February FUN

February is such a fun month in our house.  Ryan and Tye get to celebrate another year of life and I couldn't be more thankful for both of them.  Happy 8th and 35th to two of my favorite guys!

My dad taught me how to play chess when I was a little girl.  I can remember playing game after game with him.  He also taught Ryan how to play and it's one of his favorite things to do.

 Ayden got a brownie recipe from her pen pal (who also happens to be her great-grandmother, Jane) and she couldn't wait to try it out.  I love that Ayden and Mim write letters to each other.  I know she will cherish those conversations forever!  I'm also proud of her growing confidence in the kitchen.  She'll be cooking supper and making dessert all by herself before long.

 It snowed!  It snowed a LOT.  The kids were so excited when they woke up.  We drug out all of the snow gear and they played and played.  They came in for hot chocolate and to warm up by the fire and then they went out to play some more. 

 B and Shell showed up with their four-wheeler and two sleds.  

The kids took turns riding and had the best time!

 Cutest snow bunny!

 Sydney fell asleep...on the floor...just like this.  

Sweet little girl couldn't last another second!

 The kids did a great job on their little snow man.  They did this all by themselves!

 Riding the four-wheeler around the country is one of my favorite things to do.  We don't really DO anything, we just piddle around.  We found a fun spot to park and the kids built stick tee-pees and played with broom weeds.  It doesn't take much to entertain our family.

 Ryan won four Tech baseball tickets.  Of course, he wanted us and his brother to go with him so the girls spent the afternoon at Mim and Grandaddy's house.  The sun came out and it ended up being such a pleasant day.  Tye and I enjoyed the time we spent with just the boys. 

Poppa brought my grandad's (Papaw) gun out to the house the other day.  Ryan got to shoot it.  It was so special for my dad and for me.  We miss Pop so much and know he would've enjoyed this day just as much as we did.

 I've recently started more therapy for my back and the kids have been so sweet about it.  They've been helping me and trying their best to make me "feel" better.  Sydney drew me the sweetest picture.  I especially loved the sun she drew on my tummy.  She was right, it DID make me feel so happy!

 Myles and Sydney had Valentine's day parties at school.  They made boxes to put all their cards and goodies into.  They both were so cute and matched their personalities perfectly.

Myles and his shark

 Sydney and her unicorn

Do you see the glasses she drew on the unicorn's eyes?

 Ryan got his first rifle for his birthday.  It's called a Davy Crickett and it's a single-shot .22 rifle.  He loves it so much and is doing really well with it.  He wants to shoot every day!

 Sweet Bailey on our four-wheeler ride.  She is such a sweet girl!

This month seemed to go by so much faster than January did.  Sometimes the days are long.  Kids fight, argue, whine and Tye and I aren't always so kind to one another.  That's life though.  It's full of wonderful days and so-so days.  One thing I know is that I'm thankful for all the minutes that fill those days.  Even the ones that are long...

Here lately, we've talked a lot about kindness, tone of voice and obeying quickly.  It's funny sometimes to put the kids to bed and reflect on the day.  So many times the very things that I've repeated over and over are the very things I need to hear.  Kindness and tone of voice to my spouse and to my children (especially when I've repeated myself a THOUSAND times) but most of all obeying quickly.  Purposefully and intentionally seeking God's word everyday so that I can obey, even as an adult.  

More than anything this month I'm thankful for grace.  To receive grace is such blessing but to give it is such a life changer.

Sydney is FOUR!

 My sweet baby girl is FOUR.  I don't know why time goes by so quickly.  Sometimes the days drag but then you look up and years have passed.  It seems like just yesterday I was pregnant with Sydney.  We didn't know if she was a boy or girl and I just knew she was a boy.  The minute she was born and Tye said, "It's a girl, Hayley.  It's a girl."  We both just cried. 

 She has always been a Momma's girl and to this day still prefers me over anyone else.  I don't mind and secretly have always loved it.  She's my girl.  She's my baby girl.

 She is sweet and sassy.  She has opinions and she isn't afraid to express them.  She is number four in our family but her voice is definitely going to be heard.  She is the sweetest thing and when she hugs she hugs with her WHOLE body.  I love it so much and the day that she's too big to wrap her legs and arms around me...I will cry.

 She is incredibly smart.  She learns quickly and loves to do "school" with us.  Ayden has been teaching her the letters of the alphabet and letter sounds for the past year.  She knows them all!  She can write her name and she LOVES to color and do dot to dots.  She is truly a sponge and soaks up all the information around her all the time.  I hope she never loses her curiosity and drive to conquer!

 She loves clothes, shoes, jewelry and shopping.  She always has an opinion on what she should wear and what shoes go with her outfits.  Her favorite outfit is her "summer dress" and her blue sandals.  Every time this dress is clean she wears it again. 

