They are 5!!!!!

Friday May 9th the girls had their 5th Birthday. I can not believe how much they have grown!!!! We celebrated in Flatrock NC where we were staying for my graduation. Here are a few pictures to show how much they have changed over the years...


First Birthday... During Party
Second Birthday... In the Hawaii Dresses from Aunt J

Third Birthday...At the Children's Museum Celebrating Fourth Birthday...At home before school that morning with new presents
Fifth Birthday...In Flatrock NC on vacation

It Is Finished!

Tonight as of 10:30 p.m. I finished my last final exam for my college degree! I can not tell you how it feels! Tears are falling but they are of joy and accomplishment. I did it. I went through two years of college with 3 toddlers who are now going to be 5 in just a few short days. There is a sense of pride that comes with this that I can't explain. It was hard work. I did not give up... and there were times I could have. In just 7 days I will accept my diploma. When I had the girls I never thought I would have the opportunity to finish college. Now, in this moment is it done. I made the Deans list, National Honors Society, Who's Who among 2 yr. colleges and PHI THETA KAPPA Society. I did it and did it with honors.

Thank you to my Dear Hubby who supported me all the way! Thank you to Aunt C for all the nights you watched the girls and Saturdays you let me do homework. Thank you Mema for all the Thursday nights you watched the girls. Thank you Daddy & Momma for all the Wed. nights you took the girls to Awanas while I went to school. Thank you for all the Mondays and Thursdays you watched the girls during class. Thank you Mema for all the Saturday mornings you watched the girls while I did homework. I would not have finished if it were not for all your help. Thanks to Mrs. S for all the help mentoring me in my ASL skills.

Thanks for allowing me a minute to brag. :)

New Seats

The girls will be 5 in a few weeks and it was time for new car seats. Safety is of utmost importance to B and I. We have both seen to many children die in car crashes due to improper safety seats mainly booster seats. I had searched the internet for several months trying to find one we felt was safe. We decided on the Sunshine Kids Monterey.


It's the best seat! I love them not to mention the girls love them! They came by FedEx today. Side note story...

The FedEx lady who delivered them today a while back delivered things to the house several years ago. She started when I was pregnant with the girls. She was super sweet and would spend a few minutes each time chatting with me about pregnancy, infertility (her daughter has infertility) and triplets. When the babies came home from the hospital she stopped by one day to see them. She always came in to speak when she made deliveries and played with the girls. Then she stopped coming when the girls were about 3 yrs old. B and I would often wonder what happened to her. We figured she retired and hoped for the best for her. Well, today she showed up. She was so excited because she thought she recognized our names from the address on the car seats. The girls came out to speak with her and she told B that her daughter was finally expecting a baby (just one) and she had been gone from our route due to having a hip replacement.

Here are a few pics of the girls in their new car seats...


Here are a few pics of them in their 5 pt. harness seats Easter a year ago. They all passed out from the sugar rush. In fact R was so whacked out on sugar while putting her in her car seat she was screaming like an addict ..."I JUST NEED ONE MORE CUPCAKE!!!!!" It was too funny!

My Favorite Thing.....

...is a BOOK!

I could get lost for hours in worlds far away. A week ago I was lost in the Civil War! If you have never read this book it's a must read! I want to read it again and I just finished it. So, after graduation which is just 2 weeks away I sure you will find me in a swing reading the beautiful saga again.

At night for a while I have been reading aloud to the girls after they are in bed at night. We read a chapter each night and they love it! We have finished Charlotte's Web, several small chapter books and this is our new read...

If you have never read the Mary Poppins books get them now to read. They are hilarious!!! The girls love them. They are super silly and so much fun! I had no idea but there are 5 different Mary Poppins books. They are good reads for girls or boys.

If you are not reading chapter books to your small ones age 3 and up I really suggest you start. They will love it and you will help build their passion for reading!

Happy Green Day (a day late) :)

So yesterday was Earth Day and I was inspired by Cottage Girl to post about what our family is doing to be more green. So here are a few of our tips....

*Reusable Shopping Bags! The are so easy to use and thanks to my Mother in Law I have been using them for the past ten years when grocery shopping. Now, we are using them during all of our shopping such as Wal Mart, Target, Dollar General and Dollar Tree. It's amazing how many of those plastic bags you can accumulate in just one weeks worth of shopping. So get the reusable bags. Wal Mart has really nice ones for only $1! You would not believe how much stuff you can get into just one bag.
*Also keep you bags in your car. That way they are always ready to be used.

*Green Works Cleaners ....
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I have switched all our household cleaning products to Green Works Cleaners. They are great and work so much better than the bleach products I was using before. They are very affordable! You can buy them at Wal Mart or the regular grocery store.
Since making the switch I no longer get headaches from cleaning. Don't Tell the Hubby!

*Wash clothes with cold water. I have always done this and your clothes are still just as clean.

*Energy Efficient Light Bulbs. We have them all through the house.

*Turn off the lights, TV and computer when we are not using them.

*All Natural soaps, tooth paste and shampoo. Right now I'm on the search for a good soap and shampoo but I love Toms Naturals toothpaste. I hope to switch the girls over to it soon. It has no dyes in it which is super important for R. She reacts so badly to red dye and all kids tooth paste seems to have it.

We are not strict tree lovers by any means but I do think it's important to think about what we are consuming. We are to be good stewards of this beautiful world God has given us to live in.

Try to be a little bit Green today. :)

The New Swing/ Playhouse...

Daddy and Papa worked all day Friday then Uncle S came over this afternoon to help finish the swing/playhouse. The girls are so excited and in the picture you can see R and cousin L getting ready to scale the rock wall into the tunnel. I have a feeling this will be a life saver for me this summer!

Shingles!!!!!

I have them again for the 4th time in 10 years. I'm going to cry now. :(