Memorial Day

First of all, how lucky are we that we have wonderful forces that protect our freedom everyday? I am so blessed to be born in America. When you start comparing us to the rest of the world, our lives are so easy!

We spent most of Memorial Day week/weekend in the water somewhere! We started out at the Splash Park in Collierville last week. We were only able to go here once or twice last summer, and I knew Pres would love it. He did not disappoint! 

Kate, on the other hand, was just as happy to be sunbathing with the adults.

We are so glad to have access to such a fun place with fun friends!


Little Mama making him go with her!
Friday night, I proposed an awesome date night to Luke. We could run the kids around at home, give them baths, and then go to the drive in. I thought (key word here) that by the time we got all the way down to Summer Ave, the kids would surely be asleep. Definitely Preston because it would be past his bedtime and little booger likes to be asleep by then. Of course, Kate had to teetee right before we got there and woke up and Preston talked the entire time! They enjoyed the first part of MIB3 with us, and then I walked Preston around in the sling until he fell asleep. We put both kids back in their carseats and drove to the other side of the “theatre” and they were both out! I think we might try it again, and just make sure they swim that day so theyll be worn out before we head into town. Nevertheless, Luke got to experience his first drive in movie!
Saturday morning, we got up and headed to the lake. My parents bought a boat at Christmas, and we were all dying to get it on the water! All the adults were high fiving and cheering because we were so glad that it actually cranked, and my dad said, “ Kate, isnt this wonderful?” She looked at him and said, “Pawpaw, it’s just a boat.” Haha…she will be one hard girl to impress!
Preston was hilarious! He was so relaxed and floated like this the entire time he was in the water!


Saturday night, we went to the Sunset Symphony. Perfect ending to our day!  
Sunday and Monday were spent in the pool at my parents!


Kate was making cupcakes for everyone!
This picture cracks me up. Notice the dog is hot on the rabbit’s trail!

"Be like a flower and turn your face to the sun."
- Kahlil Gibran

Also, we have some friends that are selling everything they own to go into full time ministry/missionaries/wherever God takes them. Check out their site for the things they are selling!

http://www.sheetssellstuff.blogspot.com/

Starkville

How did I not write about our wonderful weekend in Starkville? We went for a baby shower for my sweet Lindsey and Baby Elisabeth. Lindsey looks absolutely beautiful as a pregnant mama, and she even loved me rubbing her belly (heehee!)

We stayed with the Skaggs family, and I am a little bit obsessed with Jones. My kids LOVED him! He is the cutest little thing and hilarious like his mama! I am so glad they are living a little bit closer so we can hang out more often. Unfortunately, the majority of my pics of these three are in the tub. and I am not allowed to post them. Let’s just say we have an adorable one of the boys kissing that will be perfect for their dorm room at State in 2028.

 

We also got to celebrate Tricia Patricia’s bday! I like celebrating her birthday almost as much as celebrating my own. She is just one of those kind of people!

There is flattery in friendship. Bill Shakespeare

Luke is DUN!!

Growing up, every time my family traveled to Disney World, it seemed like something crazy happened. There was lost luggage, missed flights, and flashers at the hotel! Whenever something would happen, we adopted a catch phrase, “I bet this never happens to the Coles!” You see, our friends, The Coles, could decide on a Thursday night to go to the most magical place on earth and were there by Saturday. Their plans always seemed seamless, and we would plan for months to have everything bust at the seams. Nevertheless, both of our families always ended up at the Magic Kingdom.

Now, what does this have to do with law school graduation? Let me start with the Tuesday before. I had a gazillion errands to do while the kid’s were at MDO and Luke was in Oxford turning in his last paper. About 8 errands in, my car died. And not in the way that I needed jumper cables. I could tell it was the transmission, so I parked it and found a ride to pick up the kids. Amazingly, the car lasted until the very last day that we needed to have two cars!The next day, Luke towed me home…another fun, first experience. I worked that night (Wednesday) 12 hours, and when I got home Thursday morning, I went to get Preston out of bed, he puked. 5 times. Luke got Kate ready for MDO, I went to bed, and Luke and Pres headed to Oxford to pick up his cap and gown. Luke brought Preston back home about 1:30 because he had thrown up several more times, and he headed out to get Kate. This wouldn't usually be a big deal, but I had gone to sleep at 9, gotten up at 1:30, and had to go back to work that night. On Friday morning, Luke calls me and says he is sick too. I assured him it was all in his head and he would be fine to watch the kids for me to sleep. HA! What a sympathetic nurse I am :) By the time I got home from work, he had puked twice and looked absolutely terrible! I quickly put him to bed and called my dad. I knew he was supposed to be painting the den at my parents’ house, but I had to get a nap because I was on the verge of tears! I slept for 3 hours and got up to go get them. I finished getting everything together for Saturday…the Big Day!  I got everything ready for the graduation picnic and went to bed. Saturday morning, Luke was supposed to ride with my parents to convocation, because the kids and I werent going until actual graduation 2 hours later (and we only have 1 car at this point.) There was a little confusion on what time they were supposed to arrive in Oxford, and Luke got nervous about being late. They came and got him, and we smiled and said see ya in 2 hours!! As I started loading the car with me, two kids, and enough party supplies for 20 people for lunch, I realized that not only did I not have the keys to Luke’s truck, but that the car seats were locked in there! I knew they were in Luke’s pocket after all the confusion about who was riding where. I called my sister in a panic, she calmly turned around, got car seats from my moms house, and came and got me and the kids. I ran up breathlessly walked up calmly, passed off the kids to a babysitter I had never met (thanks, Amy, she was perfect!) and sat down as graduation started! We had made it to the Magic Kingdom!
After that, the rain held off, Luke graduated Magna Cum Laude, and we had a wonderful time celebrating with our families! My little brother, Blake, also graduated from that north MS school with his MBA, so my parents and siblings were across campus watching him. I can not tell you how proud I am of my husband for doing so well in school while adding a child to our family, surviving a wreck, and being an amazing husband all at the same time. When we started this adventure three years ago, I would have never imagined what we would have gone through to get to the end. I am so glad we are there, and I am so excited to start this next chapter in our lives! There is no one I would rather share my craziness with! And as long as we make it to the Magic Kingdom, I am ready to go!
 
The whole family
 
Wait, we forgot the kids!

and again!

As my precious BIL, Brett, said, “Yalls lives sure seem hectic!”