Spring Pictures 2016

So we were slackers with this year's Spring pics of the boys. 

And they almost didn't happen at all. 

And they still didn't happen by way of professional/expert photographer and editing. Ha. 

But in our defense this has been our busiest Spring ever. We've had something every week night except Fridays and games or practice almost every Saturday all Spring. And I had surgery over Spring Break that pretty much put me out of it for about 2 full weeks. So our weeks, and most of our weekends, have been so full pictures have sort of been the last thing on our minds. Plus, Easter came so early this year we sort of forgot about it... then put it off... then forgot about it again. 

But, in a last minute effort to maintain our tradition/commitment of "professional" pictures of the boys each Spring in their Easter attire, we just barely managed to accomplish our goal yesterday morning before church. Phew! That was a super close one. 

We made the decision to attempt the photo shoot on Saturday night. Ha. And we decided to do the whole shebang ourselves. We have no editing skills at all, but we do have a nice camera and lots of flowers and great backgrounds around our very own yard... so we went for it. Sunday morning the temps were cool and it was the perfect (and last!) opportunity the boys would have to wear their Easter attire to church and still be comfortable... as opposed to sweaty, hot, and miserable. 

Even though they aren't professional or edited, I'm still in love. Layton was the toughest to get to cooperate but his pictures turned out the best! Yay for a photo shoot surprise! They aren't perfect but they are still oh so precious. They capture the boys in their Easter clothes, in the Spring (barely, haha), in posed pictures, with a quality camera. They are definitely mama approved and I don't think we could've asked for anything better given our last minute decision and our attempt at doing it all ourselves.  

#Allthehearteyes

If you look closely you can see Garrison's Pokemon cards through his pocket. Haha. Oh well. It's keeping it real and capturing life at this moment.

This one makes me laugh so hard! Layton was very distracted by the bulldog on the front porch so Garrison asked if they could get a picture with it.... and this is how it turned out. The happiest, most real, and natural shot of all!

Love these boys so, so much!!

It was a challenging morning and lots of bribery was involved but we're calling it a success! Yay for another year of Spring pictures of my babies!!

Easter/Spring Pictures of the Past...

2015

2014

2013

2012

Have a great Monday!!

Friday Favorites: Enjoying May Edition

This week has been good! Besides having a really hard time waking up and starting the day due to a busy schedule and going to bed too late, I've really enjoyed almost everything about this week. We've started making some summer plans, we're winding down our baseball season, and we're wrapping up the school year and anticipating our summer break BIG TIME!! So far, we are really enjoying May!

Here's a look at my favorite happenings from our week...

*Celebrating Mother's Day with my boys, my mom, and lots of family was my favorite! 

*Hanging out at Austin's practice and visiting mama's old stomping grounds... the track! Oh memories... relays, field days, track meets, skinned knees. It all came back to me... some good and some not. Ha. Layton enjoyed our stroll and Garrison enjoyed my stories. =)

*Skip Bo with my game lover!

*We've pulled out the gears lots this week and this little man is starting to master his colors! At least the 4 pictured below. He knows blue every single time and red about 75% of the time. Yellow is next and green seems to be the toughest. But I'm so excited about his progress this week!

*Austin wanted to graph earlier this week and I wanted him to have some fine motor practice so we compromised and did both! He graphed a pack of beads, one color at a time, then counted them. 

After counting them I wrote down the amount and the color word and then he traced what I wrote. Afterwards we analyzed our findings. Fine motor graphing success!

*Garrison got his yearbook on Monday and it's been a huge hit. We've spotted almost the whole family and it's been fun for the big boys to look through every night before bed during their "talking time". Yearbook fun means summer is close!!

*My parents had some new bar stools delivered and gave the boys a couple of the boxes. Big boxes to play in = HUGE hit for 3 little boys!! They have enjoyed them lots so far... played inside of them, colored all over them, poked holes into them (so light can come in, haha), taken in their flashlights and lanterns, and just had so much fun with them. Big, empty boxes really are the best!

