Last Photo Dump to Catch Up - Ella's Recital, Mom's Birthday and End of School

I was so happy to be back with the kids from Nashville - I have never stayed away from them for 4 nights and missed them so much!

Caleb got a tshirt, guitar squishy, and a golf ball for his collection.

Ella got a tshirt and some cowboy boot earrings. 

They were both thrilled!

My kitchen was under construction for the whole month of May.

It was a big pain trying to deal with all the workers especially in such a busy month!

Ella was wrapping up 1st grade - she won the coloring contest in her class. 

Caleb won the STRIDE award for being "king and caring"

He is not a picture fan so I grab them when I can. 

He was having his daily bowl of ice cream :)

More kitchen progress - the painting really made a big difference!

On the night of mom's birthday, May 29th we had a girls night at Fiesta Cancun with her best friends

We gave her some gag gifts 

"Caution - Senior Driver" 

She also got some really nice gifts and everyone contributed to a scrapbook for her! 

Beach cupcakes 

Melanie was a big help in party planning and scrapbook making! 

Trick candles 

Some of mom's favs came of course - Audrey and Camden 

With her BFFs 

With the crew that keeps her young but loves her so! 

Melaine and I are both so thankful she is ours! 

With long time BFFs - Abbie and Joy 

Raynor girls - we were just missing Amy who had to work 

These three have stuck together thru lots of good times and bad times 

Two of her BFFs and prayer partners 

One of mom's first friends in Wilson and my first friend in life - Betsy and Claire

Glad we are all still close! 

Everyone loves Kelly and we missed Linda who was sick!

  Kristin left before we took a picture!

Last week of school - June 4th

Lunch with Ella and Kennady, one of her sweet school buddies 

Lunch with Caleb - he didn't want to pick a friend.  He just wanted to eat with me!

On Friday, June 2nd we surprised the kids and went and got Oreo early

The ride home - she was shaking and car sick

We had told the kids we would get her on June 6th so they were pumped when they came home from school and she was there!  Ella cried and thanked us over and over! 

Ella started reading a puppy book to her 

We celebrated Katelyn's 9th birthday at her Pool Party 

Oreo and Ella - Ella loves her so much

We had a slumber party with Lizzie Kate and Nora

The boys stayed at the Stones House for the night.

We had neighborhood yard day and the kids set up a lemonade stand 

We cleaned up the entrance to the neighborhood sign 

Neighborhood Pool Party with Mary and Staci 

Kids and dads swimming 

Ella was a daddy's girl one day and cuddled up for a movie sucking her thumb

Graduate Sunday 

I left my phone unattended and got this on my phone 

The Hutchens and Taylors stepped down as youth leaders.

Jenna, Grayson, Lauren and Anna are our girls - Kelly and I love them so much! 

Never a dull moment - Josh showed back up as a prank 

I got new tables for my living room.

Jordan refinished the ones that dad made along with one that I bought at Rummage Warehouse

Oreo napped a lot when we first got her 

Family Birthday Celebration for mom- pizza and homemade ice cream 

Ella loved Mammy's Birthday Glasses

Even thought she turned the big 6-0, I think she had a good birthday! 

Oreo went riding with us around town alot

Night walks at Lake Wilson with the crew 

It was a long walk esp with all the kids in tow but it was a fun night! 

Mr. Randy and Mrs. Linda came by and gave the kids a ride in their convertible

Ella's Awards Day at school

Her teacher had red carpet rolled out and everyone got an award. 

My Sweetie Pie got the Sweetie Pie award for having the kindest and biggest heart around.

Of course we were so proud!  

She also ended the year with all Ss and Ms and her reading level is great! 

End of Year Ice Cream Party with Addison, Lam, and Keely

She had such a sweet group of girls this year! 

With her teacher Mrs. Deans who we LOVE!

She has a daughter that Ella loved so we also became friends 

With her bucket of summer goodies 

1st grade done, 2nd here we come! 

Caleb's party was at the same time so Corey went with him and helped with water balloons 

Caleb and Charlie were partners for the game 

Corey enjoyed being able to help out 

Caleb and his teacher, Mrs. Hunt, we also LOVE - she prepared him for the EOG so well!

She was a friend of mine from high school 

We took Oreo on lots of walks! 

First week of June

I went to Sandals training in Cary

Now I can book Sandals and Beaches 

Certified Sandals specialist

This is the week I began to be really sick! 

Ella's first piano practice 

Making a tag for Oreo with our phone number 

We really enjoyed the squash and veggies we got from our garden 

Caleb rocked the 3rd grade and his teacher sent a cute picture! 

Last Day of School  - Kids were pumped! 

June 6th

Oreo also had a vet appointment and was 4 pounds

Her 2nd appointment she was up to 6 pounds

Ella loves taking selfies on my phone

We had a lunch and play date with McKeels at Taco Bell and the pool 

Ella was so excited on recital night - June 7th 

She played 3 pieces -  one that she had composed and she did so good! 

She didn't seem nervous at all 

Her feet just swung as she played and get the beat so well 

Daddy brought her flowers! 

I kept Catherine and Nathan while Lauren went to Graduation Practice and we tried out the pool that Caleb got at the Yard Sale 

The kids had a lot of fun that afternoon 

We attended Owen's preschool graduation and he did so well with the songs! 

Mammy and her sweet darlings 

Oreo is hard to get a picture of - she is always a moving blur 

We gave Corey an I watch for Fathers Day  - he had been wanting one! 

