Byrds of a feather, stick together

Michael's graduation party/Dee's bon voyage party

2009-06-09T13:53:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday Lilly!

2009-05-25T11:36:00.001-07:00

Happy Mother's Day

2009-05-12T16:15:00.000-07:00

Catching them when they least expect it!

Mother's Day weekend was a treat. I enjoyed spending it with all my family. We spent time with my mom, Mike's mom, and I got Sunday afternoon all to myself. My family kept asking me what I wanted and I said: Peace and Quiet. Well, they made cards, sang me a personalized song, bought gifts and yummy food, but they also gave me what I wanted: a nap! After I woke up, this is what I caught them doing. I am so thankful that God gave me the honor, privilege, and ability to be a mom. I was looking back through pics the other day of the day that Michael entered the world. I could not hold back the tears thinking I will never experience that day again. I look forward to all of the memories we will make in the future as a family and thankful for everyday that God has given me to enjoy with my babies! Happy Mother's Day!

Michael's and Lilly's 1st soccer game

2009-04-21T15:30:00.000-07:00

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Happy Resurrection Day!

2009-04-17T13:03:00.000-07:00

off to look for eggs
looking ever so darling
creating beautiful works of art

my very first time coloring eggs

Jesus is Alive!! What an awesome time to celebrate with family that Jesus conquered sin and death because He loves us so much!. Our days were slammed pack due to my busy schedule at church, but we found time to do some fun things as a family. We dyed eggs, went to the GBC egg hunt, and went to church together as a family. Layla had a gas attach during church and mema had to sit with her in my office. We then made it to both sides of the family- one for lunch and one for dinner. The Grigsby side added a new familly tradition - water balloon hunt. It was a lot of fun that everyone could get in to.
Read Matthew, Mark, Luke, or John for the amazing Resurrection story
Memory verse: Matthew 21:9 Hosanna in the Highest!

spring break

2009-04-02T11:49:00.001-07:00

my beach babies!!

boogie boarding

looking for shells

taking a snack break

I know Spring Break isn't over yet, but I couldn't help but post a few pics of what we have done so far. By the way, I am the only one left with the sun still on my me (aka sunburn). I guess that is my ritual.

just for fun

2009-03-19T12:17:00.000-07:00

st. patty's day from school-

my big girl sitting at the kids table now and not her high chair

my handsome little man now 5 years old

lilly feeling 100% better now- thank you JESUS! we have all been out sick for a while

celebrating being sick free with cupcakes- yummy!!

1 Corinthians 13 :4 Love is patient and kind. We have been studying how to fireproof our family for the past few weeks at church and we finished up with going over what love is and isn't in the famous love chapter in the BIBLE. I truly love my family and am so blessed to have healthy and optimistic children. I was going through some of the memories we have shared so far and a few popped into mind I would like to share with you:
Michael- hated to ride in the car and i use to sing who stole the cookie at the top of my lungs just to get to and from the store

Lilly- slept through the night in her own bed @ 3 months!!! (if you knew what I was going through now, you would understand why that is one of the most happy memories)

Layla- stops everything when she hears the music from the baby einstien videos come on

End of the season t-ball party

2009-03-13T16:30:00.001-07:00

Jim's Auto Salvage 2009 t-ball team

Daddy and Layla watching big brother play his last game

Posing with the team

Getting his trophy

We had a wonderful t-ball season this year. By the end of the season, it was time for a break. They play their little hearts out 2-3 times a week. The girls were really patient and cheered thier brother on every game. The last game he played catcher. The party was after the game and they all got trophies. Michael wanted to make sure I got lots of pics of him.

In action

Like Brother Like Pop Pop

2009-03-04T13:27:00.000-08:00

lilly posing

hitting the ball

Watching brother play tennis

Michael's Pop Pop has been promising him to play tennis if he would stop biting his fingernails. Michael has been working really hard at quitting this bad habit and so Pop Pop rewarded him with his first lesson in the back yard. We all happened to be over that day and watched excitedly as Michael got his racket out and played tennis with Pop Pop.

Sharing websites

2009-02-23T11:55:00.000-08:00

I am super proud of my sister for many things. She is right now juggling grad school, baby # 3 in the belly, and starting a business venture with my family. Check out all the hard work they have done @ www.grigsbyoutdoors.com.

Princess Ball pics are up

2009-02-19T16:46:00.000-08:00

Go to www.impressivepix.com and view the daddy daughter pics. Thank you ladies for taking such awesome pictures of the evening!

My Little princess at her first ball

2009-02-15T12:50:00.001-08:00

Dancing the night away

Socializing

My princess and her handsome date

posing

overjoyed with anticipation

My Lilly had her first princess ball this weekend at church. She had been so excited all week long we were counting down the days. We even made up a song to count down the days. She already knew what dress she was going to wear because she had been in her aunt's wedding a few months ago. I really wanted to put gloves with the dress and so I had my mom on a white glove hunt and we didn't find the right pair until friday afternoon (the ball was that night). She had a wonderful time dancing with her friends, getting her picture taken with daddy, and eating chicken nuggets and cupcakes. I can't wait to see the video taken from the event. I think the hardest part of the night was not being allowed to go. I am use to being in on the action and this time I had to take a back seat. I was so thankful that Mike was able to enjoy one of the memories with his daughter.

Thanks for the tag, now I will pass it on

2009-02-06T18:13:00.000-08:00

Michael and Lilly waiting to open Christmas presents at Mammy and Pop Pop's house this year.

Here you go heidi- my pics, 6th folder 6th pic. I tag my mom and alana.

