Summer Pics

The other day I was bombarded with emails. Those THREE people ;) wanted to know why I haven't posted on my blog lately! (Hey, one might feel bombarded by 3 emails,lol!!) So, here is a lil recap of our summer. Pics are random and not in order. That's what happens when you don't stay on top of things!

They have fell in love with face painting and enjoyed time with their cousins

Zoo!

and they love hanging out with these 2 special boys

and of course, lil' guy graduated preschool! We always enjoy listening to Daddy sing!

love my girl!

Best Friends!

Jayce looking after his lil' sis, a wave hit her

Summer filled with kisses



In Naples hanging out

getting ready to go hear daddy sing at Naples Resort
Daddy, Jayce and Jadyn enjoying the beach
Quite the risk taker My 10yr Reunion at the Tampa Club

Summer with Friends!

He makes me laugh

We remembered to play and have fun

Wednesdays at Wiregrass



Sissy fell in love with Bolt..the dog movie

We kept it cool......



and of course......Goofy!

From one mother to another!

My lil Joy is graduating from Preschool! I am so proud of him! He is so sweet,so funny and so smart! He makes me laugh every.single.day!
I remember the first day I held him in my arms - I knew instantly my life would never be the same again. I didn't really know what to expect but I knew my heart never felt so overwhelmingly big and life seemed to automatically have purpose and make sense. It is a challenging,scary,rewarding job raising children. We make sure to read all the books while we are pregnant and we try our best to make sure we have a schedule to help our child cope with the day to day things. We brush their teeth and make sure they are on track with their development. We question if we do things right because someone else does things differently. We tend to put a lot of unnecessary pressure on ourselves as mothers. Sometimes... we need to throw caution to the wind (not that we don't need to brush their teeth and such,lol) but we need to worry less and jsut have fun and be in the moment!
I say this because I can't believe that Jayce is going into Kindergarten, it's going by so fast- and ya know, all the moms with older kids tell us all the time- "Before you know it, they will be in high school!" If I doubted before, I don't anymore!

One of the best things I decided to do when I was pregnant was to make sure not only did I feel out their baby books, but I wrote a letter to them each month of their first year and then after that first yr I write letters every couple of months. To tell them what they have been up to but also to give them advice on things with the date and my age on it..that way they can see that I am not their old mom giving advice,lol but a woman in her 20's that happens to be the mother to two of the best kiddos around! The other reason why I say it was the best thing I have done is because I am afraid. I'm afraid that I will not remember every lil' detail about their life that has brought me so much joy!

I also wanted to mentioned something we decided to do when our kids turned the BIG 1. I think it is a fun idea and maybe you could do it, if you haven't already did something like this. I had everyone significant in their lives bring 2 letter in a closed envelope ( I knew I would be tempted to read them,lol!!) I asked them to write one letter to Jayce and Jadyn speaking to them at the age of one and then a letter speaking to them at 16. I will give them their special boxes filled with love on their 16th birthdays. And the neat thing is they are going to be reading a letter that is relevant to their age from someone who most likely will not be around then, like their great grandparents.

Well, now I am going to go and get their baby books out and go down memory lane!!

Happy Mother's Day

Before I was a MomI never tripped over toys or forgot words to a lullaby.

I didn't worry whether or not my plants were poisonous.

I never thought about immunizations.

Before I was a Mom -

I had never been puked on.

Pooped on.

Chewed on.

Peed on.

I had complete control of my mind and my thoughts.

I slept all night.

Before I was a Mom I never held down a screaming child so doctors could do tests.

Or give shots.

I never looked into teary eyes and cried.

I never got gloriously happy over a simple grin.

I never sat up late hours at night watching a baby sleep.

Before I was a Mom I never held a sleeping baby just because I didn't want to put them down.

I never felt my heart break into a million pieces when Couldn't stop the hurt

I never knew that something so small could affect my life so much.

I never knew that I could love someone so much.

I never knew I would love being a Mom.

Before I was a Mom -I didn't know the feeling of having my heart outside my body.

I didn't know how special it could feel to feed a hungry baby.

I didn't know that bond between a mother and her child.

I didn't know that something so small could make me feel so important and happy.

