March

This month has been the most fun yet.  We’ve spent time at home and time on vacation.  A combination of both make for the best month.  We took a week off from school and have had some beautiful warm days to play outside.  It gave us a glimpse of what summer is going to look like and we can NOT wait!  

Ayden always carries Rusty around like a baby.  She even gives him rides on the hoverboard.  She loves him so much and I know that the feeling is mutual.

Tye works so hard for our family.  When he isn’t farming he is doing carpentry work and I must say he’s pretty cute doing it.  I’m so thankful for him.

Sydney is doing really well in school and loves to read.  I love seeing her face light up when she’s finished a book and everyone congratulates her.  She is growing up and I’m so proud of her!

Ryan has been doing booklets for mammals, reptiles, amphibians, birds, fish and invertebrates.  He’s been drawing, writing reports and printing off pictures to add to his book.  They are so neat and I plan to make them all into one big book at the end of the year for him.  I know when he sees it all together he’ll be proud of his hard work. Even if he thought it was “a lot of writing.”

Rusty...probably about to get in trouble for something but cute nonetheless!

One of my favorite things in the whole world is little ones trying to spell.  I LOVE seeing how they make out words in their mind when trying to sound it out.  Seriously, nothing cuter.  Myles decided to start writing a “book.” 

Chapter One: Myles beats up the bad guy.

5th grade is hard at times.  Sometimes I feel like we are learning together.  I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again, I’m so thankful Ayden is our oldest.  Not only is she the sweetest girl in the world, but she is also so full of grace, mercy, forgiveness, and patience.  I’m so glad I get to teach her first because even on the hard days she loves.  I can’t wait to see what God does in her life and what he’s preparing her to do and be.

Tye is working diligently on his next farm hand.  I know he’ll be a great right hand man to his daddy someday.  I’m just not ready for him to get there.  I think I’ll always see him as my baby boy.

“Sister, sister, we are sisters...”

The kids are an adventure.  So thankful we live in the country and my kids can explore!  I had to go get them on the four wheeler for supper.  They probably wouldn’t have come home if I didn’t.

Sydney wearing Ayden’s dress.  This dress was one of my favorites.  Sydney looked just as precious as Ayden when she was five.

For Christmas this year, B and Shell gave us a trip to Florida.  Not only was it the best present ever, but it was a great trip with family.  We spent a week in a beach house that was RIGHT on the beach.  I nearly cried the first day when we got there and I saw how close to the water we were.  The beach is my favorite place to be and I’m so thankful that Tye and the kids agree!

We drove to Florida and I wasn’t worried a bit.  The kids are absolutely incredible in the car.  I’m not lying when I say that they didn’t get in trouble one single time.  Truly a joyful car ride! 

They don’t look like sisters, do they?! Haha

We stopped on the way to Florida to tour the USS Alabama.  It was such a neat museum and boat.  We also got to tour a submarine.  There is NO WAY I could have lived/worked in one of those.  It was interesting and educational to say the least.  Before we got out of the car, we did a history lesson and since the kids are getting older I think they appreciated what they were looking at even more.

Sweet little Myles

USS Alabama served our country during WWII.  I’m so thankful for the brave men who fought and defended our country.  I love teaching my kids about our history.

Still driving...

Sydney ask me to take their picture... “for the memories.”

Myles thought this airplane was REALLY cool!

For the first couple days, we played and relaxed on the beach.  It was beautiful and just what I needed.  It never ceases to amaze me how GREAT our God is when I see the ocean.  Even more so when I’m watching my precious children that he also created play and have the best day.  I know this world is not my home but I also know God made it so beautiful for us to enjoy.  As Myles said, “HE outdid himself Momma when HE made the ocean and all the animals in it.”

The same kid that makes such sweet statements is the same kid that loves The Beach Boys and always wants to dance to Kokomo.

One of the MANY reasons I love him so!

B and Ryan built two really amazing sand castles.  This one stayed up for nearly two days!  If it’s going to be done, it’s going to be done right.  I’m think Ryan gets that work ethic from B.