T-ball season 09

2009-02-05T15:32:00.001-08:00

T-ball season has started again. We will be enjoying our nights at the feild cheering on our Michael for the next few weeks. The glove and bat have resurfaced and we have been practicing in the front yard for a while. It has been tough because of the cool weather. It is so much fun watching him play. I can't believe how time flies. As you can see, I have posted a pic from last season and this season. Stop by if you want and help us cheer on the best little t-ball player out there ( in our eyes).

more pics

2009-01-23T10:15:00.000-08:00

finally more christmas pics

2009-01-23T10:08:00.000-08:00

My computer has been on the mend for a while and finally all is well. Thanks Uncle Matt! Here are pics from December. There are a whole bunch of different events I have posted. There is a Grigsby Christmas, Our Christmas at home, Byrd Christmas, Michael's Christmas program at school, and the Christmas play at church. It sure is nice to have my computer back to normal and share these pics with you.

more christmas pics

2008-12-07T19:12:00.000-08:00

Chirstmas 2008 so far

2008-12-07T19:02:00.000-08:00

Holding Baby Jesus and taking family pictures around the tree

Can you believe no crying with Santa this year?

Christmas with my family this year

On the way to the Sebring parade.

I am so excited for Christmas time being here. I know it is here in our house because the lights are up, the tree is up, and I have already started baking. I love turning all the lights off in the house and sitting under the tree with my family each night and reading the story on the birth of Jesus (Luke 2). All of the other stuff is wonderful as well, but one family memory I will always cherish is sitting under the tree and preparing my children for the real Christmas story, the birth of our Savior.

Happy Birthday Jesus!!

Michael's 5th Birthday

2008-11-26T18:53:00.001-08:00

Welcome to Michael's party- hayride was fun the kids went on it over and over again

Michael's gift from mommy and daddy- a big boy bike

Mema made the camping theme cake- it was amazing

Michael was pretty set on 2 big parts for his party- campfire and telling scary stories

My brother is 5!!

Michael celebrated his 5th birthday this past weekend with family and friends. He wanted a campout theme. He really wanted an official campout, but mommy was not too big on the idea of having a whole bunch of boys spend the night away from home. My parents helped set up the hayride and the kids went on it all night. They just rode around the yard, but they loved it. My mom help me get together their favor bags- paper sack backpacks full of trail mix and bug juice and a flashlight. We played games: bug hunt, pin the marshmallow on the campfire, and fish pond. We ate campfire food: hot dogs and chips with a marshmallow roasting for dessert. The kids sang happy birthday to Michael around his camping birthday cake. We sat around the campfire and ate cake while Michael and Mrs. Leslie told scary stories. It started to get cold, so we called it a night. After the guests left we opened gifts and as you can see from the pics, he is truly blessed with lots of caring family and friends. Happy Birthday Michael. I can't believe it has already been 5 years since God blessed you with us. I love yoU!

Michael's 5th Birthday Camping Party

2008-11-26T18:38:00.001-08:00

Some pics of the birthday extravaganza!

more pics

2008-11-08T09:34:00.000-08:00

Layla's Fall Birthday Party

2008-11-08T08:09:00.000-08:00

the fall setting Grammy's house for Layla's party

my centerpiece- a pumpkin rice krispie treat

she loved her birthday cake and party!

The whole family toegther for a hay ride!

Layla is officially one. Her party was so much fun. We had a fall themed party with fall decorations, hayride, and mini thanksgiving dinner. It was a lot of fun. Layla dug into her cake like a lady, one finger lick at a time. The kids each got a pumpkin rice krispie treat in their thank you goodie bag. My mom hosted the event at her house. Mema made the cake of course carrying on the family tradition. Aunt Dee and I did our best at the dinner (but I forgot about the biscuits as we headed out on the hay ride and they were a little brown when we got back).

Her cousins and aunts and uncles and grandparents showered her with lots of gifts. She didn't even make it through the whole party. She fell asleep about 20 minutes before it ended. I wrote her a poem and maybe I will put it up next time. Happy 1st Birthday Layla!

fall pictures

2008-11-02T12:03:00.001-08:00

Lilly and her friend Kylie dressed alike

My man striking his cool power ranger pose

The kids all dressed up

My baby taking her 1 year old pictures!

Just a few pics from the weekend. We had lots of fun! Layla's birthday is next week and I was getting her invitations ready so I thought I would share the invitation pic with you too!

ARRRRR Maytees

2008-10-26T15:36:00.001-07:00

We are getting along so well...........

I am waiting so patiently mommy

Come here chickens, I got something sweet for you.....

Mommy, I do not appreciate this at ALL!!!!

This weekend we went to Henscratch Farms ( like a lot of you) and painted pumpkins, fed chickens, and rode a pony. The kids had a great time even though it was a little hot. They were ready to go at noon and we had to forego the hay ride. That's ok, we hope to go on the hay ride at Light the Night at church on Wednesday. Grammy treated us to a fun day, thanks Grammy!

This week we also went to a pediatric opthamologist in Orlando for Layla's lazy eye (very slight). The doctor told us she needs to wear a patch every day for an hour. As you can seel, she does not enjoy that hour. Pray for us!!

Memory verse: Proverbs 3:6 God will direct my path.

Story- Genesis 24- Isaac and Rebekah

more pics

2008-10-22T13:32:00.000-07:00

Family Days

2008-10-22T13:22:00.001-07:00

Home Depot day- daddy helping michael build a fire truck
Daddy helping Lilly build one too- she just had to after Brother got to
Lilly absolutely loved the bunny and that is amazing cause she really doesn't like animals
Michael got his face painted while watching his balloon sword being made
The next weekend we went to Sea World more pics next time.

We have been blessed to have a few days together with no work, no school, and no responsibilities so we had fun together. One weekend we went to Home Depot and made wood projects. The first Saturday of every month Home Depot provides FREE wood projects for the kids to do and they also give out mini aprons. Michael is a pro. He has 13 pins on his apron for all the projects he has completed. Mommy on the other hand, left with a bruised thumb. (not very talented with a hammer) We also trekked up to AP where they had a petting zoo and horse ride at a local car dealer. The kids enjoyed that too.
This past weekend the weather was beautiful (thank you JESUS) so we headed to Orlando to visit Sea Worlds. Mema and Pop Pop bought us season passes and the season is almost over. The kids had a blast and we did too. I think my favorite was riding the carousel with the kids (layla's first time). Mike and I got to have a date night that night as well. AWESOME!

Fall is Here

2008-10-02T16:25:00.000-07:00

A doggie passed by.... I lost the kids focus
Layla is determined to sit up by herself... miss independent
Well, I tried to get all three to look at the camera at the same time, I guess we will try again.

