Will's birthday party with friends

We had Will's birthday party with his school friends at House of Bounce. House of Bounce is an indoor giant playground with lots of inflatables. We had a good time with his friends. They played, ate pizza and cupcakes, and opened presents.

Big Bro and Little Bro in their John Deere shirts

John Deere cupcakes

The birthday boy

Down the slide with Anna Grace

Grayson and Will playing in the block area

There goes Will down the slide

Singing Happy Birthday

Sweet friends, Matthew and Corbyn

 Eating pizza and cake

Presents

Presents with Matthew, Parker, Anna Grace, and Grayson

Will's Family Birthday Party

Will turned 4 on January 19th and we had a family party for him at Chick-Fil-A that evening. He had a blast! We ate chicken nuggets and opened presents. Will got lots of Paw Patrol and Thomas the Train gifts! All he wanted was a garbage truck and he got a garbage truck as well as other things.

Disclaimer: I had a setting wrong on my camera so these pictures are very fuzzy.

Birthday boy and his presents

My Family 

Eating

Nana and Pawpaw

John Deere cookies

Presents

Happy 4th Birthday Will!

4 years, already?!?!? Really, where has the time gone?

I can't believe my energetic, Mickey Mouse/Paw Patrol loving, high-fiving and spunky child is 4 years old. Will lights up our hearts with his random sayings and sweet innocent looks. He has warmed our hearts and blessed up since day 1. He literally amazes me every day! He still likes to push our buttons and test us but he sure knows how to make up for it. He can look at me, twist my arm in so many ways and I give in. I mean, how do you spank or punish a child when they look at you like that?

Will is full of life. He can say his bedtime prayers and always wants to say the blessing at dinner time. It's so sweet! He's learning so much about God, church, and life. As parents you want to steer them in that direction and make sure they are following the right paths. He loves school, anything and everything John Deere, trains, Paw Patrol, Mickey Mouse, hanging out with his grandparents just loafing, eating, and anything and everything because he's all boy!

I always think back on this day when Will and Drew were born and why God spared Will but not Drew. I always wonder and will continue to wonder why God took Drew from us and left Will. I might never know the answer, but I can definitely tell you that there is not a day that goes by that God doesn't constantly remind us of Drew. We don't know what Drew would have looked like nor how he would have acted but if its any evident of how Will is then Drew would have been perfect too.

God placed Will with us and Drew with him and we will probably never know why. So, yes January 19th is a special day, a day to rejoice and celebrate 2 special, special boys whose lives have forever impacted other lives and will continue to do so. Tomorrow, we celebrate another day when Drew met Jesus for the first time. So, yes, when January 19th and 20th comes around we never forget what happened that day back in 2012.

Will,

I'm so thankful that God gave us you 4 years ago today. You have taught us lots of patience, unconditional love, and how to be better parents. It hasn't been easy but God has walked us through it. You have given us many frightening moments and you probably have more to come because that's what we call LIFE! We thank God every day for your big smile, sweet hugs and kisses, but most of all your precious hard-headed and strong will zest for life. Whatever you do, may you honor God in all that you do!

We love you buddy and Happy 4th Birthday!

Tucker's First Birthday party

My sweet nephew, Tucker, turned 1 on January 8th and we celebrated his First Birthday this weekend. He had a Charlie Brown theme with just family. Sweet Tucker, we are so happy you are 1 and we cannot wait to see you continue to grow! We love you, Aunt Kara and Uncle Doug! 

Tucker ready to eat cake

Singing Happy Birthday

Eating a piece of cake

Loving his cake

Hi! He loves his cake

Present time

Rather play with paper

Lots of new toys for Tucker

Chelsey and Clay's wedding weekend

Doug's cousin, Chelsey, got married in Arkansas on January 9th. She was a beautiful bride and we had the pleasure of witnessing her and Clay join each other and as husband and wife. We pray for a long lasting marriage full of great things. It was a cold and rainy day but we survived the weather and were able to enjoy a beautiful wedding! 

Family wedding picutre

Luke's first wedding

Chelsey and Clay exchanging rings

Chelsey and Clay putting the unity heart together

The wedding party

First kiss as husband and wife

Doug's family

Chelsey's brother, Justin and his fiance, Lauren. They are next to get married this year

Mr. and Mrs. Clay Smith

First dance

Chelsey and her father, Mike, dancing

The cake (very delicious too)

The garter

Champagne, because we have 2 kids and survived the night with them at a wedding

While we were in Arkansas, we were also able to visit Doug's family and let them see the kids again. We were in Arkansas in July and haven't been back so they were glad to see the kids and how they have grown up so much. 

Stop at Cracker Barrel for dinner

Nothing like a good ole sink bath

Angie reading to the boys

Angie successfully rocked both of my boys to sleep. She was in heaven and had so much fun with these two! 

Happy 8 months Luke



My lovable and chunky little Luke turned 8 months old on January 6, 2016. He is such a happy baby and full of life! He loves to be held and can sit up by himself. He's wearing 9-12 months clothes and is in a size 3 diaper. He loves, loves to eat and his sleep too! He is beginning to want to play with his brother and see what all he's got to play with. He isn't crawling yet but getting up on his knees and trying to figure it out. We love our chunky little man!

 



 

Happy New Years

We celebrated New Years at home this year. We slept in, had a lazy day, and enjoyed a great lunch of hog jaw, black eyed peas, biscuits and slaw that Doug cooked. We watched football all day long and enjoyed some great games. Later that night on New Years Day we got to watch the Ole Miss Rebels play in the Sugar Bowl and WIN. We opted not to travel to New Orleans this year but rather stay at home and watch it. We were sad we didn't get to experience New Orleans and the Sugar Bowl but we were also blessed to be at home with the ones we love, our two boys!

 

New Years Day meal

 

Pregame prayer before the Rebels play

 

Will and I ready to cheer on the Rebels

Luke is ready too