Time for School

This year Mary Selwyn starts 4P.  She will go every morning, 5 days a week.  She is beyond excited and I am excited for her.  I know she is going to LOVE it.  It makes Shay and I both happy and proud to see her excited.  I am also a little sad because I am just not sure how we got here so fast!  Seems like yesterday I was pregnant and today I have this beautiful, smart, polite, loving and mature 4 year old.  I hope she loves every minute as I try and soak them all up as slowly as possible. 

We met her teacher yesterday and we love her already too!  I think Mary Selwyn is going to have a great year with her friends, old and new.  I was nervous dropping her off this morning but she begged to go in the classroom (before I was ready of course) and we watched her put her bag in it's place and sit in her seat.  I'm thankful that Shay was able to experience the first day of school with us.  We are proud parents.  You will be happy to know that I did not cry until we got back in the car.  I can't wait to go get her in just a little bit and find out how fabulous her first day of school was! 

Mary Selwyn and her teacher Mrs. Young

Mommy and Mary Selwyn sitting at her desk

First day of school.  Color of the day is red.  We wear a different color for the first week.  So fun!!

Sweet sisters.  Louise is going to be very lonely in the mornings with out her partner Thelma!

Proud daddy

Outside her room

About to send her into her room

Here we go!

And this little munchkin can't be left out.  She went to Mother's Morning Out for her first day on Tuesday.  I thought she would be my clingy child but she went in her room without looking back too.  She was so excited.  It felt like she was starting high school.  She is also very proud of her backpack. Don't call it a bag, she will correct you, it is a backpack.  She has such a big personality and a huge imagination.  She can hang with the big girls and loves to play.  She is growing just as fast as her sister did. I'm a sad, sentimental mommy this week.  At least they both had great first days at school!

Ready to go!

Mermaid Splash Party

For Mary Selwyn's birthday party we rented a huge water slide and had a splash of a mermaid party.  We rented a slide from an awesome company called B & B Rentals and they let us keep the slide for a very long time.  We had plenty of time before and after the party so the adults got to play too.... and wow were we sore.  Mary Selwyn was of course most excited to spend the party sliding with her friends.  This is a girl who loves her friends.  We had hot dogs and mermaid cupcakes and although the rain threatened my party it ended up being perfect.  Here are a few pictures.  Mary Selwyn said, "It was the best party every."  After hearing those words I always consider myself a successful party thrower....hopefully she says it every year.

Mermaid tail cupcakes, thank you Mrs. Dork.

Also thank you Goon because Mommy struggled making them thick enough.

Can't believe she is 4!!

If you have noticed I'm enjoying making these collages because it shares a lot of pictures at one time.  Sadly this isn't even half of the pictures from the party.  Thanks to all our sweet friends for making this her best birthday yet!

The Koonz Wedding

Oh my, I don't even know where to begin.  This week Shay and I traveled to Dubuque, Iowa to be a part of our best friends, Jeff and Maura's wedding.  It was one of the very best weddings I have ever been a part of.  They had an absolutely fabulous wedding party.  Of course, I knew none of the other bridesmaids before I arrived but they were the sweetest bunch of women.  They immediately included me and made me feel like I had known them all forever.  It was the same throughout the whole wedding party, it was like we traveled across country, met strangers and left with best friends.  What a wonderful group of people.  Overall I have decided that people in Iowa are the nicest people in the country.  Sorry southerners, but I have never received more compliments or been flattered more than by the people I met in Iowa.

Now on to the most important part, the beautiful bride.  I'm sorry Kate Middleton but you have nothing on Maura.  She was drop dead gorgeous.  We decided that she would look good in a wet paper sack but of course she dressed up for the occassion.  Maura's mother, Margie, passed away in 2003 I believe of breast cancer.  I cannot begin to imagine my wedding day without my mother and I wondered how Maura would do it without Margie.  Let me assure you that we were not without her.  Margie was honored and represented in every part of this wedding.  I have never even met her but I could feel her very real presence in each moment throughout the day.  The most beautiful way Margie was honored was in Maura's wearing of her mother's wedding dress for the ceremony.  Oh it was breath taking.  All of us bridesmaids watched in silence with tears in our eyes as she slipped on the dress.  How special for Maura and her sweet dad, Ray. 