On my way to church/work, I always pass by this house that takes decorating to a whole new level. Their front yard is usually full of fall items during the fall and christmas stuff galore at Christmas time. I looked over at the house one day and the scarecrow was holding a sign that said : Please feel free to take pictures. Well, you know as soon as I could I wrangled my family into matching outfits and headed over to their front yard. This is our first pic of Fall 2008. We hope you enjoy!

New furniture

2008-09-25T17:04:00.000-07:00

Lilly's new bed still Dora theme
Lilly's furniture
Michael's transformer bedroom- use to be Thomas the Train
still have a thomas the train curtain, Mema is making the transformer one

Michael's shelf is full of his Home Depot projects

Just wanted to show the updated rooms. I do not claim to be a fancy decorator, but the kids like it. They really like jumping on the beds. The beds are really neat. I had never heard of this type of bed before, but you all might of. They have a bed underneath so you can pull it out and the kids can have a sleepover, or the girls will be able to share for a while. These beds are great if you have limited space (which we do). Thanks Heidi for the idea to share room pics

cupcakes and sprinkles

2008-09-05T16:11:00.001-07:00

this is our usual attire at home....lovely!
even layla got in on the action, first time!

Grammy is famous for lavishing her grandchildren with wonderful treats. Today when we got home from the doctor, she arrived bearing gifts. One of her favorites to bring us is cupcakes. The kids love them and devour them in a day or two. I know, I should hide them better so they can't get into them. One morning Mike and I thought the kids were being so thoughtful by letting us sleep in. When we finally get up we realized what the little sneakers had been up to. They had eaten all the icing off the cupcakes while watching tv in their bedrooms. Thanks Grammy for the cupcakes. They will be gone by tomorrow!

Bible verse: 1 Thess. 5:17 Never Stop Praying!
Bible story: Jonah

Family Day on Ice

2008-08-30T17:23:00.000-07:00

Waiting for the show........yummy snow cones!
HMMMM....... what should we buy at the overpriced souvenir stand?
Thanks Grammy for the cups and snow cones!!!
Me too guys!

Today we were surprised with free tickets to the Disney on Ice show. Aunt Katie and her family could not go so they generously shared their tickets with us. As you can see Lilly wanted to dress the part so she wore her Tinkerbell outfit. When we got their the kids wanted to buy a treat. Thanks to Grammy they got really neat sippy cups filled with snow cones!! The show started and the first thing the kids did was scream in fear! The lights going off, loud noises and sparks created a nightmare for them and it took till almost the end of the show for Lilly to adjust. Michael was calm a few minutes into the show and started singing along to the Disney songs (just like his mommy). The second half of the show introduced the newest member to the Disney family, Tinkerbell's family. It was pretty cute with a great finale full of colors and falling pixie dust. We asked the kids what their favorite part of the show was and Michael said Lion King and Lilly said "pink" (I am guessing the pink fairy). We ended the night with a trip to Pizza Hut and DQ. We had a ball. Thanks Aunt Katie and Grammy!!!

First day of school

2008-08-18T13:39:00.001-07:00

Michael putting his lunch box up..... we made it on time!
Michael getting ready to start the morning activities in his classroom!
What Lilly and I did while Michael was at school.....notice it was not the laundry!

Mommy, can I have some yummy monkey bread too, please!!!!!!

Well, as most of you we started another year of school. We debated on sending Michael to kindergarten this year or leaving him in pre-school. He did a great job last year in pre-school and was given the opportunity to go ahead and start kindergarten, but I was torn. I haven't felt a answer stillfrom God, so we went ahead and put him in pre-school. We still have the opportunity to move him up if we want. The alarm went off at 7:15am which is early for me becuase I like to sleep in on Mondays from exahustion on Sundays. We all got dressed and fed and rushed to the car to get to school on time. We try but still have a hard time even on the first day of school. Michael was fimiliar with the school and teachers, so he did not care if we walked him in or not. I had to ask him if it was ok, because I wanted to take pictures. When he got home he said his day was pretty good but had to sit by the mean kid and lunch and the work was too easy. He wanted me to ask if he could go to kindergarten tomorrow. I explained tomorrow there was no school becuase of a hurricane. We then talked about what a hurricane was until he dozed off in his seat.

Lilly and I enjoyed Cleaning day (sort of). About half way through we decided to make Boots Monkey bread (dora website). It was a lot of fun and we made it extra gooey so it was really good. Way to start of the diet monday!!! I threw in a pic of Laya too.

Me and You

2008-08-09T17:54:00.000-07:00

Date night......was fun!!!

Mike and I got a chance to get a way for a few hours last night. It is kind of hard to find a babysitter, and when we do it is usually for work. We begged his parents to watch the kids so we could go out last night. I LOVE going on date with Mike. We laugh, have adult conversations, and good food. I try my best to dress up for him and look good for him. As I get older I have noticed that it takes a little more effort to dress up. I am so in love with my husband. Thank you God for perfect timing in our match!!

Memory verse: Genesis 1:28 Fill the earth and govern it.

Bible story: Creation

Grammy's birthday-anniversary

2008-08-01T17:49:00.000-07:00

Sitting around getting ready for a gourmet dinner of hot dogs by Pop Pop

My mom's birthday and my parents anniversary was this week and so for their presents, they went to the beach for a week. We went to visit them today. The kids had a ball playing in the sand, jumping the waves in the ocean, and swimming in the pool. We had to hit the famous Chik-filet too. That is a staple in our family. The beach is so relaxing. My mom deserves a well rested and relaxing celebration. Happy Birthday Mom! We love you. Wish we could give you more; maybe one day!!!

Happy Birthday to me!

2008-07-22T18:17:00.000-07:00

Mommy and Pop Pop's b-day cake
The kids love to blow out the candles.
Blowing out the candles again.