So thankful for my family! 

Oreo would sit with Ella and cuddle while she watched TV 

Kitchen progress - so exciting! 

Ella wanted me to try out all new braids on her hair 

We came home from church on Sunday night and Ella wanted us to take her training wheels off and we did! 

She got it the first time and hadn't stopped riding ever since 

Look at her go! 

Caleb was at basketball camp so we did a lot of bike rides 

She was fast and me and Oreo had a hard time keeping up 

So proud of her and her determination  

She lost tooth number 6 on the night of Fathers Day - she pulled it all by herself! 

Ella and I had some time while Caleb was at camp so we went to the Donut Shop one morning before my eye doctor appointment

Caleb enjoyed Barton Basketball Camp with his buddies Grayson and Logan 

Ella got a new bike helmet and Caleb spent some of his money on a remote control boat 

I had an emergency DNC on Tuesday,  June 19th - thanks to Audrey and Jamie for all their help that night!  I stayed in the hospital one night - Abbie brought flowers and Kelly brought an edible arrangement to me the next day! 

On Thursday, Caleb had basketball camp ceremony 

He learned a lot and we loved watching him 

They played a scrimmage - it was so hot since the gym does not have air. 

He is getting so good at several sports - he loves basketball! 

With their certificates - Grayson is a good friend to Caleb! 

Barton Bulldogs  

Playing with Rosie and Oreo 

Rosie is bigger than Oreo right now!

Sams Date with Abbie and Madi Grace

These girls took their pocket books and babies! 

On a Sunday afternoon we took a boat ride out to Tar River with the Boltons 

We sure do love them! 

Fun times in the water - I wasn't able to swim that day  

Family Picture 

My family - I stayed in the boat 

Caleb and Corey moved dad's blueberry bush to our house and we ate about 5 berries off the bush. 

Last weekend in June 

We went to Lake Gaston with the Taylors 

Caleb paddleboarding 

Family picture before the fireworks 

Ella and Lena ready to ride the tube 

Evan and Jodi on the jet ski 

Caleb wakeboarding - he also skied on one ski! 

Caleb learning how to drive the boat

July 2nd 

We came home from the lake and gave Oreo her first bath - she wasn't a big fan of swimming at the lake 

Ella and Catherine played make up artists one afternoon - they even gave me and Lauren make overs

Oreo got her first Pelican snowcone  

Ella made her seashell jar with shells she collected at the beach 

We also went to Oxford and celebrated Tubby's 79th birthday but didn't take any pictures!

Finished product

We had friends over for homemade ice cream and water games!

Ella helped me set up the ice cream bar 

They had fun swimming and playing with water balloons 

Oreo and Rosie

My HCG hormone levels continued to climb after my DNC and Dr. Fiscus told me I would need to be referred and I got an appointment with Dr. Semer Friday, July 13th.  Corey and the kids were planning to go to the beach with the Taylor Crew.

I started bleeding bad again on Thursday night/Friday morning so I didn't make it to the appointment but instead ended up in the Vidant ER and had to have a 2nd DNC on Friday the 13th and we missed Taylor Beach Trip 

The day I got the call that I needed to be referred we were at Chuck E Cheese with Abbie's crew.

Caleb had been asking to go all summer! 

He spent his own money and bought him and Ella an hour play pass 

Sweet friends with their Chuck E Cheese prizes 

We also had a family day the Thursday before I went back into the hospital since Corey was back from his Kentucky business trip. 

We got lunch that day from a food truck after buying all our groceries for the beach trip - we ended up not going on 

Caleb organized his Hot Wheel cars in the holder than Granddaddy made 

July 13th - I woke up bleeding again so we headed to the ER

Ready for DNC #2 to clean me out so I can start feeling better 

The very nice surgeon who took my case that Friday 

Friday night after surgery - I was feeling so much better! 

Crawford was so sweet to take Caleb golfing while I was in the hospital 

Caleb had so much fun and wore one of Granddaddy's hat 

Such a happy boy having a guys night with Craw

Crawford is his Sunday School teacher and he really looks up to him - so thankful Craw is our friend and someone Caleb looks up too! 

Ella was so happy at Mrs. Janice's house with Camden 

Audrey and Craw dropped everything to help us out so mom could come to the hospital 

Ella went swimming with Audrey and Camden and had so much fun! 

They even kept Oreo too!  Hank wasn't sure what to think but we know they will be BFFs before long! 

More pool time pictures - I loved getting them at the hospital 

This girl is a fish! 

They treated Ella to Pelicans and she knew just what to order!

Mrs. Juanita passed away and we went to visit her family - Ella made them a note and they hung it on the fridge and sent me a picture 

Saturday - still hanging in the hospital

Not fair that Corey had a nice Starbucks and I was having to drink a contrast drink for a CT before we could leave the hospital 

Mrs. Mary Jo had brought balloons by and the kids loved playing with them 

Kent's crew came to visit on Sunday 

Mom has been such a big help with keeping kids, doing laundry, house cleaning and even cooking which we know isn't her favorite thing to do!

Caleb and Ella went to Bailey's 6th Birthday Party at the Country Club Sunday afternoon 

Week of July 16th - Caleb went to soccer camp with Nathan

Ella had art camp with some of her BFFs 

Ella went to the movies with LK and Nora 

I think this is updated for now - I am so glad to be caught back up!