Dan and Maura's Wedding!

We are so happy that we could be at Dan and Maura's Wedding this weekend in Maryland!

The girls and I are all dressed up and ready to go to the wedding.

This was the girls' first wedding.

Madison loved her "tulip dress" with matching sunglasses and purse.

Jocelyn looked beautiful in her "turtle dress."

This is the bride's younger sister Gretchen. She was one of the Matron's of Honor. Gretchen carried in her youngest daughter. The little girl is holding the kissing ball that I made for the wedding. All of the bridesmaids wore their own little black dress and shoes. Then Maura gave them each a beautiful light pink wrap to use. What a great idea. Everyone looked beautiful.

The flower girls with the heart shaped baskets I made.

Maura and her father. Maura looked gorgeous in her dress!

The Wedding Ceremony!

The KISS!

Mr. and Mrs. Daniel and Maura Salins!

A tearful father daughter dance.

First dance as husband and wife! I LOVE her BIG smile!

Madison enjoyed all of the fruits and veggies!

Jocelyn loved all of the meat and bread!

The wedding cake!

Bethanne Garris cut the cake. It was so great to see her. We taught together at Covenant Life School.

The Litrell Ladies with the bride and groom.

Lori, Maura and I all taught together at Covenant Life School.

Me with the bride and groom! I couldn't be happier for them.

Maura and the girls!

Ron and Dee! (Dee is Maura's other sister.) They have three amazing kids...

Liam and Andrew!

We love these goofy boys. I was Andrew's third grade teacher.

Olivia is their beautiful daughter. I thought it was hilarious that the two little girls looked at the camera, but she didn't. ;)

Madison had fun dancing with the big girls.

The entire Barry Family!

Blowing bubbles on the bride and groom as they left.

What a wonderful wedding!

The Best Backyard EVER!

The girls were SUPER excited when we got to the Cleveland's house and they saw their AMAZING backyard.

Madison needed to rest up before heading outside to play. Our little Princess and the Pea. ;)

In one corner of their backyard is this cool wooden swing set.

In the other corner is the cutest little playhouse I have ever seen.

The girls absolutely LOVED the playhouse. It has it's own kitchen, picnic table and loft bed inside. It is a little girl's dream playhouse.

The girls also enjoyed the HUGE trampoline in their backyard.

Crazy Jumping Jocelyn!

This is the life!

Abby even took a break from studying for exams to jump with us.

Mr. Cleveland showed the girls how to play POPCORN!

Look at Abby POP! ;)

The Cleveland's Animal House

The girls LOVED the Cleveland's house for many reasons, but one of the biggest reasons was because they have some awesome PETS.

Abby has a cute bird named Clyde.

The girls got to pet his back when Abby got him out.

Clyde makes us SMILE!

Matt has a pet snake named Oreo.

We couldn't believe that Oreo shed his skin while we were there.

Jocelyn was the only brave one to touch Oreo.

The girls are in love with the Cleveland's dog named Gracie.

She is one of the sweetest dogs we have ever met.

Jocelyn and Gracie became Best Friends Forever!

Meadowside Nature Center

The girls and I were so excited about our long weekend in Maryland. We got an early start and were at the Cleveland's house by 10:30 am. We enjoyed taking a tour of their beautiful new house and then eating lunch together.

After lunch we went to the Meadowside Nature Center.

The girls loved seeing all of the animals.

They even got to pretend that they were little colonial girls.

Way to do your chores, Madison!

Jocelyn decided to go out in the boat to catch some dinner.

Good luck catching some fish girls!

Jocelyn loved going through the cave. Madison wasn't sure about it at first, but then she held Jocelyn's hand and...

the Cave became her favorite thing too.

We went outside to see the butterfly garden and the BIG birds. Jocelyn has the wingspan of a Cooper's Hawk. ;)

What a great afternoon we had at the Meadowside Nature Center.

We left there and went to Covenant Life School to pick up Holly's kids (Matt and Abby). I taught at Covenant Life School for 3 years, so it was wonderful to see several of my former students and the teachers that I worked with.

Maryland Here We Come!

The girls and I are all packed up and ready to drive to Maryland tomorrow morning. We are looking forward to spending a long weekend catching up with friends.

The girls and I will be staying with the Cleveland Family this weekend while we are in Maryland. This is a picture of Holly Cleveland holding Madison at the hospital when she was born. Holly was my teacher's aide at Covenant Life School. I also go the privilege of teaching Holly's youngest daughter when she was in the 3rd grade. Needless to say they are dear friends and we are looking forward to catching up with them this weekend.

On Saturday we are going to Maura's wedding. She and I taught together at Covenant Life School and became very close friends. This is a picture from the Baby Shower that Maura and her sweet sister Dee gave me when I was pregnant.

(Grandma, Maura, Olivia, Dee, and Brittney with Madison in her tummy.)

The girls and I have a very busy weekend planned, so I may not be able to blog about our weekend until we get home. Have a great weekend. I know we will!!!

Preschool Graduation!

Madison was SUPER EXCITED this morning when she came downstairs and saw that Mommy had decorated the house for Graduation!

The girls couldn't wait to go to school for their Preschool Graduation!

Our Preschool Graduate!

We even put a sign outside so that all of the neighbors will know that we have a graduate in the house.

Welcome to Our Preschool Graduation!

Click here to watch the video of "The Seven Little Ducks" Graduation Song. (Madison is the Mother Duck in the song. She even has a solo at the end.)

Madison was so happy to get her diploma.

She smiled for everyone. She wasn't shy at all.

Jocelyn got very shy and wouldn't let me take a picture of her getting her diploma.

After the ceremony she got back up there and let me take a picture with her tassel.

Mommy and her girls. I am so proud of them. They had a great school year.

The girls and their teacher Mrs. Mary.

The girls and the Teacher's Assistant Mrs. Sharon.

The girls couldn't wait to come home and open their Graduation gifts. Click here to see the video of them opening their Graduation gifts.

Jocelyn got a Princess kite, watch and a Tinker Bell night light.

Madison got a Barbie kite, movie, doll and watch.

Good News gone BAD!

At 1 o'clock today I got this email from Clay:

Good news! I just got off the phone with my replacement--there really is someone coming to replace me! My bags were also loaded today--just down to a backpack and a small suitcase. Getting closer to being home each day.

Can't wait to see you soon!!!!!

Love ya,
me

At 4 o'clock today I got this email from Clay:

:( BAD NEWS....I just got a call from my boss that our replacements are apparently hanging out at Bragg longer than expected to wait on military air to fly them over here.  Of course, it's too late to pull our bags off the plane heading home.

Unfortunately, I don't think I'm going to be home by Madison's birthday now. The good news (if any) is that I think I'll easily clear my 179 days over here and will get credit for a short tour. Hopefully, I
should be home around the end of JUNE.

Please tell Madison that I'm very sorry about not being home for her birthday.  Oh well, what can you do.  I'll try to call you later.

Sorry,
me