*Austin asked to do something else at the table this week and since I really want him to get in some fine motor practice I decided on a little game for him. He rolled 2 dice and counted or added the two together and then had to place that many beans into an old muffin pan. Once he filled all 6 muffin cups he liked counting them all before emptying the tin and starting over. He worked his finger muscles all while getting in lots of math practice. 

*Bailey finally got groomed this week and is once again our little show dog. =)

*Last night was another fun night as the ballpark! I'm thankful the season is wrapping up but soaking up these last few games big time. Watching my big boys play has been such a treat!

*Favorite Read of the Week: Three Things Every Mom Should Know. During a stretch of parenting challenges and even fears this reminder was perfect. While I'm not dealing with a rebellious teenager or a fear of one of my children going to jail or running away or making terrible, life changing choices, lately we've faced some significant battles. And this devotion was such a timely reminder and source of encouragement. We need to battle with our praises and our prayers and against Satan's schemes, not our child. So reassuring, encouraging, and hopeful! And thankfully we have actually experienced a little progress this week! It's a scary feeling as a parent to not know how to best handle each situation or challenge that arises... especially ones that really concern you, but God is the perfect parent. He is capable. And our praises and prayers really are powerful and effective. Thank you Lord. 

This weekend is going to be full! Lots of baseball, lots of family time, lots of fun. We're preparing for end of school parties, practicing for end of school and choir programs, and looking forward to celebrating our great school years! Summer is close and we are counting down! Happy Friday and have a great weekend!!  

Mother's Day Weekend

 Mother's Day Weekend turned out pretty special. Even though we had some really hard moments due to a couple of significant parenting challenges throughout the weekend, I felt blessed and grateful. I was reminded that being a mama is tough but that I am loved and appreciated and needed. It was a mostly sweet weekend.

We kicked things off Friday night by celebrating me! So thankful to be their mama!!

These 4 took me out to eat and while we waited for our food they gave me their cards and presents. Melt my heart. Everything was so sweet. And a new little tradition seems to have started with Terrell... a gift to me of shopping alone. Yes please!! I'm pretty sure this is the 3rd year he's given me shopping money for Mother's Day and promised me we'll find a time when I can go by myself. I probably go shopping for myself, alone about twice a year so it's a BIG deal.  #myfavorite  =)

We even got dessert! It was a fun night out with my guys and I loved their little celebration of me.  

Garrison had a game Saturday and we won! His team's record is 4-2-1 (even though we like to count the tie as a win =)). I'm sort of thankful for similar seasons for the big boys. I'm especially thankful they've both enjoyed baseball so much. We're winding down the season and looking forward to a break from sports for a while! (At least mama is!! Ha!)

We went out with Terrell's parents Saturday night and had a fun evening celebrating with Nana. We ate sooo good this weekend and had the best time with our moms.  

Mother's Day with my babies!

Once we got to church and made sure the preschool hall was good to go and my replacement for the morning had everything under control, we got to enjoy the Baby Celebration Service. And Piper was the most entertaining baby! She basically stole the show. =)

She was fascinated with Brother Garth's goatee and had everybody laughing and Brother Garth a little distracted. Hahaha. It was so cute and hilarious. 

We enjoyed the Baby Celebration/Mother's Day Service lots. 

After church we headed to Granna's and Papa's to celebrate with lots of family. Traditionally we go to a restaurant every Mother's Day for lunch but this year my mom decided to host so my Granny wouldn't have to be out in the crowds. The boys had a ball and we enjoyed a delicious feast! 

The girls in the fam!!

After a huge lunch and busy afternoon we went over my Nanny's house to celebrate with her. And a family golf cart ride was one of the highlights of the day! We ordered pizza and hung out and just enjoyed wrapping up the weekend.

