Family Parties~

We celebrated Amelia and Ben Curtis' birthdays together with burgers and cupcakes~

Ben Curtis was SO surprised to see T Rex at his party~

Ben Curtis~ who can believe you are already four???~

That evening we dressed up like princesses and headed to Addie's party~

We had the best day being with family and celebrating sweet birthdays!

Mimi's Birthday~

Evie got to go with me for my hair appointment and got her long hair~

 Cut to a manageable length.
She loved it so much~

We arrived home in time to decorate for Mimi's party of taco bar and cookie cake~

We also loved reminiscing over her sweet 26 years with her albums!
Happy birthday Beautiful Mimi!!!

Cute Couples~

Both were doing wedding stuff this weekend with friends and sent me photos~

Aren't they the sweetest girls thinking of their mama?!

Girl Power~

Evie and Holly were chosen to hold Sparky at Awana Wednesday night, and they LOVED it~

Mimi came over to keep the kids for a little while this morning, and Calla LOVED having her home!!!

Best Friends Forever~

It is no secret there is BIG LOVE between these two~

 Calla lights up anytime Amelia comes home for lunch or after work!

Calla has had a fear of falling and not being held securely.
Amelia is curing her of all that!
LOVE watching this beautiful love grow!!!

Simplifying~

As with many families (especially large families) there can be lots of excess and storage.
There is the mindset we might need it, the younger ones can play with it, or so and so gave us that so we have to keep it.

We have a big storage closet upstairs and one in the basement.
The positive~
All the clothes to be passed down are organized in bins waiting for their new owners!
The negative~
Lots of toys were being stored and no one every played with them.
There were even AG dolls, clothes, and furniture from the big girls that needed organizing!

I picked up Simplicity Parenting again and Savannah shared an article with me
and I began to realize keeping all this STUFF wasn't helping anyone.

The only thing to do was pull it all OUT and begin the culling: what to keep and USE,
what to give away.

Amelia amazed me to no end when we dumped ALL the AG stuff
she and the big girls had when they were little
and she knew exactly whose it was plus which doll it went with~

Now we have three perfectly organized bins they can all give to 'their' little girls one day!

We packed up 10 bags of toys and 5 bags of trash plus all the shelves/bins it was being housed in and sent it all away!
The result is less stuff, organized closets, and NO storage other than clothes.

The beautiful thing that came from it was renewed love for what we kept~

and a new outlook on what we allow back in.
It will be with GREAT care what we choose for Christmas
because with 10 kids and grands, it is SO much more about the people than stuff.
Everyone is happy about their beautiful spaces, and I am thankful!!!

Happy 24th Birthday Mimi!

We had a birthday kind of weekend and today it was Mimi's turn.
Since we had church in the morning, we grilled steaks for dinner~

 Sang happy birthday to our beautiful 24 year old~

And she amazed us blowing all 24 at the same time~

You are the sunshine, party, and fun in our daily lives~ you love lavishly from that big heart of your's. God is writing a gran story in your life, and the best is yet to come. You're Mimi, Mill, Mills, Milly, Toots, & Millcapill but whatever we call you, we couldn't love you more!!!

Our Bigs Home~

It was so wonderful to have Rosemary home after her first week back at college~

 Rosie had fun looking at our 2015 blog book all printed with our family memories.
We always print them blog2print.com.

And having these four around our table was perfect~

LOVE when they let me take photos of them too!!!

Labor Day Weekend~

Our weekend didn't start too happy with SJ running a fever

so off to the dr we went... strep~

It didn't hold her back much especially since she got a new coloring book

and lunch in front of the tv.

There were others that wished they had strep too. :)

Saturday morning Scott went dove hunting for the first time in a LONG time~

Cutest hunter ever!

Sunday Amelia and Logan went to pick up their little pup after church

and brought him by for us to meet.

What an adorable little Boykin Spaniel named Cabot~

 Everyone LOVED holding and petting him~

Happy forever Cabot!