Today I celebrated my 28th birthday. The kids bought me my favorite dessert, Tiramisu. Sunday we celebrated at my in laws. Pop Pop's birthday is the day after mine so we did a double celebration. Mema makes a cake for everyone's birthday and they are the best cakes. Today I would have liked to slept in, but I had to work. Layla hasn't been feeling well, so in between work I have been holding my little one. The kids enjoyed singing Happy Birthday to me all day. Happy Birthday to me!

Layla

2008-07-16T17:23:00.001-07:00

Our Layla is 8 months old now. She enjoys sitting up and watching her brother and sister play, she bounces in her jumperoo, she tries to crawl. She has such a beautiful smile. She is eating lots of baby food and wants to eat table food. We started adding formula to everything hoping to bulk her up. She says mama, dada, and loves to squeal at the top of her lungs. I don't know how much longer we can keep her with us on Sundays in church without distracting Andrew. I can't help it. Sometimes I think if I hold my babies long enough, I can take us back to infanthood. We were looking at Michael's hospital picture tonight. You know most of those pictures are not the greatest, but you still buy them because it is the first picture of your baby. Our Michael will be 5 soon. We still play a game where we pretend that they are all 1 day old and we are bringing them home from the hospital. They love it. I love it too. Please pray for Layla. She has a doctor's appointment to check her soft spot out. My God is my strength, and in Him I find peace.

Memory verse: Ephesians 4:32 Be kind and loving to each other.

Story- Joseph and the coat of many colors

Happy Anniversary!

2008-07-12T18:32:00.000-07:00

The beginning of our marriage.............July 11th 2003
A few years into our marriage, 2 babies.....Michael and Lilly
Our first home
The family now....2008
Five years and I love him more than ever.....

Our anniversary was yesterday. We have been married 5 years now. I wrote Mike a card and added some memorable pictures of our married life to the card. I thought I would share some of those pictures with you. Our wedding was in Lake Placid in the chruch I grew up in. The first few years we lived in an apartment in Orlando and Mike was starting his business. We later moved to Sebring and built our first home. Lilly came along right before the house was complete. I started working at GBC in 2005. We added Layla in 2007. It is amazing at how different we are yet we are each other's best friend. He's the one I call first with good or not so good news. He's the one I wait up for when he has a long day at work. He's the one I look forward to spending the rest of my life with. I love you Mike!!!!

4th of July and Daddy's birthday

2008-07-06T15:10:00.000-07:00

Michael holding up fishing worms........ I can't believe it.
Swimming at Grammy's
Aunt Katie and Layla taking a ride on the Kabota.
Daddy celebrating his birthday with a half eaten cake.
I can't believe I put this picture up!

This weekend we celebrated the 4th with my family at my parents home. My dad and Julia couldn't make it, but we still had a great time. The kids and I enjoyed swimming. We go swimming almost everyday. Mike and Michael did a little fishing. Mike also set off a few fireworks. He really enjoys that. The food was awesome. I really like bar-b-que. A big time weakness of mine is bar-b-que. The next day was Mike's pre-30 b-day. One more year in the 20's. We spent the day at home relaxing before church that night. The kids and I went to the local pet store and bought him a few snails for his salt water fish tank. That is his new hobby now. We sang and ate the half eaten b-day cake. The night before we went to his parents' house and his mom made a cake. I thought we could recycle that one because I didn't want to have 2 half eaten cakes at our house all this week. I need to really start eating healthier. Mike didn't mind and it makes for a funny memory. Happy Birthday Mike! I love yoU!

Bible verse this week: Proverbs 29:25 Trust in the Lord to keep you safe.
Bible story- Abraham and Sarah have a baby Genesis 21

hiiiiiiiiiiiya!

2008-07-06T15:04:00.001-07:00

Michael waiting to spar!
Showing Mommy how to wax on!!!

Michael started karate lessons this week. His daddy was really excited to take him to the same karate instructor that he learned from growing up. Karate is a lot different from t-ball and soccer. Those sports encourage cheering and engergy. Karate is the exact opposite. It focuses more on quiet concentration and self control. Michael did surprisingly well for a 4 year old. Yes, and they really say wax on.

Fam Fest 2008

2008-06-29T18:02:00.001-07:00

Friday was Hot, HOt, HOT
Lilly sent out a test message to her friends to wear Red, White, and Blue
Mommy, can we go home now....

This week was a busy week at GBC. I jumped straight back into work after vacation. GBC held their first family conference instead of VBS this year. Our theme was Livin Jesus 24/7 and based on Dueteronomy 6:4-9. Tuesday night we gathered to pray over our families and the conference. Wedensday night we talked about what kind of attitude we bring to our family. Does my attitude of tiredness, stress, fear, competitiveness, irratation, and other things that me as a mom feel affect the way my family interacts? sees Jesus? I don't want to be a stumbling stone in the way my kids see Jesus that would be disasterous. I love my family and I want my attitude to be like Jesus. The kids did a fun science experiment that showed when we add Jesus to the picture our attitude can change. You take cabbage juice and add laundry detergent to it. Try it at home if you want. Thursday we talked about communication. How do we talk to our kids? What do we talk to our kids about? Do they feel comfortable talking to us or are they afraid of our reaction? Timothy's family (mom and grandma) was mentioned in the Bible as faithfully passing on the Word to him. Can my kids say that about our family? I thought a neat idea to make sure they realize how much of God's Word is spoken and seen in our house is to start documenting it. My mom was awesome at writing down EVERYTHING we did in our baby books and she had 6 kids. I am going to start writing down Bible stories and memory verses the kids are working on in their baby books and on here so they can look back and see what part of God's word we were talking about at a certain age. Make sure I stay on track. Friday we closed with a fun bar-b-que and game time. It got pretty hot by the end and my kids were ready to go home. I hope we have another Fam Fest soon. It was memorable and exciting to worship with my family.
Memory verse this week: Deut. 6:5 Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and strength.
Bible story- Lot and his wife flee Sodom. Genesis 19:12-29

Summer Vacation 2008

2008-06-23T17:38:00.000-07:00

My sweet girls
Boogie boarding
Daddy's evening fishing was exciting for the kids!