Before I was a Mom -I had never gotten up in the middle of the night every10 minutes to make sure all was okay.

I had never known the warmth, the joy, the love, the heartache,the wonderment or the satisfaction of being a Mom.

I didn't know I was capable of feeling so much,

before I was a Mom.

Happy Mother's Day to all my fellow Mommies!

I know some of the best moms out there and I want to thank you for sharing moments with me that you have with your children. I have learned a lot about Mothering from you and I appreciate that I have awesome Moms around me that I can learn from, grow with and share this journey with!

and to the absolute most fabulous Hubby and Daddy I know....Brian- thank you babe, for helping me raise our 2 beautiful kids!! I always wanted a daddy that I could crawl up in his lap and simply watch cartoons with or a daddy that I could run to when I was scared, and he would wrap me into arms and instantly, I would feel safe. As you know, this list could go on and on...but what is important is.. I might not of had the kind of daddy I wished for myself but my prayers have WAAAY surpassed what I wanted for my kids! and I couldn't be more thankful that my Jayce and Jadyn have you as their Daddy!

and Happy Mother's Day to the most unselfish loving Mother I know my Momma! I love you with my whole heart and I thank you for doing the best you could with me and Joe. No one will truly understand the stuff we have went thru as a family and what you have endured. You are so strong and forgiving, I hope that my kids love me as much as I love you. You are my Best Friend.

My blog has to feel neglected!!

My poor blog! Ohh, how I have neglected you! It's not like I haven't been taking care of two kids, or cleaning my house, or cooking dinner for the family, or getting Jayce registered for kindergarten or running errands like a mad woman! I mean seriously, what have I been doing if I haven't even had the time to post one thing since March 29th!!!;)

I'm sorry for my lack of blogginess!!( i don't think that is even a real word) I really have been busy and organizing our lives a little better! I will try my darnest to make some time for you, Everyday moments with Shay!! haha!!

On the flip side of being busy, I did take some time out to relax and hit the beach last wkend with some of my favorite people! I love going to the beach! It totally relaxes me and puts me in the present! I don't think about anything but how the waves crash into the shore, and how the water looks like it will never end, the sand between my toes! Ohh, something about the beach!!! It also reminds me of why there is one good reason why I still live in Florida!!!

Happy Birthday

Happy Birthday Babe! I hope you have a wonderful year! I hope all your dreams come true because I don't know anyone who deserves to see their wishes come forth more than you! You inspire me to be a better person! Thank you for giving our family the best you! You don't settle for us so, this year you don't need to settle for yourself! Dream and Dream big! You're never too old to start seeing things come to reality! Plus, you are only 34 years young! Ya Got a lotta life in ya still! and you also have a pretty hot young wife,lol to give ya a kick in the butt every now and then.. to keep ya young! Love you too much!

The Wedding

The Bride

Hubby singing to the Bride and Groom

Beautiful

We put these around the food

Spring wedding, lovely!

The Cake

Candles in the pool

the guestbook tree. wish I would have fixed the ribbon for the pic,lol!



I would say all the hard work paid off! It was a lovely Spring Wedding!

Center piece

OK. So... I am helping with the decorations for Jodi's wedding and we pretty much had ( had being the key word) everything finalized... Well, Sunday rolls around and I get a call from Jodi sayin that we can't do the centerpieces that we decided on....ERRR.... WHAT??!! the wedding is Friday, Jodi!!!!!!!! She doesn't sound the slightest bit worried. Then again, she is the girl who waited a month till her wedding to find her dress... Me, on the hand- wanted to scream. I was a little aggravated. ha! I had to think of another idea, that didn't involve glass... you see they are having their ceremony at someones house and they don't want glass around the pool...UMMM could you have told us the rules, 2 months ago people!! I'm thinkin, why is it a big deal...it's a small wedding and nobody is bringin their kids and I don't see people getting rowdy and breaking glass... But, its not my house or my wedding! Anyhoo, I'm glad her friends(who really are lovely people) were picky because I really think the new centerpieces fit Jodi to a tee... I went to JoAnns and I found little topieries on sale and the rest just fell into place....

10 centerpieces. $75.00. Can't beat that....

I need to add another coat of paint but, other than that what do you think???