The Crescent Rail

To kick off our summer we (as in three kids and me....) hopped on the 4:00pm train to Hattiesburg from Downtown Laurel, its called the Crescent rail. 30 minutes later we arrived in Hattiesburg where Nanny and Pop picked us up.

Saylor fell asleep before it arrived in Laurel to pick us up and then while we were on the train she was scared of all the loud noises and shakes.

She finally got a little brave towards the end and ventured across the aisle. 

We are slowly opening an outdoor booth at the Southern Antique Mall and here is my helper, he wore his biking glove because he was ready to work ;) After losing the keys and spending over an hour looking for them over 3 floors and endless boxes in the trash, we finely found them....needless to say, we won't be going back as a team to work anytime soon :)

Hudson has had a fever for over a week (this is one that doesn't get sick so we knew it was something) and got diagnosed with pneumonia, he has been a sick little boy and I have been a nervous wreck! None of our kids have ever had this and I had no idea what to expect. Hopefully, tomorrow will be his turning point!

She was sending kisses to Daddy xoxo

Since her usual partner in crime is under the weather it has been a great time for her and her other brother to hang out! He has loved the attention and she found a lot of things she loves about him, so sweet!

Saylor turns 2!

Our Saylor girl turned 2 on May 3rd. She brings so much joy, laughter and smiles to this family. We often still talk about how shocked we are to have a little girl. She is sweet and kind and loves to be a helper (which is a huge change from the 2 big brothers, they aren't quite the joyful helpers).

Saylor,
   You are the apple of our eye! Here are the reasons you make us smile every single day :)

• "I'll get it!"
• "Hudda!" "Hawee!"
• "Goo Boy!" (to Charlie)
• "Babeee!"
• "All way" (means sing "Jingle all the way" - Jingle Bells)
• You say hello to strangers you also tell them that I'm your mommy :)
• You love your big brothers so much, you say "Boys?" when you can't find them and they do everything you tell them to do, hope you don't get upset when that changes one day.
• You like your milk warmed just a little.
• You are a good sleeper and will sleep late but you like to wake up about 5:00am and get in Mommy and Daddy's bed. Maybe it's time for you to have a big girl bed?
• You like to sit on the potty but you only deliver about 15% of the time.
• You love music, dance and singing. 
• Your favorites are: your pink Little Giraffe blankie Mrs.Sally got for you, Bitty Baby, Dora fruit snacks, hot dogs, pasta with just Parmesan on it, apple juice, ice, SWINGING (all day), swimming, taking care of your babies, fruit, watering the garden, going by by - you are always ready!

The day we took you home and your first carousel ride when we celebrated in Atlanta. You are my girl :)

Saylor and Daddy, you are his heart!

Your first week.

When we celebrated your 1st birthday!

Now we celebrate your 2nd year.....

Nanny and Granny at our house for your birthday!

Even our goose celebrated!

Your cousins and family came to have cake with you!

Kayla, Kali and Aunt Julia

Kali drinking pink lemonade

Our family celebrating your 2nd!

You and Mawmaw

Pappy and Nana Pierce celebrated too! They gave you a quilt that Mawmaw Pierce had started before she passed away and her quilting friends finished it for you :)

At your 2 year check up, you didn't cry for the first time but you were very nervous! You weighed 32 lbs and are 35 inches tall!

To our sweet girl: You have brought more joy into all of our lives than we could have ever imagined, we are all in awe of you! We are so blessed that God chose us to have you and love you. We hope (despite having 2 rough older brothers) that you grow into a gentle kind person that knows that the Lord loves you and blessed you. We love you sunshine!

Momma and Daddy

Busy Boys

Harrison and Hudson have been so busy! This is what they have been up to!

They had May Day at St.John's and worked so hard on their song and moves. It was outstanding as usual. I was so proud! Their class were indians and they were so lucky that their Nana Pierce made them these super nice indian costumes for Christmas so they got to wear them for another special event. 

We went to West Jones Elementary and registered for Kindergarten! They were excited when we left and scored high on their screens. I'm not so sure I am as ready as they are :(

We have been seeing all kinds of wildlife around the house, this snapping turtle, a family of armadillos that come out during the day and are not scared of anything (they are doing a number on our yard!) and birds that are nesting under our porch...to name a few. I'm not so wild about wild life.

They finished their first baseball season! Their team that Joel helped coach came in second overall! 

(Left: Hudson Right: Harrison)

They had Joel take off their training wheels and found a new love for their bikes, they ride them everyday now and usually wake up and ask to go as soon as they are on their feet.

They had a game that got rained on, heavily and both had been practicing sliding on the kitchen tile. Hudson was on third getting ready to run home and I cringed as he started .... he slid into home plate which was a pit of mud, score! The game got paused because of the heavy rain so everyone ran to their dugout, a minute later I saw one little one run out of the dugout and head to home plate...he slid in and got up and ran back...guess who?!

Hudson getting his K4 certificate from Mrs.Mary Beth.

Harrison getting his certificate.

Last day of school at St.John's, I can't even express how much we will miss this place (until Saylor starts the year after this next one), they are beyond prepared for Kindergarten and they also know about Jesus' love for them and can recite bible verses and stories. We are so proud of them and all they have learned the last two years!

Saylor enjoyed the last day too!

Last baseball game and the prized trophies! Go Cardinals!

Uncle D's Wedding - ATL

We headed to Atlanta to celebrate Dwayne and Lindsay's wedding and we got to visit with Nana and Pappy Pierce too. We stayed with them until the wedding night when we went to the hotel, I had forgotten how cool hotels are to kids, they had a ball going from room to room (us, my parents and Joel's Mom and Ronnie had rooms on the same floor). This was a week before Saylor's 2nd birthday so we knew we wanted to take her to the American Girl store to pick out a baby. Baby dolls are her favorite right now! Here is the vacation in pictures....

Saylor was so sweet in this store I wish I could have bottled it up! She smiled from ear to ear the entire time and just held and love that baby. She picked out a blonde bitty baby and Nanny got her the blankie and bottle to go with it.

Then we went shopping at Trader Joe's for our Two-Buck Chuck.

This is at the rehearsal dinner with the bride and groom, it was such a fun wedding!!

Uncle D, Pawpaw and Daddy .... Looking good as usual.

The next day we were tourists and it was fun! Here the kids are at Centennial Park.

 Hudson chose to ride the big Elk of course!

Harrison chose the roaring lion...of course!

 This was Saylor's first carousel ride and she loved it, this was a huge one in the mall.

 We went to the top of the Westin in downtown Atlanta, you can see the entire city!

 They are drying out after getting a little too close to the fountains.

 Pop and Daddy participating in all the fun...

 Our handsome ring bearers with Mawmaw and Pawpaw before the wedding.

 Nanny and Pop before the wedding.

There were 6 ring bearers and they all carried a sign ....

"Uncle Dwayne, here comes your bride"

 The sweet happy couple being introduced.

 This was their first wedding and they had the time of their little lives, they were dancing machines. Hudson actually did the worm across the dance floor to our amazement (and everyone else's) we didn't know he could do that!

They were worn out and so hot!

It was a beautiful wedding with great people and fun. It was so fun to hang out with everyone outside of Mississippi, and to get to see Nana and Pappy was icing on the cake!