Out hearts are full

We went through a tough experience adopting a new puppy this year. After some heartache and a tough choice we finally welcomed home our precious Cash. I have always wondered how people have a home without a dog in it. I have always had the pitter patter of paws running through my home. Greg and I got Riley a month after we got married. I needed a dog to make my family complete! Riley turns 12 this week. She has stood by me through so much. You might laugh at me, but that dog brought me through some of my darkest days. She was an answer to prayer for sure. My heart already aches for the day we have to say goodbye to her. I hope her little dog mind knows how much she has meant to me. Watching my kids love my dog babies is one of my favorite things. Whit has begged to have a dog that will sleep with him, and big old cash will snuggle in that bed with my baby for as long as I will let him. He is a crazy mess of a puppy, but our hearts are so full. Go ahead and laugh if you don't understand dog love, but for us, this family of 6 is in dog heaven and we are so very thankful. 

Summer!

Well here I am! Finally time to sit and relax and do the things I love. I am sad to say that Facebook seems to have replaced my need to blog. I am bound and determined to change that this summer! So many times I have things on my mind that I want to remember forever. This is the place I record all of that!! My life has gotten so busy that I don't take time to sit and write down what is going on! Then summer arrives, blessed summer, and I have a moment of clarity. Time.... I have time. 

My babies are growing up way too fast. I can't stop thinking it when I look at them. I have loved each age so much, and each year I want time to stand still, yet it still moves on. Then I get to a new stage with them and love it too! Don't get me wrong we have our moments, lots of them, but all in all, my life, being a mom and a wife is absolutely perfect. I wouldn't change one crazy bit of it. 

We welcomed Cash into out family this year. Currently he is a big old 31 lb baby that thinks he is a daschund. We are all so in love. All except Riley of course, but she has adjusted. I like to think she really loves having him around. It is keeping her young. As I type this I have a lap for all dogs and it makes me happy. 

Life is good. God is good. So many times I let my mind and wants take over my thoughts. I want a bigger house. I want to be able to travel around the world without a care in the world. I want my house to be clean for at least an hour before anyone messes things up. I want to have empty laundry baskets with all the clothes put away. I want to have just one moment to sit down during the day and be alone. Then something always happens that makes me realize none of that matters. My sleepy 5 year old wakes up and all he wants to do is snuggle me on the couch while I drink my coffee. He leans in and sweetly says " I love you mommy." Or my 7 year old bounds in so excited about a sleepover she is packing at 7 am. Or the moment we are walking. Around the water park and she gently takes my hand, proud to be my daughter. I lean over and ask her to please remember this when she is a teenager and she promises . ;) yeah right, but at least I tried. The moment when my sweet Riley, my first baby jumps in my lap just to be loved and looks at me with those old eyes and I melt a little. She has always been at my side no matter what. Or our sweet Cash, so full of spunk and energy will take a break from wreaking havoc on my house and put his huge self in the tiniest chair with me to snuggle. Or the moments where I watch Greg play win the kids in the yard and realize how truly blessed I am.... Time doesn't stand still. It flies faster than we want. Yet, these precious moments can be cherished and enjoyed and that is my plan for my life. Focus on the GOOD. It is a great way to live if you aren't trying it. It isn't easy app the time, but when you look for those precious moments and sink them in, you realize that those moments are worth living for. They are what drives us through the hard times. I am so thankful for all God has blessed my family with. I look forward to what the future will bring, but in the meantime I am going to soak up what I am being given now. Happy summer!!!

Brother -Sister Love

Their first ever picture together! 

Adabelle's Pocket Full of Cash

Have I introduced you to our precious Cash??? We are in love!

Being a mom...

Sometimes I wish I could just sit in peace and drink my coffee in the mornings. I often wonder what that would be like. Today, for example, I went for a run, came home and made my coffee. I sit down and immediately I am pounced upon by Kennedy. Then Riley comes and jumps up. Whit walks over and asks for me to download him a new game. Then our sweet new puppy comes up and decides my lap is the place to be. Did I mention I am in the recliner that rocks? Try to drink coffee in this story!! Anyone see the problem? After my moment of annoyance passes, I look around at my precious family. Whit had moved to the couch. K is still sitting with me and I have two snoring dogs in my lap. Somehow I have finished a cup of glorious coffee and I realize how precious this moment really is. Time flies. We all say it when we look at our kids, but it is important to remember that in the small moments. I know all too soon my lap will be empty. (Well I might still have the dogs, but you get the point) The life of a mom is not an easy road. It is full of demands, very little time alone, very little sitting down, lots of cooking, cleaning, stopping fights, fixing lunches, doing laundry, bathing kids, and on and on... I am not asking for a gold star for any of it. I don't want recognition. I want to remember how precious each moment is. I want to remind myself that this is what I always dreamed of. It takes one single look into the eyes of my children to make me remember. They are miracles. I get to raise them and watch them grow. They are the greatest gift I have ever recieved. So in the days of craziness, I hope that I am reminded of the truly important things in life and not the craziness. 

I think I will go make another cup of coffee now. :) 

Glasses!!

7 years old, first grade, and this little girl is beyond excited to get glasses! She was jumping for joy!! ;) so glad she was happy about them! She put them on and says "wow! Everything is so clear now!" So sorry you got our eyes k, but so thankful you have such a great attitude about it!!

The magic of Disney day one!

It was finally here!! The kids have been counting down, and so have I!! They were so excited to be here! We hit up magic kingdom for a while this afternoon.  It was crowded but so fun!! Here are a few pics from our day!!