Brayden turns 3!!!

Today my baby boy turned 3 and it was such a fun filled day! We had lots of family come in town for the party including our cousins from New Jersey (they flew in to Memphis today and on their way to Corinth stopped by for the party).

Pinto (Lucy's great granddad) meeting her for the first time..

Grandmother Lucy and Baby Lucy...

Grandmother, Pop-Pop and Aunt Jessie

Jay's Aunt JuJu and Uncle Haha

Lucy with grandmothers Lolli and Nonnie

Brayden opening family gifts...

The ONE thing Brayden asked for his birthday was REAL HANDCUFFS. He loves the show Cops and so all of a sudden that is what he wanted. So both grandmothers (without knowing about the other) bought him some...and yes, we have a key. He LOVED them!

Cousin Evie and Aunt Jessie

Daddy showing Brayden his motorized boat that he got to put in the pool...

The kids handcuffing Pinto...

At 4:00 we had a swim party for his buddies and it was H-O-T!!! Did I mention it was hot? We had to get in because it was miserable if you didn't. But it was still so much fun!

The birthday boy!

Nonnie and Karis...

Pop and Brayden...

Pinto fell asleep sitting in his chair. Uncle Haha always playing a joke on somebody!!!

Pop-pop and Nonnie

Rachel and Lori toughin' out the heat...

Some of the girls Emma Kate, Karis and Kendall

Me and my boy..

Eating burgers and hot dogs..

Happy Birthday Brayden!!!

He wasn't so sure about blowing out the candles (because everyone was watching him...he didn't care for that too much), so I had to blow them out for him.

Brayden really wanted a pinata for his party so Lolli found this one at Hobby Lobby for $4! The kids had a blast beating the candy out of it!

Opening gifts from his friends...

Grandmother Lucy stayed back at the house with baby Lucy for most of the party but then when it cooled off a little, she decided to join the party!

Daddy swimming with Lucy for the first time..

My sweet kiddos. Doesn't Lucy look grown up? I can't believe she will be 7 weeks old tomorrow!

Happy Birthday to my sweet baby boy. Three years ago today I was one happy momma and to this day you have been a joy (and a handful)! I love you with all my heart!

One of my favorite people in the world...

...is my Granny (my mom's mom). She died 10 years ago when she was 70 years old and it still seems like yesterday. Today we remember her birthday and celebrate the wonderful woman that she was, a hero to many. I used to love going to her house knowing that she would spoil us rotten, do whatever we wanted to do, eat WHATEVER we wanted (I am surprised we didn't get sick), and when I would cry when I had to go home, I remember she would let me get anything in her house to take home just so I wouldn't have a meltdown. I loved her so much and still today, she remains (and always will be) one of my favorite people. I love you Granny.

A few randoms....

Today mom has the 2 big kids so Lucy and I have enjoyed a leisurely day at the pool, spent alot of time trying to catch up some rest etc. It has been quite relaxing but why do I feel so lazy when my big kids are gone? It is like I go into shut down mode! Does this happen to anyone else or just me??? I think I get more done when they are here because I am forced to!

For Father's Day we got Jay some shoes he has been wanting but come to find out that the ones I got weren't quite the ones he wanted but he can't find the right ones anywhere. So he gave up, returned those and decided to use some money he had saved up along with his Father's Day money to get a new Iphone so I got his hand-me-down which is just as good as new to me! It has been fun playing around on it although I hate getting used to a new phone. It is almost as bad as getting a new BIBLE...hate it! But I digress...I know I will love it once I get used to it. Anyone tweet?

MJ? Wow. That is some shocking news. Strange because today is Amber's birthday and she LOVED Michael Jackson. She used to make me sit with her and watch him on tv. I would watch him and say "GROSS!" and she would say "Isn't he the greatest?" He is very talented but he kinda gave me the creeps.

Just something on my mind

Today I can't quit thinking that if Amber was still with us, she would be 30 today. What a day to celebrate however she must be having a much better celebration with the Lord. A bitter sweet day and OH how I miss my dear friend. Say a prayer for her family today if you think about it.

GUESS WHAT????

Lucy slept through the night last night!!! She normally eats 10-3-7 but last night she ate at 10-5-10! I couldn't believe it and was SOOO excited! Let's keep it up Lucy!

Lucy meets her great-grandmother

Today Lucy got to meet her great-grandmother Mimi. She is my dad's mom and was dying to meet Lucy! She actually was in the same hospital when Lucy was born but we couldn't see her because I too was in my own hospital room. SO finally today we were able to make it over to her house for the two of them to meet...

Me, my grandmother and Lucy

Pap heads home and Lucy's first ballgame

Pap heads home today and we enjoyed our visit so much! Here is Pap with his two kids Jay and Valerie.

Pap with his kids and 2 of his grandkids...Lucy was sleeping...imagine that!

Lucy hangin out with dad at her first baseball game.

Brayden was in hog heaven at this game...

Our family of 5

Karis eating her cotton candy with Valerie

Brayden was dying to see Rocky the Redbird the entire time and when he finally got to see him, Jay said it was like he was a 30 ft. python! As you can tell from the picture, he was scared to death of him! Karis is hiding under Rocky's hand in case you didn't notice her...

Jay caught a foul ball for Brayden and you would have thought someone had given him a million dollars! He was so excited and kept saying, "That baseball player hit that ball TO ME!!!"

Karis wanted to get her picture with the Redhot cheerleaders.

Fun day! Valerie flies out tomorrow so we are going to enjoy our last few moments with her. We will all be sad to see her go!

An incredible reunion

Without too many details, Jay's dad and granddad haven't seen each other in 18 years and haven't spoken in 10. Pawpaw (Jay's granddad) didn't even know Larry was coming to see us until Jay called him on Father's Day and told him that his son was at our house and was coming to see him the next day. Let's just say he was speechless! I stayed home and kept Brayden and Lucy so I was not there but would have given anything to experience such a neat moment. Jay knew how important it was to me to have pics so he was so sweet to take some for me....and he did a great job!!!

Reunion between father and son after 18 years of not seeing one another...

Jay's cousin Allison, Valerie, Karis, Kaitlyn, Grace (Jay's grandmother), and Jay's Aunt Amy

Allison, Karis, Valerie and Kaitlyn

Jay with the girls

Top to bottom left to right: Jay's uncle Chip, Pawpaw, Larry (Jay's dad), Jay, Kaitlyn, Allison, Karis and Jay's sister Valerie

The Lemonds' clan again

My sweetie

Pawpaw and Grace with the girls

Pawpaw and Valerie

Brayden, Lucy and I went to the pool today while everyone else went to see Pawpaw. Our friends Rachel and kids, and Lori and Emma Kate joined us today as well as Lolli. It was a great day and SHOCKER...I have NO PICTURES. I sent the camera with Jay so I couldn't capture any of the fun moments today. Lucy got in the pool for the first time and my sweet friend Lori took a pic for me so I will get that later.

We grilled out tonight and I captured a few of our hang out time..

Pap and Roxy

Pap and Roxy with Karis and Brayden

The Lemonds family (except Lucy...she was sleeping)

It was a great positive day! Thank you Jesus.