laugh

some days we just really need to laugh. i was laughing when i took this picture and i'm laughing more now looking back at it. and all the moments that surrounded it!

TEC . the makings of a third birthday

oh tuck. 

you just get sweeter as the days go by. and along with that, a little more strong willed. i guess the two go hand in hand with you. you are so FULL of life. this makes the good moments great and the not good moments a little hard. you are never short on ways to make us laugh. and that smile. it lights up your entire being. we love you little man.

{we celebrated with papa, gigi, mexican food, and ice cream last night}

{the morning started off with gifts and homemade waffles!}

{you cheered grey on in his last t-ball game and came home to a special birthday dessert filled with dirt and worms. it made you really happy.}

{you took a classic tuck nap totaling three hours! then woke up ready to cast that new fishing poll and catch some bugs.}

{you finished the night out with a dance party on the trampoline and more dirt dessert. i'd say these were the makings of a great third birthday for a bug loving, spunky, kissable, squeezable, sweet boy!}

graduation

grey bear completed his year in 4k today. 

i know the next 13 years will fly by just as fast as his first 5 have. 

as he came walking in with his black hat and huge smile on his face, tears filled my eyes as i realized how big this little boy really is. sure, it's just 4 year old kindergarten graduation. 

but time really steals away their innocence. and it left me wanting him to stay small forever. 

he has grown and learned so much this year. he's learned to read and write. he's learned the months of the year. he's learned to draw and memorized scripture. he's learned new songs and read new books. he's grown taller and smarter. 

and he's learned to love better and stronger. he's seen God in a new and different way. he's interacted with peers and learned what it means to love others even when we don't want to. even when it's hard.

he finished with joy.

and had two really fantastic teachers to guide him. we are so thankful for this year.

and we are all very excited about our kindergarten year here at home. learning and growing and changing all together.

everyday may

just another phone dump for memory sake.

1. william had his first hair cut about a month ago. even though he looks miserable in this picture, he sat there like a little angel. and then he got a sucker. one of his most coveted treats. 

2. we spend massive amounts of time on the trampoline. morning, noon, and evening. it's a family favorite and has created some of the best quality time for all of us.

{giggly boy being bounced}

3. check this guys out.

4. the young men scaring the black birds off of our feeders. 

6. t-ball love.

they make it really easy to collect pictures for their rehearsal dinner. we are praying boldly.

6. the beauty of technology. on the rare occasion i grace an actual department store with my presence and get to try on a slew of dresses all on my lonesome, i still have a way to ask my sweet husband what he thinks without tackling three little boys to keep them from crawling under someone else's dressing room door. how awesome.

7. an afternoon with my husband in clemson. where we fell in love. although our experiences here did not necessarily coincide with one another for more than a couple of months before he graduated, we very much had the same experience. deep friendships, community, laughs, and much growth in the Lord. we will forever hold this place so dear to our hearts.

8. matthew and i got to photograph a beautiful wedding in clemson on friday. the boys stayed with marmie and poppie for the day and had a blast of course. train rides, fishing, and good ol' fashioned fun.

we are catching our breath before the summer hits. the boys finish up school this week and the tuck monster turns three on saturday! wowzies.

motherhood anthem

if there is one thing i've learned {and will keep learning} in my short five years of motherhood, it's my total and utter helplessness. 

as i spent a day dedicated to motherhood thinking about the gift and the struggle of this job, all i could come up with was my need for the Lord. every moment of every hour. nothing has ever been more sanctifying and life giving as to understand my total need for the Lord to mother my children. 

this song puts perfect words to my heart and is my "motherhood anthem." {but really a whole life anthem}

Lord I come, I confess
Bowing here I find my rest
Without You I fall apart
You're the one that guides my heart
 

 Lord, I need You, oh I need You
Every hour I need You
My one defense, my righteousness
Oh God, how I need You


Where sin runs deep, Your grace is more
Where grace is found is where You are
And where You are Lord I am free
Holiness is Christ in me
Yes where You are Lord I am free
Holiness is Christ in me


So teach my song to rise to You
When temptation comes my way
And when I cannot stand I'll fall on You
Jesus You're my hope and stay
And when I cannot stand I'll fall on You
Jesus You're my hope and stay

As I continue to lean into Him, I am delighted as He fills me with strength in the everyday with my children.  

first steps

somebody is taking those first steps. 

this is one of the more exciting milestones for me. to watch them learn to walk. i will be watching, and guiding, and letting them fall, and holding them up, and letting them lean, and then letting them go in the years to come. 

now is the easy part. 

somebody also thinks it really funny to show us his belly button. we think it's pretty funny too!

 

go explore that big world little man.

party on!

a five year old birthday party with 11 kids is no joke.

it was fun, and loud, and wild, and free. i sure hope it was fun. we pulled out all our stops with a homemade spider web, pinatas, water games, and shaving cream. what more could a five year old and all his friends ask for! i think grey was most excited about having a lot of his friends in one place at one time :)

 

 

{some pretty awesome super heroes!}

happy birthday grey bear! you only turn five once!!