And I remembered to get a picture of my goodies before bed Sunday night. I loved all of my special gifts!!

So thankful for a really full but special weekend with our moms and my grandmothers... plus lots of other family! We had so much fun celebrating, eating good food, and enjoying each other's company. So blessed to be the daughter, granddaughter, and daughter-in-law of the most amazing ladies I know and to have the privilege of raising my 3 little men! To God be the glory, great things He hath done!

Friday Favorites: May is Here Edition

This week we welcomed the month of May and all things BUSY! It's such an exciting time of year with school winding down and summer on the horizon but I am worn out and it's only the first week!! Between Teacher Appreciation week and running around like crazy trying to find things for the big boys' amazing teachers, preparing for a brand new Sunday School year and making sure I have teachers for each class, and lots of talk about my job plans for next year, I've been going to bed too late and feeling just tad stressed. So I'm thankful for Friday and looking forward to the weekend!!

Here are my faves from our 1st week of May...

*Friday night Movie Night! Even Layton enjoys a little of the movie and some popcorn before bed every Friday night now. =)

*Sunday afternoon after nap/rest time the boys helped Terrell with some yard work and then we pulled out our beach ball sprinkler and turned on the sprinklers in our backyard. They had so much fun!! Layton watched from a distance but the big boys had the best time. Monday morning when I woke them up for school Garrison gave me a hug and said sleepily, mama we had fun last night at the water park. This may be our summer entertainment. =)

*Monday afternoon Garrison didn't have homework AND practice was cancelled due to afternoon thunderstorms, so my boys spent their extra time playing for a bit and then hanging out at the table coloring together while I made supper. Definitely a favorite this week!

*Family Game Night was a classic... Twister!! Ha! The boys LOVE it! I played 2 games with them while Terrell was the spinner and then he played one game with them and then they played the last game on their own. Thankfully as a grown up you don't care if you're out first. Hahaha. 

*My #5 had probably his best game ever on last Saturday! He had some of his biggest hits and came up to bat in the last inning with runners on 2nd and 3rd and 2 outs.... and we were down by 2 runs. Oh the pressure!! He of course was fine, it was me who felt a bit like I might need to throw up. Ha. He got another big hit to tie the game!! And he made an out at home plate for our team as well! It was soo fun to watch!! (Minus the sick/nervous feeling.) Then on Tuesday he had one of his toughest games. Our whole team struggled. Especially in the field. And my heart sort of ached for them... especially my own little player. But I was so proud of Garrison's good attitude and the way he didn't let the loss get him down. He just enjoys the game and wants to win and do well but he takes a loss in stride and shakes off mistakes and moves on. And, most important of all, his team prays before and after every single game. Oh how thankful I am for this leadership and example!! That is what makes a difference in a team's attitude and sportsmanship. Love our coaches. Especially my one of a kind Terrell Selph. =)

 *No homework this week has been wonderful! We went straight outside after school on Wednesday afternoon and these 3 had a ball soaking up the sunshine and perfect temps. 

*Baby boy got in a ride on daddy's lawnmower and it made his week! =)

*Speaking of little man... on yesterday he noticed me eating raw carrots with ranch and asked for some. Now, he is our pickiest eater by far so I knew he'd spit out his first bite.... except he didn't! He ate a whole baby carrot (and a half!) dipped in ranch!! This is huge!!! Haha. Maybe there's hope for his eating habits yet!

*A little rest time handwriting practice. We've made it all the way to the letter U!

*My #2 had a big win on Saturday (that I had to miss) and his team was coming off a big high. He was so proud to get his 2nd win of the season and received some pretty big compliments for how hard he played. Last night we played again and had to fight a little harder. Austin had a bit of a tough game and in the last inning Garrison came over to me and said Mama I feel like I might cry. I'm just so sad for Austin. Oh my heart! I reassured him that Austin was fine and was shaking things off just like he did after a tough game. And it sure made it better when our team won in the bottom of the last inning in an exciting finish! That puts our record at 3-2-1. =) I just love watching my boys play!