Well, we are sadly back from another relaxing week at the beach. Every year we head to Siesta Key for rest and fun in the sun. This year it rained a little, but we still managed to come back toasty. We took the kids to see Kung Fu Panda. Mike and I even got to escape one night for a date. We go with some friends from Sebring and the kids have a blast playing everyday together on the beach and in the pool. I have to say that one of my favorite nights was Olive Garden night. I enjoyed it so much that I (can't believe I am telling you this) ate ALL my dessert in the car ride home with my fingers!!!! I really like Olive Garden. I would have downloaded more pics but the website was acting funny. Enjoy!

Lilly's gettin her dance on!

2008-06-14T17:53:00.001-07:00

My little tinkerbell
Strike a pose, look how beautiful
Warming up before her big show
After the show, the finale she was a puppy
Lilly and all her presents, thanks mammy and pop pop

Last night Lilly had her second ever dance recital. This was the first one without mommy on stage with her. She is usually shy and so some family members wondered if she would perform. She was a natural. She knew all the steps and put the facial expressions with it to be a star!!! No bias, at all. She had three numbers. She did "Never Grow Up", "Babyface", and "Under the Sea". I was not allowed to take pictures during the recital, so I do not have any pictures of her in her mermaid outfit. Pop Pop Grigsby, Mommy, Daddy, Michael, Layla, Mema, and Pop Pop Byrd came to watch. We love you Lilly, you are a shining STAR!!!!!

Home Depot Day

2008-06-07T14:05:00.000-07:00

Pop Pop and the boys, can they build it????? Yes they can!!!!

Today Pop Pop took Michael to Home Depot for the kid workshop. Michael enjoys this activity. He now has 7 pins on his apron. Today they made a sailboat. Pop Pop is very handy. I took him once and the castle we made has never sat straight up. Woodwork is not my talent. Thanks Pop Pop for a wonderful day!

5th grade grad bash

2008-06-07T14:00:00.000-07:00

all aboard the tram!

Last night we held a bar-b-que for the 5th graders of JAM at Highlands Hammock. They are headed to middle school next year and we wanted to celebrate the time they had in JAM. We went on a tram ride and it was hilarious. You should have seen us. Someone said we looked like city folk in nature for the first time. There were a lot of horseflies out and the kids and parents were screaming and swating. After the tram ride, we had cake and gave each 5th grader a Bible. Congrats guys!

lilly's present/Michael's concert

2008-06-04T17:47:00.000-07:00

Lilly's striking a pose!
putting on lipstick.....
Michael's singing away.....

Mommy is so proud of him!

Lilly enjoys playing with her birthday presents. Her Aunt Maggie got her a talking princess vanity. Lilly enjoys putting lipstick on, perfume on, and wearing the tiara. It is really neat. I even like playing with it too. Michael tries to sneak in and play with it too when no one is watching.
Michael's school concert was yesterday. Michael is always the star of the show to me. He sings his heart out. He is so proud of himself and so am I. I wave as big as I can when he entered the room with his class. His final report card was impressive. He is already reading primer books and doing simple addition and subtraction. His teacher called him a shining star, just likeI thought!!! Thank you Jesus for my shining stars. I lift my hands toward you for the life of my children: Lamentations 2:19

happy birthday lilly

2008-05-29T16:22:00.000-07:00

mema made her a princess cake
opening all her presents.....thank you everyone!
pinata time
ice cream sundae station........yummy
brother didn't even want to take his goggles off to eat.

Lilly's birthday week is officially over. She is now 3. We finished her birthday week with a family pool party on Sunday. It was a lot of fun. The weather was beautiful and the kids enjoyed swimming. Well, Lilly enjoyed hanging out on the steps. She got a LOT of presents from her grandparents, aunts, and cousins. We had a princess fiesta. Lilly couldn't decide between Dora and Princess so we mixed. The cake and pinata were princess theme and the foold and invitations were Dora. By the end of the day, we were all exahusted.

Girls Just Wanna Have Fun

2008-05-22T14:22:00.000-07:00

That's me sporting the crazy tights! Don't we look fabulous!
My girls- i put them in matching dresses, aren't they cute?

Today was the end of the year party for MOPS. We had an 80's theme. I was pleasantly shocked at the participation of the moms. A lot of them went all out with clothes, hair, and makeup. As you can see from the pics above, it was a lot of fun. I hope to copy some of the other pics from the other girls and post them too. I have to say, I really enjoyed dressing up. The 80's for me were full of good music and lots of dancing. My mom was dedicated to us and allowed us to take lots of dance lessons growing up. Those are some fond memories for me and I am so grateful to have them. So, that is why my outfit was a workout outfit. Legwarmers rule!!!

lilly's birthday week

2008-05-21T10:05:00.000-07:00

Lilly's 3rd birthday is on Saturday. We have been celebrating all week. She made her invitations and sent them out over the weekend. We will be having a fiesta this weekend. She took cupcakes into ballet class yesterday because she wanted her friends to get a chance to celebrate her birthday too. She was so excited. She picked out the sprinkles she wanted and got to put them on herself. I didn't take a picture before and of course the leftovers were eaten by the rest of us. She has recently gotten into the "friend" stage. She talks about her friends, prays for her friends, and wonders if her friends are going to be where she is going that day. We have been doing family parties for the past few years because we have such a large family, but next year we might have to start having friend parties. Happy birthday all week Lilly! I love yoU!

Bye Bye Soccer

2008-05-15T17:18:00.000-07:00

Ready, Set, Goal!
Coach Austin giving Michael his awards.
Michael striking his man pose
Lilly holding Daddy's plaque- Daddy sponsored the team
All of us celebrating Michael's soccer accomplishments!

Today Michael's soccer team had an end of the year party. Michael had a fun time this season. He got to play on the same team as his cousins. This was his first year so he learned the basics of the game. He enjoyed playing games, but didn't like not scoring goals. Way to go, Michael!

catching up

2008-05-14T13:04:00.001-07:00

Saturday we went to Cypress Gardens- Lilly did not like the spinning dragons!
Michael enjoyed petting the snake--not me!
Friday was Sea World day- I braved it with all the kids by myself. God really watched out for us
Last weekend while I went to work, Daddy made a slippin slide for the kids
My three beautiful babies cheesing for the camera.

