4th of July/Family Reunion

I know that this post is almost a month late, but I have been a little preoccupied with the recent events with my Mom's health, and haven't been in the mood to blog. A little over a month ago, Mom suffered a brain aneurysm, which then caused a stroke. We truly thought we were losing her, but through many prayers, we were able to witness a miracle, and Mom made it! I've been amazed watching her recovery process...she is one determined lady! From not being able to move anything on her right side or speak, she is now walking, using her arm and hand again, and speaking much more clear! She went home to El Dorado today, where she will continue to receive occupational therapy and speech....however, she is so excited to be home! We have gone through many emotions in the past month, but are so happy to be on the uphill side of things now! I sure do love her!!

On to happier things, we went to my grandparents house for the 4th of July to spend the holiday with my Grandad's side of the family for a fun family reunion! We have it every other year, but the last one, I had just had Bailey and Griffin, so we were unable to go! I always love getting to see family, but it's even more fun for them to get to meet my kiddos!

There's a lot of pictures...but I didn't want to miss a single memory! :) I love time spent at my Grandad's!

All of the cousins eating lunch on the back porch!

Bailey's first experience with a cat...and she's in love! Luckily, it was a very sweet kitten!

Turned around to find that Griffin was cutting into Bebe's chocolate sheet cake!

My little cousin, Weller, and Bailey becoming quick friends! So sweet!

Griffin loves stairs! Up and down!

LOVE this picture of the sweet boy cousins....Walker, Griffin, Sam, and Weller

Waiting for the fireworks to start!

Mom and Hannah

Bailey and Aunt Hannah

The best family shot we could get...it's tough these days!

When the firework show is over an hour delayed, we rely on snow cones!

Not sure what to think about the fireworks!

The next morning, Griffin helped Poppy pick Grandad's peas!

Working hard!

Sam helping Griffin....he was so good with the little ones! Proud of the guy that Sam is growing up to be!

Family ride on the ranger!

Feeding the horse!

Bailey's turn...much more apprehensive!

My sweet little ones!

All of the young cousins at the family reunion!

My great aunt, my "Jergie", with Bailey! I love that they got to spend time together! Jergie lives in El Dorado, and has been such a great support to Mom this past month and I'm so grateful for that!

Rough picture....but trying to get a picture with Grandad and he shot me in the face with water right before this...such the jokester! :)

Daddy teaching Griffin how to jump off of the diving board at my uncle, Bryan's, house!

He learned quickly!

Miss Priss cheered him on from the side!

My little water baby!

Anytime the cat was around, Bailey was holding him!

Cracked me up....they love their corn on the cob! I try to get them to pose for a picture and it doesn't work...they get a corn on the cob and go stand together and say cheese! Priorities!

Mom with her two brothers, Jay and Bryan...they have always been close, but have grown so much closer during Mom's recent health scare. We were lucky that Jay lives in Little Rock, so he was close by....Bryan lives two hours away in Nashville, but was there so much with us and didn't leave Mom's side whenever he could help it! I couldn't have made it through emotionally without them!

Love my sister! She has lived with us the majority of the month of July and even though I didn't like the circumstances, I loved getting to spend that time with her!

Love him!

Raegan and Bailey

Uncle Jay and Griffin telling jokes....have I mentioned that I love seeing my children interact with all of my family???

The kids started getting restless, so of course my Mom had her "Mary Poppins bag" full of goodies...suckers for everyone!

My sweet Grandad

Bebe and Bailey

Griffin's "CHEESE" face

We got to go visit my Dad's mom, my Nana, and she had a watermelon for us to eat!

Hide and Seek!

Yummy!

Spending time with Nana

We had the greatest time in Nashville with all of our family....I never get tired of getting together! I have so many great memories growing up and I want for my children to also have those amazing memories. Looking through these pictures stirred up a lot of emotions for me. All of these were taken 3 and 4 days before Mom's aneurysm and stroke happened....my Mom is my greatest supporter (here comes the tears) and she is my go-to person when I need advice or just to vent. My children have the sweetest relationship with their Bebe, and I love watching that relationship between them. I am so grateful to God that he allowed me to keep her here because I can't imagine life without her, and now we just pray for as close to a full recovery as possible. While the roles have somewhat reversed now, I have loved being able to be support for her and caring for her to help my Dad. Throughout this experience, it has reinforced how important and special family is and we couldn't have made it through without them! 