We are looking forward to a full and fun Mother's Day Weekend! My guys are taking me out tonight, we have one game tomorrow, then tomorrow night we're celebrating with Terrell's mom, and Sunday we get to enjoy the Baby Celebration Service at church with Baby Girl before enjoying more celebrations with my side of the fam Sunday afternoon and evening. So grateful to celebrate with all the moms in the family this weekend! Happy Friday, Happy Mother's Day!!

Some of my Favorite Things About Being Their Mom

Mother's Day week is pretty special and sentimental for me. I'm just so grateful to be a mom and love celebrating motherhood. Plus it always feels good to be reminded of how loved and appreciated you are. =) 

Every year since Garrison turned 1 and since starting this little family scrapbook I've made a list of some of my favorite things about being mom to my boys. It's just for me and them and captures a little of our relationship right now as well as a glimpse of their unique personalities and interests. So here are some of my favorites about being their mom.

Garrison~

*I LOVE receiving your precious cards, notes, and gifts. You have the sweetest way with words and are the best card maker and gift giver! You bless so many with your sweet cards, kind words, special artwork, and unique gifts. Thank you for sharing so many with me. 

*You are the best biggest brother and Austin and Layton are so blessed to have you. You love spending time with them and they truly are your very best friends. You are considerate of them and help take care of them and love them in the biggest way. Even though y'all are capable of fighting like crazy, at the end of the day, you are each others FAVORITES. 

*The way you love to learn is another one of my favorite things about being your mom. You are a sponge and soak up everything new so quickly. You love math and science best but you are so receptive to all things new and I pray you keep this love of learning forever!

*Your love of sports is pretty special. You love to play sports and you love to watch and keep up with sports. I LOVE watching you play and I love watching you as a fan. 

*You have a really big and sweet heart and it's one of your very best traits! You care about others and show compassion and concern so easily. I know God is going to use your heart to bless many!

*Watching you grow, learn, and mature is such a gift and one of my most favorite things! You are growing physically but you are also growing in wisdom, maturity, and in your Christian walk. You've had to learn some tough lessons lately but you've also grown from them and are learning that as a family we love each other no matter what and that we are a team. The most important team ever. 

*Getting surprise hugs from you and sweet compliments melts me every single time! You are always the first to check on me if you think something's wrong or I don't feel good and you always surprise me with random hugs and "I love yous". Thank you for the sweet way you love me!

*Watching your relationship with your daddy is the best. You love him and look up to him and love spending time with him like nobody else. Watching the two of you love each other is a gift!

Garrison Cade I am SO thankful to be your mama and love you more than words can say!!

   

Austin~

*I LOVE the way you make me laugh and keep things fun around here! I once heard another mom refer to one of her children as the child that brings the party to the family and that is totally YOU!! You are a fun loving and laid back little man who is happy and full of joy. Thank you for sharing your contagious, hilarious ways with our family!!

*You are the best big brother and the best little brother! You are my favorite middle child ever and being in the middle suits you perfectly. You love Garrison and look up to him and want to do everything with him. Y'all are best buds and share a super strong bond. And you play with Layton and include him in everything and love being a big brother to him. You are the best in both roles and your brothers are so blessed to have you!

*One of my very favorite things to do is watch you play sports. You are passionate, attentive, and give every game and play your all! Watching you play soccer and baseball is a JOY and I'm so proud of how hard you work, how well you listen to your coaches, and how much you love the game you're playing!!

*You are still a sweet cuddle bug and I love being on the receiving end of your hugs, kisses, and cuddles! You still love to sit in laps and be held and you especially love being close to mama. You love me in the sweetest way and I am so thankful!  