I know it has been a little while. I was really good at keeping a daily blog in the beginning, but exhaustion has set in and I drift off to bed before I get a chance to sit down at the computer. The garage sale was mediocre. We did get a nice gift for my mom and donated the stuff that did not sell to charity. Mother's Day was a busy day. After church we went to my mom's house for a bit. We spent the evening at Mema and Pop Pops. We got each grandma a pretty hanging fern. We hope that the plants stay alive for a while. We celebrated Mother's Day last night. The kids and Mike took me to my favorite restaurant, Olive Garden. I can't believe I ate a 4 course meal. I worked a little harder at the gym this morning.

2008-05-07T18:34:00.000-07:00

These are just a few of my favorite pics from my sister's wedding. We had so much fun. Thought you guys might want a sneak peak.

wedding

2008-05-07T18:27:00.000-07:00

Looking back

2008-05-06T16:14:00.000-07:00

Awaiting my prince
The bridesmaids
How sweet
The new Mr. and Mrs. Byrd!!!

My sister got married a few weeks ago and we just got her pictures back this week. They are stunning. It made me want to go through my old photos and reminisce. It will be 5 years this summer, and I am so happy. We have added to our family, moved, built a house, started careers, and many more ups and downs. I have to say I married my best friend. Now, if we would have met in high school, we definitely would not be where we are today. God's timing and plans are perfect. I love you Mike!

garage sale

2008-04-29T17:08:00.000-07:00

My sisters and I are getting ready for a garage sale this weekend. I can not believe how much stuff I have. I have to admit that I do not like to throw away things. Still, I did not realize how much stuff I had tucked away in the attic, stored in the closets, and hidden away in drawers. Hopefull this weekend, there are a lot of people in need of more clothes, videos, books, cookware, and furniture. The best part of this exahusting experience is the fact we are trying to raise money to give my mom a really nice gift for her birthday. She deserves it. Don't tell her, though, it is is a surprise!!!

wednesday, thursday, and friday

2008-04-25T16:31:00.000-07:00

She was sooo excited to bowl!
Look how strong I am!
Little sister was not having fun!
This is our MOPS group from Thursday (I am not keeping up with my daily blogs so I thought I would throw this one in)

Wednesday we played at the playground with my sisters and a dear friend. A few moms from MOPS also get together at the playground that day as well. It is nice to have some adult conversation and I look forward to those times in my week. It is also the time I get to find out who everyone thinks is getting voted off American Idol. My mom ended up being a listening ear that day and she is good at that. Thanks, Mom.
Thursday was MOPS day. Every other Thursday moms of pre-schoolers gather at GBC for awesome food and good conversation. ( I never really thought about it, by I get quite a bit of adult conversation throughout the week, Thanks Lord!). After MOPS, we took our Mom to one of my favorite restaurants, Olive Garden. I enjoy going to lunch with my mom and sisters.
Friday I took a bit of a relaxing break. The kids and I went bowling after school. Lilly had never been, and she loved it. They both did. I was getting into it too. It is so exciting experiencing things with your children. Their excitement is so raw and real. God, thank you for showing me your excitment through my kids.

monday and tuesday

2008-04-22T18:36:00.001-07:00

Just wanted to show off the children. I pray for patience more and more each day. I love my family and am so blessed, but sometimes I am really missing a quiet time. I just started a new devo today called, " The Power of a Praying Parent". I enjoyed a similar book "The Power of a Praying Wife" so I wanted to follow up and see if this author can give me more insight on being the best Godly mom I can be! I love my babies !! (especially right now while they sleep)

Ping Pong Champion

2008-04-19T17:59:00.000-07:00

The brothers challenge each other to a duel!!
Michael wanted to be goofy like Daddy and Uncle Matt.
Even Mema is a fierce competitor in ping pong!

Friday night the Byrds got together for dinner. The kids love going to Mema and Pop Pop's house. I guess their backyard is better than ours. After dinner, we tried out their new ping pong table. It was a lot of fun. The kids really enjoyed it too. I didn' t even realize they made jumbo ping pong balls so the kids could play. Mike and his brother started out the tournament. Little did Mike realize that his brother had been practicing all week. Mema was the one to beat. She kept the competition going. I tried a game, but I wasn't fierce enough. I will have to train to compete in the Byrd big league.

yeah, the pics posted!

2008-04-18T14:08:00.000-07:00

practice, practice, practice

2008-04-18T13:36:00.001-07:00

Michael and Coby are on the same soccer team and they had practice Thursday. They had their first game last Saturday, but with all the wedding pics I have, I haven't been able to post them untill now. Michael is pretty good out there. He knows how to do a throw in and a corner kick already. The coaches are a few guys from the Varsity team at the high school and so they were pretty timid Saturday. It is one thing to know how to play soccer, but to teach a bunch of 4/5 year olds is a different story. What good kids, though, that want to volunteer their time to teach the game to future high school players. (my pics won't post!!! maybe next time)

JAM

2008-04-16T18:24:00.001-07:00

The kids take the challenge

The captains take the challenge too!

Tonight in JAM we talked about being a loyal friend. We took a look at how Gideon was loyal to God even though he didn't seem equipped to do his job. God supplied him with a small army to do a large job. God took care of him and Gideon stayed true to God no matter what. He didn't change his name, likes, looks, or any of that. He stayed true to himself and to God. The kids talked about what being a loyal friend and a disloyal friend was and how they can be loyal to God too. These pics were us goofing around.

thankflul thursdays (on tuesday)

2008-04-15T17:31:00.000-07:00

10. cool weather again
9. soda
8. grandparents who help out a lot
7. my hubby who is working late tonight
6. layla's giggles
5. michael's expanding vocabulary
4. lilly's 2 front teeth
3. the internet
2. donuts
1. katie's wedding being a success

the wedding is over

2008-04-14T16:12:00.000-07:00

Hubby on the way to the receptionMe sitting by his side
Layla being so good during the whole thing
On the way to the reception- already pooped
Being a bell ringer is hard work

The wedding was so wonderful. Katie looked stunning. All the girls did. Things were crazy Saturday morning, as usual in our household. By the time she walked down the aisle, she was totally focused on her husband. The ceremony was sweet. We had a few family traditions in the ceremony. Keith Campbell sang the same song that he sang at mine and Alana's wedding. He has such a great voice. The kids did pretty well. A few had to be escorted out during the ceremony, but they did make it up and down the aisle. They rode out on a cool classic convertible.
The reception was so fun. The food was excellent. The hotel was decorated very nicely. The music was high energy and the kids had fun dancing to Alvin and the Chipmunks. There is so much to tell, but I am in need of more rest. I will have to fill in later when we get more pics.

getting ready for the big day

2008-04-10T18:22:00.000-07:00

Pop Pop and Michael getting short hair cuts!
Look how handsome Coby and Michael look!
The girls were getting really bored!!! Their day is Saturday!