We also got to sneak a peek at the first time Jeff saw Maura in her mother's dress.  It was hard to be quiet and hold back our excitement and tears.  We were sucessful in being quiet but not in holding back the tears. 

I am so glad I captured this look.  This is when she was walking up behind Jeff for him to see her for the first time.  Also when my tears started flowing, no surprise there.

When Jeff caught us peeking

After a very beautiful and spiritual Catholic wedding service, we loaded the trolley and headed to the party.  I can't even put into words how much fun the reception was.  Everyone danced, EVERYONE!  I don't think a single guest left before it was over.  Almost 300 guests danced 'til midnight.  It was a party for sure. Shay and I haven't danced that much......ever.  I also haven't laughed that much in almost ever.  The company was great.  My whole body is still sore from the dancing and laughing and I am still worn out.  I hope I can recover soon.

Maura in her reception dress with her handsome groom

Again I can't say enough how wonderful the whole weekend was.  Jeff and Maura are two of the kindest, most thoughtful and genuine people we know.  I am so thankful they have found each other.  I remember in the beginning of their relationship Jeff called me and said, "I have been praying for a long, long time for the right girl to come along and now here she is."  It was very special to witness them finally becoming husband and wife.  They way they both glow when they look at each other is so sweet to see and maybe a tad disgusting..ha ha just kidding.  I'm just so happy they are happy and starting the next chapter in their lives.  I look forward to sharing a lifetime more of memories with them.

another way to honor her mother

Our Trip to Texas

I have to hurry and blog about our trip to Texas because tomorrow we leave for Iowa.  I have to get caught up on my blogging before I get too far behind.  It has been a busy summer.  Moving on, after our horrific trip out there, I am happy to report that the rest of the trip went perfectly and was tons of fun.  The girls LOVED being at Nanny and Poppy's house. (side note, her name is actually Nana but MSN has successfully changed it to Nanny.  I guess when you are a great grandchild you have that kind of power.)  They loved their dogs, especially the little one, Arnie.  I'm pretty sure that dog has never had so much attention.  We also got to see some aunts, uncles and cousins that we never get to see.  This was the first opportunity my family there had to meet Mary Selwyn and Adeline.

Also while we were in San Antonio we visited Sea World.  Obviously this was the girls first trip there and saying they loved it is an understatement.  We went three of the five days we were there.  They had the best time seeing the shows, playing at the water park, riding rides, watching the shows, feeding the sea lions and feeding and petting the dolphins.  Adeline's favorite was the penguin house and the "Shampoo" show.  She came back with a penguin t-shirt that she refuses to take off.  She has a literal melt down if you make her take it off, sheesh.  Mary Selwyn's favorite was the "girl show" with the divers, acrobats, dolphins and beluga whales.  I think Sea World is my favorite amusement park.  I love seeing all the shows and I day dream like a little kid about being a whale trainer.  Then I snap out of it and realize I would be too scared to get in the water with that huge fish and I'm not that great of a swimmer, actress or acrobat so that leaves me with the scooping poop in the penguin snow, or worse concessions.  Whew it is hot out there.

Overall we had a wonderful trip.  My girls got some good quality time with Nana and Poppy, which they never get and time with great grandparents is very precious in my mind.  Our trip home was a dream, so easy with no missed flights or stress.  The girls had a wonderful time in Texas and spent every minute being spoiled.  They are already asking when we are going back.   We are glad Nana and Poppy invited us to visit and it was very sad leaving them.  Luckily we will get to see them again in a few short months.

This is my favorite picture from the trip.  The girls are still talking about their trip to Sea World and telling everyone how the "ate dead fish!"

Happy 4th Birthday Mary Selwyn

Today this beautiful, silly and sweet child turns 4! Mommy and Daddy are having a hard time believing it. We had our little family "surprise" party with cupcakes for breakfast. It is becoming quite a fun tradition. We are headed to the beach to celebrate for the weekend. (I know I'm behind on my blogging. will catch up soon.) We love you Mary Selwyn and are so proud of the sweet girl you are! Happy birthday to our big girl!

Angels Among Us

Well the girls and I have made it to Texas, but not without some drama, of course.  I will share all the "fun" details later but I have to go ahead and share this part of our trip with you.  You should first know that the night before I left at Bible study we talked about opportunities the Lord gives us to help, minister to or reach other people in some form or fashion.  We talked about how often we "miss out" on those opportunities and regret it.  It was a great discussion and fresh on my mind as I left for my trip.