*Watching other people love and adore you is my favorite! You are so popular with everyone... family members, friends at church, friends at school, teachers, other parents and family members from baseball and soccer, and even the people in daddy's office (since you get to hang out with them for a little while 3 days a week before daddy takes you to school). Your sweet disposition and fun personality make you so lovable and irresistible!!

*You love quality time with your family and one of your favorite things to do is play games. I love playing games just me and you and our game time with Garrison or as a family. It's one of my favorite things!

*I love teaching you new things and the receptive enthusiasm you have about learning! You are a sweet student and I'm so thankful you love learning!

*Watching and listening to your imagination at work is one of my favorite things! You are really imaginative in the stories you tell and you are also becoming more and more imaginative during independent play. I'm so proud of how well you are able to pretend and have fun when you're playing independently by yourself or with Layton while Garrison (your best playmate) is at school. You are fun to watch and listen to!

Austin Selph I am SO thankful to be your mama and love you more than words can say!!

Layton~

*I LOVE the way you are still my baby. Even though you love your big brothers and try to keep up with them most of the time and you love spending time with daddy and the big boys, you are still a mama's boy through and through. You are just my little buddy and enjoy being with me so much. You still prefer me over anybody else and I'm going to savor it the best I can!!

*You are the best baby brother to Garrison and Austin. You love them BIG and ask for them, play with them, try to be like them, give them hugs before bedtime every night, and want them close by almost always. They are so special to you and most of the time you get along great with them. They are so blessed to have a sweet little brother who loves them so much!

*Rocking you before naps and bedtime is still one of my favorite things. As long as you want to be rocked, we're going to rock! You love being read to first and then you always say rock minute to let me know you just want to be held and rocked some more before being put in your bed. It is the sweetest time.  

*You give the best hugs and I love receiving them! You throw your little 2 year old arms around my neck or my leg and squeeze tight multiple times a day. You even ask for hugs randomly sometimes. Those hugs are my favorite!!

*Watching you play with your big brothers and daddy is such a treat. You fit right in with them and try to do whatever they are doing. Seeing the 4 of you together is the biggest blessing!

*Listening to you talk and hearing you laugh is the best! Those little words are the sweetest sound and your laughter is music to my ears. You are learning more and more words and becoming more and more clear with what you say and I can't get enough of it!

*Holding you and feeling your head on my shoulder is one of my favorite things! Even though you're growing bigger and heavier fast, I love holding you in my lap or carrying you around. You are still a cuddle bug and I am thankful!

*The way you love lawnmower rides, flip flops, balls, sports, being outside, and all of your family members including grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins, is the cutest and sweetest thing!! I love watching you do what you love and seeing the affection you have for everyone in our family. 

Layton Thomas Selph I am SO thankful to be your mama and love you more than words can say!!

So grateful God made me their mama. Counting my blessings and enjoying my boys lots this week. Happy Thursday! =)

This Stage

So this past weekend came with some parenting surprises and challenges. And not in a good way. Man is it humbling to be fully hit with the realization that you DON'T have it all figured out and you have no idea what to do about it. Talk about scary and discouraging. *Deep, heavy sigh.* 

God in His goodness led me to this blog post Friday night... a time in which I'm never reading blog posts or looking for blog posts, and in a way that was totally specific to me and needed by me right then. Mamas of littles, stop right now and read it if you have an extra minute. 

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I hope you read it. Because wow. That was definitely written for me (and I'm guessing you too) and I needed that encouragement, confirmation, validation, and reminder big time on Friday night... and again on Saturday and Sunday too. The timing was perfect and evoked all the emotions from this mama.

This stage of life is so much fun and such a joy. I love my boys more than anything and I love experiencing school, sports, holidays, outings, vacations, church, home life, and just the regular old days with them. Sharing in their childhoods is the best. I LOVE us being together and we do less and say no to lots because of our conviction to put family first and spend as much time together as a family of 5 as possible. Being with my family honestly and truly is my very favorite thing.

