lacy turns three!

I can't believe I'm saying these words, but our sweet Lacy Claire is official THREE YEARS OLD! It seems like just yesterday that I was holding her teeny, tiny body in my arms on the day she was born, and now she's a big girl. She still wore a pink dress as usual, but this time all the party decorations were purple instead. Princess Sophia was, also, a guest at the party! Her mama made a delicious homemade cake (seriously, the best), and her daddy kept us all laughing with his typical goofiness and "that's my little girl" expressions. This was her first party in their brand new house, and I am still swooning over how gorgeous it is.

She and Braxton were extra sweet to each other, and I giggled with every snap of the camera. I'm so thankful that they get to grow up together, and given the pictures below, I think they're pretty excited about it, too.

We love you, Lacy Claire!

oconee bell trail | hike it baby.

We hit the trails with our friends at Hike it Baby again on Tuesday, and the weather was just as beautiful as the bright blue water and tiny flower buds sprouting up all around. We drove up to Devil's Fork State Park for this morning's explorations and hiked along the Oconee Bell Trail loop with our bud, Thomas, and his mama. All the green beginning to peek through the brown made me so excited for this new season that is upon us! Braxton and Thomas had a blast playing together when we ended our hike with a lakeside lunch, too, and the mamas did what we usually do: chase them around.

This trail is extra special, because it is named after a rare wildflower that grows beside the streams of water that flow near the trail. They're tinier than I thought they would be, and we got some leg squats in as we got as close to them as we could (with toddlers on our back, might I add). These pretty little buds reminded me of small daffodils, and we both kept our eyes peeled for them every time we got near water.

TJ and I went camping at this park for our second wedding anniversary, but this was the first time I'd ever hiked here. I laughed to myself several times thinking about how interesting that weekend was, and I also got excited about our next camping trip in May (wahoooo!).

A relatively short, easy hike with some pretty views was just what the doctor ordered for this morning, and I am soooooo thrilled that the next time we hit the trails, DADDY will be with us! Hip hip hooray! Spring break AND my birthday are next week, so that means lots of fun to be had + memories to be made are just over the horizon.

spring's eve.

The day before the first day of Spring was gorgeous, much like the previous few weeks before then, too. This particular afternoon was extra special, because we actually had a few uninterrupted hours with daddy! We worked in the yard while Braxton napped, and then we got creative when he woke up while daddy washed our beloved Becca. B wanted to be where daddy was and play in the bubbles, but we had to do something when he started trying to eat the car wash (insert monkey emoji covering his eyes here). Soooooo bubbles in the kiddie pool it was!

That's right, people. It was warm enough for B to be in his swimsuit in the middle of March. I'm not sure that's ever been the case before, but we definitely considered it a blessing from God. Our little guy only got to use his pool a few times at the end of last summer, but I have a feeling that we will be wearing that thing out this summer.

I love watching his eyes fill with wonder, and I love it even more when that wonder is pointed in his daddy's direction. I always whisper, "Yep, you're daddy is the coolest," when TJ turns away. I'm so giddy for adventures in warm weather with my two boys. Spring has officially sprung, and we are making the most of it already!

mossy turns eight.

I've loved these kiddos for nearly five years, and I can promise you that no matter how old they get, I will always be their "Ms. Anna." I'm so thankful that so many parents of my former students want me to have an active role in their lives, from birthday parties to basketball games to gymnastic meets, and it's such a treat to walk with them as they grow older.

Not only that, but seeing so many of them remain friends through the years is, also, incredible. They have parents who are intentional in raising their children up together, which is an enormous blessing to me because I get invited to take part in it, too! Their eyes light up when they see each other in the same way mine do when I see them, and it tickles me to watch.

Mossy, Lilah-loopsy, and Abs may no longer be students on my class roster, but their names and uniquely beautiful souls will always be etched into the core of who I am. I hope they stay friends forever, and I really hope I never lose my front-row seat to watching it happen.

Mossy wanted to have a pool party with all his best buds and family members, and his mama (as usual) worked her magic to make it happen.

What the birthday boy wants, the birthday boy gets!

smile.

Oh, how overjoyed I get when I consider how many lives he will (and has already begun to) impact with that handsome, sincere smile.

Friends, may we never forget how much power rests in this simple act of kindness as we seek to love as children love, to pass hope along to those who may be desperate for it, and to make our cheeks hurt while enjoying the moment that is before us.

"Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around."

Leo Buscaglia

liana turns one.

It's always a blast when Braxton and Liana get to hang out, but this past Saturday was extra special as we celebrated his little gal's first birthday! All-things-pink was the theme of the afternoon, and she pranced around in her little pink tutu like she knew that it was all about her. It was the cutest thing! Her daddy and mama threw a birthday party fit for a princess, which was perfect for their precious, bright-eyed Liana.

Noelle and I were friends for several years before Braxton and Liana were born, but entering into motherhood alongside of each other has taken our bond to a whole new level. Our kiddos have regular play dates including everything from trips to the library to outings with our whole families in tow, and that also allows us to have some good conversations, too (in between chasing our little wild ones, that is).

Liana is a treasure to us, and we were so thankful to be there on her big day. Braxton even snuck a few moves in while her daddy wasn't looking! One day he will learn that his mama always has her camera ready to capture him in action. For now, their flirting is cute as can be, but I know that a day is coming when I no longer feel that way (ha!).

Happy birthday to our sweet Liana!

We loved every minute of this wonderful celebration of life.

zoo with friends.

A lot has changed since these two cuties first went to the zoo together back in September. We pushed them around in stroller last time, and they had a very limited knowledge of what was going on. Last week when we had another zoo date, however, they walked and talked and checked things out like professionals. They've been having play dates for a while now, and it's so fun to watch them really start to interact with each other. I love spending time with Dorothy, too, so it's always a fun time for all of us!

Friends are a gift from God, and it makes this mama's heart soar to know that Braxton has so many already. I pray often that he will learn this lesson early in life and spend his life loving others as an expression of gratitude. I, also, pray that he learns that the quality of friendships he has holds far more weight than the quantity of friendships. This was (and often still is) a hard lesson for me to learn, but it is one that I am most thankful for.

I hope that Braxton and Jules grow up with a desire to always love others well regardless of how they're loved in return. And I hope that they remind Dorothy and me to do the same when we forget.