My sister Katie is getting married on Saturday and we have been preparing for a few months now. I can't wait for the day to get here. We are in crunch mode now. The boys had their day today of trying on their tuxes and getting their hair cut. It seems to be a tradition now for Pop Pop to take the boys to the barber. The girls were being so good for being left out of the wedding stuff today. They get to get their hair done and be a part of everything this weekend. My husband babysat for a few hours tonight and I got to get pampered with a manicure and pedicure with my sisters. It was a lot of fun. Lots of laughs were shared over nail polish.

Thankful Thursday

1. Being a girl- i like being pampered
2. My lilly's questions- she has become quite the analyst
3. Michael's reading ability- he is really amazing
4. layla's smiles- she gurgles now
5. Mike watching the kids tonight!!
6. My mom helping pamper me today!
7. Dee and Julia made it safely home!
8. Alana's creative style
9. Katie allowing us to share her special day
10. Maggie waking up early and helping me at church every weekend.
THANK YOU GOD FOR MY FAMILY!!

Will you be my friend?

2008-04-09T17:43:00.000-07:00

Michael and his cousin, Austin.

Michael is at this age where he really is into making friends. He enjoys playing at school, church, soccer, and wherever we are with children. He is very outgoing. He cries when he isn't able to go and do. It sometimes makes me feel bad like, " What's wrong with our house?", or "What's wrong with Mommy?". He has already been asking to spend the night at friends' houses. I don't think I am ready for him to grow up so fast. I am thankful though he is outgoing. With one shy parent and one outspoken parent he had a 50 % chance of being like his mommy!!

Dancing Days

2008-04-08T17:20:00.001-07:00

My Little Ballerina!

Tuesdays the girls head to Lake Placid (after Mommy's day at work) for ballet/gymnastics class. This is Lilly's first year by herself. Last year she was in the class with Mommy. At first she was shy and not wanting to participate. I think she has warmed up now. She enjoys twirling and walking on her tippy toes. Today she came home and tried to teach me the Chicken Dance. I wasn't doing it right. I think she is a little bossy, or maybe opinionated. I love her strength and can't wait to see her in the recital. Get your dance on Lilly!!

taste the rainbow

2008-04-07T18:26:00.000-07:00

Isn't God's artwork breathtaking?

This weekend in JAM we finished our study of Noah. After Noah's sacrifice to the Lord thanking Him for sparing the lives of his family, God made a promise to him. He said he would never flood the earth again and He gave the rainbow as a sign of His word. A rainbow is so beautiful for many reasons: it is colorful, it is a bright masterpiece in the sky, and it is a reminder that God never breaks His promises.
Sometimes it is easy to forget about God's promises. When things get overwhelming (bills, screaming children, sleepless nights) it is easy to worry and wonder if God is around. But, His word is our comfort and He says in the Bible: Duet. 31:8- I will NEVER leave you or forsake you. Yes He is there and taking care of us and loving us through because He promises. The rainbow said so.

here comes the bride

2008-04-04T15:51:00.001-07:00

My beatuiful flower girl!

The blushing bride!

Today we spent the day in Orlando finalizing details before the big day for Katie and Chris. We are all so excited to be a part of their wedding day. It is going to be a fun and emotional celebration for the whole clan. I have helped plan a lot of the tasks but my mom has done most of the planning. She is a strong woman. I can't even imagine having to raise six girls. She has poured out so much of her heart, strength, care, encouragment, discipline, achievements, prayers, and blessings into us. I hope she knows how much she means to us. I thank God for her and ask Him to please take care of her so she will be around for a long time. Love you up to the moon, Mammy!

sleeping the day away

2008-04-03T16:16:00.001-07:00

Can you see the burn????

Today my family felt the effects of our day out yesterday. I have to say I won the best burn contest here. I was so sore that I could barely sleep last night. The whole day we spent inside for fear that natural light would hurt too much. The kids and I enjoyed taking naps and watching movies all day. I threw in a few loads of laundry followed by a few home cooked meals. I am so use to going all day every day that it has been nice this week to be in slow motion. Next week it is back to fast pace and busy activities, but I am not jumping ahead yet. I have a few more days of rest and relaxation. I need them, so I don't show up at work looking like a raspberry.

Beach and Burn

2008-04-02T17:01:00.000-07:00

Before we left for Siesta Key
Family Fun in the Sun!!
Daddy and Layla snoozing away

Today we packed up a few things and went to our favorite vacation spot, Siesta Key. The weather was beautiful. The beach was a little bit crowded due to Spring Break. There were lots of kids running around strutting off their tan/burned bodies. I can't say anything because 10 years ago, that was me and my friends. The kids had a blast playing in the sand. Layla wasn't too thrilled with everything. She and daddy stayed under the tent and snoozed all day. The rest of us dug for sea shells, jumped waves, and made sandcastles. It was so much fun. I however am paying for this fun day in the sun with bright red skin. I should have put a little more sunblock on.

Alvin and the Chipmunks

2008-04-01T15:20:00.000-07:00

The movie has arrived!