 Her favorite thing to play is "dollies" or Polly Pockets and her favorite color is pink.

 Her favorite show is Peppa Pig and she can't sleep without her Ellie.  

She loves to be rocked before bed and she really loves for me to read her books.

 The night before her birthday I ask her if I could rock her one more time while she was still three.  She said, "Don't worry Mom, you can rock me when I'm four too." 

 On her birthday, I had a lump in my throat the whole day.  Four is such a big step.  She really isn't a baby anymore and it just reminded me of how fast she is growing up.

Sydney Marr, you are my sunshine.  I love you more today than the moment I first saw you.  I didn't think that was possible but it happened.  Every single day I learn more about you.  I get to be your mom, your teacher and your friend.  You are truly one of my biggest blessings and I'm so very thankful that God made you!  I always tell you that you'll always be my baby girl, even when you're an old lady.  You always pretend to be an old lady and make us all laugh.  It is true though, you will always by my baby girl.  Daddy and I will never stop loving you!  Can't wait to do FOUR with you!

Ayden Scarlett

It's really hard for me to put into words how much you mean to me.  You are truly the most precious human being.  From the moment I knew you were a girl and I started praying for Ayden Scarlett to be wonderful, lovely, kind, generous and caring.  God not only answered those prayers but he did what he does best.  He made you better.  He made you more amazing than I could've ever imagined.  

 I depend on you so much.  You've always be my right hand girl and I don't think I could make it through this life as a wife, mother and teacher without you.  You make my life easier.  You don't realize how helpful you are now but one day when you grow up I will tell you these things again.  One day you'll realize, one day you'll understand.

 You were born to be a caregiver.  You may not see it now but one day I'll tell you again how this is your gift.  We all have gifts and yours my sweet daughter is that of a caregiver.  You take care of everyone and everything around you.  You laugh, you defend, you sympathize and you cry with those around you.  You make everyone feel comfortable and loved.  After being with you, you make people feel better about themselves instead of worse.  This in itself is a gift and one that I hope and pray you will never stop doing.

 If I could choose any child in the world to parent, I'd pick you every single time.  Every single day, every single moment.  You are truly the most amazing girl.  It is a privilege to get to watch you grow up; to get to see you every single day and to get to not only be your mom now but to be your best friend when your grown.  Daddy and I love you so very much and will always be by your side.  We will always be your fan club.  We will always be there to watch you fall, sometimes we will catch you  and sometimes we won't but we will always be there to help you up again.

The morning of your 9th birthday, Daddy ask me if I realized you were half gone.  I ask what he meant and he said that you've spent half of your time at home with us already.  That was a horrible thing to tell a mother who was already having trouble with the fact that this was her baby's last year in single digits.  

Daddy was right though.  These last 9 years have flown by and I know the next 9 will go even faster.  While we wait, Daddy and I will continue to pray, raise, discipline, explain, parent and shape you into the woman who God wants you to be.  He wants you to be a faithful servant of his and that I know for sure.  We don't know the future and we don't know what you will become.  We DO know who can give you peace, joy and love on the way and we will continue to guide you toward the Lord. 

We love you beyond words Ayden.  Daddy and I can't believe that you are 9 years old.  We are so proud of you and can't wait to watch you grow up.  We are just thankful we get to be there with you while you do.

Myles is SIX!

Today is August 5th, Myles Lewis Mason's birthday!  It was truly just a wonderful day.  Myles was happy today.  This isn't unusual because Myles is just a happy kid.

 I couldn't have imagined that 6 years ago at 1:56 when he came into this world that I'd love him as much as I do. 

 He makes me happy.  He makes me laugh ALL the time.  

He reminds me to stop and enjoy the little things. 

 He loves all of God's creation from a leaf with a cool pattern to a frog jumping across the yard.  Everything is cool and everything is worth a second look in his world.

 Nothing could make him happier than a package of M&M's or a piece of gum.

 He is so sweet and OH SO cuddly.

Tonight, while we had "family movie night" which is what he chose to do for his fun thing today he sat in my lap and cuddled into my arms.  He never hesitates to come back for one more good night kiss.

 He's helpful, he's witty, he's smart, he's caring and he loves to please others. 

 He has been and will continue to be a TRUE joy in our lives.  Our family is so full and so complete with him as our little number #3.

Myles, YOU are SIX years old today.  I just can't believe it.  Last night when I told you that it was the last day you'd be five years old you got a little sad.  You told me that you loved being a whole hand old.  I told you that now you'd get to hold up TWO hands.  