Monday was grilling, hanging at the pool, and sitting under trees~

 Oh and Rosie riding in the Barbie car:)~

Just a full weekend of family and fun!!!

Amelia's New Job~

There she goes for her first day at her new job~

It was a great day and everyone was very nice.

Praying God blesses her big as she chases her destiny!

Ameila's 1st Job~ {Post Graduation}

Amelia applied for a job here in town while away in Italy

and they asked her to come in for an interview when home.

Today was the day and she looked beautiful on her way out the door~

They offered her the position and she accepted.

Congratulations Mimi!!!

We couldn't be prouder of you!!!

{Starts Monday}

SJ's Party Day~

When we have BC we stay home from church and spend it with family.

Everyone was fine with that since Mimi was tired from her trip

and Rosie was home from first days of college life.

The first moments of the morning with BC are some of my favorites~

Isn't he just the most precious baby in the world???!!!

It wasn't long before the birthday girl was up and ready for her party day.

We made lunch for everyone and the celebration was on~

SJ wanted a dog cake but no one could make to her standards so

I ordered from Publix and dad picked up a little cupcake dog from Ingles for the final touch.

Added some candles and balloons~

 Sang Happy Birthday for a super sweet birthday girl!!!

We also celebrated having Mimi home and three Originals back together!~

 and this sweet couple back together!!!~

 My sister Sissy and family were back in town and THAT was perfect too~

 The best part of the day for SJ was opening all her gifts~

Everything from legos and teasets to books/games and a swing plus new dog and swimsuits!!!

I think she would rank it right up there with some of her favorite days!!! 

Happy 8th birthday SJ...

We couldn't love you more and look forward to many more!

SJ is 8~ {The Best of Days}

SJ had counted down her birthday with a chain for weeks

because Mill would be home that day as well.

It finally came and we were so happy to have BC with us for the weekend too~

 One of the things I love about SJ is her easy going spirit...
The highlights of her day was choosing a breakfast of sausage cheese casserole,
opening her big gift {Woodzeez's Treehouse and family}
and don't ask me why I don't have pics... who knows!~

 She also got a trip to the new bakery in town for a cupcake and donuts then
the BIG trip to the airport to pick up Mimi...
she was the only little that got to go~

 It was the BEST of homecomings~

 Mimi right back where she belongs~

 A great adventure for sure~

But no one like family and HOME!
WHEW~ our girl is home and all is right with the world!!!
Praise Jesus for this great blessing!
Happy birthday SJ... tomorrow is your PARTY!!!

Our Graduate~

Amelia has officially finished her degree and is a graduate of UNG~

 The BEST news... she flies HOME tomorrow!!!!!~

 Her beautiful final watercolor ~

We can not wait to have her home!!!

It's going to be a GREAT weekend!!!

The Bigs~

This is a BIG week for the big girls coming up...

RG back to college, AF home in 5 days, and SL back teaching.

I spent a lot of yesterday sewing RG's tshirt quilt to take with her~

We moved RG back today and couldn't be happier for her~

Her room is gorgeous and can't wait to share as soon as I have permission. :)

Love you big girls!!!

Rosie in Arizona~

Rosie left Sunday for a week in Arizona with Hayden's family

and they are having a ball!!!

Rosie has done more hiking in one week than she has done in her whole life

and loved every minute.

Here are a few of the photos she has shared~

And to say the bigs are missed is an understatement.

Here is SJ at bedtime staring at their photo~

So thankful they are enjoying their time

but will be so happy when they are back home.

Amelia to Italy~

Amelia left this morning for her big adventure to Italy~

 There were sad littles and heavy hearts 

but we couldn't be happier for her!

She made it safe and sound and so far we have a few photos of her adventures~

We are taking the month of July to learn all about Italy as Amelia is there.

She is taking two classes @ the university there~ water coloring and photography!

These photos were taken with her phone while getting a quick tour.

So excited to see this beautiful place through her photos!

Have fun Mill and know you are loved and missed!!!