On to the story, the girls and I spent several hours in Atlanta waiting for our plane which was delayed because of weather.  The girls were very good in the airport.  They were getting a little antsy right before we boarded, so like a bad mom I let them run a little of that energy off right in front of the gate.  The first class passengers were lined up and waiting. The first woman in line, who I apologized to for the craziness, just politely said, "They are so cute."

We were rushed on the plane in hopes to not delay take off anymore than it already was but on the runway a small thunderstorm delayed us once again.  All this to say that it made making our connection in Denver impossible.  I was of course panicked in the air and asked the flight attendant if I could get assistance getting to my gate because it was going to be so close.  The answer was no, so other than an announcement to let those that had tight connections get off first I was on my own.  You can only imagine how fast you can actually move down the concourse with 2 small children and a heavy carry-on bag.

As I was running off of the first plane I was met by that same polite woman who said my kids were cute in Atlanta.  Please keep in mind that her one comment was the ONLY interaction we've had up until this point.  Emphasis on ONLY interaction.  She sat in the front of the plane and we did not see her during the flight, (although she probably heard us,ha ha).  She came directly to me and said, "You are going to B23?"  I don't know how she knew that....I answered with a panicked yes and she said, "Okay, give me your bag, I am going to help you get there."  Her name was Nancy and in her cute business attire and heels she took my heavy bag, along with hers and ran with us down the concourse.  She then ran ahead of us, because we were having trouble keeping up to try and catch the plane.  I was overwhelmed to see this sweet stranger running with my bag.

Of course as soon as we got to the gate we saw our plane pulling away.  The United attendant simply said, "You have to go to gate B39 and they will set you up on a flight but it will be tomorrow."  As you can imagine....I fell to pieces, then of course Mary Selwyn did too.  It is 10:30 our time so we are all tired anyway.  Sweet Nancy just hugged me tight and said, "It is okay.  I'm going to take you to the Red Carpet Club Room, get the girls a snack and we will find you another flight and hotel."  All of which we did.  Then Nancy took us herself, instead of making us waiting for the shuttle, she loaded us up in her car and took us 25mins (out of her way I am sure) to our hotel and made sure we were okay.  When Nancy left us at the hotel, which she was hoping to stay at also but they were fully booked, I fell apart and began to cry again.  She gave me such a tight hug and just said she was so glad she could help me. 

Why in the world would Nancy, a complete stranger, wait just to help me????  She told me she just had a feeling I was going to need help.  Let me tell you I would have never made it without Nancy.  I do not know what I would have done.  How would I have gotten everything organized or gotten to a hotel or gotten United to pay for my hotel, thanks again to Nancy.  I wouldn't have, I would have been in the airport all night.  She was a true gift from God.  He very literally placed her on my flight to help me.  I believe He told her to wait for me because I would need help.  There is no other explanation for me.  You know the saying/song, "Angels Among Us" that was Nancy.  A huge blessing to me and the girls.  Thinking about her kindness even now makes me teary.

Back to my bible study, Nancy is a woman who did not miss an opportunity to help someone.  I don't know much about Nancy, I don't know for sure if she is a christian but I do know she is the epitome of a good Samaritan.  She didn't miss the opportunity to help me and she makes me want to look harder for opportunities the Lord may give me to help others.  Not just me, but all of our family is very thankful for Nancy.  Especially poor Shay who was a nervous wreck.  Thank you Nancy for helping us..... you will never know how much we appreciate you and thank you Lord for sending me Nancy!

Date Night

Friday night this girl had a hot date.  She took a shower all by herself, blow dried her hair, put on a fancy dress and applied lip gloss.  She was beautiful and ready for a fun night.

Her date politely rang the doorbell for her.





He also brought her a flower.  Very impressive.

Mary Selwyn and her date, Daddy!!

 

 Shay took Mary Selwyn on a very special date Friday night, just the two of them.  She got to pick the place and he even took her for ice cream after.  She was very excited.  After she was ready she looked in the mirror and said, "Mommy, do I look so beautiful that Daddy might cry?"  So sweet, made mommy want to cry.  Hopefully it was a special memory for her and a new tradition..... she is already asking when her next "hot date" will be.

P.S. Tomorrow the girls and I head to San Antonio to visit grandparents.  Prayers for safe travel and mommy's nerves would be appreciated.  We are very excited.