Memphis Trip- May 21- June 3

Love my brothers!!
I think it's hilarious that kids and adults want my brother's autograph! He signs balls and other things after every game.

Ole Miss ended up doing great in the Regionals and made it to Super Regionals. It was so exciting! #1 is giving the crowd high fives. They ended up losing one game before the College World Series. So close!!

At more baseball...

The kids waited patiently to get on each truck. Eventually it got way too noisy with all the horns blowing, so we headed to McDonald's instead.

Amber and Elaine met us at "Touch a Truck" along with the Woodard family.

Germantown has the coolest day called "Touch a Truck." The city brings all sorts of vehicles for the kids to get in (police cards, fire trucks, haulers, hummers, diggers, etc.). We met friends there and it was so neat!

They have to see Zachary after the game. He's always all smiles!

Supa Star!!

Brady would yell, "Go Zachary!" He was actually really into the game!

Here's our first trip of many down to Oxford, MS to watch Uncle Zachary. We love baseball!!

I got to have breakfast with my sweet friend Karen. We always have a lot to catch up on!

We got to watch Uncle Micah play softball too! He and his buddies act like they are playing for the World Series, but it was fun!

We tried to get a group snap shot. Brady and Drew didn't cooperate. Isn't baby Jacob the cutest?

Poor Drew busted his lip while we were there. I think he still had a good time though!

Look how freezing Brady is!!

Josh drove in with Brady, so they got to come. Poor Josh only comes to Memphis about once a year. Somebody has to work to let me travel all over the country!!

We always have the best time with Kelly and her kids! We picked a super cold day to go to the sprinkler park, but the kids kept playing! Grace and Sarah hilariously pick up where they left off each time they see each other! Reminds me of me and Kelly in high school! So funny!

Here are only some of our kids!!! Kennedy, William, Caroline, Sammy, Hope, and Grace. We are missing Jacob and Brady.

One of my sweet high school friends, Jennifer Kennedy Tircuit had moved back to Memphis, so she and I and Denise all got together for a playdate. I just love when you can pick right back up with someone. God has blessed me so very richly with high school friends I still keep in contact with. Who knew we would still all talk after this many years. Please ignore my growing belly.

Micah was trying to make poor Riley dog go down the slides, etc. She was having none of it!

Memorial Day was fun! We went to Micah and Erica's house and walked to the park. We also had a cookout and lots of yummy food! Granna was trying to make us gain 10 lbs. over the 3 day weekend!

Crazy Uncle Micah! He's always a laugh a minute!

The plan was for Grace and I to have sort of a girl's trip before she goes to school every day in the fall. We were going to AL to see a friend of mine and go to the SEC baseball tournament and watch Uncle Zachary. Well, Ole Miss stunk it up in the tourn., so we landed in Birmingham and got right into the car and drove to Memphis. So much for a girls trip. Oh well! We were in Memphis a few days before Josh and Brady came. Grace LOVES her Aunt Erica!!

Grace's Graduation

Mommy only cried a little bit. I know this is the first of many experiences like this. Can I take it??

Grace with her teacher, Ms. Irene

Grace had her graduation from preschool. What will they come up with next? She didn't get a car, jewelry, or a trip. They were super cute saying their pledges, singing, and getting their diplomas. We will miss Prestonwood CLC. It was a great experience!

Dance Recital- May 16th

I couldn't pass up posting this picture. Brady is wearing her costume from the previous year! I have lots of these pictures to bribe him with later!

Grace got a medal and a doll with the same costume on. Her dance studio is great!

Palmer Family

Granna and Papaw came from TN to the recital too! The t-ball game got rained out, so they didn't get to see that, but I'm sure the recital gave them memories of the thousands of recitals they sat through for me!

Grace got tons of flowers from her family! Grammy and Pops came to the recital!

They used these umbrellas with string on them to show how they can walk on their tiptoes. The ribbon bounced and they loved it!

The theme was "Under the Sea" and the girls had no idea that Ariel was going to show up. Grace was in heaven dancing next to her!

The room was very dark, so it was hard to get good pictures. They did both tap and ballet and also showed us what skills and positions they had worked on all year. The little girls have their performance at the studio, but next year it will be full throttle with all the other big girls at a performance hall!

Sweet precious girl could NOT wait for her dance recital! She was excited because her tutu was bigger this year! She's not as shy this year, so she was all about performing! She actually had a lot more balance than some of the girls.

Mother's Day Weekend

Each child made a placemat that had their handprints, and a MOM keychain. I think ours broke that very day! Oh well. I also got a precious glass plate that said my #1 job was being a mommy.

Right after Mother's Day, Brady had his Mother's Tea at school. He was SO excited to have me come to his class. They had a huge spread of food and sang a song about Spring. Too cute!

All the men had to have a picture too.

All the mothers!

Sunday we had Mother's Day lunch at the Palmers. We had secretly had the kids' picture made for Grammy of her 3 grandkids. She loved it, of course!

I always love these pictures of kids eating their first cake! Caleb loved it!

Cousin Caleb had a cowboy 1st birthday party! We ate yummy fajitas and had a cowboy boot cake!

Poor brother! He wants to play so bad, and sometimes just sits on the bench wishing he could be out there! He's pretty good already!

Mommu and Grandad came in from Lubbock for the weekend. We had t-ball, our nephew's first birthday, and Mother's Day. It was a packed weekend! Josh's grandparents are the most precious people! So far they have been able to make one game per season for each great grandchild and every one of their birthdays. They have 16 great grandkids under age 6 and 2 more on the way! What troopers!

Grace looks so thrilled to be out in 100 degree heat in pants! At least she has pink shoes!

May, Part I

That night we had random ducks and rabbits in our yard! The kids loved feeding them!

The portraits of all the mommies were posted on the wall. I picked mine out right away. Not because I am THAT good at knowing my daughter's artwork, but because she knows me so well. Look at the eccentric clothing with tons of color, stripes and polka dots! That's me!! Loud colors and big earrings! Hilarious!

Grace and her class reciting Psalm 139, "For you created my inmost being...you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you for I am fearfully and wonderfully made." They can quote the whole chapter. Amazing, and it makes each mommy cry!

On May 7, Grace had a Mother's Day Tea at school. I love going each year. This year they made us bonnets, jewelry boxes, and portraits. They had cookies and punch for us, and showed us a little of what they learned this year.

Precious girl!!! How can she see anything coming her way with her hat like that? At least she's "ready!"

The cutest player, by far!!! She made it on base every time, however, she didn't hit too many balls off Daddy. She mostly used the tee.

The league this year was still through our church, but they got pitches from their coach, and then could hit off a tee if they didn't hit the thrown balls. We made progress each week. Here's the stellar player, Coach Josh!

T-ball began at the end of April, and boy was Coach Josh excited!! He planned, made spreadsheets, and thought about how each practice would work. Our friend, Matthew, coached with him. We had bascially the same team as last year, but we recruited another girl to play.

The kids' first swimming outing was to our Athletic Center's indoor pool. Brady was nervous again this year, but Grace is a real swimmer! They enjoy the little play area, but Grace already feels she's too big for that! Yikes!