Sydney’s favorite thing to do was make sand ice cream cones and cupcakes.  She played and played and we ate and ate.  When a kid gives you a sand ice cream cone you do pretend to lick it, right?

Let’s go fly a kite...

They’ll always be BFF’s and I couldn’t be more thankful that Ayden has Kambry.  They are both pretty wonderful.

Sydney getting a “tan” like Ayden.  Bathing Beauty!

She is so big.  Instead of playing in the sand she wants to read her book.  

Sydney flying a kite.  

Me: Sydney, is that kite an octopus or squid?  What do you think?

Sydney: Well, I’m going to say an octopus.  I know it doesn’t have eight legs but it does have two eyes.  Squid only have one eye.  So yes, I’m going to say an octopus.

B and Ryan using their metal detectors to find some treasure.  They found a penny and clothespin.  Haha, it was fun nonetheless.

Another sand castle...

All of the kids, me and B built Mr. Skeleton out of sand.  It was fun!

Best beach snack...Beaver Nuggets!

Sweet Ryan just looking out at the water.  I love my boy so much.

The kids feeding the sea gulls.  Kam thought it would be funny to put the bread on Shell’s head.  The kids agreed! Haha

We saw DOLPHINS right off our back porch.  It was so incredible and amazing.  Sydney was so excited that she could actually see them!

The last night we took a boat called The Sea Screamer out at sunset.  We got to see so many dolphins.  They were so close to the boat and putting on a show.  They jumped and played.  It was so fun and I’m so glad we did it.  It was really cold, but the kids were great and didn’t complain at all.

On the way home, B, Shell and our family made a stop in Vicksburg to see some Civil War memorials.  Once again, we did a history lesson and got to talk about what it would’ve been like to be a soldier during that time.  It’s pretty humbling when you realize the enemy was fellow Americans.  

The kids playing outside after we got home.  The girls love to put on their prairie dresses and pretend they are back in the 1800’s.  Man, to be a kid again!

Thankful for Tye and picnic lunches so he can finish a field.

The boys got to drive the Sea Screamer for a little while.  As you can tell by Myles’s face...he thought that was pretty cool!

The boys made a wagon train.

Nothing cuter than a little boy headed out for an adventure.  

If you drove the boat you got a dolphin tattoo.  Myles pulled down his shirt and said, “Cha-CHING.” Hahaha

Standing by the cannons on the Union side.

We love vacation but we also love being back home.  I love our walks.  Sometimes just one or two kids will go with me.  I love getting to spend time chatting with them while we are walking.  On this particular day, Ryan got off his bike and walked beside me just to make sure I made it home okay.  My hero!

  I’ve got the best kids.

Myles built T-Rex out of Legos.

One night in Florida, we went out after dark looking for Ghost crabs.  It was SO fun!

Mandy and Dakota took family pictures of us on the beach.  This was take 2.  The first pictures we took ON the beach and the wind was blowing SO HARD.  It was honestly hysterical and such a memory.  I’m so glad we got this one.  So blessed to be apart of this family!

Captain Ryan

Myles learned about the Life Cycle of a Butterfly this month in Science.  He made this really cute poster that we hung up in our school room.  Great job, Myles!

We finally got to meet our new cousin, Lucy AND I didn’t even get a picture with her.  It was SO good to get to hug Lillie, Tye’s cousin, and meet Lucy for the first time.  Lucy is PRECIOUS!

Ayden was excited to get to hold Lennon for the first time.  We are lucky enough to get to see Braxton and Ashley quite a bit.  So many new babies in the McKinney family.  I LOVE getting to hold and love on them.

Ryan and Pops planning their next golf date.  I’m glad Ryan gets to play golf with his Great-Grandad.  Such special memories I know he’ll never forget.

We’ve had a great month.  It seemed to fly by and I think that’s because we were gone for some of it.  The girls spent the night with Mim and Grandaddy and had a sewing day with Mim.  Once again, I couldn’t be more thankful for the time they spend with Mim and Grandaddy.  Family is so important to us and I’m glad we have so many members to love and help raise our children.  It takes a village and I’ve got a great one!