Go Railey!

Last week for the birthday celebrations, I emailed with Railey's teacher to get details on when I could bring in cake for her class, as well as make up work that we could do while on our Disney trip.

I just couldn't help but to include her reply....

We have lunch at 10:48.  Please join us at the cafeteria door.  See you then.

Ps.

Got your note about make up work.

We will be studying the season of spring, easy.  Just ask her to observe the signs of spring, draw and write in a little journal what she sees.

In math, we are back to addition.  She can join us on Wednesday.

You should be proud of your little Railey, she gives it 110% every day and it shows in the progress she has made.

I can't think of a better compliment...we are proud of you Railey girl!

HUGE thanks to Jolie Kimmel for this picture

Six Years Old

Just as my parents warned me, six years have passed much more quickly than I could have imagined, and our little girl has grown up.  On one hand, I know she is independent and capable of doing big girl things, but the overprotective mommy in me still gets a pit in my stomach when she gets on the school bus.  She is spunky, fun loving, self assured, and loves the new friends we have made in Marietta.

This year, we decided to have a small neighborhood party and then surprise the kids with a birthday trip to Disney.  ZBB was playing a show in Orlando and we got to tag along...one of the perks being two days at Disney World.

Before I get started with all of the fun of our trip, I have to give a HUGE thanks to Stacey DeMartini for taking the majority of these AMAZING pictures.

On Friday night after school, we loaded up the girls and told them we were going to the warehouse to meet Daddy for dinner.  Once we finally told them the REAL reason for our trip, needless to say, they were beyond excited.  Unfortunately, this excitement was doubled when they found out we would be riding the tour bus overnight to Orlando.  When I walked into the bunk area at 10:00 p.m., this is what I saw....

Three little heads poking out of their bunks

The first day was a pool day.  It was so nice to get into some warm weather!  For the most part, it was all fun.

But, we did have a few moments.  I can't believe that Stacey managed to capture this moment.  Mama sipping on my cocktail while Railey pouts in timeout.

We spent 6 hours in Disney each day with our AMAZING tour guide Bob.  He knew exactly the rides that the kids would love and even took us to meet Mickey and some of the princesses.

Almost immediately after we got into the park, Maysie's thumb went directly into her mouth.  GROSS!

My favorite part of the trip was taking Railey on her first Space Mountain ride....priceless.  She said it was scary, but went back for round 2 with Daddy, Justice and Zac the next day.

I guess that I got overconfident after the Space Mountain success, because Tower of Terror didn't go over so well. Let's just say that she screamed, "I'm going to die" about 3 seconds into the ride.

Animal Kingdom was a hit with both girls.  No surprise for my girl who told me that she would be a vet when she grows up.

Railey with the hippos...they were HUGE!

By the end of day two, and after skipping her nap, Maysie had enough.  She decided to take a ten minute cat nap while she got her face painted.

Railey, on the other hand, was wide awake!

An amazing trip with some amazing friends!

This and That

Fun at Tutu and Poppy's

At the park with the Crawford kids

A letter from Railey to Paul...."I love my Daddy"

Stacey sent me this picture....just because

Kaly and I at the Eric Church concert

Paul fixed the uplighting on the house!!!

Celie and Maysie at the neighborhood party

Playing in the rain

Railey and Colette at gymnastics

Maysie's toes after a pedicure

Maysie and Downing

Roll With the Punches

It has been a tough 2013....no doubt about it.  Between the cat, the dog, Railey's round of antibiotics, Maysie's two round of antibiotics, my two rounds of antibiotics, Railey's asthma diagnosis and a traveling husband...I am beat.

But a weekend trip to Tallahassee for the funeral of the mother of one of my oldest friends definitely put things in perspective.  During the service, I couldn't help but look around at 8 friends, who gathered to support one of the most selfless friends we have, and think how lucky I am.  I have known most of them for 30 plus years, and at this point we interact more more like sisters than friends.  

One of the quotes in the eulogy was from Rick Warren.  He said "Life is a series of problems: Either you are in one now, you're just coming out of one, or you're getting ready to go into one."  Maybe this is the new philosophy I need to follow...stop focusing so much on avoiding the curve balls in life and just expect and deal with them.  Easier said than done for this Type A personality,  but if I can practice what I preach, I think I will be much better off in the long run.

After the service, we went out to dinner to celebrate Kenley's 7th birthday.  Railey and Kenley decided to take some self portraits.  Thank God the Robinson girls are coming to Marietta this weekend...otherwise I wouldn't have been able to get Railey away from them at the end of the night.....

Here's to warmer weather and a good dose of fun chaos instead of the craziness that January and February have brought.