Bailey and Griffin are TWO!

I can not believe that my sweet, little babies are now two years old!!! It's really hard to wrap my head around, but I am so proud of them and love watching as they grow and learn new things everyday! I know that everyone says that it's a challenge entering the "Terrible Two's", but I have to say that having twins, it sure is nice now that they can be a little more independent! They are the best of friends most of the time, and Bailey has taken over the role of taking care of "Iffin" at all times! If someone gives her a cookie, she asks for one for "Iffin" and promptly takes it to him! It really is sweet! We are learning how to apologize to each other when they hurt each other or don't treat each other kindly....Jacob and I sometimes have to work hard not to just die laughing because they can be so serious and sweet while doing it! 

Griffin is still our sweet, energetic little man! He really melts my heart daily when he asks to kiss me, hold my hand, or have me kiss his constant boo-boo's. He is now weighing in at 34 pounds, but he is just a solid boy! We laugh and say that he doesn't know how to walk...he only runs! When we are at the pool, we tell him to walk, and he has to concentrate extremely hard to slow down! So funny! He is normally really sweet to Bailey and is quite protective of her! His favorite things right now are Mickey Mouse and Buzz Light-year! He sleeps with both and has to make sure they are in his bed before he will go to sleep! He also LOVES to be outside as long as we allow him to, and is even more in heaven when he can play in the water! He's all boy!

Bailey is....Bailey! We laugh and say that she thinks that she's 30 sometimes when she is prancing around the house with her baby on her hip and feeding Griffin at the same time. She loves to sing at all times, and makes sure that we sing "again, again, again". She's much smaller than Griffin and weighs 25 pounds, but she can hold her own! There are many times that we have to get onto her for the way that she treats him, but then she makes sure to hug and apologize to him. She also loves all things Mickey and Minnie Mouse. She knows all of the characters of Mickey Mouse Clubhouse and sings the songs right along with them! Bailey loves sidewalk chalk, bubbles, all things associated with baby dolls, and puzzles! She's such a sweet girl, and I really think she'll be a great big sister!

To celebrate their birthday, I went back and forth between themes, but always came back to Mickey and Minnie since that is a mutual love of Bailey and Griffin! We had a great time celebrating and it was so sweet of our friends and family to celebrate with us! I'll share some pictures to show the fun....Bailey and Griffin LOVED having Mickey decorations all over our house! :)

Before the party!

Excited!

Mickey Cupcakes

Party Favors for our Friends

Oh Toodles!

We had "Hot Diggity Dogs" to keeps with the Mickey Mouse theme!

Bailey and Bebe waiting for the party to start!

Bailey and Poppy

Griffin thinks he is one of the big boys!

Bailey joined in once the big boys left! 

Time to eat!

  

Bailey decided she liked it!

Parents relaxing, kids playing! :)

My sweet friend, Amanda!

 

 

Griffin loved everyone singing Happy Birthday...Bailey was a little embarrassed!

She wasn't thrilled with the idea, but Griffin took care of blowing out the candles!

 

See?!? Little mommy helping him out!

After everyone walked away, she dug in! haha She didn't want the cupcake, she just scooped the icing with the Oreo and ate it!

That was good!!

Present time!

I loved my American Girl dolls as a little girl, so I was excited for Bailey to get her first one!

My little Arkansas girl sat on the curb with bare feet drinking lemonade after everyone left!

Watching the balloons fly away!

Griffin watched until we couldn't see the balloons anymore!

  

Aunt Hannah and Griffin

   

We also were excited to have Gran and Papa here for the weekend and the party! It's the first picture we have of them with all three grandchildren! 

Bailey and Griffin seemed to love their birthday weekend, and I will admit that I had fun planning and working on all of the decorations! I am so blessed to be their Mommy and I am amazed by how my love for them just to continues to grow! Happy 2nd Birthday G & B!