We love you more than you will ever, ever know.  You are OUR baby Myles and will always be such a blessing to us.  Daddy and I can't wait to see what year 6 looks like for you!  What ever happens we know that you'll bring the FUN, the LAUGHTER and the LOVE to us all!

Happy 7th Birthday Ry-Man!

  Today you are seven years old.  Daddy and I can't believe how fast your life is flying by.  It  seems like just yesterday we brought you home from the hospital.  With Ayden only being 18 months old, Daddy and I thought we'd have our hands full.  We were right.  We did have our hands full!  You were so different from your sister from the minute you were born.  We loved you so much then but we love you even more now.  We know everything about you.  We know that you have a freckle on your toe that you think is really cool.  We know that you like to spike up the front of your hair sometimes and sometimes you don't.

We know that the first thing you do when you get home is take of your shoes and socks.  We know that you don't like to sleep on your pillow but have to have a pillow on your bed.  We know that you always go for the banana yogurt first and that Nutella and crackers are your favorite.  We know how much you love macaroni and cheese.  One of these days, maybe now, but one day you'll know that I only make it because I know you like it.  

We know that you love to mix your eggs and sausage together and that you love toast but only if you've got jelly to put on it.

We see you pick Peppa Pig to watch not because you like to watch it but because you love to see Sydney's face light up when you suggest it.  We hear you let Myles pick what he wants to play with first.  We hear you encourage him and we hear you tell him that he's your best friend too.

 We know that you love Ayden.  We see you choose to sit by her on the couch and we see you share the blanket so her feet won't be cold. 

   We know that you love to build things and to help around the house.  

We know you Bubs.  

Watching you change and watching you grow has been one of the greatest joys of our lives. 

 You are our boy.  We have so many hopes for you.  We hope you have the best childhood that we can give.  We hope that someday you grow up, go to college and find someone to love you the way Daddy loves me and I love Daddy.  Our biggest prayer is that you grow and change and mature and learn that God loves you more than us.  We want you to understand that a life without God being first is no life at all.

 We see you getting there.  We see you reading your Bible and asking if it's "church night or Sunday."  We hear your prayers growing stronger and getting more mature.  

We are SO proud of you.

 Never, ever forget how wonderful you are.  Never, ever forget how hard you have to work to get the things you want and most of all never, ever forget how much you are LOVED!

Sydney Marr is THREE

Sydney is 3 years old today.  My last little baby, my sweet little girl is 3.  I don't know why it's been hard for me today.  I didn't struggle when she turned 1 or even 2 but for some reason I've had a lump in my throat all day.

It started last night when we were putting her to bed.  I was talking to her about it being her birthday today.  I ask her if she knew how old she was going to be and she held up her little baby fingers, half painted with pink polish chipping off, the number 3.  I acted like I was going to cry because she's growing up and she said "Momma, are you sad."  Knowing that she didn't quite understand I said no I wasn't sad I just wanted her to stay my baby.  She said "Momma, I'm going to be 3 but I can still be your baby."

What she doesn't know is that her Daddy and I love her more than she could ever understand.

What she doesn't know is that I prayed for her before she was born.  I didn't know I'd get a girl and I didn't know it would be a girl as wonderful and fun as her but I prayed for a baby that would make our family complete.  I prayed for a baby that would bring something to our family that we didn't have.  What she doesn't know is that God blessed us more than we deserve by giving us her.

What she doesn't know is that Tye and I look at each other all the time with our hearts melting because she said something or did something so precious I feel like my heart could explode.

What she doesn't know is that as she is falling asleep I like to watch her rub her Ellie's arm with her fingertips and make a sweet little sucking motion with her mouth.

What she doesn't know is that I buy bananas, strawberries, peanut butter and Pop-Tarts at the store just for her.

What she doesn't know is that her siblings love her just as much and give up things...things that they want or things that they have just for her.  Just so she will be happy, just so she won't cry.

What she doesn't know is that she makes my whole world better.  Even when she's sassy, even when she doesn't like the clothes I picked out, or the shoes or the way I put her hair in two ponytails instead of one, or the fact that nobody else wants to watch Peppa Pig, Trolls or Blaze for the 50 times we love her.  

What she doesn't know YET is how God made her perfect.  He gave her Jesus and that will make her perfect.  What we will always tell her is that we love her, God loves her and she will never have to go a day thinking otherwise.  My little girl, my last child is growing up but she will always be my baby, the baby of our family.

Last night before I left her room I kissed her sweet smelling, chubby cheeks.  I took off her smudged little glasses and I stared at her sweet baby face.  I kept thinking of this quote over and over.

"Let me love you a little more before you're not little anymore"

Sydney Marr Mason, we are so thankful you are our daughter and we can't wait to watch you be THREE!