Staying home almost full time for the past 7 years has been a dream come true for me and something I have never once taken for granted. It's been an answered prayer and a huge, wonderful, amazing blessing for us and our family. I can't even describe the benefits and joys we've experienced because I've been home. I have loved and enjoyed it oh so much. More than words can express.

But, this stage has also come with so many challenges. Endless challenges. Humbling challenges. So. Many. Challenges.

It has come with lots of financial struggles and sacrifices. Most of which we chose to take on so I could be home but which have led to stress on our marriage (and our bank accounts) nonetheless. Plus a whole lot of cutting back, cutting loose, and cutting out. Things have gotten pretty dicey around here before. Like seriously stretched to the max thin. We've been afraid. We've wondered how we could do it but also how we could choose not to do it. It's been so hard each school year to know what we're supposed to do (about me and my teaching degree) and what the very best thing is for our family. Making the decision together for me to stay home as much as possible has been both the BEST and the HARDEST thing we've ever done for our family.

This stage has also brought us more parenting challenges than we ever thought we'd experience. (And our oldest is only 7! Gracious.) Because when those precious babies are born you just can't fathom they would ever make bad choices or be disrespectful or lie to your face or have meltdowns you believe are world record breakers or that they'll ignore you or be unkind or ever do anything "ugly". Ahh but it happens. And you're left with wondering where you went wrong and what happened to your sweet baby. And sometimes you're left with a very real confusion and concern you weren't prepared for. At 7, 4 and 1/2, and 2 our household full of boys is also very much full of parenting challenges, battles of wills, and tears... from parents and kiddos alike. Please Lord let us train them up in the way they should go. 

This stage has come with TONS of responsibility and just stuff to do... taking care of babies, raising boys in the nurture and admonition of Christ, laundry, cleaning house, nap times, bedtimes, bath times, preparing meals, cleaning up crumbs and scrubbing fingerprints, doing homework, doing school projects, changing diapers, breaking up fights, disciplining, training, singing to little boys, reading to little boys, hugging and kissing little boys, yelling at little boys (sad but true), cheering on little boys, chauffeuring little boys, and praying for little boys. I struggle with balance between my children and my marriage, my time with them and away from them, our time at home and our time away, playing with them and having them play independently, etc, etc, etc. On the tough days I feel like I'm not enough... not doing enough, not active enough, not engaging them enough, not spending enough quality time with them, like there's not enough of me to go around. I feel less than adequate as a mom and as a wife.

It's true that this stage is hard. Man is it ever. Which I'm sure every stage and season probably has it's challenges.

But this stage, this in the trenches of motherhood stage with littles and crazy, busy, messy households and tired parents and multitasking and juggling acts and day to day ups and downs, THIS stage is one of the best and sweetest stages we will ever experience. This stage truly is the "good old days". And I'm so thankful God reminded me of that through another's mama's words on Friday night. As hard and challenging as it is, it's just as fun and rewarding and special. It's full of joy and wonder, love and excitement, blessing after blessing. It's the most wonderful thing ever. Not always glamorous (okay pretty much never), not always easy (okay rarely), but oh so wonderful and precious.

This Mother's Day Week I hope you choose joy amid the crazy and really, intentionally enjoy this stage you're in. Things can be so wild around here I forget to stop and pause and enjoy the laughter, fun, and yes even bickering and fighting that goes on almost daily. I forget to appreciate the messes that are evidence of boys playing, having fun, making memories, and experiencing childhood. Things can be so busy around here I forget to savor the practices and games (actually I think I might savor the games because I love them so) and rushing around to make it where we need to be on time. Some days I'm good at pausing and soaking in these moments in time and other days I'm terrible at it. But no matter how hard and challenging and even stressful this stage can be at times, I absolutely LOVE it and recognize these days as the best days.

Being a mama to littles is tough. But it is the biggest blessing. This stage is priceless. Let's enjoy it to the fullest. Happy Mother's Day Week!!!