Our family has been counting the days until this movie was on dvd. Today Grammy surprised us with the dvd and the kids couldn't wait to get home and watch it. We made a huge event, like a movie premiere, out of it. We had dinner around the tv and watched the movie as a family. Since we first saw the movie in theatres over the Christmas holiday, we have enjoyed listening to the cd in the car. We even have dance contests at home to the energetic music. The kids would see commercials on tv and wonder when they could see the movie again. Thanks Grammy for making this a great family night!!!

How do you smell?

2008-03-31T15:50:00.000-07:00

This weekend in JAM we studied Genesis 8. We have been doing an in depth study on Noah and his experience on the ark. Now most of you know the story of how he and his family along with a lot of animals were on the ark for a long time. (40 days and nights of rain and then almost 5 months until it all dried up) Do you know why? Noah was a righteous man and walked with God. The whole rest of the world was disobeying and doing evil in the eyes of God. Can you imagine? Being the only Christian in the whole world? How strong of a faith Noah must of had. People were trying to sway Noah and tell him to give up on God. Noah spent years building the ark as people taunted him. He spent all he had on doing what God said, depending on his faith. God took care of Noah and rewarded him by sparing his family.
After they got off the ark the first thing Noah did was sacrifice the best clean animal to God. He didn't search for a place to live, food to eat, or even fresh air to breathe. He gave God a present and it smelled sweet to God.
What can I give to God that would be a sweet smell? Do I give off a sweet smell as a follower of Him? Does my attitude reflect a stinky heart full of doubt, bitterness, jealousy and anger? I strive to smell like a chocoloate chip cookie for God- yummy good and full of love, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self-control. Thanks for the example, Noah.

Sea World 2008

2008-03-29T07:55:00.001-07:00

Look at how beautiful God's creations are!
Michael and Mommy
Lilly and Daddy
Waiting on Elmo!!!
Yesterday we spent the whole day with the Byrds at Sea World. It was so much fun. We got to see sharks, fish, turtles, alligators, dolphins, penguins, and shamu. The kids has such a great time. The grown ups did as well. The weather was perfect. The kids behaved fantastically even though it was a tad bit crowded. We had fun riding rides and playing in the puddles. The shows were exciting. Lilly really enjoyed the dophin show becuase of the flying lady birds. Michael really though Shamu was so big. They also had a Sesame Street show that the kids had never seen before. We ate at Mango Joe's Cafe and it was so yummy. I suggest if you go to Sea World to try that place. We got to sit right by the pond and watch the ducks and squirrels try to eat our food. We didn' t get home until after 10pm, and the kids crashed on the way home. Mike and I enjoyed the quiet ride. It was a much needed escape from the daily stresses of life. Thank you Mema and Pop Pop!!!

Thankful Thursdays

2008-03-27T18:06:00.000-07:00

I will copy one of my friend's ideas and list the top 10 things I am thankful for today:

1. Michael's good report at school
2. Lilly's cool sunglasses (she looks adorable and thinks so too)
3. Layla's taken to baby food really well (she eats it up)
4. Coffee punch
5. Sisters who come together when times get tough
6. My husband's relaxing body massages (with scented lotion)
7. Air conditioner
8. A car of my own
9. A paycheck (thank you God!)
10. My husband finished our taxes !! (He is the best)

JAM

2008-03-26T17:57:00.001-07:00

JAM KIDS FROM A LONG TIME AGO!

I work as a children's ministries director at Grace Bible Church. I enjoy it so much. One of my old youth leaders, a woman I admired, reminded me of my passions a few years ago. I also looked in one of my journals that I kept throughout high school and college and it also listed my passions. These were a few of them: get married (did that) , have children (did that), and work with children spreading the love of Christ (now doing that). I am always amazed at how God takes care of us. He answers our prayers and desires of our hearts, even when we forget what our desires were.
Wedensday nights we have anywhere between 80-100 kids at JAM. We have fun loving Christ on these kids through games, hanging out, and interactive Bible. I come home exhausted, but my hubby is always there to take care of me and our children. I love you, Mike!!

They dropped a bomb on me...

2008-03-25T16:22:00.000-07:00

They love their baby cousin Layla
Innocent, right?
The end of playtime!!

We had our cousins over today for a bit after dance class. The kids had a lot of fun and left a whirlwind of a mess behind. The boys enjoy racing cars up and down the living room and trying to bounce balls and hit the lights. Nothing broken today, praise God!!

Lilly enjoys going to dance on Tuesdays. Today they got their costumes for the recital. She looks adorable. I am excited to see her on stage in June. She hasn't shown me any of her routine yet. I guess she wants me to be surprised.

Monday... Monday

2008-03-24T16:35:00.000-07:00

Layla

Lilly
Michael

These extra pics were from yesterday, but I had to show you how cute my babies are.

Today we started soccer practice. Michael is excited to have his cousins Coby and Christiana on his team. It was confusing for him going from t-ball (catch the ball with your hands) to soccer (don't touch the ball at ALL with your hands).

Lilly has been battling a cough. She is excited about her dance class tomorrow. She always prays on Monday nights for dance class and her friends Kylie and Ansley. She is my ballerina.

Layla is now eating baby food. She really chows down. Mike is so good with her. He can bottle feed and baby food feed her excellent. He is in the swing of things now with #3. He even changes poopy diapers.

Easter 2008

2008-03-23T15:53:00.000-07:00

2008-03-23T15:52:00.000-07:00

2008-03-23T15:51:00.000-07:00

The end of the beginning.....

2008-03-23T13:12:00.000-07:00

This weekend we celebrated the ending of Michael's first t-ball season. We had so much fun watching him learn how to play t-ball. He was so excited just being a part of the team. We have a large family, and so he had his own cheering section at every game. I have to admit, as his mom I enjoyed it. It is nice to have a huge support team and cheering section to celebrate all your milestones in life: new additions to the family, baby dedications, and even your first year of t-ball. I am so thankful that God has blessed me with a close and large family.
We also got together to celebrate a very large milestone in our lives: the resurrection of our JESUS. My kids at 2 and 4 know that Easter isn't about the eggs and candy (which they enjoy), but about Jesus dying on the cross and not staying dead but being ALIVE!! Hope everyone had a wonderful celebration. We did.