life changing monents

so, it is so hard to believe that only 3 short years aog my life changed so dramatically!  it feels like it was just yesterday that we welcomed the most precious, perfect baby girl into the world. " our world!!" sometimes, i just stop and wonder what i did to deserve her.  i sit and think of all the things in my past that my husband and i have done that were unpleasing to God and he still put us in control over this miracle! she is absolutely the light of my life and for those of you that know her......she truly does shine!!!! so, as i sit here and watch her, i am thinking that this time three years ago i was laying in the delievery room......i thought i was so calm at the time and i guess i was compared to the feelings of overwhelming emothion, nervousness and anxiety that followed after she was born!  so i just want to say a big thank you to God for letting me be this perfect little angels mother and a really big happy birthday to miss leyton jo!!!!!!! mommy loves you forever and always!!!!!



day 1 in the hospital





finally home with our new baby girl

2 weeks ago.....my big girl!!!!



Summer is always been kind of crazy around here....we tend to let loose of all routines we worked so hard to establish!!! I feel this summer has been worse than all others. in my last post, i covered the first half of the summer--- so i will now cover the second part in pics we have taken!

as some of you may know, i am now selling premier designs jewelry and i recently had the opportunity to ttravel with my awesome premier family to Texas!!!! We had such an amazing time at rally and i learned a ton!!!! i laughed, i cried, and i laughed until i cried!!!



a quick pic of the fabulous girls i roomed with!




My premier "mom and dad"; Melinda and David Page!  they have been great and are some awesome supporters!!!







In the past month, we have also bought a house......

we have been working towards this for a bit now, and finally took the big jump!!!!!

in the midst of moving in, and trying to get settled.....i wrecked my car....really bad. i have yet to find a new one and that is just one more struggle to add to the mix!!!!

We have definately had our share of the good times and the bad; but God has shown me a lot this year that I need to be thankful for!!!! Sometimes when we our caught up in our lives and all the six that goes along....we forget to stop and acknowledge that he is in control and to thank him for all he has done!!!

Better late than Never!!

It has been one wild, chaotic summer so far.  I feel like I haven't even stopped long enough to catch a breath.....but finally, today, as leyton is napping....I am doing some much needed "housecleaning". By housecleaning, i don't literally mean cleaning house...(i have already done that today!!!!!). i just mean going back and doing the little things that have slipped by.

there is so much to tell in order to catch up......i am going to start from the beginning.....this is going to get a little long, so bear with me!!!!!

First things first......My Brothers Both Graduated From Pharmacy School!!!!! I couldn't be more proud!!!! They have worked so hard for this and they definately deserve it!  We traveled to Alabama on May 12 to see them graduate the next morning.  Leyton was a real trooper in the car!  It was awesome to see them walk across the stage and accept their diploma! Kind of made me tear up for a bit!!!!



sooo proud!!



she did not want her picture made.....manly because she couldn't be still long enough!!!!!!



After graduation, we went and ate and then got back on the road......headed south!!!!!  We took leyton to the beach for the first time. it was so awesome to see her put her little feet in the sand and water. My parents, Matt, Britt, and Val went with us. It was pretty cramped at times, but we had a blast!!!!!

When my family goes to the beach....that is exactly what we do.... my mom and i can not get enough of the beach....i think there were some days that we stayed out all day long.  Leyton loved the sand....the water....not so much!!!!  It was pretty cold and i think that is why she didn't like it that well. 



first time to put feet in sand!                    



stopping to get a snack



footprints in the sand




last night with gran and grandaddy

After returning from florida, our next big adenture was Matt and Val's wedding festivities!!!  We spent a lot of time going back and forth from murray to my parents house. There were a lot of showers and party's to attend!



We also had a lot of fun with ms. cathy in swimming lessons. Leyton is going to be a water lover like the rest of us!!!!!

After only three days of swimming lessons, we drove home yet again.....to celebrate the big day. Leyton was a beautiful flower girl and did great for only 2 years old.  She didn't have a nap, and was a trooper all day. she finally danced herself to sleep about 10:30 that night.  We are so thankful to have Valarie in our family and she is going to be a wonderful aunt to miss leyton jo!!!!!!  here is a short collage of some photos from the big day.



Bridal luncheon




getting ready for her big debut!!!!!




father - daughter dance!!!!
love my daddy!!!!!!



Congratulations Matt-Matt and Val!!!!!
We love you!!!!

Okay, so that is our summer so far in a nutshell....we have spent a lot of our spare time on the lake and spending time with friends!!!!  Hopefully, i won't wait as long next time to post!!!!! 

summer pool......now what happens!!!!

