. I pray that you continue to be strong & brave in all you do. That you believe that you can do anything you want to ....that you can be anything you want to be. That you focus on what is good, what is true, what is beautiful.



You have a creative spirit. You are our fashion plate. You effortlessly can turn anything into a fabulous outfit. I pray you continue to be grounded, that you not follow the crowd. That you continue to be the steadfast, quiet leader that I see you becoming. You never demand the spotlight but you just keep on keeping on.



You are so easy to please. I pray you continue to have a grateful spirit. That you enjoy the simple pleasures. That you not get caught up in the world nor take what you do have for granted. I know that spirit will bless those around you & encourage them to have a grateful heart as well.



You are a graceful dancer. It has given me much pleasure for the last 10 years to watch you dance. To see your enthusiasm grow & watch your talent unfold. I pray that if this is indeed the road you choose, that you will find favor with your instructors & that you will stand out in a profession that is filled with often times, self absorbed people. That you will rise above any of those tendencies & just be the natural sweet spirited young lady that you already are.



You love well. You are kind, encouraging, considerate, compassionate & tender. You make me proud to be your mom. You are loved so much. I pray you always know I'm here for you, I'm your #1 fan & I'd do anything for you.





On March 2nd 1995, coming 3 weeks early, my perfect little 6 pound 6 oz blue eyed baby girl came into my world. You have been a source of great joy to me ever since

Happy Birthday, my little bird.

Good bye Princesses

We had planned on our vacation this year being a trip to Disney World. The older girls have gone before ( the two older girls have actually been twice) and we thought Caroline was at the perfect age for her turn . She's a fan of all the Princesses--ariel, cinderella, belle, etc.

She climbed into bed with me recently & asked

"mamma, when can we go back to the beach?"
I reminded her that this was going to be her year to go to Disney & how very magical it would be for her. She sorta sighed & replied " well, ok, as long as you promise we can go back to Seaside next year."

hmmm....... made me stop & think ......not that we are allowing the 6 year to decide our family trip by any means, but this really was for her. Sounded like she was indifferent to going. Not that I'm suprised. She's been asking for sometime now when I'll allow her to start reading the Harry Potter series (insert eyes rolling here).

Anyway, I played it up somemore & told her what a fantastic place it would be & how much she'd love all the rides and the characters. Still, she really preferred the beach ( what can i say, the apple didn't fall far from my tree!)

So Dan & I thought about it, talked about it, slept on it & talked somemore. Taking 6 people to Disney was going to be quite an expense--we really couldn't swing both trips this year. However I really felt Care was the perfect age to go to WDW and wanted to make sure she had the opportunity to go. Despite the fact that the older girls say they barely remember anything ( yikes---$$$) I truly felt 7 years old would be such a great age. But I tell ya, we love our beach trip. We love Seaside , we love the food there, the shopping, the cottages, the white sand, riding our bikes, the shopping ( did i say that twice) & the just whole Seaside experience. If little one really prefers the beach over Belle, who I am to say this year would have been the only year to get there?

So~~ the reservations are made & the shopping has begun......
Seaside Florida we'll see you first week of June!!!!
Or as Caroline said when we told her "YIPPIE~~goodbye princesses, hello white sand!"