As some of you know, we live right on Kentucky lake and the water is going up and up and up!!!! Summer pool is 359 feet, according to TVA.   The highest the water has ever been was 369.99 feet in 1984.  Last years flood left us at 360.3 feet.  The water level NOW is at 371.4 feet and conitnuing to rise!!  It is suppose to reach 374 by wednesday or thursday!! The top of the gates are emasured at 375 feet, Then what happens????  The dams are not makde to sustain water that high, it will spill over the top. On the site......explore kentucky lake.....it says....  "Kentucky Dam wasn't made for that, so in theory, the lake cannot get any higher than 375'.  It would take the mother of all rains to cause the lake to get that high and go over the top of the dam!!!"   

Here are a couple of pictures that i have included
of our dock!!!!!

Gives a whole new meaning to "floating dock"!!!!!!

I can do it.....I can do it all by myself!!!!

Yesterday, as I was enjoying the luxury of working for Premier Designs jewelry at HOME, I heard Leyton say......."Look Mommy, I can do it.....I can do it all by myself!!!!" I looked up from the computer and she was....riding her tricycle....... all by herself!!!!  It was bittersweet to see!!!! I noticed I had a tears in my eyes.....I was overwhelmed with emotions. On one note, I was so proud of my baby girl; but that is the problem.....SHE is my baby girl!  I am not sure if i am ready for her to grow up!!! It is always awesome to see your kids grow and learn, but things such as this can hurt a mommy!!!! Our outside play is ....you could say....a bit confined due to where we live. I was one proud mommy. I ran inside to get the camara and she definately wanted to show off!!!!!! It was a perfect opportunity for some great shots, because sometimes the stubbornness comes out and she refuses to let me take her pictures!

*** note*** you will have to overlook the outfit....it is pretty much a normal occurance around here to have on multiple layers of dress up clothes and shoes!!!!!

Does this face not melt your little heart or what?!?!?!

Easter Holy-Day

I have been meaning to update on our easter weekend and am just now getting the time.  it was definately a fun-filled few days!!!  i want to start out by saying I heard last week that easter isn't just a holiday, but a holy-day......it truly is and we are blessed beyond meausres because of this special weekend!  Easter, for us started on Thursday at Mothers Day Out at FBC.  leyton had her first egg hunt of the year!

 

                      Leyton looked adorable in her bunny dress "momo" made for her and her bunny ears. she had to find the pink eggs, because of course those are the only ones that really matter and then we had to stop to check them all out!!!!

Moving on to Friday, we headed to HBC to First fruits farms for an more egg hunting.  we had a great time -- cookout, egg hunts, crafts, and ended the night with story hour with ms. celisa!!!!  we really go to enjoy being around some awesome people as well as hearing about how easter isn't all about bunnies!!!!

 

Leyton is enjoying story time with Randy, Makenzie, and Dominic!!!!

 It doesn't end there....on Sat. we got up and headed

 out to another egg hunt on the square and to see the Easter Bunny!!!!

 Storms came in saturday afternoon that put a damper on the rest of the day, so without any power, we made the best of it and built a fire and grilled!!!

On sunday, to bring our easter weekend to a close we went to church to hear an awesome sermon by Bro. Ricky.  I really enjoyed the part about not looking in you rearview mirror at life, but out the windshield.  After church we had a great easter lunch with family and friends and spent the afternoon fighting the rain! 
                     

                              We Have Been Blessed Beyond Measures!!!!!!

rain, rain go away

After 12 hours without power, it is now up and running at our house!!!! I hate that feeling, like you can't accomplish anything and there is nothing to do.  I think leyton even picked up on it because she just layed around the house and whined most of the morning -- she is going strong now!!!! haha  Hopefully, everyone is safe and sound.....this weather is starting to wear on us.  It seems like as soon as you get all the trees and debris up; it is back the next morning! We actually live in a great place when it comes to the wind, so thankfully we haven't had any damage!  Pray for those who have lost homes and businesses; but more importantly, pray for those who have lost loved ones throughout all of this.

From the Beginning......

as i begin my first posts i automatically start coming up with things to posts on here and it makes me realize that i should have been posting for years now!!!  i wish i had wrote down all the silly, serious, crazy things we have done as a family over the past.  i sit and try to remember the things leyton has said and done that have made me laugh and cry  --  i can't now!!! everyone told me to write things down, but i never did and now i regret it!!!.......i wish i had.  Now i have the opportunity to keep up with those moments and i am so excited about it.  i may end up writing 2 times a day.....then maybe only 2 times a month, but at least i can go back